Bryant Magazine | Summer 2019

A BRYANT UNIVERSITY RESOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

SUMMER 2019

BIG DATA

DRIVES INSIGHT

THE

DISRUPTORS

Bryant University's mission is to educate and inspire students to discover their passion and become innovative leaders with character around the world.

SUMMER 2019, VOLUME 25, NUMBER 3

2

12

FEATURES

2 6 12 16

Data - It’s Everywhere! It’s Everywhere! But, Why? Innovative Disruption Starts Early at Bryant Building on the Strategic Expansion of Data Science Programs

Bryant’s distinctive brand is founded on the University’s four key pillars: Academic Excellence; Education of the Whole Person; Inspiring, Purposeful, and Collegial Community; and Global and Diverse Perspectives.

30 GLOBAL AND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

18 PHILANTHROPY

programs that expand their global

friends, faculty, staff, students,

all aspects of the Bryant experience.

University’s national profile while

accomplished teachers, scholars,

PROOFREADING

Claudette Piette Jean Plunkett

PUBLISHING DIREC TOR

ART DIREC TION

Elizabeth O’Neil

Jennifer Zevon

EDITOR

DESIGN/PRODUC TION

Karen Maguire P ’18

BizHelm

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHY

Maria Caliri Sarah Garnsey Denise Kelley Nancy Kirsch Stephen Kostrzewa Alex Lippa Tina Senecal '95, '08 MBA Patricia S. Vieira

Bravo Charlie Delta Josh Backer Cole Hollis Stew Milne Pam Murray Santina Musumeci Aldieri '82 Patrick O'Connor Glenn Osmundson David Silverman

rallying the entire Bulldog community.

Rita Colburn Donna Harris P ’03 Tina Senecal '95, '08 MBA

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34 COLLEGIAL COMMUNITY

26 INNOVATION

Our collegial, student-centered community forges lifelong connections

Bryant’s innovative academic

through a powerful network of 50,000

programs anticipate the emerging needs of organizations and society.

Bryant’s highly competitive Division I athletics program is raising the

Our distinguished faculty of

students to discover their passion.

perspectives.

32 BULLDOG PRIDE

22 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

and mentors educate and inspire

Our students immerse themselves in a variety of academic and co-curricular

Gifts from generous alumni, parents, corporations, and foundations support

PROJEC T COORDINATOR

Leslie Bucci ’77

CL ASS NOTES

Anticipating Disruption to Thrive

1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PUBLISHER

Bryant University Office of University Advancement David C. Wegrzyn ’86, Vice President for University Advancement

alumni throughout the world.

38 ACCOMPLISHED ALUMNI

Bryant alumni are making a difference in their fields and in their communities.

44 IN MEMORIAM

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

INSPIRED TO EXCEL At the 156th Bryant Commencement exercises held last month, 890 undergraduate and 125 graduate student members of the Class of 2019 were awarded a Bryant degree that has more value now than at any time in our history. These new alumni are prepared with skills that our next generation of leaders need and ready for the technology-driven world of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As members of the Class of 2019 moved on to take their next step in life’s journey, we welcomed the incoming Class of 2023 for Orientation. This incoming class was selected from the largest and most highly qualified applicant pool in Bryant history, and has outstanding academic credentials that will allow the new students to benefit from the exceptional educational experience we deliver.

More than a decade ago, Bryant launched a bold international strategy that included creation of a school in China. With the hard work and expertise of many,

As you may already know, this spring I announced my intention to retire from my position as Bryant University president after next year’s Commencement. As I shared in my letter to the Board of Trustees that was sent the following day to the Bryant community, it has been such an honor and privilege to serve Bryant for the past 23 years. During that time Kati and I have seen more than 15,000 graduates whose lives were transformed by their Bryant education. We have watched as they have returned for alumni events and are so proud of their professional and personal life accomplishments.

Kati and I are extremely grateful. We love this institution, its faculty, staff, and students. As we look to the future, it is simply time to plan for a new chapter in life. After a 49-year career that included the US Navy, the practice of law, service in the US Congress, and now 23 years as president of this great institution, it is time to pause and pass the mantle of leadership to another. I have every confidence that the Board will select an excellent successor who will take the helm after our May 2020 graduation.

In this issue of Bryant magazine, we examine the powerful force of disruption. Bryant itself has long been a disruptor in its arena. Our integrated curriculum is game-changing and the entire Bryant experience is

Bryant Zhuhai admitted its first students in 2015. On June 8, our global vision became reality as we awarded 130 students a Bryant University degree. As we look at the relations of China and the US today, there has never been a more important time for this type of collaborative educational effort, where we can learn complex academic concepts, and just as importantly learn to understand one another and appreciate that our futures as individuals and nations are inexorably linked.

When we launched our capital campaign, Expanding the World of Opportunity: The Campaign for Bryant’s Bold Future, we had ambitious goals and the conviction that the campaign would be the catalyst to take Bryant to the next level of excellence. Although our campaign has several months still to go, working together we have already exceeded our stretch goal of $100 million. We are now over $103 million and the key resources from this campaign have allowed us to define Bryant’s future and set a new pace and optimism for our programs and students.

I encourage you to be part of the life of Bryant University today. Make plans to visit campus and learn more about how you can participate in Bryant’s exciting future and trajectory of excellence.

Sincerely,

designed to develop the skills of innovative leaders.

Within our community, we have many such leaders who are making a difference in organizations around the world. I hope you will enjoy reading just a few their

Ronald K. Machtley

stories on the pages that follow.

President

ANTICIPATING DISRUPTION TO THRIVE

BY PATRICIA S. VIEIRA

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY. NETFLIX. APPLE’S IPHONE. ALL WERE RADICAL INNOVATIONS THAT DISRUPTED THEIR INDUSTRY CATEGORIES, DISPLACED MARKET LEADERS, AND TRANSFORMED CONSUMERS’ EXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS. WHAT WERE ONCE NOVELTY INVENTIONS ATTRACTIVE TO UNDERSERVED CUSTOMERS HAVE BECOME UBIQUITOUS FEATURES OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

ALL ARE EXAMPLES OF DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION.

T

he formal theory of Disruptive Innovation was proposed by Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen ’16H in his groundbreaking book, The Innovator’s Dilemma, published in 1997. He observed that successful companies generally focus on meeting the needs of their best

customers with ever-improving products and services. These “sustaining innovations,” which become increasingly complex and more costly to meet

consumer demand, mark the traditional route to greater profit.

But this focus leaves an opening in the bottom of the market for forward thinking entrepreneurs to develop a new version of a product or service for the consumers who are left behind. Because the early innovations often are perceived as inferior, the market leaders ignore or dismiss the new competition – leaving that market wide open for growth and further innovation.

The earliest versions of digital photography, for example, produced images that initially were inferior to those captured on film. But a segment of the market, unwilling or unable to pay for high-end camera equipment and intrigued by the elimination of film and its processing, traded imperfections for the convenience of the digital format. The technology improved at lightening speed – upending an industry that traditionally focused on improving the quality of film and

Bryant's state-of-theart Data Visualization Lab, opened May 6, offers fully immersive experiences through 360 video and synthetic digital environments for nearly every course of study.

equipment. Ironically, the digital camera has itself been displaced by cell phone cameras, as new disruptors enter a relentlessly evolving market.

“… S K AT E T O W H E R E T H E P U C K I S G O I N G T O B E …”

Innovative disruptors – the individuals who found and lead the thriving companies that challenge and change industries and culture – are a unique breed of thought leaders and entrepreneurs. The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, famously summed up a key characteristic at the unveiling of the first iPhone in 2007. “There’s an old Wayne Gretzky quote that I love,” he said. “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.’ And we’ve always tried to do that at Apple.”

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

3

DISRUPTORS: TENACIOUS, CONTRARIAN COMMUNICATORS Among the ranks of innovative disruptors are numerous Bryant University alumni who are fighting the status quo in many industry sectors.

One is Ian Morris ’90, Co-Founder and CEO of Seattle-based Likewise, Inc., a new recommendations service funded by Bill Gates that reimagines how users discover, organize, and share recommendations for their favorite books, movies, TV shows, restaurants, and places.

Morris founded Likewise with the belief that today’s incumbents, which provide crowd-sourced ratings from anonymous strangers can’t possibly be the best way to get great recommendations. In a world overrun with aggregated ratings from strangers, fake personas, and filled with negative commentary, Likewise distinguishes itself by providing an always positive environment, focused on things people love rather than those to avoid. “We’re about providing personalized and authentic recommendations from the people, influencers, and brands you know and trust, all delivered in a positive environment,” explains Morris.

This isn’t Morris’s first foray into challenging the status quo. As the CEO of Market Leader for more than a decade, Morris disrupted two different

aspects of the real estate industry.

The company was the first to use the Internet to generate leads for real estate professionals at scale, and then later, built the industry’s first endto-end Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform.

In both cases, Market Leader disrupted existing value chains and as a result met with resistance both from competitors and many of those who would become the company’s most loyal customers.

He’s also been a strategic advisor to a number of SaaS providers who are innovating in other industries.

Morris cites Netflix and LinkedIn as two examples of disruptive innovation. Universally recognized for its role in the demise of the Blockbuster video rental empire – Netflix is in the unique position of being a disruptive innovator that has subsequently disrupted itself, he says.

The company has successfully navigated the competitive shift from a DVD subscription service, to online streaming, to creating original content for its customers.

Morris also points to LinkedIn as a company that has gone from enabling professionals to post profiles online, to one that is disrupting corporate communications, recruiting, and customer relationship management,

leading to the company’s acquisition

by Microsoft for $26 billion.

“Everything a user needs resides in one place, stored in a free, cloudbased personal CRM tool,” he explains. “With easy access to prospects and customers, the platform is even a threat to email communications.”

Through his experiences, Morris has distilled the qualities of a disruptive innovator into a few vital attributes.

“You need to be tenacious,” he insists, because most often, everything is pushing back against you.”

He also thinks that being a contrarian is an underrated quality. “You really need to be willing to come at something very differently and to be ready to hear people tell you why what you’re doing isn’t going to work.” Finally, he adds, “you need the passion and communication skills to sell your vision because you need to find employees, partners, and eventually customers, who believe in the same vision and want to join you for the ride. Otherwise you’re just talking to yourself.”

“YOU NEED THE PASSION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS to sell your vision because you need to find employees, partners, and eventually customers, who believe in the same vision and want to join you for the ride. Otherwise you’re just talking to yourself.”

Ian Morris ’90 Co-founder and CEO of Seattle-based Likewise, Inc.

4

A NT I CIPAT IN G DISRU PTION TO TH R IVE

“TECHNOLOGY CHANGES YOUR BUSINESS FASTER AND FASTER EVERY DAY. You really need to be aware of what’s going on around you and have the flexibility to change fast.”

Mario Hernández ‘97 MBA Founder and CEO of IMPESA

DISRUPTORS: LASER-FOCUSED AND EXTERNALLY AWARE A decade after Christensen’s theory

system fully customizes the credit

demand focus because at some point

was published, Mario Hernández ’97

card experience. This enables corporate

you might need to change direction

MBA sat in his class as a student in

card holders to set specific parameters

or you will miss an opportunity,” he

the Advanced Management Program

for card use and monitor transactions.

says. “It takes dedication and you

at Harvard Business School. He recalls

need to travel and learn what’s going

the professor’s instruction to “leap

on

instead of going in a straight line in terms of how you look forward and even change your business model.”

After more than 20 years in banking, Hernández founded and leads IMPESA, a company that is revolutionizing the electronic

payments

industry.

Its

inaugural product, Monibyte, is a cloud-based

corporate

payments

“Our mission is to help financial institutions compete with technology companies that are faster to market. We see ourselves as a technology enabler,” explains Hernández.

platform that has processed millions of international transactions.

resonates with the company’s CEO. “Now that I’m on the other side, it’s even clearer,” explains Hernández.

“There are so many changes banks can’t make because of their legacy systems. A bank takes two years to create

a

new

product.

We

can

introduce and implement one in two to three months.”

Unlike other companies that are disrupting payment systems with wallet

apps

for

smart

phones,

Monibyte has a different but no less innovative – mission. Its proprietary

you

because

that’s

That

external

awareness

leads

Hernández to see blockchain – the digital technology developed to track Bitcoin

cryptocurrency

–

as

a

massively disrupting “game changer” for multiple industries. “Blockchain ledgers tell you exactly where a particular asset is located – where it travels, where it is now, and how it

IMPESA has an impressive record of

That early advice from Christensen

around

changing every single day.”

changes hands. The technology can be

employee retention and Hernández

used on virtually every single thing

believes creating that environment is

you can think of – for more secure

essential for innovative companies to

wire transfers, logistics, accounting,

flourish. “In five years, we’ve had

health care, almost anything.”

zero rotation,” he notes. “As a leader you need to understand that your staff is

extremely

important.

Everyone

needs to be very well trained in world class technology and you need to be on top of everything that’s going on.”

Hernández

also

emphasizes

the

For Hernández, blockchain is an environmental factor he needs to be aware of while IMPESA focuses on its mission and waits for the technology to mature. His key question for any innovation:

Does

it

add

value?

“Technology changes your business

importance of developing a balance

faster and faster every day. Our business

between being “laser focused” on the

can be disrupted in just one year,” he

company mission while also paying

acknowledges. “You really need to be

attention to the industry environment.

aware of what’s going on around you

“There

are

so

many

things

that

and have the flexibility to change fast.”

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

5

DATA –

IT’S EVERYWHERE! IT’S EVERYWHERE!

David Fusari ’89 Former Chief Technology Officer TriNetX

BY MARIA CALIRI

Janvi Nerurkar ’14 Data Analyst II Marsh & McLennan Agency

Matt Los Kamp ’13 Senior Data Scientist and Team Leader Dell Technologies

BUT, WHY? The answers to that question are as varied as the bits of data themselves. In some cases, the benefits are fairly evident.

Join the local supermarket’s loyalty program and receive personalized discount offers on popular brands. Subscribe to Netflix, and it will send suggestions of the next movie you should watch. Add your business card to a fishbowl at a favorite restaurant for a chance to win a free lunch or dinner.

To an average consumer, these are clear-cut examples of how sharing data provides benefits. And to the companies utilizing big data, they are illustrations of how it helps them retain and deepen existing customer relationships and develop new ones.

