Southern Alumni Magazine Spring 2010

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ALUMNI MAGAZINE | Spring | 10

a publication for alumni and friends of Southern Connecticut State University

Owl Spirit!

Featured inside: Touching Lives 2009 CHARITABLE GIVING REPORT

LET TER

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FROM THE

President

Dear Southern Alumni, One of the things that I have always admired about Southern is its vital role as a community resource. I was reminded of this fact again recently when I hosted a reception to mark the establishment of our new Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders. State and national statistics have shown a rise in the incidence of children with autism during the last two decades and Southern has become a key player in teaching and research efforts regarding this developmental disorder. Our Special Education Department includes a Master of Science program with a specialization in autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. And in 2008, Gov. M. Jodi Rell authorized the university to take a lead role in developing a comprehensive statewide plan to better teach children with autism and similar disorders.

example, a proposed doctoral degree in nursing education would help offset the continuing critical shortage of nurses and nurse educators in Connecticut. We are also seeking to expand and revitalize our Center for Communication Disorders, which currently provides more than 5,000 clinical hours of service per year to the greater New Haven area. New clinic space would be made available off-campus through the proposed West Rock Community Revitalization Project, in which Southern is a partner with the city of New Haven. Even as we face the challenge of grappling with projected state budget deficits in forthcoming fiscal years, initiatives such as these will help ensure that Southern continues to serve as a true resource for the regional community and the state.

I wish to end this letter on a personal note. As many of you may know, I have decided to retire from the presidency of Supported in part by a federal grant of $300,000, the Southern, effective May 31, 2011. I hope to take up a year-long new autism center at Southern will offer clinical services, sabbatical leave on June 1, 2010, to engage in research on K-12 parental support, and training and technical assistance to schools, while disseminating information on the latest research education reform, an area in which I have a strong personal interest. It has truly been a privilege for me to serve as developments in the field. And it will also be home to the president for the last six years. The excellence of our faculty, the university’s first endowed chair — or distinguished visiting professorship — thanks to a wonderful gift of $1.2 million from professionalism of our staff, the vibrancy of our students, and the deep-rooted allegiance of our alumni make this a the estate of Dorothy Weisbauer Goodwin. Mrs. Goodwin, who university to be proud of. I thank you all for your enthusiasm died last year at the age of 91, earned her teaching certification from then-New Haven State Teachers College in 1939 and went and generosity over many years and I know that, with your on to train Southern student teachers in New Haven schools for support, Southern will continue to move forward and realize its potential to become a premier institution of higher learning. more than 30 years. Her gift — the largest ever received by the university — will now benefit generations of students yet to come, as part of it will also support scholarships for students in the School of Education. You can read more about Mrs. Goodwin, her passion for learning, and her wonderful legacy in the Campus News section of this magazine.

The autism center is just one of several new community initiatives that are in the formative stages. For

Dr. Cheryl J. Norton President

Southern

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Spring | 10 features Once Upon a Homecoming

20

10

W

ith a festive fairytale theme, Homecoming 2009 offered something for everyone.

2009 Charitable Giving Report: Touching Lives

Next Stop Med School

18

Some 80 percent of Southern applicants with strong recommendations have gained acceptance into U.S. medical, dental, and veterinary schools — well above the national rate.

Learn more about how Southern is helping these students achieve major success.

departments

They share a commitment to excellence — and one or more Southern degrees. Meet the recipients of the 2009 Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni Awards.

From the President

inside cover

Campus News Nostalgia

37

2

24

26 Alumni Notes 30 Southern Events 36 Alumni News

Southern: Leading the way in graduate studies in health/life sciences, education, and social/public services.

Campus

NEWS n

President Norton to Step Down

realize its potential to become a premier institution of high-

President Cheryl J. Norton has announced that she

er learning.”

Norton is the 10th president of Southern and the

will retire as president of Southern Connecticut State University, May 31, 2011. She has requested that the

first woman to lead the 117-year-old institution, which has

Connecticut State University Board of Trustees approve an

almost 12,000 students and one of the largest graduate

administrative sabbatical for her beginning June 1, 2010.

programs in New England. Prior to being named

This sabbatical leave would allow her to engage in research

Southern’s president, Norton was the provost at

on K-12 education reform, in

Metropolitan State College of

which she has a strong per-

Denver, the nation’s largest

sonal interest.

urban public baccalaureate college.

“It has been a privilege

She holds two mas-

for me to be president of

ter’s degrees and a doctorate

Southern. The excellence of our faculty, the professionalism

in applied physiology from

of our staff, and the vibrancy of

Columbia University and was

our students make this a uni-

named a Fellow of the

versity to be proud of,” Norton

American College of Sports

says. “I have learned much

Medicine for her contributions

from our campus community,

to the field. In Connecticut,

and I believe that together we

she was honored with a Lilly

have helped Southern make

Award for her achievements in, and contributions to, high-

great strides as an institution.”

er education. Norton also

During Norton’s tenure, which commenced April 30,

received the Connecticut

2004, a $260 million construc-

Woman in Leadership Award

tion program has revitalized

in 2008 from the Women and

the campus, full-time enroll-

Family Center and recently was named a Woman of Note

ment has reached record levels, and innovative program-

President Cheryl J. Norton

by the New Haven Symphony

ming has been introduced to support student achievement

for her “steadfast vision, exceptional contribution, and

in and out of the classroom.

enduring commitment to our community.” Norton also

Norton has also focused on campuswide “greening”

serves on the NCAA Division II Presidents’ Council.

and sustainability initiatives, and was a signatory to the Commitment. In addition, she has worked to position

Center to Address Needs of Students with Autism

Southern as a community resource for the region and the

A generous donation and a fed-

American College & University Presidents’ Climate

state through initiatives such as the university’s new Center

n

eral allocation have given the newly cre-

on Autism Spectrum Disorders, which was established to

ated Center on Autism Spectrum

improve the educational experiences of children diagnosed

Disorders a significant boost as it begins

with a form of autism.

“Soon after I arrived on campus in 2004, I said that this university was ‘strong in its roots and rich in its history,

its mission to improve the educational experience for children with the devel-

Dorothy Goodwin, ‘39

opmental disorder. The center was

with unlimited potential for the future,’” Norton says. “I

launched in February with a celebration held in the Michael

know that Southern will continue to move forward and

J. Adanti Student Center Grand Ballroom.

2 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

cial education and reading. “I am delighted that we will have an even greater opportunity to

Southern

| ALUMNI MAGAZINE | VOL 8 • NO 2

help these chilAmong those celebrating the opening of the Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders were members of the campus community and family and friends of donor Dorothy Goodwin, ’39, including [FROM LEFT] Cathy Potter, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Selase Williams, and Rosalie Rowland.

She died on Feb. 9, 2009

center, along with James

at the age of 91.

Granfield, senior advisor to Provost Selase W. Williams.

by a federal grant of

Granfield formerly served

$300,000, the center will

as interim dean of the

take a three-pronged

School of Education for

approach to address the

many years.

“The creation of the

dren and youths with an

center is really the culmina-

autism spectrum disorder:

tion of several years of

training current and future

effort with regard to

educators and professional

improving the education of

staff; conducting research

children with autism,”

designed to benefit stu-

Granfield says.

$1 million from the estate

dents with autism; and

of Southern alumna

providing direct services,

player in teaching and

Dorothy Goodwin, ‘39 —

including evaluating chil-

research efforts related to

part of a $1.2 million total

dren, conducting clinics,

this developmental disor-

donation to the university

and holding special events.

der. The Department of

— will fund the recruitment

Autism has become

Southern is a key

of a distinguished scholar

a Master of Science degree

for the center — Southern’s

developmental disabilities

program with a specializa-

first endowed chair. The

in the country; studies

tion in autism spectrum

distinguished scholar will

show that 1 in 100 children

disorders and other devel-

spend more than 50 per-

have been diagnosed with

opmental disabilities. In

cent of their time conduct-

some form of the disorder.

2008, Gov. M. Jodi Rell

Goodwin, a teacher

“We are ecstatic about the creation of the

STAFF Patrick Dilger, Director of Public Affairs Villia Struyk, Editor Michael Kobylanski, Sports Editor Marylou Conley, ’83, Art Director Isabel Chenoweth, Photographer Thomas Cain, Assistant Photographer Nancy Ronne, Development Editor Charlie Davison, Alumni Notes Editor ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE 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 Web site: www.SouthernCT.edu Printed by The Lane Press, Inc.

Special Education includes

one of the fastest-growing

ing autism research.

Dr. Cheryl J. Norton, President Megan A. Rock, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Eren

serves as co-director of the

educational needs of chil-

An endowed gift of

families.”

ting classroom experience.

Supported in part

Ruth Eren, associate professor of special education and reading, is co-director of the center, along with James Granfield, senior advisor to the provost.

dren and their

authorized Southern to take a lead role in develop-

for more than 30 years in

center, which will enhance

ing a comprehensive

the New Haven School

our ability to improve the

statewide plan to better

District, helped train many

education of children with

educate children with

of Southern’s student

autism,” says Ruth Eren,

autism and other develop-

teachers as they were get-

associate professor of spe-

mental disorders.

Southern Alumni Magazine is published by the university in cooperation with the SCSU Alumni Association three 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 of 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, in compliance with federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.

Spring 2010 | 3

Campus

NEWS n

Stopping Violence

quently diminishes the capacity of its victims to achieve

Southern is taking the lead role in a new statewide

their potential and dreams.”

In addition to Southern, the CCCEV includes the

coalition made up of nine universities and several state agencies committed to the prevention of violence against

three other Connecticut State University System campuses

women. The initiative, called the Connecticut Campus

(Central, Eastern, and Western Connecticut State universi-

Coalition to End Violence Against Women (CCCEV), is

ties), the University of Connecticut, Quinnipiac University,

being funded by a three-year, $500,000 grant from the U.S.

University of Bridgeport, University of Hartford, and Trinity

Department of Justice.

College. It also includes Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services Inc. and the Connecticut Police Academy’s Police Officers Standards and Training Council Post.

n

$100,000 Grant Builds Ties with Vietnam History Professor C. Michele Thompson always asks

new students for the first word that comes to mind when they think about Vietnam. Typically, her classes answer the same way. “I say ‘Vietnam’ and they say ‘War’,” says Thompson, who teaches several courses on Vietnam-related topics.

Ronald D. Herron, vice president for student and university affairs, and Catherine A. Christy, coordinator of Southern’s Women’s Center, are optimistic that a recently awarded federal grant geared toward the prevention of violence against women will have a significant impact on Southern and eight other college campuses across the state. Southern is the lead agency in a new 11-member consortium called the Connecticut Campus Coalition to End Violence Against Women.

The institutions of higher learning have joined forces in an effort to reduce the incidence of domestic

Professor C. Michele Thompson

violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on their campuses. The federal funding will be used to enhance sexual assault awareness and prevention pro-

ty to experience today’s Vietnam — one that is a far cry

grams, provide training for staff, create a unified network

from the war-torn jungle depicted in movies and media

of support for victims of violence, and bolster efforts to

images from the 1970s — thanks to a $99,900 grant from

hold perpetrators accountable through school discipline

the U.S. State Department, that will help launch a study

and criminal prosecution.

abroad program in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The

“Tragically, violence against women poses serious

grant paves the way for a pilot program to begin next sum-

threats to the health and safety of college and university

mer that would send faculty and two Southern students to

communities across the nation,” says Ronald D. Herron,

Dai Hoc Su Pham/University of Pedagogy, which specializes

vice president for student and university affairs.

