Regis Today Magazine Spring 2019

THE MAGAZINE OF REGIS COLLEGE Spring 2019

SPEAKING HER MIND

From the Regis Herald to The New York Times, journalist Carol Giacomo ’70 has gone to great lengths to get her story.

BE SOCIAL

Andriana Harris ’19 (left) and Diana Tran ’16 work with DNA samples in a Harvard Medical School lab. Read more about their research and partnership on page 10.

Regis College Alumni Regis College

@regis_ma

@regiscollege_ma

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Regis College

Alexis Baum Senior Director of Advancement Communications Editor | alexis.baum@regiscollege.edu Kristen L. Walsh Managing Editor | kmwcreative.com

Board of Trustees 2019

Honorable Sabina T. Herlihy ’81, JD

Chair John J. Tegan Jr., MEd

Kathleen S. Jose ’87, ’94, MSN, RN

Lee Hogan, CSJ, ’61, PhD Ruth Sanderson Kingsbury ’57

Members

Peter Langenus, JD

Lilly Pereira Designer | aldeia.design

Ernest Bartell, CSC, PhD (Emeritus)

Michael LaRhette, MEd

Regis Today is published twice a year. © 2019, Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts. All rights reserved.

The opinions expressed in Regis Today are those of the authors and not necessarily of Regis College.

Marian Batho, CSJ, ’70 (Secretary)

Please send address changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Regis College, 235 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA 02493-1571 or call 781.768.7220 or online at alumni.regiscollege.edu.

Anita Brennan-Sarmiento ’77 Rosemary Brennan, CSJ, ’70, MEd, MDiv

Judy M. Lauch ’68 Mary Ann Walsh Lewis ’74 John Libertino, MD Paul A. Lonergan Peter N. Madras, MD

Meyer Chambers, MLM

Lianne Marshall, MBA

Hans Christensen, MBA

Jacquelyn McCarthy, CSJ, MA, RN, LNHA

Kevin C. Conroy, JD Joanne Crowley ’74, MS Maureen Doherty, CSJ, ’68, MEd Camille Ferazzi ’69 Joe-Ann Fergus, PhD, RN Michael J. Halloran, MBA (Treasurer) Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN

Kathy McCluskey, CSJ, ’71, PhD Glenn Morris, AIA, IIDA Eileen Ng, MBA Thomas P. O’Neill III, MPA Jane Cronin Tedder ’66, EdD Maylin S. Truesdell ’05, ’06, MS

regıs g inside

Features

14 Inspiration Abounds

Alumni join faculty and staff on a service trip to Kenya and experience how a sense of community can inspire true happiness.

18 The Regis of Today

Regis is growing stronger and more sustainable with a diverse approach and significant enrollment shift.

Photo: Holly Redmond

26 Speaking Her Mind

Departments

02 03

10

Dear Neighbor Enrollment growth; executive search for vice president of academic affairs; addition of Fast Track degree programs.

Tower Views Commencement 2019; Regis at the U.S.-Mexico border; welcome trustees; global round-up; Regis-Casserly Award recipients; Health Services renovation.

O N TH E COVE R Carol Giacomo ’70 at The New York Times office in Manhattan Photo by Matt Furman

12 34

With nearly five decades of journalism experience, Carol Giacomo ’70 is a passionate advocate of freedom of the press and is an expert voice as a member of The New York Times editorial board.

After Class Thanks to scholarships, mentor Diana Tran ’16 and mentee Andriana Harris ’19 are exploring scientific research and the art of collaboration at Harvard Medical School.

36 37 38

Taking Action Mayra Garcia ’84 partners with Regis admission to create a path for Puerto Rican students.

Alumni Together Gatherings and events keep alumni connected.

40

Call for Class Notes Send in your notes.

In Memoriam Remembering alumni who passed away.

Now We Fly The final stretch of the campaign is focused on fundraising for financial aid, scholarship, and the outdoor athletic complex.

Hearts & Minds Regis North graduate Adolis Ramos ’19 juggles family, work, and school as she advocates for Alzheimer’s disease on Capitol Hill.

dear

2 REGIS TODAY

“ We continue to celebrate incredible growth at Regis, with approximately 3,000 students enrolled overall.

Success in higher education today is all about meeting the needs of currentday students.”

What a year! As you can see, last month we welcomed legendary Red Sox player David Ortiz to Commencement 2019 as our speaker (photo at right and more on page 4). His inspirational words about hard work and overcoming challenges truly resonated with our 918 graduates and their families, which included our first cohorts of graduates from online programs and the dental hygiene program. It was a privilege to present honorary degrees to David as well as to Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, a remarkable leader who has been a great advocate for Regis North, our satellite campus in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

We continue to celebrate incredible growth at Regis, with approximately 3,000 students enrolled overall. The “Regis of Today” feature on page 18 dives deeper into our enrollment shift and growth strategy at all levels. To continue supporting this growth, I am in the midst of an executive search to fill an important seat in my cabinet in the coming year—the role of vice president of academic affairs.

Success in higher education today is all about meeting the evolving needs of current-day students. Our online and hybrid courses cater to busy professionals, but as tuition and on-campus housing costs continue to rise, undergraduates in particular are looking for innovative ways to earn a degree without taking on too much debt. Regis is responding to that need: In Fall 2020, we will welcome students to Fast Track degree programs that include an option to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years—saving up to $54,000—as well as a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as four years. The bachelor’s programs will consist of eight semesters that include two online summer semesters as well as internships, and extracurricular activities that contribute to a well-rounded and fulfilling college experience—athletics, student leadership, study abroad, and service-learning trips—will still be available to students in Fast Track programs. Learn more at regiscollege.edu/fasttrack and watch a short video at regisma.me/fasttrack.

In addition to flexible program options, financial aid and scholarships continue to fill the gap for students financing their education. Securing funding for financial aid is a key element of the Now We Fly campaign, which stands at 92 percent of the $40 million goal and will be completed by December 2019 (read more on page 38). And please save the date to join us in Boston on October 23, 2019, for the fourth annual Let It Shine Regis Gala to support scholarships (see back cover).

Commencement and Reunion Weekend are behind us and many of our undergraduates are gone, but the campus is still bustling with graduate and doctoral students enrolled in summer courses.

This is an exciting time filled with great opportunity, and I look forward to sharing updates with you as we move forward.

Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN PRESIDENT

Photos: (left) Brian Smith, (right) Michael Quiet

neighbor

“You don’t need to be able to hit a 95 mile-per-hour fastball, because you have all the slugging power that you need right there in your mind … Hard work and preparation were the most important to me in my career. There are not successful people in this world who do not work hard every day or who do not prepare every day to overcome challenges.”

Former Boston Red Sox player DAVID ORTIZ at Regis Commencement (see page 4)

Watch the Commencement 2019 recap video: regisma.me/commencement19

Commencement

2019 4 REGIS TODAY

Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz received an honorary Doctorate of Law degree and delivered the Commencement address on May 11 to more than 900 graduates at the Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion (formerly known as the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion) in Boston.

Affectionately known as “Big Papi,” Ortiz has established himself as one of the most prolific hitters of the last decade and has become a fan favorite. His heroics in ending the Red Sox World Series curse in 2004 and record-breaking MVP performance in the 2013 World Series have earned him legendary status as one of Boston’s greatest sports heroes. Ortiz’s tremendous reputation extends off the field with his establishment of the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, an organization that provides critical cardiac services for children in the Dominican Republic and New England. He now stars on FOX as an analyst covering the MLB playoffs.

In an emotional address to graduates, Ortiz highlighted the importance of family, education, and confidence. “My parents always wanted me to be as educated as possible. They knew that if my baseball career didn’t work out, that I would have something to fall back on,” said Ortiz, who was overcome with emotion as he recognized his father in the audience.

“Every time I stepped up to the plate I was confident in myself because I was smart, I was prepared, I worked hard, and I had the support of my family and friends.”

Also receiving an honorary degree was Dan Rivera, mayor of the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Rivera grew up in Lawrence and went to Lawrence public schools. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout, a U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol Cadet, newspaper delivery boy for The EagleTribune and co-chair of LHS Model United Nations.

He is a first-generation American who worked his way through college and was instrumental in bringing Regis to the Merrimack Valley as a big supporter for Regis’ satellite campus, Regis North (regiscollege.edu/regisnorth).

Advocating for Our Country and Our Neighbors, Without Distinction In January, Regis students and staff members went on a service immersion trip to Los Angeles that included work with Homeboy Industries—a nationally acclaimed gangintervention program founded by Fr. Greg Boyle—and a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border.

“On this trip Regis students are exposed to the reality of poverty and homelessness in the inner city of Los Angeles,” says Associate Director of the Center for Ministry and Service Anabella Morabito, who traveled with the cohort. “Students went to the Dolores Mission Parish in the city of Boyle Heights, right outside of downtown Los Angeles, and also worked directly with Homeboy Industries.”

For the second half of the trip, students worked with Border Angels, a nonprofit organization that advocates for human rights and humane immigration reform with a special focus on issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border. They participated in a water-drop hike in the San Diego desert and visited migrant caravan shelters.

“Students learned firsthand about the different issues affecting our country, among them: gang violence, immigration, homelessness, and income inequality,” Morabito says.

“One of the central tenets of the Regis mission and its values is the love and service to the dear neighbor without distinction. I emphasize ‘without’ because I think it is easy

New Trustees Kevin Conroy, JD, is a partner at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston, where his primary focus is government investigations and regulatory matters. Conroy previously served as the Massachusetts Deputy Attorney General, where he supervised civil matters including employment, labor, non-profit, consumer enforcement, insurance, financial services, civil rights, health care, and energy. He has also served as the chief of the Attorney General’s Business and Labor Bureau and as chief of staff and general counsel of the New England Council. Conroy received a law degree from Boston College and bachelor’s degree from Tufts University.

to love the neighbor who looks like us, acts like us, and thinks like us. But we are called to love and serve all our neighbors, independent of their race, class, political affiliation, or immigration status.”

Morabito adds that it was “refreshing” to see students learn about one another and about a community that is vastly different from their own.

“I learned a great deal about service and restorative justice while on this service trip; every aspect of the trip taught me that everyone is human, sacred, and deserves to be treated with dignity,” says nursing major Bernice Boateng ’20. “If we are blessed enough to have excess and are in a position to help others, we should do so.”

Boateng was shocked during the desert water drop-off when she stumbled across water bottles that had been purposely slashed and emptied. She recalls another formidable moment during the Border Angels’ Caravan of Love program that deliver supplies to migrants at the border.

“We were bringing items from San Diego into Tijuana, Mexico. When we arrived at the shelters, the image of people desperately reaching into the vans for simple items such as socks and T-shirts really stuck with me. I even saw people in the community running up the hill so they could get an item and go on with their day. It was quite moving, and only reminded me to be grateful for what I am fortunate enough to have.”

