Fall 2023/Winter 2024
REPORT from NEWPORT
Our Mission. Our Moment. T H E C A M PA I G N FO R SA LV E R EG I NA U N I V E R S I T Y
Our Promise to Students for Generations to Come
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: INTRODUCING THE SALVE COMPASS | THE UNIVERSITY UPDATES ITS VISUAL IDENTITY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Report from Newport The Magazine of Salve Regina University
Fall 2023/Winter 2024
President Kelli J. Armstrong, Ph.D.
Publisher Lynne Mello Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Editor-in-Chief
A NEW LOOK Salve Regina updates its visual identity.
OUR MISSION. OUR MOMENT. The University launches its historic $75 million comprehensive campaign.
RAISED BY MERCY Trustee Kathleen Walgreen endows the role of vice president for mission integration.
INTRODUCING THE SALVE COMPASS Salve’s four-year experiential program is a top priority for the comprehensive campaign.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF The Ryan family supports the comprehensive campaign by endowing a key role for the Salve Compass.
INSPIRING EXPLORATION AND PRESERVATION Carl and Gigi Allen establish the Allen Family Learning Commons.
ENDOWING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET Brian and Ann Marie Pryor create the Pryor Family Fund for Entrepreneurship.
THE POWER OF STORYTELLING
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Mary Edwards ’86, ’12 (M) Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Design and Production Bill Roche, Graphic Design Jennifer Zevon, Creative Director
Editorial Associate Leah Spengler ’26
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Contributors Matthias Boxler ’04 (M) Anna Downes ’22 Emily Dussault ’04 Erica Ferguson Pamela Murchie Mehr Teryn O’Brien Corilyn Richard ’15, ’20 (M) Morgan Rizzo ’23 Jon Kee Vose ’23 Tara Watkins ’00
Photographers George Corrigan ’22 Andrea Hansen Dave Hansen Jessica Pohl ’10 (M) On the Cover: (From left) Tanisha Agrawal ’27, Matthew Brunton ’26, Rose Giordani ’26, Talitha Giarratani-Chandler ’26, Samantha Mansolf ’26 and Sean Dever ’25. Report from Newport is printed by Signature Printing, East Providence, R.I.
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Salve News 22 Alumni News and Profiles 34 In Loving Memory 48
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD CHAIR
Dear Salve Community:
S
o many exciting initiatives are under way at Salve – initiatives that highlight the collective strengths of our mission and our deep dedication to our students. As president and chair of the Board of Trustees, we see firsthand the amazing outcomes of Salve’s mercy-inspired education and look forward to building a foundation for the future through Salve’s $75 million comprehensive campaign – Our Mission. Our Moment. We are deeply grateful to our lead donors for their generous support and steadfast faith in the transformative power of the Salve experience. From endowed leadership positions and scholarships, to critical funds for strategic planning, campus renovations and academic programs, it is clear that our trustees, alumni, friends and community partners have sparked a spirit of philanthropy that is inspirational. This is truly our moment to shine. As we launch the public phase of the campaign, we invite all members of our Salve community to connect with our efforts to support our beloved institution. The power of one gift to make a difference is extraordinary. The power of many is limitless. Together, we can ensure that the next generation of leaders and change-makers will thrive as they work for a more harmonious, just and merciful world. Together, we can ensure that the impact of our amazing Salve community will reach far and wide. With very best wishes for a happy and blessed new year,
Kelli J. Armstrong President
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Cheryl Mrozowski Chair, Board of Trustees
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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O U R N E W LO O K THE UNIVERSITY UPDATES ITS VISUAL IDENTITY The Ochre Court Gates
Salve Regina’s 75 anniversary year was a time to reflect on its history and prepare for its future. As the University launched its historic comprehensive campaign and signature Salve Compass program, it was the perfect time to unveil an updated logo – one that symbolizes Salve’s promise of a mercy-inspired education and highlights our amazing waterfront home and community in Newport. The Compass th
The Compass The Mercy Cross
The Mercy Cross
The Ochre Court Gates
The Ochre Court Gates
The Ocean Waves
The Compass
The Compass
The Mercy Cross
The Mercy Cross
Waves
The Ocean Waves
The Ochre Court Gates The Ochre Court Gates
urt Gates
of Ochre Court, the iconic heart symbolize the start of Salve mic journey and the celebration ments at graduation. Along the sity welcomes students to open ntellectual pursuitsthe and critical symbolizes h teaching and research.
ass
The Compass
The open gates of Ochre Court, the iconic heart our campus, symbolize the start of Salve The open gates ofof Ochre Court, the iconic heart students’ academic journey and the celebration The compass symbolizes the of their achievements at graduation. Along the the start of Salve University’s mission to prepare of our campus, symbolize way, the University welcomes students to open students to navigate their lives with students’ academic journey and the celebration their minds to intellectual pursuits and critical enduring values, address complex thoughtat through teaching and Along research. the critical concerns, and work for aof world their achievements graduation. that is harmonious, just, and merciful.
mission to prepare avigate their lives with ves address complex ues, rns, andSalve’s work for a worldThe Mercy Cross s symbolize amazing ion and deep connection to onious, just, and merciful. wport, Rhode lsland. A rich
oration between the University ding community illustrates ch students are shaped by es for experiential learning ve students learn, live and ce in their home away from fieldwork, clinical placements, earch, volunteerism and more xchange between the campus nthe the Citycompass, by the Sea. the Mercy
Cross
izes the University’s to its Catholic heritage n of its founders. people of all beliefs, Salve to creating a community , compassion and mercy.
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way, the University welcomes students to open their minds to intellectual pursuits and critical The Ocean Waves thought through The teaching and research. ocean waves symbolize Salve’s amazing
ocean-side location and deep connection to its home in Newport, Rhode lsland. A rich Embedded in the compass, the Mercy history of collaboration between the University Cross symbolizes the University’s and the surrounding community illustrates commitment to its Catholic heritage the ways in which students are shaped by and the vision of its founders. vast opportunities for experiential learning Welcoming people of all beliefs, Salve and service. Salve students learn, live and is dedicated to creating a community a difference in their home away from of belonging, compassion and mercy. The ocean waves make symbolize Salve’s amazing home through fieldwork, clinical placements, ocean-side location and deep connection tomore internships, research, volunteerism and – an impactful exchange between the campus its home in Newport, Rhode lsland. A rich community and the City by the Sea.
The Ocean Waves
history of collaboration between the University and the surrounding community illustrates the ways in which students are shaped by vast opportunities for experiential learning and service. Salve students learn, live and make a difference in their home away from home through fieldwork, clinical placements, internships, research, volunteerism and more – an impactful exchange between the campus community and the City by the Sea.
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
The Compass
The Compass
The compass symbolizes the University’s mission to prepare students to navigate their lives with Thevalues, compass symbolizes the enduring address complex critical concerns, and work for a world University’s mission to prepare that is harmonious, just, and merciful.
students to navigate their lives with enduring values, address complex critical concerns, and work for a world The Mercy Cross that is harmonious, just, and merciful. Embedded in the compass, the Mercy Cross symbolizes the University’s commitment to its Catholic heritage and the vision of its founders. Welcoming people of all beliefs, Salve is dedicated to creating a community of belonging, compassion and mercy.
The Mercy Cross
Embedded in the compass, the Mercy Cross symbolizes the University’s commitment to its Catholic heritage and the vision of its founders. Welcoming people of all beliefs, Salve is dedicated to creating a community of belonging, compassion and mercy.
The University Launches a Historic $75 Million Comprehensive Campaign
With a focus on the future, President Kelli J. Armstrong and the Board of Trustees announced the launch of Our Mission. Our Moment. – a historic comprehensive campaign designed to shape Salve’s next chapters by prioritizing academic and co-curricular initiatives that will elevate the institution’s reputation in the higher education marketplace. campaign.salve.edu
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REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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We can no longer be quiet about who we are. This is our time to show the world what a mercy education means, because the world needs us more than ever. This is our moment to shine, to demonstrate unequivocally what it means to work for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful. -PRESIDENT KELLI J. ARMSTRONG
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REPORT FROM NEWPORT
The public phase of the campaign, which coincides with the conclusion of the University’s 75th anniversary celebrations, represents an important milestone in the institution’s history by highlighting and uplifting the distinctive Salve experience that will prepare tomorrow’s leaders to make a difference in their communities. This is our moment to emphasize the rigorous, transformative education that every student receives and to amplify the stories of our students and alumni who are informed by mercy values and ready to tackle the critical concerns facing our world. This is our moment to uplift Salve’s promise to every student for generations to come. CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES The campaign is built around three priorities that will have significant impact on the student experience at every level as they pursue their Salve degree. The first, transforming the undergraduate experience, focuses on the Salve Compass (see page 8), a four-year, hands-on program that will distinguish the University amongst its peers, increase the value of a Salve degree, and prepare students to thrive in an ever-changing world. Among the initiatives surrounding the Salve Compass are a new Learning Commons, an investment in community-engaged learning, the establishment of a first-year retreat, and securing resources to sustain the program for generations of Salve students to come. SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
The second priority is one that Armstrong has worked toward since she first joined the campus community in 2019. In her inaugural speech, she noted: “There is a deep need at this moment in history for an institution like Salve Regina and its graduates – a need for the depth and power of a mercy education. Salve has never lost sight of who we are. We have always stood behind our beliefs and our commitment to the idea that each student has a gift to bring to the world as well as the responsibility to do so. “We can no longer be quiet about who we are,” Armstrong continued. “This is our time to show the world what a mercy education means because the world needs us more than ever. This is our moment to shine, to demonstrate unequivocally what it means to work for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful.” The campaign’s second priority focuses on an investment in resources that will elevate Salve’s prominence and extend its reach in the field of higher education in order to engage talented and dedicated students and faculty and increase the impact of the campus community in the wider world. Support for endowed professorships and academic programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels will highlight the extraordinary work already under way and attract faculty who are boldly working to address critical concerns facing today’s world by identifying solutions for a better tomorrow. Beyond the classroom, Salve’s move to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) provides the opportunity for student-athletes to compete with institutions that demonstrate a like-minded commitment to excellence on and off the field of play. Nearly 30 percent of Salve students play on Seahawk NCAA Division III teams. Many of them are top academic performers and our teams have distinguished themselves both for their high-level play and their commitment to service. By strengthening athletic operations and the student-athlete’s experience, Salve Seahawks will be inspired to reach new heights and proudly compete throughout the region. Continuing to invest in foundational initiatives is the third priority for Our Mission. Our Moment. The University remains committed to providing generous financial assistance to students pursuing their degrees and will increase its accessibility to more bright, promising students from populations that have been under-represented in higher education. In doing so, the educational experience for all students will be enhanced, fostering mutual respect and understanding in an inclusive community. In addition, ongoing efforts to preserve Salve’s iconic structures and landscapes will ensure that the campus maintains its reputation as a “living laboratory” for the University and greater communities. Salve will expand its relationships with area businesses, organizations and nonprofit institutions through mutually beneficial partnerships in which students learn, lead and discover who they are. In particular, the FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
University will grow its College Pathways Program through the Office of Community Educational Partnerships. The program was created to support Newport public high school students and their families with resources that will enable them to succeed in preparing to apply for, and be accepted into, a post-secondary program. OUR PROGRESS To date, Our Mission. Our Moment. has generated nearly $55,000,000 in gifts and pledges, ensuring that Salve is well on its way to meet the campaign’s goal of $75 million. Through generous lead gifts from trustees, alumni, foundations and friends, innovative strategic initiatives designed to promote and advance Salve’s mercyinspired educational experience are well under way. “It has been incredibly inspiring to see how our lead donors are investing in the University’s strategic initiatives,” said MaeLynn Patten, vice president for advancement. “They have helped to build great momentum for this historic campaign and recognize that as we emphasize the impact of a mercy education, we are ensuring that students are well-equipped through their Salve experience to thrive as future leaders.” One such gift from Kathleen Walgreen ’22 (Hon.) (see page 7), a longtime member of Salve’s Board of Trustees, will provide funds to endow the vice president for mission integration’s position, a vital role that has impacted the University since it was instituted in 2001. REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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Walgreen believes deeply in the University’s mercy mission. In naming the vice president for mission integration’s position, she continues a tradition of philanthropy that has impacted the campus community in myriad ways. From Walgreen Hall to the statue of Catherine McAuley that stands at the heart of campus, her generosity has helped to transform the Salve experience and will ensure that the mission remains at the forefront for generations to come through her comprehensive campaign gift.
The late Dr. Leona Misto, RSM, served in the inaugural position until 2016 and the role is now held by Dr. Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley. The position is responsible for bringing Salve’s mission to life through programs created for all members of the campus community, including students, faculty and staff.
OUR PURPOSE Historic in scope and focused in purpose, the campaign will provide resources enabling Salve Regina University to advance its commitment to a mercy-inspired educational experience for all students. “Our mission calls us to meet this moment,” said Armstrong. “With mercy deeply and inextricably woven into the fabric of our University, our commitment to serve – and to inspire – underscores every facet of our work. Mercy makes a difference; it changes lives.”
BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE WITH THE SALVEfund
D
id you know that every gift to the SALVEfund,
a student can pay tuition, play a sport, or join clubs, student
no matter the size, the designation, or the
government and arts organizations, taking advantage of all that
timing makes a powerful impact? The
Salve has to offer.
SALVEfund is a critical current-use fund that
the comprehensive campaign. Together with the gifts of other
immediate needs and because gifts are spent
like-minded people, each donor will make an outsized,
in the year in which they are given, they are some of the most
immediate impact on campus. Foundations and corporations
impactful funds the University receives.
consider the number of donors to Salve each year when
Each year, Salve sends a new group of leaders, thinkers,
evaluating their potential philanthropy. A yearly gift to the
healers, and creators into the world, shaped with mercy values
SALVEfund is a vote of confidence in the University’s future
that they will deliver to their communities. Your annual gift is a
and communicates to these constituencies that Salve is worthy
vote of confidence, adding to the value of a Salve degree, and
of support.
enables our students to reach their potential this year and in the future. That is why we need your support year after year.
