60 The magazine for alumni, students and supporters of Trocaire College
2018
THE MAGAZINE OF TROCAIRE COLLEGE Vol. 4, Issue No. 1 The Trocaire Trailblazer is for alumni and friends of Trocaire College, a private, career-oriented Catholic institution that strives to empower students toward careers of achievement and lives of purpose through our supportive environment and hands-on programs in healthcare, business, hospitality and technology. It is published once a year by the Office of Communications within Institutional Advancement. For more information, email communications@trocaire.edu or call 716-827-4340.
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n April 27, 2018, more than 200 attendees joined us at The Westin Buffalo for the Spring Soirée, Trocaire College’s new annual fundraising event.
EDITOR Kristy Holfoth ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Julie Cioccio STAFF Lindsey Dotson Pamela Jablonicky Emily Burns Perryman Deanna Rusek Pamela Witter
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Siobhan C. Smith Chair Sharon Prise Azurin, Esq. Vice Chair Teresa Lawrence, Ph.D. Corp. Secretary Montique V. Williams Treasurer LaVonne E. Ansari, Ph.D. Sister Mary Jeanne Thomas Danahy, RSM, ’67
n president’s message
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ach year, we at Trocaire aim to approach things with a new perspective, exploring and executing innovative tactics to help meet the goals within our 2020 Strategic Plan. For this reason, I’ve decided to try something new to help communicate some of the meaningful and exciting things taking place here at our institution. Here is my President’s Trocaire Top 5 List, highlighting some of what makes Trocaire College so special.
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Brian A. Gould Tracey A. Maw ’94 James Notaro, Ph.D. Sister Patricia Prinzing, RSM Thomas J. Quatroche, Jr., Ph.D. Nancy J. Sheehan ’84, RN, J.D. Keith Taylor, Ph.D. Alicia J. Thompson Mark F. Wachowiak William Barrett Wadsworth
This year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the college since its founding in 1958. We are excited to commemorate the legacy built by the Sisters of Mercy as we move forward into the future. Stay connected via our social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram to take a look at the past and hear about how we are celebrating.
SOMETHING NEW: THE SOIRÉE
With our 60th anniversary came the chance to reinvent our annual fundraiser. We were proud to unveil the Spring Soirée this year, supporting student grants and scholarships with an elegant evening of food, drinks and fun. This year we raised nearly $90,000 thanks to our attendees’ and sponsors’ generous support!
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT TROCAIRE
We are incredibly proud to have been designated the #3 largest workforce development provider in the region by Buffalo Business First. With over 1,000 courses and classes offered in the healthcare, business, hospitality and technology fields—as well as our new Brewing, Distilling, and Fermentation Science program—there’s always something to learn to complement an existing career or try something new.
PATHWAYS TO NURSING
Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. Teresa M. Majors, CPA
CELEBRATING OUR 60TH
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Our Pathways to Nursing Success program is going strong, funded by a $1.8 million grant through the Health Resources & Services Administration. Read more about our first cohort’s progress in this issue of the Trailblazer!
FIVE CRITICAL CONCERNS
Our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, are committed to focusing on five critical concerns: Earth, Immigration, Women, Racism and Nonviolence. These issues are more important than ever, and we are committed to supporting them through academics, service learning and community building, and creating an environment that allows our alumni, students and employees to create positive change and advocate for justice. To learn more, visit sistersofmercy.org.
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Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed each other’s company, delicious food and tastings from Big Ditch Brewing Company, Ellicottville Brewing Co., Flying Bison Brewing Company, Gates Circle Wine & Liquor, Lockhouse Distillery, New York Beer Project, TommyRotter Distillery, and Trocaire’s Brewing Science program. The event featured an auction and a Past and Present Gallery featuring photos encompassing the college’s history. Trocaire also presented its President’s Award to Erie County Medical Center’s Health Information Management Team; the Distinguished Alumni Award to Bridget Gilewski ’99, ’00, CEO and President of Upstate Ultrasound, Inc. and founder and owner of Baby’s Bungalow 3D/4D; and the Outstanding Student Award to Jenna Kendzierski ’18. We are pleased to report the event raised nearly $90,000 in net revenue. These proceeds directly impact our students in the form of Trocaire grants that allow our students—who otherwise may not be able to attend—access to a private education right here in Western New York. Save the Date: May 3, 2019. Next year’s event is already in the works, and we’re planning an exciting new venue and a high-energy theme. You won’t want to miss it!
