Summer 2021 Niagara University Eagle alumni magazine

THE PROUD LEGACY OF THE

Niagara Nurse Returns page 6

Vol. 36 issue 1

The Niagara University Eagle is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Please send correspondence to: Lisa McMahon, M.A.’09, Editor Niagara University, N.Y., 14109 716.286.8747 / lmcmahon@niagara.edu On the cover: Clockwise from bottom right: Christine Verni, Ed.D.,FNP-BC, APRN, dean of the College of Nursing, with the Rev. James Maher, C.M., Niagara University’s president, and nursing students Tim Hinsken, Donna Kates, and Gloria Quayson.

Vol. 36, issue 1

Inside this issue FEATURES 6 The Proud Legacy of the Niagara Nurse Returns 9 Five Questions for Christine Verni 10 Study-Abroad Scholarship Established 11 NU Expands Ontario Presence 12 Father Thomas Conway Recognized with Navy Cross 13 Kathryn Rafter Believes in Investing in NU Experience 14 Purple Eagles Year in Review 16 Showcasing Niagara’s Success Stories 20 Two NU Nurses Lead COVID Response

DEPARTMENTS 1 Opening Remarks 2 On the Ridge 17 News From the Nest 22 Catching Up

Founded by the Vincentian Community in 1856, Niagara University is a private liberal arts university with a strong, values-based Catholic tradition.

Its five academic divisions include the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Nursing and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The university also maintains an Academic Exploration Program that provides a learning community for students who are undecided about their major.

OPENING REMARKS

Dear Friends,

I

hope this edition of our alumni magazine finds you and your family safe and healthy. The past year has been challenging for us all; however, we are now moving back to the routines of our campus community and in our lives.

Like all institutions of higher education, Niagara has been especially nimble in dealing with the fallout from COVID-19. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our faculty, administrators, staff, and especially our students and their families, I am pleased to report that the university has been successful in moving beyond the complexities of 2020 and is posed not only to rebound in 2021, but to exceed our expectations in so many areas. Stay tuned for the rollout of our return to campus: Fall Power, Full Power.

One of the most exciting changes that you will read about in this edition of the Eagle is the move to reinstate the College of Nursing at Niagara University.

With the appointment of Christine Verni, Ed.D., FNP-BC, APRN, as our new dean of the College of Nursing, Niagara is ready to reignite our timeless legacy, as well as reclaim the impact of our faculty, students, and graduates. This momentous change is possible only because of the incredible generosity and support of our alumni and benefactors of nursing. Their commitment is testament to the important role that NU plays in providing high-quality healthcare professionals to the region and beyond.

As our world returns to a “new normal,” here at Niagara we remain dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of the entire university family. With this in mind, while this year’s Alumni Weekend, June 4-6, looked a little different from the past, we enjoyed welcoming our reunion classes back to Monteagle Ridge. Be assured that all appropriate precautions were taken so everyone confidently enjoyed this year’s celebrations.

Thank you again for your continued support of Niagara and our Vincentian mission.

Rev. James J. Maher, C.M.

With every good wish,

Rev. James J. Maher, C.M. President

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on the ridge

Two NU Students Present to UN Economic and Social Council Two Niagara University students discussed their research and recommendations on the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and youth homelessness at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Youth Forum on April 6. The students were invited by Jim Claffey, the Congregation of the Mission’s NGO representative at the UN, to present at the forum, which gives young people the unique opportunity to contribute to UN policy discussions through their collective ideas, solutions, and innovations, with a specific focus on how to address the challenges they face as youth and the contributions they can make to achieve the youth-specific Sustainable Development Goals.

Niagara University Receives Grant to Continue Efforts to Enhance Mental Health Services in Western New York Niagara University has received a $375,000 grant from The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to address the growing mental health needs on campus and in the community. The funding is being used to establish accessible pathways and incremental credentials to improve the quality and availability of services offered by the current and future workforce in support of the region’s most vulnerable children and families.

A special focus of the grant funding will be on expanding the delivery of mental health services through telehealth. To that end, Niagara will develop three on-campus telehealth training labs to provide training to community service providers. The training will also be embedded into the clinical curriculum of a number of academic programs, preparing Niagara’s students to incorporate telehealth competencies into their chosen fields.

Adam Kiedrowski

Luke Donner

Adam Kiedrowski, who is pursuing a double major in history and political science, and Luke Donner, who is majoring in political science, international studies, and history, shared their proposal to create a universal platform in partnership with social media, organizations, and government to provide homeless youth and other vulnerable populations with resources to assist them.

“This is an incredible opportunity for these students to present meaningful research that directly connects to the mission of the university,” said Dr. David Reilly, chair of the political science department. “It is rare for undergraduates to find meaningful academic engagement at the United Nations. The fact that Adam Kiedrowski and Luke Donner are presenting their research findings and policy prescriptions at the Economic and Social Council—one of the six primary organs of the UN system—means that they are engaged at the highest level of international diplomacy and decision-making.”

As the main platform for youth to share their ideas at the global level, the forum allows representatives of youth-led and youth-focused organizations and networks, youth advocates, and other youth stakeholders to dialogue with member states and to explore ways and means of promoting youth development and engagement. Participants take part in brainstorming sessions, interactive speaker panels, and discussions with member states on the annual ECOSOC/High-Level Political Forum themes. Other gatherings held in the framework of the forum, including side events, encourage participants to further engage with one another on a wide range of topics.

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In addition, graduate credit-bearing courses leading to advanced certificates or micro-credentials in areas such as clinical mental health, applied behavior analysis, interaction therapy, and birth-2 special education will be offered to enhance the skillset of providers and meet identified gaps.

Bill Newton Named to Electronic Gaming Federation’s First-Ever Board of Governors Bill Newton, assistant director of Campus Activities, was one of seven officials from universities across the country named to the Electronic Gaming Federation’s first Board of Governors. In this role, he will help to guide and expand the competitive and business vision for EGF, the national governing body for formalized collegiate D-I Esports and high school level leagues. Niagara University’s Esports Club is a founding member of the EGF’s national intercollegiate Esports league and competes in five titles—FIFA ’21, League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch, and Super Bill Newton Smash Bros. Ultimate.

on the ridge

Notable Writers, a Pioneer in the Military, and Social Justice Advocates Address Niagara University’s Newest Alumni C.J. Chivers, a New York Times reporter widely known as one of the most important war correspondents of this era; Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michelle Johnson, a groundbreaking lieutenant general in the Air Force; James Forman Jr., a leading critic of mass incarceration and its disproportionate impact on people of color; and Elizabeth EdgarWebkamigad, an Indigenous community development specialist who has preserved and promoted the culture of the Anishinaabe people, were the featured speakers at Niagara University’s 2021 commencement ceremonies. NU’s Lewiston campus graduates crossed the stage at the outdoor amphitheatre at Artpark in Lewiston, N.Y., and its Ontario graduates celebrated during a virtual ceremony.

people. Before accepting her current role as director of Health and Human Services for Batchewana First Nation, Edgar-Webkamigad served Canada and the United States as a youth/children’s trainer and a family and community development specialist in a variety of roles, including program director at the Baawaating Family Health Team, executive director of the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre’s youth program, and director of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. In 2014, she was appointed to the Ontario College of Teachers Council.

Chivers was the featured speaker at NU’s graduate commencement ceremonies on May 20. The Pulitzer Prizewinner joined The New York Times in 1999 and worked in the New York City police bureau through the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 before becoming a foreign correspondent focusing on conflict, human rights, and the arms trade on assignments in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Chechnya, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere.

Johnson addressed graduates during the undergraduate morning ceremony on May 22. She was a member of the second cohort of women to attend the Air Force Academy and her years at the academy were marked by several firsts, including being the first woman cadet wing commander and the academy’s first woman Rhodes Scholar. Her military career culminated in her appointment as lieutenant general and superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, becoming the first woman to lead a Department of Defense service academy.

Forman, a professor at Yale Law School, legal scholar and analyst, spoke at the afternoon ceremony. The son of two civil rights activists and leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Forman searches for answers to some of the most difficult social problems of our time including, most recently, the deadly consequences of mass incarceration on black neighborhoods. He is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Locking Up Our Own,” and co-founder of Maya Angelou Public Charter High School, an alternative school for dropouts and youth who have previously been arrested.

Clockwise from top: C.J. Chivers, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michelle Johnson, Elizabeth Edgar-Webkamigad, and James Forman Jr.

Edgar-Webkamigad provided remarks for Niagara University in Ontario graduates on June 28. For more than 30 years, she has promoted and provided for the health and well-being of her community while advocating for greater understanding of the culture of the Anishinaabe

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on the ridge

Niagara University Hosts EuroSim 2021 Niagara University hosted nearly 200 students from 20 colleges and universities across the United States and Europe for EuroSim 2021, an annual intercollegiate simulation of the European Union. This year’s event, which took place March 25-27, was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Niagara students have participated in the conference since 2006.

Participation in EuroSim gives students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the European Union, international law, and diplomatic protocol and procedures through political role-playing.

Assuming the role of policy makers, such as members of the European Parliament and the European Commission, heads of government, and national ministers, students negotiate a real-world issue of the EU’s policy agenda. This year, the simulation focused on migration and the Dublin Regulation, which establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining which EU member state is responsible for examining an asylum application.

Under the guidance of Dr. Chris Lee, associate professor of political science, 12 NU students attended committee meetings that mirrored those of their real EU counterparts, gaining first-hand experience working in a multicultural environment while enhancing their public speaking, negotiating, leadership, and diplomatic skills through intense discussions, debates, and negotiations. On the last day of the rigorous event, students took a final vote on legislation.

Father Maher Again Named to Business First’s List of Influential Leaders The Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University, is once again included in Business First’s annual “Power 250” list of the region’s most influential leaders. His ability as an inclusive and collaborative leader, as well as his desire to rebuild the Niagara Falls, N.Y., community, has strengthened the town and gown relationship between the university and the region, while his commitment to diversity and social justice led to the establishment of the Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity and Mission. He was also selected by Mayor Robert Restaino to serve as a member of his Niagara Falls Social Justice Commission to address inequality across a variety of platforms in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the only college or university president in the region chosen by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities for its task force to work on a plan to reopen colleges and universities safely.

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Global Business Leader and Alumnus Edward J. Brennan Named Chair of NU’s Board of Trustees Edward J. Brennan, ’78, a global business leader and humanitarian, has been named chairman of the Niagara University Board of Trustees.

Brennan, who began his tenure on the board in 2015, served as chairman, president, and CEO of Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) Group Ltd. During his 25-year career with DFS, he led the organization through substantial expansion, navigating the economic climate Edward J. Brennan while investing for the future. He currently owns and operates Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette, N.Y., and also serves as CEO of the Miller Family businesses based in Hong Kong, and on the board of directors of New Age Corp.

Brennan’s business acumen is matched by his philanthropic endeavors, and he has long been committed to education, with a great love for international students and those from under-resourced communities.

He is co-founder and chairman of Hand in Hand for Haiti, an organization that built a world-class educational facility in the coastal town of Saint-Marc in Western Haiti to provide access to education for children and youth in the most underserved communities of that country. In 2016, Brennan and his wife, Deborah, provided a financial gift to Niagara University to honor his father and establish the Edward A. Brennan Center for Language, Culture, and Leadership.

Also named to the board, the Rev. Marvin Alonso Navas, C.M., superior at the Vincentian House in Southampton, N.Y., and director to the Hispanic Apostolate of South Fork. The El Salvador native was ordained a Vincentian priest in 2010 and has been a member of the university’s board of advisors since 2018.

Rev. Marvin Alonso Navis, C.M.

on the ridge

Niagara University Promotions Niagara University has announced the following promotions: Michael Freedman was promoted to the position of vice president of undergraduate enrollment management and marketing. In this role, he will lead the university’s undergraduate admissions and financial aid teams, as well as the university’s recruitment marketing. He previously served as associate vice president for marketing and Michael Freedman first-year enrollment, playing a key part in the management of the admissions team and in building the university’s robust prospect management system. He joined Niagara in 2010 as assistant director of public relations and manager of online content.

Christopher Sheffield was promoted to vice president for student affairs. The NU alumnus, who earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Niagara, has held a number of key roles at the university over his 19-year tenure, most recently serving as the associate vice president of Student Affairs and Chris Sheffield Institutional Effectiveness.

Under his leadership, the sector has strengthened its focus on the overall student experience, fostering the inclusion of student voices in terms of advocacy, inclusion, and support.

Dr. Vanessa Walker

Dr. Venessa Walker has been named executive director of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment. For the past seven years, as director of institutional research, she has helped to lead the university’s planning, assessment, and accreditation endeavors. In addition, she has been actively engaged in a number of areas on the campus

and has served on several committees, including the Identifying and Dismantling Racial Injustice Task Force, the University Planning and Resource Council, the Academic Senate, and the Institutional Effectiveness and Reporting Committee.

