June 2005
Volume 13, Number 10
The official news publication of Fairfield University
Index for June 7, 2005
By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer
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| Collin Cavanaugh receives his diploma from University President Jeffrey P. von Arx. |
| Photo by Jean Santopatre |
"A commitment to the common good and, more particularly, an engagement on behalf of those who have no one else to be their advocates, should be characteristics of you, our graduates, and the litmus test of whether the integral education, formation in values, and discernment of vocations that we advertise, have achieved their desired outcome," University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., told the Class of 2005 and their families at the University's 55th Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 22. It was the first Commencement presided over by Fr. von Arx, who noted that he was happily finishing up his "freshman" year on this campus.
Fairfield University conferred 1185 degrees at the ceremony, as graduates and guests - including nine members of the Class of 1955 - sat patiently through an almost-steady rain. Degrees awarded included 844 bachelor's, 303 master's, and 12 associate's. In addition, 26 students received certificates of advanced study.
Class of 2005 economics major Timothy W. Eberle of Woodland Hills, Calif., delivered the valedictory address, recalling two alumni who, he said, serve as exemplars for the world at large: Tim Cummings '03, who will soon be traveling to Haiti to work with street children, and Mary Tackman Miller '87, an author who has helped raise awareness of the problem of teen suicide. "Both are testaments to the greatness that can come from a Fairfield University education," he said.
The St. Ignatius Loyola Medal for outstanding University service was awarded to Meghan Marie Flanagan of Lebanon, N.H. The Bellarmine Medal, for the student with the highest four-year academic average, went to Angela Griffin Schuster, of Rockville, Md.
Fairfield University also conferred honorary degrees on four Connecticut residents whose lives have been marked by service to others:
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| With Fr. von Arx prior to the ceremony were honorary degree recipients Florence Schorske Wald, Monsignor John Sanders, Maryann Furlong, and Arthur C. Laske Jr. '51. |
| Photo by Jean Santopatre |
Monsignor John Sanders of Stamford entered the Holy Apostles Seminary in 1965. He was the first African-American priest in Connecticut, and continues to hold the office of Diocesan Director of the Apostolate to African-Americans. He was presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
Maryann Furlong is director of the Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport. She has been an associate of the Sisters of Mercy for 17 years and a lay minister in the Archdiocese of Hartford for 20 years. She was presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree.
Arthur C. Laske Jr. '51 also received an honorary doctor of laws degree. A business major in Fairfield University's first graduating class, he is a long-time member of the board of the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, where he now serves as chairman. He is vice president and director of the William T. Morris Foundation and a director of the Somir Petroleum Foundation. Laske is a member of the President's Circle, and has served on the Alumni Board of Directors for 16 years. He received the University's Alumni Association Service Award in 2003.
A third honorary doctor of laws degree was presented to Florence Schorske Wald, founder of the U.S. hospice movement and former dean of the Yale University School of Nursing. Wald had been dean of Nursing at Yale University for 10 years when she resigned in 1968 to study the British approach to care for the terminally ill. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Yale University, she joined with two pediatricians and the Yale Medical Center chaplain to create, in 1971, the first U.S. hospice facility, in Branford, Conn.
The Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass the previous afternoon, and told seniors not to forget to celebrate the mystery around them. "Before you walk up the Bellarmine stairs tomorrow, take time to thank the people who share the mystery and miracle of your life," he said, reminding them, "Jesuit education is the school from which you never graduate. It is lifelong learning."
Despite the rainy morning, these grads and professors were all smiles.
Photo by B.K. Angeletti
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By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor
Fairfield University has established a new forum dedicated to fostering the relationship between religious faith and public life.
The Center for the Study of Faith, Civic Engagement, and Public Policy will serve as an intellectual hub for cross-disciplinary research and curricular development in this area, and engage the public through lectures, discussions, and symposiums. This approach will develop an institutional model for how a university may practice its academic mission and contribute to the common good. Its first symposium, "Migration Studies & Jesuit Identity: Forging a Path Forward" will be held this month.
The Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., will serve as the Center's director and will represent Fairfield on a national level on these issues. As the work of the Center unfolds, he will be supported by an associate director and a secretary.
Fr. Ryscavage, who recently was named professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences, taught in the International Studies Department as a visiting scholar this past academic year. Fr. Ryscavage also serves as Fairfield Universiy's representative to Scholars at Risk, an international effort to provide a short term academic home to scholars whose teaching and research puts them in serious danger in their home country. Prior to coming to Fairfield, he was national director of the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and chaired the humanitarian section of Interaction, the coalition of non-governmental organizations working internationally. From 1994 to 1997, Fr. Ryscavage was a tutor and researcher at the Refugee Studies Centre of Oxford University. He also headed the largest refugee resettlement agency for the U.S. Catholic bishops, and was their chief public policy advisor on immigration. Fr. Ryscavage holds degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Boston College, Weston School of Theology, and the School for International Training.
"Students face a world where the sense of a national or international common good has declined," says Fr. Ryscavage. "Much of the social order has fragmented into identity groups, including faith. They lack a shared social purpose. Sometimes faith can offer a solution to the problem. Faith can call people out of themselves and encourage them to think of the common good." Faith can cause conflict, he adds, but it can also create the grounds for peaceful and constructive solutions. "It can emphasize the greater good and the good of each individual person in a just society," he says.
"Fairfield University's educational philosophy seeks to form civic leaders who will bring a religiously inspired moral sensibility to public life," says Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president. "The work of this Center is fully integrated into this central academic mission and is an important component of the long-range strategic planning process currently underway."
The establishment of the Center is part of an ongoing, multifaceted initiative to deepen Fairfield University's Jesuit and Catholic identity. Included in the initiative are continued support for the Ignatian Residential College, the Aloysius P. Kelley Professor in Catholic Studies, and the facilitator for Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity.
