Campus Currents November 2006

Volume 15, Number 3
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for November 7, 2006

Veteran Yale fundraiser to lead Advancement
Kelley Center Dedicated
Fairfield ranks first for the most Fulbright Awards
UC hosts World Poverty Day Symposium
News Breakers
Service Anniversaries
Dr. Kevin Cassidy finds peaceful change in N. Ireland
Princeton Review names DSB a Best Business School
The Campus View
Graduate Corner: Hot graduate programs in 2006
Ambassador Ross addresses Middle East conflicts
Dr. Aquino sheds light on the status of poor women
Fairfield celebrates its first Ramadan iftar
Dr. Ferrell delivers second annual SON Lecture
Enthusiastic trio joins Campus Ministry
Fairfield awards first Diversity Grants for student research
Dr. Robert Orsi to deliver Mooney Lecture
Dr. Judea Pearl to discuss cross-cultural dialogues
Fairfield Board of Trustees welcomes new members
Fairfield gains new faculty
Business leaders attend Fairfield's Communion Breakfast
Groundbreaking Jesuit and Feminist Conference sparks lively discussions
Sports
Gifts and Grants
Philippine Dance company to take the stage
AHANA students honored at Christopher B. Love Reception
Centers for Catholic Studies and Faith and Public life host open house
GSEAP presentation on immigrant detainees set for Nov. 14
The John Scofield Trio to perform Nov. 17
Plan ahead!

Veteran Yale fundraiser to lead Advancement

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Stephanie B. Frost feels blessed that she has worked for organizations whose goals she believes in and embraces. Fairfield University will be no different.

"I truly believe in Fairfield's mission and its future," said Frost, director of Major Gifts at Yale University, who has accepted the position of Vice President for University Advancement at Fairfield University. On Nov. 13, she will join Fairfield and fill the post vacated by George Diffley, who retired in July after 30 years.

"What I really enjoy about my work is being able to contribute substantially and substantively to the betterment and success of an institution," Frost said. "Fairfield is a wonderful institution committed to continually moving forward and I look forward to helping make a difference."

Frost will oversee Fairfield's advancement programs that include the areas of Development, Alumni Relations, Constituent Relations, Corporate Relations, Foundation Relations, Special Events, and related support services.

"Fairfield has experienced outstanding success in fundraising in recent years under the leadership of my predecessor, Fr. Kelley, and George Diffley and his staff," said University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. "However, in order for the institution to achieve the goals that are now in place, we must build on the University's strengths and significantly increase philanthropic revenues. With her outstanding background and successful fundraising record, I am absolutely delighted that Stephanie Frost is joining us."

The hallmark of any good advancement division, Frost explained, is to build successful and satisfying relationships with alumni and friends. Fairfield has already done that, she said. She looks forward to continuing this work, and in particular, involving more younger alumni. "Fairfield provides the perfect setting for building upon terrific strengths and expanding even greater opportunities," she said.

Frost brings to Fairfield more than 20 years experience in fundraising. She came to Yale in 1990 as an assistant director in the Development Office, and has since held positions, including senior development officer, manager of major and leadership gifts, co-director of major and leadership gifts, and director of parent giving and special gifts.

In 2004, Frost was promoted to lead the major gifts team where her primary responsibilities included recruiting and managing a staff of 21 major gift officers responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and closing capital gifts of $100,000 to $5,000,000. In addition, she has been involved in developing the major gifts plan as part of the overall Yale Tomorrow Campaign.

Prior to joining Yale, Frost was director of development for the Churchill School and Center, a leading special education institution for children with learning disabilities in New York City. She also served as associate director of the Patron Program of the Metropolitan Opera, also in New York City. Frost received her B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.

For nearly two decades, Frost has been a resident of Fairfield, where she currently resides with her two children.

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The Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., (center) with University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., and Paul Huston '82, chair of the University's Board of Trustees, poses in the new building dedicated on his behalf.

Kelley Center Dedicated

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

More than 150 members of the Fairfield University community - current and former trustees, town officials, faculty, administrators, staff, and retirees - attended the Oct. 5 dedication of the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Center, the first building to be dedicated on campus since its namesake retired as president in 2004.

Clearly delighted by the turnout, Fr. Kelley expressed his gratitude for the partnership of countless individuals who made so much possible during his 25-year tenure. Noting his personal embarrassment at being the center of so much attention (as opposed to the lack of attention now paid him in the classes he teaches at Fordham!), Fr. Kelley said, "During my presidency, each person - with his or her own particular gifts - served students in ways that made the spirit and the traditions of Jesuit education come alive at Fairfield. For those contributions of time, talent, and treasure, I continue to be most grateful."

Referring to Fr. Kelley as "Fairfield's second founder," University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., noted that the centrally located facility offers a holistic approach in providing services essential to the academic progress and success of undergraduate and graduate students. "The Kelley Center," he said, "will forever be an integral part of student life on campus."

Before joining Fr. von Arx and Paul Huston '82, chair of the University's Board of Trustees, to unveil a plaque and photo, Fr. Kelley said, "I am pleased to have my name associated with a facility whose primary purpose is to serve students and the promise for the future that they hold. I might add, in conclusion, that I am also pleased that every time people read the name on this building they will have received yet another reminder of the only correct way to spell Kelley."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Fairfield ranks first for the most Fulbright Awards

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

The Chronicle of Higher Education announced on Oct. 20 that in 2006 Fairfield University had the largest number of Fulbright Scholarships awarded to students at universities with master's degree programs. The Fulbright Grant is the most prestigious international scholarship awarded by the U.S. government.

Fairfield's graduating class received five Fulbrights, while the next highest in the country was the University of Portland with four. Yale University ranked first among universities with doctorate programs.

"We're number one in the nation in our category of university; we are the Yale of Fulbrights," said Dr. Miriam Gogol, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and coordinator of the Fulbright program.

This is the second time in three years that Fairfield has been singled out for having the largest number of Fulbrights in its category. The five Fulbrights awarded this year bring to 39 the number of Fairfield University students who have been awarded Fulbrights since 1993.

University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., said he was delighted that so many Fairfield students had pursued the Fulbright, which takes college graduates to other countries and cultures. "These outstanding graduates are to be commended for their academic achievements and for reaching beyond their comfort zones. They bring honor to their University and the faculty on our Fulbright Committee who guided them."

Fairfield has a rigorous process in place to assist students applying for this prestigious award. "The whole campus community has symphonically engaged in this endeavor and our aim is to have the students really fine tune their proposals," said Dr. Gogol, who as coordinator, selects faculty committee and advisory board members, leads information sessions for the students, and meets with students to discuss their research proposal drafts several times before the applicants make presentations to the faculty committee.

"We encourage the students to do international and national networking on their own, and to conduct deep research into their topic so that they find an academic project that they feel passionate about."

Participation in the Fulbright program is in keeping with the University's strategic initiative to create an environment in which students learn to integrate what they learn in the classroom into their lives. "In my estimation," Dr. Gogol said, "the Fulbright is another manifestation of Fairfield's commitment to Living and Learning, not only with Fulbright's academic emphasis on the post-graduate, international level, but with its required engagement with community service."

