2016 Trailblazer Magazine by Trocaire College

REFLECTIONS 2016: Celebrate Buffalo’s best at our 25th annual Reflections Awards Dinner n PAGE 3

The magazine for alumni, students and supporters of Trocaire College

2016

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Trocaire alumna Phebian Abdulai ʼ11, RN, driven from her home by civil war, returns to Sierra Leone to head medical clinic n PAGE 8

CAMPUS RENOVATIONS: Updated spaces at Extension Center and Main Campus improve student experience n PAGE 12 PROGRESSIVE NURSING EDUCATION: New leaders look to transform curriculum in Catherine McAuley School of Nursing n PAGE 14

THE MAGAZINE OF TROCAIRE COLLEGE Vol. 2, Issue No. 1

our voice

COVER PHOTO

Phebian Abdulai, ’11, along with the Jericho Road team, conduct a maternal health training for staff in Sierra Leone.

The Trocaire Trailblazer is for alumni and friends of Trocaire College, a private, career-oriented Catholic institution that strives to empower students toward careers of achievement and lives of purpose through our supportive environment and hands-on programs in healthcare, business, hospitality and technology. It is published once a year by the Office of Communications within Institutional Advancement. For more information, email communications@trocaire.edu or call 716-827-4340. EDITOR Kristy Kibler ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Zachary Burns STAFF Emily Burns Perryman Julie Cioccio Lindsey Dotson Solomon Nelson

Stay connected with us! “Like” Trocaire College on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Don’t forget to email communications@ trocaire.edu to let us know what you’re up to.

A Message from the President

igher education is meaningful for all who come through our doors. The process to obtain that certificate or degree might not be easy, and attending college might not have even been considered an obtainable goal. However, it helps create a new path, one that leads to careers of achievement.

Classroom, clinical and service learning experiences help shape our students and provide them with critical confidence and the foundation to grow, develop and become remarkable working professionals in Buffalo and beyond. As higher education evolves, affected by industry and financial trends and the changing needs of students, Trocaire continues to implement innovative changes that build on our strategic focus. We work each day to grow a stronger and more successful institution, educating and supporting students who will continue to help shape the high quality of life in Western New York through careers in healthcare, business, hospitality and technology. You may notice a new look here in our Trailblazer magazine, as well as on our website, social media platforms and communications coming from Trocaire. In spring 2015, the college proposed a full refresh of the Trocaire College brand. The business case presented to the Board of Trustees passed unanimously with overall feedback very positive, indicating excitement to move forward into the future, thinking strategically and innovatively. We hope you enjoy the new look and messaging, as recommendations and decisions relied upon an inclusive process involving current students, staff, faculty, President’s Council, Board of Trustees, deans and program directors, hospital and hospitality employers and more than 300 alumni. This magazine is published to inform, engage, inspire and entertain the Trocaire community. Whether you are a current student or alumni, faculty, staff, friend or community partner, we hope our magazine’s snapshot of what’s going on at the college and within our extended family helps you stay connected and informed of our past, present and exciting future. Between issues, stay connected with additional content on Trocaire’s Trailblazer blog and our social media channels. The Trailblazer magazine aspires to inform and strengthen your commitment to Trocaire, our current students and our mission. That commitment—through the provision of your time, talent and treasure—directly impacts our students while they are with us and our community when they go on to serve in careers bearing the Mercy values. n

Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. Trocaire College President

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upcoming events While at Jericho Road, she met its founder and chief medical officer, Dr. Myron Glick. Together, they worked with the community to open a 30-room health clinic in Phebian’s home country of Sierra Leone, which had been ravished by civil war and has little to no healthcare infrastructure. It opened and began serving patients in February 2015.

ark your calendars! The 25th annual Reflections Awards Dinner will be held October 13, 2016 at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens. The event honors members of the community who reflect the values of the Sisters of Mercy and the mission of Trocaire College, as well as the recipients of the annual President’s Distinguished Service and Distinguished Alumni awards.

This year’s Reflections honorees include Dr. Alexander K. Mandych, physician and founding partner of Southtowns Ear Nose & Throat, LLP; Carrie Meyer ’95, executive director of Independent Health Foundation; and The Statler Foundation. Dr. Alexander K. Mandych has been a member of Trocaire’s Surgical Technology program advisory council as a medical advisor for the last six years. He is very active Dr. Alexander K. in the Trocaire Mandych community, participating in speaking engagements and allowing Surgical Technology students to shadow him at clinical sites. He is also a board member for Academe of Aurora, a Waldorf-inspired homeschool cooperative for high school students. Carrie Meyer ’95 is a Trocaire alumna and works closely with the Nutrition and Dietetics program as a member of its advisory board and through her founCarrie Meyer ’95 dation’s Good for the Neighborhood community health fair events. Meyer also serves on the boards of the WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Buffalo PrenatalPerinatal Network organizations. She has received the National Federation for Just

Communities of WNY Community Leadership Award and Buffalo Business First’s Forty Under 40 Award. The Statler Foundation has been a generous benefactor to Trocaire’s Hospitality Management program, providing Trocaire more than $1.5 million in grant funding over the past 20 years. Most recently, Statler provided Trocaire College with $75,000 to fund the development of the new Statler Foundation Hospitality, Food, and Nutrition Service Learning Laboratory. Support from the Statler Foundation has also provided scholarships to economically challenged Hospitality Management students who otherwise would not be able to attend college.

