Hearts & Minds

HM HEARTS & MINDS SERVING THE WORLD

Message from the President

Dear Friends of Rivier,

This issue of Rivier Today brings together the many dimensions of the Rivier community in a mosaic which incorporates mission, creativity, innovation, and service. You will read of the diversity of University celebrations, academic accomplishments, the impact of students and alumni throughout the region, and initiatives that support a strong foundation for future enrollment growth.

Celebrating the canonization of our University namesake, Saint Marie Rivier, and the 90th anniversary of our founding, Rivier faculty, staff, students, and alumni are embracing our motto, Altiora et Meliora, Higher and Better. The fall semester provided ample opportunity to retell the story of Marie Rivier, a bold and courageous woman who did the ordinary in an extraordinary way.

Our yearlong 90th anniversary celebration, highlighting the theme Go Boldly, began with shared memories and events during Alumni Reunion and the final phase of the Oral History Project in which alumni and friends reflected deeply on their Rivier experiences.

As the Vision 2020 strategic plan comes to a close, the dedication of the reimagined Sylvia Trottier Hall including the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center, Business and Security Studies Division, and the University’s Tech Hub represents the goals of teaching, learning, technology, and innovation. The vision of Rivier’s donors/investors provided the catalyst for this project of experiential learning and real-world experience.

The mosaic image continues as you read about Judge Joseph Laplante and his legacy of dedicated service to both Rivier and the broader community, the celebration of Raiders accomplishments on the newly turfed Joanne Merrill Field, and the sense of discovery represented by student research in the life sciences.

Know that you, our alumni and friends, are remembered gratefully as we anticipate Christmas and this season of peace.

Sincerely, Oral History Project to showcase stories of Rivier alumni

The University’s six-month-long Oral History Project concluded in October. This special project, in partnership with Publishing Concepts, Inc., was launched in honor of Rivier’s 90th anniversary and will culminate with the creation of a special-edition commemorative book filled with stories of Rivier alumni through the decades.

“Thank you to the many alumni who participated in this project and shared stories of their Rivier experiences. This anthology of stories will become an important part of Rivier’s story for generations to come,” says Karen Cooper, Vice President for University Advancement.

The commemorative book is currently in production and is expected to ship this spring, along with 90th anniversary items, to all those who made purchases through Publishing Concepts Inc.

Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM President

We are pleased to share several stories excerpted from the Oral History Project. These are among hundreds of stories of transformation shared by alumni that will be proudly featured in Rivier’s commemorative book.

Bernadine Larkin Liston-Fountain

Class of 1957 B.A. Sociology

I enjoyed Rivier tremendously—it was one of the happiest times of my life. My professors were very helpful and interested in my life, and I felt very comfortable with them. I loved to go to the chapel before exams; it was a place full of peace. My time at Rivier taught me how to be mature and take care of myself. I got a job right after graduation as a fourth-grade teacher, and I greatly enjoyed it. My life has been very rich, and it all started at Rivier.

Anna E. Pearsons

Class of 2018 BSN Nursing

I knew I wanted to go to Rivier, and that was bolstered by the fact that one of the cross-country coaches came to my meet and wrote me a personal letter; that sealed the deal for me. My dad made a scrapbook of every race I have ever run in my entire life, and that letter is in there. I loved Rivier University from the second I stepped onto campus because it felt like home. I got a bachelor's degree in nursing, and the skills that resulted from Rivier were unparalleled. I felt more confident about becoming a nurse than a lot of my peers. Rivier doesn't settle for comfortable; Rivier settles for excellence.

Cindy M. Enriquez Coughlin

Class of 2019G M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Rivier's master's in clinical mental health counseling was affordable and flexible. I could work during the day and do my classes later in the evening. I loved the campus and that it was a Catholic university. I'm a first-generation American. My parents were born in Guatemala. I was the first of five siblings to get a higher education degree. My biggest challenge was overcoming my own fears. I had Professor Langelier for one of my first classes called Basic Human Interaction. Her teaching was so down-to-earth. The encouragement that she provided was life-giving to me at that time. The biggest door that my degree opened for me was my dream job. I've been a psychotherapist for a little over three years, and last year I received my license as a clinical mental health counselor. I work at the nonprofit Catholic Charities where we provide counseling services to people from all walks of life. That degree really opened the door for me to do advocacy work in communities that I care about.

James P. Banow

Class of 1982 B.S. Accounting

The dedication of the faculty and the approachability of the teachers inspired me to attend Rivier. The teachers were very interesting, well qualified, and knowledgeable about the subject matter. My religion teacher made taking his class a very enjoyable experience. It added an element to my life, and it made me aware that there are other things out there to be considered. Graduating from Rivier allowed me to understand that I could accept a challenge and follow it all the way through, regardless of the situation and the strain that comes from it. I was holding down a job and going to school at the same time. I was able to do it, and I was very proud of what I had done when I finished.