Utica Magazine - Fall 2022

A MAGAZINE OF UTICA COLLEGE FALL/WINTER 2022

One Word Grads | Advocate in Chief | Honor Roll of Donors

FIRST WORDS Letter from the Editor What’s in a Name?

Perhaps it’s a sign of my naivete that I was surprised in February 2022 when the reactions to Utica’s new name were so incredibly… mixed.

From my perspective, it was easy to assume that, because the new name conveys a certain gravitas and represents Utica’s growth over the past 76 years, its adoption would be met with universal applause. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff could now add the word “University” to their resumes! For international students, for whom the word “college” is more often associated with high schools or two-year institutions, the switch would lead to better opportunities! Everyone would have an excuse to buy new Utica gear! How could anyone object?

What I failed to consider, though, is the powerful pull of tradition and nostalgia. For generations of Utica alumni, Utica College — and less recently, Utica College of Syracuse University — were the names they saw on every correspondence, wrote atop every assignment, wore with pride on sweatshirts, and chanted at sporting events.

For those alumni, changing the name of their alma mater was just as disorienting as involuntarily changing their own names or the names of their hometowns.

Sure, it’s grown, expanded physically and in its academic scope, become more diverse and inclusive (and after 76 years, how could it not?). Despite the state-of-the-art buildings, the growing student population, longer list of program offerings, and now, its new name, the heart of Utica is exactly the same.

What I failed to consider, ultimately, was the pride and sense of connection so many alumni feel when they think of their beloved alma mater by the name they knew as students.

That said, I hope you’ll consider visiting campus later this month during our much-anticipated Homecoming, Alumni and Family Weekend. Tour campus, enjoy a drink at the Pub, cheer from the stands at the football game, and you’ll see for yourself that the place you know and love (by any name) is thriving—and that it still feels like home.

But to those alumni, I’ll also say this: The Utica you remember still exists.

Mary Donofrio Editor

Make a

LASTING IMPACT

through Planned Giving

Through giving, volunteering, attending, and staying connected to the University, alumni and friends can help Utica and its students thrive on far into the future. Planned gifts may provide additional tax and income benefits while allowing donors to continue our tradition of inspiring learners to achieve their dreams.

Simple ways to make a lasting impact include:

• Gifts of appreciated stock • Gifts that pay you income for life • Naming Utica the beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy • Using the Qualified Charitable Distribution provision to satisfy a required minimum distribution from your IRA

This is just a sample of the gift-planning opportunities that may be available to you. To learn more, visit myimpact.utica. edu or contact Tim Nelson, Associate Vice President for Advancement, at (315) 792-3489 or tnelson@utica.edu

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FROM PRESIDENT LAURA CASAMENTO

Honoring the Past, Looking Toward the Future The start of the academic year is always a special time on campus, but this August marked an especially meaningful milestone in Utica’s 76-year history.

Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce that the New York State Board of Regents approved and endorsed Utica College’s petition to elevate to University status; August 29, 2022, marks the start of the first full academic year as Utica University.

Though some alumni and students have remarked that the name change was surprising, I assure you that our transition to Utica University was anything but.

As the Board of Trustees, members of the senior leadership team, and past leadership know all too well, Utica’s new name represents the culmination of a decades-long commitment to strategic growth, academic excellence through innovative programs and curricula, and an unwavering belief in providing life-changing opportunities to all students through higher education.

It’s a moment no less than 76 years in the making.

But even as we celebrate this long-awaited achievement and what it means for Utica’s future, I hope members of the Utica community also take the time to reflect on the past — and the incredible progress this institution has made since its founding.

In 1946, Utica College of Syracuse University was established to serve veterans looking for an opportunity to better their lives after returning from World War II. Without a physical space to call its own, Utica College created improvised classrooms in houses and in the basement of downtown Utica’s Plymouth Congregational Church. Young but dedicated faculty helped inspire students to dream beyond the makeshift campus, and the College matured in turn.

Today, Utica University is a nationally known institution serving thousands of undergraduate and graduate students here in Utica, through our online campus, and at our additional sites in New York State and Florida.

What would it have meant to those first students to know their humble branch campus would one day become its own formidable university?

How could they have imagined what this institution—and its thousands of graduates—would go on to achieve?

Indeed, much more than a name change, our University status is both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a promise of great things ahead.

Sincerely,

Laura Casamento President

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“Indeed, much more than a name change, our University status is both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a promise of great things ahead.”

CONTENTS 5

Everyday Pioneers

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Your Letters

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Around Campus

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Athletics

FEATURES 18

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One Word Grads Members of the Class of 2022 sum up their Utica University experiences in just one word and share favorite photos from the big day.

Utica College is Now Utica University The inside story on Utica’s transition to a university— and the other changes accompanying the institution’s historic milestone.

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Moving Target Focused on opportunity and student success, Utica’s cybersecurity programs are keeping pace with a rapidly changing industry.

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Advocate in Chief A fluke accident as a teenager changed the course of her life. Today, Kimberly Hill ’94 is using her experience to support others with disabilities as New York State’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer.

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Honor Roll of Donors

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Alumni News

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Advancement Updates

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Class Notes

Editor Mary Donofrio Creative Director Aimee Music Senior Writers Joe Perry ’90 Kelly Adams ’00 Christine Leogrande ’81 David Dellecese Photography Aimee Music Class Notes Editors Tracy Pratt Nichole Masters

Stay in Touch!

Send correspondence regarding Utica, address changes, and Class Notes to: Office of Alumni and Parent Relations Utica University 1600 Burrstone Road Utica, NY 13502-4892 Or call (800) 456-8278, (315) 792-3025 Or e-mail: uticamag@utica.edu

Utica is published three times a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications: Kelly Adams, Vice President.

FRIENDLY FIGHT The inflatable boxing ring is always a “hit” during on-campus events like this beach party held in the residential quad in April.

Photo credit: Victoria DeLuca ’24

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Everyday Pioneers:

Nicole Zalewski ’22 How the recent grad and field engineer is busting stereotypes on her path to become a leader in the construction management industry.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up less than 10 percent of the construction management workforce. And for Nicole Zalewski ’22, it’s a disparity that comes with consequences.

“As a woman, I have to work five times as hard as my male counterparts to earn the respect of my colleagues and subcontractors,” says Zalewski. “It is a sad reality that most men in the industry do not take a

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woman seriously, and they do not appreciate having a female boss.”

But the challenges haven’t stopped her. After excelling in Utica’s construction management program, serving as secretary for the University’s Student Contractors Association and vice president for the Women in Construction Club, Zalewski celebrated her graduation in May with a job in-hand. In February 2022, she accepted a position as a field engineer

for the Turner Construction Company in Connecticut; she started work in July.

Beyond her classroom experience, Zalewski credits the family atmosphere of Utica’s CM program for “helping me grow as an individual,” citing the group’s frequent cookouts, movie nights, and community service projects, like building children’s beds for local non-profit Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Her ultimate career goal: to be that “female boss” as a project superintendent for a large general contractor or the military — and a role model for other women in the industry.

“I tell other female students interested in CM that people may look at you differently because you are a woman in construction. Don’t worry about what they think. This is not their path,” she says.

“If you show up every day and apply yourself, you will succeed.”

Utica University is doing its part to promote diversity in the construction management field, with help from The Hayner Hoyt Corporation and company president, Jeremy C. Thurston ’00. Learn more about the Hayner Hoyt Corporation Construction Management Scholarship on p. 43.

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CANINE COEDS Happy students, happy pup.

An on-campus event featuring these cuddly visitors helped students relieve finals-week stress in May. Photo credit: Victoria DeLuca ’24

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YOUR LETTERS

Inspiring Resilience I just read the article on Kimberly Morton ‘22 in the last issue (“The Fighter,” Spring/Summer 2021, p. 30). What an inspiring story of resilience and victim advocacy, albeit at such a cost. Glad she’s healed, and I hope her story helps others find paths to healing. And I hope the law spreads nationwide.

Lisa A. Crayton ’85 Oxon Hill, MD

50 Years of Friendship

Cheerful Memories

Speaking of longtime UC relationships (“UCBFFs,” Fall/ Winter 2021, p. 18), myself along with six APO fraternity brothers have maintained a 50-year relationship, getting together at least a half dozen times every year. The gatherings are highlighted by our annual Super Bowl weekend in the Adirondacks, which began as an overnight and has since been extended to five days.

I’m writing about the alumni photo in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue (“Pioneer Past,” p. 41, below, right). The third from the left is Patti Schram Giordano ’83 and I am fourth from the left, Mary Gossin Priore ’83. My alumni friends and I got quite a kick out of seeing this old photo!

What Do YOU Think?

Share your thoughts on this issue or past issues of Utica via email at uticamag@utica.edu or U.S. Mail: Office of Marketing and Communications Utica University 1600 Burrstone Road Utica, NY 13502

Mary Gossin Priore ’83 Utica, NY

Dave Dudajek ’72 Whitesboro, NY A Life-Changing Letter Congratulations to Kimberly Hill ’94! When I saw her name I said to myself, “why does that sound familiar?” I went into my Utica College file and found this. As a high-school senior, I received this letter (right) from Kim and Leilani Lucca ’94 that was personally signed and pretty much sealed the deal for me to attend UC and have the best years of my life.

Leonard Morgan ’99 Totowa, NJ

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Congratulations, Utica University Class of 2022!

On May 12-13, Utica celebrated its 73rd annual commencement ceremonies and its first since achieving university status in February 2022.

Highlights of the ceremonies included

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an emotional presentation of posthumous degrees to late students Alyssa Parrino and John Paul “JP” Ramel, an honorary degree awarded to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a stirring, inspirational ad-

dress from New York State Supreme Court Justice Janet Malone ’86.

In her own welcoming remarks, President Laura Casamento advised the graduates to “rely on the strong foundation

you built during your time here,” she said. “Continue to work hard, and let your future be a reflection of the knowledge, experience, and wisdom you gained at Utica University.”

AROUND CAMPUS

Collaboration and Community: Utica Enters New Partnership for DEI

Members of Utica’s DEI staff at the MVCAA event (left to right): Mark Kovacs, Kira Maddox, Nina Nguyen, and Anthony Baird ‘91.

CHAMPIONS FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

On March 23, Utica University recognized students, faculty, and staff who dedicate time and energy to educating themselves on various topics related to DEI, work to be advocates for equity in their respective spaces, and use their knowledge to create a more inclusive campus climate.

The 2022 winners of the Utica University Excellence in Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award are:

Utica University collaborated with MVCC, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, and the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency to create a new partnership known as the Utica DEI Community Partnership. The UDEICP facilitates positive activities and programs that promote awareness, engagement, action, and unity in response to social

justice issues in the Mohawk Valley community.

During the Spring semester, the group hosted a live discussion with New York Times bestselling author Ashley C. Ford and organized a Unity March through downtown Utica.

The UDEICP was named the 2022 Community Ambassador by the MVCAA at this year’s Community Champions Luncheon.

