Lucent, Fall 2011

American International College 1000 State Street Springfield, Massachusetts 01109 www.aic.edu

The Alumni Magazine of American International College

Upgrade to Business Class You need to be valuable in business.

You need an education with value.

Our MBA program delivers both.

“Because of my great undergraduate experience here, AIC was the logical choice for my MBA. My goal is to become an entrepreneur. The range of AIC’s MBA courses gives me the foundation I need to successfully aic.edu/MBA launch businesses. I’ve enjoyed AIC, especially the professors. The faculty go out of their way to help students get ahead, and the small class size means professors can build mentoring relationships with students—a benefit larger schools can’t offer.”

AIC

Call 413.205.3700 or visit www.aic.edu/MBA

Much Ado… about AIC’s student actors YAAKOV BLOCH BA ’11, MBA ’13 Fa l l 2 0 1 1 | Vo l u m e 4 | I s s u e 2

Strategy for Success

The college is preparing for the implementation of a new strategic plan, which we think will hold us in good stead in this rapidly changing economic climate.

The vision for the 2007 strategic plan focused on an AIC that was mission centric and market smart. By all standards the vision was realized and the strategic plan was a success.

The new strategic plan identifies four goals in the areas of finance, program development, student profile and visibility, and infrastructure. While maintaining a commitment to the essential liberal arts as the foundation for pre-professional programs, we must contend with the challenges facing higher education and the increasing competitive market. While not losing sight of the importance in continuing to be mission centric and market smart, the College now must address the need to be mission attractive and market adaptive.

We must adapt nimbly and quickly to market conditions with the intent of adding more program revenue to the bottom line through new programs and delivery models for graduate, non-traditional, continuing education, professional development and degree completion programming. We must have the latitude to identify and engage in these markets swiftly and be equally willing and able to abandon them when they are no longer relevant.

Look for updates on the strategic plan in upcoming issues of Lucent and on the AIC website.

Vince Maniaci President

Fall 2011 | Volume 4 | Issue 2

EDITORIAL BOARD

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Heather Cahill Craig Greenberg Mary Ellen Lowney Luke Quijano-West Lynn Saunders

Luke Quijano-West

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Craig Greenberg Mary Ellen Lowney Mimi Rigali Jaclyn Stevenson

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ PROJECT MANAGER Lynn Saunders

PHOTOGRAPHERS Craig Greenberg Luke Quijano-West Lynn Saunders Deb Shea

in this issue cover story 14

Much Ado about AIC Actors How two AIC students spent their summer studying at Shakespeare and Company.

regular features 2

Campus Update

Find out about the latest developments, on campus and off.

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Class Notes

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In Memoriam

Check on your fellow alumni and see what they’re up to.

And while you’re at it, why not send us your story?

A listing of alumni and friends who are no longer with us.

articles 6

Research and Recognition

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Students present research projects at the third annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

A Curious Mix of Politics and Media

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AIC alum weaves politics, communication and pop culture into her education and her career.

Lighting the Way

AIC students and alumni create bright futures together.

Looking Back

We look back on how AIC was a major player in the Civil Rights movemen.t

What have you been up to?

Join AIC’s Alumni Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and follow us on Twitter. Feel free to email us, too at alumni@aic.edu.

Please send any comments or suggestions about this publication to editor@aic.edu. We’d love to hear from you!

campus update Nursing Program Turns 30 Thanks to a blend of academics and on-site learning, the program continues to flourish.

AIC nursing has remained one of the college’s most popular programs – most years, as now, there is a waiting list to get in.

And now, as the program celebrates its 30th year, college officials can look back and find success stories all along the way.

AIC’s baccalaureate nursing program began in the 1970s as an early response to market demands.

The college formed a program for Registered Nurses to earn their Bachelor in Nursing degrees.

That program was under the sponsorship of the School of Psychology and Education, graduating the first class of 11 RNs with bachelor degrees in May 1978.

So successful was the offering that in 1981, AIC launched a four-year program to train nurses for licensure, as well as grant bachelor degrees. This academic year, there are 392 students enrolled.

Director of Nursing Karen Rousseau said the college has found success thanks to a solid blend of academics and on-site learning at all major hospitals in the area, including Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, Holyoke Hospital, Noble Hospital, and Cooley-Dickinson Hospital, along with many nursing homes and community health centers.

“We work to develop the nurse with critical thinking skills, but also sensitivity to cultural diversity, and to meet the most up to date needs in the health care arena,” Rousseau said.

“We have a lot of great technology on campus, such as patient simulators, that can simulate a wide range of patient experience. We’ve even moved to using live patients to simulate students with psychological problems,” she said.

Nursing students perform an exam on the SimMan.

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And the health sciences program has continued to flourish. In the early 1990s, college officials put

a new focus on the major, adding faculty and staff, along with modern facilities.

The program quickly grew to become the most popular on campus. As things expanded, there became an obvious need in the region for graduate level programs in nursing and the college developed blended programs which combined on-ground with on-line classes that would lead to a master’s of science degree with concentrations in nursing education and nursing administration.

Additionally, there are entry-level graduate programs in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The three programs combined to become the School of Health Sciences. The Occupational Therapy program leads to a Master’s degree and Physical Therapy is a six year Doctoral program.

AIC celebrated the anniversary during Homecoming Weekend with a series of special events. The first was a lecture featuring noted speaker Chris McCarthy, who is Kaiser Permanente’s Director of Innovation Learning Network. The school also celebrated with a dinner for alumni, current students and faculty. The evening’s keynote speaker was Rachel Chandler Tierney, the first director of nursing. n

by the numbers

10 75 7,750

the number of different languages spoken by the members of the men’s and women’s Rugby teams

the number of courses scheduled in Breck Hall each semester

the number of meals served each week in the Dining Commons

campus update AIC at the JCC College for Lifelong Learning expands offerings and locations.

The School of Continuing Education is offering the College for Lifelong Learning at the Springfield Jewish Community Center. The classes are noncredit and designed for those who just want to learn for fun - no tests, pop quizzes or papers here!

This fall, Gary Lefort, Associate Professor of International Business lectured for six weeks on China: The Next Super Power. The class focused on China's history, culture, economic and global status and the problems and challenges facing the country going in to the 21st century.

The School of Continuing Education plans to roll out additional class offerings in February of 2012. For more information, contact Pam Robinson at 413.205.3518. n

Gary Lefort lectures on China at the JCC.

WNPR and WAIC Launch Collaboration Agreement brings new programming to the Springfield Market.