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UC hosts World Poverty Day Symposium

Joel Barlow High School seniors respond to University College's Associate Dean Aaron Perkus, as he asks them to raise their papers in a visual representation of the number of people in the world living on the equivalent of a dollar a day. On Oct. 18, the 165 students participated in a Poverty Day symposium organized by Dr. Perkus and Barlow Dean Deidre Price. Dr. Lisa Newton, professor of philosophy in CAS, gave the keynote address, in which she outlined the eight Millennium Development Goals put forth by the United Nations. Drs. Winston Tellis, the Camille and Stephen Schramm Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management in DSB, Mark LeClair associate professor of economics, and Terry-Ann Jones, assistant professor of sociology, both in CAS, presented case studies. The students, all from Easton and Redding, then took part in roundtable discussions. "Hopefully, the group learned something about how they can respond to world poverty; it's a theme that will continue throughout the year at Joel Barlow," says Dr. Perkus. "This day was also about strengthening the University's community partnerships, and we look forward to working collaboratively with local high schools on future projects."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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After serving three years on the Board for the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, Dr. Suzanne Campbell, assistant professor in the School of Nursing (SON), has been elected director-at-large on the Board of the International Lactation Consultant  Association (ILCA). In this position, she will be liaison to the research committee on the International Lactation Education Accreditation Council, and editor of the Journal of Human Lactation.

Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of Modern Languages and Literatures in CAS, was invited to the III International Festival of Poetry in El Salvador in May. In July, he was invited to read his poetry at the Spanish School at  Middlebury College in Vermont. He also attended the  University of Mayaguez in Puerto Rico during the summer for a lecture on Caribbean issues. Dr. Campos recently was an editor of the anthology "Recent Nicaraguan Poetry" published in the literary journal, Hispamerica (University of Maryland, 2006). This October, he attended the International 2006 Romance Studies Colloquium at University of Oregon in Eugene, where he presented a paper with a cultural studies approach titled, "Memory and Forgetting in the Neoliberal Global Age in Latin America." Campos, a regular columnist for a Latin American newspaper, wrote about "The Wall Between Mexico and USA of Presidente Bush" (www.elmostrador.cl). Dr. Campos also invited guest lecturer Otoniel Guevara from El Salvador to talk about "War, Violence, and Immigration in El Salvador Today" on Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in Canisius 202.

An Oct. 10 Connecticut Post story on the Columbia professor who helped slow inflation and won a 2006 Nobel Prize included comments from Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). "Because of what he did," Dr. Deak said, "we have a better understanding of what are the drivers of inflation."

Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in CAS, was quoted in a Sept. 22 Waterbury Republican-American article announcing a Fairfield University grant program supporting writing projects by and for Roman Catholic women. "This is a series by and for Catholic women in a world context with serious global and ecumenical concerns," she said.

In an Oct. 5 article in the Fairfield Minuteman, Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of art history in CAS, commented on the renovated Pequot Library in Southport. "Dan (Snydacker, executive director) has revived the sense that it's a cultural landmark."

Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics in CAS, was quoted in an Aug. 21 Greenwich Time column on the Connecticut Senate race. "The idea that Connecticut has been captured by the left is total nonsense," he said. "It's a blue state, but not a crazy blue state." The column also ran on Aug. 22 in the Post-Journal of Jamestown, N.Y.

Dr. Sheila Grossman, professor in SON, was a keynote speaker at The World Congress Leadership Summit for Senior Healthcare and Nurse Executives in Chicago from June 15 to June 17. She co-presented "The Future of Nursing: Challenged to Stand and Mature Within Its Own Paradigm."

In its Sept. 2006 issue, Fairfield County Business Times ran an article on the new certificate program in interior decorating at University College. Curriculum coordinator Robert Hardy was quoted as saying he expected high interest in the new program.

The most recent issue of Theological Studies, the premiere journal of theological reflection in North America, includes an article by Dr. Angela Harkins, assistant professor of religious studies in CAS.

Dr. Xin James He, professor of information systems and operations management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business (DSB), has received the Distinguished Service Award for serving as vice president of the International Information Management Association and conference chair of the 17th Annual International Information Management Association Conference, held in October in New Rochelle, N.Y. He also presented the research paper, "The Impact of Lead Time Variability on Supply Chain Management," at the conference. In addition, Dr. He has recently been invited to join the editorial team for Decision Sciences Journal, a flagship journal of the Decision Sciences Institute.

An Aug. 17 article in The Stamford Advocate quoted Dr. Timothy Heitzman, assistant professor of psychology in CAS. Speaking about new students making the move to college life, he said, "There are a lot of adjustments going on in terms of self-identity. Self-identity takes a big jump when family and close friends are removed."

The Stamford Advocate ran an article on immigration classes at regional universities on Oct. 16. Dr. Terry-Ann Jones, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology in CAS, who has taught courses on immigration issues, said she sees both traditional students and retirees in her classes. "I think it's a reflection of the world we live in," she told the newspaper. "All the issues are coming up in the media. People are more aware of these concerns, and want to learn more."

Lucy Katz, Robert C. Wright Professor of Business Law, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution in DSB, led a session on Yom Kippur for the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Fairfield County, and was the featured speaker for Yom Kippur services there.

Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies (CAS), spoke at the annual fundraising dinner of Futurechurch in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 5. His topic was "We Are the Future of the Church: Rediscovering Our Baptismal Priesthood." On Oct. 14, he spoke to the Detroit area annual regional meeting of Call to Action on the topic "Looking to the Future of the Church: Adulthood, Ownership, Accountability." On Oct. 19 and 20, he led the Congregation of St. Agnes Sponsorship Leadership Forum at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on the topic "Lay Ministry and Mission: Is It Just the Apostolate of the Second String?"

Dr. Jean Lange, associate professor and director of graduate studies in SON, was honored in October by the University of Connecticut at its 10th Annual Alumni Banquet, which cited her work with the elderly and research into cross-cultural issues in healthcare. Dr. Lange received her doctorate in nursing from UConn in 1999; she was the first person to graduate from that program.

On Oct. 21, Dr. Mark Ligas, associate professor of marketing in DSB, was quoted in a Connecticut Post story on Oktoberfest. He explained that it isn't the only imported holiday that has become identified with partying in the United States, noting St. Patrick's Day and Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras are prime examples.

The Aug. 7 Courier News of Bridgewater, N.J., mentioned Dr. Lisa Mainiero, professor of management in DSB, in a column on workplace romance. On Aug. 28, Dr. Mainiero was interviewed on Strand Media Group's Something You Should Know, a nationally syndicated radio show in 220 North American markets. Dr. Mainiero spoke about her book The Opt-Out Revolt: Why People are Leaving Companies to Create Kaleidoscope Careers (Davis Black Publishing, 2006). The Sept. 10 Newsday included The Opt-Out Revolt and its related website as resources for a piece on women and men returning to the workforce after an absence. Dr. Mainiero discussed how men are seeking more balanced lives in a Sept. 17 article in The Star-Ledger of New Jersey. NAFE Magazine interviewed Dr. Mainiero for an October 2006 story on the "talent war," using her insights on employee retention. "A lot of what companies have been saying about being family friendly is a myth," she said. "Telecommuting and flextime are available but only at your manager's discretion - and some managers won't allow it." New York Times columnist Matt Villano quoted Dr. Mainiero on how employees and management benefit when they "embrace telecommuting" in an Oct. 1 article. She also discussed The Opt-Out Revolt on WOR-AM's The Joan Hamburg Show on Oct. 2. On Oct. 5, she offered her thoughts on Connecticut's working environment on WICC-AM's Family Breakfast Show/Coffee Break Chat. She also taped a short podcast interview available for downloading at FemaleThink.com. Dr. Mainiero was a guest on Philadelphia-based WBEB-FM's The Women's File on Oct. 16 and on The Jordan Rich Show on WBZ-AM, a CBS Radio affiliate, on Oct. 22.

Dr. Diana Mille, director of the Walsh Art Gallery, was quoted in a Sept. 15 Newtown Bee story announcing the opening of the National Sculpture Society show at the gallery.

The Aug. 3 New Haven Register quoted Dr. Jeanne Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing, on the new nurse anesthesia master's program, which will begin in January. "The field of nurse anesthesia is one of the pillars of advanced practice nursing and we expect this program to be very successful."

