Mount Saint Mary College Magazine - Summer 2018

Mount Saint Mary College

MAGAZINE

NEWBURGH, NEW YORK

SUMMER 2018

Welcome Dr. Adsit!

New president arrives with energy and vision

A fond farewell to Dr. Kennett Celebrating the Class of 2018 From internship to career

Letter from the President To the Mount Saint Mary College Community,

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine

Volume 40, No. 2 The Office of Marketing and Communications prepares this magazine for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the college.

EDITOR / DESIGN DIRECTOR Dean DiMarzo MBA ’13

SENIOR WRITERS Matt Frey ’05 MSEd ’10 Emily Ricci ’15 PHOTOGRAPHER Lee Ferris DESIGNER Sten Miller Perkins CONTRIBUTORS Michael Doughty Lynn Frank Michelle Iacuessa ’94 COPYEDITORS Mayde Pokorny MBA ’16 Tabatha Mays ’14

CIRCULATION 8,000 ©2018

WEBSITE magazine.msmc.edu EMAIL magazine@msmc.edu

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE 330 Powell Avenue Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-0800

ADMISSIONS 888-YES-MSMC (888-937-6762)

B

y my count, Susan and I were at Mount Saint Mary College for about 675 days. It should always be everyone’s ambition to leave any place a little better than they found it, and I trust that has been true of my time at the Mount.

My objective here, and that of the Trustees who asked me to step in, was to bring common purpose to the college after a period of some turbulence. I believe that we have done that and that we have provided President Jason Adsit with the platform from which he can lead the college to its destiny. Although Jason arrives at a challenging time for private colleges, I believe that the Mount is ready to rise to the occasion.

Our newly appointed Dean of Nursing, Dr. Susan LaRocco, arrived in early June and hit the ground running. Her charge is to ensure that our well-deserved reputation as the pre-eminent nursing school in the valley continues to grow. Across campus, enrollment in our stellar education program has roared back after some years of struggle, setting the stage for growth in the coming years.

The Mount is a school of great character, and when we put our best forward, we can continue to attract students and faculty of great quality and character. The Mount’s future is bright, and I ask you to support Jason and his family in the same generous and whole-hearted way that you have supported me.

As my tenure as interim president concludes, I have run up too many debts to recognize here, but I do want to publicly thank some remarkable women who have made my life at the Mount much easier. The first acknowledgement is to the exceptional Dominican Sisters of Hope, both those currently on the board and those who have previously served the college in many ways: They have been a constant source of knowledge and inspiration. The second is to Barbara Connolly, my assistant, who has helped me in innumerable ways, keeping everything organized and on track. And finally, of course, I owe so much during these years, and throughout my life, to my wife, Susan.

I am hoping that the bald eagles that have nested in the tree next to the Villa are a continuing metaphor for rebirth at the Mount. I have watched them carefully this year; their presence is truly a source of joy. We were all concerned for their safety when the campus was battered by a tornado in May, but happily the eaglets have thrived and left the nest. The parents are expected to celebrate their success by returning to campus to raise another family next year. Let’s ensure that the Mount takes flight too!

Sincerely,

Dr. David A. Kennett

INSIDE

18 Celebrating the Class of 2018

15 Jeff Lyons on movies 16 New Zealand journey 32 Sports roundup 35 Athletics awards 37 Alumni Notes 40 Meet a Mentor dinner 41 Paying it forward 44 Academy Profile 45 A look back

2 Presidential transition

6 News & Notes

14 Spring Weekend

17 Big birds on campus

28 Interns to employees

34 Skyline champs again!

Online Extras

MSMC Magazine online Find this issue, and an archive of past issues, online at msmc.edu/Magazine

36 Leading Newburgh

42 Golf & Tennis event

Stay in touch at msmc.edu/Connect

PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

Outgoing Interim President Dr. David A. Kennett received the Trustees Medal and the Faculty Award at this year’s commencement ceremony.

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MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

A fruitful tenure

Mount bids a fond farewell to Dr. David A. Kennett, interim president

W

hen Interim President Dr. David A. Kennett and his wife, Dr. Susan Kennett, arrived at Mount Saint Mary College in August of 2016, it was during a time when disagreements over leadership and mission had divided the historically tight-knit community.

By the end of his term in June of 2018, the Economics professor from Vassar College had closed that rift and helped heal the Mount community.

“David stepped into the role of Interim President at a difficult time, and did so with enthusiasm and grace,” said Mount Board of Trustees Chair Charles Frank. “He has done everything we asked of him and more, and has left an indelible impression on all facets of the Mount Saint Mary College community and its surroundings.”

Barbara Petruzzelli, director of the Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, echoed Frank’s sentiment: “From the start, it was clear that David was committed to [the Mount community] and to the college,” she said. “He and Susan embraced their new roles 100 percent. They poured themselves into the responsibilities, heart and soul.”

Dr. Kennett quickly became known at the Mount campus for his candor, integrity, and good humor.

“David was willing to listen,” said Susan Schulmerich, associate professor of Nursing. “He was open to ideas.

He engaged people.”

Mysia Haight-Hoogsteden ’84, president of the Mount Saint Mary College Alumni Association, agreed.

She noted that Dr. Kennett brought “transparency, accountability, accessibility, and affability – all vital qualities that the Mount needs.”

Dr. Kennett also successfully navigated the Mount through the reaccreditation process for the prestigious Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The important project lasted for the majority of his two-year term, and required aid from the entire

Dr. David Kennett and Dr. Susan Kennett were honored at a gathering this spring.

college community. Frank noted that, “Without his guidance and constant attention to the campus-wide efforts to produce the documents, along with the changes in both atmosphere and structure he has brought to this campus, it would have been much more difficult to achieve this success.”

As the community prepared to welcome the college’s seventh full-time president, Dr. Jason N. Adsit, Mount Saint Mary College extended its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kennett for his many contributions, including his steadfast dedication to the Mount’s continued success; the wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff; and the enrichment of the surrounding community.

“One of the Four Pillars of Dominican life is community, and David has embraced that,” said Mount Board Vice-Chair Sr. Margaret Anderson, OP ’67. “He not only helped the community on campus, but he reached out to the local community and beyond.”

Michael Olivette, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Mount, added, “He’s really positioned us well to be an even bigger factor in this community.”

Dr. Kennett said that his success would not have been possible without

the support of the friends and trustees of the college, students, parents, faculty, and staff. He added that he was “moved beyond measure” by the Mount’s appreciation of his work.

“Susan and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Mount,” said Dr. Kennett. “It has enabled us to meet a whole extra family of people, and you will remain dear to us throughout the years ahead.”

After two very busy years serving the Mount, the Kennetts plan on traveling to Europe and spending some time with their new granddaughter, Ivy May. Dr. Kennett, an accomplished author and frequent speaker on economic topics, may also return to teaching.

Throughout his time at the Mount, Dr. Kennett always made it a point to remind new graduates and returning alumni that the college will always be their home: “Remember, you will always be Knights, and you will always be welcome here,” he would say.

The same holds true for him: In the eyes of the grateful campus community and in the annals of Mount Saint Mary College history, Dr. David A. Kennett and Dr. Susan Kennett will always be Knights. www.msmc.edu

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PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

Looking towards a

bright future

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MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Dr. Jason Adsit and his wife, Heather, are both avid runners.

The Mount’s seventh president hits the ground running Dr. Jason N. Adsit, Mount Saint Mary College’s seventh full-time president, began his tenure on June 1, 2018. We had a chance to get Dr. Adsit’s thoughts on a variety of subjects:

What initially drew you to the Mount?

Before I even got here, the way people talked about the Mount had a high level of energy and passion. And when I finally set foot on campus and met everyone, I desperately wanted to be a part of this community.

I believe deeply in Catholic higher education and [the Mount] educates the whole person. We hope to instill in our students and our alumni that there’s something bigger than yourself. What can you do with the talents you have to help others?

How will your background in academics aid you as president?

Assessing student outcomes and analyzing teaching and learning environments is something I’ve been passionate about for a really long time. I’m always focused on enhancing the student experience.

What’s your top priority as president?

My top priority is to listen and to really learn all the important things I have to know about the history, the tradition, and the excellence of the institution. In order to be successful long-term, I need to know the Mount first and make sure we build on

Dr. Adsit with his family

our tradition of excellence. I want to make sure that the things we change really need to be improved upon, so we don’t lose the essence of the institution, our history, or our identity.

How did your family react when they heard that you were the next president of the Mount?

They were overjoyed. They saw how energized I was going through this process. They saw how I started talking about the Mount with passion. They told me how excited they were to become part of this community, part of Newburgh, part of the Hudson Valley.

What do you want to see in the college’s future?

I see steady growth. I see a continued tradition of academic excellence. I see the highest levels of community engagement.

Our institution is a coiled spring, and we’re poised for great growth and development.

Our future is very bright, and I’m very excited to be here.

Dr. Jason N. Adsit PRESIDENT

Dr. Adsit joins the Mount family from D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y., where he served as Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, as well as Director of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. As chief academic officer, Dr. Adsit oversaw all undergraduate and graduate programs in the School, including the departments of Biology and Mathematics, Business, Chemistry, Education, and Liberal Arts.

An accomplished author and speaker, Dr. Adsit earned a doctoral degree in Philosophy from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from American University in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Heather, have five children – three boys and two girls – ranging in age from 4 to 10 years old.

www.msmc.edu

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News&Notes Happenings at the Mount

Professor takes on research in Israel

Yasmine Kalkstein, an associate professor of Psychology, moved to Rehovot, Israel for a year to continue her research into women’s medical decision-making regarding childbirth.

A Fulbright Senior Scholar grant made the sabbatical possible.

Fair still strong at 25

The Mount recently hosted its 25th annual Beth Roeper Health and Wellness Fair. Sponsored by the Health Services Wellness Center and David Melby with Rose & Kiernan Inc. insurance agency, the fair featured free health screenings and interactive exhibits.

Professors’ work on display

A new CMA Gallery opened in Aquinas Hall with the works of Dean Goldberg and Christopher Neyen. Goldberg presented I Am India! Travels in Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi, and Neyen displayed Evidential Industrial Mannerisms.

Fighting heart disease

Faculty, students, and staff “went red” to help stop heart disease on National Wear Red Day. Kathleen O’Keefe, director of the Center for Career and Experiential Education, facilitated the event on the Mount campus.

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Hair today, gone tomorrow

About a dozen students, faculty, and staff got bold and went bald during the college’s second annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving.

Organized by Journalism and English student Tanner Tait, the event raised more than $1,000 to help to fight childhood cancer.

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Five confirmed

Students Megan Rodriguez, James Farrell, Derek O’Hanlon, Courtney Raifstanger, and Danielle Zaleski (above) received the Sacrament of Confirmation this spring.

A cherished tradition marches on

Nearly 50 faculty, staff, alumni, and their families hit the streets in the 257th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 17. Mount marchers wore black slacks and green parade sashes.

Aquinas Hall improvements

Aquinas Hall will be seeing some improvements this summer. The multi-floor project includes the addition of several bathrooms, a five-story elevator, and the creation of new spaces for Nursing and Business.

Summer research

The Mount’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) saw a variety of research projects, like this one overseen by Mike Daven, Math.

Here, student Charles Benfer assists in the creation of a “sensory garden” at Bishop Dunn Memorial School.

Top earnings

Pop-up petting zoo

Students, faculty, and staff celebrated spring with a pop-up petting zoo featuring goats, sheep, ducks, and more.

Here, Deidre Lydon, a Nursing major, enjoys some one-on-one time with Boomer the Wallaby.

A slice of pi

Bishop Dunn Memorial School students were in for a tasty treat on Pi Day, March 14, thanks to the Mount’s Math Club.

In addition to sweet culinary delights, the students enjoyed challenging math puzzles based on the concept of pi, whose digits begin with 3.14 and continue on infinitely.

Mount Saint Mary College was ranked #28 on NYup.com’s “50 Upstate NY Colleges That Have the Highest-Paid Graduates.”

