Mount Magazine Summer 2023

Mount MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY

Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Embracing the Mount Way

MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2023

Mount Magazine

Summer 2023 PRESIDENT Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. VP ADVANCEMENT Patricia Hill-Callahan, C'87

VP ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Jack Chielli EDITOR Donna Klinger ASSOCIATE EDITOR Katherine Stohlman Pieters, C'19 COPY EDITOR Joe Paciella, C’03, MBA’11 WRITERS Katelyn Boulanger, C'19 Donna Klinger Nicole Patterson Katherine Stohlman Pieters, C'19 Lynne Phelan Robinson, C'79, MBA'83 Bill Torelli, C'73 ALUMNI NEWS TEAM Kim Johnson, MBA’18 Nicole Patterson Charlotte Barry Powers, C'15, MBA'19 PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Kraft Isabella Laurel, MBA'22 Tom Lesser Mike Miller, Ph.D. Corey Nolen Paige Roberts, C'21, MBA'23 DESIGN Laura C. Moyer PRINTING HBP Inc. STAY CONNECTED Mount Magazine Mount St. Mary’s University 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road Emmitsburg, MD 21727 301-447-5366 themagazine@msmary.edu msmary.edu/magazine Change of address? Email advancementservices@msmary.edu The Office of University Marketing & Communications publishes Mount Magazine two times a year for alumni, parents and friends of Mount St. Mary’s University. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not specifically represent opinions of the magazine staff or the university. Reader responses and alumni contributions are welcome. The Mount reserves the right to refuse or revise comments or contributions for style and length.

Connect @mountstmarysu @mountstmarysu @MSMU @Mount St. Mary’s University @MSMU @MSMU @Mount St. Mary’s University Share your memories with us.

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Go Grads!

SPEAKERS OFFER SAGE ADVICE page 10

"If you’re thinking about continuing your education, the Mount is a great place to do it, because they’re all-in….

It’s an unbelievable university."

TODD BOWLES, C’22 HEAD COACH, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Dear Alumni, Parents & Friends, AS YOU KNOW, I made the difficult decision several months ago to

retire from the university next summer. My wife Donna and I will have been here for eight wonderful years and accomplished much of what we set out to do—recover from the turmoil of 2015-16 and stabilize the university by growing enrollments, raising funds for critical projects and implementing a strategic plan to guide us to a thriving future. We did this together, as an incredibly strong and resilient community, and for that I will be forever grateful.

During my last academic year, I will be all-in on achieving even more of our vision for the Mount, particularly the Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign. The $50 million transformational campaign seeks to stand up a graduate-level School of Health Professions, invest in our STEM programs and facilities, and enhance athletic facilities. We’re growing in ways that emphasize the Mount way—ethical decision making, compassionate care and respect for all people—and serve Frederick County and beyond.

This issue is devoted to informing you about and asking for your support for the campaign that will position the university for the next 100 years.

The inaugural program in the School of Health Professions, the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, began two years ago and graduated its first class in May. Among these graduates are Lynne Schumacher, C’21, MSABA'23, and Julie Crochet, MSABA'23, both of whom are passionate about providing compassionate care to clients with intellectual, developmental and communication disabilities. Learn about the first graduates and the program, beginning on page 14.

Turn to page 16 to get the latest on the physician assistant program, expected to seat the first cohort of 40 students in January 2025, and learn about the program’s phenomenal team. Mary (Lueben) Jackson, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, C’05, says that the university’s theology, ethics, philosophy and other core classes formed her, helping to make her the right person to develop a program that will be done the Mount way.

The Mount’s faculty, and especially those in the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, are remembered with gratitude by Katelyn (Comeau) Boulanger, C’19, now a doctoral student at Harvard University and recent recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship award. Go to page 18 to catch up with Katelyn and find out about expansion and renovation of the Coad Science Building.

We are fortunate to have eight campaign ambassadors helping to spread the word about Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign. Among them are Rich and Fran Becker, both of the Class

of 1975, and profiled on pages 20 and 21. Rich and Fran, former student-athletes who are especially interested in the further development of our athletics program, have been getting things done on the Mount’s behalf since they advocated as students for women's athletics and an on-campus pub. I’m thankful for their support and that of all the ambassadors, as well as all alumni who have given to the campaign.

I’m also grateful to Lynne Robinson, C’79, MBA’83, for her many years of service to the Mount, including 16 years as director of athletics during which she oversaw a doubling of the size of the athletic program and a move to a new athletic conference. Upon her retirement, Lynne, on page 22, reflects on her career and the many lifelong friends she has made.

Finally, while the Our Mount campaign focuses on STEM and healthcare curriculum enhancements, we continue to foster our liberal arts tradition. Raphael Della Ratta, C’92, recently gave a generous gift designed to provide support for students as they ascend along their educational journey at the Mount. The initiative enhances the First-Year Symposium, study abroad and fellowship programs. Go to page 23 to learn about how the Mount has shaped Raphael and how his gift will benefit today’s and tomorrow’s students. Turn to page 26 to find out the latest on high-achieving students who benefitted from the fellowships program. Two of these alumni will be teaching at the Mount this academic year and hopefully for years to come.

The Mount is a special place that calls people back to it again and again. The most important moment in the Mount’s history is right now. Please be a part of it. If you hear the call of the Mount and want to help current and future students succeed, please give at ourmount.msmary.edu.

Go Mount!

TIMOTHY E. TRAINOR, PH.D. President

Cover Story OUR MISSION, OUR MOMENT, OUR MOUNT page 13

Contents Features 13

OUR MISSION, OUR MOMENT, OUR MOUNT Embracing the Mount Way

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INAUGURAL CLASS Celebrating the First Graduates in Applied Behavior Analysis Program

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SPREADING GOODNESS Emphasizing Health Equity and Compassion

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WITH GRATITUDE SNSM Growing and Changing

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CHANGE AGENTS Making a Difference Since 1972

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LIFELONG MOUNTIE Lynne Robinson Reflects

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HELPING HAND Support in Climbing the Mount

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CATCHING UP Where Are the Mount Fellows Now?

Mount Magazine 06

MOUNT NEWS 6 Alumna Patty Hill-Callahan, C'87, Returns as Vice President for Advancement 7 May Crowning 8 Year One in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 9 Premier Sports Teams Win Championships 10 Three Tremendous Commencement Speakers 10 Division of Continuing Studies Partners With Maryland Tech Council 11 Q&A With Bolte School Dean Corinne Farneti, Ph.D. 12 Welcoming Men into the Propaedeutic Stage of Formation

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ALUMNI NEWS

38

CLASS NOTES

44

IN MEMORIAM

SUMMER 2023 MOUNT MAGAZINE

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Mount News

Alumna Patty Hill-Callahan Returns as Vice President for Advancement WHEN PATRICIA HILL-CALLAHAN, C’87, first visited Mount St. Mary’s as a high school senior deciding where to go to college, she instantly knew that the Mount was the place for her. Looking back, she credits her educational experience in earning a Bachelor of Arts in history and fine arts at the Mount with leading her to a life of leadership and service. This summer, following a nationwide search, the university named her as the vice president for advancement.

“My faith and belief in giving back led me to a career in advancement and I am honored to return to the Mount to help realize the vision of the Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign,” she said.

Hill-Callahan, a senior executive leader in development and alumni relations, in July replaced Robert Brennan, C’85.

Brennan left the university at the end of June after 12 years of devoted service in which he and his team raised more than $100 million, primarily aimed at initiatives supporting student success.

Hill-Callahan comes to the university with more than 30 years of experience as a senior executive leader in advancement, including as vice president of medical and health sciences advancement at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and associate vice president for principal gifts at Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, she has worked as a fundraising consultant for the international consulting firm Grenzebach, Glier + Associates.

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“Patty is a great addition to the President's Cabinet and the senior leadership of the Mount,” said President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. “We are excited to welcome Patty back to her mountain home and work with her to advance the university and the success of our students.”

Earlier in her career, Hill-Callahan was the associate chief development officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, development director at the Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Heart and Vascular Institute, and development director at St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown, Maryland.

She has given back to her profession by serving on the faculty for the CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising and as adjunct faculty for the Goucher College Fundraising Management Certification Program as well as giving presentations at CASE and Association of American Medical Colleges conferences and the Johns Hopkins University Development and Alumni Relations Training Program.

Hill-Callahan currently serves as chair of the Catholic Social Services Board of Directors. In addition to her undergraduate degree from the Mount, she has earned graduate certificates in the business of medicine from Johns Hopkins University and in fundraising management from Goucher College.

Learn More Learn more about the vision being realized through the Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign, starting on page 13, and at ourmount.msmary.edu.

May Crowning

MAY CROWNING is a solemn and beautiful tradition in the Catholic Church that recognizes Mary as the “Queen of May.” Following a procession, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned with a garland of flowers. May Crowning at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is particularly magnificent as the 26-foot gold-leafed statue of the Blessed Mother perched atop the Pangborn Memorial Campanile is crowned. The Blessed Mother statue’s absence from campus in 2021-22 for restoration meant the National Shrine Grotto held a more low-key May Crowning. But this year the glorious Crowning of Mary drew a large crowd of the faithful who heartily applauded when President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. placed the crown of flowers on Mary’s head. Spes Nostra.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT NSGROTTO.ORG

SUMMER 2023 MOUNT NEWS

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Year One in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference TWENTY-ONE OF THE MOUNT’S 24 NCAA Division I athletic teams completed their first season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2022-23. The year featured many achievements in the classroom, in experiential learning opportunities and on the playing fields.

Earning recognition for their work in the classroom, 295 Mount student-athletes received spots on the MAAC Academic Honor Roll for the 2022-23 season. The 295 student-athletes are the second most for any school in the conference. Lacrosse has the highest number of players on the list with 61 men and women's honorees.

In terms of percentage, women's basketball did the best at 92.3, followed by women's tennis (91.7) and softball (84.6).

The move to the MAAC also brought the opportunity to broadcast sporting events live through ESPN+, which resulted in the building of an ESPN Broadcasting studio in McGowan Student Center. To date the program has given 60-plus students the opportunity to gain experience in high-end television production.

An ESPN broadcasting practicum course, taught by Lecturer Sheldon Shealer, trains students on how to produce broadcasts, operate cameras and edit audio and video for replays. Each week, students review their prior broadcasts, scope out the next week’s schedule, and are assigned roles.

Nearly every team saw improvement on the playing field in 202223, no easy feat given that the MAAC is considered to be a highly competitive conference. The baseball team recorded its most wins since 2007, while the softball team broke a school record with 32 wins. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams won a game in the MAAC Tournament before losing to top-seeded Iona in the quarterfinals. The men’s and women’s track and field teams placed second and third respectively in their indoor and outdoor season championships as well as enjoyed the honor of hosting the outdoor championships. The men's golf team also placed third in its conference tournament.

Three Division I teams are independent or play in a different conference. The nationally ranked women's bowling team is independent. The bowling team played in the postseason Intercollegiate Team Championships sectional qualifier and just missed another trip to the national championships. Men’s water polo competes in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference, where they placed ninth in the postseason championships. Women’s rugby is in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association.

Go Mountaineers!

Keep up with the latest athletic achievements at mountathletics.com.

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YEAR ONE BY THE NUMBERS

named to MAAC 295 student-athletes Academic Honor Roll games won by softball team, setting a school record games won by baseball team, the most since 2007 teams in MAAC tournaments (men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, softball, women’s tennis and women’s water polo) co-regular season conference champion (men’s lacrosse) MAAC Championships hosted on campus (outdoor track and field)

Premier Sports Teams Win Championships MEN’S RUGBY TEAM WINS SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

OVERWATCH 2 ESPORTS TEAM CAPTURES MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP

The men’s rugby team won its second national championship April 30 as the team defeated Indiana University 19-5 in the title match of the Premier Division of the Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC) 7's National Tournament at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland.

The Mount’s young esports program earned its first trip to the national Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup, through a qualifying bid secured by capturing the MAAC Esports Championship in the Overwatch 2 competition. At the national competition, known as May Madness, the team played well and gained valuable experience for future fiercely competitive events.

The Mount last won a national championship in 2016 in the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) tournament. Following that win, the team moved to the highest level of competition, DI-AA, and competed in the Chesapeake Collegiate Rugby Conference (CCRC) for several years. The team joined the powerhouse Rugby East Conference in 2022.

During the CRC tournament, the Mount shut out the University of Michigan and held Adrian College, Wheeling University, Belmont Abbey College and Indiana University to a single try each (5 points). The closest game came against Wheeling with the Mount taking the match 7-5. The rainy weather conditions may have dampened the scores. The team focused on forcing opponents to perform under pressure.

Head Coach Jay Myles credits the national championship to the “incredible bond and brotherhood” that the team has developed this year. “Our ethos matches that of the university as a welcoming and supportive family where students develop as ethical leaders," said Myles.

