Impact: Advancing Southern New Hampshire University

im­­­pact Advancing

Southern New Hampshire University

A Winning Model SNHU’s creative partnerships with world-class organizations inspire student success in the classroom and beyond.

In this Issue Volume 8 | Spring 2016

Meet New CIO Tom Dionisio ’76 International Women’s Day CfA’s Small Business Co-Op

A Note from a SNHUcommunity Caller Penmen on the Road Events COCE LEADS Conference

Letter from President

Southern New Hampshire University has developed a reputation for reinventing education for the modern student, especially in the last decade. But this has been a critical part of our mission since the institution was founded by the Shapiro family in 1932. The original school started in a few modest classrooms above Dee’s Sandwich Shop and Quality Shoes on Hanover Street, with a series of business programs offered in the evenings to working adults and military personnel – populations with much to gain from a higher education but few options to pursue it.

Today, the SNHU family has grown to include nearly 80,000 current students, 70,000 alumni, and nearly 9,000 faculty and staff members across the globe. We serve students who are hungry for their education, from working adults in the College for Online and Continuing Education, to employer-sponsored workers through College for America, to traditional college-age students in University College. The growth we’ve experienced would not have been possible without the unique partnerships we’ve deliberately cultivated to increase opportunities for our students and expand their personal growth and professional development.

In the following pages, you’ll read stories from across the SNHU community showcasing these partnerships and the benefits they bring to students in all our pathways. In our cover story, we explore how our connections with the Boston Celtics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Flatiron School, and other local, regional, and national organizations are opening doors for SNHU students, from earning additional degrees and certifications to gaining handson professional experience – not to mention the impact on the greater community.

Through initiatives like the mini-pitches we’re creating across the country with Major League Soccer, SNHU is opening access points to education and critical workforce skills for underserved populations, empowering students who may never have considered how a degree can change the trajectory of their career. In fact, we know that a bachelor’s degree is worth $600,000 more in earnings than

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a high school diploma over the course of an adult’s working life.

As always, our commitment to our students remains at the forefront of our mission. We believe that education is a transformative experience, one that often marks the difference between living up to one’s dreams versus simply surviving. We’re proud to bring that opportunity to our students and alumni across the globe.

President: Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc Managing Editor: Audrey Bourque Contributors: H eidi Bernstein Nick Brattan ’76 Shane Carley Jessica Erb ’08 ’15G Tim Gerardi ’04 Lauren Keane Rebecca Mahoney ’11MFA Erin McGonagle ’15G Ceilene Mitchell, Class of 2018 Logan Ouellette Linnae Selinga Michelle Shreeve ’15 Daniel P. Smith

Graphic Design: Karen Mayeu Production Manager: Jennifer Crossett Printing: Talient Action Group Impact is published by the

Office of Institutional Advancement Don Brezinski, Vice President Changes of address may be sent to alumni@snhu.edu or to the

Office of Institutional Advancement Southern New Hampshire University 2500 North River Road Manchester, NH 03106-1045 Visit us online at alumni.snhu.edu for more university news and information about upcoming events.

im­­­pact

inside

Advancing

Southern New Hampshire University

We Are SNHU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Let’s Get Personal: A Note from a SNHUcommunity Caller. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Meet the New VP of Technology and Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 International Women’s Day Comes to SNHU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Bridal Bliss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Giving College Opportunities to Working Adults at Businesses of All Sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Finding Success in the Virtual Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 MBA Program Celebrates 40 Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Paying it Forward at Penn Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Teaching and Learning in the Center for Innovative Practice in Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Global Perspective: Stories from International Alumni. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 A Winning Model: Partnerships for Student Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 COCE LEADS Conference Connects SNHU Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 On Target: A Partnership for SNHU Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Building Partnerships for Competency-Based Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Join the conversation online with #SNHUimpact /SNHUalumni

Penmen on the Road Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Engaging Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Preserving History and Building the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

@SNHUalumni bit.ly/SNHUcommunity

Congratulations to the Class of 2016!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

We are

SNHU

Southern New Hampshire University has refocused its message to alumni from giving to engagement – a major shift from most traditional universities. Then again, SNHU is anything but traditional, so it should be no surprise that we have changed in such a dramatic way.

So what does that mean?

You can engage with the SNHU community on campus or from afar during Homecoming Weekend in October, or help set up a regional community event near you. Join the Alumni Board of Directors or share your professional expertise with SNHU students through the SNHU Career Advisory Network (SNHUcan).

The bottom line is, just like with your time at SNHU, you have the ability to make your post-graduate experience your own.

It’s important to consider not only how you wish to give back to your alma mater, but also how we choose to leverage our growing alumni community. We currently have a population of more than 70,000 alumni, and over the next five years we’ll likely see that number pass 100,000. From young alumni just breaking into the working world all the way to senior executives of major corporations, SNHU alumni represent a diverse network.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it were not for the SNHU alumni I connected with and learned from. Your degree not only gives you a path to greatness, it also gives you a wealth of experience and networking possibilities.

It’s an amazing time for SNHU. I am honored to be the President of the Alumni Association, and am excited about what is next for

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us as a community!

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Timothy J. Gerardi ’04 President, SNHU Alumni Association

Engagement Report SNHUcommunity Events (July 1, 2015 – May 1, 2016)

85 11 2,000 events in

states,

with more than

Where do SNHU Alumni Live?

50

States and DC

Growth in Global Alumni Population

47,989 70,376

2011

Business Administration Business Studies Accounting Marketing Psychology Computer Information Systems Social Science Community Economic Development

Countries, All

Copyright © Free Vector Maps.com

Alumni Who Hold Multiple Degrees

4,509

14% of our population

2016

Most Popular Degree Programs

137

participants

Where did SNHU Alumni Study?

Nashua, NH Center - 2,375

1,235 - International Location

Brunswick, ME Center - 2,515

1,083 - Burlington, VT Center

Salem, NH Center - 3,439

308 - College for America

Portsmouth, NH Center - 3,751

28,103 - Manchester Campus

Other Center - 4,332

13,306 - SNHU Online

Volunteer Hours (July 1, 2015 – May 1, 2016) Leadership Role

volunteers

volunteers

179

258 Hours of Service

102

volunteers

242

Hours of Service

Community Service

Sharing Your Story

volunteers

alumni featured in publications

467

2,128

Hours of Service

140

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574

Hours of Service

34

Event Support

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Career Coaching & Mentoring

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Let’s Get Personal: A note from a SNHUcommunity Caller by Ceilene Mitchell, Class of 2018

The SNHUcommunity Calling Program is a team of student callers whose mission is to help alumni create sustainable, lifelong connections with the SNHU community. We’re encouraging commitment, loyalty, pride, and support for the University.

We call our alumni and friends because it’s the next best thing to a personal visit. We want to thank you for your support and invite you to engage with the University, current students, and each other. We’re also happy to update you on events, SNHU news, and new programs, so you can be proud of your alma mater, Southern New Hampshire University.

When you receive a call from a SNHUcommunity Caller, it’s an SNHU student on the other end of the line - and we’re excited to speak with you!

What drives you to come to work each night?

Each night I walk into the team room, pick up the phone, and ask myself, ‘who will I talk to tonight?’ The SCCP is not just a team; it’s a family. Throughout the night, we meet and build relationships with so many people. We get engaged in conversations with alumni about their time as students. We talk about their families now, or even how they became the manager of a paper clip factory! We learn so many things from people who were once in our very seats.

What is your most memorable conversation?

I would have to say, my best conversation was with an older gentleman, a veteran. He shared with me how hard it was for him to work while going to school. He got really personal and talked about how the death of his wife impacted him. It was a great honor to lend an ear to his tender story. He was really compassionate, and I shared a few personal experiences with him, as well. He said he couldn’t offer financial aid or other support to our school, but he gave me a greater gift. Those short 15 minutes on the phone with him impacted me more than his financial gift could have.

Meet Ceilene “Cece” Mitchell

Talk about the transition from asking for money to inviting people to engage with the University. How has this impacted your feelings towards the work you do?

I love the fact that we no longer call and ask only for money. I have a bit more confidence on the phone and more room for chit chat – and meaningful conversations. Alumni are more willing to open up and

Year: Sophomore (anticipated graduation in 2018)

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Major: English Language and Literature

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Minors: Communications and Public Relations Clubs & Activities: Penmen Press Newspaper, Signature Leadership Program, MarComm Student Association, Diversity Club, SNHU Drama Club, and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)

share life experiences and the best of advice. Asking for connections with the university builds more of a relationship with the person on the other side of the phone.

Does this job impact how you would like to be engaged as an alumna?

Definitely! Being on the phone every night with alumni has opened new doors to what kind of alumna I would like to be. The best conversations are with people who are open and kind. I love hearing stories of their time as a student, or the time they got lost on vacation in Jamaica. As an alumna, I will be engaged and dedicated. I want to give a future Penmen the same wonderful experience I have every night on the phone. ■

Meet the New

By Audrey Bourque

VP of Technology and Transformation In his prior role as a managing partner & CIO at Boston Consulting Group, Dionisio led a global team of technology professionals with responsibility across 75 offices in 52 countries. And throughout his forty-plus years with SNHU, Dionisio has watched SNHU grow from a smalltown school to a global powerhouse in education. We asked him to share his perspective amid his changing roles with SNHU and his insights on how technology will continue to drive growth and success for students.

Why did you choose SNHU (then New Hampshire College) for your education?

