Campus Currents October 2006

Volume 15, Number 2
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for October 1, 2006

Dr. Weitzer named senior vice president
Bill O'Reilly: A cultural warrior for America
Fairfield joins iTunes U for creative coursework
Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center to be dedicated
News Breakers
Service Anniversaries
Dr. Lisa Mainiero: opting for a balanced life
Jeanne Di Muzio hailed as a phenomenal woman
Vatican taps Fr. Ryscavage for delegation to UN
Dr. Farmer encourages activism for global healthcare
Engineering programs gain accreditation
Student Diversity Grants offered for the first time
Strategic Vision Goal II
Avoiding the flu and other perilous viruses
Planning for the unexpected
Dr. Rodriguez: Listening to the voices of others
Fairfield aims to be green
Sen. Lieberman delivers address on security
Dr. Susan Franzosa to lead GSEAP
New faculty join Fairfield
New director of corporate relations
Dr. O'Driscoll receives prestigious fellowship to work on book
Public Relations staff building Fairfield's image
Sports
Gifts and Grants
Library welcomes students
Farewell to a loyal friend: Widget (1991-2006)
Jesuit and Feminist Education Conference set for October
Dr. María Pilar Aquino delivers O'Callaghan Lecture
Fairfield joins national teach-in on Guantanamo Bay Prison
Credit Union offers convenience

Dr. Weitzer named senior vice president

By Martha Milcarek, Assistant Vice President for Public Relations

Fairfield University has begun the critical task of implementing the strategic vision and plan. Fortunately, the University has a new administrator on board to assist with the process. University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., has named Dr. William "Billy" Weitzer to the newly created position of senior vice president. In addition to serving as principal advisor to Fr. von Arx and as his chief of staff, Dr. Weitzer will also promote collaboration and integration across operating divisions, including the implementation of the strategic vision.

Dr. Weitzer, currently senior associate provost and dean of continuing studies at Wesleyan University, is a seasoned administrator with more than 20 years experience in academia. He said he was eager to bring his direct experiences to bear on the implementation of the strategic vision's three goals.

Fr. von Arx said in an announcement on Sept. 15 that he could not be more thrilled with the outcome of the national search. "In Billy Weitzer, Fairfield is getting an individual who has distinguished himself as a leader in higher education administration," Fr. von Arx said. "He brings a broad range of experience across a myriad of institutional programmatic and policy areas, including academic and budget planning, institutional research, student life, information technology, faculty recruitment, retention, and facilities planning. I'm delighted he has agreed to join the Fairfield community at this critical juncture in the institution's development. I am confident that Billy's talents, breadth of experience, along with his enthusiasm, will serve Fairfield well."

In this new position, Dr. Weitzer will also chair the University's Operations Committee, comprised of all the University vice presidents; serve on the University Budget Committee; and oversee and direct University-wide planning efforts including the development of integrated annual and multi-year business plans with both operating and capital budget implications. Dr. Weitzer will begin work at Fairfield this month.

Dr. Weitzer arrived at Wesleyan in 1991 as assistant provost, and held that post until 1994 when he was promoted to associate provost. From 1996 to 2001 he served as both associate provost and registrar. Prior to his posts at Wesleyan, he was assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst from 1985 to 1991. He earned a B.A. in behavioral design from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and an M.S. in psychology and a Ph.D. in environmental psychology both from UMass-Amherst.

Dr. Weitzer said he looks forward to working with the students, staff, faculty, and alumni in the Fairfield University community. "I just find Fairfield to be an exciting place," he said. "Everybody I have met at Fairfield has an energy and I sense the people there want to make a great place even greater."

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Bill O'Reilly: A cultural warrior for America

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Bill O'Reilly, host of The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, is known for opining on controversial issues. He didn't disappoint at the Open VISIONS Forum on Sept. 17, where he defended Minutemen patrolling the border, criticized the American Civil Liberties Union, and advocated for improved national security.

O'Reilly kicked off the lecture series that is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Elizabeth Hastings, producer of OVF, and Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of art history in the College of Arts & Sciences and director of the OVF, were each presented with an award for their contributions in making the series a success and in doing so enriching the region culturally as well as intellectually.

O'Reilly said he was in the trenches of a cultural war, which is the subject of his most recent book, aptly titled Cultural Warrior (Broadway, September 2006). This war is being waged not between conservatives and liberals, he explained, but between traditionalists (how O'Reilly defines himself) and secular progressives.

"It's about wanting to maintain our country and its Judeo-Christian heritage," he explained. Traditionalists believe the United States is a noble country, despite its flawed history, he said, while secular progressives see our nation as flawed on every level: economically, socially, and politically. Although a smaller group, O'Reilly claims secular progressives are powerful because they have on their side wealthy donors and the media, which only report the shortcomings of our country.

These secular progressives include the ACLU, which he described as a "shock troupe of attorneys" whose work includes "browbeating" small communities into eliminating Christmas.

Although in many of his positions, he seemed to lean to the right, he decidedly stated, "I'm not a flaming right-winger," noting that he's gone after Republicans as vigorously as Democrats. "Dick Cheney isn't kicking down my door to get interviewed."

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, pressed O'Reilly to answer if he would support the Iraq invasion given what we know today. "It was a tactical mistake in that they made two fundamental errors," O'Reilly admitted. "I would say, there weren't any weapons of mass destruction there and these Iraqis really won't be too thrilled with us, so maybe we don't do it."

O'Reilly doled out some advice for students interested in broadcasting.

"You've got to learn how to write," he advised. "You can learn how to (report) in front of the camera. Writing is really important. I would read everything. When people attack my arguments, I can go after them in a number of different ways." That's why his opponents dislike him, O'Reilly said. "When I go up against their best, I usually shred them."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Fairfield joins iTunes U for creative coursework

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

An exciting new partnership between Fairfield University and Apple's iTunes means students can listen to a lecture, critique classmates' work, or finish required reading anywhere, anytime, on their computers and iPods.

Fairfield applied and was invited to be part of its popular iTunes U program, which is a component of the same iTunes music store from which so many students download their favorite songs, says Jay Rozgonyi, assistant director of Computing and Networking Services. The free service, begun as a pilot program at Stanford University, allows faculty to upload a variety of course materials for their students, including audio and video clips, pdfs, charts and diagrams, and written classwork. Students registered in classes using the service simply log onto itunes.fairfield.edu (no www.), enter their University or StagWeb user names and passwords, and download whatever they need. Faculty can allow students to upload material into a shared space, where they can collaborate on projects.

Dr. Richard Regan, assistant professor of English in the College of Arts & Sciences, was the first to try out the program, recording and podcasting all the classes in his two Shakespeare courses. He has not had students upload materials, but for the campus launch this fall, the University purchased loaner video iPods for all students in the two classes to make sure they could explore the service's possibilities.

Each of Dr. Regan's lectures has its own tab for easy access and he has also posted charts, documents, and video files of scenes from the plays, something he believes will help engage his students.

"I hope this will be a complete multimedia package of Shakespeare materials, since I've thought for a long time that multimedia is the only way to go for Shakespeare," he says.

Faculty interested in joining Dr. Regan in cyberspace can contact CNS to schedule a class on how to integrate iTunes technology into their classes, Rozgonyi says. The service is very user-friendly and quick: Dr. Regan uses his iPod to record his lectures from his desk and, 10 minutes after class is over, they are uploaded and ready for students to review.

In addition, iTunes U offers a public component. "We are excited about the opportunity iTunes U presents for our public website and are exploring ways to incorporate this new technology to make our site more dynamic and interactive for our prospective students, parents, alumni and other constituents," says Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations.

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Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center to be dedicated on Oct. 5

Fairfield University will hold a dedication ceremony for the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center on Oct. 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Loyola Drive and McCormick Road. The University will honor the building's namesake, former President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. A reception will follow.

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Dr. Betsy Bowen, associate professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), spoke at the International Literacy Day event at Mercy Learning Center on Sept. 8.