Mount fans, including students, alumni and parents, also helped the team capture the championship. “We had a loud and vivacious crowd, and the team fed on it. The positive energy lit them up and helped them get through the dark times in the title game,” said Myles, who also thanked the university, players’ families and students for supporting and believing in the team.

At March’s MAAC Championships, the no. 1 seeded Overwatch 2 Mountaineers defeated no. 2 seed Marist College, the three-time defending conference champion, in the finals. It was a matchup of the teams with the two best regular season conference records, with the Mount’s 9-0 mark one better than Marist, who was 8-1.

“It's great to see that as we're able to build those teams, over the long run, they can succeed,” said Director of Esports Russell Hamer, who started the esports program in 2019. Hamer, along with Michael Hansen, coach the team. The Mount’s impressive finals performance was led by Brady Klodaski (gamertag: Zerial), who was named tournament MVP. His teammates were Darien Hundley (captain, gamertag: Cozy), Pratosh Brahmbhatt (gamertag: Toast), Jack Hohl (gamertag: Captain Aquinas), and Dmitri Milholland (gamertag: Moses).

The Mount competed in four contests at the MAAC Championships, which also included Valorant, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Rocket League. In the Valorant competition, the Mount in its inaugural season defeated Fairfield in the quarterfinals to advance for a semifinal matchup with Quinnipiac, but fell one game short of reaching the finals.

SUMMER 2023 MOUNT NEWS

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Three Tremendous Commencement Speakers Division of Continuing Studies Partners With Maryland Tech Council MOUNT ST. MARY’S DIVISION OF CONTINUING STUDIES is partnering with the Maryland Tech Council to provide MTC’s members with continuing education opportunities needed to advance their careers.

With this partnership, MTC’s 700-plus members are eligible for 20 percent tuition savings on courses in the university’s Division of Continuing Studies. Fields of study include data science, logistics and supply chain management, business administration, biotechnology, project management, cybersecurity, and more. Courses can count toward undergraduate degrees, postbaccalaureate certificates and graduate degrees.

MSMU’s Division of Continuing Studies operates from the university’s Frederick campus and online, where it offers convenient, flexible and affordable courses. Faculty include full-time university professors and accomplished working professionals who teach in addition to their fulltime jobs. The combination helps students learn concepts in their field of interest and see how theory fits into realworld experience.

“Tuition costs can often deter professionals from taking advantage of continuing education opportunities,” said Kelly Schulz, CEO of the Maryland Tech Council. “This exciting partnership with Mount St. Mary’s University lets our members achieve real savings on flexible coursework relevant to their careers.”

“For more than 20 years Mount St. Mary’s University has proudly served adult undergraduate and graduate students in Frederick County,” said Jennifer Staiger, Ph.D., MSMU’s associate provost of the Division of Continuing Studies. “As a Partner in Trust with the Maryland Tech Council, we are deeply honored to offer reasonably priced educational opportunities that help our fellow MTC members ensure that their employees have the education and skill sets needed.”

The Mount has similar partnerships with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the Frederick National Laboratory, Frederick County Public Schools, Washington County Public Schools, all Maryland community colleges, AstraZeneca, Kearney & Company, P.C., Frederick Health, Waystation and others.

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AS THE 215TH COMMENCEMENT exercises ended on May 13, the crowd buzzed about the quality of the speeches and they were left thinking about the advice given hours later.

Here are a few of the gems shared.

RITA ANOH, C’23 2023 EDWARD J. FLANAGAN MEMORIAL PRIZE AWARDEE “Having experienced the start of a normal college journey, and then having it pulled away, but then fortunately given back, made me savor all the more every minute in the classroom, every experiment in the lab, every club activity, every trivia night, every bingo game, every dance, and every second laughing with friends. Navigating a college education through a pandemic made me exceptionally grateful to have done it in this place, on this mountain, with these people.”

TODD BOWLES, C’22 HEAD COACH, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS “You're going to have some setbacks when you get out in this world. You can't have success without it. Doors are going to close; it just means you find another way. Your survival hinges on what your parents told you and all your education here from the Mount that prepares you for the future.”

KAREN DAHUT, C’85 CEO, GOOGLE PUBLIC SECTOR & 2023 DOCTORATE OF HUMAN LETTERS RECIPIENT “It's important to plan, sure, but don't expect things to go according to it.

Serendipity and luck and being open to both can play an important role in your lives. I encourage you to embrace your purpose and the constancy of change. Go boldly in service of something bigger than yourselves; be open to people, places and things that are unfamiliar; and never forget that life is a grand adventure.”

Q & A with Dean of the Bolte School of Business

Corinne Farneti CORINNE FARNETI, PH.D., became dean of the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business in March 2023 after a two-month stint as interim dean. She joined the Bolte School faculty in 2012 and is the founding director of the master’s program in sport management. As a faculty member, Farneti has served on several committees, including the Committee on Curriculum and Assessment, the Athletic Advisory Committee and Mount Council, in addition to her service on search committees and as part of the Mount Safe Initiative in 2020. Since 2017, she has served with distinction as the Mount’s faculty athletic representative.

Farneti embraces volunteer work in the local community, including serving as the president of the board of directors for Celebrate Frederick, a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Frederick County, and a basketball coach for Special Olympics.

Tell us about your vision for the Bolte School of Business.

We hope to finalize our next strategic plan for the Bolte School during this upcoming fall semester, so I’ll be able to give a more concrete answer at that point. As for my own vision, I think the Bolte School will continue to be a place where students can learn the relevant skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers. One way to give students a greater opportunity to land a desirable job is through experiential learning. Internships, doing projects for companies in classes, attending conferences and networking with industry professionals are all examples of ways students can get that leg up on others. I see our advisory board and Career Center as playing vital roles in this.

Other exciting new things ahead for the school include new faculty hires, the addition of a program or two, and increased utilization of our Bloomberg lab.

Please share your elevator pitch on the value of a business education at a liberal arts university.

A liberal arts education offers a broader and more holistic approach to learning. This wider perspective helps develop critical thinking, creativity, communication skills and a broader worldview, which are essential for success in the business world. Students are trained to think critically and approach problems from multiple angles, which can be valuable in entrepreneurial endeavors or corporate decision-making.

Taking it a step further, at the Mount students are exposed to ethical frameworks, social justice issues and the impact of business on society. This understanding of social and ethical implications can help graduates become responsible business

leaders who prioritize ethical practices, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

You came to the Mount as a sport management professor and started the graduate-level sport management program. What makes the Mount program special?

Our program provides students with a solid business foundation.

One third of the program is dedicated to MBA coursework, where students can pick the areas of interest to them. Also, the MSSM program is an asynchronous online program, which means working professionals don’t have to worry about fitting a weekly class into their schedule. They can complete work at the hours that are best for them. We recognize that flexibility is key when pursing a degree of this type. Because we’ve had a strong undergraduate program for well over a decade, we have been able to successfully tap into those resources, connecting our graduate students with sport professionals and organizations that can help them land their desired job in the sport industry.

You helped found the College Experience Camp for middle school students. How has managing this program impacted you as a leader and a professor?

Dr. Tim Wolfe and I started the program in 2018. It has morphed a bit since that time, but the goal has remained the same: to demystify college for underserved youth. That first camp really opened my eyes as to just how much I take for granted when it comes to general knowledge about college. It forced me to look at things from a different viewpoint. I think it mirrors what we do as professors in the classroom—you must have an understanding of the starting point of your students. Once you have a grasp of that, then you can make forward progress. It is very rewarding to see even the slightest mindset shift in the kids by the time the camp is over. This fall we have our first College Experience Camp graduate attending the Mount. Dr. Wolfe and I hope that this program becomes ingrained in the fibers of the Mount and is in existence well beyond both of our careers here.

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Welcoming Men into the

Propaedeutic Stage of Formation St. Joseph Provincial House

Msgr. Andrew Baker, seminary rector, sits in a classroom as furniture is installed

THE BLESSED STANLEY ROTHER HOUSE OF FORMATION —Rother House, for short–opens its doors this fall semester as 29 men who are called to seminary move in for the new propaedeutic stage of priestly formation. The entire Mount community is excited to welcome these young men, and grateful to the Emmitsburg Daughters of Charity for the use of a wing of St. Joseph Provincial House to house them.

Lay people might be wondering, what exactly is a propaedeutic stage, and what makes it different from seminary proper? The propaedeutic stage is an initial year that all U.S. seminarians will complete, one focused “less on academics, more on growing in community and service, and cultivating virtue and a deep prayer life. It lays a strong foundation for the more intense academics and formation in seminary,” explained Rev. Daniel Hanely, the coordinator of the propaedeutic stage program.

The propaedeutic stage is a response to a call that began in the 1990s with Pope St. John Paul II. Similar programs have been in place for seminarians in some parts of the world, including a handful of American seminaries. In 2017, the Vatican promulgated a revised version of a document titled “The Gift of Priestly Vocation,” that made a propaedeutic year required worldwide.

To put Pope Francis and the Vatican’s call into effect, last year the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the 6th edition of the “Program for Priestly Formation,” including guidelines on the implementation of this stage in the U.S. Hanley is particularly qualified to oversee the creation of Rother House. Before joining the Mount seminary in January, he worked for the USCCB, helping put together the latest edition of the “Program for Priestly Formation.”

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As coordinator, he is in charge of mapping out the course of the propaedeutic stage for the Mount St. Mary's Seminary.

A typical day will start early with quiet meditation, morning prayer, Mass and breakfast. Midmorning, there will be classes, mostly focused on spirituality, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and scripture. Lunch and dinner are eaten together, with afternoons spent in service to the wider community. “We’ll have partnerships with a few local places, such as the National Shrine Grotto, and the seminarians in Rother House will do their own cleaning. Adoration will come before dinner, and then recreation until night prayer,” Hanley noted. Seminarians in Rother House will be expected to mostly forego the use of phones, televisions and computers, and will spend their days getting to know each other, themselves and God better, getting the chance to further discern their calling before the later rigors of seminary.

“We’re just so grateful for the immense support Msgr. Andrew Baker, the Mount community and the Daughters of Charity have shown,” exclaimed Hanley. “We’re thrilled to begin welcoming young men to Rother House.”

Learn More To learn more about the new program, as well as offer generous prayers and financial contributions, visit msmary.edu/rotherhouse.

Feature Stories

Embracing the

Mount Way CAMPAIGN AMBASSADORS Frances Becker, C’75 Richard B. Becker, C’75 David P. Conaghan, C’81 David M. DiLuigi, C’92 Robert C. Dondero, C’74 Thomas J. Harrington, C’78 Gracelyn Ashby McDermott, C’93 Richard P. Miller, C’74

FOR 215 YEARS, Mount St. Mary’s University has faithfully served with distinction its students, the local community, the state of Maryland, the United States and the world.

The Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount fundraising campaign, publicly announced this spring, seeks to position the university for the next 100 years. Through this $50 million campaign, the Mount will provide a superior student experience, meet the needs of employers in our region, and help students and faculty achieve new levels of success.

As described on the pages that follow, the campaign targets three exciting priorities that align with the Mount’s mission:

1

Creation of a graduate School of Health Professions driven by student interest and critical workforce demands for health professionals

2

Investment in science, technology and mathematics by enhancing facilities to match the accomplishments of our faculty and students

3

Enhancement of athletic facilities and developmental opportunities for students on and off the playing field

Mounties are all aware that our history has been marked by numerous moments that have impacted our nation, our state and our Church. We, the campaign ambassadors listed at left, believe the most significant Mount moment is now. We ask for your help in bringing this vision to life. Think about all that the Mount and her people have meant to you and please give what you're able at ourmount.msmary.edu. Thank you for doing your part to demonstrate your Mount pride as we seek to realize this transformative moment in our history.

SUMMER 2023 FEATURE

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Lynn Schumacher, C’21, MSABA’23

First Students Graduate from

Applied Behavior Analysis Program

By Katherine Stohlman Pieters, C’19 THIS PAST SPRING, Mount St. Mary’s celebrated the graduation of its first-ever applied behavior analysis class.

Four students earned their MSABA (Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis), while nine others completed post-master’s certificates. All 13 students have excelled in their studies and now in their work, making this a particularly memorable first class for the Mount.

The relatively new program, which is part of the School of Health Professions and provides master’s degrees and postmaster’s-level certificates, educates students who go on to treat individuals with a variety of intellectual, developmental and communication disabilities or disorders. Classes are taught online and in person in Frederick. A pediatric behavioral health clinic will open in the School of Health Professions building at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmitsburg in late 2024.

“One of the central tenets of behavior analysis is respect for the dignity and rights of all people, regardless of their abilities, challenges or backgrounds. Our perspective is one that makes no assumptions about individual behavior and tries to understand why behavior occurs for that specific individual 14

FEATURE SUMMER 2023

and in that individual’s context, and the work that we complete as behavior analysts is about helping people change their behavior to produce positive change in their own life,” explains Griffin Rooker, Ph.D., BCBA, who serves as director of the program and as an assistant professor.