I was a bit of an underachiever in high school, interested in things I was told I couldn’t pursue because I ‘wasn’t smart enough.’ For me, NHC was an opportunity to gain that ‘coming of age experience’ in a smaller institution where I felt comfortable and part of the community.

Was there a particular experience that impacted your education or your life after school?

I wrote a series of National Science Foundation grants with Professor Bill Hunzeker and a small group of students. The experience of writing the grants, going to Washington, D.C. to present the outcomes, and eventually hiring students from other universities for the project gave me leadership experience and confidence. I was just some sophomore from NHC, and all

Tom Dionisio ’76 is an alumnus,

of a sudden, I was hiring people with graduate degrees from the University of Michigan to come work for me.

a longtime donor to student scholarships, an accomplished executive, a former SNHU Trustee, and, as of February 2016, the Vice President of Technology and Transformation, heading up the University’s IT department.

The other point that stands out for me was the unlimited access to computer science resources. Because NHC was a small school, I had all the computer time I could ask for and such flexibility to experiment with what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.

What inspired you to stay involved with your alma mater after graduation?

SNHU has transformed from a relatively unknown school to one with a brand and reputation that means something in the marketplace. Everyone in the industry knows who we are, and working with us is a big deal. And students trust us. People across the globe are proud to say they graduated from Southern New Hampshire University.

Because we’ve grown so fast, there are systems and processes that need

to catch up to support the scale and complexity of what we’re doing to provide a high quality, meaningful education for our students. I knew that this is where I could dive in.

SNHU is agile enough to respond to the fast-paced world we live in, and to break away from the older work flows that would keep us anchored to the past. We need to continue to make supporting systems, business processes, and academic exchanges digital, so it is easy and

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efficient for students to get what they need. The next steps for us will be developing a road map

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What are some of the initiatives you and your team are working on to drive change in the field of education and to help SNHU embrace a truly transformational approach to providing education for a wide variety of students?

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International Women’s Day Movement Comes to SNHU

By Audrey Bourque

The Southern New Hampshire University community came together in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, with more than 100 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community leaders arriving on campus to explore ways to move together toward greater gender parity, both close to home and on a global scale.

International Women’s Day is a global movement

women’s rights and gender parity, and Davies to

celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political

strengthening the University’s community relationships

achievements of women. This year’s theme was centered

through partnerships with local and regional organizations

on accelerating gender parity, calling for pledges

that bring depth to the SNHU student experience.

to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, promote gender-balanced leadership, respect and value

Davies says it was an easy sell to rally SNHU colleagues,

difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures,

as well as leaders in the local community, to come

and root out workplace bias.

together on the issue. “We have so many influential and inspirational women at the University, many of whom

SNHU has the most diverse student population in New

have made this goal of empowering fellow women central

Hampshire, with approximately 1,000 international

to their work. The experience is only strengthened by

students attending classes on the Manchester campus.

bringing in partners with global perspectives like the

With representatives from 60 countries, including Saudi

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, and community

Arabia, Egypt, and Syria, the opportunity was ripe for

leaders like Dr. Janet Breslin-Smith - SNHU trustee,

robust discussions.

spouse to the former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and president of a local business.”

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Brooke Gilmore, director of the Deborah L. Coffin

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Women’s Center at SNHU, organized the University’s

Gilmore and Davies designed the day’s events to

events along with Helen Davies, director of community

celebrate the women in the SNHU community, and

relations in the Office of the President. The two shared

to explore the ways in which the University might

a passion for this project; Gilmore is committed to

help move our global community closer to the goal of

educating and empowering SNHU students around

gender parity. “We wanted to inspire our audience to

From top to bottom: Keynote speaker and SNHU professor emerita Eleanor Dunfey-Freiburger with members of the Penmen Women’s Basketball team (top). From left, SNHU Trustee Janet Breslin-Smith, student Atheer Alshammar, and staff member Helen Davies (bottom right). From left, SNHU Men’s Basketball coach Stan Spirou, Athletics Director Anthony Fallacaro, and members of the Men’s Basketball team with staff members and Sheila Lambert and Kristi Durette (bottom left).

think about the steps we each might take to become leaders within our own spheres of influence through conversation and critical thinking,” Gilmore explains.

“We chose our speakers and our programming with the goal of opening new doors to productive dialogue geared to action.”

The events kicked off with a thought-provoking luncheon that set the tone and purpose of the day’s events. SNHU President Paul LeBlanc gave a brief welcome to the diverse crowd, sharing that in spite of the fact that his wife and two daughters are smarter and more talented than he is, it will take until 2133 for them to be offered the same rate of pay as men for the work that they do. With that sobering statistic in mind, LeBlanc turned the microphone over to keynote speaker

a beloved professor of ethics and civic engagement at

“ In a university with so many strong female leaders, we have an obligation to expose our students to these important conversations, and challenge them to consider how their paths forward can engender positive change.”

SNHU, and served as the Papoutsy Endowed Chair in

and SNHU professor emerita Eleanor Dunfey-Freiburger.

Dunfey-Freiburger has committed her life to pursuing social justice and improving other people’s lives. Before retiring from teaching in 2012, Dunfey-Freiburger was

Business Ethics. She also introduced the University community to the Global Citizens Circle, a nonprofit founded by her family that brings together human rights leaders, activists, and citizens to foster diversity, discussion, and constructive change in the United States

– Brooke Gilmore

organizations, to the student-led afternoon session, the next generation of leaders was well-represented.”

and across the world.

Students Rachael Straehle and Youssaira Akennad

On International Women’s Day, Dunfey-Freiburger

Kenya and Morocco, respectively. Straehle says she was

shared that, as the youngest of 12 children growing up in the 1940’s and 50’s in an Irish-Catholic family, she looks back now at the influence of her father and eight brothers, and understands that her world view was shaped by men – good men, fair men. But it was an all-male world nonetheless. She then invited the room to engage in meaningful conversations through lunch, exploring the ideas and experience of gender bias as well as the ways each person can help move society

shared their experiences working with women in impressed with how the Deborah L. Coffin Women’s Center pulled together members of the Manchester community with international and domestic students to build momentum around these crucial issues. “The afternoon sessions really allowed for some powerful conversations about how different cultures, religions, and educational systems negotiate these issues on a global stage.”

toward parity.

The evening session was sponsored by the World Affairs

SNHU’s celebration of International Women’s Day

understanding of world events by NH citizens through

marked the start of university-wide programming for student involvement is to the success of any university movement. “From students who attended the luncheon – athletes, international students, those in leadership roles, and both men and women – to the educational

Berry says that International Women’s Day represents an ongoing, worldwide movement that has gained momentum in recent years.

“More and more, we’re seeing high profile public figures like Burmese stateswoman Aung San Suu Kyi and actress

continued on page 37

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and interactive table presentations put on by student

programming and training. Executive Director Anna

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Women’s History Month. Gilmore knows how critical

Council of New Hampshire, which promotes greater

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Bridal Bliss

By Daniel P. Smith

As the founder of Brides Across America, Heidi Janson ’86 (left) helps military brides achieve their fairy tale wedding. In 2008, Heidi Janson’s life took an unexpected turn.

That year, Janson read a powerful news article on

Janson’s first bride-to-be that day was a 19-year-old

the National Public Radio website about U.S. soldiers

who flashed a photo of her fiancé serving in Iraq. At a

serving in Afghanistan, a thought-provoking piece at

time in this young woman’s life packed with its share

a time when much of the nation’s attention centered

of loneliness and worry, anguish and unease, Janson’s

on U.S. military involvement in Iraq. In the story, an

spirited event provided a necessary dose of energy and

Afghanistan-based U.S. soldier lamented that he felt

optimism.

forgotten, a sentiment that hit Janson particularly hard.

“The wedding was something she could look forward “Here we are, living day-to-day in the U.S. and rarely

to,” Janson says. “Knowing that day would come gave

giving a thought to what’s happening beyond our

her hope.”

front doors,” Janson says. “I wanted to know what I could do to make a difference beyond simply sending

Eight years later, Janson’s spontaneous bridal dress

a care package.”

giveaway event has evolved into a national movement that has outfitted more than 15,000 military brides

In quick time, Janson found the solution in her

in designer wedding gowns. Janson, meanwhile, has

lifelong passion.

visited the White House alongside other heralded

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U.S. charities helping military families, been featured

8

From her 500-square foot bridal boutique, the Bridal

in People Magazine, appeared on the nationally

Stock Exchange in Seabrook, NH, Janson hosted a special

syndicated “Steve Harvey” show, and had her nonprofit

event distributing free wedding gowns to fiancées of

organization, Brides Across America, profiled in an HGTV

U.S. soldiers serving overseas. Over two days, Janson

documentary.

distributed nearly 60 dresses, inventory she corralled from industry allies – fellow retailers, designers, and

“A lot of heart, sweat, and tears have gone into building

distributors alike.

Brides Across America into something much greater than me,” says Janson. “And I’m proud to say that

this organization keeps chugging along and fulfilling its mission.”

Every year, Brides Across America hosts events in about 75 participating bridal salons across the country. Military brides register online at bridesacrossamerica.com, and qualifying women can visit a participating store and select a Brides Across America dress for free. Upwards of 1,500 dresses are given away each year.

“And the numbers continue growing year after year,” Janson says.

