Fall 2015 Manhattan Magazine

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EXPLORING THE ARCHIVES

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EDITOR Kristen Cuppek STAFF WRITERS Julie Achilles Patrice Athanasidy Liz Connolly Bauman Christine Loughran Pete McHugh Sarah R. Schwartz CONTRIBUTORS Joe Clifford Tom Delaney Thomas McCarthy Kevin Ross Amy Surak

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The College is honored with National Science Foundation awards, the president of Albania visits campus, a new business analytics conference launches, and so much more.

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DESIGN Kat Lepak

SPORTS Women’s rowing becomes a varsity sport, plus news and recaps of the past winter and spring seasons.

30 EXPLORING THE ARCHIVES The College has become quite the destination for Lasallian history and research in North America. Take a look

GRADUATE ASSISTANT Richard Bunyan PHOTOGRAPHERS Ben Asen Josh Cuppek (cover) Chris Taggart

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at some of its recent acquisitions and valuable collections.

38 COMMENCEMENT Manhattan celebrates recent grads at its Commencement ceremonies in May.

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DEVELOPMENT De La Salle Dinner, a generous alumnus

Published by the office of Marketing and Communication Manhattan College Riverdale, NY 10471

endows a biology research fund, and a grateful student scholarship recipient.

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Reunion Weekend, chapter spotlight,

Lydia Gray Assistant Vice President for College Advancement, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication ON THE COVER An ornate reliquary containing relics of Saint John Baptist de La Salle was recently acquired by the Manhattan College Archives.

ALUMNI alumnotes, Jasper profiles and more reminiscing about a long-lost tradition.

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OBITUARIES In memoriam, Bernard Ley, The Rev. John Cullinane, Br. Kenneth Fitzgerald, Mary Noberini, Kathryn Stout

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PARTING SHOT

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Connecting Across Borders

“EL DIA DE REYES” OR THREE KINGS DAY is a special holiday in Mexico that commemorates the three wise men who traveled from afar, bearing gifts for the infant baby Jesus. This year, 12 students from Manhattan College’s School of Engineering celebrated the holiday by giving gifts of toys, clothing and safe drinking water to refugees in Mexico City.

This transformative experience was part of an 18-day, three-credit study abroad course, Transport Phenomena, led by Gennaro Maffia, D.Eng.Sc., professor of chemical engineering, and hosted by Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. Student participants from La Salle and Manhattan came together not only from different cultures but also from diverse academic disciplines — biology, pharmaceuticals, as well as chemical and civil engineering — to study the development of mass, energy and momentum transport equations.

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says William Han ’15, a chemical engineering As members of the global Lasallian major who participated in the course. community, the cohort of students, faculty “I learned much more about ASPEN-HYSYS, and staff felt it was important to participate and I feel confident using that software now.” in a service experience during their stay.

Because the version of HYSYS was different A connection was made with CAFEMIN, a than the version that students use every day housing and training center for the empowerat Manhattan, they pulled together to find ment of indigenous and migrant women. In addition to the donation of toys and clothing, the corresponding codes and instructions on the different version of the software. the group delivered and installed a Sawyer Friendships emerged from the classroom filtration system thanks, in part, to donations collaboration and were further solidified to the Chemical Engineering department. as the La Salle students introduced their “CAFEMIN already had a filter, but it was Manhattan cohort to Mexican culture, from a small Brita filter on the kitchen sink,” John playing soccer and watching a live wrestling Barrios ’15 says. “The one we installed is a match to sampling the local fare. As a group, large, 10-inch filter that has capacity of up they visited the main tourist attractions to 50,000 gallons of potable water a day. of the city, such as Xochimilco, Ciudad Additionally, this filter was located on the Universitaria, the Shrine at Guadalupe and mainline on the roof, so water will be now the Pyramids of Teotihuacan. They also spent distributed throughout the community. a weekend in Puebla, where they visited a That is a big improvement.” ceramic factory that produces Talavera, a Part of the challenge was retrofitting type of white glazed maiolica pottery. the existing piping network to make use of The experience was so positive that the rooftop reservoirs. Barrios and Sebastian College is currently working with Universidad Garcia ’15, both fluent in Spanish, and others, La Salle to broaden exchange opportunities including the maintenance staff at CAFEMIN, for students in the future. identified the appropriate placement of the “Before going, I heard all these horror filtration system and developed a protocol for stories because of the way the media operation and back flushing. This opportunity portrays Mexico,” says Sullivan, noting was unique in that it combined the concepts that Manhattan’s pre-departure info of service in the Lasallian tradition with the skills they have learned through their studies. sessions helped her acclimate to the area quickly. “I felt so safe being in Mexico City, “The refugees and staff at CAFEMIN were and I’d recommend it to anyone to go there. so appreciative of everything that we were able to do for them,” says Melissa Sullivan ’16, The country is so beautiful and has so much to offer.” a graduate student in Manhattan’s Chemical Engineering department. “Most of us couldn’t speak Spanish, but all the little kids, when we were working, wanted to be around us and were watching and trying so hard to communicate.”

Inside the classroom at Universidad La Salle, a big portion of the students’ attention was focused on learning how to use ASPEN-HYSYS, an essential computer Twelve engineering students traveled to Mexico City as part of an 18-day study abroad course led by chemical process simulation program, to solve their engineering professor Gennaro Maffia. The transformatransport problems. tive experience combined opportunities to participate “I had a crash course in ASPEN-HYSYS in service immersion and classroom collaboration with before, but Dr. Maffia is an awesome teacher,” their peers from the Universidad La Salle.

Annual Business Analytics Competition Debuts at College

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ITH THE PROLIFERATION OF “BIG DATA” — digital data that gets stored and processed daily — there’s a rising need for thought leaders in the field of analytics.

Manhattan College became a data scientist destination as it hosted the first ever Business Analytics Conference and Competition (BAC@MC) from May 19-21. The events featured industry leaders and included an exciting opportunity for undergraduate students studying business analytics (or related fields) to test their knowledge and develop their skills. Competing students engaged in the art and science of decisionmaking, while practicing their ability to draw business insights through comprehensive analyses of data in creative ways.

Alumnus David Ferrucci ’83, Ph.D., set the tone with opening keynote remarks on May 20. Ferrucci, currently a senior technologist for Bridgewater Associates, is most famous for his work as the principal investigator for DeepQA (“Watson”) Project, the computer system that beat the best players of all time in the question-answer game of Jeopardy!.

Ferrucci’s talk, AI: A Return to Meaning, focused on the ongoing development and challenges of artificial intelligence.

In addition to a keynote from David Belanger, Ph.D., senior research fellow at Stevens Institute of Technology, Manhattan College professor of accounting, law and CIS,

To much success, the College hosted its first Business Analytics Conference and Competition this past May.

Mehmet Ulema, Ph.D., moderated a lively panel, Trends and Issues of Business Analytics. Distinguished speakers Yurdaer Doganata, Ph.D. (IBM), Mike DeAngelo (Cisco), Winter Mason (Facebook), and Peter Rutigliano, Ph.D. (Sirota Consulting) discussed a range of issues from cyber security to the ethical use of big data to aid both The top three teams were recognized government and non-governmental domains. during an award ceremony, which included Up next was the competition, which was a keynote from Gregory Brill, co-founder the main focus of the week’s events. More and CEO of global consultancy firm Infusion than a dozen teams each comprised of two Development. The Manhattan College to four undergraduates went head-to-head team performed well among some fierce in a two-phase contest that honed their competitors. However, this year’s winners knowledge of analytics and was judged by a were Clarkson University in third; University panel of faculty advisers and practitioners. of San Francisco in second; and Pace UniverTo prepare for the first phase of the sity in first place, earning the grand prize of competition, competing teams created $2,000 and an invitation to submit a paper to posters based on data and questions that a peer-reviewed journal. were made available to teams in January “It took months of preparation, but it 2015. They presented their work during a judge-attended poster session held on May 20. was highly worth it,” says Clive Cadillo ’16, a member of the Pace University team, who Directly after the poster presentations on began working with the data in January. the first day of the conference, teams were provided with additional questions and data “Phase two was definitely the most intense part of the competition since the short on the same theme. For phase two, teams amount of time combined with lack of sleep were asked to present their solutions to a led to unclear decision making, but overall judging panel on the second day of the was the most unique part of it.” conference. A panel of faculty advisers, as “Take advantage of the opportunity,” well as practitioners representing various Cadillo advises future competitors. “Being industries and employers, judged the compelocated in New York City, it is a great time tition. Teams were ranked by combining the to explore what [the city] has to offer. two scores from both phases.

School Enhances its Focus with a New Name

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EGINNING THIS FALL SEMESTER, Manhattan College’s School of Arts transitioned to the School of Liberal Arts, reflecting the school’s distinct emphasis on a liberal arts curriculum in a variety of disciplines.

“The name change allows us, first, to clarify who we are and what we offer as a school, after often being mistaken as a school of visual and performing arts,” says Keith Brower, Ph.D., who serves as dean of the school. “It also gives the opportunity to further embrace and celebrate our commitment to our liberal arts identity and mission, and we welcome that as part of our ‘grand reopening’ as the School of Liberal Arts.”

The School of Liberal Arts will continue to support Manhattan College’s tradition of liberal inquiry, reflection on faith in relation to reason, emphasis on ethical conduct, and commitment to social justice by offering diverse foundation courses for all students.

Some of the programs of study offered in the School of Liberal Arts include: communication, economics, English, environmental studies, government, history, international studies, labor studies, modern languages and literatures, peace studies, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, sociology, urban studies and visual and performing arts.

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Spring Series Knocks It Out of Space

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N WHAT HAS BECOME one of Manhattan College’s premier oncampus events, the Major Author Reading Series (M.A.R.S.) spring 2015 edition featured another diverse group of acclaimed poets and authors, including the first Jasper alumnus to headline the event.

Co-sponsored by the English department and the School of Liberal Arts, the lecture series, which is in its sixth consecutive year, is designed to expose students to the best in contemporary literature in an interactive environment.

The series kicked off in February with renowned poet and essayist Meena Alexander. A multitalented literary figure, Alexander has been recognized as a poet, novelist, essayist and scholar, and a recipient of numerous awards, including the PEN Open Book, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright Scholarship. She shared excerpts from her latest book of poetry, Birthplace With Buried Stones, which she describes as “a book of journeys.” These journeys began with her childhood in South India and Sudan, and continue to England, Jerusalem and New York City. Her poems and writings are reflective of her global citizenship and experiences throughout her life.

During her Q&A session, Alexander shared how she finds comfort in writing when she is moving.

“I often write when I am moving — buses or subways, for example,” she said. “I think there is a way in which travel allows for me to uncover something within myself. I feel very nomadic in my writing habits. I think that in order to make poetry, the world has to be de-familiarized. The stuff you look at everyday has to look new to you rather than taken for granted. Travel sometimes does that to you.”

Poet Gregory Fraser began the second installment of the spring semester by reciting a poem that he wrote while taking the long subway ride from John F. Kennedy International Airport all the way up to Manhattan College. The poem was written for Ashley Cross, Ph.D., chair of the College’s English department and Fraser’s close friend.

After the conclusion of his impromptu poem, Fraser continued to read excerpts from his three books of poetry, including Designed for Flight, Answering the Ruins and Strange Pietà.

Fraser divulged to the audience that he always tells his students at the University of West Georgia to “write about what they know.” This is evident in his works, as the reader is presented with stories of selfreckoning and personal narratives that capture poignant memories in Fraser’s life. He is fascinated by the ever-changing society that we live in and seemingly normal social interactions between people. Fraser resorts to his poetry as an exploration of self, more apt to write about his shortcomings than his achievements. The narratives and poems that he shared at the event illustrate his impressive technical writing style and ability to deliver beautiful stories in just a page or two.

In March, Gianmarc Manzione ’02 became the first Manhattan College alumnus to grace the stage at a M.A.R.S. event. With a B.A. in 4 N fall 2015

“And to have an alumnus present at M.A.R.S. makes them understand that they, too, can be professional writers, if they want.”

English and philosophy, Manzione went on to earn an M.F.A. in English from The New School in 2004 before pursuing his literary aspirations as an author and a professor. The Brooklyn native shared how the inspiration for his early poetry and writings came from his vivid memories of being on the College’s campus during the morning of Sept. 11. In fact, he said that he was walking down the hallway with his favorite professor, Rocco Marinaccio, Ph.D., professor of English, when he saw people running to view the black plumes of smoke that covered downtown Manhattan. This fateful day and its effects on the victims and their families were tragically captivating to Manzione and are reflected in much of his early writing.

When it came time to pen his first book, Manzione chose to write about one of the greatest loves of his life — bowling. As a child, he frequented the bowling alleys of Brooklyn, as well as other hotspots in New York City’s outer boroughs. Manzione read the first chapter of his highly acclaimed first novel, Pin Action: Small-Time Gangsters, High-Stakes Gambling, and the Teenage Hustler Who Became a Bowling Champion to the audience. As the title suggests, the book is an entertaining narrative about New York City gangster culture in the 1960s and the heavy gambling that was associated with action bowling at these underground alleys. The historically accurate book is centered on Ernie Schlegel, one of the legends of action bowling who emerged from the city streets as a notorious bowling hustler to a Professional Bowling Association member.

Marinaccio shared his excitement in having an alumnus and one of his former students headline the event.

Bridging the MBA in School of Business

“I’d say that one of the primary goals of M.A.R.S. is to expose our students to a range of writers not only to delight and edify them, but to make them see that writing is done by real people,” he says. “It’s important for students to see the human being behind the words. And to have an alumnus present at M.A.R.S. makes them understand that they, too, can be professional writers, if they want.”

The spring series came to a close on April 16 with the highly entertaining and equally talented author Michael Garriga, who read excerpts from The Book of Duels. An innovative book, it has been categorized as “flash fiction” because of its quick and sudden storytelling. Based on some of the more interesting historical duels, Garriga’s book is comprised of 33 short stories, each with three separate monologues told from the viewpoints of different characters right before the duels begin. The action is fast and compelling as the reader processes the humorous characters’ dialogues, the historical context of the duel, and the violence that ensues.

After his insightful Q&A, the spring edition of the series concluded with a loud round of applause, as the doors closed on another successful M.A.R.S. season.

As part of the Major Author Reading Series, poet Gregory Fraser recites a poem he wrote inspired by the long subway ride from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Manhattan College this past spring. The successful lecture series is in its sixth consecutive year at the College.

AS THE CLASS OF 2015 CONTINUES TO CONSIDER offers of full-time employment, some students may feel that obtaining a better understanding of business practices could lead to greater career opportunities, increased earning potential, or a realization of entrepreneurial goals.

And the College has been making it easier to achieve these goals. This summer, the Manhattan College School of Business has made the transition into the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program a little simpler by rolling out a series of online bridge courses designed to provide Manhattan’s non-business alumni with the prerequisite business education to join the MBA program. The set of six intensive online courses can be completed in two, seven-week summer sessions.

“Many non-business students enter the workforce right out of school, with little or no business experience,” says Marc Waldman, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the MBA program. “These students are trained within a specific discipline but lack the managerial and organizational skills that allow them to meaningfully participate in management-level positions. Our MBA program will help build such skills and enhance the student’s ability to integrate business knowledge into decision-making.”

Designed to reduce the time and expense required for non-business students to join the MBA program, this series is comprised of accelerated three-credit graduate courses covering the foundational material that a student would normally learn in the equivalent undergraduate courses.

These fully online courses include: Foundations of Business Statistics; Foundations of Financial and Managerial Accounting; Foundations of Economics; Foundations of Organizational and Operational Management; Foundations of Marketing and Global Business; and Foundations of Finance.

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NSF Further Funds STEM Research

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ANHATTAN COLLEGE’S FOCUS ON EXPANDING STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education was recognized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) yet again with an award to further fund STEM learning. The newest award of nearly $600,000 will fund 12 engineering scholarships for academically qualified and financially needy students (six in 2015 and six in 2016) to pursue bachelor’s degree studies in civil and mechanical engineering. The engineering scholarships award was the fourth NSF grant presented to Manhattan in the last year.

“One thing I can say that makes this scholarship different is the fact that it comes with a lot of support activities,” says Zahra Shahbazi, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering and principal investigator on the project. “The program has a lot of mentorship programs, it provides tutors for the students, and will have one-day professional development workshops per semester.”

In addition, Anirban De, Ph.D., and Walter Saukin, Ph.D., associate professors of civil and environmental engineering at the College, are co-principal investigators on the project.

The first recipients of the NSF scholarships began this fall as college freshmen and were selected based on a minimum GPA of 3.5 and combined SAT score of 1200, as well as ranking within the top 10 percent of their high school class. The scholarship recipients also qualified for the maximum Pell grant and for New York residents, the New York State Tuition Assistance Program grants determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.

The scholarship program offers a variety of cocurricular and extracurricular activities, designed to help each student reach his or her maximum potential. With faculty and peer mentors, recipients will

be encouraged to study abroad, conduct research, design an e-portfolio and be made fully aware of the academic resources on campus, including the Center for Academic Success, Center for Career Development, and Center for Graduate School and Fellowship Advisement. In addition, recipients can become involved in the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentorship Program with benefits of professional mentorship from industry leaders.

“It is a 360-degree support system for them to make sure they are going to be successful,” Shahbazi adds.

“If there is a large number of resident students, we will try to do a living and learning environment or a plan for commuter students to travel back and forth and take classes together.”

Recipients must maintain a GPA above 3.0 during their four years at Manhattan, and faculty and the NSF will regularly review their academic progress.

The selection processes for the 2016 recipients will predominately come from Manhattan College’s existing summer high school outreach programs. These programs specifically promote female high school students and minority groups, many of whom live in low-income neighborhoods and qualify for financial aid. One such program started in 1982 is the Summer Engineering Awareness program, which offers a free summer intensive course for high school students to receive a preview of the engineering and science disciplines.

“This grant will make it possible for a few students with excellent academic preparation and significant financial needs to attend Manhattan College,” De says. “It is our hope that we will be able to attract some students from groups that are underrepresented in engineering, which will increase diversity in our student body.”

NSF Also Supports Water Forum at the College MANHATTAN COLLEGE RECEIVED a $30,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) award to fund the Intensification of Resource Recovery Forum on campus to address key challenges faced in environmental engineering. With tremendous support from the water industry, the Aug. 9-11 forum focused specifically on novel technologies aimed at recovering a variety of resources from wastewater.

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Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and Manhattan College, the two-day forum targeted and discussed new and emerging technologies that can effectively recover resources from wastewater. Examples of resources include: energy, fuels, agricultural products, industrial chemicals and clean reusable water.

Robert Sharp, Ph.D., professor of civil and environmental engineering and Donald J. O’Connor Endowed Faculty Fellow of

Environmental Engineering at Manhattan College, was the principal investigator on the NSF award, and worked with WERF and WEF to plan the event.

“The inaugural forum brought together 140 industry leaders and was such a success that the event sponsors are considering holding the forum every two years at Manhattan College,” Sharp adds. “Attendees were impressed with the interactive nature and had high praise for the College and its facilities.”

Breaking Into New Areas of Inquiry SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS and majors were established this year — the first in environmental studies and the second in mathematics.

Both of these additions to the academic portfolio encourage students to expand their knowledge and explore ways of thinking that are necessary to meet industry demands.

NEW MAJOR: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Complementing the College’s existing major in environmental science, the environmental studies major is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the complex interrelationship among the scientific, political, economic, ethical and cultural ideas that underlie environmental issues. The environmental studies program is designed as a major or minor for students within the School of Liberal Arts and as a minor or second major for students in other schools. The program

offers students who plan to pursue careers in science or engineering a crucial background for understanding the social context in which their work occurs, and will be integral to those pursuing careers in environmental policy or education.

NEW PROGRAMS: APPLIED MATHEMATICS – DATA ANALYTICS Starting with this academic year, Manhattan is offering three new programs in applied mathematics – data analytics: an 18-credit postbaccalaureate program; a five-year program that includes a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and master’s degree in applied mathematics – data analytics; and a master’s program. These programs are based on a curriculum of mathematics content designed to address vital industry needs. The master’s program, in particular, will prepare students for careers in business, industry and government.

A Conversation with the Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force

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N AN INDUSTRY in which the number of men far outweighs the number of women, Mica Endsley, Ph.D., P.E., has attained one of the highest levels of success in the engineering field — chief scientist of the United States Air Force. In April, the College’s engineering community was fortunate to spend some time with the accomplished Endsley at a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) event. She participated in an open conversation about gender-related issues in the engineering field, fulfilling our economy’s need for more engineers, and her unique career path.

Endsley shared how a SWE event that she attended at a local college as a high school student played a major role in her decision to pursue an education in industrial engineering. She was intrigued by how all of the products that people use and rely upon require some sort of engineering to be designed and produced. She then described her role as chief scientist.

“I give advice to the secretary and the chief of staff of the Air Force on all matters of science and technology,” Endsley said. “I focus on the Air Force’s needs, the science

and technology world, where the real opportunities and challenges are, and on making sure we are not missing anything.”

When asked about any gender discrimination problems she has faced as an engineering professional, she acknowledged that there may be some issues in the field, but she resorted to her hard work, perseverance and wonderful mentors to achieve the success she has had.

Endsley continued the conversation by emphasizing that while there is a disparity between the number of male and female engineers, there is a great need for an overall increase in the number of young people choosing to pursue a career in engineering.

“The reason children are not going into engineering is they believe it is only about ‘dry book’ material,” she said. “In reality, it’s creative, and we are solving really interesting problems. It is also team-oriented; everything we do is done in teams of multidisciplinary engineers and business people. Those are all things that really appeal to a lot of people.”

