Alumni Archive

The Scranton Clubs of the Chesapeake and Washington, D.C., will hold a Guided Guinness Tour and Tasting Sunday, Oct. 15, at 3:30 p.m. at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland.

The $40 admission fee includes a private tour of the brewery, a private tasting of four sample-sized beers (Guinness Draught Stout, Baltimore Blonde and two exclusive, experimental brews), a pint of your choice at the start of the tour, a keepsake, and a drink ticket and appetizers after the tour. Register here to secure your ticket today. 

The University will hold Scranton Soccer Alumni Day Sept. 30 as the men's and women's soccer teams take on Catholic University in a key Landmark Conference matchup.

The men's game will kick off at 1 p.m. at Weiss Field, and the women's game will follow at 3:30 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be available for all Scranton Soccer alumni from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Register here today to celebrate and support the rich history and tradition of Scranton Soccer. 

Are you interested in helping Admissions search for future Royals? If so, you can represent The University of Scranton at College Fairs and other exciting recruitment events as a Royal Recruiter! Share your perspective on a Scranton education with students and their families while showing the enthusiasm and love you have for the amazing experiences awaiting prospective students here at Scranton! Register here to be added to the roster for potential events in your area, or scan the QR code below.

Heather J. (Losi) Holcomb, Ph.D. '21, a member of The University of Scranton’s first cohort of doctoral students, received the American Accounting Association (AAA) Timothy Pearson Best Dissertation Paper Award for 2023. The prestigious award is presented by AAA’s Forensic Accounting Section to the author of a dissertation related to forensic accounting that was completed within the last three years.

Dr. Holcomb received the award for her dissertation titled “The Effects of Client Machiavellian Traits and Fraud Motivation on Fraud Risk Assessments,” which was subsequently published in the Journal of Forensic Accounting Research in 2022. Her dissertation chair was Robert Giambattista, Ph.D., associate professor of management, marketing and entrepreneurship, and her second chair was Douglas Boyle, D.B.A. '88, professor and chair of the Accounting Department and director of the University’s Ph.D. program in accounting.

“It is a tribute to the hard work of our faculty and the quality of the students our program attracts, that Heather Holcomb, a graduate of our first doctoral class, has received this prestigious award. We believe that we continue to see our graduates receive recognition for their achievements,” said Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management at the University. The doctoral program in business, housed in Scranton’s Kania School of Management, is the first Ph.D. program offered at Scranton.

Dr. Holcomb is the fifth member of the University’s business doctoral program to win a prestigious national dissertation award. Lisa S. Haylon, Ph.D. candidate, and Xiaobing (Emily) Li, Ph.D '23, received the IIA’s Michael J. Barrett Doctoral Dissertation Award this year. Gregory Kogan, Ph.D. '22, and Joy Chacko, Ph.D. '21, were awarded the Institute of Internal Auditors Michael J. Barrett Doctoral Dissertation Award for their respective years.

Dr. Holcomb of Liverpool, New York, is an assistant professor of accounting at the State University of New York at Oswego.

The University will hold the 100th Search Retreat Saturday, Sept. 30, on campus from 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The day will be led by Cathy Seymour '90, director of Retreats & Spiritual Programs at the University. Register today to join us for a day of reflection, prayer, reminiscing and more, and visit this link to see the list of your fellow alumni who have already registered. 

The University will hold its second Alumni/Student Golf Outing Saturday, Sept. 30, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor.

The scramble play outing will begin with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. The outing will include 18 holes of golf, golf carts, dinner and prizes. Register here today. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Suzanne Whalen-Maxwell ’90, Succasunna, New Jersey, has earned a Doctor of Education in curriculum and instruction - special education with high distinction.

Samuel J. Richards G’15, Bentleyville, joined the faculty at the International School of Kenya in Nairobi, where he teaches social sciences and IB History of Africa. Richards previously worked at Shanghai American School in China, where he survived several strict covid-19 lockdowns and was proud to be one of four founding faculty for the school’s Pudong Innovation Institute, a design-thinking program that used interdisciplinary and project-based learning.

MARRIAGES

Margaret McCarthy ’10 to Matthew Pomes    

BIRTHS

A daughter, Annie Joan, to Thomas, M.D. '09 and Tara Gramigna Churilla, D.O. '11, Roaring Brook Township
A son, Sean Aloysius, to Paul ’13 and Aileen McGonigle McCormick ’13, Yardley

DEATHS

Martin A. Alfano ’43, Scranton
John J. Dunn, Sr. ’51, Hilton Head, South Carolina
Marty L. Sugerman ’57, Estero, Florida
John “Barry” Beemer ’63, Clarks Green
Edward A. Gronka ’63, Nanticoke
David Z. Taylor ’69, G’77 Belmar, New Jersey
Robert J. Dougher, Jr. ’70, Scranton
John J. Munley ’70, San Antonio, Texas
Alfred M. Zyga G’71, Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Stephen B. Brady ’72, Bernardsville, New Jersey
John M. Hart ’72, Scranton
Richard N. Shay ’74, Simpsonville, South Carolina        
Deborah Parker ’76, Scranton
Brian E. Manning ’81, Dickson City
Alfonso M. Paniagua, Jr. ’85, Miami, Florida
Sandra Slater ’88, Horntown, Virginia
Christopher A. Lombardo ’98, Merrick, New York

 

 

Incoming first-year students of University of Scranton alumni gathered together with their families and the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, Aug. 26 for the Class of 2027 Legacy Families Reception and Photo at Brennan Hall.

Over the years, the Legacy Families Reception and Photo has become a University tradition. Prior to Convocation each year, incoming legacy students and their families gather together for a photograph with the University's president to mark the outset of their collegiate odyssey. Four years later, prior to commencement, the same families gather together with the University's president to mark the beginning of their journey as men and women for and with others beyond Scranton's borders.

The University will hold the 2023 Medical Alumni Council (MAC) Symposium on campus Oct. 14. Register for this year's event here.

Although the day-long symposium is primarily designed for Scranton physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, retired physicians, medical school students and undergrad pre-professional students, attendance is also open to medical professionals and students not affiliated with the University. The event will feature a keynote address by Judy Byerley, M.D., MPH, dean of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, president of Geisinger College of Health Sciences, and chief academic officer and EVP at Geisinger, titled "Producing an Equitable Workforce Prepared to Improve the Health of People and Populations."

The event will also feature a variety of presentations from accomplished alumni, including a panel discussion led by Scott Alan Peslak, M.D., Ph.D. '06 and Pamela Tafera-Diehl, D.O., MBA '02 titled "Navigating the Complex Healthcare Landscape: Patient Perspectives," a presentation by Kevin Hauck, M.D., MPH '06 titled "Feedback in Medical Education: Moving Past Performance," a presentation by Carolyn Serio, D.M.D., MS '17 titled "Access to Orthodontic Care Among Medicaid Patients and Importance of Referrals," and a special lunchtime presentation by R. Barrett Noone, M.D., FACS '61, who will speak about his new book, "From Trenches to Transplants: Changing Lives with Plastic Surgery." 

Contact alumni@scranton.edu for more information.

Alumni in the Hoboken and Philadelphia areas will soon have the opportunity to meet up with their Royal peers at a pier-themed event.

Pier 13

On Thursday, Aug. 17, Royals in the greater New York metro area will converge upon Pier 13 in Hoboken, New Jersey, at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of summer fun. The $20 admission fee includes two drink tickets and a Scranton giveaway. Register here for the event today.

Morgan's Pier

On Thursday, Aug. 24, Royals in the City of Brotherly Love will converge upon Morgan's Pier at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of summer fun. The $20 admission fee includes appetizers, one drink ticket and a Scranton giveaway. Register here for the event today.

The University will hold the 100th Search Retreat Saturday, Sept. 30, on campus from 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The day will be led by Cathy Seymour '90, director of Retreats & Spiritual Programs at the University. Register today to join us for a day of reflection, prayer, reminiscing and more. 

The University will hold its second Alumni/Student Golf Outing Saturday, Sept. 30, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, Pennsylvania.

The scramble play outing will begin with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Registration will open soon. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Anthony Talerico Jr. ’01, Eatontown, New Jersey, was reelected to a second four-year term as mayor of the Borough of Eatontown.

MARRIAGES

Adriana Samoni ’16 to John Nolan Ryan ’15
Molly Hampsey ’19, G ’20 to Tyler Weiss

DEATHS

Rev. James A. Wert ’50, Pittston
Joseph A. Barrett, Ph.D. ’53, G’58, Clarks Summit
J. Joseph Danyo, M.D. ’55, York
Vincent J. Gulotti, Jr. ’59, Newark, Delaware
Richard Dikeman, D.D.S. ’60, Clarks Summit
Stephen S. Insalaco ’61, Pittston Township
Robert J. Burke ’64, G’80, Dunmore
James A. Sposito ’64, Crystal Lake
Robert T. O’Connell ’66, West Pittston
Richard C. Vahey ’69, Mountaintop
Michael Cotter ’71, Wyoming
Jerome C. Horan ’71, Santa Barbara, California
Joseph S. Marhevka, Ph.D. ’72, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts   
Francis Yevitz ’75, Springbrook Township
John J. Regan, Jr. ’84, Jersey City, New Jersey
William C. Brennen G’03, Hawley
Neil F. Geletka G’07, Carbondale

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Patrick J. Gigliotti, father of Marian A. Gigliotti '76, G'80   

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, has announced that Elizabeth A. Madden ‘96, Principal, Global Head of Employee Experience and Engagement at Davidson Kempner Capital Management, will serve as the new chair of the President’s Business Council (PBC).

A founding member of the PBC, Madden has been actively serving the University community through the PBC for more than 20 years, most recently serving as its vice chair. She succeeds Francis J. Pearn ’83, P’16, Managing Director and Global Chief Compliance Officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co., who has served as PBC chair since 2019.

“As we navigate this period of transition for the PBC, I want to thank Frank Pearn for his dedication, mentorship, and leadership over the past four years,” Father Marina said. “I am delighted that Elizabeth has agreed to serve as PBC chair. Her work with the PBC has served the University well for more than two decades, and I am grateful that she will continue to move us forward as PBC chair.”

“For more than 20 years, the PBC has given me the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with the next generation of Royals,” Madden said. “By helping to connect current students with alumni leaders, we continue to  strengthen the purple tie that binds the University community together and help build future leaders.”

Throughout her career, Madden has served as a thought leader, strategic partner and consultant by advising hedge fund founders, C-suite executives and internal business leaders. She has significant global experience in recruiting, HR policy and procedures, employee relations, strategic project management and senior leader coaching. As global head of Employee Experience and Engagement, Madden oversees all of Davidson Kempner’s inclusion and belonging, employee development, well-being and philanthropic initiatives. Through her work with the leadership and partners of the firm, she is intimately involved in transforming the employee experience.

Madden earned her B.A. from the University, her Executive Coaching certification from Columbia University and her M.A. in Higher Education from New York University, where she began her career working at the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Prior to joining Davidson Kempner, she spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs in New York and Hong Kong and nearly a decade leading the Prime Brokerage HR Consulting Practice, where she helped hundreds of new and existing hedge funds manage all aspects of the employee life cycle. She also serves as a leader with the Managed Funds Association as founding member for two of their Steering Committes, Human Resources and DEI.

The President’s Business Council was launched in January 2001 to provide networking opportunities for alumni and friends, to promote engagement with University students and to inspire philanthropy in support of the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. These objectives remain at the core of the PBC and are relevant ways for alumni, parents and friends to meaningfully connect with the University and its students in the service of strengthening the Scranton network in and beyond the business sectors.

During the academic year, the PBC conducts student networking trips to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. These trips provide a unique opportunity for current students to travel and discover more about the industries represented as well as to meet and network with PBC members and other regional alumni and friends. In conjunction with the University’s Kania School of Management (KSOM), the PBC coordinates the Career Coaches program, which matches a student with a business executive in a player/coach relationship that further strengthens the student’s soft skills in preparation for internship and career opportunities. Since October 2002, the PBC has held its Annual Award Dinner in New York City. The gala has established itself as one of the marquee events of the year and has generated more than $20 million for the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

For more information on the PBC and the many ways to become involved, visit scranton.edu/pbc.

 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Joseph F. Cimini ’70, Dunmore, was among 195 members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association who were recognized for their long-standing membership in the association in 2023 with a Fifty-Year Member Award.

Kevin DeCoursey ’80, Florham Park, New Jersey, was ordained as a permanent deacon in the Paterson Diocese of New Jersey. As part of his formation, DeCoursey received his Master of Arts in Theology from Seton Hall University. While he will remain employed as a lawyer, DeCoursey will expand his vocation by providing service to the people of his local parish and beyond.

Eric Kispert ’87, Denville, New Jersey, was ordained as a permanent deacon in the Paterson Diocese of New Jersey. As part of his formation, Kispert received his Master of Arts in Theology from Seton Hall University. While he will remain employed as a relationship therapist, Kispert will expand his vocation by providing service to the people of his local parish and beyond.

Ronald Myer ’91, Lancaster, published his book “33 Ways to Improve in Business and Live,” which is available on Amazon or other online bookstores.

Carol Hee, MBA, Ph.D. ’95, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has joined Anthesis Group as a sustainability consultant specializing in improving corporate sustainability performance.

Kate Groark Shields ’97, Fort Washington, CEO /owner of Vault Communications, a full-service marketing and communications agency, had her firm named as a finalist for Outstanding Agency in the U.S. by PR Week magazine. The firm also received its second consecutive designation as one of Philadelphia's Best Places to Work by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

 

MARRIAGES

Stephanie Baselice '13 to John McMenamin '12  

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Hazel Rose, to Brian ’07, G’09 and Holly Loughney, Dunmore

 

DEATHS

Fred Wolfgang ’50, Scranton
Armand M. Martinelli ’56, Scranton
Robert J. Sarnowski, M.D. ’60, Clarks Summit
John Glennon, Ph.D. G’65, Suffolk, Virginia
George A. Germak G’69, Forty Fort
David R. Boniello, Ph.D. ’72, Lafayette, Indiana
Michael A. Fedor ’72, Moscow
Antonia Kintzer G’72, Bethlehem
Ellen L. Kanavy G’76, Scranton
Gertrude O. Keen G’79, Jackson Township
Terence E. Matthews ’90, Flanders, New Jersey

 

 

On June 26, the University honored Rev. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., the 25th president of The University of Scranton, with the 2023 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey.

The annual celebration raised more than $100,000 for Scranton Athletics. Quandel Construction Group served as the event’s title sponsor.

More than 250 alumni and friends of the University participated in the golf tournament, and an additional 50 guests registered for the award dinner.

“The University of Scranton remains deeply within my heart," said Quinn upon accepting the award. “My mantra for what we were doing at The University of Scranton was that we were to become the Division III school of choice for student-athletes who wanted a Catholic, Jesuit education.

“The University of Scranton has achieved that."

About the honoree

Father Quinn served as the 25^th president of The University of Scranton from July 2011 to June 2017. From his first days on campus, Father Quinn demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Catholic and Jesuit higher education and a deep appreciation for the pivotal role athletics can play in enhancing both the overall student experience and the University community as a whole.

On May 8, 2018, the University dedicated the Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. Athletics Campus, its brand-new, $14 million athletic facility, in recognition of Father Quinn’s special interest in promoting athletics and his relentless support of Scranton’s student-athletes. Father Quinn strongly advocated for the development of the athletics campus, and his role in spearheading the fundraising efforts needed to make this longtime University dream a reality cannot be overstated.

In addition to his support of the athletics campus, Father Quinn oversaw the addition of Women’s Golf and Men’s and Women’s Track & Field at Scranton. He was also very supportive of the creation of The Royal Way, the Department of Athletics initiative that provides our student-athletes with a distinctly Jesuit athletics experience rooted in the religious and spiritual foundations of the University’s Catholic and Jesuit mission.

About the event

Since 2011, the Peter A. Carlesimo Award has been presented to someone who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Golf Tournament & Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at The University of Scranton. For more information, visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward.

The University will hold its second Alumni/Student Golf Outing Saturday, Sept. 30, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, Pennsylvania.

The scramble play outing will begin with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Registration will open soon. 

Sandy beaches. Evening ball games. Cocktails on the pier. Your fellow Royals. What's not to love?

The University of Scranton will hold several regional events this summer designed to give you the opportunity to enjoy a little fun in the sun with your fellow Royals in New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, Boston and Philadelphia. Read on to learn more about these signature events that will undoubtedly plant the seeds of your future Scranton nostalgia.

Royals At The Shore

Join your fellow alumni, parents and friends Saturday, July 22, from 4-8 p.m. at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, New Jersey, for Royals At The Shore, where your $30 admission fee includes a buffet, two drink tickets and a Scranton giveaway. Register here to reserve your ticket today.

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Game

The Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley will hold a meetup at Coca-Cola Park Wednesday, Aug. 2, for alumni, parents, students and friends as the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs take on the Buffalo Bisons at 7:05 p.m. Register here for the event today.

Pier 13

On Thursday, Aug. 17, Royals in the greater New York metro area will converge upon Pier 13 in Hoboken, New Jersey, at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of summer fun. The $20 admission fee includes two drink tickets and a Scranton giveaway. Register here for the event today.

Morgan's Pier

On Thursday, Aug. 24, Royals in the City of Brotherly Love will converge upon Morgan's Pier at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of summer fun. The $20 admission fee includes appetizers, one drink ticket and a Scranton giveaway. Register here for the event today.

Scranton At Fenway Park

The University of Scranton will hold a reception at Fenway Park for alumni, parents and friends August 29 as the Boston Red Sox take on the Houston Astros.

The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Truly Terrace, and the first pitch will be thrown at 7:10 p.m. The $80 admission fee includes a ticket to the game, a $40 food voucher and a Scranton giveaway. Limited spots remain, so make sure you register here today. 

Joseph L. Sorbera III ’08, outgoing chair of the Alumni Society Advisory Board, transferred leadership of the Board to his successor, Paul DiPietrantonio ’97, at the Board’s May 6 meeting on campus.

DiPietrantonio joined the board in 2020; since then, he has served on the Student Engagement Committee, a group he began chairing in 2022.

A proud first-generation college student whose parents emigrated to the United States from Italy, DiPietrantonio graduated from the University in 1997 with a B.S. in Accounting. Since then, he has worked in accounting and finance and currently serves as CFO of a family-owned real estate company.

DiPietrantonio is an avid advocate for promoting Jesuit ideals and The University of Scranton. His love of service initially took root during his student days at the University, where he was an active participant in annual volunteer trips and on-campus events, and, since graduating, he has regularly participated in Scranton’s Day of Service events. He is also involved in volunteer organizations in the Hudson Valley and attends fundraisers benefiting charitable organizations.

DiPietrantonio enjoys spending time with his wife, Elizabeth, daughter, Lucy, and son, Franklin Harvey, at their home in Kingston, New York.

 

The University will hold its second Alumni/Student Golf Outing Saturday, September 30, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, Pennsylvania.

The scramble play outing will begin with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Registration will open soon. 

The University of Scranton will hold a reception at Fenway Park for alumni, parents and friends August 29 as the Boston Red Sox take on the Houston Astros.

The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Truly Terrace, and the first pitch will be thrown at 7:10 p.m. The $80 admission fee includes a ticket to the game, a $40 food voucher and a Scranton giveaway. Register today at this link. 

On Saturday, July 22, the University will hold Royals At The Shore at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, New Jersey, from 4 to 8 p.m. Registration will open soon.

On June 26, The University of Scranton will honor Rev. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., the 25th president of the University, with the 2023 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey.

Quandel Construction Group will serve as the event’s title sponsor. Although the golf tournament has sold out, there are still seats available for the evening award dinner honoring Father Quinn; register for the award dinner today at this link.

About the honoree

Father Quinn served as the 25^th president of The University of Scranton from July 2011 to June 2017. From his first days on campus, Father Quinn demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Jesuit Catholic higher education and a deep appreciation for the pivotal role athletics can play in enhancing both the overall student experience and the University community as a whole.

On May 8, 2018, the University dedicated the Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. Athletics Campus, its brand-new, $14 million athletic facility, in recognition of Father Quinn’s special interest in promoting athletics and his relentless support of Scranton’s student-athletes. Father Quinn strongly advocated for the development of the athletics campus, and his role in spearheading the fundraising efforts needed to make this longtime University dream a reality cannot be overstated.

In addition to his support of the athletics campus, Father Quinn oversaw the addition of Women’s Golf and Men’s and Women’s Track and Field at Scranton. He was also very supportive of the creation of The Royal Way, the Department of Athletics initiative that provides our student-athletes with a distinctly Jesuit athletics experience rooted in the religious and spiritual foundations of the University’s Catholic and Jesuit mission.

About the event

Since 2011, the Peter A. Carlesimo Award has been presented to someone who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Golf Tournament and Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at The University of Scranton. For more information, visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward.

 

The University of Scranton will hold its annual Reunion Weekend celebration June 9-11. Visit this link to register for this year’s events. 

Friday, June 9

Registration Opens At The Reunion Weekend Hospitality Center

2 – 10 p.m.

The DeNaples Center, 1^st Floor

When you arrive on campus, make The DeNaples Center your first stop to receive your name tag, event tickets and other information.

The Frank J. O’Hara Awards Dinner

7 p.m.

The McIlhenny Ballroom of The DeNaples Center, 4^th Floor

The University and The Alumni Society will honor Elizabeth Altemus Murphy '83, Noradeen Farlekas, LP.D., CFA '83, Colleen A. Joseph, M.D. '83, John J. (Jack) Lynch, III '83, Erin Tracy Bradley, M.D., MPH '88, Matthew L. Davidson, Ph.D. '93, Linda M. Hee, Esq. '93, Yohuru R. Williams, Ph.D. '93, G'93, and Colonel Christopher Paris, Esq. '98, at the 2023 Frank J. O'Hara Awards Dinner. Visit this link to register and/or to leave a congratulatory note for an honoree today.

All-Class Welcome Reception

9-11 p.m.

The Flagpole Terrace

Celebrate the weekend with friends, music, bar snacks, beer, wine and soda at the Flagpole Terrace.

Saturday, June 10

Registration Opens At The Reunion Weekend Hospitality Center

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The DeNaples Center, 1^st Floor

Special Constituency Reunions
11 a.m. - Noon
Band and Singers: Houlihan McLean

Rainbow Royals: The DeNaples Center, 2nd Floor

SJLA: The DeNaples Center, 2^nd Floor

All-Class Family Picnic
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The Dionne Green

Enjoy a picnic lunch and plenty of fun with your friends at this crowd-pleasing, family-friendly event! Entertainment will include a DJ, yard games, ice cream truck, bounce house, and more.  Adult tickets will cost $30, and tickets for children ages 5-18 will cost $15; children under 5 will be admitted for free.

Special Performance By Durty Nelly and The Blackwells

1:30 – 3 p.m.

The Dionne Green Amphitheater

See Durty Nelly and The Blackwells, a band comprised of members of the Class of 1993, return to campus for a special performance.

Campus Tour

3 p.m.

Departs from The DeNaples Center, 2^nd Floor

Saturday Evening Celebration

6 - 10 p.m.
The DeNaples Center Patio & Dionne Green

You and your classmates will be treated to an evening of food, spirits and dancing. Tickets will cost $60 per person. Cocktails will be available at your class dinner location, and the after party will be on the patio of the DeNaples Center.

In addition to the events listed above, the University will hold a 50-Year Medal Ceremony for the members of The Class of 1973 and their guests.

Class Dinner and 50-Year Medal Ceremony
6 p.m.
The DeNaples Center, 4^th Floor

Includes dinner, cocktails, and the 50-year medal ceremony.

Sunday, June 11

Reunion Weekend Mass
9:30 a.m.
Madonna della Strada Chapel

For more information on Reunion Weekend, visit scranton.edu/reunion.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Barrett Noone, M.D. ’61, Haverford, recently published a history of plastic surgery in America for the lay reader titled "From Trenches to Transplants: Changing Lives with Plastic Surgery". Dr. Noone received the Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award in 1986 and served as a University Trustee from 1999 through 2004. The book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million and other commercial entities. 

Patrick F. Cioni, ’64, G’69, Roaring Brook Township, is a licensed professional counselor specializing in evidence-based treatment of chronic anger by using forgiveness as a therapy method. He has published a paper titled “Sexuality and Spirituality: An Attempt at Integration for Sexual and Relational Health” and a poem titled “A Song to Jesus and the Sons and Daughters of the Heavenly City” in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review. Also published was “Field of Dreams: A Clinical and Scriptural Analysis for Counselors, Clients, and Spiritual Directors in Human Development." Motivation for writing these and other publications comes from the challenge to effectively address issues that clients bring to counseling. Cioni hopes the Lord lets him live long enough to finish the current paper “Maximizing the Benefits of Faith-Based Counseling."

Kelly Thompson-Brazill, DNP, ACNP-BC, FCCM ’99, Washington, D.C., associate professor and director of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Georgetown University's School of Nursing (GUSON), will become GUSON's assistant dean for APRN Programs on July 1, 2023.

Janan M. E. Tallo, Esq. '02, Old Forge, accepted the position of Chief Public Defender of the Columbia County Public Defender's Office, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

MARRIAGES

Rob Kelly, Ph.D. ’79 to Jack Brown

Paris Metzger '15 to Michael J. Foy

Tyler Milewski ’16, G’18 to Matthew Chaltain

Alexa Winchel ’17, G’18 to Christopher D’Antonio

 

BIRTHS

A son, Jacob, to Clyde '07, G'09 and Lisa Hummel Rosencrance '08, G'09, South Abington Township

A son, Colin Michael, to Greg ’13 and Anastasia Zygmunt Mooney ’13, G’15, Harrisburg; grandson of Charles Mooney ’83 and Stan ’84, G’85 and Elizabeth Zygmunt ’87; great-grandson of the late Thomas Casey ’51

A son, Parker Lennie, to Kellie and Tim Janes ’15, Bedminster, New Jersey

A son, James, to Jonathan and Sarah Thomas Auchey ’17, Sierra Vista, Arizona

 

DEATHS

Terrence J. Brown ’60, Wethersfield, Connecticut

Paul A. Chianese ’63, Hadley

Vincent S. McEvoy ’65, Rome, New York

Charles B. Holleran ’67, New York, New York

Timothy J. Woestman ’69, Havertown

Deacon John A. Donaghy, Ph.D ’70, Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras

Mary Beth Farrell ’79, H’10, Lake Ariel

Thomas J. (T.J.) Sullivan ’97, Wyckoff, New Jersey

Holly Hinz Sorensen ’00, Salisbury Township

Recent graduates, Crysta O’Donnell '22 and Carolina Murphy '22 studied a language at The University of Scranton and it has opened many doors for them.

Andorra is a tiny country located between Spain and France, among the southern peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains. This microstate is also the destination of O’Donnell, one of the two ambassadors chosen last year by the Fulbright organization to represent the United States abroad during the 2022-2023 academic year.

“I am really thrilled. I could not believe it when I was informed that I had been awarded the Fulbright,” explains O'Donnell.

She graduated last May with a double major in International Studies and Hispanic Studies and a minor in French. Now, O'Donnell will have the chance to put in motion all the skills she developed at The University of Scranton. Andorrans speak Spanish and French.

“And I’ve been told that I will have to learn Catalan too, the official language of the country,” she added.

Her position is the English Teaching Assistant in the Escola Andorrana, one of the education systems of the small country. Andorra is technically a principality whose Heads of State are the President of France and the Bishop of Urgel, Spain. It has an elected Parliament and Government, though. The country is known for its sky stations and duty-free stores.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said O'Donnell before leaving Scranton.

The other University recipient of the Fulbright grant was Peter Amicucci '22, major in business administration. His destination will be further north in Europe: Finland.

Murphy ended her tenure at The University of Scranton with a bang. Last May at the Class Night ceremony she received the Professor Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages.

“I am very honored to be receiving this award, and I am excited my hard work over the past four years here at Scranton has paid off! This award gives me the opportunity to represent the department that has supported me during my time here and inspires me to continue my hard work,” said Murphy.

She graduated in May with a double major in finance and Spanish studies and a minor in business leadership. 

“I have been passionate about studying Spanish since middle school and am grateful to have pursued it throughout my academic career. I would highly recommend studying a foreign language, it has given me incredible opportunities in learning about a diverse group of cultures, meaningful traditions, and connecting with people I otherwise could not communicate with,” Murphy said. Her 4.0 GPA in Spanish studies demonstrates her passion for the program.

 

-- Submitted by: Jaime Meilán del Río, Faculty Specialist, Department of World Languages and Cultures

The University of Scranton will celebrate 5.06, its ninth annual Day of Giving, on Saturday, May 6, by attempting to reach its goal of 2,023 donors.

There are many ways to participate in the 5.06 fun, including wearing purple, posting fond Scranton memories and photos on social media using #GiveToScrantOn506 and #Royals4Others, and making a gift to the campus fund of your choice. Jim Slattery ’86, former chair of the Board of Trustees, will match the first $25,000 donated to The Opening Doors Scholarship, an award serving graduates of the Cristo Rey Network of High Schools, Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago and other similar institutions that have demonstrated financial need. The scholarship closes the gap of any unmet financial needs after all other sources of financial aid and scholarships have been determined.

Alumni, parents and friends of the University can also register for this year’s Virtual 5.06K, a virtual exercise challenge that invites participants to exercise in any way prior to 5.07. All Virtual 506K participants will automatically be counted as 5.06 donors, and they can designate their registration fees to the University causes of their choice. Register for the Virtual 5.06K here.

All 5.06 donors will receive University of Scranton stickers as a token of our appreciation. Make your 5.06 gift here or text ScrantonGives23 to 71777. For more information on 5.06.23, visit scranton.edu/506

Registration has opened for Reunion 2023, which will take place June 9-11.

Visit this link to register today for the celebration, and visit scranton.edu/reunion for information on the schedule of events.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Tom Miller, Ph.D. G’67, Lexington, Kentucky, an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky and the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention & Policy at the University of Connecticut, just saw his 15th book, School Violence and Primary Prevention (2023), published by Springer International Publications. Chapters range from the conceptual to the practical, detailing the many forms of violence, prevention, assessment and treatment. Issues related to key figures involved in addressing violence in our schools—school superintendents, law enforcement, educators, and health care professionals - are discussed.

Nick Camera ’71, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has been appointed as Community Service chairman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for the state of South Carolina. A 1971 ARMY ROTC graduate, he retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and is still serving veterans as a Past Post Commander and a state officer.

Dennis Size ’76, Port Washington, New York, executive vice-president of the Lighting Design Group in NYC, recently received the 2022 Sports EMMY Award for his Lighting Design of NBC's Broadcast Coverage of Super Bowl LVI at the SOFI Stadium in Los Angeles.

Melinda Ghilardi, Esq. ’80, Dunmore, participated in the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Fourth Annual Federal Practice Institute. Ghilardi moderated a panel of lawyers and a district court judge who analyzed the criminal implications of the hypothetical fact pattern "The Criminal Conundrum."

Hon. Terrence R. Nealon ’81, Scranton, was presented with the Civil Litigation Professional Excellence Award by The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Civil Litigation Section.

Mike Cosgrove ’82, Dunmore, recently served as the 2022 President of the Lackawanna Bar Association, as well as the 2022 President of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County. He is a partner in the law firm of Haggerty, Hinton and Cosgrove, LLP.

Lisa M. Weckbacher, Ph.D. ’91, Thousand Oaks, California, published her first children's picture storybook, "What Is the Shape of My Egg?" the first in a series of books dedicated to nurturing spatial reasoning and the development of basic geometric concepts.

Michael A. Malia ’97, Manasquan, New Jersey, was elevated to name partner in the law firm Peri Stewart Malia, which has offices in Fairfield and Sea Girt, New Jersey, as well as New York.

COL Cristin Kiley Mount ’99, M.D., Lakewood, Washington, is retiring from the U.S. Army after 24 years of service. She will stay in Tacoma, Washington, continuing her practice as an intensivist, and will serve as an ultrasound instructor for the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Timothy Donahue ’00, Bridgewater, New Jersey, earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Donahue’s dissertation examined how high school assistant principals conceptualize and implement disciplinary practices, and how these practices change over time.

BIRTHS

A daughter, Gal Helena McCann, to Zach and Kerry Madden McCann ’12, Bethlehem  

A daughter, Collins Christie, to Jonathan ’14 and Shannon O’Gorman Grueter, Nutley, New Jersey

A daughter, Heidi Lynn, to Sarah Jencarelli ’20 and Ty Frankhouser, Plymouth Meeting

DEATHS

Wallace E. Fletcher ’60, Westport, Massachusetts
William J. Davis ’63, Clarks Green
Michael J. DeVergilius ’65, Old Forge
Joseph J. Barrette, D.M.D. ’66, Dunmore
Fred Sunderman ’67, El Paso, Texas
Mildred M. Petcavage G’71, Wilkes-Barre
John J. Bannon ’74, Waldorf, Maryland
John F. Boland ’77, G’79, Scranton
Janet Colman Brehm G’96, McDonough, Georgia
Joseph P. Voyt ’98, Scranton

FRIENDS' DEATHS  

Victor L'Eplattenier, father of Renee L'Eplattenier '95

Tom Tennant, father of Elizabeth Tennant Klein '92 and grandfather of Bridget Klein '23 and Kelly Klein '25

While the campus of The University of Scranton has been known to inspire a sort of “love at first sight” in many of its grads who grew up outside of the Scranton area, Phyllis Reinhardt ’78 humorously recalled a decidedly different sort of first encounter with northeastern Pennsylvania while driving past the culm dumps, or mountainous piles of coal mining waste, alongside Interstate 81 in 1960 to meet the family of Carl Richard Shewack, her husband-to-be at the time.

“He’s bringing me to meet his parents, and it was a beautiful, beautiful day in the spring,” she said. “The windows are down, mind you, and I get a whiff of the culm dumps, and I think, ‘Oh my God, what am I getting into? What am I doing?’

“That was my introduction to Scranton.”

Despite that less-than-stellar introduction, Reinhardt, a native of Wisconsin and a veteran of both the Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserve, came to appreciate life in the Electric City.

“There is an atmosphere in Scranton that makes you want to get to know people,” she said. “I’ve lived in several places over my military career, and I came back here.

“Scranton is a good place to live.”

After spending her childhood on a farm in Wisconsin, Reinhardt joined the Air Force and was stationed in Syracuse, New York, where she met Shewack, who was also serving in the Air Force. The couple married in May of 1960, and, after Carl finished his term of service and Phyllis was discharged on the basis of marriage, they settled in Scranton. Along the way, they were blessed with three children: Lisa, Linda and Carl Richard Jr.

“Scranton was a wonderful place to raise the kids,” she said.

After a decade of marriage, Reinhardt and Shewack divorced, and Phyllis decided to pursue her dream of going to college. After briefly working toward a career as a medical secretary and realizing that she was never going to master stenography, she took an aptitude test that indicated she would excel at social work and decided to pursue a degree in sociology at The University of Scranton.

Learning How To Learn

Reinhardt joined the U.S. Army Reserve to help finance the cost of her education. When she enrolled at the University in 1974, coeducation, which began in 1972, was still a fairly new phenomenon, and some of the faculty members she encountered were still adjusting to the new status quo.

“Many of the professors still called us ‘guys,’” she said. “They had not yet made that transition to ‘ladies and gentlemen,’ but I never felt that anyone resented our being here.”

On the whole, Reinhardt said she felt quite welcome on campus.

“The University is a welcoming community,” she said. “It’s warm. People are very outgoing.”

At the University, she said she encountered a priest who helped contextualize both her purpose as an undergraduate student and her innate desire to serve others.

“He said, ‘If you’re here to learn how to do a job, you’re in the wrong place … you’re here to learn how to learn,’” she said. “That always struck me as, ‘Yes, you have to learn, you have to put that energy and that knowledge to good use, and how better than to help your fellow human beings?’”

During her student days, Reinhardt served on the University Senate and the Dexter Hanley Council, where she was elected vice president during her senior year; she also became the first woman to join the University’s Veterans Club. While she can barely remember how she managed to successfully juggle her extracurriculars, her studies, her job and her family, she said the University’s emphasis on nurturing her spiritual core aided her efforts.

“My life was busy, but to find the peace and contentment of knowing that you are part of something bigger than yourself … that lesson has really stuck with me,” she said. “There were times throughout my life where things didn’t go so well, but that sense of spiritual being, that this is the core of every human being – if you aren’t in touch with that, life can be pretty rugged.”

A Woman For And With Others

After graduating from the University, Reinhardt moved to Nebraska to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. When her mother fell ill, she moved back to Wisconsin to care for her. After her mother passed, Reinhardt took on a “dual status” position in the U.S. Army Reserve that allowed her to function in both a military and civilian capacity, and she worked toward a master’s degree in public administration at Iowa State University. At the beginning of the Gulf War, she was promoted to director of Family Programs, a new position in which she helped prepare reserve soldiers and their family members for the challenges of deployment by briefing them on their benefits and informing them of the various resources they could utilize for support, and she continued to serve in that capacity until her retirement a decade later.

“(The reserves) decided that they needed a family readiness program to support military families, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first 10 people to hold that position,” she said. “I met the most wonderful people.”

After a long career spent teaching, training and assisting others, Reinhardt retired and returned to Scranton, where she almost immediately began volunteering to teach, train and assist others. She became a docent for Scranton’s Everhart Museum, where she has led school groups on tours of the property for the past 20 years. She joined the National Active & Retired Federal Employees Association Scranton Chapter 129 and currently serves as its president. Drawing upon her days on the farm in Wisconsin, she became a master gardener for the Penn State Cooperative Extension, where she lends her vast experience to her fellow gardeners in the interest of helping them solve their problems. She also became active in Fair Districts PA, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to fixing legislative rules in order to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. At the University, she joined the Friends of the Library Advisory Board and attended many of the cultural enrichment programs and luncheons offered by the Schemel Forum. Ultimately, Reinhardt said she believes that we are here to serve each other, and she enjoys spending her time helping the people of her community.

“It makes me feel, I guess, needed,” she said. “I had 15,000 soldiers and their families looking to me for guidance when they deployed, and, suddenly, nobody needed me. The phone stopped ringing, the emails were no more, so I guess I filled that gap by (volunteering).”

She also hasn’t stopped pursuing new interests: despite “never graduating from drawing stick people,” she began taking oil painting classes at the Dunmore Senior Center a few years ago and has enjoyed them immensely.

A Scranton Legacy

As an early pioneer of coeducation at the University, Reinhardt helped blaze a trail for thousands of women to follow in the decades to come, including her daughter, Lisa Thurston ’85, G’09, academic dean at Scranton Preparatory School, and her granddaughter, Catherine Thurston, VMD ’15, a large animal surgery resident at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.

“To see them succeed, and so well – it makes me very proud, obviously,” she said. “They are in fields where they are helping people, so maybe it’s a family tradition to share your knowledge, to help people solve their problems?

“It’s very heartwarming.”

While the University has certainly seen its share of changes since Reinhardt’s student days, she said the warmth and welcoming spirit she first encountered nearly half a century ago remains intact, and she plans to continue to serve the greater University community in the years to come.

“It has always been one of my better achievements to have graduated and to be able to use that and give back,” she said. “Serving on the (Friends of the Library Advisory Board), I can give back to the students who are following me and make it a better environment for them." 

"Tito," a short film co-written, co-directed and produced by Andy Tworischuk '09, will screen at the Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival at the Waverly Community House Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m.

According to the film's YouTube description, "Tito," a film set in New York City's seedy underworld, follows a worn-out delivery driver as he attempts to find purpose in his life. "As he struggles to navigate a city that feels like Hell, The Delivery Man finds comfort in his only friend, a dog named Tito. Distraught and desperate to change the course of his life, a chance encounter at a gas station might solve his problems once and for all."

In addition to his co-writing, co-directing, and producing credits, Tworischuk also appears in the film as "Tough Customer." 

The film has won several awards, including Best Picture, Best First Time Director, Best Cinematography and Best Actor at the 2022 Festigious International Film Festival, Best Indie Short and a Special Jury Mention at the 2022 Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival, Best American Cinematography and Best American Film at the 2022 Los Angeles Cinematography Awards, and Best First Time Director and Best Ensemble at the 2022 New York International Film Awards.

Visit the 2023 Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival page for more information. 

Alumni, parents and friends of The University of Scranton will have the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day by participating in one of several regional service projects at the University's annual Day of Service celebration, which will fall on Saturday, April 22. Visit scranton.edu/dayofservice for a full list of this year's sites.

Massachusetts

Royals in the Newtonville, Massachusetts, area will have the opportunity to inspect, sort and package donations at Cradles to Crayons. Register for the Cradles to Crayons service project today. 

New York

Royals in the Brooklyn area will have the chance to work on an Earth Day project with the students of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, and they will also have the opportunity to assist with homework and play games. Register for the Brooklyn Jesuit Prep service project today. 

Pennsylvania

Royals in the Harrisburg area will have the opportunity to participate in Tri County Community Action's 11th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup. Register today for the 11th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup.

Royals in NEPA will have the opportunity to prepare and package meals for the University's We Care program at The Retreat Center at Chapman Lake. Register for The Retreat Center at Chapman Lake service project today. 

Royals in NEPA will also have the opportunity to assist the St. Joseph's Center Baby and Food Pantry by meeting cars and taking and sorting donations. Register for the St. Joseph's Center Baby and Food Pantry service project today. 

Royals in Philadelphia will have the chance to plant a garden, clean and landscape a playground, and paint hallways and lounges at The Drueding Center. Register for The Drueding Center service project today. 

Royals in the Worcester area will have the opportunity to paint, landscape, clean and organize The Variety Children's Charity. Register for The Variety Children's Charity service project today. 

Washington, D.C.

Royals in the Washington, D.C., area will have the opportunity to sort and package items for distribution to those in need at the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Register for the Arlington Food Assistance Center service project today. 

If you don't see a service site in your region but would still like to participate in the Day of Service, volunteer in your community April 22 and tell us about it by sending a picture or emailing your information to alumni@scranton.edu.

The University will host "Opening The Doors To Women On Campus," a panel discussion featuring first-hand accounts of the early days of coeducation at Scranton, Wednesday, April 12, at 5 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

Susan Poulson, Ph.D., professor of History at the University, will moderate a panel featuring Melinda C. Ghilardi, Esq. '80, attorney with Munley Law and former first assistant federal public defender, Martina A. Martin '80, SVP and COO of United Way of Central Maryland, Baltimore, Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., H'98, Dean of Admissions Emeritus at the University, and Karen L. Pennington '76, G'83, H'15, retired vice president for Student Development and Campus Life at Montclair State University. Refreshments will follow the discussion.

Visit this link to register for the discussion today. 

The University of Scranton will induct five new members into its athletics department Wall of Fame over Wall of Fame Weekend April 28-29.

The festivities will begin with the Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the Moskovitz Theater on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center Friday, April 28, at 7 p.m. as the University officially inducts Tim Cleary '13, Men's Lacrosse, Bob Doetzer '87, Men's Lacrosse/Wrestling, Gretchen Kempf Quinn '13, Field Hockey, Bill McGuinness '13, Men's Soccer, and Tim McGurrin '13, Men's Tennis, into the Wall of Fame Class of 2023. A cocktail reception will follow the ceremony; tickets for the reception are $20 for ages 12 and older and $10 for children ages 5-11, while children under five will receive free admission. Visit this link to register for the cocktail reception today. 

The celebration will continue Saturday, April 29, at the Quinn Athletics Campus when the Wall of Fame Class of 2023 will be introduced at halftime of the 1 p.m. Women's Lacrosse game. 

Registration has opened for this year's Virtual 5.06K, a virtual exercise challenge that invites participants to exercise in any way between Saturday, April 29, and Saturday, May 6, in support of 5.06, the University's ninth annual Day of Giving.

All Virtual 5.06K participants will automatically be counted as 5.06 donors, and they can designate their registration fees to the University cause of their choice. Visit this link to register for the Virtual 5.06K today, and visit scranton.edu/506 for more information on Scranton's ninth annual Day of Giving. 

Registration has opened for Reunion 2023, which will take place June 9-11.

Visit this link to register today for the celebration, and visit scranton.edu/reunion for information on the schedule of events. 

The University of Scranton Book Club will discuss "Walking Together: The Way of Synodality" by Pope Francis during its next virtual meeting Tuesday, April 25, at 7 p.m.

The conversation will be facilitated by Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for Mission and Ministry at the University, and Ryan Sheehan, J.D., executive director of The Jesuit Center. The discussion will occur over two Zoom sessions, and the first discussion will cover up to page 83. Session two will be held May 1.

Join The University of Scranton Book Club today to connect with your fellow Royals. 

The Scranton Club of New York will meet at Yankee Stadium Wednesday, July 26 to watch the New York Yankees take on the New York Mets.

The game will begin at 7:05 p.m., and gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The club will hold a pre-game reception on the Budweiser Party Deck featuring 90 minutes of food, draft beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, all of which will be included in the $90 price of admission. Attendees will sit in section 415.

Visit this link to register today. 

The University will host a networking reception for alumni, parents and friends at Harrisburg's Lancaster Brewing Company Wednesday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m.

The $15 registration fee includes appetizers and your choice of one flight of beer or a mixed drink. Guests are encouraged to bring a business card to enter a special University raffle. Visit this link to register today. 

The University will host its annual Pre-Law Advisory Program Banquet in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall Monday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m.

The evening will include dinner, cocktails, and plenty of opportunities for students, faculty and alumni lawyers to connect with each other. It will also feature a keynote address by the Hon. Mary Walsh Dempsey '88, Judge of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. 

Visit this link to register for the dinner today.

The Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL) will hold a networking reception with University of Scranton Pre-Law Society students at The Pyramid Club in Philadelphia April 21. 

The cocktail and hors d'oeuvre reception will give alumni lawyers the chance to meet both their fellow alumni attorneys in the Philadelphia area and current students interested in a legal career. Register for the CAL Networking Reception with Pre-Law Society Students today. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

The Honorable Patrick M. Fiore ’78, Palmetto Bay, Florida, was reelected to a second term as a city commissioner in Palmetto Bay, Florida, in November 2022.

Lawrence A. J. Spegar, Esq. '84, Jessup, joined the 25 Year Club - Consecutive Years for attending the Super Bowl. From Super Bowls XXXII through LVII, Spegar has now attended 26 straight Super Bowls. An attorney, author, actor, director and television host, Spegar has become one of the leading and enthusiastic personalities in the sports world. He is the Author of "Cougar Town, USA," available on Amazon. The book is a celebration of the great tradition of football throughout America. 

Lisa Witowski Shearman ’89, Lansdale, a partner at the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, has advanced to the position of president-elect of the Montgomery Bar Association.

Matthew Cooper, M.D. ’90, Wisconsin, has been appointed Chief of the Division of Transplantation in the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Director of the Joint Solid Organ Transplantation Program at Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin, and the Mark B. Adams Chair in Transplant Surgery.

Bridget McMahon ’92, Baltimore, Maryland, was named vice president of Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders in August 2022. Her work centers on a large scale, multi-center, observational Parkinson's Disease study sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Andrew Conaboy ’07, Sarasota, Florida, became partner at the law firm of Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC on January 1, 2022.

 

MARRIAGES

Michael Nobile '82 to Stephanie Bramblett
Nate Wynosky '13 to Alexis Sorace
John Bayruns '14 to Olivia Barone '14
Maria Salvatore ’15, G’16 to Greg Cunningham '15, G'16
Marco Richione ’16, G’18 to Victoria Kochmer ’15
Gianna Vitolo ’16 to Sal Montuori ’16
Matthew McGovern '17 to Emily Frantzen '17
Sydney Smith ’17 to Shawn Senese

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Hailey Alea, to Daniel '07 and Michelle Constantino Crowe '07, Commack, New York.

A daughter, June Jacqueline Wnek-Kelly, to John Kelly '10 and Erica Wnek, West Orange, New Jersey. Granddaughter of Catherine Navin Kelly '76

 

DEATHS

George J. Kocsis ’52, Dunmore
Paul Yatsonsky ’59, Liverpool, New York
Edward A. D’Agostino ’62, Scranton
Raymond Pacini ’62, Pittston
Ralph W. Grambo, Ph.D. ’64, Poyntelle
Verghese J. Chirayath, Ph.D. ’66, Cary, North Carolina
Charles Chellis ’68, Windsor Mill, Maryland
Jerome C. Horan ’71, Santa Barbara, CA
Bernard F. Slusarz ’71, Mountaintop
Timothy J. Griffin G’73, Tunkhannock
Frank J. Mazzeo, Jr. ’79, Wyoming
John-Tom Knuttel ’81, Fairless Hills
Barbara Buyer Rose ’82, Atlanta, Georgia
James J. DeAngelis ’90, Jersey City, New Jersey
John C. McGuire ’91, Bethlehem

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS  

Mary Ann Johnson, mother of Wendy Johnson Evans ’89 and Tracy Johnson Burke ’91

Thomas P. Smith, Psy.D., father of Sydney Smith Senese ’17

The 13^th annual Shamrockin’ Eve will return to the Byron Center Friday, March 10, at 8:30 p.m.

The event will unite alumni from the classes of 2018-2022 with current seniors in celebration of one of Scranton's favorite traditions. Featuring food, drinks, a DJ, a photo booth, and a sea of green T-shirts, Shamrockin’ Eve will truly be a night to remember.

Alumni can register online through Friday, March 10, at 9 a.m.; alumni may also register as walk-ins at the event for $40. Seniors must register online for $35 by March 10 at 9 a.m. as senior walk-ins will not be admitted. See a list of registrants here. This year, $5 of every registration fee will benefit The University of Scranton Royal Fund.