Listeners to American International College’s radio station, WAIC 91.9 FM, were in for a treat that was no trick. The morning after Halloween, the college station officially became a member of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, as WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio and AIC recently signed an agreement to exclusively air WNPR programming on the college’s radio station. The new 24/7 service will provide listeners with popular National Public Radio (NPR) programs, as well as WNPR’s award-winning signature talk shows.

AIC president Vince M. Maniaci said the college and the students will benefit greatly from this new arrangement. “This partnership offers exciting new educational opportunities for AIC students to apply and enhance their journalism, announcing techniques and production skills.

Mary Ellen Lowney, chair of the AIC Communications Department, said the students are excited about the opportunities the new partnership will offer them. “Along with the continued daily use

of the AIC studios for educational purposes, our students will also be able to work as interns with Connecticut Public Broadcasting. The opportunities are enormous for our students for some real hands-on radio experience in public broadcasting.

In the radio field, it truly doesn’t get any better than that,” she said.

With a presence on campus, WNPR will also have the opportunity to provide a more regional focus on the Springfield area.

“We’re extremely excited about this opportunity,” said Jerry Franklin, president and CEO of CPBN. “Under this arrangement, both WNPR and WAIC will greatly increase their audience reach and generate more local coverage from the Hartford to Springfield corridor.”

Under the WNPR-WAIC collaboration, listeners will be able to tune in to new weekday and weekend programming .You can find the latest program listings at www.cpbn.org. n

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campus update Campus Facilities Get a Facelift Students return to several improvements.

When students and alumni returned to the AIC campus this fall, they found a number of improvements and renovations. Richard F. Bedard, executive vice president of administration, said there are new additions in the classrooms, as well as the residence halls and dining facilities.

“We added new furniture and lighting in Amaron Hall,” he said. “In Courniotes Hall, we reconfigured the Physical Therapy Labs to provide more space, and will do the same for the Nursing labs next year.”

Students will also find a much more pleasurable dining experience at AIC. “Aramark invested $100,000 to upgrade the Dining Commons and improve seating in the Hive,” Bedard said.

But the biggest crowd pleaser this year is the addition of a Subway Restaurant in the Hive. “Students and faculty are very excited about the new Subway,” Bedard said.

Other campus improvements include new equipment in the Fitness Center, new windows in Street Hall and new planting beds in front of Old Science Building. n

From our Faculty From books to seminars, here is what our faculty has been up to, aside from teaching.

Thinking outside the book helps students succeed Every professor has had that student who knows the course material, but fails to demonstrate adequate knowledge on tests or papers because of poor writing or test-taking skills. Sandra Sego and Anne Stuart, psychology professors at American International College, said that’s why it is so important to be creative.

Sego and Stuart recently presented, “Thinking outside the Book: Creative, Active Learning Projects” at the 1st Atlantic Coast Teaching of Psychology Conference held September 23-24 at Monmouth College in Longbranch, NJ. While many professors have turned to increased

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technology to grab students’ attention and attempt to engage them, not all students are comfortable with technology and not all have access to computers outside of the college campus.

“We have developed projects such as three-dimensional models, bulletin boards, and educational pamphlets that are low-cost, low-tech, yet creative. Students have reported that they have enjoyed these projects and they demonstrate a pride in these accomplishments that may not occur with papers, Sego said. n

campus update

Professors in Print AIC faculty members not only show their expertise in the classroom, but also pursue scholarly interests in their field through workshop presentations, books and articles in professional journals.

Phyllis Clapis, an assistant professor of Physical Therapy, co-authored a helpful resource book to better prepare students for clinical work. “Physical Therapy Management of Low Back Pain: A Case-Based Approach,” provides a detailed review of the theory and practice of a variety of approaches to treating low back pain using a case-based approach.

Ken Mondschein, a history instructor, offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of late medieval martial arts in his new book, “The Knightly Art of Battle.” This volume offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of late medieval martial arts, from wrestling to fencing with the longsword to the subtle tricks that could be employed when jousting on horseback.

Fred Sokol, the director of theater arts, has entered the fiction arena. His novel, “Mendel and Morris” is the story of two elderly Jewish men, shuffleboard players, based in Springfield, Massachusetts. In the book the two men catch word of an impending tournament in Fort Lauderdale. Curious and anticipatory, the pair begins a journey to South Florida.

They make the acquaintance of two elderly Jewish women - shuffleboard players, as well. After some time, all return to the Northeast. This is comic slice-of-life fare, complete with musings and philosophizing. The topic of aging is inherent within the fiction. Four individuals, well past midlife, move forward - onward.

John DeFrancesco, chair of the graduate psychology department, recently reviewed the new book, “Strengthening Your Stepfamily,” for the Masters Advocate, the newsletter of the Northamerican Association of Master in Psychology. DeFrancesco said it is a new book that is a valuable text and resource manual that is readable and practical for practitioners who work with stepfamilies.

Defrancesco said the authors, Elizabeth Einstein and Linda Albert, have authored “a comprehensive and detailed text on on the sensitive and complex subject of stepfamilies.”

Psychology professors Anne Stuart, Sandy Sego, and Heidi O’Connor presented at a workshop titled “Engineering Student Success,” at the New England Psychological Association (NEPA) Conference at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn.

They discussed the problem and some solutions concerning the frustration many faculty members feel when students have not mastered skills or knowledge by the end of a course. The three educators talked about how to design courses to help students develop the skills they need.

AIC president Vince Maniaci said he was impressed with the continued scholarship of the AIC faculty. “Congratulations and thank you for bringing high quality visibility to AIC.” n

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Research Recognition

Students present their research projects at the third annual Undergraduate Research Symposium

By Mimi Rigali

Some, serious research is being done at American International College.

Consider chemistry major Jonelle Gurley’s research paper on “Polychlorinated Biphenyl Pollution: Remedy for Alleviating Contamination in Soil” or Lisa Mary Carabello’s work, “The Reconstruction of Haiti: A Sociological & Human Rights Perspective.”

These are but a few of the students who presented their research at the third annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at AIC in April.

Founded by Carol A. Sitterly, Ed.D., director for the Center for Academic Success at the college, the program was a natural extension of the college’s efforts to retain students.

“It is one of the ways (to retain students).” Sitterly said. “And we wanted to develop an undergraduate research program because at the time there was research going on, but students’ work was not being highlighted. There wasn’t recognition of what students were doing.”

The program began with a grant from the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, a private foundation based in Springfield. It is now run by the college. In its first year, four students presented their work; last year, its third, 11 students from many academic areas – psychology, history, chemistry, biochemistry and more participated.

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Each 10 minute presentation is given at the end of the academic year, Sitterly said, and is optional.

But reaction to them has been so positive from deans to students that the college is thinking of establishing an application process, she added. Right now, the symposium is open to all the student body. Everyone, including the public, can attend the symposium where academic work is presented, mostly by honors students, however, academic standing is not a requirement.