Yet, these simple, everyday uses of data merely scratch the surface of how the increasing volume of data—both structured (e.g., customers’ mailing addresses) and unstructured (e.g., social media streams)—impacts our lives. More often than not, we are unaware of how much is collected, how it is collected, and how it is used.

Certainly, news reports about massive data breaches and misuses catch our full attention. While stories about lax data privacy policies at Facebook and data leaks at Marriott Internationals’ Starwood Hotels are in the headlines, we maintain a heightened awareness of the power of data and begin to wonder if we should delete all of our social network profiles. When the hype dissipates, however, we return to posting to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and SnapChat freely, filling out customer experience surveys for retailers we frequent and entering our interests and exercise and sleeping habits into our fitness apps.

On the receiving end of all of this information are companies and organizations that understand the importance of data. Indeed, the value of data cannot be underestimated. The Economist regards data as the world’s most valuable resource—even more so than oil. While the latter heats homes and is a critical element to a wide variety of products, including medicines, it cannot, like data, help companies achieve specific business objectives—goals that are not as obvious as encouraging return visits to a grocery store, and—maybe—even a bit surprising.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

7

DATA—A STRATEGIC ASSET Companies with a data-driven culture handle data with the same level of respect and regard they give to more commonly thought of assets, such as trade secrets and equipment, in order to ensure the information delivers value. As such, they entrust data scientists to work with company leadership to develop and execute an enterprisewide analytics strategy that aligns with the companies’ overarching goals.

Defining a plan is critical; without a roadmap, companies can fall victim to what is known as the “big data buzz”—collecting as much data as possible without a clear understanding of its quality or how to use it.

John Gillooly ’07, Managing Director, Data Analytics at Athena Global Advisors, is committed to helping clients avoid those pitfalls. A strategic consultant focused on assisting stakeholders make use of data-driven insights, Gillooly emphasizes the importance of focusing on goals.

“My first order of business is to figure out what my clients’ objectives are,” says Gillooly. “They may have a broad concept of what they want, but I have to dig deeper because the data they ask for is not necessarily what they need.”

“ONCE GOALS ARE DEFINED, we can then start talking about the data needed to support the goals…”

John Gillooly ’07 Managing Director, Data Analytics Athena Global Advisors

“Once the goals are defined, we can then start talking about the data needed to support the goals, the data collection methods and how the data will be used.”

With strategies in place, it also incumbent upon data professionals to determine data quality, maintain data hygiene and sort it properly. Data can only become a working asset if it is error-free and arranged in a meaningful order. These are challenging tasks for both in-house and outsourced data teams given the inconsistencies in large data sets and the increasing amount of new data created—especially in ever-changing industries.

A Bryant alumnus with first-hand knowledge of the complexities involved in carrying out these responsibilities is David Fusari ’89, former Chief Technology Officer at TriNetX. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm combines longitudinal clinical data—data derived from repeated observations of the same populations over a period of time— with state-of-the-art analytics on a self-service platform.

“One of the biggest challenges is making the data usable,” says Fusari. “Patient records from hospitals and other health care organizations often contain only one small, valuable element. I saw records referencing pregnant males or bizarre dates of birth. The general rule is to exclude that data.

“Medical coding and the rapid rollout of new drugs further complicate the process of curating the data. ICD codes (International Classification of Diseases) change all the time, so normalizing the data is a constant.”

TriNetX also uses natural language processing (NLP) to optimize the value it receives. For example, electronic medical records contain structured data, like the ICD codes, as well as unstructured data, such as written clinical notes. Using

David Fusari ’89 Former Chief Technology Officer, TriNetX

NLP allows TriNetX to extract data elements, such as tumor sizes and

(pictured above)

characteristics, from this text, map them to standard clinical terms and make them available to researchers.

8

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS MAKING THE DATA USABLE.”

DA T A– IT'S EVERYWHER E! IT'S EVER YWH ER E!

DATA—A COLLECTIVE FORCE FOR GOOD Data—thoughtfully organized and cared-for—as it is at TriNetX, then provides organizations with opportunities to meet their goals that were seemingly unattainable prior to the data revolution. As an illustration, Fusari discussed the problems pharmaceutical companies had in identifying patients who qualified for clinical trials.

“Bringing a drug to market takes many years and costs about $2 billion to $3 billion with a large percentage of that spent [on R&D] before the drug is even tested on a human. All too often, the pharmaceutical companies would receive the FDA approval to move forward with clinical trials only to determine that there is a lack of patients who qualify for the trial.”

TriNetX helps mitigate this costly dilemma with its analytics platform that gives its customers access to tens of millions of anonymized patient records. Having on-demand access to this volume of clinical and claims data—representing more than 300 million patients—enables pharma companies to identify clinical trial sites more easily.

Other users of the TriNetX platform include clinical researchers working either for one hospital or collaboratively with peers across a healthcare network that shares data with the company. Researchers looking to identify more effective treatments for specific diseases or who are analyzing trends among specific patient populations can perform observational studies in real-time.

Identifying trends through claims data is also of particular importance to U.S. employers that want a deeper understanding of their employees’ well-being.

Using claims data analysis that insurers provide, companies utilize the information to make data-driven decisions about a host of issues, such as wellness programs, health benefit plans and ergonomically correct work environments.

Among the many analysts sifting through these immense data sets is Janvi Nerurkar ’14, Data Analyst II at Marsh & McLennan Agency, the ninth largest insurance broker in the United States. Part of the Planning & Analytics for Total Health (PATH) Department, Nerurkar aggregates and evaluates [HIPAA-compliant] insurance claims data to provide employers with a “health snapshot” of its workforce.

“Employers want to know what’s going on in their population,” says Nerurkar. “An analysis can indicate a prevalence of specific health issues like diabetes or smoking-related problems. In cases like these, the carriers often encourage employers to promote insurerprovided services like smoking cessation programs. If the carriers don’t have such programs in place, then our health management consultants can recommend vendors.”

Marsh analysts also compare the findings of peer companies of similar size in the same industry. By generating this benchmarking data, Marsh provides its clients with many benefits, including the ability to identify common claim types within their industry and the opportunity to develop practices that prevent the occurrence of those claims.

“EMPLOYERS WHAT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON in their population.”

Janvi Nerurkar ’14 Data Analyst II Marsh & McLennan Agency (pictured above)

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

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DATA—A SALES PROPELLER Just as TriNetX and Marsh & McLellan are sorting and analyzing data for organizations other than themselves, a broad spectrum of companies is engaging with big data to drive their business forward—generate more revenue, increase profits, and gain a stronger foothold in their respective markets.

John Gillooly of Athena Global Advisors described how Timberland, the outdoor

Timberland, the outdoor shoe

shoe and apparel company, collected data (unbeknownst to its customers) from

and apparel company,

social conversations and used it to refine its marketing practices and, ultimately, strengthen its brand equity.

“Say Timberland in the U.S., and outdoor activities, like hiking, immediately come to mind,” says Gillooly. “Yet, conversations on social media centered around how cool Beyoncé and Jay-Z look in their Timberlands. The brand name was frequently mentioned on hip-hop blogs and other online forums. Other discussions revealed that in Europe, Timberland is fashionable.”

COLLECTED DATA FROM SOCIAL CONVERSATIONS AND USED IT TO REFINE ITS MARKETING PRACTICES and, ultimately, strengthen its brand equity.

These conversations, coupled with a multi-year customer study, prompted Timberland to shift its marketing and merchandising strategies within the last five years. While its products are still popular with outdoor enthusiasts, Timberland boots and apparel can be found not only at REI but also at Macy’s and Nordstrom. The changes have proven to be successful. Timberland is ranked among VF Corporation’s top five brands. (VF Corporation owns the Timberland brand.)

Timberland’s transition to a more fashion-forward company was made possible with voice of customer data; people were openly sharing their experiences with and expectations of the brand in very public forums.

In a B2B environment, however, it’s a different story.

Given that the powers that be at Fortune 500 companies aren’t tweeting about their purchasing practices or intentions, predicting the probablility of sales pipeline conversion becomes an exercise in data analytics.

Heading such an exercise at Dell Technologies is Senior Data Scientist and Team Leader Matt Los Kamp ’13. Using the Pipeline Health Index (PHI), an in-house developed analytics model, he and a team of analysts assess sales pipeline risks based on various data elements.

“We look at hundreds of thousands of open deals and identify which may fall through,” says Los Kamp. “Our predictive model considers many factors, such as the company’s annual revenues and its purchasing history with Dell. Each deal receives a PHI score; all assessments are shared with sales and finance executives across the enterprise.”

In addition to helping the sales teams close their deals, the data analyses are also contributing to their ability to sell more effectively. By revealing commonalities among high-risk deals, the analytics provide the sales force with the opportunity to identify and mitigate those risks early on in the sales cycle.

“WE LOOK AT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OPEN DEALS and identify which may fall through.”

Matt Los Kamp ’13 Senior Data Scientist and Team Leader Dell Technologies (pictured above)

10

DA T A– IT'S EVERYWHER E! IT'S EVER YWH ER E!

DATA—THE ULTIMATE MULTI-TASKER Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, once said, “Data is a precious thing.” Truer words were never spoken. The proliferation of data, as discussed on these pages, can help companies remain competitive, drive medical advances and improve indiduals’ well-being. It is difficult to think of any other tool that provides as much meaningful information for making better decisions.

Certainly, there are drawbacks associated with data. When it’s misused and misinterpreted, consumer privacy is compromised, and decisions are made based on unsubstantiated facts. For these reasons, it’s best to remember what Kate Crawford, Co-Founder of the AI Now Institute at New York University, is fond of saying, “With big data comes big responsibilities.”

“WITH BIG DATA COMES BIG RESPONSIBILITIES.” Kate Crawford Co-Founder of the AI Now Institute at New York University

(Left) Bryant’s new Data Visualization Lab provides students with a window to another world. Equipped with state-of-the-art virtual reality and visualization technology, the lab, made possible through a generous gift from HP, will help prepare the next generation of leaders to take their place at the forefront of a technology-driven future.

Offering fully-immersive experiences through 360-degree video and synthetic digital environments, the lab presents a range of new and vital opportunities for nearly every course of study. The lab’s diverse applications range from examining human anatomy and chemical structure in a three-dimensional space, to evaluating complex, high-dimensional data sets, to exploring digital storytelling and public speaking and sales training scenarios. It's also equipped with tools for students and faculty to create customized virtual learning spaces.

“OUR NEW DATA VISUALIZATION LAB WILL ENHANCE LEARNING FOR ALL OF BRYANT’S STUDENTS —and we are only beginning to imagine the myriad ways that we can use this technology in our College of Business, our College of Arts and Sciences, and our Physician Assistant program. The possibilities are as exciting as they are numerous.”

Glenn Sulmasy, JD, LLM, P’22, P’23 Provost and Chief Academic Officer

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

11

INNOVATIVE DISRUPTION starts early

AT BRYANT

AMONG THE CHALLENGES ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES FACE IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS TO TACKLE ISSUES IN INDUSTRIES THAT ARE EVOLVING SO QUICKLY, THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN EXIST YET. BRYANT HAS BEEN CULTIVATING IMAGINATIVE LEADERS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO THINK INNOVATIVELY ON THEIR FEET SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1863. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES THIS SMALL, PRIVATE UNIVERSITY?

A

t Bryant, faculty research, publish, and teach on their own schedule, not a predefined mandate, allowing the instructors the freedom to pursue projects that are relevant and that they’re passionate about.

Through the Faculty Innovation Grant program, now in its eighth

Cultivating A Disruptor’s Habits Of Mind

year, the University invests in the development of creative and innovative pedagogies designed to effectively prepare students for the world and the

Associate Professor of Psychology Allison

workplaces they will encounter when they graduate – which may be vastly

Butler, Ph.D., serves as director of the

different from when they entered college.

Bryant IDEA program, a signature aspect

“We are fostering a culture of innovation at Bryant,” says Provost and Chief Academic Officer Glenn Sulmasy, J.D., LL.M., P’22. “These grants encourage

of a Bryant education that builds critical skills

for

future

industry

disruptors:

thinking like a design thinker, embracing

faculty to be creative, test new ideas, and discover the most effective ways to

critical feedback, being collaborative, and

teach students how to think critically and solve the most complex problems.”

being excellent and confident in visual

One differentiating factor at Bryant is the faculty who possess industry experience and an unbridled and infectious enthusiasm for their areas of expertise. Small class sizes mean that students and faculty get to know each other, allowing for impactful collaborations that have not infrequently led to undergraduate students presenting at national and even international conferences as early as their first year.

This willingness and ability of Bryant’s faculty to challenge students in how they think and contribute to problem solving is integral to the University’s distinct academic approach. These disruptions, and disruptors, are continually referenced by students and alumni as life changing and career defining. In every discipline – from business to biology – faculty who awaken the curiosity of students are

and verbal communication skills.

Bryant’s IDEA program, which completed its seventh year in January, is based on the theory that the design thinking approach can generate disruptive breakthroughs.

“As an educational and developmental psychologist,

I’m

passionate

about

understanding human learning,” Butler says. “What drew me to the study of design thinking is the connection

at the heart of that Bryant culture. Among those often-named educators is

between learning to think like a design

Dirk Primus, Ph.D., a seven-year Management faculty member.

thinker and how that helps cultivate

Primus, an assistant professor of management and two-time recipient of the

successful academically as well as in the

Bryant Outstanding Faculty Award, says that disrupting the way people think about problems can be accomplished with well-planned techniques.

“Too often, people think of creative thinking or design thinking as a group brainstorm that requires no preparation,” says the Faculty Innovation Grant recipient. “Nothing could be further from the true concept of design thinking.”

The typical buzzwords around thinking – creative, design, and disruptive – may seem unattainable to people who consider themselves more analytical than artistic, but especially at the beginning of a problem-solving process, it’s not necessarily about creating an “a-ha” moment. There is a method to this madness of thinking like a designer, says Primus. “Properly framing the problem is first

and foremost. Participants can’t employ the creative method if they don’t truly

habits of mind that train people to be workplace. Thinking like a design thinker leads to higher self-efficacy for creativity and higher self-efficacy for design.”

Butler notes that “as a university that really values the intersection of business skills and arts and sciences skills, it's a natural fit for Bryant to be teaching the design thinking process. All one has to do is look to the headlines to see examples of design thinking in the arts, in the sciences, and in business.”

understand the issue at hand.”

