Alumni Archive
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01/26/2023
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 12th 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.
Scranton Online Programs Ranked Among Best in USA
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01/04/2023
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueIn Memory of Pope Benedict XVI
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01/03/2023
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.
Save The Date For Shamrockin' Eve March 10
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01/03/2023
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."
Alumni Spotlight: Joe Fitzgerald, M.D. '64
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01/03/2023
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.
Reminder: University To Host Lady Royals Post-Game Reception In Philadelphia Jan. 15
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01/03/2023
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.
Reminder: University To Hold Day of Service April 22
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01/03/2023
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.
Royals Celebrate At Presidential Christmas Parties
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01/03/2023
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 ’16BIRTHS
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 SummitAlumni Class Notes, January 2023
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12/07/2022
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.
Alumni Spotlight: Phil Grieco '00
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12/06/2022Nearly 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.University Community Celebrates Giving Tuesday 2022
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12/06/2022
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.
University To Host Lady Royals Post-Game Reception Jan. 15
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12/06/2022
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.
Scranton Club of NEPA To Gather At Penguins Game Jan. 20
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12/06/2022
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.
Save The Date For The Day Of Service, April 22
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12/06/2022
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.
Reminder: Save The Date For Reunion 2023 June 9-11
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12/06/2022
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.
Reminder: Register Today For The Advent Daily Devotional Emails
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12/06/2022
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 ’20DEATHS
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, DunmoreFRIENDS' DEATHS
Cheryl L Augustine, sister of John Major '10.
Alumni Class Notes, December 2022
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11/01/2022
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 YorkPhiladelphia 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, PANew 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.University Opens Registration For Presidential Christmas Parties
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11/01/2022
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.”
O'Malley Recovers From Life-threatening Injuries, Finishes ROAR
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11/01/2022
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.
University Re-releases 'Royal Recipes: A University of Scranton Cookbook'
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11/01/2022
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.
Register Today for The Jesuit Center's Advent Daily Devotional Emails
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11/01/2022
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.
University Opens Reunion '23 'Planning To Attend' List
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11/01/2022
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.
CAL Seeking Attorneys for Alumni Lawyers Directory
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11/01/2022
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.
Reminder: CEEPs Seeking Feedback From Public Servants
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11/01/2022
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 ’21BIRTHS
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, ScrantonFRIENDS' DEATHS
Pamela Carlson, wife of Kevin Carlson '78
Alumni Class Notes, November 2022
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10/14/2022
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 50th anniversary celebration on its Class of 2020 Gateway sign.
Scranton Celebrates 50 Years of Co-Education
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10/04/2022
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.
Byrnes Clarke and O'Brien Receive President's Medals at PBC Dinner
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10/04/2022
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.
CAL Members Invited To Elizabeth Hinton Lecture Presented By Slattery Center
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10/04/2022
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.
University Book Club To Discuss 'The Whole Language' By Gregory Boyle, S.J.
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10/04/2022
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 YorkPhiladelphia 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, PANew Jersey Christmas Reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President December 15
The Madison Hotel
Glenallyn Ballroom
1 Convent Road
Morristown, NJRegistration will open in November. For more information, email alumni@scranton.edu.
University Announces 2022 Presidential Christmas Parties
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10/04/2022
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.
Save The Date For Reunion 2023 June 9-11
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10/04/2022
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.
CEEPS Seeks Feedback from Public Servants
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10/04/2022
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.
Register Today For The Alumni Student Golf Outing Oct. 15
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10/04/2022
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 115th 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 '15BIRTHS
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 ForgeFRIENDS' DEATHS
Barbara Valtos, sister of Dennis Darlak, Ph.D. ’65
Ellie Grech, mother of Thomas J. Grech '84 and Robert Grech '87Alumni Class Notes, October 2022
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09/30/2022
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValuePBC Dinner Exceeds Fundraising Goal
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09/29/2022
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 13th 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 29th 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.
Scranton Ranked in Top 50 for Doing Public Good
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09/27/2022
Forbes ranked The University of Scranton among “America’s Top Colleges” for the 14th 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 29th 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.
Forbes Names Scranton Among Top Colleges in USA
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09/26/2022
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 21st 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.
Annual PBC Celebration Returns to NYC Sept. 29
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09/19/2022
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.
University of Scranton Names Seven New Trustees
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09/12/2022
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueU.S. News Ranks Scranton No. 5 in 2023 Guidebook
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09/06/2022
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 21st 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
PBC Prepares For 21st Annual Award Dinner Sept. 29
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09/06/2022
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.