Behavior analysts can take multiple career paths and work in a variety of settings. Behavior analysts go on to work in hospitals, schools, clinics, community centers and universities. However, Rooker notes that many of the 13 students in the first cohort had undergraduate degrees in education or psychology, and a corresponding desire to work in the public school system or a private clinic.

One such graduate, Lynn Schumacher, C’21, MSABA’23, earned her bachelor's in elementary education with a certification in special education from the Mount in 2021. But her desire to dive deeper into the field of special education led her to discover applied behavior analysis.

“While I was completing my undergraduate degree, I fell in love with writing IEPs [individualized education plans] and behavior

Pediatric behavioral health clinic rendering

Griffin Rooker, Ph.D., BCBA

Julie Crochet, MBA'20, MSABA'23

plans and working with the special education population, but I felt I needed more training and education in the area due to completing my degree during the COVID-19 pandemic. In discussing this with Dr. Barbara Marinak, the dean of the School of Education, I was informed of the ABA master’s degree,” recalls Schumacher.

Schumacher, a Fallston, Maryland native, excelled in her studies, even presenting a poster of some of her research at the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International’s (AABAI) convention in Denver earlier this year. Since completing her master’s degree, she has been working as a registered behavior technician at Early Autism Services, pursuing her Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certificate (BCBA) with plans to enter a doctoral program in the near future.

Another graduate who has put herself at the service of the autistic community is Julie Crochet. Crochet completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in sport management in her home country of France before coming to the Mount to play rugby and study for her master’s in business administration, which she obtained in 2020.

She returned to the Mount the following August as a coach for the women’s rugby team, and a student in the ABA program.

“ABA is not known or common in France. While my background is in business, I have always wanted to find meaning in what I do and to help people. I came into the master’s program not being exactly sure what to expect, and what it would bring me. I truly found my path studying ABA and getting experience in the field,” Crochet shares.

As a student, Crochet also presented at the AABAI, and spent much of her time researching with and learning from Kwadwo Britwum, Ph.D., an assistant professor and assistant director of the Applied Behavior Analysis program. “High quality supervision from my professor, Dr. Britwum, prepared me for the real world, and is still teaching me how to use that knowledge, shape my soft skills as a supervisor, and better myself into the role,” she explains.

Crochet is also working as a registered behavior technician at an ABA clinic in Frederick, Maryland, working particularly with children with autism. She, too, is studying to take the exam that earns her a BCBA and is currently still part of a research lab with Britwum and several of her classmates that focuses on

acceptance and commitment training, an area in which she hopes to specialize.

Rooker explains that the diversity in backgrounds among ABA faculty is one of the greatest strengths of the Mount’s program.

The dedicated and talented professors bring a host of valuable experience to the table. “If a student is new to the field, we might help them make connections and find their first ABA job. Or, if there is a student who has been in the field for several years and wants to start their own business, there is a professor who has done that and can mentor them. A student wants to get a Ph.D. and become a researcher at a university? There is a professor who has done that and can help them to reach their goal,” he says.

Ultimately, Rooker notes, the goal is not just that graduates come away with knowledge of the field of behavior analysis. It’s right there in the title—professors want to walk with their students, prepare them to apply their skills and unique passions to serve their future communities.

“Each community that a student from our programs works in will have unique populations with unique needs. Thus, we want to train and mentor the student to meet the needs of their community, rather than becoming a generic practitioner,” he explains. The Mount’s combination of small classes, hands-on instruction and a well-rounded faculty is what helps students and graduates to truly shine.

“I want to become a compassionate behavior analyst, advocating for my clients, making a meaningful impact on their lives, and providing effective treatment, while building skills of the staff I supervise,” Crochet shares. With the foundation of support and mentorship she’s received to hone her skills and talents, she's well on her way to realizing her dreams.

Learn More Learn more about the ABA program at msmary.edu/aba.

SUMMER 2023 FEATURE

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Spreading Goodness

By Donna Klinger

AS MARY (LUEBEN) JACKSON, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, C’05, began teaching nutrition and medical terminology undergraduate courses at Mount St. Mary’s a decade ago, the highly regarded lead physician assistant at a suburban emergency department in Maryland recalls telling David Bushman, Ph.D., then dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, that she would like to start a graduate-level physician assistant program someday. That day has arrived.

“Fireworks went off” in her soul when then Executive Vice President Kraig Sheetz, Ph.D., contacted Jackson in 2021 about her possible interest in leading a planned PA program. She instantly knew the opportunity was right for her. “This has been in my heart for a long time,” Jackson says.

Not only has Jackson kept close ties with Mount faculty and administrators since graduating in 2005, but she credits the Core curriculum with her success as a healthcare leader. Department of English Chair Indrani Mitra, Ph.D., taught Jackson a life lesson that she still carries with her; the late Professor of Philosophy Trudy Conway, Ph.D., helped shape Jackson’s life and also attended her wedding; and science professors Patti Kreke and Danny Miles, both Ph.D.s, encouraged her to shadow healthcare professionals as she weighed career choices.

“I am a product of Mount St. Mary’s. The theology, ethics, philosophy and other Core classes shaped my life and made me who I am,” says Jackson, who as an adjunct professor developed a shadowing and internship program for students interested in health sciences.

After becoming program director, Jackson wasted no time in drafting a comprehensive two-year PA program proposal, which was then approved by the Faculty Governance Committee and Board of Trustees before receiving Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approval in 2022. The university is working toward provisional certification from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant and plans to seat the first cohort of 40 students in January 2025.

The PA program will be located in the new School of Health Professions (SHP) in a wing of St. Joseph Provincial House, leased from the Daughters of Charity. Renovation of the space, including state-of-the-art technology in classrooms and labs as well as areas for collaboration and a serenity garden, begins in January 2024. The building will also house a pediatric behavioral health clinic operated by the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (MSABA) program, the other initial degree offered by the SHP (see pages 14-15). Expansion is being planned into nurse training programs.

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MEETING THE NEED The need is critical as the demand for PAs substantially outpaces supply. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national job outlook for physician assistants is highly favorable, with projected 28% growth between 2021 and 2031. PAs diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as principal healthcare providers, which makes these professionals especially important in the mitigation of a projected physician shortage over the next decade.

Maryland is forecasted to require a 23% increase in primary care providers to maintain current healthcare services by 2033.

Combining average annual growth and replacement needs, Maryland is projected to have 340 annual PA job openings. The state’s five operational PA programs will graduate 166 students per year, leaving an unmet need of 174 vacancies. The stress of the global pandemic may exacerbate this health provider deficit with recent surveys indicating that nearly 30% of healthcare workers are considering leaving their profession.

FULFILLING THE MOUNT’S MISSION The Mount seeks to not only help fill that unmet need for physician assistants but also to remain true to the university mission—and spread the university’s goodness— by graduating healthcare providers who possess the desire to provide equitable and compassionate care and the ability to thrive in challenging work environments.

“We seek to educate students to be not only knowledgeable scholars, but also ethical leaders who live lives of significance in service to God and others,” states the program proposal. “…Our commitment to our mission and our Catholic identity is what calls us to train the healthcare leaders of tomorrow. With a focus on equitable and compassionate care, respecting the dignity of each patient, we will strive to graduate physician assistants ready to serve all patients.”

The PA program will deliver on the Mount’s mission to live significantly through a curriculum that emphasizes values-based education. As they study medicine, students will develop their stance as future healthcare leaders with experiences in medical ethics and contemplative practice as well as volunteer events and clinical experiences in underserved communities.

“When people see the mission, I hope it calls to them the way it has with me,” shares Jackson, who notes that every day that she works as a PA, she uses the walk from the parking lot to the ER to remind herself what a gift it is to serve her patients and the importance of caring for them with compassion. Jackson continues

to work part-time as a PA in order to maintain her license, keep her clinical skills up to date and care for patients. Faculty in the program will also maintain clinical work while teaching to stay relevant in practice.

THE MOUNT WAY At the core of the Mount’s PA curriculum are two focuses that will make the program distinctive: the Center for Clinician Well-Being and the Care for America program. The Center for Clinician Well-Being will aid program graduates in combatting burnout by providing them with wellness tools, coping strategies, meditation techniques and more. “Our graduates will be especially desirable to employers because they will be resilient, adaptable and mindful providers who are able to thrive in challenging environments,” Jackson says. Mount graduates also will be able to share these wellness tools with their patients.

In partnership with the Daughters of Charity, Care for America will inculcate openness to care for underserved patients by incorporating a focus on awareness, service and volunteerism in the curriculum. Students will participate in volunteer events, be encouraged to have one clinical rotation caring for underserved groups and develop a skill set to maximize resources, funding, advocacy and adaptability. Jackson anticipates that when Mount graduates are asked to volunteer or work in an underserved environment, their preparation will make them more likely to accept the challenge. In addition, the Care for America program will provide full tuition scholarships, through the Daughters of Charity and other organizations, to improve access to graduate education for students with financial barriers.

Jackson pledges that the PA program will follow the Mount’s tradition of teaching excellence, with recruitment of talented faculty members who care about their students. “It means a great deal to me to have a role in shaping future healthcare providers,” she explains. “I know that our graduates can make a positive impact on the lives of their patients and on the healthcare system. I am excited to see the magic of the Mount’s teaching excellence inspire students to deliver safe and effective patient care with compassion.”

Get excited & inspired!

To learn more, visit: ourmount.msmary.edu/ school-of-health-professions.

Meet the Team MARY JACKSON, C’05, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-EMM PROGRAM DIRECTOR Jackson previously led physician assistants in dual leadership roles in emergency medicine and acute care coordination. She continues to care for patients in the Baltimore area as she has done since 2009.

LEANNE HEDGES, MMS, PA-C ASSOCIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR A founding faculty member of the MSMU Physician Assistant Program, Hedges serves as associate program director. She is dedicated to supporting program evaluation, accreditation, advisement, mentorship and small group teaching and lecturing.

NDIDI NWOKORIE, MBBS MEDICAL DIRECTOR Dr. Nwokorie’s wide-ranging experience includes service as medical officer of the FDA’s Division of Pediatrics and Maternal Health and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at Georgetown University.

MEGAN PUTMAN, MMS, PA-C ACADEMIC DIRECTOR For over 15 years Putman has served as a PA in several locations in Maryland, including the National Institutes of Health, Frederick Health, and Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. She has precepted physician assistant students and mentored new physician assistants entering practice.

TARA JERNEJCIC, MA-ISHB, PA-C CLINICAL DIRECTOR A practicing physician assistant since 1997, Jernejcic has served primarily under-resourced and marginalized populations. She built a cross-functional corporate health and employee engagement program to manage employee wellness and business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

KEVIN RICHARDSON, MSPAS, PA-C CLINICAL COORDINATOR Richardson has served the local community as a PA for eight years in family and occupational medicine. He has held several clinical leadership roles, including site director and EMR lead.

SUMMER 2023 FEATURE

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With Gratitude

to the School of Natural Science & Mathematics and Its Professors

By Katelyn Boulanger, C'19

AS KATELYN (COMEAU) BOULANGER, C'19, CELEBRATES her recent National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) award, she recognizes the role of her mentors in the School of Natural Science and Mathematics in her development as a research scientist.

Boulanger became the fourth Mount alum in five years to receive this highly competitive award, joining Dylan Holden, C’18, Sarah Bonson Krueger, C’17, and Nicholas Starvaggi, C’21, as fellowship recipients. Boulanger recently shared her thoughts on where she's been, where she is now and how her mentors helped her get there.

LOOKING BACK NOW as a Ph.D. student at Harvard University, I am so grateful for my undergraduate education at the Mount because it set me on the path to find my passion in neuroscience research. For many years I thought I wanted to go to medical school, but my many thoughtful mentors (including my professor and lab mentor Dr. Dana Pirone Ward, C'97, academic advisor Dr. Garth Patterson, and Dr. Kraig Sheetz, dean) encouraged and assisted me in seeking out experience in research labs at the Mount and at other institutions that sparked my interest in research science. These opportunities complimented the Mount's rigorous and hands-on biology, chemistry and physics coursework, and were absolutely critical in building the research skills and experience I required to pursue my graduate studies in molecular and cellular neuroscience.

The Mount's wonderful professors actively seek to build relationships with their students and help them achieve great things, even beyond the classroom. When I was a sophomore, Dr. Patterson encouraged me to apply for NSF-REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates, funded by the National Science Foundation) programs. I had never heard of REU before then.

Dr. Patterson's advice culminated in my first research experience in biochemistry and cancer therapeutics development at the University of Oklahoma in the summer of 2017. There, I developed basic skills in laboratory research that served as a great launching pad for my future work (and I also met my husband there; Kyle and I married in October 2022). I was so interested in this research 18

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Katelyn Boulanger, C'19, at Harvard

direction that I joined Dr. Ward's lab at the Mount to continue my research efforts throughout the school year.