Dr. Robbin Crabtree, professor of communication in CAS, was quoted in a Sept. 5 Christian Science Monitor article about new CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. "With the rise of online news formats and rampant 24-hour news stations," she said, "the anchor spot has little of the power and prestige that once characterized the role for Walter Cronkite and even for the (Peter) Jennings/(Dan) Rather/(Tom) Brokaw generation."

A June 11 Connecticut Post article on how debit/credit card processing holds affect gas prices, cited Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics in CAS, who noted the potential effects of holds show how desperate some people are in this economy. "There are a lot of people on the margins," he said. Dr. Deak was cited in an Aug. 28 story on Fairfield County's economy that ran in the Fairfield County Business Journal and the Westchester County Business Journal. Dr. Deak said the lower county, with its banks, hedge funds and financial companies, "has strong employment opportunities in areas where people are managing money."

Janice Miles Dunn, director of distance education, was quoted in a September Connecticut Parent magazine story on online education as an alternative for both working and stay-at-home mothers.

The New York Times noted, in an Aug. 13 article, that Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of art history in CAS, will curate seasonal exhibitions at Southport Green, a high-end mixed-use community being created in Fairfield's Southport neighborhood. "When people come to a place having outstanding works of art," Dr. Eliasoph said, "it becomes part of the collective memory and the identity of the place." An Aug. 24 Westport Minuteman feature on the 10th anniversary of Open VISIONS Forum cited its founder, Dr. Eliasoph. "Fairfield County has perhaps the highest number of college graduates and Phi Beta Kappas outside of any urban area in the U.S.," he said. "I believed there'd be a real hunger for this."

Dr. Benjamin Fine, professor of mathematics in CAS, was an invited speaker at the Conference on Geometric and Asymptotic Group Theory at the University of Manresa in Spain, a satellite conference of the International Congress of Mathematics held in Madrid in August. He presented two research talks, "Discriminating Groups" and "Encryption Methods Using Formal Power Series Rings."  Dr. Fine was also a research visitor at the Center for Research in Mathematics at the University of Barcelona, where he presented a set of lectures entitled "Non-Commutative Group Based Cryptography."

Dr. Fine, Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean, CAS, and Alan Anderson, adjunct professor of mathematics in CAS, were quoted in a July 16 Hartford Courant article on Fairfield's certificate in financial mathematics. Dr. Snyder said the new program "offers a timely bridge" for both math and financial professionals.

Dr. Dina Franceschi, associate professor of economics in CAS, was noted for spearheading Fairfield's involvement in an exchange program with Brazil's Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense in an Aug. 22 article in The Hour (Norwalk) and in the Stamford Times on Aug. 29.

The Christian Science Monitor quoted Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics in CAS, in an Aug. 24 story on the paradoxes of the state's Senate primary between U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman and challenger Ned Lamont. "Lamont has to convince independents that Lieberman's record is too extreme for an independent," he said, noting that Lamont will also have to convince independents that he himself is a moderate. A Sept. 13 Connecticut Post story about former First Lady Barbara Bush speaking in support of U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays included comments from Dr. Greenberg, who said the appearance two months before the election wasn't likely to have much impact.

A June 6 Middletown Press story on rumors that something cataclysmic would happen on that date - 6/6/06 - quoted Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies in CAS, as saying people gravitate to odd dates. "The response of the Catholic Church would be that this date is no different from any other date," he said. Dr. Lakeland was also mentioned in a May 18 column on The Da Vinci Code that ran in several Hometown Publications newspapers, including the Trumbull Times and the Milford Mirror. Dr. Lakeland spoke on financial accountability in Canon Law and the practical implications for the diocese and parishes at a Sept. 7 Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) meeting in Norwalk. A Catholic Online story on Sept. 8 included comments on the priesthood and lay participation in the church that Dr. Lakeland made when he was the keynote speaker at the June 2003 meeting of Voice of the Faithful affiliates in Newton, Mass.

Dr. Marti LoMonaco, professor of visual and performing arts in CAS, addressed the 26th Congress of SIBMAS, the International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts, at its bi-annual conference in Vienna, Austria, in August. Dr. LoMonaco, who is president of the Theatre Library Association, the North American counterpart of SIBMAS, discussed the future partnership of the two when they co-host an international conference at the new San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum in 2012.

Dr. R. James Long, professor of philosophy in CAS, successfully completed a six-week NEH summer seminar, "St. Francis in the Thirteenth Century," held in Rome, Siena, and Assisi.

Dr. Lisa Mainiero, professor of management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, co-authored The Opt-Out Revolt: Why People are Leaving Companies to Create Kaleidoscope Careers (Davies Black Publishing, September 2006) with Dr. Sherry Sullivan, professor of management at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The book considers the growing number of people abandoning hefty paychecks and lofty titles to improve work/family balance and seek fulfillment. "We came up with the realization that people are doing things differently these days. It's really refreshing," she told The Stamford Advocate in an Aug. 25 story.
     On July 25, CareerJournal.com quoted Dr. Mainiero on what baby boomers can learn from Generation Y. "The ABCs of a Kaleidoscope Career," a manifesto by Drs. Mainiero and Sullivan, was posted on ChangeThis.com on Aug. 3. On Aug. 28, Dr. Mainiero taped an interview on career issues with Strand Media Group's nationally syndicated radio program Something You Should Know, and she spoke on The Brent Clanton Morning Show on KXYZ-AM in Dallas and Houston on Sept. 8. She was interviewed about the book on ABC-TV's World News This Morning on Sept. 14. She was featured on the Sirius Satellite Radio program, Career Talk with Maggie Mistal, which is also broadcast on the Internet, on Sept. 14, and was interviewed on ABC Radio Network's nationally syndicated program, Satellite Sisters, on Sept. 19. She spoke about her book on WSIU-FM, a National Public Radio affiliate, on Sept. 18 and on Philadelphia's CBS radio affiliate, KYW-AM, on Sept. 19. A September More magazine column included Dr. Mainiero's insight into the fears of women over 40 re-entering the workplace.

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president of public relations, commented in a Sept. 23 Connecticut Post article on the University's receipt of a $2.3 million grant from Connecticut's Capital Grant for Customer-Side Distributed Generation Resources grant.

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, was quoted in a July 21 Hour story, and again in the Stamford Times, on the tightly contested Democratic primary race for governor. Noting that New Haven Mayor John DeStefano placed ahead of Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy in a poll, Dr. Orman said, "I think Democrats have heard more about New Haven politics than about Stamford politics." On July 30, the Connecticut Post mentioned Dr. Orman in a column about the Lamont-Lieberman race for Senate. Dr. Orman, who had explored challenging Lieberman for the nomination, said in an Aug. 1 Waterbury Republican-American story that Lamont had a better chance than he did of raising the funds necessary for a strong run. In an Aug. 4 story in the Greenwich Time, Dr. Orman considered Lamont's status should he win the nomination, which he did. Dr. Orman was quoted in an Aug. 22 Associated Press story about his call for state officials to keep Lieberman's name off the November state ballot. In the story, which was picked up by several media outlets including Fox News, Dr. Orman accused Lieberman, who is running as an independent, of creating "a fake political party." The Connecticut Post also ran a story on Dr. Orman's bid that day and it was mentioned in a Westport News column on Aug. 25. An edited excerpt from the formal complaint ran in The Hartford Courant on Aug. 24. An Aug. 28 Greenwich Time story on Lieberman's use of the term Democrat quoted Dr. Orman as saying Lieberman should be required to identify himself as a member of the "Connecticut Lieberman Party." Dr. Orman was also quoted in a Sept. 11 story on independent candidacy in The Advocate.

In a July 31 story on top high school students shying away from Ivy League schools, The Hour quoted Karen Pellegrino, director of Undergraduate Admission, as saying smaller, non-Ivies such as Fairfield often offer more opportunities and individual attention.

An Aug. 18 story on the University's Honors Program in the Norwalk Citizen-News and the Westport News quoted Dr. Susan Rakowitz, assistant professor of psychology in CAS, and Dr. John Thiel, program director and professor of religious studies in CAS. The article also mentioned Dr. Lakeland.

Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology in CAS, noted the widening of the gap between rich and poor in America in a story detailing U.S. Census income data in the Aug. 30 Connecticut Post.

Bassist Brian Torff, director of the music program in CAS, was a featured soloist in a jazz trio at a fundraiser benefiting the Fairfax Symphony in Fairfax, Va. on Sept. 8. He performed with a trio, and special guests and his son, Jarryd Torff, on sax, at Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk on Sept. 15.

A June 8 Fairfield Minuteman article on the appointment of the Rev. Michael J. Doody, S.J., as director of Campus Ministry quoted University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., as saying, "I am confident that under the leadership of Fr. Doody we may look forward to building on our successful Campus Ministry program." Fr. von Arx was pictured in the Connecticut Post's Sept. 9 coverage of Convocation, along with alumnus Doug Perlitz '92 and Dr. Paul Farmer, the Convocation speaker.

In August at MathFest 2006 in Knoxville, Tenn., Dr. Joan Weiss, professor of mathematics in CAS, presented her paper, "The JW2 Computer and an Illusive 3x3 Linear System" during the Best Approximation of a Good Numerical Methods Course Contributed Paper Session.

Jo Yarrington, professor of studio art in CAS, was one of five finalists for the 2006 Arlin G. Meyer Prize for her installation, "Contemplations on the Spiritual - Site Project, Cologne, Germany." She impressed the jury "in the way the piece invited the participation of views beyond the art world, on the way images invited discovery and personal appropriation, and the way in which they sought to reconcile past and present within the fabric of this specific church."

The Aug. 24 Fairfield Minuteman included a feature story on the campus-based Technology Camp for Girls, founded by Dr. Michael Zabinski, professor of physics and engineering. Dr. Zabinski, also founder and executive director of National Computer Camps, said he started the camp to inspire middle-school girls to consider technology education and careers.

Dr. Qin Zhang, assistant professor of communication in CAS, recently published the article, "Dimensions of Teacher's Immediacy as Predictors of Student Learning: A Chinese Perspective," co-authored with Jibiao Zhang, in the September 2006 Communications Research Reporter. Her paper, "A Cross-Cultural Test of Immediacy-Learning Models in Chinese Classrooms," co-authored with John Oetzel, was published in the July 2006 Communication Education, and received the Top Four Paper Award in Instructional Communication Interest Group at the Eastern Communication Association conference in April in Philadelphia. Dr. Zhang was elected the secretary of Instructional Communication Interest Group at the conference.

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5 years
Carmel Carroll
Robert Chop
Sylvia Hurlburt
Frank Mingrone
Patrick Murphy

10 years
Julia Whelan

20 years
Ronald Bruner
Karen Creecy

25 years
Barbara Guenette

Births
Michelle Marino-Fleisher, Alumni House manager - son, Dean Thomas Fleisher, born on Aug. 24.

Condolences
Connie Messina, mother of Adrienne Berndlmaier, operation's assistant in the Registrar's Office and grandmother of Lance Berndlmaier, adjunct professor in GSEAP, died on Sept. 9, 2006.

Lloyd McCurley, son of Jean Gaumer, longtime adjunct professor in the GSEAP, died on Sept. 12.

Guillermo Soto, father of Margaret Rosario, administrative assistant to Fr. Jack Hanwell, S.J., President of Fairfield Prep., died on Sept. 17.

New Employees
Marsha Alibrandi - Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, GSEAP
Christy Ashley - Assistant Professor, Marketing, DSB
Steven Bachelor - Assistant Professor, History, CAS
Allison Berger - Assistant Director, Dean of Students
Joel Berry - Public Safety Officer
James Biardi - Assistant Professor, Biology, CAS
Matthew Blackwell - Visiting Instructor, Visual & Performing Arts, CAS
Cristina Bowen - Campus Minister
Karen Corry - Accounting Assistant III
Robert Cottle - Director of Corporate Relations
Tara Cushman - Admission Counselor, Undergraduate Admission
Jessica Davis - Assistant Professor, Chemistry, CAS
Mark Demers - Assistant Professor Math & Computer Science, CAS
Peter Duval - Visiting Instructor, English, CAS
Yael Eliasoph - Visiting Instructor, Italian, CAS
Kathleen Feeney - Associate Director, Alumni Relations
Lisa Anne Frank - Visiting Assistant Professor, Finance, DSB
Susan Franzosa - Dean, GSEAP
Michele Anderson - Visiting Instructor, Counselor Education, GSEAP

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Faculty Research

The Charles F. Dolan School of Business

Dr. Lisa Mainiero: opting for a balanced life

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Dr. Lisa Mainiero's latest book The Opt-Out Revolt: Why People Are Leaving Companies to Create Kaleidoscope Careers (Davies-Black Publishing, September 2006) has caught the attention of media outlets across the country. She has more than a dozen interviews scheduled, including an appearance on WABC-TV, and others in the works to discuss the book, which offers insight into what she defines as a "societal shift" in attitudes about work.

Ironically, it was media attention that initially sparked interest in the topic. Headlines in reputable newspapers, including The New York Times, reported that qualified, talented women are opting out of the workforce. But Dr. Mainiero, professor of management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, knew that there was more to the story. She teamed up with co-author Dr. Sherry E. Sullivan, associate professor of management at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, to investigate. The duo concluded that many workers - both men and women - are abandoning the traditional linear path up the corporate ladder. Instead, they are turning to "kaleidoscope careers," those created on a worker's own terms. In a career path not based on pay increases or higher titles, a worker has the freedom to change positions, change professions, or even leave the workforce to meet his or her needs for challenge, balance, and authenticity.

"Today, women and men, particularly Gen X and Gen Y men, are rebelling against work environments that don't support their values and hamper their desire for a balanced life with time for friends and family," Dr. Mainiero said. "What's more, people are also revolting against organizations that don't permit them to be true to themselves and don't provide challenging work."

"Corporations are failing their workers by not allowing for human resource policies that allow for stop-outs and opting out at different points in their career life cycle," Dr. Mainiero said. Even corporations claiming to be "family friendly" could do more for their employees, she explained, including the following:

• Completely redesigning the way work is done by creating more nontraditional career paths.
• Abolishing obsolete norms, such as face time, long hours, or travel as a measure of commitment and a basis for promotion.
• Creating cultures that support a balance between work and life.

The authors conclude that if these issues aren't addressed soon, the best and the brightest will be opting out of the workforce and we will be soon facing a labor shortage and brain drain, starting in 2012.

Dr. Mainiero is pleased to see diverse media outlets take interest in this serious issue. "The fact that it is a highly researched, heavily cited book involving five years of research and more than 3,000 survey participants and interviews, seems to give them comfort that the research is right on the money," said Dr. Mainiero, who is a noted authority on the subject of gender and careers and has seen her previous research profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and newspapers around the world. In addition, she has appeared in the past on several radio and television shows including, Oprah, Good Morning America, and CNN NewsNight.

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Jeanne Di Muzio hailed as a phenomenal woman

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Jeanne Di Muzio lives each day as if it were a gift from God. "What we do with that day will be our gift to God," explained Di Muzio, director of health and wellness education.

Over the past 25 years, she has given many gifts to God and to the Fairfield community, particularly to the students to whom she has dedicated and shared her passion, wisdom, and friendship. For her significant contributions, she received the Women's Studies Award at a ceremony on Sept. 26.

"Obviously, we are not able to sum up the wonders of Jeanne in one word, one sentence, or one paragraph," said Kate Walsh '07, who has worked with Di Muzio in the Peer Education Network and spoke at the ceremony. Instead, she and Brigit Williams '07 read Maya Angelou's poem "Phenomenal Woman" in Di Muzio's honor. It was a poem, Di Muzio had once encouraged the students to post for other female students to read.

In her work in health and wellness, Di Muzio gives students the information and the tools they need to have more self-love and self-respect and to make good decisions in life. "She integrates her passion, her love, and her devotion into her work on campus," Walsh said. "You could ask her any question and trust that you would be given an honest answer."