The list is based on the most current (2016) earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

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News&Notes SERVICE

Mount freshman Fiona Kiernan addresses her fellow students and NFA High School students during a mentoring event.

Making taxes less taxing

Nearly 20 Mount volunteers prepared tax returns for middle- and lowincome families through an assistance program by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the Mid-Hudson CASH Coalition, and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. This season marks the seventh year the Mount has been involved.

Cleaning up the town

The Mount celebrated Earth Day by joining several community cleanup programs. Students and staff participated in the annual Newburgh Community Clean-Up event. At the same time, students pitched in at the Scenic Hudson Clean Up at Crystal Lake in Newburgh.

Mount mentors NFA West

David Gallagher, Education, and his students spearheaded a number of partnerships between the college and the Newburgh Free Academy West Campus (NFA West), beginning in the Fall 2017 semester. Programs include the Newburgh Promise Mentoring program, the Newburgh Futures podcast, and a tutoring program.

Mount helps BDMS revitalize library

Through a collaboration with the Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, Bishop Dunn Memorial School, located on the Mount campus, recently unveiled its revamped library. Mount students updated the electronic check out system and organized the shelves according to categories.

Family Math Night

About 100 eager children of Pine Tree Elementary School in Monroe, N.Y. and their families had a blast with mathematics, thanks to dedicated teachercandidates from Mount Saint Mary College. More than 30 Mount students lent their skills to the college’s latest Family Math Night. Held periodically at area schools, Family Math Nights give Mount students unique fieldwork

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A collaboration modernized Bishop Dunn Memorial School’s library.

Fernando Aguilar was one of the Mount students volunteering with Tax-Aide.

experience as they serve their community.

schools, but they recently went headto-head with each other in the Knight Nation Challenge, a fundraiser for the Mount’s Athletics department. At the end of the two-day event, almost 600 donors had raised more than $15,500 for the Knights. Women’s Volleyball reigned victorious with the largest number of donors, while Women’s Basketball took the crown for most funds raised.

‘Wing Knight’ for Habitat

The Mount community recently chowed down on local pizza and wings for a good cause. “Wing Knight” netted $300 for the college’s Habitat for Humanity student club, to be used towards a spring break humanitarian trip to Laredo, Texas in 2019.

Making a ‘Midnight Run’

More than a dozen Mount students headed to New York City to help the homeless. Joined by Roger May, Jr., assistant director of Campus Ministry; Maxine Monroe, director of Residence Life; and Megan Rossi, resident director of Sakac Hall, the students distributed food, clothing, and toiletries to those in need in Manhattan.

Knight Nation Challenge raises $15,500

The Knights are used to battling rival

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Mount hosts wellness programs

The Mount hosted a number of events to help students make healthy, proactive choices and to reinforce the campus’s commitment against violence.

The programs fall under the coordinated effort known as No Knight Left Behind. Events included presentations about social media use, a candlelight vigil honoring those who have been impacted by sexual assault, a 12-person panel on life as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and more.

CONFERENCES

Professor Lawrence Force presenting at the “Age Loudly! Against Elder Abuse” conference

Virus conference draws 100

Science students from the tristate area descended upon the Mount for the SEA-PHAGES Symposium. A bacteriophage, also known informally as a phage, is a virus that infects bacteria.

About 100 participants enjoyed a research symposium and keynote address

by William R. Jacobs, Jr., a professor of Microbiology and Immunology and professor of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y.

Sports and entertainment

“The Business and Law of Sports and Entertainment in the Hudson Valley” featured Rob Affuso, president of the Soulsystem Orchestras and former drummer for the band Skid Row; Russell Ger, conductor for the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra; Brandon Steiner, founder and CEO of Steiner Sports; R. Scott Russell, assistant professor of Sports Management at the Mount; and Gary M. Schuster, Esq., partner at Jacobowitz and Gubits, LLP. The panel was moderated by Michael L. Fox, assistant professor of Business Law and Pre-Law advisor at the Mount, and sponsored by the college’s School of Business and Pre-Law Society.

HEOP leadership

Christian Lorenzo, Giselle Martinez, Stephanie Ortiz, and Maria Rivera of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) represented the Mount at the Inclusive Leadership Conference in Philadelphia, Penn.

Black History Month panel

The Mount’s Black History Month Celebration featured a panel of African American community leaders sharing their experiences. Hosted by HEOP and the Black Student Union, the panel featured Torrance Harvey ’03, Newburgh mayor and teacher at Newburgh Free Academy; Kareem Donaldson ’09, guidance counselor for the City of Newburgh School District; Jessica Miles ’11, coordinator at Cornerstone Family Healthcare; and Aleschia Johnson ’11, assistant director of Student

Addiction and Recovery event on June 8 and the 10th Annual Hudson Valley World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2018 talk, Age Loudly! Against Elder Abuse, on June 15.

Annual nursing symposium Pat Mora, left, was the keynote speaker at the Mount’s Literacy Conference.

Affairs for International Students and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

25th Literacy Conference

“It breaks my heart that we have teachers who are not readers,” said Pat Mora, an author, poet, and literacy advocate, during her keynote speech at the Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning’s 25th Annual Conference on Literacy. “How can you excite people about reading if you’re not a reader?”

The annual Mount conference was aimed at both seasoned and future educators. This year’s theme was “Dare to be a Wild Reader and Writer.”

CADP hosts talks on aging

The Center on Aging and Disability Policy, directed by Social Sciences professors Lawrence Force and Jeffrey Kahana, co-sponsored two conferences focused on the needs of the aging: The National Organization of Adult Addictions and Recovery’s Aging,

Nurses, healthcare specialists, and successful alumni attended “Opioid Abuse Epidemic and The Role of Nursing,” presented by the School of Nursing and the Office of Alumni Affairs. The fourth annual event featured speakers David M. Hoovler, J.D., District Attorney of Orange County, N.Y.; Brian Maher, Director of Communications for New York State Senator William J. Larkin, Jr.; Daniel Maughan ’02, MSN, MBA, RN, FNP-C, Vice President for Transformation at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital/Montefiore Health System; and Andrew O’Grady ’88, LCSW-R, CEO of Mental Health America of Dutchess County and Mid-Hudson Alcohol Recovery Centers.

Science conference

Recent Mount grads Ryan Forster and Lily Goodman presented research projects at the 72nd annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference. Jacqueline Copeland ’17 also attended, along with Suparna Bhalla and Evan Merkhofer, Biology. This marked the tenth year that Mount students have presented at the conference. Forster, a Chemistry major, received an award for his outstanding presentation. www.msmc.edu

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News&Notes CAREER

Down to a ‘science’

Real World Connections

The Center for Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) recently hosted Careers in the Sciences, featuring five local professionals. They encouraged students to think outside the box in how they apply their scientific skills in the real world.

The CCEE hosted another round of the ongoing Real World Connections series, giving graduating seniors the opportunity to network with successful alumni and area professionals from a variety of fields. Students met with dozens of experts in communications, technology, marketing, and more.

Herley and Smith

Job interview secrets

Rosenberg gives résumé tips

Knight Shadow

Mount students prepared for the work world with Mock Interview Week on campus. The annual program, sponsored by the CCEE, pairs students with local business leaders in their field to practice their interviewing skills. This year, 20 employers and 55 students participated in the program.

Robin Rosenberg, a career counselor with the CCEE, revealed valuable résumé writing tips to about 75 Newburgh Free Academy students. She joined forces with the Newburgh School District, Access: Supports for Living, and the Newburgh Armory Unity Center for the workshop.

During Spring Break, two Mount students got an inside look at interesting careers in their field of study. Madison Herley, a Media Studies major, shadowed Audra Woodruff Smith ’04 of Turn Card Content, LLC; and Michael Curcio, a Psychology major, shadowed Joseph Santangelo ’16 of Indeed.

CDI

Religious studies and ancient art

Marc Michael Epstein, a professor of Religion and Visual Culture at Vassar College, kicked off the Spring 2018 Catholic and Dominican Institute (CDI) speaker series with “Is a Manuscript A Mirror? What Can Religious Studies Learn from Art?” “Jews made art throughout their history,” Epstein noted. “Jewish art is good to think on in the larger spectrum of religious studies because it is so little considered.” Not only can one view such images historically, but one can also use such art to see “what was in their hearts and minds,” said Epstein.

Fr. Dominic Legge, OP, director of the Thomistic Institute in Washington, D.C. (left), welcomed about 90 scholars to the Mount’s eighth annual Philosophy Workshop.

Aquinas, and Boyle Scholar Reception.

Other CDI events in the Spring 2018 semester included “Sonification: On the Ethical Significance of Music” by Licia Carlson, professor of Philosophy at Providence College; “Defending Adam after Darwin” by Fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, OP, professor of Biology and Theology at Providence College; “Macbeth and the Conspiracy for Life”

by Br. Jordan Zajac, OP of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.; the annual Siena and St. Thomas Fests; and the Ralph,

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CDI is directed by Charles Zola, associate professor of Philosophy.

Philosophy conference enjoys eighth year

The Mount hosted the eighth annual Thomas Aquinas Philosophy Workshop, “Aquinas on Divine Attributes,” in June. The event was sponsored by CDI, The Thomistic Institute at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., and The Notre Dame Center for

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Ethics & Culture in Indiana. This year’s workshop served as a robust introduction to Aquinas’s natural theology for the Thomistic beginner and a speculative advancement for the veteran.

Dominican Colloquium

About a dozen faculty, staff, and alumni presented their research at the Biennial Colloquium of Dominican Colleges and Universities, reflecting on the rich heritage of the Dominican Order and important issues in Catholic Dominican higher education.

LIBRARY & FACULTY Bixler, Spielhagen earn leadership awards

Janine Bixler, professor of Education and Division of Education chair, earned the National School Development Council’s 2018 Cooperative Leadership Award. Bixler, director of the Mount’s Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning, was nominated by the MidHudson School Study Council for her work creating cooperative educational programs in the Newburgh community.

Frances Spielhagen, professor of Education and co-director of the Center for Adolescent Research and Development, earned the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s 2018 Educational Leadership Award. Spielhagen was nominated by the Mount’s Division of Education.

A powerful pair of poets

Elizabeth Harper, assistant professor of Biology, led “Follow Your Own Journey: A Movement Workshop” to help celebrate the 12th Annual MSMC Library Week.

Mount authors honored

The Mount celebrated 15 faculty who have published this past year, including: A Ten-Year Study of Suicides in a Rural/ Suburban County and more by Jennifer Bready, professor of Mathematics

The Mount’s April poetry series featured acclaimed poets Robert Milby and Corinne Herceg. Milby read original works as well as pieces by Algernon Charles Swineburne and William Wordsworth. The readings were sponsored by Poets & Writers, the Kaplan Family Library, and the Division of Arts and Letters.

I and Thou in ‘The Wreck of the Deutschland’ by James Finn Cotter, professor of English

Banned Books Symposium

The Legal Profession: Attorneys & Courts, Bulwark Against Injustice and more by Michael L. Fox, assistant professor of Business Law and Pre-Law Advisor

James LaRue, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, headlined the recent Banned Books Symposium at the Mount. His keynote focused on intellectual freedom within the K-12 environment.

Knight Reading takes campus around the ‘World’

The Mount celebrated its 12th annual Library Week by immersing the campus in the historical fiction novel, News of the World by Paulette Jiles. The events were part of the Knight Reading program, the Mount’s first campuswide shared reading experience. The celebrations were arranged by the Kaplan Family Library.