I feel especially grateful for Dr. Ward's thoughtful mentorship and guidance throughout my time at the Mount and beyond. This is because when the summer of my junior year came around, I had been accepted into the Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in Translational Cancer Research (NSIP) at the University of Maryland, but I was unsure of whether I wanted to continue pursuing cancer research. Shortly before the start of the summer, Dr. Ward insisted I apply for the inaugural year of the Mount internship in neuroscience, which takes place in the lab of Mount alumnus David Ginty, Ph.D., C’84, the Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. Days before I needed to make my decision on NSIP, Dr. Ward let me know I was selected to attend the Harvard internship. I took a leap of faith and accepted it.

In the months to follow, I moved to Boston and had the immense privilege of assisting with some of the most cutting-edge neuroscience research with Dr. Ginty and my mentor Shan Meltzer, Ph.D. This experience single-handedly set me on the path to neuroscience research, and it would not have been possible without the encouragement of my mentor Dr. Ward, or the generosity of Mount alum Dr. Ginty. After my final year of studies at the Mount, I decided to join Dr. Ginty's lab as a full time research assistant and continued working with Dr. Meltzer for two more years on her projects studying molecular mechanisms and cellular interactions driving sensory neuron development. My post-baccalaureate work culminated in two second author publications in major journals, a broad and specialized toolkit of research skills in neuroscience, and a strong interest in pursuing higher education in molecular and cellular biology.

With the help of my Mount and Harvard mentors, I then applied for doctoral programs at top-level schools across the country and eventually made my decision to pursue my graduate studies in the Molecules, Cells and Organisms (MCO) Ph.D. program at Harvard University. After a year of coursework and rotations in potential labs for my thesis work, I decided to join Dr. Lisa Goodrich's lab in the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School to

Expansion of Coad Science Building Is Underway Katelyn (Comeau) Boulanger, C’19, believes that no university could have prepared her better for her doctoral program at Harvard than the Mount. The experience is expected to be even better for future students. Construction began this summer on a $10.75 million, 21,000-square-foot addition to the Coad Science Building. Construction of the addition will be completed by the fall of 2024.

The addition will include neuroscience, computational and environmental research labs as well as collaborative spaces, being built in the first phase of the project. The second phase will build out the second and third levels of the expansion with additional science labs, classrooms and experiential research spaces. The third phase will involve renovation of the existing space in the Coad Science Building.

“The addition to Coad will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for the Mount’s STEM programs, enabling programmatic expansion consistent with STEM profession demands, and helping the university continue to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students,” explains President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. Built in 1964, Coad is a three story, 51,000 square-foot building serving the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, which has outgrown the existing space and needs to be renovated for modern STEM pedagogical practices. The new classroom and lab spaces will be technology-rich, multi-use, flexible and configurable for a variety of instructional formats and class sizes.

“We are fortunate to have experienced tremendous growth in the School of Natural Science and Mathematics over the last several years thanks to the hard work of our students, faculty and staff,” says Dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics

study auditory neuroscience, where my proposed thesis work earned me an NSF GRFP award.

No other university besides the Mount could have better prepared me for my current career trajectory in neuroscience.

I am also certain that I would not be where I am today if I had attended any other university. The small class sizes gave me access to mentorship from so many amazing faculty members across the Science Department and beyond, and these relationships coupled with intense coursework propelled my passion for research science forward and beyond anything I ever thought I could achieve. When I was interviewing for doctoral programs at top research institutions, I remember being surprised when I realized that the vast majority of my peers interviewing alongside me were also from small liberal arts schools. But really this shouldn't be surprising, since I have benefitted so greatly from all the Mount has to offer its students, and I know many of my Mount peers have as well.

Katelyn (Comeau) Boulanger, C’19, is a doctoral candidate in the Goodrich Lab within the Molecules, Cells and Organisms Program at Harvard University.

Christine McCauslin, Ph.D. “I look forward to the road ahead as we build on our trajectory of success and gain recognition as a leading STEM educator whose graduates are highly sought after and prepared to make a positive impact on the world.”

The Coad expansion and renovation project is being funded by donations to the Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign, $4 million in federal workforce development funds through the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, and a $2 million grant from the State of Maryland, in conjunction with donations made in support of the project through the Forward! Together as One Campaign. A lead donation from George B. Delaplaine Jr. will provide the collaborative space, to be called the Delaplaine Family Academic Commons. Other top-level donors to the expansion project are the Page Family Foundation; Trish and D.J. Monagle, both C’84; Paula and Fred Neuer, M.D., C’67; and Christina Lee and Mark Sobus, J.D., Ph.D., C’89.

The federal funds come from congressionally directed spending via the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Congressionally directed spending allows members of Congress to recommend important projects in their state or district for consideration by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Congressman David Trone and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin presented the Mount’s expansion plan as an investment designed to benefit the State of Maryland and Frederick County.

Stantec Architecture, based in Butler, Pennsylvania, designed the expansion plan. Construction is being managed by JEM Group, LLC, based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Board of Trustees Chair Gracelyn McDermott, C'93, with Trustee Robert Dondero, C'74, Trustee Joseph Dowd, C'92, State Rep. William Valentine and President Tim Trainor

Dean Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., at the beam-signing ceremony in advance of groundbreaking

Get the details!

Visit ourmount.msmary.edu/stem.

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Change Agents Making a Difference Since 1972

By Donna Klinger

WHEN RICHARD (RICH) AND FRANCES (FRAN) BECKER, both graduates of the Class of 1975, team up, success is all but guaranteed. The couple, who celebrate their 48th anniversary this summer, met on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, the summer before Fran became one of the first female residential students at the Mount and after Rich’s freshman year. They married a few months after graduation, with Fran completing her studies in three years.

As students, the couple advocated for an on-campus pub in order to save lives after several terrible accidents happened off campus.

(The legal drinking age at the time was 18.) The administration agreed, and the couple helped hire workers and choose furniture for the Ratskeller, located in what is now Lower McGowan. They and their friends were among the many students who packed the Rat as they socialized and brought school spirit to new heights.

Today the Beckers remain strong supporters of their alma mater and, in recognition of the Mount’s role in their formation, pay it forward to current and future students. Rich and Fran are among the eight campaign ambassadors for the Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount Campaign. As they learned about the campaign, and helped host an alumni information session about the initiative in Annapolis, they felt their excitement level rising as President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D, spoke. They noticed the same thing happening among their fellow alumni.

“It’s very important for us not only to recruit future students, including student-athletes, but retain the ones we have. The Mount has to stay relevant. This strategic vision is going to take us into the future very successfully,” says Rich.

“The Mount’s planned vision is for us to be that world-class university,” Fran succinctly says as she touches on the three prongs of the campaign: standing up a graduate-level School of Health Professions, investing in STEM programs and facilities, and enhancing athletic facilities and programs. “The Mount is a thriving university and just think what the campaign is going to do.”

DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT-ATHLETES The Beckers were student-athletes, with Rich playing basketball under Coach Jim Phelan and Fran playing both basketball and 20

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field hockey. They view athletics as an important part of the formation of many students and are thrilled about the athletic funding priorities being addressed through the campaign.

“Athletic facilities are being upgraded, but we’re also addressing the well-being of the student-athlete,” Fran says.

“Moving forward, this is going to be a vital part of student-athlete success and their growth as they return to the communities they came from,” Rich adds. Rich, who wore No. 11 as a basketball player, and Fran, who was among the first female studentathletes, are strong Mount athletic boosters, particularly of the men’s basketball team. They travel to games, especially early in the season and championship matchups, and last year hosted the men’s basketball team for dinner after a game at the Naval Academy on Thanksgiving weekend. Rich enjoys taking his grandchildren to games and catching up with classmates who also come out to cheer on the Mount.

MOUNT VALUES In looking back on their years at the Mount, the Beckers appreciate the excellent education they received, small community living environment, access to the faculty, and living the Christian values of worship to God and service to others. Rich and Fran both continue to lead lives of significance in service to God and others after beginning to pursue that path during their time at the Mount.

As a student, Rich not only played basketball but also served as chair of the Student Union. In addition, he was an attentive boyfriend to Fran.

After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in business and finance, Rich had a 45 year career in mortgage banking, including service as president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington in 1990. He retired in 2020 as senior vice president of Presidential Bank in Annapolis.

Fran’s input was much in demand as one of the first female residential students at the Mount. “Looking back, it seems like I was involved in everything,” Fran recalls. “I have fond memories of being part of President Jack Dillon’s women focus group. From the beginning, the Mount gleaned input from women, whether it was in academic studies, sports formation or spiritual growth.”

After graduating in three years, Fran, a political science major, worked for the FBI and as a paralegal before starting a public relations firm that morphed into a classical arts management firm.

She then earned a Master of Public Administration degree and went on to serve for 12 years as executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, Northern Virginia’s largest homelessness program. “God was guiding me to make a difference in the lives of those with so little,” she remembers.

Now retired, Fran volunteers in the Annapolis community and church missions. Recently, she headed her church’s Afghan relief efforts to help Afghan immigrants and refugees assimilate in the United States. In the 1980s and 1990s, both Fran and Rich served as active board members of the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Greater Washington, chairing the public relations and fundraising committees and granting many wishes to children with lifethreatening illnesses.

In explaining how the Mount molded her, Fran recites her favorite Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “The purpose of life is not to be happy.

It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

JOIN THE BECKERS Rich and Fran Becker hope that their enthusiasm for Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount is contagious. “It’s great to be part of an institution that is growing and changing to meet the world’s needs,” Rich says. “It’s very exciting for us and makes us proud as alumni.

We hope other alumni will join us in supporting the strategic vision that has been set by President Trainor and the Board of Trustees.

It’s a great time for the Mount.”

Strengthening Athletics Since 2016, the Mount has added seven NCAA Division I athletic teams and nearly doubled the number of student-athletes. This period has also brought incredible success both on and off the playing fields.

In the last seven years, the university has captured 18 conference titles and made appearances in 10 NCAA tournaments. In the 2022-23 academic year, 295 Mount student-athletes earned spots on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll, the second most for any university in the conference.

As the Mount attracts and retains more studentathletes, the need for improved sports medicine and athletic training capabilities has become a top priority in enhancing the athletic, education and cocurricular experience of current and future students.

Located within the PNC Sports Complex, the Rooney Athletic Performance Center will be part of a project that includes a new campus recreation space, renovated Dillon Field House, expanded sports medicine area and new Legends Concourse at the entrance to the ARCC. The first phase of this project, new tennis courts, were completed in 2022. This multi-phase project has been made possible in large part by a $6 million transformational gift from the late John J. Rooney, C’60, and Patrick J. Rooney, C’60, and their spouses JoAnn and Sandy.

The athletics program has always been a point of pride for the Mount and an area of immense accomplishment for students. Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount will ensure that this remains true for another 100 years.

Go Mount!

Learn how you can support athletic funding priorities at ourmount.msmary.edu/athletics.

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Lynne coaching the track and field team

Lynne Robinson, Coach Jim Phelan and President Trainor at a Winter Homecoming basketball game in 2017

Lynne in uniform for the basketball team

Women's basketball alumni with their coach, Rev. James Delaney

A Full Heart

Lynne Robinson, C’79, MBA’83, shares her gratitude and a few memories upon her retirement.

WORDS CANNOT ADEQUATELY EXPRESS my gratitude for the opportunity to have served Mount St. Mary’s University for four-plus decades. Over the years, so many individuals have made a positive impact on my career and life... from colleagues, mentors, friends, classmates, teammates, students and the phenomenal athletes I had the great fortune to coach, to our alumni, faculty, administration, staff and coaches. It has been an incredible journey. I will try to recap countless wonderful memories and experiences in fewer than 700 words, but I am sure to leave some out. But we have back-up: Mounties know how to gather for storytelling better than just about anyone. There is always a good cold beer on tap at Ott’s for us to reminisce over in person.

My parents moved to Emmitsburg in August 1954, when my father became the head men’s basketball coach at the Mount. At the time, he was the youngest head basketball coach in the country.

Coach Jim Deegan arrived at the Mount and began his illustrious career two years later, forging a treasured friendship with the two families that continues to this day. These two legends coached side by side for almost 50 years.

My four siblings and I grew up in the shadow of Mary’s Mountain.

From my earliest memories, our lives were intertwined with the Mount. Whether it was swimming at the Mount pool in the summers, riding our bikes around the college, hiking to Indian Lookout, frequent visits from Mount colleagues and priests, who became dear family friends, to our favorite season of all— basketball season—the pages of our lives turned quickly, and the years seemed to fly by.

The Mount made the momentous decision to admit women in 1972.

By the time I attended the Mount in the mid-late 1970s, several women’s sports teams had been started. I am forever grateful for my memories of playing basketball, field hockey and tennis at the Mount. So many great friends, teammates and coaches.

And keggers.