In 2009, the University held its first Shamrockin' Eve. The event was founded after a group of young alumni who wanted to reconnect with Scranton and each other prior to their five-year class reunion met with the late Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., the University’s 24^th and 27^th president, at Chapman Lake. It quickly evolved into an opportunity for current seniors and recent graduates to contribute to the success of future University students.

For more information, visit scranton.edu/shamrock.

The University will hold a reception for alumni, parents and friends in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at Murphy's Law Sports Bar March 13 at 7 p.m.

The $15 registration fee includes beer, wine, soda and appetizers. Register for the reception here.

The University's Baseball and Softball teams will be in Myrtle Beach for spring break training from March 11-17. Visit athletics.scranton.edu for the latest team schedules. 

The Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL) will hold a networking reception with University of Scranton Pre-Law Society students at The Pyramid Club in Philadelphia April 21. 

The cocktail and hors d'oeuvre reception will give alumni lawyers the chance to meet both their fellow alumni attorneys in the Philadelphia area and current students interested in a legal career. Register for the CAL Networking Reception with Pre-Law Society Students today. 

The University will celebrate Reunion Weekend 2023 from June 9-11. Registration for the event will open soon. For more information, visit scranton.edu/reunion or email alumni@scranton.edu.

The “Planning to Attend” list for Reunion Weekend 2023 has officially opened. Add your name to the Planning to Attend list to let your friends know you're coming, and visit the Planning to Attend page to see which of your classmates is planning to attend the festivities.

Alumni, parents and friends of The University of Scranton will have the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day by participating in one of several regional service projects at the University's annual Day of Service celebration, which will fall on Saturday, April 22. Visit scranton.edu/dayofservice for a full list of this year's sites.

Massachusetts

Royals in the Newtonville, Massachusetts, area will have the opportunity to inspect, sort and package donations at Cradles to Crayons. Register for the Cradles to Crayons service project today. 

New York

Royals in the Brooklyn area will have the chance to work on an Earth Day project with the students of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, and they will also have the opportunity to assist with homework and play games. Register for the Brooklyn Jesuit Prep service project today. 

Pennsylvania

Royals in the Harrisburg area will have the opportunity to participate in Tri County Community Action's 11th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup. Register today for the 11th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup.

Royals in NEPA will have the opportunity to prepare and package meals for the University's We Care program at The Retreat Center at Chapman Lake. Register for The Retreat Center at Chapman Lake service project today. 

Royals in NEPA will also have the opportunity to assist the St. Joseph's Center Baby and Food Pantry by meeting cars and taking and sorting donations. Register for the St. Joseph's Center Baby and Food Pantry service project today. 

Royals in Philadelphia will have the chance to plant a garden, clean and landscape a playground, and paint happways and lounges at The Drueding Center. Register for The Drueding Center service project today. 

Royals in Worcester area will have the opportunity to paint, landscape, clean and organize The Variety Children's Charity. Register for The Variety Children's Charity service project today. 

Washington, D.C.

Royals in the Washington, D.C., area will have the opportunity to sort and package items for distribution to those in need at the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Register for the Arlington Food Assistance Center service project today. 

If you are interested in coordinating a Day of Service site in your region, please email Marge Gleason, P'14, '17, at margery.gleason@scranton.edu. If you don't see a service site in your region but would still like to participate in the Day of Service, volunteer in your community April 22 and tell us about it by sending a picture or emailing your information to alumni@scranton.edu. 

 

 

 

 

The University will hold three Presidential Receptions with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, in Florida during the month of March.

The first reception will take place at Admiral's Cove Golf Village in Jupiter, Florida, March 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. Visit https://bit.ly/UofSJupiter2023 to register for the event. 

The second reception will take place at Naples Bay Resort & Marina in Naples, Florida, March 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visit https://scranton.advancementform.com/event/florida-events-2023/register to register for the event.

The third gathering will take place at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, March 26 as the Yankees take on the Blue Jays at a spring training game. The pre-game reception will begin at 11 a.m., and the first pitch will be thrown at 1:05 p.m. The $50 registration fee includes the pre-game reception and a ticket to the game. Visit https://scranton.advancementform.com/event/florida-events-2023/register to register for the event.

 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

 

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, partner at Munley Law, spoke at the Sidney T. Marable Arizona Association for Justice Annual Conference 2022. Munley spoke on the topic, “Persuading the Butchers, Bakers, and Candlestick Makers: Using Liability and Lay Witnesses to Prove Damage.”

Catherine Julius G'94, Plains, and Robert Bresnahan '12, Dallas, recently participated as a dance team in Dancing Stars of Wilkes-Barre, a fundraiser at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts for the KISS Theatre Company, an inclusive performing arts center for children in the Wyoming Valley. 

 

MARRIAGES

Lauren Jurbala ’14', G'19 to John Rafferty
Connor Tucciarone '14 to Christina Scully '14
Lexi Cerchione ’16 to Chris Chojnacki ’16

 

BIRTHS

A son, Charles “Charlie” Christopher, to Lindsay and Chris Weber ’12, Garden City, New York
A son, Tripp, to Michael and Maureen Elfring Killeen ’13, Ramsey, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

Daniel T. Pompey, Sr., M.D. ’54, Nokomis, Florida
Eugene Baeurle ’55, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
William G. Vitaletti ’55, Williamsburg, Virginia
Michael T. Moran ’56, Drums
Kenneth L. Polley ’56, Reading
Col. Warren N. Balish, USA Ret. ’58, Ashburn, Virginia
James H. Masters ’59, Dunmore
John P. Reddington, Ph.D. ’59, Newark, Delaware
Walter Matechak ’63, Clarks Summit
Eugene G. Opsasnick ’64, G’65, North Abington Township
Daniel J. Glodek ’68, Dickson City
James J. Gillern ’69, Medford, New Jersey
Francis M. Goskowski ’72, Clarks Summit
Daniel D. Dowd, Jr., D.O. ’74, York
Alison Goldstein Bruno ’99, Germantown, Wisconsin

The Princeton Review listed The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management among the nation’s “Best Business Schools” in its 2023 ranking of just 243 colleges in the country. This is the 18^th consecutive year that Scranton has been included in the listing the nation’s most elite business colleges. Scranton was included among the list of “Best On-Campus MBA Programs,” which was published online on January 31.

The listing of business programs is compiled from data from the Princeton Review’s surveys of nearly 20,300 students enrolled in MBA programs as well as institutional data collected from the schools. The data incorporates career outcomes, academic rigor, admissions selectivity and other factors. The Princeton Review does not provide an overall rank of the schools, but does publish lists of the top 10 schools in 18 different categories, such as the “toughest to get into.”

The University’s Kania School of Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which is widely considered the gold standard of excellence for business schools. Less than five percent of business colleges worldwide hold AACSB accreditation.

The Princeton Review also listed Scranton in its 2023 edition of the “Best 388 Colleges,” ranking Scranton among the nation’s “Best Science Labs” (No. 7), “Best Campus Food” (No. 25 ) and “Most Religious Schools (No. 24). The Princeton Review also included Scranton in its 2023 “Guide to Green Colleges,” which lists just 455 schools in the world selected for expressing “strong commitments to the environment in their campus policies, programs and practices.”

Forty years after a historic 29-3 season that culminated in winning the national title, The University of Scranton will welcome back the 1982-83 men's basketball team for a reunion that will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, at halftime of the Royals' game versus Catholic in the John Long Center. Opening tip is slated for 4 p.m.

It marked the second national title in eight seasons for the Royals, who were led by legendary head coach Bob Bessoir for both championship runs.

"We are excited to welcome back the 1983 championship men's basketball team and celebrate them on the 40^th Anniversary of their historic National Championship run!", Executive Director of Athletics Dave Martin said.

The 1983 Royals won their final 19 games of the year and defeated Wittenberg in thrilling fashion by a score of 64-63 in front of 3,700 people at Calvin University (Mich.). Ironically, the Tigers were also on the losing end when the Royals won their first title in 1976. Scranton also defeated Moravian (73-59), Widener (74-69 in 3OT), Potsdam State (65-64) and Roanoke (82-67) en route to capturing the program's second national title, with the first three of those victories coming in the Long Center.

Coach Bessoir's son, Bill, earned Most Outstanding Player honors after scoring 27 points in the national title game victory over Wittenberg, and Mickey Banas was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

The team included Bessoir, Banas, Todd Bailey, Mark Hutchinson, Jeff Jones, Steve Joseph, Tom Kosin, Bill Maile, Rich Para, Dan Polacheck and Floyd Wood. Coach Bessoir was joined on the sidelines by assistant coach Bob Walsh and assistant coach Oriey Glenn.

Visit In A Dallas Minute's YouTube page for a look back at some of the best memories from the unforgettable 1983 National Championship run. 

Scranton's women's basketball team will open the action on Feb. 4 by taking on the Cardinals at 2 p.m.

Admission for the doubleheader is $7 for adults (18-61), $4 for seniors 62+ and children 10+, while University of Scranton faculty, staff, students and children ages nine and under are free of charge.

Newly inaugurated Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro nominated three University of Scranton graduates to Cabinet positions in his administration. Michael Carroll ’09 was nominated to serve as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Transportation. Jason Kavulich ’97 was nominated to serve as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Aging. Major Christopher Paris ’99 was nominated to serve as State Police Commissioner.

The 22 members of the Governor’s Cabinet serve as directors of various state agencies. The directors are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. 

Carroll, Pittston, was elected to the state House in 2006, and served eight terms, including two as the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee. He also worked as legislative liaison for PennDOT under Gov. Robert Casey; served as chief of staff for former state Rep. John Yudichak, and was the district office director for former U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski.

Kavulich, Scranton, has 21 years of experience in the human services field, rising from a county caseworker to supervisory administrative positions in the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services and the Area Agency on Aging, where he served as director. As Secretary of Aging, Kavulich will follow in the footsteps of fellow alumnus Brian Duke ’79, who served in the position from 2011-2015.

A native of Lackawanna County, Major Paris has been a member of the Pennsylvania State Police since enlisting in 1999. He served as a state trooper in several parts of the state, as a station and troop commander, and as deputy commissioner of administration and professional accountability. He earned a law degree from Temple University Law School, and is a graduate of the 267th session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

Registration has opened for the University's 13th annual Shamrockin' Eve, a celebration for the Classes of 2018-2023 that will take place in the Byron Recreation Complex March 10.

Visit the Shamrockin' Eve Alumni Registration Page to register today, or visit scranton.edu/shamrockin to learn more about this year's festivities. 

The University of Scranton Council of Alumni Lawyers will host a networking reception with Pre-Law Society students Friday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

The reception will give alumni lawyers the opportunity to meet and connect with current students and their fellow alumni. Beer, wine, soda and hors d'oeuvres will be served. To register, visit the Pre-Law Society Networking Reception registration page.

 

The Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley will hold a Lady Royals pre-game happy hour reception Feb. 15 at Fegley's Bethlehem Brew Works. Visit the Happy Hour Registration page to register today. 

The reception will begin at 5 p.m. The $10 admission fee includes beer, wine, soda, appetizers and Scranton swag. Attendees are welcome to cheer on the Lady Royals as they battle Moravian University that evening at 7 p.m., and tickets for the game will be available at the door. 

The University will celebrate Reunion Weekend 2023 from June 9-11. Registration for the event will open in March. For more information, visit scranton.edu/reunion or email alumni@scranton.edu.

The “Planning to Attend” list for Reunion Weekend 2023 has officially opened. Add your name to the Planning to Attend list to let your friends know you're coming, and visit the Planning to Attend page to see which of your classmates is planning to attend the festivities.

The University will hold its annual Day of Service on Earth Day 2023, which will fall on Saturday, April 22.

In honor of Earth Day, the University is seeking environmentally-focused regional service projects such as cleaning a park, schoolyard or church; it is also seeking to serve your communities in other ways, such as food and clothing drives. Contact alumni@scranton.edu by Jan. 31 to propose a service project in your region.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Melinda Ghilardi ’80, Dunmore, spoke at the American Association of Justice’s 2022 Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington, on the topic of Insurance Sales Broker and Agent Liability.

Peter Stockschlaeder ’91, Potomac, Maryland, is currently working as a Windows Engineer and Project Manager for GRSi, Inc., a leading Maryland company in the health care information technology field. Stockschlaeder is a recipient of the company's 2022 Technical Achievement award for contributions to a GRSi, Inc., program he works on at the National Institute of Mental Health, in Rockville, Maryland.

Dawn K. deQuevedo ’93, Olyphant, recently appeared with her son and family on CBS Mornings in a piece on Tourette Syndrome by CBS Lead National News Correspondent David Begnaud. Watch the segment or read the story at CBS News. 

Jason P. Kavulich ’97, Scranton, was appointed by Governor Shapiro to be the next secretary of the Department of Aging.

Susan Chrusciel Marangos ’04, Chatham, New Jersey, has started a new position as Senior Technical Project Manager at eClinical Solutions. In this new role, she will be managing next generation data repositories and analytics.

 

MARRIAGES

Alexander Pinarreta ’18 to Kara Truskolawski ’18, G’19,

Alex Wolan '18 to Sara Rizzo '18 G'19

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Adriana Pearl, to Matthew and Victoria Swift Mound '02, Morris Plains, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

Paul S. Berger ’54, North Bethesda, Maryland
Joseph J. Banick ’59, G’67, Dunmore
Robert T. Fidiam ’63, Dunmore
Joseph “Cliff” Curry ’66, West Pittston
Marcia A. Shelinski ’68, G’70, Muncy
Francis M. Goskowski ’72, Clarks Summit

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS  

Kathleen E. Bevilacqua, mother of Michael J. Bevilacqua '78, Richard G. Bevilacqua '83 and Steven Bevilacqua, M.D., D.M.D.  '84

Catherine M. "Kitty" Fisch, grandmother of Robert J. Fisch '11, G'15, Timothy M. Fisch '15, G'16, and Matthew N. Fisch '20, and mother-in-law of Patrick M. Scanlon '81

U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 “Best Online Graduate Programs” ranked The University of Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 54 and its online MBA program at No. 102 in the nation. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 72 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”

This is the 12^th consecutive year that U.S. News ranked the University’s online programs among the best in the nation. The methodology used by U.S. News to determine the ranking has changed several times throughout the years.

For the 2023 Best Online Programs ranking, which published Jan. 24, U.S. News reviewed statistical information submitted by schools. The ranking criteria differed by category. The criteria used by U.S. News to rank online business and MBA programs included student engagement (30 percent), which looked at graduation rates, class size, one-year retention rates, and best practices such as accreditation by AACSB International, among other factors. The ranking criteria also included peer reputation score (25 percent); faculty credentials and training (15 percent); student excellence (15 percent); and student services and technology (15 percent).

In addition to offering distance education programs that incorporate coursework that is predominantly online, colleges and universities making the “Best Online Program for Veterans” list must have ranked in top half of 2023 Best Online Program rankings; be regionally accredited; be certified for the GI Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program; and enroll a “critical mass of veterans” as defined by U.S. News based on the size of the college.

Scranton offers online MBA degrees in general business, accounting, business analytics, enterprise resource planning, finance, healthcare management, human resources management, international business and operations management; master’s degrees in accountancy, applied behavior analysis, business analytics, cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity, finance, health administration, health informatics, human resources management and a dual MBA/MHA degree, in addition to graduate certificates. For technology, recruitment and marketing support, the University partners with Wiley for the online programs.

In other rankings published by U.S. News, Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 29 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 5 in the 2023 edition of the guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 6 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” a selection of the top colleges in the nation that express a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.

The University of Scranton will light its four-story, Class of 2020 Gateway sign in memory of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Jan. 3, 4 and 5. The sign will display a white cross with a gold background.

White and gold are worn by the Pope during Christmas and Easter, symbolizing the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These colors are also worn during funerals because they symbolize life rather than mourning, according to an ABC News article about the meaning of the colors worn by the Pope.

“As a true pastor and scholar, his writings and teachings will continue to inspire theologians for generations to come. More than that, as a great pastoral leader, he called us all to a deeper relationship with God, one grounded in love and fidelity,” wrote Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of the University, in a statement on the passing of Pope Benedict XVI.

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The University will hold its 13th annual Shamrockin' Eve celebration for members of the Classes of 2019-2023 on Friday, March 10. 

Registration will open soon. For more information, visit scranton.edu/shamrock. 

Joe Fitzgerald, M.D. ’64 has figured out the key to a happy, successful retirement: serve the children of his community and play a lot of golf.

The retired orthopedic surgeon, who resides in Kingston, Rhode Island, with his wife, Kathleen, spends every Tuesday and Thursday at Clothes to Kids Rhode Island, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides new and quality used clothing to low-income or in-crisis school-age children in Providence County free of charge so that they may attend school with the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve academic success.

“It’s supposed to add self-esteem, and I think it works,” Fitzgerald said. “I think it makes the world a better place.”

Fitzgerald’s interest in making the world a better place can be traced back to the example he saw his mother, a nurse, and his father, a school teacher, set for him when he was growing up in Throop, Pennsylvania. His love affair with golf also began early in his life after an uncle arranged for him to play for free at a local course.

“I played golf about 45 holes a day when I was 13,” he said, “so I got pretty good as a result of that.”

As a student at Throop High School, Fitzgerald already knew he wanted to attend the University.

“Where else would I go?” he said with a laugh. “Everybody went to Scranton. I was five miles away from Scranton.

“It was affordable and it was a rite of passage.”

After spending a few weeks considering what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, Fitzgerald realized he enjoyed his science courses and thought a life spent helping others through medicine would be a life well-spent.

“I was very happy I did that,” he said. “I never regretted that.”

Fitzgerald commuted to campus each day with a few friends who also commuted. At Scranton, he double-majored in biology and philosophy in an early version of what would become the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, and he played on the Golf Team, where he achieved a three-stroke handicap. During his senior year, he was accepted at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., where he initially lived above the office of a doctor who happened to be a Scranton native.

During the rest of his time at medical school, Fitzgerald lived at the District of Columbia General Hospital, where he worked a few hours a week in exchange for room and board. In addition to that arrangement, he also worked as a lab technician to cover the rest of his expenses. He graduated from medical school in 1968 and met his future wife, Kathleen, who was then a student nurse, during his time as a medical intern.

“We got married about a year-and-a-half later,” he said, adding that they eventually brought two children, Matthew and Jennifer, into the world.

After finishing his internship, Fitzgerald spent two years in the U.S. Army as a general medical officer. After he was discharged, he landed a prestigious residency in orthopedics at Rhode Island Hospital. After finishing his residency, he founded South County Orthopedics and became the Chief Team Physician at the University of Rhode Island. While running South County Orthopedics, he found a way to “pay it forward” that proved to be as spiritually rewarding as it was financially advantageous.

“Because of my living at D.C. General and the fact that I was able to go through school without much debt, I tended to do a lot of charitable work in my own practice,” he said. “If people could’t pay me, I’d say, ‘That’s OK. Just keep coming back and send your friends,’ and I filled up a practice that way.

“I just wanted to be a doctor, take care of people and do charitable work.”

Fitzgerald continued to operate as a Team Physician at Rhode Island University and as the head of South County Orthopedics for 40 years; when the company merged with a few other groups into Ortho Rhode Island in 2016, he retired and began playing golf three days a week. About three years ago, he discovered Clothes To Kids Rhode Island and dedicated himself to supporting its mission.

“Clothe a child, change a life,” he said, echoing one of Clothes To Kids Rhode Island’s slogans. “It’s very gratifying.

“I shop with people, that’s all, and talk to people about their lives.”

Since opening in 2016, Clothes To Kids Rhode Island, which is primarily funded by donations from local citizens or corporations, has provided 9,000 wardrobes to children in Providence County, a thrift store value of more than $375,000. Fitzgerald plans to continue to serve his community at Clothes To Kids Rhode Island, and he needn’t look any further than the smiles on the faces of the people he serves to know that his efforts are helping to make the world a better place.

"I have a chance to talk to people and smile at them," he said. "In our place, everybody smiles."

 

The University of Scranton Women's Basketball team will battle Susquehanna on Sunday, Jan. 15, as part of a full day of Landmark Conference men's and women's hoops action at The Palestra in Philadelphia.

Game time for the Lady Royals will begin at 2:30 p.m. The University will host a post-game reception at New Deck Tavern, 3408 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, at 5 p.m. The $20 reception fee includes appetizers and two drink tickets (game ticket not included). To register for the reception, visit this link.

The University will hold its annual Day of Service on Earth Day 2023, which will fall on Saturday, April 22.

In honor of Earth Day, the University is seeking environmentally-focused regional service projects such as cleaning a park, schoolyard or church; it is also seeking to serve your communities in other ways, such as food and clothing drives. Contact alumni@scranton.edu by Jan. 31 to propose a service project in your region. 

In December, hundreds of alumni, parents and friends of the University celebrated the Christmas season with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President, at receptions in Washington, D.C., New York City, Scranton and Philadelphia.

EVENT PHOTOS 

• To see photos from the Washington, D.C., reception at The Mayflower Hotel, visit this link.
• To see photos from the New York City reception at The New York Athletic Club, visit this link.
• To see photos from the President's Circle reception at the McIlhenny Ballroom, visit this link.
• To see photos from the Philadelphia reception at The Bellevue Hotel, visit this link.

Inclement weather caused a planned Presidential Christmas Reception at the Madison Hotel in Morristown, New Jersey, to be rescheduled for Jan. 20. Check the next alumni issue of Royal News for a link to photos from the event. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Alexander Zygmunt, M.D. ’12, Covington, Kentucky, completed a neuromuscular fellowship with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 2022. Zygmunt is a pediatric neurologist and assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neurology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

 

MARRIAGES

Shawn Lamb ’11 to Jay Wong
Alexander Zygmunt, M.D. ’12 to Danielle Tapp, Ph.D.
Joshua Bayzick ’15 to Megan Hudock ’16

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Kayla Maeve, to Bobby ’13, G14 and Christine Moleti Della Polla '13, DPT '16, Havertown

 

DEATHS

Chester R. Cott ’50, Lilitz
Paul S. Dudzik ’57, G’65, Old Forge     
Alexander P. Mickiewicz ’57, Baltimore, Maryland  
William H. Wasilewski, Ph.D. ’63, G’68, Lynn, Massachusetts
Joseph R. Clift ’67, G’73, Honesdale
Joseph J. Malewich ’67, Fairfax, Virginia
John C. Garlinger ’68, Beaufort, South Carolina
James J. Gillern ’69, Medford, New Jersey
Thomas P. Stezar ’76, Etters
Michael P. Sandone ’80, North Abington Township
Ross J. Cordaro ’81, Scranton
Michele M. Albright G’02, Clarks Summit

By: Julia Gavigan ’23, student correspondent 

When Phil Grieco ’00, the senior director of Brand Strategy and Consumer Insights at Monster Energy, was an undergraduate at The University of Scranton, he already knew he had a passion for communicating with others.

“Nothing else spoke to me besides communications,” he said. “I loved talking to people and public speaking. I was so drawn to it.”

While working toward a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies, Grieco was impressed by the University’s emphasis on the Jesuit value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. That level of attention to his wellbeing helped prepare him for his remarkable career.

“It felt like people had eyes on you,” Grieco said. “The professors had eyes on you; you weren’t just a number.

“I felt like there was a personal touch.”

He also learned the value of trying new things and meeting new people.

“That shaped who I am today,” he said.

Grieco started his career in public relations at MFA Marketing and Public Relations, a small agency now known as Finn Partners in New York City. At MFA, he worked with clients like Burton Snowboards and Timex Watches. He then switched companies in 2003 and began to work for Octagon, a sports marketing agency, as a senior account executive in Public Relations and Marketing. At Octagon, he was exposed to the inner workings of the sports marketing industry. In 2007, he became senior brand manager of Mars, the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate, where he learned “everything from brand positioning to how to market.”

“Who is the target consumer?” Grieco said. “What is our brand? What is our message? And how are we going to go out, make it relevant, stay top of mind and build loyalty?”

At Mars, Grieco directed multimillion-dollar NASCAR and NFL partnerships across multiple brands, including M&Ms, Snickers, Pedigree, Doublemint, JuicyFruit, Skittles and Starburst. He continued to utilize the line of questioning he developed at Mars when he began working for the National Basketball Association, where he drove sponsorship deals for NBA, WNBA and G League teams to maximize revenue growth. During his time with the NBA, he also worked directly with the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans.

In 2016, Grieco moved across the country to the West Coast to work as the director of Global Marketing for GoPro, where he shaped the global marketing strategy of all GoPro brand partnerships, including Under Armour, BMW, Mattel, Toyota and Red Bull.

In his current position at Monster Energy, Grieco is responsible for overseeing strategic marketing and innovation initiatives.

“I get to work more closely with our leadership because I sit at the hub of our data,” he said. “They constantly want to know how we are doing, how are we performing, what’s up, what’s down, why is this retailer down, and why is this brand down.”

“Sometimes you can find it in the data; sometimes you need to find that information through a conversation with a stakeholder, or custom research, and that’s why data is so important.”

Throughout the creative process, Grieco says it’s imperative to listen to the wants and needs of the consumer in order to create a successful brand. One of the many projects that Grieco has been involved in at Monster Energy that exemplifies his ability to respond to the demands of his consumers was the launch of True North Energy seltzer, an organic, plant-based seltzer. The research into the target audience and goals of the launch began two years ago with the emerging popularity of regular and spiked seltzers. Starting with a research brief, Grieco and his teams discovered there was a growing interest in healthy seltzers, which eventually resulted in the creation of True North.  

Grieco was also involved in the creation of Reign, a performance energy drink and one of Grieco’s most successful beverages at Monster Energy. The 300 mg caffeine-infused beverage was launched three years ago to compete against Bang Energy drink, and, within 18 months, it became a $300 million brand. Today, it generates $450 million in retail sales annually.

As demonstrated by the products he’s launched at Monster Energy, the key to Grieco’s success is simply listening to and understanding the people around him. By caring for the needs of his consumers and embracing a form of corporatized cura personalis, Grieco proves that paying attention to each individual can benefit both one’s personal and professional lives.

Nearly 400 members of the University community donated more than $65,000 to University causes during this year's global Giving Tuesday celebration.

Many of the donations were designated for the Center for Service and Social Justice, a University organization that offers opportunities for students to express their faith in reflective service and work toward the transformation of unjust societal structures while responding to local and national needs. To view the donor honor roll, visit this link. 

The University of Scranton Women's Basketball team will battle Susquehanna on Sunday, Jan. 15, as part of a full day of Landmark Conference men's and women's hoops action at The Palestra in Philadelphia.

Game time for the Lady Royals will begin at 2:30 p.m. The University will hold a post-game reception at New Deck Tavern, 3408 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, at 5 p.m. The $20 reception fee includes appetizers and two drink tickets (game ticket not included). To register for the reception, visit this link. 

The Scranton Club of NEPA will gather to cheer on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:05 p.m.

The $20 price of admission will include a $4 food voucher. To register, visit this link. 

The University will hold its annual Day of Service on Earth Day 2023, which will fall on Saturday, April 22.

In honor of Earth Day, the University is seeking environmentally-focused regional service projects such as cleaning up a park, schoolyard or church; it is also seeking to serve your communities in other ways, such as food and clothing drives. Contact alumni@scranton.edu by January 31 to propose a service project in your region.  

The University will celebrate Reunion Weekend 2023 from June 9-11. Registration for the event will open in March. For more information, visit scranton.edu/reunion or email alumni@scranton.edu.

The “Planning to Attend” list for Reunion Weekend 2023 has officially opened. Visit this link to add your name to the Planning to Attend list, and visit the Planning to Attend page to see which of your classmates is planning to attend the festivities.

There is still time to register for the Jesuit Center's Advent Daily Devotional emails.

Each day of the season of Advent, enjoy a few moments of reflection, learning, prayer and inspiration by registering to receive this collection of daily essays written by our Jesuits, alumni, students, faculty and staff.

The holidays can often be a busy, stressful time, and the Advent Daily Devotional emails offer a great opportunity to intentionally take a few moments each day for spiritual renewal. To register, visit this link.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Patricia McCormack, M.D. ’76, Scranton, recently published her first book, “Life After Martin.” Inspired by one of the staples of flute repertoire, it chronicles an adult amateur musician’s quest to master this work. “Life After Martin” is available in paperback on Amazon and as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple books.

William (Bill) Savage ’79, Lemoyne, has spent the fall semester teaching writing and rhetoric as an adjunct faculty member at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and Alvernia University in Reading. Savage previously taught at Towson University, York College of Pennsylvania, and Harrisburg Area Community College. Savage has spent nearly 40 years in journalism, most recently at The Morning Call in Allentown, as well as several years at The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre and The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, among other newspapers. A member of the Dramatists Guild, Philadelphia, Savage has had some of his plays read or performed publicly in Philadelphia, London and Mount Gretna. He has also written two novels: “To the Mill and Back,” based on his teen years working in the textile industry in Scranton, and “Redemption by the Bay.”

Gary Jones G’84, South Abington Township, Eastern Division Vendor Relations manager at Hajoca Corporation, received the Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by the American Supply Association, for a long history of service and dedication to the association and the PHCP-PVF industry. 

Charlie Flint '89, Smyrna, Georgia, launched Filmland Spirits, a new business, in September 2022. Filmland Spirits (www.filmlandspirits.com) is an award-winning spirits brand bringing people together through captivating stories and great-tasting spirits. Their current lineup includes two bourbons and a rye, which are available online and in fine retail shops in California and Kentucky.

Glynnis Jones '02, G '03, Lansdale, recently accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Master's Degree Level Occupational Therapy program at Moravian University in Bethlehem.

Jude Krushnowski ’10, Champaign, Illinois, was hired as director of the Foreign Language Teacher Education program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Krushnowski was also elected as incoming director of Region 4 of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Ashley Hill ’17, Aurora, Colorado, is a new lead of the competency restoration program at Denver Health on their forensic psychiatric unit, working toward stabilizing and educating inmates with acute psychosis in preparation to defend themselves in court.

MARRIAGES

Patrick Eiben ’11 to Alexis Constantinopoulos ’11
Nicole Lasota ’16 to Ryan Strelec
Kat Fletcher ’20 to Charlie Nugent ’20

DEATHS

Selig S. Strassman, M.D. ’48, Bainbridge, Ohio
Robert W. Weibel, M.D. ’51, Lansdale
William G. Lowry ’54, Louisville, Kentucky
Joseph T. Valonis ’62, Annapolis, Maryland
Michael M. Echan ’64, Vestal, New York
Joseph A. Gentile ’69, Scranton
Paul M. Swift ’75, Sea Isle City, New Jersey
J. Timothy Cannon, Ph.D. ’71, Scranton
Christopher J. Hunt ’82, Howell, New Jersey
Ryan J. Martin ’01, Danielsville
Timothy R. Kapp ’06, Dunmore

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Cheryl L Augustine, sister of John Major '10.

 

Registration has opened for the University’s 2022 Presidential Christmas Parties in Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and Morristown, New Jersey. To register, visit scranton.edu/Christmas.

 

Washington, D.C., Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President

December 1
The Mayflower Hotel
District Ballroom
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C.

 

NYC Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President

December 2
The New York Athletic Club
Olympic Room
180 Central Park South
New York, New York

 

Philadelphia Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President

December 14
The Bellevue Hotel
Red and Clover Room
200 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA

 

New Jersey Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President

December 15   
The Madison Hotel
Glenallyn Ballroom
1 Convent Road
Morristown, NJ

 

For more information, visit scranton.edu/Christmas.

When John O’Malley ’87 embarked upon The Tour Divide in support of The Ryan T. O’Malley ’99 Memorial Scholarship June 10, he figured it would take him about a month or so to traverse the race’s grueling 2,665.7-mile route from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico; that was before, of course, a life-threatening accident about 125 miles from the race’s finish line landed the retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel in an intensive care/trauma unit July 15.

Just 84 days later, on what would have been his brother Ryan’s 45th birthday, O’Malley returned to the scene of the accident determined to finish the race’s final 125 miles.

What happened in-between, of course, might be called a miracle.

“John truly is an iron man,” said Helene O’Malley, John’s mother. “The blessed Mother and Ryan were looking down on him.”

“John is a world-class athlete who completed a world-class endurance cycling event with a world-class effort and … some other-worldly help,” said John “Jack” O’Malley, Ph.D. ’64, professor of psychology emeritus at the University and John’s father. “God is good.”

A Lifelong Love

John’s love of cycling and adventure began when he was growing up in the Green Ridge section of Scranton.

“Bikes were a big deal back then, and if you had one, you were a lucky kid,” he said. “ For me, the bike became an instrument of exploration, discovery and freedom.”

As the oldest child of Dr. O’Malley and Helene, John shared his love of cycling with his five siblings, especially Ryan, his youngest brother.

“As a kid, time and distance had little meaning,” he said of the hours they spent exploring the NEPA area together. “We’d just ride, inspired by the adventure and the natural beauty of the region.”

Upon graduating from the University, John began his military career in Ft. Carson, Colorado, where he started racing mountain bikes. Since then, he has continued to ride and race, competing in triathlons and adventure races throughout the country.

ROAR

After Ryan's passing in 2011, his family established The Ryan T. O’Malley ’99 Memorial Scholarship in his memory to enable Computer Science students of limited resources with an interest in fitness to attend The University of Scranton. Since that time, Ryan's family and friends have raised more than $150,000 for the scholarship, much of it through ROAR: The Ryan O'Malley Annual Race, a 5K fundraising event the family organized from 2013-2017.

When John and his family settled in Monument, Colorado, he became so inspired by the expanses and terrain he saw while on two wheels that he proposed the idea of funding Ryan’s scholarship through an annual bike ride. In 2018, John embarked upon the inaugural ROAR: The Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride by cycling the 500+ miles of The Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango in Ryan’s memory. While John rode The Colorado Trail again for ROAR in 2019 and 2020, he was sidelined by injuries and knee surgery in 2021.

The Tour Divide

On June 10, John embarked upon ROAR: The Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride for the fourth time by participating in The Tour Divide in support of The Ryan T. O’Malley ’99 Memorial Scholarship.The Tour Divide follows the “Great Divide Mountain Bike Route,” a 90 percent off-road trail that follows the Continental Divide through Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. Established by the Adventure Cycling Association in 1998, it is considered the most important off-pavement cycling route in the world. Prior to beginning The Tour Divide, John said he was looking forward to riding for “family, community and the well-being of others.”

“I ride to remember and honor our brother, Ryan,” he said. “I ride to give back in some way to the community who nurtured us. Through the ROAR and Ryan’s scholarship, we help to provide students with limited financial resources the opportunity to attend The University of Scranton.”

The Tour Divide’s race clock runs 24 hours a day, and the self-supported riders aren’t allowed any outside help other than the ability to access public facilities along the way. Participating cyclists must carry their camping equipment, food and water through long stretches of remote mountain wilderness, pristine river valleys, open grassland and desert while risking injury, mechanical failure, treacherous weather and encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife.

They also, apparently, need to watch out for dangerous human life.

The Accident

After riding for more than a month in the Tour Divide, John was involved in an accident in the early morning hours of July 15 near Silver City, New Mexico, about a two-day ride from the race’s finish line.

“I was struck by an apparent hit-and-run driver on Hwy 180,” he said. “Although there were no witnesses to the incident, and I remember nothing of the accident, being intubated on-site, nor the Medivac flight, the nature and extent of injuries to both sides of my body, and damage to my bicycle, helmet and other gear verify that this is what happened.

“Hospital staff came to the same conclusion as well, based on my overall condition.”

John was found by two motorists sometime after the accident who alerted the police, and he was airlifted to an intensive care/trauma unit in El Paso, Texas.

“I sustained a traumatic brain injury with a skull fracture and a few subdural hematomas/ subarachnoid hemorrhages,” he said. “A complement of body bruises and cuts, a broken nose, broken molars and some torn cartilage/ligaments (knee and shoulder) complete the ‘needs repair’ list.”

After a 12-day stint in El Paso, where John was joined by his wife, Kathi, his mother-in-law, Karen, and his sister, Julianne Phillipp, M.D. ’91, a Virginia-based pediatrician, he was transferred to a rehab center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he received occupational and cognitive therapy for an additional four days. Since then, he has continued outpatient care with a team of doctors and therapists in Ft. Carson, Colorado, and his recovery has been nothing short of miraculous.

“A CT scan about three weeks ago showed everything was healed up,” John said. “I owe much of my recovery thus far to believing wholeheartedly that I will heal and become stronger … most of this belief comes from the love and support of my family.

“I can also say that being an athlete and a soldier has contributed directly to where I am right now. Coordination, reaction, balance, strength and agility have been developed through training/drills my entire life and helped me immensely during initial evaluation and therapy.”

Crossing The Finish Line

John and Kathi returned to the scene of the accident to finish what he began in June Oct. 7. Although he was quickly greeted by heavy rainfall that transformed the terrain from a navigable dirt path to a thick “peanut butter mud,” he traveled about 80 miles in approximately 10 hours of cycling, leaving him with just 45 miles to go to his goal.

On Oct. 8, John finally crossed the finish line of The Tour Divide 120 days after embarking upon it.

“The Tour Divide is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that stays with you and changes you for the good,” he said. “There is no easy way out there and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

All things considered, John remains grateful for the experience, especially for the more than $12,000 his efforts raised for Scranton students.

“The greatest / proudest part of the ride was what we raised for Ryan’s scholarship fund,” he said. “To all who pledged – thank you.

“Your kindness fueled me daily out there and will help young men and women receive a great college education.”

The University has reprinted “Royal Recipes: A University of Scranton Cookbook,” a collection of more than 140 recipes submitted by Scranton alumni, parents, students, friends, faculty and staff.

Copies of the cookbook, first released in 2019, are available for purchase for $25, and $10 of each sale will be donated to the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice Arrupe House. To purchase a cookbook today, visit this link.

The Jesuit Center invites you to enjoy daily inspiration and reflection this holiday season by registering for its Advent Daily Devotional emails.

Each day of the season of Advent, enjoy a few moments of reflection, learning, prayer and inspiration by registering to receive this collection of daily essays written by our Jesuits, alumni, students, faculty and staff.

The holidays can often be a busy, stressful time, and the Advent Daily Devotional emails offer a great opportunity to intentionally take a few moments each day for spiritual renewal. To register, visit this link.

The “Planning to Attend” list for Reunion Weekend 2023 has officially opened. Visit this link to add your name to the Planning to Attend list, and visit the Planning to Attend page to see which of your classmates is planning to attend the festivities.

The University will celebrate Reunion Weekend 2023 from June 9-11. Registration for the event will open in March. For more information, visit scranton.edu/reunion or email alumni@scranton.edu.

The Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL) is looking to create an Alumni Lawyers Directory so that alumni attorneys can more easily connect, network and support one another.

To register for the directory, visit this link.

The University's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service is seeking feedback from current and former alumni public servants interested in sharing their experiences with current students.

The University of Scranton's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service provides resources for students, governing officials and community members seeking education, training or opportunities related to ethics and excellence in public service. 

To complete the brief questionnaire, visit this link. For more information, email alumni@scranton.edu. 

John Colonna ’67, G’73, G’76, Binghamton, New York, was recently inducted into the Binghamton University Athletics Hall of Fame (coach) and was also inducted with his team into the Catholic Central/Seton Catholic Central High School Hall of Fame.

Amanda (Mandy) Bair '07 G'09, Williamsport, was hired as School Counselor at Curtin Intermediate School in the Williamsport Area School District in Williamsport.

 

MARRIAGES

Marco Carnovale ’18 to Katie Moloney ‘19
Christopher Mingone ’20 to Emmaline Freeman ’21

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Emma Anne, to Kevin P. '13 and Jacquelyn A. Tofani Dermody '13, Conshohocken

 

DEATHS

Victor F. Greco, M.D. ’47, Drums
Joseph J. Rescigno ’67, G’73, Scranton
Peter J. Igoe ’72, G’75, G’85, Dunmore
Philip W. Gumble ’73, Bethlehem
Michael P. O’Malley ’76, Scranton
Sharon A. Troynacki G’80, Pittston
Malcolm A. Kline ’81, Triangle, Virginia
Rita Koshinski-Uchida, D.O. ’82, Monterey, California
Michael J. Carroll ’83, Monroe, New York  
Richard Kazmerick ’86, Exeter
Mary S. Sylvester ’03, Scranton

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Pamela Carlson, wife of Kevin Carlson '78

The University of Scranton held a kick-off event to launch a year-round celebration of the its 50-year anniversary of becoming co-educational. Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of the University, and Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, spoke at the event, which also included refreshments and a commemorative T-shirt giveaway to students.

Banners marking the celebration adorn the campus walkways.

In addition, to mark the beginning of the celebration, the University showed a tribute to the 50^th anniversary celebration on its Class of 2020 Gateway sign.

The University of Scranton’s President’s Business Council (PBC) presented Patti Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17,’19, global chief talent officer, Havas Group, and Tom O’Brien ’86, P’19, senior managing director, SumRidge Partners, a Raymond James company, with President’s Medals at its 21st Annual Award Dinner on Sept. 29 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Proceeds from the gala, which raised more than $1.1 million, support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

“Our University has been blessed to be able to honor so many extraordinary individuals over the years and this year is no different. We are privileged to count among them our alumni Patricia Byrnes Clarke and Tom P. O’Brien, both of the class of 1986,” said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton in his remarks.

The President’s Medal recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, representing lifetime achievements that reflect the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service.

“Patti and Tom are highly successful professionals who have had a tremendous impact on generations of alumni,” said Frank Pearn ’83, P’16, global chief compliance officer, JPMorgan Chase and Co., and chair of the President’s Business Council, in his remarks at the dinner. “They truly embody everything that the PBC aims to represent and, given the way that they share their talents, gifts and insights, they are wonderful examples of St. Ignatius’s quote that ‘Love is shown more in deeds than in words.’”

Through its celebrations, the PBC has generated more than $20 million for the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. Presidential Scholarships are four-year, full-tuition scholarships awarded to incoming first-year students at Scranton with both outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement.

Presidential Scholar Dominic Finan ’23, Malvern, a neuroscience and philosophy double major in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, spoke at the award dinner on behalf of the Presidential Scholars.

Dominic Finan '23 addresses the crowd at the PBC 21st Annual Award Dinner flanked by his fellow Presidential Scholars. 

“Collectively, the 18 of us (from the class of 2023) have 28 majors, 18 minors, and 5 concentrations. … These academic pursuits, research opportunities and moments of profound growth would not be possible without the contributions of everyone in this room. So, for that I say thank you. Thank you for empowering our unique gifts, talents, and interests; and thank you, most importantly, for helping us call The University of Scranton our home. You have changed our lives, and our family’s lives, for the better,” said Finan. “The generosity of the President’s Business Council cleared a path for us to become future lawyers, doctors, actuaries, educators, researchers, and business executives alike. We promise to use the spark you ignited in us to ‘go forth and set the world on fire.’”

In accepting their awards, Byrnes Clarke and O’Brien talked about why they became involved with the PBC and in giving back to the University.

“I got involved with the PBC because I wanted to try to give back to students and help with mentoring and job placement,” said O’Brien. “Early in my career, a fellow Scranton alumnus, whom I did not know, helped me. … I need to do this because someone a long time ago helped me.” In recollecting his persistence in getting Scranton students considered for internships at Morgan Stanley and then at SumRidge Partners, O’Brien added, “If you haven’t tried it yet, I encourage you to do so. You are getting someone who is productive, hard-working, resilient and not entitled that will make a huge impact on your business.”

“The exposure to Scranton and its students and its alumni challenged me to take on my own journey to do more and to do better as a person, a family member, a leader and a friend,” said Byrnes Clarke. “It’s true that as Scranton students we are exposed to the Ignatian values, but aren’t always mature enough to overtly put them into practice in our lives. But, with a Scranton education, that Ignatian foundation is always there. And when you choose to be engaged, and get involved and give back to Scranton, you get this very special opportunity to explore those Ignatian roots.”

A recording of the 2022 PBC Dinner is available at https://youtu.be/efhjS3UcENQ, and photos from the event can be found on the Alumni Society's Shutterfly page. For more information on the PBC, contact Executive Director Tim Pryle ’89 at 570-941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu, or visit scranton.edu/pbc.

 

About Patti Byrnes Clarke

Frank Pearn '83, P'16 and Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S. J., University President, present Patti Byrnes Clarke '86, P'17, '19 with the President's Medal.

During her time at the Havas Group, which is one of the world’s largest global communications groups and part of the Vivendi Group, Patti Byrnes Clarke has built a talent management approach that includes initiatives on network mobility, high-potential leadership development, women’s leadership advancement, global employee engagement, employer branding, global diversity, equity and inclusion and wellness. As the global chief talent officer, she is responsible for leading the talent and cultural strategy for the group’s 20,000 plus employees in more than 100 countries.

Byrnes Clarke earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1986. She is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a former member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board and the University’s Parents’ Executive Council (PEC). She is also a former chair of the PBC and created the PBC/Kania School of Management Career Coaches Program, in which she remains a mentor to current University students. She and her husband, David, reside in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, and have five children.

 

About Tom O’Brien

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President, and Frank Pearn '83, P'16 present Tom O'Brien '86, P'19 with the President's Medal. 

Prior to the acquisition of SumRidge Partners, LLC, by Raymond James in July 2022, Tom O’Brien was a co-founder, chief executive officer and president of SumRidge Partners, L.LC., which formed in 2010. SumRidge Partners is a top-ranked electronic fixed income market maker specializing in high-yield, investment-grade corporate bonds, municipal bonds, institutional preferred securities, and emerging market bonds. Prior to launching SumRidge Partners, O’Brien was co-head of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Capital Markets division and was also a member of the firm’s management and risk committees.

O’Brien earned his bachelor’s degree of economics/finance from the University in 1986 and a master of business administration from Fordham University. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, where he served as vice chair, and was a former chair of the PBC. Today, he acts as a mentor to current University students and frequently teaches in the fixed income securities and markets course, which he co-developed with the late Frank Corcione, Ph.D., and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., G’84. He resides in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with his wife, Denise, and their three sons.

Members of the Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL) are invited to attend a lecture presented by Elizabeth Hinton, associate professor in the Department of History and the Department of African American Studies at Yale University with a secondary appointment as professor of Law at Yale Law School, through the Slattery Center's Myers Distinguished Fellowship Oct. 20.

Hinton is the author of "America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s" and "From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America." She will speak Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. in Room 133 of the Loyola Science Center, and the University will hold a cocktail reception immediately after the lecture. To register, visit this link. 

The University of Scranton Book Club will begin discussing "The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness" by Gregory Boyle, S.J., at its next virtual meeting Nov. 1. To register for the discussion, visit this link. 

"The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness" focuses on Boyle's experiences at Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. 

Ryan Sheehan, executive director of The Jesuit Center, and Daniel Cosacchi, vice president for Mission and Ministry, will lead the virtual discussions of the book. For more information on the club, visit scranton.edu/alumnibookclub. 

The University will hold the following Presidential Christmas receptions:

Washington, D.C., Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President      December 1
The Mayflower Hotel
District Ballroom
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C.

NYC Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President                              December 2
The New York Athletic Club
Olympic Room
180 Central Park South
New York, New York

Philadelphia Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President                      December 14
The Bellevue Hotel
Red and Clover Room
200 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA

New Jersey Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President                        December 15   
The Madison Hotel
Glenallyn Ballroom
1 Convent Road
Morristown, NJ                                                                                                                                              

Registration will open in November. For more information, email alumni@scranton.edu. 

The University will celebrate Reunion Weekend 2023 from June 9-11. Registration for the event will open in March. For more information, visit scranton.edu/reunion or email alumni@scranton.edu.

The University's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service is seeking feedback from current and former alumni public servants interested in sharing their experiences with current students.

The University of Scranton's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service provides resources for students, governing officials and community members seeking education, training or opportunities related to ethics and excellence in public service. 

To complete the brief questionnaire, visit this link. For more information, email alumni@scranton.edu. 

Friday, October 7, will be the last chance to register for the Alumni/Student Golf Outing Oct. 15 at Pine Hills Country Club, 140 S. Keyser Avenue, Taylor, PA.

The scramble golf tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at a barbecue dinner at Pine Hills after the tournament concludes. To register, visit this link.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, recently spoke at the Melvin M. Belli Society 74th Annual Seminar in Seattle, Washington, on the topic, “Using Electronic Evidence on a Case.” The Melvin Belli Society was created in 1981 to promote courtroom excellence through the international exchange of ideas among the country’s top trial lawyers via meetings and education.

Timothy M. Powers '97, G'00, Pittston, was appointed to a one-year position as a lecturer in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at The University of Scranton. Powers will be teaching undergraduate courses on case management, multiculturalism, counseling theories, human adjustment and family systems.

Jed D. Gonzalo, M.D. ’02, Hummelstown, has joined the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as senior associate dean for Medical Education and will lead its curricular and educational programs.

Melanie Natoli ’02, Front Royal, Virginia, a winemaker, received the Virginia Governor’s Cup on behalf of Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg, marking the first time in the 40-year history of the event that a female winemaker won the cup.

John Swarts ’02, G’08, Dickson City, participated in the Ritz Theater’s 115^th anniversary celebration by writing a modern-day adaptation of “Pinocchio.” The 15-minute play was performed each day of La Festa and starred some of the theater’s best actors.

Jonathan P. Forte ’07, G’09, Easton, Maryland, was appointed president/CEO of RiverStone Health and will lead the RiverStone Health Clinic, Home Health & Hospice, as well as the Yellowstone County Health Department, Montana Family Medicine Residency Program in Billings, Montana, effective January 2023.

Timothy Gallic ’09, Warren, New Jersey, a longtime Catholic school administrator across the country, became president of Powers Catholic High School on October 1, 2022.