Donors can direct their gift to a University priority that means the most to them, such as scholarships, athletics, the
Since the early stages of campaign planning, gifts under $500
arts, or academic programs, or designate it to where it is needed
have totaled $1.6 million. The collective power of giving through
most, allowing leadership to fund the priorities most important
individual donations and employers’ matching gifts is immense
to our campus community.
and impactful. No matter the amount, your gift makes a big difference to our community. As a community, we are working to make Salve’s mercyinspired education accessible to all students who choose to study here. Gifts to the SALVEfund have an impact on whether
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SALVEfund donors will make up the largest constituency in
is used to address the University’s most
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
Your contribution is part of something larger than yourself. Make this your moment to make an impact. Learn more and make your gift at campaign.salve.edu. -Pamela Murchie Mehr Executive Director of Alumni and Family Engagement and Annual Giving
SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
RAISED BY MERCY TRUSTEE KATHLEEN WALGREEN SUPPORTS THE COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN BY ENDOWING THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION INTEGRATION.
K
athleen Walgreen ’22 (Hon.) and her family are longtime friends and supporters of Salve Regina; her son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Gigi Allen, contributed a generous gift to support the renovation of McKillop Library’s first floor and establish the Allen Family Learning Commons (see
page 14). A staunch benefactor of the Sisters of Mercy and their work both in the U.S. and abroad, Walgreen’s mercy roots run deep. “Other than four months of my entire education - when I first went to kindergarten - I was taught by Mercy nuns throughout grade school, high school and nursing school,” said Walgreen, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in May 2022. “I was always fascinated with Mother McAuley; I grew up with her.” Today, Walgreen is an active alumna of Mercy High School in Rochester, New York, where her generous leadership has assisted many students and helped to transform the school’s infrastructure. She also sits on
Sister M. Therese Antone, chancellor, and Kathleen Walgreen at dedication of Catherine McAuley statue in 2019
Salve’s Board of Trustees. With her late husband, she named a residence hall in celebration of her daughter Brooke’s graduation with the Class of 2013 and has hosted numerous events to engage
1986, became the head of the Walgreen Alumni Association. “I am a hand-raiser,” said Walgreen, who also served as chair
Salve supporters. In addition, she commissioned a statue of
of Salve’s 75th anniversary committee. “Philanthropy is a big part
Catherine McAuley, which now stands beside Our Lady of Mercy
of my life and Salve’s mission and vision have resonated with me
Chapel at the heart of campus, paying tribute to the foundress of
since I first discovered the University.
the Sisters of Mercy.
“There’s something about this place,” she continued. “Whenever
Walgreen is also involved with many charitable and cultural
I visit campus, it feels like home. It is a wonderful school with
organizations. An advocate for historic preservation, Walgreen
amazing potential. When given the opportunity to endow the
was a member of the Vice President’s Residence Restoration
vice president for mission integration’s position, I said yes. As
Foundation in Washington, D.C., and founded the Walgreen Drug
a leadership role for the University, it is the foundation of the
Stores Historical Foundation, which has become a leader in the
student experience. I’m so happy with how successful Salve has
movement to collect and preserve the history and artifacts of
become and how wonderful the students are.”
Walgreen Company. She is a former member of the Board Trustees
In considering what the word “mercy” means, Walgreen
for Woodland Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest,
replied: “I think it’s a way of life. I’m happy that I’m able to give;
Illinois, as well as the Lake Forest Hospital Women’s Board and
I never thought I’d be in this position. I really think of mercy as
the Lake County Board of Health. She also served for 20 years on
love, sharing, kindness, giving; you see something wrong, and
The Kennedy Center Board of Regents in Washington, D.C., and in
you help to fix it.”
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INTRODUCING THE SALVE COMPASS THE UNIVERSITY’S FOUR-YEAR EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAM IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR MISSION. OUR MOMENT.
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BY MARY EDWARDS ’86, ’12 (M)
hroughout the decades, Salve’s distinctive educational experience has prepared students for the challenges of an ever-evolving world. With a future-focused commitment to its foundational values, the University has established the Salve Compass Program, a four-year model designed to ensure that every student gains the skills needed for personal and professional success. It is a top priority for the comprehensive campaign and its launch signifies a bold step that will set the University apart from peer institutions of higher education. Developed to provide innovative and transformational academic and co-curricular programming to guide students along their path from college to career, the Compass focuses on building connections and fostering experiential learning opportunities with the campus and greater communities. The result is a framework for academic and personal success as students discover who they are and what they want their life and work to reflect.
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SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
(left) Kathleen Farley, executive director for the Salve Compass program; (right) The Center for Advising, Career and Life Design team: Evangelos Zarkadas, Lauren Aaron, Zoe Cute, Dominique Gagnier, Axel Halvarson, Hilary Flanagan and Hannah Cazzetta
The Compass was developed following extensive research that included student surveys, focus groups, a review of national trends, employer feedback, and data compiled from college applicants. Its design began with a simple question underscored by Salve’s mercyinspired mission: What does the world need? From there, faculty and staff from across campus collaborated in building a program in alignment with the core curriculum renewal that intentionally integrates academic and co-curricular programming, resulting in a whole-person emphasis. “The Salve Compass doesn’t leave the student experience to chance; it is a blueprint that calls upon students to become architects of their own experiences,” explained Kathleen Farley, the inaugural Ryan Family Executive Director of the Salve Compass Program. The position was endowed by the Ryan family, including Helen Dorflinger Ryan ’69, who serves on the Board of Trustees, and her children, Keri and Kevin, as part of the comprehensive campaign (see page 13). “It will help them draw connections between who they are and who they want to be in their life. It is scaffolding to ensure every Salve student is prepared to become the type of leader our world needs. “Today’s 5-year-olds are more likely to live to be 100,” said Farley. “We need to prepare students for more than one specific job and equip them with the skills needed to make life choices all along the way.” The Salve Compass helps students connect their academic studies and overall college experience with the preparation needed for a long and fulfilling career. By learning the skills of radical collaboration (thinking outside the box) and design thinking, students are encouraged to be open to the many possibilities their future might hold.
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“‘Finding your passion’ is considered by some to be the worst life design advice you can give a student,” said Farley. “Instead, we say figure out your strengths so you can think like a designer, ask the right questions, and tackle problems head-on.” The program’s framework encompasses all four years of the undergraduate experience – ranging from the First Year Studio to a senior experience that will be shared with, and celebrated by, the campus community. Students will participate in “studios,” which focus on life design skills, career readiness, and professional networking opportunities, in each of the first three years. In First Year Studio, students learn the art of personal storytelling as a way to begin preparing them for the Sophomore Studio, where they will be practicing informational interviewing with members of the community. Students will also take part in a common experience in all four years, such as the first-year Compass Retreat. During Compass Retreat, students reflect upon their first semester, revisit their goals designed during First Year Studio, and connect with classmates that might also have similar interests. Following more than a year of planning and research, Compass components were piloted for the Class of 2026 throughout the 2022-2023 academic year and current first-year students are a fully engaged Salve Compass cohort. The first-year retreat – generously funded by an anonymous lead donor in the comprehensive campaigninvites students to reflect on who they are and consider how their gifts, strengths and story can contribute to the building of a more harmonious, just and merciful world. Piloted in January 2023, the retreat gives students the opportunity to connect Salve’s mercyinspired mission with their academic goals and life mission and develop habits of reflection to guide their future.
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Students engaged in archeological research in Newport use ground penetrating radar to complete geophysical survey in St. Colomba Cemetery.
Students explore the roots of jazz in a summer dance intensive connected to the Newport Jazz Festival.
The Compass Summer experience was also piloted in 2023, with 44 students participating in a one- or two-week immersion into a collaborative, real-world learning experience that could include learning data analysis at the Tennis Hall of Fame, field research in Narraganset Bay, or a deep dive into jazz dance in the midst of the Newport Jazz Festival. Students at all levels were invited to participate in the pilot programs, which were designed to foster collaboration within the Newport community and, in the spirit of the institutional mission, address critical concerns facing the world through project-based experiences led by faculty. “Running the Compass Summer pilots in 2023 allowed us the opportunity to experience the program alongside our student participants so that we can ensure we will design it in a way that best supports our desired outcomes,” said Farley. “This is just one aspect of the overall four-year program,” she continued. “What excites me the most about Salve Compass is the intentionality in the design and our demonstrated commitment to our mercy values throughout the various program elements. This program is research-based and a product of our dedicated campus community as to how we can support Salve students in leading purposeful lives.”
PRIORITY ONE OF THE CAMPAIGN Introducing a new signature program — and carrying it forward — requires new people and new resources. A key priority of the comprehensive campaign, the development of the Salve Compass is ongoing as the University builds a team of professionals dedicated to each student’s success, including academic advisors; a community liaison to secure relationships with local businesses and organizations; facilitators to help students deepen their connection to the mission; and career advisors to provide mentorship and support. The campaign also will provide resources for training student mentors, coordinating leadership development programming, and securing transformational plenary speakers. Another campaign initiative connected to the Salve Compass is an investment in community-engaged learning. As the program integrates Salve’s longstanding strengths—student-faculty research, experiential learning, and community partnerships–it will provide students with opportunities to learn from hands-on experience as they apply their research and knowledge through the Compass Summer, sophomore and junior studios, and more. Communityengaged learning courses linked to their major or interdisciplinary minor will enable students to bring high-impact experiences into the classroom as they partner with local businesses and nonprofits for internships, service and cultural immersion.
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SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
JOHN PELRINE ’25
MAEVE NEWTON ’25
Major: Cultural and Historic Preservation Program: Archaeology and Preservation in Rhode Island led by Dr. Heather Rockwell “The highlight of the program in my opinion was having an archaeological dig at the Rham House in Bristol, as I have always wanted to be an archaeologist and this was the first time I felt I was actually doing archeological work by myself and with my peers, which was tons of fun. I also am much more well-rounded and have a better understanding for my future classes. The amount of hands-on experience I received during the program gave me a window as to how my career would be if I continued in this field of work.”
Major: Cultural and Historic Preservation Program: Field Ecology and Natural History of Aquidneck Island led by Dr. Jameson Chace “I was able to step outside my comfort zone many times during the Compass Summer program. I had never hauled a lobster trap, let alone held a lobster or crab! I probably would have never done something like that if I had not been given this opportunity. Our program came to a great close during our last two days on Rose Island, and it was really great spending quality time together with the whole group. I’m grateful to the Southeastern New England Educational and Charitable Foundation for their support that allows us to participate in this incredible project.”
A COMPASS SUMMER TO REMEMBER STUDENT PARTICIPANTS IN THE COMPASS SUMMER PILOT PROGRAMS FOUND THE EXPERIENCE TO BE EXCITING AND TRANSFORMATIONAL. -compiled by Teryn O’Brien
SOFIA ABUIN ’24
LEXI CALLAGHAN ’26
Major: Psychology Program: Sustainable Earth Program with Newport Community School led by Dr. Paula Martasian and Kelly Powers, director of community engagement and service “While this program was aligned with my major and minor, it was interesting to work with the students in an outdoor setting and learn much more about environmentalism. On campus, I built connections with my student volunteers and different organizations, which helped facilitate all of the activities we ran, including tours in the Hydroponics Lab and The Arboretum. We encouraged them to do hands-on gardening and cleaning of natural spaces around the community.”
Majors: Dance and psychology Program: Jazz Dance in Newport led by Dr. Lindsay Guarino “While being in the program, I was able to make connections with every single person in my jazz dance community. We all actively and equally participated in understanding the importance of learning and listening from direct sources of the work that we do in the classroom. We also learned that individuality is very important to recognize in a group of people. Our program addresses anti-racism and women. Our main goal is to acknowledge that jazz dance is a Black American art form that should be respected and represented. We were taken to the Newport Jazz Festival to feel the music and connect to it on a personal level and try to understand our place in the work of social justice.”
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Coordinator Mark Keitges works with Isabella Strazza ’25, a student consultant for the Writing Center, in the new Allen Family Learning Commons.