Students turn to Di Muzio for guidance. "I was a homesick freshman, but one hug from you would make me feel right at home," Williams said to her mentor. Students also get to know Di Muzio though her participation in campus activities, such as Theatre Fairfield and as an Ignatian Residential College mentor.

She has made an impression on generations of students since she joined the University in 1982, as coordinator of orientation and judicial officer and as the women's volleyball coach (1983-1987). In 1990, Jim Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president of student affairs, hired her to be director of student activities. "Jeanne flat-out lights up a room," Fitzpatrick said. "It's much more than her million dollar smile. It's her attitude in always seeing and finding the best in any situation." He added, "Jeanne Di Muzio is a special person who puts a smile on God's face." She is always looking for that program that educates and inspires, he said.

In her current position, she and Dr. Sue Birge, assistant vice president and director of counseling services, found the funding to start Women's Wisdom, a program to research women's issues, which has become the heart of the Peer Education Network. Di Muzio was also involved in developing Women's Circle, and this past year, the Women's Forum, all programs she hopes to expand.

"I make sure each and every person is celebrated as the gift that they are," Di Muzio said in her speech. She thanked her family, including her son Christopher, who attended the ceremony. With her, she had a photograph of her late husband Rocco, who passed away in the spring. "I keep a scorecard in my heart: Did I give the gift today?"

People who know her would say, "of course."

Jeanne Di Muzio receives a plaque from Dr. Rose Rodrigues, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology in CAS and co-director of the Women's Studies program.

Photo by Peter Sarawit

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Vatican taps Fr. Ryscavage for delegation to UN

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

The Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., director of the Center for Faith and Public Life at Fairfield University, has been invited by the Vatican to become a member of the official delegation of the Holy See to the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The UN General Assembly meets each year from September to November.

University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., said Fr. Ryscavage's work as a member of the Holy See's UN delegation fits in well with the Center for Faith and Public Life's goal of responding to the growing global awareness of the influence of religion on public affairs. "The Center's commitment to Catholic social thought and Jesuit spirituality complements the work Fr. Ryscavage will be doing at the UN on some of the most pressing social concerns of our day."

Topics to be covered in this year's session include: promotion of economic growth, maintenance of international peace and security, development of Africa, promotion of human rights, coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts, promotion of international law and justice, disarmament, and international terrorism.

A "High Level Dialogue on Migration" will be the first special event of the General Assembly. During the ministerial-level, two-day conversation on what the UN can do to help address the issue of global migration, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., will head the Vatican delegation with Fr. Ryscavage serving as his consultant. A separate event of the migration session will include a discussion about the "Human Dignity of Women: Best Practices in Migration and Refugees."

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the head of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Fairfield University in May. Archbishop Migliore succeeded Cardinal Renato Martino, now the President of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace, who visited Fairfield University on Oct. 1, to speak on human rights and his work at the Vatican in Rome.

Father Ryscavage is no stranger to the UN. He had previously been credentialed at the United Nations as head of the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, a nongovernmental humanitarian organization that has consultative status at the UN. He also had extensive experience representing the non-governmental American humanitarian organizations at the UN as chairman of the Washington-based NGO coalition, INTERACTION. In that capacity he was also a member of the United States government delegation to several UN High Commissioner for Refugees meetings in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Dr. Farmer encourages activism for global healthcare

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

With a style that was at once humorous and engaging, physician and humanitarian Dr. Paul Farmer addressed the University community - particularly the freshmen class - at the fall Convocation on Sept. 8. "Despite the title, I promise this talk will not be a downer," he said before beginning his talk on "Health and Human Rights in the Time of AIDS." He urged students to remember three things: That human rights are as basic as the right to clean water, that they should engage in student activism, and that they must understand the connections that tie them, in their "island of privilege' to everyone else in the world.

University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., introduced Dr. Farmer, noting that he personified "The University's mission of social responsibility." Both Fr. von Arx and Dr. Farmer noted the presence of Doug Perlitz '92, who has worked to educate and house street children in Haiti since his graduation from Fairfield.

Prior to his talk, Dr. Farmer spent the afternoon with students, speaking to them in informal groups. In answer to a student's question about how he became involved in his work in Haiti, he answered that his interest was borne of social activism after working with migrant workers who were overwhelmingly Haitian. One pre-med student wanted to know how a medical school graduate could become involved in healthcare on a global scale. "We set up a residency at Harvard in global health equity," Dr. Farmer said, speaking of his alma mater. "By the time you're ready to graduate, there will in all likelihood be more of these programs, but the push must come from you, and the schools will respond."

Despite his activism, Dr. Farmer told students he does not see himself as someone who is particularly interested in politics. "I get involved with the politics of the area because it's a moral issue for me, not a political one." When one student asked how he dealt with laws that undermined what he was trying to accomplish, Dr. Farmer's answer was measured. "Don't dismiss their arguments, but develop strategies to work around them," he said, citing the example of pharmaceutical companies and the legal issues surrounding the patents of various AIDS medications. "If you assume that they are taking the stance they are because they're evil, you're not helping your patients," he cautioned. Despite the fact that pharmaceutical companies were publicly defending their patents, he said, "there were plenty of people within those companies who were concerned by, and very willing to help with, the AIDS crisis. When we asked them for help, we got it." It took five years of discussion, social pressure, and the influence of people like Bill Clinton, he said, but generics are now widely available - legally - and the cost of treating an HIV-infected patient in a developing country has plummeted "to about $120 a year."

Dr. Farmer was also interviewed by Dr. Paul Lakeland, the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, for the Listening to the Voices of Others series, which will be available on DVD at the DiMenna-Nyselius library by the end of the semester.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Engineering programs gain accreditation

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

All four undergraduate programs of the School of Engineering have received accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a first-time milestone reached through an intensive self-study and a three-day Board visit to campus in November 2005. The most prestigious national accreditation available for engineering programs, it makes a strong impression with students and employers, said Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering.

"The Board does not accredit schools of engineering," he said. "It accredits programs, so every individual program is reviewed separately. It's a very involved process."

Though the electrical and mechanical engineering programs have been ABET accredited since 1996, this is the first accreditation for computer engineering and software engineering. The accreditation for electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering extends to 2012, while the software engineering program has been accredited for four years, and it is expected that by July 2007 the accreditation for this program will also be extended to 2012.

This achievement represents a year-and-a-half-long self-study begun in 2004 to assess the School's goals and their achievement on the basis of a valid and rigorous assessment processes. The School has had a data collection and assessment system in place since 1997, making some of the evaluation run more smoothly.

"Data collection is continuous. It never stops," said Dr. Hadjimichael. "And there are requirements to meet (for accreditation), but we set and assess our goals for the programs, so we know whether we have met them or not."

Last November, ABET representatives spent two days on campus, reviewing the programs and concluding the visit with an exit interview with University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., Academic Vice President Orin Grossman, and many others. The team's findings were eventually reviewed at five different levels at ABET, over a period of several months, and were then submitted to the Engineering Accreditation Commission for the final decision in July 2006.

There is understandable pride among the School of Engineering faculty and administration for their accomplishment, for it reflects their commitment to the vision for the School and the quality of their work with their students.

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Student Diversity Grants offered for the first time

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

In an effort to promote respect and understanding of the cultural, religious, social, economic, racial, and spiritual aspects of student and community life, Fairfield University is offering for the first time grants for student research on the topic of diversity.

Up to three proposals will be selected to receive a grant of $1,500. The winning proposals will be announced at a special ceremony on Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. in the Barone Campus Center. Thus far, the grant committee has received 11 preliminary proposals from student-led teams, which also include members of the Fairfield faculty, staff, or administration. It was important to encourage collaborative research projects with people from across campus, said Dr. Betsy Gardner, professor of psychology in CAS and a member of the Student Diversity Grant committee. "We're all here in this as a community and all of us are important in the education of our students."

The preliminary proposal topics delve into a variety of diversity issues. A sampling of project titles include "Elevation of Hip-Hop Music and Culture," "Socio-Cultural Issues and Peer-to-Peer Instruction," and "The Collegiate Closet: Exploring GLBT Issues at Fairfield University."

