Vistas: The Magazine of Villa Maria College

FALL 2017

The Magazine of Villa Maria College President Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Matthew Giordano Vice President for Business Affairs John Ives Vice President for Development Mary Robinson

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Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services Brian J. Emerson Vice President for Mission Sister Mary Louis Rustowicz, CSSF Board of Trustees 2017-2018 Catherine Grantier Cooley (Chairperson) David M. Gelia (Vice Chairperson) Thomas J. Bienias Msgr. Angelo Caligiuri Sister Mary Therese Chmura, CSSF John F. Daly, P.E. Erik P. DeGlopper David F. Granville Sister Suzanne Marie Kush, CSSF ‘70 James L. Lawicki II Honorable Ann T. Mikoll Sister Mary Geralyn Mroczkowski, CSSF James G. Pappas Joan M. Priebe Timothy Rider Terry Schweizer Carole T. Sedita Dominica Sortisio Editor Brian J. Emerson

features 8 Celebrating Thirty Years of the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry 10 From Syria to Buffalo 12 2017 Commencement

sections 3 A Message from our President 4 Campus News 14 From the Alumni Office

Designer Jesse Stoddard Photography Tom Wolf Imaging Jesse Stoddard Printer TBN Direct Proof Reader Liz Coleman Writers Michelle Kearns Spencer Morgan Mary Robinson Kristen Schober Jesse Stoddard

PUBLISHER Villa Maria College | 240 Pine Ridge Road | Buffalo, NY 14225 716.896.0700 | villa.edu Contents Š 2017 Villa Maria College

a message from

We, at Villa Maria College, are daily realizing our vision: to be the premier student-centered college in Western New York!

There is no place more exciting than the Villa Maria College campus! Thanks to innovative instruction and hands-on learning opportunities, our students grow and flourish within a caring, values-based environment. From the presentations at our second annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, the fact that 100% of our Physical Therapist Assistant graduates achieved a 100% passing rate on the rigorous national licensing examination, to the high quality of student art work on display throughout our campus, I know our students are well prepared for whatever the future holds.

We have made a commitment to upgrading technology, transforming our teaching and learning spaces, and supporting professional development for our faculty. In addition to what happens in our classrooms, studios, and labs, our students are also engaged in internships, experiential learning, and service to the community.

A special focus this year is our preparation for reaffirming our regional accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the development of our five-year strategic plan for 2018 to 2023.

In this issue of Vistas, you will read about our talented students, faculty, and staff members and learn about new initiatives on our campus. I also encourage you to visit our website, villa. edu, regularly for updates on news and campus events. With a vibrant concert schedule, wonderful shows in our art gallery, the excitement of our Villa Vikings sports teams, and numerous special events, you will want to know about everything Villa Maria has to offer.

While we are focused on the future, we never forget that our strength comes from our Felician Franciscan heritage. This year, we proudly celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry sponsored by and located on the Villa Maria College campus. The Pantry is a true example of how we both live out and model for our students, the Felician core values: respect for human dignity, compassion, transformation, solidarity with the poor, and justice and peace.

As always, I am grateful for the many alumni and friends, foundations, and corporate donors who share our vision and who are helping to make the promise of a high quality, holistic, values-based education a reality for our students.

SISTER MARCELLA MARIE GARUS, CSSF President, Villa Maria College FALL 2017 | 3

CAMPUS news Villa Alumni Developed Animated Video to Create Awareness for Autism, Video Trailer Released to Coincide with National Autism Awareness Month Diego Diaz ’16 created a video project he hopes will show the world that people living with autism can lead beautiful, productive lives and deserve love and respect. His desire to improve the world’s understanding of autism led him to major in animation at Villa Maria College. He created “What Autism Really Is,” an animated video that showcases the lives of individuals on the spectrum. Diaz officially launched his project in April 2017, in conjunction with National Autism Awareness Month.

Digital Media and Communication; Jessica Czechowicz ’19, Psychology; Blair Ganoe ’17, Psychology; Ashton Barrie ’19, Digital Filmmaking; Joshua Folaron ’19, Physical Therapist Assistant; Luis Montijo ’19, Music Industry.

