Alumni Magazine Winter 2015-16

A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E | Winter 2015-16

Scene on Campus

Hollywood acting teacher and Rhode Island College alumnus Howard Fine leads a Master Class for a select group of RIC students.

Building RIC • Presidential Visit • Biology Research

PRESIDENT’S

Message

Dear Alumni and Friends, This past year, the RIC campus has been humming with energy and excitement.

The college has been busily expanding its programming, research and facilities, all to benefit the greater RIC community.

Last fall, we made history on campus when we renovated Alex and Ani Hall and reunited the studio art, art history and art education faculty in one state-of-the-art facility.

Also last fall, U.S. President Barack Obama made history when he took the podium at the Murray Center to deliver a speech on equal pay for women. RIC biochemistry student Lisbeth Avalos received the thrill of her young life when she was asked to introduce the commander in chief to the cheering crowd.

In the winter, one of our generous and successful alumni, Howard Fine ’81, ’04 jetted from Hollywood to Mount Pleasant to offer invaluable and in-depth professional development to our talented theatre arts students.

This spring, another talented alumnus, Christian de Rezendes ’00, had his documentary shown at the Cannes International Film Festival in France. Back in Rhode Island, he spent the summer working with RIC student interns on his next documentary.

Year-round, our students are exploring new fields of study and making discoveries, as exemplified by the fine laboratory research that our biology students are conducting with their faculty mentors.

And, throughout the year, our alumni find ways to return to their alma mater and create new campus memories, from our annual Alumni Awards ceremony to our new Golden Years Reunion event.

Through this issue of the alumni magazine, I encourage you to learn more about recent improvements and special events that comprise “Scene on Campus” and to find new ways to reconnect with Rhode Island College in the future.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Nancy Carriuolo President

WINTER 2015-16 IN THIS

Issue

600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue Providence, RI 02908-1996

The Rhode Island College Alumni Association, founded in 1887, has existed to serve and promote interest in Rhode Island College. The association assists the college with its mission through its time, talent and resources – financial and otherwise.

The Rhode Island College Alumni Magazine is published twice a year by the Rhode Island College Alumni Association.

Editors Suzy Alba ’05 Laura Hart Editorial Staff Gita Brown Kim Fiore ’96 Chad Minnich Heidi Reed Guest Writers Sandra Enos ’71 Bea Lanzi ’89

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President Obama made history when he visited the RIC campus last fall.

FEATURES President Obama Makes History............................. 9 Biology Research at RIC.......................................... 12 Hollywood Acting Coach Howard Fine ’81, ’04. . ... 17

Photographer Gene St. Pierre ’77

Alex and Ani Hall Opens. . ....................................... 20

Correspondence to: Office of Alumni Affairs Rhode Island College 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave. Providence, RI 02908-1996

Fellowship Brings Golfers Together......................... 35

Phone: (401) 456-8086 Fax: (401) 456-8851 Email: alumni@ric.edu ©Rhode Island College Winter 2015-16

Rhode Island’s Promise............................................ 23

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DEPARTMENTS Alumni Events Providence Events................................................ 5

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Alumni Awards. . .................................................. 6 Golden Years Reunion. . ....................................... 26 Commencement 2015.. ........................................ 27 Alumni Profiles Ed Rondeau ’62................................................... 22 Christian de Rezendes ’00. . ................................. 24 Alumni Contributor: Sanda Enos ’71. . .................... 25 Class Notes............................................................... 28 3

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S

Message

Scene on Campus This issue of the alumni magazine, “Scene on Campus,” demonstrates how Rhode Island College students, faculty and staff are engaged in tremendous learning opportunities and are working to create the best environment possible for student success.

Similarly, we at the RIC Alumni Association have refined our mission to focus on alumni engagement and are ramping up our efforts to build stronger and more active connections with our extended alumni community.

In the past year, we have launched two new alumni chapters – one in Boston and one in New York City – that are bringing our graduates together in new and exciting ways.

Our Director of Alumni Affairs Suzy Alba is a bright, highenergy addition to the association who has already spearheaded new programming. Under her leadership, she has supported new reunion events to reconnect fellow classmates. She has also launched a collaboration with the college’s Career Development Center, so that alumni can receive unique professional development opportunities while benefiting from the center’s many services.

As we continue to expand our programming and outreach, we ask that you consider how you personally can renew or expand your current relationship with your alma mater. For example, whether you wish to attend an event on campus, nominate a fellow graduate for an Alumni Award or volunteer your time on behalf of the association, we encourage you to find a meaningful way to support the college and reconnect to RIC.

William Fazioli ’86 Alumni Association President

Message from the Director Dear Alumni and Friends, This has been quite the year for the Alumni Association! We celebrated 50 years of Alumni Awards in May when, along with close to 300 guests, we honored 14 stellar award recipients.

We hosted our 25th Anniversary Alumni Association Liberty Mutual Cup Golf Tournament in honor of alumna Helen Lombardi ’40 and celebrated the more than $300,000 that has been raised over 25 years, assisting hundreds of RIC students who have faced unexpected emergency situations.

We hosted our first-ever “Golden Years Reunion” honoring our graduates in the 1940-1960 classes, in addition to celebrating the Class of 1965 Golden Anniversary Class during Commencement Weekend. During Homecoming Weekend, we also held a Return to RIC Reunion for the 5th-45th reunions and alumni affinity groups.

Each year we welcome more than 1,500 new graduates into our Alumni Association. Our network continues to build each year here in Rhode Island and beyond. We encourage you to look to the Alumni Association and to each other as a resource to ensure your continued success and the success of the college.

We hope to see you soon!

Suzy Alba ’05 Director, Alumni Affairs and College Relations 4

OFFICERS William Fazioli ’86 President Karen Schnabel ’06 Vice President Mariam Boyajian ’70, M.A. ’72 Treasurer Ronda Warrener ’89, M.A. ’12 Secretary Jason Anthony ’99, M.A. ’05 Past President DIRECTORS Mark Cousineau ’88 Corsino Delgado ’82 Harold Devine ’65, M.Ed. ’70, C.A.G.S. ’76 Thomas Fitzgerald ’99 Georgia Fortunato ’81, M.Ed. ’85

Sharen Gleckman ’84 Deborah Johnson ’80, M.A. ’94 Beatrice Lanzi ’89 Mathies Santos ’82 Barbara Smith ’70 Michael Smith ’79

ALUMNI

Events

RIC Alumni at the Providence Bruins

Kristen Silvia ’12 and friends Pat Callegaro Kaczorowski ’72 (right) and her family

Jason Golditch ’90 and son

New and Recent Grad Welcome Reception at AQUA

Recent graduates enjoy hearing from the Alumni Association.

Ashley Santos ’15, Magnolia Perez ’15 and Kimberly Hordern ’15 Alumni Board members Sharen Gleckman ’84 and Ronda Warrener ’89 with recent grad Nicole Kearney ’15 and Alumni Association President Bill Fazioli ’89

RIC Music Dept. Alumni Reception at Union Station Brewery

Allison Fuller ’09 and Daniel George ’10 Wendy J’zen ’02, Elizabeth Kelley ’02, Patricia Kammerer ’02 and Professor Teresa Coffman

John Burns ’10 and Sarah Kane ’13

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2015 Alumni Awards ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR James L. White ’74 President, JL White, LLC Jim White received the John E. Hetherman Award in 1974 as RIC’s top male senior student-athlete in soccer and baseball. White’s athletic career included invitations to try out for the Atlanta Braves and the R.I. Oceaneers of the American Soccer League. After leaving RIC, Jim moved to California and started JL White Technical Sales, Inc., which specialized in advanced polymers and fluidic solutions for high tech, biotech, medical and semiconductor markets.

Today, he travels internationally as president of JL White LLC. Jim is a long-time supporter of Rhode Island College.

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ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD Richard A. Paquette ’87 Colonel, U.S. Army

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Natasha S. Reis ’06 Geriatric Nurse Navigator, Roger Williams Medical Center

ALUMNI STAFF AWARD Jo-Ann D’Alessandro ’88 Associate Director of Athletics, Rhode Island College

SPECIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Gary M. Penfield Retired Vice President for Student Affairs, Rhode Island College

CHARLES B. WILLARD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Ennis J. Bisbano ’55, M.Ed. ’61 Retired Superintendent, Bristol Public Schools

ALUMNI FACULTY AWARD Bill Wilson Professor of Music, Theatre, and Dance, Rhode Island College

(L-R) Colonel Richard A. Paquette ’87, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Congressman James Langevin ’90, Beatrice Lanzi ’89, Tom Coderre ’04

Honor Roll School of Management Marketing Jennifer L. Johnson ’00 Executive Director City Year Providence

School of Nursing Nursing Susan D. Bryant ’83, M.S.N. ’14 Staff Nurse, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Lactation Consultant, Kent Hospital

Feinstein School of Education and Human Development Special Education Byron E. Johnson ’78, M.Ed. ’90 Special Education Teacher Slater Junior High School

School of Social Work Social Work Anna M. Cano-Morales M.S.W. ’99 Executive Director Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University

(L-R) Alumni Awards emcee Deloris Grant ’88, ’94, Professor Emeritus William P. Hutchinson

Faculty of Arts and Sciences Anthropology Edicta M. Grullon ’01, M.A. ’07 International Programs Special Projects Coordinator SOS Children’s Villages International, Austria

Faculty of Arts and Sciences Biology Jane Bucci O’Hora ’99 Optometric Physician Bucci Eye Care

Governor Raimondo addresses the crowd and honorees.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences Political Science Thomas R. Coderre ’04 Senior Advisor U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

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President Obama Makes History at RIC

By Laura Hart

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President Obama holds a roundtable discussion on women in the STEM fields.