Research projects have included the work of Maria Gallerani ’11, of Agawam, MA, whose paper “Clerical Celibacy and Its Destabilization of the Medieval Gender System” earned her an A. And surely, a thousand questions about the topic.

A history major who graduated last May, Gallerani said she took her cue from Professor Thomas Maulucci. “He had us do a mini-presentation on gender and Medieval Europe,” she said. “It really sparked my interest.” Her final paper was built from what she had started with Professor Maulucci, she said, finding that Medieval-era priests had a hugely influential role in how men and women perceived each other.

“Other than clergy, people were uneducated. Everything about their lives centered on the church,” Gallerani said. “That powered priests’ influence, whose perspective was rigid: men were fathers and providers, women were mothers and keepers of the hearth,” she said.

But priests’ presence also added an element of confusion, she added. People asked, If they were not husbands or providers, who were they? said Gallerani. “They weren’t having offspring, so they weren’t perceived as men. That confused people.

They began to ask themselves, “How should we act?’” Gallerani said.

“People began questioning themselves within society, wondering what was right for them,” she said.

That led to a further detachment from the church and a move to search for answers elsewhere, Gallerani found.

“The questioning of the church and its teachings is what, in part, lead to the rise of Protestant sects,” she said.

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Gallerani, a member of Alpha Chi, AIC’s honor society and a recent mother to Emmeline, is on maternity leave, but would like to continue her research into the biblical personae of Adam and Eve. In particular, how Eve is perceived by different religions and how her name became, in many instances, synonymous with evil.

She has also written about Playboy and its effect on society and its perception of women. “People may argue with me, but I think it was a good thing,” she said. “Women began to be seen as sexual beings – not June Cleaver.”

Lisa Mary Carabello ’11, of Holyoke, MA, presented her 49-page research on “The Reconstruction of Haiti: A Sociological and Human Rights Perspective” for which she also received an A.

“We wanted to develop an undergraduate research program because at the time there was research going on, but students’ work was not being highlighted– there wasn’t recognition of what students were doing.”

Her research delved into the rich history of what is now the poorest country in the western hemisphere, she said, in order to explain and understand the complexity behind the country’s fitful post-hurricane rebuilding efforts.

“I’ve always loved international issues,” Carabello said, “particularly those concerning the Third World.” As she searched for her research thesis, Haiti’s reconstruction project came into focus and “it seemed to be the perfect fit that would combine a third world nation, issues of race, prejudice, elite minority versus impoverished majority, gender issues and international law through a human rights framework. It was the perfect outlet to close out my senior year of sociological studies.”

Carabello, a double major in psychology and sociology, is also an honors graduate of AIC where she said she “has been very fortunate to have such

a wonderful array of professors.” Overseeing her research work was Professor Agnes Kimokoti.

“I admire her very much as a professor who shares so much knowledge with her students and also from the insight she brought to the project,” Carabello said.

Her paper sought to explain, among other themes, why humanitarian efforts in Haiti have been painfully slow, revealing breakdowns in communication, lack of developed infrastructure, lack of governance and even degrees of mistrust among the Haitian majority regarding outsiders, she said. She also cited a lack of empowerment of the people due to a rigid hierarchical society and language barriers that remain in place.

Research by AIC students also included Ange-Loup Defay’s ’12 work on “Residual Ammonia Contamination in Commercial Meat.”

Defay, a senior at AIC, is a chemistry major who selected his topic after he came across a documentary entitled “Food Inc.,” he said.

“That was interesting to me because I wanted to explore what I’ve learned in chemistry by doing something everyone can relate to,” he said. “We all eat a burger once in a while.”

Ange-Loup Defay presents his findings on amonia in meat manufacturing.

Ammonia is used by manufacturers to control infection in ground beef including E. coli and salmonella. Its use and lack of labeling remains controversial. As a result of his research, Defay, a senior rugby player for AIC, avowed he hasn’t become a vegetarian, but he does “take precautions with fast-food burgers” and gets his own ground beef from local butchers.

“He did a great job preparing us for our projects,” he said. “It felt as if I was a part of a real research project.’’

Other presentations included chemistry major Heather-Leigh Downer’s ’11, “Effect of Ultraviolet as a Bacteria Sterilizing Mechanism with the Presence of Calf Thymus DNA Buffer.” Richard Greco ’11, a biochemistry major, researched “Alcohol Metabolism in Blood Serum: Efficacy and Safety” and Ja’Nae K. Jones ’11, a psychology major, researched “Birth Order and Personality Among Different Generations.” Her work sought to investigate the effect of birth order on one’s personality and if that effect was consistent over multiple generations. Charmi Patel’s ’11, biochemistry research centered on the “Determination of Comparative Antibiotic Sensitivities in Prokaryotes” and Alanna Slocum ’11, a psychology major, wrote about “The Picture Perfect body.” “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: The Modality Effect on Memory” was the research topic of Shannon McNamara ’11, with biochemistry major Sesoo Ikpah ’11 presenting research on “The Assay of Bisphenol A in Drinking Water Using ELISA.” Sitterly, who holds a doctorate in educational psychology, remains enthusiastic about the symposium’s growth and with AIC student and faculty reaction to it.

“Students have been excited (about the symposium) and are proud of their work,” she said, some students have gone on to graduate school and continued their research, but participating in the symposium, even without grad school, enhances a resume and hones a student’s presentation skills, she said.

In the future, Sitterly would like to see the students’ research published.

“That would be a nice outgrowth of this,” she said. n

Supervising his work for which he received an A-, was chemistry Assistant Professor Adam Brunet, for whom DeFay, of Medford, had high praise.

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Samantha Stevens ’11 and Kadeem Gayle ’12, a senior majoring in Communication on location at The Republican newspaper during their internships.

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A Curious Mix of Politics and Media

By Mary Ellen Lowney

Samantha Stevens has found a way to weave politics, communication, and pop culture into her education and into her career.

Samantha Stephens is a curious young woman; her curiosity is taking her to good places in life.

The 22 year old from York, Maine, has found a way to blend her interests in politics, communication and popular culture into academics, and potentially a career in journalism which all began at AIC. Stephens began her freshman year in the fall of 2006 as a presidential scholar with an eye toward quenching her thirst for courses in culture and communication. She chose the college for its friendly atmosphere, small classes, and hands-on approach to learning.

“Her posts were immensely entertaining and quite popular with our online readers.”

“I liked the way the professors really get to know you and help you if you need it. I love the size of the school. It was definitely a great choice for me,” she said.