My career in intercollegiate athletics was shaped by the changing 22

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times; the impact of Title IX was changing women’s athletics around the country. By the early 1980s the Mount’s enrollment was 50% women, and we began adding more women’s sports. I started coaching our women’s cross country and track teams after graduation. The very talented young women on those teams were not only graciously accepting a very young coach, but they also were instrumental in laying a foundation of excellence for these programs to this day.

My career path changed when the Mount moved to Division I in 1989, a move that came with specific personnel and administrative requirements. It was then that I became a full-time athletics administrator, filling a variety of roles throughout the years, eventually becoming athletic director in 2007.

I am very proud of how this small athletic department has grown and thrived throughout the years. We now have 24 sports and over 550 incredible student-athletes, led by a wonderful group of dedicated coaches and administrators. I know the department will continue to thrive under the leadership of Athletic Director Brad Davis.

It has been my privilege to work at the Mount for all these years.

The faculty, administration, staff and coaches are dedicated professionals, committed to the mission of the university and the success of our students. The generations of students attending the Mount are the essence of what makes it so special and are what keeps the Mount spirit alive and well. Our extraordinary studentathletes will always hold a special place in my heart.

I would also like to thank my cherished family for their love throughout the years. Because of the legacy of my parents, the Mount has been a beacon of light for the Phelan family for the past 69 years. The Mount has been an ever-present foundation for our faith, our hope, and our home.

You will see me at various Mount athletics and alumni gatherings, or hear me subtly question a referee’s call. Please stop to share a story or two. As the waves of memories wash over me, my heart is full.

Raphael Della Ratta, C'92, with Fellowship students

A Helping Hand in

RAPHAEL DELLA RATTA, C’92

Climbing the Mount

By Donna Klinger

RAPHAEL DELLA RATTA, C’92, is always eager to share how his liberal arts education has served him exceptionally well in his career in both the public and private sectors.

In recent years, the generous benefactor of the Mount St. Mary’s College of Liberal Arts and member of the Board of Trustees has remembered the people and places where his life of significance got its start. He seeks to ensure that today’s and tomorrow’s students have the resources to succeed in “climbing the Mount” to a life of significance as he did.

Della Ratta is living proof that almost anything is possible with a liberal arts degree. After graduating from the Mount with a bachelor's degree in English and a minor in philosophy, and subsequently earning a master’s in English literature, he accepted a position as managing editor of trade publications covering the security and dismantlement of weapons of mass destruction.

As Della Ratta took the next step in his career, he became a senior researcher for, and eventually the manager of the Washington, D.C. office of the Partnership for Global Security, a nonpartisan policy organization leading a global effort to ensure all nuclear material and facilities are secure.

A recognized expert in the international security field, Della Ratta introduced a biosecurity track to the world’s largest annual biotechnology industry conference and oversaw its implementation and execution. He regularly published federal budget analyses and spoke at security conferences throughout Europe, the United States and the Middle East.

"My intent is for the Climb the Mount initiative’s impact to be both immediate and enduring. It will transform the lives of students both during their time at the Mount and long after they leave campus."

Raphael Della Ratta, C’92 Della Ratta’s national and international service resulted in a purpose-driven life on a big stage. However, in 2012 he left his accomplished career in publishing and public policy to passionately serve in a more personal and locally oriented way.

He joined his family business, where he currently serves as president of Commercial Management Company, in Silver Spring, SUMMER 2023 FEATURE

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honoring both the university’s College of Liberal Arts as well as specific people who have made a dramatic impact on his life.

He and his wife Charlene established the Della Ratta Award for Excellence in the Liberal Arts—an annual prize for a student who shows outstanding work in the liberal arts, as well as supported the renovation and expansion of the Knott Academic Center, targeting College of Liberal Arts classrooms, offices and presentation spaces within the building.

Della Ratta, second from right, cutting the ribbon for the addition and renovation of Knott Academic Center

Della Ratta’s gifts established the Ducharme Lectures—an ongoing series named in honor of Emeritus Professor of English Robert Ducharme, Ph.D., who taught at the Mount from 19702009, and served as Department of English chair for 14 years.

“I can think of no other professor from my time at the Mount who has both provided such distinguished service to the college, and who had such a lasting impact on my intellectual development,” Della Ratta says. “It was my honor to provide Professor Ducharme with the recognition he so richly deserves, but might otherwise avoid.”

Raphael Della Ratta with Duchamre lecturer Eddie Glaude, Ph.D.

Maryland. He credits the Mount with providing him with the courage to initially follow his own path by pursuing the career that he wanted in journalism and nonprofit work, as well as the moral responsibility to later join the family business when he was needed there.

POWER OF THE LIBERAL ARTS Although he did not major in business, Della Ratta’s liberal arts education gave him the analytical and critical thinking tools he needed to succeed in managing the family business.

“My liberal arts education has served me well, by providing me with the analytical and communication tools to thrive in a variety of careers­—from journalism and publishing, to policy advocacy, and now to financial management,” Della Ratta reflects. “These skills learned in my classes are like muscle memory in an athlete.”

In recognition of the strength of his liberal arts education, Della Ratta looks for liberal arts graduates today to fill positions within his company. “I need people who can think. Who can look at a bunch of different dots, connect those dots, and predict what the next dots are going to be,” he says. “That is certainly something I picked up at the Mount, as both a skill of my own and a skill to look for in my employees.”

GIVING BACK Moving into the private sector gave Della Ratta time to reflect on the value of his liberal arts education. He decided it was time to give back to the Mount. He began by serving on the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board as well as making a series of gifts, 24

FEATURE SUMMER 2023

In addition, he and Charlene honored the late Professor Emeritus of Philosophy John F. Donovan, Ph.D., through his support of the technologically sophisticated John F. Donovan Seminar Room and of the annual Meredith-Donovan Lecture Series that explores the differences and overlap between sciences and humanities. The series is named in honor of Donovan and Professor Emeritus of Biology William Meredith, Ph.D. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the seminar room, Della Ratta shared the influence Donovan had on his life and lamented that he had inadequately expressed his appreciation before his death. He urged attendees to let important people in their lives know how much they mean to them, before they are gone.

CLIMB THE MOUNT The undergraduate experience of today’s and tomorrow’s students also means a lot to Della Ratta. This spring he made a major gift to fund the Climb the Mount initiative in support of the university’s mission.

“The Climb the Mount initiative recognizes that three intersecting areas of the undergraduate experience at the Mount accelerate students on the path to leading lives of significance in service to God and others,” says President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. “The Mount community is deeply appreciative of Raphael Della Ratta’s generous gift that will provide support for students in the ascent along their educational journey at the university.”

Under the Climb the Mount initiative, students are led through a self-discovery process as part of the integrated core curriculum. Next, students are introduced to avenues to leave campus to interact with the world beyond Emmitsburg. Finally, the university assists students in securing external academic opportunities that will launch them to purpose-driven lives and successful careers.

“Raphael Della Ratta’s transformational gift is meant to achieve three strategic initiatives: strengthen our core curriculum through an investment in the First-Year Symposium, increased support to our marvelous Study Abroad programing, and

Ellie, Raphael, Lana, Charlene and Ava Della Ratta

Raphael Della Ratta, second from left, with Boyd Creasman, Christine Blackshaw, Jamie Gianoutsos and President Tim Trainor

assisting the Office of Competitive Fellowships in providing aid to our ambitious students to secure world-class fellowships, grants and internships,” says Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Bryan Zygmont, Ph.D. “Together, these three programs impact each student we teach at the Mount.”

“My intent is for the Climb the Mount initiative’s impact to be both immediate and enduring,” Della Ratta shares. “It will transform the lives of students both during their time at the Mount and long after they leave campus.”

KNOW YOURSELF The Know Yourself segment of the initiative focuses on ensuring that the instruction of First-Year Symposium classes is provided by full-time professors who are equipped to impact students’ minds, hearts and lives from within the classroom.

The Mount has recruited current faculty members with a proven record of excellence in instruction to also teach this foundational course. In addition, the university has hired two early-career faculty members as Core Teaching Fellows who will focus on teaching sections of First-Year Symposium and other core curriculum courses that align with their areas of academic interest. John-Paul Heil, Ph.D., C’15, and Taylor Nutter, Ph.D., will begin teaching First-Year Symposium courses this fall. The First-Year Symposium program is led by Edward Egan, J.D., C'77, who also directs the Pre-Law Program.

Della Ratta recalls his two-semester freshman seminar course as a great introduction to “what was expected of new students in the classroom of a liberal arts college.” Thirty years later, he still remembers the vocations and meaningful work units as providing memorable insights. “The ‘Working’ unit urged students to consider what makes for a meaningful career after graduation,” he says.

Raphael Della Ratta, at center with Robert Ducharme, Ph.D., and Associate Professor of Theology Paige Hochschild, Ph.D.

Political Science Amanda Krause, Ph.D. While Della Ratta did not study abroad during his four years at the Mount, he traveled internationally before college.

“I’m fortunate that I had done some international travel before college,” he shares. “I was able at an early age to appreciate the value of extended periods in a foreign country.”

CHANGE OUR WORLD The Change Our World section of the Climb the Mount initiative provides resources for the Office of Competitive Fellowships to support students in pursuing prestigious external fellowships, internships and grants. These highly competitive awards launch students to successful careers and lives, as detailed in the feature article that begins on page 26.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Office of Competitive Fellowships has helped students win seven Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, eight Fulbright English Teaching Assistant awards, three Fulbright Study/Research awards, two Fulbright US-UK Summer Institute grants and more, including a Department of Defense SMART Scholarship, a Boren Scholarship and semi-finalist accolades for the Marshall Scholarship to Cambridge University. The program, directed by Associate Professor of History Jamie Gianoutsos, Ph.D., from its inception through the 2022-23 academic year, is now led by Professor of World Languages and Cultures Christine Blackshaw, Ph.D. Through his service and philanthropy to the Mount, Raphael Della Ratta is helping to enhance the undergraduate experience to ensure that graduating students are ready to go on to lead lives of significance in service to God and others.

Like countless alumni from the past 215 years, including Della Ratta, they will go on to change the world.

KNOW YOUR WORLD The other two components of the Climb the Mount initiative, titled Know Your World and Change Our World, are not allencompassing like the core curriculum improvements, but their impact on those who participate is limitless. Know Your World seeks to enhance the Mount’s Study Abroad program by further diversifying the locations of the university’s international offerings, making such programs more affordable and increasing administrative support for the program. These efforts will allow more students to participate and holistically realize their place in the world. The Mount’s study abroad program is directed by Associate Professor of

Listen In a Live Significantly podcast, Raphael Della Ratta talks to President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. about finding where he wanted to be.

Visit msmary.edu/podcasts.

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Catching Up with the Mount Fellows:

Where Are They Now?

By Katherine Stohlman Pieters, C’19

MOUNT ST. MARY’S provides application support and intellectually stimulating programming for students who seek distinguished fellowships and scholarships that provide unequalled experiences for personal and professional growth. Over the last seven years, the Office of Competitive Fellowships program has helped students win seven Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, eight Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) awards, three Fulbright Study/ Research awards, two Fulbright USUK Summer Institute grants, a Boren Fellowship and more. In the last five years, four alumni have earned National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships with assistance from professors who staff the Office of Competitive Fellowships.

John-Paul Heil, C’15 MA JORS: History, philosophy, Italian FELLOWSHIP: Declined a Fulbright ETA award in 2015, earned a Fulbright Research Award in 2020 through which he went to Emilia-Romagna in Italy to study a Renaissance female ruler LIFE L ATELY: “During my time abroad pursuing my Fulbright research in Italy, I stayed with a lay student community attached to a monastery in the countryside of Emilia-Romagna (think parmesan cows and balsamic vinegar vineyards). Beyond the joy inherent in working with letters from the Renaissance that have gone unread for half a millennium, including some in code, my life was completely transformed by living somewhere that had 24-hour access to the Blessed Sacrament and where the days were structured around the liturgy rather than a totalizing view of technocratic labor. It's not often that one can say that a research fellowship helped him to better understand the path to sainthood, but, by the grace of God, mine did. I went on to earn my Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago in 2022 and have begun earning a master’s degree in biotechnology and ethics at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. I’ll also begin teaching symposium again at the Mount this fall, as a Core Fellow.”

Sarah Bonson Krueger, C’17 MA JORS: Chemistry and biochemistry FELLOWSHIP: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship recipient in 2018 to help fund her chemistry doctoral program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, researching molecular therapy techniques to treat Myotonic Dystrophy 1 LIFE L ATELY: “Throughout my time as an NSF fellow, I worked to develop potential therapeutic agents for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, a genetically inherited disorder that leads to symptoms including myotonia, muscle weakening and cardiac arrythmia. Specifically, my thesis work focused on the development of self-assembling compounds that bind to the disease-causing nucleic acid sequence and link together to form the active agent in situ. Now, I am back to the Mount as an assistant professor in the science department. My research lab works to develop small molecules that bind to nucleic acids as potential therapeutic agents for Huntington’s disease. Several of my current students are also involved in Mount Fellows, and I am happy to support them through this program. One of my research students, Lincoln Queale, was recently awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship with help from the Mount Fellows program.”