Averl Harbin has been appointed to the position of dean of students, after having served as interim dean of students since January 2021. She joined Niagara in 2015 as the director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

In that role, she developed, implemented, and assessed programs and activities designed to promote diversity awareness on Averl Harbin Niagara’s campus. In addition, she has been a mentor and trusted resource for students from diverse backgrounds, and has educated students and other constituents on issues related to diversity, bystander intervention, and inclusion.

Dr. Rolanda Ward Honored as Community Hero by National Federation for Just Communities Dr. Rolanda Ward, director of Niagara University’s Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity & Mission and associate professor of social work, was honored as a community hero by the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York at its 2021 NFJC Re-Envisioned Community Heroes Awards. She was recognized for her work in creating and leading the Niagara Falls Health Equity Task Force, which promotes social justice and the well-being of all members of the Niagara Falls community.

This was especially important during the coronavirus pandemic, and Dr. Ward worked with representatives from a variety of community, education, and government organizations to ensure access to testing, tracing, food, shelter and housing, medicine, and other supplies for all members of the community, giving special emphasis to education around the COVID-19 vaccine.

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the proud legacy of the niagara nurse RETURNS with the Reinstatement of the

COLLEGE OF NURSING

By Lisa McMahon, M.A.’09

Seventy-five years after the Niagara University College of Nursing was first established, the university’s Board of Trustees approved its reinstatement, acknowledging and honoring a legacy of caring that has prepared thousands of alumni for careers in clinical practice, nursing education, and administration.

The College Is Established* In September of 1944, in order to enhance the educational offerings to the students enrolled in Mount St. Mary’s Hospital’s school of nursing, Niagara University opened its doors to the hospital’s pre-clinical nursing students to provide them with instruction in various scientific and academic subjects on the campus. These courses would supplement their two years of training at the hospital’s school of nursing, from which the students graduated with a diploma.

Because this partnership so enriched the lives of the nursing students, Niagara’s administration began to explore the establishment of a nursing program that would lead to a baccalaureate

degree. At the time, there were few collegiate nursing schools in the United States.

To make the dream of a college of nursing a reality, Sister Eucharista Calvey, O.S.F., directress of nurses at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, worked with several Niagara University representatives, and on May 5, 1946, NU’s Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the College of Nursing at the university. A formal contract was drawn up by the university’s administrators and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. The nursing college was officially established on May 19, 1946, at St. Mary’s Hospital’s nursing residence.

Over the next several decades, the College of Nursing grew both in enrollment and in prestige, becoming known as one of the best nursing programs in New York state. It also had a long-standing relationship with the Army Nurse Corps, and many of its alumni were

commissioned as 2nd lieutenants through the university’s military science program. (This year, that legacy continued with the commissioning of the first nurse in 20 years.) But interest in the profession of nursing began to decline in the late 1990s, when the focus shifted to training nurses for technical roles, rather than educating them for leadership in the profession—an important distinction between schools of nursing and colleges of nursing. Niagara University’s leadership was forced to make the difficult decision to phase out the nursing program due to decreasing enrollment.

In late 2002, a poignant convocation ceremony in Alumni Chapel marked the closing of the College of Nursing, and its final graduates were conferred their bachelor’s degrees in May 2003.

Working Toward Reinstatement The pivotal decision of the trustees to reinstate the college was due in large part to the resilience and persistence of the alumni and stakeholders.

Faculty, staff, students, administration, and community partners celebrate the announcement of the reinstatement of the Niagara University College of Nursing.

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Niagara University

Almost immediately after the announcement that the college would close, Frances (Stevralia) Crosby, ’67, Ed.D., MSN, RN, and her colleague, Barbara (Butry) Malinowski, ’59, MSN, RN—confident that interest in nursing would once again increase and backed by statistics indicating that the demand for nurses would grow significantly in the coming years—began apprising the NU administration of the trends and predictions related to nursing workforce issues and their implications for nursing enrollment.

Concurrently, an initiative referred to as the “B.S. in 10” was being lobbied to start in 2003 by nurse policy leaders in New York state,

Nancy McGlen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the time, who agreed to include the new program in the college, NU’s RN-toB.S. program was established in 2006. Crosby was invited to serve as chair of the new nursing department.

The Nursing Program Grows Again The RN-to-B.S. program gained considerable momentum when a partnership established with Catholic Health System enabled its RNs to enroll in the degree completion program.

That success, coupled with a spike in demand for bachelor’s degree programs in nursing, led to the addition of two new nursing programs in 2012: a four-year bachelor of science degree and an accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing.

In the years that followed, a state-of-the-art nursing simulation center was opened to provide hands-on opportunities for students to manage patient encounters and skills in a risk-free, virtual reality environment, while supporting traditional classroom learning and clinical practice experiences.

The Department of Nursing was also elevated to a School of Nursing (still housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, headed by dean Tim Ireland), acknowledging the proud tradition and promising future of its nursing programs. Crosby was named director.

Sister Eucharista Calvey, O.S.F., the first dean of Niagara University’s College of Nursing.

including alumna Karen Ballard, ’66, MA, RN, FAAN, former executive director of the American Nurses Association New York. Based on research providing evidence that bachelor’s degree prepared nurses had the best patient outcomes, the bill would require nurses prepared at two-year associate degree or three-year hospital schools of nursing to acquire their bachelor’s degrees in nursing within 10 years of graduation. Crosby and Malinowski proposed that Niagara develop and offer a B.S. completion program for registered nurses.

With the support of Dr. Bonnie Rose, then academic vice president, who presented the proposal to NU’s Board of Trustees, and Dr.

“The School of Nursing designation confirms our long-term commitment to the outstanding quality of our nursing education programs,” said Dr. Ireland at the time. “Not only does it reflect the excellence of our nursing program today, but it also positions us for future growth, focusing on innovation in education, funded research, and community partnerships.”

Two years ago, to bolster efforts to re-establish the college, NU looked to a veteran clinician and administrator to assist with the transition.

Margarita Coyne, MSN, RN, an experienced nurse leader whose 38-year career at Roswell Park included positions as director for inpatient medical surgical nursing, director of nursing education, deputy chief nursing officer, and interim chief nursing officer, was selected to serve as interim dean of the School of Nursing.

Her ability to build teams, collaborate, and develop structures and processes, coupled with her experience with nursing students and new graduates, gave her critical insight to manage both the educational and administrative aspects of building a college.

Under her leadership, and building on Crosby’s legacy, enrollment increased, additional faculty were hired, and the skills lab was expanded.

Dr. Scott Erdley, a certified simulation health educator who served as a faculty fellow in the School of Nursing from 2017-2019, is returning as director of both the skills lab and the simulation center. He will coordinate the activities of both facilities to enable students to apply the theory they learn in the classroom to hands-on scenarios that reinforce critical thinking.

“The school has entrusted me with this very important program, and it has been an absolute honor to be able to participate and to leverage what I know and help with the changes,” Coyne said. “This is an important moment for Niagara University and for the faculty, as well. This is just the beginning of the things Niagara will do.”

NU’s nursing alumni have also answered the call to help re-establish their beloved program.

In November 2020, Crosby, in her role as special assistant to the provost, launched

Re-Establishing an NU Tradition Significant work and support from alumni and administration moved the nursing program from a department to a school. That same commitment led to the reinstatement of the program as a college, a designation that connotates respect, autonomy, and independence.

Dunleavy Hall nursing education classroom in the 1970s.

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a fundraising initiative called “Advancing Excellence in Nursing Education” to provide a monetary resource that can be used to bring in experts, send faculty to programs, offer seed money for faculty to develop research ideas, and fund other program enhancements. More than 100 donors, including alumni of other NU programs, have contributed to this fund. Eight years earlier, friends and family had established the Frances Stevralia Crosby, ’67, RN, MSN, Ed.D. Nursing Scholarship as a tribute to her commitment to reinstate the nursing program.

Students apply classroom theory to hands-on practice in the Nursing Simulation Center.

A New Beginning On April 28, 2021, faculty, administration, students, staff, and community members gathered in the Russell J. Salvatore Dining Commons on the NU campus to celebrate the reinstatement of the College of Nursing.

Christine Verni, Ed.D., FNP-BC, APRN, was introduced as the new dean chosen to lead the college, bringing nearly three decades of experience in hospital, primary care, hospice, and academics to the role. The excitement around the announcement was palpable, and several individuals, including C.J. Urlaub, president of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, and Joe Ruffalo, president and CEO of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, offered encouraging remarks.

“Niagara University’s reputation for nursing extended down the thruway,” said Urlaub.

“I knew a number of people that went into nursing—only the smartest ones came to Niagara University. You really are putting out top nurses. These are nurses that are ready to help us in some of the more difficult areas of nursing.”

Ruffalo, who noted that the shortage of nurses is a continuing issue, extended his appreciation to Niagara University and its leadership “for your partnership, your support, and your commitment to workforce development and economic growth in the Niagara region and beyond. We cannot be more excited and privileged to join you in this announcement of the establishment of Niagara University’s College of Nursing, a program that will ensure the critical role of nurses does not go unfilled across Western New York.”

The re-establishment of the College of Nursing renews, strengthens, and deepens Niagara University’s commitment to public health, said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Niagara

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Niagara University

Wearing the College of Nursing’s traditional white nursing uniform, cap and purple cape, 14 Niagara University seniors received their pins at the college’s final convocation on Dec. 7.

University president. “We must cross the bridge of health inequities and bring people together for their lives, for their health, for their wellness, and for the very goodness and grace that nursing brings.”

“St. Vincent de Paul committed his life to be a healing, transforming figure and he … committed himself to excellence in everything he did,” Father Maher said. “That’s really what we commit ourselves to in nursing. It is compassion, it is empathy, it is intellect, it is mission in service to transform people’s lives and to be the healing balm that people need in their most desperate and difficult times.

There’s no better place for the heart of St. Vincent to be than in the College of Nursing at Niagara University.”

The announcement to reinstate the college validated the importance of the profession and its legacy at Niagara, the experience and

strength of the nursing alumni, and the centrality of the college to the mission of Niagara and the commitment of its partners.

“We are so proud of our alumni and their commitment to bringing back the college,” Crosby said. “Alumni who are invested in nursing because it shaped who they are. Their loyalty made this happen, and they want to nurture another generation to feel the way that they do. We look to be the excellent program in the future that our alumni used to have. I personally am just delighted to have been part of this journey to see the College of Nursing back at NU.” *Adapted from “A Legacy of Caring: A History of Niagara University’s College of Nursing, 1946 – 2002,” by Ann Rooney Heuer, ’78.

Five Questions for Christine Verni,

By Lisa McMahon, M.A.’09

Dean of the College of Nursing

On June 1, Dr. Christine Verni, a nurse practitioner and educator with nearly three decades of experience in hospital, primary care, hospice, and academics, took the helm of Niagara University’s newly reinstated College of Nursing.

Dr. Verni comes to Niagara from D’Youville College, where she has been a member of the faculty and administration since 2008, most recently serving as dean of the Patricia H. Garman School of Nursing.

She has been recognized as Nurse of Distinction in Education and has developed leadership acumen through prestigious programs such as the National League for Nurse’s Center for Translational Leadership LEAD, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing, and the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York’s Health Leader’s Fellowship programs. A past Ruth Kirchstein National Research Service Award T-32 Institutional Research Training Fellowship recipient, Dr. Verni focuses on grant, research, and publication and presentation opportunities in collaborative medication safety, emergency medicine, and interprofessional education.

We talked to Dr. Verni about what interested her about the position of dean and about her vision for the College of Nursing.

What did you know about Niagara University’s College of Nursing before you applied for the job?

Niagara has been a highly reputable institution in Western New York and the neighboring region for decades with nursing programs that have graduated some of the best nurses in the country. Graduates complete their programs well-prepared to serve, and their successes are noted through positive patient outcomes and by the impact they have in the global community.

What excites you about leading the College of Nursing?

One of the most exciting things about this opportunity for me lies in the ability to better impact nursing education in the Niagara region and beyond. I have always had a passion to teach, as the key to individual and group well-being is being informed about what positively and negatively affects us as we journey through life. The College of Nursing is well-positioned to use its resources to expand offerings, combat health disparities, and better nurse the numerous disease states plaguing our communities as we look to help achieve health equity. Using the gift of education, the College of Nursing, under my leadership, will showcase the skills of our educators, who teach both our students and the public how to remain healthy and to understand both their illness and wellness.

What previous career experience prepares you best for this new role?

I have several decades of experience working directly in healthcare roles that our students will assume when they complete one of our outstanding programs. I find that this clinical hands-on experience allows me to educate in a way that students really learn from—feedback indicates that they prefer to apply lived experiences to complex nursing content presented in their courses.

Having served in a dean’s role and understanding the accreditation and regulatory standards outlined by state and national agencies, I also know what is expected of nursing programs and the need to adhere to those guidelines to protect the public and ensure students meet course and programmatic outcomes of their respective degree programs.

How will you remember and honor the legacy while growing the College of Nursing?

I plan to work collaboratively with alumni and prior nursing leadership to honor Niagara’s nursing legacy while capitalizing on new and exciting opportunities that will grow and further showcase our college and institution. It is possible to honor the past while celebrating the future, and I look forward to doing both!

What is your ultimate vision for the College of Nursing?