The service immersion trip to Los Angeles and the U.S.Mexico border first started at Regis in December 2016.

“Every time I travel with students my hope is always the same: that they walk away with new ideas, new thoughts, and a changed heart,” Morabito says. “That the trip may give them the tools to form their own opinion about the issues facing our world and our country, and that they may come to see the ways in which their faith can drive them to work toward justice.”

SAVE THE DATE:

REGIS FEST GOLD REUNION SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2019

All alumni are welcome to Regis Fest Family Weekend, which includes an Athletics Hall of Fame Induction on Friday (read more on page 8) and special GOLD (graduates of the last decade) events for the 5th and 10th Reunion classes (2014, 2009) throughout the weekend. More information is coming soon.

5 SPRING 2019

Regis students and Border Angels staff stand at the U.S.-Mexico border near Jacumba Springs during a service immersion trip.

Maylin S. Truesdell, MS, ’05, ’06, has spent over a decade in the health care industry managing relationships with governmental regulators to bring lifesaving products to physicians and patients around the world. She is currently the regulatory lead at Capsule Technologies, a global provider of medical device integration for hospitals and health care organizations. In this role, she develops the regulatory strategy and oversees international registration activities to expand Capsule Technologies’ global business. She previously worked in regulatory affairs at Cardinal Health, Boston Scientific Corporation, Life Technologies, and Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Truesdell received a Master of Science in Health Product Regulations and Health Policy from Regis in 2006 after receiving her bachelor’s degree in biology from Regis in 2005.

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE Funding supports new exchange program to address global health concerns

6 REGIS TODAY

Last fall, Regis launched two international partnerships to develop global health initiatives in Argentina, Chile, and the United States. The partnerships are funded by $50,000 in the latest 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund competition.

“This grant enables the university to implement new academic exchange programs that enrich our campus with students from diverse populations while also supporting our strategic plan to increase Regis’ visibility on a global scale,” says Regis President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN. “Regis is proud to welcome these students, a majority of whom have never left their home country.”

Partnering with Johnson and Wales University and Universidad de Congreso in Argentina, Regis will develop a new exchange program designed to address global health concerns. Through experiential and service-oriented community engagement activities, cultural experiences, industry-led trainings, and faculty-led lectures in the U.S. and Argentina, students will explore the regional impact and issues surrounding health and nutrition that affect local populations, such as food availability, preparation, sanitation, and security.

“The three groups will come together to focus on community health and nutrition in Mendoza, Latin American culture, cooking and food preparation to support healthy diets, and community engagement through the CONIN Foundation,” says David Crisci, EdD, director of the Regis Center for Global Connections. “CONIN provides support and services for the local community including families suffering from malnutrition, with a hospital dedicated to providing services to families and children. The program will allow students to interact at the foundation and partner together to support and plan ways to build structures combating malnutrition.”

Crisci adds that students and faculty from all three institutions will participate in sessions with community families to provide training and information on positive health practices for increasing wellness in children, food preparation for healthy living, and cooking for nutrition. Throughout the program, all students will learn practical Spanish, and share in activities and excursions to explore the culture, language, and context of Argentina.

The funding will also support a study abroad program at Regis for health sciences students from Universidad de Aysén in Chile to learn about the social factors that impact public health issues and differences in health care solutions between Chile and America. This is the first northbound study abroad program for Universidad de Aysén.

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE PROVIDES INSIGHTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS Regis welcomed Maswood Akhter, PhD, a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence and English professor at the University of Rajshahi in Bangladesh, to Regis to study during the 2018-2019 academic year. At Regis, Akhter is teaching Postcolonial Literature and Human Rights, and hosted the conversation “Re-envisioning Solidarity: Towards a More Empathic Universe” on campus in October 2018. In March 2019, following the on-campus showing of Rohingya: Atrocities Against Women—a documentary about the Rohingya Women who were gang-raped and tortured in Myanmar (Burma) and fled to Bangladesh—Akhter talked about the background, current situation, and future consequence of the Rohingya tragedy; he moderated a panel of students from his class plus local community workers who discussed their research and experience regarding human rights issues.

For his research article in South Asian Review (Vol. 32.2, USA), Akhter received the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh Award in 2013. One of his recent publications includes a book chapter in Postcolonial Urban Outcasts (New York: Routledge, 2017). He represented Regis at the Annual Conference of South Asian Literary Association held in Chicago in January this year.

COLLABORATIVE EXCHANGE Nurse practitioner students travel to Grenada to learn about global health care practices and delivery in developing countries

Photo: Anna Webster

The Center for Global Connections (established in 2013 thanks to funding from Cummings Foundation’s $100k for 100 grant) received more student applications to study abroad in fall 2019 than in the five previous years combined. Students will study in Greece, Italy, Spain, Australia, Czech Republic, Argentina, and the United Kingdom.

VP of Institutional Advancement

Appointed as vice president of institutional advancement in March 2019, Hokanson brings more than three decades of higher education fundraising experience to Regis. Here, she shares why she’s so passionate about the field, what she does in her spare time, and why Regis is a “jewel” of higher education.

Why did you decide to take this job? I was inspired by the university’s commitment to educating first-generation college students and addressing issues of access and affordability. I was also inspired and motivated to lead fundraising efforts at an institution with strong leadership, a clear academic vision, and a commitment to philanthropic growth—and the opportunity to take institutional advancement to the next level.

Why are you so passionate about working in higher education? I am the

third generation of my family to work in higher education. My grandfather started working at MIT in 1915 and my father started his career at Yale in the early 1950s, so there have been Hokansons working in higher education for more than 100 years. I think it is in my blood! But seriously, I truly believe in the power of higher education to transform lives and want to ensure that a high-quality education is in reach for everyone.

What are your top priorities as vice president? First and foremost, to finish the Now We Fly campaign successfully! I also hope to help get the word out more broadly about Regis; it is an undiscovered jewel in the world of higher education and more people need to know about it. I also look forward to developing ways to effectively engage graduate students as well as our online alumni, in addition to undergraduate alumni.

Now that you have gotten to know Regis a bit, what do you think makes the university unique? One thing that really stands out for me is how

nimble Regis is in responding to new realities. For most of my career, one of the realities I have encountered is that higher education tends to move with glacial speed—sometimes for good reason. On the other hand, waiting for change can be very frustrating, and some institutions miss wonderful opportunities. I really respect how flexible Regis is—an attribute that serves it well in this era of rapidly-changing student demographics and technology.

How does the Regis mission resonate with you? In addition to the core mission of educating women and men to serve and to lead, I was immediately drawn to the guiding principles—particularly social justice and conscious stewardship of our planet.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?

My husband and I are having fun discovering life as “empty nesters,” though we very much enjoy it when our sons visit. I am also a gardener, so from April through October I spend a lot of my free time in the garden. I sit on the board of a nonprofit that runs Camp Kawanhee, a boys camp in Maine, and am having a wonderful time helping to plan the camp’s 100th anniversary.

— Interview by Alexis Baum

7 SPRING 2019

On February 28, 10 Regis graduate nursing students and three nursing faculty members set flight for Grenada, West Indies, in fulfillment of a 10-year partnership between Regis and St. George’s University (SGU) to sponsor and invite cross-cultural learning and interprofessional advancement in partial satisfaction of required clinical practice hours. Seven family nurse practitioner (NP) students (Lauane Boonchuilier, Kirsten Didrikson, Nicole Gendreau, Charlene Hollins, Katherine Krevolin, Madeline McDonald, and Naila Tariq), one adult-gerontology NP student (Megan Alexandre), one psychiatric-mental health NP student (Jennifer Holiman), one pediatric NP student (Victoria Dennis), and three faculty members (Lisa Fardy, PhD, Tamara Melville, PhD, and Nancy Kunkel) paired with Grenadian nurses, physicians, SGU faculty and students, and local community members across hospital, community, and primary care sites to offer health services and promote collaborative exchange.

Fardy, associate professor of nursing and public health, lead faculty member of the Regis-SGU Global Nursing Initiative, and visiting professor of SGU, explains, “This 10-day Grenadian cultural and clinical immersion experience offers fresh perspective and insight into global health care practices and delivery systems in developing countries.”

Meet Kimberly Hokanson

8

Regis Athletes Honored

REGIS TODAY

Mother Regis and Regis-Casserly Award recipients return to campus In a halftime presentation during the February 2 women’s basketball game, past recipients of the Pride’s most prestigious award were recognized as they returned to campus—some for the first time in many years.

Established as the Mother Regis Award in 1982 and now known as the RegisCasserly Award, this honor is presented to the top female graduating student-athlete and top male graduating student-athlete recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and service. Before the halftime presentation, 26 of the total 49 winners gathered with current coaches, athletics staff, and members of

NEW WEIGHT ROOM

the executive board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for a reception in the new weight room— a facility that was added thanks to the support of Regis Golf Tournament sponsors (see below).

“You represent the epitome of the student-athlete that every coach in our department is searching for throughout the recruiting process,” Dean of Athletics Pam Roecker said. “We are constantly striving to find student-athletes with a strong commitment to academics, a competitive athletic spirit, and a sense of community service and giving back as per the Sisters of St. Joseph mission, as each of

you demonstrated throughout your career.”

Associate Athletics Director Mark Clemente spoke about the history inherent in the selection of the award recipients dating back to 1982, making this award the longeststanding tradition within Regis Athletics. Three of the first four recipients were in attendance, including Ellen Beaumont Sullivan ’82, the first Mother Regis Award recipient, who attended with her mother, Vera Sullivan Beaumont ’53.

Mike Barile ’09, the first male recipient, shared inspirational words at the reception about how his experience as a Regis student-athlete has influenced his life and career as a teacher and high school coach.

Among those in attendance were special guests Judy Burling, Regis athletic director from 1982 to 2002, and

Regis Pride Athletics officially cut the ribbon to open a new weight room in the Regis Athletics Center, thanks to funding from the 2018 Golf Tournament. The room features Perform Better extreme half-cages, Keiser Infinity functional trainers, Perform Better foam plyo boxes, and brand-new dumbbells, Olympic plates, trap bars, and safety squat bars. This new space, in addition to other on-campus athletic facilities, will make a huge difference in the training and support that Regis can offer its student-athletes.

