Salve students explore biodiversity in the rainforest. by Catherine Dolan ’23 INVESTINGINEDUCATION
Leila de Bruyne ’07 and Justine Axelsson King ’07 put mercy mission into practice in rural Kenya through the creation of Flying Kites. by Tara Watkins ’00
Pell Center initiatives highlight the importance of ensuring that all voices are heard. by Teryn O’Brien ’24 (M)
PRESERVINGAMASTERPIECE
The Ochre Court ceiling restoration is an opportunity for students to see preservation in action. by Catherine Dolan ’23
The University celebrates its recent graduates. by Julie Miller
For stories highlighting the impact of Salve’s comprehensive campaign, look for Our Mission. Our Moment. throughout the issue.
What an amazing academic year for Salve! Our undergraduate and graduate students continue to impress as they steward our mercy mission through their studies and in their service to the community. It was a joy to celebrate our largest Commencement, with a total of 823 graduates who will carry forward their commitment to work for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful.
We wrapped up our first year in the NEWMAC conference with the baseball team’s historic season as they advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series for the first time, making it all the way to the semifinals. Each member of the team was a wonderful ambassador for Salve, both on and off the field.
I’m incredibly proud of all our student-athletes who have played their hearts out this year, demonstrating a commitment to their sport, their teammates and to representing our amazing Seahawk spirit in every competition.
In this issue, many of the stories highlight the ways our community members are supporting Our Mission. Our Moment. – The Campaign for Salve Regina University. With a number of initiatives under way, including our Salve Compass Program, we are building momentum across campus and it is truly Salve’s moment to shine.
I am grateful for all that our students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees and friends do to make a difference in their communities and it is a privilege to be part of our extraordinary Salve family.
Wishing you all the best,
Kelli J. Armstrong President
Follow me on Instagram! @kellijarmstrong
President Armstrong joins summer student employees for Salve Night at the Gulls June 17.
Noted ethnobotanist Dr. Mark Plotkin’s quote speaks to the wonders that awaited 15 Salve Regina University students as they embarked on an extraordinary adventure into the heart of the Amazon, where they delved deep into the tropical ecology and rich cultural tapestry of one of the world’s most biodiverse regions — the Amazon Rainforest.
Led by Dr. Jameson Chace, professor and chair of the Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies, the week-long study abroad program held January 4-12, offered students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in nature’s classroom while forging meaningful connections with local communities — all while receiving academic credit.
“It’s hard to conserve what you don’t know, so it’s important to be in those places that we talk about as being critically important in this age of conservation and mass extinction,” said Chace.
Reflecting on their time in the Amazon, the students carry a newfound appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecology, culture and humanity — a lesson that will continue to guide them on their journey toward a more sustainable and compassionate world.
EMBRACINGNATURE’SCLASSROOM
From the moment they arrived in Brazil, students were captivated by the awe-inspiring beauty of the Amazon.
“It’s so different to see a picture of an animal or a place
and then to actually see it in person is on another level,” said biology major Alexis Harris ’24. “I can’t even really put into words how exciting that was.”
Guided by experienced Brazilian naturalists, students traversed the dense rainforest and a major river in the Amazon Basin, the Rio Negro — marveling at the diverse flora and fauna they discovered.
The group resided on a roughly 100-foot-long ship equipped with cabins for 18 guests and crew quarters. Each morning — while most would rather be sleeping — students eagerly awoke at 5:30 a.m. and set out on boat excursions to explorenarrowpassagesandforestbywaysuntillateafternoon. Their days included indulging in Brazilian breakfasts, rainforest walks and birdwatching sessions, where they witnessed over 100 species from the ship’s top deck.
Throughout their packed days, students found themselves energized by the wonders of the rainforest, eagerly discovering its hidden treasures and marvelling at its diverse inhabitants.
From encounters with pink river dolphins and piranha fishing to rare sightings of harpy eagles, howler monkeys and sloths (oh my!), the students were immersed in the breathtaking biodiversity of the Amazon.
“I grew up watching David Attenborough and Planet Earth, so it was really cool to see the Amazon in person and have an experience like this be accessible to me — it’s something I never imagined I would see,” shared Casey Maeve Bermingham ’25, a sociology and anthropology major with a minor in women and gender studies.
In the rainforest, students were able to experience not only a unique ecosystem, but breathtaking views. Eliana Koenig ’26, a psychology and Spanish double major, found the night sky to be surreal – as the light pollution back in the U.S. has caused such a grand view to slowly fade away.
“It was so different. Every night everyone would be able to look up at the sky and see the entire Milky Way. I felt like I was in a Toyota Tacoma commercial with such a clear night’s sky,” she joked.
ACULTURALTAPESTRYUNRAVELED
In addition to exploring the ecological wonders of the Amazon, students immersed themselves in the vibrant culture of the local communities.
While eco-tourism offers opportunities for cultural exchange and environmental awareness, it can be challenging to ensure that tourists do not encroach on indigenous cultures and territories. Recognizing these complexities, the students approached their trip to the Amazon with a deep commitment to the University’s values of compassion and respect for others. By fostering open dialogue, actively listening to local communities, and acknowledging their privilege as visitors, the students engaged in meaningful interactions with a local indigenous/ Portuguese village, learning about their traditions, customs and environmental stewardship practices with humility and reverence. Through this approach, the students honored the cultural heritage of the Amazonian community they encountered — embodying the spirit of mercy and developing genuine connections based on mutual respect and understanding.
“I was a little bit concerned about going into the local village — and going into these people’s homes and invading their space,” said Bermingham. “But it all felt so natural. They showed us their homes, taught us all about the local plants and about different foods, and we even were able to purchase some of their homemade jewelry and sculptures — it was an amazing experience to be a part of.”
Interacting with the local villagers provided invaluable insights into their way of living and deepened the students’ appreciation for cultural diversity. Koenig was able to use her knowledge of the Spanish language — a language that shares similarities to the country’s native Portuguese tongue — to create a deeper bond with the people of the village.
“I was able to talk to the little kids,” recounted Koenig. “We played soccer together, and one child handed me some fruit…he taught me some words in Portuguese, and it was so much fun.”
The experiences in the Amazon extended far beyond ecological exploration, leaving an indelible impact on students’ perspectives and aspirations.
“I learned so much outside of ecology, like how they’re using plants to make their own medicines — my eyes were opened to many different things,” reflected Harris, who gained invaluable knowledge from the trip to the village. She plans to pursue the field of medicine following graduation and the trip ignited a passion for global exploration and interdisciplinary learning that she’ll carry with her.
“I kept telling everyone that even just this short trip made me want to explore the world so much more,” said Harris. “It completely expanded my interests about the medical field and even tropical biology. There are so many different paths I can go on.”
Many students take a general biology course as part of their undergraduate coursework. The classes take students out into local ecosystems where they are exposed to topics such as evolution and biodiversity, and explore niches like tropical biology. The Amazon adventure emphasized the importance of a holistic education — taking learning from the lab to the lungs of the Earth.
“It really all connects. The trip connected all the concepts I’ve been learning — being able to experience and see what we
talked about in my classes furthered my understanding on everything,” said biology major Tiffany Daponte ’27
FOSTERINGGLOBALRESPONSIBILITY
As students returned home, their experiences in the Amazon continued to shape their worldview, instilling a sense of global responsibility and environmental stewardship.
“I’ve learned about Amazonian tribes and how they fight environmental destruction and deforestation in classes before, but seeing it firsthand was really special,” noted Bermingham, who plans to become an anthropologist after graduating. “I am better at understanding the people that live there if I understand the environment that they’re living in. Any chance to immerse yourself in a culture that you’ve never seen before or an environment that you’ve never seen before — one that’s completely different than your own — makes you a better anthropologist and a better person.”
Students and faculty join Brazilian guides for a week exploring the Amazonrainforest.
AsthefoundersofFlyingKites,anonprofitorganizationbasedinrural Kenya, LeiladeBruyne’07 and JustineAxelssonKing’07 arecreating positiveandimpactfulchangeinalignmentwiththeCriticalConcerns oftheSistersofMercythroughtheirfocusoneducationalandsupport programsforgirls.Servingasexecutivedirectoranddirectoroffinance andadministration,respectively,theybelievethatSalve’smercy-inspired mission is all in a day’swork.
The Salve alumni never expected that their junior year volunteer excursion to Kenya would become a long-term career pursuit. Inspired by Dr. Debra Curtis, former associate professor in the Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies, both journeyed to rural Kenya and immersed themselves in the day-to-day activities of the local community. They could not ignore the stark disparity in access to resources, including adequate food, sanitary water, education and medical care.
“We wanted to help but didn’t know how,” said de Bruyne.
De Bruyne and King returned to Salve to complete their undergraduate degrees. Both felt drawn back to rural Kenya, but struggled with the central question of“what use are we there?”
After graduation, Curtis introduced de Bruyne and King to Dr. Paul Farmer, a member of Partners in Health, an international nonprofit public health organization. His philosophy of preferential option became a cornerstone for their efforts in Kenya.
“The world should not view the poor with a different set of standards,” explained de Bruyne. “I began to ask ‘would this be good enough for my own child?’”
Six months after graduation from Salve, de Bruyne and King, together with their friend Toby Storie-Pugh, purchased a parcel of fertile land in Njabini, Kenya, located about two hours south of Nairobi, thanks to a grant from philanthropist
Leila de Bruyne ’07
Justine Axelsson King ’07
Alan Shawn Feinstein. They then opened a children’s home and became legal guardians of 26 orphans.
“We were constantly running out of money in those early years,” recalled de Bruyne. “But our team pushed us on. Luckily, we were beginning to form a community, both in Kenya and America, which supported us. By the time we were getting tired, we had about 100 supporters by our side to help stay the course.”
The pair co-founded Flying Kites to bring quality education and services to vulnerable children in rural Kenya. Last year alone, Flying Kites raised over $5 million to support more than nine schools through access to clean drinking water and free, nutritious meals grown, harvested and delivered on site for every student each day. They also partnered with a cohort of public school teachers striving to improve life outcomes for thousands of students, especially girls.
Over the past 17 years, Flying Kites has persevered, constructing a state-of-the-art campus that houses both a model school and teacher training center. The organization employs over 40 Kenyans and currently serves over 5,000 students. Last year, the team won recognition with a grant from the Obama Foundation’s Girl’s Opportunity Alliance to help scale their work with girls.
Flying Kites trains female teachers from within their cohort of public primary schools to launch and lead after-school clubs that focus on girls’ leadership, rights and health.
“We want to invest in girls when it counts,” explained King. “Our work is really centered around grades 6-9, a pivotal time in a girl’s life that informs much of how she sees herself and the world.”
“Success will look different for every student,” she continued. “Some will go on and go to university, while others will remain in our community and become great moms and role models. For us, it’s really about supporting girls to live selfdetermined lives.”
In 2023, Flying Kites began its new platform of partnering with teachers to invest in Kenyan girls to reduce dropout rates, improve access to reproductive education and build selfconfidence.
“We want to transform primary schools into places where girls can realize their right to education,” said King.
Coined a “caravan of love” by members of the community, Flying Kites hopes to continue its work of empowerment –supporting teachers, strengthening schools and investing in girls for many years to come.
“Throughout all the work of Flying Kites is the thread of what’s possible when we work together,” said de Bruyne.
“The Swahili word for together is pamoja,” added King. “We are doing this together, as a community.”
What started as a small school in the mountains of Kenya has evolved into a locally led center of innovation that serves as an educational hub, a source of community enrichment, and a testament to the power of Pamoja.
As Flying Kites embarks on a multi-year strategy to bring their interventions to all public primary schools in their sub-county - serving more than 20,000 students - King reflected on what support from the Salve community would mean to her.
“To have the Salve community behind us as we expand our work and impact would really bring things full circle for us,” said King. “Salve is where it all started.”