To provide the best nursing education in the world by utilizing innovative, collaborative, and transformative experiences in the class and clinical settings to meet the needs of our students and the people they will care for after leaving Niagara University.

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Study-Abroad Scholarship Established

in Memory of World-Traveling Alumnus

B

rock Wesley Curtis, ’18, was athletic, charming, creative, caring, and had a great sense of humor. He was passionate about travel and “really loved meeting and getting to know people from totally different cultures,” said his mother, Dr. Deborah Tallman Curtis, ’84, vice president of international relations and the Brennan Center at Niagara University.

Brock also struggled with mental illness, and on Jan. 12, 2021, at the age of 24, he passed away. He left a lasting impression on all those with whom he came in contact and now, a scholarship established in his mem-

ory will enable him to continue to inspire others by giving them the opportunity to have the life-changing experience of world travel that he loved so much.

The Brock Wesley Curtis, ’18, Study Abroad Memorial Scholarship was established by the Tallman/Curtis family to honor their son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend, who traveled to five continents and lived in numerous locations, including Seoul, Korea; Lima, Peru; Los Angeles, Calif.; and Miami, Fla. Beginning in spring 2022, the scholarship(s) will be awarded to an NU undergraduate student(s), with

preference to male applicants who are interested in a faculty-led or semester-long study abroad to Africa, Asia, or Latin America.

“Because male students participate in study abroad at a disproportionately low rate, it is our hope that a male student with financial need will use this opportunity to spark their sense of adventure and global understanding,” said Dr. Curtis, adding that she also hopes the scholarship will encourage and enable students of diverse backgrounds to consider studying in unique locations around the globe.

To give more students a chance to study abroad and keep Brock’s legacy alive, please consider donating to this scholarship. Visit https://support.niagara.edu/donate and add Brock to the drop-down menu.

Dr. Deborah Tallman Curtis, ’84, vice president of international relations and the Brennan Center at Niagara University, with her son, Brock, at Niagara University Summer Orientation 2014.

10 Niagara University

By Lisa McMahon, M.A.’09

Expands Ontario Presence In January, Niagara University celebrated the two-year anniversary of its permanent location in Vaughan, Ontario, a collaboration that has strengthened Niagara’s binational presence, given students and alumni a place to call their Niagara University home, and continued the 37-year legacy of Niagara alumni who take on professional levels of leadership across all professions in Canada.

“Two years ago, Niagara University became a permanent part of the Vaughan community,” said the Rev. James Maher, C.M., Niagara University president. “This partnership enables us to better serve the students who will become Ontario’s future teachers, educational and business leaders, as well as create seamless pathways for students to complete master’s degrees in critical industries of growth regionally and nationally. The continuing collaboration with Mayor Bevilacqua and the City of Vaughan has reinforced our commitment to build and sustain our cross-border community; to support a new generation of compassionate, dedicated, and successful graduates; and to become the premier binational university within the Province of Ontario.”

inequality, offering 15 presentations on a variety of topics. The university also hosted a webinar addressing why women remain dramatically under-represented at the top of corporate Canada and what can be done about it. The event celebrated the launching of the book “The Invisible Rules: What’s really holding women back in business and how to fix it,”

by Dr. Paul Harrietha, chair of Niagara University in Ontario’s board of advisors, and Dr. Holly Catalfamo, adjunct professor in Niagara’s doctoral program in leadership and policy. It featured a panel of female leaders that included Christine Magee, co-founder and executive chair of Sleep Country Canada; Michelle Banik, corporate director and former chief people officer at OMERS; Zabeen Hirji, executive advisor at Deloitte and former CHRO of Royal Bank; and Diana Isaac, partner at Shulman and Partners, LLP. Niagara’s location on the No. 13-Toronto Purchase Treaty Lands, the Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and Traditional Territory of the Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee has presented opportunities to collaborate with its Indigenous neighbors to host events like the Ontario Indigenous Education Series, six virtual workshops for educators presented through a variety of Indigenous voices.

Niagara’s influence in the Ontario region is also strengthened through its partnership with the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce. In addition to co-sponsoring events like the Women to Women Symposium, the university is actively involved with the chamber to provide experiential opportunities for its students, as well as support the local business community.

“An area of focus at Niagara University is to build partnerships and to identify and develop sustainable programs that meet the needs of our community,” said Dr. Vince Rinaldo, vice president, Ontario Administration. “I look forward to continuing to work with the City of Vaughan to develop opportunities that make a positive contribution to the economic development of the city and that positively impact or influence the lives of families in Vaughan.”

Initially offering Bachelor of Professional Studies and Master of Science in Educational Leadership programs, course offerings were expanded in fall 2020 with the addition of master’s degree programs in business administration, finance, and information security and digital forensics, areas that align with the opportunities that are available regionally and nationally.

To provide comprehensive and seamless pathways into these programs, which were established with consent from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, partnerships with 10 area colleges were created, enabling students who complete certain degree programs to easily transfer their credits. Niagara is also continuing to expand its reach as it recently received approval from the Ontario Ministry of Education to accept international students in the province.

In alignment with its mission, Niagara University’s Vaughan site introduced a speaker series to address critical community issues of social injustice and

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HEROIC ACTIONS OF

FATHER THOMAS CONWAY RECOGNIZED WITH

NAVY CROSS

M

ore than seven decades after he perished ministering to his shipmates on the ill-fated USS Indianapolis, Rev. Lt. Thomas Conway was recognized with the Navy Cross, the second highest honor a member of the Navy can earn.

This honor, which is bestowed upon sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force, acknowledges the bravery Father Conway exhibited after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, where he was serving as a Navy chaplain.

Father Conway graduated with a BA from NU June 10, 1930. He was ordained a deacon at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1934, and served as a parish priest in that diocese before the start of World War II. An avid sailor, Father Conway joined the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and was commissioned a navy chaplain. He served at naval stations along the East Coast until he was transferred to the Pacific Theater in 1943. He served on the USS Medusa before his final service on the USS Indianapolis.

On July 30, 1945, the Indianapolis was struck by a Japanese torpedo and sunk. Although nearly 900 of the 1,196 crewmen survived the initial attack, the men were left stranded in the shark-infested waters midway between Guam and the Layte Gulf, without food or fresh water.

For three days, Father Conway swam from group to group, praying with the survivors, giving last rites to the dying, and collecting the dog tags of

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those who passed away. On Aug. 2, exhausted, he passed away, becoming the last Catholic chaplain to die in WWII. Only a few hours later, a passing US Navy plane spotted those who remained. The 316 survivors of the Indianapolis credited Father Conway with keeping their faith alive.

Father Conway spent three days swimming among the terrified survivors of the USS Indianapolis, consoling them, hearing confessions, and administering last rites.

On May 11, 1954, the Buffalo City Council dedicated a small park on Ohio Street in the Old First Ward in South Buffalo in his honor, and on May 20, 2006, a bust of Father Conway was unveiled at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. Bishop Kmiec of Buffalo presided at the ceremony. Artist Brian Porter depicts the 37-year-old Conway carrying the dog tags he collected.

The inscription on the memorial reads: “This monument is erected in memory of Father Thomas M. Conway, Lt. CHC, USNR. A priest of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, Father Conway lost his life while serving as a Navy chaplain aboard the cruiser USS Indianapolis following a torpedo attack on July 30, 1945.

Father Conway survived the sinking of the ship and spent the next three days swimming among the terrified survivors consoling them, hearing confessions and administering last rites.

Finally exhausted and having given away his life preserver, he drowned. There were only 316 survivors of this ordeal.

“We dedicate this memorial to military chaplains of every faith who throughout the history of warfare have ministered to the spiritual needs of their flock and comforted the wounded and dying placed in their care. Many paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving God and country.”

On Sept. 27, 2007, Niagara University also honored Father Conway with its Niagara Legacy-Alumni of Distinction Award.

Kathryn Rafter, ’75, Believes in Investing in the

Niagara University Experience

Kathryn Rafter believes in Niagara and its future graduates—that is why she recently named NU as the beneficiary for an individual retirement account. The Class of ’75 grad with a degree in TTT (now the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management), chose Niagara because of the beautiful campus, its size, and friends’ recommendations. At the time, NU offered a physical education degree and that appealed to her love of sports.

“I arrived on Monteagle Ridge in August of 1971 and couldn’t believe how fun and friendly everyone was,” she said. “My parents lived in England at the time and worried that I’d be homesick … that didn’t happen at all!”

As a member of the fledgling women’s basketball and tennis teams, Kathryn and her teammates pushed for official recognition and resources for women’s intercollegiate sports. It took persistence and working with allies like Betty Kimmel (dean of women) and Frank Layden (athletics director) to bring about acceptance and endorsement of women’s sports.

By graduation in 1975, the Department of Athletics approved the first athletic scholarships for women’s teams, opening the door for many talented women athletes. Rafter still advocates for girls and young women to play sports.

“Athletics is a fun, effective way to acquire leadership, discipline, collaboration, and communication know-how,” she said. “These attributes are particularly valuable for young women entering the work force.”

chose to designate the women’s basketball team as the specific recipient of her IRA. Her memories of her days at Niagara will always surface a smile.

“Niagara University is a very special place,” she said. “The campus is packed with people who are bright, have big hearts, and are full of life! Planned giving is an easy way to show gratitude for a great experience and lifelong friendships. The world needs more NU grads! This is a VERY worthwhile investment.”

Interested in making your own investment? Please contact Marilyn Koren, Office of Planned Giving, at 716.286.8791 or email mkoren@niagara.edu, and visit our planned giving website at https://giving.niagara.edu/.

“I arrived on Monteagle Ridge in August of 1971 and couldn’t believe how fun and friendly everyone was.”

- Kathryn Rafter

These skills carried her through a long career at American Airlines. In 1992, she founded Atlantic Consulting Partners, an advisory firm specializing in business transformation.

Rafter’s support for Niagara has grown along with the university’s commitment to women’s athletic programs. She gives credit to Rev. James Maher, NU’s president, and Simon Grey, its director of athletics, for their vision, values, and the relentless effort to cultivate young adults with a strong work ethic and generous spirit. Rafter

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PURPLE EAGLES

YeAR IN REVIEW Competing on the backdrop of a global pandemic, the Niagara Purple Eagles displayed mental and physical grit and determination during one of the most challenging athletic seasons in recent memory. The list of accomplishments included program and school records, conference and national accolades, exemplary academic and graduation numbers, while also addressing social and racial justice issues.

Academic Highlights

• 180 student-athletes were named to the all-academic team by their respective conference (Metro Atlantic or Atlantic Hockey).

• Baseball had a program-record 26 players named to the MAAC AllAcademic Team.

• For the fourth consecutive season, women’s lacrosse set a program record for MAAC All-Academic members with 24.

• Men’s basketball had four Purple Eagles named to the MAAC AllAcademic Team, which is a program record. For the third consecutive semester, the program set a record for the highest grade-point average. The Purple Eagles registered a 3.45 GPA in the fall semester with 13 student-athletes posting a 3.0 or higher.

• Niagara’s student-athletes combined for a phenomenal 3.49 GPA for the fall 2020 semester.

• All of Niagara’s 18 athletic programs recorded a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the fall term—baseball (3.57), men’s basketball (3.45), women’s basketball (3.38), men’s cross country (3.7), women’s cross country (3.62), women’s track and field (3.56), men’s golf (3.34), women’s golf (3.07), hockey (3.6), women’s lacrosse (3.59), men’s soccer (3.31), women’s soccer (3.49), softball (3.52), men’s swimming and diving (3.29), women’s swimming and diving (3.51), men’s tennis (3.41), women’s tennis (3.64) and volleyball (3.51).

• The Purple Eagles had 34 student-athletes who earned a 4.0 in the fall and 303 student-athletes finished the semester with a 3.0 or higher.

Team Highlights

• Eight programs—baseball, men’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, and women’s tennis—all finished above their preseason poll predictions. Five programs—women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball, volleyball, women’s tennis, and hockey—all competed in the semifinals of their respective conference tournaments.

• Hockey eliminated Mercyhurst in the first round and defeated Robert Morris in the best-of-three Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals series to advance to its second AHA Semifinal in three years.

• Volleyball swept Iona to advance to the MAAC Championship Semifinals for the first time since 2015.

• Men’s soccer earned the third seed in the MAAC Championship. It was the team’s highest seed since the 2012 season.

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• Women’s lacrosse finished with its first winning season since 2004 and its win percentage (0.62) is tied with the 2004 team for the secondbest percentage in program history. The program set a record in goals per game (12.08).

• Men’s basketball played in the MAAC Championship Semifinals for the first time since 2013. Men’s basketball led the MAAC in assistto-turnover ratio (1.19), turnover margin (3.2), and turnovers per game (9.9).

• The women’s swimming and diving team finished third and the men’s swimming and diving team placed fourth at the MAAC Invitational, which took the place of the MAAC Championships.