President’s Distinguished Service and Distinguished Alumni Awards Trocaire will also be honoring Phebian Abdulai ’11, RN, with the 2016 President’s Distinguished Service Award (see feature story on page 8). Abdulai escaped war-torn Sierra Leone in the late 1990s, first living in a refugee camp in a neighboring country and eventually coming to Buffalo with her family in 2001. She was first a patient at Jericho Road Community Health Center, then a medical assistant, and—when she completed her Registered Nursing education at Trocaire—she worked there as a nurse. Phebian Abdulai ’11

Norma Kerling ’77, RN, chief clinical officer of Cuba Memorial Hospital in Cuba, NY, will receive the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. In addition, she served Norma Kerling ’77 as the keynote speaker at Trocaire’s Spring 2016 Commencement ceremony. In her current position, Kerling oversees all clinical and patient care activities at Cuba Memorial and manages quality and standards of care. Hired in 2004, she developed and implemented a palliative care program and is also responsible for reviewing and creating clinical and operational policies, initiating quality improvement projects, monitoring budgets and leading teams of healthcare workers. Prior to that, Kerling worked for 10 years as the RN team manager for the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in Cheektowaga. In that role, she acted as director of nursing for the 40-bed Kresge Residence, coordinating the creation of a 10-bed dedicated AIDS unit and a 30-bed skilled nursing facility. She also coordinated the implementation of a Hospice Home Care Team for an underserved, inner-city population, as well as a program utilizing music therapists for patients with neurological disorders and end-stage dementia. n

FOR MORE INFO:

Interested in attending or sponsoring the 25th annual Reflections Awards Dinner? Call Director of Development Lindsey Dotson at 716-827-4349 or visit: trocaire.edu/alumni/reflection-awards

2016

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ACADEMICS

COMMUNITY

mercy mission

BENEVOLENT BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Pam Jablonicky Coordinator of Service Learning Trocaire Practical Nursing students Ayodeji Adebayo and Ebony Willis serve the senior clients of the Seneca Babcock Community Association with blood pressure assessments and education on heart-healthy practices.

New service learning partnership helps students serve local community

ervice is part of who we are. It stems from the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley, who desired to combine the silence and prayer of the Carmelites with the active labors of a Sister of Charity. We take our heritage to heart, and an emphasis on service learning offers each student the opportunity to give back as they learn from and support their neighbors in Buffalo and the surrounding communities. Pam Jablonicky, Trocaire’s coordinator of Service Learning, said the college has been shifting service learning experiences in a more deliberate direction, one that utilizes the professional skills students are learning every day. One of the college’s recent endeavors is a partnership with a local community center, the Seneca-Babcock Community Association (SBCA), located minutes from Trocaire. SBCA is committed to “developing and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of the Seneca-Babcock community and the community at large including at-risk youth, family needs, and senior citizen issues.” The center’s goal is to advocate a strong sense of empowerment through education, economics, social and health-related opportunities.

We tell our students that people want to feel valued and validated, so we stress the importance of kindness, a smile, a listening ear.”

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While the SBCA is currently housed in a dated building not conducive to rehabilitation or expansion, a new state-of-theart community center is in the works. A $4 million project is being driven by local orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daniel Alexander, who grew up in the Seneca-Babcock neighborhood. Dr. Alexander has partnered with Ciminelli Real Estate Corp. and SBCA’s executive director to create plans for a new facility measuring 26,000 square feet. Targeted is the former Buffalo Public School 26 on Harrison Street. Fundraising efforts are underway, and developers are seeking New York State approval to demolish the vacant building to make way for the project. Upon completion, the new space will allow SBCA to provide more extensive services to its clients and include features like a full kitchen for cooking classes, a gymnasium and fitness center, a computer lab and rooms for GED classes. There will also be a medical clinic, operated in partnership with the Erie County Medical Center. While the contemporary facility will offer exciting new service learning opportunities for Trocaire students, they aren’t waiting to give back. Trocaire’s BS in Nursing (BSN), Practical Nursing (PN), Massage Therapy, and Nutrition & Dietetics programs have already begun integrating service learning at SBCA into their curriculums. PN students have provided free blood pressure readings and education on hearthealthy practices to seniors, and Massage

Therapy students provide chair massages to adult clients once each month. BSN students have also worked with seniors, providing monthly readings of vital signs and blood pressure, and Nutrition & Dietetics students have held a health and nutrition fair and conducted “Build a Better Meal” classes featuring healthy eating tips and basic food and nutrition education. “We tell our students that people want to feel valued and validated, so we stress the importance of kindness, a smile, a listening ear,” Jablonicky said. ““SBCA serves people from as young as 3 to as old as people in their late 90s, so students have opportunities to interact with and learn from a variety of people.” Trocaire’s diverse academic programs and SBCA’s commitment to the community make for a strong and beneficial partnership that complements both organizations’ missions, providing local students and local residents meaningful experiences and services. “I’m amazed at the ‘aha’ moments that students reflect on in their service learning interactions,” Jablonicky said. “Most come away feeling not only a sense of satisfaction and gratitude, but a real sense of compassion, empathy and commitment to service.” n

our heritage

How many Sisters are active on social? While we have yet to do an Institutewide social media audit, we do see a large number of sisters who have adopted and regularly use the medium. We even have a few “social sisters,” as we call them, who help spread all that they do in the name of mercy through their preferred social media accounts.