The following students delivered presentations that led to enriching academic discussions and gave students the opportunity to share their work with the wider College community: Gabriele Marrone ’19, Business Administration; Alexandra Snow ’19,

Each year, students, families, faculty and staff gather in the Recital Hall to celebrate the academic achievements of Villa Maria students throughout the school year. This year’s event took place on April 27.

Director of Student Life Named 2016-2017 SUNY Buffalo State Internship Supervisor of the Year DJ Schier, Villa Maria’s Director of Student Life, was named SUNY Buffalo State’s 2016-2017 Graduate Internship Supervisor of the Year.

Art Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Bob Grizanti presents Courtney Ewings ‘17 with an award for Outstanding Student at the 2017 Honors Convocation.

Students Present Research Papers at Villa Maria’s Second Undergraduate Research Symposium On April 20, Villa Maria held its second annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Seven students presented original work to an audience of fellow students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

2017 Honors Convocation a Success

DJ Schier (second from left), Director of Student Life, was named SUNY Buffalo State’s 2016-2017 Graduate Internship Supervisor of the Year.

According to SUNY Buffalo State, Schier has proven himself a unique contributor to SUNY Buffalo State and the Western NY community. He was chosen as an award recipient from a pool of exceptionally motivated and competent supervisors.

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Twenty-three students were recognized as outstanding in their major, honored for presenting at this year’s Symposium, and selected as a Who’s Who. Twenty-one students were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs.

Fourteen students were inducted into Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national scholastic honor society that was established for students of Catholic universities and colleges in the United States.

Dr. Kim Kotz, Professor and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education,

CAMPUS news Physical Therapist Assistant, and Todd Baker, Professor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, were recognized with distinguished faculty awards.

Digital Filmmaking Students Completed the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission’s 2017 Production Assistant Certification Program In May, six digital filmmaking students attended a Production Assistant Training and Certification Program hosted by the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission.

Nineteenth Century Buffalo, NY.” In April, she was awarded the Norman F. Weaver Award for Excellence in Historical Research and Writing from the SUNY Buffalo State Department of History and Social Studies Education.

Fashion Students Rocked the Runway at Affinity, the Fashion Program’s Annual Fashion Show Each year, Villa Maria fashion design and merchandising students collaborate to produce a fashion show that showcases the work students created during the fall and spring semesters.

During the program, students were introduced to some of the basic tasks a production assistant manages, such as how to read daily call sheets, how to operate equipment, and what to do on their first day on a film set.

To complete the program, students took an exam on the material covered throughout the day, and they received their official PA certificates. They are now registered with the Film Commission and are eligible to work on any films that shoot in the Buffalo/ Niagara region.

Associate Professor Elizabeth Battaglia Won Two Awards Associate Professor of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Elizabeth Battaglia was awarded the “Outstanding Paper Award” at the Phi Alpha Theta New York Regional Conference for her paper, “Women as Producers and Consumers of Popular Culture in the Theaters of

The following students’ work was recognized at Affinity: Best in Show: Danielle Strachan ‘18; Best Collection: Shaniqua Hammond ’17; Best Craftsmanship: Robert Hicks ‘19; Best Original Design: Jahaira Rivera ‘19; Best Emerging Designer: Michaela Norris ‘20; Most Creative: Tiffany Canty ‘19; Best Styling: Shianne Gibson ‘19; Best Illustration: Robert Hicks ‘19.

Graphic Design Students Placed First and Second in American Advertising Federation’s Annual Don Nichols Scholarship Competition Each year, AAF Buffalo hosts the Don Nichols Scholarship Competition. The theme for this year’s competition was “Refugees.”

Entrants were able to submit any form of creative work, including advertisements, poems, illustrations, and photographs.

Affinity: Together We Grow, was designed around the theme of respect for human dignity, one of the College’s core values.

This year’s installment, Affinity: Together We Grow, took place on April 29.

Affinity was designed to reflect the College’s 2017 core value: respect for human dignity. As such, attendees were able to participate in a basket raffle in support of Haven House, a local organization that works to prevent domestic violence and intimate partner violence and to promote peace in the home.

The first place winner of the Don Nichols Scholarship Competition was Villa Maria Graphic Design student Katie Giglia ’19.

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CAMPUS news Multi-media, three-dimensional pieces, and reproduction quality prints were also accepted. Entries were accepted from any undergraduate student studying design, writing, communications, illustration, photography, or fine arts at any Western New York college. Katie Giglia ’19 won first place, and Erika Tozzo ’18 won second place.