Over the years, Fairfield University has taken other steps toward linking faith and civic engagement by partnering with the Jesuit Refugee Service and Universidad Centroamericano, as well as continuing Campus Ministry initiatives and programs such as Mission Volunteer trips and local community service work. The new Center for the Study of Faith, Civic Engagement, and Public Policy will provide such activities a venue dedicated to and charged with strengthening
- research, by promoting faculty-student projects and exploring opportunities to link academic researchers and community partners;
- public forums, providing an opportunity for discourse on religion and society through a lecture series and other activities such as conferences;
- curriculum, by creating new service learning projects at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and
- dissemination, through print and electronic communications.
The Center also plans to support visiting professors, consultants, and experts to enhance its teaching, research, and dissemination efforts.
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By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications
At its meeting June 1 and June 2, the Board of Trustees met to consider the first draft of the University's proposed Strategic Long Range Plan. The document, more than six months in the making, involved the collaborative energies of more than 100 faculty, students, administrators, and staff, who participated in focus groups, task forces, a diversity committee, and a drafting committee to produce it.
In April, the task forces on curriculum, living and learning, and Jesuit values in graduate education submitted their reports to University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. After reviewing them, Fr. von Arx charged the drafting committee with consolidating them into one document. In so doing, the committee moved purely tactical recommendations into a reference document for use during the implementation phase (next year), prioritized the strategies in each section; and shaped a parallel structure for ease of reading and reference.
During this two-month process, the diversity committee report became available. Because increasing diversity is such a central goal of this administration, its recommendations were woven throughout the document rather than placed as a stand-alone section, to reinforce that diversity is a University-wide initiative.
In August, the vice presidents and deans will consider the document, which will have been revised by the drafting committee after the Board meeting. Following the senior administrators' meeting, the drafting committee will revise it as needed, after which the draft plan will be made available to the University's other constituencies for review. The tentative schedule is as follows:
- June 2005: Strategic plan draft presented to Board of Trustees
- Aug. 2005: Revised draft reviewed by vice presidents and deans
- Early Sept. 2005: Re-revised draft conveyed to internal University constituents: faculty, staff, administrators
- Mid-Sept. through Oct. 2005: Revised plan conveyed for review to specific external constituencies (Trustees Advisory Council, Alumni Board, advisory boards of the schools)
- Late-Sept. through Oct. 2005: Draft on Web for alumni and student review
- Nov. 2005: Final revisions made
- Dec. 2005: Final version presented to Board for a vote
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The Office of the Academic Vice President announces the following:
- Dr. Elizabeth Boquet, promoted to professor of English
- Dr. Rao Dukkipati, promoted to professor of engineering
- Dr. Wendy Kohli, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, received tenure
- Dr. Mark LeClair, promoted to professor of economics
- Dr. Danke Li, promoted to associate professor of history and received tenure
- Dr. Mark Ligas, promoted to associate professor of marketing and received tenure
- Dr. Martha LoMonaco, promoted to professor of visual and performing arts
- Dr. Laura McSweeney, promoted to associate professor of mathematics and computer science and received tenure
- Dr. Elizabeth Petrino, promoted to associate professor of English and received tenure
- Dr. David Sapp, promoted to associate professor of English
- Dr. Jerry Sergent, associate professor and chair of electrical engineering, received tenure
- Dr. Winston Tellis, promoted to professor of information systems and received tenure
- Dr. Meredith Wallace, promoted to associate professor of nursing and received tenure
- Dr. Joan Weiss, promoted to professor of math and computer science
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The Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was the captain for a Fairfield University table at the first Fairfield Business Challenge Breakfast. The Kennedy Center fundraiser was held on May 3 at the Circle Diner.
Dennis Amrine, interim director of career planning, provided the Connecticut Post with a list of job-hunting tips for college graduates. The tips accompanied the fourth installment on April 18 of a yearlong look at the life of Fairfield senior Kara Rovelli, a nursing student.
On May 19, the Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, led prayers during a candlelight vigil in memory of Fairfield student Francis J. Marx V '04, in Newport, R.I., marking the anniversary of Marx's death. The Connecticut Post published a story on May 4 about the vigil.
Dr. Nancy Dallavalle, associate professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Science (CAS), commented on the selection of the new pope in the New Jersey Star-Ledger on April 20. In a Knight-Ridder article, Dr. Dallavalle discussed the Catholic Church's refusal to ordain women. Although 60 percent of American Catholics polled by CBS News said that they support women in the priesthood, Dr. Dallavalle pointed out in the article, "There's no pressure from the rest of the world," and Americans represent only 6 percent of all Catholics. Dr. Dallavalle also commented on women in the priesthood for an April 28 Chicago Tribune story. In an April 29 Chronicle of Higher Education article on the likelihood of the new pope keeping tight control over academia, she said, "We are faced with Pope Benedict XVI, who has a track record of silencing theologians who many of us think have raised important questions and have attempted to deal with those questions in an honest and straightforward manner."
In an April 22 Connecticut Post article, Dr. Edward Deak, Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics in CAS, commented on how population growth will put stress on the state's health, education, and transportation systems. In an Associated Press article, Dr. Deak said that despite the Pentagon's recommendation to close the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, the region still has other employment opportunities. In an article appearing in the Hartford Business Journal on April 25, he also talked about the effect of company mergers on the region. Technology companies might do better this year than they expect, Dr. Deak explained in an April 27 Hartford Courant article on the projected growth of the technology industry. He commented for a May 19 Associated Press article on The New England Economic Partnership's findings that New England states would likely continue to see a slow economic recovery over the next four years. On May 22, Dr. Deak spoke about the proposed military base closures in Connecticut for an article in the Connecticut Post and an Associated Press article that appeared in several publications, including the Boston Globe.