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Thanks to a great 2018 so far. We look forward to many more years of success with your ongoing engagement and support of Trocaire College, and are thankful for each and every one of our alumni, current students, faculty, staff, supporters and friends across Western New York and beyond.
Thomas H. Waring, Jr. Sean Willett
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Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. Trocaire College President
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Living the Mercy Mission in Haiti
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rocaire College nurses show the Mercy spirit every day as they care for those who need it most. However, alumna and faculty member Tiffany Cole ’08, MSN, RN, has found an additional way to give back: participating in a medical mission trip to Haiti this past January. A local organization called Serving in God’s Name (SIGN) has been organizing the week-long trips every January and July for eight years. This was Cole’s second time participating. “I love doing it,” she said. “You find out a lot of things about yourself and the world.” The SIGN missions are holistic—participants include everyone from nurses to pharmacists to clergy. The spiritual component can be whatever the patient prefers. “It’s not just a diagnosis,” Cole explained. “It’s here’s your diagnosis, here’s the treatment, and we write and fill the script. The last step is, we pray.”
Grateful for the Help
SIGN works out of Port-au-Prince, which is Haiti’s capital and most populated city. That area of the country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010 and again by a hurricane in 2016, and millions still lack health services, sanitation, clean water and safe housing, according to the United Nations’ 2017 Global Humanitarian Overview report. Hospitals will only admit those who can pay in cash, which makes groups like SIGN especially appreciated by Haitian residents who live in poverty. Tiffany said some patients walk for days to be treated at the group’s mobile clinic. According to SIGN’s website, the group (with the help of translators) treated 475 people—most of whom speak Creole—during its week-long stay. Many of the issues were burns, injuries from accidents and resulting infections, reproductive health issues and chronic health issues. They can also provide preventative medications and simple pain relief like Tylenol—things plentiful in the States, yet rare and valuable in Haiti.
Driving it All Home
What made this trip especially meaningful to Cole is that her 18-year-old daughter also participated. One moment in particular brought her to tears—and it, randomly enough, involved a toilet. In January, the group spent two days in town after staying a night in the mountains outside the city, so they could serve that population for two full days as well. They toted boxes of supplies, food and water up the mountain, driving as far as they could and then hiking three miles. The whole process takes several hours. Cole said they work out of a tiny parish church in the mountains. There is no plumbing, and last year, there was just a hole in the ground for a toilet. This year, the pastor had built an outhouse, and though it still lacked plumbing, there was an actual ceramic toilet for the group’s use. “I told her, ‘Think about how someone got this toilet up the mountain—and for us! It wasn’t for them!” My daughter said, ‘I didn’t even think about that, mom.’” “It was amazing to see her have those revelations the same way I did the first time I participated,” Cole said. “How much they value our help, how fortunate we are.”
SIGN has implemented a form of electronic medical records, in hopes they can track the people they help through the years and have access to notes providing information about medical histories. Several patients had their cards from past visits, which was an encouraging sign. The group was also able to pay for a young pregnant woman to be admitted to the hospital to deliver her baby. It turned out that there were complications, so having it in the hospital might have saved a life. They also covered two club foot surgeries and paid for a young girl to get a growth removed.
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ation For more inform sit: about SIGN, vi am sn e.com servingingod
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1968 Golden J U B I L E E CLASS OF
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his May, Trocaire College held its first-ever Golden Jubilee, a new alumni event for members of the 50th reunion graduating class. Held in conjunction with the college’s Spring Commencement, the Jubilee is a time to reconnect with Trocaire, be honored for living lives exemplary of Mercy values, and leave a lasting imprint on the school community. This year, two members from the Class of 1968 attended the Jubilee: Maria Casale Stevenson and Maureen Milligan. The ladies, both retired nurses, enjoyed an intimate dinner with Institutional Advancement staff and then had the honor of leading the 2018 graduates into their Commencement ceremony and out the doors at its close, representing the essential role alumni play in welcoming the new graduates— equipped with their Mercy education— into the Trocaire alumni family and the world of work. We asked our two 1968 Golden Jubilee participants to share details about their time at Trocaire and subsequent careers. Check out the excerpt here, and head to the Trailblazer blog at trocaire.edu/blog to read their full comments!
