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THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan College Recognizes the Success of its Alumnae at Women in STEM Event __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Manhattan College to teach after receiving her bachelor’s degree in 2013 and subsequently receiving her master’s degree in 2014, Abdallah explained to the panel why she chose to return to Manhattan to teach. “Out of the seven faculty we have in chemical engineering, five of us graduated from here and came back, and I am one of them,” Abdallah said. “So [the faculty panel] was more like why do we like where we are… and assuming that you could’ve gone to any other place, why would you choose to stay in [Manhattan College].” Panelists were welcomed with a breakfast in Kelly Commons, to prepare for a day of presentations. Many alumnae reunited and reminisced on their years at Manhattan College. Despite MC being a
small, tight-knit community, some coworkers did not realize their MC connections until the panel. Two Manhattan graduates speaking at the engineering panel realized their roots to the college for the first time while at the event. “I was really impressed with how some of the panelists that were sitting together that had just met for the first time that day actually ended up having connections through their industries,” Boivin said. “[Two MC alumnae] are working for engineering firms that are completely different, but they work on similar projects. So technically they work together, and they [did not] even realize.” Prospective students were also welcomed at this event, as these panelists showcased their many successes resulting from their MC education. Students and faculty spoke on the many programs offered to engineering students, including
what is offered for the different engineering disciplines. According to manhattan. edu, prospective Jaspers were given a tour of the engineering department, in both the Higgins Engineering and Science Center and Leo Hall. Shirali Patel, a senior computer engineering major and member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), spoke on what this event meant for the school and what she hopes will come from it. “I think [the event] gives room for the program to grow… it would just bring more people and attract more people to the program,” Patel said. “... and hopefully add more classes and concentrations. I know that at bigger schools like MIT or NYU or Columbia, they have a lot more concentrations and classes to choose from.” The event not only highlighted the educational caliber of MC but also demonstrated
the unity among its students, past and present, and their
goals to uplift each other and be successful.
Manhattan College celebrated the achievements of its alumnae, provided networking for current students and encouraged prospective students at a women in STEM. MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY
New Residence Life Director Matthew Lewis Steps Up to the Plate Brooke DellaRocco Staff Writer
Matthew Lewis has been hired as the new Residence Life Director at Manhattan College. He comes to the college ready to join the MC community after 13 years of experience in various residence life positions. After Charles Clency stepped down from the position and became the Director of Residence Life at Fordham University in 2021, AJ Goodman was the first choice to overtake the department while still upholding his previous role as Associate Dean of Students. Lewis now makes his way into the MC community hoping to make a difference after the college’s semester-long search for the perfect candidate. “When working at Hampshire College, I was responsible for creating a new department that focused on the intersections of social identity, public safety, healthy relationships and wellbeing in order to promote a more socially just and equitable society,” Lewis wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “I really hope to bring the skills and knowledge I gained from working in that area and with those incredibly talented staff
and students to my role here.” Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel, associate vice president for student life and dean of students, sent out an email on Feb. 3 welcoming Lewis to the MC community. “As Director of Residence Life, Matt Lewis will be responsible for the educational leadership, policy formation, new housing software implementation, and direction of our student residential life program,” Abreu-Hornbostel wrote. “He will guide our students through a comprehensive undergraduate student life curriculum that fosters belonging, student development, and agency. He will serve as a liaison to facilities, IT, and dining programs as well as guide many of our place-making efforts.” One of Lewis’ main goals is to promote the college’s overall environment, not just that of the residential students. Lewis mentioned speaking with Marilyn Carter in Commuter Services in hopes to integrate commuter students’ wellbeing across campus. “I’ve already had meetings with other departments across the college to see how we can make resources available for a wide variety of students and
hope to continue that progress moving forward,” Lewis wrote. Part of creating this positive community that Lewis mentions is to strengthen the relationship between the students and the Residence Life office. “I hope that students feel like they can come to me in order to help resolve whatever issues they may be experiencing,” Lewis wrote. “I hope they see me and the department as an advocate for them and as a resource they can rely on to make their experience as positive as possible.” With a new perspective in the office and new goals on the horizon, MC is able to see the momentum spread across the entire department of Residence Life. Residence Life’s next steps are focused around updating their procedures and hiring new RA’s for the Fall 2023 semester. Tyler McLoughlin, area coordinator for Overlook Manor, spoke about some of the procedures Residence Life is hoping to update in the future. “Our office is currently working to update our information in the Manhattan College Catalog, which includes the mission, vision, and learning
objectives,” McLoughlin said. “This will be important in shaping the type of experience we strive to offer for residential students and training our RAs. We just finished our group process and had almost 100 candidates participate. This is a large initiative that our office has every year. Next, we will move on to individual interviews. I am excited to continue to engage with them.” Students have a positive
outlook on Lewis’ presence on campus. One student, who requested to remain anonymous, lives in Jasper Hall and commented on her poor living conditions. She hopes that going forward, Residence Life will make improvements regarding dorm cleanliness and improved hygiene for the buildings and will listen to student’s complaints surrounding their living conditions.
Matthew Lewis has been hired as the new Residence Life Director at Manhattan College. LINKEDIN/ COURTESY