“It’s amazing to think back on those two Salve juniors with a backpack,” de Bruyne reflected. “We had no idea what was in store for us, and building this organization together has been the journey of a lifetime.”
Editor’s note: For more information, visit flyingkites.org.
Itisnosurprisethatwithapresidentialelectiononthehorizonin2024,politicsare oneveryone’smind.Andwhiletherearesomethatmayquestionwhetherdemocracy isanimportantconcepttobringintothe21stcentury,Dr.JimLudes,vicepresident forstrategicinitiativesatSalveandexecutivedirectorofthePellCenter,spoketothe importance of democracy and how it ties into the University’s mercy-inspired mission.
“IfyouthinkaboutwhattheSistersofMercyweretalkingaboutwhendefining ‘mercy’asenteringintothechaosofotherpeople’slivesandwalkingwiththemthrough it,whatdoesthatthenmeaninbroaderpoliticalterms?”askedLudes.“Wefacea choiceasasocietybetweenanauthoritarianmodel,whichisinherentlyviolentandwill favorachosenfew,oronethatisdemocratic,whichallowsforpluralismandbelievesall individuals are blessed with human dignity and deserve to be heard.”
Through initiatives such as Ocean State Stories and Nationhood Lab, the Pell Center promotes American engagement in the world, effective government at home and civic participation by all Americans.
When thinking through this lens of privilege and power for only a few, “the Sisters of Mercy and the values of this institution have come down squarely on the side of democracy,” concluded Ludes.
However, if the average U.S. citizen doesn’t know how to navigate the political process, then only a few privileged people or those with more extreme voices will use the tools to make political change. This leads to the undermining of civil discourse and a hesitation to work together across political aisles due to fear and intimidation.
“Right now, the most intense voices being heard in politics ... are coming from the far extremes of our two-party system,” explained Dr. Mary Anderson, who recently joined Salve as the inaugural David and Carolyn Brodsky Chair in U.S. Constitutional Democracy and Culture and will be working on projects with the Pell Center. “This means the majority of Americans— who are often much more in the center of the political spectrum — are not being heard.”
With more privileged and extreme voices taking up center stage in current politics, the perception of an increasingly divided country persists. So are Americans really more divided than ever? And how does someone track the data to help understand what’s going on?
CREATIONOFTHEPOLARIZATIONINDEX
Katie Langford Sonder, Pell Center associate director and fellow, has created a series of research studies called the Polarization Index. The initiative enables citizens to better understand how polarization is influencing communities.
Offering concrete data from reputable sources and repeatable research methods tracked over time, each of the four parts of the Polarization Index covers different angles on polarization: perceptions of political polarization; the complexities of ideological polarization; polarization in the federal government; and the role of polarization in the media.
“The most interesting finding is that American citizens are not as ideologically polarized as we might presume,” explained Sonder. “That means that Republicans, Democrats and even Independents aren’t as far apart from their political counterparts on hot button issues like gun rights and immigration as they think.”
What the data also show, however, is that the public has grown in what is termed “affective polarization,” according to Sonder. This means that while Americans’ opinions on major political issues have not become more extreme over time, a dislike and distrust of those on the other side of the political spectrum has increased in the last two decades.
“A lot of people are starting to see those on the ‘other side’ of the political spectrum as very distant, as close-minded, as lazy, and morally corrupt,” described Sonder. “But people are relying on generalized stereotypes to form these opinions.”
The Polarization Index’s research also found that while average U.S. citizens aren’t as divided as they think they are, politicians at the federal level are the most polarized they have ever been. Sonder looked at every major vote of passed legislation since 1945, and the data analysis painted a stark picture about the health of bipartisanship in the country’s current representation in Congress.
Sonder also directed the Voices ofValue project, which administered a survey in June to likely Rhode Island voters about the upcoming elections, contributors to political polarization, the health of U.S. democracy and their news consumption habits. Fielded by Embold Research and funded through the generosity ofTrustee Bernard McKay and his wife Mary McKay, the strategic initiative received responses from 1,450 likely voters in the Ocean State who indicated high levels of national pride, but over one-third think U.S. democracy is not healthy at all. Over three-quarters of voters believe political polarization has increased over the past year and more than two-thirds of members from each major political party are very concerned about the impact of misleading information during the 2024 elections.
Another Pell Center initiative, the Nationhood Lab, is developing and testing a renewed story of America’s national identity in a way that upholds democratic ideals.
Katie Langford Sonder
VoicesofValueProject
Nationhood Lab is directed by Colin Woodard, a New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist. In 2011, Woodard published the groundbreaking book “American Nations: A History of the Eleven Regional Cultures of North America,” which explored how 11 distinct regions that developed across the 17th through 19th centuries helped shaped American life, including political preferences.
Woodard subsequently published two additional books that build on “American Nations,” and Nationhood Lab was established in 2023 to do further research on how these regions impact a variety of issues. Nationhood Lab’s research is fully funded through donor support and has received major media coverage, including a Politico story that was one of their most-
read of the year, appearances on MSNBC, NPR’s Here and Now, and other outlets.
“Our data journalism provides tactical information about how U.S. regional cultures affect key phenomena in American life, including elections,” said Woodard. “Our strategic work is around how to build healthy bonds that could hold our fractious federation together, specifically by developing and testing a renewed story of national purpose and belonging centered on the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence.”
According to Woodard, it is crucial to help Americans understand not only the regional differences that have influenced the past and present, but also the vital necessity of shaping a new 21st-century narrative that can unify the country.
“Americans have never been great at talking about what the Declaration’s lofty civic ideals mean in practice, but we stopped even trying after the Cold War,” said Woodard. “A vacuum opened up and demagogues stepped right in, authoritarian ethnonationalists who have their story all worked out. The rest of us — and by that I mean the 70 to 80 % of Americans who really don’t want to live in an authoritarian state — need our story, and we need it right now.”
However, as Sonder’s polarization work shows, the gap between U.S. citizens is not as wide as it is between its political leaders, and this can also be seen in Nationhood Lab’s work, according to Woodard.
“There are significant regional differences on gun control, authoritarianism, and many other issues, but there’s still very often a plurality of people in every region who agree on key
Over one-third of likely voters in Rhode Island believe U.S. democracy is not healthy. No matter their political party, voters in the state are concerned about disinformation and fake news as a top contributor to political polarization.
issues when they’re presented without a partisan frame,” Woodard explained.
THEPOWEROFLOCALMEDIA
“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost,” Founding Father and third President of the U. S. Thomas Jefferson once famously wrote in a letter.
“The ability of journalists to ask hard questions and tell fact-driven stories that matter, quite frankly, is central to the American experience with democracy,” explained Ludes. “Unfortunately, local journalism is dying – not just in Rhode Island but around the country.”
When good journalism dies, people with power and privilege are the only ones allowed to shape the news and media. Ocean State Stories is an independent, non-partisan media outlet that publishes Rhode Island stories that are often neglected or under-reported. Directed by award-winning journalist G. Wayne Miller, Ocean State Stories was a Silver Award winner in the 2024 Anthem Awards competition. Like Nationhood Lab, the initiative is supported by philanthropic contributions that enable its important work to continue.
“If you don’t understand that you’re being told a fictionalized story parading itself as news, you might confuse a shaped narrative with facts,” said Ludes. “It’s crucial to apply some critical thinking to understand the motive of news or media outlets and why they might be driven toward a certain set of outcomes with their narratives.”
SALVEJOINS“ALLIN”TOENGAGEYOUNGERVOTERS
Because of these concerning trends around political polarization, differing regional narratives across America, and the decline in high-quality news and media, educating younger generations around the importance of civic engagement becomes more vital than ever before.
“Young people are the movers and the shakers, the ones who are excited to go out in the world and make a change,” said Anderson. “They want to make a difference in these issues, and they need tools in their toolbox to be able to advocate.”
With this in mind, the University has pledged to be part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a national program that supports colleges and universities in their commitment to increasing student voting rates and making civic engagement a core value on their campus. ALL IN is supported by the R.I. Secretary of State’s office, and Salve joins other higher education institutions across the state that are boosting civic engagement for college-aged students.
“Every year for ALL IN, we’ll create an action plan created
by a coalition that’s made up of faculty, staff, and student changemakers on campus who are committed to civic engagement,” Sonder described. “It could look like voter registration drives, workshops on civil dialogue, how to engage with social media, and other topics.”
Based on data from a national study published in 2021 by Tufts University’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education, college students voted in the last presidential election at the same levels as the overall electorate, explained Anderson.
“It was the highest turnout amongst young people we have seen in a very, very long time,” said Anderson. “Young people are extremely engaged.”
In addition to ALL IN, the Pell Center’s longtime Nuala Pell Leadership Program provides opportunities for high-achievingcollegestudentfellowsatSalve,exposingthemto the theory and practice of leadership. The program culminates with a trip to Washington, D.C., to engage with Rhode Island federal officials and witness the political process first-hand.
The Pell Center is also developing the Summer Institute for Politics for high school students, an opportunity that will offer teenagers a chance to begin thinking through the political process even before they hit voting age.
CITIZENSHAVEPOWERINPARTICIPATION
“The authority of a government rests on the citizens,” said Ludes. “The government is not some all-powerful being – that’s what kings were, that’s what authoritarians love – but in a democratic republic, the most powerful actor is the citizen .... And hopefully, we can help remind people that it’s the participation of citizens, it’s your voice that matters.”
If citizens believe their voices matter, then they will also understand that other voices matter, too. When everyone can approach the table in a respectful way, this becomes the essence of civil discourse, compromise, and working across the political aisle – the hallmarks of a functioning democratic government.
“Hope is radical,” Sonder concluded. “So even during times of great upheaval or times of heightened toxic polarization, where can we bring in hope and find places of commonality with people we might disagree with to make little steps of progress? That might just be a starting place, but those small steps are where long-term progress gets made.”
Pell Center initiatives are made possible through the generosity of donors who believe in the importance of civic engagement as part of the democratic process. To support the Pell Center’s endowment or any of its initiatives, please visit pellcenter.org.
Constitutional Democracy and Culture was established in 2022. The endowed chair was created to enhance the undergraduate and graduate student experience by focusing on the democratic forces that have inspired, built and sustained America throughout its history.
David Brodsky ’21 (Hon.), the founder and former chairman and CEO of Rhode Island-based Superior Healthcare Group, and his late wife, Carolyn, devoted decades to supporting philanthropic causes across the U.S., with a focus on higher education, preservation, the arts and healthcare.
After a rigorous search, Dr. Mary Anderson was named as the inaugural Brodsky Chair. She joins the campus community for the fall semester after moving to Rhode Island with her husband and three children to begin her new role.
“The job description was such a great fit for what Salve was looking for and the work that I do,” said Anderson. “In bestowing this gift to the University, the Brodsky family has ensured that the Salve community will continue to engage in teaching and research that is foundational to our nation’s most cherished ideals for years to come.”
Anderson earned her doctorate degree at Florida State University with a dissertation on building a sense of community and how that fosters political action. She then embarked on a 15-year career teaching political science at the University of Tampa in Florida (UT), where she held numerous positions and was chair of the political science department twice. Anderson also co-founded and co-directed UT’s Democracy Coalition and served as the inaugural chair for a faculty senate committee on community and civic engagement.
“Essentially, I’ve been working on civic engagement and trying to understand how communities can help foster civic en-
gagement my entire career,” said Anderson. “There are a variety of different ways you can use community to help mobilize and motivate people to participate in the civic engagement process.”
Anderson’s research has been published in leading political science journals, and she is the author or co-author of four books. In addition, Anderson and a team of undergraduate research students gathered approximately 1,700 speeches from America’s First Ladies; the eventual goal is to have a comprehensive public archive of public statements and speeches by every First Lady from Johnson to Biden.
Anderson is excited to be just as engaged at Salve as she moves into her new role. She is inspired by the University’s mercy mission and its emphasis on the five Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy – particularly women.