Individual Highlights Sixteen Purple Eagles earned all-league (MAAC or AHA) honors: • • • • • • • • • •

Angel Parker (All-MAAC Women’s Basketball Second Team) Marcus Hammond (All-MAAC Men’s Basketball Second Team) Kobi Nwandu (All-MAAC Men’s Basketball Second Team) Josef Mysak (AHA Men’s Hockey All-Rookie Team) Elena Mayet (All-MAAC Women’s Tennis–No. 2 singles) Jaida Borg (All-MAAC Women’s Tennis–No. 4 singles) Shea Swartwout (All-MAAC Women’s Lacrosse First Team) Michelle Messenger (All-MAAC Women’s Lacrosse First Team) Lauren Paul (All-MAAC Women’s Lacrosse First Team) Rachel Crane (All-MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Second Team and Rookie Team) • TaNia Cunningham (All-MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Second Team)

PURPLE EAGLES

YeAR IN REVIEW Canal Cup Champions!

The Niagara Purple Eagles captured the Canal Cup from crosstown rival Canisius by winning the 2020-21 Battle of the Bridge competition, which is an all-sports competition between the two schools, 16-10. The Canal Cup returns to Niagara for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

The Purple Eagles won the Battle of the Bridge points in women’s soccer, men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving, women’s lacrosse, men’s golf, and women’s track and field. NU and the Griffs split the points in hockey, volleyball, and baseball, while the Griffs earned wins only in men’s cross country, women’s swimming and diving, and softball. Due to COVID-19 protocol, the men’s and women’s basketball teams were not able to compete against each other this season.

Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiatives

• • • • •

Lexi Braniecki (MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Rookie Team) Heather Haberman (All-MAAC Softball First Team) Maggie Kellner (MAAC Softball All-Rookie Team) Cole Tucker (All-MAAC Baseball Second Team) Marcus Cashman (MAAC Baseball Rookie Team)

• The Niagara University Department of Athletics partnered with the Institute for Sport and Social Justice, a global leader in leadership, equity, and social justice training, as part of a departmentwide training and education series for student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff.

• Members of the men’s and women’s basketball programs participated in a book reading initiative focusing on Black culture and history with the university’s Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement and College of Education. The videos were shared with students in the Niagara Falls School District.

• The Student-Athletes of Color Alliance was created as a platform to ensure the educational, communal, professional, and social advancements of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) studentathletes while providing a safe environment for them to discuss, teach, explore, and emphasize issues of diversity and inclusiveness.

Four won major conference awards: • Amanda Darling (MAAC Volleyball Rookie of the Year and Libero of the Year) • Asher Barnes (MAAC Men’s Soccer Co-Rookie of the Year) • Rachel Crane (MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year) • Michelle Messenger (MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Goalkeeper of the Year)

Other notable achievements: • Emma Bagnato captured the 400m (56.85) title at the 2021 MAAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships to become the first Purple Eagle in program history to win gold in an event.

• Nicholas Kratholm was one of 30 NCAA Division I men’s basketball student-athletes selected as a candidate for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award, which focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

• Lincoln Cizek became the first men’s golfer since 2010 to win the Little Three Championship. Cizek’s victory earned him a berth to the 2021 Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club.

• Moana Houde-Camirand (women’s swimming and diving) broke the program record in the 100 IM with a time of 59.26.

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SHOWCASING

NIAGARA’S SUCCESS STORIES

D

istinguished alumni speakers, prestigious corporate partnerships, and groundbreaking research—all showcasing the Power of Niagara University to prospective students.

Niagara’s many stories start with traditions, filter though faculty and students, and live on through alumni. During the early months of the pandemic, a communication gap kept important stories about the incredible opportunities available at NU from current and future Purple Eagles.

To close that gap, the Power of One was initiated. This systematic solution was envisioned to open the lines of communication between marketing, enrollment, career services, and key academic leadership in an effort to tell a richer, more robust story of Niagara University.

As an ongoing and sustainable plan, the Power of One is anticipated to bring light to current student involvement, prominent faculty, departmental updates (such as research opportunities), innovative coursework, and on- and off-campus alumni connections. Its results have empowered NU’s enrollment and marketing teams to disseminate engaging content related to student, alumni, and faculty outcomes through promotional mediums that include events, email outreach, and social media, as well as on the university’s websites.

Alumni are a critical part of the Power of One. With an alumni base of nearly 36,000, the success stories are plentiful, and the collaborative plan now provides a conduit to connect grads with current students and prospects though interviews, guest lecturing, and career panel discussions. Alumni, through the Power of One, have already influenced prospects to engage with the university on a much deeper and meaningful level by sharing their time and talent.

John Osberg, ’13, owner of OZmosis Consulting, participated in a Feb. 1 alumni panel on “Journeys in Entrepreneurship.”

16 Niagara University

“Participating in the ‘Journeys in Entrepreneurship’ virtual alumni panel event was an engaging and rewarding experience,” said Osberg. “I am a disciple of St. Vincent, as I lead in our communities by serving the underserved/never served and underprivileged human populations. So, when I had a chance to re-engage with my alma mater, to talk about all things entrepreneurship, specifically working within our communities to enrich, enhance, and empower the lives of our fellow community members, I had to join in on the panel.

“Events like these, that are aimed at enlightening young people about the programming and experiences that are had while attending Niagara University, are paramount to ensuring we are shaping our leaders of tomorrow through the teachings of St. Vincent,” he added.

An early Power of One success story is Niagara’s undergraduate program in sports management.

Alumni involvement, such as their participation in a sports management panel that showcased the career to potential students, is one of the factors that led to a 66% increase in freshman enrollment in that program from last year (as of mid-May), and 52% from 2019.

“Colleges across the country are trying to find a way to be ‘personal’ with students, and most do so by talking about small class sizes and saying ‘you’re more than a number.’ The Power of One allows me to actually prove it by connecting students directly to their program and future faculty,” said Benjamin Ascher, director of first-year enrollment and brand manager for the sports management program. “It also creates a connection between admissions and the SPM program that gives us the most up-to-date and pertinent

information as we head out on the recruiting trail. We get to go to high schools across the state and the country talking about the exciting things our programs are doing right now. Many schools across the country use the same story over and over again for several years, and eventually it is outdated. The Power of One allows me to consistently adjust what we talk about.”

If you would like to participate in the Power of One, please contact Cassandra Kubiak, director of enrollment marketing, at ckubiak@niagara. edu.

Alumni, through the Power of One, have already influenced prospects to engage with the university on a much deeper and meaningful level by sharing their time and talent.

NEWS FROM THE NEST

How far we have progressed from where we were a year ago!

Despite the uncertainty due to the pandemic, we were able to host an in-person Alumni Weekend and graduate our newest Purple Eagle alumni at in-person ceremonies!

On behalf of all of us in Alumni Engagement, I thank you for your patience and flexibility as we navigated decisions and launched Alumni Weekend in a different format. And what a blast it was!

We welcomed hundreds of alumni safely back to campus from June 4-6, with event highlights including class reunions, 1970 and 1971 Golden Eagle celebrations, a Silver Eagle reception for 1995 and 1996, an alumni cookout with campus tours, and Niagara at Night! We hope you had as much fun as we did welcoming you back to the Ridge, and we look forward to seeing the 2’s and 7’s next year! (As a reminder, Alumni Weekend is permanently moving to a first weekend of June schedule, so please save the date for June 3-5, 2022!)

This fall, as long as the present trends continue, we look forward to seeing you in person and are excited to get back on the road to bring Niagara to your region! We will be working closely with our network leaders to schedule events and will be sure to stay in close touch as details develop.

And don’t worry, our “Purple Eagle Zoom Room” will not go away, even as we transition into more in-person events. The pandemic allowed us to connect with you in ways that we never thought possible, and we were able to meet alumni throughout the world, which has been a true pleasure.

Again, I thank you for being with us virtually and in person over the past 18 months and for your continued support. It is gratifying to do the work we do and to be part of the Purple Eagle family!

Jaclyn Rossi, director of Alumni Engagement (center) with Sara Moretta, manager of annual giving and special events (left), and Tiffany Ryan, gift accountant, during Alumni Weekend.

Forever Purple, Jaclyn

Day of Giving On April 24, 2021, we celebrated the birthday and legacy of St. Vincent de Paul with our Day of Giving. Funds raised support the entire campus community. It was amazing to see just how much love is out there for Niagara!

An impressive tribute was paid to St. Vincent through the generosity of so many, and we were able to raise $388,493 through support from 1,251 alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students. Of that total, more than 400 were new donors. It’s so powerful seeing everyone come together to support one another and what means the most to them at Niagara. Thank you for helping make this a year to remember!

P&W Athletics Niagara Fund Miscellaneous Social Justice Houses Current Use Scholarships ROTC Nursing Student Clubs & Sports Study Abroad Scholarship School of Business NUOP Campus Ministry Arts & Sciences Vermette Scholarship Castellani Art Museum CHTM Scholarship NU Theatre

$123,592 $64,937 $52,162 $50,925 $32,150 $12,790 $11,531 $8,891 $5,305 $5,220 $4,850 $4,300 $3,620 $2,470 $2,280 $2,020 $1,450

Gift Totals for Day of Giving

P&W Athletics $ 123,592

Current Use Scholarships $32,150 Social Justice Houses $50,925 Miscellaneous $52,162

Niagara Fund $ 64,937

“I love Niagara – the people, the relationships, the legacy. Niagara provided me with many opportunities and laid the foundation for my career. I am confident that my gift will be used to continue the mission of the university and provide the necessary resources and opportunities to students as they develop into the next generation of community leaders.” Robert Ingrasci Jr., '08

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NEWS FROM THE NEST

Returning to the Alumni who graduated in class years ending in 0’s and 5’s, as well in 1’s and 6’s, were welcomed back to campus June 4-6, for the first-ever June Alumni Weekend.

The weekend began with outdoor class gatherings.

Rich Eckstein, ’70 (pictured with Rev. James Maher, NU president), spearheaded the installation of a Class of 1970 plaque dedicated to all those in that class who served our country. The plaque was blessed by Father Maher following its unveiling at the Veterans Memorial Service on Saturday morning.

Alumni enjoyed an outdoor cookout on Saturday afternoon.

The John C. DeDeyn Jr., ’65, Achievement Award was presented to the nurses of the Class of 1970 and to Bob Wellner of the Class of 1971 at their Golden Eagle celebrations. Bob is pictured with (l-r) Father Maher; Maureen (Grant) Wellner, ’71, Fran Deluccia, and Denny Deluccia, ’71. Established in 2015, DeDeyn award is given in recognition of outstanding character, loyalty, and service in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul.

18 Niagara University

NEWS FROM THE NEST

Chapel Pew Restoration Alumni Chapel is a special place that meant something to each of us while we were at Niagara—maybe you spent time there during a service or two, went regularly between classes or on weekends, or began your married life there.

Early in 2022, the chapel will be closed for a short period for repairs and painting. While many areas will be refurbished, the pews were going to remain untouched. Knowing how important these fixtures are to so many, Campus Ministry has proposed refinishing the pews, a costly and tiresome project, but one that will be well worth the effort. We are asking our alumni to consider extending their generosity to support this project and help us keep this beautiful space looking grand!

If you are interested and able to help support the restoration of the pews, it would mean so much. Please contact Campus Ministry at 716.286.8400 for more details on how you can help!

Career Clothing Closet

to Provide Professional Apparel for Students barriers to access this kind of clothing, Sarah decided that an on-campus resource would benefit the most students. Working with Stephanie Morris, director of Career Services, and the offices of Campus Ministry, Multicultural Affairs, and International Relations, she developed a plan for a Career Clothing Closet in Bailo Hall.

Sarah Bauch, a senior from Rochester, N.Y., helped to establish a Career Clothing Closet at Niagara University.

A

s a member of the Niagara University Student Government Association, senior Sarah Bauch knew how important it was to have a career-appropriate outfit in her closet. She also knew how difficult it was for many of her peers to access professional clothing.

So the Rochester, N.Y., native began exploring options to provide professional attire to students as part of her internship with the Career Services office. Because lack of transportation and finances can be

The initiative was announced in April and almost immediately, Career Services began receiving donations of gently used and new apparel such as suits, dresses, skirts, button-down shirts, dress pants, dress shoes, ties, belts, scarves, jewelry, and other accessories from alumni, faculty, and staff. To purchase clothing in sizes that are not received through donations, Sarah is looking into a partnership with JC Penney. Once the closet opens this fall, students will be able to “shop” for one complete outfit that they will be able to keep.

“The plan is for this to be an ongoing project so that students can continue to have that access,” Sarah said. “It’s been something that students have talked about, so I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to bring this to campus. I’m excited to see how it helps NU students.”

For more information, or to make a clothing or monetary donation, contact Stephanie Morris at smorris@niagara.edu, or visit https://support.niagara.edu/donations/clothes-closet.

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Two NU Nurses

Lead COVID Response in Their Communities BY: Lisa McMahon, M.A.’09

F

or more than a year, the coronavirus pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our lives, and we have depended upon the knowledge and guidance of healthcare professionals to navigate the changing recommendations and keep our communities healthy and safe. Two Niagara University nurses have been at the forefront of these efforts in two regions of New York state: Mary Beer, B.S.’77, director of public health for Ontario County, and Vickie Swinehart, ’81, director of public health for Seneca County.