SISTERS ON SOCIAL

Sisters of Mercy utilize social media to spread mission

ocial media has infiltrated every part of our lives. From Facebook to Twitter, Instagram to Snapchat, social media platforms allow users the chance to connect and communicate with friends and family near and far, to watch and enjoy video content, share photos, express themselves and share meaningful information with those inside their network. With all the ways social media has connected the world, it’s no surprise that companies, organizations and institutions have utilized these channels to spread the word about their products, services, mission and values. Trocaire College makes an effort to use social media each and every day to connect and communicate with current students and our internal community of faculty and staff. The College also uses these channels to interact with alumni, donors, our Western New York community, clinical site partners, friends and prospective students. As we navigate our way through social media here at Trocaire, we are inspired by others who are using these channels in unique ways to spread their message and mission. Our founding Sisters of Mercy are doing it right, catching our interest daily with posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Their posts allow friends and followers a peek into their world, sharing their spirituality, work in areas like social justice, education and healthcare, spotlights on their fellow sisters, and the life of Catherine McAuley. We reached out to Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Marketing Specialist Jeremy D. Dickey for a Q&A to learn more about these amazing Sisters on social. What prompted you to decide to jump in and choose a platform? We saw the potential that social media had, particularly with the popularity and growth of Facebook. How do you measure your success? We measure our success in a couple of ways. Traditionally like other organization or institution accounts, we monitor analytics on each platform on a monthly

What does “social” mean to you in terms of a way to spiritually connect with and inspire others? When Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy, she challenged the sisters to go out in the world, to live and work amongst the poor and the sick to whom they ministered. Although not exactly the same, we view social media as a way for us to continue her call, to go out in the digital world and share the works of our sisters and the teachings of mercy to as many people we can. Although powerful now, how do you envision social media further influencing public policy, social justice and religion? This is one area that we see even greater potential and growth for the medium. We use social media, specifically Twitter, to champion justice advocacy issues that are near and dear to our hearts. We’ve been able to directly challenge lawmakers on Twitter to defend their positions on issues or votes that they have cast. We use Twitter to build passion around trending social justice hashtags, to focus heavily on our five critical concerns (immigration, racism, women, non-violence and the health of the earth), or to call our social justice advocates to help us by speaking out about a specific topic. n

CAREERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY

Sister Cynthia Serjak, RSM, is very active on both Facebook and Twitter. She even used Lent as a time to challenge herself to be more active on Twitter and only missed one day of tweeting in that time.

When did you jump on board with social, and what was your first platform to utilize? Sisters of Mercy first ventured into the medium of social media with several community-wide Facebook pages in 2008. In 2013, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Facebook page was launched which combined the original six community pages into one centralized source.

HERITAGE

basis, making sure that we are consistent in reach/impressions and audience growth. Non-traditionally, and probably speaking more to our charism as Sisters of Mercy, we make every effort in getting the messages of mercy and our ministry to as many people as we can. On a monthly basis, we reach upwards of 150,000 people across all of our platforms and that is something that we do not take lightly. That’s 150,000 people who may have never have interacted with Sisters of Mercy, our ministries or our work globally, and we are thankful to social media in helping us in our service.

ONLINE:

Follow the Sisters of Mercy via:

or visit them at: sistersofmercy.org/blog

2016

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COMMUNITY

accolades HONORING FACULTY AND STAFF Honoring ourOUR Faculty and Staff Every year, Trocaire College honors three faculty members and one staff member for the outstanding work they do every day to provide our students with an exceptional college experience. Congratulations to the 2015-2016 awardees—look for spotlights on their work throughout the next year on our Trailblazer blog! n Diane Berry, Professor of Biology Patricia A. Lavender Award Distinguished Educator Award Rachel Suto McCormick, Professor of Radiologic Technology Innovative Educator of the Year George Chernowski, Adjunct Instructor in English Part-Time Educator of the Year

ACADEMICS

Pictured above are Trocaire’s 2015-16 Faculty Award winners: Rachel Suto McCormick, Diane Berry and George Chernowski.

Elise Torre, Director of Library Services Staff Excellence Award

in the classroom like to watch the lectures or study notes over and over again, working to master that difficult concept or theory, but also helps professors track student engagement and interact with their students by offering immediate feedback in real-time dashboards.

TECHNOLOGY AT TROCAIRE Dr. Jennifer Blickwedehl, a biology professor at Trocaire and president of its Faculty Senate, demonstrates how she uses the Echo360 lecture capture software in her courses.

The Echo360 Experience

n this age of digital distractions, the onus is increasingly on evaluating not just what students learn and what teachers teach, but also how students learn and how teachers teach. In response, Trocaire College has adopted an innovative teaching tool called Echo360. Using Echo360, students can interact with the classroom material—including video lectures—from any device at any given time. Echo360 strives to help make students

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responsible learners and increase institutional student retention rates. A dynamic teaching tool, it not only re-creates the classroom experience for students who would

Instructors can also use this tool to dabble with “flipping” their classroom—students are expected to familiarize themselves with the lecture before class, which allows faculty to maximize in-class time with hands-on learning opportunities and student discussion and interaction, and well as reenergize classes with in-class polls, quizzes and other questions to assess and facilitate student understanding of the lecture material. This year, around 30 full-time and part-time Trocaire instructors across disciplines embraced this new tool, thanks to the Faculty Excellence Grants offered by the Faculty Senate, which encouraged faculty to think creatively about new ways to engage students and measure results with the Echo360 platform. The faculty who chose to use Echo360 shared their triumphs and challenges with the rest of the Trocaire family by hosting presentations and discussions through the Mary Clare Development Center. Echo360 itself acknowledged Trocaire’s success with its program. It published a blog post about the college’s efforts in February, and in May, faculty members Rachel Suto McCormick, Kjerstin Owens and Jennifer Blickwedehl and Education Technology/ Instructional Design staff Alissa SteelePruitt and Derek Farkas hosted a webinar on using Echo360 that was attended by close to 100 educators streaming from all across the country. n

events

Rebooting Critical Thinking

2016

discussion opportunities.