Students: Dylan Bennett Thompson ’22 Jaydy Hernandez ’23 Jordyn Bucci-Mooney ’22 Faculty: Michelle Boucher, Professor of Chemistry Audrey Cross, Assistant Professor of Construction Management Oligens Sulo, Professor of Practice in Nursing Staff: Ashlea Schad, Director of Development

Jasper Wojtach, TRIO Retention and Tutoring Coordinator Alison Ricci-Wadas, Administrative Assistant in the School of Health Professions & Education (pictured) Student Organization: The Black Student Union Administrative Office: The Office of International Education

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Campus Fun in Many Forms What do plate-breaking, beach games, and cute pups have in common?

They were all part of unconventional activities held on campus during the Spring semester, sponsored by the Utica Programming Board, the Office of Student Living and Campus Engagement, and the Residence Hall Association, in an effort to help students (and furry friends) unwind.

HEARD ON CAMPUS

“To the graduating Class of 2022, so much joy and tragedy has defined our four years together. I hope that today, for each of you, is pure joy.”

—Class of 2022 Valedictorian Anna Taylor ’22 in her commencement address

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AROUND CAMPUS

Faculty Achievement Tim Abraham, assistant professor of physical education/exercise and wellness studies; David Schilling, associate professor of physical therapy; and Ahmed Radwan, dean of health professions and education and professor of physical therapy, delivered a peerreviewed presentation at the 25th National Applied Ergonomics Conference in Orlando. _____________________ Wilfredo Alvarez, associate professor of communication arts, authored a book titled Everyday Dirty Work, where he explores co-cultural communication practices.

Alvarez also co-authored another book titled Voicing Diverse Teaching Experiences, about the engagement of diverse social groups. [1] _____________________ Austen D. Givens, associate professor of cybersecurity, co-authored a book titled Homeland Security: An Introduction, which discussed the systematic approaches of the Department of Homeland Security. _____________________ Ariel Gratch, assistant professor of communication arts, co-authored a book titled Introduction to the Special Issue: Storytelling in the Uncanny Valley, a special edition of Storytelling, Self, Society. [2]

Dave Roberts, adjunct professor for psychology and psychology-child life, recently co-authored a book titled, When the Psychology Professor Met the Minister, which details his journey coping with the loss of his daughter. _____________________ Zhaodan Huang, Harold T. Clark Jr. Professor of Finance, co-authored a peer-reviewed article titled The Information Role of Liquidity, Firm Fundamentals, and Long-term Stock Value for the Social Science Research Network, discussing the effect of liquidity shocks on asset prices. _____________________ Samantha Marocco, assistant professor of physical therapy, earned her board certification as Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist in Geriatrics Emeritus. _____________________

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Kaylee Seddio, assistant professor of psychology, co-authored a peer-reviewed article titled Bidirectional and Interactive Effects of Child Temperament and Parenting in Early Childhood on the Trajectory of Social Anxiety in Adolescence, in the National Library of Medicine. [3]

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Just one gift

can start a lifelong tradition of giving back — and build a legacy to support Utica University students for generations to come.

Meet Mike Corasanti ’80 As a young alumnus of then-Utica College of Syracuse University, Mike Corasanti made his first gift to his alma mater in 1986.

Though it wasn’t much, Mike’s donation was his way of paying it forward.

Today, Mike boasts a 36-year giving history, making him one of the University’s most loyal donors and helping to fund Utica’s most critical needs and support generations of deserving learners.

But for Mike, it’s all part of being a proud alumnus.

“I benefited from the generosity of others,” he says.

“So giving back to help students is just the right thing to do.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Here’s to you, Mike.

Give Like Mike To learn more, or to “Give Like Mike,” visit utica.edu/givelikemike.

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ATHLETICS

Ka’Sean Watlington G’22 Sport: Track and Field Hometown: Bayport, NY Ka’sean Watlington capped a decorated career in impressive fashion at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Geneva, OH. It was the fifth NCAA appearance for the two-time All-American and one of the nation’s top triple jumpers. The graduate student led a well-represented Utica team at nationals, joining national-qualifying teammates Hogan Logan ’24 and Mackenzie Mix ’25.

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Looking Back on 2021-22: An Amazing Season in Review Twelve teams qualified for postseason conference play, with four advancing to the championship game. Men’s track and field won the 2022 Empire 8 outdoor championships. The men’s hockey team claimed its third UCHC conference title in five years, and advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.

The men’s hockey team earned at nation’s best five All-American selections. Justin Allen ’22, Regen Cavanagh ’22, and Dante Zapata ’23 [1] received first team honors, while Buster Larsson ’23 and Jayson Dobay ’24 earned second team honors. Zapata, the UCHC Player of the Year, was a finalist for the Sid Watson Award, given annually to the top player in the country.

Two-time All-American Hunter Logan ’24 placed fifth in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Mackenzie Mix ’25 was named Empire 8 Outdoor Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The freshman placed 18th in the 400 meters in her inaugural NCAA Championships appearance.

Georgiana Santullo ’22 [2] was a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award, presented to the country’s top women’s hockey player. The All-American and UCHC Player of the Year broke 18-year-old single-season program records for goals (29) and points (55). She led the nation in power play goals, and finished second in points-pergame, leading the Pioneers to a program-best 21 wins.

Olsen Returns to Lead Softball Program [3] Rinae Olsen ’09 is returning home. The former four-year standout turned successful head coach has been named head softball coach at her alma mater.

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Olsen ranks sixth among Utica softball players with 147 games played. She is also eighth in Utica’s record book with a .981 career fielding percentage and ninth in career RBIs (71).

She helped guide the Pioneers to a second-place finish in the Empire 8 and the ECAC Tournament after going 31-11 in 2006.

Following graduation, she stayed on as an assistant coach, and helped the program to unprecedented success.

In 2013, Utica captured its first-ever Empire 8 regular season championship. The Pioneers finished as Empire 8 runners-up but earned, an atlarge selection into the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever.

After leaving Utica, Olsen spent six years as an assistant coach at perennial championship contender Ithaca College. She helped guide the Bombers to four conference championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a third place finish in 2018. The Ithaca coaching staff was named NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year twice during her tenure.

Most recently, Olsen has spent the past three seasons as head coach at Skidmore College.

During her first full year of coaching, she led her team to a 24-14 overall record and an appearance in the Liberty League Tournament.

Rogers Named Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach [4] Lelan Rogers is the new head coach of the Pioneers men’s l acrosse program. Rogers comes to Utica with more than 30 years of coaching experience, most recently at Syracuse University. He spent the past 14 years as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Syracuse, helping lead the Orange to Division I national championships in 2008 and 2009 and 14 NCAA tournament appearances.

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2 Under his leadership, the Syracuse defense ranked in the top 5 nationally in goals-against for three consecutive years, including a No. 1 ranking in 2010.

In all, 79 players were named USILA All-Americans during Rogers’ time at Syracuse.

Prior to Syracuse, Rogers was the head coach at SUNY Cortland, where he guided the Red Dragons to four SUNYAC championships and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national semifinal appearance in 2003.

During his time at Cortland, 23 of his players earned All-American recognition. He has also coached collegiately at Ohio Wesleyan and Le Moyne, and coached one season professionally with Major League Lacrosse’s (MLL) Chicago Machine.

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ATHLETICS

Pioneer Hall of Fame: Six Individuals, One Team Meet the newest members of the Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Louie Educate '15 Men’s Hockey Louie Educate transferred to Utica after leading the nation with 27 goals during his freshman season at Nichols College.

His all-around scoring ability and prowess for scoring goals in big moments would help lead Utica to its first-ever NCAA tournament and Frozen Four appearances. His 36 goals and eight game-winning goals rank seventh and second respectively in program history. Between his time at Utica and Nichols, he had 122 career points in 108 games. He was a two-time ECAC West All-Conference pick, and was the conference's 2013 Player of the Year. Educate was also a 2013 AHCA Division III First Team All-American, and was also named to the Division III All-USCHO team in the same year. Following his college career, he played parts of three professional seasons in the United States’ Southern Professional Hockey League as well as in Germany, and served as assistant coach on the Pioneers’ team that won the 20172018 conference championship. Today, he is head coach of the Utica Jr. Comets National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) junior hockey program.

Hannah (Mackey) Scheminger '15 Field Hockey Hannah Mackey holds career and single-season records for goals, points, points-per-game, and game-winning goals (11), as well as career records for Her 36-goal senior season ranked ninth in NCAA Division III history at the time of her graduation, and remains an Empire 8 record to this day. Her 84 career goals and 199 career points were both conference records at the time, and were only just recently surpassed. She helped guide the Pioneers to three Empire 8 championships in four tournament appearances and three NCAA tournaments. She scored two goals in the team's 2012 NCAA opening round game against Endicott College to lift the program to its first national tournament win. She is the only Utica field hockey player to be named an All-American in consecutive seasons. Among additional honors, she was a four-time All-Conference First Team selection, 2011 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, 2014 Empire 8 Player of the Year, 2014 ECAC North Atlantic Player of the Year, and 2015 Empire 8 Conference Woman of the Year.

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2009-2010 Women's Basketball Team The 2009-10 Utica women’s basketball team captured the Empire 8 conference championship before advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The team posted program-tying best 22-7 record, including a 12-1 record on its home court and a 12-4 conference mark. The Pioneers earned an automatic berth in the national tournament on a buzzer-beating layup by Jessica Berry, which lifted Utica to a 38-37 upset of top-seeded Ithaca. In the opening round of NCAA play, the team overcame a 15-point deficit to defeat Moravian 64-61.

Team members include Berry, Jessica Snyder, Katie McGee, Devon Croll, Danielle Busansky, Casey Orlando, Janelle Nixon, Megan Browning, Danielle Moore, Meghan Fiore, Justine Karst, Courtney Crawford, Brittany Baudanza, Stephanie Nara, Andrea Reese, team manager Monique Sidberry, Assistant Coach Kristen Vasta, and Head Coach Michele Davis. They join Utica’s first-ever women’s basketball team, the trailblazers from 19491950, as the second women’s basketball team inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Brian Barth '06 Football Brian Barth was on the roster when Utica earned its first-ever win over an NCAA Division III program, and later captained the team to its first winning season in 2005. A three-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, 2003 ECAC Northwest Honorable Mention All-Star, and 2004 Football Gazette Division III Preseason All-American, the tight end and offensive staple appeared in every game over his four-year career, starting 35 of 40 contests. He caught 80 passes for 849 yards, leading the Pioneers in receptions in each of his sophomore and junior seasons. He also helped block the edges for a Pioneers offense that leaned on its rushing attack. Following his college career, Barth earned an invitation from the Buffalo Bills to participate in a training camp workout.

Evelyn Kurzac '14, M'15 Water Polo One of the most accomplished players in the history of Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III competition, Kurzac was a four-time All-Conference and All-American selection. She is Utica's all-time leader in career (236) and single-season (75) goals. She was also a

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formidable distributor and defender. Her 59 career assists are a school record, and she is ranked second in program history in career steals. In four appearances at the CWPA tournament, Kurzac helped guide Utica to five postseason victories.

Meghan Matan '14 Softball Utica’s first-ever softball All-American, Meghan Matan was a cornerstone to the program’s most successful era to date.

She played in 120 games over three seasons, primarily at third base. During that stretch, the Pioneers won 78 games, including a program-record 34 victories in 2013 when the team earned its first-ever NCAA tournament berth. She earned All-Region First Team and National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association All-American honors in 2014, when she led the Empire 8 with a .481 batting average and struck out only three times during the entire season. A career .397 hitter, Matan recorded two of the top 10 single-season batting averages in Utica history. She is one of only four players in school history to score more than 100 runs, and ranks fifth and fourth respectively in career doubles and triples. At the time of her graduation, she owned four single-season records, including hits-per-game, hits, doubles, and stolen bases.