Mary (Welch) Beer, B.S.’77 In the first few weeks of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic spread throughout the United States, county health directors across New York state began to meet and plan strategies to mitigate the outbreak’s impact in their regions. Mary (Welch) Beer, B.S.’77, director of public health for Ontario County, felt well-prepared for the challenge.

“This is what public health does,” she says.

When the first case in her county appeared in mid-March, Beer drew on her experience from the annual disaster drills she has taken part in, lessons learned from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and her more than 40 years in nursing to direct the county’s response, which included implementing safety guidelines, investigating and containing outbreaks, and overseeing public communication for the county’s more than 100,000 residents.

Since then, Beer, with her team of 20, has performed contact tracing, enforced quarantine and isolation protocols, provided invaluable guidance to healthcare providers, businesses, school districts, and the higher education sector and, most recently,

20 Niagara University

established drive-through and pop-up clinics to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to their diverse population. Collaboration and flexibility have been key strategies, she says, noting that mutual aid agreements with neighboring counties, and a recent multi-jurisdictional accreditation—the first and only in the country—have paved the way for these small, rural counties to work together in combating the pandemic. She has also added to her staff and adopted a new software system to better track and respond to cases.

Beer is quick to acknowledge that the success her county has had in managing the current health crisis is a team effort.

“It’s not about me,” she says. “It’s about how you work with a bunch of people and delegate and empower them and get out of their way so they can do a great job.” She says that she is proud of the way her staff has come together to respond to the coronavirus and is amazed by the way members of her community have volunteered to support their efforts.

Beer admits that she “never dreamed in a million years that I would do a job like this” when she first enrolled in Niagara University’s College of Nursing. She just knew she wanted to be a nurse because she wanted to make a difference, she says.

Following her graduation in 1977, Beer started her nursing career at the bedside at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. Her supervisors quickly saw her leadership potential and she was promoted to team leader after only a year and a half. Shortly thereafter, she was named nurse manager on a med surg neuroscience unit.

“Niagara creates leaders,” she says, “and it’s not even something that you may recognize, but you’re given the tools. It’s built into the program.”

After a decade at the hospital, Beer wanted to try a different nursing path (“Don’t let fear hold you back, there are so many opportunities in nursing to explore,” she advises) so she accepted a position with Blue Cross/Blue Shield as manager of utilization review and quality assurance. In the years that followed, Beer took positions as a recruiter for nurses and physicians; as an account and product manager for a claims editing software company; as director of Eldersource, a community-based

information, assistance, and care management organization; and as director of clinical services at Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County (she notes that the other four directors were also Niagara graduates). She also earned a master’s degree in public health from Walden University.

These experiences prepared her for her current role as public health director, she says, which she took on in 2008.

“I’ve worked in almost every setting,” she says. “I’ve worked in primary care, I’ve worked in nursing homes, I’ve worked in hospital settings, I worked in the insurance industry. All of the skills that I had from those different jobs built on one another, and this ended up being a really good fit for me in terms of what I had learned over the years.”

In this role, Beer oversees disease prevention, health education promotion, and community health protection for Ontario county, which is located eight miles from Rochester in upstate New York.

It includes two cities, 16 towns, and eight villages.

“I think public health has always been the best-kept secret, because we are the protectors behind the scenes,” she says. “But at the same time, it’s been one of my goals to make sure that my staff are not just inwardly focused, but really out in the community.”

To that end, Beer and her staff are active on, and often lead, boards and collaborations to identify trends and meet the health needs of their community. Under her leadership, coalitions to prevent suicide and to support and facilitate breastfeeding have been established. Her advocacy efforts in prohibiting smoking on county property have reduced smoking rates, and she has developed programs to decrease obesity, manage hypertension, and fight the opioid crisis, in addition to managing ongoing communicable disease, lead prevention, rabies, disaster preparedness, and TB programs.

“Unfortunately, so much of that has been put aside as we’ve been focusing on COVID,” she says.

In this job, and throughout her career, Beer is proud of the fact that she has been able to maintain the passion for serving others that first inspired her to pursue nursing as a career. She recalls her father, William, an NU graduate from the Class of 1953,

offering her advice as he dropped her off on her first day on the job at the hospital: “Always keep who you are, and hold on to that.”

So experiences like a chance meeting with a woman whose husband suffered a stroke are especially meaningful for Beer. The woman expressed her gratitude for the kindness Beer showed her years before, when she arranged to have a steak dinner and champagne delivered to the man’s hospital room so he and his wife could celebrate their anniversary. A year later, he passed away.

“I’m proud that I touched her life and made a really difficult day a little bit better for them,” she says.

Vickie (Carson) Swinehart, ’81 When Vickie (Carson) Swinehart, ’81, accepted a position as a home care nurse in Seneca County, N.Y.’s Department of Public Health, she was looking for a work schedule that aligned with the demands of raising her family. What she found was a challenging and rewarding career that has spanned nearly 30 years.

Today, as director of public health, Swinehart is doing something else she never expected: leading her community’s efforts in battling a global pandemic.

She says it is an “extreme example” of the kinds of things she has been doing since she first transitioned from the emergency room, where she had spent the majority of her nursing career at that point, into public health.

She started as a public health nurse in the county’s certified home health agency in 1992, then was promoted to supervising public health nurse, director of patient services and, in 2003, to her current position. Ironically, one of her most notable accomplishments within the department was decertifying the home care agency that first brought her into the realm of public health.

“At the time, we were one of the first in our area to do that,” she says. “When home care started, it was logical to be done out of the health department,” but as the years progressed, they couldn’t compete with the private agencies. “Because we were so small, we were pulling staff from some of our public health programs to cover the home care when we’d get a lot of patients.” She says that the decision, while difficult, was “the right thing to do and the right direction to take at the time.” Now, she adds, few health departments still retain their own certified home health agencies.

As a full-service health department serving approximately 35,000 residents of that area of the Finger Lakes, Swinehart’s office manages both traditional public health prevention, wellness, community outreach, and health education programs (like early intervention and preschool programs for children with developmental delays and a tuberculous control program) as well as consumer safety and environ-

mental health services such as restaurant and pool inspections.

This two-fold focus was critical in managing a Hepatis A outbreak in 2015, Swinehart notes.

“The environmental health staff initiated the response with the restaurant to find out how many meals were served, while the nurses were concentrating on investigating the patients,” she says.

Swinehart’s staff learned of the outbreak on a Thursday night, when a foodservice worker tested positive for Hepatitis A. After assessing the magnitude of the outbreak and its risk to the community, they set up a vaccination clinic 48 hours later, where 3,000 people were inoculated against the highly contagious disease over the course of a week. Their efforts were recognized with a proclamation signed

by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“That was really something special for us,” she says.

Swinehart says that experience validated the efficiency of the emergency preparedness plans they have in place, and confirmed the effectiveness of an alliance she helped to develop with health departments in seven other counties in the Finger Lakes region to facilitate a collaborative response to public health emergencies. She notes that this was the first time she invoked the assistance of the alliance, which was established in 2003.

The Hep A outbreak strengthened that alliance, and the coronavirus pandemic reinforced the need for the collaboration, she says, especially as they worked to develop protocols and isolation and quarantine orders.

In the first few months of 2020, Swinehart’s team was fielding thousands of calls every day from doctors who wondered if they needed to test patients exhibiting symptoms and from residents who had questions about the novel virus.

“Those first few months were just hectic,” she says.

“No one who doesn’t work in public health can begin to understand what this last year has been like.

When other businesses were closed, public health was working 24/7.”

In addition to developing the protocols, Swinehart and her staff were called on to do the investigations necessary to place and monitor people in isolation and quarantine, and to enforce the governor’s executive orders around masking and social distancing. When vaccines became available, they set up clinics. One unique challenge they face in vaccinating their population is the Amish and Mennonite communities that reside in their county.

“They are pretty resistant to getting the vaccine,” Swinehart says, “but we’re trying to reach out to them.”

Now that the demand for testing has decreased and that for vaccines has leveled off, Swinehart is

focusing on providing guidance and education as COVID requirements relax. She is working with businesses to help them understand evolving capacity requirements, and with the schools to help them prepare for the return of sports and other activities. She planned a vaccination clinic specifically for 16- and 17-year-olds to inoculate them before prom and graduation, and says she is “preparing for the worst and hoping for the best” as the warmer weather brings more people together outdoors.

“People want to get back to normal,” she acknowledges, “but the message has to be ‘Let’s hang on a little bit longer, let’s get more of our population vaccinated, let’s try and get a handle on this, we don’t want to open up too soon.’”

While the coronavirus has presented her with unprecedented challenges, it also has given her one of her proudest career moments, when she accepted a Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Seneca Falls Rotary Club, the highest recognition that Rotary can bestow upon its members. Swinehart and her team were honored for their leadership and service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The fact that our department was honored based on the work that we had done so far through COVID was very humbling,” she says.

Although Swinehart (who is proud to say that only one other county health director in the state has served longer than she has) never envisioned a career in public health, she says that the education she received at Niagara gave her “the confidence that I could do something different.”

“That’s one of the beauties of nursing,” she says.

“There are different kinds of nursing that you can do.”

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CATCHING UP Class Notes

1960s

Paul M. McManus, B.S.’65, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Heart and Vascular Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Helen Foran McMenamin, B.S.’65, has been an active member of and Eucharistic minister for the Stephen Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade, Tenn., for three years.

During the COVID pandemic, she has connected with many in the congregation to help them through this difficult time, both by assisting in meeting their needs and by leading programs with another minister for grieving spouses and parents. “We may be retired, but we are still a caring and sharing parish, and God has truly blessed us,” she said.

Most Rev. Raymond Chappetto, B.A.’67, M. Div.’70, SOLA’71, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on May 29, 2021.

Dr. Robert E. Maloney, B.S.’67, M.S.’69, was named to “America’s Best Doctors, Top Internist,” representing UMass Memorial Community Medical Group, Spencer, Mass.

James Ragonnet, M.A.’67, published “Your Inner Golf Guru: The Science of Rethinking, Relearning & Revamping Your Swing,” with Skyhorse Publishing in October 2020.

Maureen (DelZoppo) Richardson, B.S.’67, works for Interfaith Social Services, Quincy, Mass., a multiservice center for South Shore families in need. She is a trauma specialist and a former nurse.

achieve NYC’s Zero Waste goals. Diane is also celebrating her 20-year anniversary as an instructor on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University, and recently formed Sea Squirt Productions to further documentary filmmaking.

1970s

Kevin Crawford, BBA’70, was elected to the board of directors at Hudson Resources, a mining and exploration company in Vancouver, British Columbia. Kevin is a retired executive who held several positions and served as chairman of the board at SCR-Sibelco, a global industrial minerals company based in Belgium.

Maj. Mark Kelly, B.S.’70, received the Leadership Award from the National Military Officers Association of America in recognition of his commitment to “Never Stop Serving” veterans.

He completed six years as the Fort Knox, Ky. area chapter president and 11 years on the board of directors.

Cynthia Thornburg Scaringe, B.S.’75, retired from nursing in July 2020. Cynthia, who earned a master’s degree in nursing education from Syracuse University, was most recently the chair of the nursing department at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wash., where she taught as a nursing instructor for 21 years. “I believe my nursing preparation at Niagara prepared me for so many avenues of nursing that gave me a large scope of practice as a foundation for my passion as a nursing instructor,” she said.

Mary (Welch) Beer, B.S.’77, received an honorary doctorate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in May as part of its commencement ceremonies. She is director of public health for Ontario County, a position she has held since 2008. In this role, she manages disease prevention, health education promotion, and community health protection for more than 100,000 residents. Most recently, she led the county’s COVID-19 response, implementing safety guidelines, investigating and containing outbreaks, and overseeing public communications.

(See page 20 for more on her work as director of public health.)

Ted Fisk, B.S.’78, retired after 42 years in the transportation and logistics business in various management capacities with Santa Fe Railway, Hub Group, Matson Logistics, and Leggett & Platt. He is enjoying his time now with his wife by bird watching, model railroading, gardening, hiking, and camping.

Alex Bradnam, M.S.Ed.’79

Lee Kinnally, B.A.’69, has been named chairman of the board of St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers and Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

22 Niagara University

Jim Rosebrock, B.A.’76, retired in June from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice, after a combined 45 years of military and federal service.

Brian Hassett, B.A.’76, was named to Nashville Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO” and “Most Influential” lists. He is president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Nashville, Tenn.

Rev. James Kane, B.A.’68, SOLA’71, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination on May 29, 2021.

Diane (Dokla) Orr, B.A.’69, was re-elected treasurer for the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board, which serves as an advisory source for the Manhattan Borough president, city council, city agencies, and other New York City stakeholders on solid waste issues, and acts as a catalyst for advancing ideas, insights, and initiatives to

Thomas Mimnaugh, BBA’76, has been recognized on the Forbes “Best in State Wealth Advisors” list. He is managing director-investments of Wells Fargo Advisors in Red Bank, N.J.