 

MARRIAGES

Evan Canavan ’13 to Melissa Molinari
Meghan Tighe ’16 to Phillip Dunbar ’16 
Larissa Hoffmann '16 to Timothy Harding '15

 

BIRTHS

A son, Cameron Vincent, to Brendan ’11 and Jill Lowry Reilly ’11, East Norriton

 

DEATHS

John A. Richards ’56, Pittston
A. Jerome McCormick ’57, Clifton Park, New York
Thomas V. Tinsley ’63, Glen Summit
Charles F. McElwee ’76, Hershey
David W. Fritz ’92, Old Forge

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Barbara Valtos, sister of Dennis Darlak, Ph.D. ’65
Ellie Grech, mother of Thomas J. Grech '84 and Robert Grech '87

 

The University of Scranton’s President’s Business Council (PBC) presented Patti Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17,’19, global chief talent officer, Havas Group; and Tom O’Brien ’86, P’19, senior managing director, SumRidge Partners, a Raymond James company; with the President’s Medals at its 21st Annual Award Dinner on Sept. 29 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Proceeds from the gala, which raised more than $1.1 million, support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

“Our University has been blessed to be able to honor so many extraordinary individuals over the years and this year is no different. We are privileged to count among them our alumni Patricia Byrnes Clarke and Tom P. O’Brien of the class of 1986,” said Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton in his remarks.

The President’s Medal recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, representing lifetime achievements that reflect the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service.

“Patti and Tom are highly successful professionals who have had a tremendous impact on generations of alumni,” said Frank Pearn ’83, global chief compliance officer, JPMorgan Chase and Co., and chair of the President’s Business Council, in his remarks at the dinner. “They truly embody everything that the PBC aims to represent and, given the way that they share their talents, gifts and insights, they are wonderful examples of St. Ignatius’s quote that ‘Love is shown more in deeds than in words.’”

Through its past celebrations, the PBC has generated more than $19 million for the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. Presidential Scholarships are four-year, full-tuition scholarships awarded to incoming freshmen at Scranton with both outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement.

Class of 2023 Presidential Scholar Dominic Finan ’23, Malvern, a neuroscience and philosophy double major in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, spoke at the award dinner on behalf of the Presidential Scholars.

Other Presidential Scholars of the University’s class of 2023 are: Emily Amershek, New Ringgold, a philosophy major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; Lauren Cawley, Duryea, a secondary education – mathematics and mathematics double major; Matthew Earley, Perkasie, a finance major and member of the University’s Business Honors Program and the Business Leadership Honors Program; Michael Edwards, Wadsworth, Ohio, a mathematics and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; Jared Fernandez, Tunkhannock, a nursing major; Timothy Gallagher, River Vale, New Jersey, a computer science and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; Angela Hudock, Sayer, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major and member of the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM; Amanda Lamphere, Sellersville, a mathematics and computer science double major; James Lanning, Mountain Top, a chemistry major; Sarah Liskowicz, Wilkes-Barre, a neuroscience and biomathematics double major and member of the University’s undergraduate Honors Program; Molly Neeson, Pottstown, an environmental science major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; Michael Quinnan, Shavertown, a biomathematics major and member of the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM; Muhammad Shaaf Sarwar, Qazalbash Chowk, Pakistan, a physics and mathematical sciences double major; Cameron Shedlock, White Haven, a neuroscience major and member of the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM; Claire Sunday, South Abington Township, a theology and religious studies and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and undergraduate Honors Program; Kathleen Wallace, Bowie, Maryland, a philosophy and theology and religious studies double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; and Daniel Zych, Waverly, a mathematics major.

“Collectively, the 18 of us (from the class of 2023) have 28 majors, 18 minors, and 5 concentrations. … These academic pursuits, research opportunities and moments of profound growth would not be possible without the contributions of everyone in this room. So, for that I say thank you. Thank you for empowering our unique gifts, talents, and interests; and thank you, most importantly, for helping us call The University of Scranton our home. You have changed our lives, and our family’s lives, for the better,” said. Finan. “The generosity of the President’s Business Council cleared a path for us to become future lawyers, doctors, actuaries, educators, researchers, and business executives alike. We promise to use the spark you ignited in us to ‘go forth and set the world on fire.’”

In accepting their awards, Byrnes Clarke and O’Brien talked about why they became involved with the PBC and in giving back to the University.

“I got involved with the PBC because I wanted to try to give back to students and help with mentoring and job placement,” said O’Briem. “Early in my career, a fellow Scranton alumnus who I did not know helped me. … I need to do this because someone a long time ago helped me.”

“The exposure to Scranton and its students and its alumni challenged me to take on my own journey to do more and to do better as a person, a family member, a leader and a friend,” said Byrnes Clarke. “It’s true that as Scranton students we are exposed to the Ignatian values, but aren’t always mature enough to overtly put them into practice in our lives. But, with a Scranton education, that Ignaitan foundation is always there. And when you choose to be engaged, and get involved and give back to Scranton, you get this very special opportunity to explore those Ignaitan roots.”

For more information on the PBC, contact Executive Director Timothy J. Pryle ’89 at 570-941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu, or visit scranton.edu/pbc.

About Patti Byrnes Clarke

During her time at the Havas Group, which is one of the world’s largest global communications groups and part of the Vivendi Group, Patti Byrnes Clarke has built a talent management approach that includes initiatives on network mobility, high-potential leadership development, women’s leadership advancement, global employee engagement, employer branding, global diversity, equity and inclusion and wellness. As the global chief talent officer, she is responsible for leading the talent and cultural strategy for the group’s 20,000 plus employees in more than 100 countries.

Byrnes Clarke earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1986. She is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a former member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board and the University’s Parents’ Executive Council (PEC). She is also a former chair of the PBC and created the PBC/Kania School of Management Career Coaches Program, in which she remains a mentor to current University students. She and her husband, David, reside in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, and have five children.

About Tom O’Brien

Prior to the acquisition of SumRidge Partners, LLC, by Raymond James in July 2022, Tom O’Brien was a co-founder, chief executive officer and president of SumRidge Partners, L.LC., which formed in 2010. SumRidge Partners is a top-ranked electronic fixed income market maker specializing in high-yield, investment-grade corporate bonds, municipal bonds, institutional preferred securities, and emerging market bonds. Prior to launching SumRidge Partners, O’Brien was co-head of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Capital Markets division and was also a member of the firm’s management and risk committees.

O’Brien earned his bachelor’s degree of economics/finance from the University in 1986 and a master of business administration from Fordham University. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, where he served as vice chair, and was a former chair of the PBC. Today, he acts as a mentor to current University students and frequently teaches in the fixed income securities and markets course, which he co-developed with the late Frank Corcione, Ph.D., and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., G’84. He resides in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with his wife, Denise, and their three sons.

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The University of Scranton ranked No. 47 among the 603 master’s universities in the nation included in a 2022 listing by Washington Monthly that seeks to rate colleges based on their contribution to the public good. Published in the September/October issue of the magazine and online, Washington Monthly analyzed numerous data sets to determine an overall rank based on what “schools do for the country.” According to the publication, they rank “four-year schools (national universities, liberal arts colleges, baccalaureate colleges, and master’s universities) based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and providing opportunities for public service.”

Washington Monthly also ranked the colleges in categories for “research,” “community and national service” and “social mobility.” Scranton ranked No. 39, No. 52 and No. 124, respectively, in these categories among master’s universities.

Washington Monthly weighted equally the colleges’ scores for research, social mobility and service to calculate the overall ranking. The research score is based on each school’s research expenditure and the number of alumni earning Ph.D.s, relative to the size of the college. The social mobility score is based on actual and predicted graduation rates; student loan repayment rates; the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants; and the school’s average net price for full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the past three years, among other factors. The service score, also adjusted for the size of the school, is based on the size of the ROTC program; the number of alumni serving in the Peace Corps; and the percentage of federal work study grant money spent on community service projects and voter engagement, among other factors.

This is the 13^th consecutive year Washington Monthly has included Scranton in its college rankings.

In other national rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton No. 5 among regional universities in the north in its 2023 guidebook, marking the 29^th consecutive year that Scranton ranked in the top 10. The Princeton Review included Scranton in its list of “Best Colleges” for 21 consecutive years, and ranked the University No. 7 in the nation for “Best Science Lab Facilities” in its latest edition of the guidebook.

Forbes ranked The University of Scranton among “America’s Top Colleges” for the 14^th year. Scranton is the only college in Northeast Pennsylvania to be named among the just 498 elite colleges in the nation listed in the 2022 ranking, which was published online last month. Scranton, ranked No. 414, was among just 33 colleges in Pennsylvania that Forbes selected as “America’s Top Colleges.”

The ranking by Forbes analyzed “outputs” of a college education, weighting alumni salaries at one to six years and 10 years after enrollment and after graduation the most, representing 20 percent of the overall score. The methodology used by Forbes also looked at graduation rates (15 percent), student debt (15 percent) and the number of alumni making the Forbes “American Leaders” lists (15 percent), such as its “Forbes 400” and “Richest Self-Made Women” lists, as well as alumni who won national and international awards or positions, such as winners of the Nobel Prize. Forbes also rated retention rate (10 percent), academic success (10 percent), as measured by alumni winning prestigious academic scholarships, such as Fulbright and Truman scholarships, and a “return on investment” measurement (15 percent), which calculates the time it takes for students to pay their college debt based on the “post-enrollment earnings boost students get compared their typical salary of a high school graduate in their state.”

In other national rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton No. 5 among regional universities in the north in its 2023 guidebook. This is the 29^th consecutive year that Scranton ranked in the top 10. The Princeton Review included Scranton in its list of “Best Colleges” for 21 consecutive years, and ranked the University No. 7 in the nation for “Best Science Lab Facilities” in the 2023 edition of the guidebook.

The University of Scranton President’s Business Council (PBC) will host its first in-person President’s Business Council (PBC) Award Dinner since 2019. The PBC 21^st Annual Award Dinner will take place at Gotham Hall in New York City on Thursday, Sept. 29, and will honor this year’s recipients of the President’s Medal: Patti Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17,’19, global chief talent officer, Havas Group; and Tom O’Brien ’86, P’19, senior managing director, SumRidge Partners, a Raymond James company. Proceeds from the dinner go directly to the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

During her time at the Havas Group, which is one of the world’s largest global communications groups and part of the Vivendi Group, Byrnes Clarke has built a talent management approach that includes initiatives on network mobility, high-potential leadership development, women’s leadership advancement, global employee engagement, employer branding, global diversity, equity and inclusion and wellness. As the global chief talent officer, she is responsible for leading the talent and cultural strategy for the group’s 20,000 plus employees in more than 100 countries.

Byrnes Clarke earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1986. She is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a former member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board and the University’s Parents’ Executive Council (PEC). She is also a former chair of the PBC and created the PBC/Kania School of Management Career Coaches Program, in which she remains a mentor to current University students. She and her husband, David, reside in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, and have five children.

Prior to the acquisition of SumRidge Partners, LLC, by Raymond James in July 2022, O’Brien was a co-founder, chief executive officer and president of SumRidge Partners, L.LC., which formed in 2010. SumRidge Partners is a top-ranked electronic fixed income market maker specializing in high-yield, investment-grade corporate bonds, municipal bonds, institutional preferred securities, and emerging market bonds. Prior to launching SumRidge Partners, O’Brien was co-head of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Capital Markets division and was also a member of the firm’s management and risk committees.

O’Brien earned his bachelor’s degree of economics/finance from the University in 1986 and a master of business administration from Fordham University. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, where he served as vice chair, and was a former chair of the PBC. Today, he acts as a mentor to current University students and frequently teaches in the fixed income securities and markets course, which he co-developed with the late Frank Corcione, Ph.D., and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., G’84. He resides in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with his wife, Denise, and their three sons.

Byrnes Clarke and O’Brien will be honored with the President’s Medal not only for their career successes, but also for their commitment to the University’s mission and its students.

The PBC was formed in 2001 by the University and a prominent group of alumni and friends with the purpose of advancing the mission of the University. The PBC is committed to strengthening the Scranton network in the business sectors and to providing mentoring, internships and career support for current students and meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni, parents and friends. At the PBC’s Annual Award Dinner, an honoree is presented with the University’s President’s Medal, which recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. Proceeds from the dinner go directly to the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. Presidential Scholarships are four-year, full-tuition scholarships awarded to the University’s incoming first-year students with outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement.

Additional details regarding this year’s dinner, including the live stream link, are available on the PBC Award Dinner webpage or by contacting Tim Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC, at 570-941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton named seven individuals to its Board of Trustees: William Canny ’77, H’07; Joseph Collins ’90; Mary Collins, Ph.D.; Matthew Cooper, M.D. ’90; Lisa DeNaples, D.M.D.; Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J.; and Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J. ’07.

William Canny

William Canny, executive director of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS), has more than 30 years of service to the Catholic Church and to refugees and migrants through his current position, as well as previous positions held at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the International Catholic Migration Commission.

Canny joined USCCB/MRS in 2015. He previously served as CRS in several positions during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He served as director of emergency operations at CRS from 2010 to 2012, leading the emergency department in global prevention, preparedness, protection and response operations. Canny directed CRS’ initial response to the Haiti earthquake of 2010. From 1998 to 2004, Canny served as secretary general for the International Catholic Migration Commission. He also served as the chief operations officer of the Papal Foundation.

Throughout his distinguished career, Canny has demonstrated commitment to – and has provided a wealth of experience in – providing service to migrants, refugees and others in need. He has lived and worked in Niger, Djibouti, Burkina Faso, India, Switzerland and Haiti.

Canny received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from The University of Scranton at the New Student Assembly in 2007. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human services in 1977 from

Scranton and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife Patricia and his twin sons Alex and Roan.

Joseph Collins

Joseph Collins, vice president, Medical Intelligence, Patient Insights and Solutions at Astellas Pharmaceuticals, has spent his career in the pharmaceutical industry. At Astellas, a global Life Sciences organization, Collins manages teams tasked with ensuring the perspective and insights of patients and healthcare providers are considered in all phases of drug development and commercialization. Prior to joining Astellas, he worked at Sanofi and Roche Pharmaceuticals.

Collins is active in several organizations including serving on the board of Times Shamrock Communications. He is a member of the President’s Business Council at The University of Scranton and serves as a mentor to undergraduates in the Kania School of Management. He has served on the Devon Preparatory School Alumni Board, Keystone College Board of Trustees and the Greater Scranton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Collins graduated from The University of Scranton in 1990 with dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and received his master’s in business administration from Villanova University in 2007. He lives in Scranton with his wife Mauri Haggerty Collins and their five daughters Clare, Catie, Cecelia, Rita and Elizabeth.

Mary Collins, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Collins, associate provost and as a resident Chaplain at Le Moyne College, has 40 years of experience in Jesuit Catholic higher education. During her time at Le Moyne College, Dr. Collins has served as associate provost for twelve years, as resident Chaplain for ten years, as the inaugural dean of management for several years, as the department chair of accounting for multiple terms, and as Faculty Senate president three times. As a faculty member, Dr. Collins, who is also a licensed certified public accountant in New York, has taught upper-division courses in financial accounting and auditing, pursued her research interest on budgets and organizational behavior and served on numerous committees primarily in academic affairs and finance. She received two awards for teaching excellence.

During her distinguished career, Dr. Collins has served on numerous boards, including the Institute of Internal Auditors of Central New York Chapter, Peace Action of Central New York, VNA Systems, Inc., among others. She served on numerous committees of professional organizations and

local initiatives including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, vice-chair of Mayor’s Commission on Living Wage, New York State’s Assembly’s Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation and the American Accounting Association Auditing Section National Committee, to name a few.

Dr. Collins earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Le Moyne College, and her master’s degree in accounting and Ph.D., focusing on accounting and organization behavior, change and development, from Syracuse University.

Matthew Cooper, M.D.

Dr. Matthew Cooper is a professor of surgery at Georgetown School of Medicine, and director of kidney and pancreas transplantation and director for quality at the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute (MGTI). He is involved in transplantation activities both in the U.S. and around the world. He is the current United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network president. He is a member of the National and D.C. Board of Directors for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and a member of the NKF’s National Transplant Task Force. He has served as a councillor for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. He is a current board member for the National Kidney Registry, the American Foundation for Donation and Transplantation, the International Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplant Association and Donate Life America. Dr. Cooper has served as chair of the American Transplant Congress.

Dr. Cooper seeks new opportunities for living donation through innovation and by removing the disincentives for those considering donation while promoting the safety and long-term care of live organ donors. His clinical interests include kidney and pancreas transplantation; particularly the use of marginal organs. He has authored over 220 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 300 abstracts and 12 book chapters. He is regularly invited to speak on a variety of transplant-related topics both nationally and internationally.

Prior to his current role at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, which he began in 2012, Dr. Cooper directed the kidney transplant and clinical research program the University of Maryland (2005-2012). He joined the transplant faculty at the Johns Hopkins Hospital upon completion of his training and was appointed surgical director of kidney transplantation and clinical research in 2003.

Dr. Cooper graduated from The University of Scranton in 1990, earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. He earned his medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

He completed his general surgery training at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed by a fellowship in multi-organ abdominal transplantation at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Dr. Cooper and his wife, Alicia, reside in Columbia, Maryland. They are the parents of 3 children: Julia’ 19, Emily and Matthew.

Lisa DeNaples, D.M.D.

Dr. Lisa DeNaples, is owner and managing trustee at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, a premier resort in the Poconos with nearly 300 rooms, a spa and salon and five restaurants. Mount Airy was the first AAA Four Diamond casino resort in Pennsylvania.

When a hand injury forced Dr. DeNaples to reduce some of her dental work, she became co-owner and vice president of a Harley Davidson Dealership located in Williamsport. She attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, for one and a half years, where she had an externship in the City District Attorney’s Office. While attending law school, she was asked by her father to lead the Mount Airy Project where she currently serves as owner and managing trustee.

Dr. DeNaples is a current board member of Highmark Blue Cross. She is a former board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Scranton, Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, The University of Scranton, Scranton Council on Literacy Advance (SCOLA) and Mercy Hospital (Scranton Regional Hospital).

A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, Dr. DeNaples earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Marywood University. She earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School with a focus on General Family Dentistry.

Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J.

Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J., is the director of campus ministry and university Chaplain at Fairfield University, where he has served since July 2021. A native of Long Island, New York, he joined the East Coast Province Jesuits in the summer of 2008. He has served mainly in campus ministry at the college and high school level, in retreat work, and in faith formation. He has also served as the director of religious education at a diverse parish in Oakland, California.

Father Maczkiewicz was ordained a priest in June 2018 and has worked in campus ministry at Georgetown University, the College of the Holy Cross and The University of Scranton, where he lived in Hafey Hall as a resident minister from 2006 to 2008.

Father Maczkiewicz earned his bachelor’s degree in history/American studies/education from Fairfield University and his master’s degree in secondary education from Providence College. After entering the Society of Jesus, he completed his philosophy studies and earned a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and his completed theology studies earning a M.Div., Th.M., S.T.L. at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He is currently a student in the Executive Doctor of Higher Education program at Boston College, in its inaugural cohort.

Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J.

Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J., a priest of the USA East Jesuit Province, currently serves as the Socius and assistant director of novices at the St. Andrew Hall Jesuit Novitiate in Syracuse, New York. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 2019, he previously served as associate pastor at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and as the assistant director and promoter of vocations for the Jesuits’ USA East Province.

Father Rosinski serves as a trustee of St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

Father Rosinski earned his bachelor’s degree in theology and counseling and human services from The University of Scranton in 2007. He entered the Society of Jesus in 2009 and, during his Jesuit formation, he earned his master’s degree in social philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, served as a teacher and campus minister at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, and went on to earn Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton No. 5 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North” in the 2023 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook, which became available online today. U.S. News has ranked Scranton among the top 10 universities in its category for 29 consecutive years.

U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 6 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” a selection of the top colleges in the nation that express a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.

“Our students and their parents, our faculty and staff, and our alumni know well and value greatly the quality of the Jesuit education offered at Scranton. However, it is also very gratifying for Scranton to receive such consistently high-marks and recognition from more impartial sources like U.S. News and other national rankings,” said Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton. “We are delighted U.S. News once again ranked Scranton No. 5 in its latest guidebook.”

Several of Scranton’s programs were also included in national rankings, as opposed to listings by category. U.S. News ranked Scranton among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Programs in Accounting” at No. 44 in the U.S.; among the “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs” at No. 135; and among “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” at No. 185 (where doctorate is not offered). Scranton’s was also listed among the 537 “Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs” in the nation. Scranton also ranked No. 219 among America’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” which listed just 516 schools that hold accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

For these program listings, U.S. News only ranked schools holding the highest recognized national accreditations in their fields. The rankings were based solely on dean and senior faculty recommendations from peer institutions.

In addition, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 54 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North,” which compares academic quality of programs to cost of attendance. This is the tenth consecutive year U.S. News has recognized Scranton as a “Best Value” school. Scranton was ranked No. 145 in its category in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” which looks at the success of schools that enroll and graduate students who were awarded with Pell Grants.

U.S. News uses data on 17 measures of academic quality to rank bachelor’s degree colleges in the America. For its rankings, U.S. News considers a range of quality indicators that include a peer assessment of academic excellence (20 percent); faculty resources (20 percent), which includes class size and regional cost-of-living adjustments to faculty pay and benefits; graduation rates (17.6 percent); freshman retention (4.4 percent); graduation performance rates (8 percent), which compares a school’s actual graduation rates with predicted graduation rates based on characteristics of the incoming class; financial resources (10 percent); a social mobility score (5 percent); graduate indebtedness (5 percent); and alumni giving (3 percent). U.S. News ranking analysis also includes student selectivity (7 percent), as measured by SAT or ACT scores and high school ranking of students in the top 25 percent of their class.

U.S. News categorizes colleges for their rankings based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities.

The 2023 U.S. News “Best Colleges” rankings became available online Sept. 12.

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The President’s Business Council (PBC) will present President’s Medals to Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P'17,’19, global chief talent officer for Havas Group, and Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19, senior managing director of SumRidge Partners, a Raymond James company, at its 21^st Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

“We are looking forward to being in person for this year’s PBC Dinner in late September as we celebrate our honorees, the University, and our students,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “We have two wonderful honorees who are excellent representatives of the PBC and who continue to have a tremendous impact on the University and our students.”

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and who personify the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Since its inaugural dinner in 2002, the PBC has generated nearly $20 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

To find out more about this year’s dinner, our honorees and to view the livestream on Sept. 29, visit the PBC Dinner link. To buy your table/tickets for this year’s dinner or to make your contribution, visit the RSVP link. For more information on this year's event or the PBC, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

Gotham Hall

Incoming first-year students of University of Scranton alumni gathered together with their families and the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, Aug. 27 for the Class of 2026 Legacy Families Reception and Photo at Brennan Hall.

Visit University Advancement's Shutterfly Page to see the photographs from this year's reception. 

Over the years, the Legacy Families Reception and Photo has become a University tradition. Prior to Convocation each year, incoming legacy students and their families gather together for a photograph with the University's president to mark the outset of their collegiate odyssey. Four years later, prior to commencement, the same families gather together with the University's president to mark the beginning of their journey as men and women for and with others beyond Scranton's borders.

Alumni and student golfers are invited to participate in an Alumni/Student Golf Outing Oct. 15 at Pine Hills Country Club, 140 S. Keyser Avenue, Taylor, PA.

The scramble golf tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at a barbecue dinner at Pine Hills after the tournament concludes. To register, visit this link. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Paul Majkut G’66, San Diego, California, retired in 2020 after a career spent teaching undergraduate and graduate literature and philosophy. During that time, he was also an active journalist, both within the U.S. and abroad. He has been awarded five Fulbright Senior Specialist and Scholar grants (Argentina, Finland, Germany, Mexico, Estonia), and two National Endowment for the Humanities awards (Oxford, Cambridge). He is a Reader of Medieval Manuscripts and Rare Books at the Bodleian Library (Oxford), Cambridge University Library, and The Huntington Library. He has received numerous journalism awards for this writing (the San Diego Press Club, the Los Angeles Press Club, the Southern California Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews). In 1998, he founded the Society for Phenomenology and Media. He has lectured as a visiting professor widely in universities in the United States as well as internationally. Since retiring, he was asked by university colleagues abroad to teach classes online. Refusing pay, he decided to teach a course at the University of Jos, Nigeria, an impoverished university beset by religious violence.           

Jim Moran ’66, Philadelphia, recently published his essay, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his Struggle with Polio, on line at FDRRESEARCH.COM.

Thomas F. McNevin, Ph.D. ’74, G’77, Yardley, retired last year after 36 years as a research scientist with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, where he worked on chemical and radiological hazardous site remediations, air pollution and energy issues.

Kevin Ball ’77, Levittown, retired from teaching after 46 years at Archbishop Ryan High School. In addition to teaching math and engineering, he spent 40-plus years as Technology Coordinator, coached soccer for more than 20 years and coached hockey for 40 years.

Howard F. Mulligan ’85, New York, New York, joined Greenspoon and Marder as a partner. Mulligan focuses his practice on the intersecting disciplines of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, structured finance, fund information, commercial real estate, securities law, capital markets and business restructuring.

Jennifer Lawrence Janofsky, Ph.D. ’95, Glen Ridge, New Jersey, a public historian at Rowan University and the director of Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park, New Jersey, led a series of four public digs, in the summer of 2022 at the park, which is the site of a critical 1777 Revolutionary War between the Hessians and the American fighting force. The remains of as many as 13 individuals, believed to be Hessian soldiers, were discovered. This discovery was a surprise. No maps from the period showed there would be human remains at the site.

Patrick J. Cummings ’07, Havertown, was elected partner at Weber Gallagher on August 1, 2022.

Cecilia Baress ’08, Old Forge, joined the Department of Communication and Media at The University of Scranton as an adjunct faculty member. The former managing editor and editor-in-chief of The Aquinas is also an adviser to the student news publication.

Matthew W. Smeltzer ’12, North Wales, has joined STV, a leader in engineering, architectural, planning and program and construction management services as corporate controller. In this role, Smeltzer will report directly to STV’s chief financial officer and will be responsible for STV’s accounting, reporting and financial audits.

 

MARRIAGES

Allison Carbone ’12 to Andrew Freer
James Ranslow '13 to Anali Meza   
Tim Janes '15 to Kellie Reidinger
Bridget Gallaher ’16 to James Lolli ’14, G’17
Christopher Vatter ’17 to Meghan Miller ’17

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Michelle Agnes, to Dan ’07 and Dawn Leavy Neenan ’10, Staten Island, New York

A daughter, Emaline Jamie, to Michael ’11 and Elizabeth Lukowicz Sunkel ’11, Fieldsboro, New Jersey

A son, Logan Charles, to James ’14, DPT '17 and Bridget Gallaher Lolli ’16, Havertown

 

DEATHS

Irwin Schneider ’52, Fleetville
John E. McCawley ’60, Endwell
Col. James W. Patterson, USA, Ret. ’63, Roaring Brook Township
John J. Grace ’65, Lakewood, Colorado
Terrence P. Zealand, Ed.D. ’72, Howell, New Jersey
Melissa Conway Luther, Ph.D. ’76, Carlsbad, California
George R. Huhn ’83, Venice, Florida
David  J. Lauriha ’88, Archbald

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Elizabeth Bush Schmidt, sister of Peter Bush ’79

University of Scranton alumnus and former University trustee, Rev. James F. Duffy, S.J., M.D., will serve as the new superior for the Scranton Jesuit Community. His position became effective July 31. He replaced Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., who stepped down from that position, which he has held since 2015.

A 1988 graduate of The University of Scranton, Father Duffy served as a trustee at his alma mater from 2007 to 2016. He received the University’s Frank J. O'Hara Distinguished Alumni award in 2013, which is the highest award bestowed jointly by the University and our Alumni Society.

A board-certified internist, Father Duffy earned his medical degree from Georgetown University in 1992. He served as an undersea medical officer for the U.S. Navy in Sardegna, Italy, onboard the USS Simon Lake (AS-33), from 1993-1996. When he returned to the U.S. after four years of service, he entered the Society of Jesus as a novice in 1996 and was first missioned to complete his residency training in Internal Medicine at Georgetown University Hospital from 1998-2000. During his philosophy studies, he earned his master’s in health care ethics from Loyola University of Chicago and during his theological studies, he completed his M.Div. from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. Following ordination in 2006, Father Duffy served as associate cean of clinical education at Georgetown University School of Medicine from 2006 to 2016, before joining the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2017 in the same role.

Consistent with the Universal Apostolic Preferences, Father Duffy has continued to practice in Spanish-speaking, underserved medical clinics throughout his Jesuit formation and medical career.

The Princeton Review selected The University of Scranton once again among the best colleges in the nation. Scranton is among just 14 percent of schools listed in the 2023 edition of the “Best 388 Colleges” guidebook, marking the 21st consecutive year the University was selected and recommended by The Princeton Review as one of the top colleges in the country.

In addition, for the sixth year, The Princeton Review ranked Scranton among the nation’s “Best Science Lab Facilities” (No. 7) and “Best Campus Food” (No. 25). Scranton also ranked among the “Most Religious Students” (No. 24) in the latest edition of the guidebook.

The Princeton Review wrote “some students refer to The University of Scranton as ‘Disney World in PA’ because ‘everyone is so friendly and helpful,’” in its profile of Scranton, which also included boasts about the University’s accessible and caring faculty, outstanding facilities, a network of supportive alumni, and a Jesuit mission and curriculum firmly grounded in ethics.

“We salute The University of Scranton for its outstanding academics, and its many other impressive offerings. We are delighted to recommend it as an ideal choice for students searching for their ‘best fit’ college,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor –in-chief and lead author of “The Best 388 Colleges,” in a news release.

The Princeton Review does not include an overall ranking of the schools selected as the best in the country, however they do publish rankings of schools in 50 categories based on results of their surveys of 160,000 students at the 388 colleges included in the book. Information from the surveys is also used in the profiles included about each school in the publication.

In addition to The Princeton Review, U.S. News has ranked Scranton among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 28 consecutive years, placing the University No. 5 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North” its 2022 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook.

A comprehensive analysis of the return on investment (ROI) of college degrees at more than 4,500 colleges in the United States shows the value gains of liberal arts education during the lifetime of a career. The analysis also ranks the ROI of a degree from The University of Scranton among the top 6.1 percent of colleges in the country after 40 years, among the top 7 percent after 30 years and among the top 11 percent after 20 years.

The analysis by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce calculated the 40-year net present value of a University of Scranton degree is $1.133 million, which ranked No. 276 of 4,500 colleges in the nation (top 6.1 percent). The 30-year net present value for a Scranton degree was calculated at $842,000, which ranked at No. 310 in the nation (top 7 percent); and the 20-year net present value of a degree was $488,000, which ranked at No. 489 in the country (top 11 percent).

The Center ranked 4,500 colleges based on the net value of the degrees at 10, 20, 30 and 40 years after enrollment using data from the expanded College Scorecard. The analysis, published online in the spring of 2022, looked at the net cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, books and supplies, and living expenses, minus aid received from all sources. The Center then calculated the net present value of a degree, which is “a metric that includes costs, future earnings and the length of time it would take to invest and earn a certain amount of money over a fixed horizon.”

The analysis found that “bachelor’s degrees from private colleges, on average, have higher ROI than degrees from public colleges 40 years after enrollment. Community colleges and many certificate programs have the highest returns in the short term, 10 years after enrollment, though returns from bachelor’s degrees eventually overtake those of most two-year credentials.”

In addition, the analysis showed “the median ROI of liberal arts colleges is nearly $200,000 higher than the median for all colleges. Further, the 40-year median ROI of liberal arts institutions ($918,000) is close to those of four-year engineering and technology-related schools ($917,000), and four-year business and management schools ($913,000).”

Scranton has been recognized for its value in other national rankings such as U.S. News & World Report and The Economist. Most recently, Money magazine ranked the University at No. 268 among its selection of just 623 of the nation’s best values for a college education.

John O’Malley ’87, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Retired, is recovering from injuries he sustained in an accident while riding in an ultra-distance cycling race and raising money for a University memorial scholarship honoring his brother.

After riding for more than a month in the Tour Divide, a 2,745-mile cycling race from Alberta, Canada, to New Mexico, in support of the fourth Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride (ROAR), a fundraiser for the Ryan T. O’Malley ’99 Memorial Scholarship at the University, O’Malley was involved in an accident near Silver City, New Mexico, about 125 miles from the race’s finish line in the early morning hours of July 15. According to the O’Malley family, John was found by two motorists who spotted him on the side of the road and alerted the police.

According to a GoFundMe page set up by Katie O’Malley, John’s daughter, to help with their family’s medical expenses, “John was airlifted from the scene in New Mexico and taken to an intensive care unit/trauma center in El Paso, Texas.

“We have since learned that he has endured a traumatic brain injury.”

Although John can’t recall the events surrounding the accident, he publicly thanked the Silver City police officers who assisted him in a Facebook post dated July 26.

“I am most grateful for their decisiveness and professionalism as a CT scan revealed a subdural hematoma,” he wrote. “I still have no idea how nor when I sustained these injuries.

“At this point, I’m heartbroken that I didn’t finish the race, but happy to be under great care (with) a great prognosis to return soon and get ‘er done! The silver lining to all of this is that we raised over 12k for the Ryan T. O’Malley Memorial Scholarship fund at The University of Scranton allowing students in need the opportunity to get a college education.”

According to John “Jack” O’Malley, Ph.D. ’64, professor of psychology emeritus at the University and John’s father, John was transferred from the University Medical Center of El Paso to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Colorado Springs July 27, and he was released to his home in Monument, Colorado July 30, where he will continue outpatient physical therapy.

“His recovery has been remarkable!” Dr. O’Malley said. “Everyone has been so kind, and we deeply appreciate the caring and prayers.”

According to several recent Facebook posts and comments made by John and his circle of friends, he remains an inspiration to many, and he plans to dedicate himself fully to healing and recovering until he’s ready to race again.

“I’m headed back to Silver City to finish this baby!” he wrote in a Facebook comment July 30.

To follow John’s progress and learn more about the Ryan T. O’Malley Memorial Scholarship, visit this link.

ROAR

On June 10, John embarked upon ROAR: The Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride for the fourth time by participating in The Tour Divide, an annual ultra-distance cycling race that sees participants traverse the length of the Rocky Mountains from Alberta, Canada, to the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico, in support of the Ryan T. O’Malley ’99 Memorial Scholarship.

After Ryan's passing in 2011, his family established the scholarship in his memory to enable Computer Science students of limited resources with an interest in fitness to attend The University of Scranton. Since that time, Ryan's family and friends have raised more than $150,000 for the scholarship, much of it through ROAR: The Ryan O'Malley Annual Race, a 5K fundraising event the family organized from 2013-2017. In 2018, John embarked upon the inaugural ROAR: The Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride by cycling the 500+ miles of The Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango in Ryan’s memory. While John rode The Colorado Trail again for ROAR in 2019 and 2020, he was sidelined by injuries and knee surgery in 2021. Prior to beginning The Tour Divide, John said he was looking forward to riding for “family, community and the well-being of others.”

“I ride to remember and honor our brother, Ryan,” he said. “I ride to give back in some way to the community who nurtured us. Through the ROAR and Ryan’s scholarship, we help to provide students with limited financial resources the opportunity to attend The University of Scranton.”

John’s love of cycling and adventure began when he was growing up in the Green Ridge section of Scranton.

“Bikes were a big deal back then, and if you had one, you were a lucky kid,” he said. “ For me, the bike became an instrument of exploration, discovery and freedom.”

As the oldest child of Dr. O’Malley and his wife, Helene, John shared his love of cycling with his five siblings, especially Ryan, his youngest brother.

“As a kid, time and distance had little meaning,” he said of the hours they spent exploring the NEPA area together. “We’d just ride, inspired by the adventure and the natural beauty of the region.”

Upon graduating from the University, John began his military career in Ft. Carson, Colorado, where he started racing mountain bikes. Since then, he has continued to ride and race, competing in triathlons and adventure races throughout the country. When he and his family settled in Monument, Colorado, he became so inspired by the expanses and terrain he saw on two wheels that he proposed the idea of funding Ryan’s scholarship through an annual bike ride.

The Tour Divide

The Tour Divide follows the 2,745-mile “Great Divide Mountain Bike Route,” a 90% off-road trail that follows the Continental Divide through Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. Established by the Adventure Cycling Association in 1998, it is considered the most important off-pavement cycling route in the world.

The Tour Divide’s race clock runs 24 hours a day, and the self-supported riders aren’t allowed any outside help other than the ability to access public facilities along the way that are available to everyone. Participating cyclists must carry their camping equipment, food and water through long stretches of remote mountain wilderness, pristine river valleys, open grassland and desert while risking injury, mechanical failure, treacherous weather and encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife.

To support the Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride and Ryan’s scholarship, visit this link.

The President’s Business Council (PBC) will present President’s Medals to Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P'17,’19, global chief talent officer for Havas Group, and Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19, chief executive officer & president of SumRidge Partners, LLC, at its 21^st Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

“We are looking forward to being in person for this year’s PBC Dinner in late September as we celebrate our honorees, the University, and our students,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “We have two wonderful honorees who are excellent representatives of the PBC and who continue to have a tremendous impact on the University and our students.”

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and who personify the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Since its inaugural dinner in 2002, the PBC has generated nearly $20 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

To find out more about this year’s dinner and our honorees, visit the PBC Dinner link. To register for this year’s dinner or to make your contribution, visit the RSVP link. For more information on this year's event or the PBC, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

Fall is nearly here, and The University of Scranton has scheduled a number of alumni-centered events designed to help you connect with your fellow Royals.

 

Scranton G.O.L.D. At Pier 13

Join your fellow graduates of the last decade (G.O.L.D.) in the Hoboken area Aug. 4 at Pier 13, 1301 Sinatra Dr N, Hoboken, NJ, at 6:30 p.m. for an evening on the pier! The $10 registration fee includes a drink ticket and a Scranton giveaway. To register, visit this link. 

 

Scranton Club of New York Yankee Game

The Scranton Club of New York will meet at Yankee Stadium Aug. 17 to watch the New York Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The game will begin at 7:05 p.m., and gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The club will hold a pre-game reception on the Budweiser Party Deck featuring 90 minutes of food, draft beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, all of which will be included in the price of admission. Tickets will cost $75. 

This event is sold out.

 

Scranton Club of Philadelphia To Gather At Independence Beer Garden

The Scranton Club of Philadelphia will hold a gathering Sept. 8 at Independence Beer Garden, 100 S Independence Mall W, Philadelphia, at 6 p.m. The $30 registration fee includes a drink ticket, appetizers and a Scranton giveaway. To register, visit this link. 

 

The President’s Business Council 21^st Annual Award Dinner

The President’s Business Council (PBC) will present President’s Medals to Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P'17,’19, global chief talent officer for Havas Group, and Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19, chief executive officer & president of SumRidge Partners, LLC, at its 21^st Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

“We are looking forward to being in person for this year’s PBC Dinner in late September as we celebrate our honorees, the University, and our students,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “We have two wonderful honorees who are excellent representatives of the PBC and who continue to have a tremendous impact on the University and our students.”

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and who personify the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Since its inaugural dinner in 2002, the PBC has generated nearly $20 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

To find out more about this year’s dinner and our honorees, visit the PBC Dinner link. To register for this year’s dinner or to make your contribution, visit the RSVP link. For more information on this year's event or the PBC, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Daniel J. Herman, M.D. ’82, Seattle, Washington, associate clinical professor of Family Medicine, was named the 2022 Attending of the Year at the University of Washington/Valley Family Medicine Residency where he has helped train over 160 Family Medicine Physicians since the year 2000.

Carol Peters ’82, Scranton, celebrated 42 years as vice president of Peters Design Group, Architectural Engineering.

Richard J. Scalione ’81, Franklin, Tennessee, has written his first children’s book entitled “The Mean, Hungry Washing Machine,” which is available on Amazon.

Ellen T. Wayne, Ed.D. ’89, Florida, is the CEO and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Ron Prislupski ’95, Moosic, was recently named President of the Nativity Miguel School of Scranton.

Heather Rowan-Kenyon, Ph.D. '95, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, was promoted to full professor and department chair of Education Leadership and Higher Education in the Lynch School of Higher Education and Human Development at Boston College.

Samuel J. Denisco ’98, Harrisburg, has joined Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies in its government relations practice. Denisco joins Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies as a principal and will work out of its Harrisburg office.

Davina Capik, Ed.D. G’08, Windsor, received the Samuel T. Gladding Unsung Heroes Award presented by the American Counseling Association (ACA) at the 2022 ACA Conference in Atlanta GA.

Mary Desmarais ’10, Arlington, Virginia, started Catholic Inclusion, LLC, a consulting company which works with Catholic schools to help them become accessible and inclusive to students with intellectual disabilities.

Laura Romanovich ’18, Peckville, began a full-time science instructor position at Johnson College in Scranton.

Olivia Borges ’22, Bethlehem, is a research technician level 2 in the Han Lab at Duke University. Borges will be working alongside Dr. Han studying how gut microbiota regulate host aging. On top of doing research, she also has lab manager duties to help get the lab up and running and be the “PI for the day” whenever she is away.

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Adeline, to Will and Tracey Moller ’07, Summit, New Jersey

A daughter, Everly Gassert, to Grif and Jennifer Gentile Gassert ’09, Alpharetta, Georgia

A son, Leo James Nebzydoski, to Meghan and John Nebzydoski ’10, G’12, Pleasant Mount

A daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Sachs, to Brice ’11 and Jasmine Santiago Sachs ’11, Morristown, New Jersey

A son, Anthony Thomas Santino, Jr., to Thomas and Kaylee Hatfield Santino ’13, Delran, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

Donald J. Kemple ’56, Syracuse, New York       

Bernard Troy ’65, Scranton

Hon. Robert P. Meehan ’69, Freedom

Ronald E. LeKarz ’78, Ellicott City, Maryland

Thomas J. Simrell, D.M.D. ’81, Greenfield Township

Brian L. Carpenter ’87, Olyphant

William F. Holmes, Ph.D. ’94, G’96, Worcester, Massachusetts

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

William Mangan, husband of Wendy Yeager Mangan '94

Doris J. Pierce, mother of Thomas M. Pierce ’87

Money magazine ranked The University of Scranton among its list of the nation’s best values for a college education. The 2022 ranking is based on the magazine’s analysis of dozens of data points to evaluate educational quality, affordability and alumni success. Money ranked Scranton at No. 268 among its selection of just 623 “Best Colleges in America,” a ranking of “schools that combine quality and affordability, while admitting at least 20 percent of applicants.”

This is the seventh consecutive time that Money included Scranton in its published list of America’s best values in college education. Scranton was the highest ranked school in Northeastern Pennsylvania listed.

Scranton ranked in the top 15 percent of schools listed for “outcomes.” The factors Money used to assess “outcomes” included the average salaries of students ten years after enrollment based on data from U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard as well as salaries of graduates adjusted by major. In addition to other factors, the “outcomes” criteria looked at socio-economic mobility data from Third Way that measures a college’s share of students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds as well as the cost and payoff of a degree for those students.

The factors Money analyzed to determine a colleges’ “academic quality” included the six-year graduation rate, the standardized test scores of incoming students, the student-faculty ratio and the graduation rate of Pell Grant recipients, among other factors. The analysis also included “value” assessments that looked at a school’s predicted graduation rates based on the academic and economic profile of its student body versus its actual graduation rates.

The criteria used to assess “affordability” included an estimate of the “net price of a degree,” which assessed tuition, the time it takes for students to graduate, and the school’s average financial aid offered to students. The “affordability” criteria also looked at student debt, student loan default rates, and student loan default rates adjusted for the economic and academic profile of a school’s student body, in addition to other factors.

Colleges with graduation rates below the national median, that were in financial difficulty, or that had fewer than 500 undergraduates, were not included in Money’s ranking. A separate ranking was done for schools that accept fewer than 20 percent of applicants.

Scranton has been recognized for its value in other national rankings such as U.S. News & World Report and The Economist, among others.

Intelligent.com ranked The University of Scranton’s Master of Accountancy Degree No. 3 in the nation for “Best Online Master’s in Accounting” and No. 13 in the country for “Best MBA in Healthcare Management.” The 2022 ranking of accredited, nonprofit schools by the online education source is based on an assessment of student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third-party evaluations of the programs, including an assessment of consistent performance in other national rankings such as U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News has ranked Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 28 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 5 in the 2022 edition of the guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” Earlier this year, U.S. News ranked Scranton’s MBA Specialty in accounting No. 14 in the nation, tying with Harvard University, Arizona State University and Ohio State University in its full-time MBA program ranking. U.S. News also ranked Scranton’s MBA specialty programs in business analytics No. 29 and finance No. 34 in America. In addition, U.S. News ranked Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 55; and its online MBA program at No. 98 in the nation in its “Best Online Programs” guide.

The University of Scranton’s Board of Trustees have approved the change of the doctoral business administration degree to a Ph.D. in Accounting degree beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year. The curriculum and degree requirements will remain the same. This is the first Ph.D. degree to be offered at Scranton.

The business doctoral degree, which the University began in 2017 and graduated its first cohort of students in 2021, has already been internationally recognized when in 2019 the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) listed the program among the “Innovations and Best Practices in Canada, Latin America and the United States.” The program was recognized for providing a non-traditional research doctoral degree in accounting that “promotes diversity and practice relevance by providing a flexible path for experienced practitioners to gain the knowledge and credentials required to succeed in tenure-track positions at AACSB-accredited institutions.”

“The doctoral program was developed in direct response to calls made by the Pathways Commission to transform experienced accounting professionals into exceptional academics and teachers capable of producing original-practice relevant research grounded in the ethical foundation of Scranton’s Jesuit identity,” said Douglas M. Boyle, D.B.A., C.P.A., C.M.A., professor and chair of the University’s Accounting Department and Ph.D. program director

“As co-chair of the Implementation Phase of Pathways, the Accounting Ph.D. at The University of Scranton is exactly what we hope institutions would strive to create,” said Mark Higgins, Ph.D., Dean of the Kania School of Management. “We wanted institutions to create terminal degrees that align with an institutions mission and this program does that by incorporating Jesuit values and producing graduates that are capable of publishing in relevant practiced based research in quality journals.”

The first and second cohorts of doctoral graduates and faculty have already co-authored and published more than 20 manuscripts in internationally recognized refereed journals with six of the publications winning awards from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), including two Lybrand Competition Medals and the Curtis C. Verschoor Ethics Article of the Year. Gregory Kogan ’22 and Joy Chacko ’21 were awarded the Institute of Internal Auditors Michael J. Barrett Doctoral Dissertation Award for their respective years.

Scranton’s accounting professors in the program have received numerous awards for teaching and have also been recognized internationally for their research. The 2021 Brigham Young University Accounting Report Update, which annually ranks accounting programs and faculty throughout the world based on their success in publishing in top-tier accounting journals, placed the Accounting Department at The University of Scranton as the fourth most prolific department in the world for accounting education research (excluding cases) over the most recent six-year period. The department was also ranked internationally for all methods, audit and experimental accounting research.

With respect to authorships of individual accounting faculty in the area of accounting education reported in the 2021 Update: Dr. Douglas Boyle, was ranked No. 7; and James F. Boyle, D.B.A., C.P.A., associate professor and director of the MAcc program, and Brian W. Carpenter, Ph.D., professor, ranked No. 18 (tied).

The doctoral program, housed in the University’s Kania School of Management, also engages renowned scholars from other institutions to advise and serve on dissertation committees. These esteemed faculty members include George W. Krull, Jr., Ph.D., external global strategic advisor for the doctoral program, Dr. Krull served as a partner in the executive office of Grant Thornton LLP and was the firm’s chief learning officer. He has served as an executive-in-residence and professor of accounting at Bradley University where he was awarded emeritus status in 2011. During his distinguished career, Dr. Krull has served with the American Accounting Association (AAA), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pathways Commission. He was a member of the AACSB International’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Accreditation Quality and has served four terms on the AACSB’s Accounting Accreditation Committee. In 2014, Dr. Krull was recognized as one of one hundred distinguished graduates of Spears School at Oklahoma State during its centennial anniversary celebration, and in 2015 he was inducted into the Spears School Hall of Fame. In 2016, he received the American Accounting Association Outstanding Service Award.

Students currently enrolled in the program and students entering the program for fall 2023 will receive a Ph.D. degree.

For additional information about Scranton’s first Ph.D. program, visit the program’s webpage or contact the Accounting Department at the University at 570-941-4047 or Caitlyn Hollingshead,

The Scranton Club of Philadelphia will hold a gathering Sept. 8 at Independence Beer Garden, 100 S Independence Mall W, Philadelphia, at 6 p.m. The $30 registration fee includes a drink ticket, appetizers and a Scranton giveaway. To register, visit this link. 

Join your fellow graduates of the last decade (G.O.L.D.) in the Hoboken area Aug. 4 at Pier 13, 1301 Sinatra Dr N, Hoboken, NJ, at 6:30 p.m. for a summer evening on the pier! The $10 registration fee includes a drink ticket and a Scranton giveaway. To register, visit this link. 

Join your fellow graduates of the last decade (G.O.L.D.) in the Philadelphia area July 21 at Morgan's Pier, 221 N Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, at 6 p.m. for a summer evening to remember! The $20 admission fee includes a drink ticket, appetizers and a Scranton giveaway. To register, visit this link. 

The Scranton Club of New York will meet at Yankee Stadium Aug. 17 to watch the New York Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The game will begin at 7:05 p.m., and gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The club will hold a pre-game reception on the Budweiser Party Deck featuring 90 minutes of food, draft beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, all of which will be included in the price of admission. Tickets will cost $75. 

To register, visit this link. 

The Scranton Club of New Jersey will host a Day At The Races at Monmouth Park Racetrack July 24. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University are invited to enjoy a day at the track in the Reserved Picnic Area. In addition to betting on the horses, this family-friendly event will include a picnic barbecue, playground, live music and more. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Tickets for adults 13 and over will cost $26, tickets for children ages 6-12 will cost $13, and children under 6 will receive free admission. 