Mother Regis Award Winners Ellen Beaumont Sullivan ’82 Donna Bryan Barinelli ’83 Nicole LeMarbre ’83 Elizabeth Antonellis ’84 Coleen Amatangel ’85 Eileen Vogel Hackney ’86 Mary Gibney ’87 Sue Brogna ’88 Susan Elliott ’89 Renata Aylward ’90 Christine Whitman ’90 Kathleen Thompson ’91 Elizabeth Cooke ’92 Katherine Sullivan ’93 Laura Galopim ’94 Julie Rando Ranucci ’94 Hilary Smith Hofstein ’95 Stacy Garland ’96 Susan Lynch Nee ’97 Dawn Kielbania Brunell ’98 Daisy Harder ’99 Jen Thompson ’00 Sallie Ogine-Noel ’01 Meredith Mooney ’02 Becky Brann Moisan ’03 Caitlin Powers ’04 Molly Vollmer Lipper ’05 Melissa Gonzalez ’06 Kristen Lanctot Demers ’07 Katelynn Shea ’08 Regis-Casserly Award Recipients Michael Barile ’09 Kimberly Mariotti ’09 James Cooper ’10 Maria Mendes ’10 Hope Benjamin ’11 Benjamin Perry ’11 Stephanie Crawford ’12 Stephan Bottex ’13 Kara Donovan ’13 Stacy Burns ’14 Jeffrie Parrish ’14 Michael Beluch ’15 Jackie Rocheville ’15 Renato Rosas ’16 Samantha Salamone ’16 Allison Caloggero ’17 Matthew Norton ’17 Maresa Malcolm ’18 Fred Mathieu ’18

trustee Joanne Crowley ’74, who was inducted into the Regis Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 after a stellar career as a three-sport studentathlete in basketball, softball, and golf.

HALL OF FAME Regis Athletics will host a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during Regis Fest on September 27, 2019.

Nominations for this prestigious honor are due July 1.

Learn more or nominate someone: regisma.me/ HOF19

+ Focus on Health

New Counseling Center Now We Fly campaign gift supports Health Services renovation that includes new counseling space

9 SPRING 2019

Thanks to an anonymous $100,000 leadership gift to the comprehensive Now We Fly campaign, Regis Community Health Services recently completed construction of a new Counseling Center. In addition, Health Services is getting a face-lift to the current space.

The new counseling area better accommodates students and also provides a private area for those accessing counseling services.

“We renovated the former Maria Hall lounge adjacent to Health Services to create a counseling center,” says Dianna Jones, DNP ’11, MSN ’01, BSN ’00, CNP, FNP-BC, associate dean and medical director of Regis Community Health Services. Renovations included the addition of three soundproof counseling rooms and a separate waiting area. Updates to the existing Health Services area include increased provider office space and workstations, a room for nutrition consults and holistic practitioners, and cosmetic improvements such as paint and carpet. The connectedness of the two spaces is evidence of Jones’ commitment to a holistic model of care that integrates both physical and mental health. It also helps ensure a seamless process regarding patient care and collaboration among staff members. “We have seen such a transformation in the university’s health services since I started here 15 years ago, and this renovation will help accommodate our increased patient population and increased staff,” says Jones. In 2012 Health Services expanded its student care to include faculty and staff. In addition to administrative staff, nurse practitioners, and a registered nurse, the Health Services team includes Regis graduate nurse practitioner students doing clinical placements, a graduate intern, a graduate assistant, and undergraduate public health interns. Counseling staff includes a director of counseling, two counselors, and a psychology intern. — Kristen Walsh

class after

Positive Reaction Regis mentor and mentee perfect the art of scientific exploration at Harvard Medical School lab

BY A LLYS ON MA NC H E S T E R

10 REGIS TODAY

Diana Tran ’16 was a junior at Regis when she secured an internship in the Harwell Lab at Harvard Medical School. Although she was excited to be working in such a prestigious lab, commuting costs quickly added up and caused her to consider terminating the internship. She confided in her psychology professor and adviser Helen Consiglio, PhD, who encouraged her to apply for the Class of 1959 scholarship, a fund that was established in 1999 by the Class of 1959.

With Consiglio’s support, Tran was awarded the scholarship and was able to continue with her internship. But what happened before she received the funds was equally as important in building momentum as a student scientist.

“The application for the scholarship really fueled my new scientific career,” Tran recalls. “The application asked me to write about science from a different perspective than I was used to. It challenged me to communicate how my research plays a vital role in health policies and how I plan to contribute to the scientific community.”

Tran continued her internship at Harvard Medical School through the time of her graduation.

“What I loved most about Regis was the close-knit community,” she says. “My work in the larger environment of Harvard gave me a sense of representation and responsibility to show where my Regis education had gotten me and how I could build upon it.”

As she was nearing her graduation in 2016, Tran approached Corey Harwell, PhD, the principal investigator of the lab, and asked if he would be willing to take her on as a research assistant. He immediately hired her as a full-time member of the Harwell Lab. Harwell’s team focuses on the development and circuitry of specific subgroups of neurons.

This is important for the understanding of neuronal

diversity in the brain and related developmental disorders and disease.

As a research assistant, Tran participates in lab work and lab management. She works on multiple ongoing projects in the lab and keeps the lab running smoothly through her various managerial tasks.

“Because of my internship as a Regis undergraduate, I came into my job with a better understanding of how to communicate my needs in interpreting science and how to work with others in a lab,” she says.

“I entered this position with a redefined and deeper respect for research and those who work in it.”

Lab Partners One of the most rewarding and challenging experiences that Tran has enjoyed at her job so far is her mentorship of Andriana Harris ’19. The pair connected through Steven Threlkeld, PhD, Regis program director and associate professor of neuroscience. Threlkeld had heard of Harris’ previous research in sickle cell disease at the Howard School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and knew that she would be a perfect fit for the internship at the Harwell Lab. Since then, Harris and Tran have been working with each other directly and collaborating on research.

Before Harris started in the lab in spring 2019, Tran recalls that she was a bit nervous to work with someone from her alma mater. “At first, I wondered if I was qualified enough to be a mentor.

But once Andriana started, we quickly connected over nostalgic memories of Regis and also our feelings of belonging in this type of high-powered work environment.”

Harris believes that Tran succeeds as a mentor because of her empathy and approachability. She appreciates Tran’s willingness to share her own experiences as an intern and use them as teaching tools.

Photo: Holly Redmond

Diana Tran ’16 (right) and Andriana Harris ’19 in the Harwell Lab at Harvard Medical School.

“Diana understands that I am a quiet person who can be a bit shy at times,” Harris says. “Each time I am in the lab, she encourages me to speak up and always ask questions. I can tell that she genuinely wants me to get the most out of my experience.”

Tran notes that learning how to ask questions is crucial to developing confidence and finding success as a young scientist. An important quotation that she shares with her mentee is, “For every unasked question is a missed opportunity to learn.”

Tran recalls, “I learned this quote from one of the post-doctoral fellows I used to work with and it has stuck with me ever since. It rings true to me more and more as I continue to work in this field. I hope it will resonate with Andriana as well as she continues her journey in figuring out her passions in science.”

Tran has also helped Harris in the early stages of her scientific career by encouraging her to apply for scholarships. In 2019, Harris secured funds through

The Flatley Scholars Program. This scholarship provides financial support for Regis undergraduate students to participate in off-campus, unpaid internships. Since then, Harris has been able to devote her full attention to the Harvard Medical School internship.

“The support of The Flatley Scholars Program has inspired me to make every effort to return the favor to another Regis student in the future,” Harris says.

And as she continues to grow from her work at the world-renowned labs of Harvard Medical School, she reflects further on how much the collaboration with a Regis alumna has added to her overall experience.

“I am so fortunate to have Diana’s support. I hope that I can keep the cycle going for another young scientist. If all Regis alumni reached out to current students to build professional relationships and help them into better positions, think of how much more powerful our institution could be.”

action

taking

Advocating for Access Helping students from Puerto Rico navigate cultural barriers to education

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BY A LLYS ON MA NC H E S T E R

REGIS TODAY

Even though Puerto Rican schools have reopened and the island is rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, students still face instability in their public university system.

Additionally, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of Puerto Rican students enrolling in U.S. colleges on the mainland remains below 1,000—mostly because of a challenging application process for students who are not officially considered international because they live in a U.S. territory. On top of that, students from Puerto Rico face barriers such as language and cost.

Mayra Garcia ’84 is an educational advocate who is working to change that and increase the enrollment of Puerto Rican students at U.S. colleges. She explains that there are many students in Puerto Rico who are competitive college applicants but do not have the proper tools to navigate the U.S. college admissions process. Furthermore, because Puerto Rico is technically an unincorporated territory of the U.S., Puerto Rican students cannot receive in-state tuition to any colleges on the mainland. Often, the sticker prices of private and “out-of-state” colleges seem too daunting for Puerto Rican families even to consider.

Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Garcia uses her personal experience at Regis to help students see college in the U.S.—and at Regis specifically—as an attainable possibility.

“Since I had such a positive experience as a Regis student, it’s easy for me to communicate to prospective students how the quality of the education and the atmosphere of the college can change their lives,” she says. “Students often wonder if dealing with a language barrier and leaving their families for col-

lege in the U.S. will be worth it in the end. I always share with them that I received excellent job offers after graduation because of Regis’ reputation and the skills that it provided me. Regis has everything that a student needs to be successful.”

When Garcia recommends Regis to students, she feels confident that the university will continue to support them throughout their careers. “For a student who is moving far away to a brand-new education system, it’s reassuring to know that Regis will help them navigate their academic path throughout their four years. Once they get to campus, they are not alone.”

Garcia travels to different high schools in Puerto Rico and makes presentations on the academic majors and athletics programs that Regis offers.

She also meets with individual students to help them fill out their applications and locate scholarship opportunities at Regis. For many students, a scholarship is the make-or-break factor in attending Regis.

Emma Morales ’19, a double major in biology and neuroscience on the pre-medical track, began to seriously consider Regis when she was offered the fulltuition Presidential Catholic Schools Scholarship, an award for high-achieving students from parochial high schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Although

Since 2015, the Puerto Rican student population at Regis has grown from two to 13. Left to right: Marcos Rivera ’22, Emma Morales ’19, and Diego Roman ’22 on the Great Walk outside Maria Hall.

Morales was originally drawn to the school for its volleyball team, she ultimately decided to attend for the affordability, health care opportunities, and deeper connections that she saw between Regis and her home community. “I loved that Regis was in a safe environment close to Boston, one of the major health care cities in the U.S. I also liked the focus it gives to health education. I always wanted to get to know and understand the nature of all professions involved in patient care teams.”

Morales describes her family and friends in Puerto Rico as individuals who “constantly strive for self and collective improvement.” At Regis, she has found that professors and administrators have similar values.

“Being a student at Regis helped me to make connections that would not have been available to me at larger institutions,” she says. “Regis has made me feel like I have a voice and that someone will always be there to help me through hardships and celebrate even the smallest of accomplishments.”

Although Morales has found great success at Regis, she recognizes that her transition to the university was not easy. “I did not expect how difficult it would be as one of two Puerto Rican students at Regis during my first year,” she says, noting linguistic, cultural, and basic living struggles.