The Detoxing of Caregivers: Key Tips for Survival, Strength and Patience by Lawrence Force, professor of Psychology and director of The Center on Aging and Disability Policy

Let’s Flip It!: Delivering Information Literacy Instruction in the First Year Experience by Denise A. Garofalo, associate librarian for Systems and Catalog Services Verity Less Lively: ‘Flesh and Blood’ and more by Dean Goldberg, associate professor of Communication Arts and Film Studies Disability and Aging: Learning from Both to Empower the Lives of Older Adults by Jeffrey S. Kahana, associate professor of History

Owning the Birth Experience: What Factors Influence Women’s Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Decision? by Yasmine Kalkstein, associate professor of Psychology Jesus and Mary at Cana: What Did Jesus Really Say? by Robert Miller, assistant professor of Religious Studies Business as a Calling Revisited and more

by Tracey Niemotko, professor of Accounting and chair of the School of Business, and Moira Tolan, professor of Business and Business Program Graduate Coordinator If You’re Writing about Animals, Don’t Talk about Lollipops: Children’s Views on Writing Informational Text by Rebecca Norman, associate professor of Education Streaming an Event? How to Supplement Before, During and After by Regina Pappalardo, assistant professor of Communication Arts Promoting Synergistic Partnerships in Low Resource Countries: A Case Study Exemplar

by Priscilla Sagar, professor of Nursing An interview with Daniel Mendelsohn by Derek Sanderson, assistant librarian for Instruction Services Peaceable Kingdom: The Place of the Dog at the Living Nativity Scene by Rob Wakeman, assistant professor of English www.msmc.edu

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News&Notes RESEARCH

Mount talk sheds new light on the Black Plague

When the Black Plague swept through Eurasia in the late 1340s, it took an estimated 50 to 75 million lives in less than a decade. The culprit, noted Christina Alvey, assistant professor of Mathematics, and Heather Polgrean ’17, a Mount alumna, is the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

But there’s another layer to this story, revealed Alvey and Polgrean during their recent Investigating Research on Campus (iROC) talk, “Investigating the Black Plague using Math Modeling.”

Alvey and Polgrean showed how mathematical models can give researchers insight into transmission of the disease and how different strains of Yersinia pestis impacted populations in diverse, frightening ways.

“One of the most important things mathematically when studying a disease is the basic reproduction number,” Alvey explained. A number bigger than one means that a disease will likely spread, and smaller than one means it typically will not.

“The number we got for the bubonic plague alone was 1.3,” said Polgrean. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you have 1,000 people, you’re infecting 1,300.”

Other iROC talks in the Spring 2018 semester included “The Elephant Can Be Ignored No More: A Kierkegaardian/Thomistic Analysis of Societal Despair” by John Hofbauer, associate professor of Philosophy; “A Hole in the Gate – Looking Closer” by Christopher Neyen, assistant professor of Art and Graphic Design; “Moving to Zero” by Elizabeth Harper, assistant professor of Biology; and “Patterns of Fine Art Theft in the United States” by Kate Burmon, assistant professor of Criminology.

The annual iROC-Honors student research symposium, featuring about 40 course-related or independent research projects, closed out the series.

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Students present their research at the iROC symposium.

FACILITIES Desmond restoration

Going green

While the parking lot and building are clear of debris, the restoration efforts around the 26-acre property are ongoing.

The college entered into an Energy Performance Contract with the John W. Danforth Company and ECG Group. This initiative promotes various mechanical, lighting, and weatherization improvements self-funded through the energy savings.

After suffering damage from an EF0 tornado the month before, the Mount’s Desmond Campus for Adult Enrichment reopened its doors for classes on Monday, June 4.

“We want to thank everyone for their care and concern over the last few weeks,” said Sandra Brandman, coordinator of Community Education at the Desmond Campus.

Tragically, Lisa Resnick, a participant in one of the adult enrichment courses at the Desmond Campus, was killed during the storm when a falling tree struck her vehicle in the parking lot.

“On behalf of the Mount Saint Mary College community, I extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to the family,” said Dr. David Kennett, interim president of the college.

Brandman described Resnick’s passing as “devastating.” The Desmond community organized a memorial service, which was held on campus.

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

The Mount recently rolled out a series of ongoing, eco-friendly improvements to the campus.

In addition to making the college more environmentally friendly, it’s estimated that the project will save the Mount nearly $400,000 in utility and operating costs in the first year following implementation.

Upgrades include installing high efficiency condensing boilers across campus, weatherization improvements to various residence halls and buildings, and replacing the PoolPak dehumidification and water temperature system in the Kaplan Recreation Center. In addition, nearly 11,000 interior and exterior LED lighting retrofits throughout campus were updated, and the bulbs will not need to be changed again for a decade.

ACADEMICS

bersecurity Labs and Resource Knowledgebase (CLARK) – A Prototype.” The grant, awarded by Towson University, was secured by Sagar Raina, assistant professor of Information Technology.

Teaching with tech

Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP, helped induct Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholars.

Scholars recognized

Nearly 60 students were celebrated for their academic achievements at an induction ceremony for Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholars. These honors are presented to students who attain a high degree of proficiency in their studies and have demonstrated a sincere commitment to learning at the Mount. The keynote address was delivered by Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP, a Mount alumna and professor emerita of Communication Arts.

College honors student scholars at brunch

Student scholarship was the main course at the Fourth Annual Scholars’ Brunch. Members of the faculty served high-achieving students a delicious meal in honor of their achievements.

Mount receives two grants for teacher education

Recently, the college accepted a $100,000 endowed scholarship fund from Warwick Savings Bank. It will provide financial assistance to Mount teacher candidates, specifically students hailing from Orange County.

In addition, the Mount also recently received a $15,000 grant from Wilmington Trust, to be used towards the college’s teacher education initiatives.

Mount awarded $15,000 for cybersecurity project

The Mount was recently awarded a nearly $15,000 grant for a National Security Agency project titled “The Cy-

Students from the Mount’s graduate Education program partnered with young minds at Bishop Dunn Memorial School to conceptualize, execute, and demonstrate long-term creative projects rooted in digital media. The students’ parents were treated to fullyrealized websites, podcasts, digital storybooks, and more.

Study abroad scholarship

Two students were recently awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for their upcoming study abroad experiences. Raquel Rodriguez, a Psychology major on the Pre-Physical Therapy track, and Chalondra Garrett, a Psychology and Information Technology double major, were granted the award for the summer of 2018.

STEAM Saturday

The Mount’s Hudson Hall Auditorium buzzed with excitement one Saturday morning as middle school students from Newburgh enjoyed fun, interactive workshops in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Mount professors, students, and alumni manned about a dozen stations, including “Fingerprinting: Uniquely You,” “3D Printing,” “Brush Bots,” “The Mathematics of Dungeons and Dragons,” and more.

‘The New York Times’ visit

Tanner Tait and Claudia Larsen, Media Studies-Journalism majors, recently sharpened their editing skills at the Eleventh Annual Student Newspaper Editors Workshop, at the offices of The New York Times in New York City. Tait and Larsen, reporters and co-editors of the Mount Messenger student paper, worked directly with editors and reporters to explore the role of a newspaper in society, develop their journalistic skills, and strengthen their editing processes.

LaRocco

Nursing dean appointed

Dr. Susan LaRocco was recently appointed Dean of the School of Nursing.

LaRocco comes to the Mount from Curry College in Milton, Mass., where she was chairperson of the School of Nursing. She oversees the Mount’s prestigious healthcare programs.

Olivette named VP for Academic Affairs

Michael Olivette was recently named Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). He joined the Mount in 2015 as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and had filled the position of interim VPAA since May 2017.

Sagar, left, and Sussman

A fond farewell

The Mount bids a fond farewell to three outstanding retirees with nearly five decades of service between them.

Priscilla Sagar, professor of Nursing, joined the Mount in 1998 and quickly became an integral part of the college.

Jill Sussman, associate professor of Nursing, joined the Mount in 2007 as an adjunct, but was quickly promoted to full-time teaching. Joan McAdam, coordinator of Community Education at the Desmond Campus, retired after 19 years of service. www.msmc.edu

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Spring Weekend A concert by singer Jesse McCartney was the highlight of this year’s annual Spring Weekend, an on-campus celebration held near the end of the academic year.

Students also enjoyed a block party with a barbecue, games, student performances, and more.

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MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Lyons talks movies at the Mount

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enowned film critic Jeffrey Lyons has reviewed more than 15,000 movies during his decades-long career, but it was two of his favorites – Jane Eyre (1943) and The Graduate (1967) – that recently brought him to Mount Saint Mary College.

Lyons, a Mount Honorary Degree recipient (2002), discussed his life, career, and memories of revered actor Orson Welles. The event included a special 75th anniversary screening of Jane Eyre, in which Welles plays the leading man opposite Joan Fontaine.

With the exception of Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles “had the most influence on my life among my parents’ friends,” Lyons revealed.

Welles’ first film, which he co-

wrote, directed, and starred in, was 1941’s Citizen Kane. Widely regarded as the greatest film of all time, Lyons said such early success might have been too much for any other actor.

But not Welles, who went on to contribute to more than 50 films.

The talk and film screening was made possible by the Mount’s Samuel D. Affron Memorial Lecture Series and the Affron family. Jerome S. Affron, a former Mount trustee, established the Samuel D. Affron Memorial Lecture Series in honor of his father in 1982.

Lyons also introduced the seminal movie The Graduate to a Mount film class. “I’ve seen 30,000 movies, and The Graduate is my favorite film,” he said.

Film critic Jeffrey Lyons discussed the life and career of Orson Welles.

Songs of satire from days gone by

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ore than a dozen student and faculty performers brought new life to the satirical songs of Tom Lehrer during the Mount’s one-night-only presentation of Tomfoolery.

In addition to the nearly 20-member cast, the production represented the joint efforts of Professor of Music Durward Entrekin and Associate Professor of Theatre James Phillips.

Lehrer, a former Harvard mathematician and songwriter, infused his lyrics with comedic flair and social commentary that still holds up decades later, said Phillips.

“It’s a lot of music – about 25 songs – and they’re all still very funny,” he explained. “The students have discovered Tom Lehrer’s work and they think he’s hilarious – and in some places, they still find him a little shocking.”

Entrekin noted that the cast was up to the task of taking on so many dynamic songs.

“It’s not easy doing justice to these very cleverly written songs by Tom Lehrer,” said Entrekin. “All sorts of musical styles are used, but [the cast did] a great job.” www.msmc.edu

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Sam Kenney, a Nursing major, examines a sea star.

Paula Sheridan of Okarito Boat EcoTours discusses plants being raised at Okarito Native Plant Nursery as Emily Stanek, Harley Illingworth, and Sara Wernick take notes.

Immersed in conservation:

A New Zealand journey A group of nine Mount students recently enjoyed handson lessons in science and conservation nearly 9,000 miles away from home.

Associate Biology Professor Douglas Robinson and Mathematics Professor Mike Daven immersed the students in experiential learning during 24 days in New Zealand. The course, which earned students three science credits each upon completion, focused on conservation biology.

The group took part in service learning projects centered on plants and animals. For example, in Zealandia, a protected natural area in Wellington, Mount students cleared blackberry bushes from about a half-acre of land. The plants, said Robinson, are not native to New Zealand. They were brought over by settlers as a form of natural fencing, but things quickly got out of hand.

The Mount group cared for the same plot of land that Robinson had worked on two years earlier with another set of Mount students. The land they had cleared earlier had become home to the takahé, an endangered, flightless species of bird.

“There are only 350 [takahés] alive in the world,” Robinson revealed. “We got to see a pair of them. And the students got to see firsthand that we’re making a difference.”

Right: Jenna Albanese, a Nursing student, examines the carcass of an albatross on the beach at Sandfly Bay.

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MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

At the New York State Senate: From left, Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, Kyle McIntyre, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul The pair of bald eagles sit in their expansive nest.

One of the hatched eaglets tentatively spreads his wings.

Two eagles repurposed a nest previously occupied by a red-tailed hawk.

Bald eagles hatch a family at the Mount

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pair of nesting bald eagles made Mount Saint Mary College their home last semester and started a family, much to the delight of the campus.

Around the end of January 2018, the college community noticed the pair enlarging a nest in one of the campus’s trees, which was previously home to a red-tailed hawk that abandoned the area. Since then, Associate Professor of Biology Douglas Robinson, who has a background in avian research, has been watching carefully for signs that the pair were preparing for the birth of eaglets.