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

13

SCIENCE BEHIND THE IDEA Studies outline a science behind the idea of creative thinking. With 12 years of experience working as an engineer and manager in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical industries before embarking on a career as a college professor, Primus is more than qualified to speak to scientific methods.

Numerous

empirical

studies

find

that cross-functional teams perform better and produce more imaginative results than individuals. This is why Bryant’s classes often organize into teams for projects.

Management sociologists,

scientists, and

applied

organizational

psychologists have contributed more than 5,000 publications on the topics

of organizational innovation to a

Among those studies of team climate

robust body of research, and at the

is one by Primus and his colleague

top of the list is the team climate that

Crystal X. Jiang, Ph.D., Associate

most often leads to success.

Professor of Management.

“That first gathering of the team is what we focused on because prior observations show that the initiation is what’s most important in an innovation context. It can set the tone and direction for the first half of the team’s tenure, so it’s crucial to ensure that it’s a positive first meeting.”

CRYSTAL X. JIANG, PH.D, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT

THE HORSEPOWER OF CREATIVITY You don’t have to be an artist to think like one. “Absolutely anyone can use creative methods to improve their work,” says Primus. “Not everyone was born with the same horsepower of creativity – there are only a handful of Michelangelos and Beethovens, even if given all the tools, nurturing, and encouragement early on. But then again, few of us maximize the horsepower we have. We can awaken creativity,

and

studies

of

brain

activity have proven this.”

One of the positive outcomes of tapping into this well of creativity is that it feels good. “Beethoven wasn’t thinking about sustaining his competitive advantage when he wrote his symphonies. Engaging your 14

I N NO VATIV E DISRU PTION STAR TS EAR LY AT BR YANT

hands to write, play an instrument, sculpt a statue, and other such endeavors while also engaging your creativity does something positive to our neurochemistry.”

Primus is one of only about 50 people in the United States who is a certified facilitator of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP), which is exactly what it sounds like – “playing” with LEGOs to stimulate out-of-the-box problem solving. As a team facilitator, he says, it’s important to know your role. It begins with some creativity warmup exercises to get them going.

“A warm-up is critical to getting the most out of the participants and for the participants to get the most out of the process,” he says. “Even the best trained athlete wouldn’t just roll out of bed and run a marathon.”

DIRK PRIMUS, PH.D, MANAGEMENT FACULTY MEMBER

NURTURING DISRUPTION It is in this way that “disruptive

A

thinking” is nurtured at Bryant. In

involves

designerly

approach

multiple

both

Kelsey Gainor ’17, ’20 MBA “Before Professor Primus’s class, my thought

their freshman year, students are

analytical

thinking.

processes were very linear. Professor

Primus continues, “Architects such

Primus helped me understand that

Design Experience for All, an intense,

as Frank Gehry have to understand

strategy, innovation, and business

three-day

structure,

decisions don't follow a standard

experience

creative

usually of

introduced to IDEA – Innovation immersion

and

cycles

foundations,

materials,

that introduces the culture of design

aesthetics, and more to perform

blueprint,” she says. “He challenged,

thinking.

effectively as well as beautifully.

encouraged,

Michelangelo

see more possibilities. As a woman

Primus takes this idea further in his classes.

“Design

thinking

fosters

creativity, but not all design thinking is a creative process. What I teach is a methodology and a process,” he says. “When I first tell my classes or the businesses I consult what we’re going to do, I’m met with skepticism by some and fatigue by others.”

This fatigue, says Primus, is brought about by overuse. “Not every problem requires creative or design thinking.

When

you

have

linear

problems,

analytical skills are usually fine to solve them. You should consider design thinking when you have messy, complex, so-called wicked problems.

had

to

understand

and

inspired

me

to

“Professor Primus helped me understand that strategy, innovation and business decisions don't follow a standard blueprint. He challenged, encouraged, and inspired me to see more possibilities.”

KELSEY GAINOR ’17, ‘20 MBA the medium he was working with and what tools to use to shape the final product. There’s a science of creativity, and we can use some of the methodology of the greatest artists of all time to create a better product, service, or experience.”

working in the male-dominated fitness industry, I feel substantially more confident in my abilities and do speak up to offer ideas that will benefit my team and company. I know the lessons I learned from Professor Primus will be invaluable as I progress in my career.”

By Tina Senecal ’96, ’08 MBA, a freelance writer in South Carolina.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

15

BUILDING ON

STRATEGIC EXPANSION OF DATA SCIENCE PROGRAMS SHANAHAN APPOINTED INAUGURAL JOHN ’01H AND JEANNE ROWE PROFESSOR OF DATA SCIENCE James “Jimi” Shanahan, Ph.D., has been appointed as the inaugural John ′01H and Jeanne Rowe Professor of Data Science, effective this summer. Shanahan brings 30 years of leading-edge entrepreneurship, data science expertise, and academic accomplishment to the new role, supporting Bryant’s strategic expansion of academic programs in Data Science, one of the nation’s fastest growing sectors with skilled graduates in high demand.

the development of algorithmic functions, and data analytics - all of which will be critical to progress in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

John Rowe adds, “Jeanne and I have been delighted to help Bryant University because it does so much to help young

The University curriculum, with its unique integration of business and liberal arts, will expand to include data literacy for all students. Bryant launched an innovative undergraduate program in Data Science in fall 2017, and going forward plans to add graduate programs, including an online Master of Science in Data Science program.

“If one looks to the future impact of rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, block chain, the ‘internet of things,’ and other emerging technologies, it is clear that higher education must take the lead in preparing graduates for the many challenges and opportunities these developments will create,” says Bryant University President Ronald K. Machtley.

“Bryant’s new Data Science programs will be interdisciplinary and will ensure that all of our graduates, regardless of their majors, possess the essential literacy required to understand how this emerging field can add value in a wide range of applications. Students who major in our Data Science program will develop fluency in such disciplines as coding,

16

B U I LDIN G O N ST RAT EGIC EXPA NSION OF DA TA SCIENCE PR O G R AMS

people acquire the skills that make them productive in today’s ever changing society. We are especially pleased that Bryant’s first Rowe Professor, Dr. James Shanahan, is expert in the rapidly moving fields of big data and artificial intelligence. Sorting the real from the fantastic in these areas will be a vital part of tomorrow’s education.”

CAPITALIZING ON THE BEST OF DATA SCIENCE AND BUSINESS Throughout his career, Shanahan has split his time between industry and academia, gaining vast experience developing cutting-edge information management systems that harness deep learning, statistical machine learning, and information retrieval in domains such as web search, ecommerce, retail, computational advertising, and security.

He served most recently as a founding faculty member of the Master’s in Data Science programs at the University of California, Berkeley, and Indiana University and has also held visiting positions at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Rutgers University, and Syracuse University.

According to University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Glenn Sulmasy, JD, LLM, P ’22, P’23, “The Bryant Data Science initiative is interdisciplinary in nature, including a rich experiential component, and aligns perfectly with Bryant’s strengths and innovative culture. The addition of Jimi Shanahan to our outstanding faculty will help advance the program and prepare our students, both intellectually and practically, for the surge in marketplace demand for skilled data scientists and analysts.”

College of Business Dean Madan Annavarjula, Ph.D., sees Shanahan’s appointment as an important investment and opportunity. “Our undergraduate Data Science program is rapidly evolving as one of the most distinguished in the country. And, we will be giving all of our students a competitive advantage by adding competency in Data Science to our integration of Business and the Arts and Sciences.”

“I’m honored to be joining the Bryant University faculty,” says Shanahan. “The workforce of the future will require constant upskilling, and employee digital dexterity will outweigh tenure and experience. Bryant recognizes this and is well-positioned to prepare its students with the technical and critical thinking skills needed to successfully compete in the digital marketplace.”

JAMES “JIMI” SHANAHAN, PH.D.

Inaugural John ‘01H and Jeanne Rowe Professor of Data Science

cameras. He has also served as SVP of Data Science and Chief Scientist at NativeX in San Francisco, a mobile ad network acquired by MobVista and has held positions at Adobe Research, Turn Inc., Xerox Research, Mitsubishi Research, and Clairvoyance Corp. He’s been part of 20 U.S. patent filings at Xerox, AT&T, Just Systems, and InferSystems.

A prolific scholar, Shanahan has published eight books, including Soft Computing for Knowledge Discovery: Introducing Cartesian Granule Features, considered one of the seminal texts for advanced undergraduates, professionals, and researchers in computer science. His latest book is Machine Learning at Scale. He has published more than 45 peerreviewed articles in prestigious publications such as the Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems; seven book chapters including “Digital Advertising: an information science perspective” in the textbook Advanced Topics in Information Retrieval; and scores of conference papers. Shanahan is a sought-after expert speaker at conferences, businesses, and universities around the world.

Shanahan completed his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at University of Limerick in Ireland, and earned his Ph.D. in Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. He is an EU Marie Curie Fellow, and in 2011, was selected as a member of the Silicon Valley 50 (Top 50 Irish Americans in Technology).

THE JOHN ’01H AND JEANNE ROWE PROFESSORSHIP IN DATA SCIENCE The Rowe Professor of Data Science post is made possible through the leadership philanthropy of John Rowe ’01H and his wife Jeanne. The couple share a deep commitment to education that has motivated them to endow eight professorships in the arts and sciences at universities and research institutes and to establish two urban charter schools in Chicago.

“The Rowe’s leadership philanthropy takes our Data Science program, a strategic priority that enhances our students’ success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to the next level,” says University President Ronald K. Machtley.

Bryant’s Data Science program integrates statistics, applied

SCHOLAR, ENTREPRENEUR, AND BUSINESS LEADER An accomplished entrepreneur and business leader, Shanahan has co-founded companies that leverage AI, machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision in areas such as digital advertising, web search, and smart

analytics, information technology, machine learning, and big data processing and includes projects, internships, and employment that provide real-world experience across the spectrum of business, nonprofit, health care, and sports industries. In addition to a Bachelor of Science in Data Science,

students

earn

a SAS/Bryant

Certificate

in

analytics, the industry standard for data mining and analytics software.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

17

PHILANTHROPY

Bryant Capital Campaign at $103 Million and Climbing With six months left until our historic capital

wealth of downloadable presentations. While you’re on the site you

the campaign has exceeded both its original

can also find classmates, post a class note to let others know what

goal of $75 million and our stretch goal of

you’re up to, update your contact information, and create a

$100 million. The campaign has generated

personalized account with AlumniFire, an online mentoring tool

unprecedented philanthropy and the

that connects you with others who are interested in your career

positive impact on every facet of the

path, your field, or your organization.

University has already been transformational, but we know we can do more.

David C. Wegrzyn '86,

Vice President for University Advancement

alumniconnect.bryant.edu, you can view past webinars and access a

campaign concludes on December 31, 2019,

Working together, we have achieved so much during this recordbreaking campaign. But we know we can do even more if we

The impact of $21.5 million in scholarships

have your support. Every gift counts, no matter the amount.

resources has been tremendous, and has

Are you with us?

helped to put a Bryant education within reach of highly motivated students who

will benefit from it the most. Contributions of $18 million have been raised for Bryant’s outstanding academic programs, and are allowing us to expand our goals for even greater academic excellence. $15.5 million in generous gifts for facilities has allowed us to realize President Machtley’s vision for a campus environment that inspires

$103 million surpassing stretch goal

excellence in every endeavor.

More than $20 million has been raised to date for the Bryant Fund, providing flexible, unrestricted gifts to vital areas where they are needed most and go to work immediately. The Bryant Fund is the lifeblood of the University, and we need your active participation.

When you hear from the Bryant Fund it might be from one of our student phonathon callers, or through the mail, by way of an email and video we send, or through a post on social media. No matter how we reach you, I hope you will consider making a gift today, at the most generous amount you can, to show your support for Bryant’s bold vision and incredible progress.

In addition to making a gift, there are many ways you can express your support for Bryant and engage with the University. Our Alumni and Parent Engagement team provides access to vibrant programming offered on campus, at key locations across the country and around the world, and through convenient careerfocused online webinars that provide helpful resources for any stage of in your career. Through our alumni website,

18

PH I L AN T HRO PY

$75 million original goal

Scholarships transform lives and demonstrate belief in the potential to make a difference in the world When you increase access to the transformative experience a Bryant education provides, you change the lives of students forever and create a lasting legacy. Donors to Bryant’s capital campaign have already contributed more than $21.5 million in new scholarship resources.

More than 100 new annual and endowed scholarship have been established, yet financial aid is consistently cited as one of the most significant barriers in the decision to enroll.

“People are really affected by scholarship donations. It changes their lives and relieves stress that you can’t put into words.”

VICTORIA NEWBILL ‘20

With its demonstrated commitment to

Endowed and annual scholarships make

$100,000 gift typically generates a $5,000

academic excellence, a rising national

Bryant a reality for students who might

scholarship in the first year. This amount will grow as the value of the fund increases.

reputation, and academic programs that are

otherwise be unable to attend. The

consistently ranked among the best in the

participation of our powerful network of

country, Bryant is a first-choice education

alumni, parents, and friends is vital to

investment for many prospective students

increasing access to a Bryant education.

Annual scholarships, including Bryant Partners in Scholarship grants of $5,000, provide deserving applicants with access to Bryant’s

and their families. Each year the University attracts record numbers of talented and

Support from an endowed scholarship is

world-class education while reducing

diverse applicants from across the country

available each year in perpetuity, ensuring a

student loan debt. Annual scholarships go

and around the world, yet many of the best

steady source of annual revenue for a

to work immediately and are a crucial part

students cannot afford the exceptional

competitive aid package that will help to

of Bryant’s financial aid program. A

make Bryant the first choice of a top

commitment of $5,000 or more per year for

student. Endowed scholarship funds begin

three years will support a student/s during

Although the University provides significant

at $50,000 and may be directed to a specific

their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

funding for financial aid and works to keep

area of study or interest that is particularly

Partners in Scholarship donors establish a

tuition at competitive levels, a Bryant

meaningful to the donor. Gifts are invested

named annual scholarship, building a

education can be out of reach for many

with the University endowment, allowing

lasting connection between the donor and

top students.

for an average of five percent each year to

scholarship recipient. They receive an

be applied to scholarships. For example, a

annual report and direct communication

education Bryant offers.

96%

of students qualify for institutional merit- and/or need-based financial aid

In 2019, Bryant awarded

236

need-based endowed scholarships totaling more than $1.4M

from the student beneficiary.

