SPRING 2014
Center Science Loyola
contents
Athletics 28-31 Alumni News 33-37 Class Notes 38-48
notables
On the Commons 4-9
3 One on One with John Norcross, Ph.D. 12 125th Anniversary Update 15 Fanning the Embers of the Great Gift of Scranton 18 Faith in its Principals 20 The Politics of Transformation 23 A Friendly Oasis 25 President’s Message
SPRING 2014 • VOLUME 35, NUMBER 2
INTERIM EDITORS
Valarie J. Clark Lori J. Nidoh ’80, G’89
A Message
from the President
DESIGNER
Jason Thorne G’13 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Kevin Southard Stan M. Zygmunt ’84, G’95 ASSOCIATE WRITERS
Sherrell McMillan Matt Morgan Jessica Patton Pellegrino ASSISTANT CLASS NOTES EDITOR
Margery Gleason PHOTOGRAPHY
Terry Connors Carol McDonald Jim O’Connor Kevin Southard PRESIDENT
Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Gerald C. Zaboski ’87, G’95 VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
Gary R. Olsen DIRECTOR OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Lori J. Nidoh ’80, G’89 MANAGER OF CREATIVE SERVICES
Valarie J. Clark
IN MEMORY Ray E. Burd 1950-2014 Director of Printing & Mailing Services Father of Brian ’89 & Karen ’00
Dear Alumni & Friends, As our academic year progresses, the University continues to enjoy national recognition for excellence and value. We recently announced, for example, that our online graduate programs were ranked among the nation’s best and that our MBA program is one of the top five financial values in the country. It should come as no surprise, as our students, faculty, staff and alumni continue to provide reasons for pride. Through a feature story in this issue, I encourage you to learn more about the outstanding work of three alumni who are leading outstanding Jesuit high schools. You can also discover more about outreach efforts to the Navajo Nation and Rwanda, and about a longstanding course that immerses students in the intricacies of European politics. We shine attention on our efforts to harness the great enthusiasm that our faculty and staff bring to their service by deepening their understanding of the vision and vocation that make us Catholic and Jesuit. Our Catholic and Jesuit mission is a reminder of our focus throughout this year on celebrating the 125th anniversary of our founding. Activities and events are planned for the coming months, and I encourage all of you to participate. We are also in the final stages of producing a hardcover history book with a title inspired by our alma mater: A Legacy to Hold, A Future to Build — The University of Scranton — 1888-2013. The University of Scranton is always changing, always renewing itself without losing focus of its mission: To promote among our students personal transformation that leads to the transformation of society. We are ever grateful for the example that our alumni provide to students who are now in our care and for your abiding support to sustain our work. God bless you, and God bless The University of Scranton.
The Scranton Journal is published by The University of Scranton for its alumni and friends.
External Affairs Office The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510-4615. (570) 941-7900.
Sincerely,
Office of Alumni Relations
The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510-4624. (570) 941-7660. Email: alumni@scranton.edu 1-800-SCRANTON. Website: scranton.edu/alumni If this issue is addressed to a graduate who no longer maintains a residence at your home, please tear off the mailing panel and mail it, with the corrected address, to the Office of Alumni Relations. The University of Scranton is a Catholic, Jesuit educational institution serving men and women. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, sexual orientation or age. © 2014 The University of Scranton
Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. President
Online Journal You had better believe there is more Scranton news than we can fit in this print edition! Look for icons throughout The Scranton Journal indicating there is more related content, including photographs, videos or expanded articles, on our website. Visit scranton.edu/scrantonjournal to access the print version’s full content, plus our web extras.
PHOTOS
STORY
VIDEO
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On the Commons LECTURES View all lectures from the fall semester on our YouTube Channel youtube.com/universityofscranton Covenant House International President Kevin Ryan signs copies of the book “Almost Home.”
Ignatian Values in Action Lecture features Pulitzer Prize-winning Writer Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Tina Kelley and Covenant House International President Kevin Ryan discussed their book, “Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope,” at the second annual Ignatian Values in Action Lecture, held Sept. 19. Kelley was a staff writer for The New York Times for ten years and shared in a Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s coverage of the September 11 attacks. Covenant House International is the largest privately-funded agency in the Americas, providing shelter and other services to homeless youth. The Covenant House provided residential and non-residential services to more than 61,000 youth in its 2012 fiscal year. “Almost Home” was the required reading selection for the University’s incoming class of 2017. Members of class attended the lecture. In addition, the students will encounter themes from the book throughout the year in classes and extracurricular opportunities.
Lecture Explores the Value of Field Experiments in Economics John List, Ph.D., the Homer J. Livingston professor of economics at the University of Chicago, discussed “Life as a Laboratory: Using Field Experiments in Economics” at the University’s Henry George Lecture on Oct. 1. Passionate about using field experiments to explore economic questions, Dr. List believes that this unique methodology forces researchers to understand everyday phenomena. He received the Yrjo Jahnsson Lecture Prize in 2012, was named a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011, and won the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association’s Kenneth Galbraith Award in 2010, among several other honors and awards. His articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, The Atlantic and many other prestigious publications. The Henry George Lecture Series is organized by the Economics and Finance Department and the campus chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honor society for economics. The series is funded by a grant from Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, which was established in 1925 to propagate the ideas of the 19th century economist and social reformer Henry George as set forth in his book “Progress and Poverty” and other works.
The purpose of The Ignatian Values in Action Lecture is to introduce students and the larger community to the mission and core values of the University. This year’s lecture was intended to foster discussions on youth homelessness, as well as more in-depth conversations about related issues that include mental health, health care, youth advocacy, abuse, juvenile justice and living wages. The ultimate goal is for the discussions to lead to a transformational learning experience for students that includes understanding, as well as constructive action, to address critical issues facing the world. “We are thrilled that The University of Scranton has embraced ‘Almost Home,’” said Ryan. “We hope they are as inspired as we were by the transformation stories of the six remarkable young people in the book, and we hope these new readers join us in our movement to prevent youth homelessness in the first place. Working together, we can ensure that vulnerable kids get the bright futures they deserve.”
Cultural Historian Lectures on Jewish-Christian Relations in the Roman Empire Steven Fine, Ph.D., professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University in New York City, presented a lecture titled “The Menorah and the Cross: Jewish-Christian Relations in the Christian Roman Empire,” on Nov. 21 on campus. The lecture was sponsored by The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute of the University. A cultural historian specializing in Jewish history in the Greco-Roman period, Dr. Fine focuses mainly on the literature, art and archaeology of ancient Judaism — and the ways that modern scholars have interpreted Jewish antiquity. The author of academic monographs, museum catalogs, more than 60 articles and even a book for children, his most recent monograph, “Art and Judaism in the Greco-Roman World: Toward a New Jewish Archaeology,” received the 2009 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award from the Association for Jewish Studies. Dr. Fine delivered the first Cecil Roth Memorial Lecture at the Jewish Museum in London and was awarded this year’s Samaritan Medal for Peace and Human Achievement. The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute was created in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community. The work of the institute was further enhanced by a $1 million gift from Harry Weinberg in 1990. Steven Fine, Ph.D., discussed “The Menorah and the Cross: Jewish-Christian Relations in the Christian Roman Empire” at the Judaic Studies Institute lecture.
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THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
Among the “Top 10” master’s universities in the North for 20 years
U.S. News & World Report
Presidential Scholars Named The University of Scranton awarded 11 incoming students four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarships. Presidential Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen with outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement. The scholarship covers four years of full tuition provided that the student maintains at least a 3.25 grade point average.
ABOVE: Presidential Scholar David Yatsonsky II and President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. RIGHT: The University of Scranton has awarded 11
members of its Class of 2017 four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarships. Seated, from left: Matthew Owens, Sarah Payonk and President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. Standing: Karissa Barbarevech, Sean Bassler, Juliana Vossenberg, Ryan Burdick, Kathryn Hoffman, Michael Gilbride, Christa Howarth and Victoria (Tori) Malstrom. Presidential Scholar David Yatsonsky II was absent from the photo.
Renowned Photojournalist Shares Images and Inspiration Award-winning photojournalist Don Doll, S.J., whose work has been featured in National Geographic and eight “Day in the Life” books, shared his photographs and the inspiration behind them at an exhibit and lecture series. Father Doll discussed his 50-year Don Doll, S.J. career as a “Jesuit photographer” — what he also refers to as a “vocation within a vocation” — at three lectures in October. Select images from his recent work for the Jesuit Refugee Service were on display on campus. The breadth of Father Doll’s 50-year career includes two books and National Geographic articles on Native Americans, as well as images documenting the work of Jesuits for the Jesuit Refugee Service in 40 countries. “I photograph to tell the stories of people who have no voice. Hopefully, I can help others understand and work to change unjust social structures,” said Father Doll in a 2010 article in the National Jesuit News.
A respected international photographer, Father Doll’s many awards include the Kodak Crystal Eagle Award for Impact on Photojournalism (1997), the Nikon World Understanding through Photography Award (1976), and the Nebraska Artist of the Year Award (2006), among others. His photographs also include an annual fund-raising calendar for the Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge, S.D., among other award-winning calendars. Father Doll’s work is celebrated in “A Call to Vision, A Jesuit’s Perspective on the World,” (2012) the final book in the Vision series that includes “Crying for a Vision,” (1976) and “Vision Quest: Men, Women and Sacred sites of the Sioux Nation” (1994). Father Doll is a professor of journalism at Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., where he holds the Charles and Mary Endowed Jesuit Chair. The lectures and exhibit were part of the Kania School of Management’s Jesuit Lecture Series. It is sponsored by the Arthur J. Kania School of Management and the Jesuit Center. SPRING 2014
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Students Receive President’s Fellowship for Summer Research Awards Eight students received President’s Fellowship for Summer Research Awards for 2013. The fellowship is a mentorship program that allows students to participate in research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The awards are given to promising students whom faculty members believe possess the ability to handle challenging, real-world research workloads during the summer months. Awards were presented to the following students and their faculty mentors: • Paul Pearson and his faculty mentor Argyrios Varonides, Ph.D., professor of physics and engineering
• Dustin Frisbie and faculty mentor Declan Mulhall, Ph.D., associate professor of physics
• Alex Barbolish and faculty mentor Kathryn Meier, Ph.D., former assistant professor of history
• Martha Triano and faculty mentor Jessica Nolan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology
• Scott Holdren and faculty mentor David Rusak, Ph.D., professor of analytical chemistry
• Michael Sayad and faculty mentor John Deak, Ph.D., associate professor of physical chemistry
• Emily Harasym and faculty mentor George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology
• Stephen Gadomski and faculty mentor Paul Cutrufello, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Exercise Science & Sport
Lilly Fellow Program in Humanities and the Arts, 23rd Annual National Conference Committee and Plenary Speakers, from left: Gretchen J. Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of Political Science at Scranton, conference host and committee chair; Patricia McGuire, J.D., president, Trinity Washington University, Lilly plenary speaker; Stephen E. Whittaker, Ph.D., professor of English & Theatre at Scranton; Joe Creech, program director, Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts; Harold W. Baillie, Ph.D., provost/senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Scranton; Cyrus P. Olsen, D.Phil., associate professor of Theology/Religious Studies at Scranton; Rob Kapilow H’09, composer, educator, author, conductor, pianist, Lilly plenary speaker; Mark Ravizza, S.J., Ph.D., director of Mission & Ministry at the Casa Bayanihan, Manila, Philippines, Lilly plenary speaker; Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., president, The University of Scranton.
Scranton Hosts National Conference on Church-Related Colleges The 23rd annual National Conference of the Lilly Fellows Program (LFP) in Humanities and the Arts took place at the University Oct. 18–20, 2013. The theme of this year’s conference was “Faith and Academic Freedom in Civic Virtue.” The University is one of approximately 100 member schools of the Lilly Fellows National Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities, the mission of which is to “renew and enhance the connections between Christianity and the academic vocation at church-related colleges and universities,” according to the organization’s website. The Lilly Fellows Program is based at Christ College, the interdisciplinary honors college of Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana.
“As host of this year’s national conference, the University provided a forum for dialogue about how we as individuals and institutions bring the values of faith and academic freedom to the service of civic virtue,” said Conference Chair Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at Scranton and member of the LFP’s National Network Board. “As universities with faith missions our collective commitment to civic engagement arises directly from our devotion to open conversation, ecumenism and the search for truth.” Three featured plenary speakers at the conference represented three distinct narratives to ignite thought and dialogue about ways individuals and faith-based institutions can bring the values of faith and academic freedom to the service of civic virtue: Mark Ravizza, S.J., associate professor of philosophy and senior fellow at the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif.; Patricia McGuire, J.D., president of Trinity Washington University, Washington, D.C.; and Robert Kapilow H’09, internationally renowned composer, commentator, author and conductor. The conference also included an “Evening of Jazz” beginning with a pre-concert presentation by Grammy Award-winning writer, acclaimed musician and jazz historian Loren Schoenberg. Prior to the conference, the University hosted the LFP’s 14th annual Workshop for Senior Administrators on Oct. 17-18.
One of the “Best Business Schools” for 12 Years 8
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The Princeton Review
MBA Program Among the Top 5 Financial Values in the Nation
U.S. News & World Report
Groundbreaking Held for New Center for Rehabilitation Education The University officially broke ground on its new eightstory, 116,000-square-foot center for rehabilitation education at a ceremony on Nov. 14. The state-of-the-art $48.6 million facility incorporates the latest technology and teaching/learning environments for the University’s departments of physical therapy, occupational therapy and exercise science. “Through our new center, we will build on areas of great excellence to prepare Jesuit-educated women and men for ‘helping professions’ that are in high demand,” said University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., at the ceremony. “Guided by an incomparable faculty, our students will use this facility not only to hone their professional skills, but also to learn to serve others with compassion — to realize fully the Jesuit maxim of men and women for and with others.” The bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs to be housed in the center are among the University’s most in-demand majors. The fields of occupational therapy and physical therapy are also among the nation’s fastest growing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “In approving this project, the Trustees recognized the strength and strategic importance of these programs for the University,” said Father Quinn. According to Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies, the center is designed to encourage inter-professional modeling, which involves collaboration between representatives of various health care professions to provide the best care for the patient. “The resources of this world-class center will enable our students and faculty to be even more competitive in their research and will ensure that our students are ready to be leaders in today’s collaborative, inter-professional approach to deliver the best health care to patients by following the philosophy and moral standards of a Jesuit education,” said Dr. Pellegrino. The center is also designed to facilitate research, expand service-learning projects, and put the best simulation environments, applied-science laboratories, equipment and technology directly in the hands of students and faculty.