To register, visit this link. 

On June 27, the University honored Tony Rice, Notre Dame legend and quarterback of the 1988 National Championship Team, with the 2022 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey.

The event raised more than $100,000 for Scranton Athletics. Quandel Construction Group served as the event’s title sponsor. To see photos from the event, visit this link.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Dave Martin, executive director of Athletics at the University and the event’s master of ceremonies, prior to the beginning of the meal. “Thanks to all the incredible support in this room, we once again were able to exceed our goals.”

Martin then introduced the evening’s speakers: Bridget Monaghan ’24, a three-year starter on the Lady Royals majoring in business administration; the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., the twenty-ninth president of The University of Scranton; and basketball legend P.J. Carlesimo, the eldest son of the former University athletic director the award is named after. 

“My experience as a member of the Lady Royals will be something I will cherish forever,” Monaghan said. “Thank you for all that you do for Scranton Athletics.” 

Father Marina spoke next, sharing some of the 2021-2022 academic year’s athletic highlights. 

“We gather here to celebrate our players, our student-athletes and our wonderful staff who had another incredibly successful year in the Landmark Conference and the NCAA,” he said. “We captured three conference championships and saw four teams advance to the national tournament. Twenty-one out of 23 teams participated in post-season play. That’s amazing. We continued to strengthen and enhance the Royal Way program, which provides a glimpse into the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola from an athlete’s perspective.”

After dinner, Carlesimo said his father would have appreciated honoring Rice.

“Tony, he legitimately would be thrilled, more so for what you’ve done off the field,” he said. “You were a great, great player, but what you’ve done since graduation at Notre Dame (is) even more impressive.”

After receiving the award, Rice expressed his gratitude for a number of significant people in his life, including the grandmother who raised him, legendary Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz, and Jim ’90 and Kerry ’90 Conmy, who serve with Rice on the Board of Directors of Patrick’s Pals Foundation, a nonprofit that provides children and young adults with multiple disabilities with equipment and therapies. The Conmys founded Patrick’s Pals in honor of their son, Patrick, a 19-year-old boy who was born with many special needs which left him unable to do many things for himself.

“For me to get this award, it’s not about me, it’s about someone that pointed me in the right direction,” Rice said. “They gave me an opportunity to do something with myself.”

Near the end of his remarks, Rice gestured to the purple Scranton baseball cap he had been wearing since he received the award and made a surprising admission.

“I’ve never worn any hat of another college, just Notre Dame,” he said. “Notre Dame will be there forever, Scranton will be there forever, too.

“Go Royals, go Irish, let’s go Scranton.”

 

About the honoree

Tony Rice made a name for himself on the gridiron while leading Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and finishing his career a year later with a 31-4 record as the signal caller for the Fighting Irish. He was named an All-American and the recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top upperclassmen quarterback following his senior season.

Rice piloted Notre Dame to a perfect 12-0 record and the school’s eighth national title in 1988, capped by the top-ranked Fighting Irish defeating third-ranked West Virginia 34-21 in the Fiesta Bowl with Rice passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 75 rushing yards en route to sharing MVP honors with teammate Frank Stams.

A year later, Rice nearly led the Irish to a second straight national title, but a loss to Miami in late November was Notre Dame’s only blemish on the season. The Irish rebounded to knock off top-ranked Colorado, 21-6, in the Orange Bowl with Rice tallying 149 total yards in his final collegiate game. Notre Dame finished the season ranked second in the nation.

Playing for legendary head coach Lou Holtz, Rice finished his career with 3,273 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, and 2,049 yards and 23 touchdowns as one of the best option quarterbacks in college football history.

After completing his college career, Rice played one season for the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, two seasons with the Barcelona Dragons of the World League and one season for Munich Thunder in the Football League of Europe in 1994.

Off the field, Rice has served on the board of the Patrick’s Pals Foundation for several years.  Since its founding, Patrick’s Pals has raised more than $1 million to help families in need.

A native of South Carolina who now lives in Chicago, Rice is also active in the D.A.R.E. program, working to keep kids off drugs and away from gangs and violent behavior. He works closely with Pop Warner youth football teams, making visits and speaking to young athletes. He’s also involved in the annual Walter Camp Weekend, where current and former stars gather to celebrate Walter Camp’s legacy and complete community service work, including virtual hospital visits.

Rice also remains active at Notre Dame and in the South Bend area, regularly participating in Notre Dame alumni events while also working with the Center for the Homeless in South Bend and South Bend LOGAN Community Resources, Inc., which serves adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

About the event

Since 2011, the Peter A. Carlesimo Award has been presented to someone who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Golf Tournament & Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at The University of Scranton. For more information, visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward.

 

Hundreds of Royals returned to campus to make new memories with old friends at Reunion 2022 June 11-12. Visit this link to see photos from the celebration.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, recently presented at Northeast PA Trial Lawyers Association’s Personal Injury Seminar on “Auto Law Update and the Impact of New Joint and Several Liability Case Law PLUS Using Electronic Evidence to Prove your Case.”

Richard W. Peuser ’86, G’87, Brookeville, Maryland, became the director, Processing and Release Division, National Declassification Center, Archives II, College Park, Maryland, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in September 2021. Peuser began his career at NARA in July 1988.

Jennifer Miller Koehl, VMD '04, State College, was appointed assistant teaching professor and program coordinator for the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences undergraduate major at the Pennsylvania State University.

Erica Fischer-Cartlidge ’06, Springfield, New Jersey, was appointed to the role of chief clinical officer of the Oncology Nursing Society.

Lauren E. Lefevre ’10, Ewing, New Jersey, joined the firm Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli Tipton & Taylor LLC in their Education Law and Municipal Law Practices Group. Lefevre assists school board and municipal clients in a wide range of matters including day-to-day legal issues, labor and employment, discipline and harassment, governance, OPRA, and public contracting,

Zachary R. Morano ’15, Wayne, has joined the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin as an associate in the firm’s Real Estate and Land Use Department.

Lorenzo Antonio Singotti ’17, Duryea, recently graduated from Marywood University with a Master of Social Work degree. Singotti recently accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a social worker in the Emergency Department at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center.

 

MARRIAGES

Elizabeth McCabe ’14 to William Stallone ’14

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Sofia Lucy, to William ’08 and Ashley Miller Colona ’09, Teaneck, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

John M. O’Connor ’51, Falmouth, Massachusetts
Joseph N. Demko, Sr., M.D. ’54, Scranton
Robert F. Duffy ’57, Rockville, Maryland
Robert T. Kelly ’58, H’93, Jessup
John F. Callahan, D.O.’60, Dallas
Timothy L. Curtin ’60, Scranton
John F. Lepkowski ’60, Liverpool, New York
Francis R. Zuleski ’62, West Chester
Joseph R. McDonald ’72, Clarks Summit
Thomas J. Egan, D.D.S. ’65, Silver Spring, Maryland
Karl Kempter ’65, Scranton
William G. Maile ’84, Carbondale
David R. Hudachek ’02, Eagleville

 

 

BECOME A FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY MEMBER – FREE “NEW GRADUATE MEMBERSHIP”

The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library invite 2022 graduates to a FREE membership from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023.

Benefits of becoming a Friends member include a 10% discount (excluding textbooks) to the University of Scranton Bookstore, invitations to Friends of the Library special events, and many more.

To claim your free membership visit this link.

The University of Scranton will hold Reunion Weekend June 11-12. To register, visit this link. 

Royals from all class years are invited to attend this year's celebration, which will be the first in-person Reunion since the start of the pandemic in 2020. The schedule of events will be as follows:

Saturday, June 11

Special Constituency Reunions
11 a.m.
Locations TBD

Hanging in Houlihan (Band and Singers)

Rainbow Royals

SJLA

All-Class Family Picnic
12:30 - 3 p.m.
Founder's Green

Enjoy a picnic lunch and plenty of fun with your friends at this crowd-pleasing, family-friendly event! Entertainment will include a DJ, yard games, ice cream truck, bounce house and more. Visit this link for a preview of the All-Class Family Picnic menu. Adult tickets will cost $30, and tickets for children ages 5-18 will cost $15; children under 5 will be admitted for free.

Saturday Evening Celebration

6 - 10 p.m.
The DeNaples Center Patio & Dionne Green

You and your classmates will be treated to an evening of food, spirits and dancing. Visit this link for a preview of the Saturday Evening Celebration menu. Tickets will cost $50. If you are registered for the Saturday Evening Celebration, you can request housing for yourself and up to three other people. All members of your party must register and pay for the celebration before you will be assigned a room. 

Sunday, June 12

Reunion Weekend Mass
9:30 a.m.
Madonna della Strada Chapel

 

Brunch On Your Own
10 a.m. - noon
Fresh Food Company, 3rd Floor of The DeNaples Center

Brunch will be available for all attendees and their guests for a fee that will be collected upon arrival.

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Class of 1972 Special Events

In addition to the events listed above, the University will hold a few special events for the members of The Class of 1972 and their guests.

Friday, June 10 

Class Dinner and 50-Year Medal Ceremony
6 p.m.
Location TBD

Includes dinner, cocktails, and the 50-year medal ceremony.

Saturday, June 11

Class of 1972 Memorial
10 a.m.
Chapel of the Sacred Heart

Visit the Chapel of the Sacred Heart to witness a memorial honoring the deceased members of the Class of 1972.

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For more information on Reunion Weekend, visit scranton.edu/reunion. 

The University of Scranton will hold the Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner on June 27 at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey. The University will honor Tony Rice, Notre Dame legend and quarterback for the 1988 National Championship Team, with the Peter A. Carlesimo Award. To register, visit this link. 

The University is proud to partner once again with the Quandel Construction Group as Title Sponsor for this year's event. Registration and lunch will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at noon; a reception will begin at 5 p.m., and the Award Dinner will immediately follow.

The Golf Tournament and Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at The University of Scranton. For more information about this event, please visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward or contact Eric Eckenrode at eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu.

On June 10, John O’Malley ’87, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Retired, will embark upon ROAR: The Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride for the fourth time by participating in The Tour Divide, an annual ultra-distance cycling race that sees participants traverse the length of the Rocky Mountains from Alberta, Canada, to the US/Mexico border in New Mexico, in support of the Ryan T. O’Malley ’99 Memorial Scholarship.

After Ryan's passing in 2011, his family established the scholarship in his memory to enable Computer Science students of limited resources with an interest in fitness to attend The University of Scranton. Since that time, Ryan's family and friends have raised more than $150,000 for the scholarship, much of it through ROAR: The Ryan O'Malley Annual Race, a 5K fundraising event the family organized from 2013-2017. In 2018, John, Ryan’s brother, embarked upon the inaugural ROAR: The Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride by cycling the 500+ miles of The Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango in Ryan’s memory. While John rode The Colorado Trail again for ROAR in 2019 and 2020, he was sidelined by injuries and knee surgery in 2021. This year, he is looking forward to riding for “family, community and the well-being of others.”

“I ride to remember and honor our brother, Ryan,” he said. “I ride to give back in some way to the community who nurtured us. Through the ROAR and Ryan’s scholarship, we help to provide students with limited financial resources the opportunity to attend The University of Scranton.

“I ride to promote physical and mental well-being. If I can inspire anyone to get outside and exercise, it’s a win.”

A Lifelong Love

John’s love of cycling and adventure began when he was growing up in the Green Ridge section of Scranton.

“Bikes were a big deal back then, and if you had one, you were a lucky kid,” he said. “ For me, the bike became an instrument of exploration, discovery and freedom.”

As the oldest child of John J. O’Malley, Ph.D. ’64, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University, and his wife, Helene, John shared his love of cycling with his five siblings, especially Ryan, his youngest brother.

“As a kid, time and distance had little meaning,” he said of the hours they spent exploring the NEPA area together. “We’d just ride, inspired by the adventure and the natural beauty of the region.”

Upon graduating from the University, John began his military career in Ft. Carson, Colorado, where he started racing mountain bikes. Since then, he has continued to ride and race, competing in triathlons and adventure races throughout the country. When he and his family settled in Monument, Colorado, he became so inspired by the expanses and terrain he saw on two wheels that he proposed the idea of funding Ryan’s scholarship through an annual bike ride, and the rest, as they say, is history.  

The Tour Divide

The Tour Divide follows the 2,745-mile “Great Divide Mountain Bike Route,” a 90% off-road trail that follows the Continental Divide through Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. Established by the Adventure Cycling Association in 1998, it is considered the most important off-pavement cycling route in the world.

The Tour Divide’s race clock runs 24 hours a day, and the self-supported riders aren’t allowed any outside help other than the ability to access public facilities along the way that are available to everyone. Participating cyclists must carry their camping equipment, food and water through long stretches of remote mountain wilderness, pristine river valleys, open grassland and desert while risking injury, mechanical failure, treacherous weather and encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife.

John plans to complete The Tour Divide in about 30 days by riding 85-100+ miles a day, and he estimates he’ll have to consume a minimum of 300-400 calories an hour to sustain this effort.

“Competing in The Tour Divide is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “I am blessed to have the time, resources, health and support of my family to take on such an endeavor.  I’m going to give it my best shot and make it to the Mexican Border.

“I hope to inspire others to get outside, stay healthy and live life to the fullest, just like Ryan would.”

John said he attributes any success in cycling and in his life in general to his upbringing, to the time he spent on the gridiron and ball fields of Scranton, and to his time at the University.

“The work ethic, values and grit instilled in me at a young age has carried me through challenging times in the military and in sport and adventure,” he said. “My experience at the University and the long hours spent in the ROTC program and the weight room set me up for success in life.

“The people who raised, coached and nurtured me while growing up in Scranton are my greatest life heroes. The University of Scranton was truly our home away from home.”

To support the Ryan O’Malley Annual Ride and Ryan’s scholarship, visit this link. To track John’s progress on The Tour Divide, visit this link.

The Scranton Club of New York will meet at Yankee Stadium Aug. 17 to watch the New York Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The game will begin at 7:05 p.m., and gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The club will hold a pre-game reception on the Budweiser Party Deck featuring 90 minutes of food, draft beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, all of which will be included in the price of admission. Tickets will cost $75. 

To register, visit this link. 

The Scranton Club of New Jersey will host a Day At The Races at Monmouth Park Racetrack July 24. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University are invited to enjoy a day at the track in the Reserved Picnic Area. In addition to betting on the horses, this family-friendly event will include a picnic barbecue, playground, live music and more. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Tickets for adults 13 and over will cost $26, tickets for children ages 6-12 will cost $13, and children under 6 will receive free admission. 

To register, visit this link. 

The Scranton Club of NEPA will meet up to watch the Railriders take on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs June 5 at PNC Field. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University are invited to attend the game, which will begin at 1:05 p.m. Gates will open at noon. Tickets will cost $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 3-17, and children 2 and under will be admitted for free. To register, visit this link.  

The Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley will meet up to watch the Iron Pigs take on the Norfolk Tides June 24 at Coca-Cola Park. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University are invited to attend the game, which will begin at 7:05 p.m. Tickets will be seated in Section 118. Visit this link to register for $11, which includes $2 in ballpark credit. For more information, contact alumni@scranton.edu. 

The Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley will hold a miniature golf tournament Saturday, June 4, at 5 p.m. at Putt U, 5201 PA-309, Center Valley, PA.

Royals will gather at the Putt U Pavilion, which adjoins both the red and blue courses, to begin their evening of summertime fun. Tickets will cost $7.50 for adults and $6.50 for children under 12 and adults over 62. After the tournament, attendees can plan to meet at Copperhead Grille, 5737 PA-378, Bethlehem, PA, for an informal post-tournament gathering. 

To register, visit this link. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, of Munley Law, was named to the 2022 Lawdragon 500 “Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers List.”

Lisa Witowski Shearman ’89, Lansdale, a partner in the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, was recently interviewed on “Legal Talk with Stacy Clark TV” (MLTV21-Main Line Network). In the interview, Sherman covered the importance of everyone having a will and other estate planning documents up-to-date and in place, including a Financial Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney and an Advance Medical Directive. Sherman was selected to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list in the area of Estate Planning and Probate law.

Daniel W. Munley ’90, Waverly, of Munley Law, was named to the 2022 Lawdragon 500 “Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers List.”

Brett Lapinski ’93, Elk Grove, California, was promoted to director of Medi-Cal Regulatory Oversight Operations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in January 2022. In her role, Brett is accountable for activities throughout Kaiser Permanente related to Medicaid regulations and contract requirements and ensuring quality, affordable and accessible member care. Lapinski also earned her national board certification in Informatics Nursing.

Brian J. Gavin ’00, Alexandria, Virginia, senior vice president of communications and marketing for Volunteers of America, has earned his CFRE certification from Certified Fundraising Executive International. Established in 1981, CFRE is the only globally recognized fundraising certification and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute as the only accredited certification for fundraising professionals.

Colin J. O’Boyle ’04, Plymouth Meeting, a shareholder at Elliott Greenleaf PC in Blue Bell, was honored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Young Lawyers Division with its Michael K. Smith Excellence in Service Award at an awards ceremony during the PBA Annual Meeting in May 2022. The award is presented to a Pennsylvania young lawyer who, through his or her exemplary personal and professional conduct, reminds lawyers of their professional and community responsibilities.

Father Henry Graebe ’09, Jackson, New Jersey, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on May 21, 2022.

Jonathan B. Schall ’13 has joined Fox Rothschild LLP in Philadelphia as an associate in the Corporate and Health Law Practices.

 

BIRTHS

A son, Russell Walter, to William and Leigh Magnotta Fennie'11, G'19, Scranton

 

DEATHS

Stanley J. Burke ’50, Port Carbon
Roman Salamon ’57, Susquehanna
James J. Miskell ’60, Bardstown, Kentucky
J. Brian Durkin ’71, Philadelphia
Gregory A. Nelson ’86, Wyoming

 

FRIENDS/FAMILY DEATHS

Brian Leahy, husband of Susan Paige Leahy ’91 and brother of Michael Leahy ’05 

 

The University of Scranton will offer a new Master’s Degree in Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity in a fully online format that will focus on the criminological aspects of the much-in-demand field.

In addition, the graduate degree program is aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, which consists of standards, guidelines and best practices to manage cybersecurity risk. The program, which will be offered starting in the fall of 2022, will help prepare students for various professional certifications by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, such as Certified Ethical Hacker and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator.

“The field of cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity is growing rapidly as malicious attacks to information systems at the local, regional, national and international level become more frequent and detrimental to individuals and organizations who have become increasingly dependent upon the use of technology,” said Michael Jenkins, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Criminology at The University of Scranton. “Many new and existing higher education programs in this field focus heavily on the computer science discipline, however, to prevent cyber threats today, we also need professionals who fully understand cybercriminal’s motivations, goals, behaviors, methods of intrusions and manipulations.”

The University’s new 30-credit Master’s Degree in Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity program courses include Cyber Criminology and Criminal Justice, Digital Forensics Investigation, Mobile Forensics, Cyber Defense and Cyber Risk Assessment and Management, among others. The program will leverage the University’s partnership with Jacobs, through which the international defense and security firm will advise Scranton on the fast-changing field to support and keep current the cyber-related undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Jacobs will also be a source of job placement for University graduates.

Dr. Jenkins said graduates of the program can work for small or large businesses, as well as for government agencies or nonprofit organizations. Positions in this field include cybercrime investigator, digital forensic examiner or cybersecurity specialist.

“Job reports continue to project a national and worldwide shortage of cyber-related workers. With the cyber-related global workforce expected to rise to 6 million professionals by 2030, a 1.5 million shortfall is predicted for this workforce,” said Dr. Jenkins.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics employment for cybersecurity analysts will increase by 28 percent between 2016 and 2026, and employment for digital forensic analysts is expected to increase by 32 percent between 2018 and 2028. Both rates are higher than the average growth rate for all other professionals.

According to PayScale.com, information security officers, a position for which master’s degrees are often preferred or required, earn an annual median salary of $92,000.

The new master’s degree program will be housed in the University’s Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Criminology.

The University began offering a Bachelor of Science in Cybercrime and Homeland Security in the fall of 2020. Both undergraduate and graduate students in these programs have access to hands-on programming and research opportunities offered through the University’s Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime.

For additional information, email Dr. Jenkins at Michael.jenkins@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton will celebrate 5.06, its eighth annual Day of Giving, on Friday, May 6, by attempting to reach its goal of 2,022 donors before 5.07 begins.

There are many ways to participate in the 5.06 fun, including wearing purple, posting fond Scranton memories and photos on social media using #TGI506, #GiveToScrantOn506 and #Royals4Others, and making a gift to the campus fund of your choice. Jim Slattery ’86, current chair of the Board of Trustees, will match the first $25,000 donated to The Opening Doors Scholarship, a new scholarship serving graduates of the Cristo Rey Network of High Schools, Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago, and other similar institutions who have demonstrated financial need by closing the gap of any unmet financial needs after all other sources of financial aid and scholarships have been determined.

“My experience at the University was nothing short of transformational,” Slattery said. “I think those of us that attended here should do what we can to enable Cristo Rey students who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to have the same experience that we did.”

Alumni, parents and friends of the University can also register for this year’s Virtual 5.06K, a virtual exercise challenge that invites participants to exercise in any way prior to 5.07. All Virtual 506K participants will automatically be counted as 5.06 donors, and they can designate their registration fees to the University cause of their choice.

All 5.06 donors will receive a University of Scranton pennant as a token of our appreciation. To make your 5.06 gift, visit this link or text Scranton50622 to 71777. To register for the Virtual 5.06K, visit this link. For more information on 5.06.22, visit scranton.edu/506.

The Scranton Club of New Jersey will host a Day At The Races at Monmouth Park Racetrack July 24. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University are invited to enjoy a day at the track in the Reserved Picnic Area. In addition to betting on the horses, this family-friendly event will include a picnic barbecue, playground, live music and more.

Registration will open in June. Contact alumni@scranton.edu for more information. 

The Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley will meet up and watch the Iron Pigs take on the Norfolk Tides June 24 at Coca-Cola Park. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University are invited to attend the game, which will begin at 7:05 p.m. Tickets will be seated in Section 118. Visit this link to register for $11, which includes $2 in ballpark credit. For more information, contact alumni@scranton.edu. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

John G. Harris ’73, Harrisburg, received the Central Pennsylvania Music Awards (CPMA) Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award (The Whitey Noll Award) at this year’s CPMAs and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on March 24. In a career that spans more than four decades, Harris has worn almost every hat in the regional music industry scene except musician. Harris started his career by scouting and booking bands as a nightclub manager and then became fully engaged in the business as a manager/promoter/talent buyer at the Metron. He was also an associate producer at Makoul Productions (City Island Concerts) and manager of several bands. He re-defined the role of middle-agent for decades at venues throughout Central Pennsylvania and worked with the city of Harrisburg on events such as  Reservoir Park, July 4, Kipona, ArtsFest, and concerts on Market Square. While manager of the Best Western Conference Center & Courtyard Night Club (New Cumberland), he started the annual Millennium Music Conference (MMC) & Showcase. MMC went on for 25 years and at its height would sell out hotels and host over 100 music industry professionals and 300 acts and artists showcasing at 30 live music venues in and around Harrisburg. In 2008, Harris started the Singer-Songwriter of Cape May Conference (New Jersey) which ran for 12 years until the pandemic. Harris is currently the Talent Buyer at XL LIVE and Production Manager for Harrisburg University Presents.

Althea Penn, Ed.D. G’13, Snellville, Georgia, is the new director of Early Education at The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Dr. Penn brings more than 30 years of experience in organization leadership as well as primary and secondary education to ACSI, most recently serving as executive director of The Shepherd’s Academy for Teaching Excellence in Snellville, Georgia. She has served thousands of educators, administrators and schools as an educational consultant and professional development specialist. Penn will lead the ACSI EE team in developing biblically-based resources and providing professional development to support early educators. She collaborates with other departments to carry out initiatives in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan, including the integration of current research for ECE program practices. As a principal, Dr. Penn was awarded Ford's Freedom Unsung Teacher Hero of COVID-19 Award for courageously launching an EE-12th school during the pandemic.

Michael D. Azzato ’17, Harrisburg, was hired as a tax staff accountant at Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz, Camp Hill.

 

MARRIAGES

Alicia Yanac, D.O. ’10 to Tom Robinson

 

BIRTHS

 

A daughter, Isabella Antonia, to Nicholas’13, G’15 and Christina Walsh Minissale’15, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Claire Lukaschek, mother of Mary Claire Lukaschek Aitken ’82 and mother-in-law of Linda Green Lukaschek ’83

Mary Pearn, mother of James Pearn ’78 and Francis Pearn ’83; grandmother of Brian Pearn ’16

The University of Scranton will hold the Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner June 27 at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey. The University will honor Tony Rice, Notre Dame legend and quarterback for the 1988 National Championship Team, with the Peter A. Carlesimo Award. To register, visit this link. 

The University is proud to partner once again with the Quandel Construction Group as Title Sponsor for this year's event. Registration and lunch will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at noon; a reception will begin at 5 p.m., and the Award Dinner will immediately follow.

The Golf Tournament and Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at The University of Scranton. For more information about this event, please visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward or contact Eric Eckenrode at eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu.

Registration has opened for Reunion 2022, which will take place June 11-12.

To register, visit this link. Visit scranton.edu/reunion for more information. 

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) will hold a luncheon and information session discussing volunteer opportunities for people aged 50 and above Tuesday, May 24, at noon in the McDonnell Room on the DeNaples Center's fourth floor.

The event will give attendees the chance to learn firsthand about the IVC NEPA Chapter from local volunteers and Teddy Michel, region director of IVC NEPA. To register, visit this link. 

The IVC provides men and women, most aged 50 or above, with opportunities to share their life skills and wisdom in service to people who are underserved. IVC provides a dynamic equilibrium of action and reflection for individuals desiring to make a difference in the lives of those needing service, those doing service, and those with whom they serve.

The University of Scranton was ranked among Fortune’s “Best Online MBA Programs” listing, placing at No. 62 in the nation. This is the second year of the ranking by Fortune and is also the second year Fortune included Scranton among America’s “Best Online MBA Programs.”

For the ranking, Fortune looked at the quality of the online MBA program at the colleges as measured by their students’ average undergraduate GPA and GMAT score, the number of students enrolled, the colleges’ first-year retention rate and its graduation rate, which accounted for 62.5 percent of the overall ranking score. Fortune partnered with Ipsos to survey 2,500 business professionals and hiring managers to produce a measurement of the “brand appeal” of the college, or “how much a group of people want to recruit from the university” (20 percent). Fortune also counted the number of Fortune 1000 executives who earned an MBA from the college (17.5 percent).

Fortune’s “Best Online MBA Programs” ranking was published online on April 6.

Scranton was also ranked at No. 55 in the nation in Fortune’s 2021-2022 listing of the “Best Part-time MBA Programs.”

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 55; and its online MBA program at No. 98 in the nation in its “Best Online Programs” guide. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 65 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”

The University will hold a Survivorship Ceremony at this year’s Relay For Life in the Long Center lobby April 29 at 5 p.m.

The Relay For Life movement is dedicated to helping communities attack cancer. The Survivorship Ceremony is an opportunity for cancer survivors to discuss their experiences over a meal. Alumni cancer survivors are invited to attend this year’s ceremony and can bring up to two guests to the event, which will include dinner provided by Relay For Life. They are also invited to attend the Relay For Life, which will begin immediately after the Survivorship Ceremony.

To register for the Survivorship Ceremony, email rebecca.reynolds@scranton.edu by April 14. To register for the Relay For Life, visit this link.

The President’s Business Council (PBC) will present President’s Medals to Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P17,’19 and Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19 at its 21^st Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

“We are very hopeful that this year will continue to progress in a way that will allow us to safely celebrate our honorees, the University, and our students in person in late September,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “We have two wonderful honorees whose resumés include assisting countless Scranton alumni with charting their own career success.”

Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17,’19 is the global chief talent officer for the Havas Group, one of the world's largest global communications groups founded in 1835 in Paris and part of the Vivendi Group. Ms. Clarke is responsible for leading the talent and cultural strategy for the group’s 20,000+ employees in over 100 countries. During her time at Havas, she has built a talent management approach that includes initiatives on network mobility, high-potential leadership development, women’s leadership advancement, global employee engagement, employer branding, global diversity, equity and inclusion and wellness.

Prior to joining Havas, Ms. Clarke ran her own consulting business with a focus on helping private equity-backed companies develop their talent management capabilities. She also had a 20-year stint at Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), where she was chief human resources officer for 9 years and also ran global internal communications. She led D&B to industry honors as one of Fortune Magazine’s “Most Admired Companies.”

Ms. Clarke earned a bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1986. She is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a former member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board and the Parents’ Executive Council (PEC). She is also a former chair of the PBC and created the PBC/Kania School of Management Career Coaches Program, in which she remains a mentor to current University students. She and her husband, David, reside in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and have five children.

Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19 is a co-founder and the current chief executive officer and president of SumRidge Partners, LLC, based in Jersey City, N.J. Formed in 2010, SumRidge Partners is a top-ranked electronic fixed income market maker specializing in high-yield, investment-grade corporate bonds, municipal bonds, institutional preferred securities, and emerging market bonds.

Prior to launching SumRidge Partners, Mr. O’Brien was co-head of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Capital Markets division and was also a member of the firm’s management and risk committees; during his time in those roles, he was instrumental in building and developing the retail capital markets division into an industry leader. Previously, he was head of Morgan Stanley’s retail fixed income trading, which included U.S. credit, rates and municipal bond trading. He began his career with Dean Witter as an institutional MBS trader and subsequently traded various fixed income products; later, he took responsibility for risk management oversight of several product lines.

Mr. O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree of economics/finance from the University in 1986 and a master of business administration from Fordham University. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, where he served as vice chairman, and a former chair of the PBC. Today, he acts as a mentor to current University students and frequently teaches in the fixed income securities and markets course, which he co-developed with the late Frank Corcione, Ph.D., and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., G’84. Mr. O’Brien resides in Basking Ridge, N.J., with his wife, Denise, and their three sons.

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and who personify the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Since its inaugural dinner in 2002, the PBC has generated nearly $20 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Planning for this year's dinner, including an in-person Dinner Kickoff Reception in New York City, is ongoing. For more information on this year's events or the PBC, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu. 

Registration has opened for Reunion 2022, which will take place June 11-12.

To register, visit this link. Visit scranton.edu/reunion for more information. 

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) will hold a luncheon and information session discussing volunteer opportunities for people aged 50 and above Tuesday, May 24, at noon in the McDonnell Room on the DeNaples Center's fourth floor.

The event will give attendees the chance to learn firsthand about the IVC NEPA Chapter from local volunteers and Teddy Michel, region director of IVC NEPA. To register, visit this link. 

The IVC provides men and women, most aged 50 or above, with opportunities to share their life skills and wisdom in service to people who are underserved. IVC provides a dynamic equilibrium of action and reflection for individuals desiring to make a difference in the lives of those needing service, those doing service, and those with whom they serve. 

 

The Alumni Society of The University of Scranton will hold its annual Day of Service Saturday, April 23. 

Each year, alumni throughout the nation honor the University's mission by volunteering with their fellow Royals in their home regions. 

Register today for the following service projects:

Massachusetts
Boston - Cradles to Crayons, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to register

New Jersey
Hillside - Community Food Bank of New Jersey, 9 - 11 a.m.
Click here to register

New York
New York City - Cardinal Spellman Center-Meatloaf Kitchen, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Click here to register

Stony Brook - Cooking for Long Island Vets,10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
This event is at full capacity. Please email alumni@scranton.edu to be placed on a wait list.

Pennsylvania
Harrisburg - Central PA Food Bank, 9 a.m. - noon (THIS SITE WILL BE VOLUNTEERING ON APRIL 9)
Click here to register

Jefferson Township (NEPA) - Jefferson Elementary School, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Click here to register

Philadelphia - Cradles to Crayons, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Click here to register

Scranton - Center for Service and Social Justice Arrupe House, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to register

Washington, D.C.
Alexandria, Virginia - Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to register

Connecticut - Coming Soon

Check www.scranton.edu/dayofservice for emerging details.

No service site in your region?

Volunteer in your community Saturday, April 23 and tell us about! Download and print this Scranton sign and send a picture or email us the information at alumni@scranton.edu.

The University has received a gift from an anonymous donor that will establish The Edward R. Leahy Award in honor of Edward R. Leahy ’68, H’01 in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to and passion for helping leaders and institutions dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of people with disabilities and other health challenges.

The Award will be given annually to a rising junior or rising senior student in the Panuska College of Professional Studies at The University of Scranton who has not only achieved academic excellence in his or her field of study, but who has also participated in related extracurricular activities and demonstrated the commitment and promise to become a model leader in the field.

The Edward R. Leahy Award will be accompanied by an annual prize of $1,000 funded from the donor’s contribution. The Award recipient will be selected by the Dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

The University will hold its annual Pre-Law Advisory Program Banquet in Brennan Hall's Rose Room Monday, May 2, at 6 p.m.

The evening includes dinner, cocktails, and plenty of opportunities for students, faculty and alumni lawyers to connect with each other. It will also feature a keynote address by the Hon. Paul B. Matey ’93, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

To register, visit this link. Attendees are encouraged to wear either business attire or business casual attire. Please RSVP by April 25. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

James A. Noone ’66, Fairfax, Virginia, has been elected as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Maritime Historical Society. Noone is a retired managing director of the nationwide public affairs/government relations firm Mercury and is also a retired Navy Reserve captain with 39 years of active and reserve service.

Brian J. Gavin ’00, Alexandria, Virginia, senior vice president of Communications and Marketing for Volunteers of America, has earned his CFRE certification from Certified Fundraising Executive International.

Gregory W. Carman ’15, Farmingdale, New York, is an associate in Forchelli Deegan Terrana’s Land Use & Zoning, Litigation, Cannabis and Condominium, Cooperative and HOA practice groups. As an associate, Carman represents commercial and residential clients across Long Island to secure zoning changes, subdivision approvals, site plan approvals, variances, road abandonments, and special use permits.

 

BIRTHS

A son, Leo Fox, to Samantha Morales ’10 and Anthony Mercado ’09, Ridgewood, New York

 

DEATHS

Robert M. Pron ’56, Scranton
Robert R. Newton, Ph.D. ’57, Newport, Rhode Island
Patrick G. Cawley ’60, Pittston
James J. McKane ’60, G’72, Archbald
Henry P. Burke ’64, Dunmore
Thomas P. Haggerty ’65, Scranton
John J. Gower ’66, Pen Argyl
W. Donald White ’66, San Antonio, Texas
James M. Sysko ’77, G’84, Scranton
Thomas J. Nardone ’83, Pittston
Robert F. Ruddy, Jr. ’83, Dunmore
Joyce A. Knott ’95, Scranton
Jacquelyn Cantore Pane ’00, G’01, Lexington, North Carolina
Annemarie McInerney Scully ’02, Lynbrook, New York

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

 Marion Moran, mother of Alison Moran ’91

The University of Scranton hosted alumnus Neal Thompson ’87 for a discussion and book signing for his latest book, “The First Kennedys: The Humble Roots of An American Dynasty.” The book details the Kennedy family’s flight from the Ireland potato famine and their later actualization of the American Dream.

The event was cosponsored by The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities and the History Department.

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Several of The University of Scranton’s graduate programs ranked among the best in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 edition of “Best Graduate Schools.”

Scranton’s MBA Specialty in accounting ranked No. 14 in the nation, tying with Harvard University, Arizona State University and Ohio State University in the U.S. News full-time MBA program ranking. Scranton’s MBA specialty programs in business analytics ranked No. 29 and finance ranked No. 34 in America in the ranking published by U.S. News online March 29.

In addition to the program specialty rankings, Scranton’s graduate program in nursing ranked No. 95 and its part-time MBA program ranked No. 100 out of all such programs nationally.

For the graduate school rankings, U.S. News uses data gathered by surveys of college faculty and administrators, and for nursing programs, from professionals working in health care, to assess the quality of programs. U.S. News also uses statistical data such as faculty student ratios and student test scores. The U.S. News ranking of the Best Graduate Schools Ranking by MBA Specialties is based solely on ratings by business school deans and directors of AACSB-accredited MBA programs.

The University’s graduate-level business programs include a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Science in Finance (MSF). Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in general management or with a specialization in accounting, business analytics, finance, healthcare management, international business, management information systems, marketing and operations management. The University also offers combined/accelerated bachelor’s and master’s level programs including accounting BS/MBA, operations management BS/MBA, finance BS/MBA, management BS/MBA, and College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor’s/MBA, and other programs.

Graduate nursing degrees offered by Scranton include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN, and post-master’s certificate; Executive Nursing Leadership, M.S.N; and Nurse Anesthesia, DNP, and an accelerated MSN degree program.

All of the University’s graduate programs hold the highest national accreditation within each discipline, including accreditation by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) for business and accreditation by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for nursing and Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) for nurse anesthesia.

Earlier this year, U.S. News’ “Best Online Programs” publication ranked the University’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 55 and its online MBA program at No. 98 in the nation. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 65 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”

In other rankings published by U.S. News, Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 28 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 5 in the 2022 edition of the guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.”

Neal Thompson, a 1987 University of Scranton graduate, will return to campus to discuss his new book, “The First Kennedys: The Humble Roots of An American Dynasty,” on March 30 at 5 p.m. lecture. The book is the story of the first Kennedys escaped the potato famine of Ireland and came to America in the mid-1800s.

Bridget Murphy and Patrick Kennedy arrived in America penniless, hungry and hopeful, like many thousands of mid-1800s immigrants. They met, married, and had five children together, losing their first-born son as an infant. Three years later, Patrick became ill and died of consumption. This left Bridget – JFK’s tenacious great-grandmother – to raise four children single-handedly in the slums of East Boston.

“I wanted to find a story that told many stories. I wanted to explore the origins of the Kennedy family in America. I wanted to understand Irish immigration in America. I wanted to understand life for Irish immigrants in the 1800s, which was when Bridget (Murphy Kennedy) came here,” said Thompson about his book during a recent interview published by the JFK Library.

In “The First Kennedys,” Thompson highlights Bridget’s ability to overcome both discrimination and poverty to maintain her family and clear a path for her only son P.J. to become the first of many Kennedys elected to public office.

The grandson of an Irish immigrant couple, also named Bridget and Patrick, Thompson is the author of five highly acclaimed books, including “A Curious Man,” “Driving with the Devil” and “Kickflip Boys.” A former newspaper reporter, Thompson has written for The New York Times, Washington Post, Outside, Esquire, Backpacker, Vanity Fair and The Wall Street Journal.

Thompson will sign copies of his book prior to his talk, from 4:30 to 5 p.m. on the 4^th floor of the DeNaples Center, and immediately following his discussion, which begins at 5 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater in the DeNaples Center.

The event is cosponsored by The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities and the History Department, and is free to University students, faculty, staff and guests from the greater Scranton community. Health and safety protocols that are in effect on March 30 as outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by those in attendance.

For more information about the lecture of book signing, email david.dzurec@scranton.edu or call 570-941-7561.

The 12^th annual Shamrockin’ Eve will return to the Byron Center Friday, March 11, at 8:30 p.m.

The event will unite alumni from the classes of 2018-2021 with current seniors to celebrate one of Scranton's favorite traditions. Featuring food, drinks, a DJ, a photo booth, and a sea of green t-shirts, Shamrockin’ Eve will truly be a night to remember.

Alumni can register online through Friday, March 11, at 9 a.m.; alumni may also register as walk-ins at the event for $40. Seniors must register online for $30 by March 11 at 9 a.m. as senior walk-ins will not be admitted. To see a list of registrants, visit this link. All attendees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and the event will follow the health and safety protocols outlined in the Royals Back Together plan, which are subject to change. This year, $5 of every registration fee will benefit THR!VE, a program that enhances the experiences of Scranton students who identify as first-generation college students by providing scholarships and general support.

In 2009, the University held its first Shamrockin' Eve. The event was founded after a group of young alumni who wanted to reconnect with Scranton and each other prior to their five-year class reunion met with the late Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., the University’s 24^th and 27^th president, at Chapman Lake. It quickly evolved into an opportunity for current seniors and recent graduates to contribute to the success of future University students.

For more information, visit scranton.edu/shamrock or contact Jenna Bruchalski, program manager for Alumni Engagement, at jenna.bruchalski@scranton.edu.

The Alumni Society of The University of Scranton will hold its annual Day of Service Saturday, April 23. Register today for the following service projects:

Massachusetts
Boston - Cradles to Crayons, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to register

New Jersey
Hillside - Community Food Bank of New Jersey, 9 - 11 a.m.
Click here to register

New York
New York City - Cardinal Spellman Center-Meatloaf Kitchen, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Click here to register

Pennsylvania
Harrisburg - Central PA Food Bank, 9 a.m. - noon (THIS SITE WILL BE VOLUNTEERING ON APRIL 9)
Click here to register

Jefferson Township (NEPA) - Jefferson Elementary School, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Click here to register

Philadelphia - Cradles to Crayons, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Click here to register

Washington, D.C.
Alexandria, Virginia - Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to register

If you are interested in hosting a service project in your region, please email alumni@scranton.edu information on volunteer opportunities within your community by March 11. 

No service site in your region?

Volunteer in your community Saturday, April 23 and tell us about! Download and print this Scranton sign and send a picture or email us the information at alumni@scranton.edu. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Lauren LiCalzi Lavelle ’03, Glen Head, New York, was honored as the 2020 Essential Worker of the Year by Garden City New York Media as a 6^th grade Science teacher at Garden City Middle School. In addition to teaching, Lavelle is also the head field hockey coach at Garden City High School, where she led the team to the state finals in 2021 after winning both the Nassau County and Long Island Class B Championships and recorded an undefeated regular season. As a result of her efforts, Newsday named Lauren the 2021 Nassau County coach of the year.

Stephanie Ann Berry ’08, Mount Juliet, Tennessee, was recently tenured and promoted to associate professor at Tennessee Technological University. Berry currently serves in the role of interim-chairperson in the Department of Counseling and Psychology.

Megan Byers Apostol ’11, River Edge, New Jersey, has been promoted to director of Marketing at DMR Architects. During her decade at DMR, Apostol has raised DMR Architects’ reputation through publicity initiatives, print and digital communications, and marketing initiatives highlighting its talented team and diverse practice capabilities. She is responsible for securing architectural and real estate industry awards for DMR, including NJBIZ Best Place to Work, and prestigious awards for team members including the ICON award and inclusion in influencer lists in ROI_NJ and NJBiz.

 

WEDDINGS

John Paul Castellano ’05 to Kimberly Synarski
Chris Quinn ’11 to Elizabeth Beaty
Cristina Pontoriero ’13 to Jeffrey Currie ’12
Allison Nagy '15, G'16 to Sean Scully '15, G'18

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Molly Rose, to Robert and Elizabeth Pulice Wideman, VMD. ’10, Harleysville
A daughter, Sophia Brooke, to Stephen ’12 and Sarah Phillips Fernando ’12, Dunmore
A daughter, Marissa, to Jimmy ’13 and Nicole Clemson Mirra ’13, Bowie, Maryland

 

DEATHS

John J. Corcoran, M.D. ’57, Lancaster
Martin R. Hanczyc ’61, Duryea
Kenneth J. Wandalowski ’61, Taylor
Paul A. Suche ’63, Eynon
Branimir M. Rieger, Ph.D. ’64, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Joseph J. Zukoski, Jr., D.D.S. ’64, New Orleans, Louisiana
Joseph A. Lacomare ’67, Salisbury Township
Thomas A. Pepe ’76, Lansdale
Nathan Warshawsky ’80, Scranton
Matthew M. Reavy, Ph.D. ’84, Trucksville
Brian P. Sullivan ’90, Taunton, Massachusetts
Michael A. Freiman, M.D. ’94, Port Matilda, Florida

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Teresa Iannielli, mother of Nicholas W. Iannielli ’92, G’04 and Francis M. Iannielli ’93

Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, professed his final vows as a Jesuit in the presence of members of The University of Scranton community at a Mass in the Madonna della Strada Chapel on campus on January 30.

Members of the Society of Jesus take their final vows after completing the last stage of formation called “Tertianship,” which includes a 30-day retreat to reengage the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, as well as a year-long refection on their life and service as a Jesuit.

Father Marina invited the University community to share with him the formal conclusion of his Jesuit formation, which he began 18 years ago. Father Marina entered the Society of Jesus in 2004 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2012. He became the 29^th President of The University of Scranton in June of 2021.

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The University of Scranton Book Club will begin discussing "The Long Loneliness" by Dorothy Day at its next virtual meeting Feb. 20. To register for the discussion, visit this link. 

"The Long Loneliness" is the autobiography of Dorothy Day, an American Catholic social activist who sought to be in solidarity with poor and marginalized people throughout her life. By the time of her death in 1980, many already considered her a saint, and St. John Paul II opened her cause for canonization in 2000. 

The Rev. Patrick D. Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center, and the Rev. James D. Redington, S.J., Jesuit fellow at The Jesuit Center, will lead the virtual discussions of the book. For more information on the club, visit scranton.edu/alumnibookclub. 

The Jesuit Center will launch its annual Lenten Daily Devotional project with an inaugural email reflection on Ash Wednesday, which falls on March 2 this year. 

The Lenten Daily Devotional is a project of The Jesuit Center in partnership with University Advancement. For each of Lent's 40 days, participants in the project will receive an email containing a daily prayer, a link to a daily scripture reading and a reflection written by a member of the University community. To receive the daily devotional emails, visit this link. All recipients who registered in a prior year are already signed up for this year’s reflections. For more information on The Jesuit Center and its mission, visit this link.

The Alumni Society of The University of Scranton will hold its annual Day of Service Saturday, April 23 (with the exception of South Central, Pa., which will hold its Day of Service April 9). If you are interested in hosting a service project in your region, please email alumni@scranton.edu information on volunteer opportunities within your community by Feb. 25. 

 

Alumni and friends of the University are invited to attend "Walking Through Life With Ignatius," a webinar on spirituality and service sponsored by a partnership between Ignatian Volunteer Corps and alumni offices within the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Feb. 16 at noon. To register, visit this link. 

The webinar's panelists will discuss a wide variety of topics, including how God calls us in different ways at different times in our lives, how our relationship with God changes as we accrue wisdom and experience, and how we can enhance our spirituality as we age through prayer and service in the Ignatian tradition. 

The following panelists will appear at the webinar:

 Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee is a spiritual director and writer who lives in New York City. She is a retired lawyer and has served for more than twenty years as a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. She is the author of "God Isn’t Finished With Me Yet: Discovering the Spiritual Graces of Later Life" and "Answering God’s Call: A Scripture-Based Journey for Older Adults."

 Brigid Farrell Dunn

Brigid Farrell Dunn grew up in Orchard Park, New York. A graduate of Le Moyne College, she taught at her alma mater as an adjunct professor in the Gender & Women's Studies Department. After college, she spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and then earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at Yale. She has been a grant writer, campus minister, development officer, teacher and chaplain. Brigid became Board Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains in 2015. She resides in Fayetteville, New York, with her husband and their two daughters.

 Jason Downer, S.J.

Jason Downer, S.J., is a Jesuit priest currently missioned to Le Moyne College where he serves as Campus Minister for Ignatian Ministry. He is also a spiritual director with training in offering the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises. Since joining the Jesuits in 2010, Jason has lived in many parts of the United States and abroad, but is happy to call Syracuse, NY home for a while. 

 John W. Green (moderator)

A 2001 graduate of the Boston College School of Social Work, John W. Green's orientation towards service began during his post-college year when he entered the Jesuit Volunteer Corps serving in Portland, ME. As he sought out his next steps in professional development, his desire to pursue social work and commitment to the Ignatian value of service to others lead him to Boston College, where he developed clinical skills and built a solid foundation for administrative leadership. He now serves as the director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) Philadelphia/South Jersey and the vice president of partnership engagement for the IVC National Office.

All registrants will receive a recording of the webinar. For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@scranton.edu or 570-941-5997. 

Scranton alumni who are working in the field of law or who are currently enrolled in law school are encouraged to join the Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL). CAL members utilize their experience and education to actively support faculty, staff and administrators in leading the educational and professional development of Scranton students who plan to enter the field of law. To join, visit this link.

Already a member? Recently graduated law school? Make sure to send your current employment information to alumni@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton Police Department recently presented a half-day workshop on de-escalation strategies to nearly 40 local law enforcement officers, including college police and security personnel and municipal officers. The free workshop sought to reduce injuries and the need to use physical force by training officers to safely and effectively respond to situations involving people in crisis with effective communication and active listening. The workshop was funded through a grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

For more information on University Police, visit this link.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Daniel F. Battafarano, D.O. ’77, San Antonio, Texas, was recognized with the designation of Master by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) at the annual meeting in November 2021 for outstanding contributions to the ACR and the field of rheumatology through scholarly achievement and service to patients, teaching and the profession.

Thomas E. Sheridan, Jr. ’79, Hawley, was named president and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank.

John E. Littel ’86, Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been chosen to serve as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s secretary of health and human resources by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Bernard F. King ’87, Worcester, has been named Chief Operating Officer for GRAM Aseptic Manufacturing. GRAM specializes in the formulation, filling and packaging of sterile pharmaceutical products including COVID vaccines and other lifesaving products.

Carol Hee, Ph.D. ’95, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has been awarded the Johnston Teaching Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Hee has taught environmental science and sustainability studies for 13 years at UNC-CH and joined Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment as an associate adjunct professor in 2020.