In April, Matthew Dinnan, associate dean of students and director of University activities, spoke to students at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. His talk was part of the Health Day Time Management program titled, "Check Your Watch." A photograph from the event appeared in the Hamden Journal on April 20.
On April 24, The Catholic New World, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago, interviewed Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in CAS, on St. Catherine of Siena's letters to women, a subject Dr. Dreyer later discussed at Dominican University on April 29.
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Dr. Dreyer in a May 26 article on the changing meaning and importance of the cross. "Overwhelmingly, the deepest expression of God's love was in the cross," says Dreyer. "So if you asked how far was God willing to go for us, the answer was pretty far - and the cross became that symbol."
On May 23, Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy in CAS, testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, for another hearing on the problems with the Oil for Food Program. She was also interviewed by KPFK radio in Los Angeles. Following the hearings, Dr. Gordon was interviewed by the Washington Times for a May 23 article in which she said both the United State and Britain share most of the blame for the Oil for Food program's shortcomings.
Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics in CAS, discussed the media and its impact on the public, including the government's ability to manipulate television, at the North Branch Library in Bridgeport on April 20.
Dr. David Gudelunas, assistant professor of communications in CAS, recently published the article, "Talking Taboo: Newspaper advice columns and sexual discourse," in Sexuality & Culture, vol. 9 (1), and the book review, "Hitting the Right Ethnographic Note," in Cultural Studies, vol. 18 (6). In March, Dr. Gudelunas presented, "Being the News: Women Journalists 1890-1920," at the Popular Culture Association Conference in San Diego, Calif.
Dr. Christopher Huntley, associate professor of information systems and operations management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business (DSB), had his article, "Ramping up the Organizational Learning Curve: Assessing the Impact of Deliberate Learning on Organizational Performance under Gainsharing," which was co-authored with Dr. Jeffrey Arthur at Virginia Tech, published in the Academy of Management Journal (2005). His article, "An Initial Assessment of Remote Access Computer Laboratories for IS Education: A Multiple Case Study," co-authored with Dr. Richard Mathieu of Saint Louis University and George Schell at UNC-Wilmington, was published in the Journal of Information Systems Education (2005).
Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelly, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies in CAS, received praise in a letter to the editor in the Daily News of Batavia, N.Y., for his presentation at Christ the King Seminary. Dr. Lakeland commented on the selection of Pope Benedict XVI for several newspaper articles, including the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.), The New York Times, The Tablet (U.K.), and the Trumbull Times. In May, the Connecticut Post published an article about Dr. Lakeland receiving Alpha Sigma Nu's Teacher of the Year award.
A May 19 Associated Press article reported the resignation of former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent from the Fairfield University Board of Trustees, to protest the removal of Rev. Thomas Reese, S.J., as editor of America magazine. In the article, Dr. Lakeland said many U.S. Catholics worry that ousting Fr. Reese was meant to send a message that debate over some church positions is not welcome under the new pope. The article, which was carried in such newspapers as The Hartford Courant and the Boston Globe. University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., was also interviewed by the Connecticut Post about the removal of Fr. Reese. Fr. von Arx said he was surprised and disappointed, as he considered Fr. Reese "a fairly moderate and middle-of-the road figure." He indicated that universities should effectively represent the Church's position on matters of faith and morals, but that it is also important that there be places where discussion and debate on issues in the Church may occur.
Dr. Nikiforos Laopodis, associate professor of finance in DSB, published three articles: "Financial Market Liberalization and Stock Market Efficiency: Evidence from an Emerging Economy," the lead article in the Global Finance Journal, 2005; "International Portfolio Diversification Benefits: Evidence for the U.S. Investor," in the International Review of Financial Analysis vol.14 (4), 2005; and "The Stochastic Character of Japanese Exchange Rates," in the Journal of International Business and Economy, 2005.
The Rev. W. Laurence O'Neil, S. J., director of student support services, delivered the commencement address for the St. Thomas More School in Montville on May 21. On April 25, the Fairfield County Business Journal announced his receipt of the Alumni Service Award.
In an April 28 Connecticut Post article, Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics in CAS, commented on the need to equip the state's workforce with needed information technology (IT) skills. "We're not training them properly," he said. "When you train people in IT, you can train them in systems management, or programming, or as support specialists, but there's an extremely high demand in some areas and way too many people trained in areas where there is no demand."
Dr. R. James Long, professor of philosophy in CAS, published his paper, "Aquinas and Franciscan Nature Mysticism," in the Spring 2005 issue of Logos. He presented the paper, "Robert Grosseteste and the Division of the Waters (Genesis 1:6-7): A Conundrum for the Natural Philosopher," at the 40th International Congress on Medieval Studies in May.
Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, has officially filed as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, challenging Sen. Joe Lieberman for his seat. In the Connecticut Post's "On the Hill" column, Dr. Orman said, "My goal is to force a primary and then get 50.1 percent on primary election day."
In a May 20 Fairfield Minuteman article on Fairfield Ludlowe High School's yearlong accreditation process, Karen Pellegrino, director of undergraduate admission, said that universities will still accept students from the high school, even if the school has not received its accreditation. "I think in a case like this, where it's in the process of being accredited, it's not going to hurt a student at all," she said.
Dr. Patricia Poli, associate professor of accounting in DSB, was installed as the president of the Connecticut Society of CPAs at the association's annual meeting on May 17 at the Omni New Haven Hotel.
An article by Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, associate professor of history in CAS, "What if the Nazis had won? One fantasy imagines a more moderate Hitler," appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on May 8 marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The major German radio network, Deutschlandradio Kultur, profiled the German translation of his book, Munich and Memory, on May 10.