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Alyse Spiehler, C’17 MA JORS: English and philosophy FELLOWSHIP: Fulbright ETA award to Mexico in 2017 LIFE L ATELY: After completing her ETA year, Alyse earned a Master of Arts in Applied Philosophy and Ethics at Texas State University. Currently she lives in North Carolina and is a project manager for RTI International, a nonprofit institute that provides research, development and technical services to government and commercial clients. She recalls: “Jamie Gianoutsos approached me multiple times about applying for a fellowship. She saw opportunities and connected the dots for me. The coaching and mentoring that I received as a Mount Fellow has shaped the way I prepare for other professional activities.

My time in Mexico was one of the most fulfilling times in my life, teaching six-year-olds and English teachers. By helping teachers, I hope I played a small and impactful role in their professional development.”

Kaitlyn Heintzelman, C’19 MA JORS: French, English and theology FELLOWSHIP: Fulbright ETA award to Luxembourg in 2019 (which was sadly cut a few months short due to COVID-19) LIFE L ATELY: “Although my time in Luxembourg was shorter than I thought it would be, I still learned so much helping to teach French-speaking students and loved exploring this small, beautiful country. In the fall of 2020, after I returned to the U.S., I began attending Yale University [she got a full ride!] and earned my M.A. in religion and the arts, with a concentration in literature, in 2022. After that, I moved to Virginia and am now teaching theology at a Catholic middle school in Richmond. Teaching has its tough moments, but it’s been so rewarding to introduce subjects I love to my students!”

Veronica Balick, C’20 MA JORS: Biochemistry and biology FELLOWSHIP: Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for 2019-20, Fulbright Study award in 2021 through which she attended University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and earned her master’s in biotechnology and cancer immunology LIFE L ATELY: “Living in the U.K. for a year was an unforgettable experience—not only did the program provide excellent academic training, but it was an opportunity to encounter and form friendships with individuals from all over the world. After returning from the U.K., I joined the Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. program at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. I have just completed my second year in the program, and my research focuses on inflammatory responses in the skin after injury.”

Nathaniel Bald, C’21 MA JORS: Economics, French and German FELLOWSHIP: Fulbright ETA award to Madagascar in 2021 LIFE L ATELY: “My last year and a half as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and then Fulbright ETA Mentor has been absolutely life changing. I've learned so much about life not only in Madagascar but across the African continent in my travels. And I'm so happy to have contributed to the development of English language teaching in Madagascar through teacher trainer programs and by investing my personal time in my local community. I was even adopted by a community of nuns down my street. Life is tough here, but it's our life!

As for what I'm up to now, I will begin my first year of seminary at Moreau Seminary at the University of Notre Dame with the Congregation of Holy Cross in August.”

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Kerri Czekner, C’21 MA JORS: Biochemistry, with a minor in English FELLOWSHIP: Fulbright Research award in 2021 through which she studied at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy under Dr. Luisa Lanfrancone LIFE L ATELY: “During my time in Milan, I grew the scientific skill set that I had begun to develop in Dr. Isaac Mills’ lab at the Mount and became more confident both as a scientist and as a person. It was also a valuable chance to improve my Italian language skills and explore the contemporary Italian art landscape. My laboratory background from the Mount and the Fulbright allowed me to hit the ground running in graduate school at Scripps Research, where I am pursuing a Ph.D. in molecular medicine. I work in the Bohn Lab, which seeks to understand how opioid receptors function at the molecular level, and especially how opioid drugs mediate harmful side effects and how they could be prevented. Although I am only in my first year, I find the work interesting and exciting, and look forward to seeing where my research takes me.”

Nicholas Starvaggi, C’21 MA JORS: Chemistry and biochemistry, with a mathematics minor FELLOWSHIP: Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for 2020-21, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship in 2022 while studying chemistry at Texas A&M University LIFE L ATELY: “Both of these awards have provided me with extraordinary freedom to pursue my research interests, both at Mount St. Mary's University and as a graduate student at Texas A&M University. The NSF-GRF in particular has enabled me to focus exclusively on my doctoral research, allowing me to grow as a professional scientist in ways I never imagined were possible. I'm currently a graduate student in Dr. Emily Pentzer's lab at Texas A&M University, working toward my Ph.D. in chemistry.”

Meet the Professors

Christine Blackshaw, Ph.D.

Josey Chacko, Ph.D. 28

William Christiansen, Ph.D.

Michelle Ohanian, Ph.D.

FEATURE SUMMER 2023

Jamie Gianoutsos, Ph.D.

Angy Kallarackal, Ph.D.

Garth Patterson, Ph.D.

THE STRENGTH OF THE MOUNT FELLOWS PROGRAM lies not only in the university’s top-tier students but also in the phenomenal professors who run and support the program. Associate Professor of History Jamie Gianoutsos, Ph.D., founded the program in 2016 and directed it until this July, achieving much success. Gianoutsos, who won a Marshall Scholarship when she was a senior at Baylor University, exuded confidence that Mount students would win these highly competitive and distinguished awards.

She encouraged students to “dare to dream” as well as “dream big, dream early.” Gianoutsos’ own big dreams led her to step down recently from the Fellows program so she can focus on her second major scholarly book. She is currently under contract with Penguin Classics UK to write a book for academic and non-academic audiences on the classical republican tradition.

The new director of the Office of Competitive Fellowships is Professor of World Languages and Cultures Christine Blackshaw, Ph.D., who has several years of experience as associate director. This summer the program held its first retreat focused on writing fellowship applications. Replacing Blackshaw as associate director are Assistant Professor of Political Science William Christiansen, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Angy Kallarackal, Ph.D. Other members of the Faculty Advisory Committee are Associate Professor of Business Josey Chacko, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education Michelle Ohanian, Ph.D., and Director of the Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship Garth Patterson, Ph.D. Also supporting Mount Fellows are numerous faculty members who write letters of recommendation and otherwise encourage students to dream big.

When you give to the Annual Fund

YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE for Mount students to have life-changing experiences and seize opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.

You provide merit awards for deserving students You help recruit top-notch faculty You create a solid grounding in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

NATALIE TORTA, C’23

COLLINS NJI, C’23

TAYL A STEWART, C’23

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Communication and Business

SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS Computer Science, Data Science and English

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Elementary Education with Dual Certification in Special Education and Spanish

"To think of technology as something that’s going to be the doom of humanity does not serve technology any justice. It’s only going to make people’s lives better, from my view."

"I am forever thankful and blessed to enhance my academic and spiritual growth here at the Mount, which will last a lifetime.

I am overjoyed to see the plan that God has for my life."

"Thanks to the liberal arts educational environment and practicum requirements, I’ve loved my years at the Mount and am excited for the future opportunities my education brings me."

NICHOL AS SANTORELLI, C’24 RICHARD J. BOLTE, SR. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Economics and Math "My professors are very willing to answer all questions and care very deeply about each and every student’s intellectual development."ORELLI, C’24

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Alumni News NAA President's Letter GREETINGS FELLOW MOUNTIES, It’s been a summer filled with change and excitement for new opportunities. Thank you to those who returned for Reunion Weekend 2023. We had a wonderful time, and the turnout was great. I talked to so many Mounties who were excited to be back on campus. I was especially happy to talk to Don Joy, who was there for his 70th reunion, yes….70th! The weather was great, the entertainment was fantastic, and it was an all-around successful weekend.

You can find photos of the fun and friendship on pages 32 to 36.

Mark your calendars for June 7-9, 2024, and celebrate Reunion Weekend 2024 when we honor milestone class years ending in 4 and 9. Contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 301-4475362 or alumni@msmary.edu if you want to volunteer.

As I mentioned in my last email, voting for the 2023 National Alumni Association (NAA) elections ended in May; four executive positions and seven council seats were open for election. Thank you to everyone who ran and those who voted.

I’m proud to continue to serve as NAA president for the next three years. In case you’re wondering why I will be serving for the next three years, instead of the normal two-year term, the NAA Constitution was amended to change the terms from two years to three years. A committee was formed to study term limits and provide recommendations to the NAA. At the Spring NAA meeting, the recommendation for three-year terms was approved by the NAA. We are working to strengthen our alumni network through engagement, events and service. I’d like to increase our commitment to one another and to the Mount through our local NAA Alumni chapters and chapter presidents: Connecticut: Nick Dalidowitz, C’05 Delaware: Marie Graney, C’08 Delaware/Maryland Beaches: Romas Laskauskas, C’75 Baltimore, MD: Anthony Golden, C’12 Frederick, MD: Mark Wharton, C’86 New Jersey Beaches: Samantha Manson, C’16 New York City, NY: Kelsey Ketelsen, C’15 & Alicia Morris, C’15 Cape Fear, NC: Eddie Knox, C’76 Charlotte, NC: Tim Buck, C’87 Philadelphia, PA: Vacant Washington, D.C.: Hannah Dell, C’11 As you can see, we do not have a chapter president for the Philadelphia, and surrounding areas, Chapter. I am reaching out to all Mount alumni in the Philadelphia area to implore you 30

ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2023

to volunteer to help with the chapter. The Philadelphia Chapter was once a very vibrant chapter, and I hope we can return to the vibrancy it once had. Please contact me or the Alumni Office if you want to volunteer.

In June, I was thrilled to be part of the service event at the Mercy Center in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and serve in the food bank alongside Mount alumni, administrators, faculty and the Sisters of Mercy. After the service event, I attended the highly anticipated sixth annual Jersey Shore Beach Ball event held at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, New Jersey, which was a lot of fun. Once again, the turnout was great, and it was awesome to see so many different Mount alumni classes represented.

Other events this summer included the 46th annual Baltimore Crab Feast at Ocean Pride Seafood, the chapter's longest running event, and the second annual Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter's Summer Gathering at Doc Waters Cidery in Germantown. As always, all alumni are invited to attend the fall NAA meeting on September 9.

Once again, congratulations to the 2023 recipients of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Chris Wild, C’12, and Capt.

Tyler Boyd, C’15, and the recipients of the Simon Bruté Medal, who are longtime friends and Mount ambassadors: David Conaghan, C’81, and Xavi DeCaire, C’73. See photos from the event on page 33.

Let’s continue to gather with one another in person, through email, and on social media. While a lot of things are changing, there are so many new opportunities for reconnecting with the Mount and your Mount friends.

Spes Nostra.

SUSAN JANOWIAK, C’81 National Alumni Association President

Get Connected Reach out to alumni@msmary.edu to learn more and get involved.

Meet the

National Alumni Association Leaders

VOTING FOR THE 2023 NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (NAA) elections ended in May. Thank you to everyone who ran and those who voted. Four executive positions and seven council seats were open for election.

The newest members were installed at Reunion Mass on June 4, 2023.

Executive Positions

PRESIDENT Susan Janowiak, C’81

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Harry Benjamin, C’98, MBA’03

VICE PRESIDENT Nate Grossnickle, C’98

SEMINARY VICE PRESIDENT Rev. Andrew St. Hilaire, S’19

Newly Elected Council Members

Joe Creighton, C’89

Frank Delmonico, C’66

Dick Hart, C’65

Rob Herb, C’78

Nick Meekins, C’03

Join us!

NAA Fall Meeting Saturday, September 9 at 10 a.m.

Jeannette Smith, C’07

Bill Torelli, C’73

All alumni are invited to attend. Join us in person or online. Register to let us know you’re coming at: advancement.msmary.edu/register/NAAFall2023.

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REUNION RECAP!

Reunion Weekend 2023 Mounties crammed a lot of fun into a weekend in which they reminisced and caught up with old friends, made new friends and marveled at the changes at their mountain home.

Friday THE 46TH ANNUAL ALUMNI GOLF TOURNAMENT was held at the Waynesboro Country Club, and classmates had a great time on a gorgeous day. Prizes were awarded for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and a 50/50 raffle. Thank you to hole sponsors Hugh Farrell, C’73, Jack Heisler, C’82, Mark Mooney, C’79, and Patrick Ostronic in memory of Michael Ostronic, C’80.

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All proceeds from the event benefited the Rev. Carl J. Fives Alumni Scholarship, awarded by the Office of Alumni Engagement to rising seniors based on financial need, service to the Mount and service to the student’s local community. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Last year, six students from the Class of 2023 were awarded Rev. Carl J. Fives Alumni Scholarships. A total of $31,626 was awarded to these students: MADISON BEE, C’23 Haddonfield, New Jersey ALEXA CARRIL, C’23 Brooklyn, New York BRYAN GREEN, C’23 Windsor Mill, Maryland JULIE ROWE, C’23 Davidson, Maryland EMMA SMITH, C’23 Downingtown, Pennsylvania MCKENNA SNOW, C’23* Taylorsville, Kentucky *Legacy recipient

Alumni returned to their mountain home and were offered a delicious welcome lunch on the Bradley veranda. Some took guided tours of the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and saw the recently regilded Blessed Mother statue and visited the Richard and Mary Lee Miller Family Visitors Center, including the St. Bernadette’s Gift Shoppe.