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MARIA Casale Stevenson MAUREEN Milligan What is your favorite memory from your time at Trocaire? Dorm fun, mischief, games like Pinochle with teams of two. I was on the Dorm Council Team, third floor!
What is your favorite memory from your time at Trocaire? I was thrilled to be a nursing student! There isn’t one favorite memory—the whole 2 years were memorable.
Who was your favorite Sister of Mercy at Trocaire? Favorite was Sister Mary Victorine, RSM for clinical and as a Dorm Mother … she gave us a break now and then!
Who was your favorite Sister of Mercy at Trocaire? Sister Mary Daniel, RSM. She was psychiatry and pediatrics if my memory serves me!
What was the favorite thing to do on the weekends when you were in school? If I couldn’t get home—live music and dancing at Club Inferno!
What was the favorite thing to do on the weekends when you were in school? I worked as a nurses’ aide at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Where did you work over your career? I started my career at Niagara Falls Memorial as the first new grad ever hired in the Operating Room. I was promoted to Head Nurse and was there till 1982. I then went to Sheehan Emergency Hospital’s OR until it fell on hard financial times. Concerned as a single mom at the time about getting a paycheck, I rotated to ICU and ER just to keep my 40 hours. Then came my great opportunity to go to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital as their OR was expanding and the new Surgery Center was opening in 1988. I was hired immediately and spent 25 years there, retiring in 2013.
Where did you work over your career? I started as a nurses’ aide at 16 at Kenmore Mercy, and I ended my career in 2013 at Kenmore Mercy. When I lived in Texas, my first job was with Dr. Michael DeBakey in his ICU. There we worked on the experimental intra-aorta balloon pump! Then during the 1980s, I worked with Dr. Denton Cooley at Texas Heart Center. Amazing stuff.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned throughout your career? The most important thing I carried with me all through my career was no matter how difficult the work day … respect and caring professionalism is the only way to be. I often told my nurse colleagues, if I get rude or difficult, please tell me because I never wanted to represent my most prized professional career in any negative way. What was your favorite part about being a nurse? Once a nurse, always a nurse—after a 40-year career I am now a parish nurse/healthcare ministry lead, an Addiction Advocate for my parish and head of education and training for our Parish AED/ CPR program. We do blood pressure screenings monthly and try to provide educational information to our parish family.
SAVE THE DATE, CLASS OF 1969! The 2019 Golden Jubilee will be held on May 15, 2019.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned throughout your career? I changed areas I worked in about every 5 years. At the end of my career, there wasn’t an area I couldn’t work in because I had a wide breadth of experiences. My last job was a 7 p.m.-7 a.m. float pool. I was able to easily work any area of the hospital: ER, endo, rehab, med, surg, ICU, anywhere. One event I remember well: I was asked, in the middle of a shift, to float to MICU. I complained that it was the middle of a shift, but then I was told that a doctor wanted to insert a Swan-Ganz catheter, and I was the only nurse in the entire hospital that knew how to do that. I went and assisted the doctor. What was your favorite part about being a nurse? For me, it became all about the physiology of the body: the impact of the medications, the procedures, the transplanting a heart. Then it became the combination of the physiology and the psychological impact on the individual. That developed, as my personal life transformed, into seeing spiritual roots to physical problems, and in the end the coupling of healthcare with psychological/spiritual approaches. Summary: A lifetime of learning and growing in a spiritual direction. There is no better career to learn about life than nursing.
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“Each immersion event is like a burst of energy,” James said. “It helps break you out of that nursing student burnout and come back with a fresh mindset, ready to attack.” The Pathways students have also found support from each other, an unspoken benefit that has proven especially rewarding. “I think this program has allowed them to build a network amongst each other,” Wilson said. “It has been awesome to see students who, when I first met them, were loners, and now they’re studying together, more outgoing and more comfortable being themselves.”