She supports the employment of interactive, team-oriented projects in middle and high schools, and believes that is the way to fundamentally change engineering education and to increase interest in the field at a young age. In conclusion, Endsley shared how proud she is of the Air Force-sponsored ROTC program and its role in encouraging its members to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

SWE holds events during which all students and faculty can talk about any gender-based issues in the engineering field, as well as how to make engineering more appealing to younger students. The School of Engineering also has made it a part of its mission to foster a diverse student population that encourages women and minority groups to pursue an education in STEM. MANHATTAN.EDU N 7

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Future Jaspers Preview Liberal Arts Studies at Midtown Reception

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ROSPECTIVE STUDENTS who attended The Promise of New York City, a School of Liberal Arts reception held this spring, learned that a Manhattan College education is one that’s well-rounded, after hearing from an executive at one of the world’s top marketing communications agencies and a young alumnus who now leads marketing outreach efforts for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Together, Bob Jeffrey ’75 and Christopher Gorman ’05 spoke about their experiences at Manhattan, while members of the College’s faculty shared information related to the various programs offered — from government and international studies to those involving modern languages and the fundamentals of communication.

More than 70 percent of accepted students who attended the event in April enrolled at the College as members of the incoming class of 2019. This was the first year of the event, which was hosted

by Jeffrey, non-executive chairman of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, and held at the company’s headquarters in midtown.

In addressing potential members of the College’s class, he took a moment to note the profound effect his years there had on his career.

“When I think back about how I ended up where I am today, I think about my foundation, which was at Manhattan,” Jeffrey said. “It was the quality of the teaching, the commitment of the College and actually, its size. Last but not least, it really was the education I received there.”

Also taking the podium was Gorman, who serves as chairman of Met Spectrum, a facet of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s marketing and

external relations department.

In this position, he spearheads programs designed to engage post-college audiences with work from contemporary artists.

“Manhattan College was the portal through which I came to know New York City, came to know where we are as a country, and what we can be as a world,” he said.

Keith Brower, Ph.D., dean of the College’s School of Liberal Arts, found the speeches deliv- Reilly Rebhahn ’19, who graduated from ered by Jeffrey and Gorman to Christian Brothers Academy and attended be particularly beneficial to the College’s first School of Liberal Arts reception, enrolled at the College this fall as students considering careers an intended peace studies major. in the liberal arts.

“It was great for students accepted into the School of Liberal Arts and their families to meet and talk with current students, faculty and distinguished alumni, and to hear from two such inspiring alumni speakers in a wonderful midtown — and very New York — setting,” Brower says.

New Center Examines Socioeconomic Factors in Early Education

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N A TIME OF RISING TUITION RATES, not only in higher education but also in preschools, a family’s income is a significant factor in the quality of a child’s education.

Bridging that gap between income and education was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Manhattan College’s Center for the Study of the Future of Education (CSFE). Exploring poverty and inequality in education served as a natural starting point for Karen Nicholson, Ph.D., associate professor of education and CSFE director.

“How poverty and equity, or lack of equity, impact education was the main focus for us in starting the Center,” Nicholson says. “It fits in with our Lasallian mission, our founder and our student body, many of whom are first-generation college students.”

A longtime faculty member of Manhattan’s education department, Nicholson has published several papers on gender and racial equity in education throughout her career. After hearing firsthand accounts from a number of student teachers about the lack of equity in local schools, Nicholson and Provost William Clyde, Ph.D., collaborated to take the vision for the CSFE and make it a reality.

The Center launched in February and hosted two lectures in front of capacity crowds in the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons.

In March, Ruby Payne, Ph.D., a former high school teacher, princi8 N fall 2015

pal and current educational consultant, offered strategies for overcoming economic class barriers to increase student achievement.

Payne is best known for A Framework for Understanding Poverty, her best-selling foundational piece originally released in 1996.

In April, Jonathan Kozol, Ph.D., the National Book Award-winning author of Savage Inequalities, The Shame of the Nation and Amazing Grace, chronicled his experiences working in inner-city schools and observing students and teachers in the South Bronx. Kozol passionately defended the right for every child to have access to quality educational tools. (To read more about this lecture, see story on page 17.)

After establishing the Center’s mission and vision this spring, Nicholson plans to have students apply what they have learned about poverty and inequality this fall semester. While many student teachers traditionally have taught at schools in the northwest Bronx, Nicholson intends to have student teachers also work in the South Bronx, in some of the schools Kozol observed prior to writing his books.

“Our students will be best served and will serve better by gaining a variety of experiences inside the classroom and applying what they’ve learned at Manhattan,” she says. “We’d like them to explore these broad issues within the Center and work to resolve those issues of inequality within our local community one classroom at a time.”

Jaspers Join in During Day of Service

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S THE NATION CELEBRATED Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on Jan. 19, the Jasper community planned its first-ever campuswide Day of Service to honor King’s legacy.

Drawing parallels between the College’s Lasallian mission and King’s call to serve others, Campus Ministry and Social Action (CMSA) organized the Day of Service and encouraged individuals and groups of students to sign up for projects around the city.

“We’re looking to strengthen our existing partnerships with organizations like City Harvest, United Neighborhood Housing Project (UNHP) and the Methodist Home here in Riverdale,” says Kathleen Von Euw, coordinator of community partnerships and service.

While more than 75 students signed up to take part, an unforeseen snowstorm on Saturday, Jan. 24, forced many of the service sites to cancel programming.

Despite the weather, 25 resilient Jaspers were still able to participate.

A group of students in Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), the education honor society, bagged and distributed food at a City Harvest “mobile market,” while a dozen business students in Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor society, trained with UNHP to help low-income individuals prepare their income tax returns. Another group of students completed a cleaning project for their elderly neighbors at the Methodist Home.

“Personally, it was really nice to do something for the community that has become like a second home,” says Caitlin Palumbo ’15, a dual education and special education major and co-president of KDP. “The Bronx is home for many Jaspers during the majority of the year. Reaching out to the community and giving back was really special. We can’t wait to go back and help out again!”

Von Euw is confident that Manhattan’s growing partnerships will present more opportunities, such as the Day of Service, in the future.

Most prominent will be the Lasallian Outreach Collaborative (L.O.Co.), a new program based out of the CMSA office, which will provide options for students interested in participating in community service on a regular weekly basis.

“This is deeply tied to our Lasallian mission, which calls us to be in solidarity with the poor, advocate for those suffering from injustices and practice inclusive community,” Von Euw says. “Through community engagement, we can live out our Lasallian mission more authentically by honoring the dignity of all individuals and thinking critically about the world in light of faith.”

The College Hails President of Albania

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UJAR NISHANI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, paid a visit this spring to Manhattan College, where he gave insight on how his country has become a model for peace throughout the past several decades and has taught a valuable lesson on acceptance.

“If respect is in your heart, your culture and your tradition, and you try hard to exercise respect for others, that is the fundamental for coexistence, harmony and tolerance,” he told members of the College and Riverdale communities who attended the event in May. Nishani came to the College as part of a three-day trip to the U.S. While on campus, he addressed the students and staff who participated in a Q&A session led by director of the College’s Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith (HGI) Education Center, Mehnaz Afridi, Ph.D. “Albania should be an example for all of us today, especially in light of the terrible attacks on minorities all over the globe,” she said, while introducing the president. “We must never forget dark, historical periods, but celebrate heroes that have brought us to moments of courage and faith for a better promise, like Albania.”

Nishani’s visit to the College followed an HGI Center exhibition that appeared on campus in 2012. Entitled Besa: Muslim Albanians Who Rescued Jews During the Holocaust, the exhibition included photography that featured the country’s inhabitants rescuing Jews during the Holocaust.

“Manhattan College and the HGI Center have kept and are fulfilling

our promise, and call for the acceptance of all faiths. We have our own promise and code of honor that commits to faith in the presence of God and a respect for all people,” Afridi added.

The Manhattan community also can look to Albania for examples of tolerance, particularly during the past century, according to Nishani.

“At the end of World War II, Jews in Albania were not persecuted, nor did they become victims of discrimination; on the contrary, they were sheltered, protected and respected,” Nishani said.

President Brennan O’Donnell then tied the Albanian president’s ideals to those honored by Manhattan College.

“At the heart of our mission and our heritage is something that I know is near and dear to the hearts of Albanians: a deep conviction of the essential brotherhood and sisterhood of all human beings and a commitment to care for one another in love,” he said.

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Examining Racial Issues on Campus and Beyond

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N LIGHT OF THE WIDELY PUBLICIZED DEATHS of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and the social unrest that followed, the professors and students at Manhattan College organized a Racial Justice Teach-In in February to recognize and challenge structural racism and white privilege. Attended by hundreds of students and members of the College community, the event was comprised of student and professor-led panels, a

presentation on Race, Catholicism and Social Justice Activism, and student-led workshops fostering student activism on campus.

The teach-in began with an introductory panel that touched upon the Black Lives Matter movement and a discussion on racial justice, moderated by religious studies professor Jawanza Clark, Ph.D., and English professors Maeve Adams, Ph.D., and David Witzling, Ph.D. Students learned about the historical and sociopolitical contexts of the Black Lives Matter movement, the value of human life regardless of background, and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. “The teach-in has fostered an ongoing dialogue about race and diversity on campus and in the U.S. as a whole,” Witzling says.

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“I think it encouraged students to feel empow- ity. They liked what I liked, they sang the same songs, and spoke in Spanglish,” she said. ered to speak up about issues that concern “When I started college, not only had I become them, and it certainly gave students a sense a minority, I felt like I had to hide the blend that they are not alone in their concerns.” between my slight Hispanic accent and my Students and recent alumni shared their strong New York accent to fit in,” she added. personal experiences as members of minorTaveras said that she would like the ity groups on campus. Kyle Osborne ’11, the students attending the event to leave first member of the student panel to speak, recognizing the diversity issues on campus discussed her childhood as the daughter of and also to understand there are positive biracial parents. takeaways that could drive progress.

“I grew up in Massachu“It is all about finding balance and knowing setts in a predominately that divides are meant to be conquered,” white town,” Osborne said. she said. “I invite all of you to challenge your“I have always known I was different than everyone else selves and be proactive in understanding these issues.” because I was darker than Bohorquez and Taveras are catalysts in everyone else.” the movement to spread diversity across A graduate student at campus. Bohorquez founded a club called Hunter College studying Fuerza Latina that looks to explore the diverto become a social worker, sity of South America and the Caribbean Osborne advised the through social gatherings and events on audience to guard against campus. In addition, Taveras was able to find micro-aggression, an clubs and groups that she enjoyed and gave unintended discriminatory value to her ethnic identity. comment that can seem like “In the L.O.V.E. (Lasallian Outreach Vola backhanded compliment. unteer Experience) program, we didn’t just Osborne argued that these learn about racial injustices,” she said. “We comments can ostracize were encouraged to act and to recognize that people and accentuate their we all have privilege. I also think that the Muldifferences in a negative way. ticultural Center and the Diversity CommitThe next two panelists, Ivan Bohorquez tee are all ready to facilitate change. We just ’16, an international studies and economics need more support and participation.” major, and Aleysha Taveras ’16, a secondary Bohorquez praised everyone for particieducation major, contrasted their experipating and stressed how racial justice was an ences growing up in multiethnic sections of the Bronx with attending college in Riverdale. important step in learning about differences “I’ve always attended an extremely diverse within the community and around the country. He encouraged attendees to participate school; from kindergarten up until high in and support the various clubs that are school,” Bohorquez said. “I transferred here working to create a more diverse campus from the University of Albany as a freshman, and it was the first time I wasn’t in an exceed- and to check out the brand new Multicultural Center in the student commons. ingly multicultural and diverse place. It was “Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders,” initially a bit of a culture shock,” he added.

Bohorquez said. “It is our responsibility to Taveras shared a similar sentiment. educate everyone on the problems of today “In high school, I went to a small, private to pave the way for a better tomorrow.” school where people like me were the major-

Vets Perfect Their Warrior Pose

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to the Sivananda Ashram during spring break. “Professor Kaplan and the Religious Studies OR NEARLY A CENTURY, Manhattan department are visionaries who have College has invested in the education However, when a veteran student relayed his implemented a first-year experience that interest in the course — particularly for the of veterans, spanning from World will positively affect the lives of our veteran stress-reducing properties of a yogic lifestyle War I to the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars. Most student population for years to come.” recently, the College is helping to support the — Kaplan recognized it as an opportunity to Kinesiology major Dale Andrews ’17, serve the ever-growing veteran population at well-being of veterans, as they make the tranwho served as a Navy combat medic for the College. sition to both civilian and academic life. eight years, says the experience was both With the help of Robin Carnes, executive This spring, eight veterans traveled to Parphysically and mentally demanding. However, adise Island, Bahamas, to study the science of director of Warriors at Ease, an organization the process helped him to discover an altered that brings the healing power of yoga and stress reduction and the art of relaxation at state of consciousness — a path to ultimate meditation to military communities around the Sivananda Ashram, a center for yoga and relaxation. meditation. The four-day experience was part the world, Kaplan developed a special sec“We focused on meditation in yoga, tion of Religious Studies 110 that is specifiof a first-year course, the Nature and Expericoncentrating on our breathing technique ence of Religion, led by Stephen Kaplan, Ph.D., cally tailored to veterans. to transition to the point of meditating,” “Manhattan College is uniquely positioned professor of religious studies.

Andrews says. “At first, I thought everyone to serve its veteran population,” Kaplan says.

For the past several years, Kaplan has was just sleeping, but as Robin was taking “All Manhattan students are required to take served as a regular panelist and coordinaus through the practice, I felt like I was there, RELS 110, and this course can serve as the tor at the Sivananda Ashram. He is also but I wasn’t. I felt like I was asleep, but I was intellectual and cultural platform to underauthor of a forthcoming article in the Oxford very aware and conscious.” stand how different forms of yoga, meditaResearch Encyclopedia of Religion, Scientific Now that the group has returned home, tion and stress reduction, found in the reliApproaches to Mysticism. Looking for ways gious traditions of the world, help individuals they’re incorporating yoga and meditation to enhance his new seminar, Journey into practice into their daily routines. focus their minds and relax. This knowledge Mysticism, he planned a trip for his students “Yoga and meditation are great aids, helped the veterans easily especially at school,” Andrews says. “When acclimate to the Warriors everything is stressful, sometimes you need at Ease program.” to take 20-30 minutes of your day to sit down Because the GI Bill and try to relax and realize the purpose doesn’t cover study abroad opportunities, the behind your actions. Overall, the experience was mind-blowing in a way, because now College funded the travel that we’ve returned, I’m still discovering portion of the course. things that I learned. I’m very grateful to the ​​​​“Manhattan College College for actually giving us the opportunity has an unwavering to experience it.” commitment to support our veteran students as they transition from active duty to civilian and academic life,” says Troy Cogburn, director of transfer admissions, and coordinator of the Veteran students strike yogic poses with Robin Carnes, veterans’ student organiexecutive director of Warriors at Ease, and Stephen Kaplan, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, at the zation, VALOR (Veterans Sivananda Ashram, a center for yoga and meditation, Academic Learning in Paradise Island, Bahamas, as part of a four-day trip Opportunities Realized) to study the science of stress reduction and the art at Manhattan College. of relaxation.

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Jasper Named Newman Civic Fellow IN ITS FIRST-EVER recognition of a Manhattan College student, Campus Compact named Freda Tei ’16 a Newman Civic Fellow for her advocacy work in the Bronx, her hometown. The award honors inspiring student leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to challenges faced by their communities. The biology major is one of 201 community-engaged college students to receive the prestigious honor.

Since 2009, Tei has been an advocate for better schools and social change. She participates in her local Bronx community through the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) and Sistas and Brothas United (SBU). Originally drawn to community organizing, Tei and her fellow high school students worked to decrease overcrowding by joining the NWBCCC’s campaign to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into schools.

At Manhattan College, Tei helped establish a tutoring program with SBU and has been instrumental in the college access program.

She has also continued to organize as part of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, training new members in community organizing strategies. Tei has spearheaded a petition campaign to support the New York State Dream Act and register people to vote, too.

“We are extremely proud of Freda Tei and happy to have her represent Manhattan College in the Newman Civic Fellowship,” says President Brennan O’Donnell. “Not only has she developed her own leadership abilities, she is helping to build a new generation of young community leaders.”

The Newman Civic Fellow Award is generously sponsored by the KPMG Foundation, which works in partnership with business and

Bronx native Freda Tei ’16 was named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact for her advocacy work in her hometown. It’s the first-ever recognition of a Manhattan student, and the biology major is one of 201 community-engaged students to receive this honor.

higher education to provide college and university students the opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.

The Distinguished Delegation TWENTY-FIVE MANHATTAN COLLEGE STUDENTS joined nearly 3,000 undergraduates from more than 50 countries at the 2015 National Model United Nations conference in midtown Manhattan this spring. Representing the Republic of Colombia, students worked on a variety of issues in different committees, including Sustainable Urban Development, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Women and Develop-

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ment, Empowering Women, Ending Racial Discrimination, and Transnational Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking.

In addition, Evan Amadio ’15 and Greg Pachacz ’15 represented Jordan on a simulation of the Security Council dealing with the situation in Iraq and a “crisis” in Southern Sudan, and Mahamoud Diop ’17 filled in for a missing delegation from Chad on another Security Council simulation.

All in all, Manhattan

College brought home three awards this year: the entire delegation of Colombia received an honorable mention award; Amadio and Pachacz received an outstanding delegation award for their representation of Jordan; and Deandra Anderson ’15 and Taylor Allen ’16 received an outstanding position paper award for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Racking up the Rankings BROOKINGS New data and analysis of two- and fouryear schools released by the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program highlighted how well Manhattan College prepares students for successful careers. The institution ranks the College ninth for value-added education.

Placed just ahead of Stanford, Manhattan ranks in the top 10 with Cal Tech, Colgate, MIT, Rose-Hulman, Carleton College, Washington and Lee, SUNY Maritime and Clarkson.

Accounting for demographic and geographic characteristics, the report predicted mid-career graduates of Manhattan to earn an average annual salary of $72,701, whereas the actual average salary is $110,800, constituting a 42 percent salary boost. The report also notes that Manhattan places many graduates into top international companies, such as IBM, Google, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo.

Manhattan College received a score of 99 out of 100 in value-added with respect to mid-career earnings of the typical graduate.

Manhattan also scored a 98 in value-added with respect to occupational earnings power of the typical graduate.

The Brookings report cites five college quality factors that seem to be key to how well students perform economically in the years after college: curriculum value, alumni skills, STEM orientation, completion rates and student aid.

Drawing on government and private sources, the report analyzes college “valueadded,” the difference between actual alumni outcomes (like salaries) and the outcomes one would expect given a student’s characteristics and the type of institution. Value-added captures the benefits that accrue from aspects of college quality that Brookings can measure, such as graduation rates and the market value of the skills a college teaches, as well as aspects Brookings can’t measure.

PAYSCALE In Payscale’s recent 2015 College Return on Investment (ROI) Report: Best Value Colleges, Manhattan College ranked No. 18 among private colleges in the nation for offering bachelor’s degrees with value, and 33rd overall among 1,223 private and public institutions.

“No matter how you look at it, college is an investment — both of time and money,” Payscale said in its press release. “The benefit to this particular investment is that there are returns far beyond the obvious monetary ones. However, the financial aspects of evaluating college return on investment cannot be ignored. And, some schools are simply doing a better job of setting their alumni up for success in the job market.”

Manhattan College ranked as the third highest college for ROI in New York State with New York University as No. 1 and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as No. 2, as well as second among religiously affiliated schools. The College’s median starting salary for graduates was reported as $57,500.

MYACTIONS myActions, the leading student-powered college network for sharing sustainable and socially responsible actions, announced that Manhattan College received silver level recognition for the Student Actions Awards for the 2014 fall semester. The award honors undergraduate schools for student-demonstrated leadership, momentum and impact of green, caring and healthy actions.

“We are proud to shine the spotlight on student actions and student leaders.

Throughout the semester, students have shared actions in an effort to inspire peers

and better understand both personal and collective impact,” says Kristine Sturgeon, president of myActions.

Delaney Higgins ’17 spearheaded Manhattan College’s connection with myActions after interning there during the fall semester.

Last summer, Higgins collaborated with fellow interns Gavin Sass ’15 and Samantha Brand ’15 on shortening the food chain for the Bronx community by helping to grow crops within city limits. In addition to expanding the College’s rooftop garden, they shared their urban farming know-how with area community members at Montefiore Medical Center and Marble Hill Community Center. A mathematics major, Higgins is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the College’s Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability.

The Student Actions Awards celebrate student leadership, student activation, initiatives and impact. During the previous fall semester, more than 65,000 positive student actions were shared in an effort to inspire friends and make others aware of the fantastic opportunities to engage on campus.

Manhattan was one of 87 schools recognized by myActions.

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT In the latest U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2016, Manhattan College was ranked No. 17 among the best regional universities in the North, a spot above its ranking last year. This is the ninth year in a row that Manhattan has placed in the top 20 out of 138 schools ranked in the category.

For the first time, U.S. News also recognized Manhattan College as a top college for veteran students. Certified for the GI Bill and a participant school in the Yellow Ribbon Program, the College provides many resources for veteran students, including the VALOR (Veterans Academic Learning Opportunities Realized) Club, which sponsors several events each semester.

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LASALLIANLOOK

Serving Up a Cup of Conversation

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The College’s Campus Ministry and Social Action department debuted a new conversational series this past spring, Agape Latte, to encourage open discussion about faith, values and love in an informal, coffeehouse setting. More than 50 guests gathered for the first event in February, which featured live music, cafe staples, and speaker Shawn Ladda, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology.

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HE COLLEGE’S CAMPUS MINISTRY AND SOCIAL ACTION department kicked off a new conversation series during the spring semester as a way to encourage students and faculty to speak openly about faith, values, relationships and love in an informal setting.

