Southern Alumni Magazine Winter 2015

a publication for alumni and friends of Southern Connecticut State University

ALUMNI MAGAZINE | Winter | 15

SCOTT BURRELL AND KATE LYNCH, ’08, TAKE ON OWLS BASKETBALL FEATURED INSIDE:

CHARITABLE GIVING REPORT

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT ■

Dear Southern Alumni, Since its foundation as a teacher-training school almost 125 years ago, Southern Connecticut State University has reinvented itself several times during its long and storied history, and continues to do so today.

Many of you are aware of the current challenges facing higher education, both in our state and nationwide: among them, the spiraling cost of tuition, room, and board; a shrinking pool of high school applicants; and declining undergraduate retention rates.

I’m proud to say that at Southern we are tackling these challenges head on, working to transform our mission to reflect the needs of both a changing higher education landscape and the rapidly evolving, knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century.

In many ways, the last 12 months represented a banner year for our university. We opened two signature buildings — the refurbished Buley Library and the new Academic Science and Laboratory Building. One is an inspiring, academic heart of campus, the other a signature facility that will greatly enhance our ambitious goals in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. You can read about and view the new science building and its array of features in the pages of this magazine.

We also extended our reach and built new partnerships internationally, regionally, and in our host city of New Haven, where we now have an established downtown presence, Southern on the Green.

Our wellness and sustainability initiatives received state and national recognition, and our faculty earned accolades for research, teaching, and scholarship.

We devised innovative new graduate programs that will meet the demands of Connecticut’s workforce and meet the time constraints of today’s working professionals.

And we enhanced our undergraduate experiential learning and research opportunities, even as we expanded and refined our support services to help ensure that every student’s path to a college degree is unimpeded.

These are important and necessary steps, as Connecticut’s population will need to reach higher levels of education to meet the skilled workforce needs in the foreseeable future. State projections indicate that by 2025, the state’s economy will require a workforce in which 70 percent will have some education beyond high school.

But, if current education patterns continue, Connecticut will produce 23,000 fewer graduates due to the projected decline in high school graduates over the next decade and beyond.

The only increases in high school graduates will occur among the state’s minority populations — yet the education attainment gaps between whites and minorities are greater in Connecticut than in almost all other states in the country.

Clearly, surmounting these challenges will require a globally competitive, regionally engaged state higher education system. And thanks in no small part to your continued support, Southern will be a key player in this effort, enhancing our commitment to make a real difference in the lives of our students and their capacity to succeed in both the workforce and civic engagement.

Sincerely yours,

Mary A. Papazian, Ph.D. President

Southern

f e at u r e s

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Scientific Wonder

10

Southern is committed to increasing the number of students who graduate with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees by 35 percent — and significantly boosting the percentage of graduates prepared to teach the STEM disciplines as well. The new Academic Science and Laboratory Building is the stunning home away from home for these promising current and future students.

Coming Home

| Winter | 15

The Art of Southern’s Science Building

What does state-of-the-art look like? Check out some of the amazing features and architectural elements found in the new Academic Science and Laboratory Building.

20

2015 Charitable Giving Report

43

It’s a whole new game for Southern basketball — with Owl national champion Kate Lynch, ’08, and celebrated former NBA player Scott Burrell taking the respective leads of the women’s and men’s teams.

eport iving R able G Charit

d e pa r t m e n t s Band of Brothers

26

From the President

INSIDE COVER

2 ■ 8 ■ 9 ■ 30 ■ 33 ■ 36

Campus News ■ True Blue Hidden Campus Nostalgia Alumni News Alumni Notes

Meet Nick Abraham, ’05 — musician, songwriter, and the “music mentor” of reigning “American Idol”winner Nick Fradiani.

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Alumni Spotlights ■

37 38 ■ 42

• Mary Alice Crim, ’05, field director of the nonprofit organization Free Press • Pioneer in sustainable design, alumna Trudy Dujardin

Southern Events

CAMPUS NEWS ■

scenes from Liverpool John moores university

■

a Bridge to Britain

E

NGlANd’S livERPool JoHN MooRES UNivERSiTy

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exploring nursing program in armenia

(lJMU) and Southern Connecticut State University

president mary a. papazian led a

have launched an alliance that will greatly benefit

delegation of southern faculty to

students at both institutions. The collaboration will expand

armenia to discuss the implemen-

opportunities for students to study on both sides of the

tation of programs and courses

Atlantic and will offer undergraduate- and graduate-level

designed to meet the needs of

programs taught by faculty members at both universities

armenian nursing and healthcare

through video link and guest lectures. SCSU and LJMU students also will be invited to take part in joint field trips and research projects. Five Southern students are slated to study at LJMU this spring, and by 2017 it is anticipated that hundreds of SCSU students will benefit from the alliance.

“In our increasingly interconnected world both SCSU

professionals. during the visit,

Galust sahakyan, president which was supported by funding of the armenian national assembly receives, southern from the richard davoud donchian president mary a. papazian.

foundation of Greenwich, Conn.,

talks were held with representatives from armenia’s ministry of Health and leaders in higher education. southern’s

and LJMU recognize that development of skills and

department of nursing is exploring the establishment of an

problem solving strategies require universities to be glob-

armenian Center for Continued development of nurses.

ally connected — providing students with international

“Historically, healthcare education has focused primarily

opportunities and supporting staff engagement with inter-

on physician care,” says president papazian. “as a result, the

national networks,” says SCSU President Mary A. Papazian.

armenian healthcare system, while making great strides in the

With its home in the historic port city of Liverpool,

area of physician care, has no formalized degree or certificate

LJMU traces its roots back nearly 200 years to 1823 and the opening of the Liverpool Mechanics’ Institute. Now

track for nursing education.” president papazian also met with armenian president

ranked among the top 400 universities worldwide, LJMU

serzh a. sargsyan; Galust sahakyan, president of the national

offers 250 degree courses to 25,000 students drawn from

assembly; and Karekin II, supreme patriarch and Catholicos of

more than 100 countries.

the armenian apostolic Church.

2 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

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Green! Greener! Greenest!

Southern

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

■ VOL 13 • NO 2

tHe prInCeton revIew and sIerra maGazIne Have onCe aGaIn

both cited the university among the greenest schools in the nation. this fall president mary a. papazian further formalized the university’s pledge to foster sustainability by signing the most sweeping of three new Climate Leadership Commitments. all are overseen by Boston-based second nature with an admirable goal: creating an alliance of colleges and universities committed to mitigating climate change. In 2006, the group unveiled the american College & university presidents’ Climate Commitment (aCupCC), and the following year, southern became a charter signatory — pledging to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2050. recently, the original pledge was revised, and university presidents and chancellors were given the opportunity to sign one of three Climate Leadership Commitments focusing on varying levels of sustainability: 1) carbon neutrality 2) resilience and adaptation, and 3) the Climate Commitment, which incorporates both and provides a systems approach to mitigating and adapting to a changing climate. papazian, with approval from the Cabinet, signed the Climate Commitment — becoming one of only 40 of the original 600-plus signatories of the aCupCC from across the country to join the new commitment thus far.

Dr. Mary A. Papazian, President Robert L. Stamp, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Executive Director SCSU Foundation, Inc. staff

Patrick Dilger, Director of Public Affairs Villia Struyk, Editor Mary Pat Caputo, Associate Editor Michael Kobylanski, Sports Editor Marylou Conley, ’83, Art Director Isabel Chenoweth, Photographer Brokk Tollefson, Student Photographer Melanie Stengel, Contributing Photographer Charlie Davison, Alumni Notes Editor offICe of aLumnI reLatIons

Michelle R. Johnston, Director of Alumni Relations (203) 392-6500 edItorIaL offICe

Southern Connecticut State University Office of Public Affairs/ Southern Alumni Magazine 501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1355 Telephone (203) 392-6591; fax (203) 392-6597 E-mail address: StruykV1@SouthernCT.edu University website: SouthernCT.edu Printed by The Lane Press, Inc.

the southern community gathers as president mary a. papazian signs the Climate Commitment.

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perkinelmer Boosting science opportunities

A

collaboration between Southern and PerkinElmer has seen the installation of high-tech scientific laboratory instrumentation in the university’s new Academic Science and

Laboratory Building. The state-of-the-art solutions include several analytical instruments that will enhance faculty and student research capabilities in numerous academic disciplines, includ-

ing nanotechnology, optics, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and earth science.

The company, which is headquartered in Massachusetts and operates a facility in Shelton, Conn., delivers instruments and services designed to help improve human and environmental health. “We pride ourselves on working alongside the academic community so that the scientists of today and tomorrow have the tools they need to lead them toward the next breakthrough discovery,” says Ted Gresik, general manager, service, environmental health for PerkinElmer.

SCSU named a model carbon nanotube located in the main entryway of the new science building to recognize PerkinElmer’s leadership-level support of science education and research.

Southern Alumni Magazine is published by the university in cooperation with the SCSU Alumni Association two times a year and distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of the university.

Opinions expressed in Southern Alumni Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the university or the SCSU Alumni Association. Although the editors have made every reasonable effort to be factually accurate, no responsibility is assumed for errors.

Postage paid at Burlington, Vt. Southern Connecticut State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or criminal record. Inquiries related to Title IX may be forwarded to Jules Tetreault, Title IX Coordinator, 501 Crescent Street, EN A 106 C, New Haven, CT, 06515; (203) 392-5556; TetreaultJ4@SouthernCT.edu. All other inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies may be forwarded to: Jaye Bailey, chief of staff/vice president for organizational development, 501 Crescent Street, EN A 213 D, New Haven, CT 06515; (203) 392-5552; BaileyJ10@SouthernCT.edu.

Winter 2015 | 3

Campus news ■

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on the run

M

ove over sports drinks and power bars. In the ongoing race to enhance athletic ability, there’s a new player in town — the XG4, a performance insole developed by roar athletic performance Corp., milford, Conn., for the wearer to insert into laced shoes, sneakers, cleats, or spikes. the sCsu Human performance Laboratory recently tested the insole using state-of-the-art technology, including a highly specialized treadmill that uses cameras and technology to generate a three-dimensional gait analysis. “while individual performance results vary, preliminary

research conducted by the sCsu Human performance Laboratory has shown improvements such as increases of up to 1.5 inches in vertical jump height, decreases of up to 0.3 seconds in the 10-yard sprint time, and increases of up to five percent in running economy,” says robert Gregory, professor of exercise science.

Created from light-weight carbon fiber, the patented XG4 was developed by matt arciuolo, a certified pedorthist who specializes in biomechanics of the foot. He came up with the concept while designing and fitting custom orthotics for the u.s. olympic bobsled team. His family has operated arciuolo’s shoes in milford, Conn., for almost 100 years. the

rwa supports southern

THE SoUTH CENTRAl CoNNECTiCUT REGioNAl WATER AUTHoRiTy (RWA) HAS

partnered with Southern to support initiatives related to environmental education, workforce development, and community outreach. These will include free public workshops on conservation, which will be held at Southern on the Green, the university’s downtown location. “This partnership was a natural fit,

XG4 are being used by elite athletes in the nfL, nBa, and mLB, as well as college teams.

given both entities’ commit-

find more at poweredbyroar.com.

ment to championing sustainability,” says President Mary A. Papazian.

In recognition of its leadership-level support, the RWA will receive permanent recognition on campus through the naming of the rainwater harvester — a unique feature of the new science building that reduces the need for irrigation in the area by 50 percent. The company also will be recognized as a presenting sponsor of Southern on the Green.

Based in New Haven, Conn., RWA is a nonprofit public corporation created by the Connecticut Legislature in 1977. Each day, it provides 46 million gallons of water a day to a population of some 430,000 people.

4 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

faculty focus

Faculty Art Exhibit

IN

November, all eyes were on an exhibit of paintings, photographs, and sculptures created by the university’s talented art faculty. The exhibit was held in the new Buley Library Art Gallery — the first display of Southern’s “own” community to be showcased in the space. “This exhibit marks an absolute watershed in the history of the art department and the university. The continued use of this space for exhibits by students, faculty, and community artists will have a transformative influence on the arts at Southern,” says David Levine, chairman of the art department.

The exhibit featured the art of the following faculty: thuan vu (who coordinated the exhibit), mia Brownell, t. wiley Carr, Kelly Carrington, Greg Cochenet, Jeremy Chandler, Keith Hatcher, terry Lavin, and rachael vaters-Carr.

Numerous adjunct faculty also had work displayed: michael donovan, Karen dow, michael faulkner, Leeah Joo, noelle King, phil Lique, meredith miller, and perry obee.

Winter 2015 | 5

Campus news ■

on the WEB +

+

+

+

+

Enjoy an Owl’s-eye view of campus courtesy of an in-flight drone at southernCt.edu/go/fb1.

The SCSU Mobile app is available for free for both Android and iPhone. Features include a campus map and calendar, a realtime shuttle bus tracker, university news updates, and more. Visit southernCt.edu/ mobile for additional information.

Thinking about graduate study? Hear about Southern’s exceptional programs from students at southernCt.edu/go/fb2.

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S

for tomorrow’s teachers

outHern’s sCHooL of eduCatIon Has JoIned YaLe

university’s Comer school development program and the new Haven

public schools in a new partnership designed to improve teacher training.

the w.K. Kellogg foundation of Battle Creek, mich., recently awarded a $600,000 grant for the creation of the Collaborative for developmentally Centered education at Yale — and as part of this initiative, southern education students are taking part in professional development workshops held in elm City classrooms. the innovative academy enables school districts, professional development organizations, and teacher preparation programs to participate actively in the development of tomorrow’s teachers.

One of the highlights of Social Justice Week was “Dear World,” an interactive photography project, during which members of the Southern community shared inspirational messages by writing them on their bodies. Catch a glimpse of the outcome at southernCt.edu/go/fb3.

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Among Southern’s 21 new tenure-track faculty are a medieval historian who speaks seven languages, a former president of the Connecticut School Counselor Association, a strategic planner and marketing manager for Aetna, and a deputy national security advisor to the president of Romania. Learn more at southernCt.edu/go/new-faculty.

cation track) and the Doctor of

Grant for future nursing educators

A $430,673 GRANT iS HElPiNG SoUTHERN STUdENTS ENRollEd

in two programs: the Master of Science in Nursing (nursing eduEducation (Ed.D.) in nursing education, the latter of which is

85%

loan forgiven after

4 YEARS of teaching

offered in collaboration with Western Connecticut State University (WCSU). Funded by

the Health Resources and Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the grant provides loans to students enrolled in either program in the 2015-16 academic year, with a portion of the loan “forgiven” for those who complete their studies and become faculty members at accredited schools of nursing.

Those who teach one year will have 20 percent of their loan forgiven. That figure rises incrementally up to 85 percent loan forgiveness after four years of teaching. The university provided an 11 percent matching grant of

southern continues to expand its global focus through numerous initiatives. this summer the university hosted 23 students from Beijing university of Civil engineering and architecture, shown here with president mary a. papazian (front row, third from left) and others from the southern community.

6 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

$47,853, which increased the total amount of funds available to nursing students to $478,526.

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Campus Goes tobacco free

soutHern BeCame a toBaCCofree Campus on auGust 25,

prohibiting smoking and tobacco use in all facilities and outdoor areas of campus — and becoming the first public university in Connecticut to implement such a policy. supporting this effort, the sCsu Health and wellness Center received a grant from the state of Connecticut’s elliott Horch, professor of physics (right), and southern students will be capturing some of the clearest images ever of many of the earth’s nearest stars.

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seeing stars

A

Southern astrophysicist will be capturing the clearest images ever taken of 2,000 of the Earth’s nearest stars as part of a collaborative project funded by a $335,326 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). As part of the study,

Elliott Horch, professor of physics, will examine the stars using an instrument he developed several years ago called a Differential Speckle Survey Instrument. The device attaches to telescopes to produce images that are many times clearer than previously possible.

The grant was approved after research conducted by Georgia State University (GSU) identified and catalogued stars within 150 light years of Earth. SCSU will be charged with observing and capturing images of 2,000 stars, a representative sample of those in the area. An in-depth analysis by GSU will follow.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to explore our local neighborhood of stars and solar systems, and in effect, learn more about our own sun and solar system,” says Horch,

department of public Health to help lower the rate of tobacco use in the state, and prevent young adults from starting to use tobacco products. southern will lead a statewide coalition that will include Central, eastern, and western Connecticut state universities. the program — designed to share best practices in tobacco control and prevention through conferences, on-site consultations, and more — will serve as a model for others.

who has received three NSF grants in the last decade.

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T

first Breath: respiratory therapist program Launched his fall southern launched a Bachelor of science in respiratory therapy degree program for those who already have an associate degree in the field. two path-

ways are available — a leadership track that can be completed through online

coursework and a clinical track, which includes a six-credit clinical component. students may enroll in the highly flexible program on a full- or part-time basis, with courses offered online, in traditional classrooms, in a combined online and classroom format, and as an accelerated option.