That growth, Janson admits, has been challenging to manage, especially as she balances her Brides Across America work – efforts for which she has never taken a paycheck – with running Tulle Bridal, the Andover, MAbased bridal boutique she opened in 2008.

Given the competitive donor climate, Janson says she must constantly recreate and brand Brides Across America to secure funding, a reality that forces her, a self-described wallflower, to step out and champion her organization’s cause.

“Our purpose is always top of mind,” says Janson, who leans heavily on her SNHU marketing degree to elevate Brides Across America. She calls branding and communications central to developing a cohesive, strong organization.

“Without this outlook and creativity, it’s tough to get a business off the ground,” says Janson, who also credits SNHU’s study abroad program – she spent a semester in London during her junior year – with helping her establish a more global worldview, transcending her New England roots.

Today, from the Brides Across America office inside Tulle Bridal, a space filled with wedding gowns, shipping boxes and passionate energy, Janson calls the organization the best thing she has ever done and credits the charity for helping her overcome personal struggles, including having two children with chronic illnesses. She’s now focused on broadening the nonprofit’s reach to include like-minded organizations that can amplify Brides Across America’s impact.

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first responders. She’s eager to deepen partnerships with

“Brides Across America has become my life’s work and

continued on page 36

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has proven immensely rewarding,” Janson says. “When

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Giving College Opportunities to Working Adults at Businesses of All Sizes

By Linnae Selinga

Southern New Hampshire University meets college students wherever they are in their lives and careers; College for America (CfA) meets them in the office, while waiting for kids to finish up soccer practice, and in the quiet hours of the evening when household chores and activity give way to the night.

Our competency-based college is engineered specifically for working adults and their employers, and, with a low tuition and self-directed learning pace, it gives the college opportunity to people who would not otherwise be able to afford it or fit it into their busy lives.

Because it’s designed to develop workplace-applicable competencies in working adults, CfA partners with employers to offer its programs to their employees. Like all universities that pursue these kinds of business-education partnerships, we have been focusing on teaming with large employers so we can give affordable college opportunities to as many people as possible.

Anthem, Starbucks, and Chrysler have dominated the news, but the criteria for a high employee headcount meant that smaller companies were being left without the same chance to offer their workers higher education.

With our mission to expand access to high-quality higher education, CfA was determined to find a way to give employees

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at small businesses the same opportunity that those at large

10

corporations have. So we created the College for America Co-op, giving smaller organizations the chance to offer quality, low-cost From top to bottom 1. CfA’s Curriculum Assessment and Development team collaborates on project design.

2. CfA students from Life Is Good discuss their project work.

3. CfA staff work together on designing the co-op.

higher education to their workers.

With no partnering fees or student minimums, the CfA Co-op allows small businesses, nonprofits, and governments with fewer

than 1,000 employees to give their workers access

work; nine out of ten are still with the same employer;

to College for America’s extraordinarily affordable

and two-thirds have gone on to enroll in the bachelor’s

accredited degree programs. They are offered at

program. In a more recent survey, 89 percent of College

$3,000 tuition annually—significantly less than

for America students say their work helps build skills

other comparable programs—and the only way

applicable to their currents jobs.

for a person to have access to them is through their employer’s partnership.

“We have seen how valuable business-education partnerships have been for employers and students

In less than four months, more than 30 small

alike—they have proven to increase employee

businesses have become official co-op partners with

retention and employee satisfaction, and also resulted

College for America, and nearly 100 employees have

in promotions, all while building valuable workforce

signed up to learn more—of whom, more than 40 have

skills,” said Kris Clerkin, executive director of College

already enrolled or applied. Now, people who may

for America at Southern New Hampshire University.

not have had the access or means to pursue a more

“Why not give small businesses, often the backbones

traditional college have the opportunity to earn their

of our communities, the same opportunities to build a

college degree and advance their career goals.

stronger, loyal, and more talented workforce?” ■

“College for America has been a catalyst in helping

If you own or help run a small business, you can learn more—or sign up and get started today—by visiting collegeforamerica.org/co-op.

us to move working adults through the formal college education process and into a position that readies them for advancement,” said Catherine F. Lamson, senior vice president and chief administrative officer of MEMIC, a workers’ compensation insurance company with about 350 employees.

“The feedback received from those who have completed the program is nothing less than outstanding. We couldn’t be more pleased with our partnership with

“ We couldn’t be more pleased with our partnership with College for America and with the positive results we see from our employees, and offering this program allows us to be more competitive with larger companies when recruiting and retaining talent.”

College for America and with the positive results we see from our employees, and offering this program allows us to be more competitive with larger companies when recruiting and retaining talent.”

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At a time when 94 percent of business leaders cite the need to build talent leadership and 87 percent raise concerns over employees missing skills for promotion, College for America is helping to bridge that divide associate’s degree graduates, more than half report getting a promotion or increased responsibilities at

From top to bottom 1. CfA staff stand by the wall featuring partners.

2. CfA graduates proudly display the CfA logo on a graduation cap.

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within employers of all sizes. Of CfA’s first year

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InMemoriam

Remembering Professor

Beloved professor Jim Duffy passed away on September 10, 2015, after a brief illness. Jim will be remembered in the SNHU community not only for his inspiring lessons, but also as a champion of service learning.

After retiring from a 30-year career in public education, Jim joined the faculty of SNHU in 2003 as a lecturer of sociology. From his very first course here, he was inspired to incorporate aspects of service learning into all of his classes, meaning each course involved thoughtfully organized

A tribute to

Louisa Martin

The Southern New Hampshire University family mourns the loss of Louisa Martin, dear friend, colleague, teacher, mentor, mama, aunt, and sister. Louisa passed away on February 7, after a courageous battle against breast cancer.

A dedicated educator, Louisa had been employed

by Southern New Hampshire University for the past ten years. Most recently, she served as director of diversity initiatives. She welcomed all students to campus with open arms, free of judgment, and she had a passion for guiding students to a successful future and fulfilling career. A warm and gentle soul, Louisa always believed the best in her students, encouraging them to find their voice and advocate for a more just, diverse, and peaceful community.

Affectionately known as "Mama" to her students, Louisa had a profound effect not only on the academic lives of her students but on their core character. Her students were her children who grew up to become her friends. At SNHU, Louisa was an active leader and collaborator in student groups to celebrate diversity and bring awareness

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to social justice issues. Most notably, she was

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Jim Duffy

involved in the Beloved Community, the annual Soul Food Dinner, the Diversity at SNHU Day, and the Unity in the Community Dinner.

For those interested in the continuation of Louisa’s work, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@snhu.edu or 603-645-9799.

service activities that address community needs and complement students’ academic studies.

He worked with many local organizations to expand the horizons of SNHU students, encouraging them to become involved in their communities and connect with the people there.

Jim believed that by extending the classroom into the community, students could develop a stronger sense of social responsibility and citizenship.

The Center for Community Engaged Learning is renaming one of their annual awards to honor Jim’s legacy: the James Duffy Service Learner of the Year award will be given each year to recognize a student who has gone above and beyond with service learning and community involvement.

To learn more, please contact the Center for Community Engaged Learning at serve@snhu.edu or 603-314-7965.

Before enrolling at SNHU, with the support of his family, Dawley reached out to various schools and looked over various programs, only to be left feeling that he was a burden to the admissions counselors he spoke with. He felt as if he was taking up their time, and that his research to find the best school was inconsequential. That is, until he spoke to an admissions counselor from SNHU. “After I did my research, I came across the Master’s in Communication program here at SNHU and noticed that it was a good program, well received by the academic community. That is when I realized that the school was a great fit for my academic goals. My admissions counselor seemed to truly care about my interests and needs, as compared to the other universities I inquired to.”

After the first year in his undergraduate experience, Dawley found himself struggling academically, questioning if college was right for him. “Thankfully, my older brother was attending the same school, and he mentored me through the

Josiah Dawley ’15 Home: Bend, Oregon Title: Marketer & Digital Designer, Bend Park and Recreation District Graduate Degree: M.A., Communication

next semester. He was the first person in my family to attend college, and I always looked up to him.”

Dawley’s grades radically improved, and he believes that it was during these formative years that the support of his loved ones set him up to succeed at SNHU.

Finding Success

in the Virtual Classroom

By Michelle Shreeve ’15

While attending SNHU, Dawley came across many great teachers, but Professor Monica Fish left an immense, inspirational impact on him. “She had a large class but treated me like I was the only student. She helped shape my career path and was genuinely interested in my academic and professional goals. She encouraged me, and ultimately helped shape the professional I am today. She even made me feel like I wanted to turn

As a first-generation college student and the first in his family to receive a Master’s Degree, Josiah Dawley ’15 graduated from SNHU with a 4.0 grade point average and a split emphasis in both

around and give back one day to other students with the knowledge and skills I now possess.”

Although they have never met in person, Dawley hopes his gratitude comes across loud and clear.

“I’d want to tell her, ‘Thank you for your continued

educational achievement was anything but easy.

personal and professional development. You

involvement in my education, and also in my went out of your way to inform me about different

Spring 2016

Public Relations and New Media Marketing. But his journey of

professional associations I could join, different

continued on page 36

Impact

conferences I could partake in, and you advocated

13

MBA Program Celebrates 40 Years

By Audrey Bourque

The first students enrolled in Southern New Hampshire University’s Master’s in Business Administration program more than 40 years ago, a class of 44 students at then-New Hampshire College on the sweeping new 300-acre campus in the north end of Manchester, NH, in 1974. Classes were offered only in the evening, and students could focus on one of five specializations: accounting, business education, business management, management information services, and nonprofit institutional management.