Sure enough, in early spring, a pair of eaglets popped their heads up out of the nest. The female eagle has been observed feeding them pieces of fish.

According to Robinson, the feathered family was undaunted by the severe weather that affected the Newburgh area in the middle of May. If all goes well, the eaglets should be able to leave the nest in July.

Robinson is a behavioral ecologist focused on avian breeding biology.

Through various research projects, Robinson has been marking crows since 2001, focusing specifically on the crows of the Newburgh, N.Y. area since 2011.

To keep up on all the latest eagle news at the Mount, visit msmc.edu/EagleWatch

Student flourishes in NYS Senate internship

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or the Spring 2018 semester, Kyle McIntyre traded the classroom for the New York State capitol building.

McIntyre, a History/Political Science major, completed an internship with the New York State Senate through the Senate Undergraduate Session Assistants Program. The sophomore worked for Senator Roxanne J. Persaud (D), Senate District 19.

The four-month program provides students with an appreciation for a variety of government processes, including legislation development, legislative sessions, and interacting with constituents.

McIntyre has met with government employees and officials, planned events for his senator’s districts, written countless resolutions and memos, and more.

“I plan on hopefully running for office and making a substantial difference in the world,” McIntyre explained. “The experiences in the New York Senate have taught me so much about how to serve as an elected official, and do it well.”

He first heard about the internship opportunity from Stanley Pycior, a professor of History at the Mount, and worked to land the position with help from Career Counselor Heather Fitzsimmons of the Mount’s Center for Career and Experiential Education.

McIntyre joins a legacy of Mount student involvement in the program, including Xiomara Loarte ’14, who participated in the program in 2013, and Nirmala Singh ’17, who participated in 2016. www.msmc.edu

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Class of 2018 shines through the storm

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581 receive Mount degrees at indoor commencement ount Saint Mary College graduates didn’t let a little rain get them down at the 55th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 19.

As a bagpipe skirl filled the air and drizzle misted the campus, English professor James Cotter led the proud graduates to the ceremony in the Kaplan Recreation Center.

Nothing could dampen their enthusiasm: the grads donned both ponchos and smiles.

The ceremony was presided over by Charles Frank, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Mount Saint Mary College. The invocation was given by Fr. Gregoire Fluet, college chaplain and director of Campus Ministry.

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MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

2018 Commencement

Commencement ceremonies were held in the Kaplan Recreation Center.

From left, commencement speaker Robert R. Dyson, philanthropist William Kaplan, Interim President Dr. David A. Kennett, and Board of Trustees Chair Charles Frank

Dr. David A. Kennett, interim president of the college, congratulated the faculty, the parents, and the seniors on a job well done.

“The greatest thing about the Mount has been its people, and especially its students,” said Dr. Kennett. “I have been impressed by the quality of your research, the achievements of your athletic teams, your cheerfulness…and, most of all, your deep concern for others in this community that inspire your volunteer work. Thank you, sincerely, for all of that.”

Dr. Kennett also offered some advice to the new graduates: “Don’t settle for acceptance in your life,” he said. “Find your truth. And when you have found it, you have an obligation to shout that truth to others.”

The Mount, Dr. Kennett noted, will always welcome its graduates.

“While your teachers will stop being your teachers, they’ll be your mentors, and nothing will please them more than your staying connected to this college,” he said. “You are not students anymore – through sweat, tears, and toil you have climbed that mountain – but remember, you will always be Knights, and you will always be welcome here.”

The graduating students then heard

from commencement speaker Robert R. Dyson, a local businessman and philanthropist. Dyson is the Chairman and CEO of The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, a privately owned, diversified investment holding company that was founded by his father, Charles H. Dyson, in 1954. He also owns and manages a diverse array of private investments.

He carries on the Dyson family tradition both in his personal philanthropy and through the work of the Dyson Foundation. The Foundation, which Dyson has led as Chairman since 2000, made grants of $13.7 million in 2017 and nearly $360 million since its founding in 1957. In the Mid-Hudson Valley, the Dyson Foundation supports a diverse array of organizations, from colleges and hospitals to human service and safety net programs. Outside of the Hudson Valley, the Foundation supports organizations of significance to Dyson family members.

Dyson was educated at Marietta College (BA in Economics) and the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University (MBA).

In 2014, Dyson received an honorary doctoral degree from Mount Saint Mary College. Currently, he lives in Millbrook, N.Y. and has two children www.msmc.edu

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Commencement 2018

gets better as you “getLife better. Learning does not stop, and it should never stop.

”

Robert R. Dyson Commencement speaker

Forget your mistakes, “forget what didn’t work out for you, forget your current situation. Look to the future, and have no regrets.

”

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Jake Kosack Senior Class President

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

and four grandchildren.

“Listen, read, consult with others in your workplace,” he advised the graduates. “Respect everyone you work with. Breed an attitude of ongoing learning. Don’t surround yourself with only like-minded people.

Question your beliefs; change them as times change; open your mind and consult with others.”

From his extensive business experience, Dyson has learned that good teamwork is synonymous with success, he explained.

“Nobody accomplishes anything alone,” he noted. “By growing your ever-expanding knowledge base, you will be able to leverage yourself and those around you. Life gets better as you get better. Learning does not stop, and it should never stop.”

Fostering a desire for new challenges and thirst for knowledge will serve the graduates well, Dyson explained.

“As you leave here today and start the rest of your life, embrace what you don’t know,” he said. “Strive to fill that void with knowledge. Curiosity is your best friend. Embrace the world with an open heart and an open mind.”

Jake Kosack, senior class president, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. His twin sister, Jacqueline, also graduated this May with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Kosack encouraged his fellow graduates to continuously strive to improve themselves, likening the students’ journey to success to that of the title character of the Rocky films.

“Your time at the Mount may be over, but your best days are yet to come,” he said. “Keep moving forward.

When you move forward, you don’t look back. Forget your mistakes, forget what didn’t work out for you, forget your current situation. Look to the future, and have no regrets. Become the best person you can be. Become the greatest version of yourself.”

He added, “God bless you, God bless MSMC, God bless America. Yo, Class of 2018, we did it!”

Outstanding Leadership award recipients

Jake Kosack

Jessica Free

Angelique Suarez

Seniors recognized for academic skill, dedication

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ith graduation only a few days away, Mount seniors were recently recognized for their dedication to academics and the campus community.

More than two dozen deserving senior students received awards.

Senior class president Jake Kosack was the recipient of the MSMC Award, presented to a graduating senior who has held high academic standing, manifested Award recipients Venezia Verdi and Bridget McKeever loyalty to the college, and represents the students of Mount Saint Mary College.

Jessica Free was the recipient of the Father Michael J. Gilleece Memorial Award.

Angelique Suarez was the recipient of the Thomas J. Conlon Memorial Award.

Bridget McKeever and Venezia Verdi received awards for Outstanding Service to the Class of 2018.

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award recipients were Steven Tobey and Verdi.

Senior Class Awards for Service and Involvement recipients were Meghan Atwood, Nicole Cavallo, Rachel Collymore, Janae Graham, Shantelle Lord, Samantha McGregor, Brittany Moore, Geoffrey Quist, Maria Rivera, Alexa Walsh, and Danielle Zaleski.

Senior Class Awards for Outstanding Leadership recipients were Nicholas Boffoli, Jeffrey Hamrlicek, Ashley Lane, Dylan Legg, Caleb Oliver, Jessica Rini, Hope Schaumburg, Heidy Taza, Steven Tobey, Megan Torpey, and Guy Zoutis. www.msmc.edu

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Commencement 2018

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EW

IVER EM TAT

.Y .

MOUN T

DO CE ME

LEGE OL

INT MARY C SA

B U R G H, N

55th Annual Commencement Ceremony DEGREES GRANTED

473 109

Bachelor’s degrees

Master’s degrees

GEOGRAPHY

Grads hailed from eight states and Puerto Rico Colorado Connecticut Florida New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Texas

TRADITION

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Years that Professor James Finn Cotter has been Master of Ceremonies

www.msmc.edu

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Commencement 2018

A new class of health professionals

Carli Pusateri is overcome with happiness during the college’s nurse pinning ceremony as she listens to a recorded message from her twin brother, LCpl. John Pusateri, who is a United States Marine stationed overseas.

More than 120 nurses were pinned at this year’s ceremony.

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ust hours before commencement, the Mount honored more than 120 graduates of its prestigious Nursing program, bestowing them with nursing pins.

Fr. Gregoire Fluet, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, blessed the pins, which were presented to the graduates by chosen family members and friends.

The Mount nursing pin displays the college seal and motto, “doce me veritatem,” which translates as “teach me the truth.”

Dr. David Kennett, interim president of the college, congratulated the students on a job well done. “Don’t forget the members of this faculty that nurtured you,” he said. “Yesterday, they were your teachers. Today they will become your colleagues in this noble profession. They are your sisters.”

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Mount Nursing professors Christine Berté, Antonia Brewer, Ann Corcoran, Teresa Hurley, and Jill Sussman offered the graduates words of encouragement and advice for their upcoming careers. Andrea Ackermann, professor of Nursing, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

“You have all earned our admiration and blessings,” said Ackermann.

“Now is the time to celebrate your success and look forward to your future.”

Award recipients were Gina Zinzi (General Excellence in Nursing), Kayla Winne (School of Nursing Clinical Excellence), Danielle Zaleski (School of Nursing Leadership), Deanna Cacioppo (Spirit of Nursing), Kali Hagen (Sigma Theta Tau Leadership), and Kasondra Colasanti (Perseverance).

Carli Pusateri was pinned by her mother, Susan, a registered nurse.

Pusateri’s twin brother, LCpl. John

For one grad, commencement brought two master’s degrees

T Fr. Gregoire J. Fluet, the Mount’s chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, closed the White Coat ceremony with a Blessing of the Hands.

Pusateri, is a United States Marine currently stationed overseas. Though he couldn’t attend in person, he recorded a message that was played at the ceremony: “I couldn’t be prouder. I know you’re going to be a great nurse and you’re going to do monumental things,” he said.

To close out the ceremony, the proud graduates recited “A Nurse’s Prayer,” which speaks of dedicating one’s life to helping others.

Nurse practitioners honored

The previous week, 38 graduate students of the Mount’s nurse practitioner program were honored at a White Coat Ceremony, reflecting the transition from novice nurse to the professional nurse practitioner role.

According to Christine Berté, assistant professor of Nursing and director of the graduate Nursing program, Mount nurse practitioner graduates began their journey as registered nurses in a variety of settings and can now enter primary care practices, including family health and internal medicine. They may also practice in acute care settings, such as hospital positions and urgent care/fast track health access points.

Two students were recognized for excellence in their studies and skills: Brittany Mustakas received the 2018 Sigma Award, and Cynthia Delavalle was presented with the Sr. Leona DeBoer Graduate Nursing Award.

Fr. Fluet closed out the ceremony with the Blessing of the Hands.

he Mount granted 582 degrees at this year’s commencement, but only 581 graduates made up the class.

That’s because Christian Plaza, a Nursing and Business graduate student, earned two master’s degrees simultaneously: a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management.

The impressive academic achievement took a little more than three years. He completed the two degree programs at the Mount while working full-time as the clinical and business director at Cross Valley Health and Medicine, which he founded in 2007 with his husband, Dr. Paul Saladino.

He recommends obtaining both degrees to individuals who want to make the most out of their health care career. “It’s difficult for sure doing the dual degrees,” Plaza said.

“But if you want to have a true leadership role, this is the only way to go. It provides a whole new view of the health care system.”

Cross Valley Health and Medicine in Newburgh serves about 7,200 patients, some of whom Plaza took on after graduation.

In addition to general care for everyone, the practice provides specialized health care to diverse populations, including individuals suffering from addiction, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who speak Spanish and Italian, and more.