Pathways
The tuition assistance, living stipend, supplemental instruction and summer internships and shadowing opportunities at the community partner organizations round out the suite of support. Paying It Forward
to Nursing Success
GRANT FOSTERS DIVERSE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE harnell Phillips was just starting her journey in Trocaire’s Nursing program last summer when she heard about a new opportunity: the Pathways to Nursing Success Program. She jumped at the chance in large part because of the financial support offered, figuring it was worth the few extra events she would have to attend in return. A year later, Phillips says without hesitation that the Pathways program has changed her life. “To be honest, when I first signed up, I was thankful for the extra money and figured I would have to go to a few meetings here and there,” she said. “But when I actually started the program and realized what it really entailed … this is the best thing that could have happened to me. When I need help, it’s there for me. When I need support, it’s there for me.” Pathways 101 In Summer 2017, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) awarded Trocaire a Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant, which provides approximately $1.8 million over four years for the college and its community partners to recruit, support, retain and graduate 25 diverse nursing professionals to power the local healthcare workforce. Funded by the grant, the Pathways program aims to increase nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including ethnic and racial minorities who are underrepresented among registered nurses. In return, the students commit to continuing their nursing education and finishing their BS, Nursing degree at Trocaire. Only 29 awards were given nationwide, and Trocaire was New York State’s only recipient. Participating nursing students are buoyed by financial, academic and social support, peer mentoring, and—thanks to grant partners Community Health Centers of Buffalo and Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center (ENAHEC)—professional mentoring and vocational training opportunities above and beyond the usual clinical experiences. Shaping the Program Shawnté Wilson was hired to lead the Pathways program. Her background is social work—she has a master’s degree in it—but this
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isn’t the first time she’s had a front row seat to the intensity of nursing school. While working in a direct care capacity for developmentally disabled adults, Wilson encouraged a coworker as they completed the grueling process of becoming an RN. “It gave me a huge appreciation, because I saw her process when she was in school and then the result once she graduated,” Wilson explained. “So I respect the hard work they have to go through to be successful in nursing school.” Pathways started with nine students in Fall 2017, recruiting the remaining 16 in Spring 2018. She said the first group were patient as she learned her way around Trocaire and the resources on campus so she could, in turn, help the students navigate them. They brainstormed with her and gave feedback, helping Wilson adjust and improve the support, extra programming and mentoring setups moving into the next semester.
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“I listen to what they tell me in terms of what’s realistic and what’s not—I remember being in school and working full time and how important it was to have an academic program that was flexible,” she said. “I think it’s important to never put a student in a position that makes them choose: go to school, or pay my bills.”
The Pathways program is the best thing that could have happened to me. When I need help, it 's there for me. When I need support, it 's there for me.
Trocaire’s Dean of Nursing Dr. Catherine Griswold, MSN, RN, CLNC, CNE, City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, ENAHEC Executive Director Danise Wilson, MPH, and mentor Tara Jefferson ’06, BSN at the press conference announcing the grant award on July 26, 2017. Wrap-around Support One of the biggest benefits of the Pathways program has been the new sources of support. That includes Program Coordinator Wilson, who meets with students monthly and oftentimes, far more frequently. “There’s never a moment where she’s not trying to assist us and advance the program and our academic experience,” said Samuel James, who joined Pathways in the spring semester. “If there’s something we can gain or learn, Shawnté is all for it.”
Wilson would love the self-confidence she has seen blossom in her Pathways cohort be accessible to all Trocaire’s nursing students. She has extended some of the program’s aspects to the wider community—everyone is invited to take advantage of the immersion events, mentoring and supplemental instruction, and she hopes that’s just the beginning. “I’d love to find ways to embed these things into the culture of Trocaire,” she said. “So no matter what happens, even if the grant isn’t renewed, the support will always be there.” In some ways, that’s already happening—some Pathways students want to act as peer mentors for incoming first-year students. “There’s nothing more scary then embarking on your future and feeling alone,” Wilson said. “I’m excited that this group already wants to give back, and they’re confident enough to show the younger students the ropes and make sure they know they’ll be ok.”