“
The Salve Compass doesn’t leave the student experience to chance; it is a blueprint that calls upon students to become architects of their own experiences. -KATHLEEN FARLEY RYAN FAMILY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE SALVE COMPASS PROGRAM
THE ALLEN FAMILY LEARNING COMMONS Perhaps the most tangible of the campaign’s major initiatives to date, the renovation of McKillop Library’s first floor was completed for the opening of the fall 2023 semester and is now home to the Allen Family Learning Commons. A signature expression of the Salve Compass program, the new space was made possible through generous funding from Carl and Gigi Allen (see page 14), the van Beuren Charitable Foundation and the George I. Alden Trust. The Allen Family Learning Commons provides comprehensive services for students throughout their educational journey. With vital support services such as the Academic Center for Excellence 12
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
and the Center for Advising, Career and Life Design co-located within the library’s first floor, the Learning Commons is a crossroads where students connect their academic goals, their personal values, and their learning experience on and off campus with their professional ambitions and life goals. The result? Graduates who examine problems with a critical eye and find creative solutions. Graduates who think deeply about their own values and bring others together to meet shared goals. Graduates who advocate for justice, promote the common good, and find effective ways to create inclusive communities. Graduates who carry Salve’s mission with them and are determined to make a difference. SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
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HELEN DORFLINGER RYAN ’69 CARRIES SALVE’S MISSION WHEREVER SHE GOES.
elen Dorflinger Ryan ’69 learned the importance of service from her mother and has instilled its value in her own children, Keri and Kevin. Together, they made the decision to support the comprehensive campaign and the Salve Compass by endowing the Ryan Family Executive Director’s position, currently held by Kathleen Farley, to ensure that the key leadership role is funded in perpetuity. “Service has always been a part of my life,” said Ryan, who is a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International, an organization founded on the motto “service above self.” “My mother did everything with a quiet voice but was always giving of herself to others–it’s something you learn from your family. “I think the [executive director’s] position will be broad in reach,” she said. “I think of my children and that they didn’t necessarily follow my career path or my husband’s—they’re doing their own thing—but what we did give them was the ability to choose that, to be independent. [The executive director] will have a wide-ranging impact on students-there are plenty of ways to reach out and spread your wings and the Compass Program will do that, so we’re 100% behind it.” Ryan graduated from Salve with a degree in nursing and now serves on the Board of Trustees. As a student, she served in the Naval ROTC (Navy Nurse Corps) in Newport and launched her nursing career at hospitals in Connecticut and Missouri. She taught nursing before joining the National Institute of Health as a nurse administrator and also worked in public school systems in Maryland and South Carolina, ultimately leading Hilton Head Island High School as its principal. Ryan finished her professional career working beside her late husband Don in their health benefits management company, CareCore National, as a community outreach manager. A lifelong learner, Ryan believes that the strength of Salve’s nursing program lies in its broad scope, which enabled her to pursue both her master’s and doctoral degrees. “Salve prepared me not only for nursing but for learning,” said Ryan. “We had to use all the skills we learned, not just the skills from our major. I think the more experiences you have, the broader learner you will be. You have the ability to see a situation, solve the problem, and take action.” “Salve’s history and purpose have never waned,” she continued. “[The University] is growing in such a positive manner as far as expanding its scope and field of learning, as well as promoting strength and leadership among men and women, while still being so faithfilled— to me that is something that students today are looking for.” Believing that mercy is a spirit of love and compassion, Ryan has held Salve’s mission close throughout her life. Her volunteer service is
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Keri, Helen and Kevin Ryan
I think the more experiences you have, the broader learner you will be. You have the ability to see a situation, solve the problem, and take action. -HELEN DORFLINGER RYAN ’69
extensive. She has served as a board member for the Catholic Community Foundation and the Hilton Head Island Rotary, and was a delegate on an International Rotary visit to Ghana. She has also served in leadership roles for a number of organizations, including the Island School Council of the Arts, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, the United Way of Hilton Head, the American Heart Association, and the Boys and Girls Club of Bluffton. “I hopefully carry [mercy] through my actions and what I have come to believe in,” she shared. “As far as my faith goes, it is what we need to continue to foster in the communities that we live in. It’s giving of yourselfwe can give by sharing with others if we are willing to reach out.” Ryan’s advice to current students is very much in alignment with the goals of the Salve Compass. “Take a time of reflection,” Ryan offered. “Besides studying, how did you get here and why did you come? Yes, you’ll learn a lot scholastically, but what else will you take with you when you leave? “Hopefully, you will take an understanding and compassion for giving not only of yourself and what you have learned here, but what you can share with others no matter where you are,” she added. “It isn’t just book learning; it’s your direction in life and how you will deal with the positive and negative. There will always be both. What you will fall back on, hopefully, it will be your faith.” REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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INSPIRING EXPLORATION AND PRESERVATION CARL AND GIGI ALLEN ESTABLISH THE ALLEN FAMILY LEARNING COMMONS AS LEAD SUPPORTERS OF OUR MISSION. OUR MOMENT.
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hrough a generous $3 million commitment from Carl and Gigi Allen, the University has completed the renovation of the first floor of McKillop Library and established the Allen Family Learning Commons, which houses essential student support services and is a vital component of the Salve Compass Program. As students explore their strengths and pursue their degrees, the Learning Commons will be a hub where they can find the resources for academic, career and personal success. Believing that “every day is an adventure, not a destination,” the Allens are no strangers to the idea of exploration. Carl, who received an honorary degree in international relations from Salve in 2022, first visited Walker’s Cay, a tiny island known as the “gateway” to the Bahamas, when he was 12 years old. He remembers seeing the strip of land from a fishing trawler; it was the beginning of what would become a self-described “major 14
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love affair with Walker’s,” a place he returned to time and again throughout his life. “I never thought there was anyplace better,” said Allen, who purchased the island in 2018 following the sale of his family’s business, Heritage Bag Company. “I got the same feeling 42 years later; it was an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to buy Walker’s. It came with a real sense of responsibility.” That responsibility is something that the Allens take very seriously. Determined to breathe new life into the island paradise, which had been devastated by hurricanes, the couple is working with the local government and tradespeople on a number of projects, including a family-centered resort, the revival of Walker’s Cay as a “fishing mecca,” and the Bahamian Maritime Museum. Dedicated ecologists and conservationists, the Allens founded Allen Exploration in 2016. In partnership with the Bahamian government, the AllenX fleet and crews search for, recover and
document period shipwrecks and maritime history. Its current focus is a scientific survey and exploration of the Maravillas, a 17th-century galleon that offers more than sunken treasures; it is a glimpse into history and the international trade routes that crossed Bahamian waters centuries ago. “A shipwreck is like an accidental time capsule,” said Carl. “That moment is frozen in time. Nothing is newer than that but there’s a whole bunch of stuff that’s older. You realize that something hasn’t been touched in 400 years, and that it was a human who used it. I get excited about jewelry and coins and all, but I also get excited about the basic things we find - tobacco pipes, little pieces of pottery from teacups, combs, spoons, knives.” Whether it is silver and gold coins, opulent emerald pendants or the more mundane treasures that illustrate life in the 1600s, the artifacts painstakingly recovered by AllenX are on display at the Bahamian Maritime Museum in Freeport. Conceived and built by the Allens, the museum showcases not only the many treasures recovered but also the fascinating history of the Bahamas and its people. “It’s not just about showcasing what we’ve found, it’s about preservation,” said Gigi. “Our mission is to recover and preserve these treasures so that they are not lost forever.” The Allens’ philanthropic efforts are vast; they have generously contributed their expertise and resources to further efforts in education, ecology, defense and health research. Recognizing that education empowers, they funded and organized the Bahamian Teachers Foundation, donating more than 1,000 electronic tablets to schoolchildren to ensure they have the tools needed for success. Carl has also served as a board member for Honor Courage Commitment, honorary chairman for both the ALS and Arthritis
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Foundations, and as a sponsor for Envision, an organization devoted to the blind and partially sighted. In addition, the couple launched the Grand Cay Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund in 2019 and deployed the AllenX fleet to deliver food, water and supplies to the Bahamian islands destroyed by the massive storm. Both Carl and Gigi credit their parents for instilling the impulse to serve. “My mom [Trustee Kathleen Walgreen] has a history of helping people,” said Carl. “One of my -CARL ALLEN ’22 (HON.) earliest memories, I think I was about 6, is of a big Christmas event she had for homeless families. I was an elf, which is probably why I remember it, and I look at that history and know that I wouldn’t be as philanthropy-driven as I am if it weren’t for my mom and stepdad.” The Allens believe that the Salve Compass will provide students with immeasurable opportunities to begin their own exploration of the world. “I think it invigorates them and puts them in touch,” said Gigi. “It’s Carl and Gigi Allen not theory; they’re doing it, involved in it, living it. It gives a whole other dimension to their studies as visual and kinesthetic learners, and you can’t beat that. It’s wonderful. It gets students out of the classroom, they’re moving, they’re doing things; I think it’s very valuable. “There’s a whole exciting world out there,” she continued, “so go find it. There are so many ways to connect with people. Students need to look inside themselves and figure out ‘how can I make a difference in this world, how can I do what I love, how can I combine these things?’ They’ve got the energy, the enthusiasm, and they’ve learned things at Salve; now go out and discover.” “And always climb,” added Carl. “If you find that mountaintop, go find another one, keep on moving.”
Every day is an adventure, not a destination.
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ENDOWING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET Brian and Ann Marie Pryor are paying it forward through their campaign support of the entrepreneurship minor by endowing the Pryor Family Fund for Entrepreneurship. By Matt Boxler ’04
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xpanding opportunities for students to explore entrepreneurship – most recently with the launch of a new undergraduate minor – prompted Board of Trustees member and Salve Regina alumnus Brian Pryor ’92 to jump in with both feet, not just with a leadership gift he and his wife Ann Marie (Anzalone) Pryor ’92 pledged to the University’s comprehensive campaign, but as a mentor for the program. Brian, who graduated with degrees in chemistry and
mathematics, is a self described “serial entrepreneur” who, in his
professional career, has developed and brought to market numerous lasers and light-based medical devices. His philosophy personifies key traits of the University’s evolving entrepreneurship program that make it uniquely Salve – being open to students across all disciplines and being closely tied to Salve’s mercy mission. “One of the most interesting things about Brian is that he wasn’t a business major in college,” said Adam Witham, assistant professor of business and economics, one of several across campus who have been instrumental in growing the entrepreneurship program. “Entrepreneurship isn’t just the study or the field where we talk about starting up a business or coming out with a new product,” he continued. “It’s applying a mindset. It’s coming up with a creative solution for tackling a problem. And that can be combined with any field out there.”
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Every career has different paths. There is a lot of growing that you do in your career, and I think entrepreneurship helps you get out of your comfort zone. -BRIAN PRYOR ’92
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A SALVE EXPERIENCE understood that he could advance Salve has been an important and his career in a new direction – influential force for the Pryors. toward entrepreneurship. “Salve did a lot for Ann Marie and “I was doing the scientific develme,” said Brian. “I grew up very blue opment when I realized I could do collar. My parents did not go to the sales, the business development, college, and Salve provided quite a bit as well or better,” said Brian. “I of aid and scholarships to attend, so pride myself on being able to talk to that’s a big reason to pay it forward.” anyone and stress this to all young As undergraduate students, he and people. Every person is a salesperson. Ann Marie were involved in many You may not get paid that way, but (from left) Drew, Maggie, Brett, Brian and Ann Marie Pryor extra-curricular activities outside of you have to sell yourself to get a job their majors, a characteristic of the … you have to sell yourself and your Salve experience that Brian ideas throughout your life.” believes is one of its unique strengths. He played baseball throughout Brian believes one of the most important benefits to establishing all four years and was captain of the team. Both served as members entrepreneurship opportunities at Salve is the University’s ability to of the student life senate, and Ann Marie was elected president in provide exposure to the program without barriers. It can be an her senior year. They also organized Salve’s first Thanksgiving food opportunity for all majors. The key, he says, is to get students drive in their senior year – “entrepreneurs with a mercy twist,” as engaged in entrepreneurial thinking, especially when they approach Brian recalled, and an apt description for a couple who have it from a variety of interests and passions. The new entrepreneurship accomplished a great deal personally and professionally. minor allows for exactly that. An elementary education major with a special education minor, “It’s a little bit different way of thinking that can help everybody Ann Marie teaches religion to sixth-, seventh-and eighth-grade – no matter if they’re going to be a teacher or a nurse or a scientist,” students at Holy Angels School in Newark, Delaware. Brian went he said. “To have that entrepreneurial attitude of thinking a little on to earn his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of bit outside the box is so important. Every career has different paths. Pennsylvania in 1998 and joined Salve’s board in 2022. There is a lot of growing that you do in your career, and I think He founded LiteCure in 2006, a leader in therapeutic laser entrepreneurship helps you get out of your comfort zone.” technology for human and animal healthcare. He sold the company It’s also an especially important way to advance Salve’s mission. in 2020 and is currently focused on growing several new companies “What better way to teach or prepare the next generation of social developing medical products, including devices for women’s pelvic entrepreneurs than to really learn about the entrepreneurial way of pain management (Sola Pelvic Therapy); for treating the brain for thinking,” Brian said. “It really is a perfect match to inspire the next depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (Neurothera); for athletic generation.” training – including a device currently being used by Salve athletes (mTrigger); and for lessening the side effects of cancer treatments, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT SALVE among others (SBR Bio). Launched during the 2022-2023 academic year, Salve’s Brian attributes Salve’s well-rounded culture and education for entrepreneurship minor is quickly gaining popularity among providing him with the tools to succeed in his professional career. undergraduate students from a variety of study areas. Even students This became evident when he was working at a small company who have not yet declared a major – the exploratories – are looking specializing in the custom development of scientific instruments. at the minor so they can combine it with whatever their main area He realized he had a skillset for translating complex ideas that the of study will be one day. everyday person could understand. With that realization, he also “We are seeing its appeal across campus to a general type of
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student that likes creative thinking and problem solving,” Witham said. “If a student wants to think about public speaking alongside entrepreneurship, that could be one of their elective classes they could take. They could take a class on organizational behavior or psychology, there’s all different approaches we can take that allows a student to basically build it and develop it relative to their interests.” The minor consists of four required courses – Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Marketing, Entrepreneurship Finance and Accounting, and New Venture Development – and two electives from disciplines such as accounting, art, biology, communications, data science, economics, management, political science, psychology and social work. New Venture Development is the culminating experience where students can launch their own idea or think about what it would take to truly bring an idea to market. “We looked for courses from across the entire campus that reflected skills necessary for entrepreneurship or things that can be valuable for an entrepreneur,” said Witham. “If a student’s interests are in psychology, chemistry or environmental science, that’s great. And by using an entrepreneurial mindset, that allows students to tackle problems in the world.” Salve’s entrepreneurship initiatives started picking up steam during 2021-2022, when faculty and staff in the Department of Business and Economics attended a symposium to discuss goals for the year, and the department became a member of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers. In spring 2022, Witham helped kick off a robust and ongoing Entrepreneurship Speaker Series on campus and the first Seahawk Tank Pitch Competition was held in partnership with Innovate Newport, during which students showcased their new business ideas before community members. Salve established a formal partnership with Innovate Newport that gives students an opportunity to network with entrepreneurs in the region, contribute to entrepreneurial endeavors in Rhode Island, and host events.