Since Morales came to Regis in 2015, the number of Puerto Rican students has grown from two to 13.

Even though working through cultural barriers takes time, students from Puerto Rico have found that the open-mindedness of Regis community members helps to overcome the initial disconnect. Diego Roman and Marcos Rivera, both members of the Class of 2022 and the Regis men’s soccer team, comment on the hospitality that they received from Garcia during the application process and from other Regis students when they first arrived on campus. “Regis is a cozy place,” says Roman. Rivera adds, “Everyone here, especially the soccer team, has been kind and welcoming, no matter what.” Roman jokes that the overall positivity of the student body has even helped him get acclimated to the frigid New England temperatures.

“Thirty degrees now feels to me like T-shirt weather,” he laughs.

Roman and Rivera have already made a positive impact on the soccer team. Their coach, Renato Capobianco, comments, “My student-athletes from Puerto Rico commit themselves to what is important without allowing themselves to get distracted with all of the things a first-year college experience brings.

They are great examples of what young men should should be on our campus.”

Regis students like Morales, Roman, and Rivera offer hope for increasing the number of Puerto Rican students at U.S. colleges. “Regis has given me great opportunities and a whole new challenge. I know that other students from Puerto Rico could grow from this challenge as well,” says Roman.

With better access to colleges on the mainland, students from Puerto Rico can gain a more global perspective and, in turn, contribute to the diversity of higher education in the United States.

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Photo: Holly Redmond

OPENING DOORS The Regis Presidential Catholic Schools Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship for residential students. High-achieving graduating seniors from parochial high schools within the United States and Puerto Rico are eligible for this scholarship opportunity. Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement, leadership ability, and dedication to community service.

Graduating seniors must be nominated by their high school principals or secondary school counselors. For more information contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at admission@regiscollege.edu.

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1. The Regis team heads back to Manyatta Primary School following a lunch at the home of “slum father� Davis Ouma. 2. Regis Associate Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer Kate Korzendorfer gathers with local children. 3. A giraffe seen during a safari at the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Southern Kenya. 4. Working with locals during cleanup day. 5. Students during the Regis dental hygiene classroom presentation.

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Abounds Service trip to Kenya teaches the true meaning of community

B Y K R I S T E N WA L S H

Ripples of soft banter can be heard from a group of women handwashing clothes by a stream. Others chat busily as they make liquid soap to sell at the market. In the afternoon, the roar of excited voices is heard as children play their ritual afternoon game of soccer on a pebbled playground or roll a tire down a dirt alley. The sense of community and happiness—amid poverty-stricken living conditions with no running water, shacks with mud walls, and scarce food—is what stood out to the several Regis faculty and staff and 12 alumni who went on a service trip to the Manyatta slum in Kisumu, Kenya, during winter break 2018–2019.

“The boys played soccer really well and looked natural, even when they wore no shoes, slippers, one shoe, or both shoes,” recalls Regis Assistant Professor of Biology Danqing Xiao, PhD, who joined in the game with other Regis service team members. “They ran like they were flying—swift and agile. They fought hard and beautifully. Their young spirits, against the odds of poverty, moved me; in fact, many of them dream to be professional soccer players.”

The chance to be on the soccer team is something that the children value, an educational initiative started by Davis Ouma, who grew up in the slum and is known as “the slum father” for his work with youth in Kisumu City. The Regis cohort did community initiatives in partnership with Ouma’s program, which uses soccer (and a free meal) as a platform to motivate students to attend school.

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It was Jeffrie Parrish ’14, ’17 who first connected Regis with Ouma after the pair met in 2014. At the time, Parrish was working with schools in western Kenya running soccer and tennis clinics.

“We followed Davis’ leadership and provided life-skills classes, school fees, and playing opportunities for the neediest students in the Manyatta slums,” says Parrish, who was captain of the Regis men’s soccer team at the time and is now a math teacher at Framingham High School in Massachusetts.

So when Regis Chaplain Father Paul Kilroy was planting the seeds for a student service trip to Kenya in 2017, it was Parrish (then a graduate intern in the Center for Ministry and Service) who was instrumental.

“I’ve always been interested in what students are learning outside the classroom, about life and about themselves,” Kilroy says. “Service trips are a game changer for many students as they experience the wider world and reflect on it.”

After the success of the student trip, Kilroy planned one for alumni, faculty, and staff during winter break 2018–2019 that included a women’s leadership summit, hygiene education and distribution of hygiene supplies (toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads), a cleanup day, and sponsorship of a soccer tournament (including new uniforms for the winning team).

Former home economics teacher Andrea Owens Shagory ’66 was among those who taught dental hygiene to a class of more than 90 students. “Since the school has no textbooks, I brought a book with color photos of the progression of development from baby teeth to wisdom teeth and a large poster of the inside of a tooth. We also taught two students—one girl and one boy—proper brushing technique and then they taught others how to do it.”

Those small moments of empowerment are what Shagory found inspirational, though she was also struck that in the slum, education is

secondary for women. “Progress is being made, but the more women you can educate, the sooner it will happen.”

Ouma says that over the years, Parrish (who was unable to attend this most recent trip due to work commitments) and Regis cohorts have helped his program grow. “I appreciate Jeff and Regis College; without them we couldn’t have come this far in strengthening the community project through cultural discussions, education, cleanup initiatives, and provisions.”

During the leadership summit, the Regis team and women from the slums shared stories of their day-to-day lives—each group talking about their culture, family, and work. Xiao recalls sitting alongside a mother who was making bricks out of dried grass and mud to be used to make fires for cooking; another woman was making liquid soap by combining different ingredients to give it a “beautiful green color.” In the afternoon, they accompanied the women to the market where they sold the goods.

“We were immersed in the women’s lives for a day,” says Mark Harrington, EdD ’16, an assistant professor and program director at Canisius College and former assistant dean of student affairs at Regis.

“One of the most important experiences from a service immersion trip is having that kind of connection with the people you are serving.”

Amanda Venezia ’11, who works as a paralegal in Boston, agrees. “A huge takeaway is that these women and men are so much more resourceful than we are. They live in a world where nothing is given to them, where supplies are limited, where water is scarce, and where clothes don’t come cheap. But they make it work with the resources they have.

The women spend all day figuring out how to put food on their family’s table and they do just that, even when children eat before they do.”

On a broader level, Venezia was moved to find sustainable ways for struggling communities to thrive.

“We need to listen to them about how we can help in their country and not how we can help them in ours. Once the supplies we bring are used, they are gone. We need to figure out how to supply the children with toothbrushes and toothpaste, for example, using their resources and I think that was a big lesson learned for me.”

Harrington was inspired by the entire community, but he was particularly struck by the work of young people like Ouma—who is only 25—and Collins Omuga, who grew up in the Manyatta slum, is attending Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and is planning to return to the slum to be a teacher.

“Davis and Collins are inspiring because they are helping to ensure that the next generation will have a better community and a better tomorrow,” Harrington says.

And it’s working. On a cleanup day in the slum, Shagory recalls the beauty of seeing over 200 children join in. “They couldn’t do enough.

They were running from one spot to the next, one student would be holding the bag and two would be filling it with trash. They were so enthusiastic; their spirit of cooperation was amazing.”

Harrington is still moved to this day. “It was incredible to connect with the people of Kisumu on the other side of the world—committed to running community service and education programs with very little funding. Since returning home, their inspiration has motivated me to strive for greatness to support student success.”

“For every mission trip I’ve been on, I come back amazed at how peaceful and happy people are when they have so few material possessions compared to what we have,” Kilroy adds. “We think we’re going in to give to these poor areas, but then we go and we realize that we get much more than we gave.”

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“ We think we’re going in to give to these poor areas, but then we go and we realize that we get much more than we gave.”

REG IS CHAPLAIN FATHER PAU L KI LROY

1. Erica Maloney ’13 holds a chick during cleanup day. 2. A sign that sits outside a local school. 3. The Regis team teaches a life-skills class. 4. The Regis team gathers with friends and family of “slum father” Davis Ouma during a lunch trip to the mountains.

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“Our campus may be small, but our ambitions and outcomes are not.”

more sustainable

During Regis’ evolution—which includes a transition from an allfemale to a coed institution in 2007—the university’s mission has remained constant.

“Students’ characters are forever shaped by the core values of our founders, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston,” President Hays says. “Those brave women founded this institution in 1927 to create opportunities for the underserved.”

Today Regis lives out that mission by serving traditionally underrepresented populations, including many first-generation students.

“Graduates have gone on to have a major impact on the world,” President Hays continues. “So despite the headlines, don’t count us out. Regis and many of our peers are far from ‘struggling liberal arts colleges’ on the brink of closure. Our campus may be small, but our ambitions and outcomes are not.”

Read on to learn more about Regis’ significant enrollment shift, and how students and faculty—in addition to the institution—are thriving.

B Y K R I S T E N WA L S H Photo: Anton Grassl

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inety-two years. Four schools. A satellite campus.

Fully online degree programs. A beautiful grassy quadrangle and new suite-style residence hall.

Partnerships with biotech companies, health care organizations, and universities around the world.

The largest undergraduate and graduate classes in its history.

Amid recent headlines that paint a picture of small colleges as “struggling,” Regis is proving just the opposite—thanks to an innovative vision and strategic decision-making by university leadership.

“Regis College is growing,” says President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. “Our revenue streams are diversified and not solely dependent on undergraduate enrollment. Two-thirds of our students are enrolled in on-campus and online graduate programs. We know that our broad offerings and increased focus on graduate programs are essential to our long-term financial growth.”

While President Hays agrees that colleges and universities of all sizes are facing a variety of challenges, she also knows that each institution is unique in terms of offerings and economic strength. “It is simply inaccurate to lump us into one failing category.”

In fall 2018, Regis welcomed the largest undergraduate class in its history, thanks to the addition of the Dental Hygiene program.

The emphasis is on developing new academic programs and partnerships that align with industry needs. The School of Business and Communication—Regis’ fourth school—opened in September 2017.

Also that year, the School of Heath Sciences added offerings in therapeutic recreation and sports management, and the School of Arts and Sciences added majors in cybersecurity and environmental sustainability. In 2015, Regis opened a satellite campus, Regis North, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to offer bachelor completion.

Regis’ success is also founded on its thriving programs in nursing and other health-related fields.

The Young School of Nursing (named in 2018

by Now We Fly campaign donor Brian Young in memory of his parents, trustee emeritus Richard “Dick” W. Young, PhD, and Sheila Young) was ANTOINETTE M. HAYS, PhD, RN selected as one of the top 10 schools of nursing in Regis President New England by the Nursing Schools Almanac in 2019. The school continues to hold its prestigious designation as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing—an honor currently bestowed upon only 19 nursing schools in the country.