The program’s unique name — Agape Latte — is designed to turn heads and pique interest. It combines the Greek translation of the word “agape,” which means “love that seeks nothing in return,” with a nod to the program’s coffeehouse setting.

In February, more than 50 guests gathered in Jasper Lounge for the College’s first Agape Latte event, featuring live music, coffeehouse fare and guest speaker Shawn Ladda, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology.

“Faith is a journey — figuring out your place in the world, your purpose in life, your passion, what you can offer to the world,” said Ladda, who experienced many different faith traditions growing up — from Protestantism to Catholicism to Judaism.

She shared with the audience the importance of finding the “church in your backyard” — simply, finding something that inspires you and gives life meaning each day.

Agape Latte grew out of this same notion that religion should be more accessible and relatable to everyday life. The program was started in 2008 at Boston College as part of an effort to construct more positive views of the church among young people. Since then, it’s spread to 11 partner schools.

Campus minister Conor Reidy spearheaded bringing the program to Manhattan College at the suggestion of Kevin Ahern, Ph.D., assistant professor of religious studies, who completed his doctorate at Boston College.

“I think sometimes students are yearning for a space to speak about values, speak about decisions, talk about things greater than themselves and their interior life, but that can be really difficult,” Reidy says. “So we hope through Agape Latte that those bigger conversations become more common and less inhibited.”

By April 28, word had spread, and guest speakers Robert and Jovita Geraci, Ph.D., professors in the religious studies department, delivered a muchanticipated talk titled, “Tattooed in the Spirit,” to a capacity crowd of 150.

“Our tattoos reference how we love one another, how we love our kids, how we understand the world around us, and how we commit ourselves to the universe in pretty meaningful and profound ways,” Robert Geraci explained, showing off the ink that’s made him famous around campus.

For students, it’s simple. Part of the program’s appeal is hearing personal stories from the people who teach them each day. But it’s also the fact that most topics, no matter how colorful, can relate back to faith somehow.

“A program like this is important for Manhattan College students because it offers a space to have a discussion on personal journeys in faith in a relaxed setting, which is something that is more comforting to students than a lecture in a classroom,” says Hugh Geraghty ’17, a communication major and one of the program’s student organizers.

In October, President Brennan O’Donnell stopped by Jasper Lounge to serve up some conversation and give the featured talk at the fall Agape Latte event.

COURSE SPOTLIGHT

Most Likely To Succeed FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, the yearbook, Manhattanite, captured the faces of Manhattan College students as they passed through its hallowed halls on their way to achieving greatness. In that time, the college yearbook has built a legacy all its own. Celebrating its 105th anniversary this year, the first Manhattanite was truly a literary affair.

Created by the class of 1910 and dedicated to Brother Anthony Byrnes, FSC, former president of the College (1879-86; 1989-94), it cost $2 per copy. The 1910 yearbook was certainly a substantial literary venture — containing upwards of 150 pages and elegantly bound — and offered histories of the classes, brief reflections on College life, both past and present, photographs and cartoons that appealed not only to the students but also to graduates and friends. Some of the general section titles included: Dedication, Faculty, Classes, Commercial Men, Alumni, Music, Dramatics, Athletics, Oratory, Wit and Humor, and Publications. Humorous and intimately detailed, the annual even included “statistics” on the 14 members of the class of 1910, such as age, height and weight. The first edition was a genuine labor of love that was undertaken with enthusiasm and met with support and success. The Manhattanite continued to be a Jasper tradition until 2012, when the last issue was printed.

Kinesiology & Public Health (KIN 375) Course Description: GET UP. GET OUT. LEARN. This could be the mantra for students enrolled in Kinesiology & Public Health (KIN 375), a new course that explores the relationship between physical activity and overall wellness. Kinesiology professor, Jeff Cherubini, Ph.D., instructed the class for the first time this past spring, during which he led an on-campus campaign for wellness that consisted of fun, creative ways of incorporating exercise into the lives of students, faculty and staff. Dubbed Let’s Move Manhattan, the weeklong event in April featured a two-day Jasper Sport Carnival of pick-up KanJam games and badminton matches, daily walks on the Quadrangle, and an employee orientation of the Kelly Commons fitness center, in addition to other activities.

Jaspers enrolled in KIN 375 also spent a fair amount of time off campus, working on service projects geared toward promoting everyday health and environmental consciousness in Riverdale and beyond. Some students shadowed physical therapists on the development of programming at the neighboring Methodist Home, while others helped choose playground equipment for a recreation area soon to be built alongside a rail-to-trail greenway in Yonkers

by Groundwork Hudson Valley. Still others collaborated with the Boys & Girls Club of New York and additional organizations. For now, KIN 375 is available as a special topics course.

Text: Foundations of Physical Activity and Public Health by Harold Kohl III, Tinker Murray Lectures: Monday and Thursday, 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Professor: Jeff Cherubini, Ph.D. About the Professor: Cherubini has taught at Manhattan since 2003, where he is department chair of kinesiology and an associate professor. He received his B.A. from Fordham University, M.A. from San Diego State University and Ph.D. from Temple University, and has contributed to a number of publications focused on physical activity and public health, wellness and sport psychology.

The 1910 yearbook staff included: Editor-in-Chief Philip J. Degnan and Associate Editors Luke A. Higgins, Michael J. Lynch, James B. Martin, Francis P. Brophy and Jose E. Salazar; Art Editors John T. Stack and Francis A. Dee; Literary Editors Thomas E. McEntegart and William T. Holmes; and Business Manager Walter L. Grady.

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Using Tragedy To Champion Advocacy

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T’S BEEN 21 YEARS since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, but for survivor Marylise Uwabideli ’15, the years have not diminished her memories of the atrocities or the tension that followed. In fact, she is motivated to use her tragic experience to help change the world through a future career in advocacy.

As a 2-year-old, Uwabideli witnessed the killing of her father and other family members during the 100-day slaughter in Rwanda. The genocide against the Tutsis was prompted by the sudden death of Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana, whose plane was shot down on April 6, 1994. An estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed during a span of 100 days.

After the genocide, Uwabideli’s mother met an American relief worker, who helped Uwabideli, who was 6 years old at the time, her mother, brother and sister move to the United States.

“Since I was so young, I mostly remember how much tension there still was after the genocide,” Uwabideli says.

Uwabideli’s family first moved to Bainbridge, N.Y., and eventually settled in Walton, N.Y., where her mother completed her college degree, bought her first house, and got a job.

“I attended Walton Central High School, a very small high school, and I graduated with 75 kids. It was a very rural and conservative small farming town,” Uwabideli explains.

As Uwabideli started thinking about college, she met fellow Rwandi Alain Rwabukamba ’12, ’14 (M.S.) through a friend of her brother. Rwabukamba, also a genocide survivor, was a Manhattan student and happened to be Uwabideli’s admissions tour guide when she visited the College. He was a major influence on why she decided to attend.

“The last four years at Manhattan College have been amazing,” Uwabideli says. “It was great coming into such a welcoming community where everyone is so willing to help you.”

As an international studies major with African and Middle East Studies concentrations, Uwabideli has focused much of her college career learning about countries across the globe, especially Rwanda.

She also was active in Just Peace, a club that spreads awareness on social issues, and the International Student Association.

During the spring semester, Uwabideli took the unique opportunity to attend the Lemkin Summit in Washington, D.C. The three-day conference is named in honor of Raphael Lemkin, Polish-Jewish lawyer who fought tirelessly for human rights and first coined the term “genocide” in 1944. Thanks to Lemkin, the United Nations added genocide to international law and participated in the drafting of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

“Marylise took the initiative to apply to the Lemkin Summit and learn more about genocide. As a Rwandan, the genocide that took place in 1994 has had an impact on her, her extended family and her country to this day,” says Pamela Chasek, Ph.D., professor and chair of the government department and Uwabideli’s adviser. “She hopes to work at the United Nations one day, and it is a conference like this

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one that will give her the necessary groundwork for a future career in human rights and genocide prevention.”

The conference offered Uwabideli the chance to work side-by-side with students and community activists on key issues, ranging from women and youth conflict to the U.S. government’s responses to genocide and mass atrocities. She also participated in advocacy training, expert panels, and a lobby day on Capitol Hill.

“Raphael Lemkin was really the reason we have the international criminal court to hold people who caused mass atrocities and genocide to be held accountable,” Uwabideli adds. “And it means so much to me because of what myself and my family went through, and I want to make sure things like that don’t continue to happen.”

In addition to attending the conference, Uwabideli interned for the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda during the summer before her sophomore year. She worked in the tourism section, from which most of the country’s revenue comes.

The Lemkin Summit further inspired Uwabideli to work for an organization or company making a difference around the globe. Since graduating, she is determined to work for the United Nations and to find a job in New York City or Washington, D.C., that will prepare her for this future venture.

Battle of the Brains

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RADDY GYMNASIUM WAS TRANSFORMED into an academic arena on April 28, as nearly 200 chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering students competed for the title of the top engineering discipline at the first ever Battle of the Brains.

Students suited up in brightly colored team T-shirts and huddled together to exchange last-minute strategies and group cheers before going head-to-head in a series of four engineering challenges — one from each discipline.

Although the competition was fierce, the mechanical engineering team won the com-

petition, and took home the prize of the 3-D printed trophy. Electrical came in second, followed by chemical and civil.

The event was coordinated by the student board members from the College’s chapters of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

ASCE student chapter president, Vincent Terrone ’15, who helped organize the event, says the Battle of the Brains displayed the passion each engineer has for his or her choice of study.

“An event of this scale for the School of Engineering has never been attempted before, and our hope is that the Battle of the Brains will continue as an annual event that rallies the four engineering disciplines together in a friendly competition,” he says.

“It was a huge success.”

LECTURE CIRCUIT

Legendary Activist Addresses Inequality in Early Education “TEACHERS ARE MY HEROES,” said activist and educator Jonathan Kozol, at the start of the second and final lecture of the semester hosted by the Center for the Study of the Future of Education in April.

A former public school teacher, Kozol was invited to the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx in the early 1990s to observe teachers and their classrooms. After that experience, Kozol wrote several widely read books, including Fire in the Ashes, Savage Inequalities and Shame of the Nation.

In his lecture, Kozol repeated the themes that appear throughout his books. He passionately spoke about the importance of public education, calling public schools “a precious resource in a democratic nation.” In a democratic nation based on equality, Kozol notes that many public schools are anything but equal. During his time in the South Bronx, he observed that many New York City public schools were as segregated as they were in the Civil Rights era of the 1960s.

“Black and Hispanic children are more isolated intellectually and segregated physically than at any time since 1968,” Kozol said, noting that private school demographics in New York and other urban cities are nearly the opposite of public school demographics. “I don’t

like the idea of educating one class of children and training the other.

That’s what’s going on.”

To integrate public schools and solve the problem of inequality in early and secondary education, one item Kozol suggested was universal preschool. Since crucial development skills begin at 2 and 3 years old, Kozol believes universal preschool would be an important step for all children to not only gain basic learning skills but also to interact with children of all races and classes.

Kozol knows that universal preschool would only be the start of educational reform. He also called on education leaders and public officials to invest in public education, specifically the quality of education offered. Kozol urges teachers to spend more time listening to children, allowing them to exchange ideas, rather than spend the majority of their time teaching to a standardized test.

“Curiosity will not be tested on a standardized exam,” Kozol stated.

“If we focus on preschool education — moving money away from testing services — our children will be better learners and begin to develop a lifelong curiosity. Life goes so fast. We need to use it well.”

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LECTURE CIRCUIT

Aquinas and the Mind

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HEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT the relationship between science and theology, they may compare it to the incompatible properties of water and oil. Science and theology do have a storied and controversial history, but current scholars have been analyzing fundamental principles and influential figures in these fields to make more interesting connections and to better understand these areas of study. At this year’s annual Aquinas Lecture, Stephen Pope, Ph.D., professor of theology at Boston College, and Michael Spezio, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Scripps College, visited Manhattan College to share their research and thoughts on Moral Theology Meets Neuroscience.

The reason that science and theology often conflict is their varying methods in establishing their ideologies and beliefs. Science reveres reason and evidence, while religion often requires belief in faith and revelation. Saint Thomas Aquinas, the prominent philosopher, theologian and namesake of the annual lecture, was one of the first thinkers to address the connection between science and religion, especially Catholicism.

Pope discussed the progressive ideas of Aquinas and his views on the harmony of faith and reason. He shared Aquinas’ views on the importance of understanding the synergy between the physical body and intangible soul inside of every human being, and the bridge between science and religion, which was especially rare in the rudimentary academic world that Aquinas inhabited. The Medieval philosopher defines the soul as: “the principle of life of any living being. It is the basis of perception, feelings, and understanding.” However, the body, or “rational soul” informs our whole personal existence, and human intellectual activity depends upon the physical body and brain to function.

Humans differentiate themselves from non-humans because we not only engage in both physical and sense operations but also also engage in intellectual operations, Pope explained.

18 N fall 2015

“We have unlimited active power in raising and answering questions that empower us to arrive at knowledge, something known as ‘active intellect,’” Pope said. “Human intellect is mostly based off of intellectual thinking and decisionmaking rather than instinct. We are different from other animals because we can adopt goals, form intentions, and make decisions based upon them rather than just act according to our unreflected desires.”

Spezio, a professor of psychology with research experience in neuroscience and a background in theology, presented his findings in moral psychology and neuroscience. His research, “Aquinas and the Brain: Moral Theology Meets Neuroscience,” examines the synergies and challenges between Aquinas’ beliefs and the modern-day neuroscience field. A compelling presentation that incorporated visual depictions and video simulations of the various studies used in his research, Spezio explained his thoughts on cognitive science and the moral psychology of Aquinas. He believes that this study has changed academics’ perspectives on studying both neuroscience and theology, but that there are some differences that need to be acknowledged when applying Aquinas’ beliefs to modern neuroscience. He noted that Aquinas makes some assumptions concerning human nature and the way people act that are not entirely realistic in the academic setting in which neuroscience is studied today.

“This year’s Aquinas Lecture highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of conversations taking place across the Manhattan College campus,” says Stephen Kaplan, Ph.D., professor of religious studies at Manhattan College, who moderated the event. “It reflected the very nature of our institution — joining the scientific knowledge of the neurosciences with the analytic skills of a moral theologian.”

Named for the Catholic philosopher and theologian, the Aquinas Lecture covers a wide variety of liberal arts topics, including philosophy and theology.

LECTURE CIRCUIT

Battlefield Archaeology of the Pequot War

Engraving: Library of Congress

J

UST A SHORT DRIVE FROM MANHATTAN COLLEGE, into the neighboring state of Connecticut, lie some of the most important battle sites in early American history. The Pequot War, fought between the native Pequot tribe and the settling English colonists, was among the bloody backlashes in the 1600s that destroyed and disbanded indigenous civilizations. With many details of the war shrouded in time, there is much to glean from the artifacts that still exist beneath the ground’s surface.

In March, Kevin McBride, Ph.D., one of the premier archaeologists in New England, visited campus as the featured speaker at this year’s Christen Lecture in Early American History. He discussed his extensive work and discoveries during his archaeological excavations of these nearby Pequot War battlefields.

As the director of research at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center in Mashantucket, Conn., and associate professor of anthropology at the University of Connecticut, McBride is an expert in Native American and colonial battlefield archaeological excavations and ethnohistorical research.

The Pequots were a Native American tribe of about 8,000 people inhabiting much of modern-day Connecticut during the early 17th century. By the early 1630s, the Pequot tribe was considered the most powerful tribe in southern New England and maintained political and economic dominance in the region. Their domination of the fur and wampum trade over the newly settled Massachusetts Bay Colonies was what prompted the Pequot War in 1636, McBride explained.

By 1637, the English colonists, along with the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes, overpowered the Pequots.

“Most of the Pequot population and their villages were destroyed, and they were forced to surrender, ending their dominance in the New England region they inhabited,” he said.

As director of research at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, McBride led numerous archaeological excavations of some of the most prominent Pequot battlefields. He shared pictures of the unique weapons that his crews found that were used by both the Pequots and the colonists, and pointed out the differences in their sophistications

and the role this played during the war. McBride also shared insight into the excavation site throughout the process of the archaeological dig and the methods used to uncover these precious artifacts. Many of his findings are on display at the 308,000-square-foot museum.

The Christen Lecture series, hosted by the College’s History department, draws major figures to campus to share cutting-edge insights. Julie Pycior, Ph.D., professor of history, describes the annual event as a great tribute to Robert J. Christen, Ph.D., a former distinguished Manhattan College historian and head of the New York City Board of Education who made great contributions to the College.

“This year, it was also rewarding, if poignant, to pay tribute to recently departed Barbara Christen, Ed.D., the leading supporter of this important lecture series and herself an impressive teacher and leader,”

Pycior says.

The Robert J. Christen Program in Early American History and Culture was founded in 1986 by his widow, Barbara, their three daughters, and friends of the family.

The program honors the memory of Christen, a longtime Manhattan College professor who began his association with the College as a Manhattan Prep student and then as an undergraduate in the School of Arts, graduating in 1952.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 19

SPORTS

Women’s Rowing Ready To Hit The Water M ANHATTAN COLLEGE HAS SPORTED A WOMEN’S ROWING TEAM for almost 40 years, but it wasn’t until April that the team made news on a national level. The College announced that the program would be elevated from club status to one of the Jaspers’ 19 intercollegiate sport offerings beginning this fall.

“We are very excited to add a women’s rowing program to our list of intercollegiate

offerings,” says Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Noah LeFevre. “The addition of a rowing program will enable us to increase our athletic participation, and it will open up new doors to us from a development perspective. We are looking forward to competing in the MAAC women’s rowing championship as an intercollegiate program.”

While the program is new in terms of its association with the word intercollegiate,

With a storied history at Manhattan College, the women’s rowing team is all set to take the MAAC by storm as a newly elevated intercollegiate sport. In this photo, the Jaspers are about one mile into their three-mile course during the Open 4+ event at the Head of the Passaic Regatta in fall 2014. They eventually took third place.

20 N fall 2015

it has a history that is deeply entrenched within Manhattan College.

The College first admitted women to the school beginning with the 1975-1976 school year, and the inaugural rowing team sprung up just two short years later with the first competition occurring in the spring of 1978.

Then-junior at Manhattan and current Iona Prep head coach Vinny Houston ’79 served as the inaugural head coach of the program.

Prior to the first year of competition, four women practiced on the water regularly before quadrupling to 16 with Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Famers Lisa Toscano ’79 and Kathleen McCarrick-Weiden ’79, along with Ruth (Klein-Smith) Brock ’79 and Annie McPartland ’78 comprising the first foursome in school history.

The squad regularly worked out at Overlook before competing at the Fordham Rowing Association boathouse on Dyckman Street. The enthusiasm for the move nearly ended in the fall of 1978, when a boathouse fire destroyed all but one of Manhattan’s shells. Despite this event, the women’s rowing program maintained the course and returned to the water the following spring, transforming adversity into success.

During the next 15 years, the Jaspers trained alongside Fordham out of the Sherman Creek Power Plant alongside the Con Edison coal burning plant on Dyckman Street, while enjoying unprecedented success.

It was during this time that the rowing program began to make waves, as the 1981 team won the Metropolitan Championships, and the 1982 squad reached the Dad Vail Finals, the biggest race in collegiate rowing.

From 1989-1991, the Jaspers competed and won three straight unofficial MAAC Championships against fellow conference members, even though the league did not

Men’s Team Rows On

The College’s inaugural women’s rowing team started shortly after Manhattan became a coeducational institution.

An archival photo shows the team circa 1984-1985. In 1981, the Jaspers won the Metropolitan Championships.

sponsor rowing as an intercollegiate sport.

Success continued in 1994 as Manhattan qualified for the Lightweight Dad Vail finals, before combining with Iona and Fordham to win the 1995 Empire State Games.

It was around that time that the scope of women’s rowing on a national level began to change. The NCAA announced it would hold its first championship event in 1997, leading to sponsorship from Division I leagues, including the MAAC. Fast-forward 18 years and the Jaspers will be joining the Division I fray as one of Manhattan’s intercollegiate offerings.

Leading the program will be James Foley, who has served as an assistant for four seasons before being named head coach prior to the 2014-15 season.

“It is a new beginning for the school and the program,” Foley says. “Moving forward, our goal is to increase the roster and attract the caliber of a student-athlete who will be competitive on the Division I level.”

Foley was a member of the men’s rowing team as an undergraduate at Marist and has long been affiliated with the sport.

Assisting Foley will be second-year coach Chelsea Ernst ’14, who was a member of the rowing team during her time as an undergraduate at Manhattan College.

Ernst represents something of an unbreakable Manhattan bond to the sport.

Since the introduction of the sport on the

club level in the 1970s, almost every Jasper coaching staff has had at least one member compete for the school.

The advancement to intercollegiate status will enable the program to be eligible to now compete in a MAAC Championship.

The league features nine other schools in the sport of women’s rowing, including Canisius, Fairfield, Iona and Marist along with associate MAAC members Drake, Jacksonville, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Stetson.

Manhattan was one of eight founding members of the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. The race attracts more than 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada and takes place during the second Saturday of May on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. If past history is any indicator, women’s rowing is primed to provide an indelible mark on the College in the years to come.

ALTHOUGH THE WOMEN’S ROWING program has been elevated to varsity status, the men’s program remains a club offering. The program has been and continues to be an important part of the athletics program at the College.

In 1931-1932, an intramural crew program was begun by football coach John Francis “Chick” Meehan, who was also the director of intramural programs of the College at the time.

Shells were obtained and various practices took place on the Harlem River. The squad consisted initially of 28 men, but finished out the 1932 year with 82. By the 1932-1933 season, crew had become a varsity sport.

The rowing program was discontinued in the 1940s due to the war, but a group of students started a crew club in the mid-1960s that rowed on Orchard Beach Lagoon from the New York Athletic Club Boathouse on Travers Island in Pelham, N.Y. Jim Sullivan ’68, Joe Humphrey ’68 and Joe Platt ’68 were some of the group’s leaders.