Bryant needs

YOUR HELP

to create scholarship funds for talented students with academic merit financial need diverse backgrounds

“My time at Bryant has been an experience I will never forget. I made friendships that will last a lifetime. My scholarship has been extremely important to me and has opened my eyes to the power of philanthropy within the Bryant community.”

CONNOR NOLAN ‘19 RECIPIENT OF THE LILY AND J. STEVEN COWEN PARTNERS IN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

For more information about creating opportunity for Bryant students through a gift to scholarships, please contact our Development office at giving@bryant.edu, (877) 353-5667.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

19

Data Visualization Lab provides a new way to look at the world today.”, says Todd Gustafson ’86, President, HP Federal LLC, Vice President, HP US Public Sector, at the new lab’s grand opening held May 6, 2019.

“It’s an opportunity to look at information in a way you never have before, it adds so much to our education,” agrees Data Science major Brittany Gouws ’22. “Plus,” she adds, “it’s really fun to use.”

Cross-disciplinary collaborations English and Cultural Studies Lecturer Ryan At the May 6 opening of Bryant’s data Visualization Lab, made possible by an equipment donation from HP, Todd Gustafson ’86 and colleagues joined members of Bryant’s executive leadership team for a discussion regarding the many opportunities the lab provides for students.

Marnane’s Introduction to Literary Studies class, among the first to take advantage of the new lab, used it to explore how conventional as well as emerging

Bryant University’s new Data Visualization

our College of Arts and Sciences, and our

narrative forms and mediums impact

Lab, made possible through a generous gift

Physician Assistant program,” says Provost

audience experience and understanding of

from HP, will help prepare the next

and Chief Academic Officer Glenn Sulmasy,

information differently. “What’s most

generation of leaders to take their place at

JD, LLM, P’22, P’23. “The possibilities are

promising about the Data Visualization Lab

the forefront of a technology-driven future.

as exciting as they are numerous.”

is the possible cross-disciplinary

Offering fully-immersive experiences through 360-degree video and synthetic

“My hope is that this Data Visualization Laboratory becomes the next ‘HP garage’

digital environments, the Data Visualization

where someone designs or builds

Lab, located within the George E. Bello

something none of us can even imagine

Center, presents a range of opportunities

to create customized virtual learning spaces.

“Our new Data Visualization Lab will enhance learning for all of Bryant’s students, and we are only beginning to imagine the myriad ways that we can use this technology in our College of Business,

“The founders of HP, Bill Hewlett and David Packard, always talked about giving people the tools to be successful, and then stepping away to watch what happens. Now we’re giving Bryant students the tools to go see what they can do.”

TODD GUSTAFSON ’86 PRESIDENT, HP FEDERAL LLC, VICE PRESIDENT, HP US PUBLIC SECTOR

20

PH I L AN T HRO PY

alike,” says Marnane. “The lab provides the Bryant community with a novel means of actualizing and advancing the peculiar promise of an interdisciplinary education, building innovative and

for nearly every course of study. It’s also equipped with tools for students and faculty

collaborations for students and faculty

ESTABLISHED THROUGH A GRANT OF EQUIPMENT FROM HP AS PART OF ITS EDUCAUSE-HP CAMPUS OF THE FUTURE INITIATIVE, THE NEW LAB FEATURES: • Windows Mixed Reality headsets and controllers • Five HP Z-series graphics workstations • Two HP Z VR Backpack workstations • A 2×3 array of high-resolution, wall mounted digital displays • High-resolution, 360 degree cameras for field use

necessary bridges between various STEM, humanities, and business fields.”

The lab is supported by a team of staff drawn from Bryant’s Krupp Library and the Academic Affairs and Academic Computing departments. “The Data Visualization Lab adds a new level of research, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit to Bryant and to the Krupp Library,” says Laura Kohl, Bryant’s Director of Library Services.

There are other benefits to the lab as well.

In addition to enhancing learning, student Hannah Bloomwald ’21 notes, it offers students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with a new technology. “Bryant is one of a very few schools that have a lab like this,” she points out. “It helps us be among the best equipped and best prepared going forward.”

Remembering Ray Fogarty ’79 with International Business Memorial Scholarship When Ray Fogarty ’79, P ’14, P ’17 died

Fogarty’s lifelong passion for finding

the Chafee Center is a living laboratory, a

unexpectedly in September 2018, the Bryant

innovative ways to fuel the economic

place to put theory into practice through

community lost a colleague, dedicated

engine of international business and trade.

mentor, and passionate champion for the institution that helped shape his life and

A Legacy of Global Impact

career, and those of thousands of his fellow

business research, analysis, and planning.

As part of the Bryant senior-year international business practicum, student teams study the business challenges of

Bryant graduates. For more than 40 years,

It was just a few years after his graduation

participating firms, conduct market

first as a Bryant student and then as an

that Fogarty began to make a lasting impact

research, and develop actionable strategic

administrator and ambassador, Fogarty

as a legislator, an advocate, and a leader. In

plans to enable companies to achieve

used his expertise and warm personality to

1986, he helped launch Bryant’s first World

corporate objectives.

build relationships in the community and

Trade Day.

throughout the region.

In 2016, Fogarty was honored as the 2016 recipient of the NASBITE International John Otis Lifetime Achievement Award and accepted the President’s “E” Star Award for Export Service from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, on behalf of the Chafee Center. The award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. In 1991, he was recognized with the Bryant Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Ray Fogarty’s deep commitment to international business and trade enhanced the educational experience of Bryant’s business students and helped to stimulate economic growth. To continue his legacy of service and honor his memory, Bryant announced at the 34th annual World Trade Day on May 22 that it will create the Raymond Fogarty ‘79 International

Ray Fogerty’s deep commitment to international business and world trade enhanced the educational experience of many Bryant students. The University is creating an endowed scholarship in his memory.

Business Memorial Scholarship to benefit students enrolled in the International Business program. Ranked among the top 25 International Business programs in the country, this program is the ideal environment for students who share

Please join us as we honor Ray Fogarty ’79 with an investment in the business leaders of tomorrow who will further the work that Ray began, strengthening economies and communities and improving the lives of others through international business and trade.

Visit bryant.edu/giving to make a gift today.

Now in its 35th year, the event has become

Fogarty’s vision helped to empower

the largest annual trade event in the

thousands of individuals and businesses,

country. In 1988, Fogarty founded the

providing market research, corporate

Rhode Island Export Assistance Center at

training, and consulting on international

Bryant, focused on international trade,

business. Under his leadership, the Chafee

market research, and training.

Center was transformed from a service

As executive director of Bryant’s John H.

trade office recognized locally and nationally

Chafee Center for International Business for more than 35 years, Fogarty ensured that the Chafee Center’s efforts leveraged the expertise within Bryant’s International Business program, working collaboratively with faculty and the business community to provide Bryant students with real-world learning opportunities. For Bryant students,

bureau into an award-winning international for excellence in providing comprehensive international trade services for business expansion into international markets. Today, companies continue to partner with Bryant’s Chafee Center to ensure that their products and services can reach new markets and customers in an increasingly interconnected and complex global marketplace.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

21

AC A D E M I C E XC E L L E N C E

The University's faculty of dedicated teachers, accomplished scholars, and inspiring mentors integrate business and liberal arts allowing students to achieve academic excellence.

Best Undergraduate Teaching: Behind Bryant’s high ranking by U.S. News & World Report But there’s something more, Sulmasy

rankings, Bryant University came in at

notes: “Our students’ experiences with

College of Business. “The majority of our

No. 7 on the magazine’s “Best Undergraduate

faculty, I guarantee, are superior because

faculty are passionate about the

Teaching” list. Among those who are clear

our student-centered commitment to

opportunity to transform students’ lives.”

on what helped the University rank so

teaching exceeds what is normal.” Faculty

highly are the University’s Provost and

are concerned about students and their

academic deans, who cite the reasons

well-being, he says. They mentor students

behind Bryant’s “Best Teaching” ranking.

and offer support, often long after a student

“It is in Bryant’s collective consciousness that teaching itself is a noble profession.

It's not a job. Bryant faculty have a passion and love for teaching that’s evident in the classroom.”

PROVOST GLENN M. SULMASY, JD, LLM, P’22, P’23

Financial Services Forum Samantha Merwin ’12, Vice President at BlackRock, led the career pathways panel during the 14th Annual Financial Services Forum, a highlight of Alumni Engagement Day, which drew dozens of alumni in the finance industry to campus to share their expertise with students.

22

Madan Annavarjula, Ph.D., Dean of the

In U.S. News & World Report’s best college

A C A DEMIC EX CELLEN C E

has graduated.

Teaching and mentoring are part of Bryant’s culture, says Bradford Martin, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Mentoring, to me, includes a willingness to have conversations outside the classroom, and

The deans of the College of Arts and

there’s a high concentration of that spirit

Sciences and College of Business agree.

here,” he says.

“It’s no surprise that we are one of the top teaching institutions,” says

International Business Practicum puts learning to the test Bryant’s International Business program is among the top 25 in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 rankings, and the Carolyn Rafaelian IB Practicum is among the top reasons. Student teams are assigned a comprehensive businessconsulting project with a client company, and they work all semester to develop recommendations for the company. A panel of industry and alumni judges evaluates the capstone projects for their depth of research and analysis, the innovation of their solutions, and the effectiveness of their presentations. “The practicum asks us to put everything we’ve learned to the test,” said Jennifer L. Foster ’19.

The International Business Practicum gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills.

Scholar’s perspective on religion and law informs global influencers as well as students Katayoun “Katie” Alidadi, Ph.D., Assistant

interfaith or religious leaders, organizations,

Professor of Legal Studies, received an

and academics who seek to lend a moral

honorable mention for the prestigious

voice and policy recommendations to the

2018 Canada Prize from the International

G20 Summit proceedings, which often have

Academy of Comparative Law for her

global ramifications.

book “Religion, Equality, and Employment in Europe: The Case for Reasonable Accommodation” (Hart, 2017).

Her work in the field of law and religion

Guided by curiosity and faculty mentor, Hannah Sheldon ’20 sheds light on labor market health

Along with bringing her critical and global perspective into the classroom, she embraces being a mentor for her students.

“I believe you're not just there to teach the

also earned her an invitation to speak at the

knowledge. You’re there to engage—and

2018 G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires.

inspire—students. That’s the highest you

The Forum is an independent meeting of

can aim for.”

Economics and Accounting double major Hannah Sheldon ’20, working in collaboration with Professor of Economics Edinaldo Tebaldi, Ph.D., published an article in the Providence Business News shedding light on labor market conditions in New England and Sheldon’s own research in the area. Of the accomplishment, she noted, “I’m very grateful—I couldn’t have done this without Professor Tebaldi and the Bryant Economics faculty.”

Katayoun Alidadi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Legal Studies, brings her international perspective to the classroom.

To read the full story, go to: news.bryant.edu

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

23

Samantha Sainvil ’19: inspired by the integration of perspectives at Bryant

IB faculty contribute leadership, expertise at Academy of International Business Conference International Business (IB) faculty members contributed their expertise as panelists, presenters, and leaders of the Northeast Academy of International Business Conference held at Drexel University. Management Professor Crystal Jiang, Ph.D., (far left) served as conference chair of the Bryant-sponsored event, which focused on the theme of “Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation.” Also participating were (from left) Andres Ramirez, Ph.D., IB Program Director and Associate Professor of Finance; Sukki Yoon, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing; and Elzotbek Rustambekov, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management (not pictured).

The integration of perspectives, a hallmark of a Bryant education, has been inspiring to Samantha Sainvil ’19 of Bridgeport, CT. The Information Systems major who minored in French and Africana and Black Studies says Bryant is a great place to explore new ideas.

“Everyone has a voice here. When we work together, we see how ideas can be shared and combined.”

TO READ HER FULL PROFILE, GO TO: admission.bryant.edu/why-bryant/stories

Boggio’s work with U.N. helps students see impact of collaboration Legal Studies Professor Andrea Boggio, J.S.D., an expert in international human rights law and issues of science policy, participated in a United Nations (U.N.) panel for the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the scientific and legal aspects of the right to science.

He also worked with the American Association for the Advancement of Science to organize a panel on the right to science at the U.N. in New York City in May, 2018. These discussions informed the development of a comprehensive interpretation of the right to science, which is being drafted by the U.N. for approval in 2019.

Boggio believes these experiences help him bring course material to life in the classroom.

“I teach international law,” he says, “so I link course content to my direct experience with international institutions.” And they help him show students how “complexity is better tackled by connecting people, ideas, and academic disciplines.”

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A C A D EMIC EX CELLEN CE

Andrea Boggio, J.S.D., Professor of Legal Studies, discussed the human right to science at the U.N. in Geneva, Switzerland.

AC A D E M I C E XC E L L E N C E Through power of networking and her scholarship, Kwesiga brings women’s rights issues to the attention of U.N. While on sabbatical in Africa to conduct research on sustainable development and indigenous knowledge systems, Professor of Management Eileen Kwesiga, Ph.D., created a platform to advocate for women’s rights at the United Nations and raise visibility of human rights issues surrounding stigmatized workers, such as sex workers, in Kenya. Through the power of networking and her scholarship, she’s been invited to help create a new U.N. conference, slated for September which, that will discuss women’s rights and empowerment, as well as experiences and voices of women.

Traveling the world to build knowledge, capacity, and connections is just one way Kwesiga has a global impact as a scholar and researcher – one she draws from to ensure students learn important aspects of management: “Our students will be managers, so they have to understand what it means to truly respect the environment and people, so that we have something to hand off to the next generation.”

Coughlin at Princeton symposium on ecocriticism

MyPath Program: tailored advising for inspired learning and careers

Maura Coughlin, Ph.D., Professor of Visual

Successful leaders are lifelong learners—

Students who are not certain which field of

Studies, discussed artists William Trost

and with the MyPath Program, students

study best aligns with their interests, work

Richards (1833-

have the support they need to find a path

values, and skills are encouraged to

1905) and Élodie

that truly represents their passions, which

matriculate as Undecided. The MyPath@

La Villette

can set the stage for continuous

Bryant program allows student to explore

(1848-1917) at

professional growth, learning, and

intellectual interests while staying on track

“Picture Ecology:

advancement.

for graduation.

Art and Ecocriticism in Planetary Perspective,” a companion symposium to the groundbreaking art exhibition “Nature’s Nation” at Princeton, which seeks to bring a new, ecocritical lens to American art.