Students Embarked on Italy Trip On May 25, a handful of Villa Maria students began a two-week study abroad program in Italy.

Under the direction of Interior Design Professor Sandra Reicis, students visited

Graphic Design Student Published in “LogoLounge”

Dylan Nowak’s logo for the Buffalo Ski Club, published in LogoLounge Volume 10.

Dylan Nowak ’18, a senior graphic design student, will have his work featured in the latest edition of LogoLounge, the world’s largest logo search engine.

According to LogoLounge, Dylan’s Buffalo Ski Club logo was selected from 40,000 submissions for inclusion in LogoLounge Volume 10. All entries were reviewed by a panel of worldrenowned designers.

The 2017 Study Abroad Group poses in front of La Malcontenta (also known as Villa Foscari), which was designed by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio between 1558 and 1560.

San Marco, the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery in Rome, the Vatican Museums, Naples, and Pompeii.

The three-credit course gave students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian culture while visiting iconic landmarks

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To accomplish this task, Dylan collaborated with Julie Zack, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design. Under Zack’s guidance, Dylan hand-drew the buffalo that is featured in the design

Senior Melanie Daniels Won ASID New York Upstate-Canada East Chapter 2017 Student Design Competition During her junior year, Melanie Daniels ’19 designed Atelier Brewery, a fictitious restaurant located in Buffalo, New York.

Daniels, now a senior, submitted her design to the Junior/Senior Level Design Category of the American Society of Interior Designers: New York Upstate/ Canada East Chapter 2017 Student Design Competition. Her design wowed the judges, and she was named the first-place winner.

She is the seventh Villa Maria student to win an ASID NYU/CE award.

Villa Maria College Constructs New Gymnasium Construction to expand the College’s existing athletic facilities began in July.

In order to accommodate the athletic program’s rapid growth and the College’s partnership with Nardin Academy, the College is converting its existing pool into a practice gym that will house a regulationsize basketball court and a practice volleyball court.

In addition, the Buffalo Ski Club has incorporated Dylan’s logo into their official branding.

Photography Professor Debuts Exhibit at Burchfield Penney Michael Bosworth, a photography faculty member, had an exhibit on display at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The exhibit, “The House Has Gone Down and the Lamps Are Out,” ran from July 14 through September 24.

Construction is underway in the Athletic Center, where the pool is being converted into a regulation-size basketball court and a practice volleyball court.

Because of this expansion, the College will extend its partnership with Nardin Academy for another five years. This partnership has been ongoing since the 2014-2015 academic year. Per the partnership, Nardin uses Villa’s athletic facilities for home competitions in basketball and volleyball, and uses the space to hold practices for other sports.

SneakerKit USA Comes to Villa Maria College Villa Maria hosted SneakerKit USA, a workshop that taught participants how to make sneakers that show off their own, unique designs. At this year’s event, participants created two pairs of sneakers.

Villa Maria College Physical Therapist Assistant Students Achieve 100% First Time Passing Rate of National Physical Therapy Exam On July 6, 30 of the 32 graduates of the College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program took the National Physical Therapy Exam. In August, exam results came in, and every Villa Maria student received a passing grade on their first attempt.

The average first time passing rate for all candidates from all United Statesaccredited PTA programs is 89.3%, 10.7% lower than Villa Maria’s first time passing rate. Additionally, Villa Maria students earned an average score of 85.7%, compared to the national average of 83.5%.

The two remaining May 2017 graduates plan to take the exam in October 2017.

Michael Petrino ’14 Joins Los Angeles-Based Trickfish Amplification as Touring Bassist and Multi-Instrumentalist Trickfish Amplification, a Californiabased company that produces professional-grade musical instrument amplification products, has sponsored Michael Petrino ’14, a graduate of Villa Maria’s Music Industry program.

Mosaic Sneaker design by Fashion Design and Merchandising Jahaira Rivera ‘19 from the 2017 Sneakerkit Workshop.

The Villa Connection: Current/ Former Art Faculty from the Gerald Mead Collection

It consisted of artworks in all media by artists affiliated with Villa Maria College as art faculty or advisors, since 1975.

The exhibit ran from September 22 through October 27.