This foundation laid the groundwork for the 1970-71 team, which enjoyed unprecedented success under coach Jack Cozza. The men’s varsity eight won the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Rowing Association team title and advanced to the semifinals of the Dad Vail Regatta, while claiming the men’s varsity 4+ championship. The team was led by Tom Delaney ’71, who later coached the team for almost 30 years, established a women’s crew program, and created the alumni crew organization.

Today, the men’s team has approximately 20 participants, and is open to all students who want to learn and compete in the sport of rowing.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 21

SPORTS

SPORTSSHORTS MAAC HALL OF FAME Brian Mahoney ’71 and Rosalee Mason ’04 will be inducted into the 2015-16 MAAC Honor Roll class in October, and recognized during an induction ceremony at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. They also will be honored in a video presentation at The MAAC Experience, the conference’s permanent exhibit at the Hall of Fame, and the 2016 MAAC Tournament program.

Mahoney played three seasons for the Jaspers (1968-71) and graduated with 1,289 career points, third most in program history at the time. He was named All-East after averaging 20.6 points per game as a senior in 1970-71, and helped lead Manhattan to a win over North Carolina in the 1970 NIT. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and played for the American Basketball Association’s New York Nets in 1972-73 before returning to Riverdale as the Jaspers’ head coach from 1978-81. A 1998 Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame honoree, Mahoney is the color commentator for select Manhattan men’s and women’s basketball broadcasts.

Mason was a three-time First Team All-MAAC selection and is the conference’s all-time leading rebounder (1,217). She also ranks second on Manhattan’s career scoring list (1,875) and is sixth all-time in steals (230). A two-time MAAC All-Tournament Team selection, Mason led the Jaspers to their fourth MAAC title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002-03. She won a bronze medal for England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and later played on the inaugural British National Team. Mason also carried the 2012 London Olympic torch.

She was inducted into Manhattan’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES COMPETE IN EUROPE Men’s track and field star Love Litzell ’17 represented his native Sweden at the European Under-23 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, on July 9. He finished 24th overall in the hammer throw with a best effort of 60.61 meters (205 feet, 5 inches).

Elsewhere, a pair of former Jaspers participated in the European Athletics Team Championships in June. Malin Marmbrandt ’10 represented Sweden, while Megan Tice ’11 made her international debut as a member of the Irish team. Competing in the Super League, the highest level of the four-tiered event, in Cheboksary, Russia, Marmbrandt placed 11th in the triple jump with a leap of 12.75 meters (41 feet, 10 inches). Tice competed in the First League in Heraklion, Greece, and tied for fourth place in the high jump after clearing 1.80 meters (5 feet, 10¾ inches).

POMPEY PICKED FOR PAN AMERICAN SPORTS ORGANIZATION Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame member and four-time Olympian Aliann Pompey ’99 has been elected to the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) Athlete Commission. The Athlete Commission’s main job is to provide a link between the athletes and the PASO executive council; helping to ensure athletes have a voice and their 22 N fall 2015

concerns are met. It also works with the International Olympic Committee Athlete’s Commission. Pompey was nominated by the Guyanese Olympic Committee, and her eight-year term will run until 2023.

BOWMAN VS. TEAM USA Softball catcher Elena Bowman ’16, who was the unanimous 2015 MAAC Player of the Year, played for a team of college all-stars in a pair of exhibition games against the USA National Team on July 11.

Bowman, who spent the summer playing for the Stratford (Conn.)

Brakettes, the five-time defending amateur national champions, was one of 19 current players or recent graduates selected for the squad, which dropped both games of the doubleheader. The games also served as one of Team USA’s final tune-ups for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, in which Team USA went on to win the silver medal.

NEW COACHES Several teams have made staff changes for the upcoming 2015-16 season. Drew Kelleher takes over as the men’s lacrosse head coach, while Frank Darby is the new head coach of the men’s golf team. Manhattan also welcomes new assistants in baseball (Brian McCullough), men’s basketball (Branden McDonald) and women’s basketball (Brandon Gade and Samera Marsh).

Kelleher comes to Riverdale after two seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston University. Last season, in just their second as a varsity program, the Terriers achieved a national ranking of No. 19. Prior to helping launch the program at BU, Kelleher was the offensive coordinator for a Siena squad that finished fourth nationally in goals per game in 2012.

Darby spent 20 seasons as the head golf coach at St. John’s, guiding the Red Storm to six NCAA regional appearances. During that span, St. John’s players, including 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, earned a total of 27 all-conference nods. Darby was the 2014 Big East Coach of the Year.

In addition, head softball coach Tom Pardalis and head rowing coach Jim Foley have been elevated to full-time status. Pardalis enters his seventh season at Manhattan, while Foley, who has guided the club rowing team for the past two years, will oversee the women’s program’s transition to the Division I level.

MANHATTAN SIGNS MULTIMEDIA PARTNERSHIP Manhattan College has partnered with Learfield Sports in a multiyear deal. Under the agreement, Learfield Sports will manage the Jaspers’ multimedia rights relationships, including signage, digital, corporate sponsorships, television and radio play-by-play, and shows. Learfield also will work with the Athletics department to establish Jasper Sports Properties, Manhattan’s new multimedia platform. Learfield is a rights-holder with more than 100 collegiate properties nationwide, with a concentration in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

Manhattan Remembers Record-Setting Marathoner

FUNFACTS

16

1978 15

Manhattan athletic teams that had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during the spring 2015 semester

the start of women’s rowing as a club sport at Manhattan. The program was elevated to varsity status for the 2015-16 school year.

Manhattan women’s basketball players with 500 career rebounds after Shayna Ericksen ’16 reached the milestone during the 2014-15 season

A NEW YORK ROADRUNNER equally famous for his lightning speed and unusual mechanics, Pat Petersen ’82 died of pancreatic cancer on May 31. He was 55.

Petersen, who spent the later years of his life as a financial analyst on Long Island, left a legacy that included three top-five New York City Marathon placements. In 1984, he came in fourth with a time of 2:16:35 and third in 1985 with a time of 2:12:59. He placed fourth again two years later with a time of 2:12:03.

During those races, onlookers weren’t just marveling at his ability to trump the competition. They were also watching his running style, which was unconventional, to say the least, but effective. In 1989, Petersen ran the London Marathon in 2:10:04, the fastest on record at that time for an American completing the course.

Petersen’s first years as a runner will always be remembered at the College, where he nabbed 10 sub-25:00 finishes on Van Cortlandt Park’s legendary fivemile country course. In addition to being named the 1981 MAAC champion in cross country, he qualified twice for the NCAA Cross Country Championships and set two school records for the sport. These achievements earned Petersen a spot in the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

2003, 2004

1

the last time the men’s basketball team qualified for the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons before reaching the “Big Dance” in 2014 and 2015

number of MAAC schools with sport-specific branding on their volleyball court, after Manhattan’s introduction of a new floor design for the 2015 season the time posted by the quartet of Abdias Myrtil ’15, Will Stallings ’18, Sheldon Derenoncourt ’15 and Greg Perrier ’15 in the sprint medley relay Championship of America at the Penn Relays, which took eighth place

3:25:48 19

Manhattan baseball players that participated in wood-bat summer leagues in 2015, four of whom earned places on the All-Star Team

6

Jaspers that competed in the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 23

SPORTS

Swimming

Alexandra Hutzler ’18

POSTING AN IMPRESSIVE 7-5 MARK during the 2014-15 season, the men’s swimming team placed eighth at the 2015 MAAC Championships. It was the Jaspers’ sixth consecutive winning season since the program was revived in 2008-09.

On the women’s side, Manhattan broke 11 school records at the MAAC Championships en route to a ninth-place finish. On Jan. 31, the Jasper women beat Howard for head coach Walter Olsewski’s 200th career victory.

At the MAAC Championships, the men’s team broke seven school records. The 200-yard medley relay team comprised of senior Mike Mackay, juniors Lance Neuendorf and Dallan Treanor, and freshman Trey Perry enjoyed Manhattan’s best finish, as they reached the podium after earning a third-place result.

Neuendorf will enter his senior season with his name on 10 Manhattan records. Freshman Alexandra Hutzler also boasts 10 different school marks, while sophomore Madison Brown set seven women’s records during her second year in Riverdale.

The Jaspers were just as successful in the classroom. Six Manhattan men and four members of the women’s team were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team. Each squad also achieved College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America status. The men held a team GPA of 3.20 and earned the honor for the ninth time in the last 13 semesters. The women achieved a team GPA of 3.11 and were recognized for the 35th time in 36 semesters since 1997.

Men’s Basketball THE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM repeated as MAAC champions and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15. After a thrilling 10-point victory over Iona in the MAAC Championship game, the Jaspers traveled to Dayton, Ohio, for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately, the season came to an end with a 74-64 loss to Hampton.

Sixteen of Manhattan’s 33 games were broadcast by the ESPN family of networks. After opening the season with a hard-fought loss at Florida State, the Jaspers visited UMass as a part of ESPN’s College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon on Nov. 18. With Manhattan trailing by two and eight seconds remaining in regulation, sophomore Rich Williams threw down a monster dunk to send the game into overtime. The highlight was the No. 1 play on that night’s SportsCenter.

In MAAC play, the Jaspers put together a 13-7 record, which earned them the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament. Manhattan defeated Marist, 74-58, in the quarterfinals, then knocked off Saint Peter’s 65-48 in the semifinals, setting up a championship matchup against Iona for the third straight year. And for the second straight year, the Jaspers beat the Gaels for the title, clinching the eighth NCAA Tournament bid in school history with a 79-69 triumph.

Junior Ashton Pankey was named Most Outstanding Performer at the MAAC Tournament. He averaged 15.7 points, 8.0 boards and 2.0 blocks during Manhattan’s run to the championship, including a 21-point, 10-rebound performance in the title game. Pankey, who tallied 13.7 points per game for the season, was also selected to both the All-MAAC and All-Metropolitan Third Teams.

Senior Emmy Andujar, meanwhile, was named First Team All-MAAC while also earning places on the All-Metropolitan Second and MAAC 24 N fall 2015

Emmy Andujar ’15

All-Tournament Teams. He led the team in scoring with an average of 16.3 points per game, and also paced the Jaspers in rebounding (7.6 rpg), assists (3.5 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Andujar, who became the 36th member of Manhattan’s 1,000-point club against Saint Peter’s on Jan. 7, ended his career as the only player in program history with 1,300 points, 750 rebounds, 350 assists and 150 steals.

Junior Shane Richards established single-season (92) and career (234) school records for three-pointers, and senior RaShawn Stores led the MAAC with a 2.90 assist/turnover ratio.

Manhattan ended up with an overall record of 19-14, and the program went to consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 2003 and 2004. The Jaspers’ senior class graduated with 79 total wins and three MAAC Championship Game appearances.

Women’s Basketball THE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON got underway in August, when the Jaspers took a weeklong tour of Canada. Manhattan posted a 3-1 record north of the border, defeating Ottawa, Carleton and UQAM while falling to a McGill team that reached the championship game of the Canadian national tournament.

Once their regular season started, the Jaspers played a challenging nonconference schedule that featured five teams that qualified for postseason play in 2015. In its second game of the season, Manhattan picked up an impressive 66-60 road win at Holy Cross on Nov. 16.

Junior Shayna Ericksen had a double-double in the game, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds, as the Jaspers rallied from an eightpoint halftime deficit to earn the victory.

After dropping its first three MAAC games, Manhattan recorded its first conference win of the season against Rider in Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 4. The Jaspers trailed 31-19 at halftime before outscoring the Broncs 36-21 in the second half to notch a 55-52 triumph. That victory came in the midst of a school-record eight-game homestand from Dec. 17-Jan. 16.

In the Jaspers’ next outing against Iona on Jan. 9, Ericksen and junior Kylla Champagne became the first Manhattan teammates in more than five years to record double-doubles in the same game. That contest also marked the start of a span where the Jaspers had two players reach double-figures in rebounding three times in four games.

Late in the season, Manhattan registered a 69-66 victory at Saint Peter’s on Feb. 21. Ericksen finished with 23 points, and junior Blake Underhill handed out 11 assists, as the Jaspers once again rallied from a halftime deficit by scoring 41 second-half points. The team then gave MAAC champion Quinnipiac (which went undefeated in conference play) one of its biggest challenges of the season on Feb. 24, leading for most of the first half before ultimately dropping an 82-71 decision. Manhattan also played well in its MAAC Tournament game against Niagara, but saw its season come to an end with a 57-51 loss

Shayna Ericksen ’16

to the Purple Eagles.

Ericksen became the 15th player in program history to reach the 500-rebound milestone, and she ranked fourth in the MAAC with eight double-doubles. She led the squad in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per game while shooting a team-best .474 from the field. Ericksen and freshman center Kayla Grimme each pulled down 6.0 rebounds per contest to tie for the team lead, and Grimme’s 37 blocks were the 10th-most for a single season in program history. Freshmen Taylor Williams and Nyasha Irizarry, meanwhile, registered 7.7 and 7.2 points per game, respectively, as a bulk of Manhattan’s scoring came from underclassmen. The Jaspers boasted five freshmen and four sophomores, and just five players on the roster had more than one year of college experience prior to this season.

At the conclusion of the season, Manhattan had three players selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team. Senior Ashley Stec was recognized for the third time, while Underhill and sophomore Maeve Parahus received All-Academic honors for the first time.

Women’s Lacrosse THE WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM started off the season with an impressive 12-8 win at Bucknell, en route to posting four victories on the season.

The Jaspers lost six games by two goals or less before earning a thrilling 9-8 win over Marist in the season finale with junior Megan Yarusso’s team-leading 34th goal of the season providing the difference.

Despite missing three games, senior Donna Jo DiNorcia was second on the team with 22 goals, highlighted by a hat trick in the victory over the Red Foxes.

For the fourth straight year, senior goalie Christiana Fiorinelli ranked among the national leaders with 60 ground balls, and finished her collegiate career second in school history with 220.

Manhattan, which also posted wins over UMass Lowell and Delaware State, returns five of its seven double-digit goal scorers next season and 18 of its 24 letter-winners.

No slouch in the classroom, the Jaspers placed eight student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Megan Yarusso ’16

MANHATTAN.EDU N 25

SPORTS

Men’s Lacrosse THE MEN’S LACROSSE TEAM posted its lone win of the season, a 7-5 triumph over NJIT, on March 31. However, the Jaspers faced the daunting task of playing 11 of their 15 games on the road, including six straight to start the season and nine of their first 10.

The Jaspers also faced one of the most challenging non-league schedules in the Division I ranks, taking to the road to face off against Stony Brook, Princeton, Fairfield, Hofstra, North Carolina and Brown.

Senior Marcel Godino led the team with 16 goals and 25 points. Fellow senior Andrew

Hurst added 10 goals and a team-best 10 assists en route to recording 20 points.

Freshman Andrew Gresham, meanwhile, tallied 13 goals to round out the doublefigure goal scorers for Manhattan.

On the academic front, 11 studentathletes were named to the MAAC AllAcademic Team. Under new head coach Drew Kelleher, 29 of the 38 letter-winners will return to campus in 2016.

Marcel Godino ’15

Indoor Track and Field FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, the men’s track and field team finished second at the MAAC Indoor Championships. The women’s team, meanwhile, took fourth in a meet that was so competitive that the Jaspers ended up a mere six points out of second place.

Junior Blerim Pocesta and sophomore Marisa Robbins each took home Most Outstanding Performer for Field Events honors at the MAAC Indoor Championships. Pocesta won the men’s weight throw and finished fourth in the shot put. Robbins set a school and meet record in the women’s pole vault, leaping 3.81 meters (12 feet, 6 inches).

She later bettered that mark to 3.85 meters (12 feet, 7½ inches) while claiming the bronze medal at the ECAC Championships.

Two other Jaspers recorded first-place finishes at the MAAC Indoor Championships. Senior Lydia Wehrli won the weight throw, while senior Doreen Horschig earned the win in the 60-meter hurdles to go along with a second-place showing in the long jump. Freshman Paige Chapman, meanwhile, was credited with second place in the 60 meters with a time of 7.66 seconds (the same as the winner).

On the men’s side, senior Savio Paul grabbed first place in the pole vault with a mark of 4.90 meters (16 feet, ¼ inches), while junior Clement Gicquel cleared 2.07 meters (6 feet, 9½ inches) to win the high jump competition.

Manhattan athletes took home a number of MAAC and ECAC awards throughout the season. Pocesta was named MAAC Field Performer of the Week three times (Dec. 16, Jan. 27, Feb. 3) and ECAC Metro/Upstate Performer of the Week on Dec. 16. Senior Sheldon Derenoncourt was both the MAAC and ECAC Performer of the Week on Jan. 20, and freshman Will Stallings took home ECAC Rookie of the Week honors on Feb. 4. Gicquel (Jan. 13), senior Greg Perrier (Feb. 10), and sophomores Stefan Hoeller (Feb. 10) and Love Litzell (Feb. 17) 26 N fall 2015

all earned MAAC Performer of the Week selections, as well. Robbins earned MAAC Field Performer of the Week honors after her first record-setting performance on Dec. 9. Wehrli, meanwhile, received Marisa Robbins ’17 MAAC Field Performer of the Week accolades twice during the season. She was recognized on Feb. 3 and again on Feb. 17.

Led by Robbins and freshman Charlene Pohl, who took eighth in the pentathlon, the Jaspers finished in a tie for 28th place at the ECAC Championships. Manhattan also placed fifth as a team at the Metropolitan Indoor Championships.

At the IC4A Championships, Derenoncourt placed fourth in the 500 meters, and Perrier was ninth in the 800 meters. The team of Derenoncourt, sophomore Justin Alleyne, junior Joe Martello and Stallings grabbed fifth place in the 4x400-meter relay. That quartet also placed second in the 4x400-relay at the Millrose Games. As a team, Manhattan placed 19th at the IC4A Championships. The Jasper men added a second-place showing at the Metropolitan Indoor Championships, their 12th straight top-three finish at the meet.

It was also a successful year in the classroom for the Jaspers, as 11 men and nine women were selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Women’s Tennis THE WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM had to battle through injuries that left the squad shorthanded all season long. But despite a disappointing record, second-year head coach Amanda McEntire was impressed with how her team performed under those difficult circumstances.

Sophomore Gabriella Leon moved into the No. 1 singles position this season and collected a team-high four wins. In the season finale at Rider, she battled back after losing the first set to take the third set tiebreak 10-8 and notch a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 triumph. Senior Caitlin Bricketto, meanwhile, recorded three victories at the No. 2 singles position, and fellow senior Alyssa Rosello picked up three wins at No. 3 singles.

On Senior Day against Monmouth on April 12, Bricketto and Rosello each registered a straight-sets singles win. They also became doubles partners late in the season and played No. 1 in Manhattan’s final five dual matches.

Three newcomers also joined the team: freshmen Shivani Patel and Kaitlyn Rooney, and junior Diana Onichshenko.

Manhattan’s best match of the year was the 4-0 victory over St. Francis in Brooklyn on Feb. 7. Playing indoors at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the Jaspers dominated the Terriers, winning all five matches in straight sets. In the season finale at Rider on April 18, Leon, Bricketto and Rosello all won their singles matches, but Manhattan ultimately lost by a 4-3 margin.

At the conclusion of the season, Leon was recognized by the conference with a selection to the MAAC All-Academic Team. This past year was also the last season for the women’s tennis program, as the College discontinued it in 2015.

Gabriella Leon ’17

Golf THE MEN’S GOLF TEAM concluded a solid season with a seventh-place finish at the MAAC Championships after prepping for the Championships with a spring break trip to Duke, where they competed in the Blue Devil Spring Shootout.

Junior James Edgeworth was the low scorer for the Jaspers for the second time in his three seasons and was one of just four upperclassmen.

Freshman John Schob led an impressive contingent of five newcomers in his first year in Riverdale.

Schob burst onto the scene as a rookie and was the team’s low scorer in eight of his 10 events. Sophomore

Jon Keyes also made significant contributions to the team down the stretch, including pacing the squad in the opening round at the MAAC Tournament.

It was also a successful year in the classroom for the Jaspers, as four members of the squad earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors.

Optimism runs high for the program, as eight of the team’s top nine golfers will return next season, including all four scorers from the MAAC Championships.

James Edgeworth ’16

MANHATTAN.EDU N 27

SPORTS

Outdoor Track and Field AFTER FINISHING SECOND (MEN) AND FOURTH (WOMEN) at the MAAC Indoor Championships, the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams both enjoyed successful campaigns. The men took second at the MAAC Outdoor Championships, while the women’s squad placed fourth.

Individually, the Jaspers captured seven conference titles. Senior Doreen Horschig (100-meter hurdles, long jump) won two events, while senior Lydia Wehrli defended her MAAC crown in the women’s hammer throw, and sophomore Marisa Robbins took first in the women’s pole vault. On the men’s side, sophomore Love Litzell (hammer throw), and juniors Clement Gicquel (high jump) and Bobby Gebhard (triple jump) collected individual MAAC championships.

Two weeks later at the ECAC/IC4A Championships, Litzell defended his title in the hammer throw, while junior teammate Blerim Pocesta grabbed third place in the event. Sophomore Stefan Hoeller took fourth in the decathlon, and senior Phil Ragan placed eighth in the men’s javelin. Wehrli finished third in the women’s hammer throw, and Horschig qualified for the final in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Wehrli was one of two women to break a school record during the outdoor campaign. She topped her own mark in the hammer throw with a toss of 58.50 meters (192 feet, 3 inches) at the Sam Howell Invitational on April 4. That performance, which was good for third place in the event, was nearly a foot better than her previous record, set in 2013. Robbins, meanwhile, broke an 11-year-old school record in the pole vault with a leap of 3.75 meters (12 feet, 3½ inches) at the Larry

Baseball

Chris Kalousdian ’15

28 N fall 2015

Ellis Invitational on April 18, then raised that standard to 3.90 meters (12 feet, 9½ inches) the following week at the Lions Invitational.