A Sept. 24 story in the Record-Journal of Meriden on watching films on tiny iPod screens, quoted Dr. Leo O'Connor, director of the American Studies program in CAS, as saying movie watching has consistently changed. He said, "When you privatize a movie experience without an audience, it makes it different, less visceral."

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, offered comments for a Sept. 1 Connecticut Post story on politicians' stands on the Iraq War and U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays' decision to call for a war timetable. "The clear majority in Connecticut believe the war is wrong so it is a good position for Shays to take to disagree with some of the mismanagement of the war," Dr. Orman said. On Sept. 11, the Greenwich Time quoted Dr. Orman on Sen. Lieberman's strategic move to include himself in pre-election debates. In a Sept. 16 Greenwich Time article on Sen. Lieberman's Sept. 15 visit to the University, Dr. Orman was quoted as a participant in a Q&A with the audience. Dr. Orman was also included in an Oct. 14 Springfield (Mass.) News-Leader story about the presence of celebrities at political fundraisers. "Celebrities provide buzz for the campaign and the candidate gets to look a little bit cooler than they normally look," he said.

On Aug. 24, the Amity Observer quoted Dr. Judy Primavera, professor of psychology in CAS, on the fourth annual Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts Benefit, which took place on campus on Sept. 9.

An Oct. 15 New York Times article on the growing pressure on student-athletes to act responsibly following the widely reported rape accusations against three Duke University lacrosse players, referenced a letter written by Mark Reed, vice president for Student Affairs. The letter, addressed to student athletes, reminded them of the implications of their actions, not only for themselves, but also for the University.

Brigida Salvioli, a secretary in the Dean of Freshmen Office, was named "Creative Health & Fitness Member of the Year" for inspiring others to pursue and embrace a healthy lifestyle. This is the first time the Milford gym, Creative Health & Fitness, has given this award.

Dr. James Simon, professor of English in CAS, was quoted in a Sept. 25 Connecticut Post story on cameras in courtrooms, something Dr. Simon supports. "Other states are doing it," he said, "and have had no trouble balancing the right for a fair and speedy trial against the public's right to know."

The Sept. 29 Christian Science Monitor carried a story on U.S. unions turning to foreign hospitals for quality, low-cost care for members, quoting Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School. "If costs keep going up the way they have," he said, "it's going to be difficult to maintain (healthcare options) in unionized firms."

Two articles by Dr. Marie-Agnès Sourieau, associate professor of Modern Languages and Literatures in CAS, were recently published. The first, "Assia Djebar: entre corps et voix ou l'éros de l'écriture," appeared in Journal of Middle Eastern and North African Intellectual and Cultural Studies, Fall 2006. The second, "The Dew Breaker d'Edwidge Danticat: la mémoire engourdie de terreurs," appeared in Journal of Haitian Studies, Fall 2006.

On Oct. 6, Dr. John Thiel, program director and professor of religious studies in CAS, has been appointed to the Board of Editorial Consultants for the journal, Theological Studies. He also delivered "Good, Evil and Innocent Suffering" as part of the "First Friday" series at St. Luke Church in Westport. The latest issue of Theological Studies, the premiere journal of theological reflection in North America, features an article by Dr. Thiel. 

Bassist Brian Torff, music program director in CAS, lectured on music and culture at a Sept. 27 University chapter meeting of Beta Alpha Psi, the national accounting, finance, and information systems honor society. He performed at the President's Ball on Sept. 30. The New York Times' Sept. 21 Arts & Leisure section noted that Torff will be performing in the Django Reinhardt Festival at Birdland in Manhattan from Nov. 7 through Nov. 12.

University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., was quoted in the Sept. 14 Fairfield Minuteman, commenting on a $616,128 grant awarded to Fairfield and the University of Bridgeport for outreach to disadvantaged students. "We at Fairfield University are so pleased to have the opportunity to continue our work with this vitally important program," he said. A Sept. 13 story about Convocation in the Fairfield Citizen News quoted Fr. Von Arx as saying Dr. Paul Farmer, the featured speaker, "personifies the University's mission of social responsibility."

Kathleen Wheeler, professor in SON, co-authored an article "An Adult with Childhood Medical Trauma Treated with Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and EMDR: A Case Study" in the journal Perspectives of Psychiatric Care.

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5 years
Susan Marcin
Behnam Ostovarpour

10 years
Timothy Craig
James Estrada

25 years
Debbie Feeley

Condolences
Stanley Amrine, father of Dennis Amrine, associate director of the Career Planning Center, who died on Oct. 13.

New Employees
Molly Brown - Operations Assistant I, Student Activities & Facilities
Kimberly Droniak - Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Curtis Ferree - Reference /Electronic Librarian
Joan Grant - Publicist, Media Relations
Mary McCullough - Associate Director, Annual Giving
Leslie Porter - Librarian
Christine Walsh - Assistant Director, Alumni Relations
Kaveh Ahmadian - UNIX Administrator, Math/ Computer Science
Roy Moufid Atallah - BEI Lab Engineer, SOE

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Dr. Kevin Cassidy (second from left) joined by Protestant community activists in Northern Ireland, who are at the heart of his recent research.

Faculty Research

The College of arts & Sciences

Dr. Kevin Cassidy finds peaceful change in N. Ireland

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Over the summer, in a pub in Northern Ireland, Dr. Kevin Cassidy, professor of politics in the College of Arts & Sciences, found himself sitting at a table with two former members of the Irish Republican Army and a former member of the Ulster Defense Association (UDA), a Protestant paramilitary organization. They were discussing the community work each was doing on housing, education, and job growth. In the 1990s, these same men were on opposite sides of the battle for control of Northern Ireland and more than willing to kill each other.

Curious, Dr. Cassidy asked what had changed. "I'll tell you," the former IRA member responded, "We've all seen the face of hell." The others nodded in agreement. By that, the man meant that they had all suffered, witnessed friends die in this Northern Irish Civil War, and were moved to find another way to make change. These men, who had joined paramilitary groups to fight for their communities, had traded violence for service work and were quietly planting the seeds peace in Northern Ireland.

Dr. Cassidy began research on this movement three years ago, when he interviewed Catholic homegrown community organizers, or "organic intellectuals," in Northern Ireland who had helped the  Sinn Féin political party succeed. This past summer, he returned to see if similar organizers existed in Protestant communities. He found and interviewed 20 Protestant community activists who, like the Catholic community organizers, were from working class areas and had participated in paramilitary organizations, like UDA and the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Protestant organic intellectuals faced more challenges in mobilizing their communities than Catholics. Many Protestants, for example, are unwilling to oppose their government by organizing. Also, Protestant communities don't have a unifying political party like Sinn Féin, and Protestant paramilitary organizations are still active and strong. Yet, the work of these organizers is gaining momentum.

Dr. Cassidy came across another interesting development that he will continue to investigate on his next trip to Northern Ireland. He found a few Protestant organizers who were collaborating with their Catholic counterparts to improve the social conditions of their communities. "People who were literally shooting at each other are now working together with these cross-community projects," Dr. Cassidy. It's a small and fragile group, but one that is making bold moves.

It's logical for Protestants to turn to Catholic community organizers because they have been mobilizing for decades. Catholics, who have fought for independence from British rule since the 1920s, have faced discrimination and had to organize to get services. Protestants have always relied on the government to provide for their needs. Deindustrialization in Northern Ireland, however, left the region with high unemployment and poverty, and the social problems that accompany it, Dr. Cassidy said. This small group recognized that they could do much more as a single force than as separate entities. "What's beginning to happen is a kind of class consciousness," he said.