Three pediatric laboratories, focused on the physical, mental and emotional development of children, are among the 25 laboratories in the center. The facility also includes an assisted daily living simulated neighborhood with an apartment, garage, grocery store and street, and simulated hospital patient rooms for acute and long-term care. The state-of-the-art human physiology laboratory integrates the use of the latest technologies, such as iPads, digital cameras, and other information resources. The center, which includes a green roof and patio, is designed for and will be constructed in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for certification.
The University broke ground for its new eight-story, 116,000-square-foot center for rehabilitation education at a ceremony in the fall semester. From left: Harold Baillie, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; David Tressler, The Quandel Group; Christopher Doherty, mayor, City of Scranton; Edward Steinmetz; senior vice president for Finance and treasurer; Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D, dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies; University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.; Shannon Gilman ’14, Exercise Science Major and member of the DPT Class of 2017; Richard Malloy, S.J., vice president for University Mission and Ministry; David Hemmler, Hemmler + Camayd; William Loose, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson; James Devers, assistant vice president for Facilities Operations. Visit scranton.edu/scrantonjournal to view a video of the groundbreaking ceremony.
Holocaust Survivor Speaks on Campus The University’s Education for Justice Office hosted the presentation “Holocaust Memory and the Tests of Time: Sustainable Remembering of a Relentless Past” by author and cognitive psychology professor Robert N. Kraft, Ph.D. The lecture was held Oct. 23 as part of the University’s 2013-2014 Education for Justice theme of “sustainable memory.” Dr. Kraft’s 2002 book, “Memory Perceived: Recalling the Holocaust,” documents patterns of deeply traumatic memory in Holocaust survivors. His most recent book, “Violent Accounts,” analyzes the testimony of violent perpetrators and the confrontations between victims and perpetrators during South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Dr. Kraft serves as a professor of cognitive psychology at Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio.
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University Wins Statewide Pennsylvania American Water Contest The University of Scranton, together with community partners Scranton Tomorrow and Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County, won the Pennsylvania American Water’s “Community Investment Challenge,” a contest where voters use the company’s Facebook page to determine grant awards given to support environmental projects and community improvement programs. Seventeen organizations from across the commonwealth entered projects in the month-long contest. The University entered its Downtown Scranton Spring Planter Beautification Project, which is planned for the spring of 2014 as part of the University’s annual Street Sweep, and conducted in collaboration with community partners. The Downtown Scranton Spring Planter Beautification Project came in first place and was awarded a $1,000 grant from Pennsylvania American Water. The grant will support a project that includes cleaning up debris and planting flowers and bushes throughout the planters downtown. The University’s Office of Community Relations and student government are partnering with Scranton Tomorrow and Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County to extend the annual spring “Street Sweep” neighborhood clean-up event into downtown Scranton.
Public Safety Student Officer Wins National Scholarship
From left: Julie Cohen, director of community and government relations at the University; Susan Turcmanovich, manager of communication and corporate responsibility, Pennsylvania American Water; Leslie Collins, executive director of Scranton Tomorrow; Steve Ward, Penn State master gardener; Donald Castellucci III ’14, president of the University’s Student Government; and Sasha-Lee Vos ’14, director of communication for the University’s Student Government.
University Employees Recognized at Spring Convocation
University of Scranton Student Officer Al Artesona ’14 was awarded a scholarship from the University and College Police Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The scholarship is awarded to students who exemplify outstanding community commitment and academic excellence. A Dean’s List student at the University, Artesona of Morris Plains, N.J., is a criminal justice major who is now in his third year in the student officer program. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in law enforcement at the local, state or federal level.
From left: Al Artesona ’14, Donald Bergmann, director of public safety and chief of police, and Vincent Carilli, Ph.D., former vice president for student affairs.
The University presented Sursum Corda (Lift Up Your Hearts) Awards to three staff members at a convocation held Feb. 6. The award recognizes members of the University’s professional/paraprofessional staff, clerical/ technical staff, and maintenance/public safety staff who have made outstanding contributions to the life and mission of the University.
Pictured, from left: Patricia Harrington, Ed.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Patricia Tetreault, interim vice president for human resources; Sursum Corda Award recipients Sherry Edwards, custodian; Sandy Watson, administrative assistant, Department of Exercise Science and Sport; and James Gaffney, director of operations and maintenance; and President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.
A Top Producer of Fulbrights in the Nation 10
THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Among the Best Graduate Schools in the Nation
U.S. News & World Report
PBC Raises Record $1.6 million at Annual Dinner, Announces 2014 Honoree The University’s President’s Business Council (PBC) 12th Annual Award Dinner raised a record $1.6 million while honoring Jacquelyn Rasieleski Dionne ’89, a trustee at the University, and John D. Dionne ’86, H’10, senior advisor of the Blackstone Group. The Dionnes became the first couple to be awarded the President’s Medal, through which the University and the PBC recognize honorees for excellence in their fields and extraordinary compassion for others. Proceeds from the black-tie event, held Oct. 3, 2013, at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. The President’s Business Council’s 13th Annual Award Dinner will be held on Thursday, Oct. 9. At this year’s gala, the PBC will
The PBC’s 12th Annual Award Dinner honored John D. Dionne ’86, H’10 (left) and Jacquelyn Rasieleski Dionne ’89. At right is University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.
present Ralph J. DiRuggiero ’73, senior vice president for Property Management at Paramount Group, Inc., with the President’s Medal. A veteran of the real estate investment and management industry, Ralph joined Paramount Group, Inc. in 2001 and is responsible for all aspects of property management operations and security. Paramount Group, Inc., one of the largest privately-owned real estate companies, is headquartered in New York City and has assembled a current portfolio of 14.25 million-square-feet of office buildings in New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. For more information on the PBC or the 2014 dinner, please contact Tim Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC, at (570) 9415837 or pbc@scranton.edu.
Ralph J. DiRuggiero ’73 will be honored at the PBC’s 13th Annual Award Dinner on Oct. 9, 2014.
Tribute to Alumna Supports Book Scholarship Fund
Jennifer Sidari, M.D. ’09
The life and legacy of Jennifer Sidari, M.D. ’09 was honored at a coffeehouse and art auction on Nov. 10 on campus. The event, entitled “Across the Universe: A Tribute to Dr. Jennifer Sidari,” supported a newly instated book scholarship in honor of Dr. Sidari at the University. A resident of West Pittston, Dr. Sidari passed away on May 29, 2013 just a few weeks after graduating from The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton. She was about to begin her residency at Janet Weis’ Children’s Hospital near Danville. Shortly before her passing, Dr. Sidari visited Haiti, where she arrived with bags of medicine, supplies, and toys. She left with only the clothes on her back, having donated all of her personal items to those in need. For her many acts of generosity and humble service, Dr. Sidari earned The Commonwealth Medical College’s Global Pride Award. Dr. Sidari founded the University’s photography club and served as director of a weekly, offcampus open-mic venue. Among her many passions was her membership in the University’s Special Jesuits Liberal Arts philosophy honors program in which she excelled. For information on how to donate to the The Jennifer A. Sidari, M.D., Textbook Scholarship email TheRoyalFund@scranton.edu SPRING 2014
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FacultyNews English Professor Among the Few Surviving Witnesses of JFK Assassination English Professor Antoinette Glover, Ph.D., was just 11 years old when she went with her mother to see President John F. Kennedy and the first lady in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963. It was a day she has never forgotten and one she has only recently been able to discuss. Dr. Glover is among the few surviving witnesses to what she describes as a gruesome murder. Known for years only as “the girl in blue” from photos and film footage of President Kennedy’s assassination, Dr. Glover didn’t come forward as a witness until the mid-1990s. Only recently has she begun to post and speak publicly about the incident. Dr. Glover discussed the incident with local and national print and broadcast outlets for stories marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination. She was interviewed for stories published in the Scranton Times-Tribune, CBS Philadelphia and CNN, among others.
Antoinette Glover, Ph.D., associate professor of English and Theatre, stands in Dealy Plaza, Dallas, Texas, where she stood 50 years ago as an 11-year-old “girl in blue” and witnessed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Dr. Glover is currently writing a memoir, tentatively titled “Being There: The Girl in Blue,” which she said focuses more on the emotional toll of being a witness rather than the assassination. A native of Texas, Dr. Glover joined the faculty of the English and Theatre Department at The University of Scranton in 2001.
Intersession Grants Awarded to Eight Eight faculty members of The University of Scranton were awarded development intersession grants for January 2014. Jeremy Brees, Ph.D., assistant professor of management/ marketing, received a grant to research “Understanding How People Perceive Accountability.”
Michael Jenkins, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice, received a grant to study “Collective Bargaining Units and Innovation of Policing.”
Maureen Carroll, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, received a grant to study “Finite Geometries.”
Erica Lasek-Nesselquist, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, received a grant to research “Examining Kelptoplastidic Relationships to Understand the Evolution of Endosymbiosis.”
Arthur Catino, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, received a grant to study “Synthesis of Hexaphenylethane.” Zachary Huard, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering, received a grant to research “Cluster Computing.”
Krzysztof Plotka, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, received a grant to research “Lineability of N-to-One Function Within the Classes of Hamel and Sierpinski-Zygmund Functions.” Edward Scahill, Ph.D., associate professor of economics/ finance, received a grant to study “Is the Fed Printing Money?”
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The University appointed 18 new full-time faculty members for the 2013-2014 academic year. Read more on the Journal website, scranton.edu/scrantonjournal
History Professor Named to American Historical Association Post Roy Domenico, Ph.D., professor and chair of the History Department, was named executive secretary of the Society for Italian Historical Studies of the American Historical Association, the largest organization of historians in the United States. Dr. Domenico has authored three volumes on Italian history, has co-edited an encyclopedia of modern Christian politics, and has, most recently, contributed chapters to forthcoming books on political scandals (on the Italian “Montesi Scandal”), and U.S. Catholicism (on U.S.–Vatican relations). The American Historical Association is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies. With nearly 14,000 members, the association serves historians representing every historical period and geographical area. Richard J. Klonoski, Ph.D.
Professor Presents at World Congress of Philosophy Philosophy is important in a democracy. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates knew that and defended democracy even while the Athenian democratic regime under which he lived had him executed. That idea is at the heart of research presented in August 2013 by Philosophy Professor Richard J. Klonoski, Ph.D., at the 23rd World Congress of Philosophy. His paper was among scores of presentations by scholars from around the world, who traveled to Athens, Greece, for the Congress, held only every five years and always in a different city. Philosophy remains important for democracy, Dr. Klonoski said, because it raises important issues for the democracy itself, while being vigilantly critical of it. He presented on the topics of this paper again in November at a political science conference in Philadelphia. A member of the faculty at Scranton for more than 30 years, Dr. Klonoski received the University’s Magis award in 2011 for Excellence in Adapting Classical Principles of Jesuit Pedagogy into the Curriculum. In 1998, the University’s graduating class voted him “Teacher of the Year.”
EMPOWERING
Rwandan women, one entrepreneur at a time
The lush green foliage covering the endless mountains is the first thing travelers notice as they leave Rwanda’s Kigali airport. By the time visitors notice the stream of humanity walking in colorful outfits, heads piled high with baskets of fruit, chicken and the occasional mattress, these travelers realize that they are about to learn more than any book could possibly teach. Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills with a history so horrifying it is painful to visit the museums, was the destination of a recent trip sponsored by the University’s Kania School of Management (KSOM). Previously, Michael Mensah, Ph.D., KSOM’s Dean, met with Akilah Institute for Women and set the stage for the University to provide training to Akilah students. Once an agreement was reached, KSOM and the University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) made plans to develop first-rate entrepreneurship and leadership training with a focus on the hospitality industry. Then, WEC’ s coordinator, Donna Simpson, and two KSOM students — Lindsay Ward ’13 and Alexandra Cognetti ’13 — along with Alan Brumagim, Ph.D., associate professor of management and marketing, traveled to Rwanda to provide the training at the Akilah School for Women, a college offering diploma programs in entrepreneurship, hospitality management and information systems. The agenda for the week in Rwanda included Simpson’s team presenting a simulated start-up business, facilitating leadership discussions and organizing activities. Sessions on what entrepreneurship is and how a business operates framed the week’s training program. Topics presented included budgeting, marketing and customer service skills. Since the University’s visit occurred outside of the normal Akilah school year, the students had to make special arrangements for travel from their villages. Many students walked miles to take part in this training. By the week’s end, students and advisers had formed new friendships and found each other mutually inspiring. “They (the students) have a huge curiosity and thirst for knowledge, as I do being a student, and it was great to relate to all of the girls on that level,” said Ward. During their time in Rwanda, the group met a Rwandan entrepreneurial success story, Emmanuel Nkuranga, a painter. A survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Nkuranga gives back by providing a place for young artists to grow in their craft. He recently also served as an artist-in-residence at the University. “Every person we met had their life deeply affected by the 1994 genocide, but they were still able to smile and love,” said Cognetti. “Their strength and hope for the future is beautiful and inspirational.”
Donna Simpson
Lindsay Ward ’13, Alexandra Cognetti ’13 and Donna Simpson, consultant manager, The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center and the University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) coordinator, celebrate with students from the Akilah School for Women in Kigali, Rwanda.
Read more about the work of Donna Simpson and other faculty in Ignite, a magazine dedicated to faculty work in the Ignatian tradition. View the digital edition of Ignite at scranton.edu/ignite.
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One on One
with John Norcross, Ph.D.
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John C. Norcross, Ph.D., ABPP, is distinguished professor of psychology and a board-certified clinical psychologist in part-time practice. He is also an internationally recognized authority on behavior change and psychotherapy. Author of more than 400 scholarly publications, Dr. Norcross has co-written or edited 20 books, most of them in multiple editions. He has also published two self-help books: “Changeology” and “Changing for Good” (with Prochaska and DiClemente). His work has been featured in hundreds of media interviews, and he has appeared multiple times on national television shows, such as the Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, and Good Morning America.
How did you become interested in the science of self-change? Change lies at the heart of clinical psychology. In my research, teaching, and practice, I am fascinated by how people intentionally change themselves with and without professional treatment. For the past 30 years, we have been explicating the science of change — a changeology, so to speak — in hundreds of studies and with the assistance of federal grants. Those studies have encompassed the self-change of smokers, overweight people, bullies, addicts, depressed patients, and even New Year’s resolvers, which has garnered most of the media attention.
Why is it so difficult to change? Let’s face it: We quickly blame people for not changing, but rarely train them to change. That’s why, after three decades of research, I wrote “Changeology: Five Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions” (Simon & Schuster). Among the many reasons for not changing is that well-intentioned folks do the right thing but at the wrong time. My colleagues at the University of Rhode Island and I determined that one secret of successful change is knowing what to do at which step. That’s the power of step-matching. For example, getting motivated and raising awareness are effective in the early steps, but actually backfire in the later steps.