Fashion Design and Merchandising Students Volunteer at Queen City Fashion Week Villa Maria College was a sponsor for Queen City Fashion Week, which took place September 17 through September 22.As part of the sponsorship, Villa Maria fashion students were involved as volunteers. Five students worked as designers during the boutique show and industry mixer; each of these students produced award-winning work that was featured in Villa’s annual fashion show.

Five additional students served as behind-the-scenes volunteers during the Final Fashion Showcase.

On Friday, September 22, Villa Maria hosted an opening reception in its Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery in celebration of a new art exhibit, “The Villa Connection: Current/Former Art Faculty from the Gerald Mead Collection.”

This exhibit was selected from the extensive collection of Gerald Mead, a noted Buffalo artist and educator.

Fashion Design and Merchandising Students Robert Hicks ‘19 and Jahaira Rivera ‘19 at the Queen City Fashion Week Boutique Show.

This was the second consecutive year in which Villa Maria and its students were involved in Queen City Fashion Week.

Work by Michael Bosworth, Professor of Photography at Villa Maria, featured in the 2017 Villa Connection Exhibition.

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The Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry celebrates Thirty Years of service to the Buffalo community

The Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry recently celebrated thirty years of service to Villa Maria College and the surrounding community of Buffalo’s East Side.

Founded in 1986 and first known as “The Villa Maria Food Pantry,” the ministry would later be rededicated in 2008 to honor Sister Mary Josette Smigielski who had spearheaded the project twenty-two years earlier. Current food pantry director, Sister Michaelanne Galas, attributes the ongoing success of the project to the providence of God, the support of the College community and Felician Sisters, and the benefactors who respond directly to the needs of the pantry, saying: “It’s a whole community effort.

Our mission, which is compassionate service to those in need in accord with the College’s core values, has allowed for a

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sustained commitment and dedication to our Franciscan ideals.”

While the ministry’s commitment and dedication to service has remained the same over the years, the scope of the food pantry’s mission has significantly grown. Originally serving around 26 households every month, the food pantry’s reach has grown to serve nearly 350 households every month. From 2016-2017 the food pantry has supplied meals to 10,601 individuals, which includes over sixty Villa Maria students.

Sister Michaelanne, who has served at the pantry for five years, expressed the importance of being constantly mindful of the purpose of the ministry and seeing each of their clients through the eyes of Jesus, expressing: “What I take away from my daily service at the pantry is the overall resilience that

I feel from our clients. I am amazed that despite many of the hardships they face, they always come in with a happy attitude and a smile. We are grateful for the blessings that we bring into one another’s lives. It’s like a beautiful circle of hope.”

While making sure that the food and supplies of the pantry are continually stocked can be challenging, Sister Michaelanne acknowledged the pantry’s partnership with the Food Bank of Western New York and Villa Maria’s Development Office and their ongoing support, stating: “Looking forward, our vision for the pantry is to continue building a culture of hope and sustainable respect for all human beings that will allow us to live out the core values of the College. I am always impressed at the great good this small community can do.”

2016-2017 Food Pantry Service by the Numbers

10,601 individuals from 3,986 households

400 infants 711 toddlers 3,407 children 6,083 adults Statistics brought to you by the Food Pantry as reported to the Food Bank of Western New York

Alumnus John Ives Joins Villa Maria College as Vice President for Business Affairs Villa Maria College welcomed John Ives ’96, in the role of Vice President for Business Affairs this past August.

Ives provides leadership to the College’s business operations areas, including: facilities, technology, and campus safety.

Ives returns to his alma mater after gaining more than 10 years of experience in the higher education field. Most recently, he served as the Director of College Fiscal Services and Acting Vice President of Administrative Services at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California, and the Assistant Controller/ Accounting Manager at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has a strong background in business affairs, strategic and financial planning, and managing operations.

“As we near the completion of the College’s current strategic plan, we begin to lay the foundation for the development of the next one,” said President Sister Marcella Marie Garus. “John brings a proven track record of strong leadership and a strategic mindset that will be instrumental as we continue to focus on mission, growing enrollment and maintaining financial stability at Villa Maria College.”

Sister Anna Falbo, CSSF; Sister Michaelanne Galas, CSSF; Barbara Wetzel

John holds an Associate of Arts from Villa Maria College, a Bachelor of Arts from Canisius College, a Master of Business Administration from Canisius College, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from UNC Charlotte.