"I'm pleased to see so many students eager to research these critical topics relating to diversity," Dr. Gardner said. "I hope this increases the interest in and understanding of the cultural, racial, economic, and social groups that make up our richly diverse society."

The proposals are to be presented at a special event on March 27, 2007. Dr. Gardner said the committee is working to have the Student Diversity Grants distributed annually. This year's program is sponsored by the Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Private Charitable Foundation, the Humanities Institute of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Academic Vice President, the College of Arts & Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the Center for Multicultural Relations, Associate Dean Raymond P. Poincelot of CAS, Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino, Dean of Students, and The Office of the President.

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Strategic Vision Goal II: Integration of Living and Learning

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

By now, if you work at Fairfield University, the phrase "integration of living and learning" rings more than its share of bells, given its prominence as a goal of the University's strategic vision. Just what that will look like, in concrete terms, is in the early stages of being shaped by a committee appointed by Mark Reed, vice president for student affairs, and chaired by Dr. Thomas Pellegrino, dean of students. "The committee includes equal numbers of faculty and administrators," says Pellegrino, noting that its structure models the collaboration that will be the hallmark of the integration it hopes to foster. "Research and experience show that students who are actively engaged outside the classroom get the most of their college experience," adds Pellegrino. "The Goal II committee is in place to act upon that reality."

"The strategic vision calls us to break out of a silo mentality," notes Reed, "and collaborate across divisions to create new connections between the classroom and everything that takes place outside it."

To date, the Student Affairs Division has looked at a host of programs and practices at other institutions, but does not anticipate that a plethora of new programs will emerge. Rather, says Reed, the first focus has been on hiring personnel who think flexibly and see themselves as educators, too.

To further model the cross-divisional effort that is Goal II, the newly created structure for academic service learning is co-directed by Dr. Robbin Crabtree, professor and chair of communication, and Melissa Quan, assistant director of the Center for Faith and Public Life. Together they are shaping not a program but a way for faculty who so desire to proceed in integrating a service component to their coursework. This represents but one facet of the overall goal related to the integration of living and learning.

Another facet is diversity - a thread woven throughout the strategic vision. Not content to simply add numbers, the work of Goal II includes the formation of new programs for AHANA students and a host of ideas in discussion.

Yet another element is the First-Year Experience program, whose content and purpose is being evaluated for their potential to create better academic-social-spiritual connections early in the college experience. In addition, the committee will be looking at transforming it to a four-year experience with clear objectives based on stages of human development - the latter supported by an array of experiential learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.

What's to come remains to be seen, but the process of creating a shift in student culture, and supporting a University community, poised to take risks in its approach to teaching is well under way.

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Avoiding the flu and other perilous viruses

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

You're in a long afternoon meeting and you rub your tired eyes. That's all it takes to bring whatever you have on your hands into your body, said Dr. Phil Greiner, associate professor of nursing. With flu season on the horizon, the flu virus might just be what's on your hands.

The ways to prevent the spread of the virus, Dr. Greiner explained, are the same things we've been hearing since childhood: wash your hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze, stay away from crowded places, stay away from sick people, and of course, stay home if you have flu symptoms.

"The difficulty is that you are spreading the flu before you ever show signs and symptoms," said Dr. Greiner, who advocates flu shots as one of the best preventative measures.

The things we do each season to fend off the traditional flu are the same habits that will also help prevent the spread of more dangerous outbreaks, he said. The one that has received the most media attention is the possibility of flu pandemic. Avian flu, or bird flu, is transmitted between birds. If the avian flu virus mutates, it could create a new, highly lethal strain. Cases of the avian flu transmitting to humans have been reported in Asian and European countries, but human-to-human transmissions are rare. The World Health Organization, however, reports that a flu pandemic could strike in the next few years.

"Epidemiologists have been predicting that, given the spread of avian flu, the potential of having a mutation like that gets higher," said Greiner, who also serves on the Connecticut Department of Public Health's Public Health Preparedness Advisory Workgroup. "There is no way to predict when or where it will happen. Still, health officials monitor flu cases to watch for spikes in incidence of flu that might indicate something more than the traditional flu." Dr. Greiner notes that many of the migratory patterns of birds that have been infected in the past are not near the United States.

Nevertheless, the University is preparing for the possibility of such an event, said James Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president of student affairs and co-chair of the University's Business Continuity Planning Group. Working with the Health Center and the School of Nursing, the group is distributing information on how to avoid contracting viruses like the flu. In addition, the group works on plans that would help in any emergency situation. For example, every campus department is assessing its essential personnel - the people necessary to keep the University running following an emergency. The group is determining ways to continue classes if students and faculty can't physically come to campus. It's difficult to plan for the unknown.

"We're dealing with a medical situation that none of us has dealt with in the recent past; trying to plan for something that no one has every faced, but which all the experts say is very real," said Fitzpatrick.

As a member of the state taskforce, Dr. Greiner is looking into ways that the University can assist the state and local health departments in an emergency, such as setting up triage centers in our buildings. He added, "We are probably ahead of the curve in our planning and in the preparation we have in place."

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Planning for the unexpected

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

The Business Continuity Planning Committee Group, comprised of 16 people from across campus, is charged with developing response plans to possible emergencies to safeguard the Fairfield University community. Campus Currents will highlight some of the ways in which this group is planning for emergencies we all hope never happen.

No one could have predicted that the University would lose power the weekend students were moving on to campus. Not only were the lights and elevators out of service, so were the telephones.

"When the power went out, the Nextel phones went out," said James Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president for student affairs. "Luckily, Public Safety was able to use an old communication system that still exists and that was not reliant on the Nextel towers. They were able to use it through a lot of creativity and a lot of good planning."

That incident tested communication lines that will be essential in a more hazardous situation. Communication is the key component of any successful emergency plan, explained Fitzpatrick, who co-chairs the Business Continuity Planning Group with Michael Maccarone, associate vice president for finance. To improve communication, the University is in the process of purchasing satellite phones that do not rely on cell towers. In a major emergency, the group is evaluating how the Media Center's satellite truck and WVOF student radio station can be used not only for the campus, but also by local and state emergency agencies.

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Dr. Rodriguez: Listening to the voices of others

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Jeannette Rodriguez, chair of religious studies at Seattle University and a feminist liberation theologian, has spent most of her life listening to the voices of others. As a young missionary, she lived in countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador, during their most turbulent periods. Her research presents the perspectives and the cultural memories of the people in these situations, most often the poor and marginalized.

It was the subject of her Sept. 19 presentation, "Cultural Memories: Resistance, Faith, and Identity," which is also the title of her forthcoming book co-authored with Ted Fortier. The lecture was the first in the Catholic Studies' series, Listening to the Voices of Others: Latina Women's Religious Experience.

"Cultural memory is historical memories that are so overwhelmingly significant that they define the essence of a people and become imperative for their survival," explained Dr. Rodriguez, a New York City native with roots in Ecuador. She is only one of 13 Latina Catholic theologians in academia.

Delving into one of the case studies in her book, she discussed the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the people of Mexico. She recounting the story of Juan Diego who is believed to have crossed paths with the Virgin Mary in 1531. Mary, according to the story, asked Diego to tell the bishop to build a temple, where she could hear the pains and sorrows of all who love her. She sent Diego with roses. When he set them down for the Bishop, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared on his tilma, or cloak. The tilma and painting now hang in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

Dr. Rodriguez combed through the details of the story and image to show how they resonated with the indigenous populations, who had begun to lose faith in their own indigenous gods under the Spanish rule at that time. Mary's hands, for example, appear to be in prayer, however put in the cultural and historical context, they represent an offering from her to the indigenous people. Mary had offered to hear their sorrows and gave them a place to belong, and this image became a spiritual sign and led them to embrace Catholicism. Dr. Rodriguez also discussed the scientific findings, such as the miniature pictures the people present with Juan Diego found painted in Mary's eyes, that reinforce the faith people have in the image as a miracle.