“Almost all of my recent work is around ... how we get women involved in the political process, because I think women bring a different voice to politics,” said Anderson. “And when it comes to racism, nonviolence, the Earth, and immigration – anybody who studies public opinion and policy knows that these are key issues on the tops of people’s minds.”
As The Brodsky Chair, Anderson will serve as a catalyst for academic discourse, student engagement and the advancement of the ideals from which the U.S. Constitution was crafted. Her work will ensure that undergraduate students explore the opportunities and freedoms made possible in the nation’s founding, so that our future leaders will recognize the importance of communication and compromise when building governmental frameworks.
TheCampaignfor SalveReginaUniversity
David Brodsky ’21 (Hon.)
On April 4, Salve Regina University honored U.S. Senator Jack Reed with the Claiborne Pell Center Award. A recognition given only twice in the Center’s 26-year history, the previous award recipients are His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (2005), and the late Nuala O’Donnell Pell (2013).
“It is a rare opportunity in 2024 to celebrate someone recognized for his integrity, respected by members of both parties, whose council is sought by presidents, and whose conscience has helped him to navigate the most complex of public questions,” said Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, president, at the award ceremony.
First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1990, Reed was then elected to succeed Claiborne Pell as
Rhode Island’s 46th U.S. Senator in 1996, establishing himself as a leader whose voice is heard and respected on both sides of the aisle. Reed is chair of the Armed Services Committee; a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; a member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; and a member (ex officio) of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. THECLAIBORNE
“Senator Pell became a mentor, especially after I joined the United States Congress,” said Reed during the ceremony. “He understood my experience that being American was not about your language or your race. Being American was a quality of the heart that respected others and strove to build a better, fairer and more peaceful world.”
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Reed served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry platoon leader, a company commander, a battalion officer, and returned to West Point as a faculty member.
“One of the things I learned in teaching at West Point ... was ‘Be kind and no surprises.’ If you know something, tell people,” said Reed, sharing that nothing good comes from unnecessary power dynamics and withholding information from a well-respected staff. “Then when I was at law school, the most fundamental lesson I learned is: Sometimes the most important thing is not the answer, but the right question.”
Following his acceptance of the award, Reed joined Jim Ludes, vice president for strategic initiatives at Salve and executive director of the Pell Center, for an interview and conversation on a range of topics, including the state of democracy in America and the world’s current affairs.
“I think everyone should be concerned,” said Reed when speaking about democracy. “We’re facing a combination of challenges we haven’t seen in a long time.” Reed is nonetheless hopeful that democracy can remain strong as long as Americans can embrace its principles.
When asked whether empathy should be practiced in politics at the federal level, Reed responded, “It’s critical, because what you want to do is to give every citizen of America a chance. And once you do that, then this country would be great.”
Preservinga Masterpiece
AnartisticrestorationhasunfoldedintheOchreCourtballroom inrecent months, whereateamofdedicated art conservators workingwithJohnCanning & Company have revitalized anItalianmasterpieceontheceiling that transcendstime.
Rich in architectural history, Salve’s campus houses many treasures that have been carefully preserved and restored as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the University’s cultural heritage is accessible to future generations. An artistic restoration is under way in the Ochre Court ballroom, which, until the consecration of Our Lady of Mercy Chapel in 2010, served as the University’s chapel. Throughout the spring, a team of dedicated art conservators working with John Canning & Company have revitalized an Italian masterpiece on the ceiling that transcends time.
Crafted by the Italian artist Giambettino Cignaroli, the painting depicts a scene ofVulcan presenting Aeneas’ arms to Venus. The painting was originally housed in the Palazzo Labia ofVenice, Italy, but due to the deterioration of the palazzo in the latter part of the 19th century, some interior pieces of artwork were sold, making their way to Paris antique markets — and eventually, to America and Ochre Court.
The ceiling painting is affixed to the masonry using white lead glue, and several sections have been repainted throughout the 20th century. The adhesive has now caused extensive portions of the composition to respond negatively to changes in climate, leading to detachment of paint from the canvas.
Paul Miller, director of the Clouds Hill Museum in Warwick, R.I., and former conservator for the Preservation Society of Newport County, offered his expertise regarding the art and architecture of Ochre Court as the delicate restoration unfolded and and his involvement helped to inspire generous gifts to the project, which was fully funded through philanthropic support.
Coming from a family of art collectors, Alessandra Dolnier became involved with
Seeing that Salve is actively doing things to helpadvancepreservationwithinourown buildingsisamazing.
SYDNEYDUFRESNE’26
the effort as a way of honoring her parents and her friendship with Miller. Her grandfather, William Suida, who wrote extensively on Italian art, and her parents, Robert and Bertina Manning, were some of the preeminent collectors of Italian Renaissance and Baroque art of the 20th century.”
“In my heart, our gift is a tribute to my parents and as friends, Kurt and I both said it’s a way to honor Paul [Miller] and all he does to ensure the survival of works such as the Cignaroli,” said Dolnier who, along with her husband Kurt, were generous donors to the project.
Architectural historian and interior designer Pauline Metcalf was also a generous supporter of the restoration through the Felicia Fund, a foundation that focuses on historic preservation and conservation. In addition, Diane Beaver was a lead donor who was instrumental in connecting other funders to the project.
“It’s culturally important to be able to preserve and conserve things of artistic
value,” said Beaver, a Newport resident and former neighbor to Salve. “I’m very glad that we have Salve Regina in our community, and I look at Salve as stewards to share its beauty and history with the community.”
Students were able to observe the preservation work being done, recognizing that Salve’s historic campus is a distinctive part of their educational experience.
As one of only eight in the country, the Noreen Stonor Drexel Cultural and Historic Preservation Program provides students with a unique opportunity to participate in hands-on research out in the field – which often takes place on campus.
“It’s so important to learn and take advantage of the history that’s around us,” said Sydney Dufresne ’26, a double major in American history and CHP with a minor in sociology and anthropology. “Seeing that Salve is actively doing things to help advance preservation within our own buildings is amazing.”
-CatherineDolan’23
Commencement2024: EmbracetheUnexpected
Members of Salve’s largest graduating class celebrate their achievements.
Salve Regina’s Class of 2024 was the largest ever, with 530 bachelor’s degrees conferred at the undergraduate ceremony May 19, along with 271 master’s degrees, and 22 doctoral degrees conferred during the graduate ceremony on May 16.
In presenting the undergraduate keynote address, Susan Eisenhower — renowned author, scholar and policy analyst and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower — spoke to students about Salve’s focus on mercy leadership and service.
“As you begin your post-graduation journey, embrace the unexpected — even the assignments that may at first disappoint you,” Eisenhower said. “Learn from them. Reflect on them. Don’t shortchange yourself by living so fast and ambitiously that you miss the enduring lessons that come every day, no matter what job or assignment. You will be the better for it, as will everyone who will come to depend on you.”
In addition to Eisenhower, the University awarded honorary degrees to James T. Brett, president and CEO ofThe New England Council and a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives;
Susan Eisenhower
Christine Kavanagh, R.S.M., president of ReFocus, Inc. and member of Salve’s board of trustees; and Gloria Purvis, an author, Catholic commentator, host and activist.
In her remarks, President Kelli J. Armstrong also spoke to the opportunities unexpected events present, lauding this particular class — many of whom missed high school milestone ceremonies and started collegeduringthepandemic—foritsresilience.
“It’s amazing to see what you have accomplished and what you have experienced while you were here at Salve,” said Armstrong. “What I am most proud of is that throughout it all you never lost sight of those in need — our mercy commitment of service to the community was central to your life here. You found ways to serve others, particularly the most vulnerable of our society, even in the midst of a pandemic. At a time where simply showing up and persevering was an accomplishment in itself, you went far beyond expectations.”
Cailin Aline Martin, one of four valedictorians alongside Sofia Elizabeth Abuin, Ashley Louise Lefebvre and Jessica Marie Roberts, reflected on the transformative Salve experience shared by her fellow graduates.
Ourclassinspires me and gives me hope forthefutureandtheworld,becauseSalve affordedusendlessopportunitiesasartists, athletesandscholars.
CAILINALINEMARTIN,CLASSOF2024VALEDICTORIAN
“Our class inspires me and gives me hope for the future and the world, because Salve afforded us endless opportunities as artists, athletes, and scholars — but instead of focusing on personal gain, our class commits to the Critical Concerns of Mercy for Earth, immigration, anti-racism, women and nonviolence,” said Martin. “Our degrees prepared us for careers, while the Salve experience transformed us into local and soon-to-be-global community leaders.”
Closing out her address, Armstrong reminded the class that “we measure our success as an institution by the good that you do in the world,” and encouraged them to hold onto what they have learned.
“Use your gifts of a mercy education — of critical thinking, discernment and love for your fellow humans to be the healer and the voice of reason in places of turmoil,” said Armstrong.
Classof2024valedictoriansCailinMartin,SofiaAbuin,AshleyLefbvre and Jessice Roberts
Inspire at Salve
Salve is proud to be one of the first stops for The Great Elephant Migration, a traveling public art exhibition and global fundraising initiative designed to inspire humans to coexist with nature. 100 life-sized Indian elephant sculptures start their 3,500-mile cross-country journey in Newport July 4. Visit the herd along the Cliff Walk on the lawn near McAuley Hall.
Salve student Cliff Walk Ambassadors will act as docents to educate visitors about the National Heritage Trail and the elephant exhibit as part of their community immersion coursework. The U.S migration is presented by Art& Newport, founded by Dodie Kazanjian ’72, and Elephant Family USA. For more information: salve.edu/great-elephant-migration
ALUMNIEXCLUSIVE
An Evening with the Elephants August 10 • 4 - 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit scholarships.
SupportingStudents BeyondtheClassroom
As with many inspired ideas, it began with a conversation amongst friends. An expatriate living in London with her husband and children for nearly 30 years, Andrea Giletti ’79 and her dear friend, Cherie, were discussing the challenges faced by students who do not have the financial means to support the experiential learning opportunities so critical to a robust college education. The expenses involved often eliminate the possibility of participation in internships, conferences and networking events, all of which play a vital role in developing the necessary skills for success beyond graduation.
When the Gilettis were looking for meaningful ways to support Salve Regina, she recalled the conversation and from there, the Andrea and Theodore Giletti Fund for Experiential Education was established through an early gift to Our Mission. Our Moment. – the University’s historic fundraising campaign. The couple’s generous gift is designated to help level the playing field for students, ensuring that they have the funds required to participate in learning experiences outside the classroom.
The Giletti Fund primarily supports student participation in the annual Student Managed Investment Fund Conference and Competition. Two student teams from the Investment Club attended the conference in Chicago, Illinois, in October 2023, where they competed in the stock portfolio competition against 83 U.S. and international colleges and universities.
“Salve students across several majors, business and non-business, have had the
wonderful opportunity to attend the annual Student Managed Investment Portfolio Conference for the past few years thanks to the Gilettis’ generosity,” said Samuel Sacco, senior lecturer in business and economics.
“The students are able to network with senior wealth managers, portfolio managers, and technical analysts from across the U.S.
“In addition, the students demonstrated their stock portfolio analysis skills by competing against major colleges and universities in a rigorous portfolio competition and have consistently finished in the top 10% of the competition entrants each year,” he continued. “The experiential opportunity provides an amazing glimpse into the professional finance world and an appreciation of the skill sets necessary for success.”
Following each trip, the donors receive a recap through thank you notes from the participants. Andrea believes that each stu-
dent is a wonderful ambassador for Salve in a professional and academic setting.
“The young people who are involved, it’s remarkable,” she said. “They send such beautiful photographs and they’re really successful, which is great. They’re so proud they’re representing Salve.”