“The MBA component helps me with different ways to strategize and connect with niche populations – that’s our strength,” Plaza explained. “On top of that, having the family nurse practitioner component enhances the way we provide care and the practice itself.”

Helping people has always been

Christian Plaza is congratulated by his husband, Dr. Paul Saladino.

near to Plaza’s heart. In 2014 and 2015, Plaza lent a healing hand in two of the Mount’s Nursing humanitarian journeys to the Dominican Republic.

Now, in addition to taking on a caregiver role at Cross Valley Health and Medicine, Plaza says he wants to help “empower other students” on their journeys to success as well. In addition, he plans to continue doing volunteer work through the professional organizations he is involved in, including the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State.

“It doesn’t end with the Mount,” he explained.

But in many ways, his journey began at the college, he added.

First he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Mount in 2014. Now Plaza credits several professors with supporting him and helping him to be the success he is today, including Moira Tolan, professor of Business and Business Program Graduate Coordinator, and Susan Schulmerich, associate professor of Nursing.

“I am so happy that I had the opportunity to be taught by them,” he said. “Their perspectives and experiences in health care expanded my knowledge and abilities.”

Plaza has a 4-year-old daughter and lives in Newburgh with Dr. Saladino. www.msmc.edu

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Commencement 2018

Senior Spotlight

Lily Goodman

Caleb Oliver

Hope Schaumburg

Mount education is a family affair

World travel adds extra dimension

Teaching with technology

Lily Goodman graduated summa cum laude – and she’s only the second person in her family to have received a college degree.

The first was her brother George Goodman ’16, a Mount Nursing graduate who now works at Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, N.Y. Additionally, Goodman’s younger sister will be studying at the Mount beginning in the Fall 2018 semester.

There’s more where that came from, she explained: Goodman is one of seven kids. If any of the remaining siblings choose to get a college education, there’s a good chance it’ll be at her and her brother’s alma mater, she said.

Goodman made the most of her time as a Biology major on the PrePhysician’s Assistant track with a minor in Chemistry. She participated in the rigorous Honors program, held leadership positions in the Chemistry Honor Society Gamma Sigma Epsilon and the Mount’s chapter of Exercise is Medicine, and was an active member of the college’s American Chemical Society chapter.

She also earned the distinction of becoming both a Ralph and Aquinas scholar, meaning she is in the top 5 percent of her class.

Caleb Oliver beamed with pride as he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies.

Oliver flourished on campus, and when his academic journey took him twice to Spain via the Mount’s Study Abroad program, a new world of educational possibilities opened up to him.

“I highly recommend studying abroad to any college student who has the chance because it is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.

Oliver was named a Ralph Scholar in his sophomore year for his outstanding academic performance. He also earned the Senior Class Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Hispanic Studies Award for Excellence in Language Study.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Oliver was a dedicated member of the Black Student Union, Student Activities Council, the Diversity Club, the Get Creative club, and the Latino Student Union.

“The main thing I will take away from the Mount is the importance of building a community,” noted Oliver.

“I am grateful that I have created strong bonds with many different people here.”

“I’m really passionate about technology in the classroom,” explained recent Mount grad Hope Schaumburg, a Mathematics major on the Education track. “Staying connected prepares students for the future.”

The spirited educator skillfully utilized video games in her student teaching instruction, engaging at-risk students and sparking their interest in advanced math concepts. When one student preferred playing games in class to paying attention, Schaumburg used a puzzle from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to illustrate the mathematical concept of parabolas in a fun and engaging way.

It was super effective: “Immediately, he lit up. He was my hardest student, but in the end, I got him involved,” she explained.

Schaumburg earned the Mount’s Club Event of the Year award for organizing the Extra Life Gaming Marathon on campus. In 24 hours, the college’s Gaming Group club had raised $1,300 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. She also completed the Mount’s robust Honors Program and was named an Aquinas Scholar, putting her in the top 5 percent of her class.

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Next stop: England!

Love and hard work take Psychology grad abroad

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our years ago, then-freshman Katherin Lopez made the short trip from her home in Newburgh, N.Y. to Mount Saint Mary College, ready to move into Sakac Hall and take the next big step in her academic career.

Now, having just received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Lopez made another big step: the much longer journey to England, her new home.

Lopez, who was part of the college’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), is the first person in her family to earn a college degree.

Her goals for her first semester were simple and admirable: “I’m planning on doing a great job in all my classes,” she explained on Move-In Day, August 24, 2014.

And succeed she did. During her time as a Mount student, Lopez was a member of both the Latino Student Union and Knights Fashion Club.

In addition to being a Resident Peer Councilor for HEOP, she also received a scholarship from the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation for maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or above. She participated in two internships, including one at Orange Lake Physical Therapy in Newburgh, N.Y. She also fell in love.

In between her studies, Lopez worked at a shoe store to support her college career. There she got to know Ruben Collazo. They hit it off and, a few years later, they were married.

When Collazo, now an airman first class with the U.S. Airforce, was stationed in England, Lopez followed, finishing her last semester at the Mount via online courses. She briefly returned for commencement, then headed back overseas at the end of May. She and Collazo will remain there for at least the next two years.

Lopez has already applied to several graduate programs in England and

Katherin Lopez moved into the Mount’s Sakac Hall with the help of her sister, Krishna, in 2014.

Katherin Lopez at commencement

hopes to begin working on a master’s degree in Psychology as soon as possible.

But she wouldn’t have made it this far without the Mount, she noted.

Lopez credits the HEOP program with

giving her a much better chance to succeed. She had already been accepted into the Mount when she applied to HEOP, but the program’s extra support allowed her to live on campus and provided her with enhanced academic guidance.

In her corner throughout her time at the Mount was Patrick Duffy, associate director of the college’s Office of Student Success. From everyday academic questions to the big decision to finish her Mount courses online from England, Duffy was always ready to help, noted Lopez.

For students wondering what to do next, Lopez suggests heading to college, but being flexible about opportunities one might not have seen coming. With a college education, “opportunities come for you,” she noted. “You just have to be mindful of what’s the best for you and your goals.”

For example, “If you asked me four years ago if I’d be living in England, having this cool life, I couldn’t have imagined it,” she said. “Now I can’t imagine things any other way.” www.msmc.edu

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Internships that evolved 28

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Through internships, Mount Saint Mary College students gain experience in their field, network with other professionals, and get a sneak peek at their potential careers.

Sometimes Mount graduates leave their internships with all of that, and a job offer too.

S

Above: Stephanie Watkins, a May 2018 graduate, is shown at Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, where she transitioned from intern to employee.

tephanie Watkins walked across the stage during the Mount’s 55th annual Commencement and straight into a full-time job at Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, N.Y. The Public Relations major and Journalism minor graduated from the Mount on May 19, 2018 and started her full-time position at the center two days later.

Her journey with the art center began with an internship in the Private Events department back in January 2017. After learning about the opportunity from the Mount’s Center for Career and Experiential Education during her junior year at the college, Watkins jumped at the chance, and enjoyed the work and atmosphere so much that she quickly asked to increase her weekly hours.

As an intern, Watkins got a taste of event coordination by creating a presentation for a bridal expo, organizing event folders for site visits, and other office duties. As time went on, however, she took on bigger tasks like organizing events, cultivating clients, running site visits, and acting as a liaison with outside vendors. The more time she spent at the organization, the more she began to see the experience not just as a learning opportunity, but also as a career.

Turns out that the art center had the same idea.

Upon completing her internship in May 2017, Watkins was offered a part-time position as an events and visitor services assistant, in order to continue working on projects she had begun as an intern. Then in December, she was offered a full-time position to begin immediately after graduation, which she accepted without hesitation. www.msmc.edu

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I love the fact “ that I’m never doing the same thing every day.

”

Stephanie Watkins ’18

“It really was a no-brainer,” said Watkins. “I love Storm King and couldn’t imagine not working here.”

The Public Relations major is certainly putting her degree to use through event planning, but her frequent reliance on her Journalism skills surprised her.

“All the skills from these classes, such as professional writing and writing articles, I utilize in various ways at work,” she noted. Even computer skills like creating effective and clear PowerPoint presentations have come in handy.

Being able to cross that commencement stage with a job lined up made the 2018 graduate’s final semester much more peaceful.

“Knowing I already had a job was amazing,” Watkins said. “I did not have the same pressure as everyone else.”

She sees herself being passionate about her work for a long time to come.

“I love the fact that I am never doing the same thing every day,” she said.

“From hosting a local organization to big corporations for corporate outings, weddings, and receptions, or photo and film shoots – everything that the Private Events team does is unique. And I love the atmosphere at Storm King, how we feel like a family.”

She and supervisor Colleen Zlock have something else in common beyond where they work: Zlock is also a Mount alumna who graduated from the college in 2008 with a degree in Business Administration.

“I would encourage every student to have an internship,” said Watkins.

“They teach you things that you just can’t learn in a classroom and help you decide if you want to make it a lifelong career. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my internship.”

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Samantha (Polemeni) Burket ’15 is the senior outreach care manager at Rehabilitation Support Services in Newburgh, N.Y., where she interned.

Advice taken to heart: Samantha Burket ’15

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amantha (Polemeni) Burket ’15 still remembers interviewing for an internship in care management at Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS) in Newburgh, N.Y. The Human Services major was nervous about her chances of landing the position, having had no prior experience in the health and wellness field.

A little more than three years later, Burket was named Employee of the Year by the very same company.

It all started with that interview, said Burket, who holds the title of senior outreach care manager. Mount Career Counselor Robin Rosenberg from the Center for Career and Experiential Education had encouraged her to apply for the position, so she did.

She remembers sitting with the program director and coordinator in a room overlooking Broadway in downtown Newburgh, when her future supervisor made a remark that she still carries with her today – “To be suc-

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

cessful at this work, you need to have a heart, but most of all, you need to be persistent and know that giving up on someone is not an option.”

While she didn’t quite know what that meant at the time, Burket was intrigued enough to find out. She participated in the internship at RSS for eight months, first as an intern to a care manager and then in a respite position.

Her responsibilities included following up with Medicaid clients to ensure they attended and maintained medical and mental health appointments, obtained benefits, connected to community resources, and had housing.

As graduation and the end of her internship approached, Burket was one day greeted in the office by cake and balloons to celebrate her hard work – and a job offer at RSS as a care manager and outreach specialist.

Now having been with the company for more than four years, Burket still loves her work and RSS. She has gone from intern to care manager to outreach specialist and was recently promoted to senior outreach care manager due to her outstanding work.

Her favorite part of it all is the number of people she gets to meet. “I have attended many trainings that have allowed me to strengthen my knowledge on different topics, learn new and creative ways of working with people, and have gotten to meet people from all over who do this work,” she said. “As an outreach specialist, I get to network, work with doctors’ offices and clinics, do presentations to groups, and meet so many different people. That is my favorite part of my job.”

When RSS and Orange Regional Medical Center (ORMC) partnered to provide care management services to ORMC patients a few years ago, Burket was picked to lead the project, creating relationships with the staff and doing rounds on each floor to meet with and enroll patients into the program.

Then, she was also selected to partner with Middletown Medical to provide care management to patients without Medicaid and work with the practice to assist the high-risk population.

Burket is still just as passionate about this work as she was in the beginning.

Your internship “experience reveals the culture of the organization...

”

Jeremy Smith ’06

Jeremy Smith ’06 explained how he turned his Travelers Insurance internship into a fruitful career when he returned to the Mount for a career development event.

“The company provides so much opportunity and support,” she notes.

“My coworkers and supervisors strive to help people who cannot help themselves. They’re strong, determined, and do amazing work to help society.”

Burket is grateful to have had the opportunity to intern with the company first before working there, as it allowed her plenty of time to experience the career. “I got to shadow and observe the different work styles of the employees and see all of the populations they worked with,” she explained.

“There was also no pressure to take on my own work until I was ready.

Being able to take my time and attend class to talk about my experiences was extremely helpful.”

She credits her Mount experience for preparing her for the work world.