On April 24, O Estado de S. Paulo, a newspaper in Sao Paulo, Brazil, published an interview with the Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., visiting professor of international studies in CAS, on the new pope.
Dr. Carl A. Scheraga, associate professor of business strategy and technology management in DSB, had his article, "Cross-Border Acquisitions and Shareholder Wealth: Tests of the Synergy and Internationalization Hypotheses," which was written with Cheol Eun and Richard Kolodny, reprinted in Governance: An International Perspective (edited by Diane Dane and John McConnell and published by Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd). The article originally appeared in the Journal of Banking and Finance in 1996.
In a May 26 Newsday article on the addition of a third area code in the state, Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of CAS, said it seemed statistically impossible that New Haven and Fairfield counties, with a total of 1.7 million people, would exhaust the possible numbers in one area code. Dr. Snyder said eight million phone numbers can be derived from seven digits even when eliminating 0 or 1 in the first position. Dr. Snyder's comments were also carried in the Greenwich Time and the Hartford Courant, as well as on WBZ-TV CBS 4 Boston and WCBS NewsRadio 880.
Kathy Tellis, director of internships in DSB, commented in Business New Haven on the importance of internships, saying, "The purpose is to give the student the opportunity to extend their academic experience, and hopefully apply some of the applications and theories they've learned in the classroom to a real business world setting."
In May, Dr. Edna Wilson, dean of University College, and Fairfield University Board of Trustees member Carolyn Vermont '82, M.A.'84, officiated a graduation ceremony for the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County's Project Blueprint, a leadership development program.
A photograph of University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., appeared in the Connecticut Post on April 27 with an article on Xerox CEO Anne Mulcahy, the Charles F. Dolan Lecture speaker. In a May 2 article, Fr. von Arx also commented on tuition increases.The Hartford Courant carried a quote from Fr. von Arx's commencement address and noted that senior Rebecca Robinson of Westborough, Mass., was the youngest of 10 children in her family to attend college and the fourth in her family to get a degree from Fairfield. NBC-30 TV also carried video of Fairfield University's commencement, and the Fairfield Citizen-News, the Fairfield Minuteman, and the Connecticut Post also reported it.
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June Service Anniversaries
5 years
Allen Gibson
10 years
Frank Buda
John Tedesco
15 years
Pamela Valites
25 years
Jean-Henry Mathuri
45 years
Helen Lucas
July Service Anniversaries
5 years
Betty Coger
Maria Curesky
Barbara Dusenbery
Deirdre Eller
Sharon Ferguson
Jennifer Medoff
Joseph Miller
Particia Veno
15 years
Jonathon Hodge
Keith Stetson
35 years
James Fitzpatrick
Condolences
George Stine, grandfather of Charles Stine, evening dispatcher in Public Safety, died in April.
Jannie Brown, of Sodexho food services, died April 23. She worked at Fairfield University for 43 years, beginning in the days when the cafeteria was located in the basement of Loyola Hall in the 1950s and 1960s. "Jannie was a beautiful person who treated our students as if they were her own children," reflects Jim Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president of student services. "She was one of the truly unique Fairfield personalities who cannot be replaced." Remembers Julie McGovern, administrative coordinator, "She was the nicest, most thoughtful person. My kids worked with her one year and, since then, she always asked about them."
Jean Yarrington Kilkenny, mother of Dr. Kathryn Jo Yarrington, professor of visual and performing arts, died May 1.
Walter Wyzkoski, father of Dr. Joan Weiss, associate professor of mathematics and computer science, died May 1.
Marie Kelly, mother-in-law of Sharon Kelly, secretary in the Office of the Academic Vice President, died May 9.
James Warren Birkenstock, who served on the Fairfield University Board of Trustees from 1968 to 1974, died May 12. Following his time on the Board, Birkenstock - who was one of Fairfield's first two lay trustees - was elected a Trustee Emeritus.
He retired from his 38-year career at IBM in 1973, subsequently forming Intercal, a technology patent consulting firm.
Birkenstock and his wife, Jean, have been long-time supporters of the University. The upper level of the RecPlex contains the Birkenstock Field House, a gift of the Birkenstocks in memory of their son, Michael. Additional gifts include: the couple's New Canaan home after they moved to Florida in 1990, which ultimately will fund an endowed scholarship in their name; several charitable remainder trusts, which will add to the James W. and Jean L. Birkenstock Scholarship; and annual matching gifts from IBM.
Birkenstock is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jean Lois Hale, and their children Robert Hale and Joyce Ann.
Juan Sanchez, brother of Antonio Ortiz, adjunct professor of modern languages and literatures, died May 15.
Mary Stack, mother of Maureen Diffley, Prep English teacher, and mother-in-law of George Diffley, vice president for University Advancement, died May 23.
Eileen Shepard, mother-in-law of Tim Craig of campus operations, died May 30.
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Congratulations to the following employees who graduated in the Class of 2005:
- Julie Achter, peer counselor, University College - M.A.
- Linda Ames, program assistant, undergraduate admission - A.A.
- James Chebro, Prep faculty, English - M.A.
- Jean Daniele, program assistant, College of Arts and Sciences - A.A.
- Rita Duda, associate director of human resources - M.A.
- Christine Duffy, program assistant, development - B.A.
- James Finnegan, media sound engineer - MBA
- Lydia Greiner, manager of community services, School of Nursing - MSN
- Jennifer Gumpert, assistant teacher, modern languages - B.A.
- Patrick Jacquot, public safety officer - B.A.
- Aiko Kumano, assistant teacher, modern languages - M.A.
- Rudolph Mauritz, Prep faculty, social studies - M.A.
- Jacqueline Rodriguez, operations assistant, Project Excel - M.A.