Attendees include RIC President Nancy Carriuolo and RIC biochemistry major Lisbeth Avalos.

“While many women are working hard to support themselves and their families, they’re still facing unfair choices, outdated workplace policies. That holds them back, but it also holds all of us back. We have to do better, because women deserve better. And, by the way, when women do well, everybody does well.”

— President Barack Obama He almost did not come to campus.

President Barack Obama’s advance team had been working around the clock with RIC’s senior staff and its dedicated facilities crew to prepare for the college’s first visit by a sitting U.S. president. Special ticket distribution events for faculty and staff, students and the greater Rhode Island community drew record crowds. A RIC biochemistry major, nominated to join RIC President Nancy Carriuolo and a handful of other powerful women for a presidential roundtable on STEM careers for women, reviewed her notes. A RIC music major practiced the national anthem for an anticipated crowd of thousands.

Volunteers and staffers reviewed the schedule of events and were briefed on their various roles. The Murray Center athletic facility had been transformed into a secure speaking venue, complete with metal detectors, rope lines, an elevated press stand and a brightly lit center stage with a podium bearing the POTUS seal. Rhode Island College was ready to make history.

The leader of the free world had been scheduled to take the stage the following morning – Oct. 16, 2014 – to discuss opportunities for women in the science and technology fields, when the call came announcing that President Obama would have to remain in D.C. to manage growing concerns about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. As word spread of the cancellation, sighs of disappointment were audible throughout Fruit Hill and Mount Pleasant.

For the event-planning team on campus, the fall season would still be full of high-profile guests, most notably presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, whose team chose the college’s recreation center as a rally site for then-gubernatorial candidate Gina Raimondo.

As Election Day approached, no one on campus expected another opportunity for history-making. Then déjà vu hit. A RIC administrator fielded a phone call from a now-familiar D.C. number, belonging to the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Would RIC consider hosting a presidential visit on Halloween?

Fast-forward to the morning of Oct. 31. Orderly lines of eager Rhode Islanders worked their way through security checkpoints, then fanned out to their respective seats in the bleachers, on the gymnasium floor and – for the lucky female students and STEM professionals – immediately behind the podium where the President of the United States would stand. National media members flashed their credentials, camera operators adjusted their tripods above the crowds and recognizable TV personalities conducted mic checks. Among members of the security team, walkie-talkies buzzed and clicked with cryptic notifications. Whispers among the advance team and RIC senior staff revealed when the president had landed at the airport, when he was en route to campus and when he had arrived at the Murray Center.

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After the STEM roundtable and a number of scheduled photo opportunities, all VIPs in attendance took their assigned seats and waited. Senior Aimee-Rose Willett, her flushed cheeks the only indication of nervousness, began her enthralling rendition of the national anthem with the famous lyrics, “Oh say, can you see.” A student veteran, Jessica Rivard, led the Pledge of Allegiance. And then, from behind a floor-to-ceiling blue curtain emerged RIC junior and biochemistry major Lisbeth Avalos in her new blazer to introduce her latest acquaintance, President Barack Obama.

The crowd went wild.

A comfortable and practiced public speaker, President Obama bantered with the crowd before leaning into the podium and offering his official remarks. What began as a discussion of women in the workforce quickly became a personal narrative for the president, who recalled the barriers his single mother faced in balancing employment with family needs. He discussed the need to raise the minimum wage, the value of the Affordable Care Act and the high cost of child care. Then, as the crowd of women behind him cheered him on, he made an impassioned plea for equal pay for equal work.

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President Obama said, “While many women are working hard to support themselves and their families, they’re still facing unfair choices, outdated workplace policies. That holds them back, but it also holds all of us back. We have to do better, because women deserve better. And, by the way, when women do well, everybody does well.”

The crowd, alternately boisterous and mesmerized, took in every word.

The president concluded his remarks with a call for all Americans to advocate for a fair future for both men and women. And, just as quickly as he had appeared, he disappeared behind the blue curtain. Backstage, and clearly on the clock, he nevertheless took a moment to thank President Carriuolo and her staff personally for their hospitality. President Carriuolo, in turn, presented President Obama with a RIC-branded cap that he assured her he would wear on the next time he went golfing.

With a wave, he slipped out the side door of the Murray Center and into the waiting presidential limousine.

RIC Biochemistry Major Meets POTUS “I dream of some day winning the Nobel Prize for my achievements in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. Had it not been for my family and mentors like Professor Almeida, as well as the academic support groups at RIC whose enthusiasm for learning is both contagious and incurable, such aspirations would have never been possible.”

— Lisbeth Avalos

As RIC student Lisbeth Avalos walked onto the stage, all she could do, she said, was remind herself to breathe. She was about to introduce the President of the United States to a cheering crowd of more than 2,000.

President Barack Obama had traveled to Rhode Island on Oct. 31, 2014, to deliver a key policy speech about women’s roles in the economy, including equal pay for equal work.

Prior to his speech, he had met with a select number of women for a roundtable to discuss the value of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

Biochemistry major Avalos, who works year-round in an undergraduate research lab at RIC, was among the roundtable participants engaged in an in-depth discussion with the leader of the free world.

“I knew that President Obama would be a very relaxed person and easy to talk to,” she said. “But I didn’t know how much he enjoyed roundtable discussions. He listened to all of our personal stories. And our stories fueled his speech and made it more personal.”

Born in Guatemala, Avalos is a first-generation college student who did not speak English when she moved to Rhode Island

with her family. Though an A student, she began doing poorly in her freshman year at Providence’s prestigious Classical High School.

“I couldn’t connect high school to a future for me,” she explained. “I was undocumented, so I didn’t see myself going anywhere. My friends were talking about becoming doctors and entering other professions. I saw myself working a dead-end job. I spent a lot of time crying alone.”

In her senior year in high school, everything changed for Avalos when she signed up for College Visions, a local nonprofit organization that helps first-generation students enter college. “They took interest in me and instilled in my life something I was longing for – hope. From there, things unfolded for me, and Rhode Island College became my gateway to opportunity,” she said.

Avalos also credited RIC Professor of Physical Science Karen Almeida for introducing her to the exciting world of research. Avalos was chosen by the White House based on Almeida’s recommendation.

Following the roundtable, Avalos remained behind with the President. She said, “I

only spoke to him for a minute or so, yet talking to him relaxed me. He told me, ‘You’re going to do great, Lisbeth.’”

Avalos was then called out of the room and onto the stage, where she was immediately hit by the excitement of the crowd.

With a big smile, she introduced herself to the audience, speaking briefly of her journey from Guatemala to Rhode Island College. She said, “I dream of some day winning the Nobel Prize for my achievements in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. Had it not been for my family and mentors like Professor Almeida, as well as the academic support groups at RIC whose enthusiasm for learning is both contagious and incurable, such aspirations would have never been possible.”

“At Rhode Island College, I have been met with widespread support and I could not be more thankful for what this country, state and city have done for my faith, confidence and future,” she said.

“I thank God for having found my truest passion of all – science. It was an honor to share my story with the president earlier today and now it is my pleasure to introduce him. Please welcome, President Barack Obama.”

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Biology Research at RIC Prepares Students for Fields of Medicine, Biotech and Science

By Gita Brown

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“The greatest benefit of lab research is that students gain insight into how a scientific mind thinks,” said Professor Lloyd Matsumoto, chair of RIC’s Biology Department.

This year, 32 RIC students – both undergraduate and graduate – have the opportunity to become involved in real scientific research by working in the labs of biology faculty.

Under the supervision of a Principal Investigator (PI) – a faculty member who directs the lab – students engage in the PI’s ongoing research. They attend lab group meetings once a week, where they review their research and learn to develop a fluency when talking about their findings. They read scientific papers and learn to zero in on the investigator’s contribution to science, and they attend RIC’s weekly Biology Colloquium, where guest speakers present lectures on their own research and where students learn to formulate questions.

Lab students also go through an intensive process of documenting the results of the experiments they have conducted under the guidance of their PI. They then present their papers at regional or national scientific meetings. “Presenting their work before other scientists and being able to field questions are the real tests,” said Matsumoto. “Our students have won awards for their research at both regional and national meetings.”

“By the time they leave here, they can easily integrate their critical, analytical and quantitative thinking into any kind of a research-based group. These skills can be applied to biotech, medical and science fields,” he said. Indeed, many go on to medical, dental, pharmacy and graduate schools, or enter the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology.

Assistant Professor Deborah Britt’s former students, Xenia Fernandez ’12, M.A. ’14 and Kyle Inman ’13, just completed their first year of medical school – Fernandez at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Inman at Johns Hopkins University.

Fernandez noted that the techniques she learned in RIC’s lab, such as culturing and preparing yeast for multiple procedures like protein and DNA extractions, Western blotting, serial dilutions and plating and using flow cytometry for DNA content, have come up in various lectures in med school.

She said, “In the year since I left the lab at RIC, I’ve had to critique and present research articles, write and present an original proposal and learn about various lab techniques for multiple classes. However, I did all of these things in the lab at RIC, so I felt prepared and minimally stressed in accomplishing these assignments at my new institution.”

“Our department’s command of biology is second to none,” Matsumoto said. “All of our faculty are at the forefront of their fields and all of their research is grant supported. Research grants are only given to scientists who are on the cutting edge.”