Megan Myers '14 Women’s Hockey Megan Myers put together one of the most offensively dominant careers in the history of Utica women's hockey and the ECAC West Conference. A four-team All-Conference selection, two-time First Team selection, and 2013 All-American, she led the Pioneers in scoring each of her four seasons. She is tied for the program’s career goal-scoring record (74), and is second in career points (143).

The Las Vegas native scored 15 career game-winning goals, helping lead Utica to 56 wins and three postseason appearances. She became the first Utica women's hockey player drafted into the Canadian Women's Hockey League when she was selected by the Boston Blades in 2014. Playing alongside Olympic greats Brianna Decker, Hilary Knight, Monique Lamoureux, Kacey Bellamy, and Meghan Duggan, Myers helped guide Boston to the 2015 Clarkson Cup Championship. She played a total of five seasons with the Blades and became its captain. She also played on the Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association Dream Gap Tour.

IN A WORD

As members of Utica University’s Class of 2022 know all too well, crossing that stage on Commencement Day is no small feat. And after celebrating their achievements on May 12-13, 2022, we posed yet another challenge to the graduates: Describe your Utica University experience in just one word. Here, a collection of our favorite one-word responses—and celebratory scenes from a milestone worth a million more.

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“Fulfilling” Siobhan Brennan ’22 Psychology- Child Life

Left to right: Kennedy Guy ’22, Siobhan Brennan ’22, Tanner Sutliff ‘22, and Gabrielle DeRocher ’22

“Irreplaceable” Elizabeth “Libby” Ashe ’22 Nursing

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“Momentous” Morgan Willis ’22 Cybersecurity

“Family” Jordan Conestabile ’22 Political Science, Theatre (left to right: Aaron Barsham ‘22, Breanna Hughes ‘22, Isabella Gilbert ‘22, Allyson Greif ‘22, and Jordan Conestabile ‘22)

“Welcoming” Jason Houn ’22 General Management (left to right: Tabo Bo ’22, Jason Houn ’22, Thao Lam ’22)

“Fulfilling”

“Worthwhile”

Shayvonne Chan G’22 Cybersecurity

“Rewarding” Jane Panares Borja G’21 DPT, pictured with her family Physical Therapy

Mia Francis ’22, pictured with her family Psychology

“Exhilarating” Kellen Lounsbury ’22 Health Sciences, Psychology

“Electric” Dayna Losito ’22 Health Studies

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“Rewarding”

Megan Chamberlain ’22 Business Management

“Eventful”

“Empowering”

Matthew Breault ’22 Communication and Media (left to right: Thomas Caputo ’22, Professor Mary Christopher, Matthew Breault ’22)

Nicole Evans ’22, pictured with her family Nutrition

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UTICA COLLEGE IS NOW

UTICA UNIVERSITY THE ANTICIPATION WAS HIGH IN THE CYNKUS WELCOME CENTER ON FEBRUARY 17, 2022.

An announcement was to be delivered by President Laura Casamento, and the locals news media, the Board of Trustees, students, and many members of the faculty and staff were buzzing in the building’s atrium, ready to hear the news that, according to chatter already circulating on social media, promised to be big.

After a brief welcome from Board of Trustees Chair Robert Brvenik ’77, President Casamento took the podium.

“It is my pleasure to talk to you about the worst-kept secret in the Mohawk Valley,” she said, the quip immediately breaking the tension and eliciting laughter and applause.

Indeed, the word had gotten out — but it didn’t diminish the excitement in the air when President Casamento officially announced that that the New York State Board of Regents had approved and endorsed the

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college’s petition to elevate to university status.

“We will now be known, forevermore, as Utica University.”

Casamento went on to explain how the moment signified “much more than a name change.”

“It represents the culmination of a decades-long commitment to strategic growth, academic excellence through innovative programs and curricula, and an unwavering belief in providing incredible, life-changing opportunities to all students through higher education.”

In fact, the change in designation was more than two decades in the making. It had been long lobbied for by former President Todd Hutton, among other administrators and leaders of the institution, since 1999, when Utica added its first graduate programs. At the time, New York was the only state requiring the creation and operation of doctoral level programs in order to be called a university.

In almost every respect, Utica was already operating as a university — and the New York Board of Regents simply had to catch up.

“Nearly every institution in every part of the country that resembles Utica College was long ago recognized as a university,” Hutton has said.

At last, signs of hope surfaced in December 2021, when William Murphy, New York State’s deputy commissioner of higher educa-

tion, recommended the amended definition to the Higher Education Committee of the Board of Regents.

In a memo, Murphy noted that “the term ‘college’ presents a significant marketing challenge” for New York institutions aiming to compete at the national and international level.

The Board seemed to take heed.

Months later, in January 2022, the New York State Board of Regents announced a dramatic change to the definition of “university” that had been in place since 1969. The

amendment removes doctoral programs and degrees in two or more professional fields, adds graduate program discipline areas, and requires an institution to have at least three registered graduate programs in order to receive the “university” designation. Utica exceeds the requirement, offering 20 graduate programs, including doctoral programs in both physical and occupational therapy, MBA programs, and masters programs in health administration, nursing, and education.

ANATOMY OF THE

UTICA UNIVERSITY SEAL The Utica University seal incorporates a number of important symbols.

The arch, formed by white space, represents the archway at Plymouth Church through which thousands of students passed to take classes on the original Oneida Square campus.

The laurel, part of the original UC-SU undergraduate academic seal, symbolizes honor and achievement.

The book represents learning and knowledge.

Its “U” shape stands for Utica and Utica University.

The focal point of the seal is a shield, used in heraldry, that represents “family ties” to Syracuse University as well as the Utica University community as a family.

The peak on the bottom of the seal’s shield is an abstract representation of the Frank E. Gannett Memorial Library, the center of learning on campus.

The five bars, depicted as the five stripes of white space stemming from the peak, represent the five areas in which the University reaches out to students to educate and develop them: liberal arts, sciences, professional studies, extracurricular activities, and continuing education.

The dates on the seal mark four important years in the University’s history (see timeline below).

MCMXXXIII

MCMXLVI

MCMXCV

MMXXII

Syracuse University extension site (1933)

First year as a college (1946)

Chartered by the Board of Regents as an independent institution (1995)

Regents award Utica university status24 (2022)

With the Board’s amendment, Utica was among the first private institutions in the state to be granted university status.

“In terms of the breadth and depth of our programs, this change is a true reflection of who we are today as an institution,” said Casamento at the news conference. “This exciting news will strengthen our ability to recruit students and faculty internationally and from other parts of the country.”

The announcement concluded with yet another milestone: the ceremonial unveiling of the hoodies.

“Our students tell me that the new name is not ‘official official’ until it appears on a hoodie,” said Casamento, as a dozen student ambassadors approached the podium, all wearing the first-ever batch of Utica University hooded sweatshirts.

“So, of course, we made that happen,” said President Casamento, slipping on her own. 

New Name, New Look A guide to Utica University’s redesigned visual brand identity Before

• Maintains the same color palette and typography as the previous design • A slightly modified moose logo is the primary athletic logo • Features Gotham font used in the institutional logo as an athletic word mark, from which a standalone “U” secondary logo

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SOCIAL MEDIA What members of the greater University community are saying about Utica’s new name Linda Smith Griffin ‘72 What a momentous day. I know how long and how hard many people worked toward this goal. Bravo!

Frank Cittadino, Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts FANTASTIC! Utica University is poised to grow even more as a significant national and international center of learning and research.

After Tom Baker ’13 End of an era. Progress.

While I’ll miss the nostalgia of knowing it all my life as, and graduating from, Utica College, it’s better for the institution and all those attendees yet to come. Congrats, Utica University. You’ll always be UC to me.

Fast facts about the new look: • Designed by Joe Bosack & Co., a national branding and design firm

THE BUZZ ON

is extrapolated in an effort to more closely align the athletic identity to the institutional identity • “Achieves a much cleaner, easier-to-use system of marks that allows greater ease in presenting and maintaining a consistent image of Utica University,” says Vice President for Presidential Affairs and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Kelly Adams.

Lenie Herrera-Kline ’17 Congratulations my alma mater! Proud to be a graduate of this school!

Rrezart Dema ’16 “Never Stand Still” Roger Shapiro ’83 Are the t-shirts ready???

MOV ING Focused on opportunity and student success, Utica’s cybersecurity programs are keeping pace with a rapidly changing industry.

TARGET. When Andrew Carr arrived at Utica University as a student almost twenty years ago, the 9/11 terror attacks were still fresh in everyone’s mind.

laser-focused on national security, and with good reason.

The profound effect that the resulting global war on terror had on American society resonated deeply within the domain of law enforcement education. Newer fields like cybersecurity, still in its infancy on that fateful day in 2001, largely followed the course of these historical currents.

“Utica University students sought careers in law enforcement or intelligence to help defend against threats to our way of life. At the time, the public sector was typically the main employer of cybersecurity professionals and terrorism was everyone’s main concern,” says Carr.

“The private sector was not a significant focus of Utica’s cybersecurity program in those early days.”

Now an assistant professor and director of Utica’s master’s program in cybersecurity, Carr was in the founding cohort of the cybersecurity major when it launched in 2007. At that time, the program was

Part of the reason for this was the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and other institutional resources created as a direct response to 9/11, such as the National Counterterrorism

Center and the Directorate of National Intelligence. The federal government needed a large cadre of skilled, highly trained professionals to bring these new agencies online and pursue the goal of keeping America safe.

Other concerns drove the public sector’s call for cybersecurity professionals as well. As methods and practices became more sophisticated, law enforcement agencies were increasingly turning to digital forensics to aid in the fight against white collar crime, child trafficking, and other domestic threats. The cybersecurity curriculum at Utica was designed in large measure to prepare students to meet this demand.

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Leslie Corbo and Andrew Carr have been instrumental in developing Utica’s cybersecurity program to meet today’s demands.

Carr’s own experience underscores this dynamic. As a student, he completed an internship with the Utica Police Department under the supervision of his now-colleague Professor Anthony Martino. His first job was as a computer evidence specialist at Onondaga County’s Wallie Howard Jr. Center for Forensic Sciences in Syracuse.

“Many of the people I graduated with currently hold positions in government at both the federal and state level,” Carr says.

Dr. Leslie Corbo, associate professor of cybersecurity and director of the undergraduate program, began her career in the private sector working for a global defense contractor.

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When she arrived at Utica as an adjunct in 2012, an important focus of the program was on cyberwarfare and intelligence collection in support of the U.S. Department of Defense.

to shift. While counterterrorism and national defense remain important priorities, the private sector has increasingly emerged as the terrain upon which many cybersecurity battles are fought in the modern era.

“The government was focused on finding and shutting down resources used to fund terrorism. That focus was at the forefront of our program, and our students were supporting military and law enforcement installations. Our curriculum prepared graduates for work in government entities and defense contractors,” says Corbo.