- Jennifer Sirella, operations assistant, public relations - A.A.
- Jennifer Smith, assistant softball coach - M.A.
- Karen Soares, technical assistant, development services - A.A.
- Jennifer Sturges, Prep faculty, language - M.A.
- John Ur, digital media/TV producer, Media Center - M.A.
- Daniel Vener, assistant swimming and diving coach - MBA
- Judy Vindheim, program assistant, undergraduate admission - B.A.
- Barbara Wanamaker, operations assistant, undergraduate admission - A.A.
- Lynne Woods, Prep guidance - M.A.
Included in this year's graduating class were the following sons and daughters of employees:
- William Brazier (son of Leslie Brazier, program assistant, media center) - B.S.
- Tara Conine (daughter of Dr. Thomas Conine, professor of finance, DSB) - B.A.
- Erin Daly (daughter of Sharon Daly, secretary, athletics) - B.S.
- Jeffrey Dunn (son of Janice Dunn, director of distance education, University College) - B.A.
- Michael Ellis (son of Marge Ellis, dispatcher, public safety) - B.S.E.
- Patrick Kleps (son of Mary Kleps, instructional support specialist, C&NS) - B.A.
- Dimitrios Koutmos (son of Dr. Gregory Koutmos, Gerald M. Levin Professor of Finance, DSB) - B.S.
- Patrick Mullan (son of Dr. James Mullan, associate professor of English) - MBA
- Katherine Quell (daughter of Dr. Theresa Quell, assistant dean, SON) - B.A.
- William Takacs (son of Marianne Takacs, purchasing assistant, purchasing) - B.S.
- Benjamin Thiel (son of Dr. John Thiel, professor of religious studies) - B.A.
- Melissa Thopsey (daughter of Kathleen Thopsey, recorder, human resources) - B.A.
- Caitlin White (daughter of Dr. Michael White, assistant professor of English) - B.A.
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Graduate nursing students win National Primary Care Week Project 2004 award
In May, graduate nursing students Sharon Benard of Fairfield University and Jennifer Nelson of Sacred Heart University became the first nurse practitioners in the nation to win the Most Collaborative National Primary Care Week Project (NPCW) 2004 award - an honor typically bestowed on medical students. The pair was chosen by the 2004 National Primary Care Week Advisory Board out of a pool of students from more than 230 schools that planned events for NPCW.
Benard and Nelson were honored for a collaborative project with the Bridgeport Community Health Center. The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Foundation, which organizes and promotes the annual event, awarded them $100 each to defray the costs of providing the lectures at the Bridgeport Community Health Center, and $200 to Connecticut's Southwestern Area Health Education Center, based at Sacred Heart University.
Pictured above (l-r) are Jennifer Nelson; Susan DeNisco, M.S., SNP, APRN, B.C., assistant clinical professor of nursing and coordinator of the family nurse practitioner program at Sacred Heart; Sharon Benard; and Dr. Jean Lange, RN, associate professor of nursing.
Photo by Bob Winkler
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By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations
Most students breathe a sigh of relief when that last tuition bill is paid, but Olivia Weeks turned the tables on Fairfield University, where she recently graduated from the School of Nursing, by presenting a check that will pay for new technology in the lab. Thanks to her generosity, future students will have the benefit of hands-on practice on "SimMan," a human patient simulator by Laerdal Medical.
While studying, Weeks worked as a lab assistant to Diana Mager, director of the Learning Resource Center, where students get lab experience before heading off to clinical assignments. Weeks had heard about a new technology that made it possible to have hands-on practice on a computer-activated, life-like patient, complete with a heartbeat, pulse, and chest movements. SimMan can even moan in pain, make vomiting noises, and receive injections.
Weeks said she felt the introduction of SimMan could be a key component in the training of future nurses. Her concern for future students is not surprising to Mager, who says Weeks always was looking out for the other students. "She was very much a motivator and substitute mother," Mager says. "She is very caring and looks after everyone."
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By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations
The United Nations estimates that approximately one out of every 35 people worldwide is an international migrant. Jesuit institutions will team up this month to try to make an impact on the issue of migration, one of the most significant concerns facing the United States and the world today.
Fairfield University has joined The Association of American Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), the Social and International Ministries Office of the United States Jesuit Conference, and Jesuit Refugee Service to invite Jesuit colleges and universities to a three-day symposium on migration, a focal issue as identified by the Society of Jesus. The symposium, "Migration Studies & Jesuit Identity: Forging a Path Forward," will take place on campus, June 9 through June 11.
The conference marks the first time Jesuit universities and colleges have attempted to join forces to collaborate on one academic area, says the Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., visiting professor of international studies, a former national director for Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and one of the coordinators of the conference. It is also timely, since the United States Congress is poised to consider reform of U.S. immigration law.
Conference goals are:
- To explore ways in which the Society of Jesus and Jesuit higher-education institutions might establish collaborative relationships in migration studies and enhance the status of migration as an area of academic research.
- To investigate avenues for curriculum development, traditional interdisciplinary course instruction, and experiential approaches such as service learning.
- To consider ways in which Jesuit colleges and universities might play an advocacy role in helping alleviate current injustices experienced by migrants.
Some of the Jesuit schools, such as Georgetown University and Fordham University, already have graduate programs and courses that deal with migration. Fairfield University offers a number of migration courses, has hired new faculty members in sociology and international studies whose expertise is in international migration, and addresses immigration issues in courses in its Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions and its School of Nursing. The conference will attempt to pool some of the great work and expertise developed individually by the Jesuit schools, Fr. Ryscavage says. One goal is to develop curriculum that can be used by all the Jesuit schools at the undergraduate and graduate levels. "Within universities, there are things going on in migration, but they're not collaborating," Fr. Ryscavage says. "We want to promote issues of refugees and get students involved in advocacy efforts."
