Saint Peters University - Spring 2016 Magazine

SPRING 2016

Magazine I N S I D E : NEW MASTER’S IN CYBER SECURITY

PRESIDENT’S

Message

daily basis. If you follow the University on Facebook and Twitter, or read about the accomplishments of students, faculty and alumni in the pages of this magazine, you are sure to be excited and pleased about Saint Peter’s steadfast ascent.

The University was recently awarded a $1 million gift from the Give Something Back Foundation, which will support what Saint Peter’s has always done best—transform the lives of promising students. The body of research showcased at the annual “A Celebration of Faculty

The Eternal Appeal of Our Peacock

Scholarship” speaks volumes about our

Times change. School mascots come and

of more than 750 graduates, many of

go. Not our Saint Peter’s University Peacock.

whom are still the first in their families

Since Rev. Robert I. Gannon, S.J., selected

Peacock Pride Day

Peter the Peacock, the University’s new mascot, was met with cheers, applause and plenty of selfie requests at his campus debut on April 20.

The unveiling kicked off a new tradition at Saint Peter’s University— Peacock Pride Day—to celebrate the legacy and birthday of the late Rev. Robert I. Gannon, S.J., the academic dean who re-opened Saint Peter’s in 1930, and proclaimed the peacock the school’s official mascot. Peacock Pride Day will become an annual event and will be hosted on a date close to Fr. Gannon’s birthday.

faculty’s dedication to teaching and scholarship. Our 125th commencement on May 23 recognized the achievements

to graduate from college. Their chapter

the peacock to represent the resurrection

at Saint Peter’s is not an ending, but a

of Saint Peter’s in 1930, the magnificent

beginning, as they join the extraordinary

bird has not only withstood the test of

body of more than 30,000 alumni who lead

time, it has captured a special place in

lives of great purpose and consequence.

the hearts of generations of Saint Peter’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Our connection to the peacock endures for many reasons. Its fantail containing the “multitude of eyes” suggests the all-seeing eye of God. But its true beauty, much like Saint Peter’s, exists beneath surface appearances. Perhaps the best

“Perhaps the best way to explain the eternal appeal of the peacock is that it inspires us to rise to any challenge and to always seek excellence, generosity and grace.”

way to explain the eternal appeal of our peacock is that it inspires us to rise to any

Wherever this issue of Saint Peter’s

challenge and to always seek excellence,

University finds you, close by in New Jersey

generosity and grace.

or living abroad, I hope you will always

The new and improved mascot, presented to the University community

see alma mater as an infinite source of Peacock Pride.

at the first Peacock Pride Day on April 20, is a fitting tribute to the past, present and

Sincerely,

future of this great institution.

Of course, there are a multitude of reasons to celebrate Peacock Pride on a Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President

Saint Peter’s University

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HOW TO REACH US Alumni News and Notes E-mail: alumni@saintpeters.edu Office of Alumni Engagement 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Letter to the Editor E-mail: smalinowski@saintpeters.edu Editor, Saint Peter’s University 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 761-6239 Fax: (201) 761-6241 On the cover: The $1 million gift from the Give Something Back Foundation is the chance of a lifetime for 50 future students at Saint Peter’s University.

FEATURES 11.

14.

16.

18.

20.

Chance of a Lifetime Commencement 2016 Teachers and Scholars 10 Minutes with...Edward Moskal, M.M.S. ’79 A Work for the Ages

CONNECT

DEPARTMENTS 3.

22.

24.

32.

University News Peacock U Class News & Notes Then and Now

ADMINISTRATION Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President Virginia Bender, Ph.D. ’78 Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J. Vice President for Mission and Ministry Jeffrey Handler, M.A. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

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Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05 Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Gerard O’Sullivan, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Eileen Poiani, Ph.D. Special Assistant to the President Denton Stargel Vice President for Finance and Business Miloš Topi´c Vice President for Information Technology and Operations

SPRING 2016 SAINT PETER’S UNIVERSITY Volume 35, Number 3 Mary Kinahan-Ockay Editor Sarah Lacz, M.B.A. ’11 Sarah Malinowski Ferrary Executive Director of University Photography Communications Michael Marmora Catherine Mernar Editorial & Design Services Matt Rainey Erbach Communications Group Gabe Rhodes Contributors & Editorial Assistance Saint Peter’s University Archives Angeline Boyer Ana Cravo Saint Peter’s University is printed on FSC AnnMarie Gervasio

certified paper containing 10% post-consumer waste and was manufactured using 100% Green-e certified renewable energy.

UNIVERSITY

News

Career Ready with

Goldman Sachs

Ten team members from the global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. conducted an intensive career workshop for 36 undergraduates at Saint Peter’s University on April 22.

The workshop was part of Community Teamworks, an initiative that pairs the investment firm’s employees with service projects in the communities where they work and live.

At the suggestion of James Conti ’93, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, the University submitted a proposal that would afford a unique opportunity to Saint Peter’s students. Many business students aspire to intern or work at Goldman Sachs in Lower Manhattan or Jersey City, where the firm has had a presence for more than a decade.

“Who better to show us what makes a model candidate for Goldman Sachs than Goldman Sachs themselves?” said Laura Pakhmanov, MHRM, executive director of the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning (CEEL).

The firm’s team members planned and executed the entire workshop, while CEEL worked with the School of Business to prepare the selected students. Participants worked in small groups with Goldman Sachs team members and gleaned expert advice and insights on resumé review, interviewing skills, etiquette and developing an elevator pitch.

“Who better to show us what makes a model candidate for Goldman Sachs than Goldman Sachs themselves?”

Goldman Sachs team members selected three finalists to showcase their pitches. One finalist, mathematics major Madel Liquido ’19, used the skills and connections developed in the workshop to land a summer business analytics internship with Komar, Inc., an apparel company that recently relocated to Jersey City. “Who knew an elevator pitch would lead to so many things?” she remarked.

Continued on next page

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Continued from previous page Conti said he was impressed with the performance of the Saint Peter’s students. “These students are attentive and they look the part. They make me think, ‘This is someone I could work with one day.’”

NEW MASTER’S PROGRAM IN CYBER SECURITY With Internet threats growing faster than companies and organizations can keep pace, cyber security professionals are in great demand. To meet the need, Saint Peter’s University established a master’s degree in cyber security, set to begin this fall. The program has two areas of focus: information systems security and cyber security and computer forensics. Students will have the added advantage of a Cyber Security Center to hone technical and analytical skills needed to protect and defend computer systems and networks.

Go to page 18, “10 Minutes With…,” to learn more about the academic program.

“These students are attentive and they look the part.”

Career planning at Saint Peter’s has long focused on the types of skills emphasized in the Goldman Sachs workshop. “The sooner students start [career preparedness], the more successful they’ll be,” Pakhmanov said.

Student participants at Goldman Sachs workshop

NEW OLD BOOKS ACQUIRED Endowed gift enriches Rare Books and Special Collections At the start of the

Academic catalog from Manresa Hall, Saint Peter’s College Grammar School

20th Century, the

endowment created by Emerita Professor Euge-

Jesuits of Jersey

nia Palmegiano, Ph.D., in 2012. The gift from Dr.

City operated Saint

Palmegiano, a professor of history at Saint Peter’s

Peter’s Preparatory

for more than 40 years, is being used to preserve

School, Saint Peter’s

and enrich the Rare Books and Special Collections.

College and Manresa

This includes the recent purchase of In Sacrum Beati

Hall, Saint Peter’s

Ioannis Apostoli & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commen-

College Grammar

tarij (Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Evangelist

School at 269

and Holy Apostle Saint John). Only four copies of

Summit Avenue.

the 1592 treatise written by

Little was known

Spanish Jesuit theologian

about the grammar

Rev. Francisco de Ribera, S.J.,

school, until a

can be studied in academic

1908–1909 academic

libraries throughout the

catalog and photo

world and Saint Peter’s Uni-

album appeared at a recent estate sale. The items

Hardgrove said the pur-

Memory at Saint Peter’s University, which houses

chase is significant because

the Rare Books and Special Collections held by

it is a classic work of Jesuit

The Theresa and Edward O’Toole Library.

Counter-Reformation theol-

“It was a very special find for us,” said David

ogy. “It adds to the prestige

Hardgrove, M.L.S., director of the University library.

of Saint Peter’s as a Jesuit

Both catalog and photo album reveal a wealth of in-

institution. Scholars or theo-

formation about students, faculty, classes, clubs and

logians who are studying

grammar school and the history of Saint Peter’s.”

Spring 2016

versity is one of them.

now reside in The Guarini Center for Community

the cultural period. “It fills a historical gap about the

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The acquisitions were made possible by an

the Counter-Reformation are 1592 treatise by Rev. Francisco de Ribera, S.J. going to come to us.”

Capstone Before Graduation Defending an Honors Thesis Twenty-two students in the Dr. James V. Bastek Honors Program presented and defended their senior honors theses in April. The in-depth research conducted by seniors encompassed a wide spectrum of academic disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, sciences, mathematics, nursing and business.

Genesis Balarezo ’16, ’17, an honors student in the five-year B.S./M.S. accountancy program, examined the market forces that would lead to greater consumption and growth in the Peruvian restaurant industry. The recipient of The Albert Dreisbach, Jr. ’63 Endowed Scholarship, Balarezo is the child of Peruvian immigrants.

She used her extensive knowledge of Peruvian culture and business background to research restaurants in Paterson, Clifton and Union City. “It’s a perfect time to expand Peruvian food to a mass market in the U.S.,” said

Genesis Balarezo ’16, ’17

Balarezo, whose dissertation findings could be applied to a broader range of ethnic restaurants.

Students who successfully present and defend their theses graduate with honors from Saint Peter’s University. Beyond the academic rigor the capstone project instills, the experience can be personally gratifying. “I feel like I’ve made a contribution to the community and to Saint Peter’s itself,” said Balarezo.