University Holds Class of 2026 Legacy Families Reception
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09/06/2022
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.
University To Hold Alumni/Student Golf Outing Oct. 15
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09/06/2022
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 ’17BIRTHS
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, ArchbaldFRIENDS' DEATHS
Elizabeth Bush Schmidt, sister of Peter Bush ’79
Alumni Class Notes, September 2022
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09/06/2022
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.
Scranton Jesuit Community New Superior is Alumnus
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09/02/2022
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.
Scranton Picked Among Best Colleges in Nation
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08/10/2022
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.
ROI of Scranton Degree Ranks in Top 7 Percent
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08/02/2022
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.
O'Malley Recovering From ROAR Injuries
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08/02/2022
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 21st 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.
PBC To Hold 21st Annual Award Dinner Sept. 29
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08/02/2022
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 21st 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 21st 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 Alumni Event Preview
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08/01/2022
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
Alumni Class Notes, August 2022
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07/29/2022
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.
Scranton Ranked Among America’s Best Values
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07/28/2022
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.
Graduate Programs Ranked Among Best in Nation
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07/22/2022
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,
Scranton to Offer First Ph.D. Degree
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07/06/2022
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.
Scranton Club To Meet At Independence Beer Garden Sept. 8
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07/06/2022
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.
Scranton G.O.L.D. To Meet At Pier 13 Aug. 4
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07/06/2022
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.
Scranton G.O.L.D. To Meet At Morgan's Pier July 21
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07/06/2022
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.
Reminder: Scranton Club of NY To Meet At Yankee Game Aug. 17
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07/06/2022
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.
Register Today For A Day At The Races July 24
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07/06/2022
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.
University Honors Tony Rice With Carlesimo Award
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07/05/2022
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.
Alumni Return For Reunion 2022
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07/05/2022
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, EaglevilleAlumni Class Notes, July 2022
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06/01/2022
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.
Grads Get Free Friends of the Library Membership
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06/01/2022
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 TBDHanging in Houlihan (Band and Singers)
Rainbow Royals
SJLA
All-Class Family Picnic
12:30 - 3 p.m.
Founder's GreenEnjoy 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 Celebration6 - 10 p.m.
The DeNaples Center Patio & Dionne GreenYou 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 ChapelBrunch On Your Own
10 a.m. - noon
Fresh Food Company, 3rd Floor of The DeNaples CenterBrunch will be available for all attendees and their guests for a fee that will be collected upon arrival.
Class of 1972 Special EventsIn 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 TBDIncludes dinner, cocktails, and the 50-year medal ceremony.
Saturday, June 11
Class of 1972 Memorial
10 a.m.
Chapel of the Sacred HeartVisit the Chapel of the Sacred Heart to witness a memorial honoring the deceased members of the Class of 1972.
For more information on Reunion Weekend, visit scranton.edu/reunion.
Reunion Weekend to Return June 11-12
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06/01/2022
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.
Reminder: University to Hold Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner June 27
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06/01/2022
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.
Fourth Ryan O'Malley Annual Ride to Begin June 10
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06/01/2022
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.
Scranton Club of New York To Meet At Yankee Game Aug. 17
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06/01/2022
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.
Reminder: Scranton Club of NJ to Host Day at the Races July 24
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06/01/2022
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.
Scranton Club of NEPA to Meet at Railriders Game June 5
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06/01/2022
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.
Reminder: Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley to Meet at Iron Pigs Game June 24
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06/01/2022
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.
Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley to Hold Mini-Golf Tournament June 4
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06/01/2022
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, WyomingFRIENDS/FAMILY DEATHS
Brian Leahy, husband of Susan Paige Leahy ’91 and brother of Michael Leahy ’05
Alumni Class Notes, June 2022
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05/26/2022
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.Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity Graduate Degree
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05/04/2022
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.
University To Celebrate 5.06 Day Of Giving May 6
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05/04/2022
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.
Scranton Club of New Jersey to Host Day at the Races July 24
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05/04/2022
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.
Scranton Club of Lehigh Valley to Meet at Iron Pigs Game June 24
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05/04/2022
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 RobinsonBIRTHS
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
Alumni Class Notes, May 2022
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05/03/2022
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.
University to Hold Carlesimo Golf Tournament And Award Dinner June 27
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05/03/2022
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.
Register Today for Reunion 2022
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05/03/2022
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.
Reminder: IVC to Hold Luncheon and Info Session May 24
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04/19/2022
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.”
Fortune Picks Scranton Among Best Online MBAs
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04/06/2022
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.