The conference revolves around the Society of Jesus' determination that migration has become one of its primary apostolic priorities. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has already done extensive work on migration, and has come to be known for its personalized approach to helping refugees. Whereas larger non-governmental organizations often supply food and medicine, JRS does not make assumptions about what the refugees require, and tries to provide for needs that the refugees themselves outline, such as education or pastoral counseling.
Although the conference will host mainly Jesuit institutions in the United States, Jesuit schools from all over the world are invited. The Universidad CentroAmericana in Nicaragua, which has partnered with Fairfield University for educational purposes, is taking a leadership role in recruiting Jesuit higher-education institutions in Mexico and Central America for the conference, says the Rev. James Bowler, S.J., director of the Office of Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity, who initiated the partnership.
The conference is also a launching point for a Center for the Study of Faith, Civic Engagement, and Public Policy, based at Fairfield University. The Center will network and collaborate programming among Jesuit schools, promoting curriculum development, joint research, lectures, and events on migration.
"This is an exciting opportunity for all segments of the Fairfield community to involve themselves in this critical priority of the Jesuits," says Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics, who would be the faculty leader for such a center. "I anticipate a significant number of important outcomes, in terms of research, curriculum development, service, and advocacy from this conference."
Issues of migration are not new to Jesuit institutions in the United States. In fact, many of them were founded to help educate the immigrant populations of past generations, such as the Irish and Italians, says Dr. Katherine Kidd, director of international studies in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. Many of the biggest immigrant groups of today are largely Catholic, including Mexicans, Cubans, Haitians, and Central Americans. "The future of the Catholic Church in America is the immigrant population," Dr. Kidd says. "This is something that is connected to our history."
According to Fr. Ryscavage, immigration to the United States today is as great as it was at the turn of the century, but it is not noticed as much because the immigrants are absorbed into a larger overall population.
To attend the seminar or for more information, contact Laura Martin at ext. 2256.
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Pictured above (back, l-r) are Ronald F. Carapezzi, the Rev. W. Laurence O'Neil, S.J., M.A.'61, CT'72, Fr. von Arx, Alumni Association President Paul Richards '71, (front, l-r) Geralyn Radowiecki Spollet '76, Doug Perlitz '92, and Bill Lucas '69.
By Alejandra Navarro, Publications writer
This year, the Fairfield Awards Dinner raised a total of $636,000 - a record for the annual event. The dinner benefits the University's Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund, which supports African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American students.
"People recognize this event as a meaningful cause, not just for Fairfield University, but also for society in general," says Ronald F. Carapezzi, president of GE Commercial and Industrial Financing, a part of GE Commercial Equipment Financing, and chairman of the Fairfield Awards Dinner. "If you think about that, it's not surprising to see so many people contribute."
Approximately 500 people attended the dinner, which was held at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City on April 20. Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, delivered the keynote address.
Four alumni were honored at the dinner: The Rev. W. Laurence O'Neil, S.J., M.A.'61, CT'72, director of student support services, received the Alumni Service Award; Geralyn Radowiecki Spollet '76 received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award; Doug Perlitz '92 received the Alumni Humanitarian Award; and William Lucas '69, vice president for finance, received the Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award.
Announced at the event was a special $10,000 donation from the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation for a scholarship in honor of Lucas, who has served on the Foundation's board of directors for 16 years. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that underwrites and guarantees higher education student loans. The one-time scholarship will be awarded to a student (or possibly more than one student) majoring in accounting or finance.
"It gives me great satisfaction to know that students will benefit from this scholarship," Lucas says.
Carapezzi praises the dinner's committee members, the Alumni Board members, and the University staff, including those in Development, Special Events, and Alumni Relations, for their hard work in bringing this event to fruition.
Cathleen Borgman, director of corporate relations, commends Carapezzi's leadership. "He did an exceptional job as chairman," she says. "He really rolled up his sleeves and took ownership of it."
"It's always nice to be involved with things that are for the greater good," Carapezzi says.
Photo by Jean Santopatre
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The Rev. Paul Carrier, University chaplain, celebrated Mass in Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola with this year's two Mission Volunteer groups the night before their departures to Mexico and Ecuador.
By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer
At an afternoon Mass that was both intimate and at times emotional, the Rev. Paul Carrier, University chaplain, blessed the 14 students and six leaders ready to take off on mission trips to Mexico and Ecuador. They had prepared for their trips since October, and join more than 800 Fairfield University volunteers who have participated in the Mission Volunteer program over the years. Six North American Mission Experience (N.A.M.E.) volunteers and two leaders spending a week in West Virginia left prior to Commencement.
"There's a reason you've been brought here," Fr. Carrier told the group gathered in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola on May 23. "You're going off the beaten path and that's exciting. Your perspective - and your heart - will get bigger."
Following the Mass was a dinner for the volunteers, who were due to leave early the next morning.
"I'm interested in serving others, and volunteering keeps me grounded," said freshman Nicholas Valaris, as he prepared to spend a week in West Virginia doing construction work. "I've done these types of trips a few times, and it's always the highlight of my summer." Valaris's trip is sponsored by Stanley Corporation in New Britain, where he will be working when he gets back. "The new CEO there is very interested in this kind of project," Valaris said, adding that N.A.M.E. and Mission Volunteers are required to fundraise to pay for their travel expenses and to contribute to the project to which they are assigned.
Communications major Colleen Slyne '07 described her upcoming trip to Mexico as a "cultural immersion" program. "We'll be working at two sites, building playgrounds at one of them," she said. "But we'll also talk to migrant workers to try to understand what their lives are like, work in an orphanage, and speak with people at the border patrol to learn more about some of the issues there. It's an educational as well as a service trip."