Photo by Jim Scholl '07

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Fairfield aims to be green

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

There have been a number of environmental initiatives - both dramatic and subtle - undertaken on campus over the years. Long-lasting T8 lamps and LED lighting have replaced older fluorescent lights, for example, the custodial crew has been phasing out toxic cleaning fluids and paints, and an electric generation initiative that will soon make the campus independent of United Illuminating is in the works. What's been missing to date, however, has been a University-wide buy-in from all involved: administration, faculty, students, and staff. Now, one group of students - all in Dr. Dina Franceschi's "Environmental Economics" class - is attempting to change that.

Last spring, the 17 students were tasked with a real-world assignment: doing an environmental policy review of Fairfield's operations, including a cost-benefit analysis of various projects. The areas under review included fuel use within the University's fleet; eco-friendly building design; energy use and heating systems; recycling and waste disposal; environmentally conscious investing; and education and outreach. "That student project initiated a momentum for furthering a campus-wide initiative," says Dr. Franceschi.

It's also generated money. A College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors member has donated $10,000 to the Green Movement Project, headed by Dr. Franceschi and Ric Taylor, associate vice president for campus planning and operations, for the purpose of furthering the student-run environmental initiatives. The priority projects the group has identified for this coming year include:

• The creation of a brochure to inform the campus community about what environmental improvements have already taken place on campus, and what projects are in the works
• A program to begin the recycling of office papers and of cans and bottles from offices and dorms
• An ecology fair planned for Earth Day in April
• Investigation into the criteria for LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction) for Fairfield's next building project.

Any members of the Fairfield community who are interested in joining the Green Movement Project are invited to attend the next meeting on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. in the Diffley Board Room, Bellarmine Hall.

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Sen. Lieberman delivers address on security

U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman brought national media attention to Fairfield University on Sept. 15, when he delivered a policy address on national security on campus. Lieberman, who was defeated by Ned Lamont in the August primary and is now running as an independent in the 4th Congressional District race, discussed recent legislation providing additional grant money for port and transit security. "We have made real progress in strengthening our homeland security in the last five years," Lieberman said the week of the anniversary of 9/11. While he defended the rights of those Democrats who debate the merits of the President's policies on the war on terror, he also said it was wrong for people on the left "to go beyond dissent and demonize the President and impugn the motives of him and all who support him." Lieberman said, "That too divides and weakens us as a nation."

Sen. Lieberman avoided mentioning Iraq in his speech, as Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in the College of Arts & Sciences who explored challenging Sen. Lieberman for his seat in 2005, noted during the question and answer period. Sen. Lieberman said he would address Iraq in a later speech. The Mirror, WVOF student radio station, and the Ham Channel, sponsored the program.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Dr. Susan Franzosa to lead GSEAP

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

Dr. Susan Franzosa likes to make things happen, be they short-term projects like fixing a faucet, repairing a plaster wall, and stacking wood to heat a stove ... or long-term ones like quilting, writing, or hiking with others such routes as the Pilgrim's Trail in England, which follows Chaucer's legendary route from Salisbury to Canterbury. "That was back when I was really in shape," she laughs, though only she can tell.

The energy and can-do attitude reflected in her personal life also characterize the professional life of Fairfield's new dean of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. "What attracted me to Fairfield was GSEAP's breadth, the quality of its faculty, and its reputation for academic rigor. I'm usually able to ‘read' situations and people well, and when I interviewed here, what I ‘read' was dedication," she says. And that's not all. "The University's mission and commitment to diversity are both consistent with my own views, and the strategic vision has created the potential to excel in many new ways."

Dr. Franzosa comes to Fairfield via the University of Washington (UW), Bothell, where she served as director of and professor in the education program, and was also a member of the graduate faculty at UW Seattle. Prior to her work at UW, the native New Englander spent 24 years at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), rising from assistant professor in the Department of Education (1979) to full professor and its chair in 1993. 

Along the way, she became professionally active in women's studies (program director; associate editor of National Women's Studies Association Journal); international education (director of the UNH Study Abroad Program at Regents College, London); and multicultural student affairs (grants for a diversity support coalition, minority recruitment, and for service learning). Her varied expertise has led to the writing of three books, 20 articles and chapters, and the delivery of some 60 academic papers at conferences worldwide.

To the delight of many at Fairfield, which is currently engaged in a self-study process for re-accreditation by NEASC (New England Association of Colleges and Schools), Dr. Franzosa chaired successful NEASC and NCATE accreditation processes while at UNH.

When her appointment at Fairfield was announced in April, Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, said, "Dr. Franzosa brings leadership experience in so many areas of education that are important at our Jesuit university: multicultural education, women's studies, service learning, civic education, and accreditation."

As she looks to discern and shape the contributions that she, her faculty, and her school will make in the classroom, the region, and the profession of education itself, Dr. Franzosa says, "GSEAP provides a very important service to the region by training professional educators and counselors. One of my top priorities will be to reach consensus about the most meaningful ways to serve our varied populations, and to strengthen GSEAP's partnerships in the region.

"I find joy in making things happen," she continues - a spirit one can only hope becomes contagious as an entire University works to transform a strategic vision into realities that reflect our mission well.

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New faculty join Fairfield

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor, and Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

Fairfield welcomes several new faculty members this year. Campus Currents will introduce them to the University community over the next few issues.

Dr. Marsha Alibrandi

Dr. Marsha Alibrandi joins the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions as an assistant professor. She holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology, a secondary education certificate from Boston University, and a master of education degree and doctorate of education from the University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Alibrandi taught social studies for 15 years at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, where she also conducted archeological field studies. She continues to apply holistic teaching and learning methods in her classroom. She has directed projects such as The River That Connects Us, a Connecticut River watershed initiative she developed in 1994.

An associate professor of geography and social studies education at North Carolina State University since 1997, Dr. Alibrandi has worked to introduce Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the digital mapping seen on TV weather reports, into school curricula. In her 2003 book GIS in the Classroom, Dr. Alibrandi reports on teachers and students using GIS for environmental and social issues.

Dr. Alibrandi is co-editing Digital Geography: Geo-Spatial Technologies in the Social Studies Classroom with Dr. Andrew Milson of the University of North Texas. She is teaching courses in educational psychology, teaching methods for secondary schools and classroom conflict resolution and management.

Dr. Christy Ashley

Dr. Christy Ashley joins the Marketing Department in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business as an assistant professor of marketing. She is teaching "Consumer Behavior" and "Principles of Marketing" this fall.

Dr. Ashley graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Sacred Heart University. She went on to earn an MBA from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Rhode Island. She has been a consultant for CVS Pharmacy, a marketing analyst for Federated Direct, and a marketing manager for Ampex Corporation. Her research interests include relationship development and dissolution, emotional attachment, customer experience management, complaint behavior, and persuasion. She has delivered presentations at conferences of the Society of Marketing Advances, the Academy of Marketing Science, and Decision Sciences Institute.

Dr. Steven J. Bachelor

Dr. Steven J. Bachelor, a visiting assistant professor of history at Colgate University since 2004, joins the College of Arts and Sciences as an assistant professor. Dr. Bachelor will be teaching courses on the history of Mexico and Colonial and modern Latin America.

Dr. Bachelor's areas of specialization include Latin American and Mexican social, political, and cultural history, U.S-Mexican borderlands, labor, migration and globalization in Latin America, and historical methodology. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles, and holds a master of arts, a master of philosophy and a Ph.D. from Yale University.

Prior to teaching at Colgate, Dr. Bachelor taught history at Roosevelt University and spent two years as a middle school teacher in Whittier, Calif. The author of many articles, volume chapters, and book reviews on Mexican issues, Dr. Bachelor has received several honors, including a Fulbright Dissertation Fellowship and a research fellowship from the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Bachelor is currently revising his dissertation for publication as a book, tentatively titled Miracle on Ice: Mexico in the American Century.

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New director of corporate relations: Robert Cottle

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

Fairfield University has upheld a standard of excellence for more than 60 years, says Robert Cottle, the University's new director of corporate relations. "I am excited to assist in furthering Fairfield's mission and build on the accomplishments of the past."