As an expert in change, tell us what changes have been most dramatic at the University since you first set foot on campus in the 1980s. Two transformational changes leap to mind. The first concerns the remarkable growth in the physical size and footprint of the campus. The second is our evolution from a local, liberal arts college to a regional, comprehensive university that attracts students from the northeast U.S.
Is there anything you want to change about yourself? What are you working on? Of course. Change is the indispensable foundation of our growth; the converse of stasis should be unacceptable to us all. My recent resolutions are to drink more water instead of diet sodas, and to exercise 30 minutes a day, even when traveling!
Visit scranton.edu/scrantonjournal to read more about Dr. Norcross. SPRING 2013
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Univ of Scranton @univofscranton And, our tree is lit!
rachel carlson @rcarlson1017 Best day of my life, passed my road test & got my acceptance letter from The University of Scranton #goroyals #changingtheworld
Megan Azzalina @MegAzzalina I think @univofscranton does Christmas well
Laurel Coyle @LaurelCoyle Awesome night with @univofscranton Seniors and alum!
Amy Trent @amytrentt Fun Fact: Wikipedia tells me the inventor of mini golf is an alumnus of the University of Scranton #goroyals #changingtheworld
Meet Us Online Check us out on your favorite social media platforms. We welcome your comments, posts, tweets and photographs for possible inclusion in the next issue of The Scranton Journal.
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THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
• facebook.com/universityofscranton & facebook.com/ScrantonAlumni • twitter.com/univofscranton & twitter.com/ScrantonAlumni • youtube.com/universityofscranton • flickr.com/universityofscranton • scrantonalumnisociety.shutterfly.com
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Celebrations Mark the 125th Anniversary of the University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., has been on the road gathering with alumni and parents for the past several months in various cities around the country. The anniversary celebrations kicked off in Washington, D.C., in early December, followed by a west coast trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles in late February. Father Quinn and members of the University Advancement team will be hosting several more celebrations in New York City, Bernardsville, N.J., Tampa, Fla., Garden City, N.Y., and Philadelphia in late March and early April. For more information on any of these events, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 570-941-5997. President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., gathers with alumni at a 125th Anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C.
Interactive Art Display Involves University Community in 125th Anniversary “TAG: Works by Susan Scranton Dawson and You,” an interactive installation featuring nine large-scale composite photographs, will be on display from Monday, Feb. 3, through Friday, May 16, in various locations throughout the Loyola Science Center. Artist Susan Scranton Dawson has invited members of the campus community and visitors to help further develop these abstract pieces by writing and drawing with marker on the works’ plexiglas coverings. These layers of text and images will add meaning to the initial photographs. “TAG” is presented by the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Art and Music Program and The Hope Horn Gallery as part of a campus and community celebration of the 125th anniversary of the University. For further information, contact Dr. Miller-Lanning at 570-941-4214, or darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.
“White” by Susan Scranton Dawson, one of the photographs in “TAG: Works by Susan Scranton Dawson and You.”
Learn more about the interactive art display on the Journal website scranton.edu/scrantonjournal
Clinic Volunteers Surpass Goal in ‘1888 Challenge’ When Megan McCarthy, MS Occupational Therapy ‘14 and her fellow student and adult volunteers at the University’s Leahy Community Health and Family Center were challenged to come up with an idea to celebrate the 125th anniversary, they knew just what to do. As a way to honor Scranton’s Jesuit tradition, 138 student and community volunteers re-doubled their efforts to become men and women for others. They launched what they dubbed “1888 challenge.” In the fall semester, the volunteers meant to perform 1,888 hours of service in Leahy’s medical clinic and food pantry and during a Thanksgiving drive. Instead, they ended up giving 1,961. “I’ve volunteered at the clinic for five years,” McCarthy said. “I’ve never given this many hours before. Being immersed in this caring atmosphere, — serving others and reaching across cultural divides — has really enriched my education.” The volunteers are determined to repeat the feat in the spring semester.
Leahy Center Student Advisory Board members and student volunteers who were essential participants in the 1888 Leahy Challenge. SPRING 2014
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Added Value of Catholic and Jesuit Education Discussed at Lecture President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., discussed the “value added” through a Catholic and Jesuit education in his lecture “Engaged, Integrated, Global: Jesuit Education in the 21st Century,” which was presented Nov. 19 on campus. The presentation was part of the University’s 125th Anniversary Lecture Series. Father Quinn acknowledged higher education is facing close scrutiny over cost, access, value and other issues. “Given the quality and creativity of our institution, these challenges, while real and serious, need not be understood as negative,” said Father Quinn. “Rather, they present an opportunity to re-examine closely our mission and the presumptions and practices with which we approach that mission.” Father Quinn said a Catholic and Jesuit education involves teaching students more than “to think critically, reason analytically, solve problems, and communicate clearly,” which he said “is necessary, but not sufficient, for Catholic and Jesuit universities.” He said these universities “should ask more of its students by educating and forming them to become men and women of faith and of service to their communities. This is the ‘value added’ of Catholic and Jesuit education.”
President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., delivers a lecture on “Jesuit Education in the 21st Century.”
The full text of Father Quinn’s remarks can be viewed here: scranton.edu/125thanniversarylecture
Forum Looks to Sustainable Practices
Presenters and panelists at the Fall Symposium on Sustainability, from left: Brian Conniff, Ph.D., James Loven, Michael Cann Ph.D., Senator John P. Blake, Prof. Nicholas Truncale, Jessica M. Nolan, Ph.D., Sharon Meagher, Ph.D., and Mark Murphy. Read more about Scranton’s sustainability practices on the Journal website scranton.edu/scrantonjournal.
The University hosted a Symposium on Sustainability that engaged expertise from diverse disciplines to examine ways that the University and the greater Scranton community could become more sustainable over the next 125 years. The symposium, part of the University’s celebration of its 125th anniversary, was held Oct. 29. The symposium included an introduction to sustainability through an example of a new solar collection device being developed at the University. Panelists were Pennsylvania State Senator John Blake; Michael Cann, Ph.D., professor of chemistry; Sharon Meagher, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and chair of the Department of Latin American and Women’s Studies; Jessica M. Nolan, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology; Mark Murphy, the University’s director of sustainability; and James Loven, laboratory equipment manager, inventor and technologist. Topics discussed included business and political perspectives on sustainability, green chemistry and the science of sustainability, social justice aspects of sustainability and environmental and social psychology.
Residence Halls Reflect on University History University students know all about the amenities of their residence halls, but what about their history? Everyone knows Nevils and Driscoll house freshmen, but how many know they memorialize Rev. W. Coleman Nevils, S.J., the University’s first Jesuit president and James A. Driscoll, a long-time English professor? Barbara King, interim dean of students, decided the 125th anniversary was the perfect opportunity for students to explore this heritage. “I asked our Resident Assistants to design bulletin boards for the spring semester honoring our Jesuit tradition or the person for whom their building was named.” When the semester opened on Feb. 2, she was delighted to find 25 breathtaking bulletin boards. Her tour revealed everything from a board honoring “remarkable alumni” on the branches of a beautiful tree to a giant Google map with Gavigan Hall as its focal point. Since the designers were competing, King has to select a winner and it won’t be easy. “I am amazed by the creativity. These are really phenomenal boards,” she said. View other bulletin boards at scranton.edu/scrantonjournal
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THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
One of the many bulletin boards created by students commemorating the history behind the name of their residence hall.
What is Your Scranton Story? As part of our 125th Anniversary celebration we are collecting stories from alumni, students, faculty, staff and the community about how Scranton impacted their lives. Below are a few memories that our alumni have shared.
To read more or to share your Scranton story, visit 125th.scranton.edu/memories
The Impact One School Had on So Many of Us
A Generational Jolt of Royal Education
Whenever I describe my time at “The U” to those who were not fortunate enough to attend Scranton, I always say they were the best and worst four years of my life. Let me explain: Scranton is that special place where I met so many wonderful lifelong friends, learned more about myself and the world around me, and also went through my share of struggles, pain, and obstacles. And that to me represents the impact one school had on so many of us. Because of that, no singular memory stands out from the four years. How could it? Instead I think of snippets of small moments, vignettes that collectively comprised our college years. Walking the Z-bricked Commons, intense choir rehearsals in HoulihanMcLean, going to class or an Esprit meeting in CLP, power-napping on the Aquinas couch in Gunster (RIP), hanging lights for performances in the Royal Theater, standing shivering in the cold with dormmates during a fire drill outside Luzerne House, playing board games in Driscoll until all hours, coffeehouses in the lounge area of McCourt, watching the day roll by on Founders’ Green. These are snapshots, some varied versions of which other alumni probably have developed and tucked away in a mental photo album themselves. That’s what makes our Scranton stories similar yet unique. The U is that commonality we share, a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves, that camaraderie whether we graduated five years ago or 50 years ago. And that is the most special gift it could ever have given any of us.
As a seminarian student on Long Island, New York, in 1969, I was fortunate enough to have an outstanding senior basketball season in a tough Nassau-Suffolk Catholic League. The resulting college offers were many — but there was one “large fish in a smaller pond” opportunity from a Jesuit college in northeastern Pennsylvania which bubbled its way to the top. My very first classroom experience was on the sixth floor of the “Glen Alden Coal Company Building” [O’Hara Hall] at 8 a.m. on September 12, 1969; Introduction to Accounting; Dr. Joseph A. Zandarski presiding. Dr. Bill Parente was the dean of students at that time; and our eventual interactions were ‘epic.’ This very aforementioned Doctor Zandarski ‘cabled’ me [before faxes, mind you] in northern France in the spring of 1975 to inform me that the Department of Business Graduate Fellowship was being offered to me with an opportunity to return to the United States and to Scranton. It was an easy decision; I could play basketball at another time; and I triumphantly moved my family back to The School on the Hill. Our Walsh Family now has an ‘internal cabal’ located within — three of the six of us have served as Scranton Royal/Lady Royal Varsity Basketball Captains. It is more significant to note that the two younger charges in this group have surpassed their parental elder, both academically and professionally. Doctors Zandarski and Parente can be well proud of inspiring a generational jolt of Royal education.
Ashley Teatum ’09
Scranton Has Always Been About Its People Richard A. Yarmey ‘70
Arriving at Eagan Auditorium in 1966 as a first generation student from a bluecollar family in Forty Fort, I soon found myself already in awe. Welcome remarks by Fathers Galvin and Rock made clear, via their eloquence, that I was “not in Kansas” anymore. Scranton has always been about its people, people who extend themselves well beyond the classroom to enthusiastically guide and mentor students and open the doors of opportunity for those willing to walk through them. Fathers McIlhenny, Gannon, Suppe’, Gavin and Thoman, Marty Appleton, Gene McGinnis, Michael DeMichelle and Dick Passon...these are people to whom I have owed a great deal. Where else but at the “U” could I have engaged with such a range of learned people on an individual basis? Where else could a first generation student work with the administration on material changes in governance structures? Where else could that student have sat on the Search Committee for a new University President? And where else would that new President, Dexter Hanley, S.J., immediately extend himself, like his predecessors, to help a chemistry graduate get promptly accepted into law school? Let’s hope that such institutional history is not lost on those whose responsibility it is to guide the University into and through the 21st Century. This University has always been about its people, and its people have both the wonderful opportunity and enormous responsibility to carry forward that special character that has been for 125 years, The University of Scranton.
Kevin Walsh ’73
Read more about Kevin Walsh on page 32
O
n the occasion of our 125th anniversary, the story of the University’s rich history is being chronicled in a beautiful, hardcover coffee table book that will be available for purchase online or at the University bookstore.
A Legacy to Hold, A Future to Build
© The University of Scranton %
1888-2013
For more information and details on how to get your copy, visit scranton.edu/historybook
To read more about the University’s 125th anniversary celebration visit 125th.scranton.edu
SPRING 2014
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Fanning the Embers of the Great Gift of Scranton:
Ryan Maher, S.J., and his colleague Ryan Sheehan are energized as they discuss the Jesuit practices of reflection, conversation and prayer, which they believe can help people find God in all things. It is a way of proceeding they want to share with Scranton’s faculty and staff. This is the mission of the almost-twoyear-old Jesuit Center on campus. “Scranton has always supported its students well,” Fr. Maher said. “But the faculty and staff also deserve attention and formation. Formation means developing the imagination to see that all we do is inspired by the Ignatian vision.” Fr. Maher said infusing that vision into faculty and staff’s daily work, in turn, helps the University form men and women for others. “The big questions all adults on campus should be asking students are ‘who will you become,’ ‘what will you do with the knowledge you are receiving’ and, especially in the age of Francis, ‘how will it impact the poor.’” The Jesuit Center offers a variety of programs. There are retreats to Chapman Lake and on-campus
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THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
seminars. “Our job is easy because staff and faculty already feel connected to the students,” Sheehan said. In one quintessentially Scranton example, a student grappling with the meaning of an in-class film, “Lars and the Real Girl” got unexpected insight from dorm maintenance staff who had also seen it at one of Sheehan’s on-campus seminars. In addition to local programs, the Center also invites faculty and staff to participate in mission trips to El Salvador, Nicaragua and the Kino Border Initiative straddling Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Although the trips differ in approach, the faith-based emphasis is always the same: experience, reflection, action. Fr. Maher calls the El Salvador trip a pilgrimage to a place as sacred as that of Chaucer’s pilgrims and one that shares with Canterbury the source of its spiritual power — people of faith martyred for defying an unjust government. When pilgrims stand in the garden and residence where six Jesuits and two women perished, they are aware of the presence of
2
3
4
the divine. The experience is heightened by the fact that Universidad Centroamericana is still a working university, so the shrines are oases of silence in an otherwise bustling place. Such a profound moment is best treated with quiet contemplation, but later Fr. Maher begins the conversation as he asks, “What is your experience of God in this?” The Nicaragua trip follows a “faith in action” model in which participants build homes and coach sports. It is ideal for faculty and staff eager to put their faith into concrete action. “After a day of work, we engage in reflection on our experience,” Fr. Maher said. “These people are better at it than they think. Sometimes when I look around during the day, I get no signals about what’s going on inside them, but then later, during reflection sessions, they offer up diamonds of insight.” The Kino trip is a mixture of pilgrimage and education. Participants work in a soup kitchen in Nogales, Mexico, and also go into the desert where immigrants cross into the U.S. This barren landscape
is strewn with abandoned belongings, a reminder of the human devastation that occurs in a small stretch of land where 30,000 people live north of the border and 300,000 populate an area to the south. When Scranton staff and faculty return from these trips refreshed in soul, Fr. Maher and Sheehan remind them that “although the initial fervor will pass, the experience and its lessons were real.” He and Sheehan nurture the flames through continued conversation and guided prayer. “There are a million ways to pray,” Fr. Maher said. “People can journal and then prayerfully revisit that journal. For some people that revisitation comes in the form of photographs of the trip, music or even souvenirs. The Catholic imagination knows that physical things can be windows into the spiritual.” But experience and reflection are only the beginning, according to Fr. Maher. “Next we say, ‘Now DO something.’” That “something” is meant to help further the University’s Catholic and Jesuit mission.