“Shawnté is amazing,” Phillips added. “She’s like my therapist, my best friend, my shoulder to lean on.” The professional mentors from Community Health Center of Buffalo and ENAHEC “take students under their wings—and they know what they’re talking about because they do it day-to-day,” Phillips said. Her peer mentor keeps up with her progress and helps her keep the academic pressures in perspective. “They hold me accountable. I don’t want her to text or call me knowing I did badly on my last test,” she said. “It makes you want to go harder because you know you have someone expecting you to do your best. It’s really wonderful to have someone rooting for you.” Another aspect of the program are the nursing immersion events. Wilson has taken a wide view—anything that will help the students succeed during college, in their careers or life beyond is fair game. There have been lectures from working healthcare professionals and presentations on study skills and learning styles, but there have also been sessions on personal finance, music therapy and time management. These events function as much more than a mandatory program requirement.
Trocaire has an online B.S. in Nursing
Mentor Charquise Scott ’05, RN (second from right) with Pathways students Joette Williams, Alicia Warren and Jasmaine West at an end-of year celebration.
visit trocaire.edu/bsn for more information 2018
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BY THE NUMBERS
FUNDING THE $17,290 FUTURE FOR WNY Lowest private college tuition in WNY:
Last year, Trocaire College educated more than 1,200 Western New Yorkers to fill local jobs in healthcare, business, hospitality and technology. Nearly all of them were low to median income. Many were mothers. About half attended part-time because they were working or raising a family. Every single student sought opportunity to raise them out of their circumstances while pursuing careers of achievement and lives of purpose. Yet, the average gap a Trocaire student faces—after all financial aid is applied—is nearly $5,500. This can be an insurmountable obstacle when paying for rent, childcare, transportation, and putting food on the table. In fact, in a recent survey, 36.5% of our students said they experienced hunger but didn’t eat because they couldn’t afford enough food, yet are doing everything they can to pay tuition and move their families forward. The Board of Trustees and Executive Team have identified their financial gap as a priority in the 2020 Strategic Plan. We intend to fund the pipeline of low to median income students willing to work hard to improve their lives locally. Over the next two years, Trocaire will seek support from the community to FUND THE FUTURE FOR WNY. We believe in the Mercy tradition and education as a means to solve family poverty. We don’t just transform lives. We transform communities. WILL YOU JOIN US?
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For more information, contact Pamela Witter, vice president for Development and Community Engagement, at 716-827-4344 today!
98%
of students qualify for financial aid
50%
of Trocaire students receive Pell Grants
(the low-income indicator)
That’s the highest % at WNY privates!
$5,470 Is the average unmet financial need of a Trocaire student.
100% of students participate in service learning
WELCOME TO THE ALUMNI FAMILY DECEMBER 2017 MAY 2018
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Purposeful, Meaningful, Memorable • A NEW
Y
ou never know what you’re going to get entering the office of Tom Vane.
There could be reams of tickets and carnival game pieces, ready for an end-of-year family celebration. Other days, it’s research for the next cultural heritage gallery, or piles of food for Grocery Bingo, or ingredients for a Make Your Own Waffle Bar. When you’re Trocaire’s Director of Student Engagement, no two days look the same—and that’s just the way Vane likes it. “What keeps me motivated is making sure our students don’t get lost in the shuffle,” he said. “My role is to make them look back at their college experience with nostalgia. You don’t remember that test you took second semester, you don’t remember every lecture, but you do remember these experiences outside of the classroom, and the connections you made, the clubs you joined.” A NEW VISION
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Last year also saw new free activities for students and their families, such as the Family Picnic, Trick-or-Treating at Trocaire, and Breakfast with Santa. Vane said each event was well-attended, and plans are already in motion to make them annual occasions.
Vane works to find a balance between quantity and quality—an event that attracts scores of students is great, but one that only attracts a few but results in a rich experience and new connections also counts as a success. Whatever extracurriculars students choose to participate in, the benefits are real.
“The skills students learn outside the classroom help them be not just a better professional, but a better person,” he said. “You learn leadership and diversity skills, how to have conversations, and how to talk to people respectfully, embrace your differences and treat everyone as human beings.”