When the International Institute of Buffalo contacted Villa Maria College’s Digital Media and Communication Professor Michelle Kearns to ask whether there was a student who may be interested in helping Ayla Abiad, a Syrian native, tell her story, Kearns knew exactly who to recommend.

The student she had in mind was LaCherie Reid, a secondsemester sophomore who was in the midst of a Narrative Arc class, which teaches students how to produce swift stories in both print and digital media.Throughout this class, students learn how to create compelling stories by understanding and simplifying the four-point narrative arc that helps writers and media producers shape material into something viewers and readers can’t help but finish. In the end, the class requires each student to produce a short, non-fiction video based on real-life interviews.

According to Kearns, Reid had expressed an interest in starting a television interview show with a live audience.

She also possesses advanced editing skills. “I figured the interview with Abiad would help Reid refine her interests,” said Kearns. “And, as an instructor, it’s my job to help students use digital media communication tools to develop their interests.” Reid, a stellar student who just needed the perfect story to tell, jumped at the chance to take on the project.

“When I first heard about the opportunity to do this project I was pretty excited,” Reid said. “To be able to talk to somebody from Syria was pretty exciting to me. I was really curious about what Ayla wanted people to know. How did she deal with the different opinions and judgments? What was Syria like? All I knew was what I’ve seen on the news. What is it that we don’t know about Syria? I wanted to know the truth.”

Reid, 25, thought of her own experiences as a young woman starting a career and wondered what it felt like for Abiad to be a minority in the United States.

“I grew up in a predominately white area,” said Reid, who is African-American. “I’m American. I have been in situations where I have just felt so on the outside, just because of the difference in culture. I can only imagine

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what an outsider feels like in an outsider’s country.”

As Reid and Abiad talked in an office in the International Institute’s converted Delaware Avenue mansion, Abiad’s story of ambition and family resonated with Reid. It settled some of her curiosity about feeling like an outsider. After years of work and life in the U.S., Abiad seemed at home. Reid could relate.

The pursuit of dreams, said Reid, was the common ground.

“The more I work, the more secure I feel. I felt like Ayla and I can relate in that way,” she said. Reid is currently employed by Buffalo’s Jackson Parker Public Relations, where she manages the firm’s social media accounts and promotes clients like singer Drea D’nur and the 43North entrepreneurship competitions. She started her career at Jackson Parker as an intern and has worked her way up.

After their conversation, Reid was left with 22 minutes of raw footage to edit into a 5-minute final video. In order to create a compelling story, Reid drew on the storytelling lessons of her Narrative Arc class as she edited: she didn’t have to go in chronological order. “I didn’t want to go to the conventional route,” she said. “I wanted to start with the juiciest part and then digress, so it wasn’t a dry piece. I wanted to make the audience feel something, just like the story made me feel something.”

For Reid, one of the most striking descriptions in the interview was the way Abiad compared Syria to Buffalo.

“It was sad that people only saw the terrible war photos of her beautiful country. It would be as if people only saw pictures of Buffalo’s abandoned buildings. If someone was to portray my city like that I would be heartbroken because I know that’s a lie,” Reid said.

The final piece was a true collaboration. Reid wrote her own interview questions and conducted the interview. Local filmmaker and videographer, Brenda Feldstein, volunteered to shoot the interview so Reid could focus on the story. A former TV reporter in Brazil, Feldstein has assisted with technical production during the Digital Media and Communication program’s first year. As Feldstein listened to the interview, she was taken with Abiad’s story.

“WHAT I LOVED MOST ABOUT THIS PROCESS AND THIS PROJECT WAS THAT IT DIDN’T FEEL LIKE IT HAD ANY AGENDA.”

-AYLA ABIAD

“I read so many stories about the Syrian conflict,” said Feldstein. “That was my first time meeting someone from Syria. That was a special moment. It makes me feel good to know that I was somehow contributing to spreading the information that I knew was true…I know that Syrian people are good people. Families like mine, mothers like me. Being able to spread the information, it was very special...

It could have been me. Any of those immigrants. I just happen to live here in the United States. It’s luck.”

For Abiad, the interview was the beginning of her own community outreach project. Since then, she auditioned for and won a spot in the presentation lineup for

the TEDxBuffalo Conference, which took place on October 26, 2017 at Asbury Hall in Downtown Buffalo.