“I’m honored to do this because I can represent the Hispanic community and I can represent first generation college students and many other people who don’t have these types of opportunities.”

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE TO RELOCATE TO THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Big plans are underway for the Department of

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts double

Economics and Finance: a move to the School

digit growth in employment of personal financial

of Business this fall and the launch of a new

advisors and financial analysts by 2022. “There’s

Bachelor of Science in Finance.

a growing need for well-educated, ethically-

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gerard O’Sullivan, Ph.D., said the new program reflects the evolution and growth of the finance

educated graduates of undergraduate programs for these types of industries,” Dr. O’Sullivan said.

Jesuit principles and a broad based liberal arts

minor, which is available to students majoring

background from the core curriculum will equip

or minoring in economics. He credits the Univer-

students with essential skills needed to navigate

sity’s economics and finance faculty members

a business world in constant change. “This is a

with reshaping the curriculum and developing

mission-driven program,” Dr. O’Sullivan stressed.

new courses that will prepare finance graduates

“Saint Peter’s is going to be raising questions of

for entry level positions in the financial services

ethics and values you don’t often see in finance

industry or advanced degree programs.

and economics programs elsewhere.”

TITLE V SUCCESS On April 6, the University community celebrated progress achieved as a result of the $2.8 million Title V grant awarded in 2010. The federal grant was established by the U.S. Department of Education to assist Hispanic-serving institutions in expanding opportunities and improving the academic attainment of Hispanic students.

Programs and initiatives created with Title V funding at Saint Peter’s University improved outcomes in three key categories.

The first-year retention of Hispanic students increased from 71 to 85 percent, and graduation rates and first-year GPA also rose significantly. The success rate at Saint Peter’s in the three categories now exceeds that of the general college population.

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HONORS STUDENT EARNS COMMENDATION FROM HARVARD NATIONAL MODEL U.N. At age six, Susan Ragheb ’16 moved to Egypt with her parents. The American-born youngster at

Sa

ers int P e t er’s U niv

it y

Spotlight on Top Issues Some of New Jersey’s biggest public policy questions were discussed, and at times hotly debated, at the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership earlier this semester. “The Casino Gaming Compromise,” held on March 21, featured a panel of public and corporate leaders discussing a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would allow casinos outside of Atlantic City. The panel was moderated

by NJTV Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron and was streamed live to include participation from South Jersey residents. The question will be put to voters on the November 8 ballot.

“Healthcare 2020: Mapping the Future Landscape” brought legislators and healthcare leaders together on March 16, and the “Education Roundtable Series: The Impact of Pre-K Programs in Urban and Rural Areas,” for educators, alumni and others, was held on April 6.

For future events, visit saintpeters.edu/guariniinstitute.

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spent the next 10 years absorbing Middle Eastern cultures and politics, traveling between Egypt and Turkey with her parents before returning to Bayonne, N.J., for her junior year of high school.

Those overseas experiences have proven fortuitous for the political science major, who won a prestigious award through her participation in the Harvard National Model United Nations (U.N.), which hosted 3,000 students from more than 200 universities and 70 countries, the most competitive Model U.N. in the world.

“It’s impossible not to know about politics

Susan Ragheb ’16 As secretary-general of the Saint Peter’s Model U.N., which is offered through the University’s Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership,

if you grow up in the Middle East,” explained

Ragheb bolstered her research by meeting with

Ragheb, an honors student who is minoring in

the Ecuadorean ambassador to the U.N.

chemistry and biology. “Politics is a part of every

“It’s one of the perks of living right next to New York,” noted Ragheb, who attends several

conversation there.”

Sixteen Saint Peter’s University students

meetings a year at the United Nations through

attended the annual conference held February

the University’s designation as a U.N. non-gov-

11–14 in Boston. Ragheb earned a Verbal Com-

ernmental organization. “You really don’t get that

mendation from the World Health Organization

at other schools.”

for her work representing Ecuador. To prepare

Ragheb is interning for United States Senator

for the event, she did extensive research on

Cory Booker and is considering a career in either

Ecuadorean health policy, focusing on epidemic

the foreign service or global health following her

management and the spread of the Zika virus.

graduation from Saint Peter’s.

Retreats for Everyday Life Students with

reflection. Retreats for everyday life, however,

jobs or other

occur within the context of a regular work or

commitments

school week. Last fall, a group of students in one

have difficulty

retreat and faculty and staff members in another

making time for

were given guidance and structure for daily

an overnight or

prayer and reflection. Each retreat began with a

weekend spiritual

group prayer service on Monday and concluded

retreat. The Joseph

with a faith sharing session on Friday.

A. Kelly, S.J. Office

Campus Minister Jason Downer, S.J.

“People really responded to it,” said Downer.

of Campus Ministry

“It’s an opportunity to have a retreat experience

has a remedy for

in the course of their busy lives.” This retreat

time-strapped

model “is very sustainable” toward building a

students, faculty and staff seeking deeper

deeper relationship with God, Downer added.

spirituality, which Campus Minister Jason

“You’re making a commitment to prayer for 15 to

Downer, S.J., calls “retreats for everyday life.”

20 minutes a day. It reminds you to pause and to

Spiritual retreats typically remove participants from normal life for prayer, discussion and

slow down.”

IN THE COMMUNITY

GOLD STATUS The Hudson Transportation Management Association (Hudson TMA) recognized Saint Peter’s University as a “Gold Level” New Jersey Smart Workplace for 2015 on March 22. This award acknowledges sustainability efforts in reducing the carbon footprint.

This was the second year in a row that Saint Peter’s achieved gold status.

MUSIC TO THE COMMUNITY’S EARS Gospel, classical and choral music

Supported in part by a generous grant

filled the sanctuary of St. Aedan’s:

from the William E. Simon Foundation, the

The Saint Peter’s University Church

free series is a building block of Pathways

this spring. Arts on Bergen, a new

to Distinction, the University’s new strategic

performing arts series, brought Saint

plan, which calls for greater engagement

Peter’s and Jersey City residents together for

between Saint Peter’s and its surrounding communi-

inspired musical performances.

ties. Jersey City residents who responded to an on-

Launched last fall, the series expanded this

line survey last fall indicated they would like to have

spring with “Ignatian Musical Pause,” a program

more opportunities to attend community-oriented

held on select Wednesday afternoons featuring vari-

events at Saint Peter’s.

ous musical guests. Day or evening, Arts on

Standout performances included the spring concert

Bergen aims to build neighborhood relations by

of the Saint Peter’s University SCHOLA and The Aidan

engaging more Saint Peter’s students with the St. Ae-

C. McMullen Chorale on April 22 and The Great Ameri-

dan’s community and by drawing the greater Jersey

can Songbook featuring Associate Professor of English

City community into the spiritual family

Rachel Wifall, Ph.D., and Director of Cooperative

and life of the historic church.

Education Sondra Edwards Buesing Riley on May 4.

Jefferson Award Recognizes Public Service and Volunteerism Associate Director of Campus Ministry for Community

The Jefferson Awards were started in 2007 and

Service Erich Sekel was honored by the 2016 New Jersey

are administered by the Community Foundation of

State Governor’s Jefferson Awards for his leadership

New Jersey, The Governor’s Office on Volunteerism, NJ

in helping to alleviate food insecurity in Jersey City

Advance Media and the Governor’s Advisory Council

through The Campus Kitchen at Saint Peter’s University.

on Volunteerism.

Sekel was among 22 individuals and groups recognized for extraordinary public service and volunteerism at a ceremony held on June 6 at The Newark Museum.

Established in 2014, The Campus Kitchen is a student-led program that recovers food that would be wasted from dining halls, cafeterias and grocery stores and creates nutritious meals for those struggling with hunger. Through volunteerism and coordination with area donors, the community service program serves more than 10,000 meals annually. Sekel has supervised the work of student-volunteers since The Campus Kitchen’s inception.

Associate Director of Campus Ministry for Community Service Erich Sekel

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FACULTY NOTEBOOK

Meet the New Deans Saint Peter’s University named Scott F. Stoddart, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences effective July 1. Dr. Stoddart was associate provost and dean of the Undergraduate College at John Jay College, CUNY and held senior academic posts at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Manhattanville College.

Bruce B. Rosenthal, M.B.A., Ph.D., will be the KPMG founding dean of the School of Business, effective July 1. Dr. Rosenthal has decades of experience as a business executive and higher education faculty member.

He was the director of the School of Business at Alfred University and held posts at Chatham University and the University of Sciences in Philadelphia.

In the corporate sector, Dr. Rosenthal held senior positions at Dow Jones/ Telerate (DJ/T) Japan, Merrill Lynch and Arlington Medical Research, Inc. Learn more about the two new academic leaders in the fall issue of Saint Peter’s University.

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Spring 2016

NEW BOOK ASKS HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FED The most important monetary event of the first 100 years of the Federal Reserve was the replacement of fixed exchange rates with flexible exchange rates, according to Edwin Dickens, Ph.D., professor of economics and chair of the Department of Economics and Finance.

Dr. Dickens’ new book, The Political Economy of U.S. Monetary Policy: How the Federal Reserve Gained Control and Uses It (Routledge, 2016), uses economic theory, data and historical research to place Federal Reserve monetary policy in a political economy context.

The Federal Reserve’s power to lower and raise interest rates isn’t always in the best interest of the economy, according to Dr. Dickens.

“The problem is that the Fed has the autonomy to change policy, including interest rates, arbitrarily,” he said. “You get into a perverse situation where bad economic news causes the stock market and real estate market to rise because people think the falling economy will lead the Fed to lower interest rates. The market reacts to the anticipation of lower interest rates rather than actual economic news.”

WRITING PROGRAM DIRECTOR’S SHORT STORIES IN NEW ANTHOLOGY Three short stories by Constance G. Wagner, M.A., director of the writing program and lecturer in the Department of English, were published in the e-book anthology When the House Whispers: A Hallowe’en Anthology (Oloris Press, 2015). A J.R.R. Tolkien scholar, Professor Wagner interviewed actor Sean Astin last fall about his role as Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

The interview will appear in a forthcoming issue of Silver Leaves, a literary journal devoted to the works of Tolkien.