What these community activists illustrate, Dr. Cassidy explained, is that "peace is possible and it happens when people begin to see what they have in common; when both sides are willing to say, 'We are going to be much stronger and people are going to take us more seriously if we are together in demanding action than if we are separate.'"

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Princeton Review names DSB a Best Business School

By Meg McCaffrey, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The Charles F. Dolan School of Business has been named one of the best business schools in the country by The Princeton Review. The Dolan School is featured in the New York-based education service company's 2007 edition of its Best 282 Business Schools, which hit bookstores in October. Last year marked the first time that the Dolan School placed in the prestigious annual publication.

The Dolan School was praised for being a place where students grow academically, personally, and professionally. The School was noted for having professors and alumni who serve as valuable resources for students seeking internships and careers, and for being an institution where "Jesuit tenets" guide instruction. It also was portrayed as a place that understands the needs of adults' busy lives by providing convenient evening and weekend classes.

In The Princeton Review's 80-question survey, Dolan students credited the School for its "fine finance program," and "very accessible and helpful faculty." Dolan students noted "professors' enthusiasm contributes a lot to the learning experience," and observed that course work is "current and interesting." Students gave a thumbs-up to classrooms equipped with "all up-to-date teaching technologies"

Dr. Norman A. Solomon, dean, said he was especially pleased by the recognition because it is based on the viewpoints of students. "We are proud that working professionals see the merits and relevance of our fine programs. We are pleased that the hard work of our faculty and staff continues to be acknowledged. Our professors and alumni are indeed, as the guide points out, valuable resources for students seeking internships or careers."

Dr. Dana Wilkie, assistant dean and director of graduate programs, said that there has been a steady increase of full-time graduate students in the Dolan School of Business in the past two years. "Our strong academics and active graduate student association has played a significant role in student satisfaction."

Robert Franek, Princeton Review vice president of publishing, said, "We chose schools for this book based on our high regard for their academic programs and offerings, institutional data we collect from the schools, and the candid opinions of students attending them who rate and report on their campus experiences at the schools. We are pleased to recommend the Dolan School to readers of our book and users of our website as one of the best institutions they could attend to earn an MBA."

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The Campus View

Kenneth Smith, above, brings outgoing mail to the mail room in the John A. Barone Campus Center. He has just finished the first of two daily rounds of mail deliveries and collections from offices around campus. Smith and fellow mail deliverer Konstantinos Pontikas ensure that the mail picked up from the U.S. Post Office at 7 a.m. is distributed during the morning delivery route, and outgoing mail gets postmarked. The Mail Services' seven employees process thousands of letters, publications, and packages sent to Fairfield each day and make certain each lands on the right desk.

Editor's Note: From behind the camera, University Photojournalist Jean Santopatre has a clear view of what makes Fairfield University a special place. In her position, she captures our celebrations, our achievements, our contributions to the community, and of course, the activities of our students. In this column, she will feature the people behind the scenes who create a collaborative community that cares about the development of students, and that fosters a high-quality, engaging environment.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Graduate Corner: Hot graduate programs in 2006

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

While the total number of graduate students in the various schools on campus remains fairly steady at close to 1,100, there have been subtle shifts in the enrollment of each area of study during the past few years, according to the Office of Graduate Admission. Recently, the two programs in the College of Arts & Sciences - the M.S. in Mathematics and the M.A. in American Studies - have experienced a boom, bringing the total number of students enrolled in those programs to 94. "They're still small programs, but those numbers are double what they were four years ago," says Marianne Gumpper, director of graduate admission.

"There has been more aggressive marketing of our grad programs in general, on the radio, in newspapers, and on the billboard on I-95," says Dr. Leo O'Connor, director of the American Studies program, explaining the jump.

Not that he's complaining, but he notes that the faculty has had to offer twice the courses they did just a few short years ago.

Dr. Ben Fine, director of the master's in mathematics program, said that the increased importance of technology in the business world has necessitated that employees become more math-savvy. "About half our students continue to be secondary school teachers, but many are business people who want this degree to help with their career growth, or they're changing careers," says Dr. Fine. "And there are always a few who simply love math and want to have a better understanding of theory."

While the Dolan School of Business (DSB) and the School of Engineering have seen their numbers dip in the last four years, the horizon is positive. In DSB, the number of full-time students has jumped from 45 to 65 in one year alone, due in part to the new full-time M.S. in accounting program and a larger number of graduate assistantships, which offer tuition assistance, says Dr. Dana Wilkie, assistant dean and director of graduate programs in DSB.

Dr. Vagos Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering, also points to an increase in the number of full-time students, particularly in software engineering, which attracts international students who are required to attend full-time.

More than half the graduate students on campus are enrolled in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, making it by far the largest on campus; this year, it has 588 students.

The School of Nursing's graduate program is the University's smallest; numbers have remained consistent but are expected to increase with the new Nurse Anesthesia program set to begin in January.

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Ambassador Ross addresses Middle East conflicts

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

Introducing former Ambassador Dennis Ross to a full audience at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Oct. 3., University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., said, "The effort to bring peace to the Middle East continues to be one of the great challenges and frustrations of our time." Ambassador Ross has played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process for more than 12 years. His talk, "The Missing Peace - The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace," was a program of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences and was sponsored by Bank of America.

Ambassador Ross began the lecture with his views on Hezbollah's rocket fire into Israel this summer, and Israel's response. Militarily, he said, "the Israelis dealt Hezbollah a great blow. Israel destroyed all (Hezbollah's) long-range rockets and most of the mid-range. They got to the point where the site of any rocket fired by Hezbollah would then be destroyed by Israel within 45-60 seconds ... Israel also destroyed all Hezbollah's underground bunkers and command posts."

But there's also a subjective reality to consider, he said. "Hezbollah inflicted great pain; it hit the Israeli homeland in a way it hasn't been hit since '48." Hezbollah will not relinquish its role as a militia, he said, so the U.S. must find a way to convince the Syrians to stop supplying arms to the group.

"The Bush administration has a deep belief that elections are self-correcting," said Ross, speaking of the Middle East in general. Yet the West shouldn't push elections until there are viable alternatives to the regime in power, he said. "With governments that are run by ideology, there is no room for debate ... and you can draw your own conclusions about (which government) I'm talking about," he said, to laughter from the audience.

In the Palestinian territories, he said by way of example, there are so few schools that each day is divided into three, three-hour shifts. "Actually, the teachers are on strike right now because they haven't been paid, so the kids don't go to school at all." The people would vote for any group that will provide better social services, he said, regardless of ideology.

Ambassador Ross is The Washington Institute's counselor and Ziegler distinguished fellow. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He was instrumental in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to reach the 1995 Interim Agreement; he also successfully brokered the 1997 Hebron Accord, facilitated the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty, and intensively worked to bring Israel and Syria together.

At the conclusion of Ambassador Ross' talk, Dr. Ellen Umansky, the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies, led a roundtable discussion in which Drs. David McFadden, chair, Department of History, Gavriel Rosenfeld, associate professor of history, and Raquel Ukeles, assistant professor of religious studies, participated.

Photo by Michelle McLoughlin

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Dr. Aquino sheds light on the status of poor women

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

Dr. Maria Pilar Aquino, professor of theology and religious studies at the University of San Diego, jumped at the chance to deliver this year's Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church, she told an appreciative audience in the Quick Center on Oct. 4. Reading about O'Callaghan, Dr. Aquino said she found herself "fully identifying with her" as a catechist, educator, and feminist theologian. "To me, we both envision ourselves as women of faith who believe in hope," said Dr. Aquino, who is associate director of her university's Center for the Study of Latino/a Catholicism.