1 At a museum at Universidad Centroamericana, Scranton pilgrims contemplate the November 1989 martyrdom of six Jesuits. 2 Scranton pilgrims in El Salvador visit the tomb of The Most Reverend Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, who was assassinated in March 1980 while celebrating Mass. 3 Elizabeth “Betty” Rozelle, assistant director, Career Services, and Gretchen Van Dyke, PhD., associate professor, political science, in service in Mexico. 4 Mia Collarini, head softball coach, and Constance McDonnell, director, Career Services, pose with friends they made in El Salvador.
Learn more about the Jesuit Center at scranton.edu/jesuitcenter
SPRING 2014
21
Rev. George Bur, S.J., president of St. Joseph’s Prep, left, and principal Jason Zazyczny, right, congratulate St. Joe’s Prep student, Kevin D. Stump ‘16, an Ignatian Scholar. RIGHT: Matt Bernard ’99, principal of Scranton Preparatory School, confers with Herbert B. Keller, S.J., president of Scranton Prep. BOTTOM: Tom Every, principal, leads the Gonzaga College High School graduation procession. ABOVE:
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THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
What do you call the annual meeting of high
students’ day in April of 1995. I had other college
school principals in the Society of Jesus’ Maryland
tours planned and I canceled them all. There was
Province? Lately, the answer could be a Royals
just something about the culture. I knew I was home
reunion. Of the five traditional Jesuit high schools in
before I even got there.”
the Province, Scranton alumni head three.
Zazyczny was familiar with Jesuit education
Jason Zazyczny ’94, Tom Every ’98 and Matt
from high school. He is a graduate of the school
Bernard ’99 took varied paths to reach the
he now leads, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in
principal’s office, but all three see themselves
Philadelphia. “I went to St. Joe’s more for the ‘prep’
as having a unique and sacred trust: Serving as
than the Jesuits. But then I went on a Kairos (Greek for
custodians of Jesuit ideals.
‘the Lord’s time’) retreat, the standard senior retreat
Every, principal of Gonzaga College High School
for a Jesuit high school.” The experience moved him
in Washington, D.C., said, “I found the Jesuits at
deeply and he began to notice the Jesuits “living the
Scranton. My older sister went there first, and when
ideal of being men and women for others.” It was an
I visited, I knew she found something unique and
example he was eager to follow.
different. The sense of community, the educational freedom . . . it’s hard to describe.”
At Scranton, all three men formed close bonds with Jesuits on campus. Zazyczny was inspired by
Bernard, principal of Scranton Preparatory
the late Joe Simmons, S.J. “He was a different kind of
School, said he fell in love with Jesuit education at
priest,” Zazyczny said. “He told it like it was. He was
Scranton. “I knew Scranton was for me on accepted
loving, but direct.”
SPRING 2014
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Joe Simmons, S.J.
Brendan Lally, S.J.
Principal Jason Zazyczny (standing, far right) is seen with St. Joe’s Prep lacrosse players; George Bur, S.J., president of St. Joseph’s Prep, standing, left; and head lacrosse coach, Eric Gregg, standing, second from left.
For Every and Bernard, Brendan Lally, S.J., ’70
to live my life for others. I got that from Scranton.”
played a crucial role in their formation. “When I
As principals, Bernard, Every and Zazyczny
was an RA, Fr. Lally lived in the room next door,”
focus on forming faculty, “to be attentive to
Bernard said. “ He looked for and found goodness
the needs of the student in front of them,” said
in everyone. He helped me to find God in others.”
Zazyczny. “We have to help them to stretch
Every said, “The summer I graduated, I went
themselves as teachers to prepare our students as
on a service trip to Mexico with Fr. Lally. That
future leaders mindful of social justice and service
really piqued my interest in the Jesuit way of life.
to the marginalized — even in math class!”
Two years later, I was at St. Joe’s Prep working
Through retreats, days of prayer and other
in development when Fr. Lally called. The co-
means, Every said the result is the distinct culture
director of that year’s service trip backed out,
of a Jesuit school.
“We have to...prepare our students as future leaders mindful of social justice and service to the marginalized.”
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As the number of Jesuits declines, these lay leaders recognize they are serving at a crucial time. “While many of us
and he wanted me to come back and run it.” In
continue to pray for an increase in vocations, we’ve
a delightful coincidence, Matt Bernard was the
been reflecting for many years on how we, as lay
director of the trip.
leaders, will maintain the Jesuit educational ideals
The formative experiences each man had at
in the absence of priests,” said Bernard. Zazyczny
Scranton influenced him to find ways to serve in
said he is not troubled that the responsibility to
the Jesuit mold immediately after graduation.
carry out the Jesuit mission now falls squarely on
Every spent time in Jesuit Volunteers International
his shoulders. “That’s what’s beautiful about it,” he
and Zazyczny was even in the novitiate for a time.
said. “It should always be on all of us to continue
Bernard sums up the pull he felt by saying, “I want
this sacred mission.”
THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
The Politics of
TRANSFORMATION Learning is an accretive process, a gradual building
Leo and Taylor are talking about the crown jewel of
up of knowledge over time. Transformation, however, is
the course, the European Union (EU) simulation that
sudden, dramatic, a lightning strike that makes a person
occurs in Washington, D.C., each fall. The simulation
completely new. Transformation is what comes to mind
demands that students inhabit an “alter ego,” including
when students of Dr. Gretchen Van Dyke’s “PS 331: The
actual members of the European Parliament (MEP),
European Union” talk about the experience.
the legislative body of the EU. During the simulation,
“The seminar seemed like an intense workload that
students representing various EU member states debate
involved a LOT of public speaking, something that
proposed legislation. Throughout the three-day event,
terrified me,” said Heather Leo ‘97, who took the course
students are challenged to sharpen their rhetoric,
in 1996, the first time it was offered. “Dr. Van Dyke,
deploy strategy and outfox the villains, all while thinking
however, was sure I was up to the task and thought it
and speaking as their alter ego would.
would help me gain confidence in my communication
During his simulation, PJ Tabit ‘11 was Bendt
skills. I trusted her instincts and found that I became
Bendtsen, a conservative member of the Danish
very passionate about the role I was assigned. I soon
delegation. Becoming Bendtsen did not demand
felt less awkward and actually began to enjoy sharing
acting so much as it required meticulous research and
my opinion.”
the self-discipline to replace his own arguments with
Keri Taylor ‘10 took the course in 2009. “I was
those of Bendtsen.
nervous, timid and self-conscious at the beginning ...
“The class is about more than just the European
but by the second day of the simulation, my confidence
Union, your assigned country or any of the particular
level was light years beyond where it was when I first
academic information you gather during the semester,”
began. I really came out of my shell.”
Tabit said. “That’s all valuable, but the class’s true strength lies in the opportunity to think strategically and work with your colleagues, both those who agree with you and those who don’t, to achieve a shared goal.”
Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D., (seated, third from left) is joined by members of the first EU class of 1996 representing Sweden. From left: (1st row) Gregor Weeks, John Leardi, Dr. Van Dyke, Daniel Feliciano; (2nd row) Heather Kelsall, Heather Leo, Michelle Mauro, Joan Sugrue, Nora Deveau, Meagan Schaefer, Sandra Lewis, Lauren McCarthy; (3rd row) Peter Swift, Jason LeBoeuf, Brian Saemann, Matthew Henry.
SPRING 2014
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ABOVE: Olivia Salama (front, center) plays the role of German Chancellor Angela
Merkel. She is joined by Ben Turcea (back, left), who played the role of German Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ursula von der Leyen and Ryan Caviston (back, second from left) who played the role of German Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Schäuble. RIGHT: Participating in the crown jewel of the European Union course at an EU simulation in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2013, from left: (front row) Christian Martinotti, Monica Hlinka, Olivia Salama, April Francia, Ben Turcea, Ryan Caviston. (back row) Stephanie Bennett, Denice Sigvardsson, Cory Celano, Kelsey Cirillo, Dr. Van Dyke, Brendan Cosgrove, Michael Evans, Kathryn Lajeunesse.
Dr. Van Dyke, associate professor of political
This last question, Dr. Van Dyke said, helps explain
science, acknowledged that active and experiential
the College of Arts and Sciences’ continuous support
learning is what it’s all about. “I had some seminar-style
of the course, which has enrolled more than 250 CAS
courses myself as an undergrad, and I loved that kind
students since it inclusion in the curriculum in 1996.
of learning environment. Students who take the class
According to Scranton senior Olivia Salama, a
know they’ll stretch, they’ll work very hard, but they’ll
participant in this year’s simulation, the trip was unlike
put what they learn into practice in the simulation.”
any experience she’s had in college. She was forced
Her students always amaze her, Dr. Van Dyke said.
to view important issues through the lens of other
The students come to know the issues and the way the
cultures. Also, the hard work and the need to play as a
EU functions so intimately that the creative solutions
team formed a close bond among the classmates that
they devise impress actual diplomats. The class
doesn’t usually occur in a classroom. She calls it “a
visits their assigned country’s embassy and meets
great example of experiential learning” that she won’t
diplomats with whom Dr. Van Dyke always shares the
soon forget.
simulation’s outcomes. Throughout the experience, Dr. Van Dyke pushes
global outlook and questions about what it means to
her students to ponder what’s transpiring. “There’s a
be a citizen, the EU simulation program represents
lot of reflection, even on the bus going home when
the ideals of Jesuit learning, complete with its ultimate
everyone’s completely exhausted. Weeks later there’s
goal — a true metanoia.
a one-on-one meeting with me. My biggest question then is, ‘How have you grown, academically and intellectually, of course, but also personally?’”
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With the emphasis on reflection, coupled with a
THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
a friendly oasis Scranton PT & OT students enriched by service to Navajo Nation
27
I
n the spring of 1993, a young Navajo woman was
trip. “We’ve been taking students on cultural immersion
rushed to the hospital with mysterious pulmonary
trips for 10 years now,” he said. “It helps them with their
symptoms. Otherwise fit and healthy, she was gasping
cultural competence. Scranton is so homogenous, it’s
for breath and literally drowning in her own fluids.
important for students to learn that their own culture is
When others fell ill — all young, healthy people dying
not superior, it’s just different.”
of acute respiratory failure — the CDC was called to the
DPT alumna Dianna Holdren ’11, who participated
Four Corners region formed by Arizona, New Mexico,
in the 2013 trip, agrees. “I still think of this trip and the
Colorado and Utah. When the esteemed scientists
experiences from it often. My eyes were opened to a
arrived, the Navajo’s medicine man asked to confer with
very different way of life. I had to keep reminding myself
them. It had been an unusually wet spring in the Four
that I was still in the U.S.,” she said.
Corners and the medicine man was sure the resultant
Dr. Sanko has taken students to El Salvador and
explosion in the mouse population was unhealthy.
Mexico, but finds the experience with the Navajo people
Although the CDC refused to see him, in time they
just as rich in cultural differences and educational
found the culprit he wanted to warn them about — deer
rewards, without the need for a passport. On the trip,
mice carrying a hantavirus.
students observed at St. Michael’s School for Special
For John Sanko, Ed.D, PT, associate professor and
Education in Window Rock, Ariz., where several
chair of the Physical Therapy Department, this story
Scranton alumni have volunteered. PT alum Kate Fawls
sums up just about everything he wants his PT and OT
DPT ’12 has acted as a consultant since her days there as
students to learn when they take part in his annual service
a Mercy Corps volunteer. OT alum Bridget Marrine ’10, G’11 also spent a year there with Mercy Corps.
LEFT: DPT student Dianna Holdren works with a student at St.
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Michael’s School for Special Education in St. Michael’s, Ariz. RIGHT: Dr. John Sanko, seen standing, with DPT students and faculty at Canyon de Chelly on the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
Holdren has warm memories of the school and the
For Navajo, home is typically either a trailer or a
chance to use her skills. “The diagnoses of the children
hogan (a traditional Navajo structure). These visits
ranged from cerebral palsy to Down syndrome to
are usually the first time students are exposed to
Tourette syndrome,” she said. “We danced and
people living without electricity or heat. Moreover,
exercised with the children. Since the school doesn’t
the climate surprises students expecting blistering
have the funds for a staff physical therapist, as students
Arizona heat. Dr. Sanko said, “This is the high desert,
of physical therapy, we were able to offer treatment
and it gets cold!”
ideas to a very eager staff. They seemed to appreciate
Dr. Sanko said that every year the trip fills to
us sharing our knowledge as much as we appreciated
capacity, with between 10 to 13 students. “We get
them welcoming us into their school.”
more than we give,” he said, explaining the students’
The students also observed at the U.S. Fort Defiance
excitement. “The Navajo are usually shy, but they
Indian Hospital. Dr. Sanko is proud that last year was
remember and welcome us,” Holdren concurs. “This
a first for Scranton – a PT student got an internship at
was an excellent trip that offered us a way to give back.
Fort Defiance. Perhaps the most important cultural
I hope that we impacted life in the Navajo nation just
learning, however, takes place on home health visits.
a fraction as much as they impacted ours,” she said.
“My eyes were opened to a very different way of life.” — Dianna Holdren Visit scranton.edu/scrantonjournal to read Dianna Holdren’s story, in her own words.
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Athletics Thrills & Kills Junior outside hitter Julia Crilly earned first-team all-Landmark Conference honors while leading the women’s volleyball team to a semifinal playoff appearance. She recorded the 1,000th kill of her career while leading the Royals in kills, digs, service aces and total attacks this past fall.
Goal Oriented Senior forward Samantha Russo of the women’s soccer team capped her career by being named second-team all-Mid-Atlantic Region, Landmark Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-Landmark Conference, as well as District IV All-Academic. She finished her career with 32 goals, including 15 game-winners and 23 assists.
Coach Earns Another Accolade Head coach Colleen Murphy led the women’s soccer team to a 15-3-3 record and its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, helping to earn her Landmark Conference Coach of the Year honors. It’s the second time Coach Murphy has been recognized by the Landmark Conference, and she now has 77 victories in her six seasons as head coach.
Rising Star Sophomore defender Erin Casey had a breakout season with the women’s soccer team, earning Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and first-team all-conference honors despite overcoming an injury during the season. Despite being the team’s top defender, she contributed three goals, two of which won games. The third was a game-tying goal in the final minute of the Landmark Conference championship.