2016 LIBERTY BELL AWARD HONORS PROFESSOR CALLAHAN Hon. Kevin G. Callahan, J.D. ’69, associate professor of criminal justice, received the 2016 Liberty Bell Award from the Hudson Vicinage Law Day Committee on May 2 in Jersey City.

The award recognizes outstanding community service and is presented to individuals or organizations instrumental in ensuring that the rule of law continues to play a role in society. Professor Callahan served 27 years on the Hudson County Superior Court. He retired from the bench in 2011 and became a full-time faculty member in the Department of Criminal Justice.

Hon. Kevin Callahan, J.D. ’69

NURSING PROFESSOR NAMED TO EDITORIAL BOARD Assistant Professor of Nursing Valera Hascup, Ph.D., has been appointed to the editorial board of Annals of Nursing Research and Valera Hascup, Ph.D. Practice. The publication is an international, open access, peer reviewed journal that publishes the latest research in all related aspects of nursing and clinical practice.

UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WRITES ABOUT BUSINESS RISK Senior business executives who subscribe to Risk & Insurance magazine are reading op-ed columns authored John Hampton, D.B.A.

by Professor of Business Administration John J. Hampton, D.B.A. The industry magazine designated Professor Hampton a “Risk Insider,” and his monthly columns address issues ranging from “Cybersecurity Doomsday: Bring in the Seals” to “Apple Versus the FBI.” A frequent speaker on risk management, Dr. Hampton also served as a panelist on “M&A Risks: Impact of Industry Consolidation on Spread of Risk” at the Business Insurance Risk Management Summit in New York City in March.

TWO AWARDS BEING ESTABLISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH Crowdfunding via impact.saintpeters.edu is helping to establish student awards in the Department of English. The awards are named for two faculty members and recognize top graduating English majors. The inaugural award is made in the name of Professor Emeritus John M. Walsh, Ph.D. ’68, former department chair who taught for more than 40 years at Saint Peter’s.

The Dr. Kathleen Monahan Sigma Tau Delta Membership Award will underwrite the cost of membership to the English honor society for a

particularly worthy inductee. It is named for Kathleen Monahan, Ph.D. ’70, longtime department chair and Sigma Tau Delta advisor.

Alumni, members of the Department of English, the University provost and friends are making these student awards possible. To learn more, visit impact.saintpeters.edu.

MOVING UP Miloš Topic´ was named vice president for information technology and operations at Saint Peter’s University in February. A member of the President’s Cabinet, Topi´c is charged with the management and development of technological resources that support academic excellence as part of Pathways to Distinction, the University’s strategic plan. In addition, he will guide planning, development and management of new construction and renovations, as well as buildings, land and infrastructure maintenance. Formerly chief technology officer at Saint Peter’s, he will also provide overall technology leadership of programs, policies and procedures.

Topic´ joined Saint Peter’s in 2015 and is completing a Ph.D. in technology management at Stevens Institute of Technology.

NEW RESEARCH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY Professor of Chemistry Patricia Ann Redden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry Christian Traba, Ph.D., and Julia Bryan ’15 are the co-authors of “The Mechanism of Action of Russian Propolis Ethanol Extracts Against Two AntibioticResistant Biofilm-Forming Bacteria,” published in Letters in Applied Microbiology.

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chemistry Department Chair Jessica L. Epstein, Ph.D., co-authored “Using Flavor Chemistry to Design and Synthesize Artificial Scents and Flavors,” published in the Journal of Chemical Education. Dr. Epstein also presented on “The Role of Chemistry in Global Security,” an American Chemical Society webinar, on February 9.

MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCES Katherine Safford-Ramus, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, will be a keynote speaker at “Numeracy: A Critical Skill in Adult Education,” the 23rd International Conference of Adults Learning Mathematics in Maynooth, Ireland, in July. Dr. Safford-Ramus also received a highly competitive travel grant award from the National Council of Teachers and Mathematics to present her research at the 13th International Congress on Mathematical Education in Hamburg, Germany.

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MISSION AND MINISTRY MATTERS When Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J., arrived at Saint Peter’s University eight years ago, he relished the opportunity to shape and develop the newly created position of vice president for mission and ministry. “I like the challenge of creating something new,” he said in 2008. Today, students,

RECTOR APPOINTED Rev. Claudio M. Burgaleta, S.J., the new rector of the Saint Peter’s Jesuit community, is no stranger to the University.

As a high school student, he attended the Saint Peter’s Summer Scholars Program, where the Cuban-born student delved into the Jesuit order and the teachings of Saint Ignatius.

“I had been thinking about a religious vocation, but didn’t know much about the Jesuits,” he recalled. “There were a number of things at work, but Ignatius and his spirit won me over.”

Fr. Burgaleta holds an undergraduate degree from Fordham University and advanced degrees from Santa Clara University and Boston College.

In 2000 he returned to Fordham, where he most recently served as an associate professor of theology.

The Jesuit describes his new role this way: “I will be working with both Jesuits and lay people. I am responsible for animating the work of the University along Ignatian lines.”

faculty and staff at Saint Peter’s University have a much deeper appreciation of Ignatian spirituality and values, thanks to the leadership and guidance of Fr. Braden, who is leaving his post on June 30. He will be on sabbatical in the Jesuit community for a year before taking on a new assignment.

Director of Campus Ministry Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., will become vice president for mission and ministry on July 1. With the promotion to the President’s Cabinet, he will provide leadership

the highly regarded online orientation modules

to the University community in its efforts to un-

on topics of Ignatian spirituality, the Catholic

derstand and embody the mission of the Society

intellectual tradition and Ignatian pedagogy that

of Jesus. Fr. Danzi will also oversee programs

have been embraced by trustees, faculty, adminis-

that assist students, faculty, administration and

trators and staff. Fr. Braden also was instrumental

alumni in integrating Jesuit and Catholic teach-

to the University receiving the NetVUE Program

ings and values into their lives.

Development Grant Award from the Council of

As a result of initiatives and programs cham-

Spring 2016

Independent Colleges, an award that enriches the

pioned by Fr. Braden, “our Ignatian identity is

intellectual and theological exploration of voca-

tangibly stronger,” Fr. Danzi said. “We’re going to

tion among undergraduate students.

keep building on that.”

Advances led by Fr. Braden during his eight-

Fr. Danzi expects the momentum to continue, with a few logistical changes.

year tenure included the strengthening of the

The Office of Mission and Ministry is going

Mass of the Holy Spirit and the Baccalaureate

to move from Saint Peter Hall to the first floor

Mass as “bookends” to the academic year, orga-

of the Mac Mahon Student Center. “It’s going to

nizing mission-oriented events, including The

keep campus ministry and mission and ministry

John Tagliabue ’67 H ’05 Lecture Series, The Saint

in the same area,” Fr. Danzi explained. “Everyone

John’s Bible programs and student-led activities

can find us, so we can be Jesuit companions

with Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society.

and continue this amazing journey we’re on at

He oversaw the Chapel renovation and developed

Saint Peter’s.”

MEMORIAL MASS HELD FOR FR. GLYNN Alumni and friends gathered in Saint Peter Chapel on May 14 for a Mass to honor the life of late Saint Peter’s University President Rev. L. Edward Glynn, S.J. H ’90. Rev. Joseph P. Parkes, S.J., was the celebrant and homilist. Trustee Annette Corbin ’84 and Bart Erbach ’82 served as lectors; gift bearers were Bill Stein, director of athletics emeritus, and Richard Ensor, Esq. ’75. A reception

Celebrant Rev. Joseph Parkes, S.J., with Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., (left) and Rev. Kenneth Boller, S.J. (right) 10

Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., and Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J.

followed, and a student lounge was dedicated in Millennium Hall to Fr. Glynn.

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CHANCE OF A LIFETIME

Three years from now, the first in a cohort of 50 promising New Jersey students will attend Saint Peter’s University at no cost for tuition, fees, room or board.

It’s an opportunity of a lifetime made possible by the Give Something Back Foundation (GSBF), which awarded the University a $1 million gift in February.

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The $1 million gift from GSBF will go a long way toward ensur-

Ph.D., reinforced the dedication the two like-minded organiza-

ing Saint Peter’s commitment to make Jesuit higher education

tions share in supporting students.

accessible to deserving students.

In fact, the University’s dedication to accessibility dovetails

“When we first met, I knew instantly that your goals and our goals were in line,” Dr. Cornacchia told Carr. “You impressed me

with the goal of the GSBF: to provide full financial and academ-

with your genuine and powerful dedication to first generation

ic assistance for students who may otherwise view college as

students, financially vulnerable students, and you have my word

out of reach. Founded in Illinois, the foundation assists promis-

that Saint Peter’s will take very good care of these students. They

ing students to graduate from college debt-free in four years.

will be part of our family and they will succeed here.”

Saint Peter’s University is the ninth institution of higher learning in the nation and the fourth in New Jersey to partner with

Arriving in 2019

the GSBF, opening doors for bright students to overcome obsta-

The first cohort of GSBF scholarship recipients will arrive on

cles and succeed. It is also the first Jesuit University, as well as

campus in 2019. Working with school administrators and

the first independent in New Jersey to enter the partnership.

community leaders, the foundation is now identifying ninth

Robert Carr, founder of the GSBF, cited the University’s dedication to cura personalis and its ranking as fifth in the nation by MONEY® Magazine for “Colleges That Add the Most

graders who qualify for the scholarships under federal Pell Grant requirements.

Recipients must sign a contract agreeing to maintain at

Value” as deciding factors in the foundation’s decision to

least a B average in a college prep curriculum and steer clear

partner with Saint Peter’s.

of discipline and substance abuse problems. The foundation assigns a mentor and tutors to guide each recipient through

“We have high expectations up front. That causes us to have highly motivated kids. Our kids become the leaders in the schools they attend.”

high school and college.