Dr. Aquino's lecture, "Option for the Poor - Option for Women Today: Feminist Theological Perspectives," touched on that vision for a better world. Quoting heavily from Gustavo Gutiérrez, O.P., the Peruvian theologian regarded as the founder of Liberation Theology, she advocated a fresh approach to fighting poverty.

Gutiérrez understood the dire situation of the poor, Dr. Aquino said, having lived through the atrocities inflicted on the Peruvian people in the late 20th century by the Communist Party of Peru, commonly known as Shining Path or "Sendero Luminoso." The group has been internationally condemned for its brutal violence against peasants, trade union organizers, and elected officials.

Because the great majority of poor and marginalized people around the world are women, Dr. Aquino said, a feminist response makes perfect sense. Sexual violence perpetrated against women - during both war and peace - leaves them victimized "solely for being women."

"So many are looking at a cruel present and a dark tunnel with no apparent end," she said. "You never see, for instance, Nigeria sitting at the table with the (United Nations) G7. They are excluded from the plans for the future of the world. No voice, no equality."

Dr. Aquino had strong words for the Roman Catholic Church, which she believes should someday "ask forgiveness for all of the damage it has done to women over the years and perhaps provide the mechanism for reparations." She called on Christians to actively work toward a world of social justice because "passivity or indifference will be neither ethical or Christian. Feminist theology calls for a shift from silence to word," she said.

Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in CAS, said she admired Aquino's courage and rigorous scholarship. "It is never easy to call attention to the incredible suffering and oppression of women throughout the world," she said. "I am grateful for her wake-up call that helps us 'cross over' and walk in the shoes of the majority of women in the world who are poor, marginalized and abused."

The annual lecture honors the memory of O'Callaghan, formerly of Norwalk, who was a youth minister and director of religious education at both St. Jerome and St. Joseph parishes, and was passionate about the role of women in the Church.

Photo by Peter Sarawit

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Fairfield celebrates its first Ramadan iftar

On Oct. 19, Fairfield University celebrated for the first time a Ramadan iftar, a traditional evening meal that breaks the fast that takes place from sunrise to sunset throughout the Islamic month of Ramadan. The celebration included a sumptuous Middle Eastern dinner, remarks by Imam Nasif Muhammad (pictured above) on the main themes of Ramadan, as well as personal reflections by two Muslim students, Aamina Awan '07 and Zana Jebara '08. Imam Nasif, the leader of the Al-Aziz Islamic Center in Bridgeport, participates annually in Fairfield's Martin Luther King Jr. symposium. This event was sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies, the Academic Vice President's Office, the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the Ignatian Residential College, and Campus Ministry.

Photo by Peter Sarawit

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Dr. Ferrell delivers second annual SON Lecture

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

The second annual School of Nursing lecture addressed the complex topic of end of life care and was delivered on Oct. 23 by noted oncology nurse and researcher Dr. Betty R. Ferrell, RN, FAAN. Dr. Ferrell, professor in the department of nursing research and education at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif., has dedicated her life to equipping caregivers with the knowledge to meet the needs of terminally ill patients and their families.

"We need role models to show how we can transform dying in America," she said, noting that the Fairfield University School of Nursing is preparing such role models. "We need to take control of the way we die." She spoke about the palliative care movement, which attends to the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of patients and those close to them. "We can transform dying by supporting hospice and palliative care programs. Ask for them, demand them, be strong advocates for them," she said.

In answer to a question from the audience, she stressed that palliative care was not about pushing people to discontinue treatment, but honoring their wishes at the end of life. She urged families "to have the discussion" before they are in crisis. The time to talk, she said, is when you're sitting at the dinner table, not when you're faced with difficult decisions.

As medical advances make it possible to extend life, patients and families often turn to nurses for advice on making healthcare decisions. In keeping with the Jesuit mission of service to others, the School of Nursing provides nursing students with the skills to offer the most effective and compassionate care to patients, to challenge themselves, and ultimately to change the world for the better.

A grant from the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation provided support to bring Dr. Ferrell for this lecture and to spend time with faculty providing staff development for curriculum. Prior to the lecture, the James Daly School of Nursing Award, established to recognize friends of the School, was conferred upon the General Re Corporation for its generosity over the years.

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Enthusiastic trio joins Campus Ministry

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Campus Ministry has added three new members to its family: Conor O'Kane, associate director of Campus Ministry, and campus ministers Cristina "Crissy" Bowen and Wylie Smith Blake. "The staff is highly energized, highly competent, and ready to integrate across divisions to serve the spiritual growth of all students," said the Rev. Michael J. Doody, S.J., director of Campus Ministry.

Bowen will be responsible for the retreat programs, including the Freshman Retreat, the Kairos Retreat, and the Senior Retreat, and advise the Students for Life club. She previously served as director of campus ministry at Salve Regina University, Newport, R.I. She also held positions in campus ministry at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the State University College of New York, Cortland. Bowen received a B.A. in communication from the University of Delaware and an M.A. in ministry for a multicultural church from the Franciscan School of Theology/Graduate Theological Union in California.

"Retreats spark and foster students' spiritual exploration," Bowen said. "Retreat opportunities allow students time away from the busyness of college to learn about themselves, to more deeply connect with God, and to build the Fairfield faith community."

Smith Blake, the community outreach coordinator, will support student leaders in running community service programs, organize annual community service events, coordinate the School of the Americas (SOA) protest trip, and direct the Spring Break Urban Plunge and other domestic service and immersion trips.

She comes to Fairfield from the Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport, where she served as program director. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Delaware and an M.A. in psychology from Fairfield University. "With the energy and enthusiasm of the students and the dedication and support of the staff and faculty," she said, "I feel encouraged to do what I love to do: make a difference in peoples lives."

O'Kane will coordinate the International Service and Immersion Programs, working with the Students for Social Justice Club and the Choice/Connections Post-Graduate Service Club. He also will be active with the Ignatian Teach-In and the SOA protest.

O'Kane received a B.A. in theology and theater with a minor in faith, peace, and justice studies from Boston College and an M.A. from the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College. He previously worked as the assistant director of the Arrupe Solidarity Program of the Boston College Campus Ministry, where he directed international service and immersion programs.

"It is my hope that through our efforts in Campus Ministry, we will be able to offer all members of our campus community the tools and resources with which to engage and explore their faith in very real and practical ways," O'Kane said. "Service and immersion programs can be powerful points into this journey, and they also allow us the opportunities to live richer and fuller lives and contribute substantially to our University community and the world in which we live, a hallmark of Jesuit education. Ignatius instructed Xavier to 'Go set the world aflame,' and that's exactly what we intend to do."

Joining Campus Ministry this year are (l to r) Wylie Smith Blake, Conor O'Kane, and Cristina Bowen.

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Fairfield awards first Diversity Grants for student research

Three student groups were the first to receive the newly established Diversity Grants supporting research on issues of gender, ethnic heritage, and culture. Pictured above (far left) distributing awards is Danielle Hawthorne, a representative of the Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Private Charitable Foundation, which provided a gift to support the Diversity Awards. Also pictured, (l-r) are FUSA President Hutch Williams '08, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., Ashley Toombs '07, and Dr. Betsy Gardner, professor of psychology in CAS. The winning projects are:

• "The Collegiate Closet: Exploring GLBT Issues at Fairfield University," by Michael Barrett '07, Lauren DiGiovine '07, Michelle Holmberg '08, and Frank Fraioli '08 (with Dr. David Gudelunas, assistant professor of communication in CAS), will explore the climate for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered issues via a campus-wide survey. The findings will be used to create a video documentary and related programming to encourage a more accepting environment.
  