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In addition to Seahawk Tank, Salve students organized and hosted the Rhode Island Summit for Entrepreneurship (RISE) at Innovate Newport, providing access to workshops, flash talks, a keynote speaker and networking opportunities that included participation from the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University. Witham believes that partnering with local community organizations Dr. Adam Witham and non-profits is an important way for students to approach creative problem solving for social issues. “For instance, our [Mercy] Critical Concern that Salve is focusing on this year is around women and gender, and with that we started talking to the Women’s Resource Center of Newport. We started talking to the Fall River (Mass.) Deaconess Home,” Witham explained. “We challenge students to think about the real issues facing women today around the community and around Rhode Island. And they try to think about how we could form solutions to tackle these problems. “When we’re constantly thinking about not only our classes, but the clubs, the opportunities that students can have in entrepreneurship and tie it back to the mercy mission, that’s how we’ll be unique because it’s not profit driven,” he continued. “This is not a system where it’s entirely driven by self. It’s really thinking about others and thinking about something greater for the community and greater for the world. So that’s our approach. I’d say it’s pretty unique.” Looking forward, Salve continues to branch out. Faculty are among those participating in the newly formed UNIE-RI, a network that includes entrepreneurship leaders from every college and university in the state who meet regularly to learn from each other. The goal is to strengthen higher education’s contributions to the state’s entrepreneurial vitality. “When we’re thinking about how we can constantly make a world that’s more just and merciful, entrepreneurs are the ones who do that every day,” Witham said. “They’re coming up with the ideas and are taking risks. They’re trying to study what sort of products, what sort of services, what sort of ideas would make the world a better place— and they’re trying to put them into action.”
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T H E P OW E R O F In its 14th season, “Story in the Public Square” continues to share stories that matter. By Tara Watkins ’00
STORYTELLING IS AT THE HEART OF THE HUMAN experience, impacting the way we gather, process and pass on information to others. The Pell Center’s “Story In the Public Square” (SIPS), a six-time Telly Award-winning national broadcast, uses the power of empathy and community through storytelling to heighten awareness of social issues impacting American life and beyond. Through narratives that provide an intersection between storytelling and public affairs, the show works in alignment with Salve Regina’s mission to create a world that is more harmonious, just and merciful. Many Americans struggle with an overwhelming barrage of daily information. Important stories often remain uncovered amidst this surplus of content. “‘Story in the Public Square’ began as an effort to highlight the narratives we, as citizens, are bombarded with daily,” said Dr. Jim Ludes, executive director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, who studies the history of misinformation. Ludes co-hosts the show with G. Wayne Miller, an award-winning journalist and director of the Pell Center’s Ocean State Stories initiative. “Each week we talk to storytellers who are creating stories with their words to understand and often change the world around us,” Ludes continued. “It is incredibly exciting to continue this work.” Ludes and Miller are grateful for the extended amount of time allowed in each episode to delve into the complexities of the storyteller’s experience. “We have 25 minutes and 45 seconds each episode with guests,” explained Ludes. “It’s a luxury to have this amount of time on television. Most television programs only allow 3 ½ minutes to interview each guest, which really is not enough time to delve into the complexities of the issues we explore. “The power of story intersects with developments in American politics, trends in American society, the rise of artificial intelligence, shifts in the way Americans work and spend their time, questions about identity—who we are as individuals and who we are as people,” 20
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G. Wayne Miller (left) and Jim Ludes
he continued. “These are the kinds of conversations we have with our guests.” First launched in February 2012, SIPS has become a nationally broadcast program airing weekly on PBS television and Sirius XM Satellite radio. The series has been in production on Rhode Island PBS since January 2017 and is currently in more than 85 percent of the nation’s television market, with close to 500 weekly national broadcasts. It has won six Telly Awards in five years for excellence in politics and commentary as well as societal impact. The series features a culturally and professionally diverse group of distinguished guests including filmmakers, editorial cartoonists, musicians, bestselling nonfiction and fiction authors, poets, academics, journalists, still photographers, physicians, scientists, public health experts, advocates, actors, producers and Pulitzer Prize winners. Each season, SIPS confronts the changing needs of our times while also acknowledging the historical oppression of disenfranchised groups within America and the world. SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
S TO RY T E L L I N G “I feel ridiculously lucky to meet with the people we have, who are not just incredible storytellers, but good people,” said Ludes. Over the past 11 years, 14 seasons, and more than 300 episodes, Ludes and Miller have sat down with many “good people” to discuss stories of social impact. Early show guests included Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking”; Native American activists Loren Spears and Christian Hopkins, who shared stories of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline; and legendary civil rights leader Dr. Bernard LaFayette, co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Nashville sit-ins, and an associate of Dr. Martin Luther King. In more recent years, guests have included Azar Nafisi, bestselling author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” who also was awarded an honorary degree and served as Salve’s 2023 Commencement keynote speaker; Joshua Bennett, professor, poet and author Azar Nafisi of “Spoken World: A Cultural History”; Danny Strong, producer of “Dopesick,” a film about the opioid crisis in America; and documentary still photographer Haruka Sakaguchi, who uses the camera to capture stories about cultural identity and the impact of intergenerational trauma. “Our guests contribute meaningful understanding to both the challenges facing humanity as well as the beauty of the human experience,” said Ludes. “Individually and collectively the works of the people we have been honored to host have made the world richer, more harmonious and even more just.” “Story in the Public Square” premiered its 14th season on July 3, 2023. The new season featured 24 episodes and a diverse list of guests, including Alexandra Robbins, author of “The Teachers: A Year inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession” and Macaela FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
THE TELLY AWARDS 2022: An episode on the importance of local news featuring Art Cullen, publisher of The Storm Lake Times in Storm Lake, Iowa, wins a Bronze Award in the Social Impact category.
2021: The 2020 episode featuring Elizabeth Rush, author of “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction and the 2020 Reading Across Rhode Island selectee from the Rhode Island Center for the Book, wins the Bronze Award for Excellence in Public Interest Television.
2020: SIPS is awarded both silver and bronze awards for Best Political/Commentary in Television for its 2019 episode featuring Daniel Okrent, author of “The Guarded Gate”— which explores the history of bigotry laying at the heart of the Immigration Act of 1924—and its 2019 episode with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, author of “What the Eyes Don’t See,” a memoir of her role in exposing the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
2019: The 2018 episode on the death penalty featuring Sr. Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking” earns a Bronze Award for Best Political/Commentary in Television.
2018: A 2017 end-of-year special with a focus on the TrumpRussia investigation featuring Dr. Evelyn Farkas receives a Bronze Award for Best Political/Commentary in Television.
The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina is a multidisciplinary research center focused at the intersection of politics, policies and ideas. Dedicated to honoring Sen. Claiborne Pell’s legacy, the Pell Center promotes American engagement in the world, effective government at home and civic participation by all Americans.
Mackenzie, author of “Money, Power and Respect: How Women in Sports are Shaping the Future of Feminism.” “We are passionate in our belief that story has the power to shape the world,” stressed Ludes. “It’s a privilege to share stories that matter.” Editor’s note: Find “Story in the Public Square” on the web at pellcenter.org/story-in-the-public-square and pbs.org; on social media (X - @pubstory, facebook.com/StoryInThePublicSquare, and YouTube); and through apple.com and tunein.com podcasts. REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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SALVE NEWS
U.S. News Survey Gives Salve Top Marks
BEST UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING Salve faculty are designated among the best in teaching based on a peer assessment survey of college presidents, provosts and admissions deans. Salve is among the colleges receiving the most “top 15” nominations for
SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY’S overall ranking among the best institutions of higher education in the United States climbed to 27th in the Regional Universities (North) category, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges survey, which was made public on Monday, Sept. 18. Salve was also recognized by U.S. News as a top university for Undergraduate Teaching at 13th, Most Innovative at 22nd, Best Value Schools at 41st, and Top Performers on Social Mobility at 79th. “Undergraduate teaching has been foundational and a transformational aspect of a Salve education since the school’s founding in 1947,” said Nancy Schreiber, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “This year it is especially rewarding to see our peer institutions recognize Salve as one of the leaders in undergraduate teaching in the region.” Salve’s U.S. News ranking comes a few weeks after the University was profiled in The Princeton Review’s book, “The Best 389 Colleges – 2024 Edition.” The schools in this book comprise just 15 percent of America’s four-year colleges and universities.
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“Salve continues to grow in prominence nationally due to our strong commitment to teaching and learning and our emphasis on addressing the challenges of today’s world through our University mission,” said James Fowler, vice president for enrollment management. “We particularly appreciate the recognition of the innovative nature of our education via the Salve Compass, our comprehensive, four-year integrated and experience-heavy program that connects academics to career and ensures that our graduates have the career-ready skills and competencies that are in such high demand amongst employers.” In compiling its Best Colleges rankings for 2024, U.S. News researchers evaluated nearly 1,500 four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions across the country on as many as 19 measures of academic quality. More than half of a school’s rank is now comprised of varying outcome measures related to success at enrolling, retaining and graduating students from different backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduate success.
featuring faculty and administrators who are committed to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner.
MOST INNOVATIVE Salve is among the most nominated by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans as the most innovative in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities. The ranking is a reflection that the public should be watching because of cutting-edge changes the colleges are making on their campuses.
BEST VALUE Salve earned accolades for being academically high performing while also costing considerably less as a result of financial aid, particularly in the form of need-based grants and scholarships that do not need to be paid back. Ranking factors include the percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships or grants, the average discount from the university’s total “sticker price,” the ratio of academic quality to cost, and the percent of students receiving need-based aid.
TOP PERFORMER ON SOCIAL MOBILITY Salve was assessed to be more successful than other universities in enrolling and graduating students who have been awarded Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000.
SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
THE EVOLUTION OF PEACE MAKERS
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r. Yvan Ilunga, assistant professor of international relations and political science, joined the Salve Regina community in August 2022, bringing more than a decade of higher education experience, as well as 15 years of experience conducting policy-relevant research and studies on Africa’s security, development, and governance issues. Ilunga’s academic and professional focus have been in peace operations, humanitarian action, civil-military interactions, and natural resources-based conflicts. Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 1997-2003 civil wars, Ilunga experienced and observed one of the first major United Nations peacekeeping deployments. “Observing the performances of United Nations peacekeepers and the effectiveness of their work raised interest in wanting to understand why they were they there and what made their mission successful,” said Ilunga. Having experienced firsthand those years of conflict and institutional destabilizations, Ilunga felt that he wanted to raise academic awareness on African issues in the field of international relations and political science. “We cannot live in a world without addressing these things,” Ilunga said. “I wanted to bring a well-informed approach to international relations and political science.” When he joined the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Ilunga was captivated by the opportunity to use his personal experiences in the Congo and globally to help educate graduate and undergraduate students. He was especially interested in Salve’s mission and its relation to his own social and moral values. Ilunga understands the critical role that the University plays in providing students with a values-based understanding of political science FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
Dr. Yvan Ilunga
and international relations. Since joining Salve, he has supported his students through various initiatives, including participation in research engagement and conferences. “One of my primary goals is bringing real world experience to my classrooms,” Ilunga said. “I want to make sure students are getting exposed to practitioners’ rationale of decisions made in public policy.” Ilunga recently invited Pernilla Rydén, a former United Nations official, to campus for a Pell Center event focusing on the UN’s role in international relations and peacekeeping operations; these topics directly correlated to Ilunga’s research in mitigating political unrest, institutional fragilities, humanitarian crisis,
and mis/disinformation. On the same day, Rydén presented to Ilunga’s undergraduate students in his POL120 How to Rule the World and POL240 Comparative Politics courses. “The colleagues that I have here are just amazing,” Ilunga said of his campus experience to date. “It’s just a great environment where you feel a sense of humanity in the relationships that are being built professionally.” Through building relationships with his students, Ilunga is also building a strong interest in wanting to discover and engage with new materials from different perspectives. “Dr. Ilunga went above and beyond to cultivate a personalized, interactive environment REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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that allowed students to learn about international relations as well as how we each perceive topics differently,” said Dalton Riedlbauer ’23, a graduate student in the international relations master’s program. “We had a very diverse class from all over the world, and Dr. Ilunga reminded us to celebrate that and open our eyes to how others may perceive things differently. This is crucial in the world of international relations, where we must connect and learn from others with very different backgrounds and perceptions of the world.” “Salve’s international relations and political science programs provide the ground for critical analysis writing, debriefing and engaging to ensure student success,” said Ilunga. “Master’s students are engaged in research that prepares them to be more competitive and adapt to the fast-changing space in this industry.” Last April, Ilunga collaborated with Dr. Olajumoke “Jumo” Ayandele, Postdoctoral Fellow for NYU’s Center for the Study of Africa and the African Diaspora (CSAAD), on the third annual workshop on “African Wars in the 21st Century.” The workshop illustrated many critical topics including informal African economies, transnational characteristics, and the growing role of the private sector. Special emphasis was given to the role of regional economic communities in advancing stability and peace, and on how the pandemic impacted institutions, communities, and governance across the African region. Prior to teaching at Salve, Ilunga taught at Central State University, Providence College, and James Madison University. He holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Lubumbashi and the University of the Western Cape, master’s degrees from the University of Cape Town and Rutgers University, and a doctorate degree from Rutgers University. -Jon Kee Vose ’23
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RESHAPING SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS
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riting computer code to direct robot behavior isn’t an assignment typically handed out in special education classrooms. However, research by Dr. Matthew Taylor, assistant professor of education, is creating methods that introduce these and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills that he argues are critical for preparing children to lead successful lives in their technology-driven futures. Taylor’s work is supported by a pair of multi-million dollar grants, including: a U.S. Department of Education “Stepping-Up” grant he helped write as a robotics consultant with a team at the University of Central Florida – where he earned his Ph.D. in exceptional education; and a National Science Foundation (Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program) capacity building grant written with colleagues at the College of New Jersey, where Taylor served as assistant professor of special education prior to
Dr. Matthew Taylor
arriving at Salve in August 2022. “I think sometimes a lot of us look too low, or think too low, at what kids can do,” Taylor said about what drives his research. “Instead of assuming that they can’t, let’s see what they can do, and build it that way.” He says STEM teaches a lot of skills that can help prepare kids, both with disabilities and without, to live fulfilling lives in the outside world – including collaboration, problem solving and socialization. “There’s also that risk of failure, from making mistakes and learning from them,” Taylor said. Taylor’s early work focused on introducing special education students to the basics of coding through techniques modeled after Web applications like Blockly, where instead moving around blocks of code on an iPad, the students would handle and manipulate physical blocks and put them in a specific order that would, in turn, make the robot perform a task. That work became the focus of his dissertation, “Computer Programming with Early Elementary Students with and SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
without Intellectual Disabilities.” “I wondered if the students with intellectual disabilities could do something like this,” Taylor recalled. “I think they can. But nobody’s ever tried it, so let’s see what they can do. Maybe they can, maybe they can’t, but it’s worth a shot.” Taylor worked with pre-k through second grade students and discovered they were all able to understand at least the basics in coding. Today, his work focuses on implementation of an AI teacher-simulator avatar that helps children with autism to not only learn coding, but to help improve their communication skills. The children often respond very well to technology over human-to-human interaction initially, Taylor explained. “They have that interaction, they get to know the avatar, it’s safe, it’s fun, it’s easy, and engaging,” Taylor said. Once students are comfortable working with the avatar, the next step is for them to continue along with their coding work with the avatar but this time they do it with a peer, which helps them with communication skills. Ultimately, Taylor envisions students learning in mixed-reality classrooms supported by special education teachers. Taylor said getting Salve education majors involved with the research and what can be learned from the data is important as they will be instrumental in reshaping the future look of special education classrooms. “For me, it starts with my students because that is where making real change starts,” he said. “It’s coming, but it’s going to take time. Our goal for anybody, especially with K-12 students, is to prepare them for life after school, and that is independent living and working in a society with other people. Teaching STEM from a young age can really help start developing those skills.” -Matt Boxler ’04 (M) FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
A BRONZE RATING FOR SUSTAINABILITY SALVE REGINA HAS BEEN GRANTED a bronze rating by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) offered through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). With over 350 universities and colleges currently participating across 15 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized benchmarking framework for sustainability performance indicators across higher education. The program is a self-assessment tool designed to help institutions provide a framework for understanding sustainability, use a common set of measurements for discussion, create incentives for improvements and build a more diverse campus sustainability community. “The rating helps create a concrete pathway for faculty, staff, students and trustees to advance sustainability at Salve,” said Dr. Theresa Ladrigan -Whelpley, vice president for mission, planning and innovation. “This is really important to who we are as a mercy, Catholic institution, because in our mission we emphasize that we are stewards of God’s creation. A commitment to sustainability is part of building a more harmonious, just and merciful world.” AASHE’s rating process is rigorous. Salve’s bronze rating of 32.08 is based on a thorough
review and vetting of its submitted report detailing the University’s sustainability initiatives in curriculum and research, facilities and operations, planning and administration, campus and community engagement, and innovation and leadership. The initiative was spearheaded by the Sustainable Salve committee, which was organized by Ladrigan-Whelpley, and led by co-chairs Jared Coleman, assistant director of facilities, Dr. Craig Condella, chair of the philosophy department, and Mary Beth Pelletier ’06, ’12 (M), program manager of mission integration. The process began in 2019 as Sustainable Salve solidified into its current form, according to Condella. The committee, which is comprised of approximately 30 faculty, staff and students, then began researching and drafting the AASHE STARS report. “The committee is pleased to have this report completed, because as a committee we can now move forward and be proud that we made a difference,” said Pelletier. “I’ve seen a deeper level of engagement from the committee now that we’ve got this report, and I’m excited to see where this takes the future of sustainability at Salve.” -Teryn O’Brien
Dr. Craig Condella, Mary Beth Pelletier ’06, ’12 (M) and Jared Coleman REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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SALVE NEWS
Broadway Calling AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL BRINGS EXCITING NEWS FOR THEATRE STUDENTS.