The program has a remarkable success rate: 95 percent of scholarship recipients earn a degree in four years. Carr attributes that to the high expectations placed on students and the understanding that the foundation has already paid

“We’re looking for schools that students really like,” explained Carr, founder of Heartland Payment Systems.

their college tuition.

“We have high expectations up front,” Carr explained at

“They’ve had good experiences at Saint Peter’s because the

the ceremony, which was attended by dignitaries including

University really does care about educating students.”

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop H ’14. “That causes us to

At a ceremony on February 12 announcing the $1 million award, Saint Peter’s University President Eugene J. Cornacchia,

have highly motivated kids. Our kids become the leaders in the schools they attend.”

Previous page, fourth through eighth from left: Anthony de Nicola, co-president and general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe; Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop H ’14; Robert Carr, founder of GSBF; Robert Niehaus, chairman and founder of GCP Capital Partners; and University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., with students 12

Spring 2016

Empowering Promising Students Carr’s focus on providing a debt-free Catholic education at Saint Peter’s has appealed to other donors who are also contributing through the foundation.

Like Carr, Robert Niehaus, chairman and founder of GCP Capital Partners, grew up in a large family. While he attended college on a full scholarship, Niehaus recognizes the burden student loan debt places on young college graduates.“The ability to graduate from college debt-free from a quality institution like Saint Peter’s, to me, is one of the best gifts you can offer anyone.”

Anthony de Nicola, co-president and general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and his wife, Christie, are committed to making Catholic education more accessible. “It’s New Jersey, it’s Catholic education, it’s underprivileged kids, it’s income inequality, it’s opportunity, it’s empowerment,” de Nicola said of the GSBF scholarships at Saint Peter’s.

“The ability to graduate debt-free from a quality institution like Saint Peter’s, to me, is one of the best gifts you can offer anyone.”

The announcement of the scholarships has resonated with current Saint Peter’s students, especially those who have received college scholarships. Biology major Alyssa Michele Oliver ’17 commented, “It’s amazing. It gives students a chance to focus on school and work, and not have their debt at the back of their mind all the time.”

Communication major Jonathan Cabrera ’19 agreed. “This money is going to help so many people who are unable to pay tuition.”

Cabrera went on to offer advice to future GSBF scholars: “Work hard and always remember what the end goal is. Find those friends you can work with and find mentors who can help you. If you find the right people, you’ll succeed.”

For Carr, it’s all about helping the next generation of students.

“I tell all of our kids, ‘Never again in your life can you say that you didn’t get a break. You’ve gotten one of the biggest breaks anybody’s ever gotten. And when you graduate from college and you have time, we’d like you to give back. To pay this back is to pay it forward for someone else.’”

The GSBF is currently seeking volunteer mentors to support students

THE GIFT THAT INSPIRED GSBF When Robert Carr was ready to attend the University of Illinois, he received a $250 scholarship toward college from the Lockport Woman’s Club. The club’s generosity all those years ago touched Carr, sparking a desire to give back when he had the means.

Forty years after his graduation, he presented the club with a check for $100,000 to mark the organization’s 100th anniversary and provide seed money for new scholarships. Now, Carr is continuing to pay it forward through the Give Something Back Foundation.

Carr can relate to the struggles faced by many of the students who benefit from his foundation’s generosity.

Growing up with limited means, he and his family of nine shared an apartment with just two bedrooms. Finding a quiet place to study was difficult.

He also understands that students facing financial challenges often have to juggle school with work responsibilities to make ends meet. As a result, Carr’s foundation seeks to minimize distractions by requiring all scholarship recipients to live on campus and not hold a job requiring too many hours of work.

“A high percentage of our students would normally drop out of school if they didn’t have a full ride like we give them,” Carr said. “We create true economic diversity at schools.”

on their journey toward college. The foundation provides training and resources for its mentors. Those interested in volunteering as a GSBF mentor are asked to complete the Mentor Application on GSBF’s website and agree to the background check. For questions, please contact Joshua Meekins, program coordinator, at (609) 436-2903 or jmeekins@givesomethingbackfoundation.org.

Saint Peter’s University

11 13

FEATURE

Story

Godspeed to Our Graduates!

Saint Peter’s University honored more than 750 graduates at its 125th Commencement, held on May 23 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J. The Class of 2016 reflects Saint Peter’s growth as a university.

Many were freshmen when Saint Peter’s achieved university status and are the first students to complete all four years of their undergraduate education at the University. Moreover, 45 percent of degrees awarded were at higher levels. The University conferred 21 doctoral degrees, 321 master’s degrees, 408 bachelor’s degrees and eight associate’s degrees.

The University also bestowed an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, to commencement speaker France Anne Córdova, Ph.D. H ’16, director of the National Science Foundation, and an honorary degree to Rev. Charles Currie, S.J. H ’16, former president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Córdova urged the Class of 2016 to continue the pursuit of knowledge to experience the personal joy and satisfaction of discovery in service of something greater. “Graduates, you are the next discoverers and the next inventors,” she said.

“So get started and Godspeed.”

14

Spring 2016

France Anne Córdova, Ph.D. H ’16 is a world renowned astrophysicist, who has served as president of Purdue University and chancellor of the University of California. In 2014, Dr. Córdova was sworn in as director of the National Science Foundation, where she oversees governmental programs and initiatives that keep the United States at the forefront of science, engineering and global leadership.

Alan Alda H ’74 and Saint Peter’s graduates

Who’s Who of Honorary Degree Recipients Saint Peter’s University has conferred honorary degrees on noted authors, activists, performers, journalists and religious and political leaders at commencement ceremonies held over the years.

One of the honorary degree recipients listed below told graduates the way to fight war is, “to fight the

Members of the Class of 2016 give thanks and celebrate as they become Saint Peter’s University alumni.

conditions that make it possible: sickness, injustice and poverty.” Who said it? Answer appears on page 32.

Rev. James Martin, S.J. H ’13

Alfa Demmellash H ’10

Rev. Charles Currie, S.J. H ’16 is a well-known advocate for independent higher education, who served as president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) for 14 years. Prior to his role at AJCU, Fr. Currie was president of Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia and Xavier University in Ohio.

Philip Bosco H ’06 Mary Higgins Clark H ’93 Charles Osgood H ’92 Paul Volker H ’84 Alan Alda H ’74 William F. Buckley Jr. H ’69 Hon. Sargent Shriver H ’67 His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman H ’59

(Honorary degree conferred at a special

convocation for the dedication of Rankin Hall.)

Do you recognize any of the alumni who appear with Alan Alda H ’74 in the photo above? If so, contact alumni@saintpeters.edu.

Saint Peter’s University

15

FEATURE

Story

Teachers and Scholars 32 faculty members recognized in annual celebration of scholarship When Dawn Nelson, Ph.D., shares her research

books, book chapters, edited books, newspaper articles,

on number theory, it’s usually before a group of

book and theater reviews, magazine articles, mono-

mathematicians or mathematics students. But the

graphs, essays, editorials and full peer-reviewed papers

academic gathering held in The Theresa and Edward

published in conference proceedings.

O’Toole Library on April 20 brought her scholarship to a whole new audience.

Dr. Nelson, assistant professor of mathematics, along

on the intellectual pursuits of faculty that may not be

history, and Philip Plotch, Ph.D., assistant professor and

known to the wider University community. The event

director of the Master of Public Administration program,

also builds interdisciplinary relationships and raises

presented the outcomes of their scholarly pursuits to

awareness of fellowships and resources available to fac-

the Saint Peter’s University community.

ulty through OFRSP. “It’s easy to get caught up in your own world of scholarship,” said OFRSP Interim Director

arship,” which honored 32 faculty members for work

Paul Almonte, Ph.D. “The hope with this event is that we

published from March 2014 to February 2016. In addi-

get to pose questions and learn from other disciplines

tion to the three faculty presentations, work displayed

and scholars.”

represented the sciences, social sciences, humanities, business and education. It also included journal articles,

Timothy Nicholson, Ph.D., is assistant professor of history. An expert on precolonial, colonial and postcolonial African history, his research examines the Cold War period and, in particular, the ways East Africans took advantage of educational opportunities in Eastern and Western Bloc countries.

Spring 2016

(OFRSP). The accomplishments celebrated shine a light

with Timothy Nicholson, Ph.D., assistant professor of

The occasion was “A Celebration of Faculty Schol-

16

The event was organized by the provost and the Office of Faculty Research and Sponsored Programs

The body of scholarly output at Saint Peter’s is particularly impressive given the full-time course load

Dawn Nelson, Ph.D., is assistant professor of mathematics. She is the coauthor of a study that examined the Fibonacci Sequence, a series of numbers in which a number is found by adding up the two preceding numbers. Dr. Nelson and her collaborators applied Zeckendorf’s Theorem, the representation of integers as sums of Fibonacci numbers, and discovered a new mathematical interaction, the Kentucky Sequence.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gerard O’Sullivan, Ph.D., thanked faculty for their intellectual generosity.

assigned to faculty members. “Our faculty are especially productive,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gerard O’Sullivan, Ph.D. The fact that so many conduct research and publish findings while teaching four courses a semester, “clearly speaks to their commitment to teaching and scholarship.”

Andrea Bubka, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences/School of Business Administration, noted that Saint Peter’s faculty consistently produce research of depth and breadth. “They just don’t brag about it. I love this event because it celebrates what our faculty is doing all the time.”

“The hope with this event is that we get to pose questions and learn from other disciplines and scholars.”

Dr. O’Sullivan thanked faculty members for bringing their research into classrooms and labs for the benefit of Saint Peter’s students. “So many of our undergraduates have the opportunity to work with our faculty. They become second and third authors on academic papers.

That’s very rare and it sets our students apart.”