• "Fairfield Roots Awareness Project," by Emily Arouth '08, Joaquin Prandi '08, and Dan Arroyo '09 (with Drs. Terry-Ann Jones, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology in CAS, and Deb Chappell, dean of freshmen), will survey about 1,000 students, faculty, and staff about their country of origin. From the results, the group will create a map and a documentary of selected responders.
  
• "Project Peg: Women's Day Campaign," by Courtney DePasquale '06, Darci Fulcher '07, Casey Regan '07, and Brigid Williams '07 (with Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka, assistant professor of politics in CAS), will develop a Women's Day Campaign showcasing student art, writing, and performance art (by men and women) to redefine beauty and promote self-awareness.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Dr. Robert Orsi to deliver Mooney Lecture

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

Dr. Robert A. Orsi, a noted Harvard University theologian, will deliver "The Dangerous Imaginations of Mid-Twentieth Century American Catholic Children," the 13th annual Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture in Theology, Religion, and Society, on Nov. 15 at the Dolan School of Business. The lecture, a presentation of the Center for Catholic Studies, begins at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

"Robert Orsi is that rare scholar who can combine careful research with an engaging style that draws his audience into the fascinating world of the religious experience of regular people," said Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies. "Orsi has an unparalleled ability to show the relevance of religious devotions and practices to ordinary life."

Dr. Orsi, the Charles Warren Professor of the History of Religion in America at Harvard, is a widely respected researcher, specializing in Catholic devotionalism, religion in the industrial and post-industrial city, and the relationship between religion and gender, immigration, and pain and suffering.

As his intriguing lecture title suggests, he is currently at work on a social and cultural history of growing up Catholic in the United States in the 20th century, raising questions about children's religious experiences and what it means to mature within the distinct worlds of religious practice and imagination. Another related project considers the way contemporary American Catholics remember the last 50 years, and how they talk about the tremendous changes in their lifetimes and the Church's history.

His most recent publication is Between Heaven and Earth: The Religious Worlds People Make and the Scholars Who Study Them (Princeton University Press, 2005). He is also the author of Thank You, St. Jude: Women's Devotion to the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes (Yale University Press, 1996), and The Madonna of 115th Street: Faith and Community in Italian Harlem, 1880-1950 (Yale University Press, 1985). Dr. Orsi holds a B.A. from Trinity College and a Ph.D. from Yale University.

Begun in 1995, the annual Mooney lecture celebrates the memory of Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., former academic vice president and professor of religious studies at Fairfield, and a theologian of international reputation.

For more information, call Carolyn Arnold at ext. 3415.

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Dr. Judea Pearl to discuss cross-cultural dialogues

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Dr. Judea Pearl, the father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and president of the Daniel Pearl Foundation, will present "Seeking Common Ground: Dialogue between Jews and Muslims," the Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lectureship, on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. in the Quick Center for the Arts. The lecture is part of University College's Open VISIONS Forum, and sponsored by the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies.

"I am incredibly excited about meeting and listening to Judea Pearl," said Dr. Ellen Umansky, the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies. "To respond to the brutal death of one's son at the hands of Al-Qaeda, with neither words of hatred nor a call to violence, but rather with the willingness, even eagerness, to engage in Muslim-Jewish dialogue is something that very few of us, I think, would do. That Judea Pearl has spent much of the past two years engaging in such dialogue as a way of honoring his son's life and legacy speaks volumes about the kind of man Dr. Pearl is, and the kind of man that his son, Daniel, was."

In February 2002, Daniel Pearl was kidnapped while on assignment and eventually murdered by terrorists in Pakistan. Since then, Judea Pearl has become an advocate for interfaith dialogue. The Pearl family and friends founded the Daniel Pearl Foundation to continue Pearl's work and address the root causes of his tragic death. The Foundation sponsors journalism fellowships to promote honest reporting and better understanding between East and West cultures, organizes Daniel Pearl Music Days to promote cultural respect through music, and hosts public discussions between Muslims and Jews.

Dr. Pearl, professor of computer science at the University of California at Los Angeles, and Akbar Ahmed, a professor of Islamic studies at American University, shared a Purpose Prize for their series of dialogues to promote understanding of Judaism and Islam. Dr. Pearl and his wife Ruth Pearl are co-editors of the book, I am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl, which won the 2004 National Jewish Book Award for Anthologies.

For tickets, please call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

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Fairfield Board of Trustees welcomes new members

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

An educator and five business leaders are among the six new trustees announced by Fairfield University.

William L. Atwell, P'08, received his bachelor's and MBA degrees from Long Island University. After working for Citibank, Citicorp, and Cigna, he eventually retired from Charles Schwab and Co. as executive vice president and president of Client Sales Services & Banking. He is presently managing director of Atwell Associates LLC.

Atwell has served on the board of directors of USA Holdings Corporation and the Securities Industry Association. He has been a trustee of DePaul University and worked with Chicago United and the Steppenwolf Theatre. He has also served on the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Executive Advisory Council. Mr. Atwell lives in Manhattan with his wife Margaret.  His son, Christopher, is a junior at Fairfield.

The Rev. Thomas G. Benz, S.J., received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, master's degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Fordham University, and a licentiate in sacred theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Fr. Benz entered the Jesuits in 1989 and was ordained in 2000. Fr. Benz has taught at St. Peter's Prep and Fordham Prep and is presently the director of campus ministry and student chaplain at St. Peter's Prep. He has served on the board of trustees at St. Peter's Prep and Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House.

Stephen Bepler is president and C.E.O. of Capital Group. He has been a member of the College Board of Visitors at Fordham University, and he later joined Fordham's Board of Trustees. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Washington Theological Union.

Frank J. Carroll III is managing director for Oaktree Capital and a 1989 graduate of Fairfield University with a bachelor's degree in history. He has previously worked as a portfolio manager with Solomon Brothers, Bankers Trust, Banco Santander, and Columbus Advisors. In 2005, he was appointed to the Dolan School of Business Advisory Council. Born in Bridgeport, Mr. Carroll presently lives with his wife Susan and their three children in Wilton, Conn.

David H. Chafey Jr. is a 1976 Fairfield graduate with a bachelor's degree in finance. He later pursued graduate studies in finance at New York University. In 2004, he was named president of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, where he has worked since 1980. In 1999, he received Fairfield University's Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Chafey serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Puerto Rico Bankers Association and is a San Jorge Children Research Foundation and Visa International board member.  He is also a member of the advisory committee for Colegio San Ignacio, his high school alma mater. He lives with his wife, Laura González, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They have five children.

William Lisecky, formerly managing director and head of the New York office of Communications Equity Associates (CEA), joined CIBC World Markets in 2000 as the managing director in charge of all media-related investment banking opportunities. CEA, a Tampa-based investment bank specializing in worldwide media and telecommunications transactions, was placed in the top ten in media transaction volume in 1998 and 1999, according to Securities Data Company.

All photos by Jean Santopatre except David Chafey

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Fairfield gains new faculty

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

Fairfield welcomes several new faculty members this year. Campus Currents will continue to introduce them in the next few issues.

James E. Biardi
Dr. James E. Biardi, most recently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at Davis, is now an assistant professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), teaching "Biology II," "Biology III" and chemistry labs, and a new spring course, "Biochemical Ecology." He is also developing a course in environmental toxicology.

Dr. Biardi holds a B.S. in biological sciences from the University of California at Irvine, and a Ph.D. in ecology from UC Davis. His postdoctoral research through UC Davis' Professors of the Future (PROF) program includes interdisciplinary study exploring the links between biochemical and ecological interactions in the predator-prey system, most notably in the relationship between ground squirrels and venomous snakes, the subject of his dissertation.