Through a variety of individualized

INCOMING CLASS OF 2023

programs, MyPath connects undecided, or “exploratory,” students with faculty and peers for advice on degree programs

19.95%

offered at Bryant, helping them to discover

College of Arts and Sciences

5.35%

their own interests as they choose a field

Undecided

of study. The program represents a collaboration between Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and the Amica Center for Career Education.

75.80%

College of Business

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

25

I N N OVAT I O N

At Bryant, innovation takes many forms. From embracing cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality to discussing new concepts with industry leaders and exploring original ways to express important ideas, the University ensures its students are preparing for the future.

BUNEEC 2019 inspires a new generation of entrepreneurs The 9th annual Bryant University Northeast Entrepreneurship Conference (BUNEEC) gave students the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills they can use in any career. Organized by Bryant’s chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, BUNEEC (pronounced “Be unique”) provided a supportive community and real-world insight.

“Through BUNEEC, I hope that students saw how their careers can be exciting and add purpose to their lives,” said BUNEEC Director Melissa Gurzenda ’21. “It doesn't have to always be about numbers or a salary. It can be about making a difference in the lives of others and adding creativity to what you’re doing.”

Attendees from colleges throughout the region benefitted from keynote addresses

“I am absolutely certain there are a couple of you who will be up on stage

entrepreneurs eager to share what they

Conference participants also learned a great

five to ten years from now talking

have learned. Mitch Lowe, Co-Founding

deal from one another. An Entrepreneurship

Executive of Netflix and CEO of Movie Pass,

Fair highlighted Bryant students who already

about your own great innovations.”

and breakout sessions led by successful

26

to ten years from now talking about your own great innovations,” said Lowe.

noted that while success is never a straight

have turned their great ideas into businesses,

line, determination can make great things

and a question-and-answer session with

happen. “I am absolutely certain there are

those entrepreneurs gave other students a

a couple of you who will be up on stage five

chance to seek advice for their own initiatives.

I NN OVAT IO N

MITCH LOWE Co-Founding Executive of Netflix and CEO of Movie Pass

Introducing Pepper

Pepper, Bryant’s new semi-humanoid

Pepper’s versatility allows it to be used in a

opportunities associated with Pepper - in

robot, is optimized for human interaction

wide variety of exciting and innovative

classrooms and makers spaces - are made

and able to engage with people through

ways. “We’re always encouraging faculty

possible by the Champlin Foundation,

conversation and its touch screen. It’s an

and students to think of new creative

which is pleased to provide grant funding

ideal tool for teaching programming and

applications for Pepper,” notes Associate

to Bryant University to help advance its

conducting research into human-robot

Professor of Information Systems and

vital mission.

interactions.

Analytics Chen Zhang, Ph.D. The learning

Analytics Without Borders examines the future

Creating the next big thing “I'm always looking for that next big thing that drives me and takes me to the next big

The 4th annual Analytics without Borders

thing after that,” says Nicholas “Nick”

event, hosted by Bryant University, explored

Anketell ’19. The founder of three different

leading-edge technologies such as artificial

companies already, Anketell through his

intelligence, machine learning, predictive

company Amulet Technology Solutions, is

analytics, and blockchain.

currently assisting Candor USA with developing an app that connects people with

Keynote speakers and breakout presentations shared insights into evolving fields and

insurance providers and helps them select

tutorials helped attendees hone their

the options that are right for them.

programming skills. “Whether it’s

“Everything I’ve learned and everything I’ve

undergraduates working on their first

done at Bryant has helped me,” says

research project, graduate and Ph.D.

Anketell, who is president of Bryant’s

students working on theses and dissertations, academics continuing their research

“You get the tools and

agendas, or industry professionals sharing

knowledge to start a company.

lessons learned and experiences as to why what we do is relevant in the real world, it’s an opportunity for all,” said Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Analytics Kevin Mentzer, Ph.D., a co-lead organizer of this year’s event.

chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization and will be joining Fidelity Investment’s Investment Sales Development program after graduation.

You get what you need to go

“It's really unique here,” he says of Bryant.

off and do it on your own.”

“You get the tools and knowledge to start a

NICHOLAS “NICK” ANKETELL ’19

company. You get what you need to go off and do it on your own.”

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

27

Returning mentors guide IDEA For the student mentors of Bryant’s IDEA (Innovation and Design Experience for All) design thinking bootcamp, coming back to assist with the program offers more than an opportunity to help others. It’s a chance for the upperclass students to further develop their design thinking and leadership skills while giving back to a program that’s made a difference in their studies and in their lives.

Trained in design thinking and selected from the University’s highest-performing students, IDEA’s student mentors play a crucial role in helping guide first-year students through the design thinking learning process. “The first-year students in IDEA have amazing ideas, but they don’t necessarily have the experience with design thinking we have,” notes student mentor Michael McCarthy ’19, who

IDEA’s student mentors help first-year students learn invaluable design thinking skills.

recently honed his design thinking skills through a project for Keurig with Bryant Trustee Professor of Management and design thinking expert Mike Roberto, D.B.A. “One of our jobs as mentors is to help them harness those great ideas.”

“The first-year students in IDEA have amazing ideas, but they don’t necessarily have the experience with design thinking we have. One of our jobs as mentors is to help them harness those great ideas.”

MICHAEL MCCARTHY ’19

The “student voices” of a visionary program As members of the IDEA (Innovation and Design Experience for All) leadership team,

“We are moving into a time where things are increasingly in flux and companies are

Samantha Mazza ’19 and Thobani

understanding the need for innovation

Nxumalo ’19 played a vital role in ensuring

more and more,” says Nxumalo, who has

the University’s design thinking boot camp

used his IDEA experience in setting up

was a success. Working alongside faculty

design thinking camps in his home country

and staff, they helped recruit and train

of South Africa. “Cultivating skills like

mentors and assisted with everything from

design thinking puts students miles ahead.”

planning the syllabus and how best to

“At Bryant, there's a student voice in everything. That’s important because you're able to bring in a student's perspective as to what they may think is important and what they would like in the program.”

SAMANTHA MAZZA ’19

present the ideas behind thinking to organizing programming and fun activities.

“At Bryant, there's a student voice in everything,” explains Mazza, who saw the importance of design thinking while interning at Liberty Mutual. “That’s important because you’re able to bring in a student's perspective as to what they think is valuable and what they would like in the program. It provides a new way of thinking about how to approach things and how students may be more receptive if you present ideas in a certain way.”

28

I NN OVAT IO N

Thobani Nxumalo ’19 (last row, left) and Samantha Mazza ’19 (far right) brought a student perspective to the IDEA 2019 Leadership team

I N N OVAT I O N Turning great ideas into great companies Bryant Ventures, the University’s start-up

different markets and fields, to brainstorm

incubator, “is basically an innovation

with one another, serve as sounding boards,

lab,” says Nick Cianfaglione ’20, the

and work through roadblocks. Visits from

organization’s president as well as CEO of

established start-up founders offer real-

Northeastern Entertainment Solutions.

world tested advice. Accelerators, as the

“Entrepreneurs need a network and a place

more experienced student-entrepreneurs

to share, and work on, their ideas. Bryant

are known, offer personalized guidance.

Ventures gives them both,” he notes.

“Entrepreneurs need a network and a place to share, and work on, their ideas.

Bryant Ventures gives them both.”

NICK CIANFAGLIONE ’20 President of Bryant Ventures Cianfaglione. “This is a unique opportunity

Ventures, a part of Bryant's chapter of the

for an entrepreneur to take an idea and

Weekly meetings provide a forum for the

Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization, is a

bring it to a go-to-market strategy and,

young entrepreneurs, working in a range of

think tank that gets results, says

most importantly, to market.”

Finding important answers through Honors Capstones Capstone projects give Bryant students the

important issue and look at it in a new

opportunity to integrate and synthesize

way,” says Resnick, who graduated in

what they've learned by exploring an issue

December. “I tried to make an impact in the

that’s important to them through a

research in a way that helps people.”

long-term project that takes an original look at a significant topic. This year’s capstones ranged from exploring how gender roles and sexuality are deconstructed in standup comedy to examining health care costs to writing

Emilio Avalos’ 18, studied the factors that affect undergraduate academic performance.

His research, he hopes, will help other students maximize their learning experience and build better careers and futures.

Avalos credits his thesis advisor, Professor

an original novel.

For her Honors thesis, Sarina Resnick ’18, aided by her advisor Professor Gregg Carter, Ph.D., a nationally renowned expert on gun violence, investigated mass shootings in America and the role that factors such as racism and white supremacy ideology play in their severity. “I wanted to take an

“The professors here know how to connect with you, and guide you through the material. They'll help you figure out the steps you should take in order to answer the questions that are important to you.”

EMILIO AVALOS ’18

JANE McKAY-NESBITT, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MARKETING Director of Bryant’s Honors Program A successful career in the financial services industry informs her interactive and dynamic marketing courses Recent research focuses on how the financial services industry’s social marketing impacts millennials’ financial well-being Numerous awards for teaching excellence, creativity, innovation, mentorship, and scholarship

Sarina Resnick ’18 investigated American mass shootings for her Honors thesis.

and Chair of the Economics Department Jongsung Kim, Ph.D., with helping him examine a key issue he cares about. “The professors here know how to connect with you, and guide you through the material,” says Avalos. “They'll help you figure out the steps you should take in order to answer the questions that are important to you.”

“Throughout my honors capstone, Professor McKay-Nesbitt was a never-ending source of passion. That passion motivated me to finish my project, even when it seemed impossible.

She still inspires me, making me want to work harder, achieve more, and support others.”

LAUREN LEEDBERG ’18 PARTNER ENABLEMENT ASSOCIATE AT ATHENAHEALTH

INSPIRED TO EXCEL B RYA N T DE L IV E R S FAC U LT Y PA S S I O N AT E A B O U T S T U D E N T S U CC E S S | www.bryant.edu B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

29

G LO B A L P E R S P E C T I V E

MBA students’ Global Immersion Experience included “an unprecedented once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”to meet with Audi officials at the company's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany.

For MBA students, trip to Germany offered exclusive look at innovation at Audi Graduate students in the MBA program

world. It culminates with a 10-day

experienced unprecedented access to some

faculty-led international trip. A required

full confidentiality agreement is a

of the world’s top companies during their

group project with a business in the trip's

testament to how deep we were allowed

transformational Global Immersion

destination country builds on core

into Audi’s business.”

Experience (GIE) trip to Germany “This trip

constructs of the students’ first semester of

has taught me how crucial it is for

academic study.

companies to be agile and innovative in order to succeed and maintain their success in today’s competitive environment,” says Rachita Wadhwa ’19 MBA.

that every single participant had to sign a

Students walked among 45,000 Audi employees to learn firsthand what it means

At the automobile manufacturer Audi’s

to create “competitive advantage via

headquarters in Ingolstadt, the MBA

technology.” They saw highly advanced

students were treated to an exclusive

testing rigs and simulators for Audi’s

customized tour. “This was an

proprietary technology, and sat in

GIE is a three-credit course that introduces

unprecedented once-in-a lifetime

prototypes that will be released to market

students to the economic opportunities and

opportunity,” said Assistant Professor of

in 2020 and later. Some students enjoyed a

challenges of doing business in a globalized

Management Dirk Primus, Ph.D. “The fact

test drive with a professional Audi driver.

Extravaganza gives fashion a voice Bryant’s celebration of Black History Month

Extravaganza began more than a decade ago

the show transitioned from one era to the

concludes with Extravaganza, a student

as a fashion show, but its scope has since

next, the fashions did as well. Clothes

production showcasing “the light and the

expanded. Today, “it’s a celebration. It’s a

modeled throughout the show – the

beauty that is black history,” says Kayla

movement. There is a motivational aspect

bell-bottoms of the 1960s and ‘70s, the

Navarro ’19, one of this year’s co-directors.

to it,” Navarro says.

leather and baggy clothing of the ‘90s, and

“It really makes a difference when you are able to educate and entertain in a positive way. We want to show the Bryant community just how beautiful black history is.”

The 2019 theme focused on influential black musical artists throughout American history, from Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday in the 1930s and 1940s to contemporary artists including Beyonce. As

30

G LO B AL PERSPECTIVE

more – were donated by local vendors. Weeks before the show, Navarro and her team scouted local shops to select garments that fit each era. The task was challenging because some garments “are vintage, and pristine items are so hard to find,” Navarro says.

SIE China trip helps students experience the unfamiliar

The SIE China experience included a tour of the Bowens & Wilkins factory in Zhuhai

Twenty-two sophomores set off for their

The course culminates with a two-week trip

Sophomore International Experience (SIE)

led by faculty and staff.

trip to China barely knowing each other.

They returned with lifelong memories and a better understanding not only of one another, but of a culture they had never experienced.

Since its inception in 2007, more than 2,500 sophomores have taken part in SIE. The three-credit course begins the semester before departure with an introduction to cultural norms, historical readings and analysis, language study, and art appreciation of the country or countries that will be visited.

The China SIE included an exploration of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, and a tour of Lenovo headquarters in Beijing.

The students said they “challenged themselves” to experience the unknown, overcoming fears about being in an unfamiliar culture.

“I think this two-week experience is

Bryant students also connected with Bryant

perfect,” says Cara DelSesto ’21. “I knew

Zhuhai students on the campus of the

everything that was going to happen every

Beijing Institute of Technology.

day, and now traveling for a longer amount

“Zhuhai was one of my favorite places,” says Dana Peck ’21. “It’s an up-and-coming

of time or studying abroad doesn’t seem so daunting.”

city. We were driving down the highway and we could see 30 skyscrapers being built at once.”

MAJORS: International Business, concentrating in HR Management and Spanish HOMETOWN: East Providence, RI INSPIRED TO EXCEL: Travelers Human Resources Leadership Development Program “I love that my education has been so well-rounded,” Yuliandra Henriquez says. “I'm an HR management major, but I'm also learning other subjects like accounting, finance, and marketing.

I’m going to need those aspects to succeed in my HR management career goals.”

As a project coordinator for Bryant’s PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Henriquez works to raise awareness of other cultures on campus. “The CDI is my home. Even before I worked there, I was always there hanging out. I feel welcomed there, I feel loved there,” she says. “I identify as a woman of color, so diversity and inclusion is important to me. I want to help bring an awareness of other cultures to other students on campus,” she says.