TROCAIRE HOLDS FIRST TEACHING AND LEARNING CONFERENCE Trocaire TIEL Conference co-chairs Sierra Adare-Tasiwoopa ápi, left, and Dr. Jennifer Blickwedehl pose at the event with keynote speaker Dr. Richard Arum, of New York University.

rocaire College held its inaugural Teaching Innovations and Enhancing Learning (TIEL) Conference on Saturday, April 9 in Getzville. The theme of the day was “Rebooting Critical Thinking.” The conference drew more than 120 educators from Western and Central New York, Western Pennsylvania and Canada. There

were 17 breakout sessions throughout the day, with presenters representing Trocaire, SUNY Alfred State, Bryant & Stratton, Hilbert College, Niagara Community College, Niagara University, Carlow University, Daemen College and SUNY University at Buffalo. In addition, there were 10 poster presentations and a dozen roundtable

student spotlight

They really prepare us in advance for what we’ll face in real-world situations—they don’t just throw us out there and see if we sink or swim.”

MEET TAYLOR SWAN

aylor Swan knew she wanted to work in healthcare from a young age, but her journey to Trocaire’s Surgical Technology program was a winding one. After she graduated from Southwestern High School in 2010, Taylor explored her first love, nursing, at Jamestown Community College. “I always wanted to be a nurse since I was super little, but it wasn’t anything like I had built it up in my head to be,” she said. Seeking a new path toward physical therapy, Taylor transferred to Daemen College, from which she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in natural science with a health science specialization. Though she had a degree, one thing was still missing: passion for her chosen career. That changed when a friend majoring in surgical technology at an out-of-state college told Taylor about her program.

The conference’s theme underscored the importance of incorporating critical thinking skills and assessment into curriculum across the disciplines without overburdening course content or the faculty. Breakout sessions and poster presentations offered a critical space to examine and share the latest research, theories and best practices in higher education, and the roundtables offered a valuable platform for faculty to network and share their teaching experiences. n

CAREERS

Dr. Richard Arum delivered the event’s keynote address: “Critical Thinking, College Experiences and Transitions to Adulthood: Lessons from ‘Aspiring Adults Adrift.’” The chair of New York University’s Department of Sociology with a joint appointment in its School of Education, Dr. Arum is also the director of the Education Research Program of the Social Science Research Council and has co-authored several books on critical thinking and college students.

HERITAGE

TEACHING INNOVATIONS & ENHANCING LEARNING

“I just thought, ‘that’s exactly what I want to do,’” Taylor said. Coming to Trocaire to pursue that career has proven to be the right fit at last. “I just love how close-knit it is, and how the teachers are available to give you one-on-one help so you feel like you’re getting the most out of your education,” she said. “They really prepare us in advance for what we’ll face in real-world situations—they don’t just throw us out there and see if we sink or swim.” Taylor—who also works two part-time jobs and is president of Trocaire’s Surgical

Technology Student Association—is on track to graduate with her associate’s degree in May 2017. She has done clinical rotations so far at Mercy Hospital and Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, and is set to complete another round at Buffalo General Hospital this semester. So far, her favorite surgery to experience has been a C-section, and she thinks she wants to work in a maternity/pediatric setting. Wherever she ends up, however, she knows that she has finally found a career she loves. “Surgical technology is exciting and hands-on—you’re not just doing paperwork all day,” Taylor explained. “You’re actually getting your hands dirty, and at the end of the day, you know you’ve helped somebody.” n

2016

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2016 PRESIDENT’S SERVICE AWARD WINNER

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2016 PRESIDENT’S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNER

HOME IS WHERE THE HOME HEART IS IS WHERE THE PHEBIAN ABDULAI, ‘11

PHEBIAN ABDULAI ’11

HEART IS

FEATURED ABOVE: JERICHO ROAD PATIENT ADVOCATE EDWARD MEZVINSKY, PHEBIAN ABDULAI, AND DR. MYRON GLICK. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JERICHO ROAD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Refugee, Trocaire alumna Phebian Abdulai returns home to provide care to those who need it most

ike many in the healthcare field, Phebian Abdulai ’11, RN had childhood dreams of becoming a nurse and helping others. Inspired by the strength and compassion of her mother—who raised her in Sierra Leone while working as a midwife—Phebian aspired to follow in her footsteps. However, a devastating civil war temporarily derailed that dream—until Phebian found her way to Trocaire College in 2008.

JERICHO ROAD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER:

A Buffalo-based non-profit that provides healthcare and other services to resettled refugees and other underserved populations. It has served more than 12,000 patients since opening in 1997. For more information on Jericho Road’s mission in Sierra Leone, or to donate, visit: jrchc.org/globalwork/sierra-leone

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Healing Her Homeland Today, Phebian leads Jericho Road Community Health Center’s clinic in the Kono District of Sierra Leone. The Adama Martha Memorial Community Health Center (named after Phebian’s mother and grandmother) officially opened its doors in February 2015. “Phebian is one of the most determined and courageous persons I have ever met,” said Dr. Myron Glick, Jericho Road’s founder and chief medical officer. “She is completely focused to the mission of helping her people overcome poverty and have hope again.”