“A Celebration of Faculty Scholarship” Honorees Department of Applied Science and Technology Debing Zeng, Ph.D. Wei Dong Zhu, Ph.D. Department of Biology Maria Agapito, Ph.D. Jill Callahan, Ph.D. Michael Held, Ph.D. Katherine Wydner, Ph.D. Department of Business Administration Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.

Philip Plotch, Ph.D., is assistant professor and director of the Master of Public Administration program. The former director of World Trade Center redevelopment at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Dr. Plotch is the author of Politics Across the Hudson: The Tappan Zee Megaproject, from Rutgers University Press.

Department of Chemistry Jessica Epstein, Ph.D. Patricia Redden, Ph.D. Christian Traba, Ph.D. Department of Communication and Media Culture Fatima Shaik, M.A. Cynthia Walker, Ph.D. Department of Computer and Information Science Sylvain Jaume, Ph.D. Edward Moskal, M.M.S. ’79 Department of Economics and Finance Edwin Dickens, Ph.D. Devin Rafferty, Ph.D.

Department of Education Nicole Luongo, Ed.D. Department of English Paul Almonte, Ph.D. William Luhr, Ph.D. Rachel Wifall, Ph.D. Department of Fine Arts Beatrice Mady, M.F.A. Department of Health and Physical Education Stephanie Bryan, Ph.D. Department of Mathematics Brian Hopkins, Ph.D. Nickolas Kintos, Ph.D. Dawn Nelson, Ph.D. Department of Philosophy Peter Cvek, Ph.D. Department of Political Science Philip Plotch, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Andrea Bubka, Ph.D. Maryellen Hamilton, Ph.D. Leonor Lega, Ph.D. Daniel Wisneski, Ph.D. Department of Sociology and Urban Studies Alex Trillo, Ph.D.

Saint Peter’s University

17

10 MINUTES

with...

Edward Moskal, M.M.S. ’79

Cyber Secure

Cyber security expert Edward Moskal, M.M.S. ’79 is well aware of the vulnerabilities and risks companies face in the digital age, but he also sees great opportunities for students. With Saint Peter’s University set to introduce a Master of Science in Cyber Security this fall, Professor Moskal talks about the need for the new program, cyber threats and what companies and individuals can do to protect themselves.

Demand for cyber security professionals has grown

More than 300 million variants on corporations alone?

three times faster than demand for traditional

Not only corporations. These days, many cyber attacks

information technology professionals. Why is there

are on midsize companies—those with under 500 em-

such a need for cyber security graduates?

ployees and $5 million or less in revenue—because they

The number of cyber attacks has been increasing

don’t have enough resources to protect their computer

every year for the last five years. There were 317

systems and infrastructure appropriately.

million new malware variants this past year, which are new viruses and worms based on earlier ones that hackers use to attack corporations.

What are cyber attackers looking for?

They’re looking for data that can be sold or used for fraudulent activity, including information to steal your identity, espionage and cyber terrorism. The hackers

18

Spring 2016

have a plan to get into a network and extract valu-

with the technology with physical, virtual and cloud-

able data despite the security systems implemented.

based labs, whether it’s using digital forensic tools to

We need to educate, train and fill the ever increasing

investigate the contents of a hard drive or using cyber

cyber security job market with students who have

tools for intrusion detection. All of this is going to give

the expertise in knowing how to protect and defend

our students a leg up to differentiate themselves.

computer systems and networks from cyber attacks.

The number of job openings can vary by source, but we know there’s a great demand for these skill sets.

Given the rise in corporate cyber attacks, where should companies place greater focus? Defending against current cyber attacks or preventing future ones?

Aside from the technical education and expertise,

It depends on a number of factors: the security posture

what broader characteristics should companies be

of your company, the importance of the information

looking for in a cyber security professional?

and data stored on your computer systems and net-

Someone who is very inquisitive and has an eager-

works and how much risk you are willing to take. Even

ness to dig into technical questions and can peel away

the most technologically savvy companies cannot

the layers to understand what is going on. Programs

stop hackers. Companies really need to concentrate

launched by a cyber attacker into a corporate network

on both the current attacks and the ones that could

are going to have a payload to take down the system,

be launched in the future. The more you harden your

steal data, erase hard drives and go into email systems

computer environment and infrastructure, the more

among other things. So you need people who have the

time you could be spending doing things from an em-

technical and programming skills, but are also savvy,

ployee or customer standpoint to grow your company

analytical and can get the job done. Soft skills are

and make a profit. So, it’s really a balance of how much

important too, because cyber professionals have to

security you want to implement, versus the risk you

work with the people in the organization and explain

want to take.

all of these issues and threats.

“We need to educate, train and fill the ever increasing cyber security job market with students who have the expertise in knowing how to protect and defend computer systems and networks from cyber attacks.”

DATA HELD HOSTAGE “Your data or your money.” That’s the message users encounter with Ransomware, a malicious software that blocks access to a computer system until money is paid. Ransomware affects businesses and individual users, and it’s on the rise. To prevent it, Edward Moskal, M.M.S. ’79 offers these suggestions: Be vigilant about opening email, the most common way Ransomware infects computers.

Avoid emails with blank subject lines or from unknown sources.

Use caution with links and attachments. Emails from seemingly reliable sources such as your bank may be “phishing” with malware.

A lot of the planning for Saint Peter’s new cyber security program came about during your visiting assistant professorship at the University of Notre Dame last year. What did you take away from that experience?

An appreciation for excellence, which is now part

Back up data regularly and keep a copy of your files stored in a safe place.

of our Department of Computer and Information Sciences mission statement. We’re becoming excellent through our curriculum, internships, research and Cyber Security Center. To me, that means when our students are out looking for a job, employers

In what ways will Saint Peter’s graduates be distinctive

will say, ‘I want that student because they went to

from cyber security graduates of other programs?

Saint Peter’s.’

Professor Moskal also suggests subscribing to Cybersecurity Trends, a free e-newsletter developed by the cyber security program on the latest cyber issues, along with tips for protecting privacy and data.

Visit saintpeters.edu/ cyber-security/cybersecurity-trends.

Our graduates will have an immediate impact on the job market because of the curriculum we’ve estab-

Edward Moskal, M.M.S. ’79 is assistant professor of

lished, which is mapped to the requirements specified

computer & information science and chair of the Depart-

by the National Security Agency and the Department

ment of Computer & Information Science at Saint Peter’s

of Homeland Security. We have also been working

University. The recipient of a faculty fellowship from the

with the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

University in 2014–2015, he was a visiting assistant pro-

in Rockville, Md. We participated in a number of meet-

fessor at the University of Notre Dame, where he worked

ings with them that were instrumental in helping us

in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering

design our campus Cyber Security Center that will

helping to design a Cyber Security Center and developed

open this fall. The Center consists of five domains—

and taught new courses in cyber security and digital foren-

education, research, leadership, outreach and collabo-

sics. Prior to Saint Peter’s, Professor Moskal worked in the

ration. Cyber security at Saint Peter’s will be extremely

information technology industry for 25 years.

hands-on. Students will roll up their sleeves and work

Saint Peter’s University

19

20

Spring 2016

ADVANCEMENT

A Work for the Ages Bust of Pope Francis reminds campus community of Jesuit ideals People are doing a double take when they walk by the Joseph A. Kelly, S.J. Office of Campus Ministry in the Mac Mahon Student Center. A lifelike re-creation of Pope Francis has captured the minds and hearts of visitors and the campus community at large.

“People are drawn to it,” said Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., director of campus ministry. “There’s a real wow factor to this statue. It knocks your socks off.”

Sculpted in cold cast marble by Carolyn Palmer, the figure in the Mac Mahon Student Center is the second Pope Francis statue created by the noted artist. The first bust graced the foyer

Robert Lahita, M.D., Ph.D. ’67, artist Carolyn Palmer and the sculpture she created.

of the Papal Residence in Manhattan during

essence of an amazing human being. This

Francis’ visit and received a special benediction

is a work for the ages and for Saint Peter’s

from the Pope.

University.”

“Hopefully, our mission and ministry can follow the footprint of this beautiful image of Pope Francis.”

Works by the renowned sculptor have also been displayed in New York at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Museum and Library in Hyde Park, the New York Historical Society, the Sara Delano Roosevelt House at Hunter College

Robert G. Lahita, M.D., Ph.D. ’67 graciously

and the New York State Museum in Albany.

donated the second cold cast marble bust to

She recently won a national competition to

Saint Peter’s University, where it adorns the

sculpt a full-size figure of Lucille Ball, slated to

entrance to the Office of Campus Ministry. At the

be unveiled in the late actress’s hometown of

unveiling and blessing of the bust on campus

Jamestown, N.Y., on August 6.

on March 19, Dr. Lahita described Palmer as a “modern day Michaelangelo.”

“She is an ethereal genius whose talents

Since its unveiling, Palmer’s sculpture of Pope Francis has inspired many in the University community. “Carolyn has such a gift,” Fr. Danzi

go beyond that of a normal person,” said Dr.

said. “She has captured Francis’ spirit of joy,

Lahita, chairman of medicine and vice president

welcoming and hope. Hopefully, our mission

at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “In

and ministry can follow the footprint of this

this beautiful work, Carolyn has captured the

beautiful image of Pope Francis.”

NEW GRANT TO ENHANCE UNIVERSITY’S WIRELESS NETWORK Wireless technology at the Jersey City campus will soon be upgraded and expanded, thanks to a generous $125,000 grant awarded to Saint Peter’s University from The George I. Alden Trust. Campus-wide IT enhancements are a key priority outlined in Pathways to Distinction, the University’s strategic plan. The grant provides for infrastructure improvements to upgrade wireless coverage and accommodate the many devices used in classrooms and across campus. This, in turn, will enhance teaching, learning and communication among students, faculty and staff.

Established in 1912, the Trust has a long history of support to philanthropic enterprises “that demonstrate a combination of educational excellence, exciting programming, and efficient and effective administration.”