RIC Associate Professor of Biology Rebeka Merson with lab students Keya Thakkar and Timothy Bock Jr.

Senior Kate Sollecito is working toward becoming a research technician, a decision that was solidified after working in 13

RIC RESEARCH Below is a sampling of the wide range of research going on in RIC labs, from molecular and genetics to environmental and evolutionary processes.

DNA Damage Repair Over the past eight years, Assistant Professor Deborah Britt has been researching a specific yeast gene called BCP1 to determine whether it is involved in DNA repair.

“There are multiple components of the DNA repair process, and our goal is to figure out where BCP1 fits into the process,” Britt said. “Since DNA repair occurs in all cells, what we learn in yeast may provide insight as to what happens in human cells as well.”

RIC junior Sarah Bilida worked in Britt’s lab last year.

There, she became familiar with a variety of molecular biological techniques, including DNA extraction, restriction digests, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing and PCR (short for polymerase chain reaction) – a tool used to focus on a segment of DNA and copy it billions of times over.

“Sarah successfully made double-mutant yeast strains, which mutated further in genes known to be involved in DNA repair,” said Britt. “We achieved some promising results.”

RIC researcher Christopher Rei-Mohammed

Assistant Professor William Holmes’ lab. “It was the single biggest leap in my career decision process,” she said.

Margaret Lopes, a lab assistant for Associate Professor Dana Kolibachuk, is on her way to becoming a middle-school science teacher. Lopes found scientific research to be a lesson in learning how to accept failure.

“Science and life are all about failing and giving yourself the chance to learn from it,” she said. “Things almost never go right the first time in the lab. What I’ve learned is to keep trying until you do succeed. When I finally received results that could be considered successful, I felt amazing. I don’t think I would have felt as good had I not failed along the way. Failing is about learning. Working in a research lab gives you many chances to learn.”

Lopes recommends lab research for all students, even for those who have not chosen medicine or science as a career. “Lab research puts you right in the middle of everything,” she said.

“You can see what you’ve learned or read about actually happen.

And when your results are what they are supposed to be there is no better feeling of achievement.”

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Plant Ecology This summer, as part of an EPSCoR-funded (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) project in the Forest Ecology Lab of Associate Professor Roland de Gouvenain, students Loudjina Toussaint and Kate Godfrey studied plant ecology.

“The students learned how to use a portable photosynthesis gas analyzer to measure plant photosynthetic rates,” he said. “They then applied what they learned by measuring the photosynthesis of tree seedlings at the Yale-Myers Experimental Forest in Connecticut, after which they analyzed the data to find out if human disturbances could affect the physiology of tree seedlings and impact the future regeneration of the forest.”

Bacteria-Producing Carbohydrates Much of the research by Associate Professor Eric Roberts is focused on understanding how plants, algae and bacteria produce carbohydrates. Currently, Roberts is concentrating on a bacterium called Sarcina ventriculi, a microorganism that produces a carbohydrate called beta glucan found in many cereal grains.

Associate Professor Rebeka Merson

A scientist in Merson’s lab scrapes off the outer layer of an egg case in order to photograph the development of the little skate embryo inside.

“Beta glucan helps reduce the absorption of dietary cholesterol,” Roberts explained. “While I don’t think that bacterial carbohydrates will be added to foods in the near future, a better understanding of how these substances are synthesized could help in designing plant carbohydrates tailored to specific requirements.”

Roberts and his lab assistant Joe Guerreiro ’15, who graduated in May, attempted to gain a more complete characterization of bacterial beta glucan and to identify the genes that play a role in its synthesis. In the lab, Guerreiro became familiarized with basic microbiology culture techniques, bacterial genomic DNA isolation and preparing DNA for Illumina MiSeq Next Generation Sequencing.

“We obtained DNA from of a strain of Sarcina lutea isolated from the soil outside of RIC’s Fogarty Life Science Building,” Roberts said. Then, they submitted the DNA for sequencing and data analysis using the MiSeq instrument at the URI Genomics and Sequencing Center.

“Examining the eight billion nucleotides of sequence, we were able to identify four genes that might underlie the synthesis process,” said Roberts.

Understanding CiMRF Two projects are underway in Professor Thomas Meedel’s lab, both using the marine chordate Ciona intestinalis as a model organism for study.

CiMRF (Ciona intestinalis Myogenic Regulatory Factor) is a gene that belongs to a family of genes known as myogenic regulatory factors (MRF). These genes play a critical role in muscle development.

Meedel’s goal is to gain a better understanding of the biological properties of CiMRF and the MRF family of genes. He also wants to examine the response of Ciona intestinalis to simulated climate change.

Early growth stages of a skate embryo

Working closely with Meedel is current student Lisbeth Avalos. “Our experiments compare changes in the protein expression of the populations of C. intestinalis found between Maine and Rhode Island under conditions of varying temperature,” Meedel said. “These experiments will enable us to precisely determine how C. intestinalis responds to climate-change stress at the protein level.”

Protein Folding and Neurodegenerative Diseases The biochemical characteristics essential for proper protein folding are the foundation of Assistant Professor William Holmes’ research. Primarily, he concentrates on the structure and folding of prion proteins. Prion proteins are infectious proteins that lead to neurodegenerative diseases. They are most commonly known for causing mad cow disease.

“By understanding how proteins fold properly, we can begin to dissect what happens when they improperly fold and cause devastating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease,” he said.

Holmes is currently working with student lab assistants Phil Ashkar, Jeremy Boutin and Kate Sollecito.

After preparing media for bacterial and yeast growth, Sollecito said, the lab fellows turned their focus to reading. “Dr. Holmes taught us that the best way to start a lab is by knowing in-depth the background of your project.”

Marine Ecology Professor Breea Govenar and her students combine field and lab work in their marine ecology research. Donning rubber boots and collecting samples of various types of benthic invertebrates – primarily mollusks (snails, ribbed mussels, oysters, etc.) – on the rocky shoreline or coastal continued 15

RIC researchers Nicholas Andreozzi and Sara Lazar

salt marshes of Narragansett Bay, they bring samples back to the lab in buckets or coolers to either freeze, preserve or house in the circulating seawater laboratory.

undergraduates Sara “Libby” Lazar, Nicholas Andreozzi, Keya Thakkar, Chris Rei-Mohammed and Stephanie Nappa.

“In our ecological work, we measure and weigh every individual to determine its life history, reproductive output and physiological condition,” said Govenar. “We also measure different geochemical signatures to determine the invertebrate’s diet and rate of growth.”

“We approach our research questions at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels,” Merson said. “The students’ lab work includes isolating DNA and RNA from cells and tissues, studying PCR sequencing, examining the activity of AHR proteins through cell culture models and in vitro assessments, and imaging the progression of development through embryonic stages and biomarkers of toxic exposure.”

“In our molecular work, we use genetic markers to either determine the identity or relatedness of invertebrates or to differentiate the contents in their digestive tract,” she said.

“We examine the resident [gut] bacteria and the transient [consumed] bacteria.” In their lab work, students use a variety of molecular biological techniques, including DNA extraction, PCR and DNA sequencing.

Effects of Chemical Pollutants on Marine Vertebrates Using sharks, skates and rays as model organisms, RIC Associate Professor of Biology Rebeka Merson is investigating the effects of chemical pollutants on the development of early marine vertebrates. She explained that “the extended embryonic periods of sharks, skates and rays – months to years – make them particularly vulnerable to environmental pollutants and may increase the duration of critical points in which a single exposure to a toxicant would have severe developmental effects.”

Merson works with seven RIC students: graduates Timothy Bock ’14 and Tomasz Rosadzinski ’09 and

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Potential Uses for Polyhydroxyalkanoic Acid Associate Professor Dana Kolibachuk is investigating a bioluminescent marine bacterium that produces polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA).

“PHA is a carbon and energy reserve, similar to animal fat, that can be used by the cells when they are starved for nutrients,” she said. “The acid has similar properties to petroleum-based plastics yet is biodegradable and relatively nontoxic. This opens up many potential applications for PHA.” With student lab assistant, Keya Thakkar, Kolibachuk has been examining the conditions and incubation period necessary for E. coli to accumulate PHA. They are also examining the genes involved in PHA production and the expression of the gene controlling lactose utilization.

Expert Advice: Hollywood Acting Coach and RIC Alumnus Howard Fine ’81, ’04 runs a special workshop for RIC theatre students

By Laura Hart

Howard Fine ’81, ’04 is trying to impress upon the two young actors running through a scene from playwright Neil LaBute’s “Reasons to be Pretty” that acting does not begin at the moment a director says “action.”

“Don’t get ready to start a scene,” he says. “Be in the life.”

He prompts the actors to consider what their characters were doing in their ordinary lives right before the extraordinary – this particular scene – unfolds.

“We are always in three places: where we’ve been, where we are and where we expect to be going,” Fine explains.

Fine’s explanation serves as an apt metaphor for his return to his

alma mater. He began to build his considerable coaching skills as a theatre arts student at RIC back in the 1980s. Now, as the powerhouse behind Howard Fine Acting Studios of Los Angeles and Melbourne, he is advisor to A-list actors, such as Oscar winners Jennifer Connelly and Jared Leto and Oscar nominees Brad Pitt, Michelle Williams and Will Smith. And, at this two-day acting workshop for 16 talented RIC students, Fine expects the young actors to gain some valuable lessons in commitment, authenticity and improvisation.