Later that evening, members of the Class of 1973 celebrated their 50th anniversary and were honored at the Golden Mountaineer Mass held in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception where the names of their deceased classmates were read and a bell was rung in their honor. Following the Mass, alumni gathered for the National Alumni Association Alumni Banquet in Patriot Hall.

Award Recipients

Jessica Boyer C'16, accepting for Tyler Boyd, C'15

Chris Wild, C’12

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI This award brings to the attention of the graduating senior class alumni who through hard work, perseverance and education have reached a high level of achievement in their chosen professions. This year the NAA presented the Distinguished Young Alumni Award to: CAPT. TYLER BOYD, C’15, and CHRIS WILD, C’12.

BRUTÉ MEDAL The Simon Bruté medal is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves through their career, commitment to their community, to the Mount or in service to their fellow citizens, and whose recognition will bring honor to Mount St. Mary’s University.

This year the NAA honored two distinguished alumni:

Current and Past Bruté recipients

DAVID P. CONAGHAN, C’81, and XAVI DECAIRE, C’73 SUMMER 2023 ALUMNI NEWS

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Saturday Alumni heard an update from President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D., at the Mount briefing on Saturday morning. At noon, alumni gathered on the quad to enjoy beer brewed by the Mount Brew Club and the good company of deans and faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and the Schools of Education, Business and Natural Science & Mathematics.

The Reunion festival at the Palmieri Activities Center offered the opportunity to compete in cornhole tournaments, drink and eat food from Emmit’s Street Eats, listen to live music and catch up with friends and classmates. A sold-out wine tasting was held mid-afternoon in the new Robert W. Bream Academic Commons on the third floor of Knott Academic Center.

Alumni attended class socials across campus before ending the evening with a party on the quad. The Night on the Mount event featured music from the Flying Ivories Dueling Pianos and a food truck.

There is a legend that Rev. John DuBois, on one of his pastoral journeys, was attracted by a light on the mountain and found this blessed spot and there erected a simple wooden cross. Our light still shines. An alumnus was seen wearing a t-shirt with a saying of the Rev. Carney and later passed on by Rev. James Forker: “For those that went here, no explanation is needed; for those who didn’t, no explanation is possible.”

Sunday The bells rang out at a special memorial Mass on Sunday morning. The name of each friend and classmate who passed away since Reunion Weekend 2022 was read aloud. Each year we remember a great lesson: the sacred is in the ordinary. It’s daily life, friends, neighbors and family. It’s what’s right here in our backyard. How lucky are we?

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Reunion Class Photos

1953 Don Joy, C'53, with Tom Kennedy, C'73

1963

1968

1973

1978 1978

Yearbook photo banner

1983

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Thank you for coming to Reunion 2023!

See more photos at: msmary.edu/reunionphotos

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2013

1988

1993

1998

2003

2008

2018

ALUMNI NEWS SUMMER 2023

Mount Love Story Sean Hartig, C’16, and Emily Dees, C’18 Emily played lacrosse. Sean played rugby.

The student-athletes met at the Mount and stayed friends for the next three years. He graduated in 2016 and stayed in touch with Emily. The pair didn’t go on their first date until January 2018, Homecoming Weekend of her senior year.

On August 8, 2021, Sean proposed to Emily in Topsail, North Carolina, where they were vacationing with Emily’s family. The two immediately began planning their perfect day at their favorite place: the Mount!

On October 29, 2022, they were married at the IC Chapel and had a big Mount party with more than 60 alumni in attendance. It was only fitting to celebrate their wedding with all the people who brought them together on the first night they met.

Share the love!

Email your photo and love story to themagazine@msmary.edu for a chance to be featured!

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Class Notes Left to right: Don Joy, C’53, President Trainor and Donna Brazil, Ph.D.

Find out what your fellow alumni are doing!

Stories are listed by class year, in ascending order to most recent and alphabetically by last name.

Accomplishments DON JOY, C’53 At Reunion Weekend 2023, Don Joy, C'53, talked with President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D., and Donna Brazil, Ph.D. Joy returned to campus to celebrate his 70th, or platinum, reunion.

Clockwise from left: Classmates Bud O’Callahan, Kevin O’Connell, Dick Costello, Joe Farrell, Ed Kuhn, Sal Salerno, Jack Bransfield, Mike Sperendi and Bob Strittmatter, all C'63

Robert Diegelmann, Ph.D., C’65 (center) with VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. (left) and P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation at VCU

CLASS OF 1963 GET TOGETHER Members of the Class of 1963 met for their annual Long Island mini reunion, which was held on November 29, 2022, at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Garden City. These get togethers have been a regular occurrence for the last 12 years.

ROBERT DIEGELMANN, PH.D., C’65 Robert Diegelmann, Ph.D., C’65, a distinguished career and emeritus professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, donated to the Richmond-based museum a collection of 16 items related to his research into hemostasis. His efforts ultimately led to the discovery of the blood-clotting properties of sodium bentonite, an absorbent clay often found in kitty litter. Together with research partner Kevin Ward, their intellectual property was licensed by the company Z-Medica in 2017 and is used in QuikClot, which offers a line of bleeding-control products used in hospital, EMS, law enforcement and military situations worldwide.

Aspects of the technology are also used in Cook Medical’s Hemospray Endoscopic Hemostat product, which has become a leading strategy in treating life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding.

PETE ROBERTS, C’70, AND BILL (MACE) HUNT, C’70 Pete Roberts, C’70, and Bill (Mace) Hunt, C’70, met in Charleston, South Carolina in May 2023. They were photographed just before boarding the Carolina Belle harbor tour. They enjoyed several days together remembering the faculty who shaped their Mount experience.

Pete Roberts, C’70, and Bill (Mace) Hunt, C’70 38

CLASS NOTES SUMMER 2023

Robert Glass, C’83

ROBERT GLASS, C’83 Robert Glass, C’83, was named Brethren Mutual president and CEO on January 1, 2023. He brings a combination of experience, values and leadership to the position with an insurance career spanning more than 35 years.

MOUNTIES GO FISHING Richard Conti, C’83, Ned Burns, C’83, Capt. Bernard Jankowski, C’54, Ernie Schuck, C’83, and Jim McKenna, C’83, had a cold fishing weekend in Annapolis, Maryland, in late November 2022.

MEMBERS OF CLASS OF 1985 Tom McKeon, Dave Hager, Tom Arrowsmith and Bill Waller, all members of the Class of 1985, enjoying the Kentucky Derby.

HEATHER UPDEGRAFF, C’98 Heather Updegraff, C’98, was named assistant vice president of human resources and board secretary at Brethren Mutual Insurance Company.

Alumni gathered in Annapolis, Maryland, for a fishing trip

JED, C’11, AND KRISTIN (PARKINSON) CROOK, C’11 Jed, C’11, and Kristin (Parkinson) Crook, C’11, have opened Chesterton Academy of the Annunciation, a new high school in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

MARIA MARINELLI JONES, C’14 Calibyr Corporation, led by President & CEO Maria Marinelli Jones, C’14, has been named one of Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces of 2023. In addition to Marinelli Jones, alumni who work at the company include Operations & Finance Director Angela (Marinelli) Lamirande, C'17, Instructional Designer Tracy (Howse) Boyd, C'16, Principal Systems Engineer Mike Hicken, MBA’11, and Junior Software Engineer Maggie Curtis, C’23.

CAPT. TYLER BOYD, C’15, MHA’17 Capt. Tyler Boyd, C’15, MHA’17, competed in the Athens Marathon in Greece. The race followed the original route of Pheidippides from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. He completed the race in a time of 3:20:38, stopping toward the end of the race to help a fallen runner cross the finish line and get to the medics. He is the husband of Tracy (Howse) Boyd, C’16, and currently serves in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Turkey.

Tom McKeon, Dave Hager, Tom Arrowsmith and Bill Waller, all C'85

LIBBY TROSTLE, MBA’15 Libby Trostle, MBA’15, released The Great Carolina Caper, the second book in The Adventures of Shining Hope children’s series about RV travels. The books, written for ages 5-9, includes full-color illustrations.

RACHEL DELATTE, C’20 Rachel Delatte, C’20, earned a master’s degree in cultural heritage and archaeology at the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. She completed a fieldwork project at the Nether Haddon Deserted Medieval Village on the Haddon Hall Estate in the Peak District National Park. The research conducted was published in Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire.

Heather Updegraff, C’98

Maria Marinelli Jones, C’14

Capt. Tyler Boyd, C’15, MHA’17, and wife Tracy (Howse) Boyd, C’16

Libby Trostle, MBA’15

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continued EMILY FOX, C’20 Emily Fox, C’20, graduated from the Mount with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business. She was recently promoted to senior associate at SEK, CPAs & Advisors, a regional accounting and consulting firm, and works in the firm’s Hagerstown, Maryland, office.

Emily Fox, C’20

Nicholas Lavenberg, C’21

NICHOLAS LAVENBERG, C’21 Nicholas Lavenberg, C’21, graduated from the Mount with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and economics. He was recently promoted to senior associate at SEK, CPAs & Advisors, a regional accounting and consulting firm, and works in the firm’s Hanover, Pennsylvania, office.

Weddings & Engagements

ALEXIS HUSSEY, C’14, AND JAKE DANT, C’14 Alexis Hussey, C’14, and Jake Dant, C’14, were married on July 29, 2022, at the Bayfront Club in Sparrows Point, Maryland.

Front row: Michon Kretschmaier, C’86, Michelle Kretschmaier Hussey, C’83, Alexis Hussey, C’14, Joe Hussey, C’83, Henry Kretschmaier, C’55, Jake Dant, C’14, Catie (Brown) Cabrera, C’14, Samantha Deangler, C’14, Sherri (Cohen) Thompson, C’14, Megan Lynch, C’14. Back row: Jordan Bode, C’14, Sarah (Swope) Bode, C’14, Derek Saku, C’14, Mike Zabetakis, C’14, James Bartolozzi, C’14, David Yhlen, C’82, and missing from the photo is Jim Bernieri, C’83

AMY TAMBURRI, C’14, AND TAYLOR CLAYTON Amy Taburri, C’14, and Taylor Clayton (groom not photographed) were married on December 3, 2022.

Mounties in attendance Thomas Clayton, C’75, father of the groom, Amy Tamburri, C’14, and Samantha Deangler, C’14

MALLORY TURNER, C’16, AND ANDREW AUCHINCLOSS, C’16 Mallory Turner, C’16, and Andrew Auchincloss, C’16, were married on May 14, 2022, in Taneytown, Maryland.

Mounties in attendance (from left to right): Timothy Nardi, C’16, Joseph Chandlee, C’16, Adam Chandlee, C’16, Kathya Segura, C’16, Joseph Auchincloss, C’16, Matthew Whelan, C’17, Ryan Coulter, C’16, Saro Gahima, C’16, Sheila Witkowski, C’15, Stephen Witkowski, C’16, Justin Garvin, C’16, Andrew Auchincloss, C’16, Mallory Auchincloss, C’16, Shannon O’Brien, C’17, Thomas Turner, C’76, Thomas Callow, C’76, Paul Auchincloss, C’86, Deirdre Auchincloss, C’87, Danielle Fogleman, C’16, Molly McShalley, C’16, Amy Kaden, C’89, Andrew McCarthy, C’16, Emily McCarthy, C’15, Xavier Martinez, C’16, Julie Rose, C’16, and Peter Koscielski, C’16 40

CLASS NOTES SUMMER 2023

FRANCESCA “FRANKIE” DAWSON, C’16, AND GRANT HENRY Francesca “Frankie” Dawson, C’16, and Grant Henry were married on November 12, 2022, at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes’ St. Mary’s Chapel and held their reception at the Palmieri Activities Center. Both the bride and groom were previously employed at the Mount where they both worked in the Office of Admissions before she began to oversee the Activities Management Programming (AMP). She chose five of her freshmen year best friends and hallmates as bridesmaids.

The Rev. Benjamin Dunkelberger, S’18, officiated.

Mounties in attendance (from left to right): Lenna Castro Marquez, C’16, Emily Glass, C’16, Dana Bieker, C’16, Francesca Dawson Henry, C’16, Molly Wheltle, C’16, and Rosalyn Smaldone Thackston, C’16

GABRIELLA SACCO, C’19, AND TIMOTHY BURKE, C’17 Gabriella Sacco, C’19, and Timothy Burke, C’17, were married in August 2022 and are so grateful the Mount gave them each other.

EMILY DEES, C’18, AND SEAN HARTIG, C’16 Emily Dees, C’18, and Sean Hartig, C’16, were married in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Mount on October 29, 2022. Their wedding was attended by more than 50 Mount graduates ranging from the Class of 1990 to the Class of 2019.