At TEDxBuffalo, she told her story, and talked about how her preconceived ideas about America were wrong. She also spoke about a phone app she’s been developing to help new immigrants get started in the community – from scheduling play dates, to learning basic English, to determining the difference between credit and debit. Abiad hopes it will connect new, foreign residents with volunteers willing to help ease their transition to life in a foreign land.

“I feel like I can do something to make people less nervous about Syrians and immigrants. There’s a lot of misconceptions,” said Abiad. “I feel like it’s urgent now that we have to change the misconception of Syrians and immigrants in general.”

On working with Reid, Abiad said, “It was so smooth and natural. What I loved most about this process and this project is that it didn’t feel like it had any agenda. There are purely good intentions, working with good people, and a lot of positivity in the process,” said Abiad. She was surprised to see a college student get hands-on experience with a professional project. “We didn’t get any real-life exposure. It’s very different from Aleppo,” she said, thinking of her own college experience in Syria. “I am amazed. Students here are lucky to have these types of experiences before even starting work in the real world. I don’t know if they know how lucky they are.”

Abiad, who was born and raised in the Syrian capital of Damascus, moved to the United States in 2009 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Architecture at the University at Buffalo. She serves as a key member on a variety of successful projects in WNY thanks to her experience in the architectural design of education and transportation facilities. While preparing for her TEDx talk, she was granted a scholarship to attend a leadership communication training at Harvard University.

The final video, which details Abiad’s marriage in Syria and her journey to the United States, features the 5-minute interview produced

by LaCherie Reid. You can view the video online when you go to VILLA.EDU/VISTAS.

Over 100 students received their degrees during Villa Maria College’s 53rd Commencement on May 21, 2017.

The graduates were recognized and honored with a full day of exercises, beginning with a Hooding Ceremony and liturgy in the Villa Maria Convent Chapel and ending with a reception for graduates and their families on the campus lawn. Commencement exercises were held in the Auditorium.

Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, accepted the Founder’s Award on behalf of the Community Foundation.

Phillip Lee ’17, a creative writing and literature graduate, was awarded the Blessed Mary Angela Mission Award, which is given annually at Commencement to the most outstanding graduate of Villa Maria College. The award is selected by the President and her cabinet based on nominations from faculty and staff.

While a student, Phillip represented Villa Maria College as both a student ambassador and an orientation leader, a position in which he helped prospective and new students recognize how they could succeed at Villa. He also served as a tutor in the College’s afterschool program for students in the second and third grades.

The Martin Wanamaker Spirit Award was given to Nicole Mescall ’17, a physical therapist assistant graduate, for her distinguished work in promoting spirit on campus. Nicole supported the Villa Maria community by volunteering as an orientation leader and at the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack.

The past year has been busy and exciting for the Villa Maria College Alumni Association. Check out some of the updates to the Development Office and learn about ways you can get involved: Introducing Our New Special Events, Database, and Facilities Rentals Coordinator

the College.

Tracy Rozler has been promoted to Special Events, Database, and Facilities Rentals Coordinator. Rozler joined Villa Maria in 2016 as the Assistant to the Vice President for Development. She quickly became an integral member of the Development team and has been involved in numerous advancement activities at

Tracy holds a B.A. in Public Communications from Buffalo State College, and has experience in event planning.

Tracy can be reached at (716) 961-1852 or trozler@villa.edu.

Want to make sure you’re invited to upcoming alumni and campus events?

Introducing Our New Annual Giving and Prospect Research Coordinator Ashley Morlock joined Villa Maria College in October as the Annual Giving and Prospect Research Coordinator in the Development Office. With nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit management, specializing in fundraising, volunteer coordination, and health and human services, she most recently worked for the Canisius College Institutional Advancement Division, coordinating alumni research, correspondence, and major giving initiatives.

She holds a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY Geneseo, and a M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Canisius College.

Ashley can be reached at (716) 961-1882 or amorlock@villa. edu and is available to discuss the Annual Campaign and other opportunities to support Villa Maria College.

An e-newsletter, Villa Maria Alumni Voices, is now available. If you do not already receive it, please email alumnirelations@villa.edu to sign up and be added to our mailing list.