New
THE
STUDENT AFFAIRS AT TROCAIRE
Student Engagement: Student activities and leadership, cultural and inclusion events, veteran services, honor societies and student clubs, orientation and Commencement
Wellness Center: Wellness programming, health records, counseling and accessibility services
Palisano Learning Center: Academic support and tutoring, Trocaire Opportunity Program, skills workshops, health sciences lab
Advisement and Student Services Center: Academic advisement and planning services through a case management model, Career Services
“It’s very easy to embrace the anonymity of just coming and going— until you make connections with people,” Vane said. “It’s about giving our students a sense of ‘home’ when they come here.”
Nursing student and Student Association President Michelle Reardon said Tom encouraged her to run for her leadership position after she became secretary of another organization, the Student Nursing Association.
in student activities and student life radiates and makes for a wonderful
“I have watched Tom interact with other students, and he always makes sure they understand that he cares about what is going on with them, even if it seems like no one else does at that moment,” she said. “His positive attitude in student activities and student life radiates and makes for a wonderful experience at Trocaire, and he is a great mentor.” MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY’RE AT
Trocaire’s students are unique. They are commuters with little free time and many competing priorities. Family, careers and academics come first, second and third—and participating in student events outside of class is a distant fourth.
experience at Trocaire.
They all operate with the same overarching goal: Providing a Trocaire experience that is purposeful, meaningful and memorable.
There is a renewed commitment to communication, as well—students can opt in to the Facebook group and text alerts, and there are also TV screens with updates around campus, a weekly email newsletter and “Stall Street Journal” flyers posted in bathrooms.
“We want to give our students the opportunity to mesh the worlds of school and family and have them come together,” Vane said.
CHAPTER BEGINS IN STUDENT AFFAIRS •
Tom’s positive attitude
Vane started at Trocaire in March 2017, part of a department-wide restructuring of the entire Student Affairs Division. In addition to Student Engagement, there are four additional departments under Chief Student Affairs Officer Kathleen Saunders (see sidebar).
Vane says he uses the space to publicize campus events, post about cultural and diversity issues, ask questions and get students talking. In-person events have become more convenient, more widely offered and tweaked to better fit the wants and needs of students.
“We try to meet our students where they’re at, and oftentimes where they’re at is not on campus,” Vane said. “We respect the time they do have and try to engage them online as well.” A Trocaire College Student Life Facebook group is thriving, and
Office of Mission, Ministry and Service: Advances the Mercy mission through programming and service learning
TROCAIRE NAMED A 2018 ‘GREAT COLLEGE TO WORK FOR’ Trocaire College was recognized in July 2018 by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a 2018 Great College to Work For. Trocaire was recognized in the following four categories, based on surveys employees filled out earlier this year: Professional/Career Development Programs; Respect & Appreciation; Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship; and Work/Life Balance. “Working at Trocaire means being part of a tight-knit, family-like community,” President Bassam M. Deeb said in the entry. “Inspired by the spirit of ‘meeting the unmet need’ passed down by our founding Sisters of Mercy, employees feel a communal sense of purpose and privilege as they help students achieve their career goals and change the trajectory of their lives for the better. Employees, in turn, feel cared for thanks to the college’s generous benefits, paid time off, and development opportunities.” 2018
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MEETING THE UNMET NEED
SISTER SALLY WALZ, RSM EMERGENCY FUND ASSISTS STUDENTS IN TIMES OF TROUBLE “Meeting the unmet need” is a central tenet of the Mercy tradition. Thanks to a generous gift from the family of the late Sister Sally Walz, RSM, Trocaire is able to continue providing an additional helping hand to students going through unexpected crises. Trocaire’s newly named Sister Sally Walz, RSM Emergency Fund is supported by employee contributions, campus initiatives, and now, the donation from Sister Sally’s family. It helps students by removing urgent, one-time financial barriers so they can focus on their classes, with the hope that assisting with a short-term problem will keep long-term educational goals from derailing.
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his past year, Trocaire’s Workforce Development division was proud to roll out its Brewing, Distilling and Fermentation Science program. This program provides students with the education and skills needed to enter into employment opportunities within brewing, brewpub operations and distilling, or simply explore their interest in the industry with hands-on training.
Those expenses could include things like food insecurity, medical care, safety needs (such as changing a lock), an unexpected bill or replacing essential personal belongings lost by fire or theft. Students apply for the assistance, and a committee reviews all incoming requests. If or when the students are in a more financially stable position, they are asked to repay the funds, so the cycle of giving can be repeated for future students.