Yuliandra Henriquez ’19

As a counselor for Bryant’s 4MILE (Multicultural and International Leadership Experience) program, Henriquez has built lasting relationships with first-year students. I see some of my mentees and they still say hi to me, or they still ask me questions. And I love that because I like being a mentor to people.”

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

31

BULLDOG PRIDE

Bryant’s highly competitive Division I student-athletes excel at working as team members in the classroom as well as on the field and court.

Meet the Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Holloway receives First Team All-NEC honors

Bryant’s Department of Athletics announced

For the second year in a row, the Bryant

the addition of nine new members to the

University women's basketball standout

prestigious Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

The nine-member Class of 2019 includes:

Sydney Holloway ’20 earned All-NEC First Team laurels. Holloway concluded the regular season with 17 double-doubles

Cristian Balestrieri ’11 (men’s tennis)

averaging 17.5 points and 11.1 rebounds a

Bob Brown ’86 (men's basketball)

game and had a pair of 20/20 games.

Jordan Brown ’13 (football) Darryl Buchanan ’85 (baseball) Nick Campbell ’10 (baseball) Jordan Harris ’14 (football)

Holloway has also climbed the Division I scoring ranks at Bryant jumping eight spots this season surpassing Bryant greats like Jenniqua Bailey ’15 and Naana Ankoma-

Aubrey Mable ’14 (softball)

Mensa ’14 with 1,302 career points. She is

Casey Ostrander ’13 (women’s swimming)

just 93 points away from catching Breanna

Nicole Radzik ’08 (cross country/track & field)

Rucker ’16 for the top spot.

Each will be officially inducted at the

This season marks the fifth-straight year in

Hall of Fame Dinner on November 1, 2019

which a Bulldog has been named First Team

at the George E. Bello Center for

All-Northeast Conference.

Information and Technology.

Members of the Bryant Athletics Hall of Fame are elected every two years into five different categories: student-athletes, coaches and administrators, teams, contributors, and legacy. The Class of 2019 brings Hall of Fame membership to 158 since its inception in 1987.

32

B U L LDO G PRIDE

Keep up with the Bulldogs as they prepare for a busy fall season at bryantbulldogs.com

Tennis rules the court Men’s tennis finished one of its most successful Division I seasons at 20-11, winning a sixth-straight NEC title. That streak is the longest in NEC history and the longest postseason streak of any team in Bryant DI program history.

“This team represented the NEC all season with class and heart. This team has set the bar that all teams that follow will try to match and improve upon,” said Coach Ron Gendron, who won an unprecedented

Men’s tennis celebrates sixth consecutive NEC title.

seventh straight NEC Coach of the Year

most crowns in the team scoring format era

Year honor. He was one of five individuals

honor. He is now the most decorated coach

that began in 1999. The Bulldogs went

to earn All-NEC honors in singles, while

in NEC tennis history and extended his

unbeaten in league play for a fourth

two doubles team claimed first team

conference record for consecutive Coach of

straight year.

the Year honors in any sport. Competing in the NEC since 2013, Bryant has won the

Matt Kuhar ’19 MBA earned his third-

honors. Bryant also placed three individuals on the NEC All-Rookie team.

straight Northeast Conference Player of the

Owens Scores Fifth Coach of the Year Honor One of the most successful coaches in the country, Baseball Coach Steve Owens earned his league-record fifth Coach of the Year honor, marking the eighth-straight year that the Black & Gold have won multiple major awards.

Completing his ninth season as Bryant’s head coach, Owens has turned the Bulldogs into one of the premier programs in the Northeast. He led the Bulldogs to a 38-18 overall record during the regular season, winning 12 of their 14 weekend series during the year, and claiming their eighth-straight NEC Regular-Season title with a 19-5 record in conference play. His group has produced one of the greatest offensive seasons in league history, setting the NEC record for home runs with 81, while setting DI single-season program records for hits, runs scored and RBI. Owens earned his

Caroline Meizen ’21

300th win at Bryant in March 26 and won his 900th career game in April. He has coached

MAJOR: Marketing

20 All-Americans and 45 professional players.

CONCENTRATION: Sport Studies HOMETOWN: Douglas, MA

Women’s Swimming and Diving Top Dogs again Headlined by Northeast Conference Swimmer of the Meet Jillian Rice ’19, the Bryant University women’s swimming and diving team won 13 gold medals to seal their second-straight NEC Swimming and Diving Championship in 2019.

The Bulldogs won their second title in program history in dominating fashion, finishing more than 250 points ahead of the next closest team.

Rice cemented her status as the NEC Swimmer of the Meet by winning Bryant's 11th gold medal of the meet. She won the 100 freestyle.

Kelci Abernethy ’19, Alaina Scifo ’20, and Elin Svärd ’21 represented the team at the NCAA Zone A Swimming and Diving Championships. Abernethy was the first female diver to

“I want to make the most of my four years of college,” says Caroline Meizen ’21, “and that means challenging myself and exploring.” A Marketing major concentrating in Sport Studies, Meizen says adaptability is a key to success.

“You need to be open to what’s around you. There will always be changing methods and new advances in any field.”

One of the biggest lessons she’s learned at Bryant, Meizen says – having the initiative to try something new can open so many doors. “I love running, but I didn't know if I would be good enough to go D1,” she says. “I decided to go for it and now I'm so glad to be part of the Cross Country and Track Teams. My teammates are like my second family.”

represent the program at the event.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

33

COLLEGIAL COMMUNITY

The Alumni Achievement Awards ceremony capped off the 2019 Alumni Engagement Day. Award recipients, from left: Mario F. Hernández ’97 MBA; Carole L. LaRochelle ’89; Beth (LeMay) Costello ’89; Charles J. Granatell ’08; Daniel A. Rioux ’90; Christopher J. Roethlein, Ph.D.

Alumni of Color Offer Career Advice: Connect with Mentors, Network

Seeking out mentors and opportunities to

students to experiment with career options

network are crucial for career success,

– including those not necessarily directly

according to five alumni who returned to

related to their degree program. They also

campus to share career advice with students.

shared how Bryant resources helped them

The panel discussion, sponsored by the PwC

“It’s so helpful to have someone as a thought partner who can help you gain knowledge.”

CAROL PACHECO ’11

land their current positions.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Student

The panelists included Frankie Dobbs ’12,

Affairs, and Alumni and Parent

’13 MBA, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch;

Engagement, was part of the University's

Tyler A. Joseph ’17, Logistics Operations

Black History Month series of events.

Analyst, CVS Health; Alexandra Ortiz ’18,

Networking and developing relationships with mentors are critical strategies, the panelists emphasized, and they encouraged

Marketing Analyst, Textron Inc.; Carol Pacheco ’11, Senior Human Resources Generalist, FHL Bank Boston; and Erick Smith ’13, Talent Acquisition Specialist, PTC.

By connecting with alumni, “I got to see that path that they took to be where they are,” said Tyler A. Joseph `17, CVS Health Logistics Operations Analyst

34

C O LLEGIAL CO MMU N ITY

Alumni Mentors Enrich Student Learning at IDEA The IDEA program – Innovation and Design Experience for All – is an immersive, for-credit required course for first-year students. It is among Bryant’s most innovative, and important, learning experiences.

As the students embark on a 72-hour odyssey to learn a design-thinking process used by some of the world’s leading innovators, their journey is facilitated by faculty, and further guided by volunteer upperclass student, staff, and alumni mentors.

More than 100 alumni volunteers came back to campus – including graduates from 2018 to 1968 – to share their experience and perspective with the first-year students.

Jeff Fryer ’91, P’19, P’22, CPA is a cofounder of biotech firm Rallybio, and former VP and CTO of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. He has been a mentor and trade show judge in the

Alumni mentors including Jeff Fryer ’91, P’19, P’22, help students think through their IDEA projects.

IDEA program for five years.

“I always learn something from my participation in the IDEA program. We’re all solving problems every day of our lives, and this program teaches us all to apply creativity and objectivity to that process,” he says. “When you look at a problem from

360 degrees, and collaborate with others,

presentations of the students’ concepts.

you ultimately get better solutions.”

Many alumni mentors then go on to judge

Alumni mentors play critical roles in IDEA,

competition where students present their

bringing their real-world experience back to campus to share. Joining at a vital point in the process, they hear preliminary

the “trade show” portion of the program, a concepts and explain the three-dimensional prototypes they collaborated on to illustrate their ideas.

Women’s Summit Inspires New Venture “It was as if inspiration met courage and set

foundation of her work “helps people move

me on fire!” A perfect description of the

from surviving to thriving.” Her new venture,

Women's Summit by presenter Megan

The Thriving Well Institute, emphasizes what

Gunnell, LMSW, Psychotherapist, writer,

she calls “the self-care advantage.”

speaker and international retreat facilitator, from Grosse Pointe, MI.

“When our basic self-care is in place, our coping and bandwidth increase, our

In a post on her blog, Gunnell describes how

emotional reactivity is in check, our

she was inspired by the Bryant University

patience and compassion expand and we

Women’s Summit™ to embark on a new

begin to thrive,” Gunnell says.

endeavor early the very next morning.

After working with thousands of clients, patients and consumers, Gunnell says that the

Read her full blog post at bit.ly/2IgOXQC.

The President's Cultural Series showcased Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton, performing an organic fusion of African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean rhythms, psychedelic soul and progressive rock.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

35

COMMENCEMENT

Processing under the iconic Bryant archway for the first time, members of the Class of 2019 share their joy with Bryant administrators, staff, and faculty who guided their successful path to Commencement.

Bryant University’s 156th Commencement Ceremonies The Class of 2019 – 1,015 members strong – completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies in the arts and sciences and in business and were awarded a Bryant University degree at Bryant’s 156th Commencement exercises. With degrees that have more value now than at any time in Bryant’s history, the graduates joined a powerful network of more than 50,000 accomplished alumni who are inspired to excel and make a difference as leaders in organizations and communities around the world.

In her May 18th Commencement address,

The University awarded two other honorary degrees during the

Laura K. Ipsen, President and Chief Executive

undergraduate Commencement:

Officer of Ellucian Company, L.P., an innovative developer of software, cloud applications, and analytics for higher education institutions, shared what she learned about the power of innovation to change the world over the course of her career in technology with the 890 undergraduate members of the Class of 2019.

“You’re entering a world where change is the only constant, where technology is both accelerating and disrupting the future,” said Ipsen. “Charting your course in this digital age for any occupation will require both human and artificial intelligence. The future of jobs will be a world of people and machines working together… Technology should inform our human intuition and inspire us to explore all the possibilities ahead – and give us a fighting chance to make the right decisions about them.”

Known for his innovative ideas about the work of judging and for his focus on fundamental fairness, William E. Smith, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, who is admired as a true inspiration to those working in public health and is the first AfricanAmerican to serve as Rhode Island’s top health official, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

On Thursday, May 16, Edward “Ned” O. Handy III, a leader in the New England banking industry and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., addressed 125 graduate students and

In recognition of her 25 years as a technology leader in Silicon

36

their families at the Graduate Programs

Valley, Ipsen received an honorary Doctor of Business

Commencement. He received an honorary

Administration degree during the ceremony.

Doctor of Business Administration degree.

C O MMEN CEMEN T

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

37

ACC O M P L I S H E D A L U M N I

Panelists from “Entrepreneurial Women of Bryant” shared their business experiences with students and fellow alumni.

(From nearest) Taylor Armstrong ’14, Manager of Operations & Support, RangeMe; Jaime Diglio ’00, President, SomethingNew LLC; Taryn Beaudoin ’08, Founder of Crush Limits Inc.; Christina (Raye) Shaw ’10, Founder of The ACES Group. Other panelists from the evening not pictured: Samantha Curtin ’12, Co-Founder of Toast to St. Jude; Peni Garber ’85, Retired Partner, ABRY Private Equity; Renee Lawlor ’15, Project Manager, Amazon/PillPack; Tammy Martin ’03, CFO of Seeq Corporation; Sheila Narayan ’89, Managing Director, Leadership Director at Golden Seeds, Greater Boston; Jennifer Rousseau ’11, Director of Strategic Planning for New Ventures, Chewsi.

1959

1976

1982

RICHARD VANGERMEERSCH, CMA, CPA, PH.D., of

CRAIG T. BOGAR, ED.D., of Gulf

CHRISTOPHER LYDDY, of

LEONARD “LEN” CAMARA, J.D.,

Fairfield, CT, has been promoted

was named Chief Information

Shores, AL,

1984

Narragansett, RI, Emeritus

Associate Professor/

to Chief for the Fairfield Police

Officer of FirstLight Fiber, a lead-

Professor of Accounting at

Faculty Director –

Department. He had been Acting

ing provider of fiber-optic data,

University of Rhode Island, was

School of Health

Chief since October 2018. Hired

Internet, data center, cloud and

featured in “Strategic Finance”

Sciences at

by the Fairfield Police

voice services to enterprise and

Department in 1982, he served in

carrier customers throughout the

magazine online for his work in

American Public University

writing about the historical origins

System, was inducted into the

a variety of positions including

Northeast. FirstLight is head-

of Institute of Management

Loyola University New Orleans

Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol

quartered in Albany, NY. Most

Accountants®, which is celebrating

Athletic Hall of Fame. He served

Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain.

recently, he served as Chief

its 100th year. The IMA is a profes-

as director of athletics at Loyola

For the last eight years, he has

Information Officer at Energy

sional membership organization

from 1991 to 1999.

been Deputy Chief of Police.

Federation in Westborough, MA.

around the world with 300 profes-

1981

1983

sional and student chapters.

JOANNE M. DALY, CDFA®, ‘87 MST, of Providence, RI, has

WILLIAM T. KESSLER, of

EDWARD T. VIEIRA, JR., ’84 MBA, PH.D., of South Berwick,

with a global network of more than 100,000 members in 140 countries

been named one of

1970 JAMES B. ASTRACHAN, of

38

Rhode Island’s “Leading Ladies of

Baltimore, MD, notes the publi-

2019” in Providence

cation of the second edition of a

Monthly. A first Vice

Uxbridge, MA, has

ME, Marketing and Statistics

been appointed

Professor at Simmons University,

Chief of the

has published, Public Relations

Mendon Fire

Planning: a Strategic Approach. The

Department. He

book is a guide to understanding

will be the town’s first full-time

and practicing the profession of public relations. Recommended

book he conceived and edited,

President, Financial Advisor,

Fire Chief in several years.