Saint Peter’s University

21

The Whole Package Senior student-athletes honored for achievements in academics, service and sport (Right) Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Bence Greifenstein ’16, Director of Athletics Boe Pearman, Assistant Professor of Business Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Christina Petrelis ’16; (Below left) The Peacock softball team was the winner of the Academic Team of Champions Award; (Below right) The Peacock Community Service Award was presented to the women’s bowling team

Thirty-two seniors were recognized at the annual

graduating student-athletes across all sports, with

in the Park in Jersey City.

their parents or guardians, teammates, members of

Peacock swimmers Christina Petrelis ’16 and Bence

the Athletics Board of Trustees and other members of the

Greifenstein ’16 were awarded Female Scholar-Athlete of

University community in attendance. “These young men

the Year and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

and women truly epitomize the term student-athlete,”

A resident of Belle Mead, N.J., Petrelis was inducted last fall into the Most Noble Order of the Peacock, the

collective achievements of the student-athletes.

The event also recognized the women’s bowling

the top 10 GPAs. A standout in the pool, the biology ma-

team with the Peacock Community Service Award for

jor graduated with a 3.83 GPA, earned four varsity letters

participating in the most service projects during the

and was honored this year at the 24th annual New Jersey

academic year. The roster of five volunteered for more

National Girls and Women in Sports Day luncheon.

than 10 different organizations including The Campus

letter winner on the men’s swimming and diving team.

He earned a 4.0 GPA and finished second in the 100 breast

Spring 2016

said Director of Athletics Boe Pearman, recounting the

University’s oldest honor society, for rising seniors with

Greifenstein, from Budapest, Hungary, is a two-year

22

The annual dinner celebrates the contributions of

Student-Athlete Awards Dinner on May 9 at the Casino

Kitchen, Breast Cancer Walk, Rebuilding Together Jersey City and Atrium Assisted Living.

The Academic Team of Champions Award was given

and third in the 200 breast at the Metro Atlantic Athletic

to the Peacock softball team; the team earned the

Conference (MAAC) Championships in 2015.

highest GPA of the year, 3.67.

PEACOCK

U

PEACOCK HALL OF FAMER CALLED UP TO THE MAJOR LEAGUE Conor Mullee ’11 made his Major League Baseball debut as a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees on May 16.

The former Peacock standout was a 24th-round pick in the 2010 MLB Amateur draft by the Yankees. Plagued by injuries at the start of his professional baseball career, Mullee underwent several surgeries and began rising up in the minor league ranks.

The right-hander was 3–0 with three saves, a 1.42 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings between Trenton and Scranton/WilkesBarre this season, before getting the call to join the Yankees’ bullpen.

Mullee pitched the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He gave up one run on three walks and no hits, and struck out one. The Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks, 12–2.

Mullee was inducted into the Saint Peter’s University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. He is the baseball program’s all-time career leader in doubles, RBIs, total bases and ranks second in program history for games played.

Richard Ensor, Esq. ’75, MAAC commissioner, Nicholas Dilio ’16 and Rider University Athletic Director Don Harnum

THREE-TIME MAAC LINKS CHAMPION Nicholas Dilio ’16 became a three-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion after taking home individual medalist honors at the 2016 MAAC Men's Golf Championships on April 24.

He is the first Peacock in program history to win the league’s tournament title.

The men’s golf team captured the MAAC team title in 2014 and 2015.

Dilio advanced to his third-straight NCAA Division I Regional Tournament in May.

6.

8.

ON THE ICE WITH PEACOCK HALL OF FAMER The Frozen Four semifinal between Providence College and the University of Nebraska-Omaha was a big deal for the Division I ice hockey players, coaches and referee Ryan Knapp ’03, who officiated the 2015 matchup.

What’s it like to referee such a high stakes game? “You have to be on top of your game at all times, no matter what,” Knapp responded. “The littlest thing could be the difference between going home or going on to play in a national championship.”

Peacock baseball fans remember Knapp as a standout hitter who ranks third in career at bats and home runs. At Hudson Catholic High

School, he played hockey, too, but chose to attend Saint Peter’s University on a baseball scholarship.

While he enjoyed his successful college baseball career, the Secaucus native always felt a tug to return to hockey. So after graduation, the business management major decided to train as a referee through USA Hockey while following his father, a retired fire captain, into the fire service in Hoboken.

Today, Knapp officiates approximately 60 games a year for the NCAA and American Hockey League, juggling his schedule with shifts at the firehouse and a family. 2015 was momentous because he refereed the biggest game of his career (Providence went on to win the national championship) and was inducted into the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

“When I found out I was being honored, it felt very good to be a part of the history of Saint Peter’s,” he said. “I had put a lot into baseball and was happy to be recognized.”

Saint Peter’s University

23

CLASS NEWS

& Notes

2.

3.

4.

1.

The Saint Peter’s University community honored Frank L. Fekete, CPA ’75 and Toni Ann Turco ’86 at this year’s Hearts & Minds: The Saint Peter’s University Scholarship Celebration, held on May 6 in the Mac Mahon Student Center. The Duncan Family Sky Room was transformed into “Monte Carlo Night,” and attendees enjoyed a festive gala while helping to raise scholarship funds for deserving Saint Peter’s students.

Have you…

Send us your news!

• Landed your first job?

• Retired from your last job?

• Met the love of your life?

• Celebrated a milestone anniversary?

• Welcomed a child?

• Welcomed a grandchild?

• Reminisced with friends from Saint Peter’s?

• Received a promotion or honor?

Saint Peter’s University welcomes any and all news about your career, education, family life and reconnecting with other alumni. Submit a note via e-mail to alumni@ saintpeters.edu or send to: Office of Alumni Engagement, 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306.

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Spring 2016

6.

5.

1952 Richard Gallagher and his wife, Marjorie, will be celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary this year.

They are blessed with three children and four grandchildren.

1957 Don Nowacki and his wife, Barbara, recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

1959 Thomas Schember was honored

by Collier Youth Services at its annual gala on June 9 for being a champion of children. Tom serves as the president of Collier’s board of

directors. The organization, based in Wickatunk, N.J., provides at-risk youth a chance to grow toward their potential in an environment that promotes belonging, dignity and hope.

1961 Anthony Jaswinski was the driving force behind correcting a grammatical error on a veterans monument in the Boca Raton Cemetery. Jaswinski credits his English teachers at Saint Peter’s for “providing him with such an excellent background in English.”

Joseph Millichap announces his latest book, The Language of Vision: Photography and Southern Literature in the 1930s and After, which

It’s GOLD Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) gathered for a networking happy hour on March 10 at the Light Horse Tavern in downtown Jersey City. The popular event was standing room only. Stay tuned for the next GOLD event at alumni.saintpeters.edu or join facebook.com/saintpetersalumni.

7.

1. University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D. and honorees Toni Ann Turco ’86 and Frank Fekete, CPA ’75; 2. Joan Shields ’75 and Charlotte Caporrino ’17; 3. Anthony Skevakis, Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., and Shannon Skevakis; 4. Home for Good Dog Junior Ambassadors Rachel Lehner, Anna Newmark and Nora Brindle with honoree Toni Ann Turco ’86 and an adoptable puppy; 5. “Monte Carlo” themed centerpiece; 6. Dan Altilio H ’15, Carmel Galasso ’79 and Bob Donato ’65 enjoyed cigar cookies; 7. Anna Cicirelli ’79, Bernard Cicirelli ’80, Bobby Cutro ’75 and Dyan Cutro; 8. Charles Weening ’16 sharing his scholarship story is due out from Louisiana State University Press in June.

1964 Don Brennan has two books available on Amazon, A Chance Encounter (And Other Stories) and his first book, Til Now, which covers his life growing up in Jersey City and his military experiences in Berlin in the mid ’60s. Both books stress the importance of family. He credits his Jesuit education as a great influence in all he has accomplished in life.

Kapil Bastola ’12, Rozen Pradhan ’11, Shishir Khadka ’12, Samana Bhatta ’13, Animesh Singh ’14 and Ritam Neupane ’12

8.

pulmonary critical care (2002–11) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, completed his sixth year as chairman of the board for the American Thoracic Society Foundation in New York in May. The foundation raised $1.1 million this year and funded 21 young investigators in the United States and worldwide.

The Italian Educational and Cultural Center honored Robert Donato for his many years as an educator at Casa Colombo in Jersey City in January.

1965

1970

Jim Donohue, M.D., professor and former division chief of

Gary S. Horan, FACHE, president and CEO of Trinitas Regional

Emily Fenice ’14 and David Watson ’14

Medical Center, was recently named to the prestigious Power 50 Healthcare list published each year

by NJBIZ.

1972 Thomas Wickiewicz, M.D., and Cathy Amoroso Wickiewicz ’75 became second time grandparents on March 3 with the birth of Ava Lowell Wickiewicz. Dr. Wickiewicz is the team physician for all Saint Peter’s student-athletes.

1973 Thomas J. Connolly, D.D.S., was awarded the Columbia University Alumni Medal at the May commencement ceremony for his

dedicated volunteer service to the College of Dental Medicine. He is in full-time practice in New York City with his oldest daughter, Julie, who is also a Columbia graduate.

1974 George (Gef) Flimlin is now president of the United States Aquaculture Society. He was given the gavel for the chapter at the World Aquaculture Society meeting in Las Vegas in February. He is also on a sabbatical working to document shell fishing tools from Maine to North Carolina. Flimlin will retire from Rutgers Cooperative Extension at the end of 2016 after 38 years.

Saint Peter’s University

25

CLASS NEWS

& Notes

1989

Mike Brown ’56 Alumni Golf Outing The 43rd Alumni Golf Outing, the first since it was renamed for Mike Brown ’56, was held on May 18 at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth, N.J. Seventy-eight golfers enjoyed a fine day on the links, followed by a cocktail hour and dinner.

William Hill ’75, James Murphy ’74, Stephen Ellerman ’74 and Gregory Arnold ’74

John Pope, Anthony Pasquale ’72 and Lew Billet

Marie Stringile, Ph.D., enjoys educating today’s youth at M.S. #7 in Jersey City.