“The Mount was an amazing experience,” she revealed. “I got to meet great professors who helped prepare me and learned skills like time management, resource building and networking, and people skills. I learned to be an adult and take initiative to find myself.”

Burket now knows what her supervisor meant when she said the job required heart, as it is an attitude she has embraced since day one.

“Looking back on my internship, I was not surprised that my agency hired me because I enjoyed it so much,” she notes. “It brought the passion out of me that I didn’t know I had.”

Thirteen years and counting: Jeremy Smith ’06

I

n the summer of 2005, Jeremy Smith ’06 began his internship with Travelers Insurance as a technology specialist, not knowing exactly what to expect.

Thirteen years later, he’s the company’s director of Automation Engineering.

A Computer Science major, Smith’s internship was far from making copies and running for coffee. As a technology specialist, he was part of the front lines of the company’s tech support center, fully immersed in the complete lifecycle of a technology issue. Having administrative access to enterprise production servers for the company’s mission critical applications launched him full speed into the world of information technology.

Smith thrived in the position, and in the fall following his internship, he was offered a full-time job with the company.

Accepting the job offer was an easy decision for Smith: “It was just too good for me to pass up. I wasn’t nervous since I knew the culture that I would be a part of.”

He thanked fellow Mount alumnus Frank Kupiec ’00 for recruiting him for the position as well as mentoring him throughout the transition.

During his career at Travelers, Smith has assisted all aspects of the company’s

Information Technology department, including managing server and parts repairs, triaging software issues, designing and implementing automated solutions, and cloud services.

He is currently leading a team that is transforming practices in automation engineering.

There’s a reason Smith has chosen to work for the company for more than a decade.

“Travelers invests in their people,” said the Mount alumnus. “I am energized by the talented professionals that I get to work with daily. We are able to solve problems that don’t just require technical acumen, but also people skills and the entrepreneurial spirit.”

The thing he values most from interning and working for the same company is the relationships he’s had years to build.

“Your internship experience reveals the culture of the organization and the true nature of those who could one day be your colleagues,” Smith noted.

Smith is grateful for the connections that the Mount helped facilitate through this internship-turned-career, and pays it forward by mentoring others – including current Mount students through the Center for Career and Experiential Education.

At a recent Real World Connections event, which introduces Mount seniors to professionals in a variety of fields, Smith credited the Mount’s career services for connecting him with the internship at Travelers, as well as giving him the passion and drive to found his own business, SKYWIREme, a mass electronic messaging company that he began with his wife, Lizette Smith ’07.

He advised students to give their best in every endeavor, because one never knows where it might lead.

“I knew that performing well during my internship might pave the way to greater opportunity, but I did not and could not imagine the profound impact that a career at Travelers would have on my life and family,” reflected Smith. www.msmc.edu

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Knights Roundup Men’s Basketball

The Men’s Basketball team made its way back to the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Knights rounded out the 2017-18 season with a 13-13 overall record and a 13-7 mark against Skyline Conference rivals and closed the regular season with five straight victories. The team saw a pair of players, Gerard Nocera and Daniel Wolff, score their 1,000th career points. Nocera joined fellow senior Tyler McDine as Second Team All-Skyline Conference selections.

Women’s Basketball

The Knights improved their win total for the fourth straight season under head coach Michael Coppolino and recorded at least 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2011-12, finishing at 21-7 overall and 17-1 in Skyline Conference play. They put together a 15-game winning streak spanning from January 3 through February 22, claiming

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the top seed in the Skyline Conference Championship and advancing to the Championship Final against Old Westbury. Jessica Rini was made a First Team All-Skyline Conference selection for the third straight season after averaging 13.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, as well as scoring her 1,000th career point on January 30. Kayla Cleare was made a Second Team All-League pick after nearly 11 points and nine rebounds per game, while Coppolino was tabbed the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight campaign.

Men’s Swimming

The Men’s Swimming team finished the 2017-18 season with a 5-4 overall record in dual meets, including a 3-2 mark against Skyline Conference opponents. The Mount finished third at the Skyline Conference Championship Meet and followed that up with an 11th place showing at the Metropolitan Championship Meet. Sophomore Robert Kohlus set the school record in the

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100-yard and 200-yard butterfly during the 2017-18 season and was named the Skyline Conference Swimmer of the Week on two occasions.

Women’s Swimming

The Women’s Swimming team put together another strong season, placing second at the Skyline Conference Championship Meet and 12th at the Metropolitan Championship Meet.

The Mount rounded out the year 8-2 in dual meet action and won six of its seven decisions against league rivals.

Kyra McNamee set the school record in the 100-yard freestyle as a junior and was named the Skyline Conference Swimmer of the Week three times, while freshman Katie Barber posted a new school standard in the 200-yard butterfly and won the event in a Skyline Conference Championship meet. Head Coach Dan Drury was tabbed the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year by his peers following the team’s runnerup finish at the Skyline Championship.

Athletics

Baseball

After appearing in the Championship Final in 2017, the Mount’s Baseball team posted a 22-12-1 overall record and a 13-5 mark in league play in 2018. The Knights finished with their first 20-win season since 2012 and hosted a First Round Skyline Conference Championship game on May 2, scoring a hard fought 9-8 win over visiting Old Westbury.

Five Knights hit better than .300 on the season, led by a .337 mark from Christopher Introcaso who clubbed three home runs and drove in 37 runs. Blake Keenan added 16 extra base hits and hit .314 on the year, while leading the pitching staff with a 5-1 record, three complete games, 39 strikeouts, and a 2.44 earned run average. Keenan and Introcaso were each made Second Team All-Skyline Conference picks, while Head Coach Steve Sosler was voted the league’s Coach of the Year.

Softball

The Softball team claimed its third straight Skyline Conference title in 2018 (see story on page 34).

Men’s Lacrosse

The Knights had a record-setting season, posting a program record 12 wins. The Knights rounded out the year at 12-7 overall, making their second straight appearance in the Skyline Conference Championship and their first-ever appearance in the Championship Final following a come-from-behind 14-13 semifinal

win over Maritime. Senior Dylan De Meo became the first player in program history to record 300 points and finished his career with 334. He leaves the program as the all-time leader in points, as well as assists (185). Classmate Danny Kugler set the all-time record in goals in 2018 and finished his career with 174. He joins De Meo as the only players in program history with as many as 200 points in a career. The team had a record five players selected All-Conference following the 2018 season, with De Meo earning First Team recognition for the third straight season. Kugler, Tristan Earle, Danny Marshall, and Matthew Martino were honored as Second Team picks.

Kugler went on to be named to the North roster of the USILA North/ South Senior All-Star game.

Women’s Lacrosse

The Knights closed the 2018 season at 7-8 overall and 4-3 in league play, making their second straight appearance in the Skyline Conference Championship. Senior Christina Ryan led the team with a career-high 46 goals and 55 points, while Liz Halpin posted a team-high 78 draw controls to go along with 24 goals and 27 points in her first season. Halpin was named the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week and joined Meghan Cumming as a Second Team All-Skyline Conference pick. Ryan and fellow senior Morgan Cordes were each honored as First Team AllSkyline Conference picks. www.msmc.edu

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Knights claim third straight Skyline Conference crown

T

he Mount Saint Mary College Softball team continued its winning ways in 2018, claiming the program’s third straight Skyline Conference Championship. The Knights finished the season with a 21-16 overall record and a sterling 15-1 mark against conference opponents in the regular season.

The Knights won their first 12 conference games of the season before suffering a 2-0 loss to St. Joseph’s-L.I. on April 24.

The Mount responded with six straight wins, including three in the 2018 Skyline Conference Championship, to earn its third consecutive berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Mount opened the event with a 5-1 win over the College of Mount Saint Vincent and then scored back-to-back wins over St. Joseph’s-L.I. to claim the crown.

Senior Cindy Connoly finished the conference championship with a 3-0 record in the circle on her way to being named the Skyline Conference Championship Most Outstanding Player for the

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third straight year. She posted a shutout in the championship game and recorded 22 strikeouts over her three appearances, including nine in the final.

The Knights went on to play Geneseo in its first game of the NCAA Tournament, suffering a 4-0 loss, but claimed the program’s second ever victory in the National Tournament with a 1-0 win over Immaculata the following day.

Nicolette Moustouka drove in the game’s only run with a single in the seventh inning. The Mount finished off the Regional Round of the tournament with a 3-0 defeat to #6 St. John Fisher.

Following its third straight 20-win season, the Knights had four players earn All-Skyline Conference recognition.

Connoly was made a First Team pick for the fourth straight season and was an NFCA All-Region selection for the third straight year. Fellow senior Taylor Canto earned Second Team honors and was joined on the Second Team by freshman Morgan O’Neill and sophomore Lauren Oury.

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Athletics

2017-18 Athletic Department Awards Congratulations to the 2017-18 Athletic Department Award winners!

Back row, left to right: Allison Dionne, Women’s Co-ScholarAthlete of the Year (Women’s Lacrosse); Dylan Legg, Men’s Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Golf); Blake Keenan, Men’s Knight of the Year and Men’s Co-ScholarAthlete of the Year (Baseball); Kathryn Eiler, Women’s Knight of the Year (Softball); Nicole Cavallo, Women’s Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Women’s Soccer); Cindy Connoly, Women’s Senior of the Year (Softball); and Katie Barber, Women’s Rookie of the Year (Women’s Swimming). Front row: Joey Dolan, Men’s Athlete of the Year (Men’s Soccer) and Bridget McKeever, Women’s Athlete of the Year (Women’s Soccer). Not pictured: Jaden Tiriolo, Men’s Rookie of the Year (Men’s Tennis) and Dylan De Meo, Men’s Senior of the Year (Men’s Lacrosse).

Kaplan field press box Coaches of the Year Three dedicated Mount Saint Mary College coaches were named 2018 Skyline Conference Coaches of the Year.

They are, left to right, Dan Drury (Women’s Swimming), Steve Sosler (Baseball), and Michael Coppolino (Women’s Basketball).

Through a generous donation from the Kaplan Family Charitable Foundation, the Mount Saint Mary College Athletic Department added a portable press box to the Kaplan Field earlier this year. The press box will improve sightlines for game day personnel and shield staff from inclement weather. Sporting the Mount Saint Mary College Athletics logo, the press box arrived for the close of the 2018 spring season and will get back in the game with the 2018 Men’s and Women’s Soccer seasons. www.msmc.edu

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Alumni Profile Torrance Harvey MSEd ’03

Newburgh’s new mayor has Mount roots

T

hough his assent to City of Newburgh mayor came at a dark time, Torrance Harvey MSEd ’03 hopes to be the light Newburgh needs to prosper.

Harvey was sworn in on April 23, 2018, fulfilling former Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy’s dying wish. Kennedy passed away from ovarian cancer, cutting her second term short.

The youngest of eight children, Harvey was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. His family moved from Poughkeepsie to Newburgh in 1991 and a year later, he and his twin brother Torrino Harvey MBA ’10 began their education at the Mount.

As a Mount student, Harvey received high honors and Dean’s List recognition every semester, in addition to being the first Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) student to earn a scholarship to study abroad (along with his brother Torrino). He has fond memories of his undergraduate years at the Mount, including many HEOP activities and meeting his wife, Tina Rodriguez-Harvey ’01.

In the late 1990s, Harvey began substitute teaching in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, launching him into a 20-year teaching career in the History Department at Newburgh Free Academy.

To bolster this new occupation, Harvey returned to the Mount and

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Fortified with an excellent education, Mount graduates can make a significant difference.

“

”

completed a master’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in History in 2003. Since then, he has returned to campus numerous times to help mentor other college students, including recently at the Black History Month panel discussion and celebration in February 2018, coordinated by HEOP and the Black Student Union.

In gratitude for his continued efforts to the college, Harvey was recognized with the Mount Saint Mary College Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016.