The Gilettis’ generous donation helped students travel to Chicago and compete with bigger institutions where Salve performed in the top percentage of schools. “The experiences gained from both completing the project and going to Chicago to network and visit places like the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and the Federal Reserve would not be possible without their contributions,” said Andrew Hassler ’24. “Their donations are much appreciated as they significantly enhanced our opportunities for experiential learning.”
Andrea spent much of her post-Salve life living in London with her husband, who is an investment banker, and three children — Olivia, Teddy and Annabelle.
A nursing major, Andrea began her career in Washington, D.C., where she worked in a psychiatric hospital for three years. It was there that she decided she wanted to work in oncology nursing so she moved to New York and began working at Sloan Kettering Cancer institute as a medical oncology nurse.
“What a wonderful experience, it’s an amazing hospital,” said Andrea. “When I was there, I was inspired by some of my colleagues who were going off to Yale for graduate school and I thought, ‘I really want to do that.’ And so I did.”
TheCampaignfor SalveReginaUniversity
Andrea and Theodore Giletti
The Gilettis’ generous donation helped us travel to Chicago and compete with bigger institutions where Salve performed inthetoppercentage of schools.
ANDREWHASSLER’24
While studying for her master’s in nursing at Yale, she met Ted, who was then transferred to London. Andrea eventually joined him there after completing her degree in 1985 and began working for the Royal Marsden Hospital, London’s cancer treatment center.
“At the time, they still had Nightingale wards,” Andrea recalled, “Believe it or not, 14 beds in an open room.”
Ted’s career involved a great deal of traveling, so when their daughter Olivia was born,Andreafocusedfull-timeonraisingher
family throughout their years living abroad.
The Gilettis are now back in the United States, settled in Nantucket with another home project under way in New Hampshire.
Today, Ted continues his work as the director at Banco BAI and Angola Capital Partners while Andrea is an active board member and co-chair for the Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket (PASCON).
A specialized health care program of Nantucket Cottage Hospital that is dedicated to providing physical, psychological and spiritual care to persons with life-threatening
illnesses and their families, PASCON works to provide funding for many critical initiatives, meaning that Andrea’s role takes up a great deal of her time.
“On this little island, people really do want to stay at home for their final days,” said Andrea, who finds that her experience as an oncology nurse is important to her work on the PASCON board. “We have 20 or so volunteers who do an enormous amount of work. It’s just amazing, and everything is free of charge to the patient.”
It was after returning to the U.S. that Andrea felt it was time to reconnect with her alma mater, which evokes fond memories of her time in Newport and the nursing professors who prepared students well for their careers and their lives.
“Sister Mary Brenda Sullivan was my anatomy and physiology professor,” Andrea recalled. “She gave me such encouragement and was very positive that I would make it through the nursing program. She was instrumental in my education.”
Though modest about their generosity, Andrea and Ted Giletti are making an impact on today’s students by supporting opportunities that allow for learning outside the classroom. They are also broadening their impact with a recent gift to support nursing scholarships, which honors Andrea’s own Salve experience and provides financial assistance to nursing students who will make adifferencethroughtheircareersandintheir communities.
Students participating in the Student Managed Investment Fund Conference include: (from left) Maya Parady ’26, Robert (Jack) Vallari ’24, Andrew Hassler ’24, Brent Lawrence ’24, Abigail Rhodus ’26, Patrick Voli ’24 and Olivia Marcyoniak ’24.
By all counts, Salve’s Day of Giving was a big success.On March 7,more than 770 donors made gifts totaling more than $187,000, which included unlocking $105,000 in challenge funds. The event was shared across the Salve community, featuring an on-campus party with games and prizes, alumni volunteers who spread the word far and wide, and live Instagram updates from @kellijarmstrong.
“Thank you to our amazing alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends who made a gift to Salve’s Day of Giving. It is truly one of my favorite days of the year, when we see our campus come together in celebration of everything that makes Salve special,” said President Kelli Armstrong.
Day of Giving contributions benefit The SALVEfund, the University’s current-use annual fund, and will be used immediately in a variety of ways including scholarships, the arts, athletics and classroom resources.
When combined, gifts of any size add up to big impact. As a key priority for Salve’s historic fundraising campaign — Our Mission. Our Moment. — The SALVEfund is a way for all members of the University community to participate and to make a difference.
For more information about Our Mission. Our Moment., visit campaign.salve.edu.
On February 22, Salve celebrated the blessing ofThe Allen Family Learning Commons. A state-of-the-art facility that embodies the University’s commitment to empowering students through education and support, and is a vital component of the Salve Compass Program. Located on the first floor of McKillop Library, it houses essential services to support students as they explore their career goals, personal values, and learning experiences. The space has offered an environment that faculty, staff and students have all embraced and are using every day.
Salve offers a new master’s degree program to help organizations navigate the diverse 21st-century workforce. The 10-course program in Organizational Transformation and Leadership charts the course for a new type of leader to emerge that fosters leadership development by providing cutting-edge content and experiential approaches.
Designed for individuals who seek to broaden their expertise in strategic management, organizational culture, sustainable business, and analytical decision making, the program can be completed in just 12 months. Delivered online, it is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous class meetings that provide the tools to predict, analyze and address current and future business
challenges while integrating data-driven best practices. A bachelor’s degree is required to apply.
“We’ve designed this program to be a gateway to enhanced employability, professional advancement and organizational growth for people at any point in their career or educational journey,” said Dr. Teresa Starzecki, assistant professor and graduate program director in the Department of Business and Economics. “The course empowers people to become effective leaders who promote sustainability, ethics and social responsibility, creating a positive influence within their organizations and contributing to a more inclusive and collaborative society.”
As a mission-driven institution with a focus on critical societal concerns, Salve
offers an environment where individuals can explore sustainable and inclusive practices that elicit systemic change.
In addition to the master’s degree, Salve offers ‘stackable’ graduate certificates in business intelligence for organizational progress, organizational culture transformation, and strategic transformation and sustainable management. These certificates can stand alone or be combined with two additional courses to complete the master’s degree.
Organizations looking to build this expertise can enroll individuals and teams into the program. Development and human resources professionals are welcome to contact the University to learn more.
For more information on the new program, visit salve.edu/leadership.
(From left) President Kelli J. Armstrong, Carl and Gigi Allen
Q&A with Ann Hood, founding director ofSalve’s Newport MFA
Ann Hood is a New York Times bestselling writer who has written over 30 books since the launch of her writing career in 1987. Hood is also the founding director of Salve’s Newport MFA in Creative Writing, a low-residency program where students come to campus twice a year while doing most of the program online. Hood recently sat down to talk about her writing, what makes Salve’s degree stand apart from other MFAs, and ways the program continues to evolve.
We really have the best faculty. When I began to hire for this MFA, I had a few qualifications in mind. One is that they had to be a nice person. There is a form of workshopping people’s stories that’s too strong for my taste, and I wanted people who could be critical while also being helpful and inspirational. I also wanted faculty who would enjoy being with the student body during the residencies. The other important thing to me was that the faculty write in more than one genre, because most writers I know write in multiple genres.
QWhatkindofstudentsareattracted totheprogram?
What I really like about our student body is that it’s very diverse. It’s just such a wonderful mix of people — and that only can add to your writing, because if you’re only writing with people just like you, it’s hard to be expansive and step out of your comfort zone. But here in the workshops, you’re sitting next to somebody in their 70s, somebody who’s 23, someone who’s been in Afghanistan, someone who’s got three little kids, someone who’s a grandfather. The Newport MFA has also recently started to allow Salve undergraduates to enroll for an accelerated MFA degree starting their senior year.
If you’re already in college, it’s easier to not have to move somewhere and start over for a master’s degree. It’s perfect for someone who knows they want to be a writer, who’s really grown a lot as an undergraduate, and wants the benefit of getting the MFA. A student can graduate with an entire manuscript ready to go, so they can try to get published immediately. The MFA is also a terminal degree, so graduates can teach at the college level; someone at Salve doing the five-year program is coming out very marketable.
Every morning, everybody is in the same class in what we call the “cross-genre workshop.” So our writers are all trying different genres and different formats, and it’s really fun. Then from there, they go into workshops that are specific to the genre in which they’re working. In our MFA program, we’ll let students explore genres — there isn’t that fluidity in most programs. We also bring in professional agents and editors, and we bring in guest writers who give craft talks andreadingsand socialize withour students.Those guestwriters often give events open to the public.
For my books, I really visit the theme of grief a lot. In 2002, I lost my five-year-old daughter very suddenly to a virulent form of strep throat, and I think ever since then, I’ve been struggling to write about not only that kind of loss, but all the losses that we experience. Whether it’s losing a friendship or losing a marriage, we grieve so many things, and I want to write about it realistically, but also hopefully. I also write essays for magazines and newspapers, where I do a lot of food and travel writing.
“The Stolen Child” is a novel that took me five years to write, because it’s a big saga. It’s about three lives that will ultimately intersect in surprising and exciting ways: a soldier in World War I who makes a decision that haunts him for the rest of his life, a young woman who drops out of college because she gets pregnant and gives her baby away, and a man in Italy who runs something called “The Museum ofTears.” There is the theme of grief again woven throughout, and it’s also about dreams and regret.
-TerynO’Brien’24(M)
Editor’s note: Visit salve.edu/mfacreative-writing for more information.
ATTHEINTERSECTIONOF HEALTHCAREANDTECHNOLOGY
Morgan Shuey ’23, who earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration (HCA) with a minor in business administration, is now a graduate student pursuing her master’s in HCA along with a certificate in cybersecurity.
In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, Salve’s master’s program prepares students to become innovative leaders in a variety of settings, including hospitals, health systems, physician practices, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Shuey found her calling in the intersection of healthcare and technology, and the cybersecurity certificate adds to the core competencies that she will bring to any role in her career.
“Cybersecurity will apply to any critical infrastructure sector and any position I’m in,” she explained. “I think having that back-
ground is going to be beneficial not only for myself but the organization that I work for in the future.”
Shuey’s internship during summer 2023 with the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC), a partnership between the federal government and the healthcare industry, allowed her to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, gaining firsthand insights into the fields of healthcare, cybersecurity and public policy.
During her internship, Shuey traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, to attend a council meeting within the HSCC — a meeting that Shuey helped to plan and coordinate.
“It was a highly interactive meeting dedicated to assessing the council’s long-term strategy,” explained Shuey.
In addition to her studies, Shuey was captain of the women’s basketball team, vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and is a NCAA Division III Academic All-Conference Honoree.
“Salve has been so supportive — whether that is in the classroom, on the athletic field, or in the Department of Healthcare Administration,” said Shuey.
-CatherineDolan’23
Dr. Sharon Stager, associate chair of graduate nursing, is leading the launch of a new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program, which will be a comprehensive educational pathway paving the way for national certification; the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) will offer a specialization in psychiatric mental health. A postgraduate certificate targeting advanced practice nurses seeking to expand their services in psychiatric nursing will be starting as well.
“It is evident in the research that there are significant mental health issues across the board, and there is a dire need for mental health practitioners,” said Stager. “The program aligns with Salve’s mercy mission to be able to support anyone going through a mental health crisis.”
According to Stager, there are many positions available in this field nationally, and the establishment of such programs is crucial given the burgeoning need for mental health services.
“There are significant barriers to receiving mental health care, resulting in lengthy wait times before a person can get care in mental health,” Stager explained. “Insurance companies require certification of health care providers for the provision of services and reimbursement so this program is vitally important to serve the community and enhance patient care outcomes.”
A scarcity of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs exists in New England. The program endeavors to bridge
this gap, ensuring accessibility to quality mental health education and training for aspiring practitioners in the region. The MSN program is also fully online, which fits within the evolving landscape of catering to the needs of adult learners who often juggle significant family and career responsibilities.
“Launching these programs aligns beautifully with Salve’s graduate nursing focus at this moment in time,” said Stager.