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or the first time in the history of Salve’s theatre program, 22 students will be performing at Lincoln Center on Broadway in February 2024 in a concert production of “Children of Eden,” a musical by the famed Stephen Schwartz. “When I found out that Broadway wanted our Salve cast to perform at the Lincoln Center with famous actors, I did not understand what I was being told,” said Matthew Desorcy ’24, a theatre arts major. “It took me a moment to realize that I would actually be performing on Broadway—and when I told my parents, they could not have been more
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proud. It’s a dream come true.” “Children of Eden” is a musical that uses Biblical stories found in Genesis to think through themes of family conflict, identity and acceptance. The tales of Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel are featured in Act I, while Noah and the Ark are featured in Act II. The theatre program performed “Children of Eden” in the spring of 2023. While written by Schwartz, who wrote famous musicals like “Wicked” and “Godspell,” “Children of Eden” has never been performed on Broadway until now. The upcoming concert performance is being produced by Manhattan Concert
Productions, whose representative called Dr. Tara Brooke Watkins, assistant professor and program director of theatre, out of the blue to invite the students to audition by way of submitting a cast recording of the ensemble. Manhattan Concert Productions was so impressed with the recording, they asked if Watkins’ students would be interested in performing during the Broadway concert. “I have never had somebody call and say, ‘Hey, we want you to audition for Broadway,’” said Watkins. “When I first got the email saying they were they were trying to get hold of me, I thought it was a joke. But it was completely legit—and we are now taking SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
“
I have never had somebody call and say, ‘Hey, we want you to audition for Broadway’…we are now taking 22 of our students to perform at Lincoln Center.
22 of our students to perform at Lincoln Center… I’m still a little in shock that this is happening.” The leads for the concert have been cast with well-known Broadway stars like Auli’i Cravalho, Nikki Renée Daniels, Jordan Fisher and Norm Lewis; Salve’s students will be part of an estimated 350-person chorus rounding out the cast. To say that the 22 students who are performing on Broadway are excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is an understatement. “I am a big fan of Jordan Fisher, who will be performing as Cain in ‘Children of Eden,’ so I am extremely excited for the chance to work with him in a professional setting,” said Desorcy. “The cast and crew put so much of themselves into our production of ‘Children of Eden,’ and to have all the hard work recognized by those who work alongside the best in the business is amazing,” said Anna Annese ’26, a theatre major with a minor in music. “We are a small school, and it was empowering to be seen and chosen.” No matter what happens in the future, the students say that they will never forget this chance, and they are excited that Salve’s theatre program is being recognized with such a national spotlight. “I am undoubtedly grateful for the hard work and long hours that Salve theatre has put into perfecting every show performed throughout the four years I’ve been here,” said FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
-DR. TARA BROOKE WATKINS
Lauryn Boone ’26 (above) and the cast (opposite) of “Children of Eden” perform at the Casino Theatre in spring 2023.
Desorcy. “This opportunity goes to show the dedication artists have when chasing their dreams. They refuse to go unnoticed.” “For some, this has been a lifelong dream come true – something that we have been working at since we were little,” said Annese. “Every theater kid dreams about being able to
perform on Broadway someday, and for Salve our someday is coming in February.” Editor’s note: The show opens Feb. 18, 2024, and tickets are on sale in December. -Teryn O’Brien
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SALVE NEWS
A NYC DEBUT
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wo choreographed works by Trinity Leite ’25 were selected as featured performance pieces at fall dance festivals in New York City. Members of Salve’s dance program performed “Cat and Mouse” and “Artemis” at venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn. “I feel incredibly honored and grateful that my work has been invited,” said Leite, a double major in dance and finance. “These performances are my choreographic debut in New York, which is a dream I never thought I would achieve.” Leite created “Cat and Mouse” to embody the performance environment, energy and atmosphere exuded by live jazz musicians. It was presented at Jazz Choreography Enterprises ( JCE) Jazz Dance Project on Oct. 28-29 at KnJ Theater in the Peridance Center in New York City. “Artemis” was inspired by the memory of Leite’s former dance teacher and mentor Erin Brady, founder and owner of the Cheshire Performing Arts Academy in Connecticut, who lost her battle with ALS at age 32. The piece was performed at WAXworks on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Muriel Schulman Theater in Brooklyn. “The choreographic process is incredibly vulnerable, as you are sharing the most innate, genuine, and authentic parts of yourself with the world,” said Leite, whose goal is to create work that evokes what she believes is the most profound human emotion – joy. “The opportunity to present my work at these festivals is a monumental step in my dance career and I am grateful that my Salve community is a part of this experience. I feel extremely blessed to share these experiences with my fellow Salve students performing my work.” Nine dance majors performed at the events. Livia Armstrong ’25, Ashley Blake ’26,
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Trinity Leite ’25
Morgan Dubay ’24, Julia Paulo ’25, Mackenzie Robichaud ’24 and Jala Settles ’25 performed “Cat and Mouse” while Armstrong, Blake, Paulo and Settles were joined by Aleah Begg ’25, Samantha Belekewicz ’26 and Julia Chiola ’26 in performing “Artemis” at WAXworks. Leite also noted that Taylor Steeves ’25 was an
important part of the choreographic process. “It became apparent last year that Trinity’s gifts as a choreographer are beyond her years,” said Lindsay Guarino, chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. Guarino mentored Leite on both pieces while teaching DNC-400 Choreography and DNC-401 Dance Composition and suggested that Leite consider submitting her work to festivals, which is a great way for emerging choreographers to get their work seen. “This is a tremendous accomplishment for Trinity, whose works were showcased alongside professional choreographers in the field,” said Guarino. Guarino is also thrilled that Leite is carving out an identity as a jazz artist, which is unique to the dance program at Salve. “It gives me hope that this upcoming generation of dance artists will carry the jazz form forward by honoring its roots and origins while innovating through a rooted contemporary lens,” she said. -Matt Boxler ’04 (M)
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SEAHAWKS ATHLETICS
Visit salveathletics.com for the latest news and scores.
A comprehensive campaign priority, Seahawks athletics’ move to the NEWMAC elevates the field of competition and enhances the student-athlete experience. Clockwise from top left: Maggie Hansen ’26, Tamsin Nicholson ’27, Zoe Cox ’24, and Isabella Hastings ’27 (center).
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SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
“
We’re working hard physically and mentally ... we need to work for the outcome of every game because the pace is picked up in [the NEWMAC] conference. It is very exciting to see us getting better each game, and I can’t wait to look back in five years and see us as one of the top teams in the conference. -Kate Murphy ’23
(Left photo, l-r) Christopher Bishop ’27, Zachary Ludemann ’24 and Dylan DeAngelis ’27. (Right photo) Samuel Middleton ’25
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SALVE NEWS
A Conversation with Mary McAleese Ireland’s former president visits Salve as part of 75th anniversay celebrations .
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ary McAleese, Ireland’s eighth president who served two full terms from 1997 to 2011, delighted an audience of about 750 people with poignant tales of family, war, peace, politics and more during an hour-long conversation with Salve Regina President Kelli Armstrong, which was presented in a tent on the oceanside lawn of McAuley Hall on May 17, 2023. The event was one of several the University staged throughout the 2022-2023 academic year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its founding by the Sisters of Mercy in the tradition of Catherine McAuley, who opened the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland in 1827. The Sisters of Mercy were the first religious sisters who were not cloistered but instead walked alongside the poor, supporting particularly the women and children on the streets of Dublin. “As we thought deeply about who would best represent our mercy ideals of faith, of social justice, of service, and also our special relationship with Ireland, we could think of no better person than Mary McAleese,” Armstrong said in her welcoming remarks. The audience included McAleese’s husband Martin, Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong and members of the city council, as well as Claudia Fritsche, Liechtenstein’s first ambassador to the U.N. and the U.S. Also attending were Salve Regina trustees, a delegation from the Sisters of Mercy
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service, McAleese talked about her upbringing in Belfast. “Belfast has hit the headlines over most of the years of my life for all of the wrong reasons, for very serious sectarian conflict but also a climate in which Protestants, notionally Christians, and Catholics, notionally Christians, who believe in the same Christ and the same God, basically didn’t get along,” she said. “And they had different ambitions for the place they lived in.” People adapt, McAleese said. Some regrettably became militant, joining terrorist organizations while others simply got on a boat and left the country. “I chose a different path,” she said. Fortunately, McAleese said she married a man who felt the same so she and her husband Martin, together, formed an adaptation that would center itself around the great Christian commandment to love one another. “I know it sounds cheesy,” McAleese said. “We then dedicated our lives, particularly when I was elected, to doing what we think is the right thing to do, which is building bridges.” Today, it has been 25 years since the landmark peace accord, the Good Friday
that included two former Salve presidents – Jane Gerety and Chancellor M. Therese Antone, and leadership from several universities and colleges in New England, including Wheaton College, Johnson & Wales and Rhode Island College. Many representatives from local Irish-American groups were also in attendance. During her tenure as Ireland’s president, McAleese, the first person hailing from Northern Ireland to serve in the role, signed the historic Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and hosted the first state visit to Ireland by a British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2011. She was making her first visit to Newport, R.I. When asked what (l-r) Liechtenstein’s former ambassador, Claudia Fritsche ‘16 (Hon,) and Sister Therese Antone, chancellor, share a laugh with Martin McAleese. drew her to public
SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
Mary McAleese (left), the former president of Ireland, sits down with President Kelli Armstrong for a public conversation as part of the University’s 75th anniversary events.
“
I think the people of God, particularly in this generation, are making it clear that they want to be part of a big human family.