Winter 2015 | 7

TruEblue ■

From the pool to the playing field, a look at Southern athletics.

n.e. Hall of fame welcomes owls

A

Meet the National Champion

rousInG owL CHeer Goes out to four wItH

Crystle Hill

soutHern tIes wHo were InduCted Into tHe

new england Basketball Hall of fame in august. following are the honorees, along with a few of their achievements:

• Suiting up for the Owls from 1995-99, Kristen (Breen) Lerman, ’00, set numerous program records for the time, including those for scoring (1,741 points), most three-point field goals (300), and most three-point field goals attempted (881).

• art Leary served as head men’s basketball coach from 1978-2009 and is the program’s leader in career victories with 374. He guided the team to four NCAA tournament berths and was a three-

Junior, majoring in mathematic s (secondary education) Women’s Track and Field Hometown : Norwalk, Conn.

time New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year.

• donald perrelli, ’61, M.S. ’69, 6th Yr. ’76, played from 1957-59 for Southern, which was then known as New Haven State Teachers College. As a senior, he led the nation in scoring at 31.5 points per game. He ranked first on Southern’s all-time scoring list with 1,854 points at the time of his graduation, a record he held for 30 years.

• anthony “t.J.” trimboli, ’01, left Southern as the “winningest” Owl in program history (85 victories).

An All-American selection as a senior, he ranks fifth in all-time scoring with 1,805 points. He also holds the single season record for free throw percentage (91.2 percent) and is the career leader in games played (120), three-point field goals made (221), three-point field goal percentage (41.2 percent), and free throw percentage (88 percent).

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alumni standout Joseph stochmal, ’93, is a teacher and the head football coach at oxford High school in Connecticut — sharing his continued love of the game. at southern, he was an allnew england quarterback and was named offensive player of the Year in 1991. He also received a Gold Helmet award, recognizing him as an outstanding new england division II-III player.

F O R M O R E S P O RT S H I G H L I G H T S . . . turn to tHe “owL news,” available exclusively online. Subscribe to the free newsletter at southernCtowls.com; click on the “owl Club” heading.

8 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

best of the best: Won the NCAA Div. II National

Championship in the indoor 4x400 meter relay last year, along with teammates Georgette Nixon, Sarah Hill, and Shatajah Wattely. Crystle ran first.

more accomplishments: Southern record holder in six

events: the 500 meter (indoor), the 400 (indoor and outdoor), as a member of the 4x400 (indoor and outdoor), and as a member of the 4x200 (outdoor). Northeast-10 champion in the 500 indoor. Placed seventh in the 400 at the NCAA Div. II Outdoor National Championships.

Numerous academic honors.

in the family: Hill is a third-generation track athlete. all owls: “On the track we are teammates, and if we are in the same race, we’re also competitors. . . . But off the track we are great friends. I feel like I am running with my sisters.”

always running: As a Peer Mentor, Hill helps students suc-

cessfully transition to college. In fall 2015 she made a presentation to student-athletes on how to succeed in the classroom and on the playing field. Also, treasurer of the Math Club, and worked in the Office of Admissions over the summer.

one math faculty fave: “Having a conversation with

Professor [Joe] Fields brings out the best in me. I’ve learned a lot just by talking with him and visiting in his office. He’s that intelligent and easy to be with.”

career aspiration — math teacher: “I used to sit in my

room and make up math tests to give to my parents. When friends came over, I would say, ‘Let’s play school.’” Her goals include finding a position in an inner-city school and working with those students who need most assistance.

View more about Crystle Hill at SouthernCT.edu/go/crystle.

science uncover clues hidden in stone with the help of a variety of tools, including the polarization microscope used to capture this photograph. Here, a chip of rock was mounted on a glass slide and ground to a thin sliver measuring a mere 30 microns in thickness so that light could pass through it. (there are 1,000 microns in one millimeter. a human red blood cell measures about five microns across.)

HIdden Campus â–

M

uch like modern-day detectives, faculty and students in the department of earth

samples prepared in this manner are called thinsections. the various colors represent the interference of polarized light passing through minerals that make up the rock sample, explains professor of earth science thomas fleming. “we use these images to identify minerals and textures in rocks that help us interpret their geologic history,� notes fleming. In this case, the photo shows a sample of a 200

million-year-old basalt (volcanic rock) from Connecticut.

Winter 2015 | 9

10 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

By Villia Struyk

Southern is committed to increasing the number of students who graduate with degrees in the STEM disciplines (science, technolon, engineering, and mathematics) by 35 percent — and significantly boosting the percentage of graduates prepared to teach in these fields as well. The new Academic Science and Laboratory Building is the stunning home away from home for these promising current and future students.

Winter 2015 | 11

T

HERE’S

• A loT oF •

sCIentIfIC

tHouGHt

d R i v i N G THE U.S. WoRkFoRCE — ANd iT’S TAkiNG PlACE iN THE BoARdRooM AS WEll AS THE l A B o R AT o R y • A C C o R d i N G T o T H E N AT i o N A l SCiENCE FoUNdATioN (NSF), THE lARGEST EMPloyER

qually telling, the need

E

for employees with

oF SCiENTiSTS ANd ENGiNEERS iN THE U . S . i S T H E B U S i N E S S S E C T o R ( 7 0 P E R C E N T ) , FolloWEd

knowledge and skills related

By EdUCATioN (19 PERCENT), ANd THE

to stem (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) cuts

GovERNMENT (11 PERCENT) •

across all sectors of the u.s. economy. some 16.5 million college-educated

that we are not

talking about science, technology,

Constructed at a cost of $49 million, the new 103,608-square-foot academic science and Laboratory Building houses classrooms and hightech laboratories for nanotechnology, cancer research, astronomy, molecular biology, chemistry, environmental

workers report that their jobs require

and math in a vacuum. stem connects

science, earth science, and physics and

at least a bachelor’s degree-level of

with all academic disciplines and is a

optics. the facility is also home to two

expertise in one or more science and

vital part of all aspects of life. we want

centers, one focused on nanotechnol-

engineering fields — significantly

to foster those interactions with inno-

ogy and the other on marine and

higher than the 5.4 million in

vation and creativity.”

coastal studies. the state-of-the-art

occupations with science and engineering titles, says the nsf. “there are tremendous career

southern’s new academic science

CsCu Center for nanotechnology is

and Laboratory Building aptly reflects

located below ground, where the labo-

this focus — and is designed to further

ratory space is designed to isolate

opportunities in the stem fields, so

the university’s commitment to interdis-

vibrations — extremely important when

that’s definitely part of the appeal,”

ciplinary education and research, sus-

working with microscopic and nano-

says professor of physics Christine

tainability, and community outreach.

level materials. Housed on the first and

Broadbridge, director of stem initia-

Constructed in the shape of an “L,” the

second floors, the werth Center for

tives at southern. “But beyond that,

building connects to Jennings Hall, which

Coastal and marine studies is uniquely

it’s important for every citizen to have

in turn, is joined to morrill Hall. together

focused on research and education

stem literacy — and to understand

the three create a science enclave.

related to Connecticut’s coast and

12 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

sIze:

103,608 square feet, four levels, configured in the shape of an “L”

Built for Science

ConstruCtIon Cost:

$49 million

proJeCt tImeLIne:

spring 2013 – summer 2015

arCHIteCt:

ContraCtor: fIt Construction, farmington, Conn.

Centerbrook architects and planners, Centerbrook, Conn.

More information, including videos, a photo gallery, and more is at go.SouthernCT.edu/science harbors. (Both centers and some of the

sustainability is integral to the

Building Council for environmen-

building’s many special features are

design as well. special glazing, screens,

explored in greater detail on the fol-

and other elements lower tempera-

lowing pages.)

tures; a rain harvester named in honor

enhance our ability to foster the next

of the south Central Connecticut

generation of Connecticut’s scientists,”

other amenities include an astron-

tally friendly design. “this signature building will truly

omy control room and a high-perfor-

regional water authority brings water

says president mary a. papazian,

mance computing lab for research in

from the roof to a 40,000-gallon under-

noting that enrollment in stem

theoretical physics, bioinformatics, and

ground tank for irrigation use; and

courses at southern has increased by

computer science.

plantings that require minimal water

21.6 percent over the past five years.

surround the building. these and other

“By producing more graduates with

“we believe buildings can send messages — and one of the messages

green design features promise to help

much-needed expertise in science and

we wanted to send was the importance

the academic science and Laboratory

technology, southern will continue to

of imagination in science,” says

Building earn Leed certification, a

be a key player in Connecticut’s eco-

Jefferson riley, a partner at Centerbrook

designation by the u.s. Green

nomic revival.”

architects and planners, designers of the facility. throughout the building, scientific disciplines are referenced by architectural elements — including the 107 science-themed images on the railings that line the hall and a major support1

beam that calls to mind

whale ver-

tebrae or a bike chain, depending on

your frame of reference. the building’s design encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. on three floors, a window-lined

2 “village

walkway” circles the building. In addi-

tion to drawing natural light into the space — including the below-ground level — the floor plan invites the southern community to interact in numerous

3

1

2

3

lounges and study areas.

similarly, administrative offices for the science departments as well as southern’s office for stem Innovation and Leadership are based together, encouraging interaction and cutting costs by reducing space and office requirements.

Winter 2015 | 13

S

outhern recently established an office for stem Innovation and

Office for

Leadership — a university-wide initiative dedicated to furthering interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach associated with

STEM Innovation and Leadership

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem). Collaboration is a hallmark of the office, which strives to work with academic departments across campus — including business, the arts and humanities, and education — as well as school districts, other colleges and universities, government agencies, businesses, and the community-at-large. professor of physics Christine Broadbridge, (pictured right, in lab coat) who serves as director of stem Initiatives at southern, took some time to talk about the office for stem-IL’s role on campus and beyond.

We often hear about the interdisciplinar y nature of STEM. Bio-nano-medicine is a great example. First, you think of nanotechnology [science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale (billionth of a meter) level].

Chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine will all play a critical role, but other disciplines will as well. We’ll consider history in terms of where the science we are building on originated. We also need to look at the products that are potentially being created — how they could affect people’s lives, as well as the medical field overall. There are safety considerations, so we have to bring in philosophy and ethics.

We also have to communicate well and there are potential marketing and other business concerns. It all interconnects.

Who does the office ser ve?

I don’t think there’s a member of the community who isn’t served. Our students are a primary focus, of course, and the office offers access to amazing research opportunities, career information, volunteer experiences, and more. Then there’s the world beyond campus, including primary and secondary schools — both students and educators. We’re also here for business and industry . . . to hear about their needs in terms of our education of the future workforce.

What are some programs offered for those in kindergarten through high school?

We offer public lectures that include a demonstration component, which are great for older students. We also participate in Family Science Nights, where Southern students and faculty visit elementary schools to share projects and demonstrations. One of our goals is to encourage school children to get involved in the New Haven Science Fair, which we support. In addition to providing materials for the fair, members of the Southern community volunteer as mentors and judges.

In 2014, you were named the Connecticut Materials and Manufacturing Professional of the Year.

Would you talk about a few STEM-IL programs that connect with business?

We have the Materials and Manufacturing Summer Teachers’ Institute that lets educators engage with industry leaders. What we hear from the business community is that STEM is very important across the board. They don’t just want to hire scientists; they also want to hire business managers who understand science and technology.

Companies also have the opportunity to become members of The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Center for Nanotechnology at Southern, which can provide them with access to the facilities as well as the opportunity to present project ideas for students to potentially work on. Companies can also become involved with our outreach efforts, like Alexion, who cosponsors the Family Science Nights with CRISP, the Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena, a National Science Foundation-funded partnership beween Southern and Yale.

What are some other opportunities offered to teachers?

We sponsor a professional learning community, a group of New Haven teachers who come together to work on everything from curriculum development to ways to enhance the classroom experience. They are compiling a list of needed educational materials that could be developed by Southern and CRISP. The Office for STEM-IL has a new resource library for educators, located in Jennings Hall. It includes materials and instructions for demonstrations, including those used for Family Science Nights. It’s not just for educators, but also for people who want to volunteer their time. Looking forward, a STEM innovation classroom will be created over the next year as well.

Private foundations, government agencies, and corporations, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, NASA, and the Werth Family Foundation, fund current projects.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Office for STEM Innovation and Leadership, (203) 392-7480, stem-il@SouthernCT.edu, SouthernCT.edu/stem 14 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Student Researchers

as a member of the werth family foundation-funded Industry academic fellowship (Iaf) program, physics major peter Litwin, ’15, worked with professor vince Breslin and other Iaf members to conduct nanoenvironmental research. Gathering samples from new Haven Harbor, professor Breslin and Litwin searched for micro-plastics found in some toothpaste, facial scrubs, and other products. the researchers ultimately unveiled evidence of the pollutants, which have been banned in numerous states. “as a researcher, my work is based on the particles being there. But as an environmentalist, I was hoping that they wouldn’t be,” says Litwin. for more, go to southernCt.edu/ microplastics.html.

“I like how the professors at southern are handson and that the student body isn’t huge. I like that I’ve been here only one year and all the professors know my name,” says stephen Cusumano, a graduate student majoring in chemistry, who holds a werth-funded Iaf graduate assistantship. for his graduate thesis, Cusumano is studying proteins that self-assemble into nanotubes, with a goal of finding ways to optimize images of the proteins.

“I grew up abroad in uzbekistan. I spent time in asia and europe and came back to the u.s. in high school. I’ve always been adventurous.

I like research,” says paul Klaucke, a senior physics major. the recipient of an Industry academic fellowship funded by the werth family foundation, Klaucke is studying the characterization — or visualization — of nanotubes. He is also conducting research with both proton onsite and the Yale school of medicine’s positron emission tomography Center.

“I always knew I would work in the sciences,” says junior physics major Hang pham. a recipient of an Industry academic fellowship sponsored by the werth family foundation, she spent last summer studying materials used in nano-medicine — materials synthesized at the nanometer scale (billionths of a meter).

“It’s a great environment. we’re not competing against each other. we’re working together as a community so that we can all be our best,” says Katherine perez, a junior physics major with a minor in mathematics. perez — a new Haven promise scholarship recipient — realized she loved science while taking an ap (advanced placement) physics class during her senior year of high school. an Industry academic fellow, she spent the summer studying materials used in nano-medicine.

“the fact that this equipment is available to undergraduates is phenomenal,” says alexis ernst, ’15, who spent the summer working as a program assistant with the Industry academic fellows program and is now pursuing graduatelevel study of materials science and engineering. “this program goes above and beyond what is typically offered to undergraduates.”

Winter 2015 | 15

`e

Art of

Southern’s Science Building What does state-of-the-art look like?

Check out some of the amazing features and architectural elements found in the new Academic Science and Laboratory Building.

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T H E W E RT H C E N T E R F O R C O A S TA L A N D M A R I N E S T U D I E S

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rom measuring mercury contamination in the state’s harbors to exploring ways

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to combat beach erosion after hurricanes, the werth Center for Coastal and

marine studies provides extensive opportunities for faculty and students from throughout the Connecticut state Colleges and universities system to participate in collaborative and interdisciplinary research and education. a $3 million pledge from the werth family foundation greatly forwarded the work of the center, which is now housed on the first and second floors of the new science building. on the first floor, researchers have direct access to a “wet” fieldwork room to load and unload equipment, and properly preserve sediments, marine life, and microorganisms collected from Long Island sound. the center also has several new labs, including an analytic lab (housing instrumentation used to study contaminents such as mercury) and a sediment coastal science lab.

16 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

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facing the lobby area, the werth Center’s two aquariums are home to species found in Long Island sound — one reflects an open-water environment, while the other showcases coastal species. the open-water aquarium holds approximately 2,000 gallons of water and striped bass. the near-shore aquarium contains about 1,800 gallons of water and houses blackfish and scup. the aquarium lighting system can simulate most weather conditions, including sunshine, clouds, and thunderstorms with lightning. when marine life and microorganism are brought back to the center, the interactive touch pool provides an ideal mid-stop to investigate the various aquatic species. the pool also provides a unique hands-on opportunity for students visiting the center through southern’s collaborative science education partnership with Greater new Haven schools.

CSCU CENTER FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY hen it comes to research, big things are happening on the

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lowest level of the new science building where the

Connecticut state Colleges and universities (CsCu) Center for nanotechnology at southern is fostering education and research at the microscopic and nanometer scale (one billionth of a meter).