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“This new structure has really enhanced the way that we can create and support a student-life experience from the prospective student stage through graduation.”

LAURA BERTONAZZI ’03, EdD Dean of Undergraduate Enrollment and Retention

The undergraduate enrollment team has been expanding recruitment efforts outside of the Northeast in California, Florida, Puerto Rico (see story on page 12), and the Dominican Republic.

They have also broadened the prestigious Presidential Catholic Schools Scholarship program to include a national pool of high school candidates, as well as introduced the Regis Diverse Educators Scholarship program, which provides full-tuition scholarship opportunities for students pursuing the study of education with a focus on underrepresented populations.

The new division has provided what Bertonazzi calls “incredible stabilization” in the staff, including the appointment of Regis’ first male dean of students Walt Horner and its inaugural dean of athletics Pam Roecker. “Repositioning within the GNAC [Great Northeast Athletic Conference, beginning academic year 2017–2018] aligned Regis with prominent institutions in the Northeast, which is appealing to the potential applicant and student-athlete who is seeking a Division III experience.”

From an academic standpoint, major changes include the addition of the Dental Hygiene program, the launch of the School of Business and Communication, new majors in therapeutic recreation and cybersecurity, and additional programming for pre-medical, pre-dental, and pre-veterinarian students. The combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program enables students to begin graduate studies as an undergraduate, allowing students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree within certain programs in as little as four years rather than six or more.

“When we make decisions about program development, we holistically look at what we already have in place, areas where we want to expand, and the market need,” Bertonazzi says. “Growth in communication in the business world, in stemrelated fields, and in allied health, for example.”

She adds that a “pivotal” piece of Regis’ success—including the enrollment process—is a dedicated marketing team under Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kelley Tuthill.

“Getting the Regis story out there has been unbelievable,” Bertonazzi says, “and something we’re very excited about.”

Photo: Anton Grassl

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ean of Undergraduate Enrollment and Retention Laura Bertonazzi ’03, EdD, says that Regis has developed an enrollment strategy that reflects a trend among national high school enrollment.

“The Office of Undergraduate Admission has developed application, event, travel, and marketing strategies that appeal to the contemporary high school student.”

The enhanced strategy was made possible by the creation of a singular Undergraduate Enrollment and Student Affairs division in 2016. Under the leadership of Vice President of Undergraduate Student Affairs and Enrollment Kara Kolomitz, EdD, the new division includes student life, enrollment, and athletics.

“This new structure has really enhanced the way that we can create and support a student-life experience from the prospective student stage through graduation,” says Bertonazzi.

PROFILE

TREVON WRIGHT ’20 Major: Global Business Management Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts

BY THE N UMBERS

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Undergraduate programs

97%

Students employed or enrolled in graduate school six months after graduation

12:1

Student-to-faculty ratio

265 90% Student-athletes

First-year students live on campus

Clubs and organizations

90+% First-year undergraduates receive scholarship or merit-based financial aid

100% Photo: Anna Webster

Students participate in internships, clinicals, or fieldwork

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2007 The year Regis undergraduate programs went coed

2020 The year Regis will welcome its first Fast Track students.

Learn more: regiscollege.edu/fasttrack regisma.me/fasttrack

What made you want to major in Global Business Management? I’ve always enjoyed business. Growing up, I worked with my dad and helped with his business—he owned multiple rental properties throughout Springfield, Massachusetts. I would keep track of the rent as well as apartments that needed repairs and which apartments were going to be inspected. It was something that he and I always did together.

Do you have anyone who has served as a mentor for you here at Regis? [Associate Professor of Humanities] Frans Rijnbout, PhD, was my academic adviser and mentor here. We met in his office every Friday for about an hour to talk about classes, work, and grades, and how I was balancing everything. But what I liked about it the most was that we didn’t only talk about classes and work. We talked about life, sometimes our families, even our different backgrounds and cultures.

We would even crack jokes and just have a good time.

This has definitely played a huge role in who I am today.

What has been your involvement in service? I have been involved in many different service opportunities here at Regis. Through the Center for Ministry and Service I’ve gone to Bethany Hill Place to help elementary and middle school students with homework, reading, and playing. I’ve done multiple events during Founders’ Day. I also attended a service trip to Los Angeles and the U.S.-Mexico border.

What has it been like to be a resident assistant (RA)?

Being an RA is very challenging and requires a lot of time, effort, and responsibility—but it has also been very beneficial to me. This position increased my leadership and communication skills, and it taught me what it truly means to be a part of a team. It has also provided an incredible support system for me. I’ve been able to connect with residents on a level that I would have never imagined.

When you think about life after Regis, what does it look like? After I receive my bachelor’s degree in 2020, I plan on pursuing my master’s degree in health administration at Regis. I hope to become a health administrator in a major hospital and work my way up the ladder to eventually hold the highest position possible. My other career goal is to also have my own company at some point in my life.

NCAA Division III athletic teams

Statistics as of spring 2019

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Why did you choose to come to Regis to pursue your education? I chose to come to Regis because I wanted to be closer to Boston with the opportunity to spread my wings and meet new people. When I first visited, I really liked the size of Regis and its close-knit community. No one was a stranger, everyone knew one another, and people here were kind and welcoming. My financial aid package made it possible for me to enroll.

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ccording to Dean of Graduate Admission Shelagh Tomaino, Regis has focused on its greatest strengths to sustain and grow on-campus graduate programs: tradition in the health sciences, nursing, education, and communication.

“Our mission is securely wrapped into our topical, timely, and true-to-the-profession approach to program development and delivery,” Tomaino says. “We fully understand the level of commitment needed to be successful in pursuing an advanced degree. As such, we have embraced our own commitment to the student experience by listening to students’ needs, addressing relevant issues, and being flexible with the times and market demands.”

That philosophy has worked. According to Tomaino, the reputation of on-campus graduate programs far surpasses regional recognition and draws students from around the country to oncampus programs (which offer a hybrid component with online course options).

“Flexible course formats for on-campus programs offer the ideal balance of on-campus and online learning; all of our on-campus programs embody a hybridized modality,” she says. “We also permit non-matriculated students to take up to two graduate courses for most programs prior to applying or being accepted; this option allows them to ‘test the waters’ prior to making the full commitment to a degree program.”

Tomaino also believes that what is happening behind the scenes is just as important. During the past three years, internal operations and external

REGIS PARTNERSHIPS

The Regis Strategic Partnership program includes more than 100 partnerships with area health systems, school districts, corporations, nonprofits, and other colleges and universities to offer employees of the institutions educational opportunities at Regis at reduced tuition rates.

“Our partnerships promote enhanced recruitment and retention as well as internal development and professional growth at no additional cost to our partners,” says Amy Etheridge, director of graduate program partnerships. “We take a customized and consultative approach to every new partnership, designing a program, marketing materials, and communication of the agreement to meet the needs of the organization and workforce.”

In spring 2019, Regis had more than 116 graduate students enrolled from new partnerships coming from 23 different organizations.

Learn more at regiscollege.edu/admission/strategic-partnerships

outreach efforts have grown to create what she calls “a dynamic strategy for program relevancy, creation, and sustainability.” Investing in a new customer relationship management system, for example, has been “a game changer,” boosting the number of applications by 50 percent for oncampus graduate programs from 2017 to 2018.

“A focus on formal partnerships with employers and with other undergraduate institutions has created new pipelines for incoming students,” says Kate Sutherland, vice president of graduate affairs and enrollment. “Within the past two years, for example, Regis has developed partnerships with 25 large regional employers, including hospitals and industry leaders in health care and education.”

Having staff members devoted to orientation and advising, she adds, has played a key role in retaining students. Career Services staff dedicated to working solely with Regis’ graduate population helps ensure that their graduate degree moves them up their career ladder.

“By bolstering our career services, partnership, and recruitment efforts, we have been able to serve both employers and employees,” Tomaino says. “We educate organizations on what we can offer to their employees; the organizations educate us on what needs they see in their industries and how we can assist via education and training.

The employees then receive advanced education via our graduate programs—everyone can benefit.”

Partnerships have also provided insight into market demand and informed certificate programs in perioperative nursing, addictions, and nursing leadership.

“Given the foundation already built within each of our four schools, including crossdisciplinary courses, we have the structure to contemplate, investigate, and incorporate other programs to meet upcoming market demands on the graduate level,” Tomaino says. “By playing to our strengths, partnering with industry leaders, collaborating with other institutions of higher education, and optimizing available technology, Regis has the ability and tools to work well and succeed with on-campus graduate programs now and in the future.”

Photo: Maverick Productions, LLC

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PROFILE

CONWAY CAMPBELL SR. ’19

KRISTINA GRANITO ’20

Regis Program: Doctor of Education (EdD) Profession: Dean of Students at Assumption College (Vice President for Student Success effective July 1, 2019) Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica Why were you interested in the EdD program at Regis?

For several years I considered a terminal degree—which has been a lifetime goal of mine—and had begun to search in the region for a good program. My primary goals were to learn research skills, improve my writing, collaborate with a cohort, and increase my higher education knowledge. With my busy schedule, Regis’ flexible weekend model with online courses was very desirable.

Photos: (top) Courtesy of Assumption College, (bottom) Erlyn Ordinario

Has the EdD program impacted your career? I was promoted to the inaugural vice president for student success at Assumption College. Coursework at Regis helped me learn about critical thinking and analysis.

The biggest impact is my increased higher education knowledge and being able to contribute at greater levels at Assumption.

I have been asked to serve on several committees to help implement initiatives geared at student success, including the college retention committee and the presidential committee on racial and ethnic diversity, both of which I will chair.

What are the biggest things that Regis provides that you believe allowed you to soar to new heights? The faculty support in the EdD program is second to none, and the cohort structure was an important component of my selection of the Regis EdD program. The idea behind a cohort structure is that the group begins the program together, takes the same courses, and progresses to dissertation and defense at the same time. The benefit is that members of the cohort can support and encourage each other through the process. There are countless examples of members reaching out to others for help on projects or to ask advice.

What’s your goal as a higher education leader? To serve students and see them succeed.

Why did you choose to pursue your education at Regis?

I wanted to challenge myself at an institution that puts students first. I am able to gain a higher level of education in a welcoming, warm atmosphere that reminds me of my undergraduate private, catholic education.

What program are you in and what do you hope to achieve with your Regis degree?

I am enrolled in the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner track. I hope to take care of patients at a higher level of care to make a positive influence in their life, promote health, and treat illness.

What role did the Regis/Boston Medical Center (BMC) preferred partnership play?

What kinds of benefits have you found helpful? The partnership highlights the integration of the full-time nurse and student. It recognizes the challenge of being an active employee of BMC and a student and assists financially to help accommodate these challenges.