“In fact, the national data shows that 32 percent of all college students report some form of dating violence and/or abuse with previous partners,” Herron says. “It fre4|

But Southern students soon will have an opportuni-

Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

in teacher training. This would be Southern’s first direct exchange program in Asia.

The students, who will receive course credit, are expected to spend the summer studying Vietnamese, con-

ducting research with faculty, and working closely with

Education, the most recent installment of a five-year grant.

Vietnamese students who are learning to teach English. Plans

The TAT program prepares educators in the best practices for

call for two more students to travel with faculty members

teaching students who are not native English speakers.

in spring 2011 and three more to go the following summer.

Lorrie Verplaetse, professor of TESOL (Teachers of English

“Vietnam plays a role in American cultural consciousness, and this is an opportunity to force us to think about [that nation] in new ways,” says Ilene Crawford, associate pro-

wrote the grant proposal.

• The Nursing Department has been awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant of $100,000 to

fessor of

fund scholarships for students in the Accelerated Career

English, who is

Entry (ACE) nursing program.

heading up the

• Richard Cole, president and chief executive officer

program with

of the Connecticut Academy for Education, commended

Professor

Assistant Professor of Elementary Education Adam

Thompson and

Goldberg for his key role in developing the state

Marianne

Department of Education’s Algebra I Model Curriculum. It is

Kennedy, asso-

anticipated that this model curriculum will be adopted by

ciate vice presi-

the state and used extensively to improve the quality of

dent for assess-

math education.

ment, planning, Associate Professor Ilene Crawford

to Speakers of Other Languages) and bilingual education,

• A $25,000 grant from the Boston Public Health

and academic

Commission’s Center for Health Equity and Social Justice

programs.

will support Professor of Public Health Peggy Gallup’s community outreach efforts. Gallup is working with the city of Bridgeport toward the development and implementation of comprehensive health strategies that would eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

• Southern received $221,500 from the state Department of Higher Education (DHE) to continue the GEAR UP Program, through which the university partners with the DHE and New Haven Public Schools to help prepare city students for a successful college experience. The program is overseen by James Barber, ’64, M.S. ’79, director of student supportive services and Southern’s GEAR

Class is in session.

UP coordinator.

• For 24-consecutive years, the National Institutes of

n

Grants Forward Southern’s Mission

Health has supported Psychology Professor James

The accompanying Campus News stories highlight

Mazur’s research project, “Molecular Variables Affecting

two major initiatives — a coalition to prevent violence against

Choice Behaviors.” Mazur’s work allows students to partici-

women and a pilot study-abroad program in Vietnam —

pate in laboratory research and develop an understanding

both of which were made possible by leadership-level

of animal care and requirements. The most recent $78,490

grants. The Southern community received numerous other

award will continue the research through September 2010.

highly competitive grants and honors this fall, some of which are highlighted here.

• Southern’s Training for all Teachers (TAT) program has received $300,000 from the U.S. Department of

• Faculty member Lisa Stout (biology), is the recipient of a three-year National Science Foundation subcontract through Yale. Her work, which will support the project,

continues Spring 2010 | 5

Campus

NEWS “Thermometric Properties

among the courses being

of DNA: Applications to the

offered as part of a new

Deep-sea Biosphere,” will

forensic science minor that

involve students at

was launched at Southern

Southern and Yale.

in the fall. The 18-credit interdisciplinary minor —

The Lovely Bones

Anthropology, Biology,

“Crime Scene

Chemistry, Psychology, and

Valerie Andrushko, a

Investigation,” “Crime

Sociology Departments —

noted expert in bioar-

Science Chemistry,” and

is coordinated by Assistant

chaeology, the study

“Forensic Biology,” are

Professor of Anthropology

of skeletal remains

n

jointly sponsored by the

Assistant Professor Valerie Andrushko [ABOVE, SECOND FROM RIGHT] and members of her class study human bones with a goal of determining the age of the remains.

s

incere thanks to the many alumni and friends who helped

Southern exceed its fundraising goals for the 2009 fiscal from archeological sites.

year. Despite the challenges of the sluggish economy, the university raised close to

$1.84

Andrushko brings

million

in cash support and new commitments — surpassing

extensive experience to the

a goal of $1.6 million.

position. Her scholarly work ranges from investigating

A

lumni giving increased

35%

during

the skeletal remains of the

the last five years — a tangible sign that

Incas in Peru to researching

Southern graduates place great value on

human “trophy-taking” in

their Southern education.

early Native American tribes in central California. Closer

A

total of

7,366

full-time undergraduate

to home, she also has been

students were enrolled at Southern this fall — an all-time

tapped by Nick Bellantoni,

record. Full-time undergraduate enrollment has increased

the state archeologist, to

in 10 out of the past 11 years.

conduct special projects to analyze human remains.

E

nrollment of all full-time students — including

T 79.7%

those enrolled in undergraduate and

designed both for students

graduate programs — rose to

interested in pursuing a

8,346

career in the forensic sci-

— an all-time record.

he retention rate for first-year to second-year students was

6 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

The program is

— the highest in 18 years.

ences and for those who want to pursue other careers, but are interested in the field.

Associate Professor of Special Education and Reading Jule McCombes-Tolis serves as director of The Literacy Lab at Southern Where you’ll find her: The newly renovated Literacy Lab, located in Davis Hall, Room 208

The Mission: Each year, the lab provides pro-bono, faculty-supervised clinical diagnostic and tutorial services for about 100 students. Most are in grades 1 to 8, although some younger and older students are served.

How they help: Education students provide tutoring and screening services, while diagnostic services are conducted by a team of students and university faculty. Diagnostic services range from comprehensive literacy screenings to evaluations for reading disabilities, such as dyslexia.

Family Focus: “We not only have a place for students to be tested and tutored, but we also have a comfortable place for parents to hang out with a library of materials related to literacy and reading,” says McCombes-Tolis.

Getting Help: Schools often refer families to the Literacy Lab for testing and/or tutoring, but parents can apply for services without a school referral. Contact Rosa Clough at CloughR1@SouthernCt.edu or (203) 392-6400 for an application.

Learn More: www.SouthernCT.edu/ education/literacylab newsletter/ Spring 2010 | 7

Campus

NEWS n

Faculty Honors

n

• Joseph Solodow, professor of world

Educational Coach Program Launched Meeting the needs

approved by the

languages and literatures, was named a

of a classroom of students

Connecticut Department of

Connecticut State University (CSU) Professor. An

with different abilities can

Higher Education, is the

internationally recognized scholar in the areas of

be challenging for a

first of its kind in the state.

classics and classical philosophy, Solodow is

teacher. With special edu-

the author of four books. The most recent,

cation students generally

include: coaching and col-

“Latin Alive: The Survival of Latin in English and

being taught in the same

laborating with teachers,

the Romance Languages,” was published in

classroom as other stu-

administrators, and other

Topics covered will

January by Cambridge University Press.

Professor Joseph Solodow

The title of Connecticut State University Professor recognizes outstanding merit among the teaching faculty in the CSU System, which in addition to Southern, includes Eastern, Central, and Western Connecticut State universities.

• Professor of English Paul Petrie received the 2009 Faculty Scholar Award in recognition of his monograph, “Conscience and Purpose.

Fiction and Social Consciousness in Howells, Jewett, Chesnutt, and Cather” (University of Alabama Press). The work examines William

Professor Paul Petrie

Dean Howells’ call for literature as a vehicle for

[FROM LEFT] Associate Professor Christine J. Villani discusses the educational coaching program with Emilia Caturano, ’12, and Kristin Serowik, ‘05.

social change — and the influence on the works of three influential American authors.

• Associate Professor of Psychology Kristine Anthis received the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) Trustees Teaching Award in recognition of her role as an educational innovator for successfully incorporated technology-assisted instruction into the classroom. Her research Associate Professor Kristine Anthis

focuses on how identity develops. The CSU Trustees Teaching Award is presented annually to a faculty member at each of universities in the CSU System.

dents, the task can be par-

service providers; diversifi-

ticularly daunting for teach-

cation of instruction and

ers who are not certified in

assessment to address the

both special education and

educational needs of all

regular education.

students; classroom man-

A new “Educational Coach” 6th-year diploma program is being offered

agement; and understanding classroom law.

Christine Villani,

at Southern, with a goal of

associate professor of edu-

providing teachers with the

cation and Ronald Tamura,

resources needed to best

assistant professor of spe-

• Professor of History C. Michele Thompson

support all groups of stu-

cial education, are coordi-

is the recipient of the Connecticut State

dents. The graduate pro-

nators of the program.

University System (CSUS) Trustees Research

gram, which was recently

Award for her significant contributions to the advancement of scholarship on the history of Vietnam and the history of medicine in East Asia.

Professor C. Michele Thompson 8 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

n

Correction A professor included in the Week in the Life feature

The award is presented annually to a faculty

in the fall issue was incorrectly identified as Assistant

member at each of the four CSU System insti-

Professor Richard Feinn. The photograph actually is of

tutions of higher learning.

Adjunct Professor Frank Grosso. We apologize for the error.

Meet South Student Athern’s lete

sport shorts Miguel Nesrala

basketball Three individuals — former Owl standout Kate Lynch, ’08, former

Sophomore

women’s basketball coach

Member of the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team (Freestyle/ Backstroke)

Joe Frager, and former men’s basketball coach Art Leary — along with the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship women’s basketball squad, were inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. The group

Recent Achievements: Earned numerous first-place

joins Archie Tracy, ’64, and

victories at the Northeast-10 Championship,

Kathleen Ann Kochiss, ’84,

including gold in the 100-yard freestyle. Took

who were selected this

first in the 50-yard freestyle at the Metropolitan

summer under the high school player category. football The Owls finished

women’s volleyball For the first time in program history, the Owls advanced to the Northeast-

Championships.

Hails From: Dominican Republic Diving In: “I live on an island and we went to the beach every other weekend. My dad got tired of

the regular season as

10 Conference tourna-

Northeast-10 Conference

ment, after finishing the

co-champions — marking

regular season with a 23-9

the second time in the last

overall win-lose record.

four years that the Owls

The Owls defeated top-

have earned at least part

seeded University of New

of the league title.

Haven in the Northeast-10

Pre-meet Ritual: Visualizes the perfect race — twice.

Southern shares the honor

Tournament quarterfinals.

In the Community: Volunteers with the team at

with Bentley and

Southern ultimately fell to

numerous community events, most recently, Relay

Merrimack.

UMass Lowell.

for Life.

my grandmother worrying about us, so he signed us up for swim classes.”

Early Success: At the age of 11, Nesrala was ranked among the top two swimmers in his age group in the Dominican Republic.

Listening to: Lil’ Wayne, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Aytm — the latter is Nesrala’s roommate, whom he describes as “an awesome rapper.”