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Staunch Defender Junior Defender Jessica Pankey of the field hockey team earned first-team allLandmark Conference honors while leading the Royals to a 14-6 record and the team’s first appearance in the Landmark Conference championship. She anchored a defense that allowed just 1.26 goals per game, the fourth-lowest mark in school history.
Catch Her If You Can Senior Cara Notarianni of the women’s cross-country team earned first-team all-Landmark Conference honors by leading the Royals with a fifth-place finish at the conference championship in November. A week later, she finished 32nd at the NCAA regional, the highest finish by a Royal in 10 years.
Leading on the Links The men’s golf team continued its successful run over the past few seasons by winning six matches and two tournaments during the fall season, including the first Anthracite Golf Championship at the Royals’ home course, Glenmaura National Golf Club. The Royals are also in second place, just nine shots out of the lead, after two rounds of the Empire 8 Conference championships, led by sophomore Eric Montella, who is tied for fourth, four shots out of the individual lead.
Soccer Standout Senior midfielder Bill McGuiness had another standout season for the men’s soccer team, being named first-team Academic All-American, second-team All-American, first-team all-Mid-Atlantic Region and first-team all-Landmark Conference. He finished his career with 23 goals, including 10 game-winners, and 15 assists.
800 Strong Women’s basketball head coach Mike Strong became the first coach in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history to win 800 games when his Lady Royals defeated Juniata, 75-57, on Saturday, Jan. 11, in the Long Center. Strong becomes the second coach in all of NCAA Division III to win 800 games, joining Franklin & Marshall head men’s basketball coach Glenn Robinson. He is also the 10th women’s basketball coach at all NCAA levels to reach 800 victories. SPRING 2014
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Putting Jesuit Ideals into Practice Famed football coach Knute Rockne once said, “One person practicing sportsmanship is far better than 100 teaching it.” His words remind us that how one competes defines him or her as a person. At Scranton, student-athletes can make baskets or score goals, but they also excel at the quintessential Jesuit ideal of being men and women for others.
ROSS DANZIG • Men’s basketball Year: Junior Major: Management with a finance minor Hometown: Clarks Summit Position: Guard
Q: Given that your dad, Carl Danzig, is the head coach, was it a foregone conclusion that you would play? A: I almost had no choice but to play basketball. When my dad was a coach at Bucknell, I would go to all the practices. My earliest memories are being in the gym. At games, I was the ball boy, and I would shoot hoops at half-time. Q: What are the pros and cons of being the coach’s son? A: The pros are pretty much what you think. I get to see my dad every day. We always talked about my playing for him one day and now we’re living it. The con is that when we have a bad game and the coach is mad, the other players can call their parents! Also, he holds me to a higher standard, but I take that in stride because he is a players’ coach. He is positive-energy oriented. He knows the team is hardworking, so he tries to pump us up. Q: What was the highlight of being on the team so far? A: When I was a freshman, we had that Elite Eight run. The highlight for me was beating Middlebury at their place. They were ranked No. 4 in the country. Winning that game was great. That was also the year we won the conference championship, beating Juniata on our own court. It was great to win with the fans yelling their support and then rushing the court after the game to celebrate with us. Q: You were named the 2012 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and to the first team, all-Landmark Conference in 2013. You are also recipient of the John ‘Les’ Dickman award as the Royals’ most valuable player in 2013. Obviously, you are a dedicated athlete. How do you balance this with school? A: When playing Division III, you’re not playing for the national recognition. We’re not on scholarship, and everything you do is on you. It’s your time. It’s a real commitment, but it really speaks for your passion for the game. If you want to succeed at this level, it’s on you. And I like that, I value that.
RYAN SARACENI • Men’s lacrosse Year: Senior Major: Business Administration Hometown: Lansdale Position: Close defenseman
Q: You were named to the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll. How do you combine being a good lacrosse player with being a good student? A: First and foremost, I remember why I am at school. We are student-athletes, and school comes first. Before I go to a practice or a game, if I have homework, the homework’s done; if I have a test, the test is studied for. I can compartmentalize so there are no worries when I am on the playing field. 32
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Q: What will you take from sports to help in your intended career? A: I want to work for the federal government in law enforcement, so obviously two great skills are teamwork and leadership. I was captain of my high school football team, but that’s different from leading in college. Then, players were more willing to “do as I say.” Now, we are adults with our own ambitions and ideas. My teammates may be smarter than me or better at certain things, but we have to work together for a common goal. Teamwork is knowing when to play a support role. Q: Your lacrosse team does a lot of community service. Can you talk about that? A: As a team, we do one or two service projects annually. Last fall we got involved in something a bit different. The Movember Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health issues. They dubbed November “Grow the Mo” month and we adopted it as a fund-raiser. We started on Nov. 1 clean-shaven and then grew mustaches. Our faces were like billboards. Everyone would ask, “Why the mustache?” and then you could explain what you were doing and get donations. We made our $5,000 goal. Q: Why did you choose lacrosse? A: In high school (La Salle College High School, Wyndmoor, Pa.), I played both football — I was a linebacker — and lacrosse. We won the state championships in both sports in the quad A division. I wanted to continue as a studentathlete, so I had a choice to make about which to play in college. I felt I would have a better chance to play right away if I focused on lacrosse. Freshmen rarely get playing time in football. By choosing lacrosse, I was able to play at a high level right from the start.
STEPHANIE A. ROMANO • Softball Year: Junior Major: Accounting Hometown: West Milford, N.J. Position: Second base
Q: Can you name your favorite team moment? A: In my favorite team moment, I wasn’t even playing! It was when we beat Moravian for the first time in a long time. They had previously beaten us badly, so badly the game ended early. We wanted redemption. Megan Reilly was pulled off the bench. She and I had spent the season together on the bench. She was really nervous, but she hit a three-run home run. Her mom was sick, but I remember her family was there to see it. It was just amazing to see her come through in a clutch moment like that. Q: Why did you choose softball? A: I have two older brothers who played softball and my dad coached them, so I wanted to be able to play with them. I had to work at my game skills. We’d play wiffle ball with the whole neighborhood in my back yard, plus my brother would spend a lot of time teaching me to catch pop flies. I played other sports, but softball was always my favorite. Q: How do you combine being an outstanding student-athlete with being an outstanding student? A: Time management! I have many other commitments. I am a resident assistant (Nevils, third floor) and I belong to several honor societies.* I am also a Business Leadership honors student, so school always comes first, but when you love something, you make room for it. For example, I’ll get up early just to go to the gym or practice hitting. I love softball because of the sense of commitment and community I get from it. When others depend on you, you start to depend on yourself. I find myself wanting to make my family and my team proud. Q: Can you name your favorite game moment? A: My favorite game moment was last year at Salisbury (Maryland) when we played Gettysburg. The entire game was a fight. They would score two, then we would score two. It was neck-and-neck the whole time. We won collectively, and that was very rewarding. * Omega Beta Sigma, women’s business honor society and Alpha Lambda Delta, freshman honor society.
Visit scranton.edu/scrantonjournal to read more about these Royals leading by example and making us proud!
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Give-&-Go
Royals’ Captain passes the legacy to his children while giving back to his alma mater
Kevin Walsh ’73 shares a proud moment with his two favorite studentathletes at Scranton, daughter, Deirdre ’00 and son, Ian ’02.
“The Long Center gets in the blood of anyone who has had to experience two-a-day practices at 7 a.m. on a Saturday!” laughs Kevin Walsh ’73 (BS, Management). And he would know: Walsh captained the Varsity Basketball team, and also ran cross-country, while attending Scranton on a Presidential Scholarship for academics and athletics. Scranton was already at the top of Walsh’s college choice list, but the financial assistance this scholarship offered sealed his decision.
He went on to play professional basketball in France from ’75 to ’77, returning afterward to his alma mater to earn an M.B.A. Walsh, a solutions architect manager with NTT Com, the world’s largest communications company, has traveled the world doing business and playing basketball ever since his time at the University. “To this day, when I return to play in alumni games, the same rush of energy comes over me,” he says. “Having seen one of my daughters, Deirdre [’00 International Studies], and my only son, Ian [’02, International Business], go through the exact same types of experiences as Royal captains, it is not hard to make the decision to help as many players of both genders as possible feel the same thing.” A loyal donor to the Royal Fund, Walsh credits Scranton’s Jesuit ideals as inspiration for his commitment to give back to the University’s athletic programs. “The Ignatian tradition is to remember and honor from whence you came. Without this sport — and certainly without this school inspiring me to see the world — it’s difficult to say where I would be with my life,” says Walsh. He describes a meeting of the All-Star team with the Minister of Trade and Commerce in Manila, the Philippines, in 1989. “He asked us to raise our hands if we attended Jesuit universities in the States. Unbeknownst to us before that moment, fully 80 percent of the team members had been taught by the Jesuits in either high school or college. Remarkable, but not all that surprising.”
“Lessons like these on all levels — personal, athletic, business and academic, have stayed with me — Royally.” Help us do more for our students by supporting the Scranton Athletics Fund today.
scranton.edu/athleticsfund
SAVE THE DATE
Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner
June 9, 2014 Hamilton Farm Golf Club scranton.edu/athleticsfund
AlumniNews Nursing alumni Marisa Healy ’08 (far right), Margaret Murray Carbonetti ’08 (far left), Janelle Matsago ’07 (back row, third from left) and Maura Hayden ’08 (back row, third from right) shared their career perspectives with 11 senior nursing majors at a Beyond the Commons Dinner.
Beyond the Commons The Alumni Relations Office hosted three Beyond the Commons Dinners in October and November. Beyond the Commons is a series of small, intimate dinners that give alumni an opportunity to dine with current seniors in a casual atmosphere. At the first dinner, Nicole Spaldo ’08, Cate McKenna ’09, and Amy Flemming ’09 shared their experiences being occupational therapists to 15 seniors and three graduate students. The second dinner brought back to campus four registered nurses: Marisa Healy ’08, Margaret Murray ’08, Janelle Matsago ’07 and Maura Hayden ’08. Eleven senior nursing majors were able to network, share stories about
being a nursing major and discuss expectations about entering the profession. The third dinner was for seniors or graduate students who are interested in becoming physical therapists. Brian Haas ’89, Rich Guilfoyle ’08, DPT’11, and Kim McCormick Cooper ’05, G’06 attended the dinner with 11 other students. This dinner provided a unique opportunity for seniors to gain perspective from alumni who have either completed the DPT program or master’s degree at The University of Scranton. The Office of Alumni Relations will continue the Beyond the Commons Dinner series throughout the spring semester. For more information, contact Kristi Cordier ’09 at kristin.cordier@scranton.edu.
Beyond the Commons Goes Regional The traditional Beyond the Commons packed up and hit the road for the first time. The Scranton Alumni Clubs began hosting these dinners in their region, bringing together students and alumni in their hometown areas while the students are home for intersession. In January, the Alumni Clubs of New York and Philadelphia hosted dinners, getting this new initiative off to a great start! At the first regional event of the year, 12 communication students from the New York area met with David Guarino ’96, Marnie Lawler McDonough ’00, Alex Gittleson ’08 and Laurel Coyle ’09, learning firsthand how these alumni are succeeding in their careers in the communication field. This dinner took place on Jan. 16 at Restaurant Patrick at Club Quarters Midtown.
The second dinner was hosted at the home of Alumni Board member William Gillespie ’99. Twelve students from the Philadelphia area came out on Jan. 23 to seek out advice about doing a year of service after graduation. Five other alumni, all of whom have completed a year of full-time service, were in attendance: William Grogan ’11, Theresa Evans, 06, Stephanie Salinis ’10, Maureen Gillespie ’95, and Ann Marissa Ambacher ’05. These dinners are the first of more regionally-based dinners to come. If you would like to participate in a dinner please contact Alex Rizzi ’12, regional engagement coordinator, at alexander.rizzi@scranton.edu. SPRING 2014
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A Message from the President of the Alumni Society What comes from a Scranton Experience? As a graduate of The University of Scranton, you belong to a society with more than 46,000 members spanning 65 countries — a network with a shared experience whose possibilities are endless. Our Alumni Society is a local, national and increasingly global connective tissue — a powerful resource for careers, faith, friendships and philanthropy. As we begin a new year, our Society’s Board Leadership has made a commitment to focus on three priorities, all of which are grounded in University’s mission and ministry:
1. Student recruitment efforts that result in more young people having a “Scranton experience” 2. Career development through internships, mentoring, networking and job placements for alumni of all ages as well as current students 3. Philanthropy that ensures the work of the University can continue to shape individuals as men and women for others committed to God, academic excellence and service to our communities
Chances are you may have met at least one of the volunteers leading our efforts. Each one hails from a different state, decade and industry. They bring a wealth of expertise ranging from health care, law and government to finance, insurance and nonprofits. Their bright, thoughtful perspectives shine like a miniature United Nations, but their passion unites them and me in service to the University and to you. I encourage you to get to know our 2014-15 Executive Committee and Alumni Society Board Members:
President-Elect: Col. Richard H. Breen, Jr. ’77, Alexandra, Va. Vice President: Patrick J. Morgan ’01, Philadelphia, Pa. Secretary: Christy M. Meyer Bric ’93, Columbia, Md. Treasurer: Michael K. Short ’99, Mendham, N.J. At Large: David C. Blake, Ph.D, ’69, Los Angeles, Calif. Immediate Past President: Thomas J. Grech ’84, Malverne, N.Y.
richard.breen@live.com pmorgan897@aol.com chrisybric@verizon.net mshort@allstate.com david.blake@cshs.org tom_grech@hotmail.com
A complete listing of our Alumni Society board members can be found at scranton.edu/alumni/AlumniSociety/ BoardGovernors.shtml We will continue to share updates online at scranton.edu/royalnews and here in The Scranton Journal, but we also want to hear from you! Wherever you are in life, make 2014 the year you do at least one new thing: make a connection for a young graduate, make time for a student by phone, attend an alumni event, or make a donation of any size. To become more involved with your alma mater, please feel free to contact any of us. All contributions of time and treasure are welcome.
Martina A. Martin ’80, Baltimore, Md. President of the Alumni Society alumni@scranton.edu Attn: Martina Martin
scranton.edu/alumni
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Alumni Medical Mission to Haiti
Dinner with 12 Strangers In February, University Advancement sponsored its first annual Dinner with 12 Strangers program. Dinner with 12 Strangers involves more than just a meal: alumni in the Scranton area open their homes to host students for small dinner parties, or host the students at a local restaurant. Now, there’s no such thing as being too far away from Scranton to connect with other alumni! Alumni also hosted regional dinners in their hometown for classmates in their area. This type of program has worked well for other schools, according to Kristi Cordier ’09, class affinity coordinator for Alumni Relations, who introduced the program this year. More than 15 alumni hosted regional dinners, and 15 local alumni hosted current students in their homes. The goal of Dinner with 12 Strangers is to offer current students a great opportunity to get a feel for the extended Scranton family. It brings together students, alumni, faculty and staff for a series of small dinner parties as a way to strengthen an already strong Scranton community. The program provides an opportunity for a great evening of socializing and networking! For more information, please contact Kristi Cordier’ 09 at kristin.cordier@scranton.edu or check out scranton.edu/ dinnerwith12strangers. The event promises to become a new Scranton tradition for our Alumni Society and current students.