“Being on the lower level is a tremendous benefit,” says Christine Broadbridge, director of the center and head of southern’s office for stem Innovation and Leadership. “Characterization — or visualizing — atoms is one of the center’s main focuses. our location is ideal for minimizing vibrations, which can hinder this work.” much like the science building overall, the center encourages collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education. the center builds upon existing partnerships with Yale university, the university of Connecticut, and the CsCu system, as well as industry leaders. “nanotechnology unites many scientific disciplines, with applications in countless fields including medicine, health care, electronics, sustainability, research, manufacturing, and much more,” says Broadbridge. she notes that one of the center’s goals is enhancing Connecticut’s workforce competitiveness in nanotechnology and materials science.

Looking forward, the center will be expanding its focus into nano-fabrication as well as bio- and nano-environmental research, and, more generally, societal implications of nanotechnology. Carbon nanotubes, used in electronics, offer a research opportunity. “Carbon is actually as strong as steel but very, very light,” says Broadbridge. “If you can get past some of the manufacturing challenges, the possibili-

rising three levels, this model resembles a carbon nanotube — a nanometer-scale (billionths of a meter), tube-like structure. Illuminating the entrance to the university on fitch street, the sculpture highlights the Connecticut state Colleges and universities Center for nanotechnology at southern — the only center for nanotechnology in the state. the sculpture is named in recognition of perkinelmer’s leadershiplevel participation during the initial outfitting of the new science building’s laboratories and for its recent collaborative efforts with the university. the company, which delivers instruments and services designed to help improve human and environmental health, is headquartered in massachusetts, and also has a facility in shelton, Conn.

ties are tremendous.” the center also looks forward to continuing collaborative projects with the werth Center for Coastal and marine studies on topics including characterization of microbeads in Long Island sound.

Center instrumentation and programs are partially funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Werth Family Foundation.

N A M I N G O P P O RT U N I T I E S

t

he 17th century english astronomer edmund Halley discovered Halley’s

• Geological Rock Garden

Comet. the 19th century physicist Christian Johann doppler unveiled the

• First Floor Village Walkway

doppler effect — and we have alessandro volta to thank for giving us volts,

voltage, and more. there is a long history of naming scientific discoveries after those

who uncovered them. echoing that spirit, there are numerous naming opportunities

associated with the new academic science and Laboratory Building, several of which

• The CSCU Center for Nanotechnology • Two 50-Seat Classrooms • Touch Tank

are listed at right. for more information, go to southernCt.edu/go/nsb or call the

• Two Aquariums

advancement office at (203) 392-5598.

• Astronomy Control Room

Winter 2015 | 17

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the rain Harvester — fittingly named in recognition of the south Central Connecticut regional water authority (rwa) for its leadership-level support — is used for campus irrigation. rwa has partnered with southern to support initiatives related to environmental education, workforce development, and community outreach. ecological as well as beautiful, the unique system uses spouts to carry rain water from the building’s roof. after falling onto several boulders, the water is then funneled into a 40,000-gallon underground collection system that provides hydration for the surrounding greenery — reducing the amount of water needed for irrigation of this area by 50 percent. a uv-purification system eliminates bacteria. the boulders used in the system were hand-selected by stony Creek Quarry in Branford, Conn., and installed by Centerbrook architects with assistance from earth science professor thomas fleming. the stones were shaped to receive the falling water by quarry master, richard atkinson. see the system in action at go.southernCt.edu/ science/exterior-features.php. functioning as an outdoor classroom, the GeoLoGICaL roCK Garden showcases 52 rocks that are indigenous to Connecticut. Creation of the handson educational display — which includes rocks donated by numerous quarry operators in the region — was overseen by thomas fleming, professor of earth science. some of the boulders are from stony Creek Quarry, which provided stone for many iconic buildings and monuments, including the statue of Liberty.

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approximately 300 satellite images were used to create this LarGesCaLe reGIonaL map that visually connects the facility’s various levels and inspires students to pause to look for their favorite locations. mock asteroids artistically reference one scientific theory — that water traveled to earth on asteroids. some dispute the idea, but either way the display inspires students to think and ask questions.

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a picture is worth a thousand words — particularly when it comes to providing inspiration. with that in mind, 107 scientific images are integrated into the raILInGs , reflecting the facility’s interdisciplinary scientific focus. they are slightly translucent to let in natural light.

DESIGN F E AT U R E S esign choices reflect the facility’s

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focus on interdisciplinary science.

durable flooring in the village walkway is in various shades of green with light veining to resemble leaves. similarly, the outside columns include botanicalinspired design elements.

18 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

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additional features • Three ammonites donated

by Centerbrook Architects are displayed in the main entrance on stainless steel disks to let viewers see all sides of the specimens

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the astronomY ControL room provides clear views of the

heavens — despite atmospheric blurring and light pollution in the area. telescopes positioned on the roof provide data to viewing screens located around the circumference of the room. using techniques being developed by southern’s elliott Horch, a faculty member in the department of physics, the telescopes can be simultaneously trained on the same object. the resulting images are then linked to a computer and ultimately provide clear views. the center dome, with a built-in skylight, shows a regular view of the skies.

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the fItCH street entranCe is braced by a structural horizontal beam that is reminiscent of whale vertebrae or a bike chain. the beam flexes to provide support during high winds. a pedestrian gateway on the third floor connects the new facility to Jennings Hall, while providing stunning views of campus, east rock, west rock, and downtown new Haven. more than 150 large rock samples from three regions in Connecticut were used to create this rock wall, a display used to teach Connecticut’s geological history. unique among universities in the northeast — the wall contains rock samples that were collected as part of the senior theses projects of Lee Gilden, ’15, mario turriago, ’15, and James Bogart, ’16, who were supervised by thomas fleming and michael Knell, faculty members in the department of earth science.

• expanded wings for earth • two 50-seat classrooms, • a village walkway on the • scientific displays throughscience, environmental conference space, and ground, second, and third out, illustrating the studies, biology, chemistry, student study areas floors to encourage research interests of faculty and physics teaching and student/faculty interactions and students • an analytical instrumentaresearch laboratories and provide sunlight tion laboratory to prepare • a faculty garden, which will throughout the building • a high-performance students for employment add to the university’s computing laboratory for in the chemical and phar• connections to the existing sustainability focus research in theoretical macological industries as science building, Jennings science, bioinformatics, well as graduate programs Hall, at the lower, ground, and computer science and medical professions and upper levels Winter 2015 | 19

COMING HOME It’s a whole new game for Southern basketball — with Owl national champion Kate Lynch, ’08, and celebrated former NBA player Scott Burrell taking the respective leads of the women’s and men’s teams.

I

t’s a steamY daY In septemBer and some

excelled at baseball, basketball, and football. He was picked

1,390 fuLL-tIme fresHmen are fIndInG tHeIr

in the first round of the 1989 major League Baseball draft

waY on Campus, tHe student-atHLetes

by the seattle mariners and again by the toronto Blue Jays

amonG tHem pLaYInG tHrouGH nervous

the following year, but instead enrolled at the university of

eXCItement as tHeY test tHeIr taLents In

Connecticut, playing basketball from 1989 - 1993.

moore field House. sitting in a welcoming campus office,

He became one of the Huskies’ all-time greats, the first

set to share their thoughts on everything from team psy-

player in nCaa history to score more than 1,500 points,

chology to neighborhood pickup games, are two more new

with at least 750 rebounds, 290 assists, and 300 steals.

owls — Kate Lynch, ’08, the head coach of the women’s

more than two decades after playing for the Huskies,

basketball team, and scott Burrell, who has taken the helm

Burrell is still interviewed about one particular awe-inspiring

of the men’s basketball program.

play. It was march 22, 1990. with uConn down by one

the excitement surrounding these “new kids” is palpa-

point and only one second remaining in the game, Burrell

ble. Both are celebrated athletes and share strong personal

made a nearly full-court pass to tate George, who scored

connections with southern. Lynch is a southern graduate as

for the win.

are Burrell’s parents, samuel (B.s. in recreation and leisure

a celebrated athlete in her own right, Kate Lynch is a

studies in 1970 and a graduate degree in education in

southern hometown hero — a member of the 2007 team

1980) and Gertrude (B.s. in nursing in 1980 and a graduate

that won the division II women’s Basketball national

degree as an adult educator with a concentration in nursing

Championship. she remains the all-time leading scorer for

in 1991).

southern’s women, with 1,779 points to her name. a two-

In July, the proud parents were among some 150 gath-

time all american, she’s been inducted into three basket-

ered on campus for a press conference officially announcing

ball halls of fame (Connecticut, northeast-10, and new

Burrell’s appointment. He came to southern with extensive

england).

experience, having spent the last eight seasons as an assis-

Lynch’s winning tradition extends to coaching. most

tant coach at Quinnipiac university. arguably one of the

recently, she was head coach at molloy College in rockville

finest athletes in Connecticut history, he was the first-round

Centre, n.Y. previously, she spent three years as the head

nBa draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets in 1993 and also

coach of the Community College of rhode Island, leading

suited up for the Golden state warriors, the Chicago Bulls,

the Knights to three straight region XXI regular season

and the new Jersey nets while playing professional ball

titles, and being named the 2013 national Coach of the

from 1993-2006. among the highlights of his storied career

Year at the community college level after a 25-win cam-

is playing with michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls when

paign and a district n Championship. Lynch launched her

they won the 1998 nBa Championship.

career as the director of basketball operations at fairfield

Burrell remains the only athlete in professional history to be drafted in the first round of two different sports. a three-sport scholastic standout at Hamden High school, he

university, where she worked alongside her former coach at sCsu, Joe frager.

continued Winter 2015 | 21

“they only have four years as college athletes — and I want them to have the same type of experience at southern that I did. of course, with that comes bringing southern back to national prominence . . .”

— Kate Lynch, ’08

Southern Magazine: Had the two of you met

before coming to southern?

Kate Lynch: No, we never met. We were complete strangers.

Scott Burrell: Total strangers. I just knew that Southern had won a championship when she played here.

When I got to Southern, I found out how well she played — that she was on the team that won the national championship, which I remember. kl : The average sports follower, of course, knows

Scott Burrell — and I’m a sports fanatic. Being an NBA champion trumps winning the collegiate national championship. Everybody here knows Scott Burrell — what a great athlete he is and what a great person he is.

SB : But she came back to where she played which is

really special. She won a championship at Southern — and now she can try to win one as a coach.

Both of you have prior connections to the university. kl : I always wanted to have the opportunity to

coach here. Southern is home to me. I felt it even when I was being recruited. The atmosphere was great.

The head coach and everyone on the administration — the staff and faculty — they were all just wonderful during my four years [as a student-athlete]. . . . Of course, we had a lot of success during that span, which makes it even more special. I haven’t stopped smiling for the last couple of months.

SB : It’s exciting because it’s my first head coaching

job — and it’s where my mom and dad went to school. Half of the campus is located in my hometown [Hamden]. Walking around campus, I’ve seen so many people who I went to school with or played baseball with or other sports. It just makes it feel like home.

You want to build a team where your family can see you play and see you be successful — and Southern is a place where you can be successful. We have great support 22 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

from President Papazian and a great athletic director, Jay Moran. Mike Donnelly [the former men’s basketball coach] did a wonderful job while he was here. It’s a good place for me to jump into head coaching. There’s a lot of pressure to come back to your hometown and be a head coach — but that’s the part I am excited about.

what led you to southern? kl : I was at Molloy College the last couple of years

— and your intention is never to leave before you achieve the goals you’ve set for a particular institution. But this opportunity came up, and it was easy. I was supported by everyone at Molloy, which was great. Like I said, Southern is home to me and it’s always been that way. I’m looking forward to the future . . . looking forward to being here for a very long time.

SB : For me, it’s Southern’s winning tradition —

though it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, you might want to go someplace less successful, because then you know you’ll look good. [laughing] But, look at what Coach Donnelly did the last couple of years — 33 wins two years ago, 24 wins last year. The kids are here and the success is here to build on.

do you remember when you first started playing basketball?

SB : I grew up watching the NBA games on NBC —

watching Magic and Bird, and all those guys playing the Lakers. When I was a little kid, I played Biddy Basketball where they lower the hoop.

Growing up, we had to go to the park and play on cement — and there were 30 kids waiting. If you lost, you waited three games to play again. So you learned how to win and lose. Because if you lost, you knew you had to wait another hour to play. Everyone was out there gunning for you, and you had to compete and win to stay on the court. kl : I have two older brothers. So happily I didn’t

have a choice growing up. My older brothers

“You have to be a psychologist in this day and age to be a coach.

You have to know when to put the hammer down. But also know when to pick them up.”

— scott Burrell

were always out playing in the neighborhood or at the local park, trying to find a game. I actually started playing really young, because I wanted to do everything that my big brothers did — and my big brothers played basketball.

My first organized opportunity was with the fifth grade CYL [Catholic Youth League]. I was only in fourth grade, but I must have hounded every volunteer CYL coach. They eventually let me play, so I was a fourth grader on the fifth grade team. We actually did really, really well. I had my first taste of winning very young.

SB : My family got me involved as well. My dad

coached football – so I was hanging around Yale my whole life. He coached New Haven baseball and Hillhouse lacrosse. I remember growing up and going to Yale games. I remember going to watch the Giants and the Jets play at Yale Bowl. So it was watching sports — and picking up little things while watching. kl : It was the same for me. My brother played

college basketball. But even when they were both in high school, I would go to every single game. . . . They gave me the opportunity to play.

SB : My older brother played Little League baseball. I

was six — too young to join — and I wanted to play so badly. My parents signed me up early, and I played shortstop. I was doing well. My brother’s team was winning. kl : You were the ringer.

SB : [laughing] A too young ringer. One day, I came

home from practice. We got dropped off by the coach, and I came in crying. My mom tells me I said to her, ‘They found out!’ I got kicked out of the league for a year until I was old enough.

do your players ask what it was like when you played? kl : They want to know about our experience in

2007 — winning the national championship and

what it takes to get there. Steph [assistant basketball coach Stephanie Hiriak, ’10] played with me on the team, and she’ll sometimes share stories about what we did and how we did it . . . how hard they have to work to get there. It’s a storied history at Southern going back to AIAW [Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women]. They were final four for three years in a row. We always remind them of the legacy — and the tradition that we are trying to build here.

SB : The only time they asked me about it was during

my interview. . . . They asked me about Michael [Jordan] and playing for Chicago.

Since then no one has asked me about that. . . . I think they are trying to feel me out as a coach. . . . I don’t want to make it about me. It’s about me coaching them and making them better.

But if they ask you?

SB : But if they ask me? Sure, there is a lot to tap into.

what are some of the strengths of the current teams?

SB : I lost 60 points a game from last year’s team . . .

three and a half starters. I have two guys coming back. Mike Mallory was a sixth man who came off the bench, and Desmond Williams is coming back as well. They are very talented players. I’ve got to find the pieces to fit around them for us to be successful. We brought in five new guys this year, and I think we have some good players to fit those spots. Obviously losing two guys who averaged 18 points a game is going to be tough. But the new guys are going to get the opportunity. I hope they are excited about the challenge. kl : I am going to second Scott. We certainly have

some strong pieces of our puzzle. They’ve all been working really hard. They push themselves and that is all I can ask for. Do we have the opportunity to win this year? Yes. If we keep our focus and stay together as a

continues Winter 2015 | 23

team. We have a senior class that has talent — and we are looking to them to help lead us. We know they want to win a championship — and that takes a lot. But if last practice was any indication, we will be in good shape for the season.

when did you realize you wanted to coach? kl : Life without basketball would be . . . [shaking

her head] interesting. I don’t know what I would do. Coach Joe Frager at Fairfield University gave me my first opportunity. I went home for the summer after graduating, and he called and said, “There’s a director of operations opening, would you be interested?” To coach basketball? With Coach Frager? Are you kidding me? Of course, I went. I learned so much from him. I caught the coaching bug and moved up the ladder from there.

SB : When you are close to being done playing, you

start to think about your next step. . . . I knew I wanted to stay involved with basketball. . . . and I love coaching for several reasons. Today’s youth need guidance. They need mentors, especially young black males. . . . [There] are a lot of temptations out there . . . or they might look at the wrong things as signs of success. . . .

The lure of easy money. But it’s not the right way. There are ways to become successful, and getting an education is number one for most of these guys. Being an athlete helps make that possible. . . . and it builds morals — dedication, an understanding of the importance of hard work. It carries over into every part of life.

After coaching nine years as an assistant, you see things that you might do differently . . . but you also learn from every coach you had. You want to use what you learned over time . . . to do what you think is best for your own team.

How do you want your players to think of you? kl : I will go back to my experience here with Coach

Frager. I consider him a great friend . . . and he is a great family friend, too. And he was tough as nails. He would set his expectations high, because he knew we could get there. But you also knew he wanted the best for you. There is that amazing balance — of being TOUGH but letting your players understand that you’ll always be there for them . . . that you will do anything that you can for them — on and off the court. It is something that everyone strives for. But Coach Frager is the master at it.