Col. (Ret.) Dick Rodney, B.A.’52, reports that he completed another year of golf and shot his age, 90, which continued a streak he had since he was 73. He is pictured here at an end-of-season event at the golf course at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. He says he thinks of the university and the wonderful experience and education he received there often, and sends his warmest regards to his classmates for continued good health and happiness and for the success of the university.

Alex Bradnam, M.S.Ed.’79, was elected vice chair of the District School Board of Niagara in December 2020. He has 45 years in education as a teacher, principal, union leader, and is in his second term as a DSBN trustee.

1980s

Marie Nolan, B.S.’80, has been appointed interim dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Marie previously served as executive vice dean of the school, associate dean for academic affairs, chair of the Department of Acute and Chronic Care, and director of the Nursing PhD program.

CATCHING UP Ed Reilly, B.A.’80, retired in January 2021 after a 40-year career at Eyewitness News at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, N.Y. The awardwinning multimedia journalist has covered such historic happenings as the environmental crisis at Love Canal, the first Gulf War, and the release of the American hostages from Iran; was part of an air force supply mission to war-torn Haiti; covered White House press conferences; reported on the visits to Miami, Detroit, and Toronto by Pope John Paul II; and interviewed Hollywood stars in their homes.

John Nolan, B.A.’81, was named president of Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, N.J. He has more than 30 years of professional business and fundraising experience for a variety of nonprofit organizations.

Stephen Saleski, BBA’83, has been promoted from real estate salesperson to real estate associate broker at Sutton Real Estate Co., Syracuse, N.Y. He joined the Sutton Real Estate team in October 2019 and has been working in commercial and residential sales for the last 13 years.

Mark Gabriele, B.A.’84, was named to the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame board of directors. The former NU baseball player was inducted into the Niagara Falls Hall of Fame in 2017 and was the first baseball player inducted into the NU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Diane Perri Roberts, MBA’84, was named to the 2020 editions of Upstate New York Super Lawyers and Legal Elite of Western New York, and was among those recognized in Super Lawyers’ 2020 “Top 25 Women List.” Only 5% of lawyers in the state are selected for Super Lawyers’ annual listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. She is a senior partner at the law firm of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP. Kevin Daly, B.S.’85, was named chief commercial officer for East Coast Warehouse & Distribution, a leading temperature-controlled logistics provider to the food and beverage industry located on the Port of New York/New Jersey and in Philadelphia, Pa. In this role, he will lead the company’s market development strategy for all segments and geographies.

Barry Katzman, MBA’85, has been named to the advisory board of Ayurcann Holdings Corp., a leading postharvest solution provider with a focus on providing and creating custom

processes and pharma-grade products for the adult-use and medical cannabis industry in Canada. He is a senior executive and entrepreneur who had held leadership positions at Molson, as well as ownership roles at six different wineries, including Creekside and Stoney Ridge Estates.

Carolyn (Wood) Lawless, BBA’87, joined Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC as principal in the tax department. She is a CPA with more than 30 years of public accounting experience.

Cheryl (Myslinski) Royce, B.S.’87, was promoted to deputy clinical director of the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, in April 2020. In this role, she manages clinical operations for the CCR’s more than 200 clinical research trials.

Brian Klock, BBA’90, joined M&T Bank as senior vice president. He previously was managing director and head of large regional U.S. bank research at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

Maureen Finney, B.S.’91, has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Hilbert College, Hamburg, N.Y. She comes to Hilbert after 20 years at D’Youville College, where she served as dean and professor for the School of Health Professions since 2015.

Robert Frost, M.S.Ed.’93, published his third book, “The Spaces In Between,” and his poem, “Somewhere Deep” was published in The Buffalo News.

Joe Mitchell, B.S.’93, was appointed chief executive officer of the board of directors of SPI Energy’s Phoenix Motorcars in February 2021. He has 30 years of automotive industry experience.

Cheryl (Myslinski) Royce, B.S.’87

Virginia Barnhill, B.S.’88, retired after 22 years as an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Mark Kay, BBA’88, joined Coastal States Bank, Savannah, Ga., as senior vice president, commercial lending relationship manager. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as vice president and senior relationship manager at Wells Fargo Bank.

Michael Lisa, B.A.’89, was named CEO of Corporate Synergies, a national insurance and employee benefits brokerage and consultancy in New York City.

1990s

Jeff Dunn, MBA’90, executive vice president of sports and entertainment for Truist Financial Corp., has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s first-ever list of Georgia’s 30 “Most Influential Sports Business Figures” of 2020.

Jeff leads a national team at Truist that focuses on corporate and individual clients in both the sports and entertainment industries, and works with top coaches, athletes, and entertainers.

Michael Rutkowski, B.S.’93, was named director of strategic initiatives at B3 Group, an IT consulting firm specializing in digital services and innovative technology solutions.

He is a 29-year Army veteran and former executive at MCI. Dr. Abigail Mitchell, B.S.’95, was recognized

by Continental Who’s Who as a “Top Educator” for her remarkable contributions in the fields of nursing and health education and her professional excellence as professor and director of the nursing management and quality leadership master’s program at D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y. She also works with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education as an on-site evaluator.

Robert Donner, BBA’96, retired in September 2020 after 30 years of service with the City of Niagara Falls, N.Y. His most recent position was senior auditor in the payroll division, responsible for processing the biweekly pay of the city’s 600 employees.

Anna (Lichtfeldt) Jensen, B.A.’96, graduated from George Mason University in 2020 with a certificate in special education, K-12 students who access the general education curriculum.

She is now a special education teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools in Burke, Va. Melissa Hodgdon, M.S.Ed.’99, is in her 30th year as a college women’s basketball coach. She joined the University of Hartford women’s

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CATCHING UP basketball team’s coaching staff in 2020-21, after having served as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at Wheaton College for 16 years. Prior to that, she coached at Holy Cross, Niagara University, the University of New Hampshire, and Framingham State.

Jacquelyn (Marron) Lanpher, B.A.’99, was elected as the first vice president of the Spencerport Teacher’s Association in May 2020. She is completing her 22nd year as a special education/ math teacher at Spencerport High School, Spencerport, N.Y. Jared Taft, B.S.’99, M.S.Ed.’00, has been named superintendent of the Alexander, N.Y., Central School District. He has been interim superintendent since September 2020, and has served as principal at Alexander Elementary School, and in the Royalton-Hartland, Lackawanna, and Lewiston-Porter central school districts. Jared began his career in education in 2000 as a teacher at Roy H. Mann Intermediate School in Brooklyn, N.Y.

2000s

Lt. Col. Charles Schiralli, B.A.’00, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard in May 2020.

Jodie Papa, BBA’05, has been elected president of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. She is a past fourth, third, and second vice president, treasurer, and secretary of NAPIA. Jodie is manager of National Fire Adjustment Co., Inc.’s headquarters office in Buffalo, N.Y. Zach Casale, B.S.’06, was appointed as a managing director at M&T Realty Capital Corp.

Matthew Leardini, MBA’06, vice president of search and advertising at Synacor Inc., was among the young Western New York leaders honored as part of Business First of Buffalo’s “40 Under Forty,” for his professional success and community involvement.

Lisa (Perry) Harris, B.S.’07, accepted the position of general manager of the Buffalo Launch Club, Grand Island, N.Y. Jessica DePetrocellis, BBA’09, MBA’10, was recently promoted to controller at Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP, Buffalo, N.Y.

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Niagara University

2010s

Shelia Hunt, MBA’11, was honored at Buffalo Business First’s second annual IDEA (Inclusion Diversity Equity Awareness) Awards in March 2021. She is chief managed care officer at OLV Human Services, Lackawanna, N.Y., and was recognized for being a compassionate community leader who advocates for clients and policy changes, bridges cultural divides, and fosters an environment that promotes diversity and inclusion.

Richard Phillips, B.S.’11, a police officer with the Amherst Police Department, was among the young Western New York leaders honored as part of Business First of Buffalo’s “40 Under Forty,” for his professional success and community involvement.

Chad Pichoske, B.S.’17, published “We Almost Made It,” a fictional story about the relationships you build in college and how important they become once you graduate and go your separate ways. It is available through Amazon. Chad is director of annual giving for Duquesne University athletics.

Brittany Austin, B.A.’18, was a featured author in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Teens.” Her story, “Room 8,” was first published in a previous book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Possible.” It tells the story of a seventh grade student whose experience helping autistic students inspires her to pursue a career in special education.

Morgan Baughman, B.A.’19, was named head coach of the girls’ basketball team at Red Land High School, Lewisberry, Pa.

Hunter Sumner, MBA’13, joined Zamma Corp., Orange, Va., as product manager. In this role, he will lead, direct, and perform all aspects of product management for the company’s flooring /decorative moldings and Cap-A-Tread product portfolio. He most recently held the position of channel manager with AccuTec Blades.

Elizabeth Faxlanger, BBA’19, B.S.’19, MBA’20, joined Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP, Buffalo, N.Y., as a staff accountant in October 2020.

Alyssa Hollingshead, B.S.’14, was promoted to director of rehabilitation at Aaron Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Rochester, N.Y.

Sara Wagner, B.A.’19, was honored as a Elizabeth Faxlanger, BBA’19, semi-finalist for the B.S.’19, MBA’20 2021 Anne Arundel County, Md., Public Schools Teacher of the Year awards. She has been a special education teacher at Folger McKinsey Elementary School for six years.

Peter Mrazik, CPA, BBA’15, M.S.’17, joined Lumsden & McCormick, LLP as an audit senior accountant.

Amanda Sprenger, B.S.’16, was awarded the Sally Rambo Burns Scholarship from The Peter Mrazik, CPA, BBA’15, Club Foundation.

M.S.’17 She is director of food and beverage at The Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Andrew Parisian, MBA’17, was promoted to bank officer and wealth adviser at Canandaigua National Bank & Trust. He started his career in 2017 as a teller, then was a financial services representative. He later joined the wealth management team as a wealth associate.

2020s

Rebecca Lindeman, MBA’20, is a marketing representative for Quail Summit, a St. Ann’s Community partner in Canandaigua, N.Y. She previously served as a communications specialist for the marketing and admissions teams at St. Ann’s Community.

Emillie Wright, B.S.’20, has been promoted to assistant marketing manager for Galbani Foodservice, a division of Lactalis American Group.

She previously was a trade marketing intern with Lactalis.

CATCHING UP Marriages/Anniversaries Stephanie Svigel, B.A.’09, married Sean Ule on Oct. 17, 2020.

Rochelle Robinson, B.A.’15, married Evan Salce, on Sept. 11, 2020.

Sean, B.A.’09, and Jenna (Coons) McDonnell, B.A.’10, welcomed a daughter, Bailey Eileen McDonnell, on Dec. 19, 2020.

Molly (McKeown) Wren, B.A.’10, and her husband, Anthony, welcomed a son, Harrison William Wren, on Sept. 3, 2020.

Jason, BBA’11, MBA’13, and Hilary (Sharkey) Fischer, BBA’12, MBA’13, welcomed a daughter, Abigail Lillian Fischer, on Nov. 27, 2020.

In Memoriam Alvin E. Shults, B.S.’41, passed away Dec. 28, 2020. He was owner and operator of Alard Equipment Corp., a business he founded in the early 1950s.

Samuel Cappione Sr., B.S.’43, passed away Nov. 23, 2020. He was owner of his family’s Boardwalk Restaurant in Massena, N.Y. Our condolences to his son, Samuel Cappione Jr., BBA’79.

Rev. Msgr. Cornelius Patrick O’Leary, B.A.’44, M.A.’47, SOLA’48, passed away Feb. 14, 2020. He was a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force until 1980.

Sean and Stephanie (Svigel) Ule, B.A.’09

Evan and Rochelle (Robinson) Salce, B.A.’15

Births/Adoptions JP (John Paul) Sokolowski, B.S.’98, and his wife, Elise, welcomed a daughter, Marissa Rochelle Sokolowski, on Feb. 20, 2020.

Mario Long, B.S.’02, and his wife, Ashley, welcomed a daughter, Adriana Marie Long, on May 17, 2020.

Casey and Becky (Berowski) Boome, BFA’07, with their son, Henry.

Andrew, B.A.’12, and Kaitlyn (Bayne) Hart, B.A.’12, welcomed a daughter, Eva Joan Hart, on Nov. 23, 2020.

Demi (Bumbaco) McGloin, B.A.’14, and her husband, Mike, welcomed a son, Cooper Robert McGloin, on Oct. 23, 2020. He joins big sister Harper.

Adriana Marie Long

Dr. Melvin B. Dyster, B.S.’48, passed away April 13, 2021. His more than 60-year career as a family practitioner included the position of chief of family medicine at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center for over 25 years.

He also organized and directed the student health clinic at Niagara University for more than 20 years. Our condolences to Mary Pat (Dyster) Young, B.S.’78, M.S.Ed.’04; Dr. John Dyster, B.S.’80; Dr. Timothy Dyster, B.S.’81; Madeline Dyster-Camann, B.S.’83; Melvin M. Dyster, BBA’85; Margaret (Dyster) Gabriele, B.S.’91; and Mark Dyster, A.A.’86, on the death of their father; to Terry Camann, BBA’79; Lyn (Celenza) Dyster, ’80; and Sharon (Blood) Dyster, B.A.’83, on the death of their father-in-law;

Abigail Lillian Fischer

Devin, B.S.’04, and Samantha (Campanella) Farley, B.A.’06, welcomed a daughter, Olivia Grace Farley, on Sept. 29, 2020. She joins big brother Michael.