With the monumental growth in commercial activity via the Internet over the past two decades and an ever-greater reliance on digital technologies to support day-today operations, private businesses and non-profits have become the targets of a growing onslaught of highly sophisticated cyberattacks by shadowy criminal enterprises and non-state actors. This has prompted a dramatic increase in private sector demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals capable of meeting

The Big Shift But as the years passed, the focus of cybersecurity gradually began

these threats head-on.

“Cybersecurity is no longer a career almost exclusively housed in government agencies and defense contractors. Every organization needs cybersecurity,” says Corbo.

This is not something that can be addressed by a single employee or a handful of consultants, she says. Private enterprises now need a range of capabilities, including incident response teams, network defenders, cloud security specialists, threat analysts, and employees who can assess and manage risk in their cybersecurity space.

“Organizations of all sizes are investing in in-house cybersecurity

departments with their own threat hunting and forensics teams,” Carr says. “The number of open positions for private sector cybersecurity employees is now more than ten times that of the public sector.”

The tactics are changing as well.

Now more than ever before, ransomware is becoming the weapon of choice for cyber criminals.

“Ransomware has changed the landscape of cyber threats significantly, and now every organization must be aware of and prepare for cybersecurity incidents and the threat of data theft. Average ransoms are now in the millions of dollars,” says Carr.

Ransomware attacks are not limited

to larger organizations. Targets run the gamut from small physician’s offices to Fortune 100 companies, and the number of attacks is steadily increasing – the average number of cyber attacks and data breaches rose more than 15% in 2021 over the previous year, according to Forbes.

A New Focus The cybersecurity program at Utica University has leaned into this change in focus, updating the curriculum to better prepare students for an amorphous, ever-evolving battle.

“Both the undergraduate and the graduate cybersecurity programs have undergone complete overhauls

Corbo and Carr, along with Stephanie Nesbitt, Dean of Business and Justice and Associate Professor of Risk Management and Insurance, brainstorm ways to improve coursework for students.

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“We’re asking employers the simple question, what do you want in a new employee with your organization?”

Leslie Corbo, D.Sc. Associate Professor of Cybersecurity

to focus on the skills necessary for careers in the private sector.

The curriculum is now focused on preparing students for roles that are highly rewarding and in high demand,” Carr says.

long careers in both the public and private sectors. They remain active in their pre-existing professional networks and are able to keep their finger on the pulse of what’s needed in the real world.

Corbo describes a proactive process of listening to industry experts and potential employers to determine what skills and capabilities are in demand. “We’re asking the simple question, what do you want in a new employee with your organization?

We’ve used supply and heat maps to determine what job openings are available, and what skillsets and knowledge these jobs require. From there, we’ve developed a top-notch program with specializations that reflect current needs,” she says.

Soft Skills Carr says a key part of the program is developing skills that are transferrable between jobs, industries, and sectors. Technical skills are important, but they vary from position to position. Employers are also looking for what he refers to as “soft skills”: perseverance, adaptability, and good communication skills.

The list of specializations now includes digital forensics and incident response, cybersecurity operations, and cybercrime and fraud investigations. In addition, the program has integrated a suite of exercises and digital badging from the industry-leading RangeForce training platform as well as certifications from CompTIA.

This last item is particularly important in the private sector. “Much of the work involves relaying technical information to non-technical people,” says Carr. “Our students need to be able to properly convey cybersecurity risks and resolutions to these people in a way that they can understand so they can take appropriate action. You can be the best analyst in the world, but if you lack those interpersonal skills, you won’t be valuable to your organization.”

Also, the program leadership and most of the faculty come from

“Many times, cybersecurity practitioners act as the conduit between

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the technical and non-technical teams,” Corbo says. “We need to be able to speak both languages. Many employers tell us how much they appreciate our students’ ‘soft skills’.

The students work on these skills from day one, and it shows.”

Like many programs at Utica University, the cybersecurity major and master’s program have managed to keep pace with a rapidly changing industry by focusing on new career opportunities as they emerge. More than anything else, it demonstrates the strength of Utica’s mission and the salience of its promise to prepare students for a future beyond their imagining.

“Early on, many of our students wanted to help save the world,” says Carr. “This was noble then and remains so today. But many now realize that there are more opportunities for success and advancement in the private sector, at a compensation scale that dwarfs that of the public sector, and so students are being drawn toward that path. Our job is to get students career-ready, and we will do whatever it takes to accomplish that, even if that means rewriting our entire program again and again in the years ahead.” 

Advocate in Chief A fluke accident as a teenager changed the course of Kimberly Hill’s life. Now, she’s using her experience to fight for others and dispel misconceptions about people with disabilities as New York State’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer.

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It was the tail end of 1988. Kimberly Hill was a high-school junior in New Hartford, NY, spending the final hours of the year with friends at a New Year’s Eve party.

With moments until midnight, the crowd of teenage party-goers began counting down, the room’s energy rising and culminating with frenzied jumps and cheers as the clock struck midnight.

Hill, physically caught up in the throng of friends, found herself knocked to the floor, suddenly unable to move. Improbably, she had broken her neck.

“It was the definition of a fluke,” says Hill, who recalls the months following her accident as a blur of hospitals, surgeries, and rehabilitation. She spent nearly eight months in the hospital – the first two months were spent at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY and then the final six months were at Burke Rehabilitation Center in White Plains, NY. It was during this time that doctors and physical therapists helped her recover, learn how to adapt to a wheelchair, and transition to her new life as a 17-year-old with a disability.

She didn’t know it then, but the implausible tragedy would set Kimberly Hill on a path to become one of the most powerful advocates for people with dis-

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abilities in New York State. As a student at Utica, where she enrolled barely 18 months into her recovery, Hill found a passion for state government, and honed the skills that would propel her into a decades-long career in the New York State Assembly — all while refusing to let her disability get in the way.

Getting the full college experience, she knew, meant all the trappings of college life: living on campus, eating in the dining hall, attending parties with friends, and hanging out on the quad on spring afternoons. Despite all the changes she’d endured over the past several months, Hill wasn’t ready to give up on that vision.

“Kim has defied being pigeon-holed,” says Jim Murphy, Hill’s former government professor and mentor. “Both as a college student and now as a leader in Albany, she has never let her disability define her.”

Her visit to Utica had restored her hope. Living so close by, Hill realized she had discounted the local college, but now, after a tour and multiple assurances that adjustments could be made to the physical campus to ensure accessibility, Hill felt she had found the perfect fit.

A Reimagined Future Kimberly Hill had just begun to explore college options when her accident altered everything.

Plans, which she had hoped would include college in New York City and a career in the merchandising industry, were put on hold indefinitely. Like so many other parts of her life, the future Hill had carefully plotted out as an adolescent now seemed nebulous, requiring myriad concessions and compromises due to her physical limitations.

But, in the summer of 1989, a visit to then-Utica College of Syracuse University opened up a new possibility. Since the accident, Hill’s parents’ support and advocacy had been essential in helping her recover and cope. Her mom, Barbara, had practically made Hill’s care her full-time job. The entire family knew that finding a college nearby would allow Hill to continue to rely on her parents’ support. Still, Hill was not interested in commuting.

“[Utica] was 10 minutes from my house, had several programs I was interested in, and it just made a lot of sense,” she says. By then, her career goals had moved away from merchandising and toward journalism and public relations, two programs for which Utica was nationally known. Soon after her visit, Hill applied and was accepted, declaring a PR and journalism major with a minor in government.

“My dad had worked in state government for a long time, so I had the idea I wanted to do something in that realm,” she recalls.

Her campus living arrangements were falling into place, too. With help from then-Director of Residence Life Mark Kovacs and some tweaks by facilities to make her route to campus buildings more accessible, Hill settled into an apartment on the ground floor of Alumni Hall, where she would live for the next four years.

Arcuri’s winning bid for Oneida County District Attorney in 1993.

“We just hit it off,” Hill says. “Our interests were aligned.”

‘Talent and Temperament’ Professor Jim Murphy has no trouble remembering Kimberly Hill, despite the 30 years since she first entered his classroom in DePerno Hall.

“She sat in the front row on the right,” he recalls. “She was very soft-spoken, gracious, understated. And she did great work.”

In Murphy’s evening course on election campaign management, Hill’s “brains and talent” impressed him, he says. Then a junior, Hill talked with Murphy about her career aspirations, and Murphy was in the unique position to help.

Pictured circa 1993 on campus, Kimberly Hill served as a student ambassador for the admissions department during her Utica days.

Just as she had hoped, Hill was enjoying life as a typical Utica student, thriving socially and academically.

In the classroom, she excelled in courses in communications and government. Government Professors Jim Murphy and Richard Emmert served as valuable mentors.

In fact, it was in one of Emmert’s classes that Hill met one friend in particular. A year her junior, fellow government student Mike Ridley ‘95 was as politically minded as Hill. They grew closer while working on future Congressman Mike

At the time, Murphy himself was working in the state legislature as director of the intern program. The Assembly was always looking for talented interns to join the staff, and Murphy was happy to provide recommendations from among his students, many of them also acolytes of legendary PR Professor Ray Simon.

Hill, he knew, would thrive in a position within the Assembly’s Communication and Information Services Department, which required deft writing skills and a “certain temperament under pressure,” he explains. “To find such a mature temperament in someone that young is rare, but Kim had it.”

In January 1994, at Murphy’s recommendation, Hill interviewed for and was offered a job that seemed

the perfect marriage of her interests and education; doing writing, research and graphic design for the democratic majority.

After graduating from Utica in the spring of 1994, Hill moved to Albany and began work. She was soon joined by boyfriend Mike Ridley, who spent a semester commuting back and forth from Utica before graduating in December, and soon found a position of his own within the State Assembly as well.

By 1998, Hill’s career took a fortuitous turn when she was approached about an open position within the Assembly, as Director of the Task Force on People with Disabilities.

The Task Force focused on people with physical and sensory disabilities, and the Director, she learned, would help create and evaluate initiatives for people with disabilities living in New York. The opportunity to help others through legislation was too appealing to pass up.

“I knew I would have the ability to make changes to help people live more independently, more inclusively in the community,” Hill says.

Hill was offered the position, and over the course of more than two decades, became one of Albany’s most vocal and most effective advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities. Most notably, she worked with Assembly members to advance legislation related to the state’s Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Waiver, which allows seniors and people with physical disabilities to have more control over the services they

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receive while living in community-based settings. In 2002, she championed the passage of the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council, ensuring that New Yorkers with disabilities receive care and services in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs. She served with the Assembly’s Standing Committee on People with Disabilities as their principal analyst, and helped plan more than 24 annual Legislative Disabilities Awareness Days, which brought hundreds of people with disabilities, their families, advocates, and legislators to Albany each year.

Her decision to accept the Task Force position, it seemed, was a solid one. Hill was more than a mouthpiece for disability rights.

On behalf of New Yorkers with disabilities, she was a force.

A History-Making Opportunity By the summer of 2021, Kimberly Hill was busier than ever. As was the case for nearly every population across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic had created unprecedented obstacles for people with disabilities in New York.

Among many others, issues related to the home care industry were top of mind for Hill, as the pandemic was exasperating an already struggling home care and direct care industry.

“When you rely on home care to get up and be independent each day, not having that help can be devastating,” she says.

Adding to the upheaval, New York’s longtime governor, Andrew

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Governor Hochul congratulates Hill at the news conference announcing her appointment in February 2022. Photo credit: Mike Groll, Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

Cuomo, had recently resigned, and state government was in flux.