It’s been 11 years . . . He is still a great friend, and he was one of the best coaches I ever had. I hope that when my players graduate I have the same relationship with them.

SB : Like Kate was saying, you have to be a

psychologist in this day and age to be a coach.

You have to know when to put the hammer down. But also know when to pick them up.

Is that what is most challenging?

SB : I think so. kl : At the college level, you have a lot of different

personalities . . . people from different walks of life. They all grew up differently. They all were the best on their high school basketball teams. . . . You have all these different puzzle pieces. You have to make them fit, because in the end, when you’re playing, it’s about the team. It is not about me. It’s not about Scott. It’s not about each individual player. . . . It’s a delicate balance we all hope to achieve. Sometimes you reach them, sometimes you don’t.

“I am still smiling. that’s my family; those are my teammates. my team and my coach gave me some of the best memories ever — and I still carry them with me. [points to player number 10] that’s my assistant coach [stephanie Hiriak, ’10] . . . . I bleed blue and white but if anyone bleeds it just as much as me, it’s her. we always talked . . . . said that if the opportunity ever came to come back to southern and coach, it would just be awesome. It has been so far, and I know it will be in the future.”

— Kate Lynch, ’08 [standInG seCond from Left]

24 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

SB : Some kids fold . . . bow out. kl : It’s not easy. But that’s what makes it fun for us, too. . . . Because everyone is different. Everyone learns differently . . . reacts differently. As coaches we have to understand each of our players.

I expect that you want it to be somewhat heartbreaking to lose. kl : Yes. SB You play only 28 — 30 games [a season]. In

AAU Basketball they play 30 in one month, so they get used to whatever happens. Sometimes, you have to break that habit.

what is most rewarding? kl : For me, it’s that ‘ah ha’ moment, when you

reach them. They are working so hard . . . and working so hard . . . and they finally get it. They are feeling and achieving the success they have been striving for. . . .

Because again, it is not about us; it is about their experience. They only have four years as college athletes — and I want them to have the same type of experience at Southern that I did. Of course, with that comes bringing Southern back to national prominence and a national championship.

SB : I feel the same way. You want to have that

impact. . . . You want them to gel as a team — and if they do and if you have the talent, you are going to win. . . . and that makes them happy. That makes everyone happy. It’s the best moment . . . . that and seeing them at

E V E RY PICTURE TELLS A S T O RY

Head basketball coaches Kate Lynch, ’08, and Scott Burrell share thoughts on a few photos.

graduation. [laughing] Especially if they come up and hug you after.

Can you talk a bit about your future goals? kl : I want to put Southern on that stage. So one of

my long-term goals would be to bring back one of these [points up to the national championship trophy] — and to make sure that our players graduate, and that I give them the tools needed to be successful.

SB : I don’t have goals for myself. I just have them

for my team and that’s to win every year. 1. Win your regular season championship. 2. Win your conference championship. 3. Go as far as you can in the NCAA tournament. . . . Everybody is going to be nervous. But as long as your team is the most prepared and set to battle, that’s all you can do. Prepare them the best that you can.

You obviously have your assistant coaches who you work closely with. But in the future, will you sit down and talk with each other about strategy? kl : Scott has had different experiences . . . different

coaches that he has worked for. I’m looking forward to picking his brain.

SB : We haven’t had time to talk about anything

really. But I can definitely see that. I asked her to have a cup of coffee . . . but she said, ‘No. I’m too big time for that.’ kl : That’s exactly what I said to him. [laughing] Too

big time. I’ll get back to you. ■

“my dad is thinking: ‘that’s my son right there . . . coming back home to coach.’ my mom is like, ‘oh my gosh, my little baby.’ they are just happy, proud parents. they knew I wanted to be head coach and knew it was time to move on. they’re happy that I’m happy. Yeah. did I sound like my parents?”

— scott Burrell

Winter 2015 | 25

(from left) Beach avenue’s nick abraham, ’05, nick fradiani, and ryan zipp • appearing on “america’s Got talent.” • on the set of fradiani’s “Beautiful Life” video • playing before 10,000 plus at the “american Idol” homecoming concert 26 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Meet Nick Abraham, ’05 — musician, songwriter, and the “music mentor” of reigning “American Idol”-winner Nick Fradiani.

By Villia Struyk

M

usician Nick Abraham, ’05, is on the brink. While not quite ready to quit his day job at a local pharmacy, Abraham — the lead guitarist for Connecticut-based band Beach Avenue — is enjoying major success along with band-mates Nick Fradiani (guitar/vocals), Ryan Zipp (drums), Nick Fradiani Sr. (keyboards/vocals), and Jonah Ferrigno (bass).

The band has opened for everyone from STYX, Jefferson Starship, and REO Speedwagon to Third Eye Blind and Bad Rabbits. Twelve million viewers watched Beach Avenue perform on the 2014 edition of “America’s Got Talent.” Even the powers-that-be behind trendy retailer Hollister Co. are fans, featuring the band’s “Feel the Beat” on the in-store playlist, along with hits by megastars Taylor Swift, One Direction, Charlie XCX, and more.

And that’s just the beginning. In May, Beach Avenue’s lead singer Nick Fradiani won season 14 of “American Idol,” with Abraham and Zipp cheering him on every step of the way. Two days after his win, with the show’s full blessing, Fradiani invited the two to help with promotions leading up to the “American Idol Tour.”

The ensuing months were marked by one rock star moment after another. The three performed Fradiani’s hit single “Beautiful Life” in Times Square for VH1. Soon after, the guys traveled to Nashville to film the song’s official video. Later, it was off to Vancouver, Canada, to perform at the FIFA World Cup the day before the U.S. women’s team captured the trophy. A summer update on Beach Avenue’s Facebook page sums it up nicely: “We hopped on 9 flights in 11 days totaling well over 10,000 miles traveled.”

Far from an overnight sensation, Abraham has been a hard-working musician throughout most of life. His early childhood memories include listening to his mother sing and tirelessly banging on the pots and pans she gladly provided. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began playing drums at age 10 and went on to master more instruments — including the guitar, the mandolin, and the glochinshpeil.

He joined his first band at 13. Others followed, and while Abraham initially planned to become a music teacher, he gradually realized that he wanted to be a professional musician.

At Southern, he majored in music, playing in numerous university ensembles. He notes that Mark Kuss, professor of music, was particularly inspirational. “He is an incredible pianist and composer. . . . He really inspired me and taught me a lot. I think he understood what I was looking to do with my music — and that really made a big difference.”

Scholarship support was helpful as well. Abraham received the Bellmore Family Scholarship, which benefits students who are majoring in music at Southern.“I was a musician myself,” says Roger Bellmore, who studied communication at Southern, and paid his way through school by playing in a rock band.“The cost of going to school has gone up significantly since I was a student,” Bellmore continues.

“We wanted to make it a little easier for a musician, so he or she could focus more on music and classes.” He and wife, Sharon, have two sons, Nick and Charlie, both professional musicians. The latter majored in music at Southern.

Abraham notes that the scholarship met the Bellmore family’s objectives.

“The scholarship was huge in two ways,” he says.

“First, in the financial sense, it was a big help. But it also was a big motivation. You feel like you have some support. . . . It’s an inspiration. It says ‘Okay, you are doing well, and you should continue down your path.’”

That path eventually led Abraham — then a Southern student — to successfully audition for a band that included drummer Ryan Zipp. When their lead vocalist left, Fradiani joined on and Beach Avenue was born, named after the Milford, Conn., street where the group got its start.

With only a few practice sessions under their belts, Beach Avenue went on to win Mohegan Sun’s Battle of the Bands in 2011, besting those who had been playing together for years. “Our prize winnings allowed us to put together a CD,” says Abraham. continues on page 41 Winter 2015 | 27

owl’s view Have you seen southern lately?

a camera-equipped drone recently captured views of the dramatically transformed campus. see southernCt.edu/go/fb1 for more.

28 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Highlights include:

Hilton C. Buley Library (newly

earl Hall, spotlighting education in

across from Lyman Center’s main

expanded and renovated to support

the fine arts,

entrance is the new home for the

student needs with a Learning Commons, computer laboratories, and more),

and the michael J. adanti student Center, housing student meeting rooms, the campus bookstore, the

the renovated engleman Hall

recreation facility, food court, and

academic and administrative

much more.

building,

Just out of sight, in the center of all

the John Lyman Center for the

the action, a circular hub of pathways

performing arts, bringing the finest

connects buildings, patios, and lawns

in entertainment to the area,

— creating ideal spots for student activities, from the annual Culturefest to impromptu games of frisbee.

school of Business. Created by renovating the former student center, it is the second building in the state to be granted Leed (Leadership in energy and environmental design) gold certification. for more views of southern’s stunning campus, turn to page 10 to see the new academic science and Laboratory Building, part of

southern’s new science enclave. ■

Winter 2015 | 29

n o s ta L G I a ■

True=to=yourSCHOOL

Hen It Comes to soutHern

many commented on the dramatic

fessors, psychologists, library media

spIrIt, tHe CLass of 1956 Has

growth of campus, having witnessed

specialists, principals, superintendents,

set tHe Bar sKY-HIGH,

southern’s early evolution firsthand.

and more.

maintaining a steadfast connection to

Ciaburri recalls picking up classmates at

their alma mater. to date, members of

Howe street where the school was

the class have established many schol-

based at the time and commuting to

Bivelacque, ’56, who joined armstrong

arships at the university and held 11

the new Crescent street campus, which

as a chemist, and the late John

reunions and numerous other gather-

then included only one building — pelz

Cassidento, ’56, who went to law school

ings. “there’s so much camaraderie

Gymnasium. southern was then known

and ultimately served as a circuit court

among us,” says Joseph v. Ciaburri,

as new Haven state teachers College

judge. “I was one of the rebels, too,”

president of the Class of 1956. “since

(nHstC) — and at the Class of 1956’s

says Ciaburri, who taught while attend-

graduation day, we’ve understood how

50th reunion, members proudly partici-

ing wesleyan and as an adjunct profes-

much we owe to southern. we paid

pated in a special ceremony, during

sor at southern, but built his career in

$10 a semester when we started, which

which they received degrees from

banking. He established several financial

increased to $25 a semester — and

nHstC “now known as southern

institutions, which he ultimately sold —

that was returned to us if we made

Connecticut state university.”

southern Connecticut Bancorp doing

among those not entering the education field were the late John a.

honors. we really have southern to

business as the Bank of new Haven and

thank for our successes,” he says.

the Bank of southern Connecticut. “It’s

In acknowledgement, the

been a great ride. I have southern to

group recently made a gift to the

thank for that,” he says.

university — a bronze statue with

Indeed, Ciaburri’s life has been

a built-in bench that is displayed in

punctuated by numerous once-in-a-life-

the foyer of the newly renovated

time experiences — the result of his pro-

Hilton C. Buley Library. “we attended

fessional success, civic engagement, and

under president Buley. He was a favorite,” says Ciaburri. In June, some

commitment to service. president out of 206 graduates in the class,

ronald reagan appointed him to the

37 class members attended a reception

203 became educators, says Ciaburri,

u.s. department of Commerce’s

at the library to dedicate the statue,

of his classmates who shared their

economic advisory Council; Ciaburri

which depicts the joy of reading.

talents and expertise as teachers, pro-

rang the opening bell of the american

30 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

stock exchange twice; and he was

enrolled in the school of Business.

the 2015 reunion, the class voted to

chairman of the Community Bank

preference is given to those from the

make her an honorary member, and

management department within the

greater new Haven area.

philip palma, ’56, acting vice president,

university of wisconsin’s school for Bank

reconnecting alumni with

administration — and had the privilege

southern remains a driving force. In

of presenting his son with his degree

2013, he helped launch “the around

when he graduated from the institution.

the rim Booster Club” at southern,

give praise to his classmates, citing

dedicated to reconnecting former bas-

their many successes as well as their

southern has remained steadfast. He

ketball players with the university

volunteerism and philanthropy on

continues to volunteer extensively at

through reunions and more. (Ciaburri

behalf of their alma mater. “I was ini-

the university, and has served as presi-

played for the owls.) “when we organ-

tially supposed to be part of the Class

dent of the alumni association, and as

ized the first gathering, we had 45

of 1957,” says Ciaburri, who attended

the director of development and execu-

former team captains attend. we had

southern as a married adult after

tive director of the sCsu foundation.

more than 100 players,” says Ciaburri.

serving in the united states army. “But

In recognition of his accomplishments

the group held its third reunion in con-

I ‘caught up’ with the class ahead of

and contributions, Ciaburri received the

junction with Homecoming in october.

me, and I am so glad that I did. I think

throughout it all his loyalty to

alumni service award in 1969, the

meanwhile a committee represent-

distinguished alumnus award in 1980,

ing the Class of 1956 is hard at work

and the president’s medal for

organizing their 60th reunion. alumni

Community service in 1986.

from California, new Hampshire, new

In the spirit of giving back, the Joseph v. Ciaburri endowed scholarship

Jersey, florida, massachusetts, and more, are among those already plan-

was established in his honor in 1969 to

ning to be guests. mary Grace “dolly”

support a varsity basketball player with

Ciaburri, who has attended every

financial need. the scholarship benefits

reunion alongside her husband of 62

academically outstanding students

years, will happily join the festivities. at

presented her with a proclamation lauding her dedicated service.

Joseph Ciaburri, in turn, is quick to

it’s the greatest class that ever attended southern.”

The Classes of 1956 and 1966 will be recognized in honor of their respective 60th and 50th reunions at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 20, 2016 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. The Class of 1956 also will celebrate on Sunday, May 22 at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven. For more information, please contact Alumni Relations at (203) 392-6500. ■

(top from left) the Class of 1956 celebrates • Class president Joseph Ciaburri, ’56, during a visit to Israel; posing with his son after presenting him with his diploma; and ringing the opening bell at the american stock exchange. over the years, he has received 32 awards for professional achievement, community outreach, and more.

Winter 2015 | 31

HomeComInG 2015 ■

SCHOOL SPIRIT was running sky high

at Homecoming 2015 and owl family day, a campuswide celebration with a “Super Southern” theme. Capes and masks figured prominently in the Homecoming parade and banner competition, with guests enjoying a wide variety of additional events including the Bob Corda Road Race, a women’s soccer game, the Alumni Tent Party, the Homecoming football face off, a performance of “Rent” by the Crescent Players, and much more.

32 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

aLumnI news ■

GREETiNGS FElloW AlUMNi,

the energy is highly infectious on campus as students and faculty delve into the exciting work of the semester. If you have not been back to campus in recent years, please plan a visit! the newly renovated Buley Library and the new academic science and Laboratory Building are beautiful, important additions to campus Bob parker, ’76

that greatly benefit our students.

Let me take this opportunity to express my thanks to all of our alumni. You appreciate what southern has done for you, and now — in overwhelming numbers — you contribute to scholarship funds, share professional expertise, establish internships, and volunteer as mentors to help today’s students reach their academic, career, and life goals. a special thanks also goes out to the dedicated members of the alumni association Board of directors and the many alumni volunteers whose hard work provides important support to the sCsu community. an important partnership promises to further these efforts. the southern Connecticut state university foundation, the alumni association, and the university administration under president papazian’s leadership, are embarking on a joint endeavor to help realize the vision expressed in the university’s new strategic plan 2015-2025. (You may read about the plan at southernCt.edu/strategic-plan.) alumni support will be critical to reaching the important goals outlined in the plan. Certainly we will be asked to contribute financially. new buildings, new academic programs, and new services that ensure students receive a first-rate education . . . . all require new funding at a time when public funds are diminishing. more important, I believe, will be the support that you and I can lend by telling our stories. If we share — often and proudly — how southern helped us achieve our career and life goals, we will build support for the university that cannot fail to attract highly motivated students and a wider community that, in turn, will help to support them. the alumni association and the office of alumni relations are working diligently to plan events that will offer you the opportunity to reconnect with southern and your fellow alumni. new alumni networks have been formed across Connecticut and the nation, including washington, d.C., Boston, new York, and the east and west coasts of florida. this year we are adding alumni networks in atlanta, Chicago, and philadelphia. please attend this year’s gatherings, bring your sCsu classmates, and work with us to define ways that the alumni association can help southern continue to provide the high-quality education that current and future students deserve. to keep up on future events, check our alumni website at southernCt.edu/alumni.

Your contributions of “time, talent, and treasure” keep the university strong. You may make a gift online at southernCt.edu/giving. You also may receive a phone call from one of our student phonathon callers, and I hope you’ll ask questions and give generously in support of our students. please feel free to contact michelle Johnston, director of alumni relations, at (203) 3926500 or me at rdbobparker@gmail.com.