Sean P. Morgan ’97, Solana Beach, California, a supervisory boarder patrol agent of the United States Border Patrol, recently received three awards for actions taken in the line of duty. In August 2021, he received his second Border Patrol Achievement Medal for leading a team of agents that made over 300 felony arrests and 1,000 misdemeanor arrests during the previous year. Later that same month he received his third Border Patrol Achievement Medal for rescuing a driver who became entrapped in a car, which was also leaking gasoline. In September 2021, Moran was awarded the Border Patrol Commendation Medal with Valor, the agency's second highest award for bravery, after Moran and two other agents located a wanted felon. They pursued the suspect and later took him into custody after a standoff in the suspect's car. The suspect was arrested on three felony charges stemming from the attempted murder of his girlfriend. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Moran has served in the Border Patrol for almost 25 years.

Henry Yampolsky ’02, Salem, Virginia, will have his book, "Dis-Solving Conflict from Within: an Inner Path for Conflict Transformation," released by the Global Collective Publishers on May 16, 2022. This book will be available everywhere books are sold. Yampolsky currently serves as assistant director for Education, Outreach, and Conflict Resolution at Virginia Tech’s Office for Equity and Accessibility and teaches Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building as part of Virginia Tech’s Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention.

Genelle Hoban Sedon ’04, G’07, Wilkes-Barre, is the owner and director of C & G Tutoring. The tutoring service, which began with just three tutors and now has over twenty, offers both in-person and virtual tutoring sessions. The tutoring service has reached more than 250 students in the Wyoming Valley from pre-k all the way through college. Sedon’s goal is to try to help local students earn scholarships and gain acceptance to the universities of their choice.

Colleen M. Degnan ’11, Horsham, has joined Fox Rothschild LLP in Blue Bell, Pa., as an Associate in the Corporate Department.  As a member of the firm's Corporate Department, Degnan advises clients on a broad range of transactions and agreements, including public finance, procurement and real estate matters.

 

WEDDINGS
 

Angela Stewart ’14 to Giancarlo Bellone ’16

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Renee Louise, to Joseph ’03, MBA ’13 and Ingrid Stein Garofalo ’03, Hackettstown, New Jersey

A daughter, Sofia Carmel, was born Oct. 10 in NYC to Patrick and Alexandra Mickler Auth ’08, Hoboken, New Jersey

A daughter, Willa, to Kevin and Cate McKenna Furman ’09, Newtown Square

A daughter, Eliana Grace, to John ’14 and Alexis Ribeiro Spadaro ’15, Florham Park, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

William A. Quinn ’49, Mountainside, New Jersey
Kenneth A. Roth ’54, Centerville, Ohio
Edward J. Sunday ’59, Scranton
John J. Ferry, M.D. ’60, Omaha, Nebraska
Joseph J. Farrell ’63, The Villages, Florida
Louis J. Nardella, Sr. ’65, Scranton
Walter J. Borowski ’71, Scranton
Merrill Mayenschein ’76, Covington Township
Kenneth J. Reuther G’77, Moscow
Richard J. Chukonis G’79, Wilkes-Barre
William J. Katorkas ’80, Newark, Delaware
Ralph J. Kurtz ’83, Old Forge
Jeffrey J. Butler ’87, Okemos, Michigan

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Felicia Domiano, wife of Anthony Domiano, Sr. ’60; mother of Anthony Domiano, Jr. ’84 and Marie Domiano ’85

George Grech, father of Thomas J. Grech '84 and Robert Grech '87

U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “Best Online Graduate Programs” ranked The University of Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 55 and its online MBA program at No. 98 in the nation. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 65 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”

This is the 11^th consecutive year that U.S. News ranked the University’s online programs among the best in the nation. The methodology used by U.S. News to determine the ranking has changed several times throughout the years.

For the 2022 Best Online Programs ranking, which published January 25, U.S. News reviewed statistical information submitted by schools. The ranking criteria differed by category. The criteria used by U.S. News to rank online business and MBA programs included student engagement (30 percent), which looked at graduation rates, class size, one-year retention rates, and best practices such as accreditation by AACSB International, among other factors. The ranking criteria also included peer reputation score (25 percent); faculty credentials and training (15 percent); admission selectivity (15 percent); and student services and technology (15 percent).

In addition to offering distance education programs that incorporate coursework that is predominantly online, colleges and universities making the “Best Online Program for Veterans” list must have ranked in top half of 2022 Best Online Program rankings; be regionally accredited; be certified for the GI Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program; and enroll a “critical mass of veterans” as defined by U.S. News based on the size of the college.

Scranton offers online MBA degrees in general business, accounting, business analytics, enterprise resource planning, finance, healthcare management, human resources, international business and operations management; master’s degrees in accountancy, business analytics, finance, health administration, health informatics and human resources and a dual MBA/MHA degree, in addition to graduate certificates. For technology, recruitment and marketing support, the University partners with Wiley for the online programs.

In other rankings published by U.S. News, Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 28 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 5 in the 2022 edition of the guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category in its “Best Undergraduate Teaching” listing of the top colleges in the nation expressing “a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching,” among other rankings.

The University of Scranton ranked No. 84 among the 616 master’s universities in the nation included in a 2021 listing by Washington Monthly that seeks to rate colleges based on their contribution to the public good. Published in the September/October issue of the magazine and online, Washington Monthly analyzed numerous data sets to determine an overall rank, as well as a score and rank of colleges for “research,” “social mobility” and “community and national service.” Scranton ranked No. 34, No. 187 and No. 115, respectively, in these categories among master’s universities.

Washington Monthly weighted equally the colleges’ scores for research, social mobility and service to calculate the overall ranking. The research score is based on each school’s research expenditure and the number of alumni earning Ph.D.s, relative to the size of the college. The social mobility score is based on actual and predicted graduation rates; student loan repayment rates; the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants; and the school’s average net price for full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the past three years, among other factors. The service score, also adjusted for the size of the school, is based on the size of the ROTC program; the number of alumni serving in the Peace Corps; and the percentage of federal work study grant money spent on community service projects and voter engagement, among other factors.

This is the 12^th consecutive year Washington Monthly has included Scranton in its college rankings.

In other national rankings, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Scranton among the 10 top Regional Universities in the North for 28 consecutive years, and as a “Best Value” school for nine consecutive years. The Princeton Review included Scranton in its list “Best Colleges” for 20 consecutive years.

Alumni, parents and friends of the University in the Boston, Mass., Philadelphia and New York City areas celebrated the Christmas season together at several regional Christmas events throughout the month of December. 

Boston Christmas Stroll Along The Freedom Trail

Alumni and friends enjoyed walking the historic Freedom Trail Dec. 11 and discovering how Boston's holiday traditions evolved. The group was led by a tour guide dressed in the style of a 19th century Dickensian character who pointed out the exceptional holiday lights and Christmas trees along the trail. 

The Holly Jolly Trolley

Royals in the Philadelphia area enjoyed live music and magnificent views of the lights of the City of Brotherly Love aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. 

A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens 

Alumni and friends enjoyed the beautiful holiday display at Longwood Gardens on Dec. 15. Royals strolling through the gardens were delighted by this year's theme, which showcased the contrast between fire and ice.

New York City Presidential Christmas Reception 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University in the New York City area joined the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, at the New York Athletic Club for a Presidential Christmas Reception on Dec. 8. To see photos from this event, visit this link. 

More than 20 alumni, parents and friends of the University kicked off the holiday season by packing 350 boxes of meal kits along an assembly line at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey Dec. 4.

"Overall, I think it was an excellent start to the Christmas and Advent season," said Brianna Tucciarone '20, an Alumni Society Advisory Board Member who volunteered at the project.

To see more photos from the project, visit this link. For more information on regional service projects and the Alumni Society Advisory Board, visit scranton.edu/alumni. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, recently used her expertise in trucking law to speak to the New Jersey Association for Justice Boardwalk Seminar in 2021 on “Discovery Issues in Trucking Cases.”

Timothy J. Keating ’85, McLean, Virginia, has joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLC as a policy director in the firm’s Washington, D.C., Government Relations Department.

Jacquie Cleary ’87, Westfield, New Jersey, the CEO of Atlas, is honored to be announced this year as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, released the 14th annual ranking of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies in October. The companies on this year's 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list span a range of industries, from consumer products to STEM-related fields. From January to December of 2020, the 50 Fastest generated a combined $4.1 billion in revenue and collectively employed more than 24,000 people.

Erica Fischer-Cartlidge, '06, Springfield, New Jersey, was the recipient of the 40 Under 40 in Cancer award, which recognizes the contributions being made across the field of cancer by rising stars and emerging leaders under the age of 40 years old. Dr. Cartlidge is an alumnus of The University of Scranton School of Nursing and currently works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

 

WEDDINGS
 
Diana Martin ’11 to Travis Dufner
Erin Barry ’12 to Bridgette Sakar ’12

 

DEATHS

John E. Walsh, Ed.D. ’49, H’89, Meshoppen
John Elnitsky ’52, Whitehall
Alfred P. Intoccia, Ph.D. ’52, Audubon
Robert P. Schulte ’55, Scranton
James A. Calpin ’59, Midlothian, Virginia
Vito A. Ciaglia ’59, Dunmore
Daniel J. Mozelski ’62, Winchester, Virginia
Nicholas D. Volpetti ’62, Kingston
Samuel G. Bianco ’63, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Paul J. Waldek ’64, Dover, New Jersey
Eugene J. Donahue ’68, Clarks Summit
Michael E. Dux ’77, Philadelphia
Elizabeth Milder Beh ’78, Springbrook Township
James J. Martin ’78, Scranton
Monica Vaughn McGonigle ’78, Fairfax, Virginia          
Frank J. Paris ’80, Spring Hill, Florida
Louise Booth Bright ’84, New Hope
Donald J. Kanavy ’87, G’99, Archbald
Eugene J. Deignan ’89, Olyphant
William P. Stoffel ’90, Chatham, New Jersey
Ann Marie O’Hara ’97, Scranton

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Carl F. Green Sr., father of Carl F. Green Jr. '88
Robert W. Hildreth, father of Kate Hildreth ’05

The University of Scranton is pleased to share in the great pride of today’s announcement that alumnus Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh ’87 has been appointed by Pope Francis as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan.

Bishop-elect Walsh currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Carbondale. His episcopal ordination and installation as Bishop of Gaylord are scheduled for March 4, 2022, at 2 p.m. in Saint Mary Cathedral, Gaylord.

A native of Scranton, Bishop-elect Walsh graduated from The University of Scranton in 1987 with a degree in Counseling and Human Resources. He studied for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, earning a Master of Divinity Degree. He received a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in 1999 and a Master of Social Work degree from Marywood University in 2010. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1994.

“The University of Scranton joins His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, and people throughout the Diocese of Scranton in congratulating Bishop-elect Walsh on this joyful news as he prepares to begin this important episcopal ministry in the Great Lakes region of Michigan,”  said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton.

An article by the Catholic News Agency quoted Bishop-elect Walsh as saying: “With gratitude to our Holy Father Pope Francis, and joy in the Lord, I am eager to begin a new chapter in my life of discipleship among the good people of the Diocese of Gaylord. I am also most grateful to God for 27 years of priestly ministry in the Diocese of Scranton. I have been inspired and challenged to grow in faith through various diocesan assignments and will forever prayerfully remember all the lay faithful, religious, deacons, priests, and bishops with whom and for whom I have served.”

Bishop-elect Walsh has served in a number of assignments in the Diocese of Scranton, including as the Parochial Vicar of Saint Rose of Lima parish, and Director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart High School in Carbondale (1995); Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Peter (1996); Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake parish in Lake Winola (1999); Director of Education at St. Pius X Seminary (1999); Director of Vocations (2002); Pastor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Tunkhannock (2004); Regional Episcopal Vicar (2006); Administrator of Saint Rita parish in Gouldsboro (2008); Administrator of Saint Anthony parish in Throop (2009); Secretary for Catholic Social Services (2009); Pastor of Saint John's parish in East Stroudsburg (2010); Vicar for the clergy (2015). He became pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Saint Rose of Lima Parish in July 2020. Bishop-elect Walsh is also a member of the diocesan College of Consultors and of the Presbyteral Council.

The University of Scranton’s online Master of Science in Health Informatics has received accreditation from the prestigious Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

CAHIIM provides consistent quality monitoring of academic degree programs in health informatics through accreditation policies and processes that include tools for assessing continuous quality improvement through partnerships with colleges and universities, a voluntary peer review process, and annual program monitoring of continuous improvements in health informatics education to meet healthcare workforce needs. CAHIIM provides accredited programs with benchmark data and best practices for continuous improvement.

“As a Catholic and Jesuit university, Scranton strives to maintain the highest standards for academic excellence in all of our degree programs, as well as embedding strong ethical components within our curricula to ensure we are fulfilling our Ignatian mission of graduating men and women who serve for and with others. CAHIM’s accreditation process confirms that we are fulfilling our mission in profound ways,” said Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at The University of Scranton.

By meeting the rigorous accreditation standards set by CAHIIM, students earning a master’s degree in health informatics from Scranton are assured that the program provides the required knowledge and skill demanded by professionals working in high-growth field. The online 33-credit graduate program is designed to support the student’s development of the American Medical Informatics Association’s master’s level competencies in health informatics. A final capstone course allows students to develop expertise in a specialized arena by working on a real-world informatics project under the guidance of a preceptor.

Scranton’s master’s degree in health informatics is an interdisciplinary program that includes courses developed and taught by faculty from healthcare clinical disciplines, health informatics and health administration from the Panuska College of Professional Studies; computer science in the College of Arts and Sciences; and operations and analytics in the Kania School of Management, which holds accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

In the fall 2021 semester, the University began to offer a specialization in data analytics for the master’s degree program in health informatics that requires an additional 6-8 credits of coursework. Applicants to the graduate program must meet admission requirements.

For additional information, visit the Master of Science degree in Health Informatics webpage or contact Margarete L. Zalon, Ph.D., professor of nursing and director of the University’s online Master of Science in Health Informatics Program at Margarete.zalon@scranton.edu or 570-941-7655.

One alumnus combines a love of science and communication — plus his hip-hop performance skills — to teach STEM concepts and digital literacy all over the world.

By Frantz Lucien’s own estimation, he’s taught students across the U.S. and on every continent except Antarctica, all from the dock of Pier 86 in New York City.

As the manager of Interactive Experience and Family Engagement and a museum educator at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86, Lucien ’12 created a distance-learning program for the museum in 2016. The Intrepid Museum is a nonprofit educational institution that features the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, a National Historic Landmark that served tours of duty in World War II and the Vietnam War, plus home to America’s first space shuttle, Enterprise, and jets and submarines. The museum presents exhibitions and interactive educational programming that showcase American innovation and bravery.

“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I created our distance-learning, virtual field trip program,” said Lucien, who majored in communication and media studies on the broadcast track at Scranton. “And it was one of the reasons we were able to pivot so quickly (when COVID happened) and go to the digital version of our museum and do different digital programming.”

Prior to the pandemic, Lucien would traverse the floor of the museum with an iPad to host virtual field trips, teaching students from as far away as Texas and China. He said teachers often told him that their students felt like they were right there with him at the museum. Fast forward to March 2020. Lucien sought to replicate that experience, even when the museum was closed at the height of the pandemic.

“My question was, how do I translate that (immersive experience) when I am sitting in my living room with a sunset painting behind my head?” Lucien said. “So I immediately went down to the ship — because I didn’t live too far from the ship — right before everything closed down. And I took videos walking through and talking, like what we normally do. And then I edited those videos and added different pictures and video clips, and they literally got shared all over the world.”

Continue reading in The Scranton Journal.

The University of Scranton President’s Business Council (PBC) Virtual 20^th Annual Award Dinner honoring John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06 in memoriam and also recognizing the first 20 years of the PBC was broadcast Nov. 18. This year’s event raised more than $750,000 for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, surpassing $19 million generated cumulatively.

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, presented Cindy Brennan, Ryan Brennan ’06 and Sarah Brennan Lapointe, Jack’s wife, son and daughter, with the University’s President’s Medal during the event. Father Marina noted, “Tonight has been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the life of Jack Brennan and the many ways his legacy lives on at his beloved Alma Mater.” In his acceptance remarks, Ryan said, “I want to thank everyone at the University for honoring my father. I know that he would be very proud of this award. The feeling and inspiration he got while he was at the University stayed with him for the rest of his life. I believe his generosity, not only financially but also of his time, is the major reason for this recognition.”

The audience was then treated to a retrospective video detailing the PBC’s origin, evolution and impact on students and alumni. The PBC was formed in 2001 by the University and a prominent group of alumni and friends with the purpose of advancing the mission of the University. The PBC is committed to strengthening the Scranton network in the business sectors and to providing mentoring, internships and career support for current students and meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni, parents and friends. At the PBC’s Annual Award Dinner, an honoree is presented with the University’s President’s Medal, which recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. Through the proceeds from its annual award dinners, the PBC supports the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. 

The PBC Virtual 20^th Annual Award Dinner can be seen here. Gifts to the PBC can be made via the PBC giving page. For additional information, contact Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC, at 570-941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

About the honoree

John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06 received a bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1968. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served as a 1^st lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. in Thailand. Following his years of service, Mr. Brennan joined Motorola as a salesman. He later co-founded Metro Mobile CTS, Inc., and served as the president and chief operating officer. Metro Mobile was later sold to Bell Atlantic, which would eventually become Verizon Communications. He was also president of Activated Communications and a member of the board of directors at Spectrum Signal Processing. At the time of his retirement, he was the vice chairman of the board of Southern Union Co. (later acquired by Energy Transfer LP).

During his professional career, Mr. Brennan was an active member of his community, serving as president of the Radio Club of America, as president of the Old Tappan Board of Education, as a member of the Old Tappan Planning Board, and as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. In support of his passion for furthering the education of young minds, Mr. Brennan was a long-time member of the Board of Trustees at Christ the King School (Cristo Rey) in Newark, N.J., and at the University, where he was also a founding member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board. He was also among the inaugural inductees to the Business Leader Hall of Fame. In Oct. 2000, the University named Brennan Hall, the home of the Kania School of Management, in his honor.

Mr. Brennan passed away in Sept. 2020 after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, their two children and their grandchildren.

Nearly 300 alumni, parents and friends of the University donated nearly $50,000 to University causes during this year's global Giving Tuesday celebration.

The University's Giving Tuesday campaign began with a special video message promoting THR1VE, a program which supports University students who identify as first-generation college students, from the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president. In the video, Father Marina, a first-generation college student, talks about the transformational impact his education had upon his life. Many of Tuesday's donations were designated for THR1VE, where they will help to ensure that first-generation college students continue to thrive at Scranton. To view the donor honor roll, visit this link. 

The University will hold a Presidential Christmas reception at The New York Athletic Club Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. with the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president.

To register, visit scranton.edu/christmas.

The University of Scranton is pleased to announce the establishment of an annual scholarship to honor the memory of Sara Farrell Hutchison ’08, an alumna who tragically passed away in August 2021. Initiated by colleagues of Marian Farrell, Ph.D., in the University’s Faculty Senate and Department of Nursing, The Sara Farrell Hutchison ’08 Memorial Scholarship benefits non-traditional female students studying in any of the health-related fields. “Non-traditional student” is defined, for the purpose of the scholarship, as a student who is returning to school to pursue her education after an absence.

Born in Scranton, Hutchison was the daughter of James C. and Dr. Marian L. Rosler Farrell. She was a 2004 graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University in 2008.  Hutchison was a devoted wife, sister, daughter and mother to three children.

To make a donation to The Sara Farrell Hutchison ’08 Memorial Scholarship, please visit scranton.edu/makeagift or send a check payable to The University of Scranton (please note “Sara Hutchison Scholarship” in the memo line), University Advancement, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510.

On November 16, 20 alumni and friends of The University of Scranton sorted and inspected clothing donations at Cradles To Crayons Philadelphia, an organization that provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive.

Join your Scranton friends in the Boston area for a historical holiday stroll along the Freedom Trail Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m.

Walk the Freedom Trail and discover how Boston’s holiday traditions evolved. Led by 19th-century Dickensian costumed guides, the festive stroll is complete with a tour of holiday lights and Christmas trees along the Freedom Trail.

The 60-minute tour, provided by The Freedom Trail Foundation, will begin at the Boston Commons Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass. Tickets for adults will cost $15, and tickets for children will cost $5.

To register, visit this link. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Harry A. Lennon ’83, Round Top, New York, has been re-elected to a sixth term on the Greene County, New York Legislature where he serves as Minority Leader.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, recently spoke at the Kentucky Justice Association. Drawing on her extensive trial expertise, Munley spoke to the Association on “Using the Defendants’ Words Against Them to Develop Your Trial Story.” Munley also recently spoke to the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Her discussion was titled “Rule of Three: Industry Standard or Make Believe?”

Lawrence A. J. Spegar '84, Jessup, was recognized in 2021 as one of America's Most Honored Lawyers. Spegar has enjoyed a 35-year career as a trial lawyer representing clients in a comprehensive practice involving areas of personal injury, disability, real estate, business, entertainment and wills and estates. His practice has covered many jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania and the United States Supreme Court. 

Julius J. Prezelski ’86, Mount Airy, Maryland, was the 2021 recipient of the Ted Beck Effective Educator Award which recognizes JumpStart’s third chairman’s commitment to making evidence-based decisions in striving to improve financial education. From basketball coach to business teacher, Prezelski uses coaching and storytelling as his unique approach to teaching. As a mentor, he uses his own personal experiences to teach the pitfalls and wins of financial management and does not shy away from difficult conversations in the classroom.

Elizabeth Brue Alterman ’93, Chatham, New Jersey, had her memoir, "Sad Sacked," released by Audible Originals on November 11, 2021. Alterman has also been named Erma Bombeck’s Humor Writer of the Month for November.

Robert Keenan ’95, Wayne, New Jersey, has been named vice president of Product Management/Development for Adweek.

James F. McNulty ’96, Gaithersburg, Maryland, was elected to the Gaithersburg City Council. McNulty will serve a 4-year term as one of two new council members in Maryland’s third-largest city.

Kate Brennan ’03, York, received a 2021 MAP Grant for her work with "The Infinity Trilogy," a YA musical cycle created to encourage mentorship between professionals and fledgling artists. The first piece in the trilogy, "ALiEN8," was recently published with YouthPLAYS after premiering with Drexel University, where she was a Mandell Professional in Residence. The second piece of the trilogy, "Clean Slate," is scheduled to premiere with Passage Theatre Company in 2022. Her book of poetry, "elevated thoughts," was published with Literati Press in 2020. Kate currently lives with her husband, child and dog in York where she is Artistic Director of Ignition Arts. 

Samuel J. Richards G’15, Shanghai, China, received an honorable mention during the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church’s annual meeting for his peer-reviewed research on Edward Colston. His article, “Historical Revision in Church: Re-examining the ‘Saint' Edward Colston,” was published in the September 2020 issue of the Anglican and Episcopal History, and investigates the legacy of philanthropist, enslaver, and High Anglican Edward Colston who lived from 1636 to 1721. It was noted for its excellent and timely research. Richards currently teaches history and politics at Shanghai American School in China.

 

WEDDINGS

Kelly Ann Haggerty ’09 to Frederick Vilsmeier
Meagan Pehnke ’10, G’11 to Joseph Serafini ’09
Kaylee Hatfield ’13 to Anthony Santino
Brianna McCullough '13 to Demetrios Vlahos
Elizabeth Joyce ’15 to Bryan Elman ’15
Elizabeth Palladino ’15, DPT ’18 to Patrick Heneghan ’15
Meghan Campbell ’16 to Joseph Costello ’16
Alison Kucharski '16 to Viliam Varhol
Maura McGowan '16, DPT '19 to Zachary Holden

 

BIRTHS

A son, Ryan, to Michael and Danielle Tartaglia Centalonza ’06, Randolph, New Jersey
A daughter, Michaela Kathleen, to  Joseph ’08 and Kaitlyn O’Connor Yourkavitch ’09, G’11, Reading
A daughter, Sophia Charles, to Christopher and Mary Rose Ho ’10, New York, New York
A daughter, Margaret Ann, to Joseph ’09 and Meagan Pehnke-Serafini ’10, G’11, Philadelphia
A son, Owen Lawrence, to Michael and Kristina Russo Joyce, ’12, DPT ’15, Wycoff, New Jersey
A son, River Michael, to Robert ’13 and Allison Tait Sachs ’14, Morristown, New Jersey
A daughter, Isla, to Joshua ’15 and Jackie Cavanaugh Ryan ’15, Rockville, Maryland

 

DEATHS

Myer B. Kahn ’38, Rockville, Maryland
Michael A. Rossi, Sr., Ph.D. ’53, Hackettstown, New Jersey
Fred S. Lewenson, D.D.S. ’57, East Norriton
LTC. Walter J. Lynch, USA, Ret. ’16, Moosic
Albert J. Marmo ’62, Bowie, Maryland
Gerald M. Durkin ’68, Clarks Summit
Joseph F. Gibbons ’70, Clarks Summit
John R. Hirschler ’73, Lancaster
Nancy Dunleavy Batten ’77, Raleigh, North Carolina
Thomas Z. Swinick ’78, G’83  Dunmore
Kevin J. O’Hara ’80, Greenfield Township
Mark L. Kuna ’84, Allentown
Brian J. Leahy ’90, Cranford, New Jersey
Nicole Rusyn Lutz ’93, Olyphant
Wendy Bailey Morris ’93, Scranton
Kerri Hubbard Naples ’06, G’09, Hazlet, New Jersey
Sara R. Wargo ’11, Jessup

 

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Rosemary DeMichele, wife of Michael DeMichele, Ph.D. ’63, mother of Michael A. DeMichele, M.D. ’87, Christine DeMichele Consiglio ’89 and Jacqueline DeMichele Kloss, Ph.D. ’92
Judy Peacock, wife of Thomas Peacock ’61
Kathleen Thornton, wife of Jeffrey T. Thornton ’85

Fortune ranked The University of Scranton at No. 55 in the nation in its first ranking of part-time MBA programs. For its “Best Part-Time MBA Programs” ranking, published online Nov. 17, Fortune surveyed thousands of business professionals and hiring managers about their opinions of the MBA programs offered at business schools across the country.

Scranton is among the just 70 part-time MBA programs selected by Fortune for the ranking, which included just eight Jesuit colleges, and only four colleges in Pennsylvania.

For the ranking, Fortune looked at the quality of the part-time MBA program at the colleges as measured by their students’ average number of years of experience in the workforce, because, according to Fortune, part-time MBA students value the knowledge they gain from their fellow classmates’ professional experiences, as well as the curriculum. In addition to work experience, Fortune also looked at the undergraduate GPA and GMAT score for incoming students, for a measurement that accounted for 60 percent of the overall ranking score. Fortune partnered with Ipsos to survey thousands of business professionals and hiring managers to produce a measurement of the “brand score” of the college, or a calculation of “how much a group of people want to recruit from the university” (25 percent); and counted the number of Fortune 1000 executives who earned an MBA from the college (15 percent).

Earlier this year, Fortune’s inaugural ranking of the “Best Online MBAs” placed The University of Scranton at No. 72 in the nation for the 2021 listing published online in April. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 48; and its online MBA program at No. 111 in the nation in its “Best Online Programs” guide. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 67 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.” The University’s on-campus programs have also been consistently ranked among the best in the nation by numerous sources, including U.S. News for 28 consecutive years,  The Princeton Review for 20 consecutive years, and The Wall Street Journal since the ranking began in 2016.

Ninety-nine percent of The University of Scranton’s class of 2020 graduates at the undergraduate level, and 98 percent of class of 2020 members at the graduate level, reported being successful in their choice of career path of either employment or pursuing additional education within 12 months of graduation. The “First Destination Survey” report by Scranton’s Gerard R. Roche Center for Career Development is based on career success data obtained for 83 percent of the undergraduate class. This “knowledge rate,” or percentage of graduates for whom their career outcome is known, exceeds the National Association of College Employers recommended rate of 65 percent. The knowledge rate for members of the University’s graduate class of 2020 is 74 percent.

For members of University’s class of 2020 earning a bachelor’s degree, 50 percent of graduates had the goal of obtaining full-time employment and 99 percent of graduates succeed with that goal. Forty-five percent of graduates had the goal of attending graduate or professional school and 99 percent of graduates successfully achieved that goal.

The average (mean) salary is $50,662, based on the bachelor’s degree graduates that provided salary information. The average salary varied by major. The highest average salaries reported are in computer science ($75,000), nursing ($62,943) and electrical engineering ($58,264).

Geographically, of those employed, 80 percent reported working in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

Additionally, the report for undergraduates showed 87 percent of the Class of 2020 completed at least one experiential learning opportunity during their education at Scranton, which includes internships, research, student teaching, observations, clinicals, externships and residencies.

For master’s degree graduates with a 98 percent overall success rate, the report shows 92 percent being employed full-time; 3 percent being employed part-time; 1 percent pursuing additional education; 2 percent seeking another goal, and 2 percent still seeking employment. The average (mean) salary for 2020 master’s degree graduates is $73,601, based on the graduates that provided salary information. Salaries reported vary by degree programs. The highest average salaries reported are for graduates with master’s degrees in nurse anesthesia ($172,627), enterprise resource planning – MBA ($143,878) and family nurse practitioner ($84,780).

Of those employed, 74 percent are working in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

For the University’s class of 2019, 99 percent graduates at both the undergraduate and graduate level reported being successful in their choice of career path of either employment or pursuing additional education within six months of graduation.

The University has announced Christmas events in Philadelphia and Boston.

Philadelphia Events

The University will hold three Christmas events in the Philadelphia area during the month of December. 

The Holly Jolly Trolley

Join your Scranton friends in Philadelphia Dec. 1 and/or Dec. 2 for a private holiday lights tour aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley. Enjoy live music, magnificent views of some of the best light displays in the city, a bit of South Philly flavor, and complimentary pizza on this BYOB and snacks tour provided by Founding Footsteps. The tours will begin at Iron Hill Brewery, 1150 Market St., Philadelphia, at 6:30 p.m. sharp, so please plan to arrive by 6 p.m. To register for the $30 admission fee, visit this link. 

A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens

Join your Scranton friends in Kennett Square Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. for a self-guided tour of the indoor and outdoor gardens at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. Witness the splendor of half-a-million lights and then cozy up to the warm glow of an outdoor fire pit. Adult admission will cost $20, and children under 18 will be admitted for free. To register, visit this link. 

Read the original posting, here.

Boston Event

Boston Christmas Stroll, Dec. 11

Join your Scranton friends in the Boston area for a historical holiday stroll along the Freedom Trail Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m.

Walk the Freedom Trail and discover how Boston’s holiday traditions evolved. Led by 19th-century Dickensian costumed guides, the festive stroll is complete with a tour of holiday lights and Christmas trees along the Freedom Trail.

The 60-minute tour, provided by The Freedom Trail Foundation, will begin at the Boston Commons Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass. Tickets for adults will cost $15, and tickets for children will cost $5. To register, visit this link. 

Read the original posting, here.

The University of Scranton President’s Business Council (PBC) will offer a virtual celebration on Thursday, Nov. 18, which will honor John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06 in memoriam and will also provide a retrospective look at the first 20 years of the PBC.

John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06 received a bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1968. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served as a 1^st lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. in Thailand. Following his years of service, Mr. Brennan joined Motorola as a salesman. He later co-founded Metro Mobile CTS, Inc., and served as the president and chief operating officer. Metro Mobile was later sold to Bell Atlantic, which would eventually become Verizon Communications. He was also president of Activated Communications and a member of the board of directors at Spectrum Signal Processing. At the time of his retirement, he was the vice chairman of the board of Southern Union Co. (later acquired by Energy Transfer LP).

During his professional career, Mr. Brennan was an active member of his community, serving as president of the Radio Club of America, as president of the Old Tappan Board of Education, as a member of the Old Tappan Planning Board, and as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. In support of his passion for furthering the education of young minds, Mr. Brennan was a long-time member of the Board of Trustees at Christ the King School (Cristo Rey) in Newark, N.J., and at the University, where he was also a founding member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board. He was also among the inaugural inductees to the Business Leader Hall of Fame. In Oct. 2000, the University named Brennan Hall, the home of the Kania School of Management, in his honor.

Mr. Brennan passed away in Sept. 2020 after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, their two children and their grandchildren.

The PBC was formed in 2001 by the University and a prominent group of alumni and friends with the purpose of advancing the mission of the University. The PBC is committed to strengthening the Scranton network in the business sectors and to providing mentoring, internships and career support for current students and meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni, parents and friends. At the PBC’s Annual Award Dinner, an honoree is presented with the University’s President’s Medal, which recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. Proceeds from the dinner go directly to the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Additional details regarding this year's virtual celebration are available at www.scranton.edu/pbcdinner or by contacting Tim Pryle '89, executive director of the PBC, at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu. 

Royal readers will be back together on screen this weekend for the first of two virtual discussions centered around The University of Scranton Book Club’s seventh book selection, “He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith.” The latest book is authored by Walter Ciszek, S.J. H’76, namesake for the University’s Ciszek Hall, the current home of the Center for Career Development.

Father Ciszek received an honorary doctor of law degree from the University in 1976. After entering the Society of Jesus in 1928 and being ordained to the priesthood in 1937, he entered eastern Poland as a missionary in 1938. At the start of WWII, he was arrested by the Russian secret police and spent five years in Moscow prisons. Sentenced to 10 more years in prison as “a spy of the Vatican,” he was sent north to a penal camp, where he labored in mines and construction projects until the end of his sentence. Father Ciszek returned to the U.S. in 1963 as part of an exchange agreement with the Soviet Union. The Shenandoah native, who passed away in 1984, is also the author of “With God in Russia.”

Dedicated in 2005, Ciszek Hall was originally designed to hold a 15,000-book library, a chapel, offices, a garden and space for social activities.

To learn more about The University of Scranton Book Club and to receive notifications of future book selections, visit Scranton.edu/alumnibookclub.

The Scranton Club of New Jersey will give Royals in the Garden State the chance to serve their community by volunteering at Community Food Bank of New Jersey Dec. 4 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Scranton alumni, parents and friends will gather at the food bank's Hillside location at 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, NJ, to assemble boxes, pack pasta and prepare food to be distributed to partner agencies and members of the community. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To register for the event, visit this link. 

The University will hold three Christmas events in the Philadelphia area during the month of December. 

The Holly Jolly Trolley

Join your Scranton friends in Philadelphia Dec. 1 and/or Dec. 2 for a private holiday lights tour aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley. Enjoy live music, magnificent views of some of the best light displays in the city, a bit of South Philly flavor, and complimentary pizza on this BYOB and snacks tour provided by Founding Footsteps. The tours will begin at Iron Hill Brewery, 1150 Market St., Philadelphia, at 6:30 p.m. sharp, so please plan to arrive by 6 p.m. To register for the $30 admission fee, visit this link. 

 

A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens

Join your Scranton friends in Kennett Square Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. for a self-guided tour of the indoor and outdoor gardens at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. Witness the splendor of half-a-million lights and then cozy up to the warm glow of an outdoor fire pit. Adult admission will cost $20, and children under 18 will be admitted for free. To register, visit this link. 

Join your Scranton friends in the Boston area for a historical holiday stroll along the Freedom Trail Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m.

Walk the Freedom Trail and discover how Boston’s holiday traditions evolved. Led by 19th-century Dickensian costumed guides, the festive stroll is complete with a tour of holiday lights and Christmas trees along the Freedom Trail.

The 60-minute tour, provided by The Freedom Trail Foundation, will begin at the Boston Commons Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass. Tickets for adults will cost $15, and tickets for children will cost $5. To register, visit this link. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Brian R. McAndrew ’74, Havre de Grace, Maryland, recently retired from the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service after over 40 years with the Federal government. In 2004, Brian received the prestigious Presidential Rank Reward for his accomplishments in overseeing cryptologic operations within the U.S. Intelligence Community. Upon retirement, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence presented Brian with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to national security operations.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, is listed in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and was named the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

John Miller G’85, Fairfield, Iowa, attended a military Honor Flight from Eastern Iowa to Washington, D.C., Sept. 21 with 120 other Iowa veterans to view the war monuments and presidential memorials. While there, he took etchings of several veterans' names, including his former Air Force Academy Commander Major Jack Espenshied, who was killed in combat in Vietnam in1968.

Patricia A. Hoffman, D.O. ’17, New Brunswick, New Jersey, published a case report in the September issue of The American Academy of Osteopathy Journal called “Single Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Session Eliminates Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-Induced Upper Thoracic Pain in Elderly Male.”

 

WEDDINGS
Ron Babcock ’01 to Jamie Reed
Marissa Schilling'14, G'15 to Stephen Barbuto'14
Nicole Christiansen, '17, DPT '20 to Kyle Miller, '17 
Taylor Ryan '17, DPT '20 to Matthew Horn '16

 

BIRTHS

A son, Dean Perry, to Franco and Amanda Szewczyk Forgione ’07, South Abington Township
A daughter, Nora Elizabeth, to Aram ’10 and Jill Bury Afarian ’10, Nutley, New Jersey        
A son, Paul Frank III, to Paul ’12, G’14 and Kristin Leccese Luongo ’12, G’13, Scranton
A daughter, Lila Mae, to Greg ’13 and Anastasia Zygmunt Mooney ’13, G’15, Harrisburg; granddaughter of Charles Mooney ’83, Stan ’84, G’95 and Elizabeth Zygmunt ’87; great-granddaughter of the late Thomas Casey ’51

 

DEATHS

John F. Gallagher ’58, Winter Park, Florida
Stanley M. Victor ’62, Easton
James F. “Chipper” Mootz '68, Blue Bell
Chuck P. Coccodrilli ’85, Lake Ariel
Regina B. Bennett ’93, G’96, Clarks Summit

Jeffrey Colucci '21 recently embarked on his career in accounting. Here, he shares what he's learned on his first month on the job at KPMG as an audit associate.

As I reflect on my first month as an Audit Associate at KPMG in their New York City Metro practice, I am filled with excitement, nerves and gratitude. During my first week, the new associates had virtual training and we were warmly welcomed to the firm by countless friendly individuals from managers to partners. After I completed the first week of the virtual training, I jumped right into my first engagement and began auditing my first client. I worked on various tasks with my engagement team such as testing expenses, payroll, investments, revenue and more to ensure the financial statements were fairly stated. I had a bit of a heavy workload since it was “busy season” for the client I was assigned to, which has exposed me to various audit procedures and concepts and allowed me to learn more than I ever could have imagined, gaining invaluable technical skills to use on my future engagements. Some days have been challenging as I get acclimated to the new role and do many things for the first time, but the difficult days are the ones where we experience the most growth.

Despite being in a virtual environment, I never feel alone as it couldn’t be easier to message my team and ask to hop on a phone call to answer all my questions (which I’ve had a ton of), regardless of how busy they are. I have been so impressed and grateful for my team’s support, patience and encouragement thus far and appreciate the knowledge they share with me every day.

For the second part of my training, I recently visited Lakehouse, KPMG’s new state-of-the-art learning, development, and innovation center in Florida, which is such an incredible facility that it is hard to put into words. Initially, I was so nervous to attend my first in-person event since I didn’t know anyone, but everyone was so friendly, and I was so grateful for the opportunity to meet other new hires and form relationships! It was priceless to attend this training in-person, especially in such a luxurious and innovative facility, to further develop my audit skills and foster new connections. KPMG’s enormous investment in this training facility and their people is impressive and reminded me that I chose the right firm that really cares about its people and their futures. I’m excited to go in the NYC office for the first time in the coming weeks for more technology training and for lunch to meet more individuals at the firm.

I am so grateful for everyone who helped get me where I am today; my friends and family who are always supporting me, my accounting professors at Scranton for all the knowledge I absorbed from them, all my mentors along the way, and the Center for Career Development who connect students with opportunities such as this one. I’m so excited to see where my career takes me at such a prestigious firm with endless opportunities in front of me!

University of Scranton alumnus Thomas Tate, Esq. ’56, spoke to students majoring in physics and engineering during his Oct. 14^th visit to campus and toured the exhibit “New Frontiers: The Thomas N. Tate, Esq. ’56 Collection of Aerospace Memorabilia,” which he donated to the University. The collection of items accumulated during his service with the national aerospace program from 1962 through 2003 was displayed in the new 5,300 square-foot, state-of-the-art learning and laboratory space for the Mechanical Engineering program on the first floor of Hyland Hall.

“I know that with philanthropy comes promise and possibilities. I want the next generation of explorers to receive a Catholic and Jesuit education that takes them to discovering their great frontier. Together, our support can redirect their future in ways unimagined,” said Tate of his donation to the University.

Tate spoke to University students at The Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineering Seminar Series about his personal experience with the aerospace program, which included work on the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle initiatives.

A native of Olyphant, Tate received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University in 1956. His distinguished career spanned four decades, during which he held positions with Rockwell International for 12 years; the federal government, serving on the House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology for 15 years; and an advocacy group, working for the Aerospace Industries Association for 17 years.

His collection will have a permanent home in the mechanical engineering facility in Hyland Hall. The renovated space includes three laboratories, a workshop, a machine shop, and a 16-seat computer lab, as well as faculty offices and a student lounge area. In the facility, mechanical engineering students will experiment with several pieces of equipment in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, control, dynamics and vibration labs. Students, like aerospace scientists, will work with a wind tunnel, where they will determine important fluid characteristics by measuring aerodynamics pressures, forces and moments applied to aerodynamics models such as airfoil models by the airflow in laminar and turbulent flows. They will also investigate the behavior of engineering materials by performing precise tensile and compression tests to determine material properties such as strength, modulus of elasticity, yield and failure stresses of standard engineering materials.

In addition to mechanical engineering, which the University began to offer in the fall of 2020, other majors offered by the University’s Physics and Engineering Department include computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management, biophysics and physics.

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Three college resource websites for prospective students have ranked The University of Scranton among the top 25 best Catholic colleges in the nation in recently published rankings. The rankings include some of the most prestigious Catholic universities in America.

Niche.com ranked Scranton No. 22 among the 2022 “Best Catholic Colleges in America,” which is a ranking based on key statistics and student reviews. The ranking is based on their analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. Niche.com ranked Scranton No. 2 among the “Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania.”

College Factual ranked Scranton No. 17 in its 2022 list of “Best Colleges Affiliated as Roman Catholic Nationwide.” The national ranking is based their analysis of retention and graduation rates, student loan default rates, overall average post- graduation earnings based on PayScale and College Scorecard data, among other data.

College Choice ranked Scranton No. 23 among the “Best Catholic Colleges and Universities” in the nation, published in June 2021. The ranking was based on their analysis of the college’s reputation, net cost, financial aid and average graduate salary, which used publicly available data from websites of the schools, the National Center for Educational Statistics, U.S. News and World Report and Payscale.com.  

The University of Scranton held the 2021 Medical Alumni Council (MAC) Symposium virtually Oct. 2.

The day-long event featured presentations on a variety of CME topics from accomplished alumni as well as a panel discussion from members of the MAC. The symposium in its entirety will premiere on The Alumni Society’s YouTube channel soon; check future installments of Royal News for a link to the full conference.

The symposium featured the following alumni presentations:

“Treating the Whole Patient: Where Medicine & Dentistry Converge” by Patrick Donnelly, D.M.D., Ph.D. ’09, general dentist, Cipriani Dental Associates

“Managing Anxiety in the Clinical Office Setting: Improving Comfort & Outcomes at Routine Medical & Dental Visits” by Kevin Brazill, D.O., F.A.P.A. ’95, medical director, John D. Kelly Mental Health Clinic, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital, Finger Lakes Health

“Novel Therapeutic Approaches & Patient-directed Care in Sickle Cell Disease: Past, Present, & Future” by Scott Peslak, M.D., Ph.D. ’06, instructor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania

“Ethics, Policy, & Orthopedic Surgery” by John Mercuri, M.D., M.A. Bioethics ’07, adult hip and knee reconstruction, Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

The symposium also included “Scranton Shorts” videos designed to give viewers a peek into a specific area of medicine or research. Presentations included “Pediatric Eye Care With Angela Croteau Marx, O.D. '07,” “Medical Parenting in a Pandemic with Julie Krcmaric, M.A., N.C.C. '07,” “Summer Neuroscience Research Experience: Oxytocin & Heroin Addiction with Jacob Shomali '22,” and “Covid & Medical Training: The New Abnormal with Christopher Kustera '15, G'17, Kate Musto '20, and Sara Wierbowski '19.”

The event also featured opening remarks by April Troy, M.D. M.P.H., F.A.A.P. ’02, a general pediatrician at Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania and an assistant clinical professor at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Troy’s introduction completed her term of service as the MAC’s executive committee chair, and she transitioned to the position of immediate past chair. Joseph Butash, M.D.’07, an emergency medicine physician at St. Luke’s University Health Network, delivered the symposium’s farewell address as his first act as chair of the MAC’s executive committee.

For more information on the MAC, visit this link.

The University of Scranton will present “New Frontiers: The Thomas N. Tate, Esq. ’56 Collection of Aerospace Memorabilia” at 5 p.m. Oct. 14 on the first floor of Hyland Hall in the Department of Physics and Engineering Mechanical Engineering Facility.

A native of Olyphant, Tate received his B.S. in Marketing from the University in 1956. From 1962 through 2003, he played a major role in the national aerospace program, working for government and industry on the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle initiatives. In a career spanning more than four decades, he held positions with a private corporation, working at Rockwell International for 12 years; the federal government, serving on the House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology for 15 years; and an advocacy group, working for the Aerospace Industries Association for 17 years.

Tate will also appear as a guest speaker at The Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineering Seminar Series Oct. 14 at noon in Hyland Hall’s Room 102. In conjunction with this presentation, the “Tate Collection of Aerospace Memorabilia,” which Tate recently donated to the University, will have a permanent home in the department’s new Mechanical Engineering facility in Hyland Hall.

The Mechanical Engineering Program in the Physics and Engineering Department is a 5,300 square-foot, state-of-the-art learning and laboratory space. Using modern equipment and contemporary methods, students learn analysis, synthesis and evaluation for understanding solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, dynamics and thermodynamics, control, and vibration. They work with a wind tunnel, where they determine fluid characteristics by measuring aerodynamic pressures, forces and moments applied to aerodynamic models by the airflow in laminar and turbulent flows. They also investigate the behavior of engineering materials by performing tensile and compression tests to determine material properties such as strength, modulus of elasticity, yield, and failure stresses.

The exhibition of the “Tate Collection of Aerospace Memorabilia” will not only document an important phase of engineering history, but it will also convey to students the exciting careers and endless possibilities that a University of Scranton education provides.

Through the NASA memorabilia collection and his personal recollections of his time in the aerospace industry, Tate takes us on a spectacular journey through an age of discovery best exemplified by the moon landing. His pioneering spirit helped forge a new era of space exploration that future generations will continue to study for ages to come.

Tate was part of the space journey from the very beginning, when President Kennedy committed the nation to “landing a person on the moon before the end of the decade.” Tate’s Jesuit education at Scranton convinced him to listen to his calling and “go forth and set the world on fire.”  He set out for California with his marketing degree from Scranton, and his confidence landed him a position testing, analyzing and synthesizing data for the NASA and Rockwell flight teams. His early work with spacecraft testing for Rockwell International at Edwards Air Force Base set the stage for his next two career paths: serving the House Committee on Science and Technology, and serving as Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association.

While the early NASA work was exciting and generously funded, shuttle setbacks and economic downturns ultimately grounded plans for continued spaceflight. Still, the aerospace program left a remarkable legacy, opening a universe of possibilities for those who care to enter. It continues to inspire innovation, exploration and discovery in children and adults worldwide. Some of its benefits range from current students’ interest in space education to the expanded role of private industry in aerospace activities and plans for visiting Mars. While the inventions that resulted from the program are too numerous to mention, their enormous impact on our civilization helps us study, save and preserve our planet for future generations.

Tate’s legacy with our space program is a powerful reminder of where a University of Scranton degree can take you. Tate traveled the world after graduation, and his love for The University of Scranton remained front and center in his life because of Scranton’s outstanding professors and the Jesuits who encouraged his curiosity and the Socratic method of learning.

“My Jesuit education provided character building and self-discipline with rigorous leadership training from the military sciences,” he said.  “The Jesuits taught me and continue to teach current students to look beyond what is in front of them. Throughout my life, I stayed connected to Scranton and The Alumni Society. Because of great professors and the Jesuit influence on my life, I established, endowed and continue to support The Tate Family Scholarship. I’ve also chosen membership in The Estate Society.

“I know that with philanthropy comes promise and possibilities. I want the next generation of explorers to receive a Catholic and Jesuit education that takes them to discovering their great frontier. Together, our support can redirect their future in ways unimagined. I firmly believe in the scripture, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’ and I am honored to support my alma mater’s mission.”

The Alumni Society will offer fall regional service project opportunities to Royals near Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

On Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, alumni, parents and friends can help bag non-perishable items for food distribution at ALIVE!, 116 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Va., the oldest and largest private safety net dedicated to fighting poverty and hunger in the city of Alexandria. To register, visit this link.

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., alumni, parents and friends will sort donations at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory, 4700 Wissahickon Avenue, Suite 142, Philadelphia, in support of the more than 300,000 children living in poverty in the Philadelphia area. To register, visit this link.

Royals in the Hillside, New Jersey area will soon be able to register for a service opportunity Dec. 4 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Hillside location. Check future issues of Royal News to learn more. For more information or to suggest volunteer opportunities in your region, email Marge Gleason at Margery.gleason@scranton.edu. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

William J. Parker ’77, West Grove, vice president of Claims & Underwriting for Conestoga Title Insurance Co., received his recent appointment as a Certified Land Title Professional (CLTP) by the Pennsylvania Land Title Association (PLTA). The CLTP designation is the highest professional designation level awarded by the PLTA. Education, experience and professional participation are among the requisites for sitting for the CLTP examination. Parker is an approved CE and CLE instructor in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and New York and serves on the Executive, Education and Legislative committees for the Pennsylvania Land Title Association.