The clinic’s 60-person team of health professionals and volunteers work together to provide basic healthcare to residents of the Kono District, which was ravaged by Sierra Leone’s decade-long civil war and then the Ebola crisis. “Before the war, things were bad, let alone after all the devastation,” Phebian said. “It was like going back to zero. We saw that need and decided to go there and help.” The team at the clinic treats illnesses and acute ailments like bone breaks, lacerations and minor surgeries; provides prenatal care, labor and delivery; and screens for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, and teaches patients how to manage them.

A mobile clinic travels to remote villages every six weeks to assist people who have trouble traveling to the main site. Phebian also works to reignite hope in Sierra Leone through her Christian faith. “Through that, you can give hope to people that there is a reason to live, a God who cares,” she said. “Alongside the healthcare, we’re also addressing their faith and giving them hope to survive and go on day to day. If a person doesn’t have hope, all the medicine in the world won’t help them.” Phebian oversees a range of other projects in Sierra Leone, as well. She helps to oversee an Ebola orphan outreach program (an initiative of Jericho Road and the Sierra Leone Alliance) and sponsors a local school for the blind, providing its students with free healthcare and humanitarian aid. She also started a youth group—“to keep the young people focused and out of trouble,” she said. Backed, as always, by the Buffalo-based Jericho Road team and other local sponsors, Phebian wants to expand services in Sierra Leone. Another clinic in a different part of the country is in the planning stages, and she is working to secure funding for equipment like X-ray and ultrasound machines and an ambulance. Eventually, she hopes to start a nursing school. “Phebian is kind, calm and willing to fight for what she believes in against the odds,” Dr. Glick said. “I have seen her stand up to soldiers, corrupt government officials and others who stand in the way of helping others. I have seen her meet a steady stream of people who have come to her with needs, and she has handled each one with empathy and compassion.”

Coming to Buffalo Phebian worked as a nurse for five years before the danger and destruction of civil war reached her home in the Kono District in 1997. She fled with her family, eventually making it to a refugee camp in Gambia. They stayed for four years, struggling to survive, until they were relocated to a city almost 5,000 miles away: Buffalo, New York. One of the first people they met in Buffalo in 2001 was Dr. Glick. He asked Phebian about her training, and encouraged her to come to Jericho Road for a position when she got re-certified. Here, my nursing certificate was not recognized,” she explained. “I had to either recertify or send for all my credentials from Sierra Leone, which would have taken forever.” Though she knew getting her nursing degree in America would be difficult, Phebian decided it was worth it. She enrolled in the nursing program at a local community college, but completed only one semester. “I don’t think I could have continued

Staff members at the Adama Martha Memorial Community Health Center in Sierra Leone pose outside the front of the clinic.

After talking with an advisor, Phebian decided Trocaire was indeed the place her dreams would come true. She enrolled in 2008, and in December 2011, graduated with her associate’s degree in Registered Nursing.

Phebian Abdulai accepts her diploma from former Trocaire President Paul Hurley in December 2011.

there—it was difficult to get the individual attention from the instructors,” she said. “Being a student who speaks English as a second language, it was very difficult.” Phebian instead pursued a Medical Assisting degree at Bryant & Stratton to better acquaint herself with American methods of studying and learn the local accent. She graduated in 2004 and began working at Jericho Road.

Achieving a Dream at Trocaire Through it all, Phebian held onto her dream to recertify as a nurse. She met a fellow Sierra Leonean at Jericho Road who told her about Trocaire College. “She said ‘You know what? Trocaire does a really good job with us foreigners—they give you the one-on-one attention, and really work hard to see you through to completion of your goals. I think you should try it.’”

The process was just as difficult as she had imagined—Phebian spent hour upon hour at the Trocaire library, before and after her classes, taking the extra time she needed to master the material. She turned in papers months early, so her tutors could proofread them. But all along, Trocaire’s staff and faculty offered the steadfast support she needed to succeed. “It wasn’t an easy journey,” she said. “But just like my friend promised, the professors, instructors and librarians worked with me all the way, and I was able to get the personalized attention to get through the difficult times and get my degree.” Phebian said her time at Trocaire has provided her the foundation she needed. “That is why God gave me this stepping stone,” she said. “I don’t think, without the education I got at Trocaire, that I would have been able to undertake such a big mission.” Phebian also credits Dr. Glick with reigniting her passion to recertify as a nurse so she could assist her fellow Sierra Leoneans. He, in turn, said Jericho Road is blessed to have Phebian as the leader of its outreach there. “Phebian’s heart is in Sierra Leone—she loves her country and its people,” he said. “It has been her dream for many years to fulfill her mother’s work and start this clinic. Phebian is exactly the right person to lead this work. Really, she is the only one who can do so.” n

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CAREERS OF ACHIEVEMENT, LIVES OF PURPOSE

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Trocaire College students are driven, engaged and passionate about their futures—but not everyone has the support they need to obtain a college degree. Last year, 372 students graduated from Trocaire and 97% received financial assistance from the college. Thanks to donations to our Annual Fund, we’re able to provide access to a college education to those who otherwise may not attend due to financial restraints. This support – funded in part by donors like you – gives our students the opportunity to realize their goals, improve their circumstances and become caring service professionals throughout the Western New York community.

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n alumni voices

Alumni Association Board has worked diligently on creating a new plan to serve our alumni. This plan wouldn’t be possible without the feedback we collected through the alumni survey in Spring 2016, and I would like to personally thank all who participated. The input received was incredibly valuable and gave us an understanding of what you want as graduates from the institution.