That decision is paying off. Not only did Stephens find experience as a volunteer and intern with U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal,’ 72 a Democratic congressman from Springfield, but her internship at The Springfield Republican newspaper has turned into a job as a columnist with a focus on popular culture.

“My internship has definitely helped me,” she said.

“I’ve always looked at writing as a hobby, but I love it now. I learned so much, and I know that I want to keep writing.” Adding, “I’m looking for more newspaper work.”

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Stephens’ small-town upbringing – home for her is in a town where just 14,000 people live – drew her to the urban campus that is sized to make for a cozy atmosphere. She brought with her a love of reading, a curiosity about how people relate to each other, and a passion for popular media and entertainment. Her favorite pastime is watching television shows like ‘Friends’ and ‘Glee.’

As a freshman at AIC, she felt certain about her major in Communication. What Stephens wasn’t prepared for was the rush she found in an entrylevel Political Science class she took that fall with Professor Julie Walsh.

“I loved it, instantly,” Stephens said, with her trademark enthusiasm. “Two or three weeks into the class I knew that I had to have a double major. I could not go without this as part of my curriculum.”

Along with 15 communications courses, Stephens went on to take a total of 12 political science courses, with topics as varied as ‘Politics, Propaganda and Pressure Groups’ and ‘American National Elections.’ The classroom experiences have both broadened her outlook, and narrowed her focus for the future.

Professor Walsh said she has found Stephens to be nothing short of delightful as a student, and an advisee. “Sam is very responsible, regularly attending class and putting time and effort into assignments,” Walsh said. “She has become more willing to contribute to class discussions as she has taken more classes. She’s done extremely well, earning the Lewis Gordon Award for her academic performance over four years,” Walsh added.

It was Stephens’ natural curiosity and interest in the way people relate to each other that drew her to the national presidential elections in 2008. A course on presidential elections intensified her excitement surrounding the historical election of President Barack Obama, the nation’s first AfricanAmerican to hold the country’s top job.

For Samantha, Obama brought politics to life, and provided an instant role model as she studied government and politics. She and her mother, Carmen, traveled to New Hampshire to meet Obama at a rally. It’s a moment that’s marked in her memory for life.

“I was standing front and center when he spoke,” she said. “When he came around to shake hands, I ended up getting a hug from him because he was shaking people’s hands on both sides of me and it was kind of funny. He laughed, and he was really nice to meet,” she said.

As far as politics was concerned, Stephens was hooked. She attended another rally to see John Edwards and supporters like actors Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and James Denton.

Three years later, and having Obama as president and many more political science classes behind her, Stephens has the distance to reflect.

“He had great charisma, and he understood how to appeal to demographics who weren’t known for voting. I thought he had the best vision for where the country needed to go,” she said.

Stephens found herself drawn to on specific aspect of politics. “I’m into the communications aspect of politics. I don’t really focus on what people think of when they think of political science, law or public office. It’s more about communications, and how people relate to society,” she said.

Stephens waited until her final semester – last spring – to do the required internship for her Communications major. She landed work at The Springfield Republican, where she began writing short briefs and blog postings for the newspaper’s online site, MassLive.com. Stephens eventually expanded to be the author of two regularly published columns, ‘College Connection’ and ‘Tuned In.’

In ‘College Connection,’ Stephens wrote of issues common to many students – missing home and parents, managing money, making time for studies.

The ‘Tuned In’ column focuses on current TV and film. It’s that column where Stephens is making her mark as an interviewer of celebrities.

From the popular TV show ‘Glee’ alone, she’s interviewed Jonathan Groff, Ashley Fink, Jessalyn Gilsig, Roy Rosemont, Max Adler and several others. She has also interviewed Simon Helberg from ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ Jon Huertas from ‘Castle,’ Busy Phillips from ‘Cougartown,’ and Mark Pellegrino from ‘Being Human’ and ‘Lost.’

“Max Adler and Jonathan Groff have been my two favorite interviews,” she said. “They’re both such talented and fun people. I was so incredibly nervous before talking to them, because I’m a huge fan, but they made the interview really relaxed and allowed me to give my opinion on some things, which was a lot of fun.”

Stephens even used the show ‘Glee’ as a theme for character and concept analysis in her senior Political Science thesis.

She’s also landed a gig as a columnist at The Republican, which she writes from her home in York, Maine, as she continues to pursue work in journalism. She is living with her parents, Michael and Carmen Stephens, and younger brother Brad.

Ray Kelly, assistant managing editor for arts and entertainment at The Republican said Stephens proved a quick study in both interviewing and writing. “Sam’s enthusiasm for the popular TV show ‘Glee’ led us to assign her to post to MassLive’s ‘Glee’ blog,” Kelly explained. “Her posts were immensely entertaining and quite popular with our online readers.”

Stephens said the internship expanded her knowledge and skills. “I learned how to fine-tune my writing, and to edit myself as I write. I learned how to format a story, and how to write quickly when I need to. Writing a basic story is one thing – but writing a snappy lead on the fly is another thing altogether,” she said.

For now, Stephens is looking back at her years at AIC, even as she looks forward to a career that will most definitely including writing.

“I know people who have had great experiences. I personally try to go beyond what I learned in the classroom. I’ve loved the political science end of it, and media has been in my life as long as I can remember.” n

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Lucent

A Distinguished Career continued on page 12

Much Ado About Will … and Alex

By Jaclyn C. Stevenson

In life – on a college campus or otherwise – the lessons of Shakespeare often apply.

No performance will ever be the same, for example.

Speaking in one’s own voice is intrinsically important.

And sometimes, we have to look things up to understand them.

Such are some of the more hidden takeaways two American International College students had this summer as part of Shakespeare & Young Company, an acting training program devised and hosted by the nationally recognized Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass.

AIC students Jacqueline (Alex) Claunch of Thousand Oaks, CA, and Williston (Wil) Mortenson ’14, of Pelham, MA, were chosen from among several hundred applicants for the Young Company division of Shakespeare and Company.

Young Company only accepts between 10 and 15 participants each year, culled from a pool of applicants who audition and submit a resume, statement of purpose, and a recommendation.

It’s a stringent process that, nonetheless, provides a rich learning experience for those chosen to participate.

Mortenson, now a sophomore majoring in physical therapy, has appeared in the AIC productions of “Back Story” and “Much Ado About Will.”

“It was a thrill,” Mortenson said. “It gave me the opportunity to keep up my training as an actor without sacrificing a whole school year.”

Both students were part of AIC’s Garret Players theater group when chosen for the honor, and had whetted their Shakespearean appetites by participating in the College’s production of “Much Ado About Will,” a compendium of Shakespeare works

by Robert Johanson.