"For those who participate in service immersion programs, it becomes clearer that these experiences have more to do with what is received than what is given," says Fr. Carrier. "Each time our volunteers come back from a mission trip, we have a Mass and a debriefing. I'm always amazed at how much older they've become in two weeks. The experience has changed them. It sounds trite, but these trips truly are life-altering experiences."
The formal Mission Mass, at which students received crosses, was held May 1.
Photo by Jean Santopatre
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 Students pay tribute to Fr. Allen and Dr. Lakeland
At the annual Senior Brunch on May 18, the Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the president, was touched by The Manor's decision to dedicate the 2005 yearbook to him. "Known for his quick wit, photographic memory, and ability to tell great stories," said yearbook editor Meagan Talt '05 in presenting the honor, "Fr. Allen has proven that behind every Jesuit university president, there is an assistant who makes 'the big guy' look good." She also touted Fr. Allen's energy as a celebrant, noting "God must smile every time Charlie leads Mass."
Also recognized at the brunch was Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, as Alpha Sigma Nu's Teacher of the Year for 2005. Dr. Lakeland, who students described as "a brilliant man with intense dedication," shared with students a few tips for the next stage of their lives. First, he said, be passionate about something. Second, do what you love. And finally, he added, "Try to love what you do, especially when you are not doing what you love."
Alumni Association President Paul Richards '71 closed the brunch by formally welcoming the Class of 2005 to the Alumni Association, a family of nearly 40,000 Fairfield graduates around the globe.
 Women's Studies Center awards Dr. Malone
For her gift of leadership and the spirit in which she exercises it, Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president (right) was honored with the 2005 Women's Studies Award at ceremonies held in May. Dr. Rose Rodrigues (left), assistant professor of sociology and anthropology and director of the Women's Studies Center, presented the award. Among those who spoke of Dr. Malone's qualities were Eileen Arnold '05, who worked as a work study student with Dr. Malone for four years; Dr. Nancy Dallavalle, associate professor of religious studies, whose adaptation of Proverbs, 31 was part roast, part toast, in its humor and wisdom; Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, and Dr. Rodrigues.
Photos by Jean Santopatre
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Donnelly Dash Too: Running for a good cause
By Patrick Moran, Assistant Director of Sports Information
On a particular Sunday morning in April, close to 500 runners - including several members of the Fairfield University men's and women's cross country teams - converged on Fairfield Ludlow High School for the annual road race formerly known as the April Showers Road Race. This year the event was renamed The Donnelly Dash Too, in honor of Tim and Kim Donnelly who were killed in a robbery attempt at their jewelry store in February.
But there was no sorrow or sadness at this event. While the couple was remembered, there were also smiles all around, as under a warm clear-blue sky the runners set off on the 3.2-mile course with the sounds from the Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band playing in the background.
The couple's children, Eric '01 and Tara '03, MBA '04 were both members of the Fairfield cross country program during their undergraduate years, and Eric served as an assistant coach from 2001 to 2003. As a result, current and former members of the team wanted to contribute to and be a part of the event.
"Eric was an assistant for the first two years I was with the team," says Bryan Mahoney '05. "A bunch of us kept in contact with him and we wanted to do something for him and his family." Mahoney finished the Dash 27th overall with a 22:14.
The teams had a meet scheduled for the day prior to the Donnelly Dash, yet most of the runners asked if they could also run the Sunday race. "Since there was interest, I decided to cancel the meet so everyone could run in the race," says men's and women's cross country Head Coach Jennifer Wyshner. "We thought it was great to be involved with the event, because the Donnellys were great supporters of the University and our program. Also, many of the runners know Eric and Tara."
Fairfield assistant coach Mike Owens came out the top runner in the Donnelly Dash, traversing the course in 19:02.
The Fairfield men's team occupied nine spots in the top 25, including three in the top 10. Andrew Lawrence '08 was the top male runner for the Stags with a 20:54, followed by A.J. Kastanotis '06 (20:54), Devin Hagen '06 (20:55), Craig Sabatini '08 (21:12), John LaCagnina '06 (21:15), Dan Ryan '08 (21:18), John Worrall '08 (21:28), John Fields '06 (22:06), and Duncan Gerity '07 (22:09).
Among the women's team, Stephanie Stote '05 finished in 24:49, followed by Shannon Kenefick '06 (25:43), Maryellen Pribish '06 (26:48), Courtney Kincaid '07 (26:49), and Cathleen Cavanaugh '08 (27-25).
Proceeds from the event will support the Donnelly family. The race will be officially known as the Donnelly Dash in the future.
"Our intention is to run in it as a team every year," Wyshner adds.
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Fairfield University hosts AATG banquet
Fairfield University hosted the annual American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) banquet on May 13, honoring Connecticut high school students of German and students from the German School of Connecticut for their high achievement. Dr. Eileen Wilkinson, AATG testing chair, and Dr. Iris Bork-Goldfield, AATG Connecticut chapter co-president, both German instructors at Fairfield University, together with Dr. Krishna Winston, AATG secretary and professor of German at Wesleyan University, organized the event.
Among the 71 honorees were Dr. Wilkinson's daughter, Elise, and Dr. Bork-Goldfield's children, Julian and Miriam.
Dr. Katherine Kidd, director of international studies, was the guest speaker for this event. Dr. Joel Goldfield, director of the Culpeper Language Resource Center, provided musical entertainment on the piano, while his son played the saxophone.
Students meet scholarship donor
In May, second-degree nursing students in the School of Nursing's 15-month program who had received scholarships from the Schecter Foundation for the 2004-05 year, were invited to a dinner with Claudia Schecter. The School of Nursing hosted the event. Pictured above (l-r) are scholarship recipients with Assistant Professor Carole Pomarico (center): Stephen Roberts, Sherry Lucke, Carrie Guttman, Pomarico, Claudia Schecter, Tsedron Normatsang, and Richard Arriaga. Missing is Thu-Hong Vu.