The incoming governor, democrat Kathy Hochul, took office on August 24, 2021, and, according to Hill, brought with her a fresh perspective on disability rights and employment inclusion.

When news of the job opening crossed Hill’s desk, she first thought of her family: Mike Ridley, her partner of more than 30 years, and their children, Michaela, 19, and Alex, 14.

“I admired how Governor Hochul took office ready to rebuild and make these issues a priority,” she says.

“I knew, immediately, that this would be a dramatic career change, and I had to weigh the work-life balance,” she says, though she couldn’t deny the job’s extraordinary appeal.

Part of Hochul’s agenda was the creation of an entirely new office supporting people with disabilities, which would be led by a new position: the state’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer.

“The job description reflected everything I was doing for the Assembly, but on a statewide level within the Executive Chamber. It represented the chance to make some real change as part of an

“

My real hope is that New York becomes a leader in disability policy and integrating people, so everyone feels included and valued in their communities. That’s really what it’s all about.”

administration deeply committed to these issues, and I felt like I needed to explore that.”

After a “fantastic” interview process, Hill got the call she’d been hoping for.

“I may have screamed a little bit,” Hill says with a laugh, recalling the moment she learned she had been selected as New York’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer.

Her new boss, Governor Hochul, was excited, too. In a ceremony in February 2022, Hochul praised Hill as a “superstar” for her long history of advocacy work.

profile, Hill’s work, then and now, has always focused on two fundamental goals: inclusion and independence for people with disabilities — both of which Hill says start with employment.

“The unemployment rate in New York among people with disabilities is staggering,” Hill explains, “And a lot of that is connected to issues surrounding employer misconceptions. Employers who are unfamiliar with people with disabilities may not understand just how valuable they can be as employees.”

“She has the demeanor and those existing relationships that will benefit us,” said Hochul in her remarks. “The bar is very high for you, Kim, but I have no doubt that you’ll meet it.”

In an ongoing effort to change those perceptions, Hill and her office are working with state agencies and the dozens of service providers and not-for-profits that play a role in the employment of people with disabilities.

The Future of Disability Rights

At the same time, Hill is identifying all of the roadblocks and barriers

Even with her new position’s high

that are preventing people with disabilities from exploring employment options and opportunities.

Hill expects that tackling this issue with a multi-pronged approach will dramatically improve the employment rate for people with disabilities, and play a substantial role in achieving Governor Hochul’s goal to create 1,200 state jobs for people with disabilities.

And despite the many challenges still facing New York’s Chief Disability Officer and the people she serves, Hill can’t help setting long-term goals for her office—and the state.

“My real hope is that New York becomes a leader in disability policy and integrating people, so everyone feels included and valued in their communities,” she says. “That’s really what it’s all about.” 

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Honor Roll of Donors June 1, 2021– May 31, 2022

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The Honor Roll of Donors highlights the names of those who made a gift to Utica University during the 2021-22 fiscal year beginning June 1, 2021 and ending May 31, 2022. Gifts to the University received after May 31, 2022 will be recognized in the 2022-23 Honor Roll of Donors.

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness. In the event that an error or omission is found, we sincerely apologize and asked that you contact the Office of Advancement at 315-792-3053 or email advancement@utica. edu so we can correct our records.

For the full list of donors, please visit utica.edu/HonorRollofDonors

PIONEER SOCIETY The Pioneer Society honors Utica University’s most generous annual donors. The Society recognizes those leadership donors whose commitment and investment in Utica University is critical to the institution’s future. Each year, gifts received from Pioneer Society donors represent more than 80 percent of the University’s total gifts.

Pioneer Society Chair’s Summit Circle $20,000 or more Anonymous Kenneth Bell ‘75 and Anne Veness Bell Robert Brvenik ‘77 Larry ‘74 and Cora Bull Laura and Filippo Casamento Harold Clark Jr. ‘65, H’03 and Bernadette Clark Thomas Cole ‘92 Christopher ‘80 and Cynthia Crolius Ronald ‘66 and Sheila Cuccaro Harry ‘71 and Wendy Cynkus Frederick ‘70 and Connie Degen Ronald ‘63 and Cecelia ‘62 Gouse Hartwell Herring III and Paulette Herring Samuel and Nancy Hester Daniel ‘97 and Anne-Marie Jones* Michael Parnell ‘02† and Catherine Kelly ‘04, G’06 Christopher ‘61 and Virginia Kelly Elizabeth Meehan Christian Meyer III ‘79 and Mary Beth Welle-Meyer ‘79 William Pfeiffer Jr. Mark ‘88 and Mary Beth Pilipczuk

† deceased

Thomas ‘65 and Virginia Rossiter Deanna ‘62 and John Sammon Gloria Shaheen ‘82 Stephen Sloan ‘83 Stewart Starer ‘66 Kenneth ‘80 and Wendy Taubes Jeremy ‘00 and Carrie Thurston David Wilson ‘67 David Wittner Pioneer Society President’s Summit Circle $10,000 - $19,999 Anonymous Stephen Alcala ‘77 and Donna Braun George ‘50 and Marilyn Barlow Robert Brandt Jr. and Carole Brandt Joan Brannick ‘54 Gerard Capraro ‘66 Don H’14 and Edna Carbone Randolph Collins ‘83 Thomas Cox Jr. ‘69 Steven ‘72 and Dorian Critellli Krista ‘82 and Louis DiBerardino Violet ‘73 and J. Christopher Eagan Allyn Earl ‘62 Heidi Hoeller ‘91 and Paul Serbaniewicz

*arranged for matching gift

John G’13 and Deborah Johns* George and Pinny Kuckel Peter ‘69 and JoAnn Lekki Donald Majka Albert ‘58 and Elinor Mazloom Wester ‘76 and Lorraine Miga Louis Natale ‘59 Jeffrey and Amanda Novotny Anthony ‘72 and Barbara Paolozzi Linda Romano and Russell Petralia* James ‘70 and Sharon Samuel Vincent ‘60 and Sherry Solomon Patricia and John Swann Charles Teuscher ‘84 DeForest ‘62 and Arlene ‘63 Tinkler Nancy Williams Pioneer Society Burrstone Circle $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Bart ‘62 and Carol Basi Betsy Bedient William and Joan Blanchfield Anne Calabrese ‘71 John Calabrese Sr. ‘90 and Lori Calabrese Joseph ‘11 and Barbara Chubbuck James DuRoss Jr. and Cynthia DuRoss Alan Ellinwood ‘68

Christine ‘92 and Peter Farley* Francis Fiato ‘72 John Forte ‘73* Marianne and Peter Gaige Arthur Golder ‘50 William ‘74 and Linda Grammaticas Mary Green Linda Griffin ‘72 and Freling Smith Anthony Joseph Jr. ‘71 Benay Leff ‘65 Carol and Steven Mackintosh Stephen and Amanda Mandia Steven McKenna Wesley Miga ‘80 and Karen Stonebraker Miga ‘80 Frank ‘62 and Clorinda ‘62 Mondi Richard ‘52 and Elaine Montag George Nehme Christopher Neumann Todd Pfannestiel and Aimee Zellers Marianne and Dennis Reynolds Kathleen Riley Tehan ‘76 Solade Rowe ‘94 and Chidi Blyden-Rowe Jeffrey Senft ‘76 Raymond ‘59, H’11 and Elizabeth Serway Michael and Carol Simpson Scott Sugarman Philip ‘70 and Barbara ‘69 Taurisano Howard Terrillion ‘58

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Katie ‘98 and Richard Terry Kirsten Ullman ‘88 and Brian Bursa Paul ‘05 and Catherine Ward* Eric Watson and Paola Gentry Scott Weisman ‘77 and Virginia Furth Weisman Ann Wynne ‘58 Pioneer Society Scholars Circle $2,500 - $4,999 Anthony Baird ‘91 Andrew Beakman Linda ‘89 and Les Bramblett Geoffrey Brandt ‘07 Alan Bucholtz ‘59 John Casellini ‘81 and Christine Rutigliano Michael DiGeorge ‘80 Dennis Donohue William ‘68 and Judith Dowling Matthew Dziekan ‘14 Erica Eckman ‘08 Blake ‘91 and Cathy Ford Jeffery and Tara Gates George Grisham Jr. ‘78 and Nancy Grisham Todd and Nancy Hutton Brian ‘85 and Michele Jackson Anthony ‘50 and Ann Jadhon Paul and Mairead Johndrow John Kaczmarski Sr. and Roberta Kaczmarski Carol and Robert Keller J. Eric King ‘65 and Kathlene Thiel Robert and Tatyana Knight H. Thomas Lennon III Salvatore and Kathleen Longo Barbara Marchilonis ‘69 and Clyde Evans Natalie and William Matt Denise McVay G’07 and Robin Tayler Michael Miller ‘00 Robert Montgomery ‘09, G’12 Anthony Morgan* Roberta and Howard Morrow Thomas ‘69 and Anne ‘77 Nelson* Stephanie Nesbitt and Liana Prosonic G’17 Rachel Netzband ‘63 Jeana Nicotera Stephanie Opalka Treesa Salter ‘88

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Tanner Stewart ‘10* Lorna Sweet Michael ‘66 and Mary Anne Valentine Thomas Wilson ‘86 Pioneer Society Charter Circle $1,000 - $2,499 Anonymous Nicholas and JamieLeigh Accordino Kelly ‘00 and Michele ‘01 Adams Brian Agnew ‘03 and Lauren Agnew Jon ‘07 and Amanda Ames* Andrew ‘99 and Gina Arcuri Francisco Ayala III ‘94 Eleanor Baker ‘51, H’93 Alan Balutis ‘67 Kenneth Barneys ‘87 Charlie and Jane Barthel Gordon Bashant Jr. ‘55 and Nancy Bashant Patrick ‘68 and Deborah Bastow William Belden Gregory ‘83 and Julie Benincasa Marianne Boehlert Holly Boltz ‘75 and Daniel Vega David ‘72 and Regina Bonacci Jacqueline Boulden ‘75 Douglas and Catherine Bowne Bryant Buchanan and Sharon Wise Stacy ‘88 and Robert Buckley Janice Burke ‘70 Anne Burton ‘63 Mikhail Bushinski ‘17, G’18 Mary Cahalan ‘53 David and Nancy Carlon Matthew Carr ‘03 and Amie Lucia ‘05 Jerome and Mary Lou Cartwright James ‘78 and Catherine Caruso Nicholas ‘86 and Barbara Cecere Jon Champlin Dana Christofferson ‘14* Timothy Coakley ‘59 Richard Coffey Michael ‘80 and Cheryl Corasanti