Jacqueline (LaNasa) Gietz, B.A.’05, and her husband, Dylan, welcomed a daughter, Emerie Rose Gietz, on July 8, 2020.

Becky (Berowski) Boome, BFA’07, and her husband, Casey, welcomed a son, Henry Boome, on Aug. 15, 2020.

Eric, BBA’08, and Beth (Cotton) Thuman, B.A.’08, welcomed a son, James Michael Thuman, on July 9, 2020.

A friendship forged through a shared commitment to social justice led Tony Caccomo, ’69, to drive from his home in Decatur, Ill., to Niagara University to meet Dr. SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai in person for the first time. Caccomo, who teaches a free course that empowers minority communities to create generational wealth through real estate, had been introduced to Dr. Aihiokhai, an associate professor of systematic theology at the University of Portland, by a mutual friend. Although the two communicated frequently through social media, their schedules had never permitted them to meet face to face. Through Caccomo’s Niagara University connections, Dr. Aihiokhai was invited to be a featured speaker at the university’s Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Equity, Race, and Mission’s Theological Reflection Series in April. Caccomo took that opportunity to drive 11 hours from Illinois to Buffalo to pick Dr. Aihiokhai up at the airport and serve as his “Uber driver” and tour guide for the duration of his time in Western New York. Their “friendship transcends physical presence,” said Dr. Aihiokhai.

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CATCHING UP and to Katie Young, B.A.’04; Christopher Camann, BBA’08; Megan Dyster-Colosi, BBA’12, MBA’15; Rebecca Young, B.A.’13; and Melvin C. Dyster, B.A.’14, on the death of their grandfather.

Brother Frederick Chiappone, O.S.F.S., B.S.’49, M.S.Ed.’80, passed away Nov. 19, 2020.

He taught high school chemistry and was a member of the faculty at Bishop Duffy High School in Niagara Falls, N.Y., from 1964-1980.

Justin Patanella, B.S.’49, passed away Dec. 4, 2020. He was an analytical chemistry consultant with Will (later VWR) Scientific in Rochester, N.Y., until his retirement.

James Wrixon Sr., MBA’52, passed away Nov. 11, 2020. He was a business professor at Eastern Michigan University, Indiana University –Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Indiana Tech.

Alfred Zielonka, B.S.’52, passed away Oct. 2, 2020. He was a professor at Rosary Hill/ Daemen College, retiring in 1992.

Sister Carmel Petonyak, M.M.S., B.S.’53, passed away Oct. 19, 2020. She spent 31 years in the medical mission field in India.

Doris M. Skivington, B.A.’49, passed away Dec. 6, 2020. The former six-term Niagara County legislator was employed by the Niagara Falls City School District and the New York State Parks Department.

Rev. Stanley J. Allie, B.A.’54, passed away Nov. 15, 2020. He was assigned to different parishes in New York state until 1969, when he moved to Alaska and served in the Archdiocese of Anchorage for 31 years.

Frank T. Andolina, B.S.’50, passed away March 8, 2021. He was a professor of hematology and medical lab technology at SUNY Alfred until his retirement in 1985.

John P. Bennison, B.A.’54, passed away Feb. 11, 2021. He had a 25-year career with the Boy Scouts of America.

G. Joseph Buckley, B.A.’50, passed away Oct. 30, 2020. His career in education included both teaching and administrative positions, culminating as principal of Pashley Elementary School in the Burnt Hills–Ballston Lake, N.Y., Central School District.

Donald F. Calkins Jr., BBA’50, passed away Dec. 10, 2020. He was president of his family’s business, D.F. Calkins Lumber Company.

James P. Reagan, B.S.’50, M.S.Ed.’58, passed away Dec. 20, 2020. He was president of the James P. Reagan Agency in Marcellus, N.Y. Donald J. Bennett, B.S.’52, passed away Nov. 14, 2020. He worked for Vineland Growers Co-operative in Ontario, Canada, for 27 years.

Richard Majka, B.A.’52, passed away Aug. 8, 2020. He was a social worker, probation officer, college lecturer, nonprofit executive, and nursing home administrator before his retirement.

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longtime member of the Oakland County Mental Health Authority.

Patrick J. Berrigan, ’54, passed away March 6, 2021. He was an attorney in Niagara Falls. Our condolences to his brothers, Paul Berrigan, B.S.’54, and Thomas Berrigan, B.S.’55.

Alexander W. Cipriano, B.A.’54, passed away April 3, 2021. His 30-year military career included multiple tours in Europe, Korea, and Vietnam, during which he earned the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism and multiple Purple Heart medals.

Monsignor Michael Del Vecchio, SOLA’54, passed away March 14, 2021. He was pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Buffalo for 25 years.

Our condolences to John Moore, ’54, on the death of his wife, Denise Moore, who passed away July 26, 2020.

Paul Miller, B.S.’52, passed away Nov. 4, 2020.

He was a retired Buffalo school teacher.

Francis M. Ruggiero, B.S.’54, M.A.’60, passed away Jan. 30, 2021. He was employed for 38 years as an English and Spanish teacher in the Niagara Falls and Niagara Wheatfield school systems, and also taught Spanish at St. Joseph’s School in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Eleanor (Chebowski) Rzepecki, B.S.’52, passed away June 3, 2020. She worked in public health administration, retiring from the Washtenaw County, Mich., health department, and was a

Capt. Christopher Vatidis (Ret.), B.S.’54, passed away Dec. 14, 2020. He had a 26-year career as an aviator in the U.S. Navy and is the recipient of a number of honors, including the

Niagara University

Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal.

Bernard Arnold Jr., BBA’55, passed away Jan. 3, 2021. He retired after a long career with Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va. Paul F. Dupuis, M.A.’55, passed away March 20, 2021. He was a social studies teacher before becoming an assistant superintendent for the Board of Cooperative Education Services, Long Island, N.Y. Joanne (Machelor) Moscati, B.S.’56, passed away March 26, 2021. She spent her early career as a school nurse at Hutch Tech and her later career as a psychiatric nurse at Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital. Our condolences to her grandchildren, James McCoy, B.A.’12, Courtney McCoy, B.A.’15, B.S.’18, and Jennie McCoy, B.A.15, M.S.Ed.’18.

William D. Broderick Sr., B.A.’57, passed away March 18, 2021. He was a lawyer in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Our condolences to his wife, Joan (Thompson) Broderick, M.S.Ed.’88, M.S.Ed.’04; to his brother, Peter Broderick, B.A.’61; to his sister, Susan (Broderick) Moore, B.A.’68; to his brother-in-law, Joseph Moore, B.A.’68; to his sons, Robert Broderick, B.S.’87, and William Broderick Jr., B.A.’87; to his daughters-in-law, Lori (Crowley) Broderick, B.S.’89, and Colleen (Munch) Broderick, B.S.’89; and to his grandson, Tyler Broderick, B.S.’15.

Rev. Richard J. Devine, C.M., M.A.’57, passed away May 4, 2021. He served in several positions at Niagara University from 1955 until 1960, then returned in July 1999 to serve as acting president of NU. As acting president, he advanced the plans for the renovation of St. Vincent’s Hall and helped establish the Niagara Prep program with Niagara Catholic High School. He then joined St. John’s University as a senior administrator and tenured faculty member, authoring a number of scholarly publications on medical ethics.

Our condolences to Col. (Ret.) Francis Creighton, B.A.’58, on the death of his wife, Elizabeth Creighton, who passed away Dec. 26, 2020.

Robert Canfield, BBA’59, passed away Dec. 27, 2020. He retired from a 32-year career in the FBI in 1994.

CATCHING UP Patricia (Capone) Hedrich, B.S.’59, passed away Jan. 28, 2021.

Francis Zagrobelny, BBA’63, passed away Sept.

25, 2020.

Our condolences to Monica (Cerina) Sweeney, B.S.’59, on the death of her husband, Dr. John Sweeney, who passed away Dec. 29, 2020.

Rev. Michael A. Farano, B.S.’64, M.S.’67, SOLA’68, passed away March 24, 2021. He had several assignments in the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., including chancellor of the diocese, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Loudonville, and vicar general.

Francis D. McCann Jr., B.A.’60, passed away April 2, 2021. He was a professor emeritus of history at the University of New Hampshire, where he taught from 1972-2007. His scholarly life was devoted to the study of Brazil; he authored books, articles, journal reviews, and hundreds of entries in the Handbook of Latin American Studies. Our condolences to his wife, Diane (Sankis) McCann, B.S.’62.

John McLane, B.A.’65, passed away Feb. 20, 2021. He was a lawyer with Boyle and Anderson P.C. for 50 years.

John R. Falk, B.A.’66, passed away Sept. 28, 2019. He worked for Reynolds Metals and National Can, based in Chicago.

Thomas Tripp, B.S.’60, passed away Jan. 27, 2021. Our condolences to his daughter, Barbara (Tripp) Mazzola, B.S.’88.

Joseph Heitzler, B.A.’66, passed away Oct. 13, 2020.

Judith Ann (Bottorf ) Culligan, B.S.’61, passed away Nov. 23, 2020.

George Rice Jr., B.S.’66, passed away Oct. 15, 2020. He was a partner with Spellman, Rice, Schure & Polizzi in Garden City, N.Y.

Rev. Richard T. Reece B.A.’61, passed away Feb. 27, 2021. He taught chemistry and held administrative positions at Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, Pa., and Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria, Va. He also served three terms as provincial superior of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province and spent nearly 25 years as associate mission procurator for the Oblate Community in Wyndmoor, Pa. Dr. James R. Tompkins, M.A.’61, passed away Feb. 5, 2021. He retired as a professor at Appalachian State after a long career in education that focused on working with exceptional children. He was also the author of numerous articles and books.

Andrew S. McGowan, M.A.’62, passed away March 4, 2021. He was a professor in the College of Education, Department of Counseling and Development, at Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, until his retirement in 2014.

John Edward McNeill, B.S.’62, passed away Aug. 7, 2020. He worked for Eastman Kodak, retiring as a data manager.

Samuel Certo, M.S.Ed.’63, passed away Oct. 12, 2020. He was an elementary school teacher for the Niagara Falls, N.Y., school district.

Donald Guercio, BBA’63, passed away Nov. 1, 2020. He worked in sales for Proctor and Gamble before establishing Don Guercio Sports Sales, Inc. He was also general manager, owner, and show host at BlabTV in Sarasota, Fla.

Virginia (Bursik) Carl, B.S.’67, passed away Sept. 20, 2020. She worked as an RN at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and was also a home health RN. Rosemary (Wik) Cayea, B.A.’67, passed away Oct. 23, 2020. She taught Spanish at a number of high schools, retiring from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, in Plainsboro, N.J. Our condolences to her husband, Richard Cayea, B.A.’67.

Richard Guile, B.S.’67, passed away Nov. 27, 2020. He was an operations manager at AT&T in Syracuse, N.Y, for 31 years. After retiring, he became a bus driver for the West Genesee School District, and Zamboni driver for the Town of Camillus.

Our condolences to Maureen (DelZoppo) Richardson, B.S.’67, and to James DelZoppo, B.S.’75, on the death of their mother, Doreen DelZoppo, who passed away Dec. 10, 2020.

Joann (Pastore) Scelsa, B.A.’67, passed away March 21, 2021. She was a longtime Niagara County reporter for The Buffalo News. Our condolences to her husband, Frank Scelsa, B.A.’66, M.S.Ed.’68, and to her daughter, Lisa (Scelsa) Scrufari, B.A.’91.

Our condolences to Anita (Monroe) Cronk, B.S.’69, on the death of her sister, Judith Marra, who passed away April 26, 2021.

Rev. John L. Graden, B.S.’69, passed away Jan. 20, 2021. He was a former high school teacher, led multimedia ministries through song and word, and served as director of Embraced

By God in Stella Niagara, N.Y. Paula (Fick) Jones, M.S.Ed.’69, passed away Feb. 18, 2021. She was a nursing supervisor at Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., where she specialized in caring for sick and premature newborns.

Judith (Goss) Pero, B.A.’69, passed away Dec. 24, 2020. She taught English in the Niagara Falls School District. Our condolences to her son, John Pero III, B.A.’00, M.S.Ed.’05; and to her daughter, Jaime Pero, B.A.’04, M.S.Ed.’06, M.S.Ed.’08, M.S.Ed.’11, M.S.Ed.’17.

Susan (Whitaker) Malone, B.A.’70, passed away Dec. 24, 2020. She was a family therapist for more than 30 years. Our condolences to her husband, William Malone, B.S.’68.

John F. Pero, B.S.’70, passed away March 17, 2021. He was an accountant with National Fuel until his retirement in 2003.

Our condolences to his son, John Pero III, B.A.’00, M.S.Ed.’05; and to his daughter, Jaime Pero, B.A.’04, M.S.Ed.’06, M.S.Ed.’08, M.S.Ed.’11, M.S.Ed.’17.