Another highlight of the season occurred at the 121st edition of the historic Love Litzell ’17 Penn Relays on April 24. Running in the Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America, the team of seniors Abdias Myrtil, Sheldon Derenoncourt and Greg Perrier, and freshman Will Stallings posted a time of 3:25.48, which was good for eighth place overall.

At the end of the season, Manhattan sent six athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary Round. Litzell finished 19th and Pocesta was 44th in the men’s hammer throw, while Gicquel took 24th in the men’s high jump. Ragan ended up 34th in the men’s javelin, and Perrier placed 40th in the men’s 800 meters. On the women’s side, Wehrli capped her Manhattan career with a 24th-place showing in the hammer throw.

Freshman John Dove then headed to Eugene, Ore., for the USATF Junior Championships and made the finals of the 1,500 meters, finishing 12th overall.

LED BY THE PLAY of senior Chris Kalousdian, the baseball team fell just short of qualifying for its second straight MAAC Tournament.

The outfielder was tabbed for the 2015 All-MAAC First Team and ranked among the league leaders in batting, hits and runs, while totaling a team-best 23 multi-hit games.

During MAAC play, Kalousdian took his game to an even higher level, by batting .381 (seventh in the MAAC) with a league-best 37 hits, and finished up the season by hitting safely in 27 of the final 31 games.

During nonconference play, Manhattan picked up wins at FIU, George Mason and George Washington before capturing the program’s first-ever victory against a Big 10 team by a 2-0 count at Rutgers. Leading the charge was freshman Tom Cosgrove, who spun seven shutout innings in collecting his first collegiate win.

Under the direction of head coach Jim Duffy, the Jaspers moved to Dutchess Stadium for this season and hosted the 2015 MAAC Tournament. On the mound, senior Scott McClennan returned to form after missing last season due to injury and led the squad in wins, innings and strikeouts. He turned in arguably the finest performance of his career against George Washington, limiting the Colonials to just one run in eight innings, and was named as the MAAC Pitcher of the Week. Sophomore pitcher Joe Jacques came on strong at the end of the year and fired a two-hit shutout with a career-high eight strikeouts en route to earning MAAC Pitcher of the Week honors. He finished up the year with a 4-2 record, a 3.13 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 46 innings.

Manhattan placed eight players on the MAAC Academic Honor Roll and will return 22 letter-winners in 2016.

Softball THE SOFTBALL TEAM SET A PROGRAM RECORD with 13 MAAC wins and went 26-20 overall, marking the first time in four years that the Jaspers finished above .500 overall. Manhattan also qualified for the MAAC Tournament for the second straight season and knocked off top-seeded Canisius before seeing its season end at the hands of Siena.

Junior Elena Bowman was unanimously named MAAC Player of the Year, which was just one of many accolades she earned for an outstanding season.

She led the league in batting average (.466), home runs (16) and RBIs (41), and ranked among the top 10 nationally in on-base percentage (ninth, .586) and slugging percentage (10th, .920). Bowman also became Manhattan’s all-time home run leader during the season.

She was named to the Capital One Academic All-America® First Team, and became the first Jasper in 21 years to receive that honor. Bowman also earned places on the ECAC All-Star First Team and NFCA All-Northeast Region Second Team.

Senior Amy Bright also was selected to the All-MAAC First Team. She recorded 15 wins, including five shutouts, while also picking up three saves, and her 139 strikeouts were second-most in the league. Bright was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week twice (March 24, April 14), and she had two separate streaks of 15 or more consecutive scoreless innings. She earned a place on the All-Region Third Team and also secured a spot on the MAAC All-Tournament Team.

Sophomore Jenn Vazquez joined Bowman and Bright on the All-MAAC First Team. She was named both MAAC and ECAC Player of the Week on April 7 after hitting .700 in the Jaspers’ first four conference games. Vazquez finished second on the squad and fourth in the MAAC with nine home runs, as Manhattan paced the league with 42 long balls as a team. The Jaspers hit a program-record seven home runs in an 18-1 rout of Saint Peter’s in game one of a doubleheader on April 4.

Earning a place on the All-MAAC Second Team was senior Amanda Paxson, while freshman Briana Matazinsky was chosen for the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

Matazinsky hit six home runs this season, three of which were grand slams, including a game-tying shot in the top of the seventh inning at Iona on April 19.

She also had eight wins in the circle and a pair of shutouts. Matazinsky earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors three consecutive times from April 7-21.

The Jaspers were virtually unbeatable at Gaelic Park. Manhattan put together an impressive home record, 14-5, including a nine-game winning streak from March 15-April 7. They had a 10-game homestand from April 4-12 and went 9-1 during that span. Eight of the 10 games on that homestand were MAAC contests, as Manhattan got out to a 10-0 start in conference play, the best in program history.

Manhattan’s success extended beyond the field into the classroom, as 10 members of the squad were selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

The Jaspers also received an NCAA Academic Progress Rates Public Recognition Award. In addition, Manhattan landed three players (Bowman, Bright and senior Mickayla Romero) on the Capital One Academic All-District Team.

Elena Bowman ’16

MANHATTAN.EDU N 29

Exploring the Archives, Uncovering Antiquities

Relics from various saints, including Saint Francis of Assisi (see page 33, item 1, for the full description).

Story by Liz Connolly Bauman • Research by Amy Surak

J

UST ABOUT ANY JASPER CAN TELL YOU THAT THE campus is filled with cherished objects, from the stately keystone-topped arches abutting Memorial Hall to the hallowed sanctuary of the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers. But what isn’t as widely known, or often visible to the campus community, is Manhattan’s treasure trove of precious pieces and historical riches buried deep within O’Malley Library. After walking down a few flights of stairs, winding past the stacks of old books, and opening an unassuming door, you’ll find the buried treasure scattered among the documents, photos and collectibles in the College’s Archives.

The Archives not only holds all of the records of the College’s history in the Bronx and Manhattan but also the collections of the Brothers’ legacy in the New York and Long Island-New England Districts and the present District of Eastern North America (DENA). These collections contain manuscripts, publications, artwork, analog and digital recordings, photographs, films and ephemera that document the mission of the Christian Brothers. For example, the collection has some magnificent spiritual and biblical texts from the 15th century, as well as Canon Jean-Baptiste Blain’s biography of Christian Brothers founder Saint John Baptist de La Salle from 1733, the earliest biography on him. In addition, the Archives comprises the Lasallian Studies Collection, a research collection of printed works by and about De La Salle, the history of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and their educational mission, and writings by and about many of its members.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, the College recently acquired the archives from the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Midwest District and Christian Brothers Conference. The Midwest District collection offers a glimpse into the first Christian Brothers’ schools in the United States, histories of former districts, and records of the Brothers, schools, communities and organizations. The Christian Brothers Conference materials, also part of the acquisition, chronicle the history of leadership and programs, such as formation, ministry, education and overseas apostolates, at the regional level.

With the addition of this amazing acquisition, the College’s Archives is on its way to becoming one of the largest gatekeepers of Lasallian history in North America, and will play a major part in preserving and sharing the history of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

“It’s very exciting that the College is becoming a center for Lasallian research,” says Archivist Amy Surak. “These valuable collections enrich the campus and help amplify our Lasallian mission. Students and scholars are welcome to experience the tangible documentary connection to the past, the evidential primacy of original records, and the sense of discovery that comes from working with them.”

In the next two years, Surak anticipates hosting a campus event to share many of these unique new relics with the campus community. Information also will be added to a new open-source database, so researchers around the globe can search and receive descriptions of the various collections. Eventually, a virtual web exhibit may be created, too.

Archival photos by Josh Cuppek

MANHATTAN.EDU N 31

Take a stroll through history and learn more about the artifacts that M magazine was able to photograph, many from the newest acquisition.

32 N fall 2015

1. Various Saints’ Relics (opening photo)

Since the days of the apostles, sacred relics have been collected and venerated, such as bodily remains or items that once belonged to revered holy people, and the College’s Archives is fortunate to hold many relics from various saints. In the opening photograph on page 31, the relics of Saint Clare (1194-1253), top left, foundress of Poor Clares and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi; Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584), top right, who founded the Council of Trent and was a cardinal; Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), center, founder of the Franciscans; Saint Joseph of Leonessa (1556-1612), bottom left, a Franciscan saint canonized in 1746; and Saint Anthony of Padua (1190-1231), bottom right, who is famous for his preaching, are housed in thecas, ornate locket-like containers, which are contained in a red velvet enclosure.

2. San Miguel Chapel Fragments

These two fragments of wood are from the San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is believed to be the oldest church in the United States. Oral history maintains that the chapel was built around 1610, and it has been rebuilt and restored several times during its past 400 years.

In 1859, Bishop Jean Baptist Lamy invited the Christian Brothers to Santa Fe to open a boys’ school. He purchased the chapel and adjacent land, upon which the Brothers established the Colegio de San Miguel. The chapel and school were once a part of the St. Louis District until the Santa Fe-New Orleans District was created in 1916 (the Christian Brothers of the Midwest were once organized as the St. Louis District). The fragments are among the historical relics from the Midwest District Collection.

(Clockwise on previous page) Fragments from San Miguel Chapel in New Mexico, a Blickensderfer typewriter and kinetoscope. (This page) An autographed Yankees roster from 1939 and a clergy pass used by Br. Camillus Justus, FSC.

3. Early Technology Used by the Christian Brothers

In the early 20th century, Christian Brothers, similar to today’s teachers, were eager to introduce the newest forms of technology into the classroom, including the kinetograph, a device to record moving images and ancestor to the motion picture, and the kinetoscope (pictured), the device on which to view the images.

Both items were developed by Thomas Edison and his group, and were for sale in 1893. The cutting-edge portable Blickensderfer typewriter (shown), first introduced at the World’s Fair of 1893, and the Fox Portable No. 1 (also known as the Baby Fox) typewriter were also utilized by the Brothers in the administration of their schools.

4. 1939 Yankees Roster

A parochial school history teacher in several schools throughout the Archdiocese and a colleague of the New York City and Troy Police Departments, Brother Camillus Justus, FSC, was a true New Yorker.

He also was a devoted Yankees fan, who cheered on his favorite team during their four straight World Series Championships from 19361939, with a roster that included Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Charles Herbert “Red” Ruffing and William Dickey. During the 1939 season, the same year Gehrig made his famous retirement speech, Br. “Cam” visited the players in their locker room, and just about the whole team graciously autographed his paper. He presumably used the pictured clergy pass to gain access to the New York Giants baseball games and may have had a similar pass for Yankees games.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 33

5. Key to Slave House & Ordinance Abolishing Slavery in Missouri

Missouri has a long and sordid history with slavery, first becoming a slave state as part of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and then backing the landmark federal decision not to grant freedom to Dred Scott.

In early 1865, the ordinance abolishing slavery in Missouri was passed and later that year, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, which abolished slavery in the United States. Because Missouri had two state governments during the Civil War, one remained loyal to the Union and one that seceded and joined the Confederacy, the abolishment marked a turning point in the state’s history. The ordinance shown is an original color lithograph with autographed signatures.

It was not uncommon for the Christian Brothers to establish their apostolates during times or in places where the prevailing culture could be considered adverse, especially in Missouri, where discrimination was prevalent. But the Brothers went wide and far regardless of native circumstances.

The long metal key belongs to a former slave house situated on the property of La Salle Institute (now La Salle Retreat Center) in Glencoe, Mo. In 1886, the Christian Brothers took over the property, which has several houses. La Salle Institute was the district headquarters (provincialate) of the Midwest District, as well as the location where young men and boys prepared themselves to become Brothers (the novitiate). The Christian Brothers first taught at a school in Sainte Genevieve, Mo., in 1819. By 1849, their first community was opened and soon after, the Brothers took charge of several parochial schools around the state.

6. Artifacts from the World’s Columbian Exposition

The Christian Brothers participated in the Catholic Educational Exhibit in the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (also called the Chicago World’s Fair) in 1893, which honored the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landing. The exhibit was intended to show the present state of Catholic education in the United States and call into prominence the various methods and types of instruction in mode in the different schools.

It contained collections of images illustrating the missions, chapels, churches, schools, academies and colleges, as well as books and classwork by students. For example, the book pictured demonstrates excellent penmanship learned at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, N.Y.

7. Ampula from the Holy Land

In 1968, this ampula, used to carry oil, was found in tombs near Hebron (a city in the West Bank) at the burial place of biblical couples Abraham and Sarah, Issac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah. The ampula is from the Persian Period (586-330 B.C.), and belonged to Brother Jeff Gros, FSC, a Midwest Christian Brother who was a theologian, professor and distinguished leader in the ecumenical movement.

8. Objects from the Brothers’ Classrooms

The telescope was frequently used in astronomy classrooms, and this one originated from the Midwest District. The clappers started within the Brothers’ community during mealtime to signal they were allowed to talk freely, and some Brothers began using them in the classroom to obtain students’ attention. This particular clapper is made of wood and gut string.

34 N fall 2015

8

(Opposite page, from left to right) A clapper and telescope used by the Christian Brothers.

(Clockwise, this page) The ordinance abolishing slavery in Missouri and a key to a slave house; a penmanship book exhibited at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893; and an ampula from the Persian Period found in the Holy Land.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 35

A PEEK INSIDE SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS’ ARCHIVES At La Salle University in Philadelphia, Brother Joseph Grabenstein, FSC, monitors the university’s archives and the former Baltimore DENA District. This collection has several books with text and illustrations that tell the unknown story of Christian Brothers who served in France as stretcher-bearers and hospital aides during the bloody Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).

The recently established District of San Francisco New Orleans (SFNO) in Napa, Calif., houses the archives of the former San Francisco and New OrleansSanta Fe Districts, where the Christian Brothers winery collection is the most heavily used. Brother Timothy Diener, FSC, a cellar master with the Christian Brothers’ Mont La Salle Winery for more than 50 years, had a large corkscrew collection, which remains as one of the SFNO’s District’s greatest remnants. Other important items from those districts include photos of the Brothers who served in the French army pictured in their uniforms.

9

36 N fall 2015

9. De La Salle Reliquary (cover photo)

Relics of saints are cherished in the Catholic Church, and the Archives is proud to possess several relics from Saint John Baptist de La Salle, including bone fragments, cloth fragments from his vestments (materials that touched his body), and small pieces of wood from his first and second coffins. Relics are often encased in locket-like containers called thecas, which, in turn, are typically kept in ornate containers called reliquaries, such as the polished brass one pictured.

These relics originate from the Generalate, the official residence of the Brother Superior General and his council in Rome, where practically all the principal bones of De La Salle are preserved in a reliquary at the altar of the main chapel.

The most prominent relic displayed there is the skull, which occupies the center of the brass reliquary surrounded by various other bones. The majority of his vertebrae and shoulder bones are missing due to the spoliation of his coffin

by French revolutionaries toward the end of the 18th century.

De La Salle died on April 7, 1719, at the age of 67, and was canonized as a saint on May 29, 1900.

10. Glass Slides from Lincoln Agricultural School

During the Civil War period, thousands of children were abandoned and destitute, often living on the streets of New York City. Orphanages, poor houses and other charities were established to meet the need. In 1863, the New York Catholic Protectory opened its doors at 155 East 36th Street in Manhattan, and admitted three young boys. One year later, the Brothers were sheltering close to 500 boys. L. Silliman Ives, who was instrumental in helping Manhattan College obtain its charter in 1863 and served as the first chairman of the College’s board of trustees, founded the New York Catholic Protectory.

The Board of Managers of the Catholic Protectory also established the Lincoln Agricultural School, under the care of the Brothers, in 1907. The School for destitute or delinquent children was organized in the new cottage system style on 900 acres of farmland in Lincolndale, N.Y. Similar to the Protectory, the boys were taught a trade, so they would be employable. They learned useful skills, such as farming, gardening, blacksmithing, carpentry and beekeeping, and these unique glass negatives illustrate life on the farm during the early 20th century.

(Clockwise) A reliquary housing relics of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, and glass negatives illustrating farm life in the early 20th century.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 37

COMMENCEMENT

Community Values Inspire This Year’s Undergraduate Class

S

TANDING AT A PODIUM before 750 of her Manhattan College classmates, Kimsy Tor ’15 spoke at this year’s Commencement about the importance of accepting people from other backgrounds, like they did when she came from Cambodia four years ago.

“At Manhattan College, we learned that we are all part of one enormous circle,” Tor said in her valedictory address on Sunday, May 17.

“I never felt like I was treated differently, despite where I came from.

Today, I challenge us to speak up if we see discrimination and injustice.”

In her speech, Tor invited listeners into her experience at the College, which began after she met a Manhattan College mathematics professor in the country’s capital city of Phnom Penh (see sidebar).

Echoing Tor’s sentiments on togetherness was David J. O’Brien, Ph.D., a leading Catholic scholar and peace activist who delivered the 2015 Commencement’s keynote address and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Manhattan College. During 38 N fall 2015

his speech, O’Brien, professor emeritus of history and Catholic Studies at the College of Holy Cross, told the story of a priest who spent time on a boat anchored near Ground Zero after Sept. 11. He spoke of the camaraderie that developed between all servicemen and volunteers who aided in the aftermath of the attacks.

“May you, may all of us, have the grace to taste that kind of solidarity, not just in moments of tragedy but in building a new architecture of solidarity, a political economy where out there and in here fit together like the pieces of a puzzle and are able to give more of ourselves than we knew we had in order to build a better world,” he said.

For most of Manhattan’s students, O’Brien’s wish for camaraderie has already come true. Grace Hoffman ’15, another honored graduate from this year’s class, spoke fondly about the bond she’s built with her classmates and professors.

“Graduation has been a rush of different emotions,” she said.

From Voyager to Valedictorian: Catching up with Kimsy Tor

David O’Brien, Ph.D., a leading Catholic scholar who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Commencement, spoke of camaraderie and soliditary.

“There’s such a sense of community here. It will be bittersweet to leave behind people I love.”

Hoffman was an accounting major in the College’s School of Business and one of two undergraduate students — for the first time ever — to receive this year’s Joseph J. Gunn Medal, an award given to individuals who have made significant contributions during their academic career. This summer, she is pursuing an internship at O’Connor Davies LLP, a Certified Public Accounting firm.

Kelly Douglas ’15, who also received the Gunn Medal, will continue on the philanthropic mission she began at Manhattan, which included the establishment of the Catholic Relief Services Campus Ambassadors chapter.

A month after graduation, Douglas began work as community director for The March of Dimes Foundation.

As post-graduation plans continue to take shape during the upcoming months and years for members of the College’s class of 2015, some of their memories of Manhattan will surely fade a bit with time. But the love they found there? That they won’t forget.

In his closing remarks, President Brennan O’Donnell, made a simple request.

“I ask for you that wherever you go and whatever you do, that the love you’ve known here at Manhattan College will forever make this place your heart’s home,” he said.

Four years ago, Cambodian-born Kimsy Tor ’15 set out on a journey of a lifetime to grow her math skills and complete a bachelor’s degree in the United States.

Thanks in a large part to a chance encounter with Manhattan College professor Helene Tyler, who was teaching an intensive college-level math course at Cambodia’s Royal University of Phnom Penh, Tor applied to Manhattan to begin as a freshman in fall 2011.

After being accepted to the College and named a recipient of both the Thomas O’Malley International Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship, she decided to embark on a four-year adventure to New York City. She also wanted to learn the culture and advance her skills, so she could eventually move on to receive master’s and doctorate degrees.

Tor plans on moving back to Cambodia some day to teach college-level courses, and to help further develop the next generation of Cambodians, where only approximately 10 residents hold doctorate degrees in mathematics.

On May 17, she graduated from Manhattan College with a 3.91 GPA and was the 2015 valedictorian at the College’s 173rd Commencement. The recipient of a B.S. in mathematics, Tor reflected on her journey to Manhattan College and how without the continuous support of faculty, friends, administrators and staff, she would not have graduated from Manhattan.

“Here I have made friends who have different backgrounds, and I learned to understand and appreciate all of their cultures and customs,” she said. “We learned that we are all part of one enormous circle.

The spirit of cooperation is well-promoted, as Lasallian education is one of the largest educational networks in the world.”

Tor credits the Lasallian education she received at Manhattan College with teaching her the value of giving back to others. As a result, she has served the New York City community at Math Encounters at the Museum of Mathematics and Friends Without A Border, as well as participated

in the College’s Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (L.O.V.E.) in Arizona.

“Kimsy Tor is one of the most broadly intelligent people I have ever known. Her intellectual curiosity is insatiable, and she is remarkably adept at making connections across various subjects,” says Tyler, an associate professor of mathematics and Tor’s mentor and major adviser. “Kimsy has participated in some of the most challenging and competitive summer programs available to undergraduate students.”

Throughout the past four years, Tor has spent much of her academic and extracurricular time conducting research in the fields of math and computer science, and has presented her research at numerous conferences, including the 2015 Joint Mathematics Meetings, the largest mathematics meeting in the world. Her research also has been published in several journals.

She has been a member of the math honor society Pi Mu Epsilon since 2012, serving as president since 2013, as well as Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and Epsilon Sigma Pi. This fall, Tor has embarked on another adventure — this time to Paris. She will pursue a Master of Science in mathematics at the prestigious Pierre and Marie Curie University, part of The Sorbonne University alliance, with plans to complete her Ph.D.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 39

COMMENCEMENT

Graduate and Continuing Education Students Look to the Future with Gratitude for Faculty 40 N fall 2015

O

VERHEARD AT THIS YEAR’S graduate Spring Commencement were a flurry of conversations from the degree recipients that, to pick out a few, divulged new job jitters and upcoming plans to vacation in the Caribbean.