The program launched in 1990 as part of a larger educational initiative that included a popular Shakespeare festival for high school students that still runs today. Young Company stands very much on its own two feet, however, attracting applicants from across the country each year in numbers that continue to grow.

it right, or getting it done, it’s about getting it to come alive”

Claunch who spent her freshman year at AIC, appeared in several productions of AIC’s Garret Players, including “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” “Dividing the Estate,” “Back Story,” and “Much Ado About Will.” She is now studying in the musical theater program at Colorado Mesa University.

Now in its 21st year, Young Company is led by teachers and senior education artists based at Shakespeare & Co., through sessions held in the winter, spring, and summer. Structured to prepare participants for virtually any conservatory ac| Lucent

Fred Sokol, director of theater arts at AIC, said the program is a boon for the AIC students who took part, but also for the college, which has a blooming theater program bolstered by students majoring in all disciplines. “We now have an evolving company,” Sokol says. “The semester winds down, but in a real sense, we do not. From my perspective that is what life-long and intrinsically motivated education is all about.”

It’s not about getting

Although a physical therapy major, Mortenson hasn’t given up his dream of becoming an actor. Being part of the Young Company program will “keep my eyes on the prize,” he added.

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tor’s training program, Young Company welcomes students ages 16 to 20 for nine weeks of intensive training, aimed at preparing them for the Shakespearean stage from dialect to dance to dueling.

Method in the Madness On Shakespeare & Co.’s campus in the Berkshire hills, Claunch and Mortenson were exposed to deep study, on stage and off, of some of Shakespeare’s greatest works, as well as to new and evolving interpretations thereof. “Distract,” for instance, an adaptation of excerpts from several different plays

by Jonathan Croy, offers students the challenge of interpreting the words of some of Shakespeare’s most tragic female characters, including Hamlet’s Ophelia and King John’s Constance.

Tom Jaeger, director of Shakespeare & Young Company, explained that participants are steeped in the study of voice, movement, and text – essentially, understanding the nuances of the language and the

lines. The program includes coursework and voice training, classes in Elizabethan dance and stage combat, and performance of both monologues and ensemble scenes. Students are first given excerpts to work with that will never see an audience, and later a performance piece that reflects their interests and strengths.

“Students learn to speak in their own voice and to make a personal connection to the work,” Jaeger explained. “There’s also a lot of emphasis placed on the group dynamic – creating the best ensemble possible.”

Jenna Ware, associate director of Shakespeare & Young Company, added that students move through a progression of both comprehension of and comfort with the process that often culminates in a break-though moment.

“We call it ‘lifting the mask,’” she said. “We use Shakespeare’s work to get to know the students better, and their intensive study of the work creates a laboratory that ultimately increases their overall knowledge.

This level of dedication, however, often translates into both tangible and intangible benefits for Young Company and its students.

“We are lucky to have students who repeatedly recruit for us,” Ware said. “We keep seeing the flow of new people stem from their recommendation; they send wonderful people.”

And Jaeger noted further that the students he sends off stage following a Young Company program completion often exit with not just new acting techniques in their arsenal, but also added insight into some of life’s truths.

“They walk away having discovered that they can be themselves on stage, and that they don’t have to fake it,” he said. “When that moment comes, it is a huge moment.” n

“It’s not about getting it right, or getting it done,” she continued. “It’s about getting it to come alive.”

To Be, Or Not to Be This philosophy is one that is underscored when Ware explains that there are typically two kinds of applicants who seek out Young Company – those interested in theater or acting as a career path, and those who don’t intend to pursue acting, but have an interest in learning to interpret Shakespeare’s works on a deeper level. AIC students Claunch and Mortenson are prime examples of the latter group, Claunch majoring in Communications, and Mortenson in Physical Therapy.

“Performing Shakespeare is an extraordinary experience no matter what you want to do,” Ware said. “You just need to want to do this, and to want to do it this intensely. Even if there’s no intention to pursue acting, this is still a professional training program, and there is a level of dedication expected from all applicants.”

Top: Dress rehersal begins in the Rose Footprint Theater, Bottom: Will and Alex rehearse their fight scene.

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Homecoming 2011 October 21-23 We hope you had the opportunity to join us this year for Homecoming weekend. If not, here is what you missed: Fifteen new members were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame; the new track facility was dedicated to John G. Hoyt ’52, while family members looked on; the football team played Southern Connecticut University and the men’s and women’s soccer team both had games. Health Sciences alumni gathered for a reunion dinner, alumni softball teams and alumni football teams both took to the fields.

We hope to see you for Homecoming 2012!

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Fall 2011 |

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AIC alumni and students create a bright future together

Lighting the Way

By Jaclyn C. Stevenson

AIC alumni and students alike are familiar with the college’s motto: Post Tenebras Lux, the Latin phrase for After Darkness, Light.

On campus, these words translate into a mission of empowerment, fueled by education and bolstered by the support of AIC’s expansive international community.

Why

an I nternship ?

Internships not only provide the opportunity to gain real-world experience, build relationships, apply classroom knowledge, and improve communication and leadership skills but they can also jump-start career success.

A recent NACE Student Survey found that 42.3% of college seniors who participated in an internship received at least one job offer as opposed to 30.7% who received an offer without an internship experience.

In addition, those who have gone through an internship were offered a 31% higher median salary.

According to InternProgram360, the number of internships one completes also leads to the success of landing a full time job. Their studies have shown that those students who completed two internships had a 90% chance of landing a full time job, while those who completed three had a 100% chance of landing a full-time placement right out of college.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers, May 26, 2010 InternProgram360.com March 17, 2010

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On campus, these words translate into a mission of empowerment, fueled by education and bolstered by the support of AIC’s expansive international community. Alumni hail from locales around the globe, but also from the College’s backyard in Western Massachusetts. It’s here in particular that AIC’s students are developing a name for themselves as reliable, multi-faceted members of the local workforce – and as the latest bright light guiding the region toward a new future.

Building on a long-held tradition among AIC alumni to turn to their alma mater for career and workforce support, the College’s Office of Career Services and Alumni Office are working more closely together than ever before to create meaningful relationships between the business community of Greater Springfield and AIC students.

Shining Examples Across the city and in neighboring towns, students are entering into unique career development partnerships that are aimed at creating not just opportunities for skill development, but also meeting the needs of local businesses.

Abby Mahoney, director of Career Services for AIC, said her office is currently in the process of developing several programs with alumni in a wide variety of industries. Already, students have been placed with alumni mentors in nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and financial firms, among other venues. These include Square One, a group of early childhood education and childcare centers headquartered in Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College, and the local affiliate of global wealth management, investment banking, and asset management outfit, UBS. Mahoney said placements are guided in part by matching students’ strengths with the needs of various companies in the area, and that, in turn, offers an intriguing snap shot of the business landscape.