In 2015, Harvey was elected to serve the Newburgh City Government as a city councilman. Following Kennedy’s passing, Harvey was unanimously selected to become the mayor by the Newburgh City Council. He will serve as mayor through the remainder of 2018, and a special election will take place in November for the 2019 term year. After being sworn in, Harvey made a motion to elect Anthony Grice ’07 to

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

fill his city council seat, which was also unanimously approved.

Since being sworn in as mayor, Harvey has already had to face some significant challenges. Just weeks after beginning his term, Newburgh was hit with a tornado that brought widespread destruction and tragedy to the city. Harvey met the challenge with his usual calm and dedication, noting, “Because of our steady hand and leadership as a city, we were able to mobilize rescue efforts to restore power to our city in three days. We came together as a unified community with all hands on deck and moved forward with pride and courage and support of one another.”

In addition to his duties as mayor, Harvey currently teaches history classes at Excelsior Academy (PTech Program), which he has done for the past four years.

In 2018, he and student Kameren King won first place in the Barnes & Noble “My Favorite Teacher” contest. At the award ceremony, Harvey also released his first book of poetry titled, YA Sankofa.

Looking back at his varied career, Harvey can see the echoes of his Mount education throughout all of his pursuits.

“I shall always remember the opportunities and academic preparation for service to others I received at Mount Saint Mary College. Fortified with an excellent education, Mount graduates can make a significant difference.”

Alumni Notes

ALUMNI

1972

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Deborah Lamb is team captain, Grand Champion Fundraiser, and chairperson of the Marketing and Outreach Committee for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Hudson Valley Chapter.

1973

Ellen O’Brien O’Conner and her husband Joe O’Conner traveled to Hawaii for three weeks this spring. They stayed on the islands of Maui and Oahu and toured all of the islands by ship. “The people, cultural sights, food, and of course the drinks were all spectacular.”

1976

Laura Schwarz Hopkins retired from ERCSD in 2017 after 22 years of teaching.

She is enjoying her retirement and this season of her life. Laura and her husband welcomed their third grandchild, Michael, in April.

Michael joins Antonia and Farrell IV. They are also proud of their three children. Their daughter, Elizabeth, is a news anchor in Boston, married to Steven. Farrell III is a banker in commercial real estate, married to Michelle. Their son Timothy works for Johnson and Johnson in medical sales.

1979

1982

1980

1983

Elaine Maurici Snider and her son, Alex, are now operating an Airbnb through her home, On Sacred Grounds Airbnb. They were just recognized as a superhost! “If you are coming to the Spokane area, look me up at www. airbnb.com/rooms/22018856.

I will offer a 10% discount to all ‘Mounties’.” Elaine still works at Fred Meyer; however, she hopes to go back into teaching next year with her renewed teaching certificate.

Kerry Cohen Zaris has retired from nursing and has been traveling and doing fun things! She just celebrated her 35th anniversary with her husband, Peter, who is also retired. Their latest vacation was to Hawaii in May…next stop who knows! “I also became a great aunt and I feel really blessed. Hello to all my dorm mates and friends!”

Rose Gonzalez earned a PhD in Nursing from George Mason University in 2012. Rose served as the director of government affairs for the American Nurses Association and retired in 2014. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Prince William Community Health Center as well as the Executive Steering Committee for the Movement is Life Caucus. She is now a healthcare and nursing consultant.

Anne Fitzgerald has recently completed the South Carolina realtor’s course and exam, and she is currently an agent at Weichert Coastal Properties in Hilton Head, S.C. She is hoping to help any MSMC alums that are thinking of relocating to the Low Country of South Carolina.

Yvette Figueroa continues to live in Ulster County. She is the senior vice president of IDD support and services for Access: Supports for Living.

Laurie Walsh obtained her Doctorate in Nursing Leadership from Case Western Reserve University, France Payne Bolton School of Nursing. She is currently the vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at NYP Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y.

1990

Fred Compton ’90 and Marianne (Vaeth) Compton ‘89 just recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary!

Maria Santiago Telera’s daughter Kathryn graduated high school in June, and is headed to Greensboro College as a Technical Theater major.

SPOTLIGHT Brandon Roberts ’10

randon Roberts ’10, a Sociology major with a concentration in Criminology, has always loved the study of crime and criminology, so he naturally thought law enforcement would be his career of choice following graduation.

After two internships with police departments, however, he realized he was more interested in the study of crime from an academic standpoint and decided to attend graduate school at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. During his graduate studies, Roberts worked as a research assistant to the chair of the Department of Law and Police Science, who encouraged him to return to the college as an adjunct professor the following spring. It was as an adjunct that Roberts realized academia was his true calling.

After obtaining a PhD from Walden University, Roberts began his position as an assistant professor of Criminal Justice and the Criminal Justice Program Coordinator at Piedmont College in 2016. Roberts points out that Piedmont is a small college like the Mount, so he has the opportunity to get to know his students, and loves to be an involved faculty member. He is passionate about the importance of faculty bonding with students both inside and outside the classroom and tells his students: “I don’t work; I come here, have fun doing what I love, and go home.”

1993

Karen Mendler Nastro received her real estate license in October 2017 and works with Eastrock Properties, LLC. Karen is also an independent

Photo by Richard Hayes courtesy of Piedmont College

www.msmc.edu

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ALUMNI

SPOTLIGHT Beverly McDermott Mennerich ’68

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hen Beverly McDermott Mennerich ’68 graduated from the Mount 50 years ago, she began building a career as an educator.

While she enjoyed teaching – including nearly a decade at the Mount as a Children’s Literature instructor as well as supervising student teachers – it is her volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh that allows her to continue to live out the Dominican Pillar of Service.

After retiring in 2002, Mennerich became involved with Habitat by working on site, helping to build homes for the underprivileged of Newburgh.

She co-chaired the Family Support Committee for several years and is still a member. She also co-chaired the Walk for Housing committee, which organizes the annual event of the same name, raising more than $50,000 in 2018.

“This has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding commitments I ever made,” said Mennerich.

Mennerich and her husband Ken have two children, Brian and Carrie, who are both Mount alumni, and three grandchildren. She remains active in the campus community as part of the Alumni Association and currently serves on the Alumni Board.

“The Mount prepared me well for my career as a teacher,” she notes. “But more importantly it encouraged and reinforced a sense of well-being that comes from being a part of a community that recognizes that service to others comes back in many blessings to the one who has served.”

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Alumni Notes contractor with Ears of Experience, LLC. Specializing in planning all Disney destination vacations at no extra cost. Contact her at knastro@ themouseexperts.com.

located in Bridgeport, Conn.

This is Katelyn’s fourth year at Bridgeport Military Academy, where she currently teaches Spanish and Community Service.

Peter Nastro celebrated a work anniversary with Pfizer, 20 years (and counting) in December 2017.

2000

Joe Polvere returned to teaching after missing the classroom after a year in administration. He is teaching middle school Social Studies in Demarest, N.J. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in History.

2003

Robert Donaldson received a master’s degree in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2018.

2005

Alicia Mauldin-Ware is still working at the U.S. Military Academy where she holds the position of assistant archivist.

Alicia is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Biblical Languages at Liberty University.

Maureen Barry D’Amico has fond memories of her time at the Mount and the wonderful friends she made and keeps in touch with. “Every Wednesday, our group chat is filled with selfies! Some selfies are before coffee, some after, some are even with hilarious filters. We don’t live down the hall from each other anymore, but we are all one ‘selfie’ away!

Ashely Barnhart ’09, Jennifer Lindner ’09, Jennifer Macheska ’09, Mo (Barry) D’Amico ’08, and Shannon (Egan) O’Laughlin ‘08 "Shan, you tried!”

2010

2006

Stacia Mesuda Donaldson has been chosen for the position of nursing laboratory manager for the School of Nursing at Mount Saint Mary College.

2008

Katelyn Biggane Moore ’08, MSE ’10 was named the 2018 Teacher of the Year by the Bridgeport Military Academy

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Alan Zollner was named a New York State Master Teacher in January 2018 receiving a 4-year Fellowship in the NYS Master Teacher Program for grade 7-12 STEM Educators. Alan teaches Physics and Engineering at Hendrick Hudson High School in Westchester County. He is excited about continuing professional development while collaborating with some of New York State’s top STEM teachers.

Alan remains grateful to his MSMC instructors.

2014

Diandria Williams sends a warm hello to the MSMC Family. Since graduating, she has pursued a master’s degree in Mental Health at Long Island University and currently works as the program director for the Hudson Valley House of Hope. “The work in the field of domestic violence is greatly needed. I am proud to be a part of an organization dedicated to extending hope, community education of abuse, and eliminating domestic violence.”

2016

Jerry Aherne was recently promoted to sales manager for Sprint. He manages the Myrtle Beach region for Sprint in South Carolina.

Diana Gillette went on a vacation to Fiesch, Switzerland.

According to Diana, “My great grandparents emigrated from Switzerland. We met my Nana’s first cousin and his family who still live there. They showed us the house my great grandfather lived in and invited us for an authentic Swiss dinner complete with an alpenhorn performance! It was amazing to discover my roots.”

Ariana Marcello has been working for the State of Connecticut with the Department of Social Services as the eligibility services worker. Thank you, MSMC!

Births

Kelvin Thomas ’82 is pleased to announce the birth of his daughter, Patcharaporn Thomas, on March 25, 2018 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Patcharaporn is his first and only child; Kelvin states he is a believer in the saying “better late than never.”

“God bless the Class of ’82 and all my MSMC family!”

Michael Lehmann ’08 and Deborah Carroll Lehmann ’12 welcomed twin girls, Hailey Brooke and Kinsley Nicole, on August 29, 2017.

Thomas Fuller ’97 and his wife Carla welcomed daughter, Kyla Rose, on February 12, 2018. Kyla joins her big brothers Elijah (6) and Quentin (3).

Shannon McNally Ditta ’11 and her husband, Steven, welcomed their son, Jameson Vincent, into the world on May 7, 2018.

Susan E. McEnery Gaetano ’73, daughter of Dr. James V. McEnery, sister of Mary Anne McEnery ’70 and Regina McEnery Kelder ’80, passed away on January 4, 2018.

Cindee Furness Brunale ‘84 passed away on February 9, 2018.

Maynard Schmidt Jr., father of Maynard Schmidt III ’05, MBA ’09, Lisa Schmidt ’11, Dustin Schmidt ’14 ,and father-in-law to Amanda Gilleo Schmidt ’05, MBA ’08, passed away on May 20, 2018.

Robert J. Citarella Sr., husband of Barbara Marble Citarella ’80, passed away on April 23, 2018.

Laurette McKercher MSEd ’92 passed away on March 23, 2018.

Walters & Oliveri wedding

Marriages

Brian Hernandez ’05 married Sandra Revueltas in Cartagena, Colombia. Brian graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business with an MBA, specializing in Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Finance. He has accepted an offer to join Wipro as a Global Business Manager this summer.

Mary Bohenek ’06 married Todd Keller on April 2, 2018 at City Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Mary’s childhood friend and classmate at the Mount,

Bohenek wedding Meghan Greco ‘06, was in attendance.

William Walters ’13 and Angela Oliveri ’13 were married on Friday, March 23, 2018, in Malverne, N.Y. in the company of family and friends, including many Mount alumni.

In Memoriam Fr. Arthur T. Anderson, brother of Sr. Margaret Anderson OP ’67, passed away on February 17, 2018.

John Cass USMA ‘70, husband of Gerri Walotsky Cass ’71, passed away in December 2017.

Judith Polotaye, sister of Deborah Lamb ’72, passed away on October 19, 2017.

Madeleine Towers Petrigala ’72 passed away on December 22, 2017.

Jeanette Maliha-Nebus ‘77 passed away on April 21, 2018.

Patricia Kearney Lentini ’81 passed away on April 19, 2018.

Maureen Slattery Terwilliger ‘83, sister of Vincent Slattery ‘93, passed away on May 4, 2018.

Ali “Alan” Badty ’91 passed away on June 5, 2018.

Antoinette Hanley, mother of Edward Hanley ’94, passed away on March 5, 2018.