Best wishes,

sCsu aLumnI assoCIatIon Board of dIreCtors

Robert Parker, ’76, President Nancy Dudchik, ’88, Vice President Christopher Borajkiewicz, ’98, Treasurer Teresa Sirico, ’70, M.S. ’73, Secretary Kristin M. Ahern, ’13 James H. Booth, ’97 Phoebe Donehoo Browning, ’04, MBA ’05 James A. Bruni, ’07, M.S. ’13, 6th Yr. ’14 Nancy Charest, ’71, M.S. ’75, 6th Yr. ’80 Teresa Cherry-Cruz, M.S. ’86, 6th Yr. ’06 Kathy Coyle, ’74, M.S. ’78, 6th Yr. ’81 Marybeth Heyward Fede, ’79, M.S. ’87 Robert Felder, ’08 Miriam Gonzalez-Huff, 6th Yr. ’90 Jerry Katona, ’74, M.S. ’88 Yvonne Shia Klancko, ’70, M.S. ’74, 6th Yr. ’94 Edwin A. Klinkhammer II, ’71, M.S. ’76, 6th Yr. ’92 Dorothy J. Martino, ’54, M.S. ’69 (Board Member Emerita) Patricia Miller, ’69, M.S. ’75, 6th Yr. ’81 (Board Member Emerita) Donald Mitchell, ’57, M.S. ’61 Carolyn Vanacore, ’52, M.S. ’68, 6th Yr. ’73 (Board Member Emerita) Deborah Cedar Vincent, ’82 Brian West, ’80 Southern Connecticut State University Office of Alumni Relations 501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1355 (203) 392-6500 Michelle R. Johnston, Director JohnstonM2@SouthernCT.edu

Bob parker, ’76 president, alumni association Board of directors

Winter 2015 | 33

aLumnI news ■

■

new Board members for alumni association

A

Having worked in the education field for 44

hearty owl welcome goes out to four

years, Yvonne Klancko retired in 2014 as a reading

newly elected members of the sCsu

consultant and the director of adult, continuing, and

alumni association Board of directors.

summer education with the Amity Regional School

deborah Cedar vincent, ’82, and Kathy Glinka

System. She is a partner in the consulting firm,

Coyle, ’74, m.s. ’78, 6th Yr. ’81, have previ-

Klancko & Klancko, specializing in business manage-

ously served and were spotlighted in past

ment, communications, marketing STEM (science,

issues of the university magazine. they are

technology, engineering, and mathematics) innova-

joined by Yvonne shia Klancko, ’70, m.s. ’74, 6th Yr. ’94, and Brian west, ’80, who were elected for the first time and are profiled here.

Yvonne shia Klancko, ’70, m.s. ’74, 6th Yr. ’94

Workforce Enhancement Committee. and Sciences, she is highly regarded as a practitioner of the art of pysanky, the creation of intricately

southernCt.edu and southernCtowls.com for athletics

designed eggs using wax.

twitter.com/scsutweet

Fellow board member Brian west is a senior

facebook.com/southernct

analyst at the Connecticut Conference of Municipali-

southernCt.edu/itunesu

ties, having spent 25 years as a research analyst with

SCSU Office of Alumni Relations 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1355 (203) 392-6500

■

cational consultant to the New Haven Manufacturers A member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts

Connect WITH Southern ON web

tions, and learning effectiveness. She also is an edu-

the state. An active volunteer, he shares his time and talents with numerous organizations, including Brian west, ’80

the Little League Baseball and Softball Council.

In print and on screen news on Books, television, and film releases from southern alumni

paul Heller, M.L.S. ’76, author and historian, has released “Montpelier Chronicles,” featuring insights and a fresh look at the events that shaped Montpelier’s history. He resides in Barre, Vt., with wife, Marianne Kotch. donna H. diCello, M.S. ’87, is the coauthor of “Daughters, Dads, and the Path Through Grief: Tales from Italian America.” She lives in North Haven, Conn. amy Hauer, ’92, of Schenectady, N.Y., has published her second book for young readers called “Beneath Branches and Leaves.”

Lisa mangini, M.F.A. ’12, has published a collection of poetry entitled,

34 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

“Bird Watching at the End of the World,” through WordTech Communications, under their Cherry Grove imprint. Other works include a chapbook of poems “Slouching Towards Entropy,” and two chapbooks from Red Bird Chapbooks: “Perfect Objects in Motion” (short stories) and “Immanuel Kant vs. God” (poems). nancy antle, M.F.A. ’13, has worked more than 31 years as an author of books, stories and poems for children and young adults, and is now writing for an older audience.

She has worked as an adjunct professor at Southern and has taught fiction writing for Gotham Writer’s Workshop and the Mark

Twain House Museum. She also has worked with the Afghan Women’s Writing Project since 2009.

Geoffrey martin, professor emeritus of geography and CSU professor emeritus has published “American Geography and Geographers,” which charts the emergence of American geography as science in the United States. “This books takes its place immediately as the most comprehensive analysis of a national tradition of geographical enquiry in the English language and an indispensible work of historical reference,” says Robert Mayhew, Times Higher Education.

Martin is the official archivist of the Association of American Geographers, a position he has held for 30 years.

■

proJeCt :

R

new alumni House

ENovATioN CoNTiNUES oN THE “NEW” AlUMNi HoUSE

registrar, financial aid, academic advisement, and more, all

— the future home of the Office of Alumni Relations

conveniently located together.

In the meantime, the Office of Alumni Relations cur-

and a soon-to-be gathering spot for Southern graduates.

Slated to open next year, Alumni House will be located

rently is located at Southern on the Green, 900 Chapel

on Farnham Avenue in what was previously the Admissions

Street, 10th Floor, New Haven, Conn., 06510. The office’s

House. The latter will be relocated to the Wintergreen

phone and mail contact information remain

Building, allowing Southern to create a one-stop Student

(203) 392-6500; Southern Connecticut State University,

Enrollment Services Area — with offices for admissions, the

Office of Alumni Relations, WT, New Haven, Conn., 06515.

■

P

southern in spain . . .

25 Years and Counting

rofessor of spanish Carlos arboleda has been leading southern’s

summer program in salamanca, spain, for 25 years — helping to expand the world views of more than 600 students who have traveled with him since 1990.

In recognition of the silver anniversary of the program, a special celebration was held on July 15 in the City Hall of salamanca, hosted by the mayor of the city.

■

alumni networks: Coming to You!

S

outhern boasts 92,000 alumni, and a new series of SCSU Alumni Networks are being established to help them connect with each other and their alma mater. Local networks have been or will be established in

New Haven County, Hartford County, Fairfield County, Litchfield County, New London County, and Northwestern Connecticut, with events held at venues along the Connecticut Wine Trail. Regional alumni networks also are being organized throughout the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Additional networks will be unveiled in the future, with information on events listed at SouthernCT.edu/alumni. Each network will have a chairman and a core group of volunteers to plan events and help establish goals for the group. If you would like to help, please contact Michelle Johnston at JohnstonM2@SouthernCT.edu or (203) 392-6500.

Boston alumni network

rob simpson, ’83, chair, rob@waveridercomm.com

new York City alumni network

aba Hayford, ’10, chair, aba.hayford@gmail.com

washington, d.C., alumni network

shawn o’Brien, m.s. ’05, shawnobrien55@gmail.com

new Haven area alumni network

ellen papciak rose, ’89, inthestudio@mac.com

Boca raton, florida area network

Harry Howell, ’68, harryhowelljr@yahoo.com Winter 2015 | 35

aLumnI notes ■

1940s

vIrGInIa BIsHop KILLoran, ’46, who

is 90 years old and lives in Raleigh, N.C., writes that she’d like to hear from members of the Class of 1946.

Please call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 392-6500 to send a message to her.

1950s

CaroLYn vanaCore, ’52, M.S. ’68,

6th Yr. ’73, received the Saint Clare Award at the 30th Annual Franciscan Sports Banquet and Silent Auction held in Plantsville, Conn. roBert w. Jones, ’56, senior editor

of Rock and Gem Magazine, is also a life member of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, the Mineralogical Society of Arizona, the New Haven Mineral Club, and the San Diego Mineral Society. He lives in Cave Creek, Ariz.

1960s

davId mILLs, ’64, M.S. ’70, is serving on

the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Bristol Family Center.

Retired from Bristol Public Schools, he is chairman of the Bristol Marketing Committee and was a city councilor for two terms. Mills also is on the board of directors of the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame and serves as a corporator at Bristol Hospital in Conn.

LouIse deBerrY prItCHard, ’65,

was unable to join classmates when they were recognized for their 50th reunion at commencement in May, but wrote sharing memories of her time as a member of Southern’s synchronized swim club with friends aLBerta sImon sLatterY, ’65, and donna JaCKowsKI Inez, ’65. Pritchard lives in Poway, Calif. roBert deoBIL, ’66, M.S. ’82, was

inducted into the New Haven Chapter of the Gridiron Club Hall of Fame in 2015. He resides in Belleville, Pa. pHIL emerY, ’68, has retired after 46

years as the head swim coach at Bangor High School. A member of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, he also taught in the science department for 38 years before retiring from the field. He lives in Brewer, Maine. waLter C. reInHard, M.S. ’68, writes

that he worked 14 years as a public health engineer and then as a public health administrator prior to retiring from the Nassau County Health Department in Mineola, N.Y. He lives in Lawrence, Maine. pauLa BaLLantYne desILva, M.S.

’69, was recognized for her public 36 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

service and philanthropy at “Celebrating Wonder Women,” a benefit held in Hartford for the Malta House of Care mobile medical clinic.

She lives in Avon, Conn. roBerta sHea, ’69, exhibited her works

through The Society of Creative Arts in Newtown Art About Town partnership, designed to bring art into local business and community settings. She lives in Newton, Conn.

1970s

BruCe GoLdBerG, ’70, lives in

Woodland Hills, Calif., and is a counseling editor and columnist for Fate magazine. He has a private practice in hypnotherapy, specializing in pastlife regression/future-life progression and time travel. dan LaurIa, ’70, was recognized as a

Distinguished American by the New Haven County Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

JosepH marCeLLo, M.A. ’70, has

retired after a long successful career as the lead prosecutor at the Golden Hill Street Courthouse in Bridgeport, Conn. He lives in Monroe. steven J. adamowsKI, ’72, has been

appointed superintendent of schools in Norwalk, Conn. He previously was the superintendent of both Cincinnati and Hartford public schools, GeraLd “GerrY” davIs, ’72, a former

Southern football player, has received numerous honors throughout his 28year career with the U.S. Army, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the War on Terrorism Service Medal. He lives in Summerville, S.C. vICtor vessICCHIo, ’72, M.S. ’78, 6th

Yr. ’81, was inducted into the New Haven Chapter of the Gridiron Club Hall of Fame in 2015. He lives in East Haven, Conn.

Howard GLassman, M.S. ’73, has

joined Gannett Fleming in Tallahassee, Fla., as director of planning services. Previously, Glassman served as the policy planning manager for the Florida Department of Transportation, where he played a key role in developing the Florida Transportation Plan and a number of national- and state-level planning initiatives. dorIs BarBer, ’74, M.S. ’78, 6th Yr.

’86, was awarded the Sojourner Truth Meritorious Service Award from the Elm City Clubs of the National Association of Negro Business and

reunion news

will be recognized in honor of their respective 50th and 60th reunions at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 20, 2016 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. The Class of 1966 also will celebrate on Sunday, May 22 at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven.

For more information or if you would like to organize a reunion for your class, please contact Alumni Relations at (203) 392-6500. tHe CLasses of 1956 and 1966

Professional Women’s Clubs. She joined the organization in 1975 and has been a life member since 2000.

She lives in New Haven, Conn., with her husband of 59 years, James BarBer, ’64, M.S. ’79, director of community engagement at Southern. davId Bradford, ’74, M.S. ’90, of

Fairfield, Conn., was named regional vice president for business development at 20/20 Research, a global research technology and service company.

GarY d’andrea, ’75, is first vice pres-

ident of loan operations at Bankwell, which is based in New Canaan. He is also an instructor at the New England College of Finance and the American Institute for Banking. He lives in Hamden, Conn. franK CIpoLLa, ’76, is the special

education supervisor at Glastonbury High School, having previously been a special education teacher in East Hartford. samueL CampaGna, ’77, the director

of strategic sourcing at Albany International in Rochester, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Granite YMCA in N.H. He lives in Portsmouth. dan BarvIr, ’78, M.S. ’90, is a ranger

at the East Rock Park Trowbridge Environmental Center. Working with the Audubon Society, he organizes the Hawk Migration Festival at Lighthouse Point Park. Ranger Barvir, known as “The Reality Ranger,” was featured in New Haven Living magazine. mICHaeL CHamBreLLo, ’79, has been

named by GTECH as the chief executive officer of North America Lottery.

He will oversee development and delivery of all lottery technology solutions globally as well as the strategic development and management of the lottery business in the U.S. and Canada. He also will be responsible for the global instant ticket printing business. sandY dennIes, M.S. ’79, is retiring

as chief financial officer of the city of Wilton. She lives in Stamford.

steve szarmaCH, ’79, is the head

football coach at Fluvanna County High School in Virginia.

1980s

BrIan KennedY, ’80, was the focus of

an article in the News Times because of his contributions as the athletic manager at the Greenwich High School Athletic Department, where he has served for 29 years.

JaY p. CaHaLan, ’81, of Athens, N.Y.

has been appointed to the board of directors of Greene County Bancorp. susan sHIeLds, ’81, has been named

president and chief executive officer of Milford Bank. She lives in Hamden, Conn. steve GLuCKsman, ’83, is the real

estate franchising and new business development vice president of Art Van Furniture. He resides in Birmingham, Minn.

CaroLe swIft, ’83, M.S. ’94, 6th Yr.

’09, has been appointed director of pupil personnel services for Milford Public Schools. She has been an educator for more than 25 years. earL YounG, ’84, is the chief risk

officer at the State Employee Federal Credit Union in Albany, N.Y. emILY Bett, M.A. ’85, the cofounder of

the Center for Arts and Crafts in Hamden, Conn., exhibited her paintings, prints, and pottery at the Scranton Memorial Library in Madison, Conn. Among her 73 awards are those from the University of Chicago, the Carnegie Museum, the New Haven Print and Clay Club, the Guilford Art League, the Connecticut Print Exhibition in Old Lyme, and the Madison Art League. deBI BoCCanfuso, ’85, has been

inducted into the Brien McMahon High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. She lives in Norwalk, Conn. vInCent LandIsIo, ’85, has retired as

fire chief in North Haven, Conn., after joining the local department in 2003.

FREEDOM FIGHTER

IT

was hours before President obama’s motorcade would pass by a los Angeles public park on July 23, 2014. But Mary Alice Crim, ’05, was already there, setting up for a rally to urge the president to push harder to protect a free and open internet.

Crim — the field director of the nonprofit organization Free Press — was comfortably in her element, committed to furthering the group’s mission of protecting press freedom, ensuring the media represents the nation’s diverse voices, and fighting for net neutrality. (The latter, says Crim, “is about free speech . . . being able to have a platform where we can say what we want to say without editors or gatekeepers.”) on that July day, a woman walked over to ask how she might help. “This was her first rally,” Crim says. “She was so moved by the issue, she’d brought her two young kids. Before you knew it, the boys were passing out stickers to people, and we were all holding signs together.”

This is the magic moment, says Crim — when someone goes from being interested in an issue to becoming an activist.

job is to travel throughout the country to talk with them about various issues. “i always knew i would go into community organizing,” she says. At Southern, Crim majored in media studies and Spanish, while minoring in women’s studies. She loved being part of vibrant class discussions and was among a group of students that karen Burke, associate professor of media studies, brought to California to attend a National Association for Media literacy Education conference. it was here, that Crim met her future employer, a Free Press founder.

While still a Southern student, she helped organize events like “Buy Nothing day” on Black Friday, encouraging students, faculty, and community members to have a day “without the consumer spending frenzy.” She found she loved connecting people to a cause — and seeing how collected voices could lead to change. “i’m so grateful for my professors in media studies and women’s studies,” she says. “They were incredible mentors. They really led me to where i am today.”

This fall, that means often traveling to iowa and New Hampshire to talk with presidential candidates about internet

Consider that July day. After the presidential motorcade passed the rally, the hundreds gathered marched peacefully to the barricades set up outside the home of Shonda Rhimes, the creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal,” who was holding a fundraiser the President was attending. “We wanted to be sure this issue was on everyone’s radar,” Crim says.

The following fall, President obama spoke about the need to protect net neutrality and, in February, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted in favor of those protections, Crim was in the room. “it was a very big moment,” she says.