The First Graduate — The 1975 NHC Commencement

programs in the country, with the benefit of nearly

program lists the first MBA graduate as Mohd Faud Bin

thirty concentrations, from economics to healthcare

Haji Ahmad.

management to internet marketing to Six Sigma. The degrees are available both in-person and online, and

In 1973, Amhad traveled to New Hampshire on a

can be customized with a graduate certificate beyond the

sabbatical from his employment with the Urban

standard degree program, or as an international MBA for

Development Authority in Malaysia, a governmental

global careers.

agency responsible for the redevelopment of dilapidated buildings and the conservation of historical urban

With close to 7,000 students currently enrolled and a

properties. With a combination of transfer credits and

network of 14,000 alumni, the MBA is one of SNHU’s

a singular focus, he earned both his undergraduate

most well-respected and rigorously maintained

degree in business and his MBA in two years from New

academic programs.

Hampshire College.

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Peter Chase ’85 ’92MBA continues to leverage his SNHU When he returned to his post with the UDA, Ahmad

experience and network, often looking to the University

would have been armed with a skill set that set him

to staff his successful small business, Scribe Software.

apart from his peers, the same outcomes that define the

He says that SNHU’s reputation for providing innovative,

SNHU MBA program today: expertise in a diverse range

flexible learning models – including the MBA program

of business needs, the ability to adapt to challenges and

– has historically attracted a diverse student population

provide solutions to complex problems, and the grace

with a considerable representation of adult learners.

and acumen to connect with people and build teams.

Chase trusts this kind of candidate.

In 1976, just a year after Ahmed graduated, seven more

“I like scrappy,” he says, “and SNHU students have

students joined him as MBA alumni, and the program

often fought for their education. The people in my

blossomed.

classes were spending time away from their families.

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They were driven and focused. And that’s the kind of

14

The SNHU MBA Today — Today, Southern New Hampshire

employee I want, someone with patience, persistence,

University boasts one of the most affordable MBA

empathy, creativity, and relentless drive.” ■

Paying It Forward at Penn Medicine After high school, Shannon Ruane didn’t see higher education in her future; but there came a time when she realized she needed a better path. “Once my daughter started school, it

By Logan Ouellette

Ruane started CfA’s Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management program and quickly found the college’s virtual community to be motivating. “It’s really comforting to have the support of people that are going through the exact same thing you are,” she said of the

hit home for me. I didn’t want her to struggle in life like I

online learning community.

felt I had, so I decided that I owed it to the both of us to do

For Ruane, every project in the BA has real-world

something more with my life,” she said.

Like many other working adults, Ruane started pursuing her degree at her local community college. While she was a great student and earned a 3.5 grade point average, life eventually got in the way of her education. Her husband had been injured at work, and she needed to choose between school and her family. A semester off turned into three, and then a couple of years. She finally started back up and earned a certificate in nonclinical healthcare.

With her certificate, Ruane starting working as a medical assistant for University of Pennsylvania Health System

relevance, from understanding ethics, to problem solving with co-workers, to being better equipped to explain health insurance policies to patients. She has also learned how to apply critical thinking skills to improve her work, taking the time to sit back and think about a question before answering. She feels more wellrounded, both personally and professionally.

With her newly developed and deepened competencies, Ruane now feels ready to deliver the change she has always wanted to: “College for America has given me the ability to believe in myself and know that I can do it. I can bring positive, forward change for myself. And when we can do that, we can pay it forward to others.” ■

(Penn Medicine). “I found it wonderfully gratifying in the beginning. There was a huge sense of achievement and reward, and I enjoyed patient interaction. I still do,” she said. While she has always enjoyed her job, she wanted to make more of a difference, to drive change and improve patient outcomes. She did not feel as though she could do that by answering the phone.

Then, Ruane’s office manager told her about the hospital system’s internal professional development academy, and College for America at Southern New Hampshire University—a nonprofit, fully accredited college built interested in the program’s flexibility and low cost. At only $3,000 per year, Penn Medicine’s generous tuition assistance program covered the entire cost of the tuition.

Spring 2016

specifically to help working adults succeed. Ruane was

Impact 15

Teaching and Learning IN THE Center for Innovative Practice IN

Education

By Rebecca Mahoney ’11MFA

Bold. Innovative. Trailblazing. Exciting. They’re words more commonly associated with a hot new tech company than the field of education. But SNHU’s new Center for Innovative Practice in Education is aiming to change that. The Center is a leading-edge research and teaching center that aims to help educators become more dynamic teachers. “I want us to be the Google of

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Spring 2016

education. The Apple of education,” says Dean Ray McNulty of SNHU’s School of Education.

16

The Center, which is housed within the School of

says Cathy Stavenger, associate dean of the School of

Education, helps SNHU students and teachers across

Education. “SNHU will be the only teacher preparation

New England explore creative, exciting new strategies to

program in New Hampshire where students will have

reach students. It’s a place for teachers and researchers

these types of opportunities.”

to come together to research, host workshops and brainstorming sessions, and collaborate with innovative

Students will also be able to take advantage of the

companies and organizations.

programs offered by the Center, including collaborating with existing teachers, working on new projects, and

The goal is to better prepare teachers to respond to

capitalizing on new research.

new research and technologies and to improve the way they address the changing needs of students. Schools

“We’re really spending a lot of time with students,

have known for years that students learn in different

helping them understand where the profession is

ways—yet the instructional methods used by teachers

going—we’re teaching them about really innovative

and administrators tend to rely on the same old models,

approaches,” such as game-based learning and

says McNulty. “We keep training our teachers to go out

competency-based education, says McNulty. “We’re

and teach the same way—as though there will always

aligning their work not just with what would be

be twenty students in a class, sitting in neat rows, one

considered traditional education, but we’re introducing

teacher talking at the front of the room,” he says. “You can’t build a future by perfecting the past.”

The Center is the only one of its kind in New England, and SNHU is the perfect location for it, says McNulty. The university is already focused on delivering education to students in a variety of innovative

our students to a lot of things that

“ The SNHU Center will be recognized as the place where Educators look to improve their practices to better teach their students.”

ways, from traditional, on-campus

are just beginning to happen out in the field.”

Several projects are already underway, including a partnership with LTS Educational Systems, a privately held educational software company, which is working with SNHU education majors and gamedesign majors to develop academic

learning to hybrid and blended classes, to online

games. “We’re putting our students in a position where

education, to the competency-based College for America.

they’re learning the cutting-edge techniques for game-

The Center builds on those ideas, showing educators how

based learning,” McNulty says.

to teach using flexible, individualized methods to excite students and inspire learning.

Another partner is the Teacher Voice and Aspirations International Center, an organization that fosters

“To train educators for the future, we have to recognize

teaching and learning environments that promote

that we are living in a world with more ways to learn and

critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and open

more ways to teach than what we have been doing,” says

communication for students and teachers. Recently,

McNulty, who has more than 30 years of experience in

SNHU worked with the organization to survey hundreds

public education, from elementary teacher, principal,

of teachers to gather their opinions on education, the

and superintendent to commissioner of education.

results of which they plan to discuss during an upcoming summit. “It’s going to be so helpful for teachers that are

The launch of the Center coincides with a redesign of

in the field to start to understand the importance of using

the School of Education undergraduate program. Among

qualitative data to transform schools,” McNulty says.

other changes, the new program allows for aspiring The Center is also sponsoring a program to help develop

seniors to spend an entire year student teaching.

one thousand mentors to work in area schools, which undergrad education majors are participating in, and McNulty is considering a new partnership with a local

learning community which will prepare them to embrace

Montessori school that has asked for help with training

new and innovative approaches, while also providing

for its teachers. “That’s what this is all about—a way for

opportunities for them to build relationships with

us to feed and develop new ideas for student learning,”

professionals in the Pre-K through 12 environment,”

continued on page 37

Impact

“Our students will be part of a powerful extended

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teachers to spend more time in schools, including for

17

Global Perspectives: Stories from International Alumni Southern New Hampshire University has the most diverse population of any college campus in New Hampshire, with nearly 1,000 international students from 60 countries studying at the Manchester location. Soon, these current students will join the 11,000

A Universal Language, A Global Degree When Minako Sato ’90 first arrived in the United States, it wasn’t to attend Southern New Hampshire University: she came as a high school exchange student and spent a month with an American family in Goffstown. When the time came to return to Japan, she found herself thinking about coming back to New Hampshire for college.

Southern New Hampshire University was still New Hampshire College when Sato arrived on campus, but she quickly decided that this was the place for her. In just a few years, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies, a degree that would set her up for future success in the business world.

Today, Sato works as a software engineer, a career which has taken her all over the world, from San Jose to Tokyo. Although she did not major in computer science, she took classes as SNHU that helped kindle that interest. The universal nature of programming languages appealed to her, giving her the flexibility to live and work anywhere she pleases.

Sato continues to feel a special connection with SNHU. When she was approached by the university and asked to help the International

Minako Sato ’90 Degree: Bachelor of Science, Business Studies (Manchester Campus) Occupation: Senior Support Engineer, Mentor Graphics Current Town: Tokyo, Japan

Admission department as an alumna, she eagerly agreed. She has helped to organize an event at the US Embassy in Tokyo, introducing many Japanese high school teachers and principals to her alma mater and the benefits of a global education.