What they had in common, besides having occurred outside Manhattan College’s Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday, May 16, was an excitement that only comes with a sense of accomplishment.

“I think of receiving your bachelor’s degree as the core basis of education, but a master’s as the icing on the cake,” said William Marsala ’15, whose post-graduate plans after receiving his master’s in civil engineering include working for the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. He has held a position there for the past year overseeing projects facilitated by the organization.

Matt Miller ’15, a chemical engineer who earned a master’s that day, relayed a similar sentiment as he spoke of his new job at Texas at Air Products & Chemicals Inc. From there, he went on to thank the professors who helped him to achieve success.

“I chose to go for my degree here because of the faculty. They know who you are and how to push you to do better,” Miller said, during a post-ceremony reception on the Quad.

Prior to that was the valedictory address of Eugene Bender ’15, whose speech detailed a path to success in Manhattan College’s chemical engineering program that resulted in his becoming its head researcher. To whom and what did Bender attribute his rise to the top? The professors who believed in his potential and the power of perseverance, Bender told nearly 200 master’s candidates from the Schools of Education and Health, Business and Engineering, as well as those receiving bachelor’s and

(This page, clockwise) Eileen Murray ’80, who received an honorary Doctor of Science at this year’s Spring Commencement ceremony, relays her confidence that this year’s graduates can accomplish any career goal they set out to achieve, before Eugene Bender ’15 delivers a valedictory address that thanked the College’s dedicated professors for believing in him. Cheryl Harrison, Ed.D., executive director of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, hoods master’s degree recipient Bianca Marten ’15.

master’s degrees from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

“Don’t you ever let anyone, not even yourself, convince you that you should give up,” Bender said, emphatically. “Don’t you ever let anyone convince you that you aren’t worth it, or that you aren’t deserving because of where you come from or because of what you look like. You tell them, ‘I come from Manhattan College.’”

Also taking the podium that May afternoon was Eileen Murray ’80, a former member of the College’s board of trustees, who delivered the keynote address and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science at the ceremony. She spoke of her experiences as co-chief executive officer at Bridgewater Associates LP, the world’s largest hedge fund. Included in her speech was advice that comes from years of working on Wall Street.

There, she served in a multitude of executive and managerial roles, most notably at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse.

“I’m lucky to have accomplished many of the things I set out to in my career. And if I could do it, you can certainly do it, too.

I sincerely believe that,” said Murray, who grew up in a family of nine children in Inwood, a northern Manhattan neighborhood just minutes from Riverdale.

Her speech particularly spoke to the College’s female graduates, whom she encouraged to strive for careers that break gender stereotypes.

“I can’t tell you how many people asked me, ‘why don’t you choose a more suitable career for a woman?’” Murray remembered.

President Brennan O’Donnell closed the ceremony with remarks that asked the graduates to call attention to those who have helped them to reach their achievements.

“This afternoon, you have participated in a rite of passage through which we reaffirm our sacred charge here at Manhattan College to carry forward the legacy of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. Let’s take a moment, then, to say thanks to those without whom you would not be here today: your professors, your families, your friends, and everyone who has supported you and said to you along the way, ‘yes, you can!’”

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DEVELOPMENT

Honoring an Urban Planning Leader at Annual De La Salle Dinner

R

ICHARD T. ANDERSON, PH.D., PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS (NYBC), was honored with the 2015 De La Salle Medal at Manhattan College’s annual fundraising dinner on Jan. 20 at the Waldorf Astoria.

As the College’s premier fundraising event, the De La Salle Medal Dinner honors individuals and corporations that embody the Lasallian principles of excellence, leadership and service to society.

A nationally recognized association executive and urban planner, Anderson has ushered in a period of unprecedented influence and growth for the NYBC, a nonprofit association that promotes the design, construction and real estate community.

“We try to teach our students to take what they learn and to go out and make their world a better place,” said President Brennan O’Donnell when presenting Anderson with the award. “We tell them, that is, to follow in the footsteps of people like Dick Anderson — people who have used their gifts of intelligence and imagination, of character and compassion, to do work that lifts up others and contributes to the common good.”

Under Anderson’s leadership since 1994, the 93-year-old NYBC has experienced exceptional growth, with a focus on upgrading and expanding New York City’s aging infrastructure. As the organization’s longest-serving president, Anderson has helped to increase the organization’s membership, strengthened its financial position and fostered industry-wide cooperation in petitioning for long-term capital investment in New York City construction.

“Dick richly deserves this medal, which he has earned through his tireless efforts in support of our industry as an advocate and a spokesperson, and his commitment to the advancement of the lives of young people through education and mentorship,” said 2014 De La Salle Medal honoree Milo Riverso ’81, Ph.D., P.E., chief executive officer and president of STV Group, Inc. Before working at NYBC, Anderson was executive director of The Dallas Plan, a nonprofit group formed to prepare a long-range capital improvements strategy for that city. He also served as president of the Regional Plan Association, the nation’s oldest metropolitan planning organization serving the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metropolitan region.

“It is with a great deal of humility and deep appreciation that I accept this recognition on behalf of my colleagues at the Building Congress, our membership, and our friends in the New York City building industry,” Anderson said during his speech.

Anderson’s leadership and commitment to helping others extends outside of the NYBC. He was the first elected president of the 40,000-member American Planning Association, a national educational organization, and served as chairman of its College of

42 N fall 2015

Fellows. In addition, he is a founding member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, director of the ACE (architecture, construction, engineering) Mentor Program of Greater New York and the Salvadori Center, and a trustee of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City.

The 2015 De La Salle Dinner was made possible through the dedication and support of the dinner chairs, vice chairs and Kenneth A. Rathgeber ’70, chairman of the College’s board of trustees. The chairs included: Riverso; Mary-Jean Eastman; Gregory A. Kelly; Thomas Z. Scarangello ’79, P.E.; Frank J. Sciame Jr.; Dominick M. Servedio, P.E.; and vice chairs: Steven M. Charney, Esq.; Raymond P. Daddazio, P.E.; Carl Galioto; Moujalli Hourani ’81, D.Sc.; Cyrus J. Izzo ’87, P.E.; James A. Kosch ’77, Esq.; Christopher Larsen; Jill N. Lerner; George E. Leventis, P.E.; John V. Magliano ’66, P.E.; Charles Manning ’73; Rosanne Thomas Matzat ’82, Esq.; Michael M. McHugh ’80; Charles F. Murphy; Rathgeber; Phillip M. Ross, CPA; and Howard J. Rubenstein.

Thomas Prendergast, chairman and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), also spoke at the dinner and touched upon Anderson’s work throughout his career and his support for the MTA. The De La Salle Dinner raised $1 million in proceeds, which are applied to a variety of needs on campus, including student scholarships and financial aid.

“I am sincerely grateful for this recognition. What’s most important is the opportunity it provides to showcase the strong relationship between Manhattan College and the New York City building industry,” Anderson said. “You have my deep gratitude and full appreciation.”

New Grad Attributes College and Career Successes to Engineering Scholarship

R

ECENT GRADUATE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING MAJOR MICHAEL RUSSELL ’15 has already hit the ground running with a new position as assistant superintendent at Triton Construction in New York City. Along with the internship experience he garnered at Structure Tone, a construction firm, during his junior and senior years at the College, Russell accredits the Christopher F. Hughes ’74 Scholarship for Civil Engineering for helping to relieve some of the stresses that come along with higher education.

In his correspondence with Hughes, manager of environmental remediation at Con Edison who established the award in 2010 as a way of providing assistance to engineering students, Russell said: “Not only have you helped me with the financial burden of receiving a quality education, but your support and advice every year are just as valuable.”

A graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey, Russell lived in Jasper Hall throughout his four years at Manhattan, where he served as a resident assistant during his senior year. He was active in Student Government this past year, and was vice president of residential affairs.

He also was appointed as student representative of the Advisory Committee on Campus Security in 2013. Those accomplishments might not have been achieved, however, without the Christopher F. Hughes ’74 Scholarship for Civil Engineering, Russell says.

“Scholarship support is just another reason I have fallen in love with Manhattan College and its community,” he says. “I hope to be fortunate enough to be able to show a student the same support and generosity Mr. Hughes has shown to me.”

Overall, the varying experiences that Russell had at Manhattan resulted in a

well-rounded academic career.

“I am definitely glad I chose Manhattan not only for the countless memories and good times I’ve had, but also the knowledge and overall life lessons I learned from the past four years,” he says.

Million-Dollar Endowment Will Provide Research Opportunities for Biology Department

A

LONGTIME BENEFACTOR, DENNIS FENTON ’73 AND HIS WIFE recently established The Linda and Dennis Fenton ’73 Endowed Biology Research Fund, supported by a $1 million gift made to the College. This fund will allow the College and the Biology department to provide vital teaching and research facilities and equipment to attract and retain talented students and faculty.

The Fentons also established The Catherine and Robert Fenton Chair in Biology, named in honor of Dennis’ parents, in 2004, which is currently held by Lance Evans, Ph.D., professor of biology.

“Manhattan College provided me with a sound and broad education in science in a value-driven and supportive environment,” Fenton says. “I know that these gifts will help ensure that today’s budding scientists are nurtured and encouraged to pursue their dreams at Manhattan.”

The Linda and Dennis Fenton ’73 Endowed Biology Research Fund will provide funds in perpetuity to: support undergraduate biology research, with a focus on students who are in the final two years of their undergraduate training; provide additional laboratory equip-

ment as necessary; strengthen The Catherine and Robert Fenton Endowed Chair in Biology to assist in the current program, and enable the competitive future recruitment of faculty; and support other undergraduate research in conjunction with other professors in the Biology department.

“The new Linda and Dennis Fenton ’73 Endowed Biology Research Fund will significantly increase the number of students supported each year to do research with their faculty,” says Constantine Theodosiou, dean of the school of science. “This fund will enhance the opportunities available to the students to experience the excitement of discovery and then help them to make more informed decisions about their future. Furthermore, it will help faculty to identify talented future researchers and to train them in their laboratories.”

Fenton received a Bachelor of Science in biology from Manhattan and a Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers. He is the owner and CEO of Fenton and Associates, a biotechnology consulting company.

He also served as executive vice president of operations at Amgen, where he worked from 1982-2008.

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Jaspers Pay Homage to Years Past at 146th Reunion Weekend

M

EMORIES. They were the glue that melded together nearly 500 Manhattan College alumni who took part in this year’s Reunion Weekend, as they hopped aboard a cruise liner that glided along New York Harbor at sunset, clinked glasses of champagne to celebrate silver and gold anniversaries, and took up temporary residency in Lee Hall.

The College’s 146th Reunion Weekend took place during June 5-7, at which time hundreds of alumni passed through their old stomping grounds and were introduced to a few new ones. Starting on Friday night, the festivities included a reception for young alumni and a reception for mixed graduation years at the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons. Meanwhile, members of Manhattan’s class of 1965 set sail from Chelsea Piers on a Golden Jaspers Cruise.

The sun rose on Saturday morning with a breakfast at

44 N fall 2015

Thomas Hall for guests staying overnight, as well as a faculty reflections seminar that included a panel discussion from associate government professor, Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., religious studies professor, Stephen Kaplan, Ph.D., and education professor, Brother Ray Meagher, FSC, Ph.D. The faculty reminisced about their collective years in Riverdale and shared stories about the classrooms, students and unique experiences they’ve had at Manhattan.

The day continued with a Golden Jaspers Luncheon for members of the class of 1965, which offered a special treat — a few words from one of the class’ most notable members, Rudy Giuliani ’65.

There, the former New York City mayor shared his testimony of the tragedies that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. He told his former classmates the thoughts he had while being whisked to safety by his security team as the first World

(Opposite page) Manhattan graduates from various class years toast one another and enjoy a reunion celebration dinner this past June. (This page, clockwise) Kyle ’07 and Hillary Fiegel Wirtz ’06 introduce fellow alums to the newest member of their Jasper family. Joe ’64 and Cathy Boyle and Jim ’64 and Carolyn Browne take in New York City’s majestic views on a moonlit Golden Jaspers Cruise on Friday evening. The class of ’65 also is treated to a speech from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani ’65 at the Golden Jaspers Luncheon on Saturday.

Trade Center tower dropped.

“I was thinking about the great moments I’d already had in my life, and said to myself, ‘Boy, I’m a lucky man,’” remembers Giuliani, who served as mayor from 1994-2001.

Following his speech, which included sentiments of the profound influence the De La Salle Brothers had during and after his time at the College, was the presentation of a $915,000 check written on behalf of Manhattan’s class of 1965.

Afterward, President Brennan O’Donnell, who closed the special luncheon, said, “Enjoy the bragging rights of being a graduate from this little powerhouse in the Bronx.”

Meanwhile, other attendees enjoyed the annual Jasper Picnic, which fed into a matinee performance of the Manhattan Singers and Players, and the yearly tradition of celebrating the Reunion Vigil Mass.

Topping off Saturday’s events was a moonlit dinner and dancing on the Quadrangle that continued late into the night and was illuminated

by tales of the College’s past. As the weekend came to a close the next day, visiting Jaspers shared a Sunday brunch before heading back on the road with College memories old and new.

“Whether you graduated just last year or 50 years ago, Manhattan remains a special place for all of us,” says Thomas McCarthy ’06, director of alumni relations. “Reunion Weekend creates the perfect opportunity for our jubilee Jaspers to reconnect, revisit campus and support their alma mater.”

If you missed out on the 2015 Reunion Weekend, visit manhattan. edu/reunion for more information, photos and a video recap of the weekend’s festivities. Also be sure to save the date for the College’s 2016 Reunion Weekend, scheduled for June 3-5.

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FROM THE COLLEGE’S ARCHIVES

Whatever Happened to …

“Old” Manhattan College?

W

HEN MANHATTAN COLLEGE RECEIVED ITS CHARTER in 1863, it was located in Manhattanville, a quaint village in northern Manhattan. At the time, it was a picturesque suburban vale surrounded by hillocks of granite and dotted with beautiful estates. Bloomingdale Road (now Old Broadway) was the main north-south artery, while Manhattan Street (now 125th Street) connected the ferry and railroad station on the Hudson River.

In 1853, the Christian Brothers secured property bounded by 131st Street on the south, 133rd Street to the north, Bloomingdale Road on the east and the Boulevard on the west (now Broadway), though no streets were cut through yet. After a successful fundraising drive, the Brothers purchased the property that consisted of about three acres and two framed buildings for $40,000 (about $1.2 million today). The only tenant on the premises, Daniel Tiemann, a one-time mayor of New York, vacated the four-story colonial mansion for the Brothers.

The buildings were divided up into a dormitory, classrooms, dining rooms and a chapel for the activities of Annunciation Parish.

The early history of Manhattan is closely connected with Annunciation. In 1853, at the corner of 131st Street and Bloomingdale Road, six lots were purchased from the Brothers, and the Gothic-style Church of the Annunciation was erected. The students prayed in the well-worn pews of the North Gallery, where they made retreats,

46 N fall 2015

listened to inspiring Baccalaureate sermons, and kept close watch on the charming young ladies of the parish.

The Jasper Oval was the scene of most of the athletics of the College and Parish. Located at 136th-138th Streets, between Convent Avenue and St. Nicholas Terrace, it was a natural saucer-shaped bowl that later became part of the City College of New York’s campus.

Several alterations were made to the main property throughout the years. When Broadway was laid out around 1866, some of the grounds of the College were taken by the city, and some of the buildings altered. The property line actually extended 50 feet into the bed of the proposed Grand Boulevard. So the College created a new main entrance on Broadway (it was originally on Bloomingdale Road), increased the number of stories, and erected a wing and mansard roof to connect the mansion and the southern wing of the College.

But by the late 19th century, the parish activities of Annunciation together with an increasing student enrollment, forced the Brothers to consider a new, larger location. Population increased in the late 19th century, and shortly thereafter, construction of the city’s first subway line began. Completed in 1904 and abutting the College, the subway brought the rumble of modernity to Manhattanville. The Rapid Transit Commission even awarded the College damages on account of the elevated structure in front of its property. The need for a new and improved campus was evident.

The Brothers ultimately selected the West Bronx for the “new” Manhattan College.

Although the property was purchased in 1901, they were unable to construct their campus for several years. Through a tremendous fundraising effort and generous response by alumni, ground was broken in 1921, and by September 1923, students began classes at the “new” Manhattan.

“Old” Manhattan was eventually sold and the buildings torn down. Earlier, in 1906, Annunciation Church moved farther east to West 131st Street and Convent Avenue, the property was sold, and the church demolished. On the rocky escarpment of the College’s site, the Nash Garage Building, an auto dealership, was built around 1930. This was later bought by Columbia University and used as a lab for scientists working on the Manhattan Project. It is still owned by Columbia. A gas station, mechanic’s garage and parking lot, housed on the other lots, still exist on the site today.

Regional Chapter Spotlight: Southwest Florida WITH MORE THAN 30 REGIONAL CHAPTERS across the country, alumni are connecting with each other and the College at various events and programs throughout the year.

These chapters provide a platform to inform alumni, students, parents and friends about campus initiatives and future projects.

Working to enhance the College’s image and geographic presence, regional alumni chapters also help to maintain the lifelong connection between Manhattan and its Jasper alumni community.

Our Southwest Florida chapter, serving the Naples and Bonita Springs areas, has established itself as one of the strongest and most active groups in the country. Chaired

by Jim Connors ’57, this chapter continues to be one of the most stalwart supporters of the College and alumni activities. The number of residents, bolstered by “snow birds” and vacationers, creates a unique environment for celebrating Jasper pride.

Connors has welcomed alumni into his home for socials and the occasional gathering of more than 100 Jaspers and friends. For the past 22 years, this chapter has hosted an annual luncheon at Pelican’s Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs; kicking off a week of events throughout the Sunshine State.

The highlight of the week is the Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, in which alumni and friends are led by members of the College’s Pipes & Drums. Participants start the celebration the evening before at a reception at Connors’ home, highlighted by traditional Irish fare and featuring a performance by members of the Pipe Band. Following Saturday’s parade, marchers enjoy a post-parade reception at the Bellasera Hotel. Manhattan’s contingent has been participating since 1998 and has grown to be one of the largest in the parade. Through sponsorships and by opening their homes, the generosity of our alumni makes it possible for student bagpipers and drummers to participate in this spectacular yearly event. As Connors notes, “These activities could only take place with the extraordinary financial and emotional support of the Manhattan family.”

The group continues to expand and recruit new participants who are interested in learning more about what southwest Florida has to offer alumni. Past seasons have included visits by the Manhattan baseball team, which was cheered on by a very vocal group of alumni and supporters with cow bells and

Active in the Southwest Florida chapter, Jim Connors ’57 leads the Manhattan contingent in the Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March.

banners in their games against Florida Gulf Coast University.

In January, Jim Johnston ’67 sponsored a new Jasper golf outing at Quail West Golf & Country Club. The inaugural event welcomed some 40 alumni and friends for a round of golf and a beautiful evening reception at the clubhouse.

Stay tuned to the alumni events online calendar for more information about activities for this chapter and others across the country.

The 27th Annual Jasper Open MORE THAN 100 GOLFERS participated in the 27th annual Jasper Open at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on Monday, May 4. This annual golf outing continues to provide a fun-filled day of golf and camaraderie for members of the Jasper family while benefiting the Manhattan College annual fund. The College extends its thanks and gratitude to all of the Jaspers, guests and sponsors who participated in the event, which raised nearly $140,000 to benefit students. Save the date for the 28th annual outing, which will be held on Monday, May 2, 2016. For more information, visit manhattan.edu/jasperopen.

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ALUMNOTES 1957

1968

1958

1969

JOHN WALKER continues to serve his parish as lector, cantor, minister of care, and bereavement minister.

JOHN “JACK” POWERS was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) during halftime at the St. John’s-Fordham basketball game in December. He was one of five figures honored during the 2014 MSG Holiday Festival presented by Advanced Auto Parts.

1961

RICHARD CURTIN, a retired executive vice president of Southwest Research Institute, published Trails of Deception (CreateSpace, 2013), a murder mystery set in the Red Rock Canyon country of southeast Utah. It is the third book in the Manny Rivera Mystery Series.

1964

DOUGLAS NICHOLAS published The Demon (Simon and Schuster, 2014), a short story prequel to his historical fiction saga Something Red (2012) that mixes history, fantasy and legend.

STEPHEN TOTH published Dobro Roots: A Photo Tour of Prewar Wood Body Dobros (Centerstream Publications, 2014), which is the first and most definitive work devoted solely to the Dobro guitars produced by John Dopyera.

KAM YUEN, D.C., published Delete Stress and Pain on the Spot (Motivational Press, 2015), which explains his groundbreaking Yuen Method in a step-by-step program for those looking for long-term solutions for chronic pain and stress. The No. 1 international best-seller is available on Amazon.com.

1965

JOHN FITZPATRICK, Ph.D., is very proud of his son, Christopher, who is the current president of the Richmond County Bar Association in Staten Island.

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WALTER OLSEWSKI marked his 200th coaching victory as swimming coach at Manhattan College on Jan. 31.

LAWRENCE CANDARELLI was among eight deacons who were ordained at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in June.

VINCENT MALIGNO, Ph.D., reports, “On my birthday, April 26, the New York Yankees honored me as the veteran of the game for my service in Vietnam. I am making a movie Looking For God.”

1973

DANIEL FRARE, an educator at Tenafly Middle School, was selected the 2014-15 Bergen County Teacher of the Year.

DENNIS FENTON, Ph.D., owner and CEO of Fenton and Associates, a biotechnology consulting firm, was named to Portola Pharmaceuticals’ board of directors.