MARLEY (HELLER) LAPREZIOSA, C’18, AND ANDREW LAPREZIOSA, C’18 Marley (Heller) Lapreziosa, C’18, and Andrew Lapreziosa, C’18, were married on May 20, 2023, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. The pair met their sophomore year in Accounting 101. Many Mount alumni were in attendance.

NORA (HULLETT) ILYES, C’19, AND JOSIAH ILYES Nora (Hullett) Ilyes, C’19, and Josiah Ilyes were married in August 2022. Mounties by the bride’s side included friend and photographer Rachel Mattio, C’19, celebrant and chaplain of the Mount for many years, the Rev. Brian Nolan, and mother Laura Hullett, who was a former assistant in the Office of Campus Ministry.

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SOPHIA LOOKINGBILL, C’20, AND ERICK O’BRIEN, C’20 Sophia Lookingbill, C’20, and Erick O’Brien, C’20, were married on November 12, 2022, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

MADISON NORRIS, C’21, AND SEAN FAHEY, C’21 Madison Norris, C’21, and Sean Fahey, C’21, were married in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on July 9, 2022. They were photographed by Alexandra (Krall) McCormick, C’19.

ENGAGEMENT: AUTUMN BURNS, C’22, AND SANTINO SERVAGNO, C’22 Autumn Burns, C’22, and Santino Servagno, C’22, were engaged on December 25, 2022. The couple began dating during sophomore year.

Many Mounties were in attendance at their June 30, 2023, wedding at Holy Name of Jesus in Harrisburg, Autumn's home parish.

Births

AMANDA RISLEY, C’13, MBA’17, AND KEVIN BUCKNESE Amanda Risley, C’13, MBA’17, and husband Kevin Bicknese welcomed twins Vance Finn and Poppy June on November 10, 2022. They are photographed with their proud big sister, Olive May. 42

CLASS NOTES SUMMER 2023

MADELEINE STROSS, C’14 Joseph Allen Stross Rohrbach was born on October 5, 2022.

I Am Spes Nostra

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The integrity of every foundation depends on its cornerstone.

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MEMBER BENEFITS: for Mount students to have life-changing experiences and seize opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.

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ONLINE msmary.edu/cornerstone LET'S TALK! Call Charlotte Barry Powers, C’15, MBA’19, at 301-447-5141 to learn more and make a gift.

And more SUMMER 2023 ALUMNI NEWS

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In Memoriam NOVEMBER 9, 2022 – JUNE 20, 2023 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace, Amen. May their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Sebastian “Sib” DiMeglio, C’53 July 9, 1931 – February 3, 2023 SEBASTIAN “SIB” JOSEPH DIMEGLIO, C’53, was a graduate of St. James High School in Chester, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Mount St. Mary’s and a master’s degree in hotel restaurant management at Michigan State University in 1957. In 1979 he completed Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program and then served two years in the Army at the end of the Korean conflict at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

His career began with Fred Harvey in the Cleveland Terminal Tower Building as an assistant manager, eventually moving to Fred Harvey Headquarters in Chicago as an executive where his responsibilities included overseeing all operations between Albuquerque and Cleveland. By 1970 he accepted the position as vice president of hotels, restaurants and recreation for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. During his tenure, the Williamsburg Inn earned and maintained a Mobil 5-star rating. In 1980, he became president of Guest Services, formerly Government Services Incorporated.

(Left to right): John Fricano, C’53, Joe Rodgers, C’53, Msgr. Kline and Sib DiMeglio, C’53

(Left to right): Tony Semeraro, C’53, Joe Rodgers, C’53, Sib DiMeglio, C’53, John Fricano, C’53, and Msgr. Kline

DiMeglio served on many boards including the Culinary Institute of America (honorary doctorate, 2002),the National Park System Advisory Board, Johnson and Wales Advisory Board (honorary doctorate, 1993), the Virginia Hotel & Motel Association (president, 1978), Clemson University Advisory Board, James Madison University Advisory Board and the National Italian American Foundation.

He is survived by his spouse Judy Woods DiMeglio, sister Sally Deeb, four children and eight grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother Charles Francis.

The Sebastian DiMeglio Scholarship was established to help students in need and continue his legacy as a talented and loyal Son of the Mount.

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CLASS NOTES SUMMER 2023

Sib DiMeglio, C’53, on the cover of The Mount Alumnus in 1971

Deceased listed in order by class year.

John Rooney, C’60 December 26, 2022

Bill Lutz, C’72 December 8, 2022

Joseph Lebherz, C’49 April 29, 2023

Dennis Barry, C’62 May 30, 2023

Frank Tummarello, C’72 December 28, 2022

Warren Roggeman, C’51 December 26, 2022

Michael Topper, C’62 March 29, 2023

Elwood Mills, C’75 December 27, 2022

Rev. Earl Keating, C’52 January 13, 2023

Kenny Ford, C’63 April 22, 2023

Joe Simonetta, C’76 March 10, 2023

Elwynn Keyser, C’52 March 12, 2023

Tom Raby Sr., C’63 April 12, 2023

Dennis Werger, C’76 February 21, 2023

Sebastian DiMeglio, C’53 February 3, 2023

John J. Sweeney, C’63 February 11, 2018

Rev. Albert Roca, C’77 February 9, 2023

Ronald Hagarman, C’54 January 2, 2023

Charles Joseph Fitzgerald, C’64 June 23, 2022

William Patrick Guididas, C’78 October 10, 2021

Maj. Phil Moyles, C’54 February 3, 2023

Bud Losch, C’64 January 4, 2023

Joseph Sellmayer, C’78 May 22, 2023

William Tammaro, C’55 May 1, 2023

William Timberman, C’64 October 12, 2022

John Spielberger Sr., C’78 December 18, 2020

Paul Carr, C’56 February 24, 2023

Dr. Joseph Zeterberg, C’64 November 20, 2022

David Burns, C’80 December 17, 2022

Alhen Green, C’56 December 5, 2022

Dr. Tom Hipp, C’65 December 1, 2022

Laura Ogden, C’82 March 3, 2023

Jeanne Mitchler-Fiks, C’57 January 3, 2023

James Kendrick, C’67 February 10, 2023

Brett Parler, C’82 January 29, 2023

John McKinney, C’58 January 23, 2023

Glenn Kuhnle, C’68 February 13, 2023

Nancy (Milewski) Skramstad, C’84 November 6, 2022

Marie Wall, C’58 February 22, 2023

Lawrence Whalen, C’68 February 16, 2022

Holly Peters, C’89 December 12, 2022

Joseph Cook, C’59 February 13, 2023

Anthony Anderson, C’69 October 30, 2021

Michael Brocato, C’91 December 25, 2022

Dr. Tom Leonard, C’59 February 15, 2023

Ron Valenti, C’69 March 2, 2023

John Kershenstein, C’93 April 9, 2023

Dr. Brendan O’Brien, C’59 December 4, 2022

Paul Gerstner, C’70 December 13, 2021

Jennifer Karn, C’97, M.Ed.'05 November 26, 2022

Peter Driscoll, C’60 February 20, 2023

Peter Francis Mullen, C’70 July 9, 2022

Dr. Ed Grace, C’60 January 11, 2023

Dr. Edward J. Sattler, C’70 October 3, 2022 SUMMER 2023 CLASS NOTES

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John Joseph Rooney, C’60 March 7, 1939- December 26, 2022 JOHN JOSEPH ROONEY, a 1960 graduate and trustee emeritus of Mount St. Mary’s as well as one of the university’s greatest benefactors, passed away December 26. He was 83.

Even in his student days, Rooney knew how to get things done at the Mount, helping track and field coach Jim Deegan build a runway and landing pit for field events, including the pole vault. Rooney competed for the Mount as a pole vaulter, high jumper and hurdler.

During a 2018 visit to the university, Rooney watched a track and field meet and marveled at the athleticism of the pole vaulters and the superiority of their fiberglass poles over the Swedish steel ones that he used in the late 1950s. “I could have been a contender,” he quipped. John Rooney and his twin brother Patrick J., who also graduated from the Mount in 1960, have made it possible for today’s and tomorrow’s students to compete at the highest level.

The first phase of the Rooney Athletic Performance Center project, six new state-of-the-art tennis courts, is complete. The multi-phase project is made possible by a $6 million transformational gift from John and Pat, and their spouses JoAnn and Sandy, respectively, to promote growth and enhanced performances for the Mount’s NCAA Division I athletic program, intramural sport and recreational opportunities for students.

“John loved the Mount, and the Mount community loved John. He was a kind and giving man who cared deeply about the university and its students,” said President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. “John will be greatly missed by many and leaves a wonderful legacy at Mount St. Mary’s and among all he touched in his 83 years.”

Rooney grew up in Pittsburgh, attending North Catholic High School with his brothers. A devout lifelong Catholic, he majored in English at the Mount and subsequently taught middle school English, a job that he loved, and served as a manager at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. He moved to Philadelphia to help run the William Penn Racetrack and the Spartan Soccer team. With his brothers, he owned the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped manage Green Mountain Racetrack in Vermont, the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida and Yonkers Raceway in New York. He also owned a successful gas and oil company for more than 30 years. He was an avid fisherman, lifetime golfer and antique train collector. He loved to sketch and draw and collect Western sculptures. His greatest joy was spending time with his family of whom he was very proud.

Rooney, the husband of JoAnn (Wallace) Rooney, was the son of the late Arthur Sr. and Kathleen (McNulty) Rooney. He was the father of Sean Rooney and his wife Colleen of Palm Beach, Florida; Mary Jo Gormley and her husband Richard of Malvern, Pennsylvania; Alice Rooney Mahoney, C’86, and her husband Sean Mahoney Sr., C’86, of Worcester, Pennsylvania; Peter Rooney and his spouse John Curran of Dublin, Ireland; and Matthew Rooney of Brooklyn, New York; his siblings Art Rooney Jr., Timothy Rooney and his twin Patrick Rooney; 15 grandchildren, including Sean Mahoney Jr., C’12; and six great-grandchildren. His beloved son James Patrick and his brother Daniel Rooney preceded him in death.

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Cutting the ribbon on the new state-of-the-art tennis courts are Patrick J. Rooney, Jr. and Patricia Rooney, John Rooney, C'60, and Alice Rooney Mahoney, C'86

1808 Society

My Connection with Mount St. Mary’s College

By Bill Torelli, C’73

Mount St. Mary’s University Class of 1973 at the 50th Golden Jubilee Reunion. William J. “Bill” Torelli Jr. is in the second row, third from right.

IT STARTED CIRCA 1930, 21 years before I was born. My dad’s oldest brother, Bart Torelli, was working in a Civilian Conservation Corp detail deployed in the vicinity of Mount St. Mary’s College.

Seeing the Mount for the first time, my uncle immediately fell in love with the Mount, its beauty, history, tradition and Christian values. He thought this might just be the place where his youngest brother, Jimmy, might want to attend college. My uncle Jim did in fact enroll in 1949 and graduated as a member of the Class of 1953.

Fast forward 20 years, and once again, another member of the Torelli family (William J. “Bill” Torelli Jr.) was headed to college and was in the same position Uncle Jim was 20 years earlier. So, in December of 1968, I visited the campus along with my dad and Uncle Jim. It was love at first sight, and the rest was history.

Four years went by quickly, but in those four years I received an education that would last a lifetime along with many friendships that I still maintain today. The Mount prepared me in so many ways as I entered my professional life.

After a very successful career in information technology, I knew I wanted to give back to the Mount in some way to continue the legacy of success that she had bestowed upon me. I decided on a legacy gift that will pass to the Mount as part of my trust.

I know I am making a difference by making regular gifts and serving on the National Alumni Association council, but I wanted to make a greater, long-lasting impact. I’m currently working with the advancement team to make that happen.

Seeing all my friends recently at our 50th reunion brought back so many fond memories. I am so glad that my Uncle Bart stumbled upon the Mount. It was a tradition in the making for the Torelli family that started in 1930 that I hope will continue.

Bill Torelli, C'73

Jim Torelli, C'53

To help you make your plans, consider using FreeWill, a free and easy-to-use and self-guided software program that can help you begin the conversation with your estate professional.

Visit freewill.com/msmary.

If you have already named Mount St. Mary’s University, Seminary or National Shrine Grotto in your estate plans, please let us know so that we may thank you! If you would like more information about how to include the Mount in your plans, please contact Vice President for Advancement Patty Hill-Callahan, C’87, at: p.m.hill-callahan@msmary.edu or 301-447-7432.

Please note: This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. We advise you to work with your financial, tax or legal advisor to determine a charitable giving strategy that fits your situation.

SUMMER 2023 MOUNT MAGAZINE

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Save the Date Reunion Weekend 2024: June 7-9, 2024 We’re excited to welcome all classes and celebrate milestones ending in 4 and 9.