 Fairfield University's CWP recognized by state officials
At Tracey Elementary School in Norwalk, creative writing lessons for students such as Deonna Joyner (pictured above) begin as early as kindergarten, thanks to the help of the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University. The Connecticut Writing Project (CWP) holds summer institutes, workshops, seminars, and in-service programs for teachers to improve students' writing skills. On May 12, State Sen. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Rep. Chris Perone (D-Norwalk) held a press conference at Tracey to rally for keeping a $60,000 line item in the state budget for the CWP. At the event, four students read their stories, which ranged in subject from short sentences about kittens and telescopes to a chapter about a magic journal that transports its scribe to whatever fantasy land is jotted down on the page. Joyner shared her interest in telescopes and astronauts with the group. Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, Faye Gage, director of the CWP, and Dr. Betsy Bowen, associate director of CWP and associate professor of English (pictured behind Joyner), attended the event.
Sigma Xi hosts grant writing workshop
Dr. Linda Henkel (pictured right), assistant professor of psychology in CAS, was among the presenters at a week-long grant writing course held on campus last month by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Dr. Henkel, along with Dr. Neville Kallenbach from New York University's chemistry department and Mark Johnson from the chemistry department at Yale University, provided participants with information about the grant review process. During the week, attendees also worked on proposals in small groups and participated in practice review sessions.
Photos by Jean Santopatre
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| Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (pictured right), shared yet another of his talents during the May 7 benefit concert at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. His moving rendition of the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" paid tribute to Timothy and Kimberly Donnelly, who were slain in a jewelry store robbery in February. The benefit concert raised nearly $33,000 toward the endowed music scholarship at Fairfield that will bear their name. |
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Eric Donnelly '01 (pictured below, far left) and his band, Alternate Routes, played several sets during the concert. Eric and his sister, Tara '03, MBA '04 are both recent graduates of the University, and their mother, Kimberly, worked in the finance division for several years.
Photos by Jean Santopatre
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Women's Caucus for Art holds juried exhibition at Walsh Gallery
The Women's Caucus for Art, Connecticut Chapter, will celebrate the varied work of women artists - and its 15th anniversary - with "Night and Day," a juried exhibition of 43 pieces from women across Connecticut and beyond, opening June 12, at the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will be on display until July 29.
The exhibit opens with a public reception featuring music and refreshments at 4 p.m. Prior to the opening, the Caucus will offer a 2 p.m. screening of Women Make Art, a short film about women artists and their work, in the Wien Experimental Theater.
The exhibition includes 43 works from 41 artists, including painting, photography, mixed media pieces, sculpture and a large installation. The artists hail from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Gloria Ruenitz, president of the Women's Caucus, says the 125-member Connecticut chapter of the caucus strives to give women opportunities to show their art and works with schools and other educational programs to encourage young female artists. The caucus also documents women's art through exhibit catalogs, publications, lectures, and slide shows. The new film, which was shot by Westport filmmaker Lisa Seidenberg, will be a perfect vehicle for caucus members, many of whom are teachers, to take their message into classrooms, Ruenitz says.
Juror Helen Cooper, the Holcombe T. Greene curator of American paintings and sculpture at Yale University, picked an untitled silver gelatin photo print as Best of Show. Killingworth, Conn., artist Kathryn Frederick created the image of a young girl and her grandmother, a topic Ruenitz said fits perfectly with the exhibition's theme.
"It's all about beginning and ending and opposites," she says.
Three awards of excellence will be presented at the opening reception. Torrington artist Christine Altman won for her installation, "Let Us Marry Annette. Amen," which includes a video projected onto a wedding gown hanging from the ceiling. Constance LaPalombara of New Haven, won an award for her oil on linen work entitled "Sunlight." "Night Power," a watercolor by Guilford artist Suzanne E. Siegel, also won an award of excellence.
For more information, call the Gallery at ext. 2969.
Staff Association awards three scholarships for 2005-06
The Fairfield University Staff Association awarded three students - accounting major Elis Espinal '06, electrical engineering major Janelle Buckley '06, and nursing major Vanessa Chaparro '06 - each a $2,000 scholarship at the annual Scholarship Luncheon on May 3. The students are selected based on their academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Dr. Donald Ross, professor emeritus of biology, presented each student with a gift certificate for books on behalf of the University's Friends of the Library. Pictured above are (l-r) Staff Association President Linda White, Elis Espinal, Janelle Buckley,Dr. Ross, and Vanessa Chaparro.
Summer Festival Chorus holds auditions for "Summer Romance"
The Summer Festival Chorus of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts will hold auditions for its 2005 program, "Summer Romance," on June 7 at 7 p.m. in the Quick Center. The chorus, now in its 12th year, will present a final concert on July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Experienced choral singers are invited to audition and should be prepared to sing vocal warm-ups and exercises. Auditions are not required for previous participants. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from June 21 through July 28.
The program for the 2005 concert will include compositions by John Lennon, Daniel Pinkham, Johannes Brahms, Leonard Bernstein, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, director of choral and liturgical music, is the musical director of the Summer Festival Chorus. She is also the artistic director and conductor of The Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut and a chorus master for the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra.
For more information, call the Quick Center at ext. 4010.
Photo by Jean Santopatre
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Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published monthly. The editorial office is located in Bellarmine Hall, Room 203. Telephone: 254-4000, ext. 2556. Fax: 254-4167. E-mail: jcaseria@mail.fairfield.edu.
Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria
Assistant Director of University Publications
Editorial Board
Martha Milcarek
Assistant Vice President for Public Relations
Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications
Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist
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