“We’re focused on developing a lot of internships collaboratively with alumni who, in many cases, do business literally down the street,” Mahoney said, noting for instance the Western Mass. Development Collaborative, which will soon be work-

ing with AIC students to expand their Web presence. “We’re seeing business owners and managers with needs for assistance in social media, marketing, and technology, for example. These areas of expertise put our interns in great learning situations, but they’re also helping to strengthen and promote small and mid-sized businesses.”

“an AIC

student is one who

is hard-working and

looking for an opportunity”

Carrying the Torch Michael Ravosa ’98, for example, has taken advantage of AIC’s internship program for more than a decade – first at Morgan Stanley, where he worked for 12 years, and currently at UBS where he serves as a vice president and Certified Financial Planner.

Today, Ravosa is one of the program’s greatest local champions.

“AIC is a unique school,” he began. “Its students are more in tune with reality than many – they know what’s going on, and in general, I think AIC creates a tougher kid, so to speak. That’s exactly the kind of intern, and employee, that businesses need.”

Ravosa added that a certain hunger – a desire to do well and a willingness to learn on the job – is another trait that many AIC students share in his opinion.

“An AIC student is one who is hard-working and looking for an opportunity,” he said. “I’d put myself in that camp, as I was an intern too, but the bottom line is I’ve always found great interns at AIC. This is something we will continue.”

Moving forward, Mahoney is engaging alumni like Ravosa to become a greater part of the College’s Career Service initiatives through blended alumni – career development events, held both on- and off-campus.

“Some are focused on giving students a clear picture of what people do in a number of areas, ranging from healthcare to education to business, by having alumni speakers come in and share their experiences,” she explained, noting that events like these are designed to be reflective of AIC’s four schools: Arts, Education, and Sciences; Business Administration; Continuing Education, and Health

Sciences. “We want our students who stay here to create jobs, so we work with all disciplines equally.

“On a day-to-day basis, internships are available to students in all programs, and we find that even if their major doesn’t require it, many students seek out opportunities because they want the life experience,” Mahoney continued.

To that end, Mahoney said her goal is to develop an extensive network of AIC alumni across Greater Springfield over the course of the 2011-2012 academic year that includes a diverse set of graduates in terms of age, as well as industry.

“We’re encouraging alumni in their 20’s and 30’s to come back and speak to students, and to look at how our students might be able to help them,” she said. “Many of our younger alums are working in fields that didn’t even exist ten years ago.”

Fuel for the Fire That gives today’s business pioneers an opportunity to help develop their successors, effectively lighting the way for the AIC graduates who will keep the flame burning bright.

Mahoney said that’s the ultimate goal of Career Services, but more importantly of the College, which has taken an institutional motto written in a dead language and created vibrant strategies for the present day.

“The reality is AIC students are good students, and they’re employable,” she said. “That has grown out of our philosophy, and now our students have a chance to be a big part of helping the businesses around us.”

If you may have an internship available, please contact Abby Woods-Mahoney, director of Career Services at abby.mahoney@aic.edu or 413.205.3263. n

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We take a look back on how AIC was a major player in the Civil Rights movement and, at the same time, welcomed diversity during a time of unrest.

By Mary Ellen Lowney

T

imes were indeed different four decades ago, both in style and substance.

Fashion-wise, young women wore mini-skirts splashed in bright paisleys and daisies. Among those in the counter culture, hippies grew shaggy hair and wore bell-bottom jeans, scrubby tee shirts and sandals.

But for many African Americans, it was a time where fashion often took a back seat to headier issues, including racism, personal and political power, and civil rights.

And American International College found itself in the middle of the hot seat, starting in 1968. “We were the first of the local schools to really convince the president to make a significant dent in the recruitment of African-American students on campus,” recalled Henry M. Thomas III, ’71,who was then an AIC student and halfback for the Yellow Jackets football team.

Thomas, now president and chief operating officer of the Urban League of Springfield and a member of the AIC Board of Trustees, has never had any trouble speaking his mind. “I was always interested in the plight of the African-American community, and I was raised by a family that placed a high value on social justice and activism. I wasn’t your average football player in the 1960s,” he said with a laugh.

Then, he was one of seven African-American students on campus. As a group, they approached then President Harry Courniotes and suggested a few changes.

“We went to President Courniotes and said, ‘We need to do better as an institution in getting more diversity on campus.’ We told him we didn’t just want African-American men, we wanted to see women, too,” Thomas said.

AIC then, as now, is in the center of a largely African-American neighborhood, lending even more urgency to the request. It was delivered in the form of a petition, Thomas said. Courniotes took advice from an open-minded faculty, and made diversity a mission.

Within two years, the college had recruited about 100 African-American students from all over New England and the East Coast. The numbers continued to climb, bringing diversity well ahead of the other colleges in and around Springfield.

It was a move that put the college in good stead during times when protests were as common as exams. Protest marchers often started out on the campus.

In 1968, Wayne E. Phaneuf was a student at AIC. A year later, he was a cub reporter for the former Springfield Daily News. He remembers well the protests from Winchester Square, since renamed

Student protestors marching down State Street.

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Mason Square, down State Street and into the downtown area.

Sometimes, the protesters were shouting down the war in Vietnam. Other times, it was the civil rights movement. And sometimes, the two groups mixed, waving signs and letting their feelings be known to all.

“Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were both killed that year and the Vietnam War was raging. There were a lot of protests – you could feel that things were changing,” said Phaneuf, now the Executive Editor of The Springfield Republican, which was then two daily newspapers, The Daily News and The Morning Union.

“A lot of the marches would start at AIC. There would be a rally there. It was a great meeting place for the colleges because it was so central,” he said. “At the same time you had a lot of the neighborhood kids, who were mostly black, dying in Vietnam,”

He remembers one march in 1969, where nearly 3,000 protestors from two groups – welfare mothers and civil rights advocates – marched from the old welfare office to the Central Library. There were arrests and property damage in an event that lasted for two days rocking the city to its core.

Naomi White-Inniss, now director of multi-cultural affairs, came to AIC in 1969 with her husband, the late Hilton White. He was hired as assistant basketball coach, and several years later was promoted to be the first African-American college basketball coach in New England. White-Inniss came up from the Bronx with her husband and three young children.

While Springfield faced turmoil, it seemed downright quiet to her by comparison, and she always liked the atmosphere on campus, no matter how angry the protestors in the city got. “It was very much calmer here than in New York,” she said.

“But still, there was a lot going on here. There were upsets and destruction. They were tearing up areas. People were dissatisfied.

“What I remember is that AIC was never touched.