The best part of Swimming: “Definitely competing.

I’m a very competitive person.”

ˇ

For more sports news, visit www.SouthernCTOwls.com.

Spring 2010 | 9

They share a commitment to excellence — and one or more Southern degrees.

Introducing the recipients of the 2009 Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni Awards.

By Joan Wells

10 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

ne is instrumental in bringing award-winning movies to the small screen, while another is helping to craft public policy at the state level. Meet the talented recipients of the 2009 Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni Awards. In all, seven alumni were recognized at the event, which was held on Oct. 16 at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center.

The Distinguished Alumna Award, the highest honor bestowed on a Southern graduate by the university, was presented to Elizabeth Missan Yost, ’85, vice president of development for the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.

In addition, six alumni — one graduate from each of the university’s six schools — were presented with Outstanding Alumnus/a Awards. The honorees included the Honorable Mary M. Mushinsky, ’73, who is serving her fifteenth term as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (School of Arts and Sciences); Michael R. Chambrello, ’79, president and chief operating officer of Scientific Games Corporation, a provider to the international lottery and gaming markets (School of Business); Dr. Marc A. Nivet, ’92, who at press time was slated to join the Association of American Colleges as the chief diversity officer (School of Communication, Information, and Library Science); Maureen G. Linderfelt, M.S. ’68, 6th Yr. ’77, who recently retired from the position of executive director of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Southern Connecticut, where she continues to take an active role, (School of Education); Dr. Kathleen A. Bonvicini, ’83, the chief executive officer for the Institute for Healthcare Communication (School of Health and Human Services); and Dr. Beverly Levett Gerber, ’62, 6th Yr. ’71, professor emeritus of special education at Southern (School of Graduate Studies).

Distinguished Alumna 6 Elizabeth Missan Yost, ’85

&A

s an aspiring college student, Elizabeth Yost had her heart set on attending an extremely large university. Instead, she chose Southern on her father’s advice that a smaller, more personal setting would suit her better.

“My parents are very smart people,” concludes Yost, who is “living her dream,” as the vice president of development for the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel. Based in the company’s Los Angeles office, Yost has made close to 150 movies over 10 years, and oversees all scripting and casting of the network’s productions.

The determined communication major traveled to California immediately after graduation, launching her career at the William Morris Agency. Other positions followed, including time at Robert Greenwald Productions, a supplier of prime time television films, and EMY Entertainment, an independent production company. In 2002, Yost joined Hallmark Channel as director of development, original programming — and was responsible for launching the network’s first original series and Mystery Movie franchises.

While Yost attributes her success to a combination of endurance, talent, and luck, she also places a high premium on the experience she gained at Southern. “The personal attention really made a difference,” says Yost, noting the university’s small class sizes

and opportunities to work closely with members of the faculty. “You don’t get that at a bigger school,” she adds.

Yost has stayed in touch with Professor Joseph (Jos) Ullian, and about 14 years ago they worked together to arrange a summer internship that brought Southern students to Los Angeles to work on scripts and casting. As her success and connections increased, Yost expanded the program. In 2003, she teamed up with Southern’s Department of Communication to offer a Hollywood internship program with the Hallmark Channel. According to Yost, the program is a winning scenario for all involved. “The students who have come out to work for us have been extraordinary,” she says.

Spring 2010 | 11

A Democrat from Wallingford, Conn., Mushinsky is the “dean,” or longest-serving member, of the Connecticut House of Representatives, having spent 28 years shaping public policy. Elected to her fifteenth term in November 2008, she was appointed chairwoman of the Program Review and Investigation Committee, focusing on policy and recommendations for improving state responses to community problems. Previously, she served ten years as cochairwoman of the Select Committee on Children and has received numerous awards in acknowledgment of her efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy and reduce child poverty.

The environment is another primary focus for Mushinsky, who majored in biology at Southern. Having chaired the legislature’s Environment Committee for six years, she played a key role in crafting major environmental legislation enacted in the 1980s and 1990s, including mandatory recycling, packaging reduction, openspace preservation, global warming mitigation, and endangered species protection laws.

Furthering her commitment to the environment, Mushinsky also serves as executive director of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, uniting community volunteers with scientists to improve conditions in the river. The group’s contributions are numerous and varied: helping businesses reduce runoff, growing beetles to control invasive plants, and even forming a bucket brigade to help migrating fish swim over a dam in Wallingford, Conn.

“Southern provided good training for the real world,” she says. “The professors were always behind their students, encouraging hether working on legislathem to use what they learned for the tion designed to prevent good of society.” adolescent pregnancy or helping a Attending Southern is a family migrating fish over a dam, State tradition.

Rep. Mushinsky’s father, Representative Mary Mushinsky SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Edward Mushinsky, earned a degree in often applies lessons she learned education in 1957 and one of her sons, while attending Southern nearly Martin Waters, is a Southern student. (Her other son, Ed, is a graphic 40 years ago. art student at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.) Mushinsky also has passed “I received the technical training, motivation, encouragement, on her commitment to the environment. She proudly notes that both and preparation that — when combined — prepared me to go out of her sons bicycle and take public transportation rather than own cars. and solve problems,” says Mushinsky.

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12 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Outstanding Alumna 6

Mary M. Mushinsky, ’73

&I

n an industry where luck is a key factor, Michael R. Chambrello has risen to the top courtesy of a combination of experience, talent, and hard work. In January 2010, Chambrello became chief executive officer of Scientific Games Corporation, a provider to the lottery, pari-mutuel racing, and gaming industries, and a leading supplier of prepaid phone cards to telecommunication companies.

He also serves as president of the company. With annual revenue approaching $1 billion and a worldwide staff of 5,500 people, Scientific Games has a global presence with clients in some 43 states and more than 50 countries.

Clearly Chambrello is a major player in the business arena.

Yet he says that when he entered Southern as a freshman he was “as directionless as anyone can be” and “average in every way” — not a likely early profile for a man who would become an industry leader.

Enter Southern, where in his sophomore year, Chambrello reached a crossroads. One of his professors, Kun Suryatmodjo, saw potential in the young student and gave Chambrello a challenge: “be average or get smarter” through hard work.

The kid from Plainfield, Conn., chose the latter: by junior year he was a teaching assistant; by graduation he had brought his grade point average up a full point. Chambrello would later establish an endowed scholarship at Southern in Dr. Suryatmodjo’s honor, benefiting students who were majoring in economics.

“Southern gave me a real-world foundation and helped me to realize that even though I didn’t have the same pedigree [as executives who attended Ivy League schools], I could do as well or better,” says Chambrello. He later attended graduate school at American University’s Kogod College of Business.

SCHOOL OF Chambrello joined Scientific Games in July 2005 as president and chief operating officer, drawing on a wealth of executive experience.

Prior to joining the company, he was president and chief executive officer of Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc., a leader in emissions testing systems and services. He also served as chief executive officer of Transmedia Asia Pacific, Inc. and Transmedia Europe Inc., which provide membership and affinity programs.

Outstanding Alumnus 6

Previously, he was president of GTECH Corporation and executive vice president of GTECH Holdings Corp., a full-service provider to the lottery and entertainment industries.

BUSINESS Chambrello had joined the company in 1982 as a project analyst and steadily climbed the corporate ladder. In his almost 20 years at GTECH, company revenue grew from $1 million to nearly $1 billion.

Being honored by Southern is “really great for me,” says Chambrello, who serves on the SCSU Foundation Board of Directors. “There are so many people like me, average in so many ways, who got an extra push at Southern and found their direction.”

Michael R. Chambrello, ’79

Spring 2010 | 13

will include leading the association’s Diversity Policy and Programs Department, with a goal of increasing diversity in medical education and advancing health care equality.

Nivet will come to the AAMC having served as the chief operating officer and treasurer for the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation in New York City, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and manages an endowment of $150 million. The foundation supports programs designed to improve the education of health professionals. Nivet concurrently is special assistant to the senior vice president of health at New York University, where he serves on the faculty of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He also teaches at Hofstra University.

Nivet says one of the benefits of attending Southern is the diversity of the surrounding community. He firmly believes that no institution can call itself “excellent” without being diverse. Among his priorities are diversifying academic medicine, eliminating racial disparities in health and the health professions, and promoting best practices for increasing minority enrollment in health professional schools.

His career has been marked by a commitment to education.

In addition to earning his undergraduate degree in communication studies from Southern, he has a Master’s of Science in higher education/student development from Long Island University, C.W. Post, and a Doctorate of Education in higher education management from the University Of Pennsylvania.

A fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, he is a past president of the National Association arc A. Nivet was thinking of Medical Minority Educators,Inc., like a hopeful teenaged which presented him with its athlete when he chose to attend Outstanding Service Award in 2006.

Southern: he had been recruited With all those accomplishto play football and run track. But ments, Nivet says it still “feels great” to when he realized after two years SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION , INFORMATION , AND LIBRARY SCIENCE be honored by his alma mater. “To this that a career as a professional athday, one of the most meaningful expelete probably wasn’t in the cards, riences in my life was my junior year at he found his real calling.

Southern, when I was offered and accepted the opportunity to serve Nivet focused on academics, became vice president of as a mentor and advisor for incoming freshmen in the Student Equal Southern’s Black Student Union, and began reaching out to inner-city Opportunity Program,” says Nivet, who serves on the SCSU kids in the New Haven community. Those opportunities would set his Foundation Board of Directors. He continues, “That experience, coudestiny.“That became my mission — to help others achieve,” says Nivet. pled with volunteer teaching experiences in the New Haven Public He has continued that mission throughout his career. This School System, served to illuminate the need to give back and take spring Nivet is slated to join the Association of American Medical joy in helping others.”

Colleges (AAMC) as the chief diversity officer. His responsibilities

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Outstanding Alumnus 6 Dr. Marc A. Nivet, ’92

14 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

&M

aureen Glennon Linderfelt is a firm believer in the power of opportunity: “I think it’s about focusing on what people can do, not what they can’t do,” says Linderfelt, who has spent her entire career as an advocate for individuals with disabilities.

For 19 years, Linderfelt served as executive director of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Southern Connecticut Inc., in Wallingford, Conn. She “retired” in 2008, but has remained with the organization as a housing consultant to continue work on a project that is close to her heart: creating 30 units of handicappedaccessible, scattered housing in Fairfield and New Haven counties.

The project builds on Linderfelt’s demonstrated strengths. She was the driving force behind the conversion of a 90year-old school in Fairfield County into universally designed oneand two-bedroom apartments made to be both totally accessible and affordable.

During a career spanning more than 40 years, Linderfelt has worked as a teacher and in administrative positions serving those with orthopedic challenges and/or developmental delays. Previously, she held leadership roles with the State Department of Mental Retardation (now called the Department of Developmental Services); E.B. Kuhn Training Center in Meriden, Conn.; Varca Inc. in Derby, Conn.; and the U.S. Census Bureau. She began her career as a teacher-coordinator for the city of Bridgeport, Conn., where she developed and administered a program that became the first fully certified transitional workshop in the state for those with disabilities.

Linderfelt, who earned both a master’s degree and sixth year diploma in special education from Southern, stresses the importance of experiential learning.