What’s your advice to students who are thinking of taking advantage of a partnership such as this? Balancing working as a nurse while earning a graduate education is not an easy task, but find an employer and a school that want you to succeed and with hard work it can be done. As I am pursuing my own education, I am currently precepting a Regis undergraduate nursing student which is a great way to stay connected with and help other students.

Are you doing an on-campus and online (hybrid) program? I am doing a hybrid format, which means I have class on campus at least once a week and get to interact with my peers and professors, but I also get to do some work online so I can better balance my work and school schedule.

Why does it make sense for BMC to partner with an institution like Regis? BMC’s motto is “Exceptional care without exception.” We provide warm, optimal care to all patients alike. Regis welcomes every student and faculty member and promotes giving to all. Both engage in many projects to better serve our community. My education at Regis and career at BMC are two major aspects of my life. The two institutions sharing a partnership and value of serving our community and dedication to hard work and a higher education has helped me flourish and strive to be a nurse practitioner.

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How has it been juggling school, family, and work? I had to be very disciplined with my studies. In addition to being a doctoral student, I am a dean of students, a husband, father, and pastor. My supervisor and colleagues at Assumption College were very supportive, and I was able to take one day off every other week to keep up with school work. My family has also been very supportive and understanding with my increased responsibilities. I can’t thank my wife enough—she read all my papers and offered useful suggestions.

Profession: Registered Nurse at Boston Medical Center Surgical Step-Down Unit Regis Program: Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program Hometown: Danvers, Massachusetts

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anuary 2017 marked the launch of fully online degree programs at Regis.

It opened opportunities to a new audience by greatly expanding Regis’ geographic reach.

“The decision to develop a fully online graduate program was strategic, given data that indicate the increasing population of adult students expected to enroll in graduate programs,” says Associate Vice President of Online Learning Jonathan Small of efforts to build fiscal strength. “But it also aligned with the Regis mission to provide access to education to all people without distinction. It just made sense.”

Associate Dean of Online Assessment and Faculty Development Ericka Hollis, PhD, agrees.

“The current demand for online education is being met by more than 1,000 degree-granting institutions including public, private, and for-profit institutions—thus creating intense competition in a limited marketplace. Regis is now a contender in this marketplace.”

Regis College’s online degree programs were founded on the university’s core strength in nursing—more than 90 percent of students are in one of the four nursing degrees (which require in-person clinicals with patients in health care settings) offered—balanced with several programs in the health sciences as well. Since its founding, the online offerings have grown from one to nine programs (see sidebar), with plans to launch two additional in fall 2020: a master’s in cybersecurity and a master’s in accounting.

“There are numerous online graduate programs. Students have said that their choice was based on accessibility and our reputation, but also the fact that they will learn how they can make a positive difference in the world.”

JONATHAN SMALL, Associate Vice President of Online Learning

Small says that many online students are adults looking to grow or transition their career—a group often juggling a full-time job and family. Students are from 39 different states and areas such as the Virgin Islands and military bases in Europe and the Pacific. The program director of the master’s in social work, Donette Considine, PhD, LCSW, is based in Illinois; faculty members are based in Georgia and Germany. “It brings a diversity of people and a diversity of thinking to the program.”

But the geographic diversity of an online program can also bring challenges: keeping students and faculty connected to the campus community, for example.

“We created an online task force to look at policies and procedures around faculty and also opened up seats on all faculty committees for online faculty to participate,” Small says of community-building initiatives. Regis also has an online faculty committee comprised of faculty who teach in fully online degree programs as well as on campus.

Both faculty and students use Zoom video conferencing software to connect virtually. When students collaborate on group projects, for example, they use Zoom instead of meeting in a classroom or the library, allowing them to see each other and interact synchronously much like they would in a face-to-face meeting or classroom.

“They build a community amongst themselves,” Small says, noting that President Hays was impressed by online faculty members’ camaraderie and appreciation of the Regis mission when they came to campus during 2018 Commencement week.

“Our mission is built into the curriculum,” he says. “We’ve built in aspects of our core values like social justice and helping the dear neighbor so when faculty and students talk about health policy, for example, this is part of the lens they’re looking through.”

It’s one reason many students choose Regis in the first place, he adds. “There are numerous online graduate programs. Students have said that their choice was based on accessibility and our reputation, but also the fact that they will learn how they can make a positive difference in the world.”

BY THE N UMBERS

1,157

Total online enrollment PROFILE

KAYLA WILSON ’20

Profession: Registered Nurse Regis Program: Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner (MSN with NP Specialty) Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Top five online programs in terms of enrollment

682

Why were you interested in online learning?

I am a military spouse living in Vicenza, Italy, with my husband and wanted to continue my education while keeping my family together.

Master of Science in Nursing

237

Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates

Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice

30

Master of Science in Health Administration

25

Master of Science in Social Work

39

Number of states where online students reside

Photo: Isa Wigger

108 Total number of online faculty

Statistics as of spring 2019

Regis alumni receive a 10% tuition discount on online graduate programs. Online degrees include: • Bachelor of Science in Nursing-to-Doctor of Nursing Practice • Master of Science in Nursing-to-Doctor of Nursing Practice • Master of Science in Nursing • Master of Science in Health Administration • Master of Science in Public Health • Master of Science in Social Work • Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis • Post-Master’s Certificates (MSN non-NPs) • Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner (MSN with NP Specialty) Learn more at online.regiscollege.edu.

How do you stay connected to your professors? Skype for business or other forms of video conferences has been the most helpful in getting to know them virtually and communicating more clearly. After the first few weeks in an elective class that I had been taking, I Skyped with the professor because I was overwhelmed by the time commitment of the program. My professor reassured me that I was performing very well and that the quality of my work was right on track.

How has the Regis mission informed your education?

I am a practicing Catholic, and my faith plays an integral part in my daily life, in shaping my values as a registered nurse, and in my mission to use the education and experiences I have been blessed with to serve others. Working as a medical provider is accompanied by a variety of ethical and social issues, and with the broadened scope of practice and increased responsibilities of an NP, I anticipated that these issues would be even more prevalent and challenging. Issues such as contraception, euthanasia, artificial insemination, and women’s rights issues have all come up in my classes so far.

What’s your advice for online students to get the most out of their learning and their professors and fellow students? Maintain a job in their field of study to be able to put information learned into practice and stay current in the ever-changing field of medicine and health care.

25 SPRING 2019

64

ALUMNI DISCOUNT: ONLINE GRADUATE DEGREES

What program are you in and what do you hope to achieve with your degree? I enrolled in the PostMaster’s Nurse Practitioner (MSN with NP Specialty) program; I hope to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. I have been a pediatric nurse for five years now and have seen how any form of continuing education can be used to better serve my patients. I have worked with many nurse practitioners who truly inspired me to purse my NP degree. I had mostly worked acute care my first few years as an RN. However, the past two years I have worked in primary care/community health.

I have seen firsthand the invaluable benefit of prevention and education and therefore decided to begin the primary care track.

SPEAKING HER MIND Formerly a diplomatic correspondent for Reuters, Carol Giacomo ’70 traveled to more than 100 countries with eight U.S. secretaries of state before joining The New York Times editorial board. She serves as an expert voice for The Times, writing opinion editorials about world events.

B Y PAT R I C I A M U R R AY D I B O N A ’ 8 4 P O R T R A I T S B Y M AT T F U R M A N

E 28 REGIS TODAY

very Sunday, Carol Giacomo ’70 stepped inside the phone booth at the end of the hallway in College Hall and dialed her parents’ house in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Conversation in the late 1960s inevitably turned to the United States’ role in the Vietnam War. Giacomo was vehemently opposed and her dad, a World War II veteran who supported the U.S. presence, spoke in favor. The two engaged in fiery, often contentious debates until Giacomo slammed the phone down in frustration.

“He’d call me back,” recalls Giacomo with a laugh, “and we’d argue some more.”

The oldest child in an ItalianIrish family and the first generation to attend college, Giacomo says her independent spirit was encouraged at home—though she met initial resistance when her father learned she intended to become a journalist. “He suggested I lean toward teaching or nursing, jobs I could more easily integrate with motherhood,” she says. “I loved and respected him, so I thought about it for a minute—and then said, ‘Nah.’” For Giacomo, there was no other choice. She made up her mind at the tender age of 12. “I loved to write and was passionate about politics and democracy.

Journalism seemed to be a way to put everything together.” During high school, she edited the yearbook, was an editor for the newspaper, and spent a summer in The Daily Item (Port Chester, NY) obituary department.

At Regis, Giacomo joined the Regis Herald, where she found an outlet for her burgeoning views.

The Vietnam War and the protest rallies she attended on campus and in Boston headlined her stories. In one edition, Giacomo turned the paper’s inside spread into a brick wall, splashed with provocative anti-war graffiti. “I thought it was brilliant and sent it off to the printer in South Boston.

The printer called [then-president]

Sister Jeanne D’Arc O’Hare ’39, CSJ, who summoned me to her office,” recalls Giacomo. Expecting to be chastised or even expelled

by Regis’ president, Giacomo was surprised when the two had a thoughtful discussion.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Giacomo became the editor of the Regis Herald her junior year and made another bold journalistic move: “I disinvited the nun who was our adviser, citing freedom of the press.”

Freedom of the press continues to weigh heavily on Giacomo’s

mind. “One of the wonderful things about our country is that we encourage open debate,” she says.

“That was so important to the founders that they assigned that right in our founding documents. If we don’t have a free press, if we’re not able to search for truth and report it when we find it, then we fail as a democracy and as a country.”

Giacomo says her convictions took shape at Regis where they were nourished by freethinking professors. She lauds Joyce Marieb, PhD, for welcoming independent thought in religion class and calls former Regis president Sister Thérèse Higgins ’47, CSJ, “an intellectual force.” She recalls

her first-year history teacher James Herbert as “offbeat and refreshing.” Along with a few other Regis students and a Regis professor, she stayed at Herbert’s house when they marched on November 15, 1969, in Washington, D.C., in the largest anti-war protest in U.S. history.

LOWELL TO HARTFORD TO WASHINGTON

“If we don’t have a free press, if we’re not able to search for truth and report it when we find it, then we fail as a democracy and as a country.”

CA ROL GI ACOM O ’70

29 SPRING 2019

Giacomo at her desk in The New York Times office in Manhattan.

With graduation looming, Giacomo applied for reporter positions at Massachusetts newspapers, sending along Regis Herald writing samples. She landed a job at the Lowell Sun. “I made $85 a week,” she says of the position that had her covering police, fire, and schools in Dracut. She met fellow Sun reporter Frank Phillips, now State House bureau chief for The Boston Globe. “He was very important to my early career,” says Giacomo. “I learned a lot from him.”