Agreement, was adopted and McAleese, who signed the international treaty in 1998, reflected on its legacy. She said it was critically important not just to draft it as a political document but to put it to the people, north and south. The people of God spoke, she said. “When the people spoke almost above the voices of the politicians, there was a greater goodness that got released by the Good Friday Agreement,” McAleese said. “The realization that almost everybody around you was saying yes to a future based on partnership, on parity of esteem, on respect for difference, and that there was a formula which allowed those of us who believed in a united Ireland to believe it … and those who believed in remaining with the UK unless and until the people of Northern Ireland decided differently. And they would be asked the question from time to time in a
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-MARY MCALEESE
referendum. That was a compromise. That was fair. Everybody had to give a little. You can’t change without compromise and people were willing to do that.” McAleese put the concept of building what she calls good neighborliness to the ultimate test when she helped orchestrate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland, something she said she had been working on for 16 years. “The last time a monarch had stepped foot in Ireland was 1911,” McAleese said, explaining the relevance of the Queen’s visit. “There were very good reasons for that.” Criticized by many and applauded by others, planning the Queen’s visit was delicate, but McAleese quickly realized she was talking to a woman of great faith who wanted to come to make her contribution to peace. “She came, and in four days she won the
Irish people over,” McAleese said. “She came as a pilgrimage for reconciliation. I was so grateful.” During her visit, the Queen made deeply meaningful gestures like flying into Sir Roger Casement Aerodome, bowing her head in homage at the Garden of Remembrance, visiting Croke Park (site of the November 1920 Bloody Sunday massacre), and giving a speech using five words in the Irish language. McAleese also talked about her Catholic faith amidst her criticisms of the Church for what she calls its dark history of cultural colonialization, of child sexual abuse, and of its treatment of women and the LGBTQIA community. She expressed a great deal of hope for the institution’s future. “It is the single biggest NGO in the world, bar none,” she said of the Church. “What infuses that NGO work – it’s not actually the curial officials and the magisterium and the documents and canon law. It’s people like the mercy nuns who do the work. It’s people like the mommies and daddies who invest in their children and make them good people, want to make them principled people. It’s the people on the ground who do that work. There are 200,000 Catholic schools in the world, there are hospitals, there are orphanages that go back generations and centuries worked on by the people of God because they believed in giving and in helping.” The dark side breaks our hearts, she said. “But somewhere in all of that story, I think we can rescue love. I think the people of God, particularly in this generation, are making it clear that they want to be part of a big human family.” -Matt Boxler ‘04(M)
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ALUMNI NEWS
Coming Home to Salve ALUMNI FROM ACROSS THE DECADES CELEBRATE SALVE’S 75TH AT THE ALL-CLASS REUNION WEEKEND. BY ANNA DOWNES ’22 AND ERICA FERGUSON
Alumni from the Class of 1962 gather for lunch during Reunion Weekend.
The tent on the lawn of Ochre Court served as a central location for Reunion Weekend festivities.
ALUMNI OF ALL AGES CAME HOME to Salve to take part in the biggest celebration of the year at the All-Class Reunion, held June 2-4, 2023. Despite the unpredictable New England weather, alumni thoroughly enjoyed the many opportunities to reconnect, reminisce, and dance the night away as they celebrated their shared experiences and the University’s 75th anniversary. “Salve is not only the place where I attended 34
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college, but the place I called home for five years,” says GinaMarie Tonini ’17, describing a sentiment shared by many. Coming back to Salve is like coming home, and the new reunion format was inspired by the desire to make the experience accessible to all alumni. Part of what makes the University so special is that students come to know peers of all interests and disciplines. By offering festivities that catered to alumni of every era,
Seahawks had the opportunity to curate their own experiences with classmates from any class year. “The 75th anniversary was the perfect opportunity to re-think the entire reunion experience,” says Pamela Mehr, executive director of alumni and family engagement and annual giving. “The all-class format is the ideal platform for bringing everyone together. This fosters a feeling of family that is integral to
Festivities kicked off with a Welcome Reception on the Ochre Court lawn as President Kelli Armstrong greeted alumni from behind the bar at the President’s Pub.
maintaining a sense of connectedness between alumni and the University.” EVER EVOLVING Salve has grown tremendously through its 75 years and its unique location never fails to elicit strong emotions. Part of celebrating Salve’s future entails honoring our storied past. A highlight of the weekend was the tours led by Dr. John Quinn, professor of history. He FALL/WINTER 2023
took participants on a journey from 1947, when Salve was contained to Ochre Court, to its current landscape with more than 40 buildings. Alumni appreciated the new format and all it had to offer. “I wanted to [express] how grand a time I had this weekend. The weather neither literally nor figuratively put a damper on things. All of the events were ‘just right.’” says Nancy Whalen ’72. “Thank you for all of
the obvious hard work, planning, communications, and cheerful presence at every venue. Well done!” The festivities kicked off with the Welcome Reception under a tent on the lawn of Ochre Court, where Dr. Kelli Armstrong greeted alumni at the President’s Pub. Serving as bartender for the evening, Armstrong was slinging drinks and serving smiles, getting the party started in true Salve spirit. REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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ALUMNI NEWS
Barbara Barry Cattel represents the class of 1952.
Reunion events were captured through the eyes of attendees as alumni submitted photos they snapped throughout the weekend. Unruly New England weather didn’t stop the celebration!
Reunion Weekend honors and celebrates all classes in addition to the milestone anniversaries. Graduates of the last decade were especially involved in the planning this year, with young alumni leading the charge in coordinating the first-ever Alumni Block Party—an outdoor bash adjacent to the Cliff Walk featuring family-friendly activities along with Newport’s favorite food trucks, local brews and live music. Though the weather was not entirely cooperative and more than one hat was chased
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across the lawn, alumni refused to let the wind and rain stop them from making wonderful memories. Family friendly offerings were not limited to the Block Party. Childcare was also provided during the All-Class Dinner, offering attendees the chance to enjoy the night and subsequent dance party featuring alumni-favorite Jeffery Thomas and the Ultimate Band without worrying about their children. Recent graduates from the Classes of 2022 and 2023
represented young alumni at the dance party, encouraging everyone to get a groove on (even President Armstrong!), and dance they did with the party going late into the evening with the conga line attracting dancers from across the decades. Reunion Weekend always features activities to appeal to a variety of interests. New, unique experiences added to the mix this year include a crystal bowl sound bath meditation led by Makenzie Curr ’20.
Alumni were smiling and laughing all weekend long as they reconnected, reminisced and danced the night away in Ochre Court.
Alumni from the 1990s were a force to be reckoned with during the weekend, taking advantage of every opportunity to engage and celebrate Salve. “[They] really changed things up this year—I can see a difference, and this is the best reunion ever!” exclaimed a 1993 alum during the Class Dinner. For many, Reunion Weekend is a concrete reminder of how giving back to the Salve experience offers a sense of purpose as they contemplate their ongoing role in the wider campus community. It reaffirms their FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
commitment to pay it forward, providing current students the chance to have their own amazing experiences in Newport. Alumna from Salve’s earliest years were represented by Barbara Barry Cattel from the class of 1952. She is a shining example of the deep connection alumni feel to Salve. Her daughter, Christine Ramezzana, accompanied her and spoke about the wonderful experience. “Thank you for making my mom feel so special,” Ramezzana said. “She felt so honored all weekend.”
Preparations are under way for the upcoming
All-Class Reunion Weekend, June 7-9, 2024. Watch for updates as we get closer.
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ALUMNI NEWS
1972
Christopher Gontarz ’72 was elected president of the Rhode Island Bar Association, through June 2024. Gontarz is currently Of-Counsel to Lynch & Pine, attorneys-at-law, in Providence and Newport, concentrating on criminal defense, ethics and professional misconduct. He is a former Special Assistant Attorney General in the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, serves on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel and was previously a commissioner on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Judicial Tenure and Discipline Commission. Gontarz received the 2008 Dorothy Lohmann Community Service Award and the 2017 Joseph T. Houlihan Lifetime Mentor Award. He was chairperson of the Criminal Law Bench Bar Committee and president of the Newport County Bar Association from 1993 to 2007. He has represented the Bar Association on numerous legislative committees involving criminal law. He was elected to the American Law Institute (ALI) in 2017.
Elaine Desrosiers Hart ’72 received the Distinguished Alumni Award at the All-Class Reunion Weekend in June 2023. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and began her career in hospital acute care and home and community health nursing before becoming one of the first nurse practitioners (NP) in Rhode Island. Hart developed the NP role in the community health setting and served as adjunct faculty at the Community College of Rhode Island, introducing the role of NP to nurses working in various fields while instructing them in physical assessment skills, which eventually became part of the basic nursing 38
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education curriculum. In 1989, Hart joined a private internal medicine practice, caring for adults from 18-103 and serving as a precept to NP students for nearly 30 years. All the while, she raised two daughters with her husband Brian. Before retiring in 2015, Hart was honored as Nurse Practitioner of the Year by Rhode Island Monthly and the Rhode Island State Nurses Association. In retirement, she continues to remain active in her community. She has served as a eucharistic minister at St. Joseph’s Church, volunteers at Green Animals in Portsmouth and as a hospice volunteer. She and her husband also sponsor international officers studying at the Naval War College.
1983
Debra M. Salisbury ’80 is board-certified in juvenile dependency law by the Florida Bar and has run her own family law practice for 28 years. SRG Magazine recognized her as an “Elite Top Attorney” in adoption law for 2020-2023. She recently returned to writing the legal manual, “Trawick’s Florida Civil Practice and Procedure for Thomson Reuters (Westlaw),” which provides attorneys with the latest civil law updates statewide, so they can best represent their clients. A major case she was involved in was made into the 2023 Netflix documentary, “Take Care of Maya,” in which she appeared to explain the legal aspects of the dependency case and bring about change for those facing medical child abuse accusations.
Lisa Ryan ’83 received the Alumni Achievement Award at Salve’s All-Class Reunion Weekend in June 2023. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing, magna cum laude, and earned her master’s degree as a pediatric nurse practitioner from Simmons University in 1999. The same year, she obtained national certification and was employed at UMass/Memorial Health Care – University Campus in Worcester, Massachusetts. Ryan’s professional experience includes working for 10 years at Boston Children’s Hospital in neonatal intensive care as well as several years in neonatal intensive care at The Medical University of South Carolina. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan volunteered for the Massachusetts response team at the definitive care unit in Worcester with the COVID-positive homeless population, administered vaccines to first responders in central Massachusetts and organized vaccine clinics for students and staff in the Mendon-Upton Regional School District. Ryan has served as a school nurse for the past 20 years at Memorial Elementary School.
1981
1996
1980
Angela Murray ’81 met with the Hudgins sisters, Abby ’25 and Jenna ’25, at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine in summer 2023. Together, they toured the laboratories and discussed the medical profession and options for a future career.
Ryan Freel, Esq ’96 was awarded the Houston Young Lawyers Association’s 2022-2023 “Outstanding Mentor” Award. The award honors one attorney in Texas who demonstrates a consistent commitment to mentoring in their legal community. Freel, who is office head and partner for Fragomen, has mentored countless young lawyers throughout his career, helping them achieve their goals and providing advice SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
for success both within and outside of the law firm setting. “Being a mentor isn’t only about helping the next generation learn about their chosen fields - it is much more important to help them aim high, so that they may achieve not only their dream jobs, but their dream lives,” he said.
2008
2010
Nate Burns ’10, ’11 (MBA) and his wife welcomed their first child, a boy named Caden Burns, on June 4, 2023.
2002
Richard Forno ’02 (M), principal lecturer at University of Maryland Baltimore County was recently appointed an honorary international professor at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, one of Mexico’s older universities. The recognition was based on his accomplishments in the cybersecurity industry and now, in academia.
2004
Virginia Shaw Genthner ’04 has written and self-published a children’s book, “Jellybean Finds a Family.” She believes that her experiences at Salve helped shape her into the businesswoman she has become. Erin Máiréad O’Kane ’04 graduated in May 2023 with her Master of Arts in Catholic Studies from Franciscan University of Steubenville. The Catholic studies master’s program draws from the humanities and sciences, and O’Kane believes that it was Salve’s innovative liberal arts education that gave her the confidence to pursue this degree.
2006
Bobby Gondola Jr. ’06 completed his Ph.D. with a concentration in higher education, workforce development, adult education and professional development at University of Rhode Island in May 2023. His research interests include higher education navigation, workforce and community colleges, career and educational opportunities, and student success and storytelling.
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“FUNNY BOY!: The Unofficial and Untrue Mel Brooks Story.” Assunto has been involved in the arts for over a decade, and the play is his first published piece.
Matthew Anderson ’08 received the Mission Award at the All-Class Reunion in June 2023. A history and secondary education major, he has made significant contributions to the field of interfaith youth programming. Throughout his early professional experiences, Anderson witnessed the transformative potential of interfaith dialogue in addressing societal divisions. He currently serves as executive director at Mosaic: Interfaith Youth Action, a Massachusetts organization committed to building bridges of understanding and empathy among youth from diverse religious communities. In his role, Anderson fosters collaboration, understanding and dialogue among young people and has become a prominent advocate for interfaith initiatives. He has been instrumental in developing innovative programming that facilitates interfaith exchanges, service projects and leadership development opportunities. His strategic vision and collaborative approach have resulted in successful partnerships with local religious institutions, educational institutions and youth organizations.
Bronya Shillo Belanger ’08, founder of Fishers Island Lemonade, sold her company to Spirit of Gallo, the third largest spirits supplier in the United States by volume. The Fishers Island Family earned Platinum, Double Gold and the Consumer’s Choice Award at the 2022 SIP Awards, and Gold at the 2023 San Francisco Spirits Awards. Nicholas Assunto ’08, a graduate of Salve’s theatre arts program, has published a play,
2012
Mara-Lise Owen Deychak ’12 received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award during the 2023 All-Class Reunion Weekend in June. She currently serves as the director of corporate engagement for The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., a member-based nonprofit organization. Her role involves partnering with corporate organizations on annual sponsorship commitments whose proceeds go toward The Economic Club’s education initiatives. Each year, the organization provides $1 million in university scholarships to 50 Washington, D.C., public and charter school students. Deychak serves as a mentor to the students by volunteering her time to support them as they transition from high school to university. Another part of her role is spearheading the Executive Fellows Program, which invites young executives into The Economic Club with the intention of cultivating relationships with the next generation of Washington, D.C. business leaders. Deychak is a member of the Seahawk Ambassador program and Student Networking Association. She is also the published author of “Creepy Kids: Stephen King Adaptations and Film Techniques,” which was her senior thesis on adaptation theory. Angela Wheeler ’12 began teaching architectural and urban history courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2022. She recently published “Architectural Guide: Tbilisi,” the first comprehensive English-language guide to the capital city of the Republic of Georgia.