Dr. Biardi has been a lecturer and instructor in environmental science, biology, biochemical ecology, psychology, mammalogy, and other disciplines at UC Davis, California State University, Sacramento, and San Francisco State University. He was the primary research mentor for seven undergraduates at UC Davis, and he mentored six advanced high school students through the UC Davis Young Scholars Program. Dr. Biardi's work has appeared in The Journal of Chemical Ecology, Toxicon, and the Journal of Mammalogy, among other publications. He has presented at several meetings and symposia, including the 90th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America in 2005 and the 84th annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists in 2004.

Mark F. Demers
Dr. Mark F. Demers joins CAS as an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, teaching "Applied Calculus I" and "Calculus III." Dr. Demers was most recently a visiting assistant professor in the School of Mathematics at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Dr. Demers' research interests are in the area of chaotic dynamical systems and smooth ergodic theory, including open systems and escape rates. The study of these systems is motivated by models in mathematical physics.

Dr. Demers was a graduate assistant at New York University and an instructor at Marymount College. He served a year as vice principal of academic affairs at Saramen Chuuk Academy in Micronesia, where he was a teacher for three years. Dr. Demers' work has appeared in Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems, the Journal of Statistical Physics, and other publications, and he has presented at conferences on dynamical systems and ergodic theory at universities in the United States and in Europe. Dr. Demers holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the Courant Institute of New York University and a B.A., magna cum laude, in mathematics and English from Amherst College.

Catherine C. Giapponi
Dr. Catherine C. Giapponi joins the Management Department in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business as an assistant professor of management. Dr. Giapponi is teaching "Global Competitive Strategy" in the MBA program and "Strategic Management in a Global Environment" in the undergraduate business program this fall.

Dr. Giapponi earned a B.A. in political science with a concentration in public administration from Providence College in Rhode Island. She went on to earn an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a doctor of science in management (Sc.D.) from the University of New Haven. Dr. Giapponi has served as an adjunct professor at Saint Joseph College and as a visiting assistant professor at the University of New Haven.

She has published in the North East Journal of Legal Studies and has had papers published in the Eastern Academy of Management's refereed conference proceedings. She has also presented papers at several conferences including the 2002 AACSB International Continuous Improvement Symposium, the Academy of Legal Studies in Business Conference (2005 and 2006), and the Northeast Academy of Legal Studies in Business Conferences (2005-2006). Dr. Giapponi is a reviewer for the Organization Management Journal and is also a conference reviewer for the Academy of Management and the Eastern Academy of Management. She currently serves as co-chair of Eastern Academy of Management's Experiential Learning Association.

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Business leaders attend Fairfield's Communion Breakfast

The Center for Faith and Public Life joined Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice of Fairfield County, a pontifical organization for lay education and evangelization of Catholic social doctrine, to offer a Communion Breakfast for Business Leaders on Oct. 15. The purpose of the brunch was to celebrate the role of business leaders in implementing catholic social teaching in their lives and in their work.

The day began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori in the Egan Chapel, followed by a breakfast in the Dolan School of Business. Larry Kudlow, economic commentator and host of CNBC's Primetime Kudlow & Company Show, spoke.

Photo by Jim Scholl '07

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Groundbreaking Jesuit and Feminist Conference sparks lively discussions

The Jesuit and Feminist Education Conference: Transformative discourses for teaching and learning, held Oct. 27 through Oct. 29, drew participants from 19 colleges. The conference explored how the principles of Jesuit education intersect with contemporary feminist theory. Pictured above, Dr. Danke Li, associate professor of history in CAS, speaks at the panel discussion, "Foreign-Educated Women Faculty: Views on Jesuit and Feminist Education," while fellow panelist Dr. Iris Bork-Goldfield, associate director of International Studies looks on. University President Jeffrey P. Von Arx, S.J., called the conference groundbreaking. "We have loosened the soil of hard-packed habits of thinking," he said in his welcome remarks. "It will result in a more fertile ground for all our campuses."

Photo by James Ngyuen '07

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Sports

Athletic Hall of Fame Unveiled

On Oct. 14, alumni attended the 25th annual Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony and witnessed the unveiling of the new Athletic Hall of Fame display in the John A. Barone Campus Center. Present were (front row, l-r): John Barry '62, Jim Lopusznick '00, Christen Veach '97, Jessica Grossarth '98, Theresa O'Connor '99, Billy Barnes '80, Dr. John "Doc" McCarthy, chair of the Psychology Department, and (back row, l-r): George Groom '73, John Redway '59, Joe Miko '51, John O'Connell '55, Robert Gerwien '55, Bob Meyers '83, Charlie Phillips '67, Art Kenney '68, Paul Barnes '67.

Photo by James Ngyuen '07

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A Dynamic Swimmer

By Kelly McCarthy, Assistant Director of Sports Information

The angle at which you dive into the water will dictate your speed. Keeping your body in a straight line will result in less resistance in the water because there is less surface area for the water to rush over. The force that you exert on the wall will push back onto you as you accelerate from the wall.

Those concepts run through senior Brittany Hunter's mind every day. As a physics major, she learns and applies them in the classroom. As a dynamic collegiate swimmer, she applies them in the pool.

"People ask me what I was thinking when I decided to choose physics and my answer is always the same: I like the fact that I can explain why things happen the way they do and predict what will happen next," Hunter said. "To understand the world we live in on a level that is deeper than face value is very important."

Hunter's understanding of how the world works and the ability to apply these principles has propelled her success in the pool. Entering her senior season, she holds or is a part of 17 school records. Hunter, who participates in almost every event, has seen her times consistently improve throughout her career. As she has for the past three seasons, the co-captain is looking for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title this year.

"Brittany will be good in distance (swimming) and any other event she swims," Head Swimming Coach Bill Farley said, adding that Hunter and fellow swimmer Jennifer Masi '07 are expected to win most events they enter. While Hunter acknowledges that her hard work has paid off, it is her team that she wants to see do well. Hunter aims to improve her times to help the team to reach its fourth-straight season with a record of .500 or better.

Aside from the swim team, Hunter balances schoolwork with her volunteer activities with Circle K and her position as the vice president of the Physics Club. Through it all, her excellence in the pool is complemented by her excellence in the classroom. "I enjoy the tough schedule and I'm a perfectionist, so I don't settle for things that aren't done to the best of my ability," she said. "Sometimes that's a downfall but, for the most part, it has helped me maintain my GPA."

With graduation on the horizon, Hunter will enjoy her final season with the Red and White, but looks toward the future as well. Hunter plans to become a certified high school physics teacher, a profession she says not enough people enter. Swimming will continue to be a part of her life, as she would like to coach a high school swim team and perhaps provide new generations with some of the good experiences she has had.

"My favorite part about swimming at Fairfield is the team," she said. "Being part of a team makes you feel needed and special. To have the support of people around you is a nice feeling. All the girls are great and work hard and we keep each other motivated."

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Sport Shorts
By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Basketball games return to Alumni Hall
For the first time since the 2000-01 season, the men's and women's basketball teams will return to Alumni Hall for a series of home games. The men will play a pair of games, while the women will host six contests. The 2006-07 season begins with two games at Alumni Hall, as the men take on American University on Nov. 10 while the women battle the University of Richmond on Nov. 11. Alumni Hall, opened in 1959, was well known for its raucous atmosphere. Sports Illustrated reported that it hosted the most vocal and loyal fans in the region. The remainder of the 2006-07 basketball home games will be played at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The first doubleheader at the Arena will take place on Nov. 26 when the men play Loyola-Chicago and the women go against Harvard.