As a mother of two teenagers, Sato also relishes the opportunity to spread the word about SNHU at the schools that her children attend.

Her goal is to help as many Japanese students as possible to have the same eye-opening and enriching SNHU experience that she did. Sato continues to be an excellent resource for SNHU’s

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Spring 2016

International Admission team, and one of the university’s

18

strongest advocates in Japan. ■

By Shane Carley

alumni who hail from around the globe. From Italy to Rwanda, Malaysia to Belize, the SNHU network extends to nearly every country.

Here are a few stories of alumni who are strengthening that network from their own little corners of the world.

From Austria, with Pride Nicolai Padoan ’02 ’05MBA represents Southern New Hampshire University on the global stage, while maintaining strong ties to the alma mater that prepared him for an international career.

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Padoan began exploring the possibility of attending SNHU back when it was still called New Hampshire College. After graduating high school and completing one year of military service, he applied to SNHU’s Travel and Tourism program.

During his time at SNHU, Padoan was an active member of the campus community, serving as the very first captain of the SNHU Men’s Tennis team. He was able to complete his Bachelor’s degree in just three years, and by June 2002 was already working as a Guest Service Manager at Club Quarters in Boston.

After several years of employment, Padoan decided to tailor his career for success with a more global company. Returning to SNHU, he worked with Professor Ravi Pandit and Dean Peterson to earn both an MBA and an MS in Hospitality Management before moving to Vienna, Austria, in 2005.

Nicolai Padoan ’02 ’05MBA

Even in Austria, Padoan remains a part of the SNHU community.

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science, Travel & Tourism (Manchester Campus)

He participates in the Hospitality Pen Pal Program, which involves reaching out to current students as a way to help them connect with alumni in their field. The program helps students make a more direct

Graduate Degree: Master’s in Business Administration (Manchester Campus)

connection between their studies and their future career.

Occupation: Director of Sales/Austria, Hilton Corporation

Padoan credits SNHU with much of his success, and says he went into

Current Town: Vienna, Austria

college with the right attitude. He emphasizes that while hospitality can be a difficult subject to learn in a classroom setting, SNHU’s advantage. This contributed heavily to Padoan’s desire to remain connected with SNHU after graduation, helping to give current students access to similar resources. He hopes to remain involved

Spring 2016

dedication to getting students real-world experience was a huge

well into the future. ■

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A Winning Model: Partnerships for Student Success

By Audrey Bourque

Most universities have established partnerships with various organizations to create a pipeline of jobs for students, or to bring a certain benefit to their alumni population. True to our roots, Southern New Hampshire University is taking

Impact

Spring 2016

that traditional model and creating something new, exciting, and student-focused.

20

Former Boston Celtics player Leon Powe poses with students from Rochester Middle School in Rochester, NH, at the opening of the new technology lab powered by SNHU on March 1, 2016.

“ In the past few years, we have started to focus more on cultivating partnerships that bring unique opportunities to our students,” says Libby May, senior vice president of external relations and communications. “We’re working with some of the top minds in business, government and industry to provide experiential learning opportunities for our students.”

May says the University’s partnership model was

SNHU students will follow up a three-year academic

developed in pursuit of its mission, to focus on student

program with six months in the Flatiron program and an

success by challenging the status quo of higher education.

internship or apprenticeship in the final semester before

In fact, SNHU long ago abandoned one of the longest-held

graduation,” LeBlanc says.

beliefs in the field of education: that information flows in one direction, in one medium, from teacher to student.

Steve Boucher, senior director of marketing and communications for University College (UC), has spent

“Currently, there are almost 80,000 students at SNHU,

the last five years developing ways for students to learn

and they come from all backgrounds, with all levels of

outside of the classroom, guided by top executives in

career and life experience. Because our student body

some of the nation’s most powerful organizations.

is so diverse, we knew we had to find ways to enrich their experience but also fit their educational goals and

“Our students aren’t only learning graphic design in the

pathways,” she explains. “We look for ways to leverage

classroom. They’re participating in a contest judged by

business and community partnerships for our traditional

the Boston Celtics’ design team. They’re learning about

college-aged students on the Manchester campus, as

multi-cultural marketing, and then sitting face-to-face

well as those in all 50 states and across the world enrolled

with Major League Soccer’s Chief Marketing Officer –

in online programs. We’re looking for partners to think

alumnus Marc de Grandpre ’96 ’00MBA. They’re studying

creatively with us, to explore how students can gain the

entrepreneurial skills, and then applying them in a group

most valuable experience possible.”

contest to design new promotions for more than 100,000 concert fans at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion,”

Many organizations have already jumped on board,

Boucher explains, naming just a handful of examples

excited to work with some of the best-prepared students

from the past six months.

in higher education, scouting new talent and creating pipelines of future employees. A partial list boasts such

The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, in particular, has

companies as the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, the

proven to be a rich source of hands-on experiences for

Boston Celtics, the New England Patriots, Major League

SNHU students. In the past four years, students have

Soccer, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Manchester

played integral roles in marketing, culinary, social media,

Monarchs, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the

and public relations for a major festival show. Boucher

Flatiron School.

says that Culinary students participated in a BBQ Battle where they displayed their skills before 5,000 concert goers. Graphic Design students create the SNHU ad that

Flatiron, a New York-based coding school, give SNHU

goes in the Pavilion’s program book each year, which

students access to programs and skill sets above and be-

is distributed to more than 100,000 concert goers, and

yond the University’s current offerings. SNHU President

Video students created the thirty-second ad that runs on

Paul LeBlanc points out that in the next decade, the U.S.

the giant stage side screens between acts. Game Design

workforce will need an estimated 1.4 million people with

students created a game that lives on the Pavilion’s web

programming and software engineering skills.

page and competed against each other by having to sell the concept of their game at a major concert.

“The partnership between SNHU and Flatiron represents “The entire partnership model is student-driven – and

quality student-support services. We’re in the planning

how cool is it to have this type of experience on your

phase of rolling out a 3+1 program, through which

résumé,” Boucher says.

Impact

a powerful blend of test-driven learning and the highest

Spring 2016

Partnerships with brand names in education such as

21

The ripple effects of these partnerships extend beyond the benefits to SNHU students and partner organizations, says May. “We’re also doing some pretty amazing things in the greater community, helping kids and future scholars gain access to technology and understand that higher education is within their reach.”

For example, the Boston Celtics and SNHU recently co-sponsored a brand new technology lab for Rochester Middle School in Rochester, NH. Celtics center/

Major League Soccer: A Case Study in Success

By Hattie Bernstein

A Perfect Pitch The partnership between SNHU and Major League Soccer is turning heads and raising hopes. “It’s huge,” says Scott Durand, SNHU’s vice president of marketing & student recruitment for the College of Online and Continuing Education.

forward Tyler Zeller and former Celtic Leon Powe were on hand to celebrate the unveiling of the lab, which includes

“There is no relationship like this between an educational

13 Apple iMacs and Apple iPads, one

institution and a major league sport anywhere else. We’re

Apple TV, a 65” Vizio HDTV and mount,

solving a major problem for MLS. Through education, we will

and many more supplies. The room

help them achieve a long-term goal of developing U.S. soccer

will be available to RMS students and

professionals who are on par with any country in the world.”

faculty during and after school, inspiring students to learn the importance of

MLS’s challenge is keeping their highly talented, homegrown

technology and education.

players in the fold as professionals. Top-talent high school players must decide between a professional contract and a

“Investing in our students as well

college scholarship. The answer is SNHU’s College of Online and

as national organizations and local

Continuing Education (COCE), a pathway for athletes to pursue

community groups is the best way

a degree while playing in the pros and improving their game by

we know how to make an impact on

staying with a professional club.

the field of education and – more importantly – on the success of

“They can have a professional contract and an education,” says

generations of students to come,”

Durand. “They can take a chance on themselves while they follow

says May. ■

their soccer dream. Whether it’s a top line guy in the World Cup or a kid who signed a contract and was cut after two years, they still have access to that other dream through education.”

Student Benefits — MLS announced the multi-year partnership in the summer of 2015, naming SNHU its exclusive education partner. But the league isn’t the only winner.

Durand couldn’t be more excited about what the partnership is bringing to SNHU students, such as SNHU soccer players being invited to coach and teach youth players at the mini-pitch sites, and internship opportunities with the teams across the league

Impact

Spring 2016

and at league headquarters, which could result in employment

22

for SNHU alumni in the long term.

Above - SNHU culinary students pose at the BBQ Battle at the Bank of NH Pavilion Above Opposite Page - SNHU President Paul LeBlanc poses with scholarship recipient Veronica Rodriguez at the opening of the mini-pitch in Santa Ana, CA.

Online and campus students alike also will benefit from webinar and face-to-face speaker series with executives from the league and its corporate sponsors, such as Audi, Heineken, and Microsoft, and from other components such as hands-on projects and events with the league.

Ed Foster-Simeon, President of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, says the collaboration elevates the idea of ‘doing well by going good’ to a higher level. “We’re using the sport to have a social impact on communities that need it the most,” he says. “They go to school because they have to. But they go running and laughing all the way to soccer.”