Giacomo saved $500, quit her job, and set off with a friend for a year in Germany—her first extended international travel experience. When money ran out, she worked at the American army base in Munich as a personnel clerk.

She eventually returned home to Connecticut and got a position at the Hartford Courant. She covered West Hartford and then moved to a city beat, writing about issues affecting neighborhoods and City Hall. “I was there when Ella Grasso was elected the first female governor of Connecticut.”

The Los Angeles Times bought the Hartford Courant and Giacomo threw her hat in the ring when a position opened at its new bureau in Washington. “I loved politics at every level. It was a huge opportunity.”

Soon after, she moved to Washington-based international news organization Reuters, where she covered Congress, specializing in foreign and defense policy.

30

Photo courtesy of Nick Kristof

developing weapons to target the United States.

“It was a poignant meeting,” she says. “The scientists were nervous about losing their jobs.

They talked about their scientific expertise and Baker suggested potential cooperative projects. Now, with Putin in power, relations are in terrible shape. But years ago, it was a moment of real promise.”

REGIS TODAY

Carol Giacomo ’70 with The New York Times colleagues standing outside the foreign ministry guest house on the outskirts of Pyongyang, North Korea. Left to right: columnist Nick Kristof, videographer Jonah Kessel, Giacomo, and video editor Adam Ellick.

In 1986, Giacomo had her first overseas assignment writing about Cory Aquino’s defeat of President Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippine election.

ONE MILLION MILES, 100 COUNTRIES

One of only a few female journalists at the U.S. Capitol at that time, Giacomo says, “I did what girls do. I worked harder. I had to be better, more present, more cooperative. I focused on doing a good job and not making a mistake.”

She was assigned to the U.S. State Department and began traveling extensively with the resident press corps. Over two decades, Giacomo logged a million miles and visited more than 100 countries with eight secretaries of state. “The secretary of state is at the center of every big international story. Things are different now, but back then journalists went everywhere the secretary went. We talked with him on the airplane,

traveled in the motorcade, and stayed at the same hotel.”

Life was ever-changing. “On any given day, there could be an assassination or a plane shot down,” says Giacomo. Her bags were always packed. “I had to be a quick study and turn on a dime.”

During the Reagan administration, Secretary of State George Schultz was involved in arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union. It became a specialty area for Giacomo. “Arms control is an arcane subject. I raised my game to compete in that environment,” she says, referencing interviews with think tanks and the Arms Control Association. “I received a crash course on submarine launched ballistic missiles.”

The collapse of communism in 1991 found Giacomo in the former Soviet Union with Secretary of State James Baker. She recalls a positive step in U.S./Russian relations during a visit to a nuclear laboratory there. The State Department team came face-toface with scientists charged with

MOTHERHOOD JOYS AND CHALLENGES

In 1986, Giacomo married a political photojournalist and later had a son, Christopher Marquette, now a journalist with CQ Roll Call. It’s a source of pride and wonder that he followed in his mother’s footsteps.

“It wasn’t easy having parents like us,” Giacomo says. “We worked crazy schedules and were constantly on the road, sometimes simultaneously in different parts of the world.”

Their full-time nanny blended well with the busy family. “She was from Chile and spoke little English but was devoted to our son and we made it work,” Giacomo says. “She was with us for 20 years and is still part of our family.”

Giacomo made the best of her days off. A yearlong fellowship in 1999 researching U.S. economic and foreign policy decision-making during the Asian financial crisis at the U.S. Institute of Peace kept her home in Washington.

“Chris was playing little league baseball that summer. I drove his team to games all over Maryland and Virginia.”

With motherhood came safety concerns while Giacomo traveled abroad. In 2003, Paul Wolfowitz, the U.S. deputy defense secretary, called journalists to task for not providing positive coverage of the Bush administration’s coalition in Iraq. Giacomo volunteered to accompany him to the country and report what she saw.

“I was the only wire service reporter on the trip. I made my way down the stairs, through smoke to the lobby. I called my Washington bureau and dictated the story and called home to reassure my family I was okay.”

CA ROL GI ACOM O ’70, ON HE R E X PER IENCE DURING A MISSILE S H OOTI NG I N B AGHDAD, I RAQ.

A VOICE FOR THE TIMES

In 2007, Giacomo left Reuters to become an editorial board member for The New York Times. She once again took up residence in her hometown of Greenwich, where her childhood friends and siblings still live. Her writing for the

editorial board involves regular independent reporting and overseas travel throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

“My job is to write the opinion of the paper in unsigned editorials;

Carol Giacomo ’70 on the North Korean side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in September 2017. In the background is a North Korean soldier; the large silver building is the center where the South Koreans host visitors who come to the DMZ from the South; the low slung blue buildings are where the North-South and U.S. officials/military meet for discussions.

31 SPRING 2019

On October 26, 2003, she was at the Al Rashid Hotel in Baghdad preparing for a 6:00 a.m. meeting with Wolfowitz when a succession of noises echoed outside, followed by a huge explosion. Giacomo ran toward a window only to be pulled to the floor by her female roommate, an army sergeant. Iraqi resistance fighters had fired a barrage of missiles at the hotel, killing a U.S. army colonel on the floor below and injuring 18.

“I was the only wire service reporter on the trip,” Giacomo recalls. “I made my way down the stairs, through smoke to the lobby. I called my Washington bureau and dictated the story and called home to reassure my family I was okay.”

I also write opinion pieces under my own name,” says Giacomo, who won the Georgetown University Weintal Prize for diplomatic reporting in 2009. In 2018, she won the Arthur Ross Media award for foreign affairs commentary from The American Academy of Diplomacy, an organization of former U.S. diplomats. “I loved being a reporter on the front line, but my role at the Times is perfect for me now in my career. I have a lot of experience and bring more to the table when I can speak my mind.”

A 10-day trip in Iran fueled her 2013 article, “What Iranians Say Now About ‘the Great Satan,’” highlighting Iranian sentiment— positive and negative—toward Americans. A 2013 story delved into the slow start of women’s suffrage in Saudi Arabia.

In 2017, Giacomo joined The New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof on a five-day trip inside North Korea. The Times group was guarded by “handlers” intent on controlling every aspect of the visit, including interpreting. “Our

American film crew recorded all interactions,” says Giacomo. “When we returned to New York, we hired an interpreter to listen to the tape and make corrections. Many questions and answers had been skewed for the benefit of the North Korean government.”

TRUTH AND THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM

32 REGIS TODAY

“The truth takes rigor. The truth is worth it.” Giacomo stands by this The New York Times tagline.

“My newspaper has set a high standard for a long time,” she says of The Times, which was founded in 1851 and has won 125 Pulitzer Prizes. “The idea that people in this country, and particularly some of its leaders, dismiss and delegitimize our work as fake news is reprehensive and deeply unsettling.”

She talks about the lengths Times journalists go to pursue the truth. “When we write a story with the dateline Pyongyang, it means we’re actually in that city,” she says. “We’re vigilant about making corrections when mistakes are made. Truth is a big idea and hard to find. Reporters write the best version of the truth they can find that day.”

Social media has changed the public’s perception of truth. In 2011, Giacomo began actively using Twitter to keep abreast of uprisings during the Arab Spring, allowing her to get immediate updates from people on the ground.

“Social media also has a nefarious downside,” she says, referring to the manipulation of public opinion during the 2016 election. “We have to be vigilant.”

Giacomo worries about the future of journalism as media outlets disband and reporters are threatened and killed in record numbers. “Democracy requires a fully engaged electorate,” she says. “We need a vibrant press

“Democracy requires a fully engaged electorate. We need a vibrant press to keep people educated and informed and to hold public officials accountable.”

CAROL G IACOMO ’70

Carol Giacomo ’70 (right) talks with a U.S. commander during a trip to visit U.S. troops in the field in Afghanistan in 2010.

to keep people educated and informed and to hold public officials accountable.”

Media literacy, Giacomo believes, should be taught early in schools so students learn how to verify sources and distinguish fact from fiction. For her part, Giacomo serves as a visiting professor of journalism at Princeton University. She is a frequent speaker at colleges, think tanks, and on media shows. She brings an expert’s perspective to The New York Times-sponsored tours overseas.

Though Giacomo travels the world as an international journalist, she recognizes the value of news close to home. She harks back to her early days as a cub reporter when community newspapers were the lifeblood of small towns.

“Journalism is more important today than ever before,” says Giacomo. “If money were no object, I’d find five places in the United States desperately underserved and open newspapers there.”

together alumni

2

34

1

REGIS TODAY

1 The Class of 1977 showed some Regis pride at their gathering around the holidays.

3

4 5

2 The Class of 1996 has been celebrating “Regis Thanksgiving” together for 19 years! This year, their party was extra Regis-y because they ordered a free Regis Party in a Box. (You can too— see sidebar.)

“adulting”—alumni offered words of wisdom to juniors and seniors as they prepare to graduate from Regis.

5 It’s always a good time to show some Regis pride! The Class of 2000 got together and ordered a Regis Party in a Box with some swag.

3 Alumni and friends enjoyed some sunshine in Naples, Florida, for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

6 The Class of 1961 gathered on the Regis campus for lunch.

If you would like to use a space on campus for a class lunch or meeting, email us at alumni@regiscollege.edu.

4 Alumni and current students enjoyed a networking pub night in March focused on

7 A few members of the Class of 1984 met to plan their 35th Reunion earlier this year.

Join us for an alumni event! alumni.regiscollege.edu/events

6 7

Having a party and need some Regis swag? Order a PARTY IN A BOX free of charge. All we ask in return is that you send a photo of the occasion and let us know who else from Regis attended your party. Party boxes include Regis napkins, plates, cups, a wine and bottle opener, pom-poms, and a pennant. All the essentials to make your party a little more festive! Learn more and order a party box: alumni.regiscollege.edu/partybox

MyRegis ALUMNI APP

BE SOCIAL WITH REGIS JOIN US TO SUPPORT REGIS IN HAITI JUNE 27, 2019

Brae Burn Country Club West Newton, MA Learn more and purchase tickets by June 19: alumni.regiscollege.edu/ regisinhaiti

Regis Today is published twice a year, but you can stay informed about what’s happening at the university all year long.

Regis College Alumni Regis College regis_ma regiscollege_ma vimeo.com/regisma Regis College

notes class

Class Notes is published in fall issues of Regis Today. Notes for the Fall 2019 issue are due on August 1, 2019. Each class is limited to 750 words. News may be submitted to your class reporter or directly to Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations.

Email: classnotes@regiscollege.edu Mail: 235 Wellesley St., Box 30, Weston, MA 02493

In Memory

Regis has been notified of the following alumni and friends who passed away.* May they rest in God’s eternal peace.