1974

BARRY BIGGAR joined the finance practice for Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in New York City. “Pillsbury has world class aviation and transportation finance teams in addition to a global finance practice, and I’m thrilled to be joining such a strong 1970 group,” he said in a recent press release.

SR. LOUISE BULLIS, M.M., celebrated her 70th “I look forward to collaborating with anniversary as a Maryknoll Sister. She entered the order in 1945, when she received Pillsbury’s team in New York, London, her religious name of Sr. M. Raymond Gerard, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Asia.” and made her first profession of vows three years later. After an illustrious teaching 1975 career in Honolulu and Maui, she returned JIM LAURIA joined Mazzei Injector Company, to Maryknoll in 2007 and organized LLC, a manufacturer of injection systems major events for the congregation’s 100th and fluid processing solutions, as vice anniversary in 2012. president of sales and marketing. According STEVEN CHAPRA, Ph.D., FASCE, received to the press release, “Mazzei is fortunate the 2015 Horner Award from the American to have found someone with an extraordiSociety of Civil Engineers for his co-written nary command of the technical, sales and paper “Parsimonious Model for Assessing marketing, and financial aspects of the Nutrient Impacts on Periphyton-dominated business, and his enthusiasm and energy Streams,” for its valuable contribution to are unmatched.” the environmental engineering profession.

ROBERT MCGINNIS, an independent 1977 director of Home Loan Servicing Solutions, VITO LOGUIDICE, M.D., practices with Ltd., is the new nonexecutive chairman of Coordinated Health, a leading acute-care the board of directors. McGinnis also serves hospital network in Pennsylvania and New as the chairman of the nominating and Jersey. Certified by the American Board of corporate governance committee and is a Orthopaedic Surgery and the American member of the audient committee and the Board of Spine Surgery, he is an innovator compensation committee of the board. in the field of spinal surgery, most recently in the area of kyphoplasty procedures, which is a minimally invasive procedure 1971 for the treatment of vertebral compression WILLIAM OWENS, former congressman, fractures related to osteoporosis. was appointed to the Arrow Financial JOHN PETCHONKA is celebrating his 10th Corporation Board of Directors, as well as year as owner of Ridgefield Glass, a fulla director of Arrow’s lead subsidiary bank, service, custom design glass retailer for Glens Falls National Trust Company.

JASPER BOOKSHELF Steven Burchik ’67 published Compass and a Camera (Sharlin-K Press, 2014) about his experiences as a forward observer with the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. It was awarded the 2015 silver medal for the autobiography/memoir category at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. A unique memoir of the war, the book pulls not only from Burchik’s memories but also from the daily letters he wrote to his fiancée (she kept every single one) and includes numerous photographs from his collection of more than 4,000. Following his military service, he earned his MBA from Michigan State University and had a successful career as a marketing executive and entrepreneur in the food industry.

Fausta ’82 and Michael McDermott ’81 co-wrote The Concert Hall Cats, (Illumination Arts, 2015) a children’s book about a family of cats that hatch an ingenious plan to save a struggling concert hall from closing. The story conveys a message about the importance of the arts and artistic pursuits. Fausta and Michael’s son, Joseph ’15, who graduated with a degree in peace studies in May, illustrated the book. Fausta and Michael are attorneys who practice together in Westchester County, New York. Joseph recently accepted a full-time position with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Michael O’Hara ’70 published his first novel, Dos Angeles (Strategic Media Books, 2015).

The book, featuring a bilingual and bicultural private eye named Paco Moran, centers around Moran’s desperate search for a beautiful young Latina immigrant who stole $10 million from the mob. The former award-winning journalist and NBC vice president of media relations has written and produced some of the highest-rated television movies and miniseries in recent memory. O’Hara wrote and executive produced Switched at Birth, the Emmy-nominated NBC miniseries, and is the creator of two TV movie franchises, NBC’s Moment of Truth, and ABC’s Crimes of Passion.

residential and commercial customers. In June, he cut the ribbon on a new 2,000-squarefoot showroom in Ridgefield, Conn.

ROBERT THOMANN, principal at the Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, N.Y., was elected to the Saugerties School Board in May. His priorities are improving the 39 percent graduation rate for students in special education programs and improving the district’s technology.

1978

FRANK BOSCO, M.D., practices at Broadway Dental Associates in White Plains, N.Y. He is a member of the American Dental Association and New York State Dental Society and International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

STEVEN CARROLL left retirement in January to work with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems USA as a new unit/upgrade

project manager based in Lake Mary, Fla. THOMAS KENNEDY was appointed president of the funds that comprise Behringer’s opportunity platform: Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT I, Inc., and Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT II, Inc. Behringer creates, manages and distributes specialized investments through a multi-manager approach that presents unique options of allocating capital, managing risk and diversifying assets.

MASSIMO SORBARA, senior director of technical standards for Ikanos Communications, Inc., spoke at TNO’s Ultra-Fast Broadband Seminar in The Hague, Netherlands, in June.

JOE WEBB, Ph.D., announced the launch of his blog, DrJoesBlog.com, which focuses on the discussion of printing, publishing and new media trends. His industry and economic commentary appears every Friday, exclusively at WhatTheyThink.com. “There

is such an intense level of change in the printing and media industries that I found my column could not contain it all,” he said in a recent article. “Blogging also creates a closer, more immediate relationship with my audience.”

1979

DOMINICK FICKERIA joined Hill International as senior vice president and deputy northeast regional manager with Hill’s Project Management Group.

MARK MAIELLO, Ph.D., joined the NYC Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response as a radiological projects planning manager in August 2014.

He is “using his Manhattan College degree in physics to prepare public health based countermeasures against radiological and nuclear terrorism.” He also writes for Health Physics News and is a book review editor for the Journal of Nuclear Materials Management.

1980

MIKE KELLY recently graduated from Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program. His company On Call International provides life-saving travel risk management services for companies with travelers around the globe. Under his leadership, On Call International has been honored as one of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing companies for two years in a row. It has also been recognized as one of New Hampshire’s Best Companies to Work For. JOSEPH PORTER was appointed vice chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel by the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees. In this role, he provides legal advice and opinions for SUNY and the board of trustees, and represents the state university in legal matters.

JOHN PROCACCINO, M.D., chief of colon and rectal surgery and vice chairman, department of surgery, North Shore-LIJ Health System, was honored at the Laugh ’til It Stops Hurting Mission Critical Event celebrating 25 years of service to the Long Island community.

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Patterson’s Best-Selling Sci-Fi Thriller Leads Summer Lineup on CBS The harrowing tale of a world where violent animal attacks against humans sweep the planet and threaten the future of civilization made it to television screens across the U.S. this summer in the TV show ZOO. The global thriller debuted on CBS in June as an adaptation from the No. 1 best-selling novel

by James Patterson ’69 and Michael Ledwidge ’92, and follows Jackson Oz (James Wolk), a young renegade American zoologist who spends his days running safaris in the wilds of Africa with his best friend Abraham (Nonso Anozie). Shortly after the attacks begin, Oz begins to see a link between the strange animal attacks and his late father’s controversial theories about impending threats to the human race. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, news reporter Jamie Campbell (Kristen Connolly) is intent on being the first to break the story behind the mysterious animal behavior, and seeks the expertise of Mitch Morgan (Billy Burke), an off-kilter veterinarian, who prefers the company of animals to people. As the assaults occurring worldwide become more cunning, coordinated and ferocious, Oz and the others are thrust into the race to unlock the mystery of the pandemic before there’s no place left to hide. Patterson is an executive producer of ZOO.

1981

PATRICK RICE was ordained as one of the newest deacons of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. He says his parents influenced his faith-filled life. His father was a permanent deacon in the parish where he grew up in New Jersey. As for his own decision to study for the priesthood, he says, “I just felt there was something missing in my life and realized when I entered the church doors, I felt a sense of peace come over me and felt that was what was missing and knew then that I was being called.”

1982

BOB BRENNAN, CEO of cybersecurity firm Veracode, was profiled in the Boston Business Journal. He noted his degree in psychology has helped prepare for him for his executive roles.

JAMES DIXON, vice president for legal and compliance services for Con Edison Development and Con Edison Energy, was elected energy committee chairman of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), a global bar association representing more than 35,000 in-house lawyers in 90 countries.

NICHOLAS RAMONI was among eight deacons who were ordained at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in June.

J. BRET YOUNG joined INTECH as a managing director, business development. In this role, he is responsible for developing and managing new business opportunities, with the 50 N fall 2015

goal of establishing new client relationships for INTECH.

including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and open source.

1983

1985

DONNA CAVANAGH, humor writer, founded HumorOutcasts.com, a website where humor writers can thrive without being censored. Today, it features the contributed work of more than 100 humorists, cartoonists, novelists, stand-up comedians, and TV producers and writers, many of which are well known. “[Humor writing is] one of the hardest genres to write,” she said in a recent interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, “but in the words of Rodney Dangerfield, ‘It gets no respect.’”

WILLIAM DIRCKS joined global automotive supplier Inteva Products, LLC, as vice president and chief financial officer.

1984

JOHN BADDING, professor of chemistry and physics at Penn State, was awarded the 2015 Penn State Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Physical Sciences. He is a materials and solid-state chemist whose research focuses on using high pressures to synthesize or characterize microscale and nanoscale materials.

JAMES GATTO joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, a growing intellectual property practice group. His practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property, internet and technology law,

CHRISTOPHER KEAVENEY published his third book The Cultural Evolution of Postwar Japan: The Intellectual Contributions of Kaizo’s Yamamoto Sanehiko (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). Keaveney is a professor of Japanese and Asian studies and co-chair of the department of modern languages at Linfield College. He is the author of The Subversive Self in Modern Chinese Literature and Beyond Brushtalk: SinoJapanese Literary Exchange in the Interwar Period, as well as numerous articles about cultural relations between Japan and China in the interwar period.

1987

ANDREW GYVES joined Screenvision, a national leader in cinema advertising sales, as senior director of national accounts.

RICH LEMANSKI is the new head of business development for Macro Risk Advisors, a leading provider of global equity derivatives strategy and trade execution for institutional investors.

LT. COL. THOMAS COPPINGER, a resident of Mount Laurel, N.J., took command of the 108th Operations Group and was promoted to colonel during a double ceremony at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., in February.

REV. WILLIAM “CHIP” STOKES, Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, is visiting each congregation within the Diocese at least once every three years. The Diocese comprises 150 congregations, including seasonal, collegiate and institutional chapels.

1988

Jaspers Join Up on the Diamond at Yankees Fantasy Camp FOUR JASPERS RECENTLY found themselves telling their own Bronx tales and sharing fond memories of their times at Manhattan College during Yankees Fantasy Camp in January. Returning campers John Conti ’81 and Phil Vottiero ’85, who had both participated in previous camps, met coincidentally as assigned roommates during the 2014 fantasy camp.

This year, they happened to be joined by Chris Barreiro ’97 and Joe Dolan ’86 — proving that it’s a small world when it comes to the Jasper community.

When Conti checked into his room in 2014, a luggage tag on Vottiero’s bag sparked the conversation between the new roomies. It only took about 30 seconds for the two Jaspers to realize that they shared an alma mater. Fast forward to 2015, when Conti took notice of two great plays by first-time camper Barreiro in the first inning of the first game. Inquiring if Barreiro had played college ball, the rookie camper responded affirmatively, at a small D-1 school in the Bronx. The three alumni then decided to take a photo together, holding one of Conti’s Manhattan Collegebranded bags. Dolan noticed the bag and disclosed his Jasper status, too. They nicknamed themselves the Riverdale Bombers, and brought some Jasper flair to the field in Florida.

(From left to right): Chris Barreiro ’97, Joe Dolan ’86, John Conti ’81 and Phil Vottiero ’85

AMY (PROVENZANO) NUNZIATA is the new associate laboratory director of the facilities and operations directorate at Brookhaven Science Associates in Upton, N.Y.

1989

ANTHONY COSTELLO, P.E., joined Gannett Fleming’s New York City office as a senior project manager. He primarily supports watershed projects for the Department of Environmental Protection, working to deliver cost-effective, efficient and sustainable solutions that meet client needs.

1990

MARINA (COLABELLO) COLELLA, master license owner at Decorating Den Interiors, is the National Association of Professional Women’s VIP Woman of the Year, recognized for her outstanding leadership and commitment in electrical engineering.

GERARD SEDLAK is on a phase-out retirement plan from his position as associate professor of engineering and technology at Vaughn College.

EDWARD WHITE is the new senior vice president, senior research analyst, for FBR & Co.’s equity research department. He is based in New York and focuses on the biotech sector.

1992

THOMAS HANRAHAN is the new senior managing director, commercial lending, for Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

1994

CHRISTOPHER BEAUREGARD, P.E., was selected by the Central Pennsylvania Engineers Week Council to receive the 2015 John H. McCormick Educational Outreach Award. The award focuses on his dedication and considerable efforts exposing students to the world of engineering, science and technology through school visits, career days and volunteering at local competitions.

He is director of civil engineering at CenterPoint Engineering in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

ERIKA DUTHIERS, deputy general counsel for the Rochester Institute of Technology, was selected as a 2015 ATHENA Young Professional Award finalist. ATHENA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential, and creating balance in leadership worldwide. The annual award is presented to someone who has attained and embodies the highest level of professional excellence in her/his business or profession, has devoted time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assists women in realizing their leadership potential.

1995

STEPHEN HADJIYANE, P.E., BCEE, received the New York Water Environment Association Long Island Chapter Achievement Award for his ongoing progressive initiatives to protect and enhance New York’s water resources.

2001

ALBERTO VAZQUEZ MATOS was named chief of staff for Hillsborough County Public Schools, where he will oversee business operations, human resources, information and technology, charter schools, facilities, security and community relations.

2003

JOHN MOOLICK was promoted to manager of operations for United Water New York, which provides water and wastewater services to about 300,000 people in Rockland and Orange counties. In this capacity, he oversees all operational activities including the company’s water and wastewater treatment plants, dams, distribution systems and regulatory compliance.

EMILY (GORDON) SPENCER is the director and founder of the Heartillery Group, a nonprofit whose mission is to show support, love and gratitude to American troops serving overseas by sending cards, letters and care packages. She reports, “We have finally reached over 1,000 likes on our Facebook page! Let’s try to keep spreading the word and get even more likes!”

MANHATTAN.EDU N 51 47

ALUMNI

2007

CARLOS GONZALEZ joined Penton’s engineering and sourcing group in New York as a technology editor. He covers fluid power, motion control, CAD/CAM, and manufacturing for machine design.

2008

THOMAS MURPHY, a resident of Concord, N.H., joined Better Homes & Gardens: The Masiello Group, as a realtor.

2010

THOMAS BURNS and KAITLIN HANSMAN are engaged and are planning an August 2016 wedding.

TYLER DEVANEY retired from the Army as a sergeant after sustaining serious wounds while serving in Afghanistan. Determined to continue the fight against terror, he earned a certificate in global terror from the World Politics Institute, and will continue his studies at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies this fall.

DANA LINDSAY ’12 (M.E.) joined DiPrete Engineering as a civil engineer. She is working on the design of stormwater management systems and environmental permitting for residential and commercial projects.

2013

JESUS MARGELU is a recruiter manager for LifeWorx, an upscale employment agency, with branches in Manhattan, Westchester and New Jersey.

2014

KARLABELLE RODRIGUEZ is an associate and receptionist for Equinox gym and lifestyle franchise.

BIRTHS

1992

EILEEN SOLJANICH & MARTIN VIERA ’93, son, Xavier Martin, 1/14/15

2001

LISA & RYAN JOHNSTON, son, 12/14

2006

KATELYN E. & PATRICK J. EARLEY, son, Finn Patrick, 10/17/14

2008

AMY (COLANTUONO) & ERIK LUCAS, daughter, Addison Marie, 4/21/15

MARRIAGES

1999

Veronica Mears & CHRISTOPHER MEAGHER, 6/13/15

2006

KRISTIN GALLAGHER & Michael Selimo, 11/22/14

Young Philanthropist Fosters Cross-Cultural Understanding

2007

JAMIE LEHRIAN ’09 (M.S.) & AMY ROWE ’11, 11/7/14

2010

ANN-MARIE CASTRO & ERIC FLEMING, 9/13/14 JUST FIVE YEARS SINCE HE GRADUATED from Manhattan, Mansoor Ahmed ’10 has earned a master’s degree in Islamic studies from Columbia University, founded a successful publishing company, and established a new student scholarship at Manhattan College.

The Mansoor Ahmed Study Abroad Scholarship supports a student studying for a semester in a non-Manhattan College study abroad program in a non-English-speaking country.

Preference is given to students traveling to Turkey, the Middle East or Africa.

An international studies major, Ahmed’s experiences at Manhattan inspired him to create the scholarship. During his junior year, he studied in Jordan and Georgia through an American University program, in which he learned the value of international education.

“The experience of learning about politics and religion through travel can’t be replaced by books, but I’m very aware of the financial aspect,” he says. “It’s not easy to gather the resources to make study abroad possible. This scholarship is about giving back.”

Ahmed is just as generous in his professional life, which he’s dedicated to generating cross-cultural understanding. In 2011, he founded Crescent Books to answer a need in the American Muslim community for literature on Islam. The publications focus on current questions of practice and theology and are highly approachable from an American context.

Establishing his own publishing company has given him the freedom to distribute hundreds of copies free of charge to communities that need it most. He’s even commissioned translations from several modern languages and literature professors at the College.

“I’ve heard from many readers — people who have been touched by our books,” he says.

“They’ve had a significant impact on people — on clearing up misunderstandings about Islam and relevant politics. It’s a source of pride.”

52 N summer 2015

2011

ERIN BRENNAN & Shane Walsh, 3/27/15

ADVANCED DEGREES

1991

JAMES CASTALDO received an M.S. in criminal justice from St. Joseph’s University in January 2015.

2005

KONSTANTINE ROUNTOS earned a Ph.D. in marine & atmospheric sciences from Stony Brook University in 2014.

2013

ROBERT FIORE graduated with an M.A. in mathematics from Stony Brook University in May 2015.

Avoiding the Apocalypse

Photo by Mark Holm © 2014 for Discover Magazine

T

HE THREAT OF A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ASTEROID colliding with Earth is not just a Hollywood disaster scenario. According to John Remo ’63, Ph.D., a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, it’s an inevitable reality.

Remo, an authority in a variety of fields including planetary science and high-energy density physics, devoted the past 20 years of his life to preparing an eleventh-hour defense against Earthbound asteroids. It all started at the 1992 Los Alamos National Lab conference on asteroid defense, the first major meeting for astronomers and weapons lab researchers to explore options for intercepting threatening near-Earth objects.

Although a lot of deflection theories were discussed at the conference, Remo recognized very early on that simply ramming a spacecraft into an asteroid wouldn’t be enough.

“What was realized during the Los Alamos conference was that you needed a large amount of energy to deflect an Earth-bound object,” Remo says. “Nobody wanted to admit you had to use nuclear explosives — it’s a very sensitive subject — but it’s the only way.”

Remo felt called to the field of physics after reading Inside the Atom by Issac Asimov during his sophomore year at Brooklyn Preparatory School. He chose Manhattan for its academics and convenience.

During his years in Riverdale, Remo honed his writing skills as the physics editor of the Manhattan Scientist, the College’s academic journal. “It was an introduction to the world of publishing and an important experience for me as a young academic.”

After graduating with a B.S. in physics, he continued his graduate studies at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Stony Brook, before getting his Ph.D. in quantum optics at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. He was awarded the 1972-73 Nininger Meteorite Award, and in 1999 was given the honor of having Asteroid 2114 T-2 — a non-Earth threatening asteroid — named after him.

Seeking autonomy, Remo started his own firm, Quantametrics, where he developed high-powered laser technology for clients such as NASA and the “Star Wars” missile defense program. He also led the 1995 United Nations International Conference on near-Earth objects and edited the conference proceedings, which were published in 1997.

Shortly thereafter, he was approached by Harvard–Smithsonian with appointments in the department of astronomy, and then the department of planetary sciences.

Using proceeds from his firm (and eventually funding from the National Nuclear Security Administration and other federal agencies), he set out to answer how much nuclear radiation would be needed to blast any given material off course.

Thanks to his intensive study of meteoritics at Stony Brook, it was clear to Remo there was more to the asteroid defense problem than nuclear energy. He realized that he would need to figure out its material properties to best predict a meteor’s response to nuclear radiation.

He spent nearly a decade gathering meteorite samples, and finally, in 2000, gained access to the Sandia National Laboratories’ Z machine, a platform for studying the physics and effects of nuclear explosions.

John Remo ’63, Ph.D., holds a fragment of a chondritic meteorite, “A combination of the high energy near his home in the high desert density physics and meteoritics village of Placitas, N.M. Remo says equipped me with the scientific and the material is typical in most engineering background to exploit common asteroids, and the the Z-pinch machine at the national fragment is about 4.6 billion years old, describing it as “planetary lab,” he says. “That’s the only place building material.”

I could design my own experiments using those high powered lasers, and the high intensity Z-pinch X-ray source, which I also use for high pressure physics interactions.”

It was so crucial that he elected to relocate from Long Island, N.Y., to Placitas, N.M., in 2005, to take advantage of the rare occasion when the lab became available. With the help of Sandia physicist Michael Furnish, they discovered a way to effectively move very small-scale asteroids with radiation. Now that they have researched an effective eleventh-hour strategy, the problem of testing and implementation remains. Tests involving nuclear warheads are, understandably, highly political.

His most recent contributions to the field address these concerns.

“The Dilemma of Nuclear Energy in Space,” published in the May/June 2015 edition of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, discusses whether nuclear explosives are a barrier or a path to long-term human survival.

Despite the controversy, Remo’s life work is becoming a part of the national conversation. In June, the nation’s agencies that build civilian rockets and nuclear arms agreed to start working together on planetary defense — an enormous first step. There’s also a rise in public interest in asteroid deflection, including a first-ever global awareness campaign called Asteroid Day, which was held on June 30.