20 for 20 in 2016 — As part of the partnership, SNHU is supporting the 20 for 20 Mini-Pitch Initiative with MLS, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Adidas. The initiative includes the construction of 20 mini-pitches, or halfsize soccer fields, for afterschool soccer programs in underserved communities where MLS teams are based.

The program is part of MLS’s 20th season celebration and is designed to give back to local communities through soccer and service.

Each mini-pitch will offer children a safe place for unstructured play and will support the continued growth of the game in North America. They are supported by the U.S. Soccer Foundation in partnership with local agencies such as the After School All Stars and Soccer for Success programs, which mentor kids for school work and developing healthy habits through activities such as soccer. “We’re using sport as a vehicle for youth development and social change,” says Foster-Simeon.

“The partnership with MLS ties in very well with SNHU’s says Durand. “In addition to internships, white papers, and an incredible speaker series, SNHU students will be able to participate in charitable events, assist MLS clubs in game day activities, and have an inside track to learning

community, someone who supports local students through soccer and education.

Durand said the scholarship component came about after university representatives learned about the efforts of local after school programs involved in the mini-pitch programs. “We asked the local MLS professional club to work with local organizations to identify someone who is passionate about working with youth in their community and would have their life impacted by education.”

The first person awarded a full scholarship to SNHU through the initiative was Dayna Puryear, who runs the after school soccer program at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Newark, NJ. When Puryear was growing up in East Orange, New Jersey, her parents urged her to be her own person.

“They always said to me, ‘We didn’t raise you to be typical.’

It was always in my head, and I made choices that weren’t the typical choice,” she says. “If my friends went right, I went left. I had an independent mind.”

For Puryear, who holds a B.S. in public health and now is pursuing her MBA with a concentration in leadership at SNHU, the scholarship is both incentive and validation.

“As an adult, I’ve had corporate jobs with the large checks, but for me, it wasn’t where I felt I could give my strengths and talents and skills,” she says. “I’m just fit for this, good at it, because my parents let me know it’s okay to do things a little differently.” ■

Impact

beyond the classroom.”

scholarship to a deserving member of each mini-pitch

Spring 2016

mission to provide access to quality education nationally,”

Independent and Inspired — SNHU also will provide a full

23

COCE LEADS Conference

By Audrey Bourque

Connects SNHU Community The second annual COCE LEADS Conference was held on the Manchester campus on March 5, with 140 online student leaders and guests from 13 states in attendance.

career preparation. This required the team to collaborate with departments across the University, including partnerships with SNHU Career, Academic Advising, and the Office of Alumni Engagement.

“We took the feedback from last year’s participants very

The LEADS (Lead, Engage, Achieve, Discover, Succeed) Conference brings together members of online honor societies, student organizations, and student advisory, as well as Peer Leaders, with a goal of enhancing academic potential, gaining new leadership skills, and exploring opportunities for professional development and advancement.

Spring 2016

Conference co-chair Laura Corddry, senior director of student success in the College of Online and Continuing Education (COCE), says that she and her team took a tracked approach to building the program this year, giving attendees the opportunity to zero in on some of

Impact

the most frequently requested online student services:

24

leadership development, academic achievement, and

seriously when we sat down to plan the 2016 event,” Corddry says. “Other than Commencement, this is the largest gathering of online students throughout the entire year, and we really want to give them the opportunities they crave.”

Not surprisingly, those opportunities revolve around connecting with fellow students and ensuring their studies are relevant in the job market. This year’s sessions were facilitated by SNHU staff and faculty, as well as outside experts like Marc Williams ’15 and Donna Williams, the CEO and president, respectively, of TMT Services International, an organization dedicated to guiding clients through common challenges to achieve growth and success. Marc Williams recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with SNHU, so

his attendance and presentation on career success was

In addition to facilitating his sessions, Numme also had

especially personal and powerful.

the honor of introducing keynote speaker and SNHU alumna Beth-Ann Roberts ’91, senior vice president

Other session highlights included: Be a Leader, Not a

of regional markets at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

Dictator; Résumé & Interviewing Success Strategies;

Roberts spoke about her experience at SNHU’s Salem

Making Moral Choices; Conflict Competence; Navigating

Center, a tight-knit satellite location in southern NH

Career Change and Advancement; and Tips for

that caters mostly to working adults and nontraditional

Educational Success.

learners who wish to pursue a degree on their own schedules, but in classroom settings.

David Numme ’16MBA, a course technology specialist at Dartmouth College, presented two sessions of Tips for

Roberts’ message resonated with Numme, who says

Educational Success. Numme completed his degree in

her SNHU experience twenty years ago still represents

February, and says that building a professional network

many of today’s students. “She was working full time

and a personal brand were vital elements to his success

and about to have a child while she was going after her

in an online learning environment. He focused his

degree. Many of us in the room are similarly pulled in

presentation on the many ways students can connect

different directions, and she had wonderful, practical

with each other and explore leadership opportunities in

advice for us to persist and succeed.”

their COCE program.

Gary Aviles, president of Miami-based Request Path degree in Computer Information Technology with

experience. My ‘ah ha!’ moment came when I started

a minor in Social Media Marketing. Aviles attended

to get involved and make friends outside of the virtual

the COCE LEADS conference as a member of SNHU’s

classroom. You pour over discussion boards as a student,

chapter of the National Society for Leadership and

and you get out of your academic experience what you

Success (NSLS); he has been a peer mentor in NSLS

put into it; the same principle applies for building

and an active member of SNHUconnect. “The main

relationships. SNHUconnect, the online student center,

highlight of this conference, for me, was finally getting

gives students the chance to interact and feel connected

to meet face-to-face all the people I’ve gotten to know

outside of their schoolwork.”

over SNHUconnect for the last two years.”

continued on page 37

Impact

Media, will graduate this spring with his Bachelor’s

along, trying to figure out how to make the most of my

Spring 2016

“Looking back at my first few terms, I was just plodding

25

On Target:

by Jessica Erb ’08 ’15G

A Partnership for SNHU Students The Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center is excited to build corporate partnerships to help our students to achieve success after graduation. These partnerships are a win-win for students who are able to gain access to internship and job opportunities, as well as for employers where career offices can orchestrate recruitment programs

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Spring 2016

to identify and secure talent. One of our most successful relationships has been built with Target.

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In December 2014, Target’s Campus Recruiter, Greg Pare, contacted the Career Development Center (CDC) at SNHU to discuss a potential partnership to recruit students for internships and full-time positions. During that spring semester, Target and the CDC collaborated to develop recruitment programs to evaluate the potential success of this partnership. During the first semester, Target hired three students, and the partnership was off to a great start.

Target has now hired a total of nine students from the University College (UC), and interest in the company continues to grow. Target hired a campus liaison this year, one of our outstanding seniors who will also start as an Executive Team Leader with Target this summer. This student liaison will help spread the word about the company culture and job opportunities directly with students.

The CDC has worked closely with Pare, who, as campus recruiter, is always willing to assist with a career program or brainstorm strategies that align with the needs of SNHU students.

Recruitment Programs

— The CDC and Target collaborated

Professional Development

— The CDC works with SNHU 303

on developing recruiting programs to help our talented

(Life after SNHU) courses, developing career preparation

students connect with Target.

skills for internships and jobs after graduation. The class covers topics such as résumé building, successful

• Management Training Program Info Sessions – A panel

LinkedIn strategies, and interview skills.

of five different employers talked about management training programs and answered student questions.

During one SNHU 303 class this past semester, Target

Students then had the opportunity to network and

presented on interview preparation and skills, focusing

speak with the recruiters.

on helping students prepare for common interview

• Target Information Session – A presentation about the company, positions, and its hiring process.

• Career Expo/Internship and Job Fair – Target attends these events with former interns who are now successful alumni working for the company.

Target selects potential candidates from the job fairs for campus interviews following the event. The CDC team works with Target representatives to communicate directly with students selected for interviews to schedule the in-person interviews and also offer mock interview options. Target runs an Interview Prep Session the evening before interviews to meet the candidates, provide an overview of the company, and share what to expect during the interview process.

questions, behavioral questions, and common interview mistakes. At the end of the semester, students were asked for feedback about the most useful topics, and all agreed Target’s presentation had a great impact, as they preferred hearing this type of information directly from an employer.

As a result, the CDC brought this presentation to several SNHU 303 classes and developed a new co-sponsored event with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization to provide the interview skills presentation to all students.

The successful partnership can also be contributed to Target’s enthusiasm to give back to the SNHU community through interview skills workshops, informational interviews, conducting mock interviews and attending résumé review events.

Academics

— The Degree in Three program and Target

are also working together to provide case study projects for students to gain real-world experience by working on to Target as a competition. More than 100 students participated in this competition this year. ■

To learn more on starting an employer partnership with the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center, please call 603-645-9793.

Impact

Left: Target represenatives Jake Reardon ’15 (second from left) and campus recruiter Greg Pare pose with the 2015-16 new SNHU hires.

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teams researching a case and presenting a final project

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Building Partnerships for Competency-

By Lauren Keane

Based Education

College for America (CfA) at Southern New Hampshire University is partnering with USA Funds to create a competency-based education (CBE) consortium for community colleges.

The consortium will provide an opportunity for

Harper College. “CfA is really modeling an alternative

community colleges to learn from CfA and to engage

platform for higher education delivery, one that has

employers in addressing workforce challenges through

enormous potential for reaching thousands of students

competency-based education. Participating community

that, heretofore, have not been able to access the

colleges will learn about best practices from their peers

traditional delivery platform. If the country is to reach

and initiate conversations about CBE with employer

the scale necessary to assure social and economic equity

partners in their communities.

for all Americans, this model and other alternatives must shape the future of higher education in America.”