Long before vocational occupational programs were the norm, SCHOOL OF she had her special education students running a café and making business cards by setting type.

She played to the strengths of each child, knowing they’d learn more about math by making change and more about social skills by interacting with the public. Best of all, if her students liked the “work,” there was the built-in motivator to behave and learn.

Outstanding Alumna 6

Maureen G. Linderfelt, M.S. ’68, 6th Yr. ’77 EDUCATION

Her Vocational Occupational Program for Exceptional Children received national recognition; the program was cutting-edge at a time when special education wasn’t even recognized as a formal department in

most schools.

“Southern gave me the tools to do all this and the interest to go forward,” says Linderfelt. “The professors were forward thinking and looked at progressive methods. Southern was a perfect choice for me.”

Spring 2010 | 15

“We like to say there are two tasks in medicine,” says Bonvicini, who has written and spoken extensively to international audiences on the importance of communication training in both human and veterinary medicine. “One is technical, but there’s also the relationship side and understanding how to communicate — to truly listen to the human being in front of you.”

The organization’s influence is far reaching. Since 1989, the IHC has collaborated with hundreds of organizations to train more than 150,000 physicians.

In 2002, the institute developed a program for veterinarians, the Veterinary Communication Training Project. As director of the project, Bonvicini designed and led a faculty training program that was implemented in schools of veterinary medicine throughout the United States and Canada, and recently introduced in Australia.

Previous to her work with the Institute, Bonvicini gained 15 years of psychiatric clinical research experience at the Yale University Laboratory of Psychiatric Genetics, where she coordinated genetic family studies on anxiety disorder and alcohol and substance dependence.

In step with her current commitment to education, she also held faculty positions with Southern’s Department of Public Health and Albertus Magnus College for 12 years.

Her own foray to college was non-traditional. A working parent, she transferred to Southern from the University of Arizona ffective communication is the at the age of 26. After receiving a key to success in many degree in social work from Southern, endeavors, but in Kathleen A. she went on to earn a master’s degree Bonvicini’s business, it can be lifein public health from Yale University. saving.

“Southern offered not only a Bonvicini is chief execu- SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES good academic foundation, but a good tive officer of the Institute for sense of community and service,” says Healthcare Communication Bonvicini. “My three internships in (IHC), a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the quality social work at Southern opened my eyes to the needs of people and of healthcare by helping physicians and veterinarians communicate to what I wanted to do in my professional life.” effectively with their clients.

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Outstanding Alumna 6

Dr. Kathleen A. Bonvicini, ’83

16 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

&B

everly Levett Gerber believes that art education and special education have a shared strength. “Both look outside the box for unconventional answers,” says Gerber, professor emeritus of special education.

A nationally recognized expert in how the subjects connect, Gerber realized early in her teaching career that students with special needs can use art as a vehicle to learn other subjects, express themselves emotionally, and show their level of ability.

She has devoted her career to sharing this knowledge with others, serving for more than 40 years as an advocate of art for students with special needs and presenting on the topic at the state, national, and international levels.

Her ties to Southern are extensive. In addition to earning two Southern degrees — an undergraduate degree in art education and a sixth year degree in special education — Gerber was a fulltime faculty member with the Special Education Department for 33 years, before retiring in 2003. She is currently an adjunct professor at Southern.

As a Southern student, Gerber was most inspired by two professors, Professor Emeritus of Education Walter E. Cheetham and the late Professor Emeritus of Art David Crespi, both of whom had a gift of empowering their students, she says.

“Walter [Cheetham] not only taught the information, but made you understand that you truly can reach the children,” says Gerber, who went on to earn a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She was one of only a handful of doctoral students who studied both special member and past-president of the education and art education.

National Art Education Association With a goal of helping (NAEA) Special Needs Issues Group future teachers, Gerber established and also created a special needs Web the Dr. Beverly Levett Gerber site to combine special education and Fellowship at Southern to support art education resources.

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES graduate students who combine In acknowledgment of special education with art in their studies.

Gerber’s many contributions, the Special Needs Issues Group and the Gerber’s many contributions extend beyond the university.

NAEA worked with several other national organizations to establish She co-edited the popular textbook “Reaching and Teaching Students an award in her honor. The Beverly Levett Gerber Lifetime with Special Needs through Art,” and the soon to be published Achievement Award is given each year to an outstanding art educator “Understanding Students with Autism through Art.” She is a founding who works with special needs children. n

Outstanding Alumna 6

Dr. Beverly Levett Gerber, ’62, 6th Yr. ’71

Spring 2010 | 17

Some 80 percent of Southern applicants with strong recommendations have gained acceptance into U.S. medical, dental, and veterinary schools — well above the national rate. Learn more about how Southern is helping these students achieve major success. By Natalie Missakian 18 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

l Sc ho o ed M St op N ex t • Melissa Beckmann, ’04, loves everything about her job as a doctor at a Texas military hospital — even the weekly 30-hour shifts seem a small price to pay for living a childhood dream.

Next year, she hopes to travel to Korea as an Air Force flight doctor.

Neil Young, ’09, an aspiring ER doc who beat out thousands for a spot at Dartmouth Medical School, spends his days studying human anatomy and physiology alongside Ivy League-educated peers.

Closer to home, Titi Aina, ’04, starts her mornings promptly at 5 a.m., preparing for rounds as a surgical intern at the University of

Connecticut Health Center. Her long-term goal is to become an anesthesiologist.

These successful young alumni share numerous traits. They’re smart, wellrounded, dedicated to their field — and all are graduates of Southern’s small but thriving pre-med program.

“It’s a close-knit faculty so it’s really good that you get to know all of the professors on a name basis.”

Byron Peck-Collier, ’10

Each year, a handful of talented, scienceminded undergraduates sign on to work closely with Southern’s PreMedical, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Veterinary Committee, a team of six faculty members charged with advising and supporting students who want to pursue health careers.

Those who don’t achieve the necessary standards are often counseled into further training or other career options. But those with the right mix of academic achievement, ambition, and analytical skill have found tremendous success. Graduates have earned seats in such diverse medical schools as Dartmouth, Penn State, Boston University, Temple University, New York Medical College, and the University of California, San Francisco.

These are no small accomplishments in a field where, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), only four out of every 10 med school hopefuls make the grade. The competition is fiercer at top schools like Dartmouth, which enrolled only 84 of 5,294 applicants this year, according to the school’s Web site.

“It’s very, very competitive. But we have done a good job if students follow our continues on page 35

[OPPOSITE PAGE] Helping students succeed is the charge of Southern’s Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Veterinary Committee, which includes [FROM LEFT] Professor of Physics Christine Broadbridge, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Adiel Coca, Assistant Professor of Biology Jonathan Weinbaum, Professor of Physics Karen Cummings, Professor of Biology Jane Feng, and Assoc. Professor of Chemistry Jiong D. Pang.

[THIS PAGE] Byron Peck-Collier, a member of the Class of 2010, hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Spring 2010 | 19

With a festive fairytale theme, Homecoming 2009 offered something for everyone.

Once

Upon a

hile the Southern Owl is a seasoned university ambassador, it isn’t everyday that the spirited mascot hobnobs with fairytale princesses. But on Oct. 17, Cinderella, Snow White, and even Prince Charming — a.k.a. colorfully costumed Southern students — joined the great winged one to celebrate Homecoming 2009 and Family Day, a combined event that had a fairytale theme.

20 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Homecoming

[OPPOSITE PAGE] Southern students dress the part.

[THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT] A Southern family smiles for the camera during Family Day activities. • The parade of floats is a favorite tradition. • President Cheryl J. Norton introduces donor Anne Bianchi Gundersen, ’34, who was honored at the President’s Donor Recognition Breakfast. • The Alliance Theatre of New Haven performed “Cinderella” in the children’s tent. Pictured is one of Cinderella’s mouse helpers.

S

torybook royals aside, the true honored guests were the 600plus alumni, family, and friends who came to campus — one of the highest Homecoming attendances on record. All were treated to a wide variety of activities, among them cherished traditions like the Robert Corda 5K Road Race, student parade of floats, and the alumni tent party. Other events, including the dedication of the redesigned Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame and a

celebration of the 50th-anniversary of Southern’s swimming program, gave the day even more poignancy. Further ensuring a happy ending for Southern fans, the Owls soundly defeated Saint Anselm College 71-14 in the Homecoming Football game.

The following pages spotlight some of the day’s many festivities. Take a look and please plan to join us at Homecoming 2010 on October 16. Details will be coming soon. continues

Spring 2010 | 21

22 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Homecoming 2009 [OPPOSITE PAGE] Guests enjoyed a wide variety of activities, including the dedication of the redesigned Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame [LOWER LEFT AND RIGHT].

[THIS PAGE] Owls reconnected with family and friends before the Homecoming football game [TOP RIGHT]. Other events included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Southern’s swimming program [RIGHT], and the Robert Corda 5k Road Race [LOWER LEFT].

Spring 2010 | 23

Nostalgia

Nursing Program Celebrates 40-Year Anniversary

By Joe Musante, ’86 outhern’s nursing program was launched in the 1969-70 academic year with two faculty members, some 20 students, and a single classroom/makeshift lab buried in the basement of Engleman Hall.

Though modest in scope, the program was a success from the onset. In 1973, the department reached two milestones — having its first group of 13 nursing students graduate and obtaining a full eight-year accreditation from the National League for Nursing. Progress continued

S

24 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

and in 1985, Southern launched its first master’s degree program in nursing.

Today, Southern’s Nursing Department is a popular, well-established operation that plays a vital role in curbing the state’s nursing shortage. For the last two years, nursing/pre-nursing has been the top major at Southern. In fall 2009, a total of 844 undergraduates were declared as either nursing or pre-nursing majors, the second-highest number in university history — only slightly below a record-setting 873 students in fall 2008.

Associate Professor of Nursing Lisa Rebeschi, department chairwoman, attributes the numbers to Southern’s growing reputation, as well as job opportunities created because of the shortage.

“It’s a competitive process just to be accepted into the program,” says Rebeschi, noting that approvals usually take place just before a student’s junior year. “These days, about half of those who apply are accepted.”

Rebeschi also notes that Southern consistently exceeds the 88 to 90 percent statewide average of students who pass the

licensure examination.

She believes Southern’s success stems from several factors, including an increase in both faculty and classroom/ lab space as a result of the opening of a new Nursing Classroom Building in the fall of 2005.

“Our nursing program has been on the cutting edge of innovation for some time, offering on-line courses, an Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) program for individuals seeking to make a career

change to nursing, and a collaborative R.N. to B.S.N. pathway with Gateway Community College,” says Selase W. Williams, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Southern and Western Connecticut State University also are in the process of jointly developing an Ed.D. program in nursing.

The nursing program has received numerous grants in support of its commitment to excellence, including a recent

$145,000 federal allocation — most of which is being used for scholarships to support students in the ACE program and the nursing educator program at the graduate level. The department also was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to fund scholarships for students in the ACE nursing program. n For more information, see www.SouthernCt.edu/nursing/.

From past to present — a 40-year success story. [LOWER CIRCLE, FROM LEFT] Associate Professor Emeritus of Nursing Immaculate Alba and Associate Professor of Nursing Lisa Rebeschi, pose with William Abbott, ’09, and Lettresha Turner, ’09, graduates of the Accelerated Career Entry program.