We touched based with Brewing Sciences Director Brian Barrows to learn more about brewing, Buffalo and what the future looks like for the industry here in Western New York.
A South Buffalo native, Sister Sally passed away in March 2016, and the emergency fund was renamed in her honor in 2017. At Trocaire, she is remembered for her valuable contributions in several positions starting in 1987, the highest being vice president for academic affairs. She later also served as a member of the college’s Board of Trustees. In her 60 years as a Sister of Mercy, she also taught at elementary, middle and high schools all over the Buffalo Diocese, and served as both principal and director of Development and Alumnae at Mount Mercy Academy; in several development capacities for the regional Sisters of Mercy office; and on the boards of various schools and organizations.
What are your thoughts about the unique connection between Buffalo, NY and brewing?
“Sister Sally was greatly admired for her untiring commitment to Trocaire College and our students, especially those in need,” said Trocaire’s Director of Wellness Lauren Ellis, who oversees the emergency fund. “She is remembered as a leader who exemplified generosity and compassion, and we think naming the student emergency fund in her honor is a fitting way to honor that memory.”
HONORING OUR EMPLOYEES
Each year, Trocaire College honors its faculty and staff members for their dedication to supporting and educating our students, both in and out of the classroom. Thank you for all you do! Patricia A. Lavender Distinguished Educator Kelly Wallace, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology Innovative Educator of the Year Bruce Maki, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology Part-time Educator of the Year Mary Ann Deb, Adjunct Instructor, Nursing Kelly Wallace, Bruce Maki, Mary Ann Deb, and Kjerstin Owens
Kevin Wise Legacy Award* Kjerstin M. Owens, Ph.D., Professor of Biology Staff Excellence Award Lauren Ellis, MSW, Director of Wellness Center Staff Appreciation Award Lisa Schaffer, Institutional Advancement Assistant
*This award honors the memory of the late Kevin Wise, Ph.D., who worked at Trocaire as a Professor of Biology before he passed away in 2016. It is given to a faculty member who has made an enduring transformation to Trocaire College. Christine Whipkey, Lisa Shaffer, and Danielle Cessario Lauren Ellis
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IN BUFFALO
“Buffalo has a rich history of brewing, dating back well before the incorporation as a city in 1832. Some of the first German residents of Buffalo were brewers who brought over their recipes and even ingredients to build breweries in their new home. From early on, Buffalo breweries were known for making high-quality beer with the finest ingredients and the most advanced technologies available. By 1896, Buffalo breweries produced nearly 700,000 barrels of beer per year, and Buffalo maltsters were producing millions of bushels of the finest brewers’ malt.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TROCAIRE’S BREWING, DISTILLING & FERMENTATION PROGRAM, CHECK OUT TROCAIRE.EDU/BREWING
A true rebirth of brewing in Buffalo started in 1997 with the opening of Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, followed soon after by Flying Bison Brewing Company. Since 2010, we have seen a dramatic growth in the number of breweries—the region offers over 30 breweries and brewpubs, several of which are expanding within the city or beyond.”
What do you see the future of brewing in WNY looking like?
“It is very exciting to be part of the growing brewing community. As the industry matures, I expect to see the emergence of more nanobreweries and brewpubs that aim to serve their immediate neighborhoods. Many people prefer to support their neighborhood businesses, and breweries are great places for neighbors to gather, relax, and enjoy life. Buffalo breweries are embracing the collaborative spirit of the brewing industry—there are many collaborative brews between breweries within the area, in other parts of New York State, and even in Canada. The high quality of the beer being produced in Buffalo is inspiring these collaborations and putting Buffalo back on the map as a destination for great beer.”
What have Trocaire’s Brewing students created so far?
“Among our courses, the students have brewed a wide range of beers. Some were light and fruity, like our Belgian wit and German hefeweizen; others were strong and dark like our Belgian abbey ale and our aggressively hopped black IPA. The most special of all the beers my classes have brewed was a recreation of the Wise IPA, which originally was a collaborative brew by the local breweries in tribute to Dr. Kevin Wise. Kevin was a beloved biochemistry professor at Trocaire, beer connoisseur, and homebrewer who initiated this brewing science program but unfortunately passed away before his vision could be realized. This beer was loaded with citrus and tropical fruit flavors from many varieties of hops and had a nice balance of malty sweetness and hop bitterness. I think Kevin would have loved it.”