In his new position, Cottle will serve as the advancement liaison to the Dolan School of Business and the School of Engineering. "I'll work with the deans of these schools and their advisory boards to both promote them and to make sure I understand their fundraising priorities," he says. He will also provide principal staff support to the chair and members of the annual Fairfield University Awards Dinner Committee, and will manage the corporate stewardship program.

Before coming to Fairfield, Cottle was the director of development at ARI of Connecticut, an organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prior to that, he served at Sacred Heart University as director of alumni relations and then led the department of annual giving for three years.

A native of Monroe, Cottle earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Sacred Heart University in 1990. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and a graduate of Leadership Greater Bridgeport.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Dr. O'Driscoll receives prestigious fellowship to work on book

Dr. Sally O'Driscoll, associate professor of English in the College of Arts & Sciences, received a one-year research fellowship at the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute. The residential fellowship will allow her to work on a book, which is titled "Word on the Street: Eighteenth-Century Pamphlets and the Popular Language of Gender." This project is an exploration of popular culture in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, with a focus on popular discourse about gender. Rather than examining elite texts such as novels and poetry, she will look at ballads, broadsides, chapbooks, pamphlets, and other literature that is written by a range of authors and read by audiences of all socio-economic classes. "The project will allow modern readers to have a much broader sense of changing cultural beliefs about gender in the early modern period," Dr. O'Driscoll said.

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Public Relations staff building Fairfield's image

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

Some new employees and staff restructuring in the Office of Public Relations will bolster efforts to inform and promote the University and achieve its new strategic marketing goals.

"It is always a pleasure when talented and dedicated current employees can move into positions of greater responsibility, and we had two such cases this year," says Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for Public Relations. "In addition, we were fortunate to have a strong pool of candidates in the searches we conducted and are delighted with the quality of excellence represented in the newest members of our team, thus building on the talented group already in place."

Meg McCaffrey is the new assistant director of media relations, a job most recently held by Dana Ambrosini. Her major assignments will be as the office's liaison to the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Engineering, and University College, along with other publicity activities. McCaffrey was communications specialist for the New Haven Public Schools and has worked for Northeastern University and School Library Journal. She earned a B.A. in English/education from Boston College and an M.A. in journalism from Northeastern.

Joining her in Media Relations is Joan Grant, the new publicist. She is the press contact for many Quick Center events and will assist in press relations for cultural and enrichment programming. Previously, she was a publicist at Ballantine Books, and publicity coordinator for author book signings at an independent bookshop. A member of the Theatre Artists Workshop, a professional group of actors, writers, and directors, she holds a B.A. in drama from San Francisco State University.

On Oct. 11, Rishelle Notghi will join the Printing and Graphics staff as a designer. Notghi, who holds a B.S. in graphic design communication from Philadelphia University, has worked as a graphic design intern and freelancer for several Pennsylvania and Connecticut firms, including Palmer and Associates and the Lutz Children's Museum.

Jill Caseria, former assistant director of publications, who was responsible for Campus Currents and was the publications liaison for undergraduate admission, is the new managing editor of the University website. Caseria plays an integral role in institutional marketing efforts and will work closely with other members of the marketing team to make our public website more dynamic and interactive. Developing content for top tier pages, Caseria will also work with department Web liaisons who update and edit Web pages. Prior to joining the University staff in 1999, Caseria worked as a copy editor/writer for direct mail and consulting firms. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from Mount Holyoke College and an M.A. in American Studies from Fairfield.

Meredith Guinness, the publicist in Media Relations since 2002, is now a Publications writer/editor, contributing stories to Fairfield Now, Campus Currents, and other University publications.

Guinness, who has written for magazines, newspapers and websites, including Parents, The Journal News and healthscout.com, holds a B.A. in English from Brown University.

Kelly McCarthy joins the department as the new assistant director of sports information. McCarthy graduated from St. John's University in New York with a B.S. in journalism. She previously worked for Towson University in Maryland.

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Sports

Four alumni selected for Athletic Hall of Fame

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

The Fairfield University Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome its new class on Oct. 14 as part of Homecoming Weekend. The class will include forward Abby (Allan) Ward '00, goalkeeper Christen Veach '97, quarterback/outfielder Jim Lopusznick '00, and outfielder Theresa O'Connor '99. All four former student-athletes will be inducted during a brunch and ceremony at the John A. Barone Campus Center Oak Room at 11 am.

Ward tallied 58 goals in 74 games as a varsity athlete, with 15 of those goals marked as game winning scores. Ward earned All-MAAC honors all four of her seasons with the Stags. She also picked up the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 1996 as well as the MAAC Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998. Ward also achieved All-Region honors from the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).

Veach served the soccer team as both a player and a coach during her nine-year association with the program. As a player, Veach led the Stags on the field as a captain during her junior and senior seasons. Her 20 career shutouts and 371 saves currently place her second in the all-time record book. Cumulatively, Veach compiled one MAAC regular season championship, two MAAC tournament championships, three appearances on the All-MAAC Team, three MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year awards, two appearances on the MAAC All-Tournament Team, two MAAC Tournament MVP honors, a selection to the All-New England Second Team, and a selection to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Team. Upon graduation from Fairfield, Veach continued to serve the program as an assistant coach with the Stags.

Lopusznick not only graduated as the School's all-time leader in every passing category, but also ranked among the Division I-AA leaders in passing yardage by the end of his career. He earned first team All-America honors from the Football Gazette, and was the named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year as well as All-MAAC first team. Under his guidance, the Fairfield University football program won the MAAC Football League title in just its third year of existence. In his junior year, Lopusznick was responsible for 33 of the team's 44 offensive touchdowns. He threw for more than 200 yards in more than 15 games during his career.

Theresa O'Connor played softball for four seasons at Fairfield, and set several records upon her departure following the 2000 campaign. She batted a school-record .475 in her sophomore season, which placed sixth in Division I. Her career 191 hits was the school standard, until surpassed by Ellen Sarosy in 2003 (252 hits). She remains second all-time in that category. O'Connor ranks third all-time with 58 stolen bases. O'Connor earned All-MAAC honors three times, and was selected the MAAC Player of the Year following the 2000 campaign. She was the team's leading hitter in two of her final three seasons, including a .368 batting average in her senior season.

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Basketball teams face challenging season

Michael Van Schaick, a senior guard on the men's
basketball team, is the top returning scorer
with 8.8 points per game.

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

It won't be hard for area college basketball fans to find something they like about the 2006-07 Fairfield University men's and women's basketball schedules. Both teams will face a Big East team at home. Both teams will play a series of games at Alumni Hall. And both teams will endure what could be called two of the most demanding schedules in Fairfield basketball history.

"Our schedule will certainly be a challenge," Men's Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "But our team is up for the challenge and will work hard to play each game with the same level of intensity. We need to show up every night and give our all in order to have success."

The men's team will open its campaign by hosting American University at Alumni Hall, the program's first regular-season game at the on-campus facility since the 2000-01 season. The women's team makes its Alumni Hall debut for 2006-07 the next day when it battles the University of Richmond.

Fans will get to see two Big East teams up close and personal when Georgetown comes to the Arena at Harbor Yard to take on the men's team on Nov. 22. The women will host Villanova University on Nov. 17. The two teams will play their first doubleheaders of the season on Nov. 25 when the men take on Loyola University-Chicago and the women battle Harvard University.

Another thing that Head Coaches Dianne Nolan and Ed Cooley have in common is Boston College, as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team will bring both Fairfield teams to Chestnut Hill early in the season. The women make the trip on Nov. 28, the first of an eight-game road swing that will cover five weeks. The men will play the Eagles on Dec. 6, the third contest in a five-game run that will be played in just 10 days.

One in-season tournament is listed on both schedules as well, with the women participating in the Lady Pirate Classic on Dec. 2 and 3. The Stags will play Florida State in the first round, and either North Dakota State or host East Carolina in the second round. The men will play three opponents in three days as part of the Hispanic College Fund Classic in Hartford, taking on Mississippi on Nov. 17, Connecticut on Nov. 18, and Central Arkansas on Nov. 18.