Alumni Cancer Survivors Invited To Relay For Life Survivorship Ceremony April 29
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04/06/2022
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 21st 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.
University Announces Honorees For PBC 21st Annual Award Dinner
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04/06/2022
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.
Reunion 2022 Registration Now Open
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04/06/2022
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.
Ignatian Volunteer Corps To Hold Luncheon And Info Session at University May 24
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04/05/2022
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 registerNew York
New York City - Cardinal Spellman Center-Meatloaf Kitchen, 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Click here to registerStony 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 registerJefferson Township (NEPA) - Jefferson Elementary School, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Click here to registerPhiladelphia - Cradles to Crayons, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Click here to registerScranton - Center for Service and Social Justice Arrupe House, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to registerWashington, D.C.
Alexandria, Virginia - Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to registerConnecticut - 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.
University To Hold Day of Service April 23
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04/05/2022
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.
University To Establish Edward R. Leahy Award
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04/05/2022
The University will hold its annual Pre-Law Society 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.
University To Hold Annual Pre-Law Society Banquet May 2
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04/05/2022
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 YorkFRIENDS' DEATHS
Marion Moran, mother of Alison Moran ’91
Alumni Class Notes, April 2022
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04/05/2022
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueBook Discussion and Signing with Scranton Alumnus
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03/30/2022
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.”
Graduate Programs Top U.S. News National Rankings
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03/09/2022
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 4th 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.
Lecture/Book Signing by The First Kennedys Author
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03/02/2022
The 12th 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 24th and 27th 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.
Shamrockin' Eve Returns March 11
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03/02/2022
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 registerNew 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 registerJefferson Township (NEPA) - Jefferson Elementary School, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Click here to registerPhiladelphia - Cradles to Crayons, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Click here to registerWashington, D.C.
Alexandria, Virginia - Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10 a.m. - noon
Click here to registerIf 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.
Register Today for the Day of Service April 23
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03/02/2022
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 6th 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'18BIRTHS
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, MarylandDEATHS
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, FloridaFRIENDS' DEATHS
Teresa Iannielli, mother of Nicholas W. Iannielli ’92, G’04 and Francis M. Iannielli ’93
Alumni Class Notes, March 2022
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02/03/2022
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 29th President of The University of Scranton in June of 2021.
$content.getChild('content').textValueUniversity President Professes Final Vows
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02/02/2022
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.
University Book Club To Discuss 'The Long Loneliness' Feb. 20
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02/02/2022
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.
Register Today for The Jesuit Center's Lenten Daily Devotional Emails
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02/02/2022
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.
Save the Date for the Day of Service April 23
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02/02/2022
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.
Join Us for a Webinar on Ignatian Spirituality and Service Feb. 16
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02/02/2022
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.
Council Of Alumni Lawyers Seeks Members
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02/02/2022
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.
University Police Provide De-Escalation Training To Local Law Enforcement
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02/01/2022
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, MichiganFRIENDS' 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
Alumni Class Notes, February 2022
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01/25/2022
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 11th 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.
Scranton Online Programs Among Best in Nation
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01/21/2022
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 12th 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.
Scranton Nationally Ranked for Doing Public Good
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01/05/2022
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.
Alumni Celebrate Christmas Season At Regional Events
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01/05/2022
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.
Royals Assist New Jersey Food Bank Dec. 4
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01/04/2022
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 ’12DEATHS
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, ScrantonFRIENDS' DEATHS
Carl F. Green Sr., father of Carl F. Green Jr. '88
Robert W. Hildreth, father of Kate Hildreth ’05Alumni Class Notes, January 2022
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12/21/2021
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.
Pope Names Scranton Alumnus as New Bishop of Gaylord, Michigan
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12/16/2021
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.
Online Health Informatics Masters CAHIIM Accredited
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12/01/2021
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.
Frantz Lucien, Jr. ’12: Bridging the Digital Divide
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12/01/2021
The University of Scranton President’s Business Council (PBC) Virtual 20th 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 20th 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 1st 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.
PBC Honors Jack Brennan and Recognizes First 20 Years
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12/01/2021
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.
University Community Celebrates Giving Tuesday
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12/01/2021
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.
University Announces NYC Presidential Christmas Reception Dec. 8
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12/01/2021
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.
University to Offer New Annual Scholarship in Honor of Alumna
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12/01/2021
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.
Royals Volunteer At Cradles To Crayons
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11/30/2021
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.