Today, at 73 years old, Remo has no intention of slowing down. His view of retirement includes idle conversation and reality television — neither of which he wants any part.

Despite the overwhelming probability that his contributions to the field will help to save civilization as we know it, he remains humble and highly focused.

“Maybe I played a key role in certain parts of the research, but it’s a cooperative effort,” he says. “There’s a lot of work yet to do.”

MANHATTAN.EDU N 53

ALUMNI

Blazing Trails and Crossing the Globe

B

ECAUSE IBM MOVES PEOPLE AROUND SO MUCH, some employees have quipped that the abbreviation of International Business Machines really stands for “I’ve Been Moved.” That certainly applies to Natalia Maria dos Santos Ruderman ’84, vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of IBM Latin America.

During her 27 years at IBM, she has worked in several countries and has favorite keepsakes from these locations in her office to prove it. There’s the colorful scarf from her favorite Mexican fashion designers, for example, and the bamboo plant from her time in China that supposedly bestows good luck. But relocating has never been a problem for Ruderman; she thrives on it.

Born in Venezuela, she emigrated to the U.S. from Portugal with her parents when she was a teen, and watched them labor tirelessly at blue-collar jobs in this country.

Her father wanted a better life for her, and he stressed education as the way to attain it.

In high school, she was focused on a college degree — any degree — that would land her a job. Little did she know that Manhattan College would start her on the path to a high-powered career.

54 N fall 2015

“The College, which was well-known in the immigrant community, was a small, Lasallian school that provided an environment where any student, regardless of background, could excel. I met great students from diverse backgrounds who were bound by a common thread — to work hard and be the best at what they did,” she recalls.

Manhattan College, she mentions, was also known for its excellent engineering and accounting schools, and the top five accounting firms and other companies, including IBM, recruited there. It was the dawn of the computer revolution, and she was fascinated by the new companies she was reading about in the news — emerging companies, such as Lotus, Microsoft and Apple. She particularly recalls one class she took, which was taught by an IBM employee.

“I remember it because it was where I first learned to develop complex macros in Lotus to solve statistical problems,” Ruderman says. “I also learned practical lessons from some of the best professors, who took a personal interest in their students’ growth and development.”

After completing an internship at IBM during the summer after her junior year, Ruderman was offered a full-time job with the company. Armed with a B.S. in computer information systems and accounting, the honored graduate, who was a member of Epsilon Sigma Pi and next in merit for the Prize for Accountancy, was offered opportunity after opportunity at IBM. She has held a number of leadership positions in planning, pricing and accounting areas for business units in New York, Connecticut and Silicon Valley, and she has served as CFO in the U.S., China, Mexico and now in Brazil.

Ruderman is also a trailblazer in analytics.

“I like to think I was one of the first in financial risk management to use analytics to measure business risk a few years ago,” she says.

When she worked in risk analytics in New York, she and her team developed a

way to use the financial data they collected to uncover trends and provide insight into emerging or decreasing risks across the more than 170 countries in which IBM works.

“My former team and I have a patent pending for that effort. IBM had its most patents ever awarded in 2014, and I’m pleased to be a part of that,” Ruderman notes.

Not bad for a person who didn’t speak English when she arrived in this country.

She also has been recognized for her work several times. Besides being awarded a patent in 2010, Ruderman appeared in Hispanic Business magazine as a top 25 executive, and in 2012, her work in risk analytics won IBM a CIO 100 award.

The alumna attributes her success to “hard work, passion, perseverance and persistence — and, of course, a little luck.” Along the way, Ruderman has generously reached out a hand to help others and to share her insights.

She was a member of the Financial Women’s Association and its Baruch College and Murry Bergtraum High School Mentoring programs, which encourage women to seek career opportunities in finance and business. She also co-chaired IBM’s Hispanic Constituency and Global Cultural Adaptability councils for several years.

Her advice to current Manhattan College students is not to be afraid to take risks and to branch out and take advantage of the knowledge, experience and contacts professors and fellow students have.

“Take on challenging assignments where your contributions will make a significant difference in your community or in the organization where you work,” she advises.

“You will not be known for your potential; rather, you’ll be remembered for the lasting footprint you leave behind.”

Pat Olsen writes frequently for The New York Times.

Alumnus Appointed Chancellor Abroad

T

HE CURRENT CHAIRMAN AND CEO of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, Irish-American Thomas J. Moran ’74 has not only served at one of the most highly rated life insurance companies in the U.S. for several years but also has been a strong advocate for peace in Northern Ireland.

Most recently, Moran was appointed chancellor of Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

“I am delighted that Queen’s has chosen Tom Moran to be its new Chancellor. Tom is recognized for his steadfast commitment to helping others and for his charitable, philanthropic and educational work.

He joins Queen’s at an exciting time in its development, and we very much look forward to the important contribution of our new Chancellor,” said Rotha Johnston, pro-chancellor and chair of senate, in a campus press release.

As chancellor, Moran will fill three roles: ceremonial, ambassadorial and advisory. He will attend graduations and major events at the university, as well as to help it become more widely known and to open new doors. “The third responsibility is to work with the vicechancellor as a sounding board and to explore new ideas that will help the university achieve its vision for 2020,” Moran explains.

His relationship with Queen’s University first began in 2006, when he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science in Economics in 2006 for services to business, commerce and to public service. Moran has contributed to many humanitarian and community causes, as well as the peace process.

He is especially passionate about helping others and similar to his service to Northern Ireland, he has devoted his time to serve with Concern Worldwide (U.S.), an international humanitarian relief organization that operates in 30 of the poorest countries of the world.

Moran met a few women in Sierra Leone who had become connected with Concern Worldwide after taking their children into hiding when conflict hit their village. Concern helped them to start a women’s farm cooperative and harvest rice and farm fish. Today, with Concern’s initial support, no child in the village goes to sleep hungry, and more are attending secondary school with the hopes of one day completing college.

“No matter where you go in the world, there is not a lot of difference between people — the first thing is make sure your children are healthy, and the second thing is to make sure they have a decent education, and it’s the same everywhere,” Moran says.

It’s encounters and experiences like these that inspire Moran to help others, and he puts this same attitude into his leadership role at Mutual of America. He is proud of his colleagues at Mutual of America, all of whom participate in some form of philanthropy.

Moran has supervised Mutual of America’s growth from a small retirement association to a mutual life insurance company with more

than $18 billion in assets.

In addition to his current roles as CEO and chairman of the board, Moran was president until earlier this year and the first person to be appointed from within the company.

He has had numerous insurance industry leadership positions, including his past service as chairman of the Medical Information Bureau and the Life Insurance Council of New York. Moran was also part of the Court of Directors of the Bank of Ireland and an advisory board member to the Observatory on Europe 2007, to improve European competitiveness and integration.

Moran is a former chairman of the North American Advisory Board of the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business at University College Dublin. He is on the Board of Directors of Thirteen WNET, National Committee on American Foreign Policy, and the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City. He was a member of the Irish Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Board, and involved with the Irish Chamber of Commerce, and Ireland-U.S. Council for Commerce and Industry, Inc. He has received many awards as a result of his service, including the Calvary Hospital Medal of Honor, the New York City Fire Department Humanitarian Award, the Commissioner’s Award by the New York City Police Foundation, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Moran is listed as one of the top 100 Irish-American business people

by Irish America magazine and recently named a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award (Ireland) for 2015.

His service, leadership and work ethic stems from his early years and what he learned at Manhattan College. As the first in his family to graduate from college with a B.S. in mathematics, he gives great credit to all of those who helped to educate him, and especially Manhattan College for making his current career in business possible and allowing him the opportunity to enjoy success.

A generous donor to his alma mater, Moran has remained involved with the College. He was a member of the College’s board of trustees from 1995-2003. In addition, Moran was an active supporter of the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons and the De La Salle Dinner, serving as dinner chairman for the 1996 dinner and co-chair in 2010.

“Without Manhattan, I’m not sure where I have would have been,” Moran adds.

MANHATTAN.EDU N 55

OBITUARIES

INMEMORIAM

Manhattan College records with sorrow the deaths of the following alumni: 1942

1954

1962

1974

Thomas J. Drummy, 6/12/15 Howard E. Murphy, 2/1/15

Walter William Buckley, 5/23/15 Edward G. Donegan, 4/2/15

John Patrick Cullen, 2/2/15 Francis J. Francomano, 5/30/15 John Patrick Naughton, 1/26/15 Edward Alexander Nowatzki, 5/4/15

Kevin M. Kearney, 1/7/15

1943

John F. Forner Jr., 5/11/15 Robert Joseph Johansen, 5/1/14

1944

John Robert “Bob” Lynch, 1/29/15

1945

Robert R. Caputi, 1/18/15

1948

1955

George Reilly, 2/13/15

1956

Alfred DelBello, 5/15/15 Thomas Francis Meade, 3/14/15 William J. D. Mulderry Jr., 1/6/15 Donald Blair Pennell, 1/22/15

William J. Miller, 5/20/15

1957

Daniel D. Gallagher, Esq., 3/22/15

Dennis Burbridge, 5/24/15 Thomas F. Flynn, 4/1/15 Joseph Oefelein, 12/24/14

1949 1950

Patrick M. Downs, 1/9/15 John R. Lindsell, 3/13/15 Gerald J. Perry, 5/28/15

1951

1958

Br. Kenneth Fitzgerald, 3/4/15 James R. Kane, 4/15/15 Joseph Madison, 7/22/14 Dennis J. Murphy, 3/4/15

Harry A. Cahill, 4/8/15 The Rev. John Cullinane, 6/1/15 Robert E. Huie, 4/7/15

1959

Thomas E. DuPré, 01/31/15 Francis Thomas Mason, 2/11/15

1961

1952

1953

John Lawrence Flynn, 3/12/15 Brendan E. Joyce, 4/21/15 Andrew Kilcarr, 12/21/14 John “Jack” Valentine Mazzola, 3/8/15 Thomas Joseph O’Rourke, 1/30/15

56 N fall 2015

William Kropp, 4/11/15

1960

James J. Burbage, 2/2/15 Joseph M. Callan, 3/8/15

Richard Murphy, 1/19/15 Richard W. Ruhling, 4/7/15 Francis Anthony Volino, 1/19/15 John T. Williams, 2/22/15

1975

Sr. Catherine Mary Gorman, OP, 3/8/15 James P. Hagan Jr., 12/10/14

1980

Bart Ben Musial, M.D., 3/23/15

1964

1981

Richard L. Mauro, 6/8/15

Martin J. Marshal, 3/7/15

1965

1982

Frank Russell Gerety, 4/14/15

Patrick J. Petersen, 5/31/15

1966

1989

James Steven Cox, 5/8/15 Andrew Joseph Young, 2/20/15

John J. Butz, 2/18/15

1996

1967

Christopher Maiorino, 4/16/15

George Feeney, 3/3/15 Charles McFarland, 12/27/14

Edward M. Brown, 1/14/15

1968

Sr. Thecla Mawn, OP, 5/13/15

1970

James Vincent Fitzgerald, 2/18/15

1972

Daniel Francis McCartney, 3/11/15 Steven R. Miola, 4/19/15 Joseph T. Steuer, 1/31/15

1973

Sr. Helen Regina Jarczynski, SC, 4/29/15 Thomas E. Noone, 1/12/15 Robert Winston Thorley, 3/25/15

1999

Bernard Ley

BERNARD JAMES LEY, an electrical engineering professor in the 1970s and 1980s, who was instrumental in the development of the television with RCA, died on January 9. He was 93.

A New York City native, Ley joined the Manhattan College electrical engineering

faculty with the rank of professor in 1973. He taught at Manhattan until his retirement in 1984. Ley was a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, the New York State Professional Engineers, Sigma Xi, Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi, for which he served as moderator.

As chair of the department when Ley was hired, George Prans, Ph.D., associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, remembers him as a mentor figure.

“He was a capable, caring, generous, patient, Lasallian leader of the electrical engineering department,” Prans says. “His personal connections seemed to know no bounds. He was a mentor and teacher to his department. I still use some of his technical anecdotes in my classes today.”

Ley began his teaching career at New York University, where he taught from 1946-1973.

He had also received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering

from New York University. Ley brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the corporate world to teaching, having previously worked for General Electric. While at New York University, he worked with RCA and was considered influential in the development of the television. Ley also participated in the early development of electric cars.

He wrote several books used to teach electrical engineering, including Computer Aided Analysis and Design for Electrical Engineers, which was originally published in 1970 and digitized in 2006, and Linear Circuit Analysis: McGraw-Hill Electrical and Electronic Engineering Series with Samuel G. Lutz in 2013.

Ley served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946, and used his engineering prowess to install and repair radar systems on various vessels.

He is survived by his son, Robert David Ley (Dale); daughter, Linda Lucille Harker (Brent); seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. His wife of more than 60 years, Dorothy, died in 2008.

The Rev. John Cullinane ’51 THE REV. JOHN F. CULLINANE ’51, former Manhattan College athletics chaplain, a member of the College’s Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame, and senior priest in the Archdiocese of Brooklyn, died on June 1. He was 85.

A Jasper fan since his childhood days, Cullinane regularly recounted stories of attending Manhattan College football games with his father, who had graduated from Manhattan in 1924. Cullinane graduated from Manhattan with a bachelor’s in business administration in 1951 and went on to become a priest in the Brooklyn Archdiocese. He was ordained in 1956.

By the 1960s, Cullinane, affectionately known as Father Jack to teams on the fields and courts alike, had become a confidant to future Hall of Fame coach Jack Powers. The official team chaplain for a decade, he influenced teams with or without that title.

He traveled regularly to Riverdale and with the teams, serving hundreds of players throughout the years. Known for celebrating special Masses at the College and praying with teams before games, Cullinane was always available to coaches and players. He was especially dedicated to the track and field teams and Spiked Shoe Club, and was inducted into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 for his decades

of service to the teams and its players.

“Cullinane was deeply involved with Jasper athletics and loved by the athletes,” says Lisa Toscano ’79, Ed.D., associate professor of kinesiology. “He will be missed.”

Before his retirement, he served as pastor of Saint Genevieve (Rockaway Point), and parochial vicar of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Flatlands), Saint Patrick (Fort Greene), St. Anselm (Bay Ridge) and Our Lady of Mercy (Forest Hills).

“Father Cullinane was known in the beach community as the tall priest who walked along the sand and greeted all in his path with a hearty hello, a warm embrace and ‘God loves you.’ He was tremendously warm, and he loved people,” said homilist the Rev. Michael Gribbon in the Brooklyn Archdiocesan newspaper, The Tablet.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 4 at St. Thomas More Church in Breezy Point, N.Y. MANHATTAN.EDU N 57

OBITUARIES

Brother Kenneth Fitzgerald ’58, FSC BROTHER KENNETH FITZGERALD ’58, FSC, associate professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science and co-founder of the College’s Bagpipe Band, died on March 4. He was 85.

Br. Kenneth joined the Mathematics department at Manhattan College in 1969 as an assistant professor. He was always ready to change with the times and created a course in computer literacy when computers were in their infancy. The course is still offered today. In 1975, he was promoted to associate professor of mathematics and computer science, and served as chair in the 1980s. Forwardminded, he also was one of the voices in support of coeducation at the College in the 1970s.

He was a member of Sigma Xi, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Association of Computing Machinery, and the Mathematical Association of America. He received a National Science Foundation Summer Grant at Rutgers University in 1974.

Proud of his Irish heritage, Br. Kenneth was moderator of the College’s Irish Cultural Society (now known as the Gaelic Society). He could be seen marching along Fifth Avenue each year with the Jasper contingent carrying his mace. This year, Liz Ferguson ’92, former bandmaster, carried that mace in Br. Kenneth’s honor at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. Also, Sean Hogan paid tribute to his late grandfather, Bob Hogan ’75, ’82 (M), by carrying Bob’s pipes during the

58 N fall 2015

parade. It was the first parade without both co-founders of the College’s Gaelic Society.

Grace (White) Leahy ’73, who graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent but was taught mathematics by Br. Kenneth, created a scholarship in his honor just months before his death. It will support two students pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics each year with scholarships of $5,000 to be given annually during the course of 10 years.

“My gift is in appreciation of Br. Kenneth’s talents and dedication over many years … He knew how to communicate mathematical concepts to students at all levels and had a contagious enthusiasm for his work,” she says. “He was also very personable and loved to travel and kept in touch with many former students. I hope the scholarships will encourage talented students to pursue studies in math, whether they knew Br. Kenneth or not.”

Br. Kenneth was born in the Parkchester section of the Bronx and was a graduate of St. Joseph’s High School in Barrytown, N.Y. He joined the Christian Brothers in 1947 and professed his perpetual vows in 1955.

He earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from The Catholic University of America in physics and numerical analysis, respectively.

He also earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Manhattan College. Prior to joining the Manhattan faculty, Br. Kenneth taught at Holy Name School and La Salle Academy in New York City. He also taught at St. Joseph’s Junior Novitiate in Barrytown, and the Brothers’ Scholasticate at De La Salle College in Washington, D.C. Br. Kenneth retired from full-time teaching in 1996 to become the religious superior of the Brothers’ community at Manhattan College.

“He was always committed to preserving one’s Irish heritage. A De La Salle Brother for nearly 68 years, he will be remembered as a great educator, mathematician, proponent of coeducation, party host and friend,” says Thomas McCarthy ’06, director of alumni relations and fellow bagpiper. “He will truly be missed.”

Br. Kenneth is survived by his nieces, Ellen Fitzgerald and Joan Fitzgerald; and nephew, John Fitzgerald.

Mary Noberini MARY R. NOBERINI, PH.D., who taught psychology at the College for nearly 40 years, died on June 10. She was 72.

Noberini came to Manhattan College as an assistant professor of psychology in 1977.

An associate professor at the time of her death, she served as chair of the department during her tenure, as well as on many committees and the College Senate.

“As chair, she worked to make sure that her faculty and her students were well-served at all times,” says Mary Ann O’Donnell, Ph.D., former dean of the School of Arts. “Her dedication to Manhattan was unselfish and unstinting. Her death leaves a big hole in her department and at the College.”

Noberini’s research areas included adult sibling relationships, developmental psychology, human development in middle and old age, human relationships, and computer use in the teaching of psychology. Her work was published in several prestigious journals, including the Journal of Psychology and Developmental Psychology, and she served as the principal investigator on a National Institute of Health and National Institute on Aging grant to study sibling relationships.

She was a participant in a National Sci-

ence Foundation Chautauqua program and earned a Manhattan College Summer Research Grant in 1980. She also was a seminar supervisor for the College’s Retirement Counseling program for decades.

In addition, Noberini served the Riverdale community as a leader at the Hebrew Home for the Aged.

“Perhaps her most outstanding contribution was in educating the community,” says Jay Friedenberg, Ph.D., professor of psychology. “She helped to establish the community advisory board of the Hebrew Home for the Aged and served as its president. This organization allowed students to help administer services to the elderly and keep them company. She also helped to create the Riverdale Neighborhood Network, a group linking many local social service agencies to promote the exchange of resources on behalf of the aged.”

Prior to teaching at Manhattan, Noberini was an instructor at St. Mary’s College in Maryland.

She also was a diplomat from 1967 to 1970 for the Foreign Service, United States Information Agency. In this capacity, she arranged, administered and evaluated pro-

grams in the field of educational and cultural exchange in West Africa.

A graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, Noberini earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago.

She is survived by her daughters, Katherine Heller and Elizabeth Rose Heller; sisters, Ann Marie Ginkel and Margaret Bussigel; and grandchildren, Declan and Colson Beck.

Kathryn Stout KATHRYN STOUT, PH.D., an associate professor of sociology at the College since the fall of 2012, died on July 21. She was 58.

At Manhattan, she taught Criminology and Roots: Sociology-Crime and Society.

Throughout her career, her research focused on the legal limits of protest from a critical, sociology of law approach.

A Hurricane Katrina survivor, Stout recently focused her research on her hometown of New Orleans and the Katrina aftermath.

Earlier in her career, she worked along the Mexican border and studied the Sanctuary Movement.

Cory Blad, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, remembers her as “unambiguous.”

“You couldn’t be around Kate for more than a moment before you understood the force of her convictions and her willingness

to defend those convictions. She was intelligent, kind, sincere and honest to a fault,” he says. “She dedicated her life to the benefit of others — particularly those in disadvantaged or discriminated positions. In our contemporary world of hedging and noncommittal, she was a tireless and unapologetic defender of those who suffer the brunt of society’s burdens. She will not only be missed, but her loss will be felt deeply by those she helped and those she would have helped.”

Stout was an associate professor at the Southern University of New Orleans prior to coming to Manhattan College. While there, she participated in post-Katrina reconstruction. She actively served as a member of the Association for Humanist Sociology, the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and the Division on Critical Criminology of the

Section of the American Society of Criminology throughout her career.

With a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University New Orleans, Stout earned her master’s degree from Boston College and her doctorate from the University of Delaware.

“In the end, the tenacity with which Kate struggled for survival was surpassed only by the uncompromising lifelong stance she took on demanding social justice. She felt that sociology was at its best when it provided a voice for the voiceless,” says Ricardo Dello Buono, Ph.D., professor of sociology and chair of the department. “She will be greatly missed by her students, friends and colleagues.”

MANHATTAN.EDU N 59

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60 N FALL 2015

During Opening Weekend, Aug. 28-30, members of the class of 2019 participated in a three-day event, which introduced them to college life and each other before the semester officially began on August 31.

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Taking advantage of the quieter summer months, the Quad and Walsh Plaza underwent a little nip and tuck. More than 80,000 new asphalt pavers replaced the existing degraded pavers, making the walkways safer and more appealing. New lampposts and banners also were installed, among other improvements.