Spring 2010 | 25

Alumni

NEWS n

Alumni Association Board Adds New Members The Alumni Association Board of Directors welcomed seven new members, including five who were elected to serve

until 2013. In addition, James Booth, ’97, and Robert D. Parker, ’76, were appointed to the board to fill posts that were empty due to resignations. They will serve until June 30, 2010.

• New board member James Booth,

In addition to earning her undergraduate degree at

’97, is a financial adviser with a fami-

Southern, she graduated summa cum laude with a

ly-run business based in Norwalk,

master’s degree in human performance. In 1991, she

Conn. A dedicated community vol-

became certified in school health and recently earned

unteer, he works with the Norwalk

an Ed.D. in adult education.

Jaycees and is active with his local Catholic parish. Booth is an avid run-

• The recipient of the 2008 Alumni

ner and has completed numerous

Service Award, Jerry Katona, ’74,

marathons throughout the United

James Booth

M.S. ’88, has been reelected to serve

States, raising money to support the

on the board. A former athletics

American Diabetes Association.

trainer and past officer of the Owl Varsity Club, which supports

Nancy Charest

• Nancy Charest, ’71, M.S. ’75, 6th

Southern’s student athletes, Katona

Yr. ’77, a veteran teacher with New

is a lifetime member of the

Haven Public Schools, holds three

Connecticut Scholastic and

degrees from Southern and is certi-

Collegiate Softball and Basketball

fied both as a reading consultant

Associations. Among his many achievements is coach-

and as a teacher of English

ing a Connecticut Classics Women’s Fast Pitch team to a

Language Learners (ELL). Highly

2001 national championship. Katona works for Area

regarded for her expertise in social-

Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) as an employ-

emotional intelligence, she has

ment supervisor.

Jerry Katona

worked with the Yale Child Study

Center and the George Lucas Foundation and has

• Newly elected board member Edwin Klinkhammer,

served as a consultant throughout the United States

’71, M.S. ’76, 6th Yr. ’92, combines a background in sci-

and in Sweden and the United Kingdom. A published

ence education with extensive experience in athletics. A

author, Charest previously served as the Executive Vice-

National Science Foundation Fellow, Klinkhammer

President of the New Haven Federation of Teachers.

retired from a position as a science educator with the Department of Children and Families. Previously, he

• Marybeth Heyward Fede, ’79, M.S.

was a Police Academy Physical Training Coordinator, as

’87, has ties to Southern as a student

well as a personal security specialist and defensive tac-

and as a member of the faculty. An

tics instructor. Klinkhammer also worked as a fitness

assistant professor in the Exercise

sports trainer and consultant and had a 20-year career

Science Department since 1998, she

in professional minor league football, baseball, soccer,

supervises student teachers through

and track and field. In November 2009, Klinkhammer

the teacher preparation program.

was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Diamond

Before joining Southern as an

Club Hall of Fame. He is an active environmental ecolo-

adjunct professor, she worked as a school exercise science technician.

26 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Marybeth Heyward Fede

gist and marine wildlife first responder and rehabilitator.

• Newly elected board member

In 1948, Southern — then known

6th Yr. ’99, has worked as a

as New Haven State Teachers

teacher, coach, and administrator in

College — began publishing a

the fields of physical education,

student art and literary publica-

health, and athletics. As an under-

Mary Fedyn Martinik

n Pleasure Reading

Mary Fedyn Martinik, ’76, M.S. ’86,

tion. More than six decades later Southern continues this

graduate, she was a member of the

tradition with Folio, an undergraduate journal, and Noctua

gymnastics and softball teams for

Review, which spotlights the work of graduate students.

four years. Education remained the cornerstone of Martinik’s career,

Today, readers can mine Southern’s rich creative history thanks to a new online archival collection of past issues

prompting her to return to Southern to earn degrees in

of Folio. The site — found at www.southernct.edu/

health education and educational leadership.

folioarchive/ — is an ambitious work-in-progress created by English Professor Vivian Shipley. Complete issues from 1996-

• Board member Robert D. Parker,

2009 are included, with issues from 1948-1995 ultimately

’76, is the director of communica-

slated to be added. In the meantime, Shipley has created a

tions for ACES (Area Cooperative

history for each year, including an overview of subjects,

Educational Services), the regional

styles, and examples of a range of genres.

educational service center for 25

Shipley began archiving the journals in 1990, work-

school districts in South Central

ing to acquire past copies of the journal that were not

Connecticut. His career includes 30

held by the university — a process that took five years.

years as a teacher and serving as the

Thanks to her efforts a complete collection of the original

director of ACES Educational Center

Robert D. Parker

copies is found in Buley Library. A second collection —

for the Arts. He has been a board

with rare issues hand-copied and bound to prevent dam-

member and adviser to numerous arts advocacy organi-

aging the originals — is housed in the library’s reference

zations, among them the International Network of

room. Happy reading!

Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education, the Connecticut Alliance for Arts Education, the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, and the International Festival

Congratulations to the Class of 1959, which held its 50th reunion on Oct. 15 at The Woodwinds in Branford, Conn.

of Arts and Ideas.

Members of the Class of 1954 celebrated their 55th reunion in high style at Anthony’s Ocean View on Sept. 11.

Spring 2010 | 27

Alumni

NEWS Hoop Dreams — Times Two Fans of women’s collegiate basketball can cheer on two Southern graduates who have taken the lead for prominent university teams.

Joan Bonvicini, ’75, was named head coach at Seattle University where she is leading the team in its first full season in Division I. Formerly with the coaching staffs at the University of Arizona and Long Beach State, Bonvicini PHOTO: Eric Badeau

has one of the most successful

Cathy Inglese, ’80

coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of

coaching records

Rhode Island. Previously, Inglese was head coach at Boston

in women’s colle-

College from 1993-2008, during which time she guided the

giate basketball

Eagles to three trips to the NCAA Sweet 16. Inglese also

history: She came

was head coach at the University of Vermont for seven sea-

to Seattle ranked

sons and served on several USA Basketball coaching staffs,

26th on the NCAA

most recently as assistant coach with the gold-medal-win-

all-time wins list

ning World University Games team in the summer of 2005.

While attending Southern, Inglese was named the

for women’s college basketball at

outstanding female athlete in her senior year, having been

all levels. In

a stellar player in both basketball and softball.

Both coaches have been inducted into Southern’s

February 2007, she became the 18th

Athletics Hall of Fame.

coach in NCAA Joan Bonvicini, ’75

Division I

n

A star college player, Bonvicini helped the Owls earn third- and fourth-place finishes in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championships. She was a finalist for the 1976 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team.

On the East Coast, fellow coaching standout Cathy Inglese, ’80, is completing her first full season as head

From buildings lauded for eco-friendly design

+

We’re on the Web at www.SouthernCT.edu. For athletics information go to www.SouthernCTOwls.com.

+

Become a fan of Southern on Facebook at www.facebook.com. A wide variety of pages are available, including those specifically devoted to alumni, the university, the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, and career services.

+

Follow Southern on Twitter at http://twitter.com/scsutweet.

The free service provides a way to communicate through the exchange of brief, frequent messages.

+

Join LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com for professional networking opportunities. Go to the “Official Southern Connecticut State University” site.

+

The Alumni Relations Office can also be reached at (203) 392-6500; www.SouthernCT.edu/alumni/; or SCSU, Attn: Alumni Relations, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515.

to a reinvigorated, campus-wide recycling program, the university is committed to keeping it green.

That’s why Southern is a proud signatory of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.

Please support Southern and its students by contributing to the Campus Greening Fund. Donations may be made online at www.giving.southernct.edu. Or call (203) 392-6515.

28 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Stay in Touch!

Connect with all things Southern — from news on the latest campus developments to information on upcoming alumni events. The university offers numerous ways to stay up-to-date.

women’s basketball history to reach the 600-win mark.

An invitation to Southern Educators!

Join us on April 10, 2010 for

A special day-long, campus-wide event for Southern alumni.

Highlights include: Alumni College Seminars — including some that meet guidelines for .1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits per seminar.

Fun-filled children’s activities and a snack/movie party The President’s Reception Meet the Southern authors showcase The Amazing Race scavenger hunt And much more.

For more information and tickets, call Alumni Relations at (203) 392-6500 or online at www.SouthernCT.edu/alumni/.

RSVP by April 2, 2010

Spring 2010 | 29

alumni notes

’50s JOHN L. CARUSONE, ’57, M.S. ’62, was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club Hall of Fame.

Carusone also was inducted into the Connecticut ASA (Amateur Softball Association) Slo-Pitch Hall of Fame in 2004 and, in 2008, received the Gold Bat Award from the West Haven Twilight League. An athletics field in Hamden, Conn., was named in his honor in 2007.

’60s LAWRENCE D. MCHUGH, ’62, has been appointed chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut

by Governor M. Jodi Rell.

McHugh, president of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, previously was chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System. He has been succeeded by Karl J. Krapek.

FRANCIS GAGLIARDI, ’63, has retired as associate director of Burritt Library at Central Connecticut State University after 45 years.

VINCENT VIRGULTO, ’63, was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club Hall of Fame in 2009.

DAVID F. MILLS, ’64, M.S. ’69, a former Bristol Eastern High School football coach, was elected to a City Council seat on the Republican ticket.

JON PURMONT, M.S. ’64, professor of history at Southern, has retired.

LAWRENCE P. CLINTON, ’66, was honored by the American Psychiatric Association as a distinguished fellow in 2005 and 2009 for his contributions to the field. In 2008 Clinton was honored as one of America’s top psychiatrists for his work with children.

Clinton, who is a medical doctor, has an active practice in Vineland, N.J. 30 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Reunion News

MICHAEL ROSHKA, ’73, M.S.

• School of Education alumni from all graduating classes are invited to attend a Celebration of the School of Education on April 10, 2010. Highlights of the event, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., include Alumni College Seminars (among them, programs for children), campus tours, a Meet the Southern Authors spotlight, and the President’s Reception.

• The Class of 1960 will be honored at undergraduate commencement on May 28 in recognition of its 50th reunion.

For more information on these events or if you would like to organize a reunion for your class, please contact Alumni Relations at (203) 392-6500.

ELIZABETH FOYE, M.S. ’67, professor of elementary education at Southern, has retired.

BARBARA SHILLER, ’67, 6th Yr. ’78, professor of special education at Southern, has retired.

MARYANNE ULLMANN, ’68, M.S. ’76, 6th Yr. ’86, associate professor of special education at Southern, has retired.

ED ASTON, ’69, M.S. ’73, head swimming coach at Cheshire High School and Farms Country Club, was a recipient of the Elm City Legend Award, as reported in the Cheshire Herald.

PETER BOPPERT, ’69, director of the Learning Resource Center at Southern, has retired.

JOHN S. PIUREK, ’69, M.S. ’74, 6th Yr. ’91, and wife, DENISE PIUREK, ’71, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year.

’70s PATRICIA RUKOWICZ, ’70, M.S. ’73, 6th Yr. ’74, M.S. ’03, associate professor of school health education, has retired.