A group of alumni physicians led a group of University of Scranton students on a life-changing medical mission in late January. Led by Hartford, Conn., maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Richard Bevilacqua ’83, the team spent one week in several regions of Haiti providing much-needed medical care to the most underserved in the country. Dr. Chris Andres ’89, Dr. Chris Jones ’02 and Dr. Sara Gonzalez ’03 served as leaders, along with Dr. Bevilacqua. University students Nick Cucci ’14, Amanda Stahl ’14, Mike Kelly ’14, Liz Joyce ’15 and Christopher Kustera ’15 experienced firsthand the poverty that plagues Haiti. “This trip showed me that the Jesuit ideals aren’t just vocabulary from a theology class. Medicine doesn’t end when docs leave the office, nor does service end when you leave The University of Scranton,” said Stolfi. “Leaving Scranton and starting medical school means stepping out of a book and into the Jesuit ideals in action, into a life of service, compassion, and love.” This mission would not be possible without the generous support of alumni and friends. If you would like to help support the alumni medical mission trip, please visit scranton.edu/makeagift. Select “other” and enter “Medical Alumni Council Mission Fund.”
Pre-med students and medical alumni put their Jesuit ideals into action during a medical mission trip to Haiti.
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From Scranton to Sochi During the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, millions watched skiing and snowboarding competitions. Behind the scenes was Margo Christiansen ’05, communications director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. Christiansen is the point person for all internal and external communication for the team, and handles media inquiries and athlete interviews. The Sochi Games were Christiansen’s second for the USA team. Read her full story in the fall issue of The Scranton Journal.
Class of 1964 to be Honored at Commencement In honor of their approaching 50-year reunion, members of the Class of 1964 are invited to serve as delegates at the University’s Undergraduate Commencement ceremony scheduled for Sunday, June 1, at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre. The longstanding tradition will be even more meaningful as we celebrate 125 years of our institution. If you are a member of the Class of 1964, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@scranton.edu or 1-800-SCRANTON for more information.
Summer Send-off Reception: Hosts Needed Each summer Scranton parents and alumni generously host regional summer send-off receptions for incoming freshmen and their parents. These receptions provide freshman families the opportunity to meet with current students, parents and alumni near their hometown prior to move-in day. This summer the receptions will be held
Scranton Day of Service It’s that time of year again! Alumni, students, parents and friends all over the nation are invited to gear up and join in for a day of communal service and living what it means to be “men and women for and with others.” Service projects for this year’s Scranton Day of Service range from volunteering at a soup kitchen to cleaning up a local trail. In an effort to invite current students while home on their spring break, the Day of Service is falling earlier this year than in the past. Volunteer at a service project site in your area on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Go to scranton.edu/dayofservice for more information. We hope you can come out and make a difference in your community.
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from July 21 to Aug. 8. The University is asking you to consider hosting a reception in your area to give our new students and parents a feel for the Scranton family! If you would like to host a Summer Send-Off Reception in your region, please contact the Office of Parent Programs at 570-941-4222 or parents@scranton.edu.
Alumni Answer the Call to Serve with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Recent graduates of The University of Scranton answered the call to serve with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. During their time as Jesuit Volunteers (JVs), they will be dedicated to living simply and working for social justice in a spiritually supportive community of other JVs who are working with people who live on the margins of society. Scranton alumni are listed below with their placement agency and community location. From left: Meg Norsigian ’13, Paige Williams-White ’13 and Chelsea Valentine ’13 are three of nine recent alumni from Scranton who are serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
Jeffrey Aube ‘13 • Harry Tompson Center, New Orleans, La. Hanna Joyce ’13 • Central Arizona Shelter Services, Phoenix, Ariz.
Meghan Norsigian ’13 • Asian Task Force against Domestic Violence, Boston, Mass.
Aimee Miller ’12 • Donnelly College, Kansas City, Lazarus
Mara Smith ’13 • Eviction Defense Collaborative, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
Alexander Nafranowicz ’13 • Pegasus Legal Services for Children, Albuquerque, N.M.
Chelsea Valentine ‘13 • The Opportunity Alliance The Bridge Program, Portland, Maine
Sarah Neitz ’12 • University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Mich.
Paige Williams-White ‘13 • AIDS Community Resources, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. SPRING 2014
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Names in Gold indicate Alumnus/Alumna is celebrating his/her Reunion Year
ClassNotes
Class notes included in this edition were submitted prior to January 15, 2014. To submit your own news or see additional class notes, visit scranton.edu/classnotes.
Milestones Andrew Scott McGowan, Ph.D. ’61, Yonkers, N.Y., retired from the position of senior professor in the Department of Counseling and Development at Long Island University/C.W. Post (LIU/Post), and was named as a senior professor emeritus by the LIU president and Board of Trustees. James Mezick, Ph.D. ’61, East Brunswick, N.J., chief scientific officer at SansRosa, was part of a five-member team whose technology has been approved by the FDA to treat the redness of rosacea. This technology was developed by and will be marketed by Galderma as Mirvaso. Gerald Luchansky ’68, Olyphant, has been reelected chairman of the Mid Valley School District Board of Directors for a third consecutive term. Frederick Parker, M.D. ’68, Manassas, Va., was named the head team physician for George Washington University Athletics. Dr. Parker is an assistant clinical professor of medicine and a member of the Medical Faculty Associates at George Washington. Jack Nealon ‘74, who died in 2012 from cancer, was memorialized on Dec. 12, 2013, by the Department of Agriculture with the establishment of the Jack Nealon Leadership Award, which will be issued annually to a top public servant in recognition of exceptional leadership. The award serves as a lasting tribute to Jack’s long and distinguished public career, which included the presentation of
the Presidential Award by President Obama in 2010. Dr. Joseph Agostinelli, USAF, Ret. ’77, Niceville, Fla., received the Irish Humanitarian Award from HCA Hospital Corporation for volunteer community health efforts. Anthony Gangemi ’78, Throop, was named the new manager of field operations for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre district service area of Pennsylvania American Water Company. Donald J. Santangelo, III, M.D. ’78, Toms River, N.J. is medical director for the state of New Jersey Conmed Correctional Health care and chief medical examiner for Ocean County. Robert Slebodnik ’78, Pittsford, N.Y., is a faculty member at Bryant and Stratton College teaching philosophy in the Department of Liberal Arts. Robert Marchand ’79, Doylestown, recently retired from Allstate Insurance Company after more than 34 years of service. Valerie Stanislawczyk Garcia ’79, Arlington, Va., is principal of Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria. Robert Schatz ’80, New York, N.Y., will have his painting Lehigh included in the exhibition 13 at the Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts in Toronto, Canada. David P. Begany, SSJ ’81, Washington, D.C., made his Perpetual Promise as a member of St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart and
was ordained a transitional deacon on Oct. 26, 2013. He anticipates priestly ordination on May 31, 2014. John M. Johnson, D.D.S. ’81, Groton, Conn., received the Top Dentist recognition from CT Magazine for the category of General Dentistry. Dr. Johnson received Top Dentist in 2010, 2011, 2012 and now for 2013, having been recommended to the magazine by his peers. David A. Morgan ’81, Dalton, has completed the requirement for a master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Lehigh University. Michael Banas, M.D. ’83, Dallas, recently published a work of fiction titled Pennsylvania’s Finest. It is a medical mystery that follows a surgical intern through his first year of training, amid a series of troubling occurrences. Lori Brucker Block ’83, Pitman, N.J., an advisor in the Student Services Center at Rowan University, was selected to receive a 2013 Community Services and Achievement Award from Kitchen of Hope, Inc., a nonprofit that helps feed the hungry in Gloucester County and the surrounding areas. Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, a partner in the Munley Law Firm, was recently honored by the Great Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the annual SAGE (Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence) Awards gala with the 2013 Woman of Excellence Award.
Alumni Prominent Part of New Bucks County Acute Rehab Hospital St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, in partnership with Centerre Health care Corporation, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., recently broke ground for a freestanding acute rehabilitation hospital, the first of its kind in Bucks County. Several University of Scranton graduates are involved in the project. Seen from left are: Senior Physical Therapist Tom Bobroski ‘98; St. Mary Rehabilitation Hospital CEO Lisa StabackHaney ‘84; Occupational and Speech Therapy Manager Danielle Devine ‘03; St. Mary Medical Center Director of Planned Giving Mark Erhard ’74; and CHE Trinity Health Vice President of Support Services/CIO Marian Moran ‘77. Scheduled for completion in April 2014, St. Mary Rehabilitation Hospital will provide acute inpatient rehabilitation services for patients who require a high level of specialized treatment.
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Mission to Heal Gene Talerico ‘89 leads nonprofit dedicated to making injured children whole Gene Talerico ‘89 enrolled in the University as a computer science major, but his career plans took an abrupt turn when, as a sophomore, he interned with the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s office. Coincidentally, he was also re-reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” and admiring the great character, Atticus Finch. Little did he know that the career change his stint in the DA’s office prompted would lead him to situations every bit as dramatic as anything his fictional hero ever faced. When Talerico switched to political science, he found a mentor in Dr. Bernie Williams. “He wrote my letter of recommendation for law school. He also encouraged me to take a job at the DA’s office as a victims’ advocate.” The victims’ advocate job was an 18-hour-per-week assignment with profound effects. “I came to realize that the legal system never makes people whole. The best we can do is get accountability.” When Talerico graduated from law school, he returned to the Lackawanna County DA’s Office. His life changed forever when the first assistant DA in charge of child-victim cases left to enter private practice. Talerico took the post, feeling “scared to death” and, indeed, his first case was heart-wrenching. “It was the first step for me,” he said. “I found myself wanting to do more than the job required. These children weren’t ‘victims’ to me; they were people.” That restless sense of not doing enough came to a terrible head in the early morning hours of July 5, 2009. “The police called at about 3 a.m. about a five-year-old girl who had been horrifically assaulted and was in the hospital,” he said. When Talerico arrived at the hospital, he had “the most significant experience in my 21 years of this work. The facts were unspeakable,” he said. “To see her and feel the humanity of her — it brought me to my knees.” The offender pleaded guilty and got a life sentence, the first in Pennsylvania for a non-homicide case. Best of all, the child victim never had to testify. Despite these positive
outcomes, Talerico suffered that nagging, incomplete feeling. “I should have felt professionally fulfilled, but this time that didn’t happen. I wanted this child to be whole again.” A few months after the sentencing, the child’s therapist, Ann Cook, called saying, “Gene, you’ve got to see this.” She was referring to a new kind of therapy the child was receiving. Cook explained that the child’s devastated mother, April, used the gifts pouring in from the community to buy her daughter’s dream, a horse named Strawberry stabled in Honesdale. Cook was now conducting her sessions there with the horse in attendance. “After just an hour, I became a believer,” Talerico said. “The child’s connection with Strawberry – you just can’t describe it unless you see it. If the child is anxious, the horse is anxious. The therapist can get her to talk about her feelings by asking why Strawberry feels this way.” That’s how Marley’s Mission, a nonprofit organization providing equine-based therapy free of charge to children and their families, was born. April wanted to share the success of equine therapy with other children devastated by abuse, neglect and other trauma. Talerico became the nonprofit’s board president. Since late 2009, Marley’s Mission has helped 290 children in an eight-county area of northeastern Pennsylvania. “The grounding I got at Scranton was my cornerstone,” Talerico said. “That’s where I learned that it’s not just about me, but how I serve others. Now I have the opportunity to truly give hope to kids.”
LEFT: First Assistant DA Gene Talerico ‘89 is the board president of Marley’s Mission. RIGHT: Gene Talerico ‘89 with therapy horse Molly.
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Scranton business students set on career path through mentoring, internship programs Linda McGowan ’80 helped build Linda Mathers McGowan ‘80 can relate to students who hail from small towns and lack high-powered connections. She comes from tiny Apalachin, N.Y., and when she began studying accounting at the University, she had an unusual plan B regarding tuition. “I have eight brothers and sisters,” she said. “So I had to beg and borrow — I paid my own way through school. My back-up plan, in the event I couldn’t earn enough to pay for room and board, was to live with my grandparents in a suburb of Scranton.” Fortunately, a job at the University’s cafeteria kept the grandparents’ spare bedroom empty. It also gave McGowan the unique opportunity to bond with some of her professors outside of the classroom. She frequently worked catered events, like faculty parties. In this setting, she had a chance to form a friendship with her accounting professor John P. McLean. “He became my mentor,” McGowan said. “We would have career discussions. When I started getting offers (McGowan had offers from all the then-Big 8 accounting firms), he would go over them with me.” In the end, McGowan chose to join Coopers Lybrand, now PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York City. She made the decision because “the firm’s values fit with those of Scranton. This firm has an emphasis on giving back.” Since joining the prestigious firm, McGowan has given back to Scranton in a big way. She has been instrumental in building an internship program for Scranton students at PwC offices all over the country. The highly successful program began with a conversation she had with a partner in 2002. “Sarbanes Oxley had just passed, and we were going to be very busy that audit season. My partner said, ‘Scranton has that long winter break, maybe we can get some interns.’” McGowan worked with Brian Carpenter, Ph.D., professor of accounting, to establish the program. The first group of students excelled, as did the next. Each group worked in McGowan’s Banking and Capital Markets area . . . that is until
Linda Mathers McGowan ‘80 stays actively engaged with her alma mater as a member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board.
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McGowan got a call from HR saying, “You can’t have them all!” Now Scranton interns can be found in every PwC practice area. With the interns came an insight that Scranton students could benefit from some professional mentoring. “Our students are hard-working and enthusiastic,” McGowan said. “But assuming good grades, what makes a candidate stand out is demonstrating leadership, teamwork and initiative.” The Kania School Mentoring Program was developed to help with this. As a mentor, McGowan aids students with whatever they personally want to accomplish. Sometimes it’s helping them make contacts in a particular field or firm; other times it’s helping with interview preparation. “Sometimes it’s something as simple as noticing they just put ‘Business Leadership student’ on their resume. What does that mean? They need to explain this is an exclusive honors program.” The mentoring has achieved remarkable results. Last year, 15 students got 15 coveted internships at PwC, and each subsequently got a job with the firm. McGowan said she plans to continue to help the University, both through her present work and also by encouraging more students to become accounting professors. To that end, Scranton has already been a recipient of a PwC research grant. Looking back, McGowan said, it was “quite a challenge going from Apalachin to New York City, but the University gave me my background and ability to think through business problems. I want to help others make that same transition.”