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n Alumni News and Notes Sister Marian Mullen RSM, ’67, began a new position at Trocaire in September 2017 following many years as coordinator of Academic Advisement. She now works in a part-time capacity as coordinator of Global Achievements Project, which examines how to make Trocaire more accommodating to students who speak English as a second language, and what the college needs to do to fill in gaps of support. Maureen Milligan ’68, RN and Maria Casale Stevenson ’68, BSN, RN attended the college’s inaugural Golden Jubilee alumni event and were honored at Trocaire’s Spring 2018 Commencement as members of the 50th reunion graduating class (page 6). They led the 2018 graduates into their ceremony and out the doors at its close. Catherine Collins ’70, Ph.D., BS, RN, a member of the NYS Board of Regents and adjunct professor in Niagara University’s Department of Professional Studies Ph.D. program, was named a 2018 Athena Award finalist by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and one of Buffalo Business First’s 2018 Power 125 Women. Madonna Lakso ’87, RN retired this year from her 30-year career working as a trauma nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Erie County Medical Center. She had worked there since her graduation from Trocaire College in 1987. Bridget Gilewski ’99, ’00, CEO and president of Upstate Ultrasound, Inc. and founder and owner of Baby’s Bungalow 3D/4D, was honored with Trocaire College’s 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award at the college’s inaugural Spring Soirée in April. Tiffany Cole ’06, MSN, RN who is a nursing faculty member at Trocaire, participated in a medical mission trip to Haiti this past January (page 4). She also volunteered as a mentor
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in Trocaire’s Pathways to Nursing Success Program this past year (page 8).
working as a cardiac sonographer for Franciscan Health.
Natasha Allen ’07, ’18, BSN, RN was awarded a Nursing Scholarship Award from the Professional Nurses Association of Western New York this spring. She is the first Trocaire nursing student to receive this honor in the college’s 60-year history.
Jessica Little ’15, RN received a Bronze Award at the 2017 Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas Excellence in Nursing Awards. The honor recognizes nurses who are leaders in offering extraordinary and compassionate bedside care and service. Jessica is employed at St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston, Texas.
Adam Jarosz ’10 is entering his seventh year as director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry at St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church in Williamsville, developing faith and community for the largest parish in the Buffalo Diocese. He said his Hospitality Management degree from Trocaire helped propel him toward a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and honed his desire to serve others. Stephanie Russell ’11, AGNP went on to earn both her Bachelor of Science in nursing and her Master of Science as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Keuka College. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She recently joined Arnot Health’s dermatology team.
Kellee Kibler ’16, BSN, RN earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Daemen College in May 2018 and was hired as a maternity nurse at the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, a member of the Rochester Regional Health system. She was previously employed at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo. Sarah Bates ’18 was nominated for and inducted into the Association of Surgical Technologists’ (AST) National Honor Society in April 2018, one month before she graduated from Trocaire with Highest Distinction.
Billie Breeden ’12, ’14, RN was hired as the school nurse at Maple West Elementary in Williamsville in January 2018. LaTosha White ’13 was featured in a Buffalo News story in August 2017, which highlighted her journey from temporary homelessness as a child, to enrolling in the Trocaire Opportunity Program and earning her AAS in General Studies, to receiving a bachelor’s degree in communications from Medaille College in May 2017. Kim (Irma) Monroy ’14, ’15, RT earned her Radiologic Technology degree and Echocardiography certificate from Trocaire. She recently moved to Indiana and began
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TROCAIRE TRAVELS Over the past year, Trocaire has connected with nearly 100 alumni from various Western New York healthcare facilities through Trocaire Travels. At each stop, alumni enjoyed a quick break, good conversation and delicious treats while sharing their Trocaire stories, memories and professional pride with us.
Our Next Stops: September 26 - Mercy Hospital October 15 - Hospice Buffalo
Contact Deanna Rusek at 716-827-4342 or rusekd@trocaire.edu for more information.
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