COF April 2024 Recap

Know a new faculty or staff member?

Make sure they are signed up to receive the biweekly COF Faculty and Staff newsletter. They can learn about the social events, professional development, and other opportunitiesand maybe even some discounted event tickets!

Hey, COF Community! April was another busy month across the consortium and we are excited to share some of the highlights with you! While the end of spring is busy on each campus, we hope this recap gives you a better insight into the joint programs and initiatives across the institutions and departments. Enjoy our April recap!

If its open across the COF, we would love to !

Sign Up

ACADEMICS

18TH ANNUAL MUDDY RIVER SYMPOSIUM

The 18th Annual Muddy River Symposiu place on April 10th in the Paresky Cente Simmons University Our community c together to celebrate environmental stewardship and innovation. And as alw perennial event was a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines us here

The day was filled with inspiring mome thought-provoking discussions. From t engaging poster session to the heartfe dedication of an award in memory of F Gershwin, a cherished member of the Muddy River Restoration Management and Oversight Committee, every part of the event showcased our commitment to excellence and progress.

attendees

One of the highlights was the fireside chat style keynote featuring Stephen Exner, President of Fenway Victory Gardens, in conversation with E Faszewski, a founding member of the COF Cen for Sustainability and the Environment. Their insightful dialogue illuminated the importance our collective efforts in shaping a more sustain future.

We were thrilled to welcome a total of 83 attendees, each bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to the table The energy in the room was palpable as we celebrated the winners of the poster awards. Congratulations to all the recipients whose projects exemplified innovation and dedication to environmental justice.

The Francis Allou Gershwin Local Social Action Award wen to the team behind "Food Waste and Climate Change Implications"

Josh Luedke (Emmanuel)

Alison Hrivnak (Emmanuel)

Grace Raymond (Simmons)

Sammy Riadi (Wentworth

The Environmental Justice Award recognized the efforts the "Charlesgate Farmer’s Market"

Ella Poor (Emmanuel)

Anna Letourneau (MassA

Laci Santos (Wentworth)

The Water Award celebrat the team behind "Tracking Flow of the Muddy River”

Anna Pyche (Wentwor

Izraël Irizarry (Simmon

Shannon Bittner (Simmons)

Phoebe Jarvis (MassArt)

The Sustainability Science Award honored "Ecological Forensics: eDNA Metabarcoding for Insect Biodiversity Monitoring.”

Anna Saunders (Simmons)

The Muddy River Symposium was a resounding success, thanks to the dedication and collaboration of our COF community. Let's continue to catalyze positive change, create shared experiences, and work together towards a brighter, more sustainable future.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

SPIRIT WEEK: A HOME RUN

April at College of the Fenway kicked off with a bang as students, faculty, and staff came togethe to celebrate COF Spirit Week. From the men’s NCAA basketball watch party to surprise afternoon food trucks, the week was a delightful showcase of community spirit and fun!

One thing that never fails to ignite the excitement of our students is anything involving food, and we had two food truck events Students were given only the date and time, and they eagerly deciphered clues from the COF Instagram account to discover the specific food truck and its location. The “secret” afternoon delights featured Cookie Monstah, renowned for its ice cream sandwiches and Daddy's Fried Dough!

However, the pinnacle of COF Spirit Week was undoubtedly COF Night at Fenway Park on April 11th. The night began with a special tribute to the Student Government Association (SGA) presidents, who were honored on the field for their dedication and leadership. It was a proud moment for the COF community as they applauded the contributions of these student leaders

Before the game commenced, the COF chorus took to the plate, led by the talented direction of conductor Dan Ryan. With voices raised high, they delivered a stirring rendition of the national anthem, filling Fenway Park with patriotic pride and harmony.

COF Spirit Week was another fun week bringing students from across the institutions together and celebrating the power of community and welcoming spring! Here's to many more spirited moments ahead at Colleges of the Fenway!

JAZZ BAND CONCERT

The Jazz Band held its spring concert on Wednesday, April 3, in the Emmanuel Auditorium. Led by Director and Emmanuel professor Jason Whiting, the band featured 28 performers, including guest artist Michael Moss from Berklee College of Music. Based on student excitement for developing their improvisation skills, COF commissioned Michael to create an asynchronous curriculum to enhance student participation, learning, and artistry this semester. With the increase in participation and technique, they have never sounded better!

"The ability to meet students from other schools near Wentworth is the best part of this program. One of my good friends is from MCPHS and I never would have met her if it weren’t for COF Jazz"

755 attendees

DANCE CONCERT: IN BLOOM

Led by Dance Director, Kristen Young, COF nce celebrated their largest concert ever! e 3-show concert showcased over 150 ncers including guest performances by the manuel Dance Team and Dynamix, the PHS Indian dance club. With WIT student, ber Kovacs' thrilling lighting design, 755 nds, family, faculty and staff across the COF hered in Tower Auditorium at MassArt signing accessible and inclusive periences for dancers of all levels, faculty oreographers curated stunning dances in p hop, jazz, musical theater, mporary, Latin ballroom, and ballet. Our t choreographers shined, including a rable Senior dance to celebrate this graduates

e how alive and engaged the rehearsals The environment is so comfortable and veryone is open to making friends."

CONTRACT CORNER

COF X Gardner: Museum Membership

Located in the middle of our consortium, COF Collaborative Business Services works with the Isabella Stewart Museum to maintain a joint membership for all students, faculty, and staff. If you have not visited or attended one of their thought-provoking events, put it on your summer bucket list!

This impressive museum is conveniently situated within walking distance of all the colleges in the consortium Colleges of the Fenway member benefits Include:

Free museum admission

Discounts on gallery tours

Free self-guided visits

Free tickets to select public programs lectures

Complimentary participation in the Museum (library) Pass Program for your universities’ libraries

15% off space rental for events held at the Museum

Promo Codes:

Emmanuel College: EMMANUEL

Mass Art: MCAD

Mass College of Pharmacy: MCPHS

Simmons University: SIMMONS

GET TICKETS

Go to gardnermuseum.org 1. Apply the promo code for your Institution FIRST 2.

Choose the date and time you would like to visit 3.

Some things to keep in mind:

The price will not change if you wait until checkout to apply the code and the ticket is already in the basket

Log in/create an account then continue to “Check Out” and you will see the ticket as $0 in the cart

You will need to present both your etickets and a valid institution ID when you arrive at the Museum Only applies to one ticket

Wentworth Institute of Technology: WENTWORTH

a standing FAC/Staff Team

wanteventHaveanyou advertise?usto

Director, Programs, Student Events, and Communications

ASHLEY

Director, Sports and Recreation

BRENDA

Director, Center for Performing Arts

SARAH

Director, Academic Programs and Professional Development

ALLISON

Director, Operations and Collaborative Services

SANDY

Assistant Director, Collaborative Business Services

Director, Emergency Management ALEXANDRA

cofadmin@colleges-fenway.org