Frank DiMaio, M.D. ’84, Staten Island, N.Y., has joined the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center. Dr. DiMaio is credited as one of the designing surgeons for Zimmer’s genderspecific natural knee replacement technology, and has ongoing clinical and basic science research interests. Thomas J. Collura ’85, Delmar, N.Y., has joined the law firm of Hodgson Russ as a partner in the Corporate & Securities, Estates & Trusts, and Tax Practice Groups. Lisa Witowski Sherman ’89, Lansdale, an attorney with Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin PC, was recently awarded the Honorable Milton O. Moss Public Service Award. The award was presented by the Montgomery Bar Foundation for her work with the Wills for Heroes Foundation as the National Affiliate director and as a statewide coordinator for Pennsylvania. John Reynolds ’90, Dickson City, has been promoted to partner at ParenteBeard, a top 25 accounting firm. Joseph F. Murray, M.D. ’91, New York, N.Y., has been appointed to the position of associate dean, Student Affairs and Equal Opportunity Programs, at Weill Cornell Medical College. Albert Thomas ’93, Scranton, is associate vice president and general manager at VaxServe. Karen Robson, DNP ’94, South Abington Township, recently attained her Doctor of Nurse Practice from Wilkes University. Dr. Robson is employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is an adjunct faculty member at The University of Scranton and Wilkes University. Jennifer Donatelli ’95, Brooklyn Park, Md., is the new editor of the Catonsville and Elkridge Patches for AOL Patch and Patch.com. Andrew Sirotnak, M.D.’95, Denver, Colo., professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been appointed as the new vice chair for faulty affairs for the department. He continues as director of the Child Protection Team and Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship Program at the school and at Children’s Hospital of Colorado. He has achieved national prominence for his work with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics and the CDC, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Department of Justice has recognized him for his advocacy and committee work on the behalf of maltreated children. Alexandra Gojic Borchard ’96, Mendham, N.J., joined The Madison Square Garden Company as vice president, Internal Communications & Employee Services.
Nick Westendorf ’11 (left) and Sean Milde ’11 are both former University of Scranton athletes who are currently serving in Afghanistan. Westendorf, who played men’s soccer, and Milde, who was a men’s lacrosse player, are former roommates at Scranton who were recently re-united while serving in different companies. Westendorf, a native of Colts Neck, N.J., is a platoon leader with the rank of first lieutenant in the 87th Sapper Company based out of Fort Hood, Texas. Milde, a native of Succasunna, N.J., is also a first lieutenant and is a cavalry platoon leader in the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y.
Adelaide Riggi Cutalo ’97, Morristown, N.J, has been named a member of the firm Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A. Michael Soskil ’97, G’09, Newfoundland, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. This is the highest honor that can be received for math and science teachers in the United States. Daniel Stanislawczyk ’97 is principal of Leadership Academy West in West Palm Beach, Fla. Sunny Minelli Weiland ’98, South Abington Township, has been chosen as the recipient of the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development 2013 Outstanding Young Educator Award. This award is presented to an emerging leader who demonstrates exemplary commitment and exceptional contribution to the profession. Kelly Thompson Brazill ’99, Raleigh, N.C., has been appointed as the contributing editor for Pharmacology for the journal Critical Care Nurse. She is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Duke University. Brian Gavin ’00 has been promoted to senior vice president of Advancement at Catholic Charities USA in Washington, D.C. Philip Grieco ’00, Santa Monica, Calif., accepted a position with a sports marketing agency, Wasserman Media Group, based in Los Angeles, and is co-leading the Microsoft account team, focused on their new NFL partnership. Lorene C. Janowski DPS ’00, New York, N.Y., is an occupational therapist at The Hospital for Special Surgery where she was recently promoted to advanced clinician. She completed her clinical doctorate degree from New York University with a specialization in pediatrics.
Melissa Logan Pacitti, Ph.D. ’01, West Chester, graduated from Immaculata University with her Doctorate in Education after successfully defending her dissertation on Remedial Reading Instruction. Victoria Mound ’02, Morristown, N.J., is a digital marketing consultant at the New York Daily News. April Puscavage Troy, M.D. ’02, South Abington Township, has joined Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Clare Strockbine Acosta Matos ’04, San Antonio, Texas, had her book, Mind Your Body, Work Your Soul, published in June 2013. Sarah Frey ’06, Lafayette, N.J., graduated from the University of North Dakota in August of 2013 with a Master of Arts in forensic psychology and became a National Certified Guardian in April 2013.
Send Us Your Class Notes & Pictures! Did you have a milestone recently? Would you like to share your good fortune with alumni and friends? Send your wedding and birth announcements, as well as other class notes and photographs, to alumni@scranton.edu and we will publish them in Royal News and The Scranton Journal.
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Rolling out the Red Carpet Researcher’s work on combat stress receives international award For one night, Dr. Bart Billings ’66 was a celebrity. His decades of research on combat stress and studies evaluating the relationship between psychiatric medication and increased suicides in the military caught the eye of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR). The group, a global watchdog committed to investigating and exposing human rights violations in the field of mental health, honored Billings with the Human Rights award at its yearly awards gala in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 1. “It felt like the Academy Awards,” Dr. Billings said. “I was given the award by Erika Christensen, a fabulous young actress. It was the biggest and most professional event that I’ve been to in my career. It was humbling.” Billings found out about the award in December. His reaction was one shared by many Scranton graduates excelling in their chosen professions. “I was surprised when I found out,” he said. “It’s kind of just what I do. It’s the Jesuit training I received at Scranton in action. We’re here to serve others.” Dr. Billing’s extensive background in management and program development includes positions as chief of professional services/assistant director at the University of California, and Davis Teaching Hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, and service as Commanding Officer for a General Hospital Section in the U.S. Army Reserves. A major way in which he has served others is through the Tri-Service Combat Stress Conference. Started in 1994, the conference has trained thousands of soldiers on how to help veterans who are experiencing combat stress problems. CCHR International President Jan Eastgate said Dr. Billings, through the conference, “has provided an invaluable venue for health care professionals to share clinical expertise and integrative treatment approaches.” “When I was in the military (retired in 2002 after 34 years), my whole unit was deployed all over the world,” explained Dr. Billings. “When they came back many of them had problems. They asked me to come up with something, and we decided to do a combat stress conference.” Watching television one day, Billings saw an army officer being interviewed about combat stress. The interviewer asked the officer where his soldiers received their training and he said it was at the Tri-Service Combat Stress Conference. “That really made an impression on me,” Dr. Billings said. “It shows that our work is truly beneficial.”
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ABOVE: Bart Billings, Ph.D., ’66, (Col. Retired) received the Human Rights Award from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International on Feb. 1.
Chris McGuinness ’06, York, is active with the York Little Theatre during its 80th anniversary season. He appeared onstage in the South Central PA premier of “Avenue Q” and in the theater’s summer production of “The Producers.” He is currently in rehearsal for the production of “The Rocky Horror Show,” where he’ll be playing the Narrator. Marianne Sailus G’06, Wyoming, recently had her book, Java with Jesus: Daily Reflections for Practicing Our Faith, published. She is also a monthly contributor to Theosis, a journal of ECP. Janelle Matsago ’07, Emmaus, received her master’s in nursing with a focus on Family Nurse Practitioner from DeSales University. She is a nurse practitioner with CVS. Jennifer Wilcox ’07, Bloomingburg, N.Y., received her Ph.D. in chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. She recently accepted a visiting assistant professor position in Chemistry at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. Michael Nordsiek, D.O. ’08, West Chester, was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2013. Dr. Nordsiek will continue his medical training in urologic surgery at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. Haley Walsh Spagnola, D.O. ’08, Hellan, was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2013. Dr. Spagnola will continue her medical training in pediatrics at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Emily Klonoski, D.O. ’09, Scranton, was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2013. Dr. Klonoski will continue her medical training in internal medicine at St. Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem. Christopher Lowney ’09, Riverdale, N.Y., had his new book, Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads, published. It is the first book to explore the Pope’s leadership style. Jessica Piatt ’10, G’12, Mechanicsville, Md., received her National Certified Counselor credential and is currently working as a school counselor at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick. Andrew Ponti ’10, New Cumberland, was named executive director of the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society, the non-profit organization that operates the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat. Brian Musto ’12, Pittston, has been named to the Law Review at Cornell University School of Law. Candice Janes ’13, Scranton, is a staff accountant at ParenteBeard.
Jessica Ranson Coe ’05, G‘06, DPT ’09 chose Scranton because its Physical Therapy program enjoys a reputation for excellence. The University’s swim team was an added bonus for the standout swimmer from Notre Dame High School in Pennsylvania. She envisioned her college life as one brimming with both scholarly and athletic activity. Her first two happy, uneventful years at Scranton went as planned. In her junior year, her life’s orderly design completely and unexpectedly collapsed. “At the start of my junior year, I signed up to run Race for the Cure in Scranton. I’d done it before and really enjoyed it,” she said. It was one race she never ran. “I started to have blurred vision in my left eye. At first, I thought it would go away. When it didn’t, I went to see an eye doctor.” After listening to her symptoms and running some tests, doctors gave Coe a diagnosis that both shocked and terrified her. She had multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. As she was grappling with the diagnosis, she suffered complications from a spinal tap and was missing a lot of class. “I was overwhelmed and very frightened,” she said. “Just a few days before, I was mostly thinking about hanging out with my friends; now I was facing a lifelong disease and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish the DPT program.”
Coe chokes up a bit when she talks about what happened next. “Dr. (Gary) Mattingly and Dr. (Peter) Leininger taught me classes at 8 p.m. Dr. (Barb) Wagner sat with me the first time I had to give myself an injection. If they hadn’t helped me, it would have been impossible for me to continue.” With their help, she earned her DPT and began a career she loves with Hamilton Physical Therapy Specialists in Mercer County, N.J. Scranton faculty weren’t the only people in Coe’s life who touched and surprised her. Her future brothers-in-law started pedaling the City to Shore Bike for MS, a 75-mile ride that begins in Cherry Hill, N.J., and ends in Ocean City, N.J. Since the initial ride in 2004, Team Jesster makes an appearance every year, with jester caps affixed to their bike helmets, in support of Coe. Coe’s MS is a type known as “relapsing, remitting,” meaning she has flare-ups that gradually go away. Fortunately, there have been only two years when Coe has had to sit the ride out due to such flares. “Team Jesster will usually have between 10 and 30 riders,” she said. “It’s such a nice ride, people all along the way come out and hold signs and cheer. I usually spend the whole ride crying. One thing I’ve learned from MS: People will surprise you with their kindness.”
TOP LEFT: Seen from left are Matthew Coe, Jessica’s husband; Coe; and Doug Ranson, Jessica’s father. TOP RIGHT: Team Jessters members gather during the 2008 City to Shore Bike for MS.
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Out on a Limb Hurricane Sandy evacuation takes physical therapist back to her days at Scranton Helping people is what Angela Stolfi ’96, ’97, ’06 was born to do. Nearly every member of her family worked in a helping profession. Her dad was a firefighter, one grandparent was a doctor and her mom was a nurse. Stolfi always knew she’d end up in a medical field, but wasn’t sure which one. During her junior year of high school she discovered the answer. “I really found physical therapy by accident,” she said. “Instead of going to Latin class one day, the school let us attend a career fair. While I was there I met a physical therapist and I thought, ‘Wow, this is everything I want.’ After that day, there was nothing else I wanted to do.” During her search for a college, the reputation of Scranton’s Physical Therapy (PT) department was a major draw. “I did apply to a number of other schools, but I knew from the moment I visited that Scranton was where I wanted to go,” Stolfi explained. “Scranton felt like home.” At the time, the physical therapy program at Scranton offered a five-year, entry-level Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy (MPT). The program prepared Stolfi and other physical therapy students for their careers. Perhaps the faculty did even more. “One of the things I appreciated was the support I received from my professors,” said Stolfi. “Dr. Renee Hakim, Dr. Barbara Wagner, Dr. John Sanko, Dr. Gary Mattingly, Dr. Ed Kosmahl – they were all so inspiring.” Today, Stolfi is the director of physical therapy at NYU Langone Medical Center’s Rusk Rehabilitation, which has been ranked a top 10 (nationally) rehabilitation program by U.S. News & World Report for 24 years. She manages a staff of more than 150 employees at four main sites and two satellite locations in Manhattan. Between the campus based and online programs, 15 of the physical therapists at Rusk are Scranton graduates. ABOVE: Angela M. Stolfi treats a child in Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China, on a teaching trip in 2013. RIGHT: Angela Stolfi in the gym at NYU Rusk
Center’s Ambulatory Care Center flanked by Joseph Adams, PT, DPT’06, senior physical therapist in NYU’s Vestibular Outpatient Unit, and Marie Newkirk, PT, DPT’10, G’13, staff physical therapist in NYU’s Women’s Health Outpatient Unit. 46
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Stolfi is also adjunct faculty for the PT department at Scranton, lecturing each fall on women’s health and teaching in the online transitional doctorate program. “I love being in administration because I get the opportunity to work with so many talented professionals and also get to coordinate our student program. I look at students and remember sitting there, just as they are now. It’s fun to be connected to the classroom and go back to where you started. It provides moments of reflection about where you’ve been and what you’ve done.” No moment in her career has provided more opportunity for reflection than the night Hurricane Sandy threatened not just her patients’ lives, but Stolfi’s own. “We were prepared for the hurricane to happen and I planned to stay. We had no idea that an evacuation would happen.” What happened next was a purposeful and impassioned effort by Stolfi and the rest of the medical center team to ensure the safety of everyone in the facility. The challenge of evacuation took Stolfi back to her time at Scranton in many ways. “I’ve always thought when you’re working with people you can teach them a technique or skill, but you can’t teach them team spirit or the willingness to be a part of something. I feel that at NYU, and I felt it at Scranton,” she said. “I made great friendships and connections in Scranton that I’ve maintained for almost 20 years.”
Marriages Robert Marchand ’79 to Theresa Duffy Tiffany McDermott ’05 to Jim Swinarski Julia Braunstein ’06, G’07 to Steve DelBene Julie Morley ’06 to Anthony Palumbo Vanessa Recio ’06 to Kris Ruangchotvit Michelle Constantino ’07 to Daniel Crowe ’07 Brandon Hatler ’07 to Alyssa Duerr ’08 Roza Jankovic ’07 to Michael Dillon ’08 Colleen Scannell ’08, G’09 to Christopher Brown Kelly Cadigan ’09 to Jimmy Daly Kate Dinota ’09 to Adam Linsalata ’09 Kimberly Katapski ’09 to Colin Lengyel ’09 Kaitlyn O’Connor ’09, G’12 to Joseph Yourkavitch ’08 Alyson Semon ’09 to Michael George ’09
Julie Morley ‘06 married Anthony Palumbo on September 14, 2013, in St. Pete Beach, Fla. Several Scranton graduates were in attendance, including: John Patro ‘07, G’08, Jennifer Kiers ‘04, Daniel Kiers ‘06, Lindsey Meade Duffy ‘06, G’08, Elizabeth Christiana ‘06, Christopher Christiana ‘05, and Bridget Lally ‘06.