Online Giving

It’s easier than ever to support Villa Maria Villa Maria College is excited to offer specialized days of online giving to benefit the College. The first opportunity to participate is on Giving Tuesday on November 28, 2017. Giving Tuesday, or #GivingTuesday, is a global day of giving dedicated to philanthropy. Last year, more than 45,000 organizations in 71 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday. Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, more volunteer hours, and a number of activities that bring about real changes in communities. If you are not able to participate in this year’s #GivingTuesday at Villa Maria College, you can still make a donation by visiting: www.villa.edu/giving/giving-tuesday The second opportunity to give online will take place Wednesday, February 14, 2018: Valentine’s Day. Be sure to watch your email and Villa Maria’s social media posts for more information, and do not forget to show us your #VillaLove on Valentine’s Day 2018.

Help us grow! Please follow Villa Maria College on our various social media platforms, and invite your friends to follow us as well. We are excited to offer our online days of giving as an option for our supporters. As the rate of online gifts continues to rise, hosting online giving days will assist our College in meeting its mission. These opportunities will help us engage new donors, as well as existing donors on a different level. We hope these days will be a success for Villa Maria.

30th Annual Golf Outing: June 11, 2018 Villa Maria College will host its 30th Annual Golf Outing on Monday, June 11, 2018. This past year’s golf outing was a success, and we were able to raise a significant amount of money that went to scholarships for students at the College.

We cannot wait to see everyone on the course for our 2018 Golf Outing, so be sure to mark your calendars! This year’s Golf Outing will be held at Tan Tara Golf Club on Tonawanda Creek Road in North Tonawanda, NY. With your support as golfers and as sponsors, we expect the 2018 Villa Maria College Golf Outing to be the biggest and most successful outing yet. More information is available at villa.edu/golf.

Share your news or submit your work to Villa Vistas!

There’s always space for news and work from students, faculty, staff and alumni to highlight and share with the Villa Maria community. We want your news (examples include: wedding announcements, birth announcements, job announcements, other good news), short written (250-300 words or less), and visual works to be featured in Vistas. Visit VILLA.EDU/VISTAS to share your news.

ALUMNI BOARD Members The Villa Alumni Association is pleased to announce that the following alumni serve as Alumni Board members: Heather Bellini ‘00 Photography Liz Bukowski ‘14 Photography LaShawn Chinn ‘03 Business Administration Diego Diaz ‘16 Animation Mary Lucy Drabczyk ‘03 Music Rachel Ecklund ‘12 Music Industry Nicole Germain ‘08 Early Education Carl Hunley ‘15 Graphic Design Valerie Kasinski ‘14 Photography Marc Muroff ‘14 Physical Therapist Assistant Lucy Norton ‘16 Graphic Design Sabrina Pisano ‘08 Physical Therapist Assistant Joseph Tronolone ‘15 Music Industry

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Upcoming Events November 30 Rock Ensemble Auditorium | 7 PM

February 2 – February 16 Fine Arts Program Student ExhibitPaul William Beltz Family Art Gallery

April 28 Accepted Student Day Villa Maria College

December 5 Percussion Ensemble Recital Hall | 11 AM

February 23 – March 9 Photography Program Student Exhibit Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery

April 30 – May 4 Spring Week Villa Maria College

December 7 Hip Hop, Mixed Ensemble Recital Hall | 11 AM

March 16 – March 29 Graphic Design Program Student Exhibit Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery

May 1 Hip Hop Recital Recital Hall | 11 AM

December 7 Soloists Recital Auditorium | 7 PM

March 24 Spring Open House Villa Maria College

May 3 Honors Soloists Recital Recital Hall | 7 PM

December 23 – January 2 Christmas Break | College Closed

March 29 – April 8 Easter Break | Campus Closed

January 5 – January 26 Cheektowaga Schools Exhibit Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery

April 13 – April 27 Interior Design Program Student Exhibit Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery

May 4 Rock Ensemble Auditorium | 7 PM

January 10 New Student Orientation Villa Maria College

April 24 Gospel, Choral Recital Recital Hall | 11 AM

January 16 Spring Classes Start

April 26 Percussion, Jazz Recital Recital Hall | 11 AM

January 16 – January 19 Welcome Week Villa Maria College

April 27 Fashion Show Social Hall | 8 PM

May 11 – May 25 Annual High School Photo Exhibit Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery May 20 54th Commencement Villa Maria College For more information on upcoming events at Villa Maria, visit VILLA.EDU/CALENDAR