Crim has spent her career working for such achievements. Her accomplishments range from crafting federal policy proposals to planning dozens of large-scale rallies and two national conferences for media reform. Nearly a million people are part of Free Press’ support base and part of her

issues. She’s also advising “News voices,” a pilot project launched by Free Press to connect people from communities across New Jersey with journalists.

While she loves traveling for work, she’s also happy to return home to Massachusetts’s Pioneer valley, with its thriving local-foods movement and endless hiking trails. A lifelong competitive athlete, she practices yoga and plays softball. She’s also taken with a new passion — gardening — and is working to become a community herbalist.

Crim is proud that she’s been with Free Press for nine years. “i’ve been able to grow on the job and move into policy work, working for causes i deeply believe in,” she says. “What we see, hear, and read every day has a profound influence on our world-views. We need to protect internet freedom and press freedom to elevate feminist and progressive voices.”

By Jackie Hennessey Winter 2015 | 37

aLumnI notes ■

T

GREEN BY DESIGN

RUdy dUJARdiN WAS SiTTiNG oN HER UNdEvEloPEd

BEACHFRoNT PRoPERTy oN NANTUCkET HARBoR

when she got the idea for her first green-design project. looking around at the white sandy beach, she thought about the island’s declining scallop population.

“The scalloping industry on Nantucket used to be a $5 million industry, and it was down to $250,000,” says dujardin, who fell in love with the island during childhood visits with her parents. “i realized what a fragile ecosystem it is.”

She decided at that moment to build her first holistic home, one free from toxic chemicals that could harm the island’s delicate environment. “i wanted to do it the right way,” she recalls.

“The right way to me meant that nothing that happened on my project — during the construction process or anywhere along the line — would be harmful to the scalloping industry.” decades later, dujardin has parlayed that project into a world-class interior design business, dujardin design Associates, inc. The awardwinning firm, based in Westport, Conn., and Nantucket, Mass., specializes in upscale, eco-friendly interior design.

Today, she is nationally known as a pioneer in sustainable design, among the first to bring the concept to residential interiors. Author of the book, “Comfort Zone: Creating the Eco-Elegant interior,” she has had her work featured in leading home magazines such as Traditional Home, New England Home, and Coastal living. in recognition of her many accomplishments, dujardin received the outstanding Alumna Award in 2007 from Southern’s School of Arts and Sciences. industry insiders have lauded her achievements as well. Recently she was named a fellow of the American Society of interior designers, which is the organization’s top honor. She also was recognized as a 2015 Honorary Senior Fellow of the design Futures Council, an award granted annually to individuals who have “provided noteworthy leadership in the advancement of design and related professions.” She was honored at the organization’s leadership Summit on Sustainable design in dallas in october.

Throughout her career, dujardin has continued to focus on delivering elegant interiors that promote good health and a clean environment. “A healthy house is the ultimate luxury,” says dujardin, a lEEd (leadership in Energy and Environmental

38 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

design) accredited professional with a specialty in interior design and construction. “if i put my clients in a beautiful environment and it doesn’t support their health and well-being, i feel i haven’t done my job.”

She looks for products with the least environmental impact — paints low in voCs (volatile organic compounds), eco-friendly fabrics, and sustainable woods and furnishings. in terms of the latter, dujardin says antiques are a perfect earth-friendly choice. incorporating green design was difficult in the early days. For the Nantucket project, she hired a floor specialist who worked on New york’s Gracie Mansion to help create a nontoxic finish in place of polyurethane, which can emit harmful chemical gases.

“At the time, there just wasn’t anything on the market,” says dujardin, who worked on the house from 1987 to 1993. “it’s much easier to get nontoxic products now.” dujardin suggests the best starting point for a healthier home is the bedroom. She recommends hardwood floors instead of carpet, a mattress free from fire retardant coatings, and organic pillows, pillow covers, and sheets.

“The liver and kidneys detox our body sometime in the wee hours of the morning,” she explains.

“So you really want to be in a clean place.”

At Southern, dujardin earned a bachelor’s in art education, but dreamed of a career in fine arts, inspired by professors such as david Flaharty, M.S. ’66, Jack Smith, and the late olafs Zeidenbergs and david Crespi. (dujardin has remained in contact with Flaharty, a sculptor and the owner of a Philadelphia-based ornamental plastering studio, whose commissions include the American Wing period rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as the White House.) “i learned a lot about life talking to them,” she says of her former Southern professors.

After pursuing graduate work at New york University, dujardin opened a painting studio in Rowayton, Conn., but found commission work too isolating. So she turned to interior design, enrolling in graduate courses at Parsons School of design.

Always an artist, she approaches a room like a painter’s canvas, searching for focal points and balance, she says. “it’s not like fine arts is one thing and interior design another,” she explains. “To me it all comes from the same wellspring.”

By Natalie Missakian

He retires after 32 years and is the former battalion chief for the city of New Haven.

Ken Imperato, ’86, M.S. ’92, 6th Yr.

’00, Ed.D. ’11, is the deputy head of an international school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that serves 1,900 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

CoLLeen o. drIsKILL, ’88, has been

certified as a registrant of the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists, which certifies professional microbiologists at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Driskill lives in Salem, Conn.

CraIG poIsson, ’88, has been named

director of athletics at Springfield College. He has been a member of the athletics staff and a professor of physical education for 19 years. He lives in Wilbraham, Mass. steven santIno, ’88, from People’s

United Bank, was honored at the “Geraldo Go Classic,” a golf tournament organized in conjunction with Geraldo Rivera that raises funds for those with developmental disabilities. Santino lives in Halesite, N.Y. CaroL Kearns, 6th Yr. ’89, and

husband, Harry Schuh, were featured in the TribLive publication in recognition of the 100th episode of their public access television show, “Lion Around Connecticut with Carol and Harry.” They have celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary and live in Harwinton, Conn. wILLIam maIsano, ’89, retired from

the Guilford Police Department after 25 years.

1990s

marK BattIsta, M.S. ’90, of North

Haven, Conn., had a one-man art and fine art photography exhibition at the Maritime Center at Long Wharf in New Haven. marYLou torre, M.S. ’90, 6th Yr. ’96,

who most recently served as the principal of Mitchell Elementary School, has retired from the Woodbury Board of Education. She lives in Danbury, Conn. patrICIa BerKowItz, ’91, M.S. ’97, is

a Wilton High School special education professional. She lives in Southbury, Conn. donaLd m. CaseY, M.S. ’91, a 31-

year educator in Monroe, Conn., was selected to throw out the first pitch at the Bridgeport Bluefish Educators Appreciation Night. andrew o’BrIen, ’91, is the principal

at Simsbury High, having previously held the same position at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury. He lives in Burlington, Conn.

roBert C. LamBert, M.A. ’92, is the

president and executive director of the Treatment Center for Connecticut Counseling Centers. He lives in Monroe, Conn.

JoHn BarILe, ’93, M.S. ’96, 6th Yr. ’97,

a former adjunct professor at Southern and a current doctoral candidate at Northeastern University in Boston, has been appointed Brookfield Superintendent of Schools. He lives in Milford, Conn. marJorIe rItter Brown, 6th Yr.

’93, was presented with the Golden Age Award from the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs at the Annual Sojourner Truth Founders’ Day Award Observance. Brown is a former elementary vice president of the Bridgeport Education Association and taught for 36 years at the elementary level. She is most proud of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award she received in 1997.

JaY deLGrosso, ’93, of Mystic, Conn.,

was promoted to lieutenant by the Connecticut State Police. martIn torresQuIntero, ’93, M.S.

’97, the outdoor adventure coordinator for the city of New Haven was featured in New Haven Living magazine.

An expert hiker, paddler, and bicyclist, he lives in New Haven, Conn. tImotHY GerKen, M.S. ’94, a profes-

sor at Morrisville State College, had an exhibit of his photography entitled, “Contradictions and that Line about Self-Destruction,” at the Gateway Arts Center in Prince George County, Md. He lives in Garrattsville, N.Y. JosepH stoCHmaL, ’94, has been the

head football coach at Oxford High School for 10 years and was formerly a two-time state championship coach at Hillhouse High School. As a Southern student-athlete, Stochmal also received a Gold Helmet Award and was recognized as New England’s outstanding Division II-III player. He lives in Seymour, Conn. aBBY marKs-BeaLe, M.S. ’95, creator

of the Rev It Up Reading Course, was recognized for accomplishments in her field through the National Association of Distinguished Professionals. She lives in Wallingford, Conn. maureen ruBY, M.S. ’96, has been

named the assistant superintendent for Brookfield Public Schools and is a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University. She lives in Madison, Conn.

Carmen manGIafICo, ’97, is the

founder and president of Abikay Business Solutions, a payroll processing firm that was acquired by First Colebrook Bank in New Hampshire.

Mangiafico will manage and develop the new division of the bank.

LuIs moura, ’97, is a uniformed patrol

squad officer with the Darien Police Department. He was previously a Bridgeport police officer and received the Bridgeport Police Community Service Award and the Merit Award.

He lives in Stratford, Conn. mICHaeL J. HanLon, ’98, was named

to the Advisory Council of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is the chief financial officer of the Diocese of Bridgeport and lives in North Haven, Conn. feLICIa mCKInnon, M.S. ’98, is an

educator in the Houston Independent School District, having previously worked as instructional improvement officer with Peoria Public Schools. She is pursuing a doctoral degree from Western Illinois University. rHonda Capuano, M.P.H. ’99, was

unanimously chosen to head the new independent Trumbull Health District. dave LapreaY, M.S. ’99, is the direc-

tor of the Southington Parks and Recreation Department, serving a town of 43,000, as cited in the Bristol Press.

2000s

tHomas GIard III, M.S. ’00, the super-

intendent of Waterford Public Schools, was formerly the assistant school superintendent in the Meriden School District.

Joe mILone, ’00, M.S. ’06, is a ranger

at Edgewood Park, New Haven, as reported in New Haven Living magazine. He lives in Hamden, Conn. tamara petro, ’00, has been named

executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, having previously served as its assistant director. vInCe sCarpettI, M.S. ’00, 6th Yr. ’03,

has been named the new school superintendent in Orange, Conn.

Previously, he was principal of West Shore Middle School in Milford. deBoraH prozzo, M.L.S. ’01, is the

library director at the Bristol-Peck Library. She lives in Terryville, Conn. peter vermILYea, 6th Yr. ’02, an edu-

cator at Western Connecticut State University and Housatonic Valley Regional High School, spoke about the Civil War at Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield, Conn. He is the author of four books. marCo vItIeLLo, ’02, has joined

Hoffman Landscapes as a property manager. He lives in Orange, Conn. pauL Cavanna, ’03, M.S. ’07, the

principal of West Shore Middle

School, was previously the assistant principal at Jonathan Law High School. He lives in Milford, Conn. tHomas p. HoLLand, M.S. ’03, an

exercise physiologist and certified sports nutritionist, is the brand ambassador for MostFit, which creates and shares affordable, efficient, and accessible fitness equipment.

Jose perez, ’03, was featured in the

CTNow publication for his business, The Meat Truck, which serves a loyal following in the New Haven area.

CHrIstIna LameIrao, ’04, is a

licensed realtor in Orlando, Fla., where she resides. damon LewIs, M.S. ’04, the principal

of Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, Conn., has been appointed assistant principal.

JaIme st. arnauLd moran, ’04,

M.S. ’09, is the executive director of the Rainbow Child Care Center in both Hamden and Cheshire, Conn.

She lives in Southington, Conn. saraH mCCusKer, M.L.S. ’05, cor-

rected an Alumni Note announcement in the previous issue of Southern Alumni Magazine, writing that she has been the director of the Canton Public Library since February 2015.

CHrIstIna m. moore, ’05, M.S. ’09,

6th Yr. ’12, received the Educator Award from the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs at the Annual Sojourner Truth Founders’ Day Award Observance. Moore is assistant principal at Bridgeport’s Columbus Elementary School. raYmond BeLLIa, ’07, is the owner of

the Body Armor Outlet in Windham and has been named New Hampshire’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2015 by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the New Hampshire Bankers Association.

He lives in Salem, N.H. CLaIre CrowLeY, ’07, has launched a

law firm in Concord, N.H. She lives in Worchester, Vt. Jason newton, ’08, an award-

winning reporter formerly of Baton Rouge, La., is now working for WTNH News 8 in New Haven, Conn. raCHaeL artaIz, ’09, M.S. ’11, has

been named assistant principal of Derby High School in Connecticut. erICK Good, M.S. ’09, is the principal

of Lake Region High School in Naples, Maine. natHan QuesneL, 6th Yr. ’09, the

superintendent of East Hartford since 2012, has had his contract extended until 2018. He lives in Portland, Conn.

Winter 2015 | 39

aLumnI notes ■

2010s

adam CHrIstoferson, ’10, and

those connected to his organization Musical Intervention held a performance in Lyric Hall called “Inspired Songs of New Haven.” The organization seeks to serve the various populations in the New Haven community through music making. sean CLearY, ’10, is economic devel-

opment and government affairs liaison for both the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce in North Haven, Conn., and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. veronICa eLLIson, ’10, M.S.W. ’14,

has joined Weichert Realtors Regional Properties in New Haven as a real estate agent. She lives in Meriden, Conn. marCo meratI, ’10, was named one

of Mortgage Professional Magazine’s “Young Guns for 2015.” He is the

branch manager and loan officer at Village Mortgage and lives in Torrington, Conn. mICHeLe mInasI, ’10, had one of his

photographs, showing a rainbow above Easton City Hall, featured in the Easton Courier. He lives in the city. dawn matera, M.S. ’11, 2013 co-

founder of the Westport Day School, hopes to relocate the school to Wilton. The program serves those with academic needs ranging from remediation to giftedness. mICHaeL sHaveL, M.S. ’11, an

employee of the Department of Labor, works in the Bridgeport office providing career counseling. He recently hosted a workshop at the Westport Library to help participants learn about LinkedIn. He lives in Stratford, Conn. davId HasemI, ’12, was appointed the

strength and conditioning coach at Southern, having formerly served as

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an assistant football coach at the university. pauL tempLeton, ’12, a standout

soccer player for the Owls, has been named an assistant coach of the men’s program. A three-year Owls captain, he earned All-American honors as a junior and as a senior received Academic All-American laurels from the College Sports Information Directors of America. He lives in Bristol.

CHrIstIne BeCK LIssItzYn, M.F.A.

’13, an adjunct professor of creative writing, has been named the fifth Poet Laureate of West Hartford. sam perduta, M.L.S. ’13, hosted a

discussion on “Raising the Touch Screen Generation — The role of Technology in our Children’s Development and Current Social Media and App Trends,” at the Old Saybrook Memorial Library. He is the former reference librarian of the New Haven Free Public Library. saraH BroCHu, ’14, was nominated

for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award. She lives in Wilbraham, Mass.

Karen JaIme, ’14, has opened Wepa

Art Studio in Meriden, a business that hosts adult and children’s painting parties, complete with supplies, instruction, and refreshments. asHLeY oBLena, ’14, is the athletic

trainer for the Brien McMahon High School Senators in Norwalk, Conn.

Jade pearson, ’14, was spotlighted

in a New Haven Independent article for successfully balancing several jobs — including a position at Panera Bread on Chapel Street — while earning her degree. In the article, frequent customer New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman presented her with a graduation gift and promised to do his best to help the future marriage and family therapist achieve her goals. averI sCHwartz, ’14, a current grad-

uate student at Southern, is an associate at NetworkConnecticut.com.

She lives in Guilford, Conn.

Jordan sIms, ’14, is the

________________________________________________________________

producer/editor for the Miami Dolphins football team.

________________________________________________________________

sCott trunGadI, 6th Yr. ’14, is the

Signature __________________________________________Date __________

assistant principal at Central Middle School in Manchester, Conn.

Spouse’s Name ____________________________________________________

peter waLter, ’14, formally an intern

SPOUSE'S SCSU DEGREE/YR.

Children’s Names/Ages ____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 40 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

at Reynolds & Rowella LLP, has been named an associate.

maurICa tImLIn d’aQuILa, ’35,

March 8, 2015, Norwich, Conn.

KatHrYn morGan KeLLY, ’38, March

11, 2015, Choes, N.Y. marGaret mCHuGH suLLIvan, ’40,

Aug. 6, 2015, West Haven, Conn. marGuerIte m. fLannerY, ’48, June

3, 2015, New Haven, Conn. oLGa s. IppedICo, ’48, May 23, 2015,

Bradenton, Fla. Hope a. ruHe, ’48, M.S. ’83, 6th Yr.

’86, June 22, 2015, Essex, Conn.