Kate Dinota ‘09 and Adam Linsalata ’09, who met on campus in August 2005, were married on Oct. 26, 2013. Fellow alumni joined them for their wedding celebration. Seated, from left: Jacquie Gaito ‘09, Kate Dinota ‘09, Adam Linsalata ’09, Christen Murray ‘10, Aly Semon ‘09. Standing, from left: Bret Gugliemi ‘09, Katie Morrison ‘09, Lindsey Simmons ‘09, Lauren Corregano ‘09, Kathleen Long ‘09, Mike George ‘09, Meg Bonomo ‘09, Greg Carbonetti ‘09, Leigh Anne Shirey ‘09, Mike Doane ‘09, Tommy Gibney ‘09, Matt Vanella ‘09, Rose Keeley ‘09, Lauren Cila ‘09 and Mikey Garcia ‘09.
Alyssa Duerr ‘08 and Brandon Hatler ‘07, who met during freshman year on campus, were married on May 24, 2013, at the Tides Estate in North Haledon, N.J. Several University alumni were in attendance to celebrate. Top row (l to r): Robert Peckham ‘07, Kevin McGrath ‘07, Kelly Loughney ‘07, Kyle Hatler ‘03. Middle row (l to r): Casmir Sondey ‘80, John Bosco ‘07, Daniel Hertler ‘07, Blair Hughes ‘07, Alyssa Duerr ‘08, Brandon Hatler ‘07, Tera Ravina Hatler ‘03, Amanda Halpin DeGroat ‘07, John DeGroat ‘07, Katie Redden Doherty ‘07, Kristin Rainone Sutton ‘06. Bottom row (l to r): Aimee Davin ‘09, Taylor Ainley ‘09, Christina Rakowski ‘07, Kathleen Antognini ‘07 S PRING 2014
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Births A daughter, Reagan Elise, to Dr. Joseph ’94 and Marcie McComb, Marple Township A daughter Johanna Walsh, to Andrew ’96 and Kathryn Ott Lovell ’96, Philadelphia 10 A daughter, Keira Eileen, to David and Jeanne Rohan Kovalich, M.D. ’96, Rockville Centre, N.Y. A son, Marcarius Leo, to Mike and Katherine Schwab Kortbus ’96, Red Hook, N.Y. A daughter, Bridget Elaine, to Christopher Beggs and Elizabeth Ann Aldridge ’97, Langhorne A daughter, Alexis, adopted by Brad and Toni Green Cheatwood, D.O. ’97, Colorado Springs, Colo. A son, Michael Vincent, to Keith and Jennifer Bigioni Feldman ’98, Norristown A son, Thomas Joseph, to Thomas ’98 and Katie Every, College, Park, Md. A daughter, Abigail, to Brian ’98 and Nicole Potthoff Yorke ’98, Garden City, N.Y. A daughter, Ryann Lee, to Kevin and Amanda Breffitt Broadhurst ’99, Avondale A daughter, Niamh Elinor, to Christopher Nauroth ’99 and Megan Smithling ’99, Seattle, Wash. A son, Andrew Corcoran, to Dr. Daniel ’00 and Dr. Kelly Corcoran Walsh ’00, Alexandria, Va.
A son, Everett Rice, to Dr. Vaughn and Alison Sweeney Perkins ’00, Peoria, Az. A son, Roberto Joao, to Larry and Martha Conceicao Santucci ’01, Bensalem A son, Ryan Joseph, to Kevin and Susan Girellini Garfield ’01, Paso Robles, Calif. A daughter, Anna Catherine, to Brendan and Maureen Kiley Thomason, Ph.D. ’01, Seattle, Wash. A daughter, Juliette Kay, to Jim ’01 and Jacqueline Oliphant Trier ’01, Branchburg, N.J. 11 A daughter, Bailey Quinn, to Jim and Lauren Quirk Crawford ’01, Pottstown A son, Connor Frederik, to Brian ’04 and Loni Lukatch Cinoski ’02, Mountaintop 2 A son, Austin Jack, to Brent and Laurie Scheetz Snyder ’02, Souderton A daughter, Gabriella Noelle, to Matthew and Victoria Swift Mound ’02, Morristown, N.J. 7 A daughter, Marielle Elisabeth, to Cpt. Russell ’02 and Stephanie Watkins, Thornton A daughter, Catherine Grace, to Bobby ’03 and Abbey Davis, Dunmore 5 A daughter, Moirin McCann, to Peter ’03 and Meghan Castagna, Chester Springs 1
A daughter, Avery Leigh, to Brian ’03 and Jenni Higgens, Collegeville A daughter, Anna Day, to Anthony ’04 and Kate Cafferky Giancatarino ’04, Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 A son, Connor Frederik, to Brian ’04 and Loni Lukatch Cinoski ’02, Mountaintop A son, Owen Braddock, to Patrick ’06 and Nadia Gougeon Dunn ’05, G’06, Warwick 9 A daughter, Gabriella Deanna, to Chris and Kelly Klingman Guiton ’05, Ringoes, N.J. A son, Nicholas, to Corey Tutt and Stacy Surman ’05, Yonkers, N.Y. 8 A son, Shane Patrick, to Patrick ’05 and Karla Tumidajski Pingicer ’05, Uxbridge, Mass A son, Nolan Alexander, Benjamin and Sharon Janiszewski Corby ’06, Tunkhannock A son, Michael Joseph, to Capt. Joseph ’06 and Jessica Simonetti, Alexandria, Va. 6 A daughter, Angelina Jewel, to Dr. Michael ‘06 and Katherine Jenkins, Clarks Green 3 A son, Duffy Thomas, to Jason ‘06 and Jennifer Shrive, Scranton 3 A daughter, Norah Elaine, to Anthony ‘05, ‘06G and Michelle McColgan Primerano ‘06, Nazareth 3
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Moirin McCann Castagna Connor Frederik Cinoski Members of the Class of 2034, from left: Duffy Thomas Shrive, Angelina Jewel Jenkins & Norah Elaine Primerano
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Anna Day Giancatarino Catherine Grace Davis Michael Joseph Simonetti Gabriella Noelle Mound
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Nicholas Surman Owen Braddock Dunn Johanna Walsh Lovell Juliette Kay Trier
“May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Eternal rest grant unto them, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”
In Memoriam William “Bill” Wasnick, M.D. ’40, Wilkes Barre Joseph E. Pichaella ’41, Dunmore Joseph T. Evans, Ph.D. ’43, Swoyersville Bernard E. Mahon ’43, Galesville, Md. Nicholas D. Saccone, D.D.S. ’43, Scranton Theodore M. Onifer, M.D. ’44, Jenkintown Robert Ryder ’46, G’64, Dunmore Gerald L. Andriole, M.D. ’47, Sarasota, Fla. Thomas (Tucker) F. Clauss, M.D. ’47, Justus John (Jack) Fallat ’48, Alexandria, Va. Albert P. Morgan ’48, Carbondale Robert G. Turano ’48, Honesdale Eugene Wyso ’48, Endicott, N.Y. John P. Duffy ’49, Fayetteville, N.Y. Robert W. Gardier, Ph.D. ’49, Columbus, Ohio Owen H. Golden ’49, Wilkes Barre Michael M. Mulligan ’49, Syracuse, N.Y. Harry Acker ’51, Virginia Beach, Va. James F. Connolly ’51, Madison, Conn. Donald J. Hopkins ’52, Dalton Alfred C. Rava ’52, Duryea Charles “Babe” Tulley ’52, Reading Edward J. Walsh ’52, Scranton George Keib, Jr. ’53, Wyoming Col. John P. Devers ’55, Scranton Paul Moffitt ’57, Carbondale Edward Balish, Ph.D. ’57, Charleston, S.C. Bruce T. Chandlee ’57, North Brunswick, N.J. William Evans, Jr. ’57, Scranton
John D. Langan ’57, Blue Bell Paul Moffitt ’57, Carbondale John C. Wall, D.D.S. ’57, Bridgeton, N.J. Michael P. Doyle ’58, North Kingstown, R.I. Joseph W. Pirhalla ’58, Wilmington, Del. Nicholas S. Bielik ’59, Palm Desert, Calif. Frank C. Dwornikoski ’59, Sparta, N.J. C. Andrew Kearney ’59, Dalton Edward J. Kendra ’59, Harrisburg Russell T. Cordaro, Ph.D. ’60, Boynton Beach, Fla. Frank J. Henzes ’60, Blakely Francis P. Karam ’61, Scranton Michael J. Palumbo, Jr. ’62, Vestal, N.Y. Charles A. Scavo ’62, Carbondale Marion Casterlin ’63, Scranton John P. “Jack” Gibbons ’63, Exeter James A. “Jim” Dooley’65, Gettysburg Albert Yesu ’65, Dalton Francis X. Solomon ’68, Falls Church, Va. Jerome P. Brennan ’69, Carbondale Victor A. Olick ’69, Orchard Park, N.Y. Barbara L. Tayoun G’69, Wilkes Barre Paul F. Leonard ’70, Pittston William Torrick ’70, Alexandria, Va. Sr. M. Gertrude Hopkins, IHM G’71, Scranton Mary A. Miano G’71, Exeter Christopher Cawley ’72, Fairfax, Va.
Thomas M. Holmes ’72, Scranton Thomas W. Wisniewski ’72, McAdoo Frank A. Biancardi ’73, Old Forge Edward C. Scarp ’73, Mountain Top Andrew Ewonishon ’74. G’77, Union Dale Steven H. Berka ’76, Fanwood, N.J. Michalene Ferack ’76, Avoca Mary Nguyen Silsbee ’76, Orefield Emmanuel M. Paul ’77, New Cumberland Michael Chrzan ’78, Peckville Donald F. Strubeck ’78, Dickson City Timothy P. Kelly ’79, Denver, Colo. Mark Broskey ’81, Dickson City Alice Marie Carpenter ’81, Scranton Andrew P. Conway ’81, Scranton Joseph A. Habersky G’81, Dallas Dorothy Abdalla Boccella ’82, G’84, Dunmore Michael P. Kelly ’82, Binghamton, N.Y. Ann Musheno Walsh ’84, Mount Lebanon Gene Tagle ’93, G’98, Honesdale Joseph M. Corey G’97, Harvey’s Lake Kathleen Cavanaugh Talerico ’98, Scranton Rosemary Kearney Lavelle ’98,G’04, Roaring Brook Twp. Kristin Sanner Walker G’98, Dimock Diane Wilson Wren G ’06, Archbald
In Memoriam Joseph T. Evans, Ph.D. ’43 Joseph T. Evans, Ph.D., of Swoyersville, died peacefully at home Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, at the age of 91. Born June 7, 1922, in Larksville and raised in Kingston, he was a 1940 graduate of Kingston High School and a 1943 graduate of The University of Scranton. He received a Master of Science degree in Microbiology in 1950 and a Ph.D. in parasitology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1952. He was a veteran of World War II, where he fought in the Pacific Theater as a U.S. Marine in the 1st Division, 5th Regiment, participating in the invasion of Pelelieu and Okinawa. Joseph was employed as a lab assistant at The University of Scranton from 1946 to 1948. He was the chief bacteriologist at the VA Hospital in Wilkes-Barre from 1952 to 1953. From 1953 to 1996 he was employed by The University of Scranton as a professor of biology. He was also the premedical advisor at that time. He was recipient of the Kathryn and
Bernard Hyland Chair in Biology Award, a 1988 O’Hara Award for University Service and numerous other awards. Dr. Evans was always interested in the lives of his former students even outside the classroom. He enjoyed seeing them throughout the years, as they would visit him on many occasions. Through his guidance and dedication to his students over the years, many men and women are physicians today. More than 1,500 physicians, dental and veterinary alumni were students during Dr. Evans’ tenure at the University. Family physician Dr. Patrick Kerrigan ’80, a member of the staff of the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for the past 27 years, said he speaks for many when he says that Dr. Evans prepared him for the medical school application process in a very thorough yet gentle manner. Dr. Kerrigan said he and other alumni are grateful for Dr. Evans’ professional guidance, which led to successful careers in the medical profession.
Joseph T. Evans, Ph.D.
SPRING 2014
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In Memoriam
Friends & Family
Elaine Burne, wife of Francis ’48, mother of Brig. Gen. Chris ’80, grandmother of Christian ’14 Ray Burd, director of printing and mailing services, The University of Scranton, and father of Brian ’89 and Karen ’00 Ruth Castellano, mother of Atty. Frank ’93 James Conarton, brother of Joseph ’67 Josephine Duchnowski, mother of Anthony J. ’80 and grandmother of Anthony A. ’13 Mary Kathleen Gallagher, wife of Atty. Jack ’69 Philip and Margaret Gillich, parents of Kerry ’82
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
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THE SCRANTON JOUR NA L
Leonard Hosie, father of Martin ’79 and Eric ’88 Bernadette Hughes, mother of Frank ’65 Madelyn Ksiazek, sister of Dr. Ernest Shander ’43 Robert Marzen, father of Leo ’83 Eileen Conrad Reno, mother of Joseph ’91 and Michael ’01 Jane Ann Rooney, mother of Maryjane ’80 Daniel Sarisky, father of Kristen Sarisky Williams ’92 Emilie McCoy Schmidt, mother of Emilie’77, John ’78, and Paul ’80 Ann Marie Symons, wife of Russell ’67 Emma Walsh, mother of James ’69
Please send us your class notes, photos, address changes and feedback. There are four easy ways to reach us. 1 Standard Mail: The Scranton Journal 800 Linden Street Scranton, PA 18510
2 E-mail: alumni@scranton.edu 3 Online: scrantonalumnicommunity.com 4 Fax: 570-941-4097
2014
JUNE 20-22, 2014
Come back to the place where you made memories. Alumni whose class years end in “4” and “9” Make plans now to return to campus to celebrate your milestone reunion.
Give back to your alma mater that gave you so much. Reunion Class Committees reconnect their classmates with the University and each other! It is also a meaningful time to make a gift in honor of your class.
It won’t be the same without YOU! Would you like to help make REUNION 2014 a success? Email alumni@scranton.edu to join your class committee! Visit scranton.edu/reunion for more information.
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