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ALUMNI NEWS
2013
2017
Ariana Dunbar ’13 recently returned from a work trip to Egypt with Operation Smile, a nonprofit medical service organization helping children living with cleft lips and cleft palates. She also cheered at Super Bowl LVII as a second year Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader.
Lisa Milich ’13 (M) received the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award at the 2023 All-Class Reunion Weekend in June. The founder and CEO of the Inspired Revolution, a movement dedicated to illuminating the power of the human spirit as a force for good, Milich earned her master’s degree in holistic leadership in 2013. She owns two brands - Beyond Change, a purpose-driven change leadership and organizational transformation company, and Halo Inspired, a lifestyle and well-being company bringing ancient wisdom practices into modern-day living. Milich was recognized as one of the Women Who Make a Difference in their Community, nominated three times in a row for Entrepreneurial Women to Watch, and served as a contributing author of “Pathways to Vibrant Health and Well-Being.” She has spent the past 20+ years successfully working with leaders from all walks of life as a former executive, certified coach, mindfulness and design-thinking facilitator, artist and stakeholder business consultant. Michael Rossley ’13 was promoted to financial advisor at Glastonbury Wealth Management. He has worked there since 2015. In addition, his team was recognized as a best-in-state wealth management team for 2023.
Kirsten Tegtmeier ’17 married Carter Kramer on August 19, 2023. For their special day, they were surrounded by family and friends as they made their vows of matrimony in Bedford, New York, followed by a celebration at American Yacht Club. Nicholas Patti ’13 received the Exceptional Volunteer Award at the All-Class Reunion Weekend in June 2023. He has made significant contributions to the University’s rugby community through his volunteer work with rugby alumni events. Each year, Patti volunteers for the annual Rugby Alumni Weekend, one of the largest alumni events on campus. He has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and organizational skills in coordinating these events, helping to foster a sense of community and connection among rugby alumni. Patti has also dedicated countless hours to coaching, mentoring and supporting the women’s rugby team, helping to develop the skills and abilities of individual players, and has contributed to the team’s success.
2016
Fletcher Bonin ’16 published his second novel, “Glass Bottle Season” (Turner Books, 2023). The novel is set in Newport, Rhode Island, with characters and locations drawn from many recognizable Newport residents, restaurants, beaches and locales. Stephanie Forese King ’16 was married in 2021 at Salve Regina, and following her wedding, she founded Stephanie King Events in June 2022. She had a busy 2023 season, with weddings throughout New England, including one held at Ochre Court. Sabrina Stensland ’16 is the co-founder and director of Island Time Catering Co. The taco cart and mobile bar were part of Salve’s 2023 All-Class Reunion Weekend at the Saturday afternoon block party.
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Captain Blaine Woodcock ’17 served a nine-month deployment in the Middle East as an army ICU nurse caring for and treating deployed U.S. service members with the 10th field hospital.
2018
Jackie Connor ’18, ’21 (MBA), owner of Bellevue Boards, was the recipient of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leader Award for her skills in the business sphere. Connor says that it is a “dream come true” to be the owner of her charcuterie board business, which is located on Broadway in Newport. Helen Paquette ’18 works for the Derry Cooperative School District with elementary school-aged students who are on the autism spectrum. She is pursuing her master’s degree in art therapy at Lesley University and recently married her high school sweetheart.
2023
Chloe Lasquade ’23 joined the Potter League for Animals, located in Middletown, Rhode Island, as the development assistant. Lasquade also worked for the animal welfare organization as a marketing intern while completing her undergraduate studies. Grace Riccio ’23 is serving with TerraCorps RI, working with the Aquidneck Community Table (ACT) in Newport since graduation. Serving as a youth education coordinator at ACT aligns with her enthusiasm for enacting positive change in her community and supporting more sustainable food systems. SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
LEADING WITH HEART
O
CRISTA DURAND ’92 PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN NEWPORT’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
riginally an English major, Crista Falzarano Durand ’92 found herself at Salve without a clear idea of where her future would lead her. After identifying her energy, organization, and ability to thrive in a team setting, she decided to switch to finance management and soon discovered how far her talents could take her. Researching the strategy and planning of successful businesses for her senior year capstone, Durand realized that she wanted to be in an industry focused on people and service. Thirty-one years later, Durand is completing her ninth year as the president of Newport Hospital, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023. “Never underestimate the power of networking,” said Durand, reflecting on her career path. After graduation, she took an entry-level position at a bank but left to become a staff accountant to a home care and hospice facility. By prioritizing the connections she made in that setting, Durand was eventually promoted to chief financial officer. She spent 15 years moving up the ranks in the healthcare field, developing a team-driven attitude along the way. In 2014, Durand was appointed president of Newport Hospital. “Regardless of what you do, you have to love it, and I love it,” said Durand. Employees are the heart and soul of her institution; it can take time to walk to her office each morning because she engages with many of the staff members as she passes by. In her role, Durand feels that the most joy is brought to her through letters from patients who provide positive feedback on their experiences. Some are handwritten, others typed, some span pages, and others are just a few sentences, but she says that these letters affirm to her, “We achieved our mission.” FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
When reflecting on the work that she does, Durand likes to draw on a line by Audrey Hepburn: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” She feels that this quote encapsulates not just the goal of healthcare, but also the goals of Salve’s mercy mission, which shaped her educational experience and is aligned with the same belief that she holds in her job – no matter what someone’s background is, they are deserving of care. Durand’s uplifting attitude has been recognized many times over her career, and in 2023 she was named to Becker’s Healthcare “Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know List
“
Don’t be afraid to have high expectations because they will take you far. I would tell young people to be assertive, speak up, take risks, and be bold.
2023” for the role she plays in bettering the patient and staff experience at Newport Hospital. “Don’t be afraid to have high expectations because they will take you far,” Durand advises young women looking to enter the business field. “I would tell young people to be assertive, speak up, take risks, and be bold.” Durand has many wonderful and positive memories from her undergraduate experience. “Salve nurtures and attracts people who want long-lasting and meaningful friendships,” she said. Her relationships with the “Harrison Ave Girls” helped to elevate her experience at Salve and bring her together with some of her life-long best friends. In addition to devoting time to those she loves, Crista spends her free
-CRISTA DURAND ’92
time going on runs around Newport with her dog Skye, shopping, cooking, watching the Patriots, and learning how to play mahjong. Despite having accomplished so much in her career, Durand continues to set annual goals and make progress assessments throughout the year. Personally, she plans to work toward becoming bilingual in either Spanish or Italian. Professionally, she hopes to one day organize a not-for-profit organization that focuses on mentoring high school and college students. But for now, Durand is shaping the culture of Newport Hospital and remains passionate and excited to give back to her community. -Leah Spengler ’26
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
CROSSING THE FINISH LINE TOGETHER SEVEN ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF 2005 TRAIN AND COMPETE IN THE AMICA NEWPORT HALF MARATHON.
T
he decision to train for a half marathon is one that should not be taken lightly. But would you be more willing to commit if six of your best friends agreed to do it
with you? Class of 2005 alumni Stephanie Barrante, Michelle Faucher Cote, Elisabeth Prouty Gilbride, Rebecca Hormanski, Jennifer Fiasconaro Montalbano, Michelle (Mickey) Quinn and Jessica Murphy Tsukanov quickly developed a strong bond navigating their freshman year, which coincided with the devastating events of September 11, 2001. They shared countless walks on the Cliff Walk, pajama-wearing Sunday brunches at Miley Hall, and movie marathons in their residence halls. After graduation, they stayed the best of friends. They now live in Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia and Spain but make their annual gatherings a priority; their combined 11 children and significant others have become close friends over the years. Although the “Salve Seven” live many miles apart, they made the decision to train together for the Amica Newport Half Marathon, held October 8, 2023. The distance that separates them has not kept them from daily check-ins, trading training tips, and encouragement from afar. When asked what the hardest part of training for a marathon was, each talked about finding time to run with busy family schedules. But they also mentioned that having their Salve sisters
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alongside them – even from a distance – was what kept them going. “We all live so far apart from each other, but we talk daily,” said Cote. “We’ve supported each other through our highest highs and lowest lows since we were 18, and this is just another big chapter as we are all turning 40.” On October 8, all seven women ran the
Amica Newport Half Marathon; six of them in Newport, while Quinn ran virtually in Spain. It was during miles 11 and 12, as the course ran through the heart of Salve Regina’s campus, that the women realized how far they had all come together. With current Salve students cheering them on, the alumnae crossed the finished line, celebrating so much more than their college friendships. STEPHANIE BARRANTE During her years at Salve Regina, Barrante appreciated exploring the wharf and flying kites
on Ocean Drive. She graduated with a degree in cultural and historic preservation and anthropology and now lives in Connecticut, working as a manager with Starbucks. MICHELLE FAUCHER COTE Cote began building her portfolio while at Salve through her involvement with the American Institute for Graphic Arts student group and through writing and photography for The Willow Literary Journal. Graduating with a degree in both graphic design (fine arts) and communications media technology, Cote now works at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. In addition to coordinating and promoting interprofessional healthcare events, she also writes a tongue-in-cheek parenting column for a regional newspaper and designs logos for clients. ELISABETH PROUTY-GILBRIDE Prouty-Gilbride discovered a love for horseback riding and competed as a member of the equestrian team. She was also involved in the English Guild and was co-editor of The Willow Literary Journal. Such extra-curricular activities led directly to her first job at Horseman’s Yankee Pedlar. The magazine later merged with The Equine Journal and Gilbride moved from intern to assistant editor and then to general manager until the magazine folded in 2019. Now, Gilbride teaches middle-school English language arts and literature at Assumption School in Milbury, Massachusetts.
(From left) Michelle Cote, Rebecca Travers, Elisabeth Prouty-Gilbride, Jessica Tsukanov, Jennifer Montalbano and Stephanie Barrante
JENNIFER FIASCONARO MONTALBANO Montalbano graduated with degrees in psychology and Spanish. She went on to earn a master’s degree and certificate in advanced study in school psychology from Fairfield University. Now a school psychologist, Montalbano has worked for the past nine years with the Capital Region Education Council (CREC) at a magnet elementary school, serving students ages preschool through fifth grade. MICKEY QUINN Moving from California, Quinn became fast friends with the Salve Seven, often going
ALUMNI CONNECT
home with them to visit friends and family on weekends. Quinn graduated with degrees in anthropology and Spanish and a minor in cultural and historic preservation. She now lives in Seville, Spain and works as an elementary school teacher at a bilingual school. REBECCA HORMANSKI TRAVERS Travers became roommates with her alumni friends in the Fairlawn Apartments their junior and senior years. During a snowstorm, she remembers moving all their mattresses into one big bed for a slumber party. Travers currently works at Women and Infant’s Hospital in
PRIZES TO BE AWARDED INCLUDE: • One-week campus rental for summer 2024:
• •
rmation and See inside for
•
One prize to be awarded; based on availability; minimum age requirement of 28 years old; maximum occupancy up to six (6) guests; rental season runs from May 24 to August 9, 2024; $2,000 value. Reunion Weekend campus lodging (one prize): Free campus lodging for two during Reunion Weekend 2024; two-night stay; June 7-8, 2024; $200 value. Salve Mercy sweater (two prizes): 100% cotton, navy blue sweater, $75 value. $25 Amazon gift card (three prizes): $25 value.
CONTEST RULES: • To be eligible to win, submit contact information to Salve Regina by February 1, 2024. • Open to all Salve Regina alumni. Only Salve Regina alumni may enter.
FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
Providence, Rhode Island, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she has been caring for the tiniest patients for the past 19 years. JESSICA MURPHY TSUKANOV Tsukanov spent her years at Salve serving as the Student Government Association’s public relations coordinator. She also participated in Madrigals and The Willow Literary Journal. “These girls are my tribe,” said Tsukanov, recalling how the women shared endless laughs and adventures during their time in school. She now works as a family medical and palliative care physician. -Corilyn Richard ’15, ’20 (M) • No donation or purchase is required to enter. • Winners will be drawn from the total number of responses to Alumni-Connect; names may only be drawn once. • Winners will be contacted by phone or email. • Winner of the one-week campus rental will be required to complete a W-9 to receive their prize per IRS regulations. The winner will be issued an IRS 1099-R for tax year ending December 31, 2024. • By entering the Salve Regina University AlumniConnect contest, participants agree to receive emails from the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement at Salve Regina University. Participants may opt-out of email communications from the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement by calling 401-341-2346 or emailing alumni@salve.edu. • For information, call 401-341-2346 or email alumni@salve.edu.
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
A SEAHAWKS FAN FOR LIFE MICHAEL FISHER ’06 DELIVERS ON HIS PROMISE TO SALVE.