-RidhikaPatil’27
MultipleGraduatesJointhe Ranks of FulbrightScholars
Three recent graduates were selected from thousands of applicants competing in the Fulbright U.S. Student competition. John Rangel Marte ’23 and Kaelie Piscitello ’24 have been selected for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program; Marte will be heading to Spain and Piscitello to Taiwan. Cailin Martin ’23 has also been named an alternate for a Fulbright Study/ Research award in the U.K. competition.
“Being selected for the Fulbright award is a wonderful testament to these students,” said Dr. Nancy Schreiber, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Their applications attest to the many experiential opportunities Salve students have on campus, in the local community, and globally, that prepare them to be successful candidates for post-graduate fellowships.”
Piscitello is a double major in elementary education and special education, and received an English Language Immersion Endorsement. She will teach in Taiwan, putting her studies in Mandarin to use. As an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Oxford, England, observing local teaching practices.
“Studying abroad changed my mindset about education,” Piscitello said. “It got me interested in not only learning but teaching around the world. I’m honored to have been selected for this opportunity.”
Marte graduated with a business administration degree and is enrolled in the five-year MBA program. Having immigrat-
ed from Puerto Rico, he is a first-generation college graduate. As an undergraduate, Marte studied abroad in Barcelona, teaching English to Spanish middle-schoolers. He participates actively in Salve’s Pathways program, and Fab Newport, organizations serving Newport County youth.
“Working with students of different ages gave me great experience and confidence for studying and teaching in Barcelona,” said Marte. “All of that will help me in this next opportunity. Receiving a Fulbright scholarship is an honor, and I’m thrilled to continue contributing to the world and the local community.”
Martin received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies in December 2023 and spoke to the graduating Class of 2024 as valedictorian. Should additional funding become available to the program, she would receive an award to undertake research at the University of Kent through the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, where she has been accepted to the master’s program in conservation biology.
“The Fulbright award offers these talented students an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves overseas for a year,” said Erin FitzGerald, director of the Center for Global Education and Fellowships and Fulbright program advisor. “And as Fulbright alumni, they will become lifetime members of a worldwide network of Fulbrighters who support the underlying goals of the program and are often leaders in their fields.”
-JulieMiller
KaeliePiscitello’24
Cailin Martin ’23
John Rangel Marte ’23
SALVECOMPASSPROGRAMSPOTLIGHT:
SOPHOMORESTUDIO
The inaugural career-readiness workshop receives high marks from participants.
The Salve Compass Program is a key component of the University’s fundraising campaign, Our Mission. Our Moment. Generous philanthropic contributions have supported the planning and pilot phases, enabling the program design to provide the skills and expertise necessary for students to become global citizens empowered by their mercy-inspired education.
The Compass launched its first Sophomore Studio workshop in March, with a schedule that focused on career readiness competencies as students earned academic credit while actively engaging in their professional and personal development. From mastering the art of resumé and cover letter writing to fine-tuning LinkedIn profiles and navigating mock interviews, the workshop provided a comprehensive toolkit for students to excel in today’s competitive job market.
“I am aware of no other university that has, as part of their core curricular integration, the commitment that Salve does in making structural changes to ensure that our students are having these vital experiences,” said Hilary Flanagan, director of the Center for Advising, Career and Life Design.
During the two-day Sophomore Studio, students learned how to effectively communicate their qualifications and experiences to potential employers, which will enable them to set themselves apart as top candidates.
“When you come to Salve, you aren’t just getting the education to find a great career, but also the hands-on experience to
prepare you to search for that career — and excel in it,” said Omar Kaziz ’25, a global studies major and double minor in entrepreneurship and political science.
“The Compass program is so wellrounded,” said Maeve Newton ’25, a cultural and historic preservation major, who found the Sophomore Studio’s holistic approach to career skills invaluable. “I never have time to work on LinkedIn or look at my resumé, so this workshop was so beneficial in setting me up for success and getting me ready for Compass Summer.”
The workshop featured faculty, staff, community partners and alumni who shared their experiences and offered insights to students on a variety of topics. Andrew Siaba ’19 spoke of the genuine care and commitment that Salve dedicates to setting up its students for success.
“The workshop truly shows what an amazing university Salve is. They go above and beyond for their students to prepare them for careers post college,” emphasized Siaba. “Salve prepared me immensely — I would not be where I am in my career today without the relationships and opportunities that were provided to me by my professors and peers.”
-CatherineDolan’23
Helen Dorflinger Ryan ’69 and her children, Kerri and Kevin, were honored in a dedication ceremony June 10 for their generosity in endowing the Ryan Family Executive Director of the Salve Compass Programaspartofthe OurMission. Our Moment. campaign. A beloved trustee and visionary alumna, Helen has helped to strategically guide the University into its next chapter and the family’s support will help to ensure that the Compass initiative continues to provide the transformative, mercy-inspired education that is the hallmark of the Salve experience.
TheCampaignfor SalveReginaUniversity
Kevin and Helen Ryan
HIGHLIGHTING THEMERCYCRITICALCONCERN FORTHEEARTH
Salve once again celebrated Earth Week with a string of speakers, events and activities, which centered around Earth Day on April 22.
Events included the McAuley Institute for Mercy Education keynote address featuring Stephen Porder, the associate provost for sustainability and professor at Brown University and author of “Elemental: How Five Elements Changed Earth’sPastandWillShapeOurFuture.”The lecture explored solutions that are available to institutions today to reduce emissions.
In addition, the annual Arbor Day celebrationwasheldApril26,withtheplanting of a paperbark maple near Our Lady of Mercy Chapel. Following the planting, the third annual Earth Champion Awards were announced. Grace Kubat ’24; Lindsay Honeycutt’23,’24(M);Dr.MaryMontminy -Danna, professor and chair of social work. Gerry Day, groundskeeper; and Mary Beth Pelletier ’06, ’12 (M), mission integration program manager, were recognized for their commitment to sustainability and caring for the Earth.
“Earth is a critical concern of mercy and intersects with all critical concerns. It’s what unifies every living creature,” said Pelletier, who also helps plan Earth Week. “But the quality of its resources is not equitable to all. Earth Week gives us the opportunity at Salve to connect our community to all aspects of environmental justice.”
The Arboretum at Salve Regina University was also recognized once again this year as a Tree Campus Higher Education School by the Arbor Day Foundation, demonstrating Salve’s continued commitment to
environmental stewardship, sustainability, and community engagement.
“Our trees clean our air and water and actively work toward decarbonization, sequestering over 100,000 pounds of CO2 annually,” explained Pelletier. “Our arboretum improves mental and physical health, provides shelter and nourishment for the ecosystem, serves as noise and storm barriers, offers shade and oxygen, and reduces storm water runoff and flooding. Our trees not only care for us but act as a source of inspiration for us to follow suit.”
The arboretum is integral to the institution’s historic landscape. Salve’s 80-acre campus features mostly mature and exotic trees, originally designed by notable landscape architects such as the Olmsted brothers. The University’s grounds crew, in partnership with Bartlett Tree Company, has faithfully worked to monitor, preserve, protect and replenish the more than 1,700 trees representing over 100 unique species.
-TerynO’Brien’24(M)
AWinningSeasonfortheSeahawks
Thebaseballteam’shistoricseasontakesthemto the NCAA DIII CollegeWorldSeries.
Salve Regina competed in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) for the first time; across all seasons and all sports, our student-athletes represented the University with our signature Seahawk spirit.
Brandon Grover ’24 makes a stunning catch to stop a would-be home run.
The baseball team kept the energy and excitement high as they captured the regular season title, earning the right to host the postseason tournament at Reynolds Field. Matt D’Amato ’24, Christian Homa ’25, Sean Mulligan ’26, Evan O’Rourke ’26 and Hunter Yaworski (grad) were selected for first-team all-conference honors with Mulligan earning the pitcher of the year accolade.
For the third straight year the Seahawks earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. The 60-team field featured Salve Regina as a No. 1 seed in the Cortland (N.Y.) Regional. The Seahawks swept through their three opponents to advance to their first-ever Super Regional.
“I’m so happy for the seniors, I’m happy for the grad guys, I’m happy for the
alumni— everybody that has been part of the program where we’ve been knocking on the door for years,” said Eric Cirella ’05, head baseball coach, after the Cortland Regional.
Wins in the Super Regional took the Seahawks to the College World Series to compete with the final eight teams in the country.
“I think we all kept our composure,” said Tommy DelVecchio ’24, who set program records for appearances in a season (25) and career (57). “We set a tone earlier
in the year — pick each other up like if we get punched in the mouth. We’re going to punch back. We’re a very tight group and I think that benefited us. We never give up.”
Brandon Grover ’24 became the first Seahawk to win an NCAA Elite 90 Award, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships.
Mulligan had the pitching performance of the postseason — a complete-game, fourhit, 2-0 shutout ofWisconsin Whitewater. The Warhawks came back to win over the Seahawks, despite home runs from D’Amato and Tyler Cannoe ’24 in the final two games.
Seahawks baseball set a program record for wins (40) and played in June for the first time ever. The team received a warm welcome — and a police escort — as they returned to Newport after their historic season.
“It has been an incredible season for Seahawks baseball,” said Sean Sullivan, director of athletics. “I’m proud of our players, coaches and all who have played a role in the team’s success. I’m also grateful for our dedicated fans and generous donors who consistently and enthusiastically support our student-athletes.”
-EdHabershaw
The ice hockey teams remained in the Commonwealth Coast Conference for an additional season before moving to the New England Hockey Conference for the upcoming year. The men’s team advanced to the post-season tournament finals and the women’s team made it to the first round of post-season play.
The women’s basketball and lacrosse teams also advanced to quarterfinals in NEWMAC championship tournaments. In women’s track and field, the Seahawks competed in the NEWMAC Track and Field Championship meet.
SEAHAWKSHOUT-OUTS
TRACKANDFIELD
• Olivia Tacconi ’27 and Anna Weygant ’27 qualified for the New England DIII Championship.
MEN’SHOCKEY
•Graduate student Matthew Fawcett was recognized as a Division II-III Men’s All-Star by the New England Hockey Writers Association.
•Matthew Fawcett, Hoon Kim ’25, Johnny Mulera (grad) and Garrett Szeremley ’24 were named to CCC all-conference team.
WOMEN’SHOCKEY
•Graduate student Maddie Cox ’24 was named a Division III Women’s All-Star by the New England Hockey Writers Association and was named to the CCC all-conference first team.
• Gina Richard ’27 was named to the all-conference second team and was named CCC Rookie of the Year.
WOMEN’SBASKETBALL
• Briana Neary ’24 was selected by NEWMAC coaches for the allconference team.
MEN’SBASKETBALL
• Declan Walmsley ’25 was selected by NEWMAC coaches for the allconference team.
MEN’SLACROSSE
• Max Beauchamp ’24 and graduate students Kieran Hughes and Brendan Treacy were selected to compete in the 2024 NEILA EastWest Senior All-Star Game.
Emma Pereira‘25(left)andMaxBeauchamp‘24(top). (Opposite page, clockwise from top left) Morganti Bello ’25, Anna Weygant ’27, JuliaGovoni ’24.
TheCampaignfor SalveReginaUniversity
Gifts from alumni, parents and fans have elevated the Seahawk experience in their first year in the NEWMAC. The 2023 Seahawks Take Flight effort raised $111,000 in support of Salve’s student-athletes. More than 650 parents and alumni attended events varying from alumni scrimmages to senior nights, all with a philanthropic contribution. In all, 1,341 donors have contributed over $210,000 to Salve athletics in the past year.
GOSEAHAWKS!
ReunionWeekend
Reunion Weekend 2024, held June 7-9, had something for everyone! Alumni and guests experienced the best of Salve and Newport with a variety of events and activities that provided opportunities to reconnect, reminisce and make new friends along the way. Special celebrations included the induction of the Class of 1974 into the 50th Anniversary Society and the annual Alumni Awards brunch, where six outstanding alumni were honored (see page 42 for award recipients). Everyone enjoyed plenty of food, fun and that special Salve magic. For more photos, visit salve.edu/reunion-weekend.