Intellectual Property for Maryland

Family Wealth Advisor, and

Previously, he worked for

by the International Public

Business and Litigation Lawyers:

Certified Divorce Financial

Uxbridge Fire Department where

Relations Association, it is

What You Need to Know But Didn’t

Analyst® at Morgan Stanley,

he served as a firefighter since

designed for practitioners in

Know To Ask. He celebrates his

she is also an active community

2000 and as Chief since 2012.

45th anniversary of admission to

volunteer and has been a

develop an understanding of the

the Maryland Bar Association in

speaker at the Bryant University

systematic process of public rela-

June 2019.

Women’s Summit®.

A C C OMPLISHED ALU MNI

training or students who wish to

tions and knowledge of its

1987

1988

interdependent and moving

LOUIS ARCUDI III ’87 MBA, has

DAVID BISSAILLON, CIC, of

components.

been appointed Chief Financial

Adams, MA, has

Officer at Millendo Therapeutics,

become the Owner

Insulet Corporation, a medical device company, as Vice President of Sales and Managed Markets.

Inc., in Ann Arbor, MI, a clini-

and President of

1985

cal-stage biotechnology company

Smith Bros.-

1991

DINO DECRESCENZO, who has

developing novel therapies for

McAndrews

served with the Barrington Police

orphan endocrine diseases.

CHARLES K. GRIFFITH JR. ’91 MBA has joined CPS

Insurance Agency in Adams. He

department for 32 years, was

Previously, he served as Senior

joined SBM in 2011 and has 25

Technologies Corporation in

recently promoted to Police Chief.

Vice President of Operations and

years of experience in the insur-

Norton, MA, as Chief Financial Officer. He was most recently the

He started with the department

Chief Financial Officer at Idera

ance industry. He served as the

as a Patrol Officer in 1986.

Pharmaceuticals, headquartered

President and CEO of the Berkshire

CFO of SPRI Clinical Trials Global,

Through the years, he has served

in Cambridge, MA.

Chamber of Commerce from 2001-

LLC, a company managing clini-

as a Patrol Sergeant, a Detective

2006 and has been active in local

cal trials for the pharmaceutical

Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant,

civic efforts for 30 years. He

industry. Prior to joining SPRI, he

and Detective Captain.

JIM GLOVER of Gilford, NH, for-

currently chairs the Plunkett

was the Vice President-Finance

merly of Hyannis

Memorial Hospital Trustees and

at Vertex Distribution (previously

Port, MA, joined the

is a board member of ProAdams.

1986

Bank of New

known as Pawtucket Fasteners and Bell Fasteners), a Rhode

RICHARD A. MEROLA, J.D., of

Hampshire’s

Smithfield, RI, was sworn in as

Laconia office as

1990

distributor of corrosion resistant

Associate Justice of the Rhode

Vice President,

PATRICK TREANOR MBA, has

fasteners.

Island Family Court by Governor

Island-based, manufacturer and

Banking Office Manager, responsi-

been promoted to President of Relypsa, Inc., in Redwood City, CA,

Gina Raimondo on March 19,

ble for the office’s deposit portfolio,

2019. Over the past 25 years, he

client relations, and new business

and to the executive committee of

HEIDI (VERRILL) PICKETT, of

practiced law concentrating in

development. He has more than 12

Vifor Pharma Group. He has been

Boston, MA, Assistant Dean of

the Family Court. Prior to that,

years’ experience in banking, most

with Relypsa for four years in

the MIT Sloan Master of Finance

he worked in the Banking and

recently serving as bank manager

positions of increasing responsi-

Program, joined the InvestAcure,

Data Processing fields.

for TD Bank Group in Gilford.

bility. Prior to that, he worked at

PBC advisory board and co-au-

KRIS HART ’08: Better than a Hole in One! The best ideas are often borne from personal need.

Kris Hart ’08 gave up his spot on the Bryant varsity golf team when he was a senior to increase his class load. That didn’t mean he wanted to stop playing golf, but it was much more difficult. “I couldn’t play free golf any longer, get free balls or equipment, and there was no competitive outlet for golfers like me.”

Inspired by ski resorts that offered reduced price lift tickets to college students, Hart created CollegeGolfPass shortly after graduation, which sought to offer those students tee times at a discount.

“It was a hard sell at first – golf courses don’t like discounting their brands,” says Hart. “But I convinced them that the real benefit to them is this new demographic to fill vacant tee times.”

Hart brought his idea to the Bryant New Venture Competition and took top prize in 2012, which reinforced his confidence in his business’s potential. Two of the contest’s judges, Jay Weinberg ’85 and Brian Cowley ’82, continue to mentor Hart on branding and fundraising.

CollegeGolfPass morphed into Nextgengolf after Hart acquired National Collegiate Club Golf Association, the governing organization of collegiate golf clubs.

Recently, Hart experienced the pinnacle of every golf entrepreneur’s dreams: The PGA of America acquired Nextgengolf. “Nextgengolf gives a full spectrum to the next life cycle of golfers. It is so exciting how the PGA of America and innovation are changing, and the growth that it can generate.”

“Nextgengolf provides authentic experiences that speak to the next generation of golfers,” said PGA of America Chief Innovation Officer Arjun Chowdri. “Nextgengolf’s fun and creative format is a natural continuation of our roadmap for golfers that begins with PGA Jr. League. Having the PGA Professional as a critical part of that experience is the best way to encourage and support new golfers. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to further the mission of the PGA of America and help the game evolve.”

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

39

thored an opinion piece on

1999

Rebuilding Together of

beingpatient.com titled “With

BRIAN CANINA, CPA, of

Manchester, CT. Devanney serves

SHELLÉ HENDRICKSON, CPCU,

Longmeadow, MA,

on 11 nonprofit boards and has

of Bermuda, was named Head of

News of Another Failed Trial, a Cure for Alzheimer’s May Have

has been promoted

received numerous awards and

Healthcare, Bermuda, at AXA XL

More To Do With Corporate

to Executive Vice

recognitions, including the 2018

in its Bermuda Insurance busi-

Finance Than Science.” She has a

President, Chief

Next Generation Leadership

ness. She joined AXA XL in 2016

Master of Science in Accountancy

Financial Officer,

Award given by the Connecticut

as Vice President, Senior

from Bentley University.

1992

and Treasurer of PeoplesBank. He

Food Association. Devanney

Underwriter. Previously, she was

formerly served as Senior Vice

received her master’s degree

Assistant Vice President,

President and Chief Financial

from St. Joseph’s University.

Underwriter at XL Catlin.

Officer. He is a member of the

MICHELLE FARABAUGH, of

board of directors of the

JAIME (LANNON) DIGLIO, of

2007

Medford, OR, Chief

Children’s Study Home, where he

Marketing Officer

serves as Treasurer, and the

at Harry and David,

Holyoke Chamber of Commerce,

founder and career

was named one of

where he also serves as Treasurer.

coach for inFirst in

manager at The

the greater NYC

Bulfinch Group and

area and talent

Investment Advisor

Guilford, CT, a

2019’s Top Women in Retail by Women In Retail

DEREK MAZZARELLA, of Boston, MA, an investment

Leadership Circle for the 9th

WILLIAM A. MUTO ’99 MBA, of

optimizer and certified PI partner

annual awards. She received her

Warwick, RI, has been appointed

at the Predictive Index, was

Securities, has earned the

MBA from Babson College.

Vice President/Senior Business

recently named President of

designation of Five Star Wealth

Intelligence Officer at Bristol

SomethingNew LLC, an uncon-

Manager for the second year in a

County Savings Bank. He is

ventional talent recruiting and

row. His designation was

1993

responsible for providing direction

acquisition firm.

announced in Boston magazine’s

KEVIN M. OLSEN, of

and technical guidance on data

Philadelphia, PA, previously

standards and governance, as well

Dorman Products’ President and

as analysis of current marketplace

2001

Chief Operating Officer, has been

trends and existing analytics to

JILLIAN (TEMPEST) ROGERS, of

appointed the company’s

identify opportunities and improve

Tampa, FL, formerly of

President and Chief Executive

efficiencies and deliverables.

Smithfield, RI, joined The Lukens

featured on latin-

Company (TLC), based in

trends.com. His

Arlington, VA, as a senior account

story of immigrat-

Officer. He has also been named to the Dorman’s Board of Directors. Prior to joining

MARC PARAUKA, CPA, of

at Park Avenue

February issue.

JUAN CAMILO, of New York City, NY, was recently

director. She will work remotely

ing to the United

Ansonia, CT, has

from her hometown of Tampa, FL.

Vice President and Chief Financial

joined Utica

With more than 10 years experi-

Republic and leaving a job on

Officer, he served as the Senior

Equipment Finance

ence working in the nonprofit

Wall Street to found Dyckman

Vice President and Chief Financial

as Director of Credit

fundraising field, she previously

Beer Company was part of the

Officer at Colfax Fluid Handling,

and Underwriting.

worked for Merkle, a marketing

Dominican Influencer Series.

Dorman in 2016 as the Executive

and Chief Operating Officer at CRANE Energy Flow Solutions.

He is a seasoned credit profession-

and advertising organization

al with strengths in financial anal-

based in Columbia, MD.

States from the Dominican

ysis and managing customer rela-

2008

tionships, most recently as Vice

MONIKA SATTLER, of Spain and

1995

President, Business Banking Credit

2002

the United States,

MATT KLEIN ’99 MBA, of Eden

Analyst at Wells Fargo. He previ-

Prairie, MN, has been appointed

ously worked for EverBank and GE

DARREN M. VIOLETTE, CHFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CHSNC®,

first book,

President of KleinBank, continuing

Capital.

his family’s legacy as the fourth generation to work for KleinBank.

40

2004

has published her

of Whitinsville, MA,

Unleashing the Devil

a Principal of

in You. A summa

Profectus Financial

cum laude graduate with a degree

He has 22 years of experience in the

2000

Partners, Financial

in Global Studies, she left a career

financial services industry. Prior to

MOLLY DEVANNEY was honored

Advisor at Park

with the World Bank to pursue

being named President, he served

at the Channel 3 Kids Camps 11th

Avenue Securities, and Financial

her dreams and is now a goal

as Chief Consumer Banking Officer;

Annual W.R.A.P. (Women Raising

Professional at The Bulfinch Group,

strategy coach who helps others

President of the KleinBank branch

Awareness Philanthropically)

was designated a Five Star Wealth

do the same.

in Savage; and Vice President of

Luncheon in Hartford, CT. She is

Manager for the fifth consecutive

Business Development at KleinBank

Vice President of Public Relations

year as featured in Boston maga-

in Chaska. He came to KleinBank

at Highland Park Market, a

zine’s February issue.

from Fleet Financial in Rhode

third-generation family-owned

Island, where he served as Portfolio

grocery chain, as well as Executive

Manager and Financial Analyst.

Director of the nonprofit

A C C O MPLISHED ALU MNI

ACC O M P L I S H E D A L U M N I DANIEL GIROUARD, of

saw a highly successful and inno-

worked as an independent auditor

Pawtucket, RI, received an

vative customer marketing pro-

for a public accounting firm serv-

but was inactive for more than a

Outstanding Alumni Award from

gram and support team.

ing various municipalities and

decade until city leaders approved

the Community College of Rhode

school districts.

Island, where he received an associate’s degree. The award

PERA was established in 2002,

the Providence CommunityPolice Relations Act in 2017.

CHERIE (ROSEMOND) LISEE, J.D.,

Previously, he served as an

recognized “outstanding profes-

has been named

2010

sional growth and achievement in

Vice President for

NEIL BLACK, CPA, of New York

State of Rhode Island and, most

his field.” He received his Master

Compliance and

City, NY, has been named

recently, as a lawyer in private

Assistant Public Defender for the

of Business Administration from

Risk Management /

Manager of The Siegfried Group

practice, which he has agreed to

Providence College School of

Privacy Officer at

in the New York Metro Market.

suspend while in his role at PERA.

Business. An Army veteran, he is

UniBank for Savings in the

He was most recently at KPMG as

an Assistant Professor,

Greater Boston area. She is a

an Audit Manager. He received

Enrollment and Scholarship

multifaceted attorney and regu-

his master's degree in accoun-

Officer, in the Providence College

latory compliance adviser who

tancy at Queens College.

Department of Military Science.

most recently served as Regulatory

been promoted to

Exam Manager and Consumer

the role of Senior Key

2009

and Business Banking Compliance

2011

Officer at Santander Bank.

JOSE F. BATISTA, J.D., of

ERICA COLLINS has been named

Boston, MA, has

Account Manager at Providence, RI, has

Executive Director

CHRISTOPHER J. BEELS, of

PepsiCo, and is responsible for delivering top-line

been named

results, growing market share, and

of the Aesthetic

MATTHEW VIOLETTE ‘09 MPAc,

Executive Director

developing strong relationships at

Business Institute

of Mansfield, MA, has been

of the Providence

Shaw’s and Star Market in New

in Branford, CT.

appointed Town Accountant of

External Review

England.

Most recently, she

Mansfield. He has been the

Authority (PERA), the

served as the Senior Customer

Assistant Town Accountant/

nine-member panel tasked with

Marketing Program Manager at

Budget Analyst for Medfield for

providing civilian oversight over

Cynosure, Inc., where she over-

the past five years and has

the Providence Police Department.

Invest in Excellence With the stock market at record highs, there has never been a better time to use appreciated stock to make your gift to Bryant.

You’ll receive a tax deduction on the full fair-market value of the stock, regardless of your cost basis, AND you will eliminate the capital gains tax on the appreciation, saving up to 20%.

Donating stock is simple—instruct your broker to make an electronic transfer and we will take care of the rest.

To learn more about how your gift of stock can inspire Bryant students to excel, contact Ed Magro, J.D., Executive Director of Development, at emagro@bryant.edu or 877.353.5667.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

41

SUSAN L. BENFEITO, of New

who are looking to make extra

2016

RYAN POHOLEK, of Tampa, FL,

Bedford, MA, was recently pro-

money by delivering those goods.

JAKE DURKIN, of Nashville, TN,

and formerly of North Attleboro,

The startup has almost a million

formerly of

subscribers. They also collaborate

Cohasset, MA, was

town newspaper, The Sun Chronicle,

River, MA. She has primary

on myWebRoom, a content deliv-

invited to move on

in an article that detailed his

responsibility for overseeing all

ery platform.

strategic management of the agency’s finance department infrastructure and operations.