This special workshop is the brainchild of Fine’s friend and former classmate Dante Bellini ’80, now a principal with the Providence-based advertising agency RDW Group. The idea, spawned from a dinner conversation between two old friends, took shape when Bellini approached RIC President Nancy 17

“Rhode Island College gave me a first-rate education and numerous opportunities to work on my craft. The faculty members were supportive and knowledgeable and willing to mentor young talent. I feel a great deal of gratitude to the college for all that it did to nurture me and am delighted to give something back.”

Carriuolo. Soon, Professor of Music, Theatre and Dance James Taylor was recruiting top theatre students for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

At the moment, Fine is considering the bare bones set in Forman’s black box theatre with a critical eye. From his perch in a folding director’s chair, his body is still but his voice is booming. “Make a place!” he advises. The actors spring to the wings, where they forage through nearby props to add to the mattress and comforter tossed on the floor meant to simulate an apartment. “You need a closet!” he says. “A bureau!”

In Fine’s studio in Los Angeles, he explains that he has enough props, including a working stove and oven, for his actors to create a strong sense of physical reality.

Back in the Forman Theatre, the two main characters in “Reasons to be Pretty” – Steph and Greg – are in the middle of argument that pits Steph, a ball of fury, against Greg, a sheepish apologizer. As the actors – Aimee Rose Willett and Dave Sackal – offer their lines for the first time, the lack of true heat becomes obvious to the audience. The lines seem rehearsed and are falling flat.

It’s time for an intervention. Fine tells the actors to repeat each other’s lines to each other, changing the pronoun.

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— Howard Fine ’81, ’04

Sackal begins, “You’re talking nuts now.”

Before she launches into her next line, Willett responds with a disbelieving echo, “I’m talking nuts now?”

As if hearing Greg’s insult for the first time, Willett, now in character, continues with an anger-fueled rant. The exercise is working, and the audience leans in to watch.

Fine, sporting a coy smile, is not surprised by the results. “The repeat exercise forces you to work moment to moment,” he explains.

This is not the only unconventional exercise Fine will use in the next two days to make the mild performance more pungent, the rehearsed scenes more alive. When coaching two actors playing teenage lovers in a scene from John Patrick Shanley’s “The Red Coat,” Fine has the duo shout their lines to recapture the exuberance and energy of first love. When the actress in Ted Tally’s “Hooters” fails to project an appropriate amount of sex appeal, Fine enlists two young male actors to follow her silently across the stage as she delivers her lines. In Mike O’Malley’s “Three Years from 30,” Fine grounds the scene’s lead actress by opening an ironing board in front of her and handing her clothes to press.

To Willett and Sackal, Fine offers some sage advice: “personalize, personalize, personalize.” Before returning to the set, Fine suggests, “Improvise to discover your normal life.” Addressing Sackal, Fine asks how the character of Greg normally assuages his girlfriend when the two are having an argument. Sackal nods thoughtfully.

members were supportive and knowledgeable and willing to mentor young talent. I feel a great deal of gratitude to the college for all that it did to nurture me and am delighted to give something back.”

Addressing Willett, Fine suggests, “A great improv would be the two of you getting along. Find out what is good between the two of you. Find out what you are fighting for.”

But Fine cautions about too much collaboration. When you discuss everything with your partner in advance, you homogenize, and come up with one point of view. “You need two conflicting points of view to make the scene work,” he said. For homework before day two of the workshop, he tells the two young actors, “Know your point of view and do not share it with each other.”

With his keen insights and clear direction, Fine is already seeing satisfying results among this latest crop of would-be actors.

“Getting actors to make the most personal connection to a part is the core of the teaching/coaching process,” Fine reflects.

“Rhode Island College gave me a first-rate education and numerous opportunities to work on my craft. The faculty 19

“The new building will take RIC’s art programs into the future”

— RIC President Nancy Carriuolo

A New Art Center for a New Era: Alex and Ani Hall Through a $21-million renovation project of the college’s original student center, Rhode Island College has a new studio art, art history and art education facility worthy of its award-winning students and alumni: Alex and Ani Hall, named after the Cranston-based retailer and jewelry manufacturer.

Designed by Schwartz Silver of Boston and the Design Partnership of Cambridge, Alex and Ani Hall is a state-of-the-art building that boasts a digital media laboratory with Mac computers and a 3-D printer for both graphic design undergraduates and media studies graduate students; a pottery studio with indoor and outdoor kilns; a photography suite with a seminar room, darkroom and photo studio; and separate studios for painting, sculpture, printmaking and jewelry/metalsmithing.

Elevated ceilings accommodate large-scale welding, cutting and lifting equipment.

20

The eye-catching exterior is surrounded by two stories of glass windows, framed with a copper façade.

“The new building will take RIC’s art programs into the future,” said RIC President Nancy Carriuolo. “Emerging artists and art faculty can now benefit from a work environment that fosters innovation, and the building will increase RIC’s ability to attract and educate the next generation of artists.”

Extensive renovations began in 2012, funded by proceeds from a higher education bond approved by Rhode Island voters and a $1-million investment by Alex and Ani, LLC. In addition, President Carriuolo and the RIC Foundation raised $1.6 million in donations from numerous donors in Rhode Island’s arts and business communities.

Architect’s rendering of a renovated Gaige Hall

Building RIC Alex and Ani Hall is the most recently completed (Sept. 2014) of a number of campus construction projects.

Top: Alex and Ani Hall, a $21-million renovation project, puts RIC’s arts programs on the leading edge of education.

Far left: State-of-the-art digital media classroom Middle: Jewelry and metalsmithing studio Right: Photography studio

RIC’s art programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art – a distinction shared by only two other colleges in Rhode Island. RIC offers a B.A. and B.F.A. in studio art, with concentrations in ceramics, digital media design, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture; a B.A. in art education; a B.A. in art history; and a B.S. and B.F.A. in art education.

RIC jewelry-making students have consistently been recognized for their outstanding work. In fact, for six consecutive years, RIC’s students have won honors at the annual Student Jewelry Design Awards, sponsored by the New England Chapter of the International Precious Metals Institute.

“Our new Alex and Ani Hall is built upon excellence and reaffirms our belief that art is a very important and vital part of campus life,” said Carriuolo.

Gaige Hall and Craig-Lee Hall will undergo complete overhauls through a $44-million construction initiative. Designed by LLB Architects of Pawtucket, the renovations will include an upgrade to existing classrooms and computer labs, a new multipurpose room and student lounges. Once construction is completed, Gaige and Craig-Lee will house the following academic departments: Anthropology, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.

Phase one of the construction project – the renovation of Gaige Hall – began this fall.

A separate, $6-million project is slated for the School of Nursing area of the Fogarty Life Science Building, including a 9,000-square-foot addition as well as select renovations to the existing building. The addition will include a fundamentals lab, a health assessment lab, a human patient simulator room, a debrief room, a dean’s and administrative suite and a lobby/lounge area.

Rhode Island College has hired Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects to conduct a feasibility study that includes a possible renovation of Adams Library. While near-term renovations would make the library the central hub for students in support of teaching and learning, the more comprehensive renovation would create a signature building to match the new roles of libraries on college campuses. The feasibility study will also consider options for the possible renovation of Horace Mann Hall, home of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development.

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ALUMNI

Profile

the traditional symbol of Rhode Island College: a flame. The symbol, which represents the ever-burning flame of knowledge, figures prominently in the college seal, designed by Professor Emerita of Art Edith Becker in 1960.

“The idea to create a flame was very obvious,” said Rondeau, who noted that the college seal was designed during the time that members of the Class of ’62 were undergraduates.

Although Rondeau is a recognized artist across New England, he still works full time in the private sector. To complete construction of “The Flame,” Rondeau turned to Nate Nadeau ’04 and Barrett Kern ’11, both sculptors affiliated with the Steel Yard in Providence.

According to Rondeau, working on the sculpture also carried significance for Nadeau and Barrett, both of whom have art degrees from RIC. “They were the perfect guys to do this because this was going back on their campus, too,” said Rondeau. “The minute I mentioned the project, they were on board.”

Rondeau’s flame, which stands over 11 feet tall, features prominently in a courtyard off Library Road – a placement of great significance to the over 200 members of the Class of ’62.

Moving Metal: Ed Rondeau ’62 and the Flame

By Chad Minnich A commemorative gift by the Class of ’62, “The Flame” is the newest sculpture installed on the RIC campus.

Built from a base of raw steel, the sculpture is composed of freestanding, individual stainless steel pieces that shine and reflect light, just as a flame darts and shimmers. The pieces are thin enough to move in the breeze, but thick enough to stand the test of time.

“When your eyes go up, you’ll see the moving, shining kinetic energy at the top,” said artist and RIC alumnus Ed Rondeau ’62, the sculpture’s creator.

“I had a concept in mind: to somehow depict the feelings the class had for the college,” explained Rondeau, whom representatives of the Class of ’62 asked to design and craft the piece.

“I knew I wanted a number of things,” he said. “It had to be three-dimensional. It had to emanate energy. It had to be positive, [because] I wanted people to feel uplifted.”

Rondeau also felt strongly that the sculpture should incorporate 22

“All of us were very cognizant of the fact that the piece sits in what was the geographical center of the college that we had attended back in 1962,” Rondeau said.

In the early 1960s, the recently constructed Fruit Hill campus comprised just six buildings: Roberts Hall, Whipple Gymnasium, Craig-Lee Hall, Alger Hall, the Henry Barnard Laboratory School and the Student Center, which has now been transformed into Alex and Ani Hall. “From that location, you could turn around and see the whole college,” Rondeau said.