Jeanne Corcoran Finn, M.S.Ed.’71, passed away Jan. 3, 2021. She founded and served as director of the Fantastico Tutorial program, a volunteer effort that provides academic assistance and language instruction to children and teenagers in the disadvantaged Hill Section of New Haven, Conn., and taught courses to women inmates at a maximum-security prison in Connecticut. Our condolences to her husband, John Finn, ’87 (Hon.), Niagara University trustee emeritus.

Joseph A. Insana, BBA’71, passed away April 10, 2021. He was employed for 32 years as a tax auditor with the New York State Department of Labor, then managed the Falls Side Café after his retirement.

Honorable Hugh B. Scott, B.A.’71, passed away Feb. 19, 2021. He was the first AfricanAmerican to serve as federal prosecutor in Western New York, to head the state attorney general’s office in Buffalo, N.Y., and to be named federal judge in Western New York.

He served on the Niagara University Board of Trustees.

EAGLE/SUMMER 2021

27

CATCHING UP Christine Davitt, B.S.’72, passed away Jan. 11, 2021. She taught parasitology at Washington State University and worked at the Franceschi Microscope and Imaging Center in the Department of Biological Sciences for 32 years until her retirement in 2016.

Alphonse Peter Montagna, M.S.Ed.’72, passed away Nov. 27, 2020. He owned Al’s Seafood Company, Hyannis Seafood Corp., and Montagna Corp. of Plymouth, Mass., and of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. He also was founder and coach of the NU soccer team and was inducted into the NU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rev. Theodore Rios, C.M., ’72, passed away Feb. 8, 2021.

Brother Sean Keefe, B.A.’74, passed away Jan. 6, 2021. He was a Carmelite missionary in Australia and Timor-Leste.

Lorraine Anderson-Kirst, B.S.’75, passed away Nov. 6, 2020. She was on the faculty of D’Youville College’s School of Nursing.

Our condolences to Thomas Burch III, B.A.’75, on the death of his brother, Kevin Burch, who passed away Jan. 4, 2021.

Our condolences to William Carroll, B.S.’75; to Timothy Carroll, B.A.’84; and to Jacqueline Carroll Thorpe, B.A.’86, on the death of their mother, JoAnn Rand, who passed away April 21, 2021.

Our condolences to Elizabeth Caruso, B.S.’75, on the death of her father; and to Ellen Caruso, B.A.’05, on the death of her grandfather, Frank Sacheli, who passed away Sept. 30, 2020.

John B. Velekkakan, B.A.’75, M.S.Ed.’77, passed away Feb. 12, 2021. He was the owner of Monroe Oxygen and Medical Equipment in Rochester, N.Y.

28

Thomas Glair, M.S.Ed.’77, passed away Nov. 25, 2020. He was executive director of the Genesee County Arc chapter for about 20 years until his retirement.

Our condolences to the Most Rev. David O’Connell, C.M., B.A.’78, on the death of his brother, Arthur O’Connell, who passed away April 24, 2021.

Mary Kay (Westveer) Quinn, B.S.’78, passed away April 15, 2021. She was a liver transplant coordinator at Cleveland Clinic until her retirement in November 2018.

Our condolences to Robert Coleman, B.S.’79, on the death of his father; and to Rosemary (Balunek) Coleman, B.S.’78, on the death of her father-in-law, Paul Coleman, who passed away Jan. 13, 2021.

Our condolences to Sherry (Hunt) DePerro, BBA’84, on the death of her husband, Dennis DePerro, who passed away March 1, 2021.

Our condolences to William Canty, BBA’85, on the death of his father; and to Lorraine (Peta) Canty, B.S.’87, on the death of her father-inlaw, Edward Canty, who passed away March 12, 2021.

Our condolences to Paul Lawless, B.S.’85, on the death of his father, Joseph Lawless, who passed away Jan. 2, 2021.

Our condolences to Christopher Reilly, B.A.’85, on the death of his mother, Barbara Reilly, who passed away Dec. 26, 2020.

Our condolences to Maria Maiorana, BBA’79, and to Lucy (Maiorana) Morgus, BBA’85, on the death of their mother, Fiorina Maiorana, who passed away Dec. 14, 2020.

Our condolences to Rev. Gregory Semeniuk, C.M., B.S.’85, on the death of his father, Mieczyslaw Semeniuk, who passed away May 7, 2021.

Our condolences to the Rev. William Allegretto, C.M., B.A.’80, on the death of his mother, Irene Allegretto, who passed away April 28, 2021.

Our condolences to Annette Simiele, B.A.’85, on the death of her mother, Rosita Simiele, who passed away Dec. 28, 2020.

Our condolences to Donna (Migliore) Green, B.S.’81; and to Jennifer (Migliore) Mason, B.S.’83, on the death of their mother; and to Jessica Mason, B.S.’08, on the death of her grandmother, Mary Migliore, who passed away March 23, 2021.

Sister Catherine McDonough, M.S.Ed.’81, passed away Dec. 29, 2020. She served in elementary education and parish ministry for many years.

Our condolences to Anthony DiMichele, B.A.’76, on the death of his mother, Teresa DiMichele, who passed away Jan. 30, 2021.

Our condolences to Brendan Kelly, B.S.’82; to Maura (Kelly) Swan, B.S.’86; and to Anne (Kelly) Sheridan, B.S.’90, on the death of their mother; and to Patrick Swan, B.S.’86, on the death of his mother-in-law, Jane Kelly, who passed away March 21, 2021.

Jane Gavigan Shaw, M.S.Ed.’76, passed away Nov. 27, 2020. She worked in the human resources department of Boeing Helicopters in Ridley Township, Pa., until her retirement in 2011.

Our condolences to Christopher Ross, BBA’82, on the death of his father; and to Mary (Lawley) Ross, B.S.’82, on the death of her father-in-law, Donald Ross, who passed away Jan. 18, 2021.

Marjorie (Wagner) Chodack, M.S.Ed.’77, passed away Feb. 25, 2021. She was a counselor for at-risk youth and adults struggling with addiction.

Our condolences to Mary (Lawley) Ross, B.S.’82, on the death of her mother; and to Christopher Ross, BBA’82, on the death of

Niagara University

his mother-in-law, Rosemary Lawley, who passed away March 2, 2021.

Thomas Spath, B.S.’85, passed away Oct. 17, 2020. He worked as a sales manager with W.B. Mason. Our condolences to his wife, Lisa (Jackson) Spath, B.S.’85.

Our condolences to Cathy (Nolan) Elmore, B.A.’86, on the death of her father, William Nolan, who passed away Dec. 15, 2020.

John C. McNeil II, B.S.’86, passed away April 3, 2021. He was a carpenter for McNeil Development Co. in Cortland, N.Y. Michael Ishman Sr., MBA’87, passed away Oct. 25, 2020. He was a retired member of the management faculty at Niagara University.

Our condolences to Patrick Soos, B.S.’87, on the death of his mother; and to Lori (Kurdziel) Soos, B.S.’89, MAIS’11, on the death of her mother-in-law, Marie Annette Soos, who passed away Nov. 22, 2020.

Our condolences to Marcene (Bement) Hotchkiss, B.S.’88, on the death of her mother, Suzanne Bement, who passed away Jan. 16, 2021.

Our condolences to Michelle Shrimpton, BFA’89, on the death of her father, Donald

Shrimpton, who passed away Aug. 23, 2020.

He was NU’s first musical director, directing “Fantasticks” in 1966 with Brother Augustine Towey, C.M. He was also director and founder of the NU Glee Club and of the NU show choir/ theatre chorale.

Our condolences to James Ebenhoch, BBA’91, on the death of his brother; and to Michele (Galante) Ebenhoch, B.S.’92, on the death of her brother-on-law, John Ebenhoch, who passed away March 31, 2021.

Karin (Davis) Hannon, B.S.’91, passed away Oct. 20, 2020. Our condolences to her husband, Brian Hannon, B.A.’91.

Our condolences to David Granville, B.A.’92, and to Maria Granville, B.S.’94, on the death of their father, Paul Granville, who passed away Jan. 27, 2021.

Sean P. Murray, B.S.’92, passed away Jan. 5, 2021. He owned GLN Tax and Payroll in Elmira, N.Y. Sharon L. Ciotti, B.S.’97, passed away Feb. 22, 2021. She was a former employee of Disney World, Orlando, Fla., and Turning Stone Casino, Verona, N.Y.

Compu-Mail in Buffalo, N.Y., and co-director of programming and special events for Buffalo Young Nonprofit Professionals.

Brock Curtis, A.A.’18, passed away Jan. 12, 2021. Our condolences to his mother, Dr. Deborah Curtis, B.S.’84, vice president of international relations and Brennan Center at Niagara University. (See page 10 for information on a scholarship established in Brock’s memory.)

Becky L. Davis, B.S.’19, passed away Feb. 1, 2021.

Our condolences to Tom Burns, associate vice president for public, external, and government relations at Niagara University, on the death of his brother, and to James Burns, B.A.’18, and Brigid Burns, B.A.’20, on the death of their uncle, Michael Burns, who passed away Nov. 10, 2020.

Kurt Von Voetsch passed away Oct. 14, 2020.

He was art gallery manager at the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University and an adjunct professor in the fine arts.

Share Your News With Us! We’d love to know what’s new with you!

Please use this form to submit your information for publication in the Eagle magazine. All information submitted for publication must be signed by the alum listed. Only information submitted on this form, via employers’ public relations departments, available in published articles, or emailed to Lisa McMahon, Eagle editor (lmcmahon@ niagara.edu) will be considered for publication.

Mail form to: Lisa McMahon Office of Public Relations Niagara University, N.Y. 14109 We also encourage you to send photos along with your note. Digital photos should be taken at the camera’s highest quality setting and emailed to lmcmahon@niagara.edu with a brief description of the photo and the names and class years of the people in it.

Due to the volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee publication of class notes or photos in the Eagle magazine.

Name (first, middle, maiden, married)

Class of

Signature

Our condolences to Eric Hall, B.A.’99, on the death of his stepfather, Christopher Brown, who passed away April 4, 2021.

Career Notes/Retirement Update/ Community Service

Our condolences to Elizabeth (Woodard) Taylor, B.S.’99, on the death of her father, Robert Woodard Jr., who passed away Oct. 16, 2020.

Our condolences to Debra Hastee, B.S.’01, on the death of her mother, Sheila Collins, who passed away Nov. 3, 2020.

Denise Y. Easterling, B.S.’04, M.S.Ed.’07, passed away Jan. 31, 2021. She was the president of the New Niagara Community Center and assisted in the establishment of the Underground Railroad Heritage Interpretive Center Museum in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Bradley D. Forness, B.S.’05, passed away Dec. 19, 2020.

Gwendolyn Zinermon, M.A.’07, passed away April 26, 2021. She was a special education teacher at School 59 before becoming the first director of its 21st Century Program, an after-school academic program for middle and high school students.

Allison Jensen, B.S.’15, passed away Jan. 7, 2021. She was a marketing coordinator at

Wedding Announcement Married to

For the past year and a half, Joel Gerberich, ’18, and Dan Fleming, ’18, have been living in a small village in the Boya Hills of South Sudan, near Kapoeta, as missionaries with an organization called Africa Inland Mission. The two alums work to take the Gospel to people who have not heard the name of Jesus with the hope of seeing Christ-centered churches among all African peoples.

Gerberich and Fleming have spent much of their time since they arrived in February 2020 learning the local language, immersing themselves in the culture, and building relationships with the rural Laarim people. They have also had opportunities to travel to Nairobi for rest and relaxation, where they stay in the Flora Hostel and visit with Buffalo native Sister Kathy Meyer, a Consolata Missionary Sister who has been assigned to Kenya since 1990. The three realized they had more in common than a life of service when Fleming wore his NU shirt on their most recent trip to the hostel. Upon seeing the shirt, Sr. Kathy pulled out her NU Class of 1980 keychain. “We now have a little Niagara family here in Nairobi,” said Gerberich.

NU Class of

Date of wedding

birth/adoption Announcement Birth/Adoption DOB Baby’s Name ❏ Daughter ❏ Son

Spouse

NU Class of

EAGLE/SUMMER 2021

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Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Niagara University, N.Y. Permit No.1 Office of Institutional Advancement P.O. Box 2008 Niagara University, N.Y., 14109

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

ALUMNI

Let’s get out and see the world!

Join fellow Niagara University alumni on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Ireland that is now rescheduled for Easter 2022 (April 15-23)!

Experience the beauty, hospitality, and history of Ireland through numerous locally guided tours, unique adventures, and nightly dining and entertainment events reflecting a special “off-the-beaten path” approach to travel.

For more information, a more detailed itinerary, or to make your reservation, contact our travel hosts, Miracolo Tours, at www.miracolotours.com and open the link “NU Ireland” at the top of their homepage. Or contact our Miracolo rep, Rocco Claps, at 800-205-7413 x 706 or rclaps@miracolotours.com.

Don’t miss this unique chance to share a special travel experience specifically designed for you and fellow Niagara alumni!