Jane Boucher Kennedy January 14, 2019

1948 Elaine Gillson April 28, 2019

Eileen Cunningham McLaughlin February 17, 2019

1943 Jane Cox Kilday November 19, 2018

Marie Fitzgerald McSweeney November 13, 2018

Marylin Quinn O’Brien January 6, 2019

1966 Katharine Hayes October 27, 2018

1944 Gertrude Cronin March 8, 2019

Mary Casey Walter January 13, 2019

1956 Claire Henneberry January 27, 2019

1968 Adrienne Buuck Butler April 29, 2019

Joan Lyons Cullinan October 28, 2018

1949 Arline Rainey Hamel May 5, 2019

Mary Joan Coughlan O’Connor April 2, 2019

1969 Eunice Carini Ackerblom April 23, 2019

Lily Penez Ethier December 26, 2018

Barbara Snyder Kelley April 5, 2019

1945 Mary Jacobs Brown May 1, 2019

Phyllis Wilde MacNeil March 11, 2019

1957 Mary Ann Healey-Villa March 20, 2019

1970 Carol Cellucci Douillard November 15, 2018

Anne McNeil Hynes December 7, 2018

1971 Carolyn Joynt Lageman February 16, 2019

Eve Casey Carey September 16, 2018

1950 Norine Guillet Brophy December 4, 2018

Ruth Mooney Dacey January 26, 2019

Claire Nelson Natale May 8, 2017

Rita Manion Ludlum November 4, 2018

1951 Margaret Gorman Droll January 27, 2019

1946 Cecile Chagnon December 11, 2018 Elaine Ulrich Frawley January 24, 2019 Jeanne Hennebery January 14, 2019 Katharine Megan Row February 26, 2019 Andree DuBois Staelen March 14, 2019 Margaret Leary Walker October 29, 2018 1947 Rita Dailey Brosnahan Fahey February 22, 2019 Gloria Mawhinney November 26, 2018 Patricia Ford McLaughlin February 20, 2019 Phyllis Brosnahan Richardson November 5, 2018 Dorothy Gibbons Sullivan March 3, 2019

1952 Elizabeth Cronin Waldron _ November 4, 2018 1953 Sylvia Farina Clark January 24, 2019 Dorothy Regan Hess December 20, 2018 Judith Perault Smith February 23, 2019 1954 Helena Kenney Kasuba January 11, 2019 Theresa Hook Lynch December 11, 2018 Rosemary A. McAuliffe February 16, 2019 Jeanne Kenney Neale October 30, 2018 1955 Joanne Aieta April 23, 2019 Patricia Thalheimer King December 3, 2018

1958 Nancy Colleary Bateman April 20, 2019 Anne Murphy November 17, 2018 1959 Dorothy Aylward January 24, 2019 Barbara Emerson Fontaine February 4, 2019 Louise Forgues February 15, 2019 Patricia O’Connor Reynolds February 7, 2019 1961 Mary Lou Bresnahan Fowler December 11, 2018 1962 Marlene Ponton Barrett January 12, 2019 1963 Anne Billingham Brophy January 17, 2019 Beverly Falcione Marano April 2, 2019 Marilyn Leary Zander February 19, 2019 1964 Mary McDonough Burke-Novicelli January 16, 2019

37 SPRING 2019

1940 Martha Mitten Hosinski January 7, 2019

1972 Regina Kelleher January 28, 2019 1974 Pamela A. Brown May 8, 2019 1975 Ann-Marie Tiednan Ranahan December 6, 2018 1978 Barbarann Britt-Currier November 22, 2018 1979 Marva Taylor January 13, 2019 1983 Nancy Fox April 6, 2019 1984 Eleanor Cowhig Kinder November 20, 2018 1985 Joan Poirier Cosentino January 13, 2019 Penny Williams December 27, 2018 1986 Laura Eagan January 13, 2019 1999 John Twomey December 31, 2018

*As of a April 30, 2019, print deadline.

>> Now We Fly: The Campaign for Regis is in its final stretch and will be completed by December 2019. Unrestricted annual support to the Regis Fund remains critical in achieving the goal and providing essential resources to students.

Fundraising for a capital project to update the outdoor Regis Athletic Complex is underway as well. Read on to learn more about the project.

38 REGIS TODAY Now We Fly is a comprehensive campaign that consists of four main funding priorities.

BUILDING THE COMMUNITY: CAPITAL PROJECTS Recent capital improvements include a new residence hall, renovations to the library, the addition of a campus quad, and an improvement of the traffic footprint on campus. The current capital fundraising priority is the outdoor athletic complex.

TEACHING AND LEARNING: ACADEMIC INITIATIVES Regis will give students access to innovative academic initiatives that enable them to learn, serve, and soar—from honors programs to state-ofthe-art nursing simulation labs to community service trips that help our dear neighbors.

ON LIN E alumni.regiscollege.edu/ regisfund PH ON E 781.768.7240 MA IL Institutional Advancement Regis College 235 Wellesley St., Box 30 Weston, MA 02493

INVESTING IN STUDENTS: ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS Following the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Regis remains committed to providing unlimited opportunities to deserving students of all backgrounds.

Growing the endowed scholarship funds ensures that the university can meet the increasingly rigorous need for financial support.

GROWING ANNUAL SUPPORT: THE REGIS FUND The Regis Fund supports everyday operating costs that allow the university and its students to thrive. A key priority continues to be securing funding for financial aid. More than 90 percent of Regis undergraduates rely on financial aid or scholarship to fund their Regis education, and annual gifts provide current-use dollars needed to deliver this support to deserving students.

Please make your year-end gift to the Regis Fund by June 30.

Learn more about Now We Fly: alumni.regiscollege.edu/nowwefly

$40M G OA L

92%

Building Pride

Updating the Outdoor Athletic Complex Regis’ outdoor athletic facility currently includes a turf field, track, softball field, and six tennis courts. The Building Pride project consists of several phases to add components to the complex, with construction of the field house as the first capital priority when funding is secured.

•Construction of a field house that will include locker rooms, a function room, and a balcony overlooking the turf field and track •Construction of a concession building that will include a concession area, visiting team rooms, and public restrooms •Addition of grandstand bleachers on the turf field and the softball field with press boxes The additional facilities will position Regis as a leader in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) and the overall experiences of student-athletes, coaches, fans, and visitors will be improved—elevating the reputation of Regis and the Pride programs and strengthening the Regis community.

See the Pride in action, learn more, and support the project: alumni.regiscollege.edu/nowwefly/athletics

BY T H E NUMB E R S AT H L E T ICS

3.2

average GPA of student-athletes

100% Student-athletes participate in service projects

27% Regis students are athletes

20

NCAA Division III women’s and men’s teams

Left: Athletic Complex rendering with proposed additions; below: field house rendering.

mınds hearts &

Crusade for Change Internship leads Adolis Ramos ’19 down rewarding path of advocacy

40 REGIS TODAY

As a wife, mother of two children, full-time registered respiratory therapist, and a recent graduate of the public health program at Regis North, you would think that Adolis Ramos ’19 doesn’t have much spare time for anything else.

Think again.

After landing an internship at the Alzheimer’s Association as part of her program at Regis North—Regis’ satellite campus in Lawrence, Massachusetts—Ramos knew she wanted to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s even after her internship ended. For a cause as important as Alzheimer’s, Ramos makes the time.

“I became passionate about the Alzheimer’s Association when I learned the impact this disease has on my Latino community and the lack of knowledge among us,” says Ramos. “I immediately felt the responsibility to help in any way possible.”

And that’s just what she did. As an official volunteer ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association, Ramos dedicates about 15 hours per month to fighting the insidious disease that affects more than 5 million Americans and is more prevalent among blacks and Latinos, according to the National Institutes of Health (Alzheimer’s Disease in the Latino Community: Intersection of Genetics and Social Determinants of Health). And with NIH research projecting that number will skyrocket to 14 million by 2050, the world needs more advocates like Ramos.

As a native Spanish speaker, Ramos has taken on the important role of translator at association events to ensure the entire audience understands critical facts and information. She has translated at events with hundreds of people.

“At first I was insecure about translating because I was nervous about public speaking, but I knew the task at hand was bigger than my personal insecurities,” says Ramos. “I am able to communicate important information to a widely underserved

yet immensely impacted community, and that is tremendously rewarding.”

But her work doesn’t stop there. In 2018 and 2019, Ramos received a scholarship from the association to attend the Alzheimer’s Disease National Forum in Washington, D.C., where she learned more about public policy and the power of advocacy, and marched on Capitol Hill with fellow ambassadors.

“We work to enhance our relations with the federal government through personal contact with members of Congress,” says Ramos. “Part of my role as an ambassador is to build strong rapport with legislators on Capitol Hill to promote the association’s legislative priorities. When I was in D.C. in March, I had the opportunity to meet with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren to discuss Alzheimer’s disease awareness and treatments.”

Ramos credits the hybrid style of her Regis North classes—both on campus and online—as well as support from faculty and classmates as instrumental in enabling her to pursue her education as a fulltime working mom.

“Juggling my personal life with school and my internship was challenging,” says Ramos. “But it gave me the desire to persevere and challenge myself even more. I learned that I’m stronger and more courageous, driven, and empathic than I knew.

Regis has made me more confident not only in my work, but in myself.”

Ramos just graduated from Regis in May with her bachelor’s degree in public health, and she already has plans to pursue a master’s degree in the discipline starting this fall. Given her altruistic nature, it’s no surprise that she plans to use her education to help others.

“I want to stand up for inequalities and give a voice to those who don’t have one,” Ramos says.

“Regis taught me that in order to ask for change, one must be willing to be part of the change.”

Photo: Anna Webster

BY A LE XIS B A U M

“I want to stand up for inequalities and give a voice to those who don’t have one.

Regis taught me that in order to ask for change, one must be willing to be part of the change.”

—ADOLIS RAMOS ’19

Hear more from Ramos in this video: regisma.me/adolis

Regis College 235 Wellesley Street Weston, MA 02493-1571 Change Service Requested

SAVE THE DATE OCTOBER 23, 2019 The Westin Boston Waterfront Boston, Massachusetts

SUPPORTING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS Honoring Patricia A. D’Amore ’73, PhD, MBA

Patricia A. D’Amore is the Charles L. Schepens Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

Please join us at the Let It Shine Regis Gala to honor D’Amore’s groundbreaking, transformational research and her generosity to Regis over many years. alumni.regiscollege.edu/letitshine

Photo: Pierce Harman

An internationally recognized expert in vascular development and pathology, her research formed the scientific foundations for the development of the therapies currently used to treat various ocular vascular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, in millions of people worldwide each year.

D’Amore is a member of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which was founded in 1780 and honors exceptional leaders, scholars, artists, and innovators. She joins past academy inductees that include Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, and President Barack Obama.