JeanmarIe paYden GaLLaGHer,

’50, March 30, 2015, Sinking Spring, Pa. sHIrLeY a. romano, ’50, Sept. 11,

2015, Madison, Conn. murIeL smereKanICz, ’51, March 20,

2015, Peterborough, N.H. BeLLerose BruneLL CarneY CHrzanowsKI, ’52, June 22, 2015,

Branford, Conn.

BarBara GaGnon, ’52, M.S. ’54,

March 14, 2015, Naples, Fla. dorotHY formato parente, ’52,

July 19, 2015, Lexington, Mass. aLeX sHoaG, ’52, Feb. 23, 2015,

Hamden, Conn. marGuerIte “marGe” waLmarK,

’52, June 8, 2015, Fairfield, Conn.

Bernard G. woLf, ’52, M.S. ’69, April

5, 2015, Jensen Beach, Fla. raYmond defranCesCo, ’53, Nov.

28, director emeritus of intercollegiate athletics, New Haven, Conn. roBert a. JoHnson, ’53, June 10,

2015, Glastonbury, Conn.

JosepH a. panICo, ’53, June 30, 2015,

New Haven, Conn. nanCY GarrItY Brereton, ’54,

May 17, 2015, Orange, Conn.

CarYL LoprestI, ’54, Aug. 21, 2015,

Sacramento, Calif.

CaroL ann sHea, M.A. ’55, Professor

Emeritus of Education, June 1, 2015, Branford, Conn. patrICIa Joan woLf, ’55, March 3,

2015, Chapel Hill, N.C. roBert w. “BoB” CarBone, ’56,

July 13, 2015, New Haven, Conn. eLaIne C. HerB, ’56, Feb. 15, 2015,

Quechee, N.H. nanCY marGaret HeaLeY parKer, ’56, March 28, 2015, West

Islip, N.Y. CHarLes J. vauGH, ’56, June 1, 2015,

Fairfield, Conn.

James H. ConneLL, ’57, M.S. ’65, July

IN MEMORIAM KatHrYn JoHnson weavInG, ’27,

2012, Warrington, Pa.

13, 2015, Branford, Conn wILHeLmIna m. ConQuest, ’57,

M.S. ’69, 6th Yr. ’74, March 28, 2015, Hamden, Conn.

antHero “nICK” nICoLau, ’57, Dec.

6, 2014, Wareham, Mass. eLeanora HartLeY smItH, M.S. ’58,

June 23, 2015, Concord, Mass.

LoIs anderson fLetCHer, ’60, Feb.

2015, New Milford, Conn.

JoHn LouIs GuIdone, ’60, M.S. ’63,

Aug. 27, 2015, Plymouth, Mass. marYLou BLatCHLeY o’maHonY,

’60, July 18, 2015, Huntington, Conn. vIrGInIa L. dowd, ’61, M.S. ’69,

Spring 2015, Hamden, Conn.

JeannIne sCIanna, ’61, May 26,

2015, Titusville, Fla. peter sIena sr., ’61, Feb. 24, 2015,

West Springfield, Mass.

CaroL peLesH revaK, ’62, Sept. 9,

2015, Trumbull, Conn.

CYntHIa wanIGa JamIeson, ’63,

Aug. 28, 2015, Simsbury, Conn.

JudItH a. dIvIno, ’64, M.S. ’70, April

9, 2015, Waterbury, Conn.

LYndon s. patrIe, ’64, M.S. ’66, 6th

Yr. ’80, May 6, 2015, Branford, Conn. etHeL marGaret CastLes, ’65,

marIanne mILLer HudeC, M.L.S.

’72, March 5, 2015, Newton, Mass.

CaroL sue LupoLI papa, ’72, North

Haven, Conn. eLaIne BasneY CooK, M.S. ’73,

March 9, 2015, Topeka, Kan. BeatrICe p. marden, M.L.S. ’73, Aug.

9, 2015, York, Maine Karen paCH-KaLInsKI, ’73, M.S. ’74,

June 14, 2015, Riverside, Conn. pHILomena ensero Camputaro,

’74, Aug. 10, 2015, Hamden, Conn. dr. CaroLYn r. faLK, M.S. ’74, 6th

Yr. ’81, 6th Yr. ’92, June 21, 2015, Middlebury, Conn.

LaurIe “LaurdoG” sCanLon, ’74,

May 15, 2015, Canton, Conn. edGar L. vauGHn, M.S. ’74, June 30,

2015, Orange, Conn. antonIa CouGHLIn, ’75, M.S. ’89,

June 1, 2015, Hamden, Conn.

LouIs H. Lorensen III, ’75, June 29,

2015, West Palm Beach, Fla. BetsY tHaYer mInore, ’75, Aug. 19,

2015, Hamden, Conn.

M.A. ’76, M.L.S. ’86, May 14, 2015, North Haven, Conn.

rICHard f. wItHam, M.S. ’75, April

JudY wrY HoLder, ’65, M.S. ’71, Oct.

denIse deL monte d’aGostIno,

15, 2012, New Britain, Conn.

CaroL BowIe GILes, ’66, Jan. 25, 2014 JosepH LentIne, ’66, M.S. ’68, Feb. 12,

2015, Hamden, Conn. roBert r. rICCIteLLI, ’66, 6th Yr. ’75,

April 26, 2015, Orange, Conn. frederICK “rICK” spreYer Jr., ’66,

M.A. ’75, Feb. 16, 2015, Grandview, N.Y. patrICIa C. wIner, ’66, 2013, Boise,

Idaho GLorIa w. LeaHY, ’67, M.S. ’72, April

28, 2015, Orange, Conn. pauL f. erLaCHer III, ’70, May 26,

2015, Milford, Conn. tHeresa L. fItzGeraLd, ’70, Aug. 22,

2015, Fort Pierce, Fla. vIrGInIa tHompson Hoffman,

’70, May 28, 2015, Morris, Conn. noBLe proCtor, ’70, M.S. ’72, profes-

sor emeritus of biology, May 28, 2015, Branford, Conn. annmarIe HarveY sHIrazI, ’70,

M.S. ’71, June 19, 2015, Oklahoma City, Okla.

CarmIne passero, ’71, May 30, 2015,

Stamford, Conn. eLaIne zeCCa, ’71, April 24, 2015,

Stamford, Conn. aLICe sHerIdan “sHerrI” JoHnson aLeXander, ’72, March

23, 2015, Morehead City, Va. edward w. BrodsKY, ’72, Aug. 19,

2015, Southbury, Conn.

23, Southbury, Conn. ’76, July 7, 2015, Waterbury, Conn. stepHen JosepH mIKLos, ’76, May

12, 2015, Norwalk, Conn.

HeIdI s. roGoL, ’76, March 27, 2015,

New Brunswick, N.J. wInIfred a. YarGer, M.S. ’76, March

3, 2015, Highwood, Ill. BarBara KennedY sHorteLL, M.S.

’77, May 21, 2015, Wallingford, Conn.

JaCQueLIne oLIver stevens, M.S.

’78, May 21, 2015, Guilford, Conn. vIrGInIa GreenBerG, ’79, M.S. ’83,

6th Yr. ’84, Feb. 8, 2015, Southbury, Conn. rosLYn m. Lerman, ’79, M.S. ’82,

May 1, 2015, Southbury, Conn. pameLa K. smItH, ’79, March 3, 2015,

Jamaica Plain, Mass. steLLa versHIsH KIrpas, ’81, May

10, 2015, Woodbridge, Conn. franCIs t. KennedY, ’83, M.S. ’71,

May 3, 2015, Oakville, Conn.

JudItH J. sILva BarILLaro, M.S. ’84,

May 3, 2015, Meriden, Conn.

JanICe m. mCKeown, ’84, June 15,

2015, Prospect, Conn. sr. CeCILIa r. saLuzzI, ’84, Dec. 12,

2014, Biddleford, Maine HeatHer JoHnson BroCKwaY,

’85, M.S.W. ’92, Aug. 6, 2015, Watertown, Conn. patrICIa ann tHeresa KennedY,

M.L.S. ’86, May 18, 2015, West Hartford, Conn.

Band of Brothers continued from page 27

An invitation to compete on “America’s Got Talent” in 2014 thrust the band into the national spotlight. The group played original music — typically not a winning formula for the show — and still made it through two rounds before being eliminated. “Howie Mandel wasn’t into it,” Abraham says with a smile. Fortunately, others were. “We were upset at the time. But when everything aired on TV, we had this huge response. . . . The song we played charted on ITunes. Social media exploded. So we were thrilled,” Abraham says.

Soon after, Fradiani auditioned for and was ultimately crowned the winner of “American Idol.” “We were really proud and happy for him. He’s our best friend about to win this incredible tournament,” says Abraham of watching the competition.

Fradiani, in turn, was quick to share the stage. Leading up to the show’s final weeks, the remaining competitors each had a homecoming parade and concert, and Beach Avenue was invited to play for the 10,000-plus fans gathered on the Guilford Green in Connecticut.

More surprises followed, with “American Idol” flying Abraham and Zipp out to watch the finale in person. There, Abraham was brought on stage so that Fradiani could introduce him to the world as his music mentor. Both Nicks were presented with cars from Ford. “I felt like I was on a game show. You don’t think things like that happen,” says Abraham, all smiles, shaking his head incredulously. “But they do.”

A video featuring band photos, and clips from our interview with alumnus Nick Abraham and Beach Avenue’s single, “Coming Your Way,” is at SouthernCT.edu/go/nick.

Also go to Beachavenuemusic.com. marGaret wItHeY Loos, M.S. ’87,

April 19, 2015, Bethany, Conn.

BarBara f. zImmer, 6th Yr. ’87, Cos

Cob, Conn.

CaroL Jean BIondIno spampInato, ’88, July 11, 2015,

New Milford, Conn.

CHrIstIne Lepore dIGnotI, ’89,

Aug. 21, 2015, Wethersfield, Conn.

Joann sImKo fasaneLLa, ’90, June

28, 2015, Stratford, Conn. pameLa BLessInGer, ’91, May 6,

2015, Lewes, Del. monICa d. dorKIns-spaIn, ’91, M.S.

’92, July 29, 2015, Waterbury, Conn.

Bret davId JenIson, ’91, April 20,

2015, Cranston, R.I. James d. newton, M.S. ’91, July 8,

2015, New Haven, Conn. franCes Q. GrIndeLL, M.S. ’93,

March 14, 2015, Hamden, Conn.

LuCILLe LIttLe mapp, ’96, March 15,

2015, Branford, Conn. prIsCILLa LouIse HuLL Luoma,

M.S. ’99, 6th Yr. ’06, July 13, 2015, East Hampton, Conn.

wILLIam “matt” noLan, ’01, Feb. 27,

2015, Stafford Springs, Conn.

GeorGe J. CaffreY, ’02, Feb. 16,

2015, Branford, Conn. marIssa adInoLfI, ’04, April 25,

2015, North Haven, Conn.

CHrIstIne marIe GaLLo, ’10, M.A.

’13, March 26, 2015, New Haven, Conn.

JessIe e. sandLer, ’10, March 7,

2015, Branford, Conn. waLter e. CHeetHam, July 16, 2015,

professor emeritus of special education, Cheshire, Conn. roBert J. drYfoos Jr., July 2, 2015,

assistant professor emeritus of anthropology, Lothian, Md. marIa rosarIa messore, June 18,

2015, associate professor emeritus of foreign languages, Miami, Fla.

Class notes are compiled from submissions from alumni as well as announcements made in newspapers and magazines.

Winter 2015 | 41

SOUTHERN EVENTS ■

Comedian Jim Norton

Literature Across Disciplines, Gabriel Garcia Marquez II

■ Feb. 21 | 8 p.m.

The multitalented comedian, radio personality, bestselling author, and actor regularly guest starred on “The Tonight Show,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Louie,” and “Inside Amy Schumer.” Check out JimNorton.com for more.

Performance contains adult content. $35 for premium seating (main sections M 1-6); $25 for regular seating (upper sections U1 and U12); $20 for regular seating for Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and $15 for Southern students. (203) 392-6154

An Absolute Turkey

Career Fair

■ March 8 – 12 | 8 p.m.

■ April 6 | 1-4 p.m.

■ March 13 | 2 p.m.

Meet with hiring professionals and explore a wide variety of career opportunities.

SouthernCT.edu/go/career-events (203) 392-6536

Women’s Studies Conference

#FeministIn(ter)ventions: Women, Community, Technology

$10 for general admission; $5 for senior citizens and Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and free for Southern students.

(203) 392-6154

■ April 15-16

Richard Elliot*

with special guest Bobby Coldwell

■ April 1 | 8 p.m.

Smooth jazz, big band, and R&B from the celebrated saxophonist, joined on stage by the legendary vocalist. $35 for general admission; $30 for series and Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and $20 for Southern students.

(203) 392-6154

Sax Pack: Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, Jackiem Joyner with special guest Selina Albright*

Learn all Southern has to offer — from academic programs to financial aid to intercollegiate athletics.

Comedian David Cross

■ April 2 | 8 p.m.

DAVID BERGERON PHOTO

(203) 392-5644

An Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, Cross was named one of the Top 100 StandUp Comedians of All Time by Comedy Central. Cross starred in “Arrested Development.” Performance may contain adult content. $35 for premium seating (main sections M 1-6); $25 for regular seating (upper sections U1 and U12); $20 for regular seating for Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and $15 for Southern students. (203) 392-6154

JULES AMEEL PHOTO

■ April 2

Throughout Campus

An investigation into the past, present, and future intersections of women, community, and technology.

Presented in conjunction with the SCSU Women and Girls’ Fair.

SouthernCT.edu/go/wsc or (203) 392-6133

Accepted Students Day 2016

■ April 20 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Michael J. Adanti Student Center Theater

Presented by the World Languages and Literatures Department, with keynote presentations by celebrated scholars Gene H. Bell, who has written several acclaimed books on the author, and Fan Ye, who translated “One Hundred Years of Solitude” into Chinese.

For more, contact Professor of Spanish Ruben Pelayo at PelayoR1@SouthernCT.edu.

Michael J. Adanti Student Center Grand Ballroom

Comic mayhem ensues when a married man tries to seduce the wife of a good friend — who is plotting her revenge for her husband’s infidelity. Presented by the Crescent Players and Department of Theatre. By Georges Feydeau Directed by Chris Mirto

An Interdisciplinary and Transcultural Conference

Student-Directed One Acts ■ April 26 – 29 | 8 p.m.,

■ April 30 | 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Kendall Drama Lab

Theater at its finest presented by Southern’s talented actors and directors. $10 for general admission; $5 for senior citizens and Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and free for Southern students.

(203) 392-6154

Boney James* ■ May 7 | 8 p.m.

One of the most influential jazz artists of his generation, his latest CD, “futuresoul,” jumped to the top of the contemporary album chart. $40 for general admission; $35 for series and Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and $20 for Southern students.

(203) 392-6154

Graduate Commencement ■ May 19 | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

■ April 16 | 8 p.m.

An unforgettable evening with three jazz stars accompanied by the amazing R&B/jazz vocalist. $32 for general admission; $25 for series and Southern active alumni, faculty, staff, and student guests; and $20 for Southern students. (203) 392-6154

JS EaRzI EzS

Center at Lyman

*Only $120 for four great shows!

on sale Jan. 23

Richard Elliot • Sax Pack Boney James and another top act

Those earning advanced degrees from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Health and Human Services will be honored at the afternoon ceremony at 2 p.m. The School of Business and School of Education will recognize graduates at the evening event at 7 p.m.

SouthernCT.edu/commencement, (203) 392-5240

Undergraduate Commencement ■ May 20 | 10:15 p.m.

The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Conn.

SouthernCT.edu/commencement, (203) 392-6586

*All events held in John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts unless otherwise noted. Southern students must have valid identification to receive their ticket discounts and are limited to purchasing one student ticket and two student guest tickets per event. For tickets and additional information and listings, visit Lyman.SouthernCT.edu.

42 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Charitable Giving Report

Why we give.

Robert L. Stamp

David R. McHale

Mary A. Papazian

Robert Parker, ’76

Executive Director SCSU Foundation

Chairman SCSU Foundation

President SCSU

President SCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors

44 | Charitable Giving Report

F

or many the decision to support Southern and its students is motivated by personal experience — a brilliant professor who inspired them to think far beyond the classroom or a Southern coach who stressed the importance of teamwork and

perseverance, skills equally at home in the boardroom as the playing field.

Still others are drawn by the proven importance of higher education — its power to simultaneously enhance a life and

the community. The average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree will earn $1.9 million — twice what a typical high school graduate earns, according to the Brookings Institution-based Hamilton Project. They’re also statistically more likely to vote, volunteer, and live healthier lifestyles — so they can give back to their families, their neighborhoods, and society at large.

That is why your gift — every gift — to Southern is so important. We are part of a powerful partnership — a

Southern community of alumni, faculty and staff, parents, students, business leaders, and friends of the university —

united through our commitment to changing lives through education.

The Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, the Alumni Association, and the university administration under

President Mary A. Papazian’s leadership, are embarking on a joint endeavor to help realize the vision expressed in the university’s new Strategic Plan. In that spirit, Dr. Papazian joined several other members of the university community at Homecoming to thank our donors and to share a bit of their own Southern stories — why Southern holds a special place in their hearts and why they choose to give.

“My wife and I are both the first in our families to attend college and are firm believers in the importance of public higher education. Speaking to alumni at Homecoming and other events, I repeatedly hear the most wonderful stories about how the university changes people’s lives. They firmly believe in the importance of Southern and our vision for its future.

The new science building is a stunning example. We are a university on the move and the best is yet to come.”

Robert L. Stamp Vice President for Institutional Advancement, SCSU, and Executive Director of the SCSU Foundation

“One of my most rewarding opportunities was an internship with Northeast Utilities (NU) — now Eversource Energy — during my senior year, an experience that helped launch my career with the company where I currently serve as executive vice president and chief administrative officer. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I received at Southern. For that reason, my wife, Shannon, and I are committed to helping today’s students who we firmly believe will become tomorrow’s leaders.”

David McHale, ’82 Chairman SCSU Board of Directors

“Education has always been extremely important to my family. I was raised in a home that was filled with books, and from a very young age, my siblings and I understood that we were going to attend college. As a public university, Southern has a mission to connect actively with its community and to create pathways to success for students who might not otherwise have them. I am very much dedicated to the access mission, but I am also devoted to Southern’s commitment to excellence — and financial support is key to achieving both of these vitally important goals.”

President Mary A. Papazian

“New buildings, new academic programs, and new services that ensure students receive a first-rate education — all require external support at a time when public funds are diminishing. I believe our graduates have important stories to tell. If we share — often and proudly — the many ways Southern helped us achieve our career and life goals, we will build support for the university that cannot fail to attract highly motivated students and a wider community that, in turn, will help to support them.”

Robert D. Parker, ’76 President SCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors

With sincere appreciation for your gifts to Southern and its students, we thank you.

Winter 2015 | 45

Year in Review 30 27.3

Total Net Assets

25.7

25 20.1

20 17.4

17.2

1.50

1.52

1.77

1.64

2.3

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

15 10 5 0

Dollars Raised

in millions of dollars • as of fiscal year end June 30

1000 ,

993 816

800

757

754

711 600

600 531 463

466

2012

2013

Donor Support of University Programs Donor Support of Scholarships and Awards

400 200 0

209

2011

2014

2015

IT

HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING

YEAR FOR FUNDRAISING , with Southern’s generous donors contributing $2.3 million, significantly surpassing this year’s goal of $1.87 million. As shown in the accompanying charts, gifts for scholarships and awards reached a record high, and support of university programs remained very strong.

Among the many high points for the 2015 fiscal year was an increase in the number of alumni and students who contributed to Southern — a tangible sign of the great value both groups place on their education and experiences at the university. The number of alumni who contributed to Southern increased 10 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.

Equally telling, more than 320 students supported the university.

Looking forward, a strong partnership unites Southern’s administration, the Alumni Association, and the SCSU Foundation — boding more success for the university as it moves forward with the implementation of its 10year strategic plan for 2015 - 2025.

in thousands of dollars • as of fiscal year end June 30

More Ways Gifts Help Southern’s Students

46 | Charitable Giving Report

I

n addition to providing vital support for scholarships and university programs, donor contributions make it possible for the SCSU Foundation to fund numerous critically important initiatives, including the following:

• The SCSU Foundation Student Support Fund provides assistance outside of the traditional financial aid process — covering anything from prescription eyeglasses to books and supplies for students in need.

• Undergraduate Research Grants of $3,000 each are awarded to students to complete research in any academic discipline represented on campus. Each grant recipient is guided by a faculty mentor.

S

outhern is a public university, leading some to mistakenly assume that most operating costs are covered by the state. In reality, state appropriations have declined steadily throughout the years.

State funding covered about 47.45 percent of the university’s operating budget in 2002, but in March

Why Your Gifts Matter

2015, that figure had fallen to 33 percent.

Compounding the situation, tuition — which is set by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents for Higher Education — will never cover the entire cost of educating a student. As a public university, Southern is fully committed to providing an exceptional education at an affordable price. But like most universities and colleges, Southern’s tuition has increased over the years.

Today, the cost of tuition, room, and board is significantly less at Southern in comparison to the state’s private universities. However, it remains extremely challenging for many Southern students to cover the costs associated with earning a degree. That’s why your gift to the university is so important — and why we are so grateful for your ongoing support. By funding scholarships, research opportunities, academic programming, and more, your gifts keep a Southern degree in reach of talented and deserving students — today and in the future.

State Funding as a Percentage of Southern’s Budget

2002

47.45%

33%

“After returning from duty in Iraq, I narrowed my pursuits to a career in the mental health field, working with veterans and currently serving military personnel.” “ . . . this scholarship is helping me work toward my goal . . . to help empower children with special needs and their families . . .”

“I cannot emphasize enough how much this scholarship is going to assist me in reaching my goal . . . one day helping other students reach their full potential through education.”

“Your investment in me will be repaid in full to those who need it most.”

2015

Words of Thanks from Southern Students

Winter 2015 | 47

With Sincere Gratitude

The SCSU Foundation shares words of thanks from some recent scholarship and stipend recipients. They represent the tens of thousands of Southern students whose lives have been changed for the better through the gift of education.

E

CoNomiCS mAjoR ChAmPAGNe

GolDSToN, ’17, is among the first in her family to attend a four-year university — and scholarship support is helping her make the most of her Southern experience. The academically talented student has balanced her studies with numerous activities outside of the classroom, including a mission trip to New Orleans and membership in the SCSU Service Commission, which provides community service both on and off campus.

The university’s annual Alumni Mentoring Day ultimately led to another life-changing experience — an internship with United Technologies Aerospace Systems.

“Scholarship support has made it possible for me to capitalize on all of these opportunities,” says Goldston, “and for that I will be forever thankful.”

For more on her story, visit go.SouthernCT.edu/student-stories.

Champagne Goldston, ’17

Earning a college degree is one of life’s greatest milestones . . . the culmination of countless hours spent studying, learning, dreaming, and doing.

48 | Charitable Giving Report

“I

’m sure many of you have faced roadblocks that made completion of your degree seem, at times, difficult to imagine,” said President Mary A. Papazian, speaking at commencement last May. “But here you are on graduation day. You have succeeded, and the obstacles you have overcome and the academic life and education you have received along the way, make your success all the more rewarding.”

President Papazian’s words certainly rang true for ThomAS “Tommy” hUBeR,’15 , who earned a B.S. in business administration. As a Southern senior, he moved home to help care for his father, who had been diagnosed with a serious illness and was no longer able to work. Balancing the responsibilities of driving his father to treatments, attending classes, and working part-time, Huber found it increasingly difficult to meet the financial obligations associated with earning a degree. Fortunately the hard-working student was awarded a stipend from the Student Support Fund that covered some of his expenses, and he was able to continue his studies.

“Even though my story is unique, the need for assistance is not.

Your gift — every gift — impacts the lives of Southern students,” says Huber. “Thank you for making my college degree a reality.”

For more on his story, visit go.SouthernCT.edu/ student-stories.

Room & Board

$14,820

SCSU Remains a Great Value . . .

ToTAl

Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

$11,626

ToTAl

$21,226

Tuition & Fees

$9,600

1935-36 1955-56 1956-57 1964-65 1975-76 1985-86 1995-96 2005-06 2015-16

“I can now focus more on my studies and a little less on picking

$42,270

SCSU

$57,090

“Each year, I am weighed with the decision of running for the

local 4-year Private College

$20*plus $25 activity fee $20*plus $25 activity fee $50*plus $25 activity fee

$100*plus $65 activity fee $575

But Paying for College is Increasingly Challenging

SCSU track team or working to pay for school expenses. This year, I am able to run track with less financial burden.”

Words of Thanks from [I] have been fortunate Southern “. . . enough to support some amazing Students research with my professors. This

scholarship will help me to focus on these wonderful opportunities.”

“The opportunities I was given

$1,068

$3,128

up extra shifts at work in order to afford the semester — and for that I sincerely thank you.”

$5,813

Annual in-State Tuition & Fees

$9,600

at SCSU are remarkable. I will always tell my story, and how this scholarship allowed me to continue my education . . .”

Honor Roll of Donors Thomas “Tommy” huber, ’15

The SCSU Foundation exceeded its fundraising goal for the 2015 fiscal year, raising $2.3 million thanks to the support of our generous donors — alumni and friends, faculty and staff, and corporations and foundations.

In gratitude for their vital contributions to Southern and its students, we are pleased to present the Honor Roll of Donors online at SouthernCT.edu/giving/honor-rolls.html, recognizing those who have made gifts between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included. Please accept our apologies for any errors and omissions that may have occurred. If you find an error, please contact Susan Quagliaroli at (203) 392-7083 or QuagliarolS1@SouthernCT.edu.

Winter 2015 | 49

An Educator’s Legacy

F

Following a national search, Ruth Eren became Southern’s first endowed chair.

or some three decades, Dorothy Weisbauer Goodwin, ’39, devoted herself to students — both in the classroom and by helping to prepare future teachers. Today, the late educators’ legacy lives on through a $1.2 million gift she made to Southern through her will — a contribution that funded the creation of the Goodwin Endowed Chair in Special Education, the first endowed professorship in Southern’s 122-year history.

This fall, following a national search, Ruth Eren, director of SCSU’s Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders and a noted expert on program development for children, was named to the position. Eren, along with the late former interim dean of the School of Education James Granfield, co-created the center in 2010 to help improve the experiences of children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). About 1 in 69 children has been identified with an ASD, according to the Center for Disease Control (2015).

50 | Charitable Giving Report

It is highly appropriate that Goodwin’s gift is centered in the School of Education. She graduated from Southern in 1939, when it was the New Haven State Teachers College, and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern in the 1950s. After launching her career with Fairfield Public Schools, she joined the New Haven School System and also worked as an adjunct professor at Southern. Upon Goodwin’s death in 2009 at the age of 91, $1 million of the $1.2 million gift to the SCSU Foundation was earmarked for the endowed chair. Today, that endowment is worth nearly $1.6 million.

Both Goodwin’s sister, the late Mildred McIntyre, and her niece Gayle Fazzalaro, ’67, also earned Southern degrees and shared her commitment to education. “Education was her life,” said Fazzalaro, when the gift was first announced. “She felt that the younger generation was the hope for the future and that it was an honor to be able to help mold a new generation.”

“ . . . I will be student teaching in Bridgeport and New Haven . . . Since student teaching is both fulltime and unpaid, this scholarship will really help.”

“Our family finances have been severely strained due to my substantial medical expenses. . . . This scholarship will be of great help in lessening this monetary burden . . .”

Words of Thanks from freshman year, I could Southern “Mynot afford most of my Students books and supplies, and classes became extremely difficult. . . . with this scholarship I am able to buy the books that I need . . .”

“I was unsure if I would be able to come back to school in the fall . . . but receiving this scholarship reminds me to fight on . . .

Thank you so very much!”

Support Southern.

Leave a Legacy.

Planned gifts — also called deferred or estate gifts — can help you meet your long-term financial goals, while providing critically needed support for Southern’s talented and deserving students.

The university’s Development office can supply information on a variety of planned gifts that help Southern maintain a climate of excellence — from bequests that extend your generosity beyond your lifetime to charitable gift annuities and trusts, which can provide fixed-income payments and several tax benefits. if you have already included Southern in your will, please let us know so that we can include you in our heritage Society, which honors individuals who are dedicated to educational excellence and the future of Southern Connecticut State University. in addition to allowing us to thank you publically, your generosity can also help inspire others to give.

For more information or to become a member of the Heritage Society, please contact the Development Office.

Office of Development (203) 392-6900 • SouthernCT.edu/giving Southern Connecticut State University 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1355

E

ren echoes her enthusiasm. “I would like to use the endowment to support more SCSU student engagement in the Center and its activities, bring outstanding leaders in the field of education regarding ASD to our campus to share their knowledge with our students and community, and support efforts to increase our visibility and influence at state, national, and international conferences,” says Eren, who currently serves as chairwoman of the SCSU Special Education Department.

“Most important, the endowed chair will allow SCSU and the center to enhance the lives of individuals with ASD by giving their teachers, related service providers, and families the evidenced-based tools that will help those with ASD to achieve the goal of successful participation in society as adults,” she adds.

Dorothy Weisbauer Goodwin, ’39

Winter 2015 | 51

Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors OFFICERS

EMERITI DIRECTORS

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

David R. McHale • Chairman Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Eversource Energy

Lucille W. Alderman Community Activist

Charles E. Baraw, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of English Southern Connecticut State University

Anthony F. Verlezza • Vice Chairman Principal, Integrated Supply Chain Solutions Michael R. Chambrello • Treasurer Chief Executive Officer North American Lottery, GTECH Paula Armbruster • Secretary Associate Clinical Professor (Retired) Yale University Robert L. Stamp • Executive Director Vice President, Institutional Advancement Southern Connecticut State University

Frederick R. Afragola Chairman Frame Advisors Frank D. Antin Senior Vice President (retired) The Bank of New York Mellon Lynn Fusco President Fusco Corporation Robin Sauerteig Higher Education Activist Diane L. Wishnafski Executive Vice President (retired) NewAlliance Bank

Kalie Menders Student Representative Southern Connecticut State University Mary A. Papazian, Ph.D. President Southern Connecticut State University Robert D. Parker Alumni Association Representative Director of Communications (retired) Area Cooperative Educational Services Christopher Borajkiewicz Alumni Association Representative Managing Partner Root, Borajkiewicz, Lucarelli Wealth Advisors

BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Robert S. Frew Professor Emeritus of Computer Science Southern Connecticut State University

Mark Rozewski Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Southern Connecticut State University

Lindy Lee Gold Senior Specialist State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Michael Katz Franchisee, Planet Fitness Thomas J. Madigan Vice President, Investments UBS Financial Services, Inc. John J. Mezzanotte Partner-in-Charge of the Greenwich, Conn., Office Marcum LLP William H. Pratt, Esq. Intellectual Property Licensing Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP John Soto President Space-Craft Manufacturing, Inc. Pieter van Vredenburch Head of Linear USD Rates HSBC Bank USA

52 | Charitable Giving Report

CONTACT US For additional information or to make a gift: Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, Inc. (203) 392-6900 Gifts also may be made online at: SouthernCT.edu/giving

Senior Clarisa Rodrigues is committed to earning a college degree — and making the world a better place for students with special needs. The Southern

Fund lets

her do both.

At Southern, students are our highest priority. Above all, we’re committed to providing them with an education that’s exceptional and affordable.

Gifts to the Southern

Fund help

us achieve both goals by meeting students’ greatest needs and forwarding the university’s most important initiatives — including Undergraduate Research Grants. Each grant provides a $3,000 stipend to a Southern student for cuttingedge research on topics ranging from economic rights in the U.S. to smartphone security to particle physics.

Thanks to the Southern

Fund,

Clarisa was awarded an Undergraduate Research Grant to study the special education system in Ecuador. A talented member of the Honors College who is fluent in three languages, she’ll soon use that newfound knowledge — to help children in her own classroom.

The Southern Fund.

Please make your gift today.

Supporting the university’s highest priorities. Our students.

Giving.SouthernCT.edu or use the enclosed envelope.

Every student has a story. For more on Clarisa’s, visit go.SouthernCT.edu/student-stories.

A tax-deductible gift of $35 or more entitles you to active membership in the Alumni Association.

Office of Annual Giving (203) 392-6514 ANNUALGIvING@SOUTHERNCT.EDU

Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Burlington, VT Permit No. 19

Winter | 15 Alumni Association 501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1355 SouthernCT.edu

LANE PRESS TO SWAP FOR HI-RES FSC MARK

Address Service Requested

A True Blue Owl Welcome

I

NCOMING FRESHMEN

HISTORICALLY ARE WELCOMED TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

at New Student Convocation — but a new Southern tradition added special poignancy to this year’s festivities.

Immediately following the ceremony, the newly inducted members of the Class of 2019 were invited to walk through Founders Gate and a long line of cheering faculty, staff, and returning students gathered on the academic quad. The second part of this new tradition will take place in spring 2016, when graduating seniors will travel through Founders Gate one last time as Southern students — marking the conclusion of their undergraduate journey.

A physical tie to the university’s past, Founders Gate now spans the area between Lyman Center and Engleman Hall, but originally stood on the school’s early Howe Street campus. After being restored and moved to its current location, the gate was dedicated during Homecoming in 1987.