JEAN CHAPMAN SNIDER, ’70, retired from the Virginia Beach School System in 1998 and received the North Carolina Governor’s Award for volunteerism in 1999 and 2009.

PATSY LEMLEY KAMERICA, ’71, M.S. ’75, was inducted into the HaddamKillingworth High School Hall of Fame.

BARBARA BELLINGER, M.S. ’72, is a consultant at Learning Dynamics, a national training and development company based in Wallingford, Conn.

MICHAEL G. MARTIN, M.S.

LAURA V. FREUND, ’72, a spe-

’71, 6th Yr. ’75, professor of counseling and school psychology at Southern, has retired.

cial education teacher in Torrington Public Schools, ran for a third term as North Canaan’s representative to the School Board in Region 1.

JANIS PANAGROSSI, ’71, M.S. ’78, the office assistant for the bookstore at Southern, has retired.

DAVID W. MARTENS, ’72, M.A. ’74, 6th Yr. ’80, professor of exercise science at Southern, has retired.

’79, has retired from the position of director of conference services and special events at Southern.

DOLORES ENNICO, ’74, M.S. ’77, has been elected as an officer for Olin Corporation, a diversified manufacturing company headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Ennico will have overall responsibility for all human resource activities throughout the corporation.

She lives in Fairfield, Conn.

THOMAS HANFORD, ’74, M.S. ’79, performed at the Litchfield Historical Society’s 22nd annual Children’s Summer Series. Hanford, a resident of Goshen, Conn., is a musician and storyteller.

BARBARA D. LYNCH, M.S. ’74, 6th Yr. ’75, professor of marriage and family therapy at Southern, has retired.

CYNTHIA TWISS, ’74, M.S. ’81, 6th Yr. ’97, has been named director of special education and student services by the Madison Board of Education after a 28-year career with the Trumbull Public School System in Conn.

LEONARD YANNIELLI, M.S. ’74, M.S. ’89, was presented with the National Association

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’ve already included the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation in your will, please let us know so that we can acknowledge your generosity by enrolling you in the Heritage Society.

If not, please consider leaving a legacy by making a planned gift to the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation. For more information, contact the Development Office.

(203) 392-5598 • www.SouthernCT.edu/supportsouthern Southern Connecticut State University 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1355

Olympic Recognition for Southern Coach Former Southern men’s gymnastics coach

ual NCAA champions, 126 All-Americans, and four Nissen Award winners. Upon his retirement he received

Abraham “Abie” Grossfeld was inducted into the U.S.

the honorary title of professor emeritus of intercolle-

Olympic Hall of Fame this fall — an

giate athletics.

honor that places him in the compa-

A nationally recognized athlete in his own right,

ny of some of the country’s most cel-

Grossfeld competed in two Olympic Games (1956,

ebrated athletes. Grossfeld was the

1960), two World Championships (1958, 1962), and

head coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic

three Pan American Games — the latter of which result-

Men’s Gymnastics Team that earned

ed in three team gold medals for the U.S.

eight medals, including the U.S. men’s only Olympic team gold. He also was the personal

’78, who captured a bronze medal on floor exercise at the 1976

At Southern,

coach from 1963-2003

’82, is a senior assistant state’s attorney. She joined the Housing Div. in 2005 after serving 11 years in New Haven Superior Court.

coach of the year three times during his tenure.

He led the Owls to three

BARBARA SCHADE, ’82,

NCAA championships, and coached 29 individ-

JAMES L. WILLIAMS, M.A. ’75, M.S. ’77, 6th Yr. ’82, has retired from the position of interim director of admissions at Southern.

ALI ZAMOURI, M.S. ’75, has retired from the position of

is the principal of Immaculate High School in Danbury, Conn. Murphy and his wife, Cathy, were members of Immaculate’s first graduating class in 1966.

ROBYN STEWART JOHNSON,

and was named national

retired from the position of head coach of men’s basketball at Southern.

DANIEL MURPHY, 6th Yr. ’80,

named Mentor of the Year by the Branford Community Youth Mentoring Program. Hottin is the owner of M&H Advisors, LLC, in New Haven, Conn.

Grossfeld served as

ARTHUR J. LEARY, ’75, has

associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Southern, has retired.

GLEN HOTTIN, ’82, has been

Olympic Games.

’76, has retired from the position of director of counseling services at Southern.

ROSEANN DIANA, M.S. ’80,

is one of four Prospect, Conn., residents appointed by the Town Council to sit on the Board of Education for Region 16. Hiscox is a biology teacher at Newington High School.

alumnus Peter Kormann,

DAVID J. DENINO, ’75, M.S.

’80s

ROBERT A. HISCOX, 6th Yr. ’81,

coach of Southern’s

of Biology Teachers 2009 Evolution Education Award.

Yannielli is a professor at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, Conn.

High School in Conn. He was formerly principal at Thomaston High School.

assistant librarian at Southern.

FRANCES L. KENDALL, ’76, was promoted to the rank of full professor at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md., and teaches television and documentary production in the Department of Communication Arts.

STEWART BYRON, ’78, a Madison, Conn., resident, had his sculptures and woodburning artwork displayed by the Clinton Art Society at the Liberty Bank in Clinton, Conn. Byron also has displayed his work at the P. T. Barnum Museum and the Lockwood Mathews Museum, both in Conn.

EDWARD J. HOYER, JR., M.L.S. ’78, M.S. ’81, has retired from the position of associate librarian at Southern.

COLLEEN KREHEL SEADALE, ’78, is a licensed family therapist in private practice in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha’s Vineyard.

SANDRA L. DENNIES, M.S. ’79, was named chief financial officer for the city of Wilton, Conn.

Previously, Dennies served as director of administration and chief financial officer for the city of Stamford, Conn.

BERNADETTE FLYNN, ’79, was selected 2009 Coach of the Year for Outstanding

Achievement in Women’s Sports by the Fairfax County Women’s Sports Award Committee and The Women’s Sports Foundation. Flynn lives in Springfield, Va.

PATRICIA RUTKOWSKI, M.S. ’79, has been promoted to the position of library director at the New Britain Library.

Rutkowski has been employed by the library for 40 years and is the first library employee since 1967 to be promoted to the director position.

JOYCE SALTMAN, M.S. ’79, 6th Yr. ’81, professor of special education at Southern, has retired.

JAMES F. WENKER, ’79, was named principal at Newington

founded a new education center named The Claus Academy in Norwalk, Conn.

The center provides tutoring, mentoring, and coaching to young adults in reading, writing, and mathematics.

PAMELA BRUCKER, ’83, M.S. ’87, 6th Yr. ’91, professor of special education at Southern, has retired.

JUDITH BUZZELL, 6th Yr. ’83, professor of education at Southern, has retired.

JIM KALACH, ’83, has been promoted to director of executive communications at the Hartford Financial Services Group in Hartford, Conn.

STUYVESANT MARTIN REID, SR., ’83, is an operations analyst with the state of Georgia Department of Corrections.

He lives in Lithia Spring, Ga. Spring 2010 | 31

GREGORY P. DESTEFANO, ’84, Foundation Board Member Honored principal of Konowitz, Kahn and Company, was elected to the Valley United Way Board of Directors.

John Soto, a prominent businessman, philanthropist, and member of the SCSU Foundation Board of Directors, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the

NICK ECONOMOPOULOS, 6th

State of Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs

Yr. ’84, a former teacher at Lyman Hall High School and former member of the Board of Education, has been elected as one of the town councilors of Wallingford, Conn.

Commission (LPRAC). The award was presented on October 24 at a gala awards ceremony in Hartford, Conn.

Soto, who as a young man emigrated to the U.S. from Puerto Rico, is the founder and president of Space-

PAUL BEST, M.S. ’85, 6th Yr.

Craft Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of turbine

’87, professor of political science at Southern, has retired.

JUDITH BONACCI DRENZEK, M.S. ’85, 6th Yr. ’95, was appointed preschool supervisor in the West Haven School District in Conn.

GRETA GETLEIN, ’86, has earned a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and was ordained in June 2009.

engine parts and structural airframe components. Based in New Haven, Conn., the company serves a who’s who of clients, including Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Sikorsky Aircraft, Volvo Aero, and the United States Air Force and Navy.

Soto, who was unable to attend college due to financial reasons, is committed to providing educational opportunity to others. At Southern, he and his wife, Gladys, established the John Soto Endowed Scholarship Fund and have provided numerous other contributions in support of the university.

ROBERT L. PARKER, ’86, a former newspaper columnist and radio host, has joined WDIV TV in Detroit, Mich.

Parker will write several columns each week exclusively for ClickOnDetroit.com, in addition to contributing podcasts and blogs. Parker also will continue his weekly appearances on Sports Final Edition.

KERRY CARDINAL, ’87, activities director at Ridgefield Crossing senior living community, has received the Outstanding Resident Services Award from the Connecticut Assisted Living Association.

ANN CURLEY, M.S. ’87, was honored as Teacher of the Year at the Washington School in Manchester, Conn. Curley, a creative arts teacher, has been teaching for 11 years.

GREGORY DANDIO, ’88, was a candidate for the Wolcott Board of Education, as stated in the Sunday Republican 32 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

newspaper. Dandio is chief technology officer at Area Cooperative Education Services in North Haven, Conn.

’90s DONALD M. CASEY, M.S. ’90, an assistant director at Camp Teepee for 30 years, received the Staff Excellence Award from the Lakewood Trumbull YMCA in Conn. Casey is an educator at Stepney Elementary School in Monroe, Conn. Recently students there were honored by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their participation in the Read Across America initiative.

FREDERICK M. LYNN, M.S. ’90, has been selected executive director of Immaculate Conception Shelter and Housing Corporation. Lynn has nearly 25 years of nonprofit management experience, primarily working in the anti-poverty arena with community action agencies.

LEIF MADSEN, M.L.S. ’90, joined the staff of the Denver School of Nursing in 2009 as the Learning Resource Center manager. Madsen created a virtual library service for the

school and is working to help the school get national accreditation.

JOHN “JACK” DEMMONS, ’91, was inducted into the Sheehan High School Hall of Fame.

Demmons earned five varsity letters, two in basketball and three in baseball, and was cocaptain of the high school’s 1976 baseball team.

SHERYL SERVISS, ’91, is pursuing her interest in the field of forensic facial reconstruction.

Serviss recently went to Oklahoma University to study with an experienced facial reconstruction artist. She has also studied sculpture at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts.

PAUL S. FREEMAN, M.S. ’93, 6th Yr. ’96, the former assistant superintendent in East Lyme, Conn., has been appointed superintendent of schools in Griswold, Conn.

W. KURT MILLER, ’93, ran for reelection in the Seymour, Conn., race for the Board of Selectmen. Miller is an account relationship manager at CUNA Mutual Group and an employee at family-owned Miller Ward Funeral Home.

ROBERT T. CORK, ’94, is the director of communication

MICHAEL HOLINSTAT, ’95, M.S. ’99, has accepted a faculty position at Thomas Jefferson University and is now an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology.

Holinstat was also one of a limited pool of researchers to receive a Pathway to Independence Award grant from the National Institutes of Health.