University to Hold Boston Christmas Stroll Dec. 11
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11/30/2021
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 HoldenBIRTHS
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, MarylandDEATHS
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, JessupFRIENDS' 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 ’85Alumni Class Notes, December 2021
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11/22/2021
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.
Fortune Ranks Scranton in Best Part-Time MBA List
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11/05/2021
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.
Class of 2020 Graduates Successful at Career Goals
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11/03/2021
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.
University Announces Several Regional Christmas Events
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11/02/2021
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 1st 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.
PBC To Offer Virtual Celebration Honoring Jack Brennan Nov. 18
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11/02/2021
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.
University Book Club Selection Bears Familiar Name
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11/02/2021
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.
University To Offer New Jersey Service Project Dec. 4
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11/02/2021
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.
University Announces Philadelphia Christmas Events
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11/02/2021
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.
University Announces Boston Christmas Stroll Dec. 11
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11/02/2021
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 '16BIRTHS
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 ’51DEATHS
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 SummitAlumni Class Notes, November 2021
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10/26/2021
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!Recent Graduate Spotlight: Jeffrey Colucci '21
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10/20/2021
University of Scranton alumnus Thomas Tate, Esq. ’56, spoke to students majoring in physics and engineering during his Oct. 14th 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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueStudents Hear Firsthand Account of Space Programs
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10/13/2021
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.
Scranton Among Top 25 Catholic Colleges in Nation
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10/06/2021
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.
MAC Symposium Premieres Virtually
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10/06/2021
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.”
University To Present 'New Frontiers: The Thomas N. Tate, Esq. '56 Collection' Oct. 14
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10/06/2021
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.
Alumni Society Announces Fall Regional Service Projects
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10/06/2021
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
WEDDINGSMara Castellano ’07, G’14 to Mike Horvath
Caitlin Counihan '15, DPT '18 to Daniel DiPaola '14, DPT '17DEATHS
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 CarolinaFRIENDS'/FAMILY DEATHS
Francis X. Solano, father of Francis X. Solano, M.D. ’75
James Zipay, brother of Edward Zipay ’65, G’67Alumni Class Notes, October 2021
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10/04/2021
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.
Scranton Among Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges
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09/29/2021
“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 23rd 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.
Quotes from the Inauguration of the 29th President
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09/28/2021
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 29th 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.”
University Receives 1 Million Dollar Donation
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09/28/2021
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 29th 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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueTwo Honors Programs Named After Professors
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09/27/2021
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.
The University of Scranton Names Six New Trustees
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09/24/2021
“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 23rd 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 500th 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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueScranton Celebrates Inauguration of 29th President
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09/24/2021
Inauguration Date: Sept. 24, 2021
Ignatian Year - commemorating the 500th 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 35th 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 35thGeneral Congregation of The Society of Jesus.
Quick Facts on Inauguration of the 29th President
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09/22/2021
Forbes ranked The University of Scranton among “America’s Top Colleges” for the 13th 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 28th 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.”
Scranton Named Among Top Colleges in America
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09/14/2021
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.
PBC Opts for Virtual Celebration Honoring Jack Brennan
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09/13/2021
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueU.S. News Ranks Scranton No. 5 in 2022 Guidebook
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08/31/2021
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 Medicine8:45 a.m. - Patrick Donnelly, D.M.D., Ph.D. '09
Cipriani Dental Associates; Newtown, PA
TOPIC: Treating the Whole Patient: Where Medicine & Dentistry Converge9:40 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 Visits10:45 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, PeaceHealthChristopher Jones, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.H.P.M. '02
Palliative Medicine Specialist, Duke HealthThomas Langan, Jr., D.M.D., M.S. '09
Periodontist, Perio Health and Dental Implants
President, Scranton District Dental SocietyJoseph Mastroianni, V.M.D., '14
Veterinarian, Wallenpaupack Veterinary ClinicPamela 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 Storm12:45 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, & Future2:50 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.MAC Symposium Returns Oct. 2
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08/31/2021
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.
Class Of 2025 Legacy Families Launch Students' Scranton Careers
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08/31/2021
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.
University To Continue Alumni Career Development Webinar Series Sept. 29
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08/31/2021
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' DEATHSMichael 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 '90Alumni Class Notes, September 2021
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08/04/2021
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.
New Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
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08/04/2021
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 20th 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 20th 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 1st 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.
University Announces Honorees for PBC 20th Annual Award Dinner
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08/03/2021
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.
Registration Now Open For MAC Symposium Oct. 2
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08/03/2021
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 YorkFriends' 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. ’83Alumni Class Notes, August 2021
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07/26/2021
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueScranton DBA Program Graduates First Students
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07/07/2021
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.