THECADIGANSISTERS: EMBRACINGTHESPIRITOFMERCY
BYSUPPORTINGSCHOLARSHIPS
For many, the journey through higher education is not only about acquiring knowledge but also giving back to the place that shaped them so deeply. This sentiment rings true for two remarkable alumni sisters — Elizabeth Cadigan ’79, and Mary Cadigan Jones ’74 — whose unwavering dedication to their alma mater has left an indelible mark on the University community.
The Cadigan sisters were among the first donors to Our Mission. Our Moment. By establishing the Elizabeth Cadigan ’79 and Mary Cadigan Jones ’74 Endowed Scholarship, they continue a philanthropic partnership with Salve that has had immense impact and demonstrates their belief in the transformative power of a mercy-inspired education.
“Salve reinforced the values we were brought up with in our family: helping the underserved and appreciating the good fortune in our lives while still understanding the needs of others,” described Mary. “I think that’s why we’re so committed to giving to Salve all these years later; it still feels like home.”
After graduating from Salve, Elizabeth pursued her passion for nursing and went on to become senior vice president of patient care services and chief nurse at Cambridge HealthAllianceinBoston.Marypursuededucation, embarking on a journey in teaching that led her to become an administrator of higher education in Boston.
It was the two sisters’ appreciation of these fields that inspired their gift of a scholarship for those interested in the helping professions.
“The scholarship recognizes the importance of both education and nursing, and how it must be supported and nurtured,” emphasized Elizabeth. “We rely on both of these professions to make profound differences in people’s lives, so creating this scholarship really aligns with the mercy mission of Salve and its emphasis on helping each other.”
Through their ongoing support, the Cadigan sisters hope to pay tribute to the school that has given them so much and
continues to inspire others to embrace the spirit of mercy.
“At Salve, no matter your background or who they are and where they’re from, everyone has that core value of integrity, and that’s what we want to nurture with our gift,” said Mary.
Elizabeth Cadigan ’79 and Mary Cadigan Jones ’74
As a mathematics major, David Miller ’10 originally planned to become a high school teacher, studying for a dual degree in secondary education and mathematics.
In addition to his academic studies, Miller also played baseball for Salve and during his senior year, the team had a winning season.
“The baseball team made a deep run in the conference playoffs, only to lose the conference championship game,” Miller remembered. “That season and playoff experience were full of great memories.”
It was at this time, though, that Miller decided to let go of his secondary education major to focus on applying for graduate school.
“David Miller was a very talented and enthusiastic student, who really made the most out of his education at Salve Regina,” Rothman reflected. “In addition to taking regular classes, he worked with faculty on independent studies. When he entered a Ph.D. program at the University of Connecticut, his natural talent, intellectual curiosity, and work ethic ensured his successful completion of his degree.”
Miller spent three years after earning his Ph.D. as a tenure-track assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Hartford. While there, he volunteered his time supporting the baseball and basketball teams with analytic insights and learned data science skills. In 2019, Miller was hired by
the Boston Red Sox as an analyst in baseball operations.
“After his years in academia, [Miller’s] creative mind combined with his love of both mathematics and baseball secured him a position with the Boston Red Sox. He is a continuing source of pride for our department,” said Rothman.
Although the program was not available while Miller was a student, the University now offers a data analytics minor and a 3+2 dual degree program in conjunction with the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth. The program leads to a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in data analytics from Salve plus a master’s degree in data science from UMass Dartmouth.
Miller has since been promoted and is now the assistant director of baseball analyt-
ics/majorleaguestrategicinformation,where he manages a team of analysts who support the Red Sox. Miller and his colleagues provide coaches and players with information to prepare them for upcoming series and games. His days are split between building predictive models and spending time in the clubhouse and traveling with the team.
Miller believes that his Salve experiences were a great foundation for his career as an analyst with the Boston Red Sox.
“As a math major who played on the baseball team at Salve, my career as an analyst with the Red Sox is a perfect blend of my interests,” Miller explained. “Coach Steve Cirella and my advisors — Drs. Gibbons, Rothman and Stout — were a major influence on my eventual career.”
For some students, the journey to their career brings unexpected surprises. Natalie Reid ’20 began her education at Salve Regina studying for a double major in communications and psychology. A surprising opportunity fell into her lap when she was approached to help the baseball team by managing their social media and photography. As someone who grew up playing baseball, Reid was immediately interested. She had no experience in photography, but she jumped at the chance when she learned that she could use the opportunity toward internship credits.
“I didn’t know anyone on the baseball team at the time, but they quickly accepted me as a member of their team,” Reid recalled. Throughout her four years at Salve, Reid managed the team’s social media and photography, even returning as an alumna to take photos. Her time with the team inspired Reid’s desire to work in sports, specifically in baseball.
“I realized exactly what I wanted to do for a career while working for the team. I am so grateful that Eric Cirella [head coach] took a chance on a freshman who had never picked up a camera professionally before. The players are some of my greatest friends and my biggest supporters,” Reid shared.
“I’m as proud of Natalie as I am of any player who graduated from the baseball program,” said Cirella. “She was an integral part of our team, and still is to this day.”
After graduation, Reid attended Emerson College, earning her master’s degree in sports communication. In April
2021, she accepted a position with the Worcester Red Sox, thereby launching her career in professional sports.
Currently, Reid holds a variety of roles, including social media coordinator for Sparx Hockey, live content creator for MLB, social media ambassador for the Boston Bruins, and photographer for the Worcester Railers. Her responsibilities range from running social media accounts, contests, and onice photo shoots to organizing major shoots for commercials
I’m as proud of Natalie as I am of anyplayerwhograduatedfromthe baseballprogram.
ERICCIRELLA’05,BASEBALLHEADCOACH
and hockey films. She manages websites, marketing collateral and in-arena videoboards all while shooting photos and videos behind the scenes for teams and players. But her greatest success is making it to MLB just three years after graduating.
“In 2023, just after beginning my job with MLB, I even became a member of the Professional Baseball Photographers’ Association. This industry has so many talented creators…I am really proud to have made it to the highest level in the industry,” said Reid.
CorilynRichard’15,’20(M)
TellingStoriesThatMatter
As senior evening news anchor,CiaraSpeller’16makesanimpactonhercommunity
Ciara Speller ’16 remembers watching a newscast with her grandmother, who encouraged her that it was something she could see her pursuing. As a young girl, she was always telling stories through the art of dance, where she found that she could touch people’s hearts through her stories.
Today, Speller’s childhood aspirations have come true; she is a reporter and senior evening news anchor for WWLP-22News in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she is on air Monday through Friday.
At Salve Regina, Speller was an English communications major, with a minor in dance. She was involved in journalism-based extracurriculars including the Mosaic student newspaper, and writing and producing videos for SALVEtoday. She is grateful for having the opportunity to be able to tell stories of people and businesses in the Newport community.
“People were always so kind and willing to help, which isn’t always the case in hustling and bustling cities,” said Speller. “People were always willing to do some man-on-thestreet responses for me about current events, movie reviews, food reviews, etc.”
Post-graduation, Speller narrowed her career path to concentrating specifically on broadcast journalism and continued her education at Emerson College, where she earned her master’s degree. With experiences being an intern at ABC6 in Providence, reporting on the red carpet at the Oscars, and reporting at the presidential inauguration in 2016, Speller had a more hands-on approach to the field.
Youalsohavetobelieveinyourself and be willing to be in the driver’s seatofyourownjourney.
CIARASPELLER’16
“These real-life experiences prepared me even more and allowed me to get my hands dirty and be ready to accept a job,” said Speller. After graduating from Emerson in May 2017, she started working at 22News in July of that year.
Speller began as a weekend morning reporter and worked her way up to a Monday through Friday morning reporter. “Being on the primetime shift was a good place for experience and exposure to breaking news,” she explained.
Speller was on the frontlines of a major story in Springfield, reporting on a convicted serial killer.
“I was one of the first reporters from my area there, and then it became national news,” said Speller. “I was then standing next to reporters from CNN and NBC, which was a career highlight because I was next to some of the people I’ve grown up admiring.”
Shortly after, Speller was promoted to the senior evening news anchor, where she oversees the operations of the evening shift, including proofreading and writing stories. “I’m like the eyes and ears of the newsroom at night,” she joked.
Approaching her seventh year with 22News, Speller realizes how important
storytelling is in people’s lives. Reflecting on how the human element of the news field has shaped her, she recalls a massive house fire where the family didn’t survive and notes that you never know who is watching on the other side of the screen.
“Seeing the anguish on people’s faces and realizing how important my words are if someone watching this newscast is unaware of what is happening – a lot of people think that you’re just numb to it, but when in this position you have to have compassion and empathy,” said Speller. “Your word choices really do matter.”
Her career has inspired Speller to collaborate with local organizations in the community, including Girls Inc. of the Valley and I Found Light Against All Odds. Her work on and off the screen has not gone unnoticed,asSpellerwasawardedthe40Under 40 Awards presented by Business West. The award recognizes people who make a difference in their communities, whether it’s the industry in which they work or their community service. Most recently, she was named the Best Local TV Personality by the Valley Advocate, a news, arts and entertainment publication in Western Massachusetts.
“I was so honored when I found out I was nominated because it was something Ireallywanted,”saidSpeller.“Itwasafullcircle moment realizing all my hard work and dedication paid off because people always tell you to do the right thing and it’ll come to you, but you also have to believe in yourself and be willing to be in the driver’s seat of your own journey.”
Madelyn Cox • Karen Lombardi Cox ’98 and Michael Cox ’93
Ashton Dalessio • Jennifer Camp-Isonio ’93 (M)
Geovanna De Oliveira • Silas Deoliveira ’05 (M), ’19 (M)
Evan Fischthal • Donna Zabit ’95
Russell Gaston • Russell Gaston ’95 (M)
Juliana Holmes • Karen Hague Holmes ’99
Ellee Kopecky • Erin Kopecky ’23 (M) and Scott Kopecky ’16
Zachary Ludemann • Melissa Morris ’94
Olivia Martin • Kerry Ceurvels Martin ’96 and Brian Martin ’97
Lindsay Martin • Susan Martin ’00 (M)
Katherine McNally • Kevin McNally ’92
Hailey O’Donnell • Allison Cooney O’Donnell ‘94 and Thomas O’Donnell Jr. ‘96
Mitchell Parrillo • Daniel Parrillo ’16 (M)
Mathieu Pelletier Jr. • Mathieu Pelletier Sr. ’93
Andrew Santos • Maura McAvoy Santos ’89
Abigail Solomon • Kelly Sullivan Solomon ’94 and Mark Solomon ’92, ’93 (M)
Rocco Zarra • Tribbie Valelli Zarra ’95 and Edward Zarra ’96
THE2024ALUMNIAWARDRECIPIENTS
Congratulations to Salve’s Alumni Award Recipients who were honored at the Reunion Weekend brunch June 9
ANTHONY CERINO JR.’14, ’15 (MBA)
Exceptional Volunteer Alumni Award
TIESHANIEVES
SINOUTHASY’09
Alumni Achievement Award
Cerino is a financial advisor and certified financial planner for The Hilton Group team at UBS in Newport, Rhode Island, where he plays a crucial role in the group’s mission. He remains connected to Salve by volunteering as a panelist for the Business Planning capstone as well as the Sophomore Studio networking events. He also serves as the vice chairman of the James Patrick Stowe Fund, which, in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, aids research on testicular cancer and is on the board of directors for the Fort Adams Trust.
PEGIBANO ’14, ’17 (MBA)
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Bano is a a nationalaccount manager at OUTFRONT
Media, where she manages high-profile out-of-home advertising campaigns for a diverse range of clients, including Apple, Disney, and Amazon. She is actively involved with Salve’s Young Alumni Committee, supporting the University’s growth and success. Bano is also an active member of the Valedictorian Project and mentors high-achieving Boston Public High School students in their transition from high school as they navigate higher education.