While Rondeau has only been sculpting for a decade, he has long been interested in manipulating metal. As a teacher and principal at Cranston High School West, Rondeau began his initial forays into the medium by engaging the school’s auto body shop students to weld his concepts using found metal parts.

“Metal has fascinated me for a long time,” he said. “I’m intrigued by the flexibility metal has. I like the process of taking the materials and contorting them, distressing them, cutting them and shaping them. I find raw steel has an incredible amount of energy.”

Rondeau also wanted the piece to be visually dynamic. “I didn’t want two, four or six of anything; I didn’t want it to be that formal,” he said. “It has seven sides. I was trying to avoid symmetry. I wanted it to be a little off-center. I settled on seven because visually it was an interesting number of pieces in a vertical configuration.”

“A lot of what I do is whimsy,” said Rondeau. “Very often in my work I try to make something that moves. The flame sculpture is something you can step back and contemplate.”

Rhode Island’s Promise

Over 501 RIC students have received the Rhode Island’s Promise scholarships, which were awarded to Pell-eligible, full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and who had entered RIC as freshmen.

Continued funding for the program means that the scholarships will be renewed as long as students keep their “promise” to remain in good academic standing.

According to the governor’s office, Rhode Island’s average student debt is the fourth highest in the country at $31,561, which is why her office considers this initiative “integral to helping Rhode Island students complete their academic studies and be prepared to compete in a 21st-century economy.”

R.I. Governor Gina Raimondo poses with RIC junior and Rhode Island’s Promise Scholarship recipient Genesis Sanchez Tavares.

In an effort to make college education more affordable, Governor Gina Raimondo detailed her administration’s recent initiative, the Rhode Island’s Promise scholarship program, at a press conference held at RIC earlier this year.

The program rewards high-performing students attending Rhode Island state colleges and universities with meaningful grants to help close the gap between federal financial assistance and the actual cost of college.

A total of $10 million in need-based grants was allocated for the program, a 26-percent increase from prior years. Over 6,000 students attending RIC, URI and CCRI have received scholarships in the 2015-16 school year.

The program is implemented differently at each state institution.

At the press conference, Carriuolo said that RIC grant awards, which once averaged $451 per student, are now averaging $3,860 because for the first time state colleges and universities “have greater flexibility in the amount of funding” they can award.

“The scholarship allows more RIC students to concentrate on their studies and perhaps even do some volunteerism in the community rather than working long hours at minimum-wage jobs,” Carriuolo said.

Scholarship recipient Genesis Sanchez Tavarez, a junior and a triple major at RIC, is an example of a student who has worked multiple jobs since high school to pay for her education. Before introducing Raimondo at the press conference, Sanchez Tavarez shared her personal story of coming to Rhode Island as an immigrant with her widowed mother.

Receiving this scholarship “means I no longer have to work two jobs to pay for my education and books,” she said. Sanchez Tavarez also expressed her gratitude to the state for “caring about those of us who … have many barriers to jump over in order to successfully achieve our dream of a high-quality education.”

In her remarks, Raimondo shared her personal story of how her family’s life was changed after her Italian American father took advantage of the G.I. Bill. “One person going to college changed all of our lives,” said Raimondo, adding, “Rhode Island’s Promise will open the door of opportunity for so many Rhode Islanders.”

Ocean State Grad Grant This fall, Governor Raimondo joined Rhode Island Housing Executive Director Barbara Fields in front of Alex and Ani Hall for the launch of the new Ocean State Grad Grant program, which will allow recent graduates to receive grants up to $7,000 toward down payments on Rhode Island homes.

This latest incentive program is available to first-time homebuyers who have earned associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees within the last 36 months from programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

RIC alumnus Travis Escobar ’13 was among the speakers who praised the program for working to stem the out-migration of recent graduates. “I grew up in Rhode Island, and I love living here,” said Escobar. “An Ocean State Grad Grant could help make it possible for me to build my career and start a family of my own here in Rhode Island.”

Raimondo said, “Sparking a comeback for Rhode Island’s economy is my top priority, and this program is a creative solution to one of the greatest challenges we face: making sure our children have access

to opportunities for living and working in Rhode Island.”

RIC President Nancy Carriuolo added, “Rhode Island College has nearly 40,000 alums who are Rhode Island citizens. However, buying a new home has become increasingly difficult for recent college and university graduates, many of whom are struggling with debt. We salute Governor Raimondo for providing the leadership for this innovative program that will create proud homeowners, increase the number of college-educated citizens and contribute to our economy.”

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Profile

“All the interns from RIC have been fabulous,” de Rezendes said. “They learn editing and production on site and then apply it to their projects at the college.”

Cannes Film Festival Screens RIC Filmmaker’s Moving Documentary

By Gita Brown For a documentary filmmaker, showing at the Cannes International Film Festival in France is like striking gold. Moreover, the festival’s Doc Corner is where distributors and buyers from around the world come to purchase critically acclaimed documentaries.

Alumnus and filmmaker Christian de Rezendes ’00 is happy to report that his award-winning documentary “Raising Matty Christian” was recently screened as part of the Doc Corner series at the 2015 Cannes Festival.

Winner of nine U.S. film festival awards and officially selected for screening by 16 film festivals nationwide, “Raising Matty Christian” profiles a young Massachusetts native born without a full set of arms and legs and without a tongue. As told through interviews with his parents, brother and friends, “Raising Matty Christian” paints an inspiring portrait of a young man who set out to live life to the fullest in spite of physical disabilities and whose life, in turn, impacted the lives of many others.

A native of the village of Slatersville in North Smithfield and a graduate of the film studies program at Rhode Island College, de Rezendes knew early on what he wanted to do with his life – tell stories through film.

In his freshman year at RIC, he founded Breaking Branches Pictures production company, and for the past 15 years, his documentaries, film shorts, dramas and comedies have been distributed, screened internationally at film festivals and broadcast regionally on PBS. The filmmaker heard about Matty’s story through a friend and fellow filmmaker who was transferring the Christian family’s old VHS home movies to DVD.

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“From the very first image I saw of the home videos, I knew I wanted to make this film,” said de Rezendes. “That first image became the opening shot of the film.”

In 2011 de Rezendes met Matty’s parents, Ally and Jerry Christian, who hired him to produce the film, while they served as executive producers and funded the project. Both de Rezendes and Matty’s parents said they are surprised by the incredible reception the film is receiving.

Greg Ropp, director of the Spirit Quest Film Festival, called “Raising Matty Christian” “an emotionally charged, warts-andall documentary. ... It’s a film that will stick with you long after the credits roll.”

And Phil Hall of filmthreat.com called it “one of the most profoundly moving nonfiction films” he has ever seen. Hall said, “This film needs to be seen, talked up, cherished and honored.”

RIC film studies students regularly work with de Rezendes on his productions, either through internships or as volunteers.

“All the interns from RIC have been fabulous,” de Rezendes said. “They learn editing and production on site and then apply it to their projects at the college.”

This past summer two film studies majors – David Posman and Michael Kimbrough – worked with de Rezendes on his feature-length documentary “Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village.” Additionally, RIC grad Kassandra Lima ’14 worked on the film as a student and continues to assist with the editing. Two years in the making, “Slatersville” provides a 220-year history of the Slater Mill and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.

ALUMNI

Contributor

Investing in the Future

By Sandra Enos ’71 What a difference four short decades make! I graduated from Rhode Island College in 1971. Like many of my peers, I was a first-generation college student. Neither of my parents had graduated from high school. I had the great blessing to come to RIC when the state support of this institution was generous. I have a vague memory that tuition was pretty low. With research assistance from our college librarians, I found that when I attended classes here, there was no tuition; as an in-state student, I paid $255 a year in fees. In today’s dollars, that amounts to $1,471 a year. Without financial support from my widowed mother, I worked my way through college and took out a National Defense Student Loan, which I repaid in good time. The taxpayers of Rhode Island underwrote my education for the most part because of a belief that investing in students like me would pay off, not just for me, but for the larger society.

That principle has served our nation and our state well.

I think that many of us who worked our way through college and were the first in our families to graduate from higher education take pride in knowing that we earned our way to success. As I near retirement, I have been thinking about this a little differently. When I was 14 years old, my father died, leaving my mother a widow with three children. Because my father was a veteran, we received benefits from the G.I. Bill and survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration. These programs made it possible for us to live without my father’s small salary, supplemented by my mother’s wages in a local factory. After graduating from RIC, I spent a year in Alabama as a VISTA volunteer in a federal program that put the idealism of young people to good purpose, not just to serve but also to build good citizens.

While at RIC, I was encouraged to pursue graduate study and received a fellowship to

attend Brown University.

and its contributions to the state as a whole. How do we ensure that the investments we need are made so that the future is as promising as it can be? How do the changing economy and our diversified society create conditions for new sorts of learning, new sorts of skills and new sorts of institutions? In its legacy as the state institution that has propelled hundreds of thousands of state residents into careers as teachers, social workers, community leaders, business owners and other professionals, how can RIC become a place that we look to for lifelong learning and support?

Secondly, I think about the generation that is retiring – teachers, lawyers, social workers, administrators and business leaders – and the great resources they have brought to their work. These people often leave their careers wondering about the next step. Some of us have a plan; others of us are searching for a second career or a purpose-driven retirement. This may not be so much a reinvention of ourselves, as much as a recasting. There is no doubt that monetary contributions to our alma mater are very important but in truth, we have things that money cannot buy – contacts, networks, mentoring, connections, links to internships and opportunities, career coaching and much more. As we near retirement with excellent skills, enthusiasm and long roots in community, can we offer more than a check? Can we work with the RIC community – administrators, staff, faculty and students – to create

“Now is a wonderfully exciting time for our alumni to create opportunities on campus and beyond to put that wisdom to good purpose – to serve and to learn.”

