Editor’sInklings Volume XXI, Issue 2 • Winter 2008 Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. President Jennifer A. Mailey ’95 ’05M Director of Public Affairs and Communications Audrey E. Scruton Publications Officer and Editor advisory committee
Kimberly Cavanagh Britt Dyer Daehnke ’98 ’05M Cathy Fresch Frank Garland Mary Carol Gensheimer Ron Kerman Catherine Oakley ’05M Duane Prokop, Ph.D. Rev. Nicholas J. Rouch, STD, ’83 Steven Ropski, Ph.D., ’78 Richard Sukitsch contributors
John Chacona Paul DeSante, Ph.D. Cathy Fresch Erin Gaydos ’08 Jana Hunt Mark Jubulis, Ph.D. Jeannie Kloecker Nicholas Pronko Dan Teliski ’97 photography
Ed Bernik Tim Rohrbach design
Tungsten Creative Group Gannon magazine is published three times annually (Summer, Winter, and Spring) by the Office of Communications at Gannon University and is mailed free to alumni, friends of the University, graduate students, parents of undergraduate students, and college presidents across the country. Contributions: Gannon magazine welcomes letters to the editor, class notes information, comments, and suggestions. Please send class notes information to Jana Hunt, Coordinator of Gifts and Records, at hunt001@gannon.edu. All other information should be sent to Audrey Scruton, Editor, at scruton001@gannon.edu or the University’s mailing address as seen below. Gannon University 109 University Square Erie, Pennsylvania 16541 (814) 871.7000
Strong feelings come to mind this winter as I walk across campus. And, I am not just talking about feeling cold. Of course Erie winters are still windy and chilly…that hasn’t changed since my undergrad days. But, so many other things have changed on and around campus. Those exciting changes and the University’s growth are truly amazing to watch and to be a part of. Both an undergraduate and graduate Gannon alumna, my pride in this great University only continues to grow. Each year, Gannon builds upon its past successes and celebrates new achievements. From record enrollments and increased U.S. News & World Report rankings to a successful comprehensive fundraising campaign, Gannon continues to expand, diversify, and beautify our campus with new and renovated buildings, such as the Morosky Academic Center, the Erie Technology Incubator (ETI), and Beyer and Zurn Halls. Yet, with all of this great change and progress, the true heart of Gannon--our faculty, staff, students and alumni remains constant and true. Over the past year, many of our dynamic faculty have produced scholarly publications, received awards for teaching excellence, or obtained their doctoral degrees (pages 5, 6). The Gannon community is very proud of their accomplishments. Gannon’s strong Mission continues to serve as the foundation that guides our faculty and shapes our students’ academic, spiritual, and personal pursuits. Mark Jubulis, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, reflects upon the rich curriculum benefits of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition in his commentary, Substantially Catholic (page 10). A Gannon education has also helped advance the professional and personal lives of many successful and grateful alumni, including Anne Weiser Cooney ’91 and Mark Olszewski ’77, who have used their knowledge and skills to lead a large division of a global corporation, and to assist with highly specialized photography needs for NASA (pages 12, 16). Another proud alumna at Gannon, associate professor of physical therapy, Kristine Legters ’90M, PT, D.Sc., NCS, is training and mentoring future physical therapists, partly due to the fact that as a small child with a handicap, she was inspired by her own physical therapist (page 17). As you read through this magazine, may you also note the genuine compassion of the hundreds of Gannon students and faculty who tirelessly volunteered to serve the nearly 1,000 less fortunate Erie residents at the 30th Annual Social Work Club Christmas Dinner (page 8). And, may you feel proud to learn that Gannon’s studentathletes captured their third GLIAC Championship crown last fall (page 14). As with the progress of campus, it is also important to note the change of staff. At the end of 2007, we said good-bye to Cat Carlson ’05M, former editor of the Gannon magazine. Cat took a job as senior publications editor at Erie Insurance. We wish her all the best. And, last month, we welcomed a new publications officer and editor to the Gannon family, Audrey Scruton. Audrey earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communications and Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Memphis. Audrey will officially take over as editor of the Gannon magazine in the next publication due out in late spring; however, you will have the opportunity to preview some of her work in this winter edition. In the meantime, please stay connected to Gannon and keep in touch. Gannon is achieving great things, and that is something in which we should all take pride.
Jennifer A. Mailey ’95 ’05M Director of Public Affairs and Communications mailey001@gannon.edu (814) 871.7470