1994 Frank Bal recently had his first speaking part on the Netflix original series House of Cards. Bal has been in numerous other TV shows and also works as a police officer in West Windsor, N.J. Patrick Tierney became superintendent of schools for Jefferson Township, N.J., on January 5.

1998 August Zenzius III was promoted to senior vice president, investments, and has been inducted into Merrill Lynch’s Circle of Excellence.

2001 Carla Panzella Tharp was named dean of students at Salem State University.

Sharon Pastore ’73, Gloria Mercurio, Linda Primerano and Kyle Coleman

1975 Richard Ensor, Esq., commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), is the recipient of the 2016 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Administrator of the Year Award.

1976 Leonard G. Gleason was recently named general counsel at The Provident Bank in Iselin, N.J.

1980 Linda Sosulski Zindle was promoted to managing editor at Peloton Advantage, a medical publication planning company located in Parsippany, N.J. She previously served as medical editor and received the promotion on her one-year anniversary with the company.

26

Spring 2016

Dominic Furina ’11, TJ Rella, Vamshi Kothu and Sam Shah

Vincent Scerbo ’71, Paul Brignola Jr. ’96, James Serpico and Paul Brignola ’68

Steven Oria was appointed vice president and commercial loan officer by Two River Community Bank.

Oria brings more than 30 years of commercial lending experience and is currently serving the Union County area.

1983

1981 Thomas M. Coughlin, chief executive officer, president and chief operating officer of BCB Community Bank, was honored on April 28 for his achievements during and after his time at Bayonne High School (BHS). He will be inducted into the BHS Hall of Fame.

Mary J. Cece Carille recently retired after 31 years of service as a Newark public school teacher.

Raul Rodriguez and Marisol Claudio Rodriguez ’85 were recently featured in the Clifton Merchant Magazine in an article about their love story, which started at Saint Peter’s.

1984 Colleen O’Dea is now a full-time editor-at-large/data journalist at New Jersey’s online issues news site, NJ Spotlight.

1988 Dennis Kearns, senior vice president, underwriting leader at QBE North America, will assume leadership of its financial institutions practice in addition to his existing role leading the Transactional Liability practice.

Anthony Galindo completed his second Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Technology from Grand Canyon University in December 2015.

2002 David Tango was named one of the 2016 Rising Star Lawyers by Genova Burns Attorneys-At-Law.

2004 Edward Hahn Jr., M.D., completed six years of training at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency Program at Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School.

He has been invited to pursue further training in microsurgery and reconstructive hand surgery at the University of Connecticut.

LOST AND FOUND After 53 years, Saint Peter’s class ring returned to owner As juniors at Saint Peter’s

From time to time through the years, O’Brien thought about

University, Jim O’Brien ’64 and

his lost ring, but life goes on. A Vietnam War veteran, he enjoyed

his classmates were delighted

a successful career in finance culminating with a 15-year stint as

to receive their college rings in

chief financial officer of TPG Capital in Texas.

April 1963. For three months

Now retired in Florida, he wasn’t expecting the call that came

O’Brien proudly wore the ring

last winter from Gloria Mercurio, the University’s executive direc-

inscribed with his name. The

tor of alumni engagement: a woman had found his lost ring.

words Collegium Sancti Petri

Nancy Dzwill, a New Jersey woman visiting her mother in Flor-

Caesariense 1872 circled the blue

ida, found the ring when sorting through a bag of her late father’s

stone. But while swimming and

belongings. Her father had loved to roam the beach searching for

playing football with friends on

treasures with his metal detector. After confirming that the ring

the beach in Manasquan, N.J., he lost the ring that July.

“Never, ever assume something lost is not going to come back to you. You never know.”

“It was awful, absolutely dreadful. I wasn’t even a senior yet,”

belonged to O’Brien, Dzwill mailed it to the Saint Peter’s alumnus.

Fifty-three years later, O’Brien sometimes wears his college ring. It’s not much worse for the wear, bearing just a few scratches on the stone. O’Brien and Dzwill have spoken on the telephone and plan to meet when he visits Spring Lake, N.J., this summer.

O’Brien says the return of his ring illustrates an important les-

said O’Brien, then an accounting major who didn’t have enough

son: “Never, ever assume something lost is not going to come back

money for another ring. “I never expected to see my ring again.”

to you. You never know.”

Peacocks Walk with the Animals

2005

Family, friends and alumni of Saint Peter's University

Jared Ramos is the academic director of Fowler’s Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

gathered at Turtle Back Zoo for Peacock Day on Saturday, May 21. Saint Peter's sponsors a peacock named Peter at the zoo, and the school mascot was also in attendance. The event attracted 38 families with a total of 122 attendees.

Left: Peter the Peacock struts his stuff; Below: (left) Lubiane Incorvaia ’16, Brody Incorvaia, Carly Incorvaia (stroller) and Lauren Hughes with the Saint Peter’s Mascot and (right) Keira Hackett, Tyler Hackett and Olivia Pope-Bayne

Patricia August returned to her position as public health nurse supervisor in Bergenfield, N.J., in 2009, where she has developed outreach programs for new residents. August was elected president of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, Region ll for two terms (2014–2018).

company, Charles Roberts LLC, launched the dri-sound headphone cover, which is the first in a line of innovative market solutions that the company will create to help spawn sustainable businesses. The partners won $20,000.

2009

J.D. Shorter Sr., an instructional dean at Linwood Middle School, Linwood, N.J., was honored with the township’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award.

Nicholas Bernice was selected by Ringwood, N.J., as superintendent of schools. After a yearlong search, the Ringwood Board of Education voted unanimously on February 1 to approve his appointment. He has been employed in various Bergen County schools throughout his career and steps into his new role on August 1.

He was recognized as an Exemplary Educator by the New Jersey Department of Education in 2015.

2007

2013

Jon Roberts, a Rutgers M.B.A. student, and partner Stephanie Charles, won first place in the 2016 business plan competition at Rutgers Business School. Their

Michael Marmora is completing his second year of dental school at West Virginia University and will be taking the National Boards in May.

2006

Saint Peter’s University

27

CLASS NEWS

& Notes

Dynamic Duo You could call Brett and Lyndsay Langston the

“The best thing in the military was that we had an

dynamic duo of dentist-

unlimited budget,” Brett recalled. “We could do some really

ry. For more than a de-

complex stuff for the soldiers. It was neat to be able to

cade, they have restored

provide that service.”

comfort and smiles to

When the high school sweethearts first met in Georgia,

soldiers at Fort Drum in

they had no intention of embarking on tandem careers.

Watertown, N.Y., and,

Brett set off for New Jersey first, recruited by Saint Peter’s

more recently, to pa-

University with a scholarship for academics and swimming.

tients in their respective

Lyndsay didn’t plan to follow. But during her senior year in

private practices in their

high school, she enjoyed occasional visits to the Jersey City

home state of Georgia.

campus to see Brett. A year later they were reunited, both

“To give someone back their smile and confidence and function

Brett Langston, D.M.D. ’01 and Lyndsay Broyles Langston, D.M.D.

tive specialties to solve some rather complex dental issues.

opting to major in biology and compete for the University’s swim team.

As undergraduates, the aspiring dentists scored a grant

is huge for me,” said

from Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta), the biological honor society, to

Brett Langston, D.M.D.

conduct research on the effects of chemicals on frogs’ teeth.

’01, a prosthodontist

Biology professor Laura Twersky, Ph.D., was their mentor and

with Dental Implant and

helped identify a species of toothed frogs for the research.

Aesthetic Specialists of Atlanta in Decatur, Ga. “For patients,

The couple still has the opportunity to work together, sometimes referring patients to each other. “In some cases,

it can be a big game changer.”

Through the U.S. Army, the couple earned their degrees

we do come home and try to get a consultation done at the

at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, before

dinner table,” Lyndsay joked. Brett added, “We try to leave our

beginning seven years of active duty at Fort Drum. There, they

day job at work when we come home to our kids.”

provided routine and specialized dental care to the 17,000

The parents of three children, the Langstons cite the University’s rigorous academic environment and Jesuit

soldiers stationed at the fort.

“It was a fantastic experience working on young soldiers,

mission as factors in their success. In fact, Lyndsay was

and I met a lot of patriotic young men,” explained Lyndsay

accepted to medical school after only three years at Saint

Broyles Langston, D.M.D., a periodontist with Drs. Sugarman,

Peter’s, beginning her advanced degree during what would

Brunner & Langston in Atlanta.

have been her senior year. “I think that speaks volumes about

Together, the pair pooled the expertise from their respec-

Saint Peter’s,” she said.

2015

Engagements

Births

Abdelallah Elkomey announced the new partnership of Empire Social and Fuse Custom Events.

Elkomey is currently the executive chef of Empire Social.

Rachel Slaiman ’09 and John Payumo ’11 are engaged and will be tying the knot next summer.

Virginia Forrester Bender, Ph.D. ’78 and Richard Bender ’78 became grandparents on April 10 with the birth of Amelia Ryan Bender.

Marriages Joseph Potenzone ’07 married Casee Renee Kulp on October 10, 2015 in Burlington, Iowa.

28

Spring 2016

August Zenzius III ’98 and his wife, Maria, welcomed a daughter, Victoria Rose, on July 8, 2015. She weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz.

Anthony Galindo ’01 and Erika Rossine Cedeno ’04 welcomed a daughter, Juliette Isabella Galindo, on August 25, 2015.

William J. Murphy Jr., Esq. ’05 and his wife, Teresa, welcomed a daughter, Magdalena “Maggie” Clare, on January 27.

Jasmine Camacho ’11 welcomed a son, Mason, on January 26.

Take Saint Peter’s University on

VACATION

FBI Good Guy Comes Home Timothy Gallagher ’90 is one of the good guys. A FBI agent for more than two decades, Gallagher has helped to bring some

If you’re headed to the Caribbean, Europe or the Jersey Shore this summer, bring Saint Peter’s University along. Snap a photo of yourself and the magazine, to be eligible to win a special Saint Peter’s gift pack.