All along the way, this working-class child was given ladders up to the middle class. If I were an economist instead of a sociologist, I could calculate the point where all these investments in me paid off. It is an interesting question for all of us: If you consider all the ways in which your life has been supported by others – whether these are investments in state dollars, benefits from charities and nonprofits or just the kindness of the community – when do the tables turn, so that you are confident that you have paid back what you have been given and more?

While there is no big accountant in the sky who can determine this with precision, there are important ways for us to make this calculation.

As I near retirement age, I think a great deal about legacy in two ways. First, I think about the legacy of Rhode Island College

— Sandra Enos supports and programs that enhance the success of this institution and the surrounding community?

My career as a professor has been devoted to connecting academic studies to community work, using principles of community engagement. Those same principles can be applied to this idea of energized alumni engagement. I have attended three institutions of higher education – Rhode Island College, Brown University and the University of Connecticut – and taught at two – Rhode Island College and Bryant University. To me, Rhode Island College is home. Now is a wonderfully exciting time for our alumni to create opportunities on campus and beyond to put that wisdom to good purpose – to serve and to learn.

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Golden Years Reunion RIC Classes of 1940-1960 More than 200 graduates from the classes of 1940-1960 gathered at the Donovan Dining Center for a jazz lunch and toast in their honor. This first-time event hosted by the Alumni Association will continue on an annual basis to honor and reunite RIC’s most cherished classes from the “golden years.”

Mary Cappelli ’54 and Corinne O’Brien Murphy ’54 Louis Marciano ’60, and Carol Martineau Way ’60

Roz Smith McCoy ’40 and her granddaughter Jackie McCoy ’15 Lorraine Bolduc Lacroix ’49

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Commencement 2015

President Carriuolo presents the Class of 1965 with a plaque in their honor.

Howie Boyaj ’65, president of the Class of 1965, addresses the 2015 graduates.

Ashley Goldberg, Class of 2015 president

Members of the Class of 1965 march in the procession.

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CLASS

Notes

RIC Launches New Alumni Chapters The RIC Alumni Association kicked off two new chapters this past year – one in Boston and one in New York City.

Chapter Leader Nicole Giambusso ’07 organized at kick-off event last March at The Vault in Boston’s Financial District that drew 30 RIC grads. Momentum for the Boston Chapter continued to build over the summer, with 90 alums and friends attending a Red Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway in September.

The Players Club in New York’s Gramercy Park was the setting for the first NYC-Area Chapter event this summer, hosted by Scott Allinson ’97 and Nichole Donjé ’95 and headlined by Family Guy producer Danny Smith ’81.

More than 70 alumni and friends attended this networking event, held in a historic, private social club for theatre professionals and other artists.

For information on the NYC-area and Boston Chapters, please contact Alumni Affairs at 401-456-8086 or email alumni@ric.edu.

1967 Wilfred “Bill” Curtis has been named Professor of the Year by China Agricultural University’s MBA Education Center in Beijing, where he has been a professor since 2008.

1968 Ronald Clare brings more than 25 years of human resource experience to his new job as the director of human resources for the city of Palm Bay, Florida.

1969 Catherine (O’Reilly) Collette was inducted into the 2014 Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame for her many years of service as an international labor leader and advocate for women’s rights. Collette has held various leadership roles, culminating in her election as president of the World Women’s Committee of Public Services International.

Edgar DiRaimo retired as a flight officer for the U.S. Navy. He is an IT systems analyst for the federal government in Washington.

1972 Jacqueline (Kiernan) MacKay is an associate dean of undergraduate studies and director of parent programs at 28

Providence College. The second edition of her book, “Let the Journey Begin: A Parent’s Monthly Guide to the College Experience,” was published in March 2015 by Cengage Learning.

1973 Donna (Ostiguy) Arruda retired in 2011 after 32 years of teaching. Arruda was a special education teacher in the Norton Public School System in Massachusetts.

1975 Carolyn (Wowk) Frayne has announced her retirement this year after working 36 years in the North Smithfield School Department. Frayne began serving as principal of North Smithfield Elementary School in 2001 after an extensive career as a teacher in North Smithfield.

Lawrence Poitras has received the 2014 Franco-American of the Year Award from Club Aram-Pothier of Richelieu USA. Poitras is a teacher and radio talk show host at WNRI. Linda (Nelson) Ward was honored by the YWCA of Rhode Island as a 2014 “Woman of Achievement.” Ward is cofounder and executive director of Opportunities Unlimited, Inc., and a founding member of the RI Disability Vote Project.

1977 Mitchell Malachowski was named 2014 California Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Malachowski works as professor of organic chemistry at the University of San Diego.

Jeanne Vasconcellos was promoted to commercial lines manager at Hunter Insurance in Manville, R.I. Vasconcellos is a certified professional insurance agent.

1980 Lynne Fenuccio was promoted to the position of regional admissions director at Wingate Healthcare. Fenuccio is responsible for the eastern communities in Boston, Needham, Kingston and Worcester.

Matthew Giarrusso was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame 2014 class. In addition to his playing career, Giarusso coached the RIC women’s soccer team from 1980-83 and served as a board member of Warwick Soccer Association from 1993-2010. In 2006, he earned his USSF Coaching D-License.

1981 Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Georgia Fortunato has been named the 2016 Rhode Island Superintendent of the Year by the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association (RISSA). The award recognizes outstanding achievement in school leadership, dedication to the education of all children, commitment to the community and service to RISSA. Fortunato joined the Lincoln Public Schools in 1982 and became superintendent in 2007.

Steven Libman was appointed chief advancement officer by Atlanta Ballet.

Libman was most recently founder of The Libman Group, an arts management consulting group. Additionally, he has 14 years of experience as managing director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

1984 Elise (Herchen) Hedglen retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2013. She served for over seven years on active duty before joining the Reserves for the remainder of her 28-year career, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

1985 Daniel Castro is director of operations at Staples Inc. In 2014, he earned an M.B.A. from Ashworth University.

1986 Christopher Pride has been selected to attend a one-week workshop at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, as a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Scholar. This experience is in recognition of his excellence in the field of education as a teacher at Nathan Bishop Middle School.

King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Ellis Hopkins III was promoted to colonel in the Rhode Island Army National Guard in December 2013.

Hopkins is the director of manpower and personnel for the Rhode Island National Guard.

1988 Patricia Marcotte was selected as Rhode Island’s 2014 Middle School Principal of the Year. Marcotte is currently principal of Ponaganset Middle School in Foster-Glocester.

1989 Kristine (Bessette) Garofalo is principal of Nayaug Elementary School in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

George Landrie is president of the Warwick Teacher’s Union. Landrie had been a music teacher at Gorton Junior High School since 1990.

1990 Debra Lavoie moved to South Florida in 1996 for new job opportunities. She is now director of human resources for Williams Island POA, Inc., and has earned certifications in human resources from both Bryant University and the Human Resources Certification Institute.

1991 Mark Colozzi (M.Ed.), music director for Cranston High School East, gained recognition for the Cranston East Band’s performance in the USBands Competition held in New Jersey.

and manages the school’s virtual high school site. She also serves as co-chair of her school’s S.I.T. and R.T.I. teams.

1993 Rebecca (Leach) Boss (M.A.) was promoted to associate director at the R.I. Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, where she will serve as chief of staff/ deputy director. Boss has been with the department since 2004.

Joseph Luzzi is a new loan officer for the Citizens Bank Home Lending Solutions New England Division, based in South Kingstown.

1994 Kristin Blake opened R & M Studios, a home-based art studio offering classes, parties and private events in Cranston.

Brett Williams is working at RIC as senior programmer and web development analyst. Most recently Williams worked in Ireland as a database administrator for Trinity College Dublin.

1996 Gregory Arsenault, a co-director of instrumental music at Cranston High School East, gained recognition for the Cranston East Band’s performance in the USBands Competition held in New Jersey.

Mark Garceau (M.Ed.) is interim superintendent of the Oxford School District in Massachusetts.

1998

Edward Tobin is vice president of IT operations for Provant Health Solutions, Inc. Tobin has more than 25 years of experience in IT leadership roles.

Sharon (Presutto) Scrima was recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a pinnacle professional in the field of public relations and communications. Scrima is director of media relations for Sports Media 101 in New York.

Carmela MacKnight is employed as manager of interactive/quality at (add) ventures, a brand culture and communications firm in Providence. Before joining (add)ventures, MacKnight managed numerous projects for GTECH Corporation and RBS Citizens.

1987

1992

1999

Joseph Ferreira Jr. was appointed recording secretary of the Ridgway F. Shinn Jr. Study Abroad Fund Steering Committee. Ferreira is currently the drama director and a history teacher at

Theresa (Patterson) DeRiso (M.A.T.) received her M.Ed. in administration from Providence College. She is currently the English Language Arts curriculum coordinator at Lincoln Middle School

Tabetha Bernstein-Danis is an assistant professor at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012.