And if that weren't enough, the teams will face another challenging Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) slate for 2006-07. The men open MAAC play at home against Manhattan on Dec. 8 and Canisius on Dec. 10. The women head north for games at Niagara on Dec. 8 and at Canisius on Dec. 10.

"We have compiled a non-conference schedule that will challenge and push us early in the season," Nolan said. "I am excited to get our team on the floor against these teams and see what we are able to accomplish this season."

The season begins with an exhibition game against the University of Bridgeport at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The women's teams will play at 6 p.m. with the men's teams following at 8 p.m.

Basketball schedules are available at www.fairfieldstags.com.

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Athletics gets new team players

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

The marketing arm of Athletics has made some staff changes over the summer. Instead of having one person oversee marketing and ticket sales, there are now two staffers handling those areas, said Patrick Murphy, senior associate director of athletics for business and external affairs. "It's crucial for the marketing objectives we're trying to meet," he said. "We need someone whose full responsibility is marketing our collegiate athletics program on a daily basis."

Roy Brown joins the Fairfield family as the new assistant athletic director for marketing and fan development. He is responsible for developing marketing and promotion plans, and assisting with community relations and activities relating to our athletic programs. Brown was assistant athletics director, marketing and public relations, at Southeastern Louisiana University and has worked with NBA Development League teams, and as assistant director of public relations with a Louisiana advertising firm. He holds a B.S. in psychology and a B.A. in public relations from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Stacey O'Donnell is the new ticket manager who will oversee ticket sales for men's and women's soccer and basketball and men's lacrosse, and assist in marketing and promotional activities. Previously, O'Donnell was in charge of corporate and charity events at Great River Golf Course and she is a former tournament manager for Pilot Pen Tennis. She holds a B.A. in history from Indiana University and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University.

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SON receives $245,570 grant for youth partnership

A $245,570 grant from The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, will enable the School of Nursing to establish the Youth Power Partnership, a program to help students at Bridgeport's Bassick High School. The School of Nursing, which has a long history of healthcare service to people in Bridgeport, is the lead agency, working in partnership with FSW Inc., MATRIX Public Health Consultants, and Bassick High School. More specifically, the funds will be used to establish a Youth Center at FSW, a non-profit human services agency, located across the street from the high school. It will offer after-school and weekend workshops. A cornerstone of the program will be the student-mentoring component, in which each high school student will work closely with a Fairfield University student throughout the three years of the program. Their goal will be to provide students with the tools and skills to make healthier life choices. Ultimately, the program hopes to reduce risk behaviors common to adolescents.

Fairfield University students will be involved via paid internships, volunteer opportunities, or work-study positions. Bassick High School Principal Ron Remy said that Fairfield students who take part have the potential to make a lasting impact on these high school students, and may be a most significant factor in their future. "Youth Power Partnership will provide activities and education designed to develop or expand individual, family, and community factors through a program of academic enrichment, personal development and wellness, career planning, cultural enrichment, and service opportunities," said Lydia Greiner, the project director and a visiting professor in the School of Nursing.

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Library welcomes students

Ramona Islam, a reference librarian in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, greets Caitlin Terwilliger '08. Library staff welcomed students as part of a back-to-campus kick-off.

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Farewell to a loyal friend: Widget (1991-2006)

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

Fifteen years ago, the Fairfield University community welcomed a unique and enthusiastic member - Widget, a Golden Retriever specially trained to chase, but not harm, the hundreds of geese who were leaving ample evidence of their presence on the sidewalks, fields, and lawns across campus. Sadly, after more than a decade of "at your call" service, Widget died unexpectedly in early September. It's a loss felt deeply by many on the maintenance staff, particularly Stan Kisiel, manager of maintenance services, whose idea it was to solve the droppings problem humanely and who located the already-trained one-year-old pup in Illinois.

"Widget was my right arm," says Kisiel of his regular sidekick. The way the "system" worked, if someone on campus noticed an especially large flock of geese, they could call Kisiel, who would hop in a truck to bring Widget to his job. "The most frequent callers were Fr. (Aloysius) Kelley and Fr. (W. Laurence) O'Neil, one about Bellarmine Lawn and the other about the baseball field," Kisiel recalls with a laugh. But many others called as well, and the waterfowl population decreased considerably.

As students discovered Widget's presence, they sometimes stopped by the barn to visit, enjoying the sense of comfort he offered and the memories he sparked of their pets back home. Widget was a very lovable dog, who loved doing his job, says Kisiel. "We'll miss him."

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Jesuit and Feminist Education Conference set for October

By Meg McCaffrey, Assistant Director of Media Relations

An upcoming conference aims to initiate a dynamic dialogue about Jesuit and feminist education at Jesuit universities throughout the country. Entitled, "Jesuit and Feminist Education: Transformative Discourses for Teaching & Learning," it will take place Oct. 27 to 29 on campus. Faculty, administrators, and students from the 28 Jesuit universities have been invited to attend the conference, which has been organized by Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka, assistant professor of politics, and Dr. Elizabeth Petrino, associate professor of English. They plan to pose participants a range of questions, including asking what role gender plays in Jesuit education, and taking a look at how diversity can become a more fundamental part of Jesuit education. Panel topics include Sexual Orientation, Ignatian Pedagogy, and Feminism: A Most Unholy Trinity. There also will be an open forum on academic freedom.

"We do imagine a terrific dialogue," said Dr. Boryczka. "It puts Fairfield at the forefront of this dialogue on Jesuit campuses." Sponsors include The Humanities Institute of Fairfield University, The Office of the President, The Office of the Academic Vice President, the Program in Catholic Studies, the Program in Women's Studies, and the Center for Academic Excellence. The keynote speaker is Dr. M. Shawn Copeland, associate professor of systemic theology at Boston College. For more details, visit www.fairfield.edu/jfemconf.

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Dr. María Pilar Aquino delivers O'Callaghan Lecture

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

María Pilar Aquino, the first Mexican-born Roman Catholic woman to earn the doctoral degree in theology, will deliver the sixth annual Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture On Women in the Church on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., in the Kelley Theater of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Her lecture, "Option for the Poor - Option for Women Today: Feminist Theological Perspectives," will explore the meaning and implications of the tradition for affirming in feminist terms the dignity and rights of women in today's church and society.

Dr. Aquino, born in Mexico and raised on the Sonora/Arizona border, is a feminist Catholic theologian. Currently, she is professor of theology and religious studies and associate director of the Center for the Study of Latino/a Catholicism at the University of San Diego. Her doctoral degree was earned at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain in 1991. The University of Helsinki, Finland, conferred on her the degree of Doctor of Theology Honoris Causae in 2000. For additional information, please contact Carolyn Arnold at ext. 3415 or visit www.fairfield.edu/pr_0106jubilee.html.

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Fairfield joins national teach-in on Guantanamo Bay Prison

Fairfield University is participating in a national teach-in on the Guantánamo Bay Prison and detainees on Thursday, Oct. 5, in the Barone Campus Center, lower level. The Teach-In, titled, "Guantánamo: How Should We Respond?" includes an eight-hour live simulcast broadcast from Seton Hall Law School from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a live panel from 6 to 7 p.m.

Inspired by the techniques of the teach-ins of the 1960s, but utilizing the technology of the present, the conference will be a collaboration of more than 200 colleges and law schools. Sessions will include academics, journalists, military officers, theologians, human rights activists, lawyers for detainees, and released detainees themselves, considering two overriding themes: first, whether Guantánamo can exist in a democracy committed to the rule of law, and second, whether and how various communities - journalists, theologians and physicians - should respond to this unprecedented governmental action.

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Credit Union offers convenience

Our friends and colleagues at the Fairfield University Federal Employees Credit Union want to remind you how easy and convenient it is to save a bit for the future through payroll deduction and your Credit Union. Now is also the time to start a Christmas Club account for 2007. The Credit Union Office in located in the lobby of Gonzaga Hall or you can reach Linda or Fannie at ext. 2610 and they will be happy to help you.

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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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