Her passion for empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities began early through her volunteer work with Best Buddies at Salve. Sinouthasy is the founder of Peace of Mind Nannies, a nanny and babysitting agency that provides childcare services for all children and young adults including thosewithdisabilities.ThelaunchofPeace of Mind Nannies combines her professional experience in nonprofit and higher education with over 10 years of experience as a childcare provider through babysitting agencies and privately as a nanny. She is an appointee to the East Providence Affirmative Action Committee and serves as an advisory board member for the Center for Women and Enterprise Rhode Island, where she was recently recognized with the 2024 Rising Star Award.
DR.LOUISECIALLELLA’74
Distinguished Alumni Award
doctorate in Spanish literature from the University ofWisconsin-Madison while working as a teaching assistant and then a lecturer and obtained a tenure-track position in Spanish literature at Northern Illinois University, where she also taught Spanish business communications. Like many of her students, she was a first-generation college student born into an immigrant family. Her goal was to empower her students in any way possible, and she enjoys keeping in touch with them and seeing them succeed personally and professionally.
GREGGCATLOW ’02, ’09 (M)
Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award
Afterfalling in love with Spainduring her junior year studying abroad in Madrid, Ciallella earned her master’s degree in Spanish from New York University. She worked in international publishing before being offered a job teaching English as a foreign language at Brown University. She earned her
Afterattending the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, Catlow joined the Smithfield Police Department, where he has served as a patrol officer, firearms instructor, and spent more than 10 years in the detective division. He returned to Salve, earning his master’s degree in administration of justice and homeland security in 2009. Catlow is a certified BCI Detective through the Rhode Island Crime Lab and a member of the Rhode Island Criminalist Association. As the department’s juvenile officer, he handled Family Court prosecution matters and served on Rhode Island’s first cold case task force, working extensively with the human trafficking task force. In 2020, he was awarded the Crime Victim Service Award and was promoted to lieutenant. Currently, he is the executive lieutenant overseeing the patrol division and serves
on the Rhode Island Office of Child Advocate’s Child Fatality Review Panel.
DR.HELENDORFLINGER
RYAN ’69
Mission Award
Ryan began her nursing career at hospitals in Connecticut and Missouri, and soon began teaching at the college level, which led to her role as principal of Hilton Head Island (South Carolina) High School. She concluded her professional life by working as a community outreach manager alongside her late husband Don in their health benefits management company, CareCore National. While there, she was honored by her local community for her program, which provided employees with paid vacation days to volunteer for area non-profits. Ryan is most proud of her work as a leading force to establish a Catholic Secondary School in the Lowcountry. The John Paul II Catholic School opened in 2013, with a mission to educate students of all faiths in a caring, Christ-centered environment. She continues to serve the school and its students as a leadership volunteer. As an alumna and member of Salve’s Board of Trustees, Ryan is an avid champion of the University and recently established a foundational endowment to enable the critical transformational work of the Salve Compass Program through the Ryan Family Executive Director’s position.
1969
MarciaMarra ’69 retired after 32 years at the Albany County Department of Health as director of the Division of Environmental Health.
PatriciaSnyder’69 and her husband are proud grandparents to three grandchildren, and live in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Snyder enjoys volunteering at All Children’s Hospital in the infusion unit in addition to engaging in manyotheractivities,includingpickleballand spending time at the beach.
1976
WilliamD’Antuono’76 retired after 25 years in education, and another 30 years running acomputerbusinessinNaples, Florida.He credits Salve for giving him the foundation to enjoy a productive life and will always have a special place in his heart for Newport and his alma mater.
1977
DorothyWatson’77 is an active volunteer in her community. She participates in the fields of literacy, health care, church work, and multiple non-profit organizations.
1980
JeannetteMcPhee’80 began painting again following her retirement. She calls her gallery Regina Maris Studio, and has a tent at the Fernandina Beach Arts Market, along with a wall at the Coastal Camden Art Association in St.Mary’s,Georgia.
ColetteDavisRecupero’80 was awarded the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal in recognition of having managed the Religious Program Specialist A School curriculum modernization effort at the Navel Chaplaincy School in support of the Navy’s Ready Relevant Learning initiative.
1981
PatriceBernier’81 is a laboratory surveyor for the Joint Commission, a nonprofit healthcare organization whose mission is to continuously improve health care for the public. She moved to the healthcare regulatory industry after morethan30yearsinlaboratory settings, serving in roles including medical technologist, point of care coordinator and director of laboratory services.
BarbaraMurphy ’81 retired in 2020 after spending 30 years at Cape Cod Community College, where her roles ranged from nursing professor to chair of the Health Sciences Department to director of the nursing program. During the pandemic, Murphy was a COVID-19 vaccinator for CVS, and recently finished a two-year role asaresearch assistant for a CDC-funded health study in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
1984
FrithCote’84 is the clinical wound care director at VibraHospital of Southeastern Massachusetts.
1985
MichaelSilvia’85 returned to the private sectorafterspendingseveral years as an IRS executive in Washington, D.C. He has been a design director for Liberty Mutual Insurance for nearly 10 years and divides his time between the Boston area and Newport County.
Debra FitzsimmonsSitter’85 received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in June 2023 from Grand Canyon University. Her direct patient improvement project was to determine if, or to what degree, using a mobile app on a smart phone or tablet after discharge for self-management would impact the number of heart failure-related readmissions among patients in arural Wisconsin hospital. The project proved to be successful, with no heart failure patients being readmitted in the project follow-up timeframe. Sitter is currently working to publish her DNP manuscript.
1987
TomBlute’86 and JodieCollinsBlute’87 traveled to Kenya in December 2023 along with their son Nicholas’26, a political science major, for a Christmas reunion with Peter Kinyua’86 and AshmanPuri’86
1988
JillAlbanese’88 retired after spending 33 years in the field of education. She has started asecondcareer as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with the West Barnstable (Massachusetts) Fire Department.
1989
MaureenDieckhaus’89 is a senior therapist at Eagleville Hospital, an inpatient rehabilitation facility for mental health and drug and alcohol addiction in Eagleville, Pennsylvania.
MicheleMansfieldSantoro’89 is working on anine-year research project regarding cardiac monitoring devices. In 2022, Santoro was named the Yale New Haven Hospital Magnet Nurse of the Year, the National Magnet Nurse of the Year, Exemplary Professional Practice, and ANCC National Magnet Nurse of the Year.
RobertSkeffington’89 joined Salve’s Department of Business and Economics as an entrepreneur in residence. He is the co-founder of multiple healthcare and technology businesses, as well as an early-stage business investor, public speaker and passionate volunteer. Skeffington has been a devoted volunteer throughout his career, with a focus on mentoring students and feeding those less fortunate, including cooking at local soup kitchens. A lifelong Rhode Islander, he has traveled extensively for work and with his family, encircling the globe as well as visiting each of the 50 United States.
1990
JoseCanario’90 is the chief medical officer at Finger Lakes Community Health. He also earned his master’s degree in medical management from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester.
1991
MichelleHartmann’91 is working at Medica Corp. in Bedford, Massachusetts, as a clinical applications specialist. She is also enrolled to become certified as a point of care coordinator.
ChristianUrbano’91 is the founder and principal of Urbano Law, practicing primarily family law since 2019. Since 2016, Urbano has been “of counsel” to Inga Parsons Law, practicing federalcriminaldefensein,amongother federal crimes, large RICO and drug trafficking organization cases.
1993
MiniqueCrump’93 is an FBI supervisory agent assigned to the Houston division and wasawarded the FBI Medal of Excellence.
1994
TracieFeeleyCote’94 has been in education for 30 years. She is currently the middle school principal at Wareham (Massachusetts) Middle School. She lives in Plymouth with her husband, KevinCote’93, and they have two children, Shane and Paige.
JohnGallagher’94 married Collen Keenan in September 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2022, the couple welcomed their son, John Gallagher V.
1995
MelissaKuchtaKeefe’95 is a registered nurse at Cape Cod Hospital and involved in her community as a town meeting member and a school committee member and chair. She was recognized in 2022 as one of the Commonwealth Heroines of Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for her dedication to enriching her community.
SusanHarringtonShuby’95 was promoted to North American quality leader of manufacturing, field service and enterprise laboratory services at PerkinElmer, U.S., LLC.
1996
RebeccaCampbell’96 is the library director for the Tavares Public Library in Tavares, Florida. She enjoys traveling in her spare time, most recently to Paris.
NicoleHoekenga-Russo’96 was inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame asa2024 Woman of Distinction. It was an unforgettable moment for Hoekenga-Russo, who thanks her family for their unwavering love and support, and the entire Microboard team for their dedication to process excellence for 40 years. “Together, let’s continue to amplify the voices of women in business, champion diversity, foster innovation, and collaborate toward a brighter future in manufacturing.”
1997
MichaelBuckley’97 retired in 2023 after over 26 years of government service in multiple law enforcement positions. He began his career as apoliceofficerwiththeU.S. Park Police, N.Y. Field Office, where he was tasked to protect our nation’s treasures. He also taught DARE to grammar school students, as well as responded to the 9/11 terrorattackstohelphisfellow New Yorkers. In 2002, he was selected as a special agent with the U.S. Customs Service, which then merged under the Department of Homeland Security into his latest job as a deputy special agent in charge with Homeland Security Investigations. With his retirement, Buckley can spend more time with his wife, Denise,andchildren, Kathlyn, Patrick and Ryan.
ChristopherThompson’97 received his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He was employed at Bruker Daltonics initially as a hardware R&D scientist, focusing his research on developing new analytical workflows and applications. Thompson now serves as vice president of commercial development at Brightspec, Inc., an innovative life science tools company with a range of instruments that tap the power of molecular rotational
resonance spectroscopy.Heismarriedandhas two boys, and lives in Massachusetts.
1998
JodiKopecky’98 is the assistant principal of Cranston (Rhode Island) High School East, overseeing special education and related services.
StephanieLeBrun’98 is a preschool teacher at St. John the Baptist, a Catholic elementary school in Peabody, Massachusetts. Both of her sons attend the school, so she has a long-standing relationshipin the community as a parent, volunteer, and assistant teacher.
ClaudiaMoore’98 is working as a senior research associate for the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami. Her focus is clinical research in Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
AnissaPrefontaine’98 has started her own private practice to provide individual therapy to adults, adolescents and children.
1999
DavidKriso’99 has been a clerk with the USPSsinceJanuary2022andisapublished travel writer/lecturer. He was commissioned to write the pilot story for American Rail Magazine, the Rail Passenger Association’s magazine, which launched in May 2024.
E.ThomasTognazziJr.’99 was selected to be the Northeast regional specialist for the USDA Farm to School Grant in May 2021. He covers Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
2001
MatthewJardine’01,’02(M) was promoted to the rank of captain with the Seekonk (Massachusetts) Police Department. He is now the commanding officer of both the patrol and detective divisions.
ChristineMulhearne’02 is a motivational speaker and women’s corporate facilitator through her training platform and Masterclass series, which is designed to motivate, support, inspire, and encourage women to become the best version of themselves.
PatriciaWeinmann’02 launched On Point Communication and Events in August2022, providing strategic communication and event planning consultation to businesses and non-profits.
2002
DavidBorzillo’02 married Jeffrey Spafford in June 2021.
LisaCotter’02 has worked for Newport Mental Health for more than 25 years, helping those with chronic mental illnesses grow and thrive inagroup home setting, and assisting them in their personal recovery.
2003
SarahBordeleau-Davis’03 married Greg Davis at Warwick Country Club in September 2023.
2004
JulieCarroll’04 was appointed to director of music education, supervising pre-k through grade 12 music programming for 29 schools in Lynn, Massachusetts.