Antonia Cortese ‘66 Vincent ‘66 and Nancy† Coyne Shad and Heidi Crowe Linda Culyer and Robert Culyer Jr. Ricardo ‘83 and Jacqueline Cumberbatch Sarah ‘89 and James Dam Ann Damiano Mark and Deborah Daviau Leila Davis ‘89 Michele Davis G’11 Benjamin De Iorio ‘62 and Donald Daniels ‘61 Nancy DePaolo Pattarini ‘77 and Stephen Pattarini Jeffrey Depoian ‘93 Stephen DeVito ‘12 William Dibble ‘65 Kyo ‘98, G’03 and Erik Dolan Jon Earl Richard ‘65 and Joan Evans William Everson Michael Evolo Jr. ‘90 and Melissa Hobika Evolo* Anthony and Katherine Farrington Richard and Bonnie Fenner Anthony Fus Jr. ‘04, G’06, G’11 Mark ‘78 and Carole Gauger Lawrence Grasso ‘77 and Cindy Moeckel Lisa Green G’16 and Donald Green II W. James Greene ‘54 Anthony Grimm II ‘68 and Susan Grimm J.K. Hage III and Hedy HydeHage Patrice and David Hallock Christopher Healy Scott ‘69 and Paula Healy Gary G’05 and Jodi Heenan Sarah Hinman ‘77 Andrew ‘84 and Mary Hislop Stephen Hoffman ‘70 and Mimi Santos-Hoffman John Hollister ‘69 Brian ‘75 and Susan Hughes Janice ‘73 and Michael ‘73 Huss Stanley ‘67 and Phyllis Ann Jachimowski Richard ‘67 and Sally ‘68 Jarvis* Heather Johnsen Edward ‘62 and Honore Jones James Kaufman

Harry ‘73 and Melissa Keel Kevin Kennedy ‘82 Richard Kennedy ‘97 Barbara Knauf and Arthur Knauf Jr. John Kuhlmann ‘72 Walter ‘60 and Gloria Kunz David ‘76 and Martha ‘77 Lamb Kim Lambert and William Wheatley Ann Lambert Kremer ‘81 and Steven Kremer Michael Levine ‘05, G’12 Terrence Li ‘01 and Cat Bui* Bonnie ‘79 and David Liebers Arlene Lundquist Janet Malone ‘86 W. Anthony Mandour and Carol Mandour Glenn Manigault Anthony G’04 and Janice Martino J. Kemper Matt Sr. and Angela Matt Nicholas and Susan Matt Pamela Matt and Francis Matt IV Dominick Mattia Sr. ‘64 and Lauren Mattia ‘98 John and Darlene McLaughlin Jennifer Miller ‘07 and Patrick Buchinski ‘08 Patrick and Linda Mineo Robert ‘73 and Lynn Montesano John ‘61 and Ludmilla Moore Risa Morrison John ‘66 and Patricia ‘66 Mulhall Tim Nelson Frank Notarianni ‘67 Adalgisa Nucci ‘67 Peter ‘90 and Colleen O’Connor John ‘81 and Kathleen ‘83 O’Donnell Richard ‘79 and Beth ‘79 O’Donnell Vincent Palmieri Michael Pandolfo ‘78 Marlene Parron Bingaman ‘01 Rose Patterson ‘87 Lili Poon ‘99 Melvyn ‘59 and Ronnie Poplock Curtis and Joni Pulliam Albert Pylinski Jr. ‘85

† deceased

*arranged for matching gift

Eugene Quadraro Jr. ‘71 and Mary Theresa Quadraro Maria and Jose Reyes Ann ‘87 and Danny Roman Setsuko Rosen ‘87 John Rowe Tricia Rutkowski Barry ‘70 and Patricia Ryan Donna Sabatino and John Hanlon* William Salmeri II ‘73 Pamela and Robert Salmon James Salsbury ‘69 Laura Salvaggio

Ashlea and Cory Schad Kristian Schlottner ‘01 Michael Scialdone ‘99 Walter Semeniak ‘70 Anthony Shaheen ‘57 David Shanton ‘80 Robert ‘74 and Veronica Sherman Norman and Ann Siegel Terri Sitrin John ‘95 and Renee Snyder Charles Sprock Sr. ‘61 and Gretchen Sprock Andrew Steiner ‘92

John ‘66 and Madeline Stephenson Vincent Striano Kyle Strife ‘08* Stephen ‘98 and Gina Surace David ‘69 and Lynne Suuronen Ann Marie Teitelbaum Cassella ‘92 Eric Threadgill ‘08 Gary ‘68 and Mary Thurston David Vander Veen Jr. ‘89 and Catherine Vander Veen Matthew VanWaes ‘02, G’13

Kenneth ‘08 and Noel Visalli Jeffery ‘04 and Kalia Whalley Selwyn White ‘85 Gregory ‘03, G’06 and Katharine ‘03 Williamson* Michele Woodard ‘76 John ‘68 and Patricia ‘68 Zalatan Ralph Zegarelli ‘70 and Lucille Nickerson John Zografos ‘77 Jaime Zusman ‘65

HERITAGE SOCIETY We gratefully acknowledge the commitment, foresight, and generosity of our community of alumni and friends who believe so fervently in our mission to educate that they have included the University when planning their philanthropy. Those listed here have either made provision in their estate and/or have taken steps to make a planned or deferred gift at some future point to benefit the faculty and students of Utica University.

Future Planned Gifts: Lawrence and Linda ‘96 Aaronson Robert ‘59 and Elizabeth Babcock John Bach Jr. ‘75 Pat Bamdad ‘65 Annette Becker Professor John C. Behrens† Bernice Benson† Leo ‘54† and Joan ‘54 Brannick Larry ‘74 and Corky Bull Anne Calabrese ‘71 Gerard Capraro ‘66 Timothy Coakley ‘59 Thomas Cole ‘92

Harry Cynkus ‘71 Carolyn Dalton ‘74 Stuart Davis ‘58 and Constance Griffith Davis ‘58 Frederick Degen ‘70 Ron ‘61 and May ‘60† Duff Jim DuRoss Carl Dziekan Joan Friedenberg ‘73 Linda Gigliotti ‘69 Robert Greene ‘67 Honorable Linda Griffin ‘72 Mary Hayes Gordon ‘82, G’13 John Hobika Jr. ‘91 Eileen Hopsicker Todd Hutton Brian Jackson ‘85

Daniel Jones ‘97 Kevin Kasky ‘86 Harry Keel ‘73 Kim Landon ‘75 Benay Leff ‘65 Gerald Martin ‘71 Sharon White McEwan ‘64 Wester ‘76 and Lorraine Miga Tim Nelson Randall Nichols Adalgisa Nucci ‘67 Theodore Orlin Fredericka Paine Charles ‘63 and Eleda ‘65 Roberts James Samuel ‘70 James Sheldon ‘67 Henry Spring ‘77

William Swick ‘70 Ann Marie Teitelbaum Cassella ‘92 Howard Terrillion ‘58 Charles Teuscher ‘84 Joseph and Evelyn Tierno DeForest ‘62 and Arlene ‘63 Tinkler Hans and Laura Wang Tina Wiernusz ‘79 Walter Williams ‘61† Bequests Received from the Estates of: Sally L. Majka ‘61 Michael C. Parnell ‘02 Wilson H. Tyler ‘69 Francis A. Wilcox

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ONEIDA SQUARE SOCIETY The Oneida Square Society honors the visionary leadership of those donors whose lifetime giving to Utica University totals $100,000 or more. Their generous gifts helped build Utica University and lay the foundation for its future.

Genesee Street - $5,000,000 or more Harold T. Clark Jr. ’65 F. Eugene Romano Plant Street - $1,000,000-$4,999,999 Anonymous Bob Brvenik ‘77 Larry ‘74 & Corky Bull Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties John A. ‘57† & Valerie Donohue The Hayner Hoyt Corporation Gary Thurston ‘68 & Jeremy Thurston ‘00 Lotis R. Howland Trust Thomas J. ‘65 & Virginia Rossiter Dr. Albert ‘49† & Gloria ‘82 Shaheen Estate of Francis A. Wilcox Hart Street - $500,000-$999,999 Adirondack Bank George I. Alden Trust ARAMARK Donald G. ‘71 (+) & Bernice F. ‘72† Benson Thomas J. Jr. ‘49† & Marion D. Cahill† The Carbone Family Ellen Knower Clarke Charitable Trust Harry J. Cynkus ‘71 Edward W. ‘50† & Jean M. Duffy† Jim & Cynthia DuRoss Charles A. & Connie† Gaetano Estate of Dr. Jean Halladay ‘53 Estate of Ruby Rogers di Iorio Christopher ‘61 & Virginia Kelly Albert S. Mazloom ‘58 John ‘61† & Betty Meehan John F. Millett ‘52, DDS† & Margaret A. Millett† Estate of Professor Wayne N. Palmer Gerald Starer ‘65† & Dr. Stewart H. Starer ‘66 Francis Street - $250,000-$499,999 Adirondack Financial Services Corporation Eugene† & Connie† Corasanti John ‘66 & Ann Costello Ronald ‘66 & Sheila Cuccaro Fred L. Emerson Foundation Estate of Joseph P. Furgal ‘50 Frank E. Gannett Foundation Andrew ‘84 & Mary Hislop

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Estate of Peter Kucherenko & Eugenia Kucherenko Gary Kunath ‘79 LexisNexis Mac-Clark Restaurants Theodore E. Martin ‘61 Mele Foundation Christian W. Meyer III ‘79 & Mary Beth Welle-Meyer ‘79 James ‘59† & Katherine Pyne John F. & Jacqueline C. ‘11, G’13 Romano Linda Romano & Russell Petralia John & Deanna ‘62 Sammon SBU Bank Sodexo Estate of Lt. Col. Edna Stappenbeck ‘51 Kenneth J. ‘80 & Wendy R. Taubes Philip ‘70 & Barbara ‘69 Taurisano Dr. Esat Toksu Walter W. ‘61† & Nancy Williams Estate of Gladys W. Young State Street - $100,000-$249,999 Anonymous Albert† & Nata M. Augustyn Bank of Utica BBL Charitable Foundation, Inc. Ken Bell ‘75 & Anne Veness Bell Nancy E. Blake ‘55 The Honorable Sherwood L. Boehlert ‘61† Robert Brandt Jr. & Carole Brandt P’07 Dr. Leo J. ‘54† & Joan F. ‘54 Brannick The Gilbert & Ildiko Butler Family Foundation Judge Richard† & Catherine Clarke Cardamone Filippo Casamento & Dr. Laura Casamento P’10 & P’13 John Casellini ‘81 & Christine Rutigliano Thomas J. Cole ‘92 Thomas F. Cox Jr. ‘69 Professor Virgil C.† & Martha† Crisafulli Steven M. Critelli ‘72 David F. D’Alessandro ‘72 Frederick C. Degen ‘70 Ronald H. ‘61 & May C. ‘60† Duff Professor Allyn R. Earl ‘62 Estate of Suzanne J. Finegan ‘74 First Source Federal Credit Union Marianne & Peter Gaige

Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy Inc. Larry & Elizabeth Gilroy Arthur J. Golder ‘50 Isaac Gordon† Ronald ‘63 & Cecelia ‘62 Gouse Friends of Dr. Michelle E. Haddad ‘81† Dental Seminar The William Randolph Hearst Foundation Dr. Hartwell C. Herring III & Paulette Herring Sam & Nancy Hester Heidi Hoeller ‘91 & Paul Serbaniewicz Dr. Todd & Jennifer Hutton Daniel B. ‘97 & Anne-Marie Jones Estate of Mary S. Kramer ‘88 David Lamb ‘76 & Martha Sutton Lamb ‘77 Estate of Doris ‘52 & William Lynch Sally ‘61† & Donald Majka Estate of Elvira Marotta Professor Doris W.† & Walter E.† Miga Wesley Miga ‘80 & Karen Stonebraker Miga ‘80 Wester ‘76 & Lorraine Miga Fredericka Paine Anthony C. ‘72 & Barbara Paolozzi Dr. William F. Pfeiffer Jr. & Margaret M. Pfeiffer ‘89† Mark ‘88 & Mary Beth Pilipczuk John R. Pyle Jr. ‘50† Dr. James H. Reagan Jr. ‘72 & Garnet Reagan James E. Reid ‘73, Linda P. Reid & Griffin A. Reid ‘07 The Retirement Research Foundation Estate of Esther Reynolds Jeffrey B. Senft ‘76 Slocum-Dickson Foundation, Inc. Charles ‘61 & Gretchen Sprock Estate of Bernard W. Sullivan Jr. ‘61 Howard J. Terrillion ‘58 Utica National Insurance Group & Foundation Hans & Laura Wang David J. Wilson ‘67 Women’s Christian Association of Utica George ‘55† & Ann ‘58 Wynne Ronald & Helena Youngs Charitable Remainder Unitrust Dr. Donald K.† & Doris Zellner†

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Top Reasons to Attend Utica’s Homecoming, Alumni and Family Weekend

ALUMNI NEWS

After a long, two-year hiatus, Utica University’s annual Homecoming, Alumni and Family Weekend is back in a big way!