Message from our Alumni Association President

You will soon be receiving a Trocaire College Alumni Association membership card in your mailboxes. This is just the first of the many exciting, new endeavors of the Alumni Board. While you may look at your experience at Trocaire as a thing of the past, Trocaire wants you to know it can still be a valuable resource to you. Whether you need help with a resume or are in need of a special prayer from the Sisters of Mercy, Trocaire is here for you. Relationships are also being made with local businesses to

s an alumna, I am grateful for the education I received at Trocaire College and have vowed to give back to my alma mater in any way that I can. I took on the role of Alumni Association Board president to help make a difference in how the college communicates and interacts with my fellow alumni. Over the past year, the Trocaire College

offer special discounts to you. I urge you to check out the new alumni section at Trocaire.edu for full details of the alumni benefits. Wherever you are, at whatever stage of life you are in, we want to connect with you. “Like” the Trocaire College Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @TrocaireCollege to stay updated on all the exciting developments and news from the college, and make sure to send your professional accomplishments and stories about your Trocaire College experience to communications@trocaire.edu. n

Karen Burgess Chiantella ’96, BSN, RN-BC Clinical Informatics Analyst at Elderwood Administrative Services

giving back Welcome to the 1958 Society

administrators and members of the Board of Trustees.

n June 17, 2016, Trocaire College hosted its inaugural donor recognition reception and unveiled the newly formed 1958 Society. The 1958 Society serves as a mechanism to recognize and engage individuals and organizations who are committed to growing Trocaire College’s impact.

Donors participated in a ribbon cutting for the Statler Foundation Hospitality, Food, and Nutrition Service Learning Laboratory and the re-dedicated Penfold Commons (see story on page 12). In addition, they heard from alumna Tosha White ’13, who

spoke about the importance of her Trocaire education and the support she received through scholarships, and President Bassam Deeb, who gave an update on the state of the college, its impact on the community and his vision for the future. Attendees also networked with college

This annual event will connect donors who fall within the 1958 Society’s giving levels (details below) with institutional leadership, students and alumni. The levels have been designed to recognize donors based on annual giving, lifetime giving, loyalty and legacy gifts such as wills and bequests. We invite all of our alumni and friends to make their mark on Trocaire’s future by joining this group of committed and passionate mission ambassadors. n For more information, please visit: trocaire.edu/alumni/giving

TROCAIRE COLLEGE 1958 SOCIETY FOUNDER’S CIRCLE

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

TRUSTEES CIRCLE

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

LOYALTY CIRCLE

$100,000 cumulative

$25,000 or more annually

$5,000-24,999 annually

$1,000-4,999 annually

consecutive gifts for at least 5 years

SISTER BARBARA CIARICO LEGACY SOCIETY planned giving

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP

NAMED ENDOWMENT

LISTING ON WALL (GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE)

EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM TROCAIRE

INVITATION TO ANNUAL DONOR RECEPTION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN DONOR PUBLICATIONS

LEGACY SOCIETY PIN

FRIENDS OF TROCAIRE COLLEGE $1-999 annually

2016

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what’s new

Transformation at Transit

hanks in part to funds generously provided by The Statler Foundation, Trocaire College was able to completely renovate several under-utilized rooms at its Transit Road Extension Center this past year. The campus community, donors and other guests celebrated the new space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 16.

Classroom/Event Space One portion of the project is an updated classroom, equipped with new audio/ visual equipment and furniture. A key feature of the classroom is the retractable glass wall that divides it from the Penfold Learning Commons and Statler lab. The space can be closed off, allowing a class to go on undisturbed even as other students utilize the common area. However, when the wall retracts, the three areas combine into a single space that can accommodate 100 to 150 people or more for special events, workshops and conferences.

Penfold Learning Commons Named in honor of Dick and Karen Penfold, longtime supporters of Trocaire and champions of its students, this space serves as both a studying and gathering place. With Trocaire’s library offerings shelved to one side and the Statler lab just steps away, students will be able to gather individually and in groups, to study and prepare for classes, relax with a quick snack and access the internet—all within the same comfortable space.

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Statler Foundation Hospitality, Food, and Nutrition Service Learning Laboratory This area will serve as a simulated coffee café/small restaurant environment in which students in the Hospitality Management and the Nutrition and Dietetics programs will be able to learn “front of the house” operations in a food and beverage retail environment. Outfitted with coffee makers, refrigerated storage areas, and plenty of cupboard and counter space, the laboratory also allows events to be easily catered within the new space. n

WELCOME TO BARNES AND NOBLE

his spring, Trocaire welcomed Barnes and Noble as they took over operations at the college bookstore. Over the course of the spring semester, renovations transformed the front entrance of the college—which formerly housed the information desk, switchboard operator, waiting area and President’s Office—into a brand-new bookstore space. With Barnes and Noble at the helm, this freshly decorated, more spacious store offers Trocaire students and employees better prices, a wider variety of merchandise and a welcoming space the moment you walk into the college. All our alumni and friends are invited to come check it out! n

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n moving forward New leaders of Catherine McAuley School of Nursing prioritizing progressive curriculum overhaul

xcellence in nursing education is the very heart of Trocaire. It’s the reason the college was founded, and why Trocaireeducated nurses continue to be sought out and hired by healthcare facilities throughout Western New York. However, hand-in-hand with that tradition of quality is the responsibility to evolve with the times. With new leadership at the helm, Trocaire is poised to improve and update the curriculum and student experience within the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing. Dr. Catherine M. Griswold took over as the school’s dean in February. Born and raised in Buffalo and a veteran of the United States Army, she came to Trocaire with more than 20 years working as a clinician in Baltimore hospitals and medical practices and almost two decades as a healthcare educator and staff development coordinator.