CYNTHIA RITCHIE, ’95, M.A. ’96, 6th Yr. ’00, has been appointed principal of Salem Elementary School. Ritchie was formerly a language arts building specialist in Old Saybrook, Conn.

SALVATORE ZARRA, M.S. ’96,

GLORIA GUBITOSI, 6th Yr. ’86, was a candidate for a position on the school board in Wolcott, Conn. Gubitosi’s experience includes two years on the Republican Town Committee and one term on the Board of Education.

University, has been elected a trustee of the Connecticut Career Counseling and Development Association.

for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Alexandria, Va. This nonprofit organization was founded in 1986 by the families of the astronauts lost in the Challenger 51-L mission.

LUIS MOYANO, ’94, has been named assistant director of admissions for Quinnipiac University Online, which provides support for all online programs and courses offered by the university.

JEROME MUGAVERGO, ’94, has been the technical director of the YES Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network) since its inception in 2002.

ERIC PARADIS, ’94, was a candidate for the Newtown Board of Education in the 2009 election. Paradis is an educator at Trumbull High School and is a credentialed school social work.

KERRI SAUER, ’94, a nursing supervisor, leads a nurse practitioner program at the Westview Health Care Center in Dayville, Conn.

CYNTHIA CHRISTIE, M.S. ’95, assistant dean for career services in the School of Health Sciences at Quinnipiac

6th Yr. ’99, was selected Teacher of the Year for the Branford School System.

Zarra is a mathematics teacher at Branford High School in Conn.

JANE CIARLONE, M.S. ’97, coordinator in the Office of Study Skills Enrichment at Southern, has retired.

TRACY JOHNSTON, M.S. ’97, has been named director of pupil services by the Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Region 4 Boards of Education.

TAMMY JOSKA, ’97, M.S. ’99, who is completing post-doctoral work at Dartmouth College, designed an inhibitor of Anthrax Dihydrofolate Reductase. She hopes to become a professor and to work in a pharmaceutical company.

MICHAEL J. HANLON, ’98, has been appointed by the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants to serve as a member of its Advisory Council for 20092010. Hanlon is a manager for Blum Shapiro in Shelton, Conn.

SARA NEMEROV, ’98, joined the Warner Music Group as senior vice president of consumer products and brand licensing for Rhino

Entertainment and Frank Sinatra Enterprises.

MIKE TRACY, ’98, is the new head football coach at Branford High School and the physical education and health teacher at the Connecticut school.

WILLIAM EGAN, 6th Yr. ’99, is the new principal of Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield, Conn. Formerly, Egan was the assistant principal of Brookfield High School for three years.

GENE HOLMES, M.S. ’99, is the

tell us about it

principal of Saint Mark School in Stratford, Conn., which was named a 2009

Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Only 314 elementary schools in the United States received the honor.

’00s THEODORE P. OCZKOWSKI, M.S. ’02, was a candidate for the Oxford Board of Education in the Nov. 2009 elections.

Oczkowski is the director of athletics at New Milford High School in Conn., and the former department chairman of physical education at Trumbull High School in Conn.

VINCENT J. (V.J.) SARULLO, ’02, has been named the new athletics director at Mark T. Sheehan High School in Wallingford, Conn. Sarullo will teach world history in the Social Studies Department.

DANIEL DEL PRETE, ’03, and his wife, Sarah Beth Luce-Del Prete, live in New Haven, Conn., with their son, Daniel Anthony.

COLEEN FLAHERTYMERRITT, ’03, M.S. ’06, was one of nine candidates running for three seats on the Board of Education in

Share your good news with Southern friends and classmates by sending it to Southern Alumni News. Mail this completed form to Southern Alumni News, SCSU Alumni Relations Office, New Haven, CT 06515-1355; fax, (203) 392-5082; or e-mail, alumniinfo@SouthernCT.edu.

Name ____________________________________________________ Phone (

) ______________________________________________

Street Address ______________________________________________ City ____________________________State ________Zip __________ SCSU Degree/Year______________Major __________________________ E-mail ____________________________________________________ o Check if this is a new address.

Name under which I attended college ______________________________ News Item__________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Signature __________________________________________________ Date ______________________________________________________ Spouse’s Name ______________________Spouse's SCSU Degree/Yr.______ Children’s Names/Ages ________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

Waterbury, Conn. FlahertyMerritt is an educator at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, Conn.

STEVE HALEY, M.S. ’04, a licensed social worker, has opened the Haley Counseling Center in Hebron, Conn.

DAGMAR RATENSPERGER, ’04, is the proprietor of Dagmar’s Desserts and Café in Old Saybrook, Conn., an authentic Bavarian/Austrianstyle bakery.

PATRICE KOPAS, M.S. ’05, has joined Greenwich Catholic School, having previously worked at All Saints School in Norwalk, Conn., where she taught algebra, mathematics, literature, composition, and religion. Kopas has also been elected to the Town of Weston Board of Finance.

KELLY MCCOLLOUGH, ’05, was named patient service manager of a 29-bed general medicine unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

EMILY PIFFERI, M.S. ’05, 6th Yr. ’07, is the new school psychologist at EmersonWilliams Elementary School in Wethersfield, Conn.

MEGHAN MARTINS, 6th Yr. ’06, is the associate principal for instruction at Danbury High School in Conn.

ANN LEVIS WHITE, ’06, M.S. ’09, was featured in the Southbury, Conn., newspaper, VOICES, as being one of three members of the same family to earn graduate degrees in the spring. Her husband graduated from the Yale School of Nursing with a master’s degree and his sister graduated with a doctorate from Johnson & Wales University.

GARY HOLDER-WINFIELD, ’07, a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, received the Champion of Liberty Award from the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association for his work to abolish the death penalty in the state.

MELISSA KUROWSKI, ’08, is attending Western New England School of Law.

CONNIE DICKERSON, M.L.S. ’09, is a freelance writer and editor, as reported in the Weston Forum newspaper.

MAUREEN FARRELL, M.P.H. ’09, has been appointed to the newly created position of director of member wellness for the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut. Farrell is a member of the Coalition for Healthy Kids and volunteered as a health adviser for Brookfield Public Schools and the Brookfield Health Department.

JAMES LOUGHEAD, M.S. ’09, a teacher at Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs, Conn., was awarded the John H. Stedman Passion for the Social Studies Teaching Award from the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies.

SARAH MARLAK, ’09, a teacher at the Generali School of Literature and the Arts in Middlebury, Conn., ran for a position on the Board of Education.

STEPHANIE LYNN NARUS, ’09, is employed by Yale-New Haven Hospital as a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

MICHELLE ST. PETER, ’09, has joined Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte and Sterczala, PC, as a staff accountant.

NICHOLAS VALLI, ’09, of Monroe, Conn., has joined the firm of Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte and Sterczala, PC, as a staff accountant.

Marriages LISA GREEN, ’86, M.S. ’95, and Michael Durocher, June 27, 2009.

MICHELE MORCK, ’01, and Jack Ross, Sept. 27, 2009.

KRISTEN MARIE RUBINO, ’02, M.S. ’06, and Joshua Yahwak, Oct. 4, 2009.

AMY KEIGH KRESS, ’05, and Brien Chegwidden Jones, June 20, 2009.

JIAN LIAN CHAN, ’06, and Christine Angela Smith, July 26, 2009.

Spring 2010 | 33

MICHELLE FUSCO, ’06, and

Founder of Southern’s Journalism Program Dies

Scott Boulanger, June 6, 2009.

ERIN SHANA MCCOOL, ’06, M.S. ’09, and CHRISTOPHER J. BONINI, ’05, July 25, 2009.

GINA NICOLETT, ’06, and Stephen Galullo, Jan. 5, 2009.

BENJAMIN BELANCIK, ’07, and Laura Hale, April 11, 2009.

JENNIFER BOUSQUET, 6th Yr. ’07, and Matthew Weeks, Aug. 9, 2008.

AMANDA LYNN BARRA, ’09,

Professor Emeritus Robin Marshall Glassman, an accomplished journalist who founded Southern’s journalism department in the late 1970s, passed away on August 18, at the age of 83. During her 50-year career, Glassman was a reporter and editor for numerous newspapers, including the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Lake City (Florida) Gazette, the New Haven Register, and Fair Press, and served as a reporter for United Press International. She also worked on special assignments with Life magazine and was published in Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, Connecticut, Fairfield County, and many other magazines.

and Mark Colangelo, July 10, 2009.

AMANDA STEINNECKER, 6th Yr. ’09, and Jared Kosky, July 31, 2009.

Births/ Adoptions NICOLE ADCOCK BOGER, ’98, and her husband, James A. Boger, announce the birth of their second son, Zachary James, born June 9, 2009.

IN MEMORIAM ELVIRA BOVE CAVALIERE, ’38.

VIRGINIA SHELTON (HUBBELL) TUCKER, ’38, Shelton, Conn., Oct. 27, 2009.

BEATRICE D. CASTAGNETTI SABIA, ’43, Stamford, Conn., June 19, 2009.

MARIAN STEIN, ’43, Hamden, Conn., Aug. 26, 2009.

ENID WHARTON CLAY, ’46, M.S. ’72, Milford, Conn., July 10, 2009.

JEAN O. FOSTER, ’47, Santa Barbara, Calif., May 1, 2009.

SARA MORRIS PIERPONT, ’48, M.S. ’73, Dec. 13, 2008.

SALVATORE C. POLIO, ’50, M.S. ’53, Hamden, Conn., July 5, 2009.

SALVATORE GIANNONE, ’52, Ansonia, Conn., Oct. 29, 2009.

ESILDA B. PEPPER, ’54, Milford, Conn., July 29, 2009.

MARSHA L. PERLMUTTER, ’55, New Haven, Conn., Feb. 22, 2008.

RICHARD A. CASSIEY, ’59.

34 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Glassman, who taught at Southern from 1968 to 1995, was equally distinguished as a professor of journalism. In 1989 the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) selected her from among journalism professors across the nation for their “Distinguished Teacher of Journalism” award. She was active in SPJ for more than 25 years and was the first woman president of the organization’s Connecticut chapter, which named its Lifetime Achievement Award in her honor.

Furthering Glassman’s long-demonstrated commitment to Southern and her students, a scholarship is being established in her memory. Donations may be sent to the SCSU Foundation, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515. Please make out checks to the SCSU Foundation and note “Robin M. Glassman Scholarship” in the memo section.

EVELYN LORENZ O’SULLIVAN, ’59.

RONALD T. PARENTE, ’59.

ROBERT H. PELLETIER, ’59, M.S. ’69.

RICHARD W. WHITNEY, ’59, Oct. 2007.

RICHARD T. WILLIAMS, ’59, Feb. 3, 2009.

FLORENCE THOMAS, ’61, Branford, Conn., June 16, 2009.

THOMAS J. PETRUNY, ’69, M.S. ’76, 6th Yr. ’79, New Haven, Conn., July 5, 2009.

WALTER DANKOWSKI, ’70, New Haven, Conn., June 30, 2009.

JOHN B. HARTY, ’71, 6th Yr. ’76, North Franklin, Conn., July 31, 2009.

SHARON LEE PASCALE WILSON, ’71, M.S. ’92, Cheshire, Conn., Aug. 8, 2009.