If food, fun, football, and reconnecting with friends aren’t enough of a draw, we’ve compiled the top five reasons Pioneers should make their way back to Utica on September 30 – October 2, 2022.

See the full schedule and register at utica.edu/homecoming

REASON

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Family fun. Kids will feel right at home on campus, with plenty of family friendly activities all weekend long, including the traditional Carnival Under the Stars on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:00 p.m., and a kid zone tent with fun and games for our youngest Pioneers during Saturday’s pregame tailgate.

Athletic events for former athletes and fans. Whether you competed as a Pioneer or simply enjoy taking in a good game as a spectator, there are lots of options during the weekend. Utica’s swimming and diving, men’s lacrosse, water polo, tennis, volleyball, field hockey, and football teams are all hosting events and reunions.

SWAG! Among other things, Utica’s transition from a college to a university is the perfect excuse to load up on brand-new Utica University gear. Hit the bookstore in the Ralph F. Strebel Student Center, where you can update your wardrobe (and bring home some sweet souvenirs).

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Alumni Bookshelf Recent titles from Utica alumni

A Bridge to Justice: The Life of Franklin H. Williams

By John Caher ‘80 and Enid Gort Fordham University Press

Brotherly Love—and Generosity Brothers of Utica University’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Zeta Chapter returned to campus in April as part of the University’s inaugural Greek Storm weekend. At a ceremony in the academic quad, the brothers, including Utica’s Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Student Transitions Anthony Baird ’91, presented a $25,000 check to endow the Alpha Phi Alpha Robert D. Horton Endowed Scholarship, which will support students who exemplify a deep dedication to community service and leadership, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.

REASON

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Campus upgrades. The past several years have brought major physical changes to the Utica campus. See our newest facilities up-close during guided tours and events inside Thurston Hall, the Francis A. Wilcox Intercultural and Student Organization Center, the Todd and Jenn Hutton Sports and Recreation Dome, and the Esports Arena in Bull Hall.

Coming Back Together! Like the Utica University experience itself, the undisputed highlight of Homecoming is the opportunity to connect with friends. Celebrate a milestone reunion and catch up with classmates at Saturday’s All Reunion Party, open to all alumni—because reuniting does, in fact, feel so good.

Set to hit bookshelves this October, Caher and Gort penned this biography of civil rights trailblazer Franklin H. Williams; a PBS documentary of the same name, co-written and produced

by Caher, is nominated for a New York Emmy Award.

Her Past Can’t Wait

By Jacqueline Boulden ‘75 Pine Place Press A woman’s struggle to cope with a devastating childhood trauma turns into a fight to protect others in this fictional thriller, author Boulden’s first. Find it online in September.

Binge Times: Inside Hollywood’s Furious Billion-Dollar Battle to Take Down Netflix

By Dade Hayes and Dawn Chmielewski ‘83 William Morrow and Company Published in April and co-written by longtime media and tech journalist Chmielewski, Binge Times chronicles Netflix’s rapid rise to streaming supremacy— and its many rivals’ struggle to keep up. The title was recently hailed by Fast Company as one of summer 2022’s “best technology books.”

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Introducing Bull Hall Utica University celebrated the renaming of the Economic Crime and Justice Studies building in honor of two of the University’s most generous benefactors: Larry ‘74 and Cora “Corky” Bull.

On May 12, 2022, the Lauren and Cora Bull Hall was officially dedicated in a ceremony, at which President Laura Casamento delivered remarks honoring the Bulls’ long history of philanthropy and engagement with the University, including their recent $2 million gift in support of the new Pioneer Track and Field Complex.

“Their philanthropy is equaled by their history of extraordinary service to the institution. As a founding member of the Utica Board of Trustees, one of the longest serving trustees, and the only two-time chairperson of the Board, Larry Bull has helped guide Utica through some of the most pivotal and monumental moments in

its maturation as an institution,” said President Casamento.

“He was extraordinarily influential in the growth of the physical plant and the expansion of innovative academic programs, both of which are symbolized by the ECJS Building. The Bulls are also the benefactors of the Utica University medallion and the principal namesakes of the Bull Family Board Conference Room.”

Constructed in 2008, the former Economic Crime and Justice Studies building is home to Utica University’s cybersecurity, criminal justice, fraud and financial crimes programs, as well as meeting and instructional spaces, research laboratories for computer forensics, and more. 

President Casamento, Larry, and Cora Bull pose in front of the Bull Hall dedication plaque.

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ADVANCEMENT UPDATES A Family Tradition of Philanthropy The Center for Career and Professional Development is now The Jeremy C. Thurston ’00 Center for Career Readiness, thanks to a contribution from alumnus and trustee Jeremy C. Thurston ‘00.

The Thurston name is familiar to members of the Utica University community: In 2018, the University dedicated Thurston Hall, the state-of-the-art home for Utica’s Construction Management program and a project made possible by lead donor and 1968 alumnus Gary Thurston, Jeremy’s father.

Jeremy, a class of 2000 graduate and current president of the Hayner Hoyt Construction Group, has been an active member of the Utica alumni community and a generous donor to the University for decades, noted Provost Todd Pfannestiel at the dedication ceremony, which was attended by members of the Thurston family, including Jeremy and his wife, Carrie [1].

Most recently, he helped establish The Hayner Hoyt Corporation Construction Management Scholarship at Utica University, which will provide $5,000 annually to a Construction Management student, with preference given to female students and those from historically under-represented communities.

“Just like his father before him, Jeremy Thurston has been an integral part of Utica University’s growth and expansion for many years. A longtime champion of our Construction Management program, Jeremy has been instrumental in the program’s success and, more important, in the success of its alumni,” Pfannestiel said.

Utica Hits a Give Day Milestone [2] For 36 hours on April 6-7, 2022, Utica students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends stepped up to demonstrate how “Utica Starts with U.” As part of the University’s annual Give Day, more than 400 generous donors helped raise a staggering $61,135 to support

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1 students through The Fund for Student Success.

Social media challenges, giveaways, and a high-traffic photobooth for students in the Ralph F. Strebel Student Center helped make the fundraising event the University’s most successful Give Day yet.

“It’s always incredible to see the Utica community come together to support our students,” said Interim Vice President for Advancement Amy Lindner. “But the excitement, energy, and generosity of this year’s Give Day was unprecedented.

On behalf of our students, we are beyond grateful.”

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‘Check’ This Out [3] Shortly after Utica’s name change was announced in February 2022, loyal donors and alumni Jack ‘66 and Pat Mulhall ‘66 of Sherborn, Massachusetts, proudly displayed their annual donation — and what we believe is the first-ever check written to Utica University. Thank you, Mulhalls!

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Class Notes Allen Berger ’57, Savannah, GA, is an emeritus professor of reading and writing, Miami University (Ohio). His letter to the editor regarding banned books in Texas public schools was recently published in The New York Times.

Anthony Garramone ’61, Utica, NY, retired from the New York State Judiciary in December 2020 after 38 years. He continues to serve as the attorney for the Utica Common Council.

Dave Dudajek ’72, Whitesboro, NY, retired as opinion page editor from the Observer-Dispatch in May 2020 after 47 years in journalism. He’s currently spending quality time with his wife of nearly 50 years, Jan, and keeping watch over five grandchildren.

Dan Chmielewski ’83, Irvine, CA, is the owner of Madison Alexander Public Relations Inc. The company was recently named the “Most Innovative PR firm for Infosec Companies” by Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry’s leading electronic information security magazine.

Sharun Goodwin-Jones ’87, Brooklyn, NY, was awarded the Power Women of Manhattan Award by the New York City Department of Probation.

Goodwin currently serves as the deputy commissioner adult operations for the New

York City Department of Probation.

Dyann Nashton ’88, Oneida, NY, recently released an anthology, Main, celebrating small-town America through stories of family-owned businesses, including her own. Her tale, “Candy is Strong When the Marrow is Sweet,” is an insider’s look at how Turkey Joints candy are made and a teenager’s coming-of-age story set in Rome, NY. Gina Pearce ’94, Utica, NY, is executive director with the CNY Conservancy. This nonprofit has been maintaining and beautifying Utica’s F.T. Proctor Park, T.R. Proctor Park, Roscoe Conklin Park, and the Memorial Parkway for 20 years.

Patrick Cooley ’95, Watertown, MA, is senior director, executive and employee communications, for Commvault, a New Jersey-based technology company.

Sideya Sherman ’00, New York, NY, was appointed by the Mayor of New York as commissioner of the new Office of Equity in New York City. The Mayor’s Office of Equity is comprised of the Commission on Gender Equity, Young Men’s Initiative, Unity Project, Racial Justice Commission, Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, and Pay Equity Cabinet.

Maria Karina Ochoa ’06, Utica, NY, works for the

1 Department of Finance Accounting Services (DFAS).

In January 2022, she received the DFAS Quarterly Award, a national honor.

Kyle Henry ’08, Brooklyn, NY, is head coach of the varsity boys’ basketball program at East New York Family Academy.

Courtney Witherspoon ’08, Amherst, NY, is serving students and families through the College Advising Corps. at the University of Connecticut.

Victoria Wilson CruzGriffith ’12, Mableton, GA, was recently promoted to account director at MC2, globally recognized brand experience solutions agency.

Christian Leogrande ’14, G’15, Whitesboro, NY, has been promoted to vice president, medical groups, for Mohawk Valley Health System.

Alexandrya Pope ’14, Utica, NY, graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology.

She is currently working at Yale University as a research assistant within the Psychiatry Department. She will be attending Southern Connecticut State University’s Social Work Clinical MSW program in August 2022.

[1, far right] Noelle Hamilton ’20, Schenectady, NY, is a graduate student at Sacred Heart University studying Strategic Communications and Public Relations. In May 2022, she presented her research at the International Communications Association (ICA) Conference in Paris, France; her study examines how being a black woman and a small business owner affects branding strategies.

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Helping Students See Stars: Sarah Robinson ’16, G’20

By Joshua Ward ’24 Sarah Robinson ’16, G’20 is doing what she loves.