The partnership will support both identifying workforce competencies needed by industry, and engaging

Seventy percent of CfA students are the first generation

employers in delivering those competencies to working

in their family to attend college. The median age is 42

learners. The consortium will work in two phases; the

years old; 98 percent are currently employed and 11

first will be to provide colleges a chance to learn and

percent are employed at more than one job. A recent

develop models and spark conversations about CBE

survey of College for America students found that 96

within their institutions and employer partners. The

percent would recommend College for America to others.

second phase will be to scale and provide technical assistance for the colleges and to help them adopt CBE

“We are proud of the progress we have made at College

models if they are interested.

for America and are excited about the opportunity

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Spring 2016

to work with USA Funds and the Consortium on new

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Harper College in Illinois, one of the founding partners

models for workforce development. We look forward

of the Consortium, says the Consortium and College for

to continuing to deliver affordable, high-quality

America’s CBE model has given them the opportunity

and flexible degree programs across the country in

to speak with employers in their community who are

partnership with this group of forward-thinking

seeking to build a skilled workforce and retain and

community colleges,” said Julian Alssid, chief workforce

promote employees from within.

strategist for College for America. “This new Consortium gives community colleges a safe space to experiment

“We were drawn to the Consortium because we were

with CBE models for workforce development, to learn

impressed with College for America’s CBE model. The

more about how they can reach new students and

level of support that students receive through CfA’s

improve their relationships with business partners in

coaches, the CfA learning platform, and its student

their communities.” ■

success analytics are unmatched – as are the program’s proven results,” said Dr. Kenneth Ender, president of

For more info, contact Melissa Goldberg at m.goldberg@snhu.edu.

Penmen on the Road: Winter/Spring 2016

By Erin McGonagle ’15G;

With an ever-expanding network of students and alumni, there isn’t always one central hub for the SNHU community to meet in person. So the Office of Alumni Engagement makes it part of our mission to partner with departments across the University and bring our show on the road.

We love seeing students meet each other face-to-face, or alumni who realize their neighbor a block away also graduated from their alma mater.

Thanks to SNHUcommunity regional events, alumni, students, faculty, and staff across the country have uncovered the rich SNHU network, right in their own backyards. Here’s a brief summary of some of our favorite recent trips.

Touring the Sunshine State There are more 2,500 Southern New Hampshire University alumni and 3,000 current students in the state of Florida.

So, teams from the Offices of Alumni Engagement and Student Success joined forces for a road trip in January 2016 to connect the SNHU community in the Sunshine State: four staff members, five days, five cities, 804 miles in a rental car, 47 event attendees, and graduating classes spanning 37 years! This all adds up to endless connections amongst alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the University.

The tour of Florida offered a packed schedule of opportunities to connect, from professional networking to social events to a leadership development breakfast, and even a service project.

At the Quantum Leap Winery in Orlando, Dr. Nick Nugent Jr. ’02 ’04MBA ’05G ’08DBA shared his SNHU story. His father worked for the University obtained his first degree in 2002; with the institution already part of his DNA, Nugent went on to earn four degrees, including his Doctorate in Business Administration in International Business in 2008, and meet his

Bottom: SNHU students pose with staff in an impromptu meet up at a local Florida restaurant.

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wife at SNHU.

Top: Staff, students, and alumni take a break from community service at Feeding Tampa Bay.

Spring 2016

as a marketing and international business professor long before Nugent

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Penmen on the Road: Winter/Spring 2016 - Continued Nugent and his family make the trek from Florida to New Hampshire for Homecoming every year to stay connected with the SNHU community. With his encouragement at the networking event in January, there might just be a parade of Floridians driving up the east coast come the third weekend of October, with Nugent leading the way.

Tiff Fifer, director of online engagement in the College of Online and Continuing Education (COCE), is the mastermind behind SNHUconnect, the online student center. “SNHUconnect allows online students to communicate and get to know their peers in the same way University College students do in the Robert A. Freese Student Center on the Manchester campus. These regional events help strengthen the bonds made online and introduce members of the SNHU community to each other in person.”

Associate Director of Alumni Engagement Erin Neuhardt says that one of her favorite moments of the trip was watching two students meet for the first time during the cocktail hour in Tampa. “They’re in different programs of study; but both are presidents of online student clubs. It was so exciting to see them share ideas, thoughts, insight, and growing pains for over an hour. They exchanged emails and phone numbers and have continued to stay in touch on SNHUconnect.”

Taking a Slice of the Big Apple

business leaders, seeking advice on figuring out life after

While the Florida tour was finishing up, more Alumni

graduate school. After personally experiencing the

Engagement staff members were en route to New York City for the start of a late-January long weekend, kicking things off with a Happy SNHU Year Afterhours at the

The evening’s theme centered on making 2016 your

The next day, the men’s and women’s basketball teams

the Alumni Engagement team, a SNHU Career team

played against Adelphi University, with a solid cheering section filled with blue and gold, thanks in large part to freshman guard Daquaise Andrews’ aunt. She managed

member, and alumni, students, and friends.

to get on the local radio station with a call for all Penmen

One attendee, Kunihiko Watanabe ’15G, used to go to the

single-handedly doubled the SNHU crowd. Several New

Business Indicator Series networking breakfasts on the Manchester campus as he worked toward his graduate degree. He networked with more seasoned alumni and

Spring 2016

Soccer, and is now excited to give back by helping students and recent graduates.

your career. The group consisted of members from

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partnership marketing internship with Major League

Heartland Brewery in Times Square.

best year ever, regardless of which stage you are in

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value of the SNHU network, Watanabe landed a

fans to report to Adelphia and cheer for SNHU, and Hampshire College men’s basketball alumni from the 80’s were in attendance, as well, proudly wearing their colors.

Hiring the Best in Houston The Houston Career Fair, sponsored by the SNHU Career team from the College of Online and Continuing Education, saw more than 110 students and alumni experience the power of the SNHU network, whether they were unemployed, underemployed or looking to hire great talent. Nearly 25 employers were in attendance, including representatives from Comcast Cable, eIntern, the Peace Corps, the University of Houston, and Walgreens.

Career Advisor and Team Lead Angelika Maryniak says that

Building Bridges in Cincinnati During spring break the week of March 14, a small group of University College undergraduate students traveled to Ohio for a week-long Alternative Break service learning project with the Center for Community Engaged Learning.

The students worked with a variety of organizations, including the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, St. Francis Seraph Soup Kitchen, and Over the Rhine Community Center, to learn about the intersections of

the fair was a great way for local students and alumni to make professional contacts. “One of things we hear most often from our students is that they want more ways to connect with each other and the SNHU network. This was a real value add, to see them shaking hands in person and making such valuable career connections.” ■

Find an event near you at alumni.snhu.edu/events.

race and poverty in Cincinnati, the fifth-most segregated city in the United States.

Local alumni met with the UC students over a community dinner at Arnold’s Bar and Grill. Matt Petersons, associate director of residence life and one of the trip chaperones, says that the networking dinner was one of the most valuable pieces of the trip.

“We worked hard all week and faced lots of heavy issues. I could see in the students’ faces that they were relieved to meet with alumni who are affecting positive change in this community.”

Neil Stafford ’95, the head women’s soccer coach at the University of Cincinnati and a former Penmen standout, was so disappointed he couldn’t make the community dinner that he arranged a breakfast for the UC students. “I wanted to reconnect with SNHU and give back in some small way to current students, the way so many alumni and faculty members

Spring 2016

helped me as I was just starting out after school.”

Top: Penmen fans at the SNHU vs. Adelphi game in New York.

Bottom: Students on Alternative Break take a break from their service projects to meet with local SNHU community members in Cincinnati, OH, in March 2016.

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Left: Penmen fans unite at the SNHU vs. Adelphi basketball game in New York on January 16, 2016.

31

32

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Spring 2016

Engaging Alumni 1

3

4

5

2

6

7

12

13

14

8 11

1. Sarah Carroll '14 speaks with a student during a mock interview exercise on campus (Nov. 2015)

9. New graduate Amberly McNeill ’16 poses with her cutout of Petey Penmen, as part of the #PeteyProject (Apr. 2016)

2. SNHU community volunteers at the Salvation Army Toy Shop in Manchester, NH (Dec. 2015)

10. Morgan Munson '12 returns to campus to recruit for the Boston Celtics at the 2015 Career Expo (Oct. 2015)

3. Men's Ice Hockey Coach Ken Hutchins '87 and former team manager Jocelyn Colena '85 at Alumni Hockey Day (Jan. 2016)

11. Alumna Tia Downing ’04, student Jeanette Plumer, and SNHU staff member Erin Neuhardt clean up the Portland Trails for a project with SNHU Global Days of Service (Apr. 2016)

4. Women's Basketball alumnae pose before the 2016 Pink Day game in honor of breast cancer survivors (Feb. 2016)

9

5. The Coaches Corner brought four men's basketball head coaches back to campus (Nov. 2015)

7. International alumni return to campus to advise current students on living and working in the U.S. postgraduation (Mar. 2016) 8. SNHU alumni and employees of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway pose together (Mar. 2016)

14. Chef Nicole Barreira ’06 ’10G came back to share her skills – both culinary and marketing – with students in the Culinary Symposium (Nov. 2015)

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10

13. Former roommates, who lived in Greeley 23, get together for their annual girls’ weekend (Jan. 2016)

Spring 2016

6. Penmen fans in AZ for men's ice hockey vs. Arizona State University (Oct. 2015)

12. The 2016 Alumni Board of Directors meets in the new Sandbox ColLABorative R&D think-tank at SNHU (Apr. 2016)

33

Preserving History and

Building the Future

By Rebecca Mahoney ’11 MFA

Chris Cooper, the digital initiatives librarian at the Shapiro Library, has one of the most interesting dual roles on campus: he helps preserve SNHU’s history through its digital archive, and leads students into the future through the library’s Innovation Lab and Makerspace.