2005
HeatherOsterbergAloi’05 received her doctoral degree in educational leadership from Johnson and Wales University.
FalonGonzalez’05 married Eric Gonzalez in February2022inHawley, Pennsylvania.
AnitaGrieco’05 is a supervisory bank examiner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Banks. Throughout her 18 years there, Grieco has been fortunate to work with colleagues who are Salve alumni.
2006
JenniferAstrella’06 graduated from Framingham State University in 2022 with her MSN in education. She presented a poster on anxiety in pregnancy during COVID at the Massachusetts Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses convention in October 2023.
IreneRocchioLeddy’06 became an associate of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in January 2024.
ShannonDufaultMello’06 was married in June 2023.
SandraNeubig’06 is a family nurse practitioner, having earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Quinnipiac University in 2014. She completed a post-graduate certificate at ElmsCollegeinMay2023forAdultGerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
JuliePearsonSullivan’06 is the executive director of Pay Away the Layaway, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring hope and spreading kindness by paying off unsuspecting families’ layaway balances around back to school time and the holidays. During the 2023 holiday season, Pay Away was featured on The Today Show, when Jenna Bush Hager surprised 210 families at a Burlington Store in Brooklyn, N.Y.
EmelineWalker’06 is an ESL coordinator and the first in her family to earn a graduate degree, which she received in 2016.
2007
LauraBoyerBrown’07 has been teaching special education for 16 years for the Darien (Connecticut) Public School district. She has begunworkingtowardhersixthdegreewitha focus on educational administration.
AmyDegnan’07 is working as a Department of Defense civilian nurse in the operating room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
LauraDriscoll’07 is a registered nurse working at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. She is charge nurse of a 30-bed comprehensive rehabilitation unit, specializing in the care of musculoskeletal, burn, amputee and cardiac patients. She enjoys building relationships with her patients, witnessing their progress, and participating in their recovery process.
TiffanyFinke’07 completed a second master’s degree in pastoral counseling, just in time to have her fourth child.
KateGrenci’07 was recently elected to the boardofdirectors for the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, which also produces the Tri-State Camp Conference,
the largest gathering of camp professionals in the world. Grenci is also returning to the conference committee for a third year in a row, and for the second year in a row as a committee co-chair.
AllisonOliver’07 was promoted to director of sales at RodeoCPG, a leading provider of retail growth solutions for better-for-you customer packaged goods brands.
2008
MatthewCook’08 welcomed his daughter, Peyton Glory, in February 2023.
KerenCunha’08 and her husband, StephenCunhaJr.’09, welcomed their second son, Boden, in May 2023. They are excited to bring him and their first son, Hudson, back to campus.
ElizabethDuggan’08 founded Amenity Aid in 2013. The organization is the first of its kind in Rhode Island to distribute hygiene products to a statewide network of direct service agencies and was awarded the Innovative Programming and Service Delivery Award from the Rhode Island Foundation.
MattFinlayson’08 is the director of athletics at Mitchell College.
MariaRaffia’08 started a private mental health practice after working in community mental health, as well as at Yale New Haven Hospital, for many years.
2009
MeghanHenry’09 completed a physical therapist assistant associate degree from Union County College in North Plainfield, New Jersey, in May 2023.
CarolineLinfante’09 received a doctoral degree in applied behavior analysis from Columbia University in 2018 and married Nicholas Linfante in 2019. They have a one-year-old son named Joseph.
JamesNightingale-Griffin’09 wasrecently promoted to detective sergeant and celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the Buffalo Police Department in January.
TieshaNievesSinouthasy’09 isthe2024 Rhode Island Andrea C.SilbertRisingStar Award winner through the Center for Women and Enterprise, New England’s leading organization for women entrepreneurs. The award is presented annually to a client from each Women Business Center who has shown success and created economic opportunity. As afounder of her own company, Peace of Mind Nannies, Sinouthasy has served 77 Rhode Island families since opening in 2020.
2010
JillianGalliAllen’10 is the CEO of a behavioral healthcarecompanywiththree programs working in Georgia, Idaho and Puerto Rico. She specializes in helping young adults with autism learn to live independent lives. She currently lives in Georgia and has a 6-year-old daughter.
ChristinaBorger’10 is a kindergarten teacher and recently graduated with a second master’s degree in instructional design for the K-12 classroom.
2011
RyanCarney’11 was promoted to lieutenant at Massport Fire-Rescue in November 2021.
SaraTrombino’11 marriedherhusbandinJuly 2021.
2012
RachelJustice’12 is a senior account executive with Sunbelt. She loves working with healthcare professionals nationwide to find their dream position.
KateSanchez’12 was elected California State Assembly member, 71st district.
2013
HollyMcGill’13 is a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) after completing a CAGS program in rehabilitation counseling and passed her national CRC exam.
2014
StephaniePenny’14 and her husband, John, welcomed their daughter, Caroline, in October 2023.
CaseySheehan’14 is dancing on a world tour with Grammy winner Kim Petras.
JordanVentura’14 married JeremyVentura ’13,’14(M) in November 2023.
2015
AmandaDiBenedetto’15 is working at Novo Nordisk as a senior manager in strategic sourcing and procurement for their U.S. research and development branch and is pursuing her MBA with Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst.
LukeGambale’15 participated in Haymakers for Hope’s Liberty Bell Brawl II in April, raising more than $12,000 in support of cancer research and awareness.Diagnosedwithcancer in 2021, he underwent treatmentandmultiple surgeries, and learned a year later that there wasnoevidence of disease. By stepping into the ring, the money raised will help those still battling cancer and “ultimately make steps to knock out cancer moving forward.”
StephanieYu’15 is in the MSN program at Salve, while caring full time for her daughter Zara.
2016
MargaretBorowicz’16 is a student at Duke University’s School of Nursing, pursuing a degree to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Angelina Feimer ’16, ‘17 (MBA) is the SailBlind director at the Carroll Center for the Blind,alsoworkingfull-timeinhumanresources. She has worked at the Center for four years and has been running the SailBlind program for three years.
PatrickGolden’16 opened a counseling private practice in 2020, serving Newport County and surrounding areas. The company offers mental health, family and substance abuse counseling.
2018
GinaBalestrieri’18 made a life-long friend, MadisonDabakian’18, while enrolled in her first-year Intro to Early Education class at Salve. Upon graduating, she began teaching at Washington School in Rutherford, New Jersey, and a year later Dabakian was hired by the district and the two became co-teachers. Balestrieri will be marrying her Salve sweetheart, PaulD’Anneo’16 in August.
ChristianaCastillo’18 is the general manager of Falling Leaves Lodge in San Ignacio, Belize.
OliviaKatz’18 received a citation from Rhode Island Representative Grace Diaz for providing the most outstanding service when families must endure the most difficult circumstances of a loved one passing. Katz has been serving her community as a hospice nurse for Hope Health Hospice and Palliative Care since March 2020. She married Yale Katz in August2023in Narragansett, Rhode Island.
HelenPaquette’18 wasmarriedinAugust 2023 and is working for the Derry School District with elementary-agedstudentsonthe autism spectrum.
OliviaSherman’18 has started her career as a family nurse practitioner at Thundermist Health Center, which is a federally qualified
health center that serves the Rhode Island community, specifically those who face barrierstocare.
VictoriaSurette’18 graduated in June 2022 with a Ph.D. in food science from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. She is working as a sensory scientist at Procter & Gamble, Co.,inCincinatti,Ohio.
2019
AlyssaColon’19,’20(MBA) welcomed her baby, Avery Katherine, in August2022.
JuliaColwell’19 married RyanColwell’17 in October 2023.
2020
SarahDeWolfe’20 recently won an Emmy Award for her work as a content associate on ESPN’s SportsCenter. She and her colleagues were recognized for their work by winning the Outstanding Daily Studio Show award.
AllisonGilson’20 was selected to serve on theHubSpotCustomerAdvisoryBoard (CAB). HubSpot is a leading customer relationship management platform that provides tools for marketing, sales, services and operations professionals to streamline and automate processes. As a member of CAB, Gilson works as astrategic partner to provide feedback to help shape HubSpot’s product roadmap.
2021
SarahSalemy’21 graduated with her master’s degree in English literature from Boston College in May 2023. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Rhode Island.
SophieSilverio’21 is a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island, where she studies speech language pathology. She also works part-time at the Norman Bird Sanctuary
in Middletown, Rhode Island.
JoelleLaChance ’21 is a billing representative for Optum, the clinical services division of UnitedHealth Group. She also works part-time on the patient-facing side of the healthcare field as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens.
2023
SierraMajewski’23 isastudent at Northeastern University in the PharmD/MPH program and recently accepted a position at Mass General Hospital as a pharmacy intern in theirYawkeyOncologyAmbulatoryCareClinic.
RebeccaNerbonne’23 worked with Connecticut DEEP Water Monitoring and Assessment Division in summer 2023 to take the lead on creating a standard operation plan for the testing of water ataprospective state park. She did historical research on Batterson Park Pond, as well as field work and data analysis on the feasibilityto open the water for recreational activity.
StevenPassodelis’23 has completed an internship with the Pittsburgh Steelers and believes he was able to leave his mark on the organization’s history.
OliviaThomas’23 is pursuing her master’s degree in clinical social work with a specialization in trauma and violence at Boston University. She interned at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a medical social work intern. Send us your news and
DR.JANEHARRINGTONBETHUNE’67
AUG.20,1945–JAN.14,2024
The University community mournsthe lossofDr. JaneHarrington Bethune’67,whopassed away peacefullyon Jan.14afteralongbattlewithAlzheimer’s disease.
Shereturned toSalveReginain1984andtaught intheDepartmentof Modern Languages for more than30yearsuntilsheretiredandwasappointed professor emerita.Bethunelovedher careerand was incrediblypassionateaboutteachingforeign languages.Shealsoenjoyed reading,traveling (especiallytoherfavoritedestinationsofOaxaca, Mexico,andNewOrleans),andspendingtimewith her familyandfriends.Ananimallover whohadmanypetsover theyears,Bethunewasan exceptionallykind,dependable,hardworkingandintelligentperson whomadeatremendous impacton theSalveandlocalcommunities.
INMEMORIAM
Sarah Arnold’92(M)
CarltonM.BaldwinIV’90(M)
Dr.JaneHarrington Bethune’67
Sharon Burke’80
Cheryl Butler ’75
Maureen Byrne’73
Brian Byrne’19(M)
CatherineMastalskiByron’68
KeeyaOniekaCharleston’15(M)
WallaceConway’77(M)
MarieJoseph Crompton ’62
TeresaNunesDall’68
ChristineDesjarlais-Lueth’71
Mary EllenMinahan Dooher ’68
Marilyn WorstErickson’67
JoanGallagher Farrell’65
DavidP.Faucher’83(M)
Kathleen McCormickFitzgerald’73
MarilynKaneFranciose’62
Christopher Geary‘06
Terry Hazel’93,’12(M)
ElizabethHelme’89(M)
Ellen Hergen’72
MaureenDavisHull’55
AnneRoseHurley’66
LisaHoyer Johnson’81
Guenter Kern’77
LawrenceKestler’80
TimothyMarsh’75
Elaine WinzlerMayer ’68
Katelyn McCanna’07
VirginiaMotte’61
MaryFolksMullaney’62
HerbertMulligan’78
RosemarieLozitoNash’80,’85(M)
Joan KnoxO’Sullivan ’89
Margaret Palmer ’73
ClaraPerlingiero’52
Richard Phelan’85(M)
DonnaQuerim’95,’02(M)
Kathleen MorrisseySheehy’63
DebraCapodilupoShepherd’81
AmySheaSlattery’97
Cdr.RoccoTomazic’89(M)
Marvin Weniger’84(M)
SUPPORTSALVEALUMNIBUSINESSES
Salve Square is a central marketplace featuring alumnicreated products and services.
The Square has grown to more than 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.