I think people knew that AIC reached out to the

community, and it was felt that this was a place where students of color could come to,” WhiteInniss said.

When Thomas and his friends approached the administration, they got more than a promise to recruit. The college offered a building at the corner of State Street and Concord Terrace for use as an African-American Cultural Center. To the students who used the building, it was known as ‘The Black House.’

Along with the late Luther Smith, Thomas was a co-founder in 1969 of a group called PRIDE, and was better known on campus as ‘Katibu,’ which translates to ‘One of High Office.’

(AIC) was a great meeting place for the colleges because it was so central.

“It was a huge building,” he said. “They gave us money to convert it. We had a library, art exhibits every month, the artist Josephine Edwards was our curator. We had parties, poetry readings. It was quite a place.”

PRIDE – People Ready In Defense of Ebony – is going strong, said White-Inniss. “Throughout this time, PRIDE has never stopped. Our students do community service, we participate in many events, and we have the best fashion show around every year. It’s an institution,” she said.

White-Inniss believes that AIC made some solid decisions back when turmoil was the order of the day. And the college is still reaping the benefits, as the most diverse private college in the region.

“I think AIC has a welcome place in this community,” she said. “Here, first of all, we have actively recruited from way back to get students of color on campus. We’ve continued to do that.

“And we have students of color holding major positions here. My push has always been to get students visible on all areas of the campus, and that has happened,” she said. n

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Dear Alumni In the spring 2011 edition of Lucent, we asked you to please tell us about the photo to the right. We received great response, however, a letter from Charlie Webber ’68 turned the photo in to the great story we were looking for. That said, we invite you to respond to our next installment, below, of “Tell us about this photo.” We look forward to hearing your story.

Danielle Goldaper Director of Alumni Relations

“I was so surprised to see the photo in the current issue of Lucent. I always wondered if a copy existed somewhere. We were riding in/on Jim Faulkner’s MG sports car along Cortland St. near the Athletic Field. Someone from the College newspaper was there to photograph a spring ’68 baseball game and took the shot as we were flying by. That’s me in the white cap.

Al Aitken ’68 to my right. Al Morich ’70 to my left. Lou Tallarita ’70 was on the trunk, along with Bernie Cellillie ’68 who is barely visible behind my left ear. Jim Faulkner ’68 was driving. Dick Anderson ’68 was in the passenger seat. I think 7 passengers in a 2 seat sports car was still legal in 1968!”

Charlie Webber ’68

Tell us about this photo!

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We would love to know who is in it, what they were doing and where they are now. Tell your story to Danielle Goldaper at danielle.goldaper@aic.edu.

From the responses, we will draw a name and send that person a gift from AIC.

class notes 1940s

Mary Raissi Stewart ’42, cel-

ebrated her 90th birthday with her friends and family members in CT in June. Mary spends the winter months in St. Croix, Virgin Islands and continues to stay in touch with classmates from AIC.

1950s

Donald Powers ’56, has retired but is staying active with AIC through participation in the Alumni Varsity Club.

Robert J. Perlak ’57, is now

serving on the Board of Directors at the Polish Center for Discovery and Learning at Elms College.

1960s

Charles B. Gilligan ’63, was inducted into the Marblehead Football Hall of Fame. He also had a granddaughter born in November of 2010.

Dana C. Cutter ’64, was recently voted to have the area in front of Chicopee Comprehensive High School store dedicated

to him due to his devotion to teaching, as well as his volunteer work.

Anthony P. Costa, Jr. ’69, has

retired from SABIC Innovative Plastics and is looking forward to the Class of ’69 Reunion in 2014.

Paul Raverta ’69, has announced that he will retire from his position as president of Berkshire Community College, effective January 7, 2012.

Joseph Ruscio, III ’69, has

retired as the Superintendent of Schools in Greenfield, MA, and now works for AIC, where he is the Director of the School Communication Programs and Associate Director of Field Experiences.

1970s

Raymond Blanchard ’70,

has been named the General Manager of Devcon Security’s Richmond, Virginia branch.

Devcon Security Services Corp. is a leading provider of installation, monitoring and related electronic business and home security services with more than 50 branches nationwide.

The Class of 1972 funded

a scholarship in the amount of $600 that was awarded to Alyssa Robinson ’12 for the 2011-2012 academic year.

John Gibbons ’74, was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Public Administration at the AIC commencement exercises in May, 2011 where he served as the Commencement speaker to the graduating class of 2011.

Pierrette Lambert-Kelly ’75,

is on the Board of Directors for Advizex Technologies LLC, a $150 million technology business headquartered in Burlington, MA, where she also chairs the Compensation and Development Committee.

1980s

Shamshad Sheikh, MBA ’83,

is the first Muslim chaplain for Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. Samshad began her new post this fall.

Susan M. O’Driscoll ’85, is cur-

rently the Director of Nursing Psychiatry at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs, CT.

The 70th Anniversary of AIC football triggered a new tradition in the lives of a group of alumni football players from the late 1960’s. The reunion lead to an annual celebration of friendship between former Yellow Jackets. Standing L-R: Bob Parker ’70, Rick Johanningmeier, Coach, Hadley Williams ’69, Steve Craig ’70, Tim McCarthy ’70, Bob Dionisi ’69, Ed Gannon ’70, Paul Hansen ’67, Bill Sullivan ’70 and Ed Seero ’68. Front row L-R: Jim Garvey ’66, Ross Appleman ’70, Bob Polopek ’68, Glen Dumont ’70, Bill Connelly and Joe Keefe ’69.

Fall 2011 |

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class notes Lewis Calhoun, Jr. ’86, has

joined the Real Estate Department at American Eagle Federal Credit Union as a Mortgage Consultant.

Saurabh B. Dani, MBA ’86,

was named Vice Chairman and Managing Director of SMIPL (Secure Matrix India Private Limited). SMIPL specializes in IS and IT audit, security consulting services to banks, financial institutions, FMCGs, Government and other enterprises where IT plays a critical role in business processes.

Mark G. Mastroianni, Esq. ’86,

was sworn in as the Hampden County, Massachusetts District Attorney in January, 2011.

Howard Barouxis ’87, was

named Vice President of sales of ViewCast in Plano, Texas. ViewCast Corporation is a developer of industry leading solutions for the transformation, management and delivery of digital media over enterprise, broadband and mobile networks.

Donald Moorhouse ’87, was

named Director of Strategic Sales for the Springfield Falcons Hockey organization. Moorhouse is also in his 18th year as a columnist and entertainment writer for a local publication.

Donna Michelle Beaudoin ’88,

will be nationally releasing her book Sister Vegetarian’s 31 Days of Drama-Free Living for Vegetarians and Vegans, in February of 2012.