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ALUMNI

Weddings

1990

John Feather to Angela Bellafatto in June ’14

1996

Christina Grimes to William Myers in July ’13

1997

Brian Palazzo to Kathleen Moan ’05 in July ’13

1998

Jon Murray to Katherine Wolf in October ’13

2002

Kevin Clarke to Senta Maurer in October ’14 Elizabeth Parrillo to Ryan Tremblay ’10 in April ’14

2004

Micaela Morin to Geoff Champagne in July ’14

2007

Melissa Moylan to Nelson DeSousa ’11 in November ’14 Christopher Ryan to Rebecca O’Connors in July ’14

2010

Erin Munroe to Stephen Flori in September ’14

Jessica Cahoon to Peter Chaffee in May ’14 Alisa Mansolillo to Matthew Cimini in August ’14 Jessica Martins to Ian Boisvert in October ’12 Bianca Ruggieri to Anthony Fiocco in June ’13

2009

2012

Melissa Pina to Denis Robichaud in September ’13

2008

Alexander Lucini to Danielle M. C. Trial ’12 in July ’13 Joseph McAuley to Gianna Izzi ’09 in July ’14

Ashley Massotti to Jimmy Nutini in April ’13 Krystle Poirier to Matthew Schiavo in October ’14

Amy (Costa) Hood published multiple issue of “Art Together,” an e-zine of artistic inspiration for children and adults. Hood is the art columnist for “Home/School/Life” magazine.

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She has been a health and physical education teacher in the Smithfield School Department since 2002.

Dean’s List student, Pagliarini had completed an internship with the Office of the Attorney General in Rhode Island.

2000

Nicholas Ricci and his wife Maria opened Dovetail Auctions, a mostly consignment-based auction house in Cranston. Dovetail offers “Monday morning discovery auctions” and monthly fine art and antique auctions.

Sergeant Michael Babbitt was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Johnston Police Department, where he has worked since 2004.

Brian Chicoine earned an M.P.A. in government and policy from Grand Canyon University last year. He is currently employed as an administrative operator at Boston Children’s Hospital.

2002 Elizabeth Coogan (M.A.) is principal of the J.J. McLaughlin Cumberland Hill Elementary School. Previously, she worked in the Fall River School District.

Alicia Marques-Jordan has been named 2014 Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Rhode Island Association for 30

Nelson DeSousa ’11 and Melissa Moylan ’09 married on Nov. 8, 2014.

2003 Last year, Jason Midwood was chosen as one of “Providence Business News” 40 Under Forty. Midwood is currently the vice president of operations for the Center for Secondary School Redesign, Inc., based in Warwick.

Dawn Pagliarini (M.A.) received a J.D. from New England Law/Boston. A

2004

Michele Berard was named senior development officer of the Rhode Island Foundation. Previously, Berard served as executive director of the Butler Hospital Foundation.

Thomas Coderre was appointed by the Obama administration to be a senior advisor to the administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

2015 Inductees to the RIC Athletic Hall of Fame

Rhode Island College inducted six new members and one of its most successful teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame at a gala event this fall.

Bobby J. Bailey ’10 was an outstanding guard on the men’s basketball team from 2006-09. During his tenure as an Anchorman, the Fall River native led RIC to two Little East Conference Regular Season and two Tournament Championships. He helped RIC to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the NCAA Elite 8 in 2007.

Bailey is currently a college affordability advisor at uAspire and an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Durfee High.

Michael F. Bonora ’07 was an outstanding wrestler at Rhode Island College from 2003-04 and 2005-08. He was the NCAA Div. III National Champion at 141 lbs. in 2008, a two-time All-American, three-time Scholar All American and four-time All New England selection. During his tenure, Rhode Island College won the Pilgrim Wrestling League title in 2004 and the New England College Conference Wrestling Association Championship in 2008. A senior technical recruiter for ZocDoc, Bonora resides in Nutley, New Jersey.

Kelly (Lange) Chartier ’98 was an outstanding women’s tennis player who later went on to coach the program, guiding the Anchorwomen to five consecutive Little East Conference Regular Season Championships and two LEC Tournament Championships. The Rehoboth native compiled a 67-15 (.817) record in six years (2002-07) as the head women’s tennis coach.

Chartier played both tennis and softball during her undergraduate days at Rhode Island College from 1994-98. In addition to her coaching duties, Chartier is a music educator at Smithfield High School.

Kayla M. Fleming ’09 was an All-American high jumper who excelled in both indoor and outdoor track and field during her career. After attending the University of Hartford, Fleming competed in women’s soccer for the Anchorwomen from

2006-08 and starred in track & field from 2006-09. The Pawtucket native earned numerous All New England, All ECAC and N.E. Alliance honors in multiple events while at RIC. An Attleboro resident, Fleming is a sixth-grade teacher at Jenks Jr. High School in Pawtucket.

Jeffrey R. Lavigne ’00 was one of the top two-way midfielders in men’s soccer during his career at RIC from 1996-99. The Burrillville native was named All Little East three times, which included a pair of First Team selections in 1998 and 1999. He was also named All-New England as a senior in 1999. At the time of his graduation, he was 14th in program history in career points and currently ranks 20th in career points. A resident of Burrillville, Lavigne is currently a project manager/foreman for J.H. Lynch & Sons.

Frank C. Mitchell ’59 (posthumously) starred in men’s basketball and also played men’s soccer while at the Rhode Island College of Education from 1955-59. As a forward in men’s basketball, he totaled 1,030 career points in an era before the three-point line was introduced. Mitchell was an outstanding team leader, who was consistently the squad’s top offensive performer and also led the squad in rebounding. After graduating from RIC, Mitchell taught at Cumberland High School for a short while and spent 25 years in the Cranston elementary school system.

The 1990-91 Rhode Island College wrestling team has been inducted into the Team Hall of Fame. Under the direction of legendary coach Rusty Carlsten, RIC won its fourth consecutive New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championship and sent four grapplers to the NCAA Div. III National Championships. It was the first time in NECCWA history that one team won four straight titles.

31

Antonio Crombie was promoted to the position of consulting manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he has been employed since 2011. Crombie earned an M.S. degree in political science from Suffolk University in 2013.

Timothy Touchette is director of community living at Brandeis University.

For the previous six years, Timothy held residential life and housing positions at Northeastern University.

2006 William Black (M.A.T.) is principal of West Broadway Middle School in Providence. Since 2013, Black has been enrolled in the Aspiring Turnaround Leadership Program through the Rhode Island Department of Education and the New York City Leadership Academy.

Michael Hassell, a former music teacher, is now assistant principal at Smithfield High School.

Danielle Soucy Mills is a gymnastics coach at Victory Gymnastics Academy in San Diego, California. In 2014 Danielle published “Tina Tumbles,” a children’s gymnastics picture book about perseverance.

2007 Patrick Doyle is director of memory care services at Brightview Senior Living’s home office in Baltimore, Maryland.

Anthony “Tony Francis” Rainone is a U.S. history teacher at La Salle High School in Pasadena, California. He earned his teaching credentials from California State University, Northridge in 2014. Rainone is a songwriter/ producer and the lead singer of the band Sweet Eve. He owns Palmwood Studios post-production company and has published two children’s books.

Matthew Tente premiered his short film thriller “Welcome to the Building” at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2014. Tente hopes to turn “Welcome to the Building,” which he wrote, directed, and produced, into a feature-length film.

32

2008

2012

Daniel Murphy earned his Chartered Life Underwriter degree from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Daniel works as sales vice president at Lion Street, Inc., in Austin, Texas.

Justin Bibee earned an M.A. in peace building and conflict transformation from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont last year. Bibee was president of the SIT Student Association and was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service award for his work in the Peace Corps as a youth development volunteer.

Anaridis Rodriguez is a news anchor for “AMHQ (America’s Morning Headquarters) with Sam Champion” on The Weather Channel. Rodriguez earned an M.A. in broadcast journalism from Emerson College in 2011.

2009

2013 Susan Battersby-Switzer is a case manager for the Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program at Veterans Inc. in Pawtucket.

Peter Jacavone III was promoted to assistant sales manager at Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Inc. This marks Jacavone’s third promotion in his three years employed at the company.

David Bradley founded the digital marketing strategy business, Primal Digital Marketing, in May 2014. He earned an M.B.A. from Providence College in 2015.

Jennifer (Almeida) Tedeschi and her husband Frank announced the birth of their daughter, Charlotte, on November 29, 2013.

Audrey Connors has accepted the position of specialist of branding/design at (add)ventures, a brand culture and communications firm based in Providence. Before accepting this position, Connors had served as both an intern and contractor for (add)ventures.

2010 Kevin Andrade earned an M.A. in Latin American studies from the University of Arizona in 2012. Kevin is a journalist for the Portuguese newspaper O Jornal in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Leigh Reposa (M.S.W.) was awarded the 2014 Robert S. Burgess Community Service Award by the Rhode Island chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The award recognizes Leigh’s work as manager of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program for Rhode Island Student Assistance Services.

2011 Barry Nickerson earned his M.B.A. from Providence College in 2013. He is now an operations coordinator at Stepping Up in Providence.

Alexander Tirrell is a full-time musical theatre faculty member at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School where he is also an accompanist and vocal coach. Tirrell is also a freelance music director for theatre companies across Southern New England.

Carolyn Harris was named director of academic advising for the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Before arriving at Virginia Tech, Carolyn was the senior administrative coordinator of the Division of Architecture and Design at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Matthew Smith is a police officer for the Warwick Police Department.

2014 Lauren Baker was promoted to marketing specialist at Greenwood Credit Union where she has been employed since 2012.

Raymonde Charles serves as the deputy press secretary at the U.S. Department of Education. Before accepting this position, Charles served as press secretary for child advocate Marian Wright Edelman at the Children’s Defense Fund.

Carla Sanchez works as a research assistant for Dr. Christian Connell at Yale Medical School.