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Past soccer stars honored

On Oct. 15, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the women's soccer program, the Stags honored past student-athletes. (l-r) Head Coach Jim O'Brien, Kristen Kelly '95, Christen Veach '96, Makenzie (Bruno) Pretty '00, Abby (Allan) Ward '00, Julianne Foreman '01, Pam Cluff '02, Kyle McClintock '02, Cailin Donovan '02, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., and Athletic Director Gene Doris.

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Fairfield awarded $2.3 million for Green Project
Fairfield University has received a $2.3 million grant from the state of Connecticut under a new program stemming from the Energy Independence Act signed into law last year by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. The grant, the largest issued to date, will cover nearly 25 percent of construction costs for a combined heat and power plant (CHP) that will power the majority of campus. The grant came from the state's Capital Grant for Customer-Side Distributed Generation Resources program, which awards grants to corporations and schools that are working to provide some or all of their power via generators in an effort to cut down on the strain to the power grid.

Ric Taylor, associate vice president for campus planning and operations, said the CHP project will provide about 99 percent of the campus' electricity and 70 percent of its heating load. "Our CHP project is a win-win situation for Fairfield University, the state, and our community," he said. "We believe that it is of utmost concern that we be part of the solution to the growing energy challenges faced by society. At the same time, it is an opportunity for the University to continue to be forward-thinking and on the cutting edge of facing rising power costs head on. Most importantly, our project will employ technology that is very efficient and will lessen pollution."

The $9.5 million project is underway and is being done in collaboration with United Technologies Carrier. A 3,000 square-foot addition to the existing Central Utility Facility located on campus is being built. It has received Board of Trustees and town approval and is slated for completion in early spring.

Fairfield receives $150,000 for youth program aiming to curb underage drinking
Fairfield University has been awarded $150,000 over three years by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to curb underage drinking. Fairfield University will provide University students with an internship experience, Fairfield Corps, which consists of peer education regarding the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs as well as programming for Bridgeport middle school children.

In congratulating the University, Gov. M. Jodi Rell underscored that "DMHAS data not only showed alcohol as the number one substance of use by teens and young adults, but that Connecticut's rate was 16 percent higher than national rates." Fairfield's program is intended to reverse these trends by reaching middle school children before they begin to use substances as well as challenging college students to make healthier and safer choices.

According to Dr. Susan Birge, assistant vice president and director of Counseling and Psychological Services and author of the grant, "This program is a superb complement to Fairfield University's comprehensive efforts to address alcohol use and abuse. The peer education component of our program will create the student-to-student approach that is highly effective. Fairfield University currently provides extensive education, consequences for violating the law, and a myriad of treatment options." Fairfield Corps will also strengthen the partnership between the University and the Bridgeport community. Fairfield Corps will operate under the coordination and supervision of Jeanne Di Muzio, director of Health and Wellness Education. Applications to participate in this program can be found at www.fairfield.edu/hw_inside.html or by calling ext. 3098.

Louis Calder Foundation awards $25,000 for BASE Camp science program
The Louis Calder Foundation has awarded a one-time $25,000 grant to support the BASE Camp science program, which has already received a $10,000 grant from the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation. The program's goal is to spark the interest of urban high school students and encourage them to consider careers in science. Under the direction of Dr. Shelley Phelan, associate professor of biology in CAS, BASE Camp will provide 50 Bridgeport students with a hands-on science and math experience during a one-week set of intensive, research-based activities in summer 2007 and 2008. Fairfield's science and math majors will serve as camp counselors, and the high school students will gain exposure to each of the major fields of science: biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and math and computer science.

This fall, University science and math faculty will begin discussing curriculum with teachers in the Bridgeport high schools to identify particular areas of need. Based on this collaboration, University faculty will design appropriate inquiry-based laboratory activities centered around some aspect of their own research programs, with particular emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of science in research today. After next summer's BASE Camp, the high school teachers and University faculty will together assess the research-based modules and consider how best to adapt portions of it into the regular high school curriculum in the district.

Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Foundation awards $15,000 to support diversity initiative
The Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Private Charitable Foundation has awarded a $15,000 grant to Dr. Betsy Gardner, professor of psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences, to introduce and develop diversity-based learning communities. These overlapping learning communities would include Fairfield University students and faculty, as well as members of the Fairfield/Bridgeport community (including teachers). One of the objectives of these learning communities is to advance curriculum development related to diversity. They will complement the President's Institutional Diversity Council's objective associated with retention by creating a climate of increased appreciation for students, staff, and faculty of diverse racial, religious, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. They also support the implementation of two of the University's strategic goals: the integration of the core and the integration of living and learning. This grant is the third consecutive one from the Foundation since 2005, for a total of $27,500 in support of diversity initiatives at Fairfield University.

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Philippine Dance company to take the stage

The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company will perform on Nov. 18 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. This company's creative dances explore Filipino culture with tales of life, religion, war, and love representing Filipino life. With intense vocals, stunning costumes, and uplifting dances, this dance company's performance will be a treat to see. For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

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AHANA students honored at Christopher B. Love Reception

At the Christopher Blake Love Award Reception on Oct. 26, the Center for Multicultural Relations honored 108 AHANA (African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American) students who have excelled academically. Students honored achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the previous academic year. Some in attendance at the reception were (l to r) Mariana Rosario '08, Dr. Larri Mazon, director of the Center for Multicultural Relations, Evron Trim '08, Elissa Cepeda '07, Aytza Pacheco '08, Jaclyn Macchi '07, Katharine Shagoury '09, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., Grace Roman '09, Catherine Tan '07, and (in front) Jimmarck Cuenta '08.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

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Centers for Catholic Studies and Faith and Public life host open house

An open house was held on Oct. 23 to celebrate the new location of the Center for Catholic Studies, led by Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies; the Center for Faith & Public Life, headed by the Rev. Rick Ryscavage, S.J.; and the Office of Service Learning, led by Dr. Robbin Crabtree. Above, Dr. Crabtree speaks with Fr. Ryscavage in their new office in Canisius 200. The campus community is encouraged to stop by to learn about the centers' programs and events.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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GSEAP presentation on immigrant detainees set for Nov. 14

The Fairfield University chapter of the Association for Childhood Education International, a student group in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, will host the discussion "Land of the Free? The story of other detainees" on Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Barone Campus Center Oak Room. Charles and Geri Mulligan, from the Interfaith Refugee Action Team - Elizabeth (IRATE), will be guest speakers. The event is free and open to the public. IRATE was formed to increase public awareness of U.S. detention centers. They arrange detainees visits at the Elizabeth, N.J., detention center, and sponsor a number of programs including "Stamp out Despair." For more information, please contact Dr. Jen Goldberg at ext. 3024.

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The John Scofield Trio to perform Nov. 17

The John Scofield Trio will appear at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Friday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. Wine Seller Spirits of Fairfield will sponsor a pre-show free wine tasting from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Scofield's long and diverse career has been a result of his inimitable guitar work, his masterful compositions and his enduring pursuit of a musical challenge. For Scofield, his need to "make a real jazz-improvising statement in a live situation" is characteristic of the adventure he courts when working. He seeks the thrill of immediacy when, as he says, "there's no lifejacket or safety net involved (and) you don't rely on anything other than good playing."

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Plan ahead!

Now is the time to start thinking about saving for next summer's vacation. Use the ease and convenience of payroll deduction through your Fairfield University Federal Employees Credit Union. For more information, contact Linda or Fannie at ext. 2610 or visit the Credit Union office in Gonzaga Hall.

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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 Dolan West. Telephone: 254-4000, ext. 3392. Fax: 254-5554. E-mail: anavarro@mail.fairfield.edu.

Editor
Alejandra Navarro
Publications Writer and Editor

Editorial Board
Martha Milcarek
Assistant Vice President for Public Relations
Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications
Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

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