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1990s

Marc Klaiman, MBA ’90, was

featured in Sports Illustrated as the Head football coach for Anna Maria College, a division III school that just started its football program. Marc was also recently named to serve on the Division III National Football Committee.

Daniel O’Brien ’91, has been

elevated from the rank of sergeant to that of Captain in the West Springfield, MA Police Department.

Leon A. Gaumond, Jr. ’94, has

been chosen by his peers of the Massachusetts Municipal Managers Association to serve on its Executive Committee for 2011 as its President.

Thomas M. Lopez ’96, has been

appointed as the Director of U.S. Sales for Thinkstream Inc. in Baton Rouge, LA. Thinkstream, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading innovators of criminal justice and public safety technology.

Michael Ravosa ’98, is now a Vice President and Certified Financial Planner with UBS Wealth Management in Springfield, MA. Timothy M. Van Tasel, MPA ’98, has been appointed as the

Principal of John F. Kennedy Middle School in Enfield, CT.

2000s

Kendra Jones and Nicholas Rogers ’09, recently announced

the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Marissa Loralei Rogers who was born on July 6, 2011.

Stephanie Perez ’09, is work-

ing as a Family Services Coordinator at the Department of Children and Families Office in Springfield, Massachusetts as a member of the Key Programs. In her spare time she creates new art that has been articled by a reporter for “El Pueblo Latino” newspaper that is affiliated with the Republican. Stephanie’s art will be displayed in the Governor’s office as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. n

How we can serve you better? alumni survey results

In 2010, the Alumni Office took the time to ask you, the alumni, how we could serve you better.

Here is what we found:

4,558

surveys sent

12%

Here is who responded:

of you responded

WW II/Post WW II (Up thru 1963) Woodstock/Vietnam (1964-1974) Post Watergate (1975-1980)

Yuppie/End of Cold War (1981-1993)

Electronic Revolution/DotCom (1994-2000) Post 9/11 (2001-current) How you want to be contacted: Email Mail

Telephone

Face to Face

From

• •

• •

• •

23

questions here is what we found:

you want to know that your degree is increasing in equity. you want the College to provide opportunities for you to provide feedback and engage in activities. you want to participate in job and career related activities. younger alumni (30 and under) want the College to communicate differently with them than older alumni do. you want to see their College branding presence on campus. alumni who live outside of Massachusetts want to be engaged.

It is the goal of the AIC Alumni office to always make AIC grads feel “at home” when they visit the campus and to maintain the connections with the college and fellow alumni no matter where home really is.

Please let us know how we can keep you connected to the College and to the friends you made at AIC!

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in memoriam Class of 1937

Class of 1953

Class of 1967

Everitt M. Patterson Esther Plancon Sandstrom-Lambert

Ronald W. Gintowt Raquel Dillon Singer Joseph E. Thagard

Ruth A. Coleman James D. Russo Christine Ellen Wallen

W. Kent Fernald Sr. Edward J. Murphy Francis W. Welch

Robert Renault

Class of 1941 Philip A. Sweeney

Class of 1942 Jean Lewis Andrews Gerard Desforges

Class of 1943

Gloria C. Cerrato Gavert Marjorie Abar Gray William R. Jenkins

Class of 1944

Ruth G. Gray Overlock

Class of 1946

Francis M. Spencer Robert N. Robin Genevieve Hageman Sykas

Class of 1949

Thomas L. Blanchard, Jr. June Koehler Groves William S. Kopelman Joseph Scavone Constance Johnson Culp

Class of 1950

Rodman R. Henry James J. McComb Ernest C. Piazza Lawrence L. Pomerantz

Class of 1951

Robert J. Burns Robert F. Crowson John Dzwonkus William W. Gonski, Jr. Donalda W. Methven Mackintire Julian M. Roodberg

Class of 1952

Estelle August Freedman William J. McCarthy John F. Rooney

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Class of 1954

Class of 1955 Richard L. Goyer Ronald P. Pare

Class of 1956 Frank A. Crinella

Class of 1958 Robert W. McCarthy Maurice H. Pease Lucy T. Vecchiarelli

Class of 1968 Class of 1970

Edward L. Fenton, Jr. Hannah J. Pistrich

Class of 1971 Frances H. Meyer

Class of 1972 Ellen M. Saltzman

Class of 1973

Class of 1959

David L. Crawford Thomas W. McGowan

James P. Foley Marilyn Liptak

Leo V. Stack Judith Auerbach Kantrowitz

Thomas P. Gaffney Richard K. O’Neil

Milo F. Brown Kenneth Fuette Ralph Pelland Steven C. Perry

Class of 1960

Class of 1961 Barbara Zacheus Benson Norman R. Epstein Elinor Glynn William F. Hennessey

Class of 1962 Richard A. Boucher George Laybourne

Class of 1963 William P. Igoe .

Class of 1964 Diana Rainey Link

Class of 1965 Helen Chmielewski Kelly

Class of 1966

Franklin R. Cushing Stanley Kawalec

Class of 1976

Class of 1977

Class of 1978 Donald J. Charest Ellen M. Donoghue

Class of 1979 Cecile A. Driscoll

Class of 1985 Dorothy L. Cormier

Class of 1989 Lawrence B. Brown

Class of 1992 Linda E. Mol

Class of 1993 Peter A. Alaimo Shirley Stanton

give to your future “It is our pleasure to make our annual donation to AIC for scholarships. We urge you, current and future alumni, to help support your alma mater, its students and faculty. Supporting education is really a gift we give our future selves.”

Brian ’65 and Patricia Saunders Consider making a gift back to where your future began. For more information about giving to the Annual Fund, please contact Danielle Goldaper, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at 413.205.3520, email at danielle.goldaper@aic.edu or visit www.aic.edu/give.

American International College 1000 State Street Springfield, Massachusetts 01109 www.aic.edu

The Alumni Magazine of American International College

Upgrade to Business Class You need to be valuable in business.

You need an education with value.

Our MBA program delivers both.

“Because of my great undergraduate experience here, AIC was the logical choice for my MBA. My goal is to become an entrepreneur. The range of AIC’s MBA courses gives me the foundation I need to successfully aic.edu/MBA launch businesses. I’ve enjoyed AIC, especially the professors. The faculty go out of their way to help students get ahead, and the small class size means professors can build mentoring relationships with students—a benefit larger schools can’t offer.”

AIC

Call 413.205.3700 or visit www.aic.edu/MBA

Much Ado… about AIC’s student actors YAAKOV BLOCH BA ’11, MBA ’13 Fa l l 2 0 1 1 | Vo l u m e 4 | I s s u e 2