To enter, tag Saint Peter’s University in your photos on social media or send images and details to alumni@saintpeters.edu by September 6.

of the world’s worst criminals to justice, working on high-profile cases such as the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa., on 9/11, a follow-up investigation of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the arrest of BTK serial killer Dennis Rader in 2005.

Gallagher was named special agent in charge of the bureau’s Newark Division earlier this year, supervising approximately 800 employees in six other New Jersey sub-offices.

While the bureau’s main focus remains counterterrorism, Gallagher cites violent street gangs, drug dealers, identity theft and financial crime targeting senior citizens as high priorities for the bureau.

“Every day we come to work, there are a variety of actors out there, domestic and abroad, who are trying to inflict pain here,” Gallagher explained. “Bad guys don’t respect borders. We follow the evidence wherever it goes, even if it’s halfway around the world.”

That evidence trail has led Gallagher to far-flung locales such as Kosovo, Australia, London, Korea, Beijing, Jerusalem, Nigeria and Budapest. A key part of his work is strengthening relationships with international partners working on similar cases.

“We’re all after the same bad guys,” he explained. “The amazing part of this job is the real honor I have to represent the United States and bring these actors to justice.”

As an economics major at Saint Peter’s University, Gallagher set his sights on a career with the FBI following a sophomore year internship with the Washington Center in the nation’s capital. He got his chance six years after graduation, following stints working with

Make a Grand Gesture

investigative units for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The University is in need of a Model O or Model M grand piano for the St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church concert series.

If you have one in excellent condition that you would like to donate, please contact Sarah Lacz, assistant vice president for advancement, at (201) 761-6103 or slacz@saintpeters.edu.

involvement with the University.

The Staten Island native is happy to return to the New York metro area where he grew up and his family still resides. The father of two college-age sons, Gallagher plans on increasing his “Saint Peter’s prepared me for a job like this, with a solid business background and opportunities like the Washington Center,” noted Gallagher, who ran on the University’s cross country and track & field teams, worked in the sports information office and participated in campus ministry activities as an undergraduate.

“The constant exposure to Jesuit philosophy encourages you to use your talents to help others. It was woven into everything, and I had a tremendous experience at Saint Peter’s.”

Saint Peter’s University

29

CLASS NEWS

& Notes

CATCHING UP WITH...

Pavonia Heritage Society Honored Kelliann Coleman Perez ’08 with her husband, Jorge, and their children

Kelliann Coleman Perez ’08 When Saint Peter’s University last spoke to Kelliann Coleman Perez ’08 in 2009, she was completing her first year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). She compared it to MTV’s The Real World, “but with hard work, social justice and Jesus.” The work was challenging, but Perez said she planned to continue to work on social justice issues throughout her career.

Seven years later, cura personalis and service are still a way of life.

Perez served for two years with the JVC, assisting lowincome families in Texas and teaching urban high school students in Newark, N.J. Those experiences fostered a deep commitment to Jesuit ideals, which has remained a guiding principle in her professional life.

When she worked at Christ the King Preparatory School in Newark, a Jesuit Cristo Rey high school that combines academic rigor with work experience, her career goals came into focus: she would be a teacher. She also came to appreciate the struggles some youngsters face every day.

“I’ve learned to care for the person in front of me, with all of their baggage,” said Perez, who now teaches Spanish

Saint Peter’s University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., and Pavonia Heritage Society member Jean-Marie Gorski ’98, who traveled from New Hampshire for the event.

Saint Peter’s University celebrated Mass and a brunch with the members of the Pavonia Heritage Society on April 24. The Society includes some of the University’s most loyal supporters, who have demonstrated their belief in the future of Saint Peter’s with a planned gift.

University President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., presented members with a certificate along with his deep gratitude for their generous support. Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., celebrated the Mass and Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., spoke about The Saint John’s Bible in the context of the history of the Jesuit mission.

For more information about the Pavonia Heritage Society, please contact Sharon Morrissey, M.B.A, M.Ed. ’13 at (201) 761-6126 or smorrissey@saintpeters.edu.

and sociology at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, N.J. “It is more than just about them getting good grades.”

Perez returned to Saint Peter’s to earn her teacher certification via the alternate route program. She has taught at Saint Anthony High School in Jersey City and Kennedy High School in Paterson, N.J. Her tenure with the JVC also impacted her personal life. While at Christ the King, she met Jorge Perez, a math teacher. They were married in 2011 and have two children.

“Spirituality is very important to him,” Perez said of her husband. “We both care very much about our students.

Education is about more than just curriculum. I try to make my students understand that a good education teaches you to care about others. It’s all about making them better human beings.”

30

Spring 2016

Requiescant in Pace Saint Peter’s University wishes to extend its prayers and condolences to the families of alumni, members of the University community and friends who have passed away.

Michael Allingham Joseph T. Bailey ’52 Allan R. Bardack Rev. Daniel Berrigan, S.J. James H. Dowden ’50 Robert J. Finnerty ’60 Eugene Flinn Sr. John F. Halligan ’58 Evelyn Kearney Edward J. McCarren, Esq. ’58

Edward J. McCormick ’57 Tomas A. O’Boyle, M.D. ’56 Thomas O’Connor ’76 William O. Perkins Anthony G. Racioppi ’66 John H. Rinaldi ’65 Chester R. Rydwin, M.D. ’41 George Schadewald ’90 Richard D. Zettler ’58

Students Welcomed as Alumni at Delaney Reception The Class of 2016, the first class to complete their entire undergraduate education at Saint Peter’s University, officially joined the 30,000-plus alumni who call Saint Peter’s alma mater during the John J. Delaney ’50 Alumni Reception on May 19, held in The Duncan Family Sky Room at the Mac Mahon Student Center. The event also honored Maryellen Hamilton, Ph.D., professor and chair of the psychology department and president of the Faculty Senate, as the 2016 recipient of the George F. Johnson, S.J. Faculty Award. The James J. Damiano ’53 Award was presented to Deirdre Martin ’16 and Lauren Squillante ’16 for their leadership and scholarship.

Above: The Class of 2016 presents its class gift; Right: University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., with student honoree Deirdre Martin ’16; Middle: Faculty honoree Maryellen Hamilton, Ph.D.; Far right: Dr. Cornacchia, student honoree Lauren Squillante ’16, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gerard O’Sullivan, Ph.D., and Director of Student Activities Jan Reimer, M.A.

REQUIRED NCAA DISCLOSURE On February 2, 2016, the NCAA Division I Committee on

committing some of the above-listed violations and by failing

Infractions (“COI”) released a Public Infractions Report

to fully cooperate in the investigation of the case.

regarding violations of NCAA rules in Saint Peter’s

This is the first instance of significant violations of NCAA

University’s men’s and women’s swimming programs.

rules at Saint Peter’s, and the University regrets that the

This infractions case was resolved through the summary

violations occurred. It is important to note that the violations

disposition process, a cooperative effort that did not

were limited to one program during primarily one academic

necessitate a COI hearing.

year. The University discovered the issues, reported them to

Saint Peter’s and the COI agreed that Level II violations of

the NCAA, and then worked closely with the NCAA to conduct

NCAA rules occurred in the University’s swimming programs,

the follow-up investigation. The COI and the NCAA staff stated

primarily during one academic year. Specifically: (1) In

their appreciation for Saint Peter’s cooperation throughout the

the 2013–14 academic year, four student-athletes received

process.

participation expenses while ineligible, and two of those

As a result of the above-listed violations, the COI and

student-athletes practiced or competed while ineligible. (2)

the University agreed to penalties that include public

During the 2011–12 through 2013–14 academic years, at least

reprimand and censure for the university, two years of

three student-athletes practiced with non-university teams

probation beginning February 2, 2016, vacation of records

coached by the then head swimming coach. (3) In the 2013–14

in which student-athletes participated while ineligible, and a

academic year, the then head swimming coach arranged for

$5,000 fine.

seven student-athletes to submit lifeguard work-study hours at the University’s aquatics center for which there were no records of the student-athletes actually working.

Additionally, the COI found that the then head swimming coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules by intentionally

Additionally, the then head swimming coach received a five-year “show-cause order” from the COI. A complete copy of the COI’s Public Infractions Report can be found at the following link: saintpeterspeacocks.com/ general/2015-16/NCAAPublicInfractionsReport.

Saint Peter’s University

31

CLASS THEN NEWS AND

&Now Notes

Unique in University History Members of the Class of 2016 occupy a special place in University history. Incoming freshmen when Saint Peter’s was elevated to university status in 2012, they are the first class to complete their entire undergraduate education at Saint Peter’s University. Armed with Jesuit education and a wealth of experience, they leave Saint Peter’s better and smarter people who are prepared to make a difference in their professions and

2012

communities.

From Page 15 Who’s Who of Honorary Degree Recipients Answer: Hon. Sargent Shriver H ’67, pictured here with late Saint Peter’s University President Rev. Victor Yanitelli, S.J.

2016 32 32 Fall Spring 20152016

For more information, contact cpopebayne@saintpeters.edu.

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MISSION

future

rankings

Saint Peter Peacock community Pride service Fund support

alumni participation

diversity

STUDENTS

EXCEL

justice

QUALITY

career

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Leadership

liberal arts

IMPACT

value

potential

academics

scholarship University giving The faculty

Your investment in Saint Peter’s enhances the academic offerings available to our students, supports the efforts of our dedicated faculty, provides necessary financial aid and so much more.

Make your impact by giving to The Saint Peter Fund by the end of our fiscal year on June 30.

Here are the ways you can make your gift: • Use the enclosed envelope to mail in your gift to the University • Visit our secure site at saintpeters.edu/giving • Call us at (201) 761-6104 For more information, contact Ana Cravo, director of annual giving, at acravo@saintpeters.edu.