In addition, this summer Trocaire hired one of its own as associate dean: John Anderson ’99. A graduate of Trocaire’s Registered Nursing (RN) program and a veteran of the United States Navy, he also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a master’s degree in Nursing Education. He has 15 years of experience as a trauma nurse in Erie County Medical Center’s intensive care unit and has taught at the college for six years. “I want to help bring Trocaire back to where it was when I went here,” he said. “We’re still a fantastic college—we just need some updating.” One of the main priorities is to implement brand-new, progressive RN and Practical Nursing curriculums in the near future. Goals include alignment with the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), utilizing best practices in nursing education, expanding the delivery model for the Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing degree, and working toward a more seamless stacking of credentials. The curriculum updates will help more

Trocaire has a B.S. in Nursing 14

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GUIDING TROCAIRE NURSING INTO THE FUTURE Dr. Catherine M. Griswold and John Anderson ’99, are eager to lead the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing into a new, more progressive era.

fully preparing students for what they’ll face as an entry-level nurse. “Nursing has become much more scientific and technical over the years, and nurses care for patients who are much sicker, and hospital stays are much shorter,” Dr. Griswold said. “We want to decrease our students’ knowledge gap while increasing their confidence level, all before they start their professional lives.” The terminal level of nursing education required will be different for everyone depending on their future career goals and passions, Dr. Griswold said. She wants to make it easier for people to find success at Trocaire at whatever level they choose. “We’re working on reducing the barriers that exist to continuing nursing education, no matter what point our students are at in the program,” she explained. “There’s a place for professionals at all levels of nursing—from LPN to BSN and beyond.” More and more New York hospitals are considering best practices such as magnet status, which dictates that the nurses working there are held to a high standard, including a certain number of RNs working toward or having their bachelor’s degree. Ensuring a

convenient and easy process for obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing at Trocaire is another priority for that reason. In addition, the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing wants to update and refresh the resources its students can lean on. “Many of our students work full time, have kids and have external forces affecting their academic performances,” Dr. Griswold said. “We’re trying to figure out what students need to succeed, and how we can better meet those needs.” One initiative is the development of alternative tutoring platforms in addition to the in-person tutoring already available, and increasing the utilization of other online resources such as lecture capture software (see story on page 6). A tutoring app is also in the works. “It’s an exciting time to be a Trocaire nursing student,” Dr. Griswold said. “We are already an amazing school with a deep-rooted history in the community. We’re going to carry that legacy forward, but we are also creating our own history of excellence in nursing education for the next generation.” n

visit trocaire.edu/bsn for more information

leadership profile Fast Four with Don Spasiano

onald Spasiano joined Trocaire in the first month of 2016 as its inaugural associate dean for the Russell J. Salvatore School of Hospitality & Business, located at the Transit Road Extension Center in Williamsville. A longtime Buffalo resident, Spasiano came to Trocaire with more than 40 years of hospitality management, including many years as a professor and administrator at Erie Community College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in food and nutrition management from Buffalo State College and a Master of Science degree in education from Canisius College.

After the close of the spring semester, he sat down to answer some questions about Buffalo’s meteoric rise as a tourist destination and what he sees ahead for Trocaire’s Hospitality Management program. What are your immediate goals for the Hospitality Management program? I would like us to be much more visible in the Western New York hospitality

community and to spread the word of our program to local high schools, career programs and low-level industry employees. We also want to emphasize the “management” part of this degree— students will be prepared to enter this industry and succeed as a businessminded professional. Finally, I am working to expand our study abroad and academic travel offerings to locations such as Italy and New York City to broaden our students’ sense of hospitality and what’s possible in the industry. What are the strengths of the program? Firstly, we have dedicated and expert faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and the support of community partners like The Statler Foundation and the New York State Restaurant Association. We also have amazing partnerships with leading restaurateurs and hoteliers that allow our students to find wide-ranging internship opportunities that put to practice all the theories they’ve learned in classes. We position our students to excel in entry-level management careers and have articulation agreements with several other colleges both locally and across the country for easy transfer if they decide to pursue a four-year degree. Why is this such a desirable time to join the hospitality industry? Buffalo has been in the midst of such an

inspiring renaissance over the last few years, and a large part of that is the astronomical influx of new hotels, restaurants and other hospitality-related services. There are now more than 10,000 hotel rooms in the Buffalo area, and we’ve been listed as #1 for “America’s Favorite Cities” in Travel and Leisure Magazine. There are such amazing opportunities for our students out there, no matter what part of the industry they’re interested in. What is it about Buffalo that draws visitors in and keeps them coming back? I think a lot of people come and are very pleasantly surprised at the welcoming and genuinely hospitable attitudes they encounter in Western New York, from both residents and professionals in the hospitality industry. Visitors also love our reasonable price points, the wide varieties of restaurant offerings, our talented chef pool and the huge variety of cultural happenings. We don’t have to waste our breath defending this area anymore— now we can boast about all the exciting things we have going on here. n

FOR MORE INFO: Want to learn more about the Hospitality Management program, or get involved as an alum? Email spasianod@trocaire.edu

student spotlight she began her path as a Nursing student, she found her true calling in Health Information Technology and Healthcare Informatics, two programs that teach students how to manage healthcare data and use it to improve patient care.