2013

to American Idol

motivation to become a stand-

auditions in

out member of Bryant’s Cross

Hollywood after a private audi-

Country team. He now competes

tion with producers and an audi-

as a Spartan for his graduate school, the University of Tampa,

She joined Bristol as a Senior

PATRICK PERUGINO II ’13 MBA,

tion in front of judges Luke Bryan,

Accountant in 2011 and rose to the

of West Haven, CT, recently

Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie in

where he is pursuing a Master of

position of Finance Director in

served as a guest judge at the

Louisville. Eliminated in the sec-

Science in Entrepreneurship.

2016.

Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Shown

ond round, the singer/songwriter

in Manhattan, NY.

is continuing to work on his craft in the “Music City.”

2019 DENNIS COSMO, of Cranston,

ADDISON LYNCH, of Los Angeles, CA, joined the coaching

2015

staff of the Los Angeles Chargers

MARISSA COHEN, CPA, ’15 MPAc,

RI, has been named

2017

Veteran Resource Coordinator for

last season as the quality control

of Boston, MA, has

KENDRIK LECHNER, of Ann

coach for defense. He spent the

recently joined The

Arbor, MI, formerly of

Community College

previous seven seasons first as

Siegfried Group in

Middlebury, CT, has accepted the

of Rhode Island. He

assistant football coach for the

Boston, MA, as a

position of Associate Account

manages the VA Work Study pro-

Choctaws at Mississippi College

senior associate.

Strategist at Google in Ann Arbor.

gram across four campuses and

in Clinton, MS, before heading to

Most recently, she worked as an

Prior to that, he was a Sales

plans and executes college pro-

the Florida State Seminoles’

assurance senior associate at PwC.

Associate in the executive Sales

gramming designed for military

defense under Jimbo Fisher. His

Development Program at

veterans, National Guard mem-

family cheered him on in the AFC

Carousel Industries.

playoffs at Gillette Stadium ver-

bers, reservists, and dependents.

He is the founder and CEO of the

LINDSEY LERNER, of Providence,

Bryant Veterans Professional

sus their beloved New England

RI, founder of Level

Patriots team.

Exchange®, a pro-

2018

Network, and a Goss Prize for

duction and

MICKEY GASPER, formerly of

Entrepreneurship recipient. Prior

coworking space

Merrimack, NH, is beginning his

to his higher education pursuits,

dedicated to work-

first full season in the New York

Cosmo served in Iraq as a U.S.

Yankees system after being pro-

Army Ranger.

2012 ARTEM FEDYAEV, of San

ing with musicians, artists, and

Francisco, CA, and

creators to hone their craft, has

moted to the Charleston (S.C.)

his wife, Daria

received the inaugural

RiverDogs at the end of last sea-

Rebenok Fedyaev

Millennial-Owned Business

son. The ’Dogs are the Yankees’

were named to

Spotlight Award at the 5th Annual

low Class A long season team.

Forbes “30 Under 30”

ChooseRI Celebration. She won

Last year, after being drafted by

the 2015 Bryant New Ventures

the Yankees in the 27th round in

business that connects people

Competition in 2015 with Level

early June, he played in some 37

looking for items such as sand

Exchange.

games with the Yankees’ Rookie

for their delivery startup Grabr, a

from a beach in Bali with travelers

SAV E T H E DAT E REUNION @ HOMECOMING 2019 SEPTEMBER 27-28 For more information and to get involved, visit alumniconnect.bryant.edu/reunion

42

MA, was featured in his home-

moted to Chief Financial Officer at Bristol Elder Services, Inc. in Fall

A C C O MPLISHED ALU MNI

League team in Pulaski, VA.

Share your news about professional and educational accomplishments at: bryant.edu/alumni, email alumni@bryant.edu, or call 877.353.5667.

ACC O M P L I S H E D A L U M N I DAVID COOLEY ’82 and LISA SATTLER-BIESEK ’82: Reinvigorating downtown Meriden, CT Three decades after collaborating on marketing and other

and offer business advice and coaching to budding

class projects, semi-retired executives David Cooley ’82 and

entrepreneurs. During last year’s Meriden Yule Fest, Santa

Lisa Sattler-Biesek ’82 are together again. Cooley,

Claus rode the commuter train into Meriden, and people

Co-Director of and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Making

enjoyed food trucks, street performers, a popup market, and

Meriden Business Center (MMBC), and Sattler-Biesek, as the

events at the Silver City Ballroom, all made possibly by

center’s Co-Director and Downtown Fellow, have embraced

external financial support. Given the great enthusiasm for the

their so-called part-time-plus roles revitalizing the

event, funding has been secured for the 2019 celebration.

downtown area of Meriden, CT, once an industrialized city.

“Experts say it takes five to 10 years to turn a city around,” Says Cooley, a Meriden native. “But I think we’re ahead of

Thanks to a new commuter train line, Meriden is now a highly affordable 20-minute train ride to both Hartford and New Haven. Young professionals and entrepreneurs working

that schedule, because of city support and wonderful

in either city can find far more affordable housing in Meriden,

volunteers. And, Lisa has done great work with events and art

says Cooley. Meriden’s newly designated Opportunity Zones

place-making.”

offer opportunities for investors looking to help Meriden

Through their respective co-curricular activities at Bryant, Cooley and Sattler-Biesek gained invaluable skills – event planning and sponsorship, budgeting and marketing – that they use in their work at MMBC, which celebrated its first anniversary in March. “This was before the era of internships, so the clubs gave us real-world experiences,” she recalls.

rebound as well as to access tax benefits. With 14 acres of walking trails and an outdoor concert venue, the recently completed Meriden Green, directly across the street from the train station, is yet another beautiful community asset, as is nearby Hubbard Park, an 1,800-acre venue offering gorgeous vistas for hikers and cyclists.

Married to John Biesek ’80 and good friends with nearly two

Emphasizing Meriden’s silversmith history, Sattler-Biesek

dozen alumnae, Sattler-Biesek has collaborated with other

says, “We know that arts can be an amazing economic driver…

Bryant alumni on MMBC initiatives.

Over the years, Cooley and Sattler-Biesek remained friends through regular coffee dates; now, says Cooley, “We instinctively seem to know what needs to get done. One plus one equals three.”

With only a shoestring budget, the duo focuses on inexpensive or free initiatives to promote downtown Meriden,

we’re trying to combine the arts with technology.” One digital artist, who hosts a monthly digital paint night, has introduced Making Meriden Business Center to his artists’ network. “We created places and spaces for them to show their work, including the Renaissance Revive the Arts at the new Silver City Ballroom,” she says. Creating a healthy vibrant downtown, Sattler-Biesek notes, will come a step at a time.

For more information: @MMBC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“Experts say it takes five to 10 years to turn a city around, but I think we’re ahead of that schedule, because of city support and wonderful volunteers.”

DAVID COOLEY ’82, Co-Director of and Entrepreneurin-Residence at Making Meriden Business Center (MMBC)

Lisa Sattler-Biesek ’82 and David Cooley ’82 have teamed up to revitalize downtown Meriden, CT.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

43

IN MEMORIAM

44

THOMAS W. MORAN ’36 February 9, 2018

JAMES J. MCAREAVEY, SR. ’49 June 18, 2018

EDWARD “TED” LINHARES ’58 February 13, 2019

RAYMOND F. BONENFANT ’38, P’88 January 11, 2019

HOWARD L. CURTIS, JR. ’50 February 7, 2019

INA (GOLD) LONDON ’58 May 14, 2018

FRANCISCA (DAROSA) PROULX ’38 December 4, 2018

RICHARD T. MOORE ’50 February 10, 2019

JOHN D. ADAMS, SR. ’59 January 12, 2019

YVONNE (SYLVESTRE) LEVEILLE ’40 December 12, 2018

EDWARD F. CURTIS, III ’52 January 16, 2019

KEITH R. ALLEN ’59 January 28, 2019

E. BARBARA (BLISTEIN) MORGAN ’40 October 8, 2018

JOSEPHINE (INFANTINO) PHILLIPS ’52 March 6, 2018

WILLIAM G. SAN ANTONIO, JR. ’59 November 10, 2018

ISABELLE (KEAN) NOYES ’40 March 13, 2018

WILLIAM H. SEARLES, JR. ’53 February 15, 2019

JOSEPH A. PINOCCI, JR. ’60 February 24, 2016

JEAN (PARKER) STOVER ’41 February 7, 2019

EARL R. WILLIS ’53 October 16, 2018

BERTON A. BROMWELL ’61, P’97 November 30, 2018

CATHERINE (CONFIETTO) ALVEY ’42 January 18, 2019

SHEILA (POLLACK) PHILLIPS ’54 February 1, 2019

JOHN F. LOUGHRAN ’61 January 1, 2019

HELEN (GERMAGIAN) ATAMIAN ’43 January 11, 2019

RUSSELL F. BARTHOLOMEW ’55 September 14, 2018

CARL T. CARLSON, JR. ’62 November 29, 2018

DOROTHY (ARIGONI) MCCUSKER ’43 April 26, 2018

PHYLLIS (HENGST) BRUNNER ’55 December 8, 2018

LUCIA (BARBIERI) JEWELL ’62 February 3, 2019

HELVI J. PALOJARVI ’43 December 11, 2018

CHARLES E. JOURDENAIS, JR. ’55 January 16, 2019

JOHN E. LUCIANI, JR. ’62 June 6, 2017

EDMUND J. CLEGG, JR. ’46, P’81 January 31, 2019

JOHN J. SYAH ’56 November 10, 2018

JOHN “JACK” RENAUD ’62 February 11, 2019

SHEILA (ROSS) HUTTON ’46 June 21, 2018

FRED A. VALIANTE ’56 November 29, 2018

DOMINIC CIFELLI ’64 November 15, 2018

ANN (WILSON) HORTON ’47 December 7, 2018

DIANE (BURGHARDT) DE OLIVEIRA ’57 February 8, 2019

BARRY E. MARTIN ’65 November 27, 2018

JAMES J. LOMBARDI, JR. ’47 August 31, 2018

CHARLES J. DRISCOLL ’57 January 6, 2019

PAUL B. NORTHRUP ’65 February 6, 2019

ROSE (FUSARO) LOMBARDI ’47 February 14, 2019

ANTHONY FINELLI ’57 January 1, 2019

ROBERT W. SMITH ’65 January 27, 2019

RALPH R. PAPITTO ’47, ’87H January 18, 2019

GABRIEL MILLER ’57 May 24, 2016

HARRY A. BROWN ’67 January 6, 2019

PHYLLIS (AUGUSCIAK) SMYTH ’47 December 15, 2018

FIORE NORELLI, JR. ’57 December 21, 2018

JOSEPH T. DUFFY ’69 February 12, 2019

IRENE (D’AGUANNO) MARSELLA ’48, P ’87, ’91 MBA January 11, 2019

JOHN TEARE ’57 August 22, 2018

MICHAEL J. GRADY ’69 December 10, 2018

I N MEMO RIAM

JOHN W. JENNINGS ’69 September 15, 2018

WILLIAM C. ROSS ’78 December 11, 2018

JOHN L. ZAMBARANO ’86 November 9, 2018

KATHLEEN (CRISCUOLO) WINSOR ’69 November 25, 2018

HENRY L. DAUDELIN, JR. ’80 May 31 2018

AMY (VALE) GALLAGHER ’89, ’00 MBA November 29, 2018

RONALD M. CARLIN ’71 November 20, 2018

BRYAN M. OPPENHEIMER ’80, P ’08 February 9, 2019

PAULA J. HUDSON ’89 December 10, 2018

MICHAEL R. IZZO ’71 November 28, 2018

THOMAS H. TRUDEAU ’80 January 10, 2019

JOHN H. HEBERT ’90 February 14, 2019

ALBERT J. STORTI ’72, ’80 MBA, P ’92 December 22, 2018

ANTHONY MUSUMECI, JR. ’81 January 5, 2019

DOUGLAS M. MARTIN ’90 December 3, 2018

KENNETH FAVREAU ’74, P ’92 December 7, 2018

DAWN (BENSON) CASALE ’82 January 30, 2019

PATRICK N. MAHER ’92 November 20, 2018

THOMAS W. KNIGHT ’75 February 2, 2019

RICHARD A. PERREAULT ’82 MBA January 18, 2019

GLENN R. CLARK ’97 MBA December 9, 2018

KURT C. GIARD ’76 March 26, 2018

PAUL A. SAVICKAS ’83 MBA December 11, 2018

CHRISTOPHER C. PAULINO ’01 February 9, 2019

GARY L. THELL ’77 January 10, 2019

JENNIFER L. O’ROURKE ’84 January 29, 2019

NEIL G. ST. JEAN ’04 November 15, 2018

WILLIAM A. DELAUGHTER ’78 January 15, 2019

DONALD J. FLUMERFELT ’86 January 9, 2019

Joseph T. Duffy ’69, a member of Bryant’s Board of Trustees from 1992-2001, passed away on February 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA,

after a long battle with melanoma. In addition to his tenure as a Bryant trustee, Duffy was a long time and consistent member of the Bryant Leadership Council of Donors, supporting both the Bryant Fund and the Trustee Scholarship Fund.

Born in Providence, RI, to Austin J. and Elizabeth Neary Duffy, he was educated at Blessed Sacrament School and La Salle Academy, both in Providence. Following his graduation from Bryant, he enlisted as an airman in the Rhode Island Air National Guard and served until 1975.

Duffy was a Trust Officer at State Street Bank in Boston, where he became an experienced investment officer. He went on to join Fleet Bank in Providence, RI, and moved to California in 1977 to join Western Asset Management Company. He then worked as Chief Investment Officer at First Interstate Bank and then served as President of Chase Manhattan Bank in California. He later joined the Private Bank at Bank of America, serving as the Chief Investment Officer until 2000. He then worked as the Managing Director at U.S. Trust Company until retiring in 2002.

His civic engagement included serving as President of Santa Maria Hospital and Foundation. Duffy also was a member of the board of the Hathaway Home for Children. Active in the National League for Nurses, he served as President of National Student Nurses Foundation in New York City. He was a longtime member of Los Angeles Athletic Club.

He is survived by his partner Kenneth R. Visger Jr. and his sister Mary Duffy of Rhode Island, a niece and nephew, and many cousins in both America and Ireland.

B R YAN T S U MME R 20 19

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