Frank Morales ’98 passed away on December 28, 2017.

Eduardo Gamarra, father of Mark Gamarra ’99, MBA ’09, passed away on January 3, 2018.

Henry A. Starck, father of Kathryn Starck Monte ’06, passed away on Sunday, March 4, 2018.

George W. Fritzsch Sr., father of Donna Fritzsch-Long MBA ’09, passed away on April 30, 2018.

Gregory Diamond ’11, MSEd ’14 passed away on December 30, 2017. www.msmc.edu

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Meet a Mentor

Keynote speaker Sean Creighton ’92, CEO and founder of Boulevard One Marketing Consultation in New Rochelle, and senior director of the Colgate Account at UniWorld Group, Inc., N.Y., advised Mount students to keep a positive attitude and remain committed to their success.

“Connect that which you love to do with what you want to do in your life.”

Friends for the future: Alumni mentor Mount’s pre-professionals

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early 20 successful Mount graduates headed back to their alma mater to mentor a new generation of pre-professionals.

The Ninth Annual Meet a Mentor Dinner, organized by the Office of Alumni Affairs, provided the college’s forwardthinking students valuable insight into the work world while breaking bread with a variety of Mount alumni.

Keynote speaker Sean Creighton ’92, CEO and founder of Boulevard One Marketing Consultation in New Rochelle, N.Y., and senior director of the Colgate Account at UniWorld Group, Inc., N.Y., encouraged students to take advantage of internship and experiential learning opportunities.

“Connect that which you love to do with what you want to do in your life,” he

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said. “Mount Saint Mary College was the absolute best place for me to be, because it allowed me to make connections between what I liked and was interested in, and what my opportunities were at this college.”

Some of Creighton’s favorite mentors from the Mount include Arts and Letters Professors Emeritus James Beard, Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP, and Irene Nunnari.

Victoria Goldbach ’16, who studied Nursing at the Mount, is now a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. She pointed out that for aspiring nurses, there’s more to worry about than just finishing college, such as passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). At the dinner, she gave advice to help students overcome such challenges.

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Top right: Sean Glander ’06, an accountant at Big V Properties LLC and recent recipient of the Mount’s James V. McEnery Alumni Service Award, returned to his alma mater to mentor a new generation of students.

Bottom right: Kiamesha DolsonOstrander ’15 (center), family intervention specialist at the Abbott House child care agency, mentors a group of Mount students.

HEOP student pays it forward Two rings adorn the hands of John Koepper, who graduated from Mount Saint Mary College in 1972 with a degree in Social Sciences.

One ring was given to him by his wife Joann in 1974; the other is his class ring from the college. He wears his college ring with great pride, crediting a chance meeting with James Finn Cotter, the Mount’s longest-serving professor, as the catalyst of his success.

After a major snowstorm in the winter of 1970, Koepper volunteered to dig out fire hydrants in the City of Newburgh.

He was paired up with another volunteer – Cotter, a professor of English at Mount Saint Mary College. After much discussion about Koepper not having finished his college degree, Cotter told him that he would speak to the director of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at the Mount to see if Koepper would be a good fit for the program.

Then and now, the Mount’s HEOP provides educational opportunity and support to traditionally underserved students who have strong academic potential, but would otherwise be excluded from higher education due to circumstances of academic and economic disadvantage.

The director of HEOP at the time, Sr. Ann Stankiewicz, OP, gave Koepper a chance to prove himself by taking a summer course, and if he did well, he could

John Koepper ’72 (left) and Dr. James Finn Cotter, professor of English at the Mount

“

Give what you can, because who you are and what you have become is because someone helped you along the way.

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enroll full-time in the fall. Koepper was able to maintain good grades while still working 35 hours a week at Shatz Optical and enrolled at the college that fall. He is grateful to Marvin Shatz, his employer, and the college for flexibility with his schedule so that he could attend class while continuing his employment.

Upon graduation, Koepper combined his knowledge of teaching and crafting eyewear at the Wallkill Correctional

Facility, where he taught inmates how to make glasses. By passing on these skills, Koepper gave inmates a chance at gaining employment in the eyeglass industry upon their release. One of the most rewarding experiences for Koepper was walking through the mall one day and being surprised by a former student, who ran out of a Lenscrafters store to thank him for his teaching.

Koepper remains grateful to the Mount for taking a chance on him.

He gives annually to HEOP at the Mount as a way of giving back to future generations. He encourages other HEOP students to do the same: “Give what you can, because who you are and what you have become is because someone helped you along the way,” he explained. “We cannot take kindness without passing it on. Please pass it on.”

Scholars thank benefactors at Mount brunch

F Venezia Verdi was the recipient of the Stephen M. McCarthy ’00 Memorial Scholarship, which was established by Stephen and Christine McCarthy in memory of their son, Stephen M. McCarthy. From left: Stephen and Christine McCarthy, Verdi, and Joseph Valenti, vice president for College Advancement.

riends of the Mount had the opportunity to meet their beneficiaries at the Scholarship Benefactors Brunch in the spring. The event allowed the college community to thank the many generous donors who provide endowed scholarships for Mount students.

Venezia Verdi, a Media Studies major who graduated May 19, noted that these benefactors helped her to achieve her dreams.

“From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of all the scholars here, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for making it possible for me to be successful,” she said.

“Myself, and all of the students at the Mount, could not have done this without all of you.” www.msmc.edu

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The Mount’s Annual Golf and Tennis Tournament grosses $135,000

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he Mount’s 40th Annual Invitational Golf and 7th Annual Invitational Tennis Tournament grossed $135,000 for the college.

The tournament, held at the Powelton Club in Newburgh, N.Y., recognized William “Bill” and Mary Murphy (golf honorees) and Manny and Rosemary Dizon (tennis honorees). About 250 friends of the college enjoyed the event.

“It was evident to everyone who joined us for the festivities that the work done at Mount Saint Mary College is truly valued by our friends and neighbors,” noted Joseph Valenti, vice president for College Advancement. “We are indeed appreciative of the support…and of the generosity they continually display toward the Mount and our students.”

The funds raised through the tournament assist the college in its efforts to keep the cost of a Mount education within the reach of deserving students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

William Murphy, a Newburgh native, created Halmar Contracting, Inc. with two partners in 1981. In 1996 he founded William Murphy & Associates, a firm providing project management, estimating, and claims consultation to the construction industry. He is a founder

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and former president of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh and a former Trustee of Mount Saint Mary College.

Mary Murphy is a registered nurse and began her nursing career in the Special Care Nursery of Morrisania Hospital in the Bronx while volunteering for ARC. She spent many years with Planned Parenthood as a nursing supervisor, volunteer, and board member and was a hospice volunteer for 17 years.

Manny Dizon was raised in Staten Island, N.Y. and has worked at various brokerage firms, including a career in Canadian banking at CIBC World Markets in 1999. He is currently director of Fixed Income Sales and Trading at National Bank of Canada Financial located in New York City. Dizon is a member of the President’s Advisory Council of Mount Saint Mary College.

Rosemary Dizon has worked as a registered real estate sales agent at prestigious brokerage firms including Dean Witter Reynolds. Since moving to the Hudson Valley, she has been involved in many youth organizations, including cofounding and heading the local Girl Scout Troop #138 of Bloomingburg and acting as PTO President of the BOCES Satellite program at Pine Bush Elementary School.

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Left: The Mount honored four friends of the college, from left: William “Bill” Murphy, Mary Murphy, Rosemary Dizon, and Manny Dizon.

Top right: Dr. Jason N. Adsit, president of Mount Saint Mary College, enjoys the afternoon at the college’s annual Golf and Tennis tournament. Dr. Adsit began his tenure at the college on June 1.

Bottom right: Honoree Manny Dizon participates in the tennis match at the Powelton Club.

Gallery online For more photos from the event, please visit msmc.edu/flickr

www.msmc.edu

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Mount Saint Mary Academy

Top left: Patsalos is presented with her class ring by Mother Mary Vincent.

(Priest: Fr. Parant) Bottom left: MSM Academy Class of 1952 poses at the Ring Night Dinner. Above: Biology Class, Patsalos third row, second from left

Profile Peggy Patsalos, MSMA 1952

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ore than 60 years after her graduation from Mount Saint Mary Academy in 1952, Peggy-Ann O’Neill Patsalos is still grateful for the education the Academy gave her.

Patsalos describes the Academy as a high school and finishing school combined. “We graduated from the Academy with a certain panache,” she recalls. “It was a wonderful, wonderful education.”

A particular memory of this “panache” was when a teacher named Mrs. Sherwood would come from New York City to teach them etiquette lessons. “She was Auntie Mame incarnate, hat and all,” Patsalos remembers. “We all loved her.”

From an educational standpoint, Patsalos attributes her ability to answer Jeopardy! questions from three years of Latin taught by Sr. Thomasina.

While many of Patsalos’ 25 classmates came from local communities such as Newburgh, Beacon, and Cold Spring, others came from New York City and abroad, including a few classmates from South America.

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“The Academy had a fabulous world-renowned reputation,” she notes.

Patsalos believes that studying with international students was an education in itself. She remembers the boarding students being very happy at the Academy, and reminisces about the times their French teacher, "Ma Soeur," would bring them to the city on the weekends to shop and sightsee.

After graduating from the Academy, Patsalos got a job at Newburgh Savings Bank. There she met one special customer – James Patsalos. They married and had three daughters and five grandchildren.

The Patsalos family owned Shipp and Osbourne Insurance Agency and were very involved in their community. Patsalos’ husband served on several boards as president including the Occupations Development Advisory Council, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, the Pop Warner Football Program, the Chamber of Commerce and the Jr. Chamber, and the Powelton Club.

MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Additionally, Patsalos herself also served as president of the Orange County Cerebral Palsy Association and St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of the Town of Newburgh Republican Committee 14th District and was bestowed the Woman of Achievement Award by the YWCA and the Girl Scouts of Orange County. She was also included in the St. Luke’s Hospital Tribute to Women of Achievement and received the 1993 Cabrini Gold Medal Human Service Award.

It was at the reception for the 1993 Cabrini Gold Medal Human Service Award that Patsalos realized everything she did throughout her life still had echoes back to the Academy.

“I am a product of Dominican nuns, and I am very proud of that,” she said in her acceptance speech.

Patsalos, a widow of eight years, enjoys bridge, reading, and going out for lunch and dinner. A Newburgh native, she said she will never leave the area because she has roots here and loves her lifestyle and especially her friends.

Looking Back

A foundation of leadership

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s Dr. Jason N. Adsit begins his tenure as the Mount’s seventh president, we look back at the Mount’s first presidents, who laid the groundwork for the college’s success over the past 59 years.

Mother M. Leo Vincent Short, OP (Sr. Kathleen Short), the first president of the college from 1960-64, was one of the college’s two cofounders. She oversaw the college’s early years as it transitioned to a four-year institution for both religious and lay women.

Sr. Mary Francis McDonald, OP was president from 1964-1972. She expanded the faculty and the Board of Trustees and also supervised changes in the core requirements and the curriculum.

Dr. William T. O’Hara joined the Mount in 1972 as the college’s third president and oversaw

the development of the Center for Community and Educational Services, a program that allowed adult students to attend classes on the weekends. He also established the Business Administration program. Dr. O’Hara passed away earlier this year in Rhode Island.

Under her 32-year leadership as the college’s fourth president beginning in 1976, Sr. Ann Sakac, OP oversaw the acquisition of the Desmond Estate, the development of the college’s first master’s degree program, the opening of the Kaplan Recreation Center and Hudson Hall, new dormitories, and the renovation and development of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Center in Aquinas Hall.

For more Mount history, visit our new archives site at msmc.edu/archives

The first four presidents of Mount Saint Mary College, from left, Mother M. Leo Vincent Short, OP (Sr. Kathleen Short); Dr. William T. O’Hara; Sr. Mary Francis McDonald, OP; and Sr. Ann Sakac, OP

www.msmc.edu

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