Susan Henke Brinkman '91, Patchogue, New York, was named the 2021 Suffolk School Library Media Association's Librarian of the Year. A Bayport Blue Point UFSD School Library Media Specialist for 14 years, Susan has led the district through many innovative projects, including an inquiry-based library enrichment research class for grades 3-5, and she also established a close partnership with the local public library to expand resources and communication. Praised for her willingness to share knowledge and provide professional development for her peers in Suffolk County, Susan has proven herself a leader in the field.

Christen Gilmore Pionzio ’91, Doylestown, a partner in the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin, is listed in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Scott R. Mullen, Ed.D. ’03, Wilmington, Delaware, earned his doctorate in Education Leadership from Widener University. His dissertation topic was "Efficacy of Restorative Justice Strategies in Response to Academic Dishonesty: Perceptions of High School Administrators, Teachers, and Parents." Dr. Mullen teaches Latin and serves as chair of the Classics Department at his alma mater, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, in Philadelphia.

William T. Colona ’08, Teaneck, New Jersey, has been promoted to assistant vice president for Government Relations, Federal and Urban Affairs at Fordham University.

Dylan H. Lang ’15, Atlanta, Georgia, spoke in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of the United States of America.

BIRTHS

A daughter, Riley Madison, to Michael ’05 and Sara Suchoski Carroll ’05, Montville, New Jersey

WEDDINGS

Mara Castellano ’07, G’14 to Mike Horvath
Caitlin Counihan '15, DPT '18 to Daniel DiPaola '14, DPT '17

 

DEATHS

E. Donald Kotchick, M.D. '57, Dalton

George J. Klem, Ph.D. ’67, Havre de Grace, Maryland
Chester J. Kowalski ’68, Scott Township
Frank E. Galonis ’79, Pittston
Jill Finn Healey ’86, Edwardsville
Diana M. Woloshin G’08, Summerville, South Carolina

 

FRIENDS'/FAMILY DEATHS

Francis X. Solano, father of Francis X. Solano, M.D. ’75
James Zipay, brother of Edward Zipay ’65, G’67

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranked The University of Scranton No. 89 in the nation for student engagement. This was Scranton’s best ranking among the 796 schools included in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best Colleges 2022” ranking, which scored schools in several categories as well as an overall ranking. Scranton also ranked at No. 212 for student outcomes, scoring well for salaries of graduates, adjusted for student, location and other characteristics, among other factors. Scranton’s overall ranking was No. 261 in the nation.

Scranton had the best overall ranking, as well as student engagement and outcomes rankings, of the northeastern Pennsylvania colleges that were included in The Wall Street Journal’s ranking.

The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranking is based on an analysis of 15 performance metrics in the categories of resources, student engagement, outcomes and campus environment.

The student engagement portion of their analysis is based largely on The U.S. Student Survey data. Factors considered for the student engagement score are related directly to their college experience, such as interaction with faculty and other students, and whether they would recommend their schools to others. The number of accredited programs offered is also factored into this measure. Student engagement represented 20 percent of the overall ranking score.

Outcomes, which represented 40 percent of the overall ranking score, looked at graduation rate, academic reputation, debt after graduation and the “value added” to graduate salary. The “value added” portion of the analysis applied statistical modeling to adjust for student, location and other characteristics in order to measure the impact the school has on the salary of its graduates.

The ranking also measured resources invested in instruction and student services (30 percent of the overall ranking), which included the finance cost per student, faculty/student ratio and research papers published per faculty member, and the learning environment (10 percent of the overall ranking), which includes student and staff diversity, among other factors.

The ranking was published by The Wall Street Journal Sept. 17.

“The University really is a miracle. It is a place in point of fact where miracles are commonplace; where dreams are nurtured; where hope is born in every generation, where the students have a friendship and a genius for loyalty, and therefore a place where friendships are strong and lifelong; where character is formed; where God is discovered, wrestled with, praised and served; where generosity is a way of life.” Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J., the 23^rd president of The University of Scranton and current president of Fordham University

“What we need at this moment in higher education are leaders capable of distinguishing between the inevitable and the possible. Leaders with enough creativity and originality to write a new script for the future. And that, University of Scranton, is just one of the ways in which you are so blessed to have Joe Marina as your president.” Linda M. LeMura, Ph.D., president of Le Moyne College

“This campus and its students bring such a vibrant energy to our city and we are all proud to have such a world class institution in the heart of the city of Scranton. The University is a true exemplar of the best of Jesuit education.” U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright

“The city would not be what it is today without The University of Scranton. The University is a foundational institution in the community and as we do go forward it is paramount that we continue to build together.” Paige Cognetti, mayor of Scranton.

“At its core, the University continues to fulfill its original vision, rooted in the life of the church as a Catholic and Jesuit university animated by the spiritual vision and tradition of excellence characteristic of the Society of Jesus and those who share its way of proceeding.” Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton,

“In Father Marina, the board found a skilled academic leader and proven teacher who is also the ideal champion for mission and for community in all its richness.” James Slattery ’86, chair of The University of Scranton Board of Trustees

“Speaking for all Jesuits, you have our great affection, our prayers and every confidence that you will be a wonderful leader of this amazing place.” Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., provincial of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus,

“We are absolutely privileged to have such a kind and thoughtful person leading The University of Scranton community as our new president. We have already noticed Father Marina’s genuine commitment to students and remain excited about the legacy he will leave on this University long after many of us have graduated. … While I’m sure his culinary skills are on point, it’s comforting to know that students aren’t the only ones who set of the fire alarm in Pilarz Hall.” Adrianna O. Smith ’22, president of Student Government

“More so than any other person I know, Joe has a stunningly acute sacramental vision. What I mean by that is that he sees clearly what is before him, but he also looks through those things, people, relationships, objects, impasses. He looks beyond them to see possibilities and newness. He sees the best of what can be and ultimately he sees how the finger of God is at work in all of it and in all of us.” Rev. Peter Folan, S.J., assistant professor of theology and religious studies at Georgetown University, in the Introduction of the President.

A recording of the ceremony can be viewed from the Inauguration website.

The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management announced a gift of $1 million from John D. Dionne ’86 and Jacquelyn Dionne ‘89. The generous donation will be used to name and support two Kania honors programs: the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program; and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program. The fund will support the growing Study Abroad program and other activities for students in these two honors programs, as well as other students enrolled in the Kania School of Management.

The Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program are among the University’s five undergraduate programs of excellence. The Business Honors Program is a selective four-year program geared toward highly-motivated undergraduate students interested in pursuing academic excellence in business who will pursue honors studies in the areas of economics, entrepreneurship, operations management, accounting, finance, international business, marketing and management. The Business Leadership Honors Program is a highly-selective program students enter in their junior year. Participants explore the basic theories and concepts of leadership through special seminars and courses in management, ethics, strategy and analysis, in addition to field trips to learn from top executives and projects in leadership, service and mentoring.

For over twenty-five years, the Dionnes have been good friends and generous benefactors of The University of Scranton and the Kania School of Management. The Dionnes were co-recipients of the 2013 University President’s Medal and were the driving force behind creating the Kania School Business Leader Hall of Fame. The green located at the heart of the University’s campus is named in their honor.

“I can’t thank you enough for your generosity and steadfast support. You are an example to our students and your fellow graduates and an inspiration to me.” said Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, upon announcing the gift at his Inauguration as Scranton’s 29^th president on Sept. 24.

A native of Scranton, Jackie Dionne is a registered nurse and received her bachelor’s degree in health administration from the University. She currently serves as an RN with elderly and Alzheimer’s patients. Jackie Dionne serves on the University’s Board of Trustees and previously served on its board from 2011 to 2017. She works with numerous charitable organizations, including the National Charity League, Horizons Organization of Bridgeport and Meals on Wheels.

A New Hampshire native, John Dionne graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics/finance and accounting from the University and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. A very successful business executive, he retired in 2013 as a senior managing director from the Blackstone Group. He currently serves as a senior advisor to Blackstone, is a senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School, and a director of Fortune 500 companies. A former chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, John Dionne, helped launch the President’s Business Council and the annual award dinner. A frequent speaker in the Kania School of Management’s Executive in Residence program and other leading universities, he was recently ranked among Harvard’s top 50 most prominent alumni.

“We are grateful to honor two of the long-time icons of the Kania School in current Professor Dr. Robert McKeage and the late Dr. Frank Corcione. They share a demanding Jesuit philosophical ideal, illustrated by the quote of St. Luke – ‘from whom much is given, much is expected,’” said John Dionne. “Dr. Corcione was demanding but cared, and motivated students to give it their all. Wall Street is awash with ‘Corcione products.’”

“Additionally, we are pleased to enhance the rapidly growing demand by students for semesters abroad by making them more affordable. We believe the program is a life-changing experience and an exciting complement to a University of Scranton Catholic and Jesuit education,” added Jackie Dionne. “Dr. McKeage is award-winning, dedicated faculty member, who always places student learning first.”

Supported by a generous gift from the Dionne family, The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management will name two programs of excellence after faculty who have had a significant impact on the lives of Kania students: the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program.

About the Professors Honored

The legendary Frank P. Corcione, Ph.D., professor emeritus, retired in 2009 after 28 years of distinguished service to The University of Scranton. A member of the department of Economics and Finance and professor emeritus at Scranton, he taught a wide range of courses within his field. A highly-regarded professor, he was an imposing presence in the classroom and demanded students give their best. Generations of students will attest to the nervousness they felt when enrolling in his classes. However, in return, Dr. Corcione had a huge impact on the lives of many of his students. He was demanding but cared, and motivated students to give it their all. He used his strong connections with alumni to help students secure internships and jobs. Wall Street is awash with “Corcione products.” During his nearly 30 years at The University of Scranton, Dr. Corcione was active with the faculty union. He also served as a consultant working on economics damages cases and was widely respected for his formidable skill in providing courtroom testimony. A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Dr. Corcione earned a bachelor’s degree from Moravian College. He earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Lehigh University. He proudly served in the U.S Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962. Sadly, he passed away in December 2020 and is survived by his widow Sandy, sons Christopher and Matthew, and grandson Michael.

A distinguished professor who has served as a faculty member at The University of Scranton since 1974, Robert L. McKeage, Ph.D. ’71, G’73, is the director of the University’s Business Leadership Honors Program and an associate professor of marketing and management in the Kania School of Management. Dr. McKeage played a key role in the development of Scranton’s Business Leadership Honors Program, which has graduated more than 200 elite students who have completed the prestigious two-year program. An award-winning, dedicated faculty member, who always places student learning first, Dr. McKeage’s numerous teaching accolades include the Alpha Sigma Nu’s Edward Gannon Award for Teaching, the Kania School of Management’s Student’s Choice Award for Teaching and the Provost’s Enhancement Award for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. In 2011, he was awarded the University’s O’Hara Award, which is the highest honor bestowed jointly by the University and its Alumni Society. Most recently, he was named an Alperin Teaching Fellow. Dr. McKeage is an active volunteer in the greater Scranton area, serving on several regional non-profit boards. A native of Montrose, Pennsylvania, Dr. McKeage holds both a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from The University of Scranton. He also earned a Master’s of Science from Lehigh University and a Ph.D. from Temple University.  

John D. Dionne ’86 and Jacquelyn Dionne ’89 said in the announcement of their gift of $1 million:

“We are grateful to honor two of the long-time icons of the Kania School in current Professor Dr. Robert McKeage and the late Dr. Frank Corcione. They share a demanding Jesuit philosophical ideal, illustrated by the quote of St. Luke – ‘from whom much is given, much is expected,’”

Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announced the gift at his Inauguration as Scranton’s 29^th president, thanking the Dionnes' for their “generosity and steadfast support. You are an example to our students and your fellow graduates and an inspiration to me.”

About the Programs of Excellence

The Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program are among the University’s five undergraduate programs of excellence. The Business Honors Program is a selective four-year program geared toward highly-motivated undergraduate students interested in pursuing academic excellence in business who will pursue honors studies in the areas of economics, entrepreneurship, operations management, accounting, finance, international business, marketing and management. The Business Leadership Honors Program is a highly-selective program students enter in their junior year. Participants explore the basic theories and concepts of leadership through special seminars and courses in management, ethics, strategy and analysis, in addition to field trips to learn from top executives and projects in leadership, service and mentoring.

 

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The University of Scranton named six individuals to its Board of Trustees: John Boken P’16, P’22; Rev. Thomas W. Neitzke, S.J.; Crystal E. Newby, Ed.D. ’04, G’08; Rev. Angelo J. (“A.J.”) Rizzo, S.J. ’03; Joseph L. Sorbera Jr. P’08, P’08; and Anthony J. Yanni, M.D. ’88, P’21, P’23.

Boken is a managing director in the turnaround and restructuring services practice at AlixPartners, an international consultancy firm. With more than 30 years of corporate turnaround and restructuring experience, he specializes in complex, high profile, national and cross-border cases, including NRG Energy (2004) and Flying J (2011).  He has often been appointed to senior management positions in client engagements, including serving as CEO, COO, CFO, and Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO), helping companies address and resolve financial and operational distress. Recently, he served as Deputy CRO for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in its landmark Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in California. His experience spans a variety of industries, including energy, logistics, entertainment, homebuilding, industrial construction, manufacturing, retail, health care and agriculture.

Boken started his professional career at Arthur Andersen, ultimately becoming a principal and co-owner of a premier boutique restructuring advisory firm, Zolfo Cooper. In 2018, he and his partners merged their firm with AlixPartners, where he now serves in both a leadership capacity and continues as a senior client restructuring advisory practitioner. In addition, Boken serves on the board of directors for The Pasha Group.

Boken holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Santa Clara University. He resides in South Pasadena, California, with his wife, Susie. They are the parents of three children: Brendan ’16, Connell and Eryn ’22.

Father Neitzke, Ed.D., is the dean and executive director at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago. Previously, he served as president of Creighton Preparatory School and was also an adjunct faculty member at Creighton University’s Graduate School. He has taught courses in strategic and political leadership, school law and foundations of education, and has supervised internships in elementary/secondary administration. He is also an adjunct faculty member for the Jesuit Worldwide Learning: Higher Education at the Margins.

Father Neitzke served as chairman of the board at Creighton Preparatory School before his term as president, and currently serves on the boards of Marquette University, Marquette University High School and the Jesuit Academy. Previously, he served on the boards of Georgetown Preparatory School, Loyola Academy, Seattle University, Brophy College Preparatory School and the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands.

Father Neitzke earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago, a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of San Francisco, a Master of Divinity degree from Santa Clara University and a doctorate from Creighton University focusing on educational leadership.

Dr. Newby recently accepted the role of senior director of strategic admission, access and diversity initiatives at the College Board. Previously, Dr. Newby served as the inaugural director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the National Association for College Admission Counseling, where she served for eight years. Earlier in her career, she worked in college admission offices at The University of Scranton, Montclair State University and Bloomsburg University.

Most recently, Dr. Newby joined the Advisory Council for the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, a college access and completion network. In addition, she served as a selection committee member from 2015-2020 for the American School Counselor Association’s School Counselor of the Year award. In 2020, she interviewed Professor Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of “How to be an Antiracist and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You,” co-authored by Jason Reynolds. In June 2021, Dr. Newby had an essay published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope.”

Dr. Newby earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from The University of Scranton and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. At her undergraduate commencement at Scranton, Dr. Newby received the Lawrence A. Mann Award, which recognizes leadership and service to the University community. As a student at Scranton, she was an active member of Performance Music, United Colors, Liva Arts Company and University Players. She also served as a resident assistant, orientation assistant and student teleworker.

Father Rizzo is a priest of the U.S.A. East Province of the Society of Jesus, who began serving as the president of Scranton Preparatory School in July 2021. Most recently, he served as director of mission and identity at Regis High School in New York City.

Fr. Rizzo taught English, religion and Latin at Scranton Prep from 2011 to 2014. An alumnus of St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, he previously ministered at several other Jesuit high schools on the east coast. He served at his alma mater as a volunteer teacher in the school’s Alumni Service Corps. He also served as the director of Christian service at Loyola Blakefield for three years. He entered the Society of Jesus in 2007 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2017. He served as assistant pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola parish in Baltimore, and earlier was a deacon at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Oakland, California.

Fr. Rizzo has served as a trustee of St. Ignatius High School, St. Elizabeth High School and Fairfield Preparatory School.

Father Rizzo earned bachelor’s degrees in both biology and philosophy from The University of Scranton, a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Maryland; a master’s degree in humanities from Fordham University, and a Master of Divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Fr. Rizzo was awarded a doctorate in Catholic educational leadership from the University of San Francisco.

Sorbera is the CEO and president of JLS Cost Management Systems, Inc., based in New York City. His firm manages finances, costs and strategies associated with major construction projects being conducted by businesses across the United States and Europe. He also serves as a long-standing member of the board of directors-executive management committee of Bideawee, a 118-year-old animal rescue and adoption organization.

Since 2004, Sorbera has served The University of Scranton in multiple capacities: first as an involved parent, then in a leadership position alongside then-President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., in the Pride, Passion and Promise Capital Campaign. He has served as an executive-in-residence for Kania School of Management and as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees from 2009-2015. He is currently a member of the President’s Business Council and was honored with the President’s Medal in 2018.

Sorbera earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. He and his late wife, Diane, have three children Christina, Diana ’08 and Joseph III ’08, and a granddaughter, Danielle Marie.

Dr. Yanni is senior vice president and head of patient centricity at Astellas, where he is responsible for leading the development and execution of the company’s global patient centricity strategy across all functions of the organization. With a shared vision to better and more genuinely understand the patient journey in the real-world setting, along with the continued development of a patient-centered corporate culture worldwide, one area in which he is focused is on creating sustainable processes to address key areas that matter to patients and applying their unique insights to the entire product lifecycle – from early research to development and, ultimately, to utilization.

Previously, Dr. Yanni held multiple roles at Sanofi, most recently serving as head of patient insights, solutions and outcomes where he led a global team to create a first-in-industry process to integrate the patient and clinician perspective into research portfolio decision-making. Earlier in his career, Dr. Yanni spent nearly 15 years in clinical practice serving as a primary care physician, chief of internal medicine and chief medical officer for a health system in the Northeastern United States.

Dr. Yanni currently serves on the board of directors for Patient Focused Medical Development. He was selected as one of 2021’s 100 Most Inspiring People in the life-sciences industry by PharmaVoice Magazine.

Dr. Yanni earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton, a MBA from the University of Massachusetts and a M.D. from Drexel University School of Medicine (formerly Hahnemann). He is married to Karen (Fagin) Yanni ’88, G’08, and they have four children: Patrick, Gina, Nicholas ’21 and Elisa ’23.

“A Fire That Kindles Other Fires,” the theme chosen for the Inauguration of Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., as the 29th president of The University of Scranton, was evident throughout the address given by the new president at the ceremony. In his Inaugural Address, Father Marina referred to remarks of former Scranton presidents, words of Jesuit superior generals, the life of St. Ignatius and the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff, alumni and others, to illustrate the influence one person can have on others.

“In his first inaugural address, Father Pilarz referred to our University as a miracle in the mountains. And that’s exactly what it is. But it didn’t take long for me to notice that Scranton is also a vineyard in the valley, a place where hard work, dedication, and an authentic commitment to the ideals and characteristics of Catholic and Jesuit higher education converge for the benefit of the students we serve,” said Father Marina. “This vineyard produces sweet and abundant grapes and our harvest is a harvest to be envied. … The credit goes to our wonderful students, our amazing faculty and staff, loyal trustees, alumni and benefactors who, year after year, have cultivated the soil of this vineyard to make it rich and nurturing.”

Father Marina said the term “a fire that kindles other fires,” from the second decree of the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, “is a metaphor that every Jesuit work, and every member of that work, can take on in a personal and apostolic way. The University of Scranton is, without a doubt, a fire that kindles other fires – one that illuminates and warms rather than burns and destroys.”

Father Marina referred to the University’s sense of community as its greatest asset.

“The community that is Scranton is authentic, and you can feel it almost immediately when stepping onto our beautiful campus. We are a family,” said Father Marina. “Our community is not an insulated one. It is grounded in God’s love. Our university exists because of Jesus Christ. And our future will be stoked by the fire of the Holy Spirit for decades to come. This triune reality makes our community open to all, not despite their differences, but precisely because of them. We are made stronger by our diversity and by our love for one another.”

Father Marina closed his remarks citing advice he received from Scranton’s 23^rd president, Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J., currently the president of Fordham University: “If you love The University of Scranton, if you truly love it, then marvelous things are bound to happen.” 

Father Marina said that is “exactly” what he intends to do, and asked others to “please join me as we carry our mission forward, or, more rightly, may I join you? So that, together, we can cultivate this wonderful vineyard in the valley and be that fire that kindles other fires.”

The Inauguration occurred during the Ignatian Year, the 500^th anniversary of the conversion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus.

Nearly 1,500 members of the University community and invited guests attended the Inauguration, including representatives from more than 45 colleges and universities; Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., provincial of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, who presented the Missioning of the President at the ceremony; Scranton’s Mayor Paige Cognetti, who provided greetings from the city; and Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, who provided the Invocation, among others. Recorded greetings were given by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright and U.S. Senator Bob Casey, a Scranton native. The Inauguration also featured the performance of an original work composed for the Inauguration by David Lantz III, titled “To the Ends of the Earth.”

A recording of the ceremony is available for viewing. Photos from the event can be seen on the University’s Inauguration Flickr album.

In addition to the Inauguration Ceremony, an Inauguration Mass is planned for Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. on campus. An Inauguration Concert is set for Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center. The events coincide with Family Weekend.

Read quick facts about the inauguration.

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Inauguration Date:   Sept. 24, 2021

Ignatian Year - commemorating the 500^th anniversary of the conversion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus 

Theme: “A Fire that Kindles Other Fires” – The Inauguration theme is quoted from Decree 2 of the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus.

Attendance:  Nearly 1,500

Number of Colleges and Universities Represented: 41

Oldest College Represented: University of Pennsylvania (established 1740)

Newest College Represented: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medical College (established 2008)

Number of School Presidents in Attendance: 11

Former University of Scranton Presidents in Attendance: 3

Quotable: “The 35^th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, in its second decree, proposed the symbol of a fire that kindles other fires. This term was first used in reference to St. Alberto Hurtdado of Chile and later intended for the renewal of all Jesuits. But it wasn’t meant for them alone. This is a metaphor that every Jesuit work, and every member of that work, can take on in a personal and apostolic way. The University of Scranton is, without a doubt, a fire that kindles other fires – one that illuminates and warms rather than burns and destroys.” Inaugural Address of Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., President of The University of Scranton.

World Premiere at Inauguration: First performance of a new work for combined band and choir entitled “To The Ends Of The Earth,” composed by David Lantz III with a text inspired by themes from the 35^thGeneral Congregation of The Society of Jesus.

Forbes ranked The University of Scranton among “America’s Top Colleges” for the 13^th year. Scranton is the only college in Northeast Pennsylvania to be named among the 600 elite colleges listed in the 2021 ranking, which was published online on Sept. 8. Scranton, ranked No. 425, was among just 35 colleges in Pennsylvania that Forbes selected as “America’s Top Colleges.”

The ranking by Forbes analyzed “outputs” of a college education, weighting alumni salaries at one to four years and 10 years after graduation the most at 20 percent of their overall score. The methodology used by Forbes also looked at graduation rates (15 percent), student debt (15 percent) and the number of alumni making the Forbes “American Leaders” lists (15 percent), such as its “Forbes 400” and “Richest Self-Made Women” lists, as well as alumni who won national and international awards or positions, such as winners of the Nobel Prize and graduates who are members of the Supreme Court. Forbes also rated retention rate (10 percent), academic success (10 percent), as measured by alumni winning prestigious academic scholarships, such as Fulbright and Truman scholarships, and a “return on investment” measurement (15 percent), which calculates the time it takes for students to pay their college debt based on the “post-enrollment earnings boost students get compared their typical salary of a high school graduate in their state.”

Also in September, U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton No. 5 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North” in the 2022 edition of their “Best Colleges” guidebook, marking the 28^th consecutive year that U.S. News ranked Scranton among the top 10 universities in its category. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category in its “Best Undergraduate Teaching” listing of the top colleges in the nation expressing “a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching;” No. 45 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North;” and No. 138 in its category in “Top Performers on Social Mobility.” In national rankings, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 166 among America’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs;” No. 185 among “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs;” and No. 148 among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs.”

The University of Scranton President’s Business Council (PBC) announced that the 20th Annual Award Dinner, planned for Thursday, Oct. 7, at Gotham Hall in New York City, has been canceled due to complications related to the ongoing pandemic. The PBC will instead offer a virtual celebration on Thursday, Nov. 18, which will honor John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06, in memoriam, and will also provide a retrospective look at the first twenty years of the PBC.

“Working in consultation with our New York City-based PBC leadership team, we decided that hosting a virtual event in November was best for the University, our honorees and all of our constituents,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “We are confident that we can build on our extremely successful virtual event last year as we honor the late Jack Brennan and reflect on the first twenty years of the PBC.”

Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17,’19 and Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19, who were also scheduled to be honored on Oct. 7, will be the honorees for the October 2022 PBC Dinner.

The PBC was formed in 2001 by the University and a prominent group of alumni and friends with the purpose of advancing the mission of the University. The PBC is committed to strengthening the Scranton network in the business sectors and to providing mentoring, internship and career support for current students and meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni, parents and friends. At the PBC’s Annual Award Dinner, an honoree is presented with the University’s President’s Medal, which recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. Proceeds from the dinner go directly to the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Additional details regarding this year’s virtual celebration will follow.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton No. 5 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North” in the 2022 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook, which became available online today. U.S. News has ranked Scranton among the top 10 universities in its category for 28 consecutive years.

U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category in its “Best Undergraduate Teaching” listing of the top colleges in the nation expressing “a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”

In addition, Scranton was ranked No. 45 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North,” which compares academic quality of programs to cost of attendance. This is the ninth consecutive year U.S. News has recognized Scranton as a “Best Value” school. Scranton was ranked No. 138 in its category in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” which looks at schools that enroll and graduate “large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.”

In national rankings, as opposed to listings by category, U.S. News included Scranton among America’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” ranking Scranton at No. 166 in the U.S., “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” at No. 185 (where doctorate is not offered); and among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs,” ranking Scranton No. 148 in the nation.

                  

U.S. News uses data on 17 measures of academic quality to rank 1,466 bachelor’s degree colleges in the America. For its rankings, U.S. News considers a range of quality indicators that include an “outcomes” measurement” (40 percent), which assesses graduation rates; freshman retention; a social mobility score; graduate indebtedness; and graduation performance rates, which compares a school’s actual graduation rates with predicted graduation rates based on characteristics of the incoming class. U.S. News ranking analysis also includes a peer assessment of academic excellence (20 percent); faculty resources (20 percent), which includes class size and regional cost-of-living adjustments to faculty pay and benefits; student excellence (7 percent), as measured by SAT or ACT scores and high school ranking of students in the top 25 percent of their class; financial resources (10 percent); and alumni giving (3 percent).

U.S. News categorizes colleges for their rankings based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities.

The 2022 U.S. News “Best Colleges” rankings became available online Sept. 13. The printed edition of the guidebook will be available in bookstores Nov. 2.

To read more about all the accolades the University has received visit our Outcomes & National Recognition page.

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The University will hold the 2021 Medical Alumni Council (MAC) Symposium in the DeNaples Center’s Moskovitz Theater Oct. 2; in addition to the in-person gathering, the University will also offer a virtual attendance option. To register for the event, visit this link.

Although the day-long symposium is primarily designed for Scranton physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, retired physicians, medical school students and undergrad pre-professional students, attendance is also open to medical professionals and students not affiliated with the University. The event will feature presentations on a variety of CME topics from accomplished alumni*, including the following:

 

7:45 a.m. - Registration & Continental Breakfast - The DeNaples Center

8:30 a.m. - Welcome & Opening Remarks - April Troy, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P. '02
     Executive Committee Chair, Medical Alumni Council
     General Pediatrician, Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania
     Assistant Clinical Professor, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

 8:45 a.m. - Patrick Donnelly, D.M.D., Ph.D. '09

    Cipriani Dental Associates; Newtown, PA
    TOPIC: Treating the Whole Patient: Where Medicine & Dentistry Converge

9:40 a.m. - Scranton Short

9:50 a.m. - Kevin Brazill, D.O., F.A.P.A. '95

   Medical Director, John D Kelly Mental Health Clinic
   Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital; Finger Lakes Health; Penn Yan, New York
   TOPIC: Managing Anxiety in the Clinical Office Setting: Improving Comfort & Outcomes at   Routine Medical & Dental Visits

10:45 a.m. - Scranton Short

10:55 a.m. - Break

11:15 a.m. - Panel Discussion 

     Melissa Edwards, M.D., M.H.A. '20
     MDvSystem Serviceline Director of Women's Health, PeaceHealth

     Christopher Jones, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.H.P.M. '02
     Palliative Medicine Specialist, Duke Health

     Thomas Langan, Jr., D.M.D., M.S. '09
     Periodontist, Perio Health and Dental Implants
     President, Scranton District Dental Society

     Joseph Mastroianni, V.M.D., '14
     Veterinarian, Wallenpaupack Veterinary Clinic

     Pamela Taffera-Deihl, D.O., M.B.A. '02
     Hospitalist and System Medical Director, Patient Logistics and Transfer Center, WellSpan Health, York, PA
     TOPIC: The US Healthcare Reemergence from COVID-19: Strategies from the Storm

12:45 p.m. – Lunch

1:45 p.m. - Scranton Short

1:55 p.m. - Scott Peslak, M.D., Ph.D. '06

    Instructor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
    TOPIC: Novel Therapeutic Approaches & Patient-directed care in Sickle Cell Disease- Past, Present, & Future

2:50 p.m. - Scranton Short

3:00 p.m. - John Mercuri, M.D., M.A. Bioethics '07

    Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction, Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

    TOPIC: Ethics, Policy, & Orthopedic Surgery

4:30 p.m. - Farewell - Joseph Butash, M.D. '07

     Incoming Chair, Executive Committee, Medical Alumni Council
     Emergency Medicine
     St. Luke's University Health Network

 

*Schedule of activities is subject to change.

The Legacy Families of The Class of 2025 met with Father Marina Saturday at the front steps of the Loyola Science Center to mark the beginning of their students' college careers. To see photos from the event, visit this link.

The University will hold "Career Change and How to Navigate It," the latest chapter in its alumni career development webinar series, September 29 at 7 p.m.

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Assistant Director for Career Development Lori Moran '93, G'95, will focus on how Royals can sucessfully change careers in the time of "The Great Resignation." To register, visit this link.

The series sprang from a partnership between The Alumni Society Advisory Board and The Center for Career Development. The University will hold "Interviewing," the final installment in the series, May 26.

The first five installments in the series, "What The Center For Career Development Can Do For Scranton Alumni," "Changes Within Your Career," "Building And Enhancing Your Resume," "The Job Search" and "Interviewing," are available to view at scranton.edu/alumnicareers.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

John “Jack” Lynch ’83, Bryn Mawr, was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association (AHA) for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2022. The Board of Trustees is the highest policymaking body of the AHA and has ultimate authority for the governance and management of its directions and finances.

Jennifer Donatelli ’95, Brooklyn Park, Maryland, has been writing correspondence on behalf of Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot's office since July 2021. She also has worked as a freelance web content producer for WJZ TV in Baltimore, Maryland.

Timothy M. Gallen ’96, Hatfield, was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling with their McClintick Service Award; the award recognizes a person who has  demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the profession and leadership to the association while planning to continue to work on behalf of students to ensure access to postsecondary education.

Brian Eltz ’02, G’05, Millersville, recently published his second children's book, "Perking Up Poe," as a follow-up to last year's "Shaking Up Shakespeare."

 

BIRTHS

A daughter, Quinn Kathleen, to Kerry and Paul Boye '09, West Orange, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

William P. Morris ’57, Old Forge
John P. Gower ’58, Rockville, Maryland
Richard J. Rembecki ’58, Scranton
Brian E. McHugh G’59, Kingston
Edward J. Manley, Sr. ’60, H’97, Scranton
James F. Kettrick, M.D.’67, Zion Crossroads, Virginia
William P. Lawler ’69, West Wyoming
Charles J. Pineno, Ph.D. ’69, Marco Island, Florida
Paul A. Ruddy ’69, Dunmore
Patrick G. McHale ’73, Carbondale
Lorraine C. Kevra ’77, Fair Haven, New Jersey  
Karen Edwards Smith ’83, Matamoras 
Robert J. Kleck, Jr. ’84, Harding
Sarah Farrell Hutchison ’08, Glenburn Township

FRIENDS' DEATHS

Michael G. Cappucci, husband of Rosemarie Clark Cappucci ’86, brother-in-law of Charlene Clark Laniewski ’88 and Marybeth Clark ’00
Carol Ann Clark, mother of Rosemarie Clark Cappucci ’86, Charlene Clark Laniewski ’88 and Marybeth Clark ’00
Eugene Demyan, brother of Phil Demyan ’76
Patricia Anne Gahagan, wife of Mike Gahagan ’00
Nicholas Huth, father of Peggy Huth Redmond '90

The University of Scranton will offer a new graduate certificate in business analytics beginning in the fall 2021 semester. The 12-credit program in the emerging, high-growth field can be completed on-campus or online in as little as six-months.

Business analytics is one of the fastest growing professions in the country, with job opportunities available in virtually every type of industry, as companies seek qualified employees capable of analyzing complex data to make informed decisions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects double-digit employment growth for management analysts and market research analysts from 2019 to 2029, with job opportunities for management analysts expected to increase by 11 percent, and market research analyst positions projected to increase by 18 percent.

The graduate certificate program in business analytics is offered through the University’s Kania School of Management, which holds accreditation by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The curriculum is comprised of four courses, which includes two required courses (Introduction to Business Analytics and Data Mining) and two electives that can focus on highly sought skills related to Python, R, Tableau, or SQL. Students admitted to the program without business knowledge in statistics, management science and information systems may need to take foundational courses in those areas.

In addition to the graduate certificate, the University offers a 30-credit master’s degree in business analytics and a 36-credit MBA degree with a specialization in business analytics both of which are offered in on-campus and online modalities. The University also offers a bachelor’s degree in business analytics, as well as a business analytics minor and concentration. The programs are housed in the University’s Operations and Analytics Department.

For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Graduate Admissions at 888-727-2686 or by email gradadmissions@scranton.edu, or Nabil Tamini, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Operations and Analytics Department at nabil.tamini@scranton.edu.

The President’s Business Council (PBC) will present President’s Medals to John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06 (in memoriam), Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P17,’19, and Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19 at its 20^th Annual Award Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

“We are all excited by the prospects of gathering together in person to celebrate our Honorees, the University, our students, and the PBC’s 20^th anniversary,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “We are also mindful of the ebb and flow of the state of today’s world with COVID-19 and will continue to monitor all of the current health guidelines to prepare for a safe in-person event for our expected attendees. Given the viewership success of last year’s virtual celebration, we will also provide a livestream link for remote viewing on October seventh.

“A delay in the remodeling of the ballroom at The Pierre Hotel, our host for all of the previous dinners, necessitated a move to a new venue this year. We are looking forward to welcoming our attendees to Gotham Hall.”

John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06 received a bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1968. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served as a 1^st lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. in Thailand. Following his years of service, Mr. Brennan joined Motorola as a salesman. He later co-founded Metro Mobile CTS, Inc., and served as the president and chief operating officer. Metro Mobile was later sold to Bell Atlantic, which would eventually become Verizon Communications. He was also president of Activated Communications and a member of the board of directors at Spectrum Signal Processing. At the time of his retirement, he was the vice chairman of the board of Southern Union Co. (later acquired by Energy Transfer LP).

During his professional career, Mr. Brennan was an active member of his community, serving as president of the Radio Club of America, as president of the Old Tappan Board of Education, as a member of the Old Tappan Planning Board, and as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. In support of his passion for furthering the education of young minds, Mr. Brennan was a long-time member of the Board of Trustees at Christ the King School (Cristo Rey) in Newark, N.J., and at the University, where he was also a founding member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board. He was also among the inaugural inductees to the Business Leader Hall of Fame. In Oct. 2000, the University named Brennan Hall, the home of the Kania School of Management, in his honor.

Mr. Brennan passed away in Sept. 2020 after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, their two children and their grandchildren.

Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17,’19 is the global chief talent officer for the Havas Group, one of the world's largest global communications groups founded in 1835 in Paris and part of the Vivendi Group. Ms. Clarke is responsible for leading all aspects of global human resources as well as talent and cultural strategy for the group’s 20,000+ employees in over 100 countries. During her time at Havas, she has built a talent management approach that includes initiatives on network mobility, high-potential leadership development, women’s leadership advancement, global employee engagement, employer branding, and global diversity, equity and inclusion.

Prior to joining Havas, Ms. Clarke ran her own consulting business with a focus on helping private equity-backed companies develop their talent management capabilities. She also had a 20-year stint at Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), where she was chief human resources officer for 9 years and also ran global internal communications. She led D&B to industry honors as one of Fortune Magazine’s “Most Admired Companies.”

Ms. Clarke earned a bachelor’s degree in management from the University in 1986. She is a current member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a former member of the Kania School of Management Advisory Board and the Parents’ Executive Council (PEC). She is also a former chair of the PBC and created the PBC/Kania School of Management Career Coaches Program, in which she remains a mentor to current University students. She and her husband, David, reside in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and have five children.

Thomas P. O’Brien ’86, P’19 is a co-founder and the current chief executive officer and president of SumRidge Partners, LLC, based in Jersey City, N.J. Formed in 2010, SumRidge Partners is a top-ranked, electronic fixed income market maker specializing in high-yield, investment-grade corporate bonds, municipal bonds, institutional preferred securities, and emerging market bonds.

Prior to launching SumRidge Partners, Mr. O’Brien was co-head of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Capital Markets division and was also a member of the firm’s management and risk committees. He was instrumental in building and developing the retail capital markets division into an industry leader. Previously, he was head of Morgan Stanley’s retail fixed income trading, which included U.S. credit, rates and municipal bond trading. He began his career with Dean Witter as an institutional MBS trader and subsequently traded various fixed income products; later, he took responsibility for risk management oversight of several product lines.

Mr. O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree of economics/finance from the University in 1986 and a master of business administration from Fordham University. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, where he served as vice chairman, and a former chair of the PBC. Today, he acts as a mentor to current University students and frequently teaches in the fixed income securities and markets course, which he co-developed with the late Frank Corcione, Ph.D. Mr. O’Brien resides in Basking Ridge, N.J., with his wife, Denise, and their three sons.

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and who personify the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Since its inaugural dinner in 2002, the PBC has generated more than $18 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Planning for this year’s dinner, including a virtual Honorees Announcement, is ongoing, so please visit our website at scranton.edu/PBCdinner. For more information on this year’s event or the PBC, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

The University has opened registration for the 2021 Medical Alumni Council Symposium. The day-long gathering will be held Oct. 2 in the DeNaples Center's Moskovitz Theater, and the University will also offer a virtual attendance option. Visit this link to register today, or visit this link to view the full schedule of events. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, was re-elected to the Executive Committee of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) for the 2021-2022 year at its annual convention. In addition, Munley received two awards in recognition of her service to AAJ: the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes members of AAJ Board of Governors have been a special assistant to the president of the Association during the past year, and the Above and Beyond Award, which honors AAJ members who have made exceptional contributions to sustain and strengthen the organization.

John P. McShea ’12, Abington Township, joined Eastburn and Gray, PC and will be working in the firm’s litigation, real estate, land use and zoning, and municipal law practice groups.

 

Marriages

Blaire E. Wilkie ’15, D.P.T. ’18 to Michael C. Balcon ’13, D.P.T. ’16

 

Deaths

Vincent J. Gryctko ’50, Altavista, Virginia
Gregory Hodowanec ’50, Edison, New Jersey
Thomas B. Stim, Ph.D. ’51, Ambler
Peter E. Herguth ’61, Fountain Hills, Arizona
Michael Kosh ’68, Redwood City, California
Martin J. Domiano ’69, Apalachin, New York
Gerard A. Coury ’71, Peckville
James Volz ’75, Scranton
John J. Wehrum ’77, Dunmore
George P. Skumanick ’83, Tunkhannock
Linda R. Young G’85, Bethlehem
Michael F. Mazzarella ’86, Scranton
Christine Medico Harding ’90, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Ryan J. Kiess ’18, Manhasset, New York

 

Friends' Deaths

Walter Frank Karas, father of Noelle D. Karas '97 and April Karas Fletcher '00
Sally Ann Kozlowski, wife of Frederick J. Kozlowski ’64 and mother of Frederick H. Kozlowski, M.D. ’90
Marilyn Lewis, mother of James Lewis ’77 and grandmother of Jason Lewis, M.D. ’00
Adeline Mazzucelli, mother of Colette Mazzucelli, Ph.D. ’83

The University of Scranton conferred doctor of business administration (DBA) degrees to the first cohort of students to graduate from the program at a special ceremony in the McIllhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on July 12.

The University’s DBA program with a concentration in accounting was developed to provide experienced practitioners with a practical pathway to an academic career at a school of business that possesses or is seeking formal accreditation by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

“When this program was born, we inspired to transform experienced accounting professionals into exceptional academics and teachers capable of producing advanced-practice relevant research grounded in the ethical foundation of our institution’s St. Ignatian identity,” said Douglas M. Boyle, DBA, chair of the University’s Accounting Department and DBA program director, at the ceremony. “Graduates of cohort one, you have exceeded our expectations and we look forward to witnessing the continued impact you will have on the world of business through the education and formation of future generations of leaders in industry grounded in the ethical formation of Ignatian identity.”

Dr. Boyle noted that the DBA graduates and faculty have already co-authored and published 15 manuscripts in internationally recognized refereed journals with six of the publications winning awards from the Institute of Management Accountants. He noted that each of the graduates had been successful in securing at least one publication as a co-author while still attending the program. He also said the majority of cohort one graduates have already secured tenure-track position in AACSB-accredited schools of business, with others continuing to work in industry or establishing consulting practices.

Scranton’s DBA program, which began in 2018, has already been internationally recognized when AACSB listed the program among the “Innovations and Best Practices in Canada, Latin America and the United States.” The program was recognized for providing a non-traditional research DBA in accounting that “promotes diversity and practice relevance by providing a flexible path for experienced practitioners to gain the knowledge and credentials required to succeed in tenure-track positions at AACSB-accredited institutions.”

At the ceremony, degrees were conferred by Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, upon candidates presented by Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

“Your education lives on after this day. Although it belongs to you, it also belongs to the world, where you are called and needed to be agents of change, to be ethical leaders and to work for the common good,” said Father Marina at the ceremony.

Also at the ceremony, George W. Krull, Jr., Ph.D., global strategic advisor for the University’s DBA program, provided the keynote address and Todd DeZoort, Ph.D., a global scholar in Scranton’s DBA program and the Durr-Fillauer Chair in Business Ethics and Professor of Accounting at the University of Alabama, was recognized as the Kania School of Management Global Scholar of the Year. Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J., executive director of the University’s Jesuit Center, provided the Invocation and Father Marina provided the Benediction.

Class of 2021 graduates of The University of Scranton’s DBA program are:

Marcus Justin Burke of Highland Village, Texas;

Joy Chacko of Chandler, Arizona;

Anthony Lamont Fulmore of Killeen, Texas;

Craig Gallagher of South Abington Township;

Daniel J. Gaydon of Plains;

Elena V. Isaacson of Niskayuna, New York;

Heather J. Losi of Liverpool, New York;

Amanda Sue Marcy of Clifford Township;

Patrick Edward O’Brien of North Merrick     New York;

Ronald Douglas Parker of Franklin, North Carolina;

Savas Saymaz of Allentown.

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On June 14, the University honored Scranton golf legend Ed Karpovich ’76, G’86 with the 2021 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner at Glenmaura National Golf Club.

The event raised more than $100,000 for Scranton Athletics. Quandel Construction Group served as the event’s title sponsor.

More than 160 alumni and friends of the University participated in the golf tournament, and an additional 50 guests attended the award dinner.

Cheers erupted from Royal and friend alike as Dave Martin, executive director of Athletics at the University, recognized Karpovich, the guest of honor, prior to the beginning of the meal.

“The University is proud to honor one of our very own tonight, University of Scranton coaching legend Eddie Karpovich, with the 2021 Peter A. Carlesimo Award,” Martin said before introducing the evening’s speakers: current softball player Lauren Cawley ’23, a secondary education and math major, basketball legend P.J. Carlesimo, the son of the University athletic director the award is named after, and, on his very first day on the job, the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., the twenty-ninth president of The University of Scranton.

“I would like to start by saying, ‘Thank you,’” Cawley said. “Thank you … for the generous support you have all provided. Because of you, Scranton athletes are able to have a transformative experience both on and off the field as we journey through our four years.”

Father Marina spoke next, mentioning some of Karpovich’s outstanding achievements prior to providing the evening’s Invocation.

“Under Ed’s great coaching, golf at Scranton has achieved nearly 400 wins,” Marina said. “Absolutely amazing. He’s obviously touched countless lives for the better.”

After dinner, Carlesimo spoke about the parallels between Karpovich’s legacy and that of his late father.

“Karp, I’m really here representing our family, and especially my father,” he said. “To continue to have my father’s name associated with the University is really meaningful to our family.

“Karp reminds me an awful lot of my father in how much he cared about this school and the students that he worked with at this school. He’s meant so much to it, and I’m so happy that his name is on the Carlesimo Award.”

After receiving the award, Karpovich expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the event’s attendees on behalf of his fellow Scranton coaches.

“We appreciate this from the bottom of our heart,” he said, “and this tournament just helps every athletic team out in a big way, so thank you.

“I am honored and privileged to get this award.”

A remarkable career

Karpovich has been a part of the men’s golf program at the University for more than four decades. In 39 seasons as the head men’s golf coach at the University, he has compiled an overall record of 354-120-2 in dual match competition. He also led Scranton to a Middle Atlantic Conference team championship in 1988. That team, which featured All-American and MAC individual champion Will Carey III ‘88, set a school record with a 24-0 regular season mark. Thirty-four of his players have earned all-conference honors, while two – Carey and Mike Chomicz – have competed in the NCAA Division III championships.

In the fall of 2016, Karpovich was instrumental in starting the women’s golf program at the University. In five seasons as the women’s head coach, he has led the Royals to 32 dual match victories.

Karpovich has also been an ambassador for the sport, joining former King’s College head coach Tom Davis in 1999 to found the Glenmaura National Collegiate Invitational, an annual event that attracts some of the top Division III talent in the region. Glenmaura National also serves as the Royals’ home course. In addition, he served on the NCAA regional committee in 2011.

Karpovich is a 1976 graduate of the University and a member of its prestigious Wall of Fame. As a player, he led the Royals to three MAC team titles (1973, 1975, 1976) while capturing MAC individual championships in 1974 and 1976. He also competed in the 1974 and 1976 NCAA championships, finishing tied for 150th in 1974 and tied for 42nd in 1976. He currently serves as treasurer of Lackawanna County.

About the event

Named in honor of Peter A. Carlesimo, former University of Scranton coach and athletics director, the Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner celebrates athletics at the University by honoring a person who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Golf Tournament and Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at Scranton. To see photos from this year’s event, visit this link. For more information, visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward.

Joe A. Vinson, Ph.D., emeritus professor of chemistry at the University, believes so strongly in the value of research opportunities that he is providing a $25,000 gift to the University to permanently create them.

According to Vinson’s bio, he first became “hooked on research” during his student days at the University of California at Berkeley, and, over the course of his career, he authored more than 90 articles in scientific publications; additionally, he has been mentioned in many lay publications for his contributions to the field of antioxidants in health and disease. Although Vinson taught his final class at the University in 2015, he is now an emeritus professor.

Vinson recently committed a $25,000 leadership gift to initiate The Joe A. Vinson, Ph.D., Endowment for Summer Thesis Research in Chemistry. While the minimum threshold for an endowment investment at the University is $50,000, Vinson hopes his gift will inspire others to support the initiative in the hope of creating a consistent and perpetual source of research income for future Scranton students.

Upon learning of Vinson’s generosity, one of his former students, Michael G. Coco Jr., Ph. D. ’13, a chemist at KBR, Inc., sought to aid Vinson’s efforts by reaching out to his fellow chemistry alumni, writing, “(Vinson’s) personal commitment to continue research opportunities at our alma mater is so impressive that I had to be part of this effort. To make this perpetual fund possible, I invite you to help create this important legacy. Please join me in making a generous gift to support this initiative.

“Let us ensure that Dr. Vinson’s legacy will continue to enrich the lives of students well beyond our years and for the life of our wonderful University!”

To support The Joe A. Vinson, Ph.D., Endowment for Summer Thesis Research in Chemistry, visit Scranton.edu/makeagift. To find research articles by faculty members in the Chemistry department, visit this link. To contact Dr. Vinson directly, email him at joe.vinson@scranton.edu.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

William R. Savage ’79, Lemoyne, had a Dramatists Guild/Philadelphia reading of his play “Leave it to the Angels” on June 24. Last summer, his play “Men of the Empire” received a reading in support of the Globe Theatre in London. Earlier in 2020, Savage had live readings of “Say He Was a Soldier” and “Mom, I Smoke!” at the Parkway Central Library I Philadelphia, also through Dramatists Guild.

Thomas J. Grech ’84, Malverne, New York, has been appointed to the Board of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Local Development Corporation (LDC).