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ichael Fisher ’06 has accomplished more in the last 20 years than he ever imagined when he was graduating from Somerset High School in 2002. He explained that his mother Kathleen, a teacher, was the one who prompted him to begin looking at colleges. “At first, I wasn’t into going to college and thought I’d take a year off, but she strongly encouraged me to explore my options,” he said. After visiting Salve, Fisher was inspired by the University and knew it was the place for him. Unfortunately, he soon found out that his application had not been accepted on first review. Fisher explained that a few days later, he ran into a childhood friend, Matt Coute ’06, who mentioned that he was attending Salve and had been recruited to play on the basketball team. Fisher and Coute decided then and there that they would be roommates. “I was determined to be accepted to Salve,” he said. “I handwrote a one-page letter on notebook paper and sent it along with a picture of Matt and I dressed in tuxedos from a basketball awards banquet. Matt and I played against each other for different high schools.” On that slip of paper, he asked the admissions team to reconsider his application, citing that he had certain qualities that would make him an asset to the University, such as being a leader, having a great work ethic, and treating everyone with respect. “I also said that I was inspired by the University and if they gave me the opportunity, I 44
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would never let them down,” said Fisher. “Two weeks later, I received a letter in the mail that after further consideration, the admissions committee had accepted my application!” Fisher graduated with a degree in business administration and, in 2017, was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award for his contributions to the Salve community. Today, he is the general manager of Fisher Bus, Inc., in Somerset, Massachusetts, a company that services the transportation needs of thousands
become part of my extended family and I believe that we have a great impact on the community,” Fisher said. “Along with monetary donations, we also provide transportation services to various causes, especially when it may be someone in need.” Fisher is also a dedicated fan of, and generously supports, Seahawks athletics, which stems from his tenure on the men’s lacrosse team. Fisher Bus handles transportation for the athletics teams and the campus shuttle. As a way
of clients in the region with their school bus and charter divisions. His business partner and brother Ryan Fisher, who is operations manager, employ approximately 150 people and represent the third generation of their family’s business. Fisher’s primary focus over the last decade has been developing the charter services division of the company, which contributes to such charities as Wreaths Across America, the Jimmy Fund, St. Jude’s, the Somerset Educational Fund, the restoration fund for St. Anne’s Church in Fall River, and more. “The people that Fisher Bus employs have
to foster Seahawk spirit, he recently donated the design and installation of a bus wrap, which was unveiled on campus at the beginning of the semester. As the newly wrapped Seahawks athletics bus pulled into the parking lot at Rodgers Recreation Center, it was greeted with enthusiasm by student-athletes. “This will make the teams feel so proud when they go to other schools for games to showcase their own school,” Fisher said. Currently, Fisher lives in Somerset, Mass., with his wife Karoline and children Karter (4) and Mikaela (2), whom he describes as being
FROM UNCERTAINTY TO EXCELLENCE MICHAEL MCNAMARA ’16 EARNS ACCOLADES IN THE FIELD OF HISTORY EDUCATION. “undoubtedly my greatest success.” The couple met when Karoline was studying for her Ph.D. in psychology. She came to the United States from Brazil on a basketball scholarship and found her passion in psychology. With her doctoral degree and his business experience, Fisher said that they are working on opening a practice focusing on the mental health needs for young adults. “We feel this will be a tremendous service in our community as mental health, particularly that of our youth, is so critical at the moment and there is such a deficit of service providers,” said Fisher. As the Seahawks athletics bus carries student-athletes to games throughout New England, it also represents the enthusiasm and school spirit that Fisher has demonstrated since he first visited Salve’s campus two decades ago. He credits the University with instilling the confidence and skills needed to succeed and it’s safe to say that he’s lived up to his promise to never let Salve down. “Salve is a microcosm of my life,” said Fisher. “It taught me at a young age how to process failure. Failure doesn’t mean no; it means taking initiative and how that can change the direction of your life. All that has blossomed from the one event. How different life would have been if I’d taken no as an answer. It’s a good story for young people to know—don’t give up on your dreams.” “The life-long relationships and friendships I made during my time at Salve have impacted my life in so many ways that I want to give back in any way I can,” he continued. “I want to thank everyone that gave me a chance over the years - from being a new student to an alumnus and trusted business partner. I love Salve Regina University!” -Emily Dussault ’04
FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
A
rriving at Salve after a 14-hour drive from Northern Indiana, Michael McNamara ’16 was still unsure of where his future career would take him. “I thought I wanted to possibly go into teaching,” he recalled, “but I wasn’t sure what grade, or content area.” As it turns out, McNamara found his path and has made many impressive accomplishments in the teaching field, including being selected as Rhode Island’s 2023 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award recipient from the history and education organization, National History Day. Through this honor, he was chosen as one of 30 teachers across the United States to participate in a cohort entitled “Revolutionary Ideals,” that culminated in a week-long institute focusing on the ideals of the American Revolution. In addition, McNamara was selected as a 2023 Senior Fellow to the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation of Alexandria, Virginia. The goal of this fellowship is to help secondary level history, government, and civics teachers to become outstanding educators of the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, each fellow is funded $24,000 towards a master’s degree that includes a concentration of studies on early American History and civics. McNamara spent four weeks studying in Washington, D.C., as part of an immersive educational experience through Georgetown University that included daily lectures, guest speakers, and field trips to historical sites relevant to America’s founding. McNamara’s current endeavors are a far leap from his original focus as an undergraduate student. It was Dr. John Quinn’s “Europe 1914-1990s” course that convinced him that history education was his passion. “I realized I do like this history thing,” McNamara recalled. “I find it interesting and I
started seeing connections to modern day that then carried over to teaching. “When I left Salve, I thought I was going to be a middle school history teacher,” he continued. “I thought I was going to teach world history or European history but the only jobs I could find were high school and U.S. history.” After spending an additional year in Newport after graduation, McNamara found a social studies position at St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, teaching different levels of U.S. history to high school students. After the pandemic, he moved into the public education sector, where he remains today. McNamara believes that wisdom and education are a pathway to a more just world, and he recognizes how Salve’s mission ties into his daily work. “Mercy is irrelevant to who the person is,” he explained. “Whether they feel they deserve it, or you feel like they deserve it or not, every single person should get it.” He believes that education’s role in society is to be the great equalizer. “It doesn’t fix every problem, but it gives us the possible pathway to get there. -Leah Spengler ‘26 REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ IDEAS MALAREE SHIELDS ’16 RECEIVES THE RHODE ISLAND MILKEN AWARD.
M
alaree Shields ’16 is inspiring a new generation of young engineers at North Kingstown (Rhode Island) High School. Her dedication to her students was recognized Oct. 10 during an assembly, attended by the entire school along with honored town and state guests, where Shields was named as a Rhode Island Milken Award Recipient and presented with a check for $25,000. Shields is the 2,930th Milken Educator awarded since the program began in 1987. A biology and secondary education major, Shields’ hands-on lessons integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and give students the opportunity to build experience with relevant technology that will serve them in future careers. In her classroom, high schoolers build and program robots to navigate an obstacle course, using inquiry and deductive reasoning to test and revise their machines. Shields is intentional about creating a collaborative environment that serves all learners. In her adaptive classes, she designs activities that welcome students at all learning levels and align to each student’s unique learning needs. A champion for student success, she holds high expectations and encourages her high schoolers to take ownership of their learning. Students consistently use technology to gather data and track their progress to meet learning standards. A creative and innovative role model, particularly for young women, Shields’ students leave her classroom well on their way to success in STEM careers. In addition to her work in the classroom, Shields is a former class advisor and currently serves as co-leader for NKHS’ award-winning robotics team. As part of the school’s Academy
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Malaree Shields ’16 and North Kingstown (R.I.) high school student Emerson Lavallee
of Engineering pathway, she coordinates Career and Technology Education internships in engineering and connects with local industry leaders to organize workplace opportunities for students. Her pre-engineering students have the chance to earn work hours while implementing real-life applications of their STEM lessons. They teamed up with the climate club to build a mobile living wall and the herbs they grow are used for NKHS’ school lunches. Engaging students year-round, Shields helped organize summer science, technology, engineering, art and math camps, where students explore science through games and experiments. She also assists with hosting monthly STEM nights at the high school, which are run by high school volunteers and attended by elementary and middle school
students and their families. “Receiving the Milken Award was such an incredible honor and I am so grateful for the opportunities that come along with this award,” said Shields. “However, so much of this recognition belongs to my colleagues and students. In particular, I have been inspired by the students I work alongside on the NORTH Robotics team. The work these students do both in competition, but more importantly, within the community is astounding. This recognition really belongs to incredibly talented students, I am just the one lucky enough to stand by them and support their ideas.” Editor’s note: This story was published as part of the Milken Educator Awards, an initiative of the Milken Family Foundation.
BUILDING A CAREER AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS ANDREW SIABA ’19 IS WORKING HARD AND CATCHING THE BAD GUYS.
A
ndrew Siaba ’19, ’20 (MBA) is known at Salve Regina for his dedication to his studies and extracurriculars, which led to his being named valedictorian for the Class of 2019. Only nine days after the ceremony, Siaba began working for Fidelity Investments working in client services with shareholders and advisors and jumped right into it while furthering his education by pursuing his master’s degree through the accelerated program at Salve. “In Mr. Sacco’s senior capstone class, I happened to see on the back wall a poster that Fidelity was hiring,” recalled Siaba. “It was a Monday, and the application was due that Wednesday, so I grabbed that poster, went to my room and applied.” During his first year with the company, Siaba worked with client services dealing with advisors and shareholders, while taking an onboarding class that was required of all new Fidelity employees. As he grew in his first year and gained more experience, he started meeting with more specialized departments that were specific to his intended career goals. “I attended roundtables, and at them we shared fun facts as icebreakers,” explained Siaba. “I shared that I interned with the secret service and the presenter told me ‘we need to talk.’” Thanks to Siaba’s networking, he was introduced to the regional investigations team. He was able to get his foot in the door with investigations, working 10 hours per week part-time for the unit. A year later, Siaba applied for a position as an analyst on the financial crimes team and was promoted to the role, working on investigations involving international money
FALL 2023/WINTER 2024
movement and financial exploitation. “I’m always raising my hand and always willing to do anything I can possibly do, which has helped me earn these roles,” said Siaba. Like the many extracurriculars he participated in at Salve, Siaba has a leadership role with an employee resource group at Fidelity where new hires can ask questions and get support networking within the company. “I was close with my orientation leader at Salve, and I wanted to do for future students what my leader did for me,” said Siaba, who served as a peer mentor for first-year students and is continuing in a similar role with new colleagues at Fidelity. “I wanted to help students and, now, new workers find their place in the community and be a resource for them.” Most recently, Siaba had the opportunity to join the financial crimes team at Fidelity. He worked with a team of 10 in New England
to work in anti-money laundering, fraud investigations and protecting the company and its assets. When his supervisor created a new team focusing on financial crimes digital assets surveillance, he chose Siaba as the one person to join him in building the new group. With his typical dedication and enthusiasm, he has helped to build the project from the ground up. “It’s really rewarding, and I’m catching the bad guys,” laughed Siaba. “Who knows where this team can take us?” Looking toward the future, Siaba sees himself staying at Fidelity. “Anywhere from a new hire to the senior vice president, this is a place where you can go a long way if you work hard,” said Siaba. “You work hard, it shows, and you get promoted to the next spot in your career.” -Morgan Rizzo ’23
REPORT FROM NEWPORT
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IN LOVING MEMORY
IN MEMORIAM Helen Donohoe Behan ’79 Catherine Litwin Bellenger ’70 Mary McCarthy Bivins ’64 Theresa Nevronis Burke ’69 Jason W. Cornaglia ’97 Donna Tillman Cunha ’04 Lionel J. Desrochers ’76, M’81 Deborah Dalton Donovan ’83 Hope L. Douglass M’88 Pamela M. Edmunds M’15 Robert Charles Forster ’11 Virginia Neves Gonsalves ’62 Paul J. Griffith M’77 Mary Anne Murphy Hayes ’61 Andrea M. Herrick ’98 Richard L. Jackson M’99 Earlene Mara ’61 Roy T. McGowan ’96
JOAN MURPHY CHAPDELAINE ’57, ’85 (M) JULY 25, 1935- SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
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REPORT FROM NEWPORT
Vincent P. Merz ’84 Iris Most M’83
Joan Murphy Chapdelaine graduated from Salve Regina with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and began her career as an instructor at the Newport Hospital School of Nursing. After earning her master’s degree in nursing from Boston University, she accepted a position as director of nursing at the former Truesdale Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, and was later appointed director of the nursing component of the Rhode Island cancer control program. In 1980, she returned to nursing education as a professor at Salve. She continued her education by earning a M.S. in health service administration from Salve Regina University and a PhD. from Walden University. She eventually became a graduate program director and retired from Salve as professor emerita of management and health care administration, ending over a 50-year career in health care.
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Joan Bishop Merritt ’63
Constance Bettencourt Packard ’83 Marsha Pettis-Rounds ’59 Vincent Russo ’74 Patricia Fitzpatrick Sarazen Mary T. Seebode-Bobba ’89 Pauline A. Shugrue ’56 Kristine Grev Springett ’83, M’13 Alice Corey Stratford ’56 Gael Catabia Ulisse ’67 Claire O’Donnell Vendice ’51
Send us your news and updates! alumni@salve.edu
SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 2023
WELCOME TO THE SQUARE!
SUPPORT SALVE ALUMNI BUSINESSES
In Fall 2022, Salve launched Salve Square, a central marketplace for alumni to identify, and purchase alumnicreated products and services and support their fellow Seahawks. The Square has quickly grown to feature over 40 businesses created, owned, and run by Salve alumni. Businesses range from real estate to health and wellness, retail, food and beverages, and finance. All this and more can be found on the Square.
Next time you need a photographer, legal advice, or simply just want to do some shopping, look to Salve Square. You will support your fellow alumni by investing in quality products and services, and many offer discounts to Salve alumni— it’s a win/win.
Want to become a part of Salve Square? Visit salve.edu/salve-square or email alumni@salve.edu.
REUNION WEEKEND 2024 • JUNE 7 - 9 You are invited as we bring the best of Newport to Salve’s campus. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend a summer weekend in Newport? The festivities kick off with an oceanside welcome reception followed by shuttles into town to enjoy Newport nightlife. There is something for everyone, including the second annual best of Newport block party with activities for all ages, all-class dinner and dancing into the night with one of Newport’s favorite DJs, Rick Rolle! Registration and housing reservations open in early March.
salve.edu/reunionweekend alumni@salve.edu | 401-341-2346
Salve Regina University 100 Ochre Point Avenue Newport, Rhode Island 02840-4192
ALUMNI AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Alumni, send Salve your current contact information and you could WIN one of these fabulous prizes! See inside for details or visit salve.edu/alumni-connect.