BARBARA JEAN CHARLEY,

WILLIAM T. MCCANN, ’76,

’72, M.S. ’79, East Hartford, Conn., Sept. 30, 2009.

South Glastonbury, Conn., Sept. 17, 2009.

GERTRUDE “SUE” WHALEN,

JEAN H. NEWELL, ’76, M.S.

’72, M.L.S. ’78, Southington, Conn., June 26, 2009.

’80, Damariscotta, Maine, May 16, 2009.

RICHARD BOORJIAN, M.S. ’73, MARY L. (PHILBIN) PURSELL, M.S. ’76, New Canton, Conn., June 6, 2009.

DAWN CROSS FERLAND, ’73, Woodstock Valley, Conn., July 14, 2009.

Haven, Conn., Sept. 3, 2009.

MICHAEL SCOTT HARE, M.S.

WILLIAM PUKAS, ’74, M.S. ’83, 6th Yr. ’92, Waterford, Conn., Oct. 26, 2009.

BLANCHE GILBERT NEWTON, M.S. ’75, North Granby, Conn., June 14, 2009.

’82, Guilford, Conn., July 23, 2009.

ANNE COLEMAN EYES, M.L.S. ’83, Westport, Conn., Aug. 20, 2009.

MARY KINTZLER, M.S. ’84, Essex, Conn., Aug. 30, 2009.

LISA MESSNER, ’84, West Haven, Conn., June 18, 2009.

’77, Manchester, Conn., July 6, 2009.

CHRISTIAN G. O’CONNOR,

Fairfield, Conn., July 12, 2009.

’92, New Haven, Conn., July 16, 2009.

CHRISTOPHER GEORGE MACHNICH, ’74, Glastonbury, ANDREW C. NELSON, ’78, Conn., July 20, 2009.

ANDREA TROUT HERGET,

DANIEL M. CAREY, ’80, M.S. ’82, Hartford, Conn., Sept. 11, 2009.

AUDREY DICKINSON LEMOINE, ’81,Hamden, Conn.,July 15, 2009.

MARION MURPHY, ’98, Wolcott, Conn., July 5, 2009.

JOHN J. ROMANO, JR., Professor Emeritus at Southern, Cheshire, Conn., July 12, 2009.

KRISTINE DOHM ARPAIA,’76, Branford, Conn., Sept. 11, 2009.

BARRY E. DRISCOLL, M.S. ’76, Barre Town, Vt., June 29, 2009.

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

Next Stop: Med School continued from page 19

advice, take challenging courses, and do

Nationwide, there were 558,053

his doubts evaporated when the semester

not take the easy way out,” says Jiong Dong

applications to U.S. medical schools in

began. He quickly realized he’d have no

Pang, associate professor of chemistry and

2008 from a total of 42,231 applicants,

trouble keeping up.

chairwoman of the committee.

according to AAMC statistics. Of those,

Technically, pre-med is not a major.

In fact, pre-med students may choose any major, but must also take a cluster of science

“Southern did a very good job

18,036 students were enrolled. On average,

preparing me,” says Young, explaining he

each applicant applied to 13 schools.

chose Southern because it was affordable

Successful students fit a similar

and close to home. “It’s kind of nice to

courses, including at least eight credits each

profile, says Pang. Typically they have at

know that maybe you didn’t come from an

in biology and physics and 16 credits in

least a 3.7 overall grade point average and a

Ivy League school, but you still have the

chemistry. In addition, the committee urges

3.8 grade point average in the sciences.

same quality education.”

students to take advanced science courses —

They’re analytical thinkers with strong

anatomy, physiology, microbiology, genetics,

backgrounds in the sciences and liberal

say the program’s small size has its advan-

and biochemistry, to name a few — as well

arts. Usually, they’ve volunteered in a hospi-

tages. For one, it’s easy to get one-on-one

as calculus. Aina says she couldn’t have come

tal or doctor’s office and are leaders in cam-

time with professors. Students interested in

this far without the committee’s guidance.

pus clubs and community organizations.

research are often able to work alongside

Graduates and current participants

In addition to Pang, the committee

Aina, for example, served as a resi-

includes Biology Department faculty mem-

dent advisor in her dorm and helped char-

ty “really cares about you instead of just

bers Jane Feng and Jonathan Weinbaum;

ter a chapter of the Golden Key

trying to push you through,” Young says.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Adiel

International Honor Society. She also vol-

Coca; and Professors of Physics Christine

unteered in the emergency room at the

good that you get to know all of the profes-

Broadbridge and Karen Cummings.

Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven,

sors on a name basis,” adds Byron Peck-

Conn., and worked as a laboratory assistant

Collier, ’10, who wants to be an orthopedic

doctors with everything from course selec-

at Cadbury-Schwepps in Trumbull, Conn.,

surgeon and is eyeing Northwestern

tion to studying for the Medical College

before attending medical school at the

University or the University of Chicago for

Admission Test (MCAT). Interested stu-

University of Connecticut.

medical school.

The committee helps would-be

dents are encouraged to register with the

Beckmann, an Air Force captain

professors in their field of study. The facul-

“It’s a close-knit faculty. It’s really

In the meantime, he says Southern

committee as soon as possible, preferably

doing an internal medicine residency in

offers great opportunities for hands-on

freshman year. In spring of their junior

San Antonio, Texas, was a gymnast and vol-

experience, such as the Emergency Medical

year, potential medical school applicants

unteered at Ronald McDonald House and

Technician course offered on campus. The

must submit to an intensive evaluation and

Yale-New Haven Hospital. After college, she

university also has a partnership with the

interview. Most U.S. medical schools typi-

interned for a year at leading consumer-

Research Associate Program at St. Vincent’s

cally require a letter of recommendation

goods manufacturer Unilever, before

Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., where

from the committee.

attending Creighton University School of

students can gain clinical experience in the

Medicine in Omaha, Neb.

emergency department.

According to Pang, 80 percent of Southern applicants with strong committee

Young spent more than five years

“You need to make sure that you

recommendations have gained acceptance

in the Navy and completed a six-month

were adequately challenged as an under-

into U.S. medical, dental, and veterinary

stint in Iraq as a medic in the Marine

graduate, otherwise you will fail out of

schools. This includes both undergraduates

Corps. before enrolling at Southern. While

medical school very quickly,” says Aina. “At

and post-baccalaureate students who come

on campus, he founded the Pre-Health

Southern, they make a point of encourag-

to Southern to take science courses needed

Society, a professional organization for stu-

ing you to take those more rigorous cours-

for medical school entry.

dents interested in medical careers.

es. It ensures that we get in and we stay in.”

“You can come to Southern and

Young admits to being intimidated

Her advice to other future doctors

you can be a doctor,” Pang adds. “It’s a long

when he first learned his roommates at

at Southern: “Seek out the faculty mentors

journey and a hard-working one, but we

Dartmouth had done their undergraduate

from the very first day you walk onto cam-

can prepare you.”

work at Yale and New York University. But

pus. That was a key for me.” n Spring 2010 | 35

Christian Finnegan with Shane Mauss

Education and Nursing Career Fair

April 12 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

April 29 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Michael J. Adanti Student Center (Grand Ballroom)

Michael J. Adanti Student Center

Explore career opportunities in the education and nursing fields.

Showcased on Comedy Central, VH1, and MSNBC, Finnegan brings his fresh take on comedy to the Lyman Center.

Mauss, winner of the Best Stand Up Comic at the HBO 2007 US Comedy Arts Festival, brings more laughs. $10 for general admission. Free for Southern students, faculty, and staff. (203) 392-6154

A Celebration of the School of Education

April 10 9:30 a.m.– 6:30 p.m.

Throughout campus Bring the entire family! Enjoy Alumni College seminars on a wide range of topics, children’s events, the President’s Reception, the Amazing Race scavenger hunt, and more.

For more information, call (203) 392-6500.

Euge Groove and Jeff Golub

April 10 8 p.m.

Honoring Southern’s scholarship donors and the talented students who benefit from their generosity.

For more information, call (203) 392-6536.

For more information, call (203) 392-6500.

General Career Fair

Brian Regan with Special Guest

April 13 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

March 16 7:30 p.m.

Scholarship Celebration Tea

Michael J. Adanti Student Center (Grand Ballroom)

EVENTS

Southern

April 30 8 p.m.

Alumni and students are invited to meet with close to 100 employers.

For more information, call (203) 392-6536.

19th Annual Women’s Studies Conference • Women & Girls of Color: History, Heritage, Heterogeneity • Women’s and Girls’ Fair

April 16-17 The conference will spotlight women and girls of color — looking at their lives and achievements throughout history and into the 21st century.

For more information, call (203) 392- 6133.

Graduate Open House

April 22 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Michael J. Adanti Student Center (Grand Ballroom) Explore graduate opportunities at Southern — one of the largest graduate schools in New England.

(800) 448-0661; (203) 392-5240

The Gentlemen of the Night Tour Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, and Michael Lington

April 23 8 p.m.

Three jazz artists join forces for an unforgettable night of entertainment. $25 for active alumni and Southern faculty/staff; $30 for general admission; and $15 for Southern students. (203) 392-6154

Enjoy a hilarious night of comedy. $29 for active alumni and Southern faculty/staff; $39 for general admission; and $15 for Southern students.

(203) 392-6154

Some Girls

May 4-8 8 p.m.; May 9 2 p.m.

Kendall Drama Lab A man travels to hotel rooms across the country to revisit his past girlfriends in this dark comedy presented by the Theatre Department and Crescent Players; Directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Kaia Monro. $10 for general admission; $5 for senior citizens and Southern students, faculty, and staff. (203) 392-6154

Business After Hours Atlanta, Georgia • May 4 • 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the historic Georgian Terrace Hotel. (203) 392-6500 Washington, D.C. • May 6 • 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (203) 392-6500.

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.

Discounted tickets are limited to two per person, subject to verification. For tickets and additional information and listings, visit Southern’s Web site at www.lyman.SouthernCT.edu 36 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

SMagCovSprFIN10_MagazineCover 3/23/10 10:46 AM Page 4

Make your gift today by returning the envelope provided or visit us online at www.giving.SouthernCT.edu

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Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Spring | 10

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

501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1355 www.SouthernCT.edu

The Ultimate Investment

Address Service Requested

I

n 1925, the Thrift Club, a student organization designed

In light of the economic downturn, such support

to encourage financial responsibility, established a loan

has never been needed more. Alumni and friends have

fund to help financially struggling students stay in school

responded generously, helping the SCSU Foundation

and earn their degrees at Southern — then known as the

provide a record level of scholarship and programmatic

New Haven Normal School.

support in 2009 — $961,000 compared with $652,000 the

Eighty-five years later, Southern alumni and friends have continued the tradition of supporting students. In the 2009-10 academic year, some 180 scholarships were

previous year — an increase of over 47 percent.

In addition to directly helping students and their families, these gifts reap tremendous benefits to society.

awarded to talented

Consider just a few facts

and deserving men

from the nonprofit

and women.

organization Solutions for Our Future: college graduates volunteer more, vote more often, and participate more in community and civic organizations than people without college degrees — proof positive that each and every gift that supports Southern students truly makes a difference.