Lisa W. Shearman ’89, Lansdale, a partner with the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, PC, has recently been elected a fellow to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Matthew Cooper, M.D. ’90, Columbia, Maryland, has been named president of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Board of Directors. This position in solid organ transplantation is recognized as the most influential position in the world with the U.S. donation and transplantation system being the most successful around the globe.  UNOS is the mission-driven nonprofit serving the nation’s transplant system. Cooper currently serves as the director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation at the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute based at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC.

Nathanial J. Sann ’00, Mechanicsville, Virginia, was named the 12th President of The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Integrated Health section. The vision of the society is to improve public health and well-being by lessening the burden of the disease of obesity and related diseases throughout the world. Sann is responsible for directing the activities of the Integrated Health Section of the ASMBS, including strategic planning and acting as representatives of their disciplines to the Executive Council of the Society. He guides the activities of the IH committees and initiatives. The primary goal is to cultivate a knowledgeable, skilled and empowered membership inclusive of all integrated health specialties and increase the integrated health professional membership value. Sann is a family nurse practitioner at Advanced Surgical Partners of Virginia.

Howard R. Kindred, Jr. G’06, Georgetown, Texas, chief financial officer at Trimbuilt Construction, was nominated for best CFO for a large private company in Austin, Texas. . 

Deaths

Eugene J. Roe, M.D. ’51, Clarks Summit
Paul J. Coolican, D.D.S. ’52, Clarks Summit
LTC Edmund Sieminski ’55, Mountaintop
Joseph A. Noto, M.D. ’57, Asheville, North Carolina
Robert C. Moran ’58, Columbus, New Jersey
Robert C. Davey ’60, Branford, Connecticut
Eugene J. Sullivan ’65, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
E. John Fedor ’69, York
Gerard A. Coury ’71, Peckville
John V. Kane ’79, Concord, North Carolina
Ellen Moran DeLorenzo ’81, Bloomfield, Connecticut
Eugene J. Kane, Jr. ’84, Clarks Summit and Vero Beach, Florida
John T. Dellamalva ’05, G’05, Moosic
Patrick J. Mulhern, Jr. ’05, Springfield

As the world slowly began to reopen during the spring of 2021, Scranton graduates far and wide continued to utilize the alumni network to serve their communities, support current students and bond over their shared love of the University.

Virtual Computing Sciences Spring Social Event

On April 22, nearly 50 alumni, students and faculty members continued the year-long celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Computing Science department at Scranton with a zoom social. The discussion and camaraderie lasted more than two hours as alumni fielded industry and career questions from students, and faculty and alumni reminisced about campus and curriculum changes over the last 50 years. Department Chair Richard Plishka ’75, along with six fellow faculty members who were also present, look forward to continuing alumni engagement efforts beyond the fiftieth year.

Day of Service

On April 24, small groups of alumni celebrated this year’s Day of Service safely in their hometowns by volunteering and/or dropping off essential food items and supplies at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, City Harvest New York City, the Central PA Food Bank, the Greater Boston Food Bank, Cooking for Long Island Veterans, and the University’s We Care Wednesdays program. To see photos from this year’s event, visit this link.

Rainbow Royals Inaugural Meet and Greet

Rainbow Royals, the University’s LGBTQIA+ and ally network, held its first virtual Meet and Greet on May 12. The gathering featured an update on LGBTQIA+ life on campus delivered by Maria Marinucci, director of the Cross Cultural Center at the University, and Tara Fay, biology faculty specialist and moderator of S.A.F.E. (Scranton Alliance For Equity) Space, the LGBTQIA+ club. The event also featured a question and answer session moderated by John Gownley ’06, founding member of Rainbow Royals and assistant director of Campus Ministry for Church Operations and Special Events at Fordham University. Visit Scranton.edu/RainbowRoyals to learn more and get involved.

Virtual Pre-Law Banquet and Council of Alumni Lawyers Event

On May 3, members of the Council of Alumni Lawyers joined students via Zoom for the virtual Pre-Law Society Banquet, an annual celebration of the University’s Pre-Law Society and Mock Trial team. This year’s event featured a keynote address delivered by Melinda Ghilardi, Esq. ’80 and Kathleen Santora, Esq. ’80, alumnae attorneys who both formerly served on the University’s Board of Trustees. Learn more about the Council of Alumni Lawyers at Scranton.edu/CAL.

5.06.21: Don’t Waste Love

More than 3,300 members of the University community joined together to contribute a total of $689,763 to various scholarships and causes for Scranton’s seventh annual Day of Giving on May 6. This year’s campaign shattered all previous 5.06 records and surpassed the initial goal of 2,427 donors, which was chosen to honor the memory of the Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Scranton’s twenty-fourth and twenty-seventh president. The celebration included a Virtual 5.06K, a competitive Athletics Team Challenge, and a generous Trustee Scholarship Match that doubled all gifts to scholarships up to a total of $265,506. Alumni and friends of Father Pilarz honored him on 5.06 by submitting videos and photos, joining Team Pilarz in the Virtual 5.06K, contributing to The Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Scholarship Fund, and sharing heartfelt tributes and memories. View more content from the day at Scranton.edu/506.

Women’s Alliance

On May 18, over 100 alumnae signed-up to view a virtual panel hosted by the University’s Women’s Alliance. Moderated by Senior Business Major and President of the Kania Women in Business Club Alexandra Wanas ‘21, the discussion explored the topic, “One Year later: What We’ve Learned.” Panelists Judy Castrogiovanni ’97, G’02, principal of Jefferson Elementary School and the 2021 Pennsylvania National Distinguished Principal, Judith O’Donnell, M.D. ’85, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and hospital epidemiologist at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and Amanda Gentile, LPC ’11, owner and mental health counselor at The Giving Tree Wellness Center, reflected upon an incredibly challenging year in each of their industries and shared the takeaways that have made them stronger leaders. To view the recording and get involved with the Women’s Alliance, visit Scranton.edu/WomensAlliance.

 

 

During the Alumni Society Advisory Board’s virtual meeting May 22, outgoing Chair of the Board Mike Short ’99 transferred leadership of the Board to his successor, Joseph L. Sorbera III ’08.

Sorbera joined the Alumni Society Advisory Board in 2017 and has led the Student Engagement Committee of the Board for the last year, working closely with the Future Alumni Network of Scranton (FANS) Club to foster the alumni-student connection. Joe graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Management and a minor in Japanese language. During his student days, Sorbera founded the Italian Society on campus, acted in many Liva Arts Company performances and participated in the Business Leadership Program and the Model UN.

Sorbera, vice president of JLS Cost Management Systems in Manhattan, lives in Kearny, New Jersey, with his wife, Kristen ’09, and their daughter, Danielle. The two met at an Alumni Christmas reception and were both engaged and married on campus. He is the former co-chair of the Young Professionals Committee for Bideawee, a 116-year-old animal rescue organization based in Manhattan, and also serves on the alumni board for Loyola School in New York City.

View current members of the Alumni Society Advisory Board at Scranton.edu/alumniboard.

Mara I. Smith, Esq. ’13, G’21, outgoing chair of the Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL), has completed her term and transferred leadership of the CAL to Eric D. Brophy, Esq. ’92, executive director of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority. Brophy will begin formerly leading the CAL as chair at the next meeting this fall.

Brophy serves as the chief executive officer of the Authority and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a New Jersey independent authority responsible for the issuance of taxable and tax-exempt bonds, as well as the administration of several state-backed grant programs for institutions of higher education in New Jersey.

Previously, Brophy served as a member of The University of Scranton Alumni Society Advisory Board. In addition, he and his wife, Elaine '92, endowed the Ignatian Global Citizen Program in the University’s Department of Political Science in 2018. Eric graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1999 and spent 20 years in private practice at several law firms, eventually running his own law firm for 11 years before joining Governor Murphy’s administration.

The University recently held "Acing The Interview," the final installment in a five-part series of alumni career development webinars.

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Assistant Director for Career Development Lori Moran '93, G'95, focuses on how Royals can succeed during the interview process. 

The series sprang from a partnership between The Alumni Society Advisory Board and The Center for Career Development. All of the installments in the series, including "What The Center For Career Development Can Do For Scranton Alumni," "Changes Within Your Career," "Building And Enhancing Your Resume" and "The Job Search," are available for viewing at scranton.edu/alumnicareers.

The University of Scranton will present the 2021 Peter A. Carlesimo Award to Ed Karpovich ’76, G’86 at the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner June 14 at Glenmaura National Golf Club. The event celebrates athletics at The University of Scranton and honors a person who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education.

Karpovich has been a part of the men’s golf program at The University of Scranton for more than four decades. In 39 seasons as the head men’s golf coach at The University of Scranton, he has compiled an overall record of 354-120-2 in dual match competition. He also led Scranton to a Middle Atlantic Conference team championship in 1988. That team, which featured All-American and MAC individual champion Will Carey III ‘88, set a school record with a 24-0 regular season mark. Thirty-four of his players have earned all-conference honors, while two – Carey and Mike Chomicz – have competed in the NCAA Division III championships.

In the fall of 2016, Karpovich was instrumental in starting the women’s golf program at the University. In five seasons as the women’s head coach, he has led the Royals to 32 dual match victories.

Karpovich has also been an ambassador for the sport, joining former King’s College head coach Tom Davis in 1999 to found the Glenmaura National Collegiate Invitational, an annual event that attracts some of the top Division III talent in the region. Glenmaura National also serves as the Royals’ home course. In addition, he served on the NCAA regional committee in 2011.

“Coach Karpovich has been a tremendous part of our athletics program for decades,” said Executive Director of Athletics Dave Martin. “His career as a student-athlete was one of the best in school history for any sport and is only surpassed by his tireless dedication to our golf program as the head coach for nearly four decades. His devotion to the University and our Jesuit and Catholic ideals has been an invaluable asset to our department from the first day he stepped on campus nearly 50 years ago.”

“I am honored to be chosen to receive the Carlesimo Award, named after a great man who achieved national recognition for his contributions to collegiate athletics,” said Karpovich. “I thank The University of Scranton, the athletics department, and its director, Dave Martin, for considering me for this recognition.”

Karpovich is a 1976 graduate of the University and a member of its prestigious Wall of Fame. As a player, he led the Royals to three MAC team titles (1973, 1975, 1976) while capturing MAC individual championships in 1974 and 1976. He also competed in the 1974 and 1976 NCAA championships, finishing tied for 150th in 1974 and tied for 42nd in 1976. He currently serves as treasurer of Lackawanna County.

While the golf portion of this year’s event is sold out, there are still tickets available for the evening reception and award dinner. For additional information or to register, please visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward.

 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Thomas J. Grech ’84, Malverne, New York, has been appointed to the Board of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Local Development Corporation (LDC).

Lisa W. Shearman ’89, Lansdale, a partner with the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, PC, has recently been elected a fellow to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

 

Deaths

Paul J. Coolican, D.D.S. ’52, Clarks Summit
Robert C. Davey ’60, Branford, Connecticut
E. John Fedor ’69, York
Ellen Moran DeLorenzo ’81, Bloomfield, Connecticut
John T. Dellamalva ’05, G’05, Moosic
Patrick J. Mulhern, Jr. ’05, Springfield

Twins Mary Lynn Massino G’20 and Maria Ehnot (née Massino) G’15 chose the same career and the same graduate school to help them achieve their goals.

They received graduate degrees in rehabilitation counseling at The University of Scranton. Both currently work as vocational rehabilitation counselors, Mary Lynn with the Hartford Insurance Agency and Maria with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation through the Department of Labor and Industry.

We recently talked to Mary Lynn (ML) and Maria (M) about their experience at Scranton and beyond.

How did you choose Scranton?

M: Being familiar with The University of Scranton and the excellent reputation the school has I knew this is where I wanted to apply and continue onto my master’s degree. Living just a few blocks from the campus too made the commute very easy.

ML: My sister told me a lot about the program and her positive experience which ultimately led to me to choose The University of Scranton. I felt very supported by my professors and always felt I had their guidance along the way.

What was your best experience here?

ML: My best experience at The University of Scranton was the support of the faculty and the other students I met throughout my program and the relationships I formed. I felt very supported by my professors and always felt I had their guidance along the way. It was also important to me to meet other students and build relationships in my program. I met so many wonderful people over the two and a half years. 

M: After reflecting on my experience, I would say that practicum has helped prepare me for my career which is crucial and just what I was hoping to achieve as I went through the experience. Typically, for counselors, this is the most stressful part of the program. Working long hours to fulfill the requirements of practicum was tough for sure, but overall the experience certainly helped prepare me for my future. My mentor at that time was Dr. Lori Bruch. The guidance I received from her was so professional and supportive. That meant everything to me!

---

 

"I felt very supported by my professors and always felt I had their guidance along the way." - Mary Lynn Massino G’20 

 

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Tell us about your current position.

ML: I help individuals who are on short-term disability and long-term disability get back to work. My involvement is to provide vocational expertise knowledge to these customers to ensure they return to work safely and successfully. 

M: As a vocational rehabilitation counselor, I assist individuals with disabilities who have barriers to employment and help them prepare for, obtain or maintain competitive employment. I cover a rural area and have a mixed caseload of working with transition students with IEP’s or 504 plans as well as adults with achieving their employment needs for the workforce.

What do you enjoy most about it?

M: I mostly enjoy the rewarding feeling of helping someone achieve their goal and connecting/meeting with other community agencies.

ML: It is very rewarding being able to help others and to see my customers achieve their personal goals.

How did Scranton help you along the way?

M: The counseling professors have amazing connections with other counseling professionals and community agencies and helped guide me towards my position. As a vocational rehabilitation counselor, it’s crucial to develop working relationships with outside agencies and other professionals. I try to work on this as part of my professionalism as a counselor.

ML: Scranton helped me tremendously. The information I had learned in my program is being applied to real life in the work that I do every day. I really feel the rehabilitation counseling program prepared me to be successful in my role today as a working professional. 

Reminder: Please take our survey! The deadline is Friday, June 4.

Every few years, The University of Scranton reaches out to the readers of The Scranton Journal, our alumni magazine, to get their input on the magazine. This past academic year, due to the pandemic, the University decided to publish digital-only issues of the magazine. This helped us to conserve resources and provide our readers with more current, relevant content. 

We hope you’ll let us know how you felt about your experience with our online issues of the Journal.

Our web-based survey is easy to use and takes about 5 minutes to complete.  

If you have questions about this survey, please contact scrantonjournal@scranton.edu.

Alumni, thank you in advance for helping to make The Scranton Journal even better. To begin the survey, click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J2CDNTY 

The University of Scranton will formally recognize four honorary degree recipients at its undergraduate commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 23. Receiving honorary degrees from the University, which were conferred by the University’s Board of Trustees prior to commencement, are: Susan M. St. Ledger ’86, president of worldwide field operations for Okta, Inc.; Rev. Otto Hentz, S.J., associate professor of theology, Georgetown University; Rev. Columba A. Stewart, O.S.B., executive director of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library at St. John’s University; and Nicole Young ’00, Emmy Award-winning producer for 60 Minutes. St. Ledger will also serve as the principal speaker at the 2021 commencement on Sunday, May 23.

Susan M. St. Ledger ’86

At Okta, a global provider of secure identity management platforms, St. Ledger’s responsibilities include worldwide sales, customer success and support, professional services, partner and channel ecosystems, marketing and brand, and business operations. She has more than 25 years of senior leadership in high-growth technology companies. She previously served for more than four years as president of worldwide field operations for Splunk, more than 11 years at Salesforce and more than 12 years at Sun Microsystems. She is a passionate learner and anchors her leadership principles in what she calls a high-growth mindset, which is required to transform and accelerate business. She has demonstrated expertise in identifying market opportunity and business transformation needs for SaaS environments.

St. Ledger started her career in several technical jobs, including her first role out of college as a software engineer at the National Security Agency. In November 2019, St. Ledger became the first independent board member of HashiCorp, the leader in multi-cloud infrastructure automation software.

St. Ledger earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science, magna cum laude, from the University in 1986.

Rev. Otto Hentz, S.J.

Fr. Hentz has been a professor at Georgetown University for more than 50 years. A gifted and dedicated teacher, Georgetown University named him a Wall Street Alliance Honoree in 2015.

In 1955, Fr. Hentz entered the Society of Jesus, and later taught philosophy at Georgetown from 1962-1965. He was ordained as a priest in 1968. He earned a doctoral degree in theology from the University of Chicago. He returned to Georgetown in 1972 as a member of the Department of Theology and has served as an associate professor at Georgetown since 1978, teaching courses on the Catholic Church in the modern world, Christianity and Jesus Christ, and systematic theology.

Fr. Hentz has served two terms as a member of The University of Scranton’s board of trustees.

Rev. Columba A. Stewart, O.S.B.

Through his work at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Fr. Stewart has traveled to the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and South Asia, working with international religious leaders, government authorities and archivists to preserve ancient to early-modern religious manuscripts. In 2015, the Hill Museum launched an online reading room to provide access to the library’s growing digitized collection, which is already the world’s largest digital collection of ancient manuscripts. His work has been featured in stories in 60 Minutes, the BBC, Harvard Magazine and The Atlantic.

A scholar of early Christian monasticism, Fr. Stewart’s books include Working the Earth of the Heart: the Messalian Controversy in History, Texts and Language to 431 and Prayer and Community: the Benedictine Tradition.

Fr. Stewart earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, his master’s in religious studies from Yale University, and his doctorate in theology from Oxford University.

Nicole Young ’00

During her distinguished career, Young has been honored with 16 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont- Columbia Awards, four Writer’s Guild Awards, two Gerald Loeb Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards, four National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, a George Polk Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Wilbur Award to name a few.

Young’s most recent 60 Minutes assignments include breaking news coverage on the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump; reporting on Syria from the front lines on the refugee crisis, the use of chemical weapons and The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as “The White Helmets” and Ethiopia’s Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela. Some of Young’s most critical stories, however, are those focusing on job loss, poverty, homelessness and especially child hunger in the United States.

In addition to producing pieces for 60 Minutes, Young played an essential role as a senior producer at the CBS Evening News for six years where she broke major stories for the nightly broadcast.

Young arrived at CBS News as an intern at the age of 19 and has worked for CBS in Washington, D.C., London and New York. She joined 60 Minutes in 2004 as Scott Pelley’s assistant and became his producer a few years later. A member of The University of Scranton’s Board of Trustees, Young earned her bachelor’s degree from Scranton in 2000 and her master’s degree from City, University of London.

Undergraduate commencement ceremonies will be held on Sunday, May 23, for graduates of the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies at 9:30 a.m.; the Kania School of Management at 1 p.m.; and for the College of Arts and Sciences at 4:30 p.m.

The University of Scranton will celebrate 5.06, its seventh annual Day of Giving, on Thursday, May 6. This year’s goal is to reach 2,427 donors by midnight on 5.06 in honor of the University’s 24^th and 27^th president, the Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J.

There are many ways to participate in the 5.06 fun, including wearing purple, posting fond Scranton memories and photos on social media using #RoyalsDontWasteLove and #GiveToScrantON506, and making a gift to the campus fund of your choice. More than 506 alumni, students, parents and friends of the University have already registered for this year’s Virtual 5.06K, a virtual exercise challenge that invites participants to exercise in any way by Thursday at midnight. All 5.06K participants will automatically be counted as 5.06 donors, and registrants can designate their registration fees to the University cause of their choice. Donors to the Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. Scholarship will receive a “Don’t Waste Love” T-shirt honoring the memory of Father Pilarz. 

To make your 5.06 gift, visit this link. To register for the Virtual 5.06K, visit this link. For more information on 5.06.21, visit this link.

Every few years, The University of Scranton reaches out to the readers of The Scranton Journal, our alumni magazine, to get their input on the magazine. This past academic year, due to the pandemic, the University decided to publish digital-only issues of the magazine. This helped us to conserve resources and provide our readers with more current, relevant content. 

We hope you’ll let us know how you felt about your experience with our online issues of the Journal.

Our web-based survey is easy to use and takes about 5 minutes to complete.  

If you have questions about this survey, please contact scrantonjournal@scranton.edu.

Alumni, thank you in advance for helping to make The Scranton Journal even better. To begin the survey, click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J2CDNTY 

Rainbow Royals, the University's LGBTQIA+ and ally alumni network, will hold a virtual meet and greet via zoom May 12 at 7 p.m.

The virtual meeting will feature an update on LGBTQIA+ life on campus delivered by Maria Marinucci, director of the Cross Cultural Center at the University, and Tara Fay, biology faculty specialist and moderator of S.A.F.E. (Scranton Alliance For Equity) Space, the LGBTQIA+ club on campus. To register for the event, visit this link. 

To learn more about Rainbow Royals, visit this link.

The University will hold "Interviewing," the final installment in its series of alumni career development webinars, Wednesday, May 26, at 7 p.m.

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Assistant Director for Career Development Lori Moran '93, G'95, will focus on how Royals can succeed during the interview process. Registration will open soon.

The series sprang from a partnership between The Alumni Society Advisory Board and The Center for Career Development. The University will hold "Interviewing," the final installment in the series, May 26.

The first four installments in the series, "What The Center For Career Development Can Do For Scranton Alumni," "Changes Within Your Career," "Building And Enhancing Your Resume" and "The Job Search," are available to view at scranton.edu/alumnicareers.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

William L. Kovacs ’69, Great Falls, Virginia, was awarded the 2021 Independent Press Award (category Social/Political change) for his book "Reform the Kakistocracy: Rule by the Least Able or Least Principled Citizens." In 2020, his book received the bronze award from the Non-Fiction Book Association. It was also given five stars from Readers’ Favorite. "Reform the Kakistocracy" sets out how the federal government transformed itself from one of limited powers to one of immense power without any constitutional changes. Kovacs states, “These changes in institutional power fundamentally affect the relationship of citizens to their government. Government is now the master and citizens the servant of government. The loyalty of today’s elected officials is to a political party and interest groups, not to solving problems for citizens.” Unlike many books on government reform, "Reform the Kakistocracy" does not dangle fuzzy proposals in front of the reader; instead, it presents clear, thought-provoking ideas for reforming government.

Michael F. Cosgrove ’82, Dunmore, partner in the law firm of Haggerty Hinton & Cosgrove, LLP, is president-elect for the Lackawanna Bar Association and was elected president of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for 2021-22.

Michael A. Sebastian ’88, Moosic, has joined Marshall Dennehey’s Moosic, PA office as a shareholder in the Workers’ Compensation Department. Sebastian concentrates the entirety of his practice on workers’ compensation defense and represents employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators. With more than 20 years of experience, he has appeared on behalf of his clients before many local judges, the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, the Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In addition to litigating claims, Sebastian counsels clients on implementing risk management strategies that focus on lowering workers’ compensation costs and avoiding liability exposure.

Judith Pinataro Castrogiovanni ’97, G’01, Moscow, principal of Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson Township, in the North Pocono School District, has been named Pennsylvania’s 2021 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the Pennsylvania Principals Association. As a state winner in the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal (NDP) Program, Castrogiovanni will be honored by NAESP and the PA Principals Association at special award ceremonies in the fall. 

Melissa M. Donahue ’98, Philadelphia, has joined Bancroft Capital, a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, specializing in Institutional Brokerage and Capital Markets services, as vice-president. Donahue will work on the equity trading desk at the Fort Washington office and will assist with compliance and back-office operations.

Kelly A. Thompson-Brazill ’99, Wake Forest, North Carolina, has been promoted to associate professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, at Georgetown University.

Robin Raju ’04, Bronxville, New York, has been appointed to chief financial officer of Equitable Holding, a financial service holding company comprised of Equitable and AllianceBernstein.

 

BIRTHS

A son, David William Savino, to Dave ’13 and Cassie Doheny Savino ’14, Paramus, New Jersey

 

DEATHS

Hugh P. Donlan ’55, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
J. Roger Kemple ’58, Alachua, Florida
James J. Peyton ’59, Binghamton, New York
Edward M. Marinchak ’63, King of Prussia
David M. Philips ’69, Northampton
Col. Arthur T. Carey, USA, Ret. ’70, Jonesboro, Georgia
Paul Serpico ’70, Fairfield, New Jersey
Eugene F. Killiany ’73, G’78, Scranton
Patricia A. Mellow ’82, Forest City

 

Friends' Deaths

Christopher J. Sauer, son of Joseph F. Sauer ’64

 

 

Fortune’s inaugural ranking of the “Best Online MBAs” placed The University of Scranton at No. 72 in the nation. Fortune initiated the new ranking in response to the transition of many schools to virtual formats for learning caused by the pandemic. Fortune expects the popularity of the online format for MBA programs will increase in the coming years.

The “Best Online MBAs” ranking was published online on April 26.

For the ranking, Fortune looked at the quality of the online MBA program at the colleges as measured by their students’ average undergraduate GPA and GMAT score, the number of students enrolled, the colleges’ first-year retention rate and its graduation rate, which accounted for 55 percent of the overall ranking score. Fortune partnered with Ipsos to survey thousands of business professionals and hiring managers to produce a measurement of the “brand appeal” of the college, or “how much a group of people want to recruit from the university” (20 percent). Fortune also counted the number of Fortune 1000 executives who earned an MBA from the college (17.5 percent) and calculated the “prestige score” of a college based its online MBA program rankings by other national sources such as U.S. News, The Princeton Review and others (7.5 percent).

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 48; and its online MBA program at No. 111 in the nation in its “Best Online Programs” guide. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 67 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.” The University’s online and on-campus programs have been ranked by numerous sources, including The Princeton Review and The Wall Street Journal.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu, and The University of Scranton have signed an agreement to develop academic exchanges for students and faculty members and channel research collaborations.

The agreement was signed virtually by both partners on April 13, 2021, in the presence of senior representatives, including: Director Professor B. S. Sahay, Ph.D., Professor Jabir Ali, Ph.D., and Aakash Kamble, Ph.D., from IIM Jammu; and Jeffrey Gingerich, Ph.D., acting president and provost/senior vice president of academic affairs, Gerald Zaboski, vice president for enrollment management and external affairs, Sam Beldona, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management, and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., associate dean of the Kania School of Management, from The University of Scranton.

This strategic collaboration paves a roadmap for the internationalization of education with a broader objective to build synergies between both partners in academics, research and executive education. With the National Education Policy 2020 announcing strategic changes in the associations between Indian and foreign education providers, the association between IIM Jammu and Scranton provides a unique opportunity for Indian students to experience a blended variant of global education.

The strategic models of engagement have been identified to form the basis of the association. They will focus on student exchange for the MBA Program and the five-year Integrated Program in Management with faculty exchanges and doctoral research scholar exchange between the partners. The faculty members at both institutions will also conduct research collaborations and joint research projects.

Dr. Sahay from IIM Jammu, said, “the National Education Policy 2020 has given impetus to the internationalization of the Indian education system. Academic and research collaborations are the pathways to create an institute par excellence. The collaborations with leading global universities align with the vision and mission of IIM Jammu to provide a global outlook to the student with a strong foundation of regional and national focus. The partnership with The University of Scranton opens up doors for IIM Jammu students to pursue international student exchange programs in the USA, thus enriching their learning experience.”

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Gingerich from The University of Scranton said, “We are delighted to have an association with IIM Jammu. One of our objectives at Scranton is to connect and partner with high-achieving education providers worldwide. These partnerships are important to the University since they provide alternative learning experiences and allow for the sharing of ideas and experiences. The partnership with IIM Jammu will provide an opportunity to collaborate with world-class teachers and researchers and expand global research. It will also help students gain international experience that will benefit them in their future careers.”

About the Indian Institute of Management, Jammu:

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, an Institute of National Importance, was established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 2016 in Jammu, India. IIM Jammu offers MBA and Ph.D. programs in Management and has launched the 5-year Integrated Programme in Management from the upcoming academic year 2021-22. IIM Jammu has set high standards to provide value-based education and research, executive education, consultancy, and strong corporate and international linkages. The 200-acre, state-of-the-art campus of IIM Jammu is coming up at Jagti in Jammu with a footprint of 750,000 sq. ft. IIM Jammu also has set up an off campus in Srinagar.

About The University of Scranton:

Founded in 1888, The University of Scranton is a comprehensive, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit institution located in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Northeast with an enrollment of approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. “Best 380 Colleges,” “Best Buys in College Education,” “America's Best Colleges,” “A Focus on Student Success,” “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” “Most Innovative Schools,” “Best Catholic Colleges” – these are just a few of the ways that the nation’s leading college rankings and guidebooks consistently refer to The University of Scranton.

The Medical Alumni Council of The University of Scranton will hold The MAC Symposium Saturday, Oct. 2.

The symposium will feature presentations by Scranton alumni doctors, dentists and veterinarians. Check future issues of Royal News for registration information.

The University will hold its Annual Pre-law Advisory Program Banquet via zoom Monday, May 3, at 6 p.m.

The celebration will feature a keynote address delivered by Melinda Ghilardi, Esq. ’80 and Kathleen Santora, Esq. ’80, alumnae lawyers who both formerly served as members of the University's Board of Trustees. Anyone affiliated with the University's prelaw program is welcome to attend. Registration will open soon.

The University will hold its annual Day of Service April 24.

Each year, alumni throughout the nation honor the University's mission by volunteering with their fellow Royals in their regions. This year, the University will offer service projects in the following regions:

Massachusetts
Boston - Greater Boston Food Bank: 1-4 p.m.

Pennsylvania
Harrisburg - Central PA Food Bank: 9 a.m.-noon

NEPA: The University of Scranton We Care Wednesday Program 9-11 a.m.: This site will be a "Drop-Off Drive." The Center for Service and Social Justice will be providing a wish list of items they need, and alumni/parents/friends can drop them off at the DeNaples Center Turnaround (on Mulberry Street between the Parking Pavilion and The DeNaples Center).

New Jersey
Hillside - Community Food Bank of New Jersey: 9-11 a.m.
THIS SITE IS AT CAPACITY. Email alumni@scranton.edu to be placed on the wait list.

Camden - Joseph's House 10 a.m.-noon: This site will be a "Drop-Off Drive." Joseph's House will be providing a wish list of items they need, and alumni/parents/friends can drop them off.

New York
New York City - City Harvest Mobile Market Washington Heights: 8 a.m.- noon
THIS SITE IS AT CAPACITY. Email alumni@scranton.edu to be placed on the wait list.

Stony Brook - Cooking for Long Island Veterans: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: This site will be a "Drop-Off Drive." Cooking for Long Island Veterans will be providing a wish list of items they need, and alumni/parents/friends can drop them off at the Target in Farmingdale located at 100 Willow Street, Farmingdale, NY.

For more information and registration, visit scranton.edu/dayofservice.

The University will hold "The Job Search," the fourth installment in its series of alumni career development webinars, Wednesday, April 28, at 7 p.m.

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Career Development Coordinator Lori Moran '93, G'95, will focus on finding the right job in today's competitive market. To register, visit this link.

The series sprang from a partnership between The Alumni Society Advisory Board and The Center for Career Development. The University will hold "Interviewing," the final installment in the series, May 26.

The first three installments in the series, "What The Center For Career Development Can Do For Scranton Alumni," "Changes Within Your Career" and "Building And Enhancing Your Resume," are available to view at scranton.edu/alumnicareers.

The University of Scranton is proud to announce the 2021 Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner will be held at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, PA, on Monday, June 14.

This year, the University will honor legendary golf coach Ed Karpovich '76, G'86 with the 2021 Peter A. Carlesimo Award. We are once again partnering with the Quandel Construction Group as Title Sponsor for this event.

Please visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward for more information and to register for this event. Space is limited this year, so please register as soon as possible to ensure your reservation.

Ed Karpovich has been the face of the golf program at The University of Scranton for more than four decades. A 1976 graduate of the University, Karpovich was a standout on the men’s golf team, leading the Royals to three MAC team titles while capturing the MAC individual crown in 1974 and 1976. He also competed in the 1974 and 1976 NCAA championships.

Karpovich returned to the University in 1982 as the head coach of the men’s golf team, a position he still holds today. When the University added women’s golf in 2016, Karpovich was the obvious choice to lead the program from the beginning. In 38 years, he has posted more than 350 victories between the two programs, including 12 finishes in the top three at conference championships.

While his numbers on the golf course are staggering, Karpovich’s loyalty and dedication to The University of Scranton and its student-athletes has been his true gift to the community. His knowledge of the game of golf, his belief in the Catholic and Jesuit ideals the University embodies, and his tireless work ethic have made the University a better place.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the event or sponsorship opportunities, contact Eric Eckenrode at eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu. 

Named in honor of Peter A. Carlesimo, former University of Scranton coach and athletics director, the Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner celebrates athletics at The University of Scranton and honors a person who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Golf Tournament and Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at Scranton.

The University recently released "Bridges To El Salvador: A University of Scranton Documentary," a video that chronicles Scranton's 20-year relationship with the people of Las Delicias, a village in El Salvador.

Featuring interviews with the Rev. Brendan Lally, S.J. '70, the former campus minister and rector of the University, Marie Karam, former director of the Language Learning Center at the University, the Rev. Ronald McKinney, S.J., professor of philosophy at the University, and alumni who traveled to El Salvador during their student days, the video examines the origin and evolution of Scranton's faculty, staff, and student service and immersion trips to El Salvador in the aftermath of its brutal civil war. The video also focuses on the work of the University's SEED (Scholarships to Establish Educational Development) Program, which has sponsored the educations of hundreds of children in Las Delicias since its inception, and The SCOPE (Salvadoran Children Of the Poor Education) Foundation, an independent organization founded by Lally and several Scranton alumni that has sponsored thousands of students at the Santa Luisa School in Las Delicias.

View the documentary, below.

For more information on the University's SEED Program, visit this link. For more information on The SCOPE Foundation, visit this link.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, a partner at Munley Law, recently spoke at the Attorneys Information Exchange Group’s (AIEG) 2020 Virtual Symposium on trucking accident litigation. Munley gave a virtual presentation on “Setting Up Your Trial Story.” The AIEG is “a national organization dedicated to sharing information and ideas among member attorneys for the benefit of clients who have been affected by dangerous and defective products.”

Frank R. DiMaio, M.D. ’84, Old Brookville, New York, an orthopedic joint replacement surgeon at St. Francis Hospital, has been named director of External Partnerships, Catholic Health Physicians partners, the full-time practice operated by the six hospitals of the Catholic Healthcare system of Long Island.

Paul M. Collins, Ph.D. ’00, Amherst, Massachusetts, has received two grants from the National Science Foundation. The first, at $400,000, is for a team of faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students to examine how law and legality is understood in LGBTQ+ media. The grant will fund Collins and his team of researchers to study how legal issues rise and fall in the agendas of LGBTQ+ media, how the legal consciousness of the LGBTQ+ community develops over time and how legal decisions influence public awareness and attitudes toward law and legal actors. The team, including graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will also develop and release two large, comprehensive datasets of specialized media coverage. The second grant will fund a national conference that will give graduate students the opportunity to be mentored by leading scholars in the field of law, politics and society, which will be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023. Collins is a Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His third book was recently published by Cambridge University Press, titled "The President and the Supreme Court: Going Public on Judicial Decisions from Washington to Trump."

Tommy Noonan ’06, Darien, Connecticut, was promoted to partner at Butler Tibbetts Butler Tibbetts, a leading law firm known for guiding clients through their most vulnerable moments in business and in life. Noonan is a resourceful and versatile lawyer with a wide array of litigation experience. He represents individuals and businesses at both the trial and appellate levels, deploying creative and effective strategies customized to meet unique client needs ranging from negotiations and mediation to litigation and trials. Noonan handles complex cases involving a broad range of sectors and scenarios, focused primarily in the areas of healthcare and managed care, civil and commercial, construction, corporate, personal injury, and probate.

 

Marriages

Julia Joyce ’15 to James Dembesky ’14

Births

A son, Hayes Michael, to Jonathan ’14 and Shannon O’Gorman Grueter ’15, Nutley, New Jersey

 

Deaths

Leonard G. Tarantini ’51, Clarks Summit
Edmund R. Tylenda ’55, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Donald J. Whalen ’55, Waverly
John J. Costanzi, M.D.’57, Austin, Texas
John J. Jordan, D.D.S.’57, Havre De Grace, Maryland
Harry E. Phillips ’57, Wyomissing
Frank J. Killino ’58, Delran, New Jersey
Andrew Scott McGowan, Ph.D. ’61, Bronx, New York
Thomas G. Cupillari ’63, Factoryville
William M. Nicholas ’65, Allentown
Thomas A. Joseph ’66, Mountaintop
Brother John P. Calvey ’67, Loretto
Stephen J. Kavulich ’68, Clarks Summit
John J. Purcell ’70, West Pittston
Harry W. Salavantis ’71, G’73 Shavertown
Msgr. Godfrey T. Mosley ’75, Washington, D.C.
Bruno J. Chellino ’72, Carbondale
William Janovsky ’75, Hillsborough, New Jersey
Cornelius J. Milliken, D.D.S. ’77, Elmira, New York
Peter J. White ’80, Scranton
John W. Fortuna, Jr. ’81, Taylor

 

Friends' Deaths

Carmen Perry DeNaples, father of Carmen DeNaples, Jr. '21
Martin Holleran III, son of Martin Holleran, Jr. ’64
Elizabeth Strickland, mother of Harry Strickland, Jr. ’86 and Elizabeth Strickland Elick ’93, grandfather of Oliver Strickland ’13, Hayden Strickland ’15, G’20, Chloe Strickland ’17 and Benjamin Strickland ’20 

Several online information websites for prospective undergraduate and graduate students have ranked some of The University of Scranton’s programs to be among the nation’s best in recently published rankings.

Intellegent.com ranked a dozen of the University’s program among the nation’s best in listings that include: No. 2 among the best master’s in human resources; No. 10 among the best MBA in international Business; No. 13 among the best MBA in healthcare management; No. 14 among the best MBA in human resources; No. 15 among the best online master’s of accountancy; No. 19 among the best accounting degree programs; No. 25 best master’s in health informatics; and No. 33 among the best master’s in healthcare administration, among others. The ranking is based on an assessment of student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third-party evaluations of the programs.

In the first Nursing Schools Almanac rankings published, Scranton’s nursing program ranked No. 71 in the nation. Scranton also ranked No. 30 among private nursing school in the U.S. Nursing Schools Almanac noted Scranton students benefit from “small class sizes and a strong clinical focus, with clinical experiences beginning during sophomore year” and that undergraduates “have opportunities for research, study abroad, and participation in domestic and international service trips.” The rankings are based on evaluation of academic prestige and perceived value; the breadth and depth of nursing programs offered; and student success rates, particularly on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX) national licensure exam.

Besthealthdegrees.com ranked Scranton’s online master’s degree in health informatics No. 10 in the nation; and its bachelor’s degree programs in healthcare management at No. 18 in the country. Among the factors considered in this ranking are the cost of attendance, reputation and salary potential, using data from IPEDS and Niche, U.S. News and World Report and other higher education rating publications.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked several of the University’s graduate programs among America’s best and the University’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 48; and its online MBA program at No. 111 in the nation in its “Best Online Programs” guide. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 67 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”

The University of Scranton’s online Master of Science in Health Informatics degree will offer a specialization in data analytics, beginning in the fall 2021 semester. Applications are currently being accepted for the program.

The curriculum for the master’s degree in health informatics was designed by Scranton faculty, who are active leaders and experts in this burgeoning field. The health informatics program’s mission is to “promote excellence in the Jesuit tradition by preparing graduates in the interdisciplinary field of health informatics to use data, information, knowledge and wisdom to improve health.”

Health informatics, data analytics and their associated tools have seen a rapid increase in importance in healthcare due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This increase comes after a period of amplified interest in big data analysis in healthcare, in an effort to improve patient outcomes and efficiency. A 2019 Leadership survey conducted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) shows that executive-level leaders at both health information technology vendors and hospitals are now seeing clinical and business analytics as a higher priority than in the past. As a result, the demand for health informaticians who have data analytics, data mining and data visualization skills is increasing. Another HIMSS analysis shows one of the top five job growth areas for health informatics was found to be analytics consultant.

Burning Glass Technologies, a job market analysis company, projects positions for health information managers and directors will grow 20.5 percent through 2029, which is more than four times the national average. Master’s-educated professionals in this position earn up to $106,000 annually.

The online program with a data analytics specialization includes three courses that are offered by Scranton’s Operations and Information Management Department, requiring the completion of a total of 39-41 credits for the master’s degree in health informatics with this specialization. Two one-credit modules in statistics and management science are also required, but may be waived depending on the student’s background.

The additional courses students will take for data analytics specialization will provide an overview of descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics, data mining and data visualization. Graduates will be prepared to turn health data into actionable information.

Applicants to the graduate program must meet admission requirements. For additional information, visit the Master of Science degree in Health Informatics webpage or contact Margarete L. Zalon, Ph.D., professor of nursing and director of the University’s online Master of Science in Health Informatics Program at Margarete.zalon@scranton.edu or 570-941-7655.

The University will hold its annual Day of Service April 24.

Each year, alumni throughout the nation honor the University's mission by volunteering with their fellow Royals in their regions. This year, the University will offer service projects in Boston, Mass., Harrisburg, Hillside, N.J., Camden, N.J., New York City and Stony Brook, N.Y. Registration for the projects will open in mid-March. For more information, visit scranton.edu/dayofservice. If you would like to coordinate a COVID-safe project or site in your region, email Marge Gleason, P'14, '17 at margery.gleason@scranton.edu.

The University recently launched Rainbow Royals, Scranton’s LGBTQIA+ and ally alumni network.

The group’s mission, according to its website, is “to foster continuing connections between Scranton's LGBTQIA+ alumni with other LGBTQIA+ university members and the broader university community. Aligning with our Catholic and Jesuit values, Rainbow Royals will work towards cultivating community and creating a space where all are welcomed and valued. Leaning on the Jesuit ideal of Cura Personalis, we are committed to caring for the whole person of every person. We will create an inclusive environment that will be promoted both on-campus and at our off-campus events.”

The club plans to promote educational, professional, social, and service opportunities and events, as well as the sharing of experiences and knowledge for the betterment of the Scranton community. Additionally, Rainbow Royals will connect with student clubs, organizations, faculty and staff to foster a space that allows for resources, a strong network and community for those who identify as LGBTQIA+ on campus. In a spirit of inclusivity and mutual support, Rainbow Royals welcomes all members of Scranton's LGBTQIA+ and ally alumni community.

The establishment of Rainbow Royals represents the combined efforts of Scranton's Alumni Engagement team, the Cross Cultural Centers, and LGBTQIA+ and ally alumni. Formation of the club exemplifies Scranton's continued support and recognition of all alumni who identify as LGBTQIA+.

More than 50 Scranton alumni have joined Rainbow Royals since its inception, and the group plans to begin holding virtual events soon. To join the club, visit this link. Follow Rainbow Royals on Facebook here and on Instagram here.

Nearly 150 students recently attended “Mindset for a Successful Future: Reflections of a KSOM Alumnus with Joe Sorbera ’08," the first in a series of “Agape Latte virtual coffee sessions" that sprang from a partnership between The Alumni Society Advisory Board and The Future Alumni Network of Scranton (FANS). 

The next installment in the series, which will debut March 24, will feature Marissa Papula '13. Registration will open soon. 

 

The University will hold "Building And Enhancing Your Resume," the third installment in its series of alumni career development webinars, Wednesday, March 31 at 7 p.m.

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Career Development Coordinator Lori Moran '93, G'95, will focus on maintaining a competitive resume in today's world. To register, visit this link.

The series sprang from a partnership between The Alumni Society Advisory Board and The Center for Career Development. The University will hold additional webinars on alumni-centered topics in the coming months, including "Job Search" April 28 and "Interviewing" May 26. Check future installments of Royal News for registration information.

The first two installments in the series, "What The Center For Career Development Can Do For Scranton Alumni" and "Changes Within Your Career," are both available to view at scranton.edu/alumnicareers.

The University of Scranton will offer a new Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, which will provide students with the educational and supervised fieldwork experiences necessary to achieve national board certification in the much-in-demand profession. Applications are currently being accepted for the graduate program that begins in the fall 2021 semester.

Annual demand for board certified behavior analysts “has increased each year since 2010, with a 1,942 percent increase from 2010 to 2018 and a 127 percent increase from 2017 to 2018,” according to a 2019 Behavior Analyst Certification Board report on U.S. Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts: 2010-2018 (Littleton, CO. author). In addition, the report noted that demand has also increased in all 50 states during this period.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects above-average job growth of 22 percent for behavior analysts between 2018 and 2028. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for Board Certified Behavior Analysists is $62,472.

“There is a critical shortage of skilled professionals who can offer behavioral intervention. Board Certified Behavior Analysts are required to demonstrate a high level of understanding and application of behavioral principles and concepts that are scientific and evidence-based,” said Michael E. Kelley, Ph.D., LP, BCBA-D, program director.

The 42-credit master’s degree program will be housed in the Counseling and Human Services Department of the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies. The course content is consistent with certification rules for individuals and accreditation standards for programs that meet the eligibility requirements for graduates to sit for the national certification exam for Behavior Analysis, as specified by Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

“Board certification is required for working with individuals living with autism in behavior analysis in most states in the United States of America,” said Dr. Kelley. “Highly-educated and skilled providers of autism services are needed in our region to help our children and family members who are waiting – often desperately – for services.”

Students in this graduate program will complete: 30 credit hours of classroom-based didactic courses; six credit hours of thesis or capstone; and six credit hours of a supervised fieldwork experience. The supervised fieldwork experience will provide students with real-world experience in the application of Behavior Analytic principles, clinical services and research. The clinical site selection will be based on the student’s career goals.

The University currently offers an 21-credit post-graduate Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study. The University also serves as the Executive Hub of five Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence, which are part of a multi-year, multi-million regional initiative supported by the AllOne Foundation to enhance the service delivery system for individuals with autism and their families living in 13 counties in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania. The University’s executive hub, located on Mulberry Street, has state-of-the-art assessment labs to aide in education and training of graduate students. The center is also used for evaluation purposes and research.

Applicants to the graduate program must meet admission requirements. For additional information, visit the applied behavior analysis master’s degree program webpage or contact Dr. Kelley at Michael.kelley@scranton.edu or Caitlyn Hollingshead, director of graduate, transfer and international admissions, at Caitlyn.Hollingshead@scranton.edu or 570-941-6202.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Joseph Agostinelli , D.P.M., Colonel , USAF , Retired ’77, Niceville, Florida was elected president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine for the 2021 calendar year. Dr. Agostinelli is an Emeritus Fellow of the academy. He is a noted author and lecturer on conservative and surgical sports medicine treatments throughout the country. 

 

Weddings

Margaret Mester '15, DPT '18 to Gary Gifford '12, DPT '15

 

Deaths

Rudolph J. Panaro, M.D. ’51, King of Prussia
James H. Davey, Sr. ’57, Clarks Summit
John J. Jordan, D.D.S. ’57, Havre De Grace, Maryland
Francis M. Regan ’62, Fort Worth, Texas
John R. Galli ’64, G’70, Apalachin, New York
Michael J. Jezuit ’64, West Wyoming
Thomas P. Walsh ’64, Scranton
Russell J. G. Symons ’67, Greenfield Township
William L. Smith ’71, Sarasota, Florida
Carol R. Conaboy G’74, South Abington Township
Elmer J. Generotti ’74, Plantation, Florida
Frank C. Sabatino ’76, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Thomas S. Daye ’84, Greensboro, North Carolina
Kimberly Kern Shafer ’87, Clarks Summit
Anthony S. Blasi ’89, Scranton
Christian Karenbauer G’19, Cranberry

 

Friends' deaths

Patricia O’Dowd McLaughlin, mother of James McLaughlin, D.O. '79, grandmother of Aimee McLaughlin ’07, Nathan McLaughlin ’08 and Ryan McLaughlin ’09

Julius Prezelski, father of Janice Prezelski Vollkommer ’82 and Julius Prezelski ’86

Adeline Sabatino, mother of Frank Sabatino ’76
Harry Strickland, Ph.D., father of Harry Strickland, Jr. ’86 and Elizabeth Strickland Elick ’93, grandfather of Oliver Strickland ’13, Hayden Strickland ’15, G’20, Chloe Strickland ’17 and Benjamin Strickland ’20

The gold standard for business school accreditation – AACSB International – will continue at The University of Scranton for the next five years. The undergraduate and master’s programs in business offered by The Kania School of Management have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) for the past 25 years. AACSB has extended Scranton’s accreditation through 2025.

Schools accredited by AACSB submit to a comprehensive, 360-degree review every five years to prove that the college continues to offer students an exceptional and relevant business education.

“Parents and students recognize AACSB as the de facto gold standard for business school accreditation. The external accrediting body provides them reassurance of the quality of the business programs being offered at Scranton,” said Sam Beldona, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management.

Less than five percent of business colleges worldwide - 882 schools of business in 57 countries – hold the prestigious AACSB accreditation.

Dean Beldona credits the success of the AACSB accreditation review to the scholarship and passion for teaching of the faculty; the care given to students by staff, alumni and business partners; and the motivation and aptitude of our students.

The accreditation review, completed by deans of other AACSB accredited schools, includes an extensive written report in addition to an onsite visit. The visiting deans meet with faculty, staff and students, the provost and president, as well as multiple advisory committees. The process seeks evidence to prove the education provided by colleges remain relevant to the current needs of businesses. The review looks at a school’s course creation or innovation; the course delivery or engagement of faculty, staff, students and other shareholders; and outcomes or assessment of learning.

Dean Beldona noted that the successful innovations at the Kania School of Management include the launching of a business honors program, a new master’s degree in finance, new undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business analytics and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Program, which AACSB recognized in 2019 for “Innovations and Best Practices in Canada, Latin America and the United States.”

“Faculty have not only remained current with research, but have been internationally and nationally noted for successful research and publication,” said Dean Beldona. Most recently, the Accounting Department was ranked as the fourth most prolific department in the world for accounting education research (excluding cases) over the most recent six-year period in a 2020 Brigham Young University report. The report also ranked three faculty members with respect to authorships of individual accounting faculty in the area of accounting education.