IN

Memoriam

1933

Faith (Potter) Leighton in August ’14 (102 years old) Helen (Carroll) McCluskey in November ’14 (102 years old)

1936

Cecile (Sevigny) Hines in April ’14

1937

M. Louise Langlois in May ’14

1938

Muriel (Richardson) Caldwell-Niles in November ’14 Barbara (Dolan) Steere in October ’14

1939

Doris (Maguire) Cooper in December ’14 Mary Larice in June ’14

1940

Carolyn (Capron) Aust in May ’14 Delmazia “Del” (Aurecchia) Cute in August ’14 Eileen Fitzpatrick in October ’14

1941

Rita (Perreault) Gibson in September ’14

1942

Florence (Giblin) Gallogly in May ’14

1943

Regina (Darelius) Villaume in October ’14

1944

Arline Cowell in August ’14 Marion (Foster) Horlbogen in June ’14 Anne (Kearns) McArdle in September ’14

1945

Virginia “Ginny” (Geoghegan) DePetro in October ’14 Elizabeth “Betty” (Lennon) Johnson in October ’14

1946

Barbara (Willis) Ward in May ’14

1947

Claire Auger in July ’14

1948

Alice Hohler in December ’14 Veronica (Gariepy) Wynne in August ’14

1953

Emma Joan Gilmartin in December ’14 Mary “Sissy” (Quinn) Regan in July ’14

1954

Frank Bucci in September ’14 Donald Driscoll in October ’14 Barbara (Smith) Mitchell in December ’14

1956

Barbara (Martinelli) Greene in June ’14

1957

Sandra (Crovitz) Cobden in August ’14 Alberta Sepe in August ’14 John Wilson in September ’14

1958

Sara (Quinn) Hill in April ’15

1960

Marjorie (Malley) Morrissey in November ’14

1961

Isabel (Clark) Skelly in November ’14

1963

Lois J. (Moseff) Anttio in October ’14 Raymond DiCecco Sr. in September ’14 Kenneth Fiyod Sr. in July ’14 Thomas Flood in April ’14 Charles Leclerc in March ’14 Joseph Motta in July ’14 Joseph Reis in May ’14

1964

John “Jack” Fay in July ’14 (master’s) Robert Moon in April ’14 Patricia (Monahan) Shea in September ’14

1965

Richard “Dick” Dube in July ’14 Mary (Robinson) Lucas in November ’14 Rep. Carol (Glew) Mumford in July ’14

1966

John Bonin in April ’14 Amy (Sugden) Chagnon in October ’14 John Mason in February ’14 (master’s)

1967

Marion (Hoyle) Casey in March ’14 Catherine “Kay” (Harrold) McCrory in December ’14 Gloria (Flood) Sarser in February ’14 Stella (Tesavis) Struzik in June ’14

Norman Hindley in July ’14 Rose (Cafasso) Merenda in August ’14 (master’s) Katherine (Morgan) Lambert in October ’14 Vivian (Corsetti) Mumford in April ’14 Walter Szeliga in May ’14 Sr. Mary Ward in January ’14 (master’s)

1950

1968

1949

Jean (Martin) Wales in July ’14

1952

Mildred (Shepard) Maltais in August ’14

Richard Allaire in June ’14 (master’s) Charles Baker, Jr. in May ’14 (master’s) Mary (McAuley) Beauchamp in September ’14 33

Frank Garzilli in June ’14 (master’s) Joann “Sara” (Salisbury) LeBlanc in August ’14 Robert Rowan in July ’14 Theresa (Brouillard) Smolski in July ’14 Helen (Siciliano) Webb in February ’14

Alfred Moretti in May ’14

1984

Elizabeth “Betty” (Merrill) Maddalena in October ’14

1969

1985

1971

1987

Carole (Hittel) Leonardo in August ’14 Susan Anderson in March ’14 Doreen Crugnale in July ’14 Robert Haggerty in September ’14 (master’s) William O’Neil Jr. in December ’14 (master’s) Norman Ranone in December ’14 Eileen Valentine in October ’14 Mary (Metayer) Vogel in November ’14 Maureen Young-McGarry in November ’14

1972

Valerie (Ellis) Martin in December ’14 (master’s)

1973

Stephen Swiech Jr. in April ’14

1974

Nelson Barnes in October ’14 Dianne (Dillon) Fitch in April ’14 (master’s) Richard “Dick” Keenan in May ’14 (master’s) Sr. Mary Lea Malley in December ’14 (master’s) Ann (Maenza) Molak in June ’14 Helen (Dyer) Satula in June ’14 Helen Wodziak in April ’14 (master’s) Elizabeth (Pirraglia) Zubrisky in July ’14

1975

David Beirne in May ’14 Kathleen Finan in February ’14 Judy (Gaidimas) McGowan in June ’14 William Ruggiero in July ’14 (master’s)

1988

Myrna (Barenboim) Lamb in June ’14 (master’s)

1990

Amy Bliss in January ’14 Beverly (Brown) Mason-Williams in February ’14

1991

Yolanda Calitri in October ’13

1993

Carol (Lessard) Picard in May ’14

1994

Michele Corbeil-Sperduti in September ’14

1996

Michael DeFlorimonte in February ’14

1997

John Bibas in May ’14

2005

Erica (Tremblay) Shea in June ’15

Bernice (Coute) Parenti in October ’14 Kathryn “Kitty” L. (McPoland) Toracinta in February ’14

2011

1976

2012

1977

2013

Carol Carr in June ’14 Peter Gallo Jr. in December ’14 Frank Lane in June ’14

1979

Helen (Gibson) Halpin in November ’14

1980

Megan (Alexion) Mello in October ’14 (master’s) Elissann Silvia in August ’14 Brendan McKay in September ’14

2015

Ashley Signoriello in December ’14

HONORARY DEGREE

Gilbert Bedetta Sr. in September ’14 Janet (Candon) Berry in May ’14 Pamela (Verducci) Lemoi in October ’14

1973

1981

Muriel Stevens in December ’14

C. Leona (McCarthy) Brown in September ’14 Reinaldo Cardoso in May ’14 (master’s)

1982

Theresa (Proulx) Leahy in March ’14 (master’s) Gene Meleleu in July ’14 34

1983

Lila Sapinsley in December ’14

1981

1993

John DeGoes in August ’14

2002

Carole Harman in November ’14

Fellowship Brings Golfers Together for Annual Tournament and Fundraiser

By Bea Lanzi ’89

“For over 20 years, the RICochet Fund has been providing students with grants of up to $1,000 for unexpected expenses, such as health, housing and child-care needs.”

When I walked the campus of Rhode Island College as an incoming freshman many years ago, I was struck by the feeling of community that came over me.

As I anxiously made my way around all the buildings to see my classrooms and meet my new classmates, I felt an instant sense of belonging, a feeling of fellowship, and I knew I was in the right place.

Years later, every time I walk across the campus, I still have that feeling. But, now I also feel something else – I feel inspired.

Every time I walk through the campus and see the new buildings and the beautiful and modern structures, and most importantly, when I observe the students mingling together, laughing and studying, I feel inspired. As I watch them, I know the students are having their own adventures, adventures that will lead them to new careers, new lives. They are on their way to fulfill their dreams and passions.

Sometimes when I have an alumni board meeting, I will come to the campus a bit early, just so I can sit and watch the students and feel that sense of community and fellowship. It makes me proud to be a Rhode Island College graduate.

As proud graduates, we have the opportunity to give back and to broaden this

circle of community and fellowship. On Monday, Sept. 21, the Rhode Island College Alumni Association hosted the 25th Anniversary Liberty Mutual Cup Alumni Golf Tournament in honor of graduate Helen Lombardi at the Cranston Country Club.

Ms. Lombardi was a 1940 graduate of Rhode Island College. She was actively involved in the Cranston Country Club, serving as an owner, an agent and a president for the business. And, to commemorate her community spirit, her family has offered the use of its facilities in her memory.

This tournament benefits the RICochet Emergency Scholarship Fund that assists Rhode Island College students in financial emergencies. For over 20 years, the RICochet Fund has been providing students with grants of up to $1,000 for unexpected expenses, such as health, housing and child-care needs.

And, the Alumni Golf Tournament provides much-needed resources for this important Scholarship Fund. Since its 1990 inception, this tournament has raised more than $300,000, translating into assistance for hundreds of Rhode Island College students. Last year alone,

RICochet awarded 20 students. That’s 20 students who were helped to stay in college.

As a recipient recently shared with me, “The RICochet fund provided muchneeded help while attending RIC. After several painful attacks, I had surgery to remove an inflamed gallbladder. The recovery went well and I was back to normal in a few short weeks. Even though the student insurance covered 80 percent of the bills, it was still a lot of money for a full-time student to repay. Six months later I sustained a hernia at the gallbladder extraction site and had to undergo surgery once again. I was unable to repay all of the bills and was relieved to learn that the RICochet fund would be able to help. A condition of the award was to work in the alumni office for a set number of hours. It was an enjoyable experience, and I was able to hone my editing skills by helping on the alumni magazine. ” This year’s golf tournament raised in excess of $10,000, with 80 players competing. To all who have participated over the years, thank you for providing opportunity to help students while demonstrating the community and fellowship that is the hallmark of Rhode Island College.

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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 966

Rhode Island College 600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue Providence, RI 02908-1996

51st Annual

Alumni Awards DINNER AND CELEBRATION THURSDAY, MAY 5 5:30 P.M.

SAVE THE DATE