Robinson graduated from Utica University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in geoscience and initial certification in adolescent education. She began teaching at Mount Markham Central School District while finishing graduate school, earning a master’s in leadership and instruction for inclusive classrooms.

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Now, she gets to put it all into practice.

Robinson currently teaches earth science, living environment, and astronomy — a course that she created. The astronomy elective has developed into a student-centered, project-based course that is tailored to the various interests of students each year.

3 Eliana Lee ’20, Boston, MA, has joined software company LinkSquares as a legal engineer.

Ruhi White ’20, Saratoga Springs, NY, is currently working as a data analyst for Field Services at New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).

Sean Kittle ’21, Sauquoit, NY, is teaching English Language Arts at Little Falls City School District.

Jason Puleri G’21, Colorado Springs, CO, is a contractor supporting U.S. Space Force programs in Colorado Springs.

He is also a retired military law enforcement officer and has partnered with non-profit organization Shield 616 to

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4 raise money to purchase better body armor for local law enforcement officers.

BIRTHS & ADDITIONS [2] Athena Cappelli ’04, Henderson, NV, and husband, Jeremy Wallace, welcomed a baby girl, Olive Giavanna, Feb. 4, 2022.

Maria Karina Ochoa ’06, Utica, NY, and husband, Cory Cantales, welcomed a baby girl, Claire Genevieve, in August 2020.

[3] Craig Martel ’07, Rome, NY, and wife, Kristina, welcomed a baby boy, Conor, August 31, 2021.

[4] Matt Falso ’09, Clifton Park, NY, and wife, Katie Gardner Falso ’09, welcomed a son, Nick, in 2021.

“There’s nothing quite like that ‘lightbulb’ moment when students grasp a concept they’ve been struggling with.

I want my students to be curious about the world around them, try to expand their knowledge and ask ‘why?’” says Robinson.

To that end, in 2021, Robinson applied and won a grant from the New York State Association for Computers and Technology in Education (NYSCATE). The funds will provide a new telescope to give astronomy students an up-close look at the solar system and provide the community with a powerful, educational resource.

“With this telescope, students will be able to observe the solar and lunar surfaces, in addition to stars and planets. Students will be engaged in various projects throughout the course of a school year to track changes in the surfaces as well as to study the planets,” says Robinson. “We plan to create a class website showcasing images taken of their targets, as well as an outreach program in which the students hold observation days/ nights for the school community.”

Major Props: Crystal Hayner ’19 To the unfamiliar, Crystal Hayner ’19 describes her field of theatrical props design like this: “Look around the room you are in. What do you see? I have a succulent on my windowsill, a duck stuffed animal at the foot of my bed, pictures hanging on the wall, water bottles and books on my dresser, and so on. While these are everyday items in your house, these are also considered props!”

Props, explains Hayner, are items that performers use during a theatrical production, and prop design, is “helping to create the world that is set through the director and the set designer by adding the detailed items that could be seen in your own home and are used by performers.”

Hayner, who majored in communications with a concentration in theatre at Utica, recently graduated from Louisiana State University with a master’s degree in theatrical props design. During summer 2022, she served as a prop apprentice at the renowned Glimmerglass Opera House in Cooperstown, New York, honing her craft — and more.

“I’ve done scenic woodworking, fine woodworking, foam carving, reupholstery, painting, and other smaller tasks,” says Hayner. “I’ve enjoyed working with the people in my department, but also meeting and making connections in other departments, as well.”

Hayner credits her Utica education, especially courses with Theatre Professor Laura Salvaggio, for helping her find her niche in the theatre world.

“Professor Salvaggio taught me so much when it came to set design, scenic painting, and props. She’s the reason I went to grad school. She taught me to always push forward and do the best I can.”

And as she continues learning in the theatre world, Hayner has her sights set on the biggest stage of all: Broadway (“that would mean I made it big!”).

But as for what show she’d choose to work on? That’s a tougher question.

“Being able to work on ANY Broadway show would make me happy, but The Phantom of the Opera was the first musical theatre show I ever saw on Broadway, and it’s the one that made me fall in love with musical theatre. Wicked is another top favorite of mine, and I would love to work on the Grimmerie, a prop book used throughout the show.”

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WEDDINGS [5] David Cooney ’20, Camden-on-Gauley, WV, married Kendra Hayhurst on April 23, 2022.

[6] Mary Warfel ’18, Clinton, NY, married Mack Moquin on October 16, 2021.

IN MEMORIAM Louis Anelli ’50, Melbourne, FL, February 5, 2021.

Donald B. Klein ’50, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, December 5, 2021.

Dr. Walter L. Sadowski ’51, Montgomery Village, MD, October 28, 2021.

Rita Forsyth ’53, Novato, CA, April 10, 2022.

Gordon P. Krueger ’53, Oneida, NY, April 2, 2022.

Frances M. Miller ’55, Laguna Niguel, CA, April 9, 2021.

Lyn Heywood Simon ’56, New Hartford, NY, April 26, 2022.

Mary W. Gates ’57, Webster, NY, January 29, 2022.

Guy W. Schaff ’57, Herkimer, NY, March 28, 2022.

Walter Litynsky ’58, Wynantskill, NY, November 22, 2021.

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Dr. Joel P. Amidon ’59, Blossvale, NY, June 4, 2022.

Barbara Eldridge ’60, Sterling, VA, May 24, 2020.

Carol J. Morse ’60, Geneva, NY, January 24, 2022.

Dr. Albert Altongy ’61, Annapolis, MD, November 15, 2021.

John W. Dimbleby ’61, Whitesboro, NY, May 20, 2022.

Deforest W. Waite ’61, Rome, NY, March 22, 2022.

Marlow F. Edwards ’62, Rome, NY, May 31, 2022.

Thomas J. Hurley ’62, Troy, MO, March 6, 2022.

Howard C. Welch ’62, Utica, NY, November 25, 2021.

Colonel Joseph A. Campanaro, USA, (Ret.) ‘63, Utica, NY, May 10, 2022.

Raymond J. Murphy ’63, Oneida, NY, February 3, 2022.

Edward A. Stores ’63, Wyoming, NY, April 28, 2022.

Francis J. Gramlich ’64, Speculator, NY, October 21, 2021.

Mary A. Plantz ’64, Utica, NY, November 16, 2021.

Robert A. Toro ’64, Liverpool, NY, January 23, 2022.

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William J. McLaughlin ’65, Whitesboro, NY, January 27, 2022.

Curtis F. Darling ’68, Winter Haven, FL, February 23, 2021.

Joseph A. Spero ’68, Utica, NY, January 29, 2022.

Carol J. Brooks ’69, Webster, NY, March 31, 2022.

Robert M. Carnevale ’69, Canastota, NY, November 19, 2021.

Frank E. Guilfoil Jr. ’69, Union Bridge, MD, February 17, 2022.

Barbara H. Cale ’70, Utica, NY, February 14, 2022.

Mary Wright ’70, Flagler Beach, FL, April 30, 2022.

Barbara M. Cavoly ’71, Marcy, NY, March 28, 2022.

Bonnie Walsh ’71, Whitesboro, NY, May 29, 2022.

Anthony C. DeNadai ’72, Utica, NY, February 9, 2022.

Ronald L. MacMaster ’72, Clinton, NY, November 20, 2021.

Joseph L. Parry ’72, Rome, NY, April 19, 2022.

Kenneth M. Jalowiec ’73, Woodbridge, VA, December 3, 2021.

Carolyn L. Barnum ’74, Port St. Lucie, FL, December 31, 2021.

John M. Coupe ’74, Sauquoit, NY, March 3, 2022.

Walter G. Hiscox ’74, Durhamville, NY, November 11, 2021.

Richard LaNeve Sr. ’74, Clinton, NY, March 25, 2022.

William L. Orlando ’75, New Hartford, NY, January 1, 2022.

Anthony A. Sardino ’75, Camillus, NY, December 24, 2021.

John J. Revere ’76, Minneapolis, MN, February 26, 2022.

Marylou Smerecznik ’76, Wall Township, NJ, October 22, 2021.

Raymond F. Rowland Sr. ’77, Ilion, NY, April 10, 2022.

Sherry K. Wood ’77, Estero, FL, December 17, 2021.

James E. Hopkins ’82, Moravia, NY, November 12, 2021.

Daniel G. Buck ’85, Barneveld, NY, January 21, 2022.

George M. James ’86, Gloucester, VA, November 18, 2021.

Michael G. Mandry ’88, Utica, NY, November 29, 2021.

Lorraine Rotundo ’89, Poland, NY, January 31, 2022.

John C. Gunlogson ’93, Canastota, NY, March 19, 2022.

Kevin J. Lindsey ’99, Cohoes, NY, November 26, 2021.

Joseph M. Schramp Jr. ’99, Lee Center, NY, February 18, 2022.

Michael C. Parnell ’02, New Hartford, NY, December 2, 2021.

Mary Sauer ’18, Saugerties, NY, October 30, 2021.

Alyssa C. Parrino ’22, Fort Plain, NY, December 30, 2021.

John Paul Ramel ’22, Pipersville, PA, April 10, 2022.

Want to share your news in Class Notes?

Email uticamag@utica.edu

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In Memoriam: Lyn Heywood Simon ’56 August 28, 1934 - April 26, 2022

By Joshua Ward ’24 Lyn Heywood Simon ’56 was a role model, particularly for young women, says her friend Kim Landon ’75, emeritus professor of public relations and journalism.

“Lyn was an inspiring example of how a woman could manage her family and her career, and live life on her own terms,” says Landon.

After graduating from Utica in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations, Simon went on to further her education at Northwestern University, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism.

She landed a job as a newspaper journalist at the Waterloo Daily Courier in Iowa. She followed that with a four-year stint with the United Press International’s radio news bureau, which was the first network to offer radio and television networks across the country.

Returning to Utica in 1961, Simon was named the women’s editor of the Observer-Dispatch. Later that same year, she married Raymond Simon, the legendary professor of public relations at Utica University.

Simon then returned to school. In 1976, she graduated from Syracuse University College of Law. According to a feature article in the Observer-Dispatch in the 1980s, Lyn successfully juggled three jobs: journalist, mother, and lawyer.

“We all knew her as Professor Simon’s wife, who would drop off their two little girls at his office on her way to classes at Syracuse University,” said Landon. “We all admired her.”

She entered private practice, where she was named the attorney to the Utica City School District Board of Education. Eventually she took a position at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), where she stayed until her retirement. She also served on the board of directors for Faxton St. Luke’s Hospital.

Utica University’s Simon Convergence Media Center named its broadcast studio after her in 2007. In 2013, Simon was named Outstanding Public Relations/Journalism Alumna by the Raymond Simon Institute Board (RSI).

An avid reader and sports fan, Simon kept lists of every author and book she read, along with notes about the ones she especially liked or disliked.

Married to Raymond for 56 years, Simon is survived by two daughters: Melissa (Simon) Berczuk, and Brooke (Simon) Candelaria, who serves on the RSI Advisory Board, and a grandson, Daniel Berczuk.

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID 1600 Burrstone Road Utica, NY 13502-4892 Address Service Requested

Utica College

BLOOM SERVICE After another long Utica winter, there’s no surer sign of spring than bright blooms emerging on campus. Photo credit: Victoria DeLuca ’24

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