“Examples of the University’s engagement with the community include MBA curriculum content developed specifically for and delivered at Geisinger in Danville and for Tobyhanna Army Depot. In addition, we have worked with The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to develop initiatives for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center, as well as other programming,” said Murli Rajan, Ph.D., associate dean of the Kania School of Management.

Undergraduate Kania School of Management programs include bachelor’s degree programs in accounting, business administration, business analytics, economics, electronic commerce, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management, marketing and operations and information management.

Graduate level Kania School of Management programs include a master’s in accountancy, a master’s in finance, a master’s in business analytics and a master of business administration (MBA) in general management or with a specialization in accounting, business analytics, finance, healthcare management international business, management information systems, marketing and operations management.

Combined bachelor’s and master’s level programs include accounting BS/MBA, operations management BS/MBA and finance BS/MBA, as well as accelerated programs in a number of areas.

The University also offers online MBA programs in general management or with specialization in accounting, business analytics, enterprise resource planning, finance, healthcare management, human resources, international business and operations management.

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s level and doctoral degrees in business.

The University of Scranton Book Club will discuss "The Devil's Advocate" by Morris West during its next virtual meeting Sunday, Feb. 21st at 7:30 p.m.

According to a summary of the book posted on the club's webpage, "In an impoverished village in southern Italy, the enigmatic life and mysterious death of Giacomo Nerone has inspired talk of sainthood. Father Blaise Meredith, a dying English priest, is sent by the Vatican to investigate. As he tries to untangle the web of facts, rumors and outright lies that surround Nerone, The Devil's Advocate reminds us how the power of goodness ultimately prevails over despair. The Devil's Advocate was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature, and was made into a film."

The book club is a collaboration between the Alumni Office and The Jesuit Center. The Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center, serves as moderator of the group's discussions. Since its inaugural discussion of "Tattoos On The Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion" by the Rev. Gregory Boyle, S.J., the virtual club has discussed "The Jesuit Guide To (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality For Real Life" by the Rev. James Martin, S.J. H'17, "Barking To The Choir: The Power Of Radical Kinship," a second work by Boyle, "The Power And The Glory" by Graham Greene and "Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson. To join the club, visit this link. 

 

The University's Center for Career Development will hold "Changes Within Your Career," the second installment in its series of alumni career development webinars, Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. 

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Career Development Coordinator Lori Moran '93, G'95, will highlight many of the ways the center can help our alumni achieve their career goals. To register, visit this link.

The Center for Career Development will hold webinars on a variety of alumni-centered topics in the coming months, including  "Building And Enhancing Your Resume" March 31, "Job Search" April 28 and "Interviewing" May 26. Check future installments of Royal News for registration information.

The center held "What the Center for Career Development Can Do for Scranton Alumni," the first installment in the series, Jan. 27. To view the webinar, visit this link.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Gene Gibbons ’64, Alexandria, Virginia, wrote a memoir “Breaking News: A Life in Journalism.” Gibbons covered six U.S. presidents as a White House correspondent for Reuters, and this memoir offers an inside look at modern American history and portraits of presidents, a queen and a pope. The book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Sean Keeler, M.D. ’98, Las Vegas, Nevada, and his wife Mary celebrated their 10^th  wedding anniversary in Paris, France.  The couple resides in Las Vegas, NV where Sean is a perinatologist and partner at Desert Perinatal Associates for nearly 6 years.

James G. Demetriades, Jr. ’00, Nesquehoning, was named CEO  of Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

John J. Robertson ’04, New York, New York, was promoted to vice president of Distribution by Hearst Television. Robertson will oversee the company’s relationships with OTT distributors and its next-gen tv applications.

 

BIRTHS

A son, Maxwell Dominic, to Amanda and Jeffrey Manganaro ’02, Ridgewood, NJ.

A son, Sam, to Marlana Morell G’08 and her wife Heather, Raleigh, North Carolina

 

Weddings

 

Ashley Fisher '09 to Greg Speca '12, DPT ’15

 

Deaths

Francis M. Lukash ’44, Exeter
Ted M. Stampien, D.D.S. ’52, Clarks Summit
Robert M. Bessoir ’55, Clarks Summit
Joseph A. Reakes ’64, G’70 Moosic
William M. Gallis ’67, Jefferson Township
Anthony J. Bednarczyk ’74, Blakely
Mark A. Graziadio ’77, White Mills
Susan K. Cirba ’78, Scranton
Jennifer Holdren Mease ’93, Lebanon
Nicole M. Suchter ’03, Scranton

 

Friends' Deaths

Patricia Ahern, mother of Brian Loftus, D.M.D. ’92
Molly Gilmartin, sister of Jerome Gilmartin ’59

U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “Best Online Graduate Programs” ranked The University of Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 48 and its online MBA program at No. 111 in the nation. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 67 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”

This is the 10^th consecutive year that U.S. News ranked the University’s online programs among the best in the nation. The methodology used by U.S. News to determine the ranking has changed several times throughout the years.

For the 2021 Best Online Programs ranking, which published in January, U.S. News reviewed statistical information submitted by schools. The ranking criteria differed by category. The criteria used by U.S. News to rank online business and MBA programs included student engagement (30 percent), which looked at graduation rates, class size, one-year retention rates, and best practices such as accreditation by AACSB International, among other factors. The ranking criteria also included peer reputation score (25 percent); faculty credentials and training (15 percent); admission selectivity (15 percent); and student services and technology (15 percent).

In addition to offering distance education programs that incorporate coursework that is predominantly online, colleges and universities making the “Best Online Program for Veterans” list must have ranked in top half of 2021 Best Online Program rankings; be regionally accredited; be certified for the GI Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program; and enroll a “critical mass of veterans” as defined by U.S. News based on the size of the college.

Scranton offers online MBA degrees in general business, accounting, enterprise resource planning, finance, healthcare management, human resources, international business and operations management; master’s degrees in accountancy, business analytics, finance, health administration, health informatics and human resources and a dual MBA/MHA degree, in addition to graduate certificates. For technology, recruitment and marketing support, the University partners with Wiley for the online programs.

In other rankings published by U.S. News, Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 27 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 6 in the 2021 edition of the guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 14 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” In national rankings of all business programs in America, U.S. News ranked Scranton’s finance program at No. 30, its entrepreneurship program at No. 36 and its accounting program at No. 44 in the country, among other rankings.

The University of Scranton’s lighting of the Class of 2020 Gateway and The Estate in amber to honor the lives lost as part of a national moment of remembrance appeared in national television coverage of the Inauguration of President Joe Biden, a native of Scranton and 1976 recipient of an honorary degree from the University.

Since April, the University has lit its new, prominent gateway sign with a red cross on a blue background as part of its Royals Respond initiative to honor those who are bravely and selflessly responding to COVID-19, especially acknowledging the service of alumni and members of the University community. The lighting of the Gateway has changed only a few times since April to mark special occasions, such as the Christmas, Easter, the Fourth of July, Juneteenth National Freedom Day and, most recently, as part of the national moment of remembrance for the Inauguration of President Biden.

The University’s Class of 2020 Gateway features a lit glass wall etched with the seal of The University of Scranton that spans the center of the four-story St. Thomas Hall. The façade can be seen on Linden Street for blocks from downtown Scranton. The sign was first lit in a ceremony in February 2020.

The Princeton Review listed The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management among the nation’s “Best Business Schools” in its 2021 ranking of just 224 colleges in the country. This is the 16^th consecutive year that Scranton has been included in the listing the nation’s most elite business colleges. Scranton was included among the list of “Best On-Campus MBA Programs,” which was published online in December.

The listing of business programs is compiled from data from the Princeton Review’s surveys of nearly 24,000 students enrolled in MBA programs at 369 schools, and of administrators at those schools. The data incorporates career outcomes, academic rigor, admissions selectivity and other factors.

The University’s Kania School of Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which is widely considered the standard of excellence for business schools. Less than five percent of business colleges worldwide hold AACSB accreditation.

The Princeton Review also listed Scranton in its 2021 edition of the “Best 386 Colleges,” ranking Scranton among the nation’s “Best Science Labs” (No. 8), “Best Campus Food” (No. 7) and “Most Religious Schools (No. 15); and included Scranton among the nation’s “Best Online MBA Programs.”

In other national rankings, U.S. News ranked Scranton’s finance program at No. 30, its entrepreneurship program at No. 36 and its accounting program at No. 44 in the country. US News also ranked Scranton among America’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” (No. 201), and among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” (No. 141 among U.S. schools where a doctorate is not offered). In its overall ranking for colleges, Scranton ranked No. 6 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North,” marking the 27^th consecutive year that Scranton ranked in the top 10 of its category.

The University's Center for Career Development will hold "What the Center for Career Development Can Do for Scranton Alumni," a professional development webinar exclusively for Scranton alumni, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. 

The workshop, hosted by Director for Career Development Chris Whitney G'06 and Career Development Coordinator Lori Moran '93, G'95, will highlight many of the ways the center can help our alumni achieve their career goals. Registration will open soon. 

Alumni, parents and friends of the University submitted 35 of their favorite Christmas cookie recipes to the Royal Recipes Virtual Cookie Swap. 

Submissions included everything from traditional classics to vegan and no-bake delights. To view the recipes, visit this link. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

William I. Dorfman, Ph.D. ’68, Laud by Sea, Florida, was retired as emeritus professor of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University after 34 years.

Thomas J. Grech ’84, Malverne, New York, has been appointed to the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, one of 10 established state-wide by NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo. The councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government and non-governmental organizations.

John J. Judge, IV ’96, Scranton, was appointed superintendent of the Scranton Fire Department.

Kate Groark Shields ’97, Fort Washington, was named one of the most admired CEOs for 2020 by The Philadelphia Business Journal.

 

Marriages

Ryan Schuster, Esq., '13 to Monica Skibicki

 

Births

A son, Emilio Xavier, to Susan Ingraffea ’01 and her husband Luis Meza Emilio, Rahway, New Jersey; grandson of Dominic Ingraffea '67.

 

Deaths
 
Constant F. Skaluba ’49, Scranton
Matthias F. Fennell ’52, El Paso, Texas
Walter D. Hedden ’62, Monroe, Connecticut          
Daniel J. Millett ’63, Clarks Summit 
Daniel R. Coughlin ’67, Concord, North Carolina
Paul C. Hoffman ’69, Wellsboro
David L. Phillips ’69, Clarks Green
James T. Chickson ’72, Scranton
Joseph G. Machek ’72, G’75, Browndale
Emanuel W. Mihalos G’75, Wilkes Barre
Mark J. Moisey ’82, Center Valley
Leslie F. Gettman ’93, Skaneateles, New York
Bishop Sterry David Mahaffey, Jr. ’03, G’05, Sitka, Alaska

Robert M. Bessoir '55, Clarks Summit

Nearly 350 members of the University community donated more than $80,000 to University causes during this year's global Giving Tuesday celebration.

Many of the donations were designated for the Father Sweeney Family Outreach Fund, which provides emergency financial aid to students facing unexpected financial hardship. To view the donor honor roll, visit this link.

Share your favorite cookie or holiday dessert recipes with your fellow Royals at the inaugural Royal Recipes Virtual Cookie Swap.

To participate in the swap, submit your recipe to this link by Dec. 4, National Cookie Day. Submissions may be featured on the University's social media accounts. 

More than 700 members of the University community watched the online premiere of The University of Scranton Christmas Special Dec. 1. Hosted by sophomore broadcasting student Kelly Nee, the 45-minute video special walks viewers around campus to enjoy the scenes of the season and receive festive greetings from University President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., members of the faculty and staff, and students. The Special aims to get the University community into the holiday spirit with never-before-seen performances, and it concludes with the lighting of the University’s new 26-foot Norway Spruce at the heart of campus. View the Christmas Special here.

 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Eva M. Vicor ’84, Bryn Mawr, was appointed as senior vice president and director of wealth planning at Girard, the wealth management division of Univest Financial Corporation, with $3.8 billion in assets under management and supervision.

Jason B. Rush ’93, Tustin, California, and fellow co-founder William J. Kelley, III, launched Common Sense California, (www.cs-california.com), the nation’s first executive and legislative scorecard issued by citizens, not lobbying and professional organizations. The scorecard launched in 2019 and has already scored 2020. Rush and Kelley seek to enhance knowledge of Sacramento and the policies promulgated by it, highlighting legislation attracting little to no attention, but that has a large impact on the body politic.

Lucas T. Lemley G’15, Bangkok, Thailand, was honored as the 2020 Distinguished Alumnus for Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education. Lemley is currently working as a high school principal of International Community School in Bangkok.  

Timothy J. Pippet ’03, North Wales, was appointed to the Board of Directors at Lutheran Settlement House.

 

Marriages

Ashley Croft '12 to Drew Stanley '12  
Denise Henry ’12 to Jason Kuzma

 

Deaths

Joseph D. Austin ’52, Lake Forest, Illinois
Thomas F. Oltorik ’57, Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Lee T. Bradbury ’61, Deep Creek, Florida
Neil W. Regan ’69, Scranton
John C. Barrett ’71, G’73, ’77, South Abington Township
Michael D. Ely ’74, Scnecksville
Sharon Grasso Gallo ’83, G’85, Peckville

The University of Scranton Nursing Program’s pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination for first-time test takers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree for 2019 was 98.72 percent. The 2019 average national pass rate for first-time test takers with a baccalaureate degree is 91.22 percent, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website. This is the most recent annual data available.

The National Council Licensure Examination is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States, Canada and Australia.

“The high pass-rate equates to the success of the program for its educational methods, delivery and student preparation for the licensure exam,” said Kimberly Subasic, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Nursing Department.

According to Dr. Subasic, the University’s pass rate is usually above both state and national averages. She credits its students, curriculum and faculty for its continued strong pass rates, as well as “the state-of-the-art campus laboratory simulation practice and extensive clinical experience provided to our students.”

The University of Scranton’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and has full approval of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

This is an excerpt from The Scranton Journal. Read it in its entirety, here.

While many of the students of Prof. Paul M. Jackowitz ‘77, P ’11, ’16, assistant professor of Computing Sciences at The University of Scranton, have heard him discuss the unintended consequences of new technologies in the years since he first joined the Scranton faculty in 1982, most of them likely don’t know that Jackowitz would never have embarked upon a career in computer science without the intended consequence of a scheduled meeting with his high school guidance counselor concerning his future after graduation.

“I sat down, and (she) said, ‘What do you want to do when you graduate?’” Jackowitz recalled. “Now, I’m 17 years old, and I haven’t the faintest idea. And, the guidance counselor said, ‘Well, you get good grades in math – do you like math?’ And I mumbled, ‘Yeah, I like math.’ And (she) said, ‘You don’t seem enthusiastic.’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s kind of all the same stuff.’ And she said, ‘Well, what about … computer science?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know what that is.’”

The South Scranton native began formally learning about computer science during the fall of 1973, three years after the University first listed “Computer Science” as an option in its course catalog. At the time, the University, which was the second American Jesuit university to offer a computer science major, had one lone, room-sized Xerox Sigma 6 computer located on the first floor of St. Thomas Hall for its students to use.

“It was behind a brick wall,” Jackowitz said. “You never saw it. There were a couple of holes in the wall. In the one hole, you put your punch card decks with your programs, and, in the other holes, you got a printout back, and that’s how we interacted with computers on campus in the early 1970s.”

Continue reading about Jackowitz and listen to a podcast featuring the professor in The Scranton Journal, here.

The University of Scranton prides itself on the metaphorical doors it is able to open for its students through education. One such way students can open even more doors is by learning a world language. For many alumni of the University’s Department of World Languages and Cultures, their lives were forever changed after obtaining a major, minor or concentration in another language.

“Learning a language while at Scranton had a profound impact on the opportunities I’ve since had in the workforce,” said Linda Neilan, a former secondary education and Spanish double major.

After graduating in 1994, Neilan decided to pursue service full time through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Because of her Spanish studies at Scranton, she had enough skills to qualify for and obtain her top volunteer choice: a non-profit law firm in Los Angeles.

Neilan has since built up quite a resume: teaching Spanish at a Jesuit high school, obtaining her law degree, representing all kinds of workers in New York City and serving as a foreign service officer in Brazil and Mexico.

Many of the alumni of the Department of World Languages and Cultures have seen changes in their personal life after learning another language. Michael Canaris, Ph.D. graduated from The University of Scranton in 2002 as a philosophy and theology double major. While at Scranton, Canaris also obtained a concentration in Italian studies. He described his experience in the University’s language classes, especially those with Dr. Picchietti, as transformative.

“Dr. Picchietti really inspired me to not only learn the language but really immerse myself in the culture and history and food and art of Italy,” Canaris said. “This has taken on a really personal dimension to me.”

Canaris currently works at Loyola University in Chicago, coordinating summer graduate programs in Rome. While his Italian skills have served him well in his profession, they have also impacted Michael’s personal life as well. Because of his Italian skills, Canaris lived in Europe for a period of time during which he met his wife, Valeria. In fact, Canaris ended up proposing to Valeria at the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo on American Thanksgiving. When the couple later rejoined friends and colleagues for an event celebrating the holiday for American ex-pats, Canaris's friend made a toast.

“He toasted Valeria and me in three languages that night, so everyone in the room could understand in Spanish, Italian and English,” Canaris said. “It was such a wonderful experience of living in a global church, in a global academy as an academic and that lived experience of celebrating such a wonderful milestone moment in my life in these various languages and these various cultures.”

Elena Habersky, who graduated from the University in 2013 as an international studies major and theology, philosophy and Arabic triple minor, also had many professional and personal opportunities open for her by learning another language. Habersky loves being able to travel. She always takes the time to learn basic phrases (e.g. thank you, how much) in the mother language of the country she’s traveling to.

“I’ve found that people really appreciate the effort,” Habersky said.

After graduating from the University, Habersky obtained a Fulbright in Jordan. One of the main reasons she was placed in Jordan was because of the Arabic skills she developed as a Scranton student. Habersky is now a researcher at the American University in Cairo. One of her main research projects centers on refugee entitlements in Egypt.

With the world being so connected today, Habersky finds that learning another language is a valuable skillset that everyone should study at some point in their academic careers.

“I feel it should be a requirement for students, if not all Americans,” Habersky said. “It is also important to have some sort of international experience before you graduate. It really helps you grow as a global citizen.”

This is an excerpt from the profile about Desai in The Scranton Journal.

As the chief accounting officer and global controller for SoulCycle — a fitness studio that offers cycling classes, fitness apparel and an at-home exercise bike — Sameera Desai Sullivan ’05, G’06 keeps the company’s finances in order. But the job is not just about the numbers for her: It’s a lifestyle.

She takes their classes on her bike at home, where her husband has also gotten into the cycling workouts. And when she is in the office, Desai often takes a mid-day break for a class (especially if the playlist has Beyoncé or Jay-Z on it).

“It is such a big part of the culture at SoulCycle HQ: You’re having a tough day, go ride. And when I come back, I feel a little bit differently. We use riding as a way to motivate and relieve stress,” she said, an embodiment of the company’s mission to provide fitness experiences that benefit the mind, body and soul.

SoulCycle’s mission is not unlike The University of Scranton’s commitment to the development of the mind, body and spirit of its students. And, though she’s Muslim, it is that Jesuit character that appealed to Desai when she was choosing a college.

“The concept of cura personalis was instilled in me throughout my education. It made me a well-rounded student and professionally ready to enter the world. I was then able to share all the experiences from the foundation that Scranton set,” she said.

She was born and raised in Zimbabwe, where her mother worked for the United Nations. When Desai was 17, the family moved to New Jersey for her mother to work at the UN headquarters in New York City. The University’s proximity to her family and its Jesuit ideals made it a natural choice.

These days, she’s back in New York City, since SoulCycle is headquartered in the West Village. She initially joined the company in February 2019 to help expand the international footprint in the UK by opening the first SoulCycle studio in London.

Desai, who also holds an MBA from Scranton, started her accounting career at PwC, recruited by fellow Scranton alumni who were partners at the New York City office. But since then, her career path has been atypical for an accounting major.

Desai joined SoulCycle after eight years of working in finance at fashion and beauty brand Marc Jacobs, where she finished her tenure as vice president of finance, global controller. That international experience — plus the French minor she took alongside her accounting major at Scranton — made her a great fit as SoulCycle expanded outside the U.S.

Continue reading about Desai in The Scranton Journal, here.

The University will hold a virtual Thanksgiving floral workshop Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. via zoom hosted by Dorian Butovich, the owner of Central Park Flowers.

At the workshop, Butovich will demonstrate how to make an exceptionally beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece in a step-by-step fashion. To register for this event, visit this link. 

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Deaths

James P. McCormick, Jr. ’51, Glen Mills
Patrick J. Manley ’53, Scranton
Jacob J. Orbon ’56, West Chester
Leo B. Burke ’57, Vestal, New York
Bernard M. Tully ’60, Olyphant
Louis T. Umile ’63, G’70, Olyphant
John S. Corcoran ’64, Somerville, Massachusetts
Louis A. Kahanowitz ’64, Scranton
John C. Cox ’67, Bergenfield New Jersey
Donald J. Reese ’72, Scranton
Rev. John J. Connor, C.P. ’74, Scranton
Thomas A. Lynch ’78, Moscow
James P. Vorozilchak ’82, Scranton
John B. McGreevy ’83, Scranton
Mari Walsh Rush ’88, Endwell, New York
Anthony J. Aulisio ’89, Pittston
Anne Baker Spindler ’93, Old Forge

 

Marriages

Kateri Sternberg '17 to Matthew Owens '17, Ridley Park

   
Friends' Deaths  

Raymond F. Chase, D.D.S., father of R. Donald Chase, D.O. ’90

The University of Scranton’s Department of Nursing was among two programs in the country presented with a 2020 Assessment and Impact Award for Nursing Education. The award recognizes colleges that have successfully used data to analyze and make changes to better their undergraduate nursing programs. It is presented annually by Skyfactor Benchworks, a Macmillan Learning Company, which produce the most widely used assessments in nursing education.

Scranton’s nursing program was recognized for “high performance in satisfaction with instruction,” demonstrating how a nursing education program “can improve the student experience and support their accreditation efforts through strategically using data.” An analysis of the program’s data highlighted the value of faculty efforts to build strong relationships with students as well as the impact of instructional changes that increased hands-on experiences in their curriculum.

The 2020 winners were chosen through a careful analysis of multiple years of data from the AACN/Benchworks Undergraduate Nursing Exit Assessment. The Skyfactor Benchworks Analytics and Research Team first conducted a quantitative analysis and review of applications, followed by interviews with finalists to learn about improvements in their nursing programs. Those applications and interview notes were then blind reviewed and evaluated on a rubric by an external panel of experts in the nursing education profession. 

The University’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Read more by clicking below.

Throughout the fall, The University of Scranton sports information office will be profiling former Royal student-athletes who are on the front lines in the battle against the spread of COVID-19. Read this story and others, here. Their fourth profile features Theresa (Kozlusky) Haley, a 1986 graduate former volleyball letterwinner.

During any student's undergraduate and postgraduate studies, they learn of situations that may come about in their prospective careers that will test their knowledge.

For Theresa Haley, it seems she’s prepared for over 30 years for the moment in time we are experiencing in 2020.

A former volleyball student-athlete and 1986 graduate with a degree in Medical Technology from The University of Scranton, Haley went on to earn a Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC).

With this in tow, she eventually worked her way up to a position as an Iinfection preventionist at the Lebanon VA Medical Center where she serves as an expert on practical methods of preventing and controlling the spread of infectious disease. The hospital, as every VA does in the country, serves military veterans and is a part of the largest integrated health care system in the country, consisting of 170 medical centers.

As you can imagine, Haley’s life since March has been busy.

Right from the start of the pandemic, Haley and her team at the Lebanon VA went to work outfitting the hospital to prepare for the worst - a COVID outbreak in the community.

One of Haley’s main responsibilities from the start was repurposing a former intensive care unit into a “respiratory isolation unit" to treat potential coronavirus patients. The unit was equipped with an anteroom where staff members clean their hands and don protective equipment, including a mask that has an air filtration system. The unit is set up for negative pressure, which means the air goes through a filter before being released out of the environment.

Read on, here.

Like any other wide-eyed, 18-year old freshman, Vanessa Relvas ’12 didn't know exactly what she was in for when she stepped onto Scranton’s campus more than a decade ago.

But she had an inkling that her experience over the next four years would prove life-changing.

“I knew Scranton had a really good (psychology) program, and I really liked the intimacy of the (campus) environment and getting individualized attention (in class),” Relvas said recently from her home in Hatboro. 

Relvas always had an interest in psychology and enrolled in Scranton’s program as a freshman. Later, through her classwork, she discovered a career option previously unfamiliar to her -- school psychology.

“I didn't even know that was a thing until my junior year in Dr. (John) Norcross’ internship class, and one of my colleagues was shadowing a school psychologist,” she said. “That’s when I started looking into school psychology, and when I knew that was the trajectory I wanted to take."

Read her full story, here.

Nurses Andrew Graham '08 and Valerie Lucas '14 were part of the "heroic team" who treated their colleague at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

"I sat on the edge of the bed, held his hand, rubbed his heart, and we even at one point connected forehead to forehead. I don't think I've ever seen fear in a grown man's eyes like that in my entire life," said Graham in the piece reported by Hoda Kotb.

Watch the "Today Show" segment here. 

The virtual President’s Business Council (PBC) 19^th Annual Award Celebration honoring Margaret “Maggie” Quinn Mariotti, Au.D., P’10, John R. Mariotti, D.M.D., ’75 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., ’72, raised more than $900,000. Proceeds from October 8^th celebration, during which the honorees were presented with the University’s President’s Medal, support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, and this year will also support the James P. Sweeney, S.J., Family Outreach Fund for students facing unexpected financial hardship and the Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Scholarship, a need-based scholarship established in 2011 by the Sorbera Family.

“Tonight, we gather in spirit from all over the country and the world,” said Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of The University of Scranton at the virtual celebration. “Tonight, we celebrate what is best about Scranton. Our honorees Maggie and John Mariotti and Monsignor Quinn are great examples of the best about Scranton. Ours is a University committed to building community and I know few people who are more committed to building community than these great friends – Maggie, John and Joe.”

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others while personifying the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service.

In his remarks, Father Pilarz recalled that Monsignor Quinn chaired the University’s Presidential Search Committee in 2003 “that had the audacity to pluck someone out of the classroom with no administrative experience and whose scholarly life was dedicated to 16th century poetry. Only Joe Quinn would have an imagination big enough to make me the President of The University of Scranton.”

Father Pilarz said Maggie and John Mariotti were his “special Scranton welcome wagon,” noting “their love for Scranton was contagious.”

Five of the University’s class of 2021 Presidential Scholars also spoke during the celebration: Molly Elkins, Owings, Maryland, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, undergraduate Honors Program and the Magis Honors Program for STEM; Hannah Graff, Melville, New York, an accounting major currently pursuing her master’s in accountancy with a concentration in forensic accounting; Jacob Myers, Ambler, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the Magis Honors Program for STEM; Megan Osborne, Mifflinville, a mathematics major; and Amanda Tolvaisa, Springfield, an English and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

The Presidential Scholars expressed their gratitude to those whose generous support made their scholarships possible, and spoke of the research, internship and academic opportunities the scholarships offered to them.

“The Presidential Scholarship and my time at Scranton has given me an unrivaled education in science supplemented by a robust background in the humanities,” said Myers. “This experience has allowed me to participate in several research programs funded through the NSF (National Science Foundation) over the last several years. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work on determining how long SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, survives on surfaces in order to better understand its transmission.”

Through its previous 18 dinners, the PBC has generated over $16 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The President’s Business Council (PBC) 19^th Annual Award Celebration can be seen here. For additional information, contact Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC, at 570-941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

About the honorees

Dr. Margaret “Maggie” Quinn Mariotti is a retired clinical audiologist whose private practice included offices in Honesdale and Clarks Summit. She has held several clinical audiologist positions at various institutions, including the U.S. Army Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at Fort Stewart, Ga. Dr. Mariotti also taught as an adjunct professor in the communication sciences and disorders program at Marywood University.

She was a Pennsylvania Speech and Hearing Association liaison and served as a board member of the Women’s Resource Center and the IHM Foundation. Dr. Mariotti was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees from 2003 through 2010. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Marywood University, a master’s degree in audiology from Temple University, and a doctorate in audiology from the University of Florida.

Dr. John R. Mariotti has worked as an orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics practitioner for 35 years and is certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Mariotti earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University and a doctor of dental medicine degree from Temple University. He was commissioned as a U.S. Army captain in the Army Dental Corps at Fort Stewart, Ga. After completing his tour of duty, Dr. Mariotti pursued his post-graduate degree in orthodontics at the Eastman Dental Center at the University of Rochester. At Eastman, he conducted research in growth and development and TMJ disorders.

Dr. Mariotti served as president and chair of the board of the Scranton District Dental Society and is a past board president of the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists. An active member of the University’s Medical Alumni Council, he became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2019.

The Mariottis, who reside in Jefferson Township, have four children.

Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn has been a priest in the Diocese of Scranton for 35 years and currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Clarks Summit. For 16 years, he was the rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Prior to his current role, he was the vice president for mission and ministry at Fordham University.

Monsignor Quinn received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The University of Scranton and a juris doctorate from Seton Hall University. At the age of 25, he was appointed a federal magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court, becoming the youngest person in the country to serve in that position. After resigning his post, he entered the seminary and completed his studies at the North American College in Rome, earning graduate degrees in theology from the Gregorian University and the Angelicum University.

He has served on numerous boards, including as a member of the Board of Advisors of the North American College and as the founding chairman of the Scranton Preparatory School Board of Trustees. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, which he served for 15 years.

The Quinns are two of the 12 children of the late June Scanlan Quinn and John A. Quinn Sr., D.D.S., ’40.

The University recently released its Annual Honor Roll of Donors, a special tribute to alumni, parents, students, friends, faculty and staff who have demonstrated their generous commitment to The University of Scranton between June 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020.

More than 9,400 generous donors made gifts to The University of Scranton this past fiscal year. During this time of great uncertainty, we've been comforted, encouraged and humbled by the outpouring of support from our loyal benefactors. Their generosity in a time of unique challenges for the Scranton Community and the world at large has a tremendous positive impact, enriching the lives of our students and expanding their opportunities for academic success.

To view the honor roll, visit this link. 

The University of Scranton ranked No. 112 among the 614 master’s universities in the nation included in a 2020 listing by Washington Monthly that seeks to rate colleges based on their contribution to the public good. Published in the September/October issue of the magazine and online, Washington Monthly analyzed numerous data sets to determine an overall rank, as well as a score and rank of colleges for “research,” “social mobility” and “community and national service.” Scranton ranked No. 37, No. 189 and No. 227, respectively, in these categories among master’s universities.

Washington Monthly weighted equally the colleges’ scores for research, social mobility and service to calculate the overall ranking. The research score is based on each school’s research expenditure and the number of alumni earning Ph.D.s, relative to the size of the college. The social mobility score is based on actual and predicted graduation rates; student loan repayment rates; actual verses predicted median earnings of graduates 10 years after enrollment; and the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants and the school’s average net price for full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the past three years, among other factors. The service score, also adjusted for the size of the school, is based on the size of the ROTC program; the number of alumni serving in the Peace Corps; and the percentage of federal work study grant money spent on community service projects and voter engagement, among other factors.

This is the 11^th consecutive year Washington Monthly has included Scranton in its college rankings.

In other national rankings, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Scranton among the 10 top Master’s Universities in the North for 27 consecutive years, and as a “Best Value” school for eight consecutive years. The Princeton Review included Scranton in its list “Best Colleges” for 19 consecutive years and in its ranking of the nation’s “Best Science Labs” (No. 8) and “Best Campus Food” (No. 7) for six consecutive years, among other rankings.

The President’s Business Council (PBC) 19^th Annual Award Celebration will be held virtually beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, and will be viewable at this link. During the event, Margaret “Maggie” Quinn Mariotti, Au.D., P’10, John R. Mariotti, D.M.D., ’75 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., ’72, will be presented with the University’s President’s Medal.

“Our goal all along in the planning of this year’s event has been to transfer as much of the in-person experience as possible to a virtual audience,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “While we all know the challenges of accomplishing that, we have embraced the opportunity that a virtual event offers by providing greater access to more members of our University of Scranton community who might not normally be able to join us in person. As always, our main objective of supporting student scholarships remains.”

In addition to the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, proceeds from this year will be designated to the James P. Sweeney, S.J., Family Outreach Fund, for students facing unexpected financial hardship, and the Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Scholarship, a need-based scholarship established in 2011 by the Sorbera Family.

Margaret “Maggie” Quinn Mariotti, Au.D., P’10 is a retired clinical audiologist whose private practice included offices in Honesdale and Clarks Summit. She has held several clinical audiologist positions at various institutions, including the U.S. Army Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at Fort Stewart, Ga. Dr. Mariotti also taught as an adjunct professor in the communication sciences and disorders program at Marywood University.

She was a Pennsylvania Speech and Hearing Association liaison and served as a board member of the Women’s Resource Center and the IHM Foundation. Maggie was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees from 2003 through 2010. Dr. Mariotti earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Marywood University, a master’s degree in audiology from Temple University, and a doctorate in audiology from the University of Florida.

John R. Mariotti, D.M.D., ’75, P’10 has worked as an orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics practitioner for 35 years and is certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Mariotti earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University and a doctor of dental medicine degree from Temple University. He was commissioned as a U.S. Army captain in the Army Dental Corps at Fort Stewart, Ga. After completing his tour of duty, John pursued his post-graduate degree in orthodontics at the Eastman Dental Center at the University of Rochester. At Eastman, he conducted research in growth and development and TMJ disorders.

Dr. Mariotti served as president and chair of the board of the Scranton District Dental Society and is a past board president of the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists. An active member of the University’s Medical Alumni Council, he became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2019.

The Mariottis, who reside in Jefferson Twp., have four children.

Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., ’72 has been a priest in the Diocese of Scranton for 35 years and currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Clarks Summit. For 16 years he was the rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Prior to his current role, he was the vice president for mission and ministry at Fordham University.

Monsignor Quinn received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University and a juris doctorate from Seton Hall University. At the age of 25, he was appointed a federal magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court, becoming the youngest person in the country to serve in that position. After resigning his post, he entered the seminary and completed his studies at the North American College in Rome, earning graduate degrees in theology from the Gregorian University and the Angelicum University.

He has served on numerous boards, including as a member of the Board of Advisors of the North American College and as the founding chairman of the Scranton Preparatory School Board of Trustees. He is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, which he served for 15 years.

The Quinns are two of the 12 children of the late June Scanlan Quinn and John A. Quinn Sr., D.D.S., ’40.

In presenting the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others while personifying the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Through its 18 dinners, the PBC has generated over $16 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.

This year’s fundraising effort, which will again be part of the event, includes a silent auction. Additional details on the auction and the Celebration are available on our website at www.scranton.edu/PBCcelebration. For more information, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.

John E. (Jack) Brennan ’68, P’06, who served two different terms on The University of Scranton’s Board of Trustees, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the age of 74.

Jack is remembered by many for his kindness, honesty, intelligence, a self-deprecating sense of humor and his dedication to the University.

He served on the Board of Trustees longer than any other lay person in the University's history during his twin terms of service (1992-2001 and 2002-2008, respectively). He was also a member of the Kania School of Management (KSOM) Advisory Board and the President’s Business Council.

In October 2000, Brennan Hall, home of KSOM, was named in his honor.

Dr. Michael Mensah, who served as the dean of the Kania School from 2005-2018, spoke fondly of Jack’s dedication and service to The University of Scranton.

“Jack was outstanding in regards to his personal service to the Kania School of Management and our students. He was selected to the KSOM Advisory Board in 2006 and brought some much-needed personal characteristics to the board, including his humbleness. This was very helpful to a new dean like myself,” Dr. Mensah said.

Mensah recalled the story of a very tense board meeting early on in his term as dean and how Jack immediately was able to lighten the mood with a joke regarding his own performance as a student.

“The devotion to student affairs and student issues is what I want people to know about Jack. He drove to Scranton for every board meeting (from New Jersey) and was always present on campus giving his personal time to interact with students,” Dr. Mensah said. “The KSOM Internship Office, along with the Career Development Center, were all things that Jack fought for and devoted his time to.”

Close friend Bill Lynett '72 offered similar sentiments regarding Jack’s dedication to the University.

“Jack cared so deeply about The University of Scranton and he devoted so much time to it. He served as a guest lecturer in several classes and students liked him because they could identify with him,” Lynett said. “He wasn’t out to better himself, but to better the University and those that lead the University.”

Jack served as a mentor for several students during his time on the KSOM Advisory Board and was the recipient of the University’s O’Hara Award for Management in 2003. He was also among the first inductees into the KSOM Business Leader Hall of Fame in 2015.

“Some people just build a certain kind of relationship with their alma mater, and Jack felt that way about The University of Scranton. He not only loved the Kania School of Management, but everything about the University as a whole,” Lynett added.

Lynett served on the Board of Trustees with Jack in the 1990s and is a current member of the KSOM Advisory Board.

“What you saw was what you got with Jack," said close friend Edward R. Leahy, J.D. '68. "He was as honest as the day is long and was a smart and direct guy. There was a real practicality about his intelligence."

Ed and Jack became fast friends during their first day on campus on a Sunday night before classes began the next day, in the fall of 1964. In fact, Ed recalled that after walking up to main campus from his dorm, the old Hotel Casey, which was located across the street from the now Hilton Hotel in downtown Scranton, he saw Jack sitting on a bench in the quad. The two began talking, and Jack became Ed’s first friend at the University.

Little did both know at the time that their conversation would mark the start of a more than 50-year friendship as both served together on the Board of Trustees from 1994-2000.

Jack graduated from the University in 1968 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. His service included a tour of duty as a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

His experience with the Signal Corps led to a long and distinguished business career over the years. Jack was a co-founder of Metro Mobile CTS, Inc., which was one of the first cell phone providers, and served as president & COO of the company. During his career, he also served as president and COO of SkyWay systems; vice chairman of the board of directors of Southern Union Company; president of Activated Communications; and member of the board of directors of Spectrum Signal Processing. 

Jack is survived by his wife, Lucinda, and the couple’s two children, Ryan and Sarah, as well as several other relatives. His son, Ryan, is a 2006 graduate of the University. 

Alumni and friends of the University are invited to celebrate the sixth annual Jesuit Friends and Alumni Sunday Oct. 24 and 25 with a virtual Mass celebrated by the Rev. Joseph O’Keefe, S.J., provincial of the USA East Province, and the Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J. '07, assistant director of vocations for the USA East Province.

Jesuit Alumni Sunday was started six years ago as a way of bringing together alumni of Jesuit schools and friends of the Jesuits across generations to rekindle their connection with the Society of Jesus and each other. To register, visit this link.

Throughout the fall, The University of Scranton sports information office will be profiling former Royal student-athletes who are on the front lines in the battle against the spread of COVID-19. Read more, here.

The 2007 season for the then Meaghan Curtin was one for the record books on the defensive end for The University of Scranton volleyball team.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

James D. Moran ’66, Philadelphia, recently self-published a monograph, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and His Struggle with Polio, which appears at jamesdmoran.com. Moran looks forward to writing a longer work on the subject.

Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, senior partner at Munley Law, has received the Marie Lambert Award from the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. The Marie Lambert Award is presented annually to one female lawyer in the United States in recognition of exemplary leadership to her profession, community, the AAJ and the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. In addition to receiving this award, Munley has been elected by the members of AAJ’s Board of Governors to serve on the Association’s Executive Committee.

Timothy P. McGurrin, Jr. ’12, G’13 Philadelphia, has joined the firm Blank Rome LLP as an associate in the firm’s Tax, Benefits and Private Climate Group in the Philadelphia office. McGurrin concentrates his practice on a wide range of tax matters, and he regularly provides multistate tax guidance, assists with the implementation of corporate restructuring and performs tax due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, including providing advice related to U.S. state income taxes, transfer taxes, and employment taxes. He also handles tax controversy matters as well as provides state tax advice related to federal tax reform and various other state tax assistance for corporate taxpayers and individual taxpayers.

Elena M. Habersky ’13, Cairo, Egypt, is a recipient of the 2020 Moira Erin O’Donnell Emerging Leaders for Justice Award. The O’Donnell Award honors young adults who have received an undergraduate degree from a U.S. Jesuit university and have demonstrated significant social justice leadership in their communities. Habersky is project manager for the Refugee Entitlements in Egypt Project at the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies at American University in Cairo.

Evan C. Karli ’20, Mechanicsburg, joined the firm Brown Schultz Sheridan and Fritz as an audit staff accountant.

 

Deaths

Martin “Frank” Lowry ’51, Camillus, New York
Thomas J. Streznewski ’54, Furlong
Robert F. Miller, M.D. ’55, Cumberland, Maryland
Harold F. Gillern ’56, Dunmore
Robert T. Shields ’59, Binghamton, New York
John F. Lane, Jr. ’60, G’68 Archbald
Robert C. Mayer ’61, Loganville, Georgia
Leonard B. Berkoski, Jr. ’62, Arnold, Maryland
E. Robert Galligan G’66, New York, New York
Bernard J. Trescavage ’66, Falls Church, Virginia
John E. “Jack” Brennan ’68, Old Tappan, New Jersey
Edward A. Stecco ’73, Olyphant
Charles “Chuck” D. McNally ’91, Glenside
Lewis A. Sebia ’81, Plains

 

Births

A daughter, Claire Cynthia, to Bill and Liz Connolly Carton ’05, Ramsey, New Jersey
A daughter, Reagan Raquel, to Joe and Rebecca Devlin Gallagher ’05, New York, New York
A son, Archer Lawrence, to Jennifer and Lawrence Rubal ’05, Alexandria, Virginia

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranked The University of Scranton No. 92 in the nation for student engagement. This was Scranton’s best ranking among the nearly 800 schools included in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best Colleges 2021” ranking, which scored schools in several categories as well as an overall ranking. Scranton also ranked at No. 208 for student outcomes, scoring well for salaries of graduates, adjusted for student, location and other characteristics, among other factors. Scranton’s overall ranking was No. 243 in the nation.

The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranking is based on an analysis of 15 performance metrics in the categories of resources, student engagement, outcomes and campus environment.

The student engagement portion of their analysis is based largely on The U.S. Student Survey data. Factors considered for the student engagement score are related directly to their college experience, such as interaction with faculty and other students, and whether they would recommend their schools to others. The number of accredited programs offered is also factored into this measure. Student engagement represented 20 percent of the overall ranking score.

Outcomes, which represented 40 percent of the overall ranking score, looked at graduation rate, academic reputation, debt after graduation and the “value added” to graduate salary. The “value added” portion of the analysis applied statistical modeling to adjust for student, location and other characteristics in order to measure the impact the school has on the salary of its graduates.

The ranking also measured resources invested in instruction and student services (30 percent of the overall ranking), which included the finance cost per student, faculty/student ratio and research papers published per faculty member, and the learning environment (10 percent of the overall ranking), which includes student and staff diversity, among other factors.

The ranking was published by The Wall Street Journal Sept. 17.

The University of Scranton named four individuals to its Board of Trustees: James F. Cummings, M.D., ’88, H’15; Rev. Richard G. Malloy, S.J.; John P. “JP” Sweeney P’08, P’13, P’20; and Nicole Young ’00.

Dr. Cummings is the president of ICON Government and Public Health Solutions Inc., a global clinical research organization, providing clinical trial and functional services to government and commercial customers. Previously, he served as vice president of clinical development and translational medicine at Novavax Inc., in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where he led the development programs for all emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including human and veterinary vaccine development and polyclonal human antibody development.

Colonel (Retired) Cummings enjoyed a distinguished 26-year career in the U.S. Army with a proven track record in vaccine, drug and diagnostics development. Most recently, he served as director of the Department of Defense (DoD) Global Emerging Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Response Systems (DoD GEIS) leading Biosurveillance for the US DoD with laboratories and partners in 71 countries, and as the consultant to the Surgeon General for all medical research and development. He also served at Walter Reed Army Research Institute of Research (WRAIR), where he directed the comprehensive translational medicine research division within the WRAIR and DoD, and was director of the clinical trials center in DoD, and chief of overseas vaccine development for WRAIR’s Department of Immunology, Division of CD&I. He has been elected a fellow in the American College of Physicians (FACP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (FIDSA) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FASTMH). Dr. Cummings has more than 35 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters and has recently served as a member of numerous national committees and editorial boards.

A native of Dunmore, Dr. Cummings graduated from the Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1993, after earning his bachelor’s degree in biology from The University of Scranton in 1988. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University in 2015 and delivered principal remarks at the graduate commencement. He resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his wife, Julia, and their two children.

Fr. Malloy serves as director of mission and ministry, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Previously, he served as University Chaplain and vice president for University Ministries at Scranton, and taught courses there in anthropology, sociology and theology. From 1988-2003, he worked as a member of the Jesuit Urban Service team at Holy Name Parish in Camden, New Jersey, where he also served in various positions at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

His books include, A Faith That Frees: Catholic Matters for the 21st Century (Orbis Books, 2008), which examines the relationships between the practices of faith and the cultural currents and changes so rapidly occurring in our global world. He has also published Being on Fire: the Top Ten Essentials of Catholic Faith (Orbis Books 2014). His third book, Spiritual Direction: A Beginner’s Guide was published by Orbis in the Fall of 2017. All three books were recognized with awards by the Catholic Press Association in the category “Best Presentation of the Catholic Faith.”

Fr. Malloy has also written numerous articles for Catholic newspapers, magazines and other publications, and has led and presented at numerous retreats and workshops.

Fr. Malloy entered the Jesuit order in 1976. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Temple University. He earned a Master of Divinity and a S.T.L. from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. During his Jesuit training, Fr. Malloy served for three years (1981-1984) in Osorno and Santiago, Chile. He was ordained in 1988.

Sweeney is a vice president in the Private Client Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Scranton.  Before entering the financial services industry, he served as vice president/program manager with Specialty Defense Systems headquartered in Dunmore.

Sweeney has been actively engaged with the University of Scranton. He and his wife Davida served as co-chairs of the University’s Parents Executive Council for the 2019-20 academic year. He has been a member of the Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Awards Committee and the President’s Business Council. He also serves on the boards of several local nonprofit organizations.

The Sweeney’s have five children, Kathleen ’08 G’10, Patrick ’14, Marc G’20, Maeve and Meg ’20.  Sweeney attended The University of Scranton’s Dexter Hanley College. His father, John P. Sweeney, graduated from Scranton in 1961 and received the University’s Frank J. O’Hara Award in 2006.

Young is an award-winning producer for 60 Minutes. Among her many honors, she has received 16 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont- Columbia Awards, four Writer’s Guild Awards, two Gerald Loeb Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards, four National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, a George Polk Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Wilbur Award.

Young’s most recent 60 Minutes assignments include breaking news coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic, social injustice and the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump; reporting on Syria from the front lines on the refugee crisis, the use of chemical weapons and The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as “The White Helmets” and Ethiopia’s Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela. Some of Young’s most critical stories, however, are those focusing on job loss, poverty, homelessness and especially child hunger in the United States.

In addition to producing pieces for 60 Minutes, Young was a senior producer at the CBS Evening News for six years where she broke major stories for the nightly broadcast.

Young earned her bachelor’s degree in communication at the University and her master’s degree in international journalism from City University of London. She resides in the New York City area with her family.

Throughout the Fall, The University of Scranton sports information office will be profiling former Royal student-athletes who are on the front lines in the battle against the spread of COVID-19. Their first profile features Kelly Johnson-Loughlin, a former volleyball student-athlete (2010-2013). Check their site for these profiles and athletics news.

In her playing days at Scranton, Kelly Loughlin (maiden name Johnson) was known for her blocking abilities at the net as a four-year letter winner for the volleyball team, finishing her career in the top ten all-time in two major statistical categories in program history - solo blocks (121, 6th all-time), and total blocks (265, 9th all-time).

Since March, Loughlin has been trying to block something else -- the spread of COVID-19 in her community. 

A 2014 nursing graduate from The University of Scranton, Loughlin serves as an Emergency Room Nurse at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she resides with her husband Dom and two dogs, Fetty and Kona.

At her job, Loughlin has been putting in 12-hour shifts to meet the demand COVID-19 has had in her hospital.

A native of Pearl River, NY, Loughlin has also experienced what many of us around the country have had to deal with - the reality of not being able to see friends and family that live far away.

“Living this far from home has been a challenge and now because of the pandemic we haven’t seen our family in over a year due to travel restrictions,” she said. “Hawaii has basically been on lockdown and making it very difficult to leave the island/return to the island. We had several trips home planned from February through September, all of them being cancelled.”

See more photos here.

Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, announced the University’s decision to cancel class of 2020 commencement events planned for the weekend of Oct. 24-25.

“Today, I have the unfortunate task of sharing some bad news. Although we had hoped things would have settled down by now, the pandemic continues to be a challenge all across the country. Necessary limits put in place by Pennsylvania, prohibit us from moving ahead with our commencement scheduled for October,” said Father Pilarz in a video message sent to members of the University’s class of 2020 on Sept. 14.

“I have not made this decision lightly, and I do so with a genuine sense of disappointment and sadness. Nothing would have brought me greater joy than to have been able to gather your class as we had hoped and planned,” wrote Father Pilarz in an email message that linked to the video.

The University of Scranton held virtual celebrations in May for the members of its undergraduate and graduate class of 2020, at which the University announced the naming of the Class of 2020 Gateway in their honor. The University conferred degrees to graduates as a group at these celebrations. The University had planned to announce the graduates individually at its October commencement.