University Honors Karpovich With Carlesimo Award
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07/07/2021
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.
University Seeks To Fund Chemistry Research Through Vinson Endowment
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07/07/2021
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, SpringfieldAlumni Class Notes, July 2021
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06/02/2021
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.
Scranton Alumni Network Continues To Thrive
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06/02/2021
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.
Alumni Society Advisory Board Names New Chair
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06/02/2021
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.
Council Of Alumni Lawyers Names Next Chair
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06/01/2021
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.
University Concludes Alumni Career Development Webinar Series
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06/01/2021
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.
Karpovich To Receive 2021 Peter A. Carlesimo Award
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06/01/2021
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, SpringfieldAlumni Class Notes, June 2021
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06/01/2021
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
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.
Twin Sisters Get Matching Graduate Degrees at Scranton
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06/01/2021
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.Reminder: We Need Your Input to Improve the Online Scranton Journal!
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05/11/2021
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.
Four Receive Honorary Degrees from University
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05/05/2021
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 24th and 27th 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.University To Celebrate Day Of Giving May 6
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05/05/2021
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.Alumni: We Need Your Input to Improve the Online Scranton Journal!
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05/05/2021
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.
Rainbow Royals to Hold Virtual Meet and Greet May 12
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05/05/2021
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.
University to Continue Alumni Career Development Webinar Series May 26
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05/05/2021
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 CityFriends' Deaths
Christopher J. Sauer, son of Joseph F. Sauer ’64
Alumni Class Notes, May 2021
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04/27/2021
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.
Fortune Best Online MBA Programs Includes Scranton
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04/13/2021
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.
Agreement with Indian Institute of Management Signed
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04/07/2021
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.
University To Hold MAC Symposium Oct. 2
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04/07/2021
The University will hold its Annual Prelaw Society 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.
University To Hold Annual Prelaw Society Banquet Virtually May 3
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04/07/2021
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.-noonNEPA: 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.
Reminder: University To Hold Day Of Service April 24
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04/07/2021
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.
University Continues Alumni Career Development Webinar Series April 28
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04/06/2021
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.
University To Hold Carlesimo Golf Tournament And Award Dinner June 14
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04/06/2021
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.
University Releases 'Bridges To El Salvador: A University of Scranton Documentary'
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04/06/2021
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 JerseyDeaths
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, TaylorFriends' 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 ’20Alumni Class Notes, April 2021
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04/06/2021
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.”
Scranton Programs Ranked Among Best in Nation
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03/17/2021
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.
New Online Master’s Degree Specialization Offered
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03/03/2021
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.
University to Hold Day of Service April 24
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03/03/2021
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.
University Launches Rainbow Royals
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03/03/2021
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.
FANS And Alumni Board Launch Agape Latte Virtual Series
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03/03/2021
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.
University Continues Alumni Career Development Webinar Series March 31
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03/03/2021
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.
New Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis
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03/03/2021
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, CranberryFriends' 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 ’86Adeline 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 ’20Alumni Class Notes, March 2021
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02/25/2021
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.
Kania School of Management Accreditation Extended
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02/02/2021
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.
University Book Club to Discuss 'The Devil's Advocate'
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02/02/2021
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.
University Continues Alumni Career Development Webinar Series Feb. 24
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02/02/2021
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 10th 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, ScrantonFriends' Deaths
Patricia Ahern, mother of Brian Loftus, D.M.D. ’92
Molly Gilmartin, sister of Jerome Gilmartin ’59Alumni Class Notes, Feb. 2021
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02/02/2021
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 10th 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.
Scranton Online Programs Among Best in Nation
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01/21/2021
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.
University’s Gateway Makes National Appearance
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01/13/2021
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 16th 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 27th consecutive year that Scranton ranked in the top 10 of its category.
University Among Nation’s Best Business Schools
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01/06/2021
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.
University To Hold Alumni Career Development Webinar Jan. 27
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01/06/2021
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.
Royals Submit Recipes To Virtual Christmas Cookie Swap
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01/06/2021
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, AlaskaRobert M. Bessoir '55, Clarks Summit
Alumni Class Notes, Jan. 2021
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12/02/2020
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.University Community Celebrates Giving Tuesday
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12/02/2020
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.
University Holds Virtual Royal Cookie Swap
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12/02/2020
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.
University Debuts Christmas Special
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12/02/2020
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 KuzmaDeaths
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, PeckvilleAlumni Class Notes, Dec. 2020
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12/01/2020
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