In a single day, he might work with a literature class

approach SNHU is now reinventing through the College

to examine a first-edition of Charles Dickens’ Bleak

for America program.

House, then help students make a 3-D printout of a tiny human figure. But for Cooper, the past and the future

“Having that sense of history is really important—people

blend seamlessly.

may not be aware that we have been around since 1932, that we’ve always been innovative. Being able to point to a

“Part of what we’re doing here is presenting students

sustained and lengthy history is a big deal,” Cooper says.

with opportunities that are unique to the on-campus college experience—they’re getting a lot of contact with

One of Cooper’s digital initiatives is focused on archiving

primary sources, with physical materials they can’t dup-

student work, such as the Undergraduate Research

licate anywhere else,” says Cooper, who has worked at the

Program projects, allowing students’ research to be

Shapiro Library since 2005 and in his current role since

accessible online worldwide. A project about the effects

2011. “It’s an experience they can’t get any other way.”

of Photoshopping in advertisements on body image, created by students Bailey Grotton, Kelsey Carnell,

As the manager of the university’s digital repository and

Sarah Brenner, and Adam Ferrucci, has been viewed

academic archive, Cooper’s projects include archiving

more than 3,300 times by people around the world.

student and community projects, digitizing past issues

“It’s a good way to share what students are doing, and

of The Penmen Press student newspaper, and teaching

it really does have some reach,” Cooper says.

students about the university’s special collection, which includes a second-edition copy of Winnie-the-Pooh and

Meanwhile, Cooper teaches students about

an anthology of banned books.

experimentation and creative thinking through the

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Spring 2016

cutting-edge tools and emerging technologies in the

34

For Cooper, preserving SNHU’s past helps give students,

Innovation Lab and Makerspace, including 3-D printers

faculty, and the community a greater sense of the

and scanners, a laser cutter and engraving system,

institution’s history, including its longstanding tradition

sophisticated cameras, a 3Doodler 3D Pen, and more.

of innovation and emerging practices in education. For

During a recent project, Cooper and a group of students

example, an archive of old course catalogs shows that

turned the entire Makerspace room into a camera

the school’s secretarial and accounting curriculum in the

obscura to demonstrate a historically significant

1940s was focused on competency-based education—an

photography technique.

continued on page 36

Congratulations to the

Class of 2016!

Welcome to the SNHU Alumni Association, a diverse and accomplished worldwide network of 70,000 professionals, community leaders, and change makers.

So what’s next?

- Complete your SNHU alumni profile at alumni.snhu.edu.

- Explore ways to stay connected with fellow alumni and the university at alumni.snhu.edu/engage.

- Become a career coach and impact current students at alumni.snhu.edu/snhucan.

- Access resources and benefits exclusive to SNHU alumni at alumni.snhu.edu/benefits.

- Join the SNHU Community group on Linkedin at bit.ly/SNHUcommunity. /SNHUalumni

@SNHUalumni

bit.ly/SNHUcommunity

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alumni@snhu.edu | 603-645-9799 | alumni.snhu.edu |

Spring 2016

- Join Homecoming festivities October 14-16, 2016, on campus or from afar at alumni.snhu.edu/homecoming.

35

VP of Technology and Transformation — continued from page 5

Preserving History — continued from page 34

to take every transaction digital, and then identifying

Cooper’s students get a thoroughly hands-on

how to turn our digital assets into products or services

experience, says Jennifer Harris, the emerging

that allow us to reinvest in the SNHU mission:

technology and systems librarian. “When working

providing a learning experience that transforms

with students, he not only walks through the

our students’ lives.

mechanics of the equipment or software, but also discusses opportunities to expand on current projects,

Given the University’s commitment to fostering educational experiences that are personal and transformative for each student, how do you plan to use technology to deepen those connections within the SNHU community and broaden access to information?

troubleshooting why something may not have gone as

Technology has flattened the world in the sense that

The Innovation Lab and Makerspace are used for a

we are all competing on a national and even global

myriad of classroom projects, from game design to

scale – for jobs, for customers, for students. We can

posters printed for academic conferences. But Cooper

set SNHU apart by strengthening our social connections

also encourages students to experiment for fun and let

and integrating those opportunities to connect into

their curiosities inspire learning.

planned and how to fix the problem, and more,” she says.

all our platforms, from content delivery to academic counseling to assessment. We’re allowing SNHU

“We want them to have this chance to come in and

students to connect with the right information and the

use these resources, use design software, use the laser

right people in the right way, turning their experience

cutter … they’re getting exposure to these amazing

into something useful and meaningful. ■

new technologies and learning without even meaning to,” Cooper says. “There’s real value in that and it helps teach them to be flexible and adaptive as new technologies come out.” ■

Bridal Bliss— continued from page 9 you start seeing the transformation in brides and the

throughout his lengthy recovery. Hugo wrote Janson

hope you’re giving, it’s inspiring. We’re giving them

about Ani’s loyalty and love and how he dreamed of

their dream come true and a moment in life they will

marrying her in front of her family in the Dominican

always remember.”

Republic. When the couple married in 2011, Ani donned a designer wedding gown supplied by Brides Across

Janson has seen it firsthand hundreds of times

America.

throughout the years and grown personally attached to couples like Hugo and Ani from Florida.

“We helped create the fairy tale,” Janson says. “The smiles, the happiness, the love you see in stories like

After a terrorist attack in Iraq left Hugo legally blind,

[Hugo and Ani’s], that’s what drives this mission.” ■

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Spring 2016

Ani remained an encouraging presence at Hugo’s side

36

Finding Success — continued from page 13 everything that I could do with this degree and the skills I acquired. I appreciate everything you did for me, and for that, again I thank you.’” ■

International Women’s Day Movement — continued from page 7

Teaching and Learning — continued from page 17

Emma Watson bring attention to issues like access –

says McNulty, who has devoted his career to helping

or lack thereof – to education, or equal pay, or child

schools and school systems embrace change.

brides. Events like this remind us that we’re welcoming refugees into our New Hampshire communities. We’re

In five years, he hopes the SNHU Center will be

able to make a difference, even with small actions.”

recognized as the place where Educators look to improve their practices to better teach their

Gilmore says that a university with so many strong

students. ■

female leaders has an obligation to expose its students to these important conversations, and challenge them to consider how their paths forward can engender

COCE LEADS — continued from page 25

positive change. She sees the Deborah L. Coffin Women’s Center as a driving force in holding the entire

Tiffany Fifer, conference co-chair, director of online

community responsible to do better, helping students

engagement in COCE, and the mastermind behind

break free from systems of oppression.

SNHUconnect, agrees with Aviles that these in-person connections were the most exciting thing about the

“The response to this year’s event was overwhelming,

conference. “This is what my colleagues and I talk

and speaks to how much our community is both

about all the time; this is what our work is based

affected by gender-based challenges and committed to

on: how do we give online students opportunities to

facing this complex issue. We look forward to building

connect in meaningful ways, when they rarely, if ever,

on this strong foundation next year to create concrete

get to meet in person? It all came together at COCE

plans to enact as a community.” ■

LEADS. It was incredible to see.” ■

Make Your Impact on the Future of SNHU

Many of our supporters have made a gift to SNHU in their Will or Estate Plan. Would you consider such a gift?

Supporting Southern New Hampshire University through your will is simple. Learn more about how you can make a lasting impact on the future of SNHU at snhu.giftplans.org

Impact

Explore the giving options at snhu.giftplans.org.

Institutional Advancement | 603-645-9799 | giving@snhu.edu | snhu.giftplans.org

Spring 2016

Legacy gifts, like giving through your will, are a simple yet powerful way to make an impact. These thoughtful gifts ensure SNHU’s continued growth and commitment to student success.

37

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO. 6025

Office of Institutional Advancement 2500 North River Road Manchester, NH 03106-1045 Address Service Requested

Why I

Give

What inspires me to support SNHU after all these years?

While at then-New Hampshire College, several professors helped shape who I am. They were engaged in their teaching and wanted me to succeed. Approximately seven years after graduation, I started a business in Manchester and have been fortunate to see it grow and prosper, now employing one hundred NH residents. I’m convinced there is a correlation between my SNHU experiences and the success of my career.

I am grateful that I benefited from my college experience and am proud to see the continued success of my alma mater.

- Nick Brattan ’76

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Spring 2016

I am passionate about paying it forward and am now in a position in life to do so; thus, supporting SNHU allows me to provide opportunities for the younger generation. I’ve been able to sponsor six of my employees in SNHU’s College for America program, allowing them to earn a high quality college degree with very limited investment.

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alumni.snhu.edu/giving