MEET LINDA TRAN

f you’ve visited Trocaire in the last few years, you’ve probably met Linda Tran. She volunteers at college events, has mentored fellow Trocaire Opportunity Program (TOP) students and participates in clubs like Student Government and TroGreen. A proud Trocaire student, she wants to leave an impact.

Now, Linda is on track to graduate in Fall 2018 with not one, but three degrees—an Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology and an AAS and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Informatics. She hopes to eventually continue her education and combine her love of technology and helping people as a nursing informaticist.

“Through TOP, I get so much support and get my tuition covered,” she explained. “I want to give back.” TOP is Trocaire’s version of the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), which provides a wide array of support services—including financial, academic and personal—to deserving students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend college and obtain a degree. Though she visited several other high-profile colleges in the Buffalo area, Linda felt immediately at home when she attended a Trocaire Open House. “I liked the vibe here right away,” she said.

“I felt very welcomed because everyone was so nice, and I also liked the small environment.” Linda graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Cheektowaga in 2014 and started at Trocaire that summer. Though

To make it happen, she is taking classes every summer and continuing to take advantage of the resources TOP provides. In addition, Linda works two part-time jobs—one as a work study assignment in the Trocaire Admissions Office, and the other as a home health aide for People, Inc. “It’s a lot, but it’s worth it to graduate in four years with two degrees,” she said. “I’m so excited to start my career now that I’ve found one I’m passionate about.” n

2016

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Alumni and Friends News and Notes

Catherine Collins ’70, RN, BS, PhD, a member of the NYS Board of Regents and an associate professor at SUNY Empire State College, was named #33 in Buffalo Business First’s 2015 “Power 100 Women,” a ranking of some of the most powerful and influential women in Western New York. Norma Kerling ’77, RN, served as the keynote speaker for Trocaire’s Fall 2015 Commencement. She was also chosen as Trocaire’s 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, and will be honored at Reflections 2016 on Oct. 13. Sharon Zeames ’78, RN, was hired as administrator at Genesee County Nursing Home in May 2016. She oversees the entire operation, which includes a 160-bed skilled nursing/rehabilitation facility and an 80-bed adult home. Susan McClure ’92, BSN, RN, was appointed as the senior clinical advisor for the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Emergency Department in May 2016. Amber Slichta ’94, a Nursing graduate, was appointed as vice president of programs for the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, which is a grant-making organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Western New York and Southeastern Michigan. Nancy Marzolf ’95, RN, BSN, RN-BC: Named one of the “Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina” in 2015. This annual, statewide honor recognizes those nurses who demonstrate excellence in practice and commitment to their profession; influence the practice of nursing; and provide exceptional care to others. Pauline Clark ’96, celebrated her five-year employment anniversary with the McGuire Group, operator of five healthcare facilities

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in Western New York, in July 2015. A Health Information Technology graduate, she works as a Medicaid biller in the company’s accounts receivable department. Karen Burgess Chiantella ’96, BSN, RNBC, Trocaire’s Alumni Association Board president, was hired as clinical informatics analyst at Elderwood Administrative Services. She manages Elderwood’s electronic medical records, which involves working with executives, medical providers and nurses on configuring and optimizing the system. Amy M. Baker ’03, RN, BSN, BS, was appointed as the stroke program coordinator at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in January 2016. Natalie Barnhard ’04, a Massage Therapy graduate, was honored as Trocaire’s 2015 Alumni of the Year at the college’s annual Reflections event in October. Barnhard is the founder of the Wheels With Wings Foundation, an organization developed to help and support individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries and their families. Deborah Micholas ’07, BSN, RN, ONC, was appointed as the patient care services supervisor for 2 East and 2 South at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in May 2016. In her new role, Deborah co-manages the 2 East and 2 South Patient Care Units. Jay Langfelder ’12, a Hospitality Management graduate, launched his OG Wood Fire Pizza Truck in June 2015. The food truck serves up hand-made, Neapolitan-style pizzas at locations all over Buffalo. Kelli Kibler ’15 was hired just a month after her May 2015 Trocaire Commencement as a radiologic technologist at Erie County Medical Center. Jonathan Swiatkowski, CPA, Trocaire Board of Trustees chair, was honored by Buffalo Business First as one of Western New York’s

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top C-level executives in October 2015. Swiatkowski is the executive vice president/ CFO of Kaleida Health. Thomas Quatroche, a Trocaire Board of Trustees member, was named president of Erie County Medical Center in January 2016, after filling the role on an transitional basis since November 2015. Candace Johnson, president and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute and a 2015 Trocaire Reflections Award winner, was named #2 in Buffalo Business First’s 2015 “Power 100 Women,” a ranking of some of the most powerful and influential women in Western New York. Elected to the 2016 Trocaire College Alumni Board of Directors: John Anderson ’99, MS, RN, Associate Dean of Catherine McAuley School of Nursing, Trocaire College Dee Bellanti ’13, RN, CLP, Director, Provider Network Development and Operations, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York Karen Chiantella ’96, RN-BC, BSN, Clinical Informatics Analyst, Elderwood Administrative Services Danielle Fox ’11 (Hospitality Management) Assistant Manager, Russell’s Steaks Chops & More, Salvatore’s Grand Hotel Ykeeta Henderson-Wilson ’08, RN, BSN, Supervisor, ECMC psychiatric and BryLin Bonnie Kane-Lockwood ’75 Director of Special Projects, Office of Representative Brian Higgins n

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Feel free to send in news, photos, videos, awards, achievements and other related content to communications@trocaire.edu or connect with us on social media. Select information will be featured in upcoming blogs, social media posts and published works of the college.