June 2001

Volume 9, Number 10
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for June 5, 2001

Levitt shares wisdom on life and career with graduates

By Jill Kasiewicz, Editor

Arthur Levitt Jr., former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, passed along bits of wisdom to the 1,119 graduates at Fairfield University's 51st commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 20. "Don't fall into the thinking that suggests your first job will decide your fate," he said. "That was an argument I had with my own kids, who acted as if that first job was the beginning and end of the world. As odd as it may sound, I believe your fourth or fifth job will be the one you find most important." Levitt took students through a brief history of his own eclectic career path and life choices.

He encouraged graduates to keep a sense of perspective and to be flexible in this time of temporary permanence. "At a time when so much of life can change so rapidly and with such force, your security rests in knowing how to do a variety of things - and being able to do them better than others. And that knowledge and ability can be obtained only through a willingness to quit your comfortable rut, to strike out for something better - to change careers and undertake new jobs, to succeed and yes, to fail, and to grow with each move. I don't regret a single opportunity I took, but lots that I didn't."

Levitt expressed that loving your job or what you "do" is most important. "If you don't have a passion for your work, if you don't have the will to put your heart in everything you do, you won't attain greatness...I am always struck by a certain passion that defines the ones I admire most. While they are usually wealthy and powerful individuals, their passion goes beyond money and power. It is a never-ending passion to be more productive, more innovative; a never-ending quest to ask whether there is a better way to improve quality, serve customers, or create value; a never-ending belief that the people who work for them and with them have valuable insights and are their partners to success."

Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., University President, awarded Levitt with an honorary doctor of laws degree. Also receiving honorary degrees were Daniel P. Tully, chairman emeritus of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and Sister Ann Credidio, B.V.M., who has devoted her ministry to people with Hansen's Disease. FUSA President Kevin Hayes was awarded the Saint Ignatius Loyola Medal, the award for outstanding University service.

Honored with the Bellarmine Medal, the award given to the senior with the highest four-year academic average, was Valedictorian Courtney Darts. In her address, she spoke of the choice she and her fellow graduates have upon entering the real world of work or further study: one of adopting the values of the Jesuit education they received, or those of mainstream America. She urged, "Act in accordance with your beliefs, with your hopes. Don't be afraid to make the Jesuit ideals your own. Create your own communities wherever you go. Above all else, be true to yourselves."

Also present at this year's commencement were 31 members of the Class of 1951, Fairfield University's first graduating class. These honored members have ushered in a new commencement tradition of leading the graduating class into Bellarmine Gardens.

Among the 1,119 degrees awarded were 827 bachelor degrees, 265 master's degrees, 14 certificates of advanced study, and 13 associate's degrees.

Fairfield University celebrates the Class of '01

Photos by Jean Santopatre and B.K. Angeletti

Dr. Norm Solomon selected as new Dean of Business

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

He runs, he's a cross-country skier, and he's an avid amateur photographer who likes to focus on nature, landscape, and portraiture. When he leaves Minnesota later this month to assume his new position as Dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, there are certain things Dr. Norm Solomon knows he'll miss. Among them is Toffee, his next-door neighbors' German short-haired pointer. "They made me Toffee's honorary godparent," he laughs, clearly a man who enjoys life wherever he happens to be.

His coming to Fairfield began as serendipity, when during Thanksgiving dinner last fall his sister Pearl mentioned an ad she had seen in The Chronicle. Having grown up in the Bronx, done his undergraduate work at Cornell and, in the ensuing years, vacationed in New England with his wife Kathy, Dr. Solomon was intrigued. "I wasn't actively looking," he says, "but I knew of Fairfield and its quality through the AACSB. Kathy and I were both ready for a move that would bring us full circle, closer to family."

The circle of his professional life began at Cornell, where he majored in the field that would ultimately become his specialty: industrial and labor relations. Upon graduating, he continued his academic pursuits, earning a master's in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin. After a stint working for the U.S. Labor Department in Washington, D.C., he returned to Wisconsin to complete his Ph.D.

From there, he joined the faculty of McGill University as an assistant professor, and three years later moved to a similar position at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, where he rose from assistant to full professor in seven years. Dr. Solomon got his first taste of administration - and liked it! - when he served as associate dean of the Faculty of Business Administration from 1986 to 1989. In 1996, he was named Dean. At Windsor, he developed a Business Advisory Council, and his promoting of the MBA program resulted in a 50 percent increase in enrollment.

In 1998, wanting to return to the U.S. but still seeking to live in a climate that had lots of snow, he accepted a deanship at the AACSB-accredited College of Business at Minnesota State University (MSU), Mankato.

Making the switch from a larger public institution to a smaller private one is a challenge Dr. Solomon says he's looking forward to. At MSU, the business school comprised 1,500 students and 50 faculty, set within an overall University population of 12,000 students and 500 faculty. "One of the nice things about Fairfield," he observes, "is that it's large enough to have diversity in programs and people, but small enough that collaboration is possible without getting lost in the mix. Business students at Fairfield make up a larger proportion of the student body than at most 'publics.' Yet because of Fairfield's size, they also get to feel part of something bigger than just their School. While the Dolan School certainly has a high and important profile, I think it's great that they identify as much with the whole institution as with the part."

In terms of the "part" he will soon lead, Dr. Solomon brings important experience. During his tenure at MSU, he administered a $4 million budget for the College and also oversaw a $3 million information technology initiative to create a "Thinkpad College." Through it, the business school began moving to a laptop environment on a campus that has "gone wireless."

Recently interviewed by National Public Radio about the initiative, Dr. Solomon explained that the project facilitates information exchange in several ways. Among them, students can surf the web or communicate with faculty without being wired to a modem. Essentially, they can do this from anywhere: a lounge, a dorm room, even outside while on the campus quad. They can also join academic chat rooms pertaining to their classes. For faculty, a component called Smart Board allows such enhancements as projecting a web site in class, saving what's appropriate to a file, and sending it to the students.

"The faculty are the content and subject experts," says Dr. Solomon, "and, for many, adapting that knowledge to intersect with technology can be quite a challenge. Often, it's computer-savvy students who help faculty with that adaptation, a fact consistent with the current pedagogical transition from professor as 'sage on the stage' to one of 'guide on the side.' However, and I cannot say this enough, face-to-face learning is not going away any time soon!"

Nor is face-to-face advising. At both Windsor and MSU, Dr. Solomon formed an Advisory Council of business and government leaders to seek input, uncover new trends, and assess new market needs. He also helped to establish a formal mentoring (and e-mentoring!) program for students, pairing them with Council members.

It's the variety he seems to enjoy the most. "What I love is that no two days are ever the same," says Dr. Solomon. "I like to see the wheels turning and see things start to develop. I look forward to a similar satisfaction at Fairfield."

Working at a church-related university won't be a first for him. Until 1962, the University of Windsor was known as Assumption College, and was run by the Basilian Fathers. They are still a presence and hold seats on the Board of Governors. "I understand the ethos of a religiously-based university," says Dr. Solomon, noting that in reading Fairfield's Mission Statement, he felt "very much at home with its philosophy: the search for truth and the emphasis on justice."

In Minnesota, he served as one of seven citizens (four attorneys, three non-attorneys) on the State Board of Public Defense. In oversight of 300 public defenders, the Board met monthly about budget, hiring, and other matters designed to ensure adequate representation for the indigent. "The commitment to represent those who are not always well-treated by society-at-large is a tremendous responsibility," he says. "Serving the community in this way was a privilege."

"We were particularly impressed with Dr. Solomon's intelligence and his ability to be 'at home' with students, faculty, corporate leaders, and administrators," said Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president and chair of the search committee. "He's soft-spoken, has a gentle manner, has worked at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has been very successful working with advancement to raise funds. We look forward to his arrival next month."

So, too, does the rest of the Fairfield University community.

Bellarmine blooms

Mike Walsh of the grounds department was among those beautifying campus last month in preparation for summer visitors.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Peter Bayers named 2001 Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Dr. Peter Bayers, visiting assistant professor of English, who was selected as 2001 Teacher of the Year by student members of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit national honor society. The announcement was made by Eva Carrigan '01 at the Senior Class Brunch on May 16. The award recognizes Dr. Bayer for his dedication to and involvement with student learning, his effectiveness in teaching, and his availability to assist students outside of class.

Upon the announcement, he thanked ASN for granting him the honor and told seniors, "This award inspires me to work harder and to be a better teacher. I hope all of you can find a career that is as rewarding as teaching is for me." He encouraged graduates to remember the values they learned during their four years at Fairfield University and to "carry them wherever they go."

Dr. Bayers, whose scholarly expertise includes "The Frontier" in American literature, British Imperial adventure literature, and literature of discovery and exploration, joined Fairfield University's English department as an adjunct professor in 1994.

Dr. Ralph M. Coury, professor of history, presented "Middle Eastern Majorities and Minorities: Post Cold War Discourse and Policy" for the Middle East Studies Program at Central Connecticut University on April 4.

He also delivered a lecture discussing the 1996 Egyptian film "Nasser 56" on April 18 at Randolph Macon College in Virginia. His lecture introduced the film, which was shown as part of an all-day conference launching a new Middle Eastern concentration for the College's International Studies Program.

"When Chronic Illness Goes To School," an article by Dr. Joan Fleitas, associate professor of nursing, is posted on The Guidance Channel's website. The Guidance Channel is an educational publishing and media company that provides more than 5,000 resources and products to parents, children, and professionals to help them or their clients make critical life choices. The article can be found at www.guidancechannel.com.

Russell Goings, a member of the Advisory Council at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, was the subject of an arts feature in The Advocate. He was interviewed about his epic poem, "The Children of Children Keep Coming," which he has been writing while studying with Dr. Kim Bridgford, associate professor of English.

Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering, was interviewed by the Connecticut Post, Fairfield Minuteman, and News 12 Connecticut on the solar energy project the School of Engineering unveiled in Townhouse 10.

A Connecticut Post editorial praised "the efforts of school counselors and school psychologists who work so hard to keep America's schools safe." They quoted Dr. Lynn Haley-Banez, assistant professor of counselor education in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, and commended the service her students are doing as interns by training other school personnel in aspects of bullying and its effects as well as their direct work with bullies and their targets.

Dr. Robert A. Kelly, assistant professor of economics, did a lengthy interview for "The Exchange" on Cablevision about Vietnam and the controversy surrounding reports that former Senator Bob Kerry took part in a Navy Seal combat mission that resulted in the deaths of women and children. Dr. Kelly is a former Marine Corps captain who was awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest medal for heroism, during his tour of duty in Vietnam.

Dr. Mark S. LeClair, associate professor of economics, was a guest on Cablevision's "The Exchange," where he discussed world trade.

Dr. Anne Manton, acting dean of the School of Nursing, was interviewed by The Advocate on the nursing shortage.

Dr. Dawn Massey, assistant professor of accounting, presented "The importance of relationships in the information age" with Dr. Jay Thibodeau of Bentley College at Beta Alpha Psi's Atlantic Coast Regional Meeting on March 31. Beta Alpha Psi is the premier honorary and professional fraternity for students embarking on careers as financial information professionals. In a separate session, Candice Brancazio '02 reported to other students about Fairfield's experiences (as a beta test chapter) in using Beta Alpha Psi's new, web-based, monthly reporting system. This presentation was recognized by the judges at the meeting - earning the "Best Practices" award. Additional Fairfield University students in attendance included juniors Regina Cunningham and Valerie Cordasco.

In April, Dr. R. James Long, chair of philosophy, delivered "The Philosophy of Plants: The Contributions of Alfredus Anglicus and Adam of Buckfield" at the Twenty-second Annual Medieval Forum at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire. The theme of the conference was medieval botany.

Dr. Sharlene A. McEvoy, professor of business law, presented two papers at scholarly meetings of the Academy of Legal Studies in April. She presented "Twelve Labor Cases" at the North Atlantic Academy of Legal Studies in Business annual meeting on April 21 in Boston. On April 22, she presented "Hybrid Cars and the Clean Air Act: Ruse to Circumvent the Law or Practical Alternatives to Protect the Environment?" at the annual meeting of the North East Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Kiamesha Lake, New York. She was also recently elected vice president of the North East Academy of Legal Studies in Business for 2001-2002.

President Bush's first 100 days in office brought several inquiries to Dr. John Orman, professor of politics. Among the media outlets that carried his remarks were the Associated Press, the New York Times, and the Connecticut Post.

Relativity and Relatedness, a new book by Dr. Lik Kuen Tong, professor of philosophy, was recently published by Chinese Social Science Press (2001).

Dr. Jay Sommer, adjunct professor of modern languages, was interviewed by WVOF radio host Beth Lazar last month about his experience as Holocaust survivor and a teacher. This summer he is returning to Eastern Europe with his son to retrace the route from his hometown, the concentration camp, and to liberation. This fall, he expects to publish a book of his original short stories.

Dr. David Aloyzy Zera, assistant professor in the GSEAP, presented at the Connecticut Regional Educational Council conference on "Adults with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities - A Right Hemispheric Brain Dysfunction."

In response to a letter written on behalf of the newly formed Fairfield University Chapter of the Council of Exceptional Children, Dr. Zera received an Official Statement from Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland proclaiming the week of May 6 - 12, 2001 Exceptional Children's week.

Tom Zingarelli, executive director of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, was recently interviewed on National Public Radio about the Quick Center's production of live original radio drama and the resurgence of the format on campuses around the country. Zingarelli has broadcast radio dramas live from the Wien Experimental Theatre on Fairfield University's WVOF and Yale University's WYBC. Several live productions are planned for next year.

Faculty awarded summer stipends and research grants

Academic Vice President Dr. Orin Grossman has granted sabbatical and pre-tenure leaves to the following professors, based on the recommendation of the Faculty Research Committee. Congratulations to the following faculty members:

• Professor Dr. Matthew Coleman (Math/CS) won the Senior Faculty Summer Fellowship for his project, "The Vibration Spectrum for Cylindrical and Spherical Shells"

The following faculty have won summer stipend awards:

• Assistant Professor Dr. Sharon Abbott (Sociology) for "The Work of Pornography Production"
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. Binta Colley (GSEAP) for "Urban Schools and Parental Involvement"
  
• Associate Professor Dr. Joy Gordon (Philosophy) for "The Concept of Human Rights"
  
• Professor Dr. Gregory Koutmos (Finance) for "Time-varying Mean Reversion in Interest Rates"
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. Matt Kubasik (Chemistry) for "Chemical Synthesis of C-Enriched and C-Depleted Amino Acids for CNMR Studies"
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. Mark Ligas (Marketing) for "Exploring the Diversity of Customer-Service Provider Interaction"
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. Glenn Sauer (Biology) for "Metal Binding Proteins in Cartilage Cells"
  
• Associate Professor Dr. Marie-Agnes Sourieau (Modern Language and Literature) for "Assia Djebar: Voiceovers and Francography"
  
• Associate Professor Dr. L. Kraig Steffen (Chemistry) for "The Dissolution and Growth of Benzoin: Atomic Force Microscopy of Molecular Crystals"
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. David Wolfsdorf (Philosophy) for "Coursebook for Introductory Philosophy"

In addition, research grants were awarded to the following faculty:

• Assistant Professor Dr. Mousumi Bhattacharya (Management)
  
• Associate Professor Dr. Ronald Davidson (Religious Studies)
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. Faith Ann Dohm (GSEAP)
  
• Associate Professor Rao Dukkipati (Engineering)
  
• Assistant Professor Dr. Elizabeth Petrino (English)
  
• Assistant Professor Glenn Sauer (Biology)
  
• Associate Professor Dr. Katherine Schwab (Visual and Performing Arts)
  
• Associate Professor Jo Yarrington (Visual and Performing Arts)

Jay Sommer awarded an honorary degree

Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri, awarded Dr. Jay Sommer - linguist, Holocaust survivor, and adjunct professor of modern languages - a Doctor of Humane Letters at graduation ceremonies held May 19. In his commencement speech, he reflected on his own experiences and emphasized to graduates the importance of "achieving dreams against all odds "

He was chosen and honored by the College because he "exemplifies the type of leadership to which Fontbonne graduates aspire."

Congratulations, Jay!

Births

Dr. Shelly Phelan, assistant professor of biology, daughter - Brenna Lyn, born May 10

Condolences

Christopher DiVincenzo, father-in-law of Sharon DiVincenzo, Executive Secretary for University Advancement, died on April 27.
Helen Lilley, mother-in-law of Nancy Lilley, Media Relations Specialist in the Office of Public Relations, died on April 28.

New Employees

Mark Guglielmoni -- Director of Human Resources
Joan Huvane - Secretary, Economics and Politics
Neil Landino - Administration, School of Continuing Education
Jamie Rivera - Dispatcher, Security

Employee Spotlight

Name: Julie McGovern
Position: Administrative Coordinator, Advancement Division.
Born: Bridgeport, Conn.
Three words that describe me: Kind, compassionate, fun-loving.
For one day, I'd like to trade places with... Pope John Paul II.
If I couldn't have my present job, I'd like to... be an interior decorator.
Favorite vacation spot: Italy.
A book I would recommend is... Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes.
Favorite music category: Opera, especially Luciano Pavarotti.
Favorite television show: Fraiser.
I'd give anything to meet: Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.
Pet peeves: Rude people, slow drivers.
Community service and/or volunteer activities: Girl Scouts, PTA.
Favorite web site: NYTimes.com
Favorite food: Lobster.
Favorite sports team: New York Yankees.
Best advice my mother ever gave me: "Love and respect everyone."
Almost nobody knows that I... come from a family of nine children.
My fondest childhood memory: Family gatherings.
A good movie I've seen lately: Chocolat.
Someday I hope to... travel and have time to read all the books I care to.
What I like best about Fairfield University: The people.

University Staff Association awards four scholarships

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

At its annual Scholarship Luncheon held May 2, the Staff Association awarded scholarships to four juniors whose records of academic achievement and involvement in both on- and off-campus activities set them apart. Each student received a $1,500 scholarship, as well as a $200 gift certificate to the University bookstore from the Friends of Nyselius Library.

Chosen from 75 applicants were:

Michael Ambrosini of Stratford, Conn., a sociology major and member of the Commuter Club, participates in Habitat for Humanity workdays and plays intramural sports. He would like to enter public service as a police officer or firefighter.

Candice Brancazio, an accounting major from Bronx, New York, hopes to become a certified public accountant. Meanwhile, she is active in the Accounting Club, volunteers at Head Start as a literacy coach (through Fairfield's Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project), and has served on the Orientation Committee.

Nicholas Calcanes is pursuing a double major in finance and economics, and volunteers as both an ambassador and tour guide for the Office of Admission. Nick, who hails from Selden, New York, is on the Board of Directors of the Student Alumni Association.

Lisa Zaccagnino, a communications major from Berlin, Conn., is president of the Communication Club and is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. She hopes her future will include law school.

For more than twenty years these scholarships have been awarded by the Staff Association, which raises funds each year through luncheon raffles, selling gift items (including sewing kits donated this year by Howard Quimby of Central Stores), and donations to its Dollars for Scholars fund. "Support from every corner of campus helped us reach our goal, and I want to thank everyone who participated in our events this year," says Linda White, president of the Staff Association. "The response was phenomenal."

So, too, was the challenge of selecting the recipients. "The process this year was very, very difficult, not only because of the volume of applications, but because the applicants' qualifications were outstanding," noted Diane Scalzi, operations assistant in the Office of Financial Aid office and chair of the selection committee. Assisting her on the committee during the six-month process were Elaine Conti, operations assistant in Public Relations; Mary Ellen Voytek, operations assistant in Campus Operations; Judy McCormack, administrative assistant to the dean in the Dolan School of Business; Judy Vindheim, program assistant in the Office of Admission; and T.J. Murphy, house manager at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

With applications due by December 1, 2000, each committee member began Christmas break by bringing home 75 copies to review. Through a series of meetings in January and February, the group gradually - and painfully - narrowed the list, ultimately choosing seven candidates to be interviewed by the committee during March and April.

"It was so much work, and a real investment of time by everyone," says Scalzi, who noted that the committee has worked together for three years now. "It was a pleasure to work with such a wonderful group, all so coorperative and congenial."

"The students were very, very appreciative," adds Conti, "which makes it all worthwhile. It felt so good to do good."

John G. Phelan Scholarship winner

Fairfield University engineering student Heralampos Bobby Moisiadis of Norwalk, Conn. is the winner of the first John G. Phelan Scholarship. Pictured above (l-r) are John G. Phelan, Sr., Moisiadis, James Beaudin of Fletcher Thompson, Inc., and Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering.

Dobai named Director of Undergraduate Admission

By Douglas J. Whiting, Associate Vice President for Public Relations

In April, Edwin Wilkes, associate academic vice president for enrollment management, announced Judith M. Dobai as Fairfield University's director of undergraduate admission. The appointment, which is effective on July 1, was made at the conclusion of a national search.

Dobai has served as acting director of admission since last August and as an associate director of admission at Fairfield since 1997. Prior to joining Fairfield, she worked in the admission offices at Mount Holyoke College, New York University, and the University of Connecticut.

As director of admission, Dobai will be a member of the enrollment management team and will be responsible for implementing a strategic undergraduate recruitment and admission plan for Fairfield while managing the daily operations of the admission office.

It has been a few weeks since your appointment. What are your reflections?

Honestly, I didn't have much time in April to reflect, given that it is such a busy time in admission. But I think the selection process allowed me the opportunity to share my thoughts with a variety of people from around campus, and I am gratified to have the chance to continue to strengthen our admission efforts. Also, I want to thank everyone for their warm congratulations. I have received numerous e-mails, cards and calls about my appointment and it's just been great to have all that support. I look forward to a long and productive tenure as director.

What are your most immediate priorities?

We are just putting the finishing touches on the Class of 2005 and already looking ahead to the Class of 2006. Most importantly, we are setting goals and developing plans to provide ongoing direction to our efforts. I think this annual process has been crucial to the recent success of the undergraduate recruitment effort.

What about the longer term - your goals and ambitions for undergraduate recruitment?

I think Fairfield would be greatly enriched by a more diverse student body, so that will remain a goal for me. I also will work on continuing to improve all of the quantitative measures of our entering classes, such as class rank, SAT scores, and the admit rate. Ultimately, I think the most important thing we in admission can do is to attract the very best students who will have a positive impact on this community and on our reputation for excellence.

Tell us about the Class of 2005.

It truly is a wonderful class in so many ways. It is intentionally smaller, of course, but I think these students will have a real impact on Fairfield. The numbers tell part of the story, with an average class rank in the top 19 percent of the class and an average SAT of 1184. But there also is substance behind the numbers. We have a number of high school and community leaders joining us, and this will be one of the most diverse classes Fairfield has ever had with a substantial increase in the number of AHANA students enrolled.

What have been the key ingredients to the success of the admission effort in recent years?

First, lots of hard work by an incredibly dedicated staff. We try to make Fairfield come alive for our visitors and help them see what distinguishes Fairfield from all other college choices. Also, our staff members meet students and guidance counselors throughout the year and are always promoting the benefits of a Fairfield education. And of course, the numerous campus events, admission publications, and promotional materials could not happen without a great deal of support from others around campus. For that we are most grateful.

What is it about Fairfield that motivates you and gets you excited?

It's a great university. I think sometimes we get bogged down in our concerns as a community and we forget how many truly wonderful things happen around here. We have an enormous impact on the lives of students every day and that is terribly important work. Plus, the hard work in admission over the past several years has really paid off, and that keeps me wanting to do even more.

Tell us a bit about Judy Dobai when she's not at the office?

Well, I guess you'd call me a high-energy person. I think fast, work fast, and am often accused of talking fast! But I have always had a genuine interest in doing the very best job I can at anything I do. At home, I'm a bit more relaxed than in the office, but I don't like being idle. My husband Frank and I developed an interest in woodworking many years ago, and when I get home in the evening I usually try to find an hour or two to work in the shop.

About two years ago, we moved to East Haddam and found our dream home in the woods. I just love the peace and solitude it brings, to hear the birds singing, or to go for a hike with my dog. I am often asked about my commute, but I think of it as a small price to pay to live where I do.

Sports

Annual awards banquet honors University athletes

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

At last month's annual awards banquet, the athletics department honored senior players and special award winners. All the awards were selected by vote of the head coaches.

Earning the 2001 Alumni Association Male Student-Athlete of the Year was Dave Mancini '01, midfielder on the men's soccer team. An accounting major, Mancini achieved a 3.54 GPA and garnered three MAAC All-Academic honors. He is also the school's all-time goal scoring leader with 18, while his 46-point record is second all-time at Fairfield. Erin Heslin '03 of the cross country team garnered the Female Student-Athlete of the Year after record-setting season on the course. Her top performance was at the ECAC Championship, finishing with a time of 19:37.7, which beat the previous school record by nearly 17 seconds.

Freshman of the Year awards went to volleyball player Kelly Sorensen '04 and basketball player Rob Thomson '04. Sorensen, a setter, led the team to the NCAA tournament. She also led the conference with 12 assists per game, and recorded the program's fourth-highest assist total with 1,021. She capped her season by earning the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Thomson, a center, was one of the team's most accurate shooters, making 50 percent of his field goal attempts and 70 percent from the free throw line. He averaged eight points, 5.5 rebounds and two blocks per game and earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team.

Basketball player Gail Strumpf '01 received the Female Athlete of the Year trophy, after averaging 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. She finished her career as the team's all-time leading scorer with 1,873 points. The honor of Male Athlete of the Year was awarded to football player Steve Dogmanits '01. He led the nation in interceptions for 2000, averaging 1.1 interceptions per game (11 interceptions in 10 games). Dogmanits also became the first Fairfield football player to collect first team All-America status from the Associated Press.

Special recognition awards went to volleyball player Joanne Saunders '02, the recipient of the William Wallin Memorial Award. Wallin, a member of the class of 1961, demonstrated the highest levels of sportsmanship, character and leadership on and off the field. She led the team with 541 kills and 369 digs, and hit .287 overall. She was an All-MAAC first team honoree, as well as the MAAC tournament MVP.

The athletic department presented alumnus Mike Brewster '97 with the ECAC Certificate of Appreciation. He received the award for his contributions to the ice hockey program, serving the team as official scorekeeper, statistian and team manager. Outside of athletics, Brewster participated in Hunger Cleanup, as well as several Soup Kitchen projects.

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Stags score GWLL and NEILA honors

Troy Bamann '04 was named the Rookie of the Year by the Greater Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) as well as the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA). Tom Werney '04 and Kris Klein '03 joined Bamann on the All-GWLL team. Bamann led the team in scoring with 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 total points. Werney, who collected NEILA honorable mention honors, finished third on the team in scoring with 34 points. Klein started 12 of the team's 15 games as a defender, registering one goal and 28 ground balls. Seniors Scott Bowen and Brad Edgar were named to the NEILA Scholar-Athlete team. The men's lacrosse team, under head coach Ted Spencer, finished the season with a 7-8 overall record and a 3-2 GWLL mark.

Fairfield athletes sweep up MAAC honors

The women's lacrosse team collected the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title. The Stags posted an 8-5 overtime win in the conference championship game, as Caitlin Perry '02 scored the game-winning goal. The victory gave the Stags their second conference title in three years. Colleen Cunningham '01 tied the game with 4:19 remaining in regulation, sending the game into overtime. For Cunningham, it was just one of many impressive accomplishments this season. She took home the MAAC Player of the Year award, as well as the tournament MVP plaque. She finished her career as the University's all-time leader in total points (153) and goals scored (101). Perry and Lauren Uhr '02 joined Cunningham on the All-MAAC team. Cunningham, Anne Gormley '02, Meghan Main '03, and Megan Patton '03 received MAAC All-Academic honors.

The softball team finished its season with a fifth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament appearance. Finishing fourth, Head Coach Julie Brzezinski led her team to a 36-22-1 overall record, setting a school record for most wins in a season. The Stags also posted an 11-5 MAAC mark, the most conference wins in the last five years.

Mellissa Santos '03 set school single season records with 22 wins, 218 innings pitched, 10 shutouts and 288 strikeouts. The right-hander currently ranks 12th in Division I with 9.2 strikeouts per seven innings. She capped her season by earning All-Northeast region honors. Plus, Santos and Karyn Kennedy '02 each received All-MAAC honors.

The women's crew team placed second at the MAAC championships, finishing runner-up to Marist College,as the Stags hosted the race on the Housatonic River in Shelton, Conn. The varsity 8+ received the gold medal by finishing the race in 7:14.3, more than 11 seconds faster than the next best time. The women's junior varsity 4+ A team also won its event, crossing the line in 7:36.4. Three Fairfield athletes collected MAAC All-Academic honors, namely sophomore Caitlin Bakum and juniors Elizabeth Strain and Aimee Wagner.

Ryan Bittner '02 finished his season by being selected as the All-MAAC first baseman. He led the team with 63 base hits, while a .364 batting average placed him second among his teammates. He was the only Stag to appear in all 45 games played by the team. Matt McGoldrick '01, Matt Ciardelli '02, Jeff Castellano '03, and Jim Connor '03 were the Fairfield representatives on the MAAC All-Academic team. Head Coach John Slosar led his team to a 17-28 overall record, and a 14-13 MAAC mark.

The men's and women's tennis teams also collected academic honors this season. Kristy Golden '02 represented the women's tennis team on the MAAC All-Academic team. Jarrett Basedow '01, and Matt Burns '02 garnered recognition on the men's All-Academic team. Both teams advanced to the conference quarterfinals before being eliminated from the MAAC tournament.

The men's and women's golf teams capped their spring season with academic awards. Jack Hammond '01 and sophomores Kristin Blicharz, Beth Costello, and Thomas Lucash were all MAAC All-Academic recipients. The women's golf team finished second at the MAAC championships, while the men's team finished eighth in the standings.

Four grads recommended for Fulbrights

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

Four members of the Class of 2001 have been recommended by the U.S. Selection Committee to receive Fulbright Grants. Three of the students are awaiting confirmation: Sharon Rusconi of Braintree, Mass., for France; Julia Tsisin of New Haven, Conn., for Russia; and Suzanne Uzzilia of Acra, N.Y., for Korea. Angela Scardina of Kittanning, Penn., has already received confirmation of her Fulbright to Austria. She will be participating in the U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program that the Fulbright Commission coordinates in conjunction with the Austrian Ministry of Education.

At Fairfield, Angela participated in a research project that focused on the relationship between syntax and cognition by comparing German speaking with English speaking subjects. As a result, she was a co-author of a research paper presented at the International Academy of Linguistics, Behavioral and Social Sciences in Orlando, Fla. Last summer she completed a practicum in Leipzig, Germany, at Max Planck Institute for Cognitive Neuropsychology. In addition, she has completed an internship at Haskin's Laboratory, a Yale-related language research center.

Angela was elected to Alpha Mu Gamma, the National Foreign Language Honor Society, received the Frank Bukvic German scholarship, and was a member of the University Glee Club for four years. She graduated with a major in psychology and a double minor in modern languages (German) and religious studies.

Sharon Rusconi has applied for a teaching assistantship in France. A double major in International Studies and French, she studied French for six years before entering Fairfield. She has continued French language studies and taken seminars on Haiti's culture and contemporary French theatre. She taught French at Fairfield Prep during an internship in her junior year and was the recipient of the Crouteau Scholarship in French.

At Fairfield, Sharon has been a volunteer for Head Start, Hunger Cleanup, and the Sunshine Kids, and was named to Alpha Mu Gamma, the National Foreign Language Honor Society.

Julia Tsisin has applied to study criminal law reform in the Russian Federation. She plans to explore the role of defense attorneys, the right to counsel, evidentiary rules, and due process of law in modern Russia, by contrasting newly implemented principles in Russian criminal law since 1992 with the Soviet legal standards and practices.

Julia and her family moved to the United States from the Soviet Union when she was 13. At Fairfield she majored in history and double-minored in legal studies and Russian and Eastern European Studies. She returned to Russia twice during the summers of 1996 and 1998 and studied at Regent's College in London during the spring semester of her junior year. In addition, Julia interned at different divisions of the Connecticut Office of the Public Defender and at the United States District Court.

During the College of Arts and Sciences Awards Ceremony this year, Julia was awarded the Joshua E. Greenberg Award for Excellence in Legal Studies and the Clio Award for outstanding achievement in history.

Suzanne Uzzilia, an English major with a minor in education, has applied to teach English in Korea at the secondary level. She was a University Fellows Scholar and a Dean's List student at Fairfield, where she was in the Honors Program, and studied at Regent's College in London during the spring semester of her junior year.

Suzanne has gained a wide variety of experiences in teaching. She was a substitute teacher for kindergarten through twelfth grade in all subjects, interned as a bilingual teacher in an elementary school, served as a tutor/therapist for an autistic child, and was a reader for a visually impaired college student.

She served with the Appalachian Volunteer Corps, Hunger Cleanup, the Sunshine Kids, and the McGivney Center and was president of Circle K. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society.

Grant to fund artistic endeavors

Jo Yarrington, associate professor of visual and performing arts (studio art), has received the Pollock/Krasner Foundation Grant of $20,000 for her artistic endeavors. Awarded to her for excellence of her past work in site-specific sculptural installations, she will use the grant for future work.

The Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Inc. provides financial assistance to individual working artists of established ability through the generosity of the late Lee Krasner, one of the leading abstract expressionist painters and the widow of Jackson Pollock.

FCF awards Fairfield $15,000 for family literacy program

The Fairfield County Foundation's (FCF) Board of Directors has approved a $15,000 discretionary grant to Fairfield University. It will support the University's and the Action for Bridgeport Community Development's (ABCD) new partnership with Housatonic Community College (HCC) to enhance HCC's family literacy program. The grant will enable Project Director Dr. Judith Primavera and ABCD to embark on a collaborative training relationship with HCC. Under the supervision of Dr. Primavera, the Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project will create three family literacy training modules for dissemination to the larger Bridgeport community.

The Arts on Campus

"Contemporary Realism" on display at Fairfield University's Walsh Gallery

A new exhibition, "Contemporary Realism," featuring paintings and photographs by Fairfield residents Bettie and Samuel Roberts, will be on view in the Thomas J. Walsh Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts from June 10 to August 1. The exhibition opens with a reception on June 10, at 6 p.m.

The couple will exhibit works featuring classical portraits, still lifes and other genre. Bettie Roberts, a painter and a student of Frank Covino, has been a member of Connecticut Classic Arts for 25 years. The winner of several awards, she has exhibited in five solo shows and several juried shows throughout Fairfield County including the Barnum Art Festival, the Bridgeport Art League and the Stamford Art Association.

Sam Roberts, a native of Poland, is a local real estate developer. He has a passion for nature photography and will display his works of flowers and plants.

For Gallery hours and more information, call ext. 2969.

Eighth annual Summer Festival Chorus to conduct auditions on June 14

Auditions for the eighth annual Summer Festival Chorus, conducted by Carole Ann Maxwell, will be held on June 14, at 7 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Arranged for the experienced choral singer, the 2001 Summer Festival Chorus will bring together singers with a wide range of experience. This year's program features some sizzlin' choral arrangements that are definitely "Too Hot to Handel," as well as that composer's "Ode to St. Cecelia's Day."

At the audition, candidates should come prepared to sing vocal warm-ups and exercises. Previous participants need not audition. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 10 p.m., from June 28 to August 9, in the Quick Center's Kelley Theatre.

The concert is scheduled for August 11, at 7 p.m., in the Quick Center. For more information, call the box office at ext. 4010.

Greater Bridgeport Symphony's annual outdoor concert to be held June 30

The Greater Bridgeport Symphony will welcome the summer season with a free outdoor concert on Fairfield University's Bellarmine Lawn on June 30 at 8 p.m. Guest conductor Matthew Savery will bring pops favorites to entertain the entire family, including light classics, opera, Broadway, Hollywood hits, and more.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with the pre-concert music program featuring steel band Pantastic beginning at 6 p.m. The Symphony concert starts at 8 p.m.

Bring a blanket and a picnic supper to the Bellarmine Lawn and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment under the stars. Rain date is Sunday, July 1.

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Media Center wins Telly Award for video production

By Nancy C. Lilley, Media Relations Specialist

The Fairfield University Media Center, a finalist in the 22nd Annual Telly Awards, received the Bronze Telly Award for its video production of "Aloysius Kelley, S.J. - 50 Years Priest, 20 Years President." The national competition attracts some 11,000 entries from across the country.

Created for Fr. Kelley's anniversary celebration, the video was screened during the President's Dinner in October 1999 at the World Financial Center in New York City. Produced under the umbrella of the University's Media Center, individuals cited for the video are: Karen Connolly, producer, scriptwriter and editor; Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director; Brian Merry, cinematographer; and Scott Volpe and Jason Kapell, production assistants.

The Telly Award was founded in 1980 to showcase and give recognition to outstanding non-network and cable television commercials. The competition was expanded several years ago to include film and video productions as well as non-network television programming. It has become one of the most sought-after awards in the television, commercial and video industries.

The judges for the Telly Awards, a group of over 20 qualified production professionals, hail from all regions of the United States - from small towns and major cities as well as small and large firms. All judges have previously won a Silver Telly and represent a cross-section of producers from agencies, television stations, production houses, and corporate video departments.

"Our goal was to produce a piece that would capture some of the essence of Fr. Kelley and the substantial accomplishments of his work and vocation," said Connolly. The result, she explained, was a "beautiful tribute to a man so obviously admired, respected, and loved."

Connolly noted that "the combination of the poignant comments from nearly 35 interviewees, including Fr. Kelley, the beautifully shot scenes of our lovely campus, as well as the specially licensed Mozart background music, provided powerful building blocks for this program."

In addition to the Telly Award, the video won an honorable mention for a documentary from the Communicator Awards, a national program founded by communications professionals to recognize excellence in the field. The Communicator Awards also recognized another Media Center production - "Mission Possible: The Promise" - with the Award of Distinction. "Mission Possible..." was produced to launch the University's capital campaign drive.

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Reaching out to embrace the world

Thirty-six students and ten employees returned Saturday after volunteering for a two-week Ignatian Immersion Experiences, working and living in some of the world's poorest communities in Ecuador, Mexico, Haiti, and Kentucky.

This year's Mission Volunteers included: (Mexico) Steven Acevedo '02, Michelle Bernier '03, Sara Brady '03, Christina Clark '03, Tara Donnelly '03, Karen Donoghue '03, Michael Grappone '02, Keith Moran '03, Christina McGurk '03, Caitlin Pearson '03, Lisa Porpora '03, Kathleen Rickard '03, Jordan Schibler '03, Rev. Gregg Grovenburg, S.J., assistant University chaplain, Fran Koerting, associate dean of residential life, and Steve Ciesielski, graduate student and residential hall coordinator; (Haiti) Amy Filipowicz '01, Kathryn O'Connell '02, Kerry Schardien '01, Jennifer Sturges '01, Laura Zogby '02, Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., University Chaplain, and Dr. Marie-Agnes Sourieau, associate professor of modern languages and literatures; (Ecuador) Christine Carey '03, James Clark '02, Ryan Colford '02, Meghan Holden '03, Jennifer Hughes '03, Ryan Kelley '03, Caitlin O'Connor '03, Amy Torchen '03, Amy Womack '03, Rev. Richard Deshaies, S.J., assistant University chaplin, Dr. Suzanne MacAvoy, professor of nursing, and Chris Biello, graduate assistant in the Barone Campus Center Office; (Kentucky) James Britton '02, Justin Craig '04, Kathryn Garibaldo '02, Andrew Ma, Elizabeth McBain '04, Rachel Murphy '02, Nicole Nizamoff '03, Stephanie Savary '04, Aimee Wagner '02, Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the Media Center, and Steven Minnick, general manager of the HAM Channel.

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Butterfly garden

Environmental Studies students Kate Jeffrey and Donovan Wiedmann (who is president of the Student Environmental Association) spent the last part of their senior year completing a new butterfly garden near the Quick Center. The project is part of their internship program with Campus Planning and Design. Garden plants include butterfly bushes, black-eyed susans, digitalis, and lilacs.

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Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published on the first Tuesday of every month. The editorial office is located in the Public Relations Dept., Bellarmine Hall 220. Telephone 254-4000, ext. 2556; fax: 254-4167. E-mail: campuscurr@mail.fairfield.edu.

Editor
Jill Kasiewicz

Editorial Board
Douglas J. Whiting
Associate V.P. for Public Relations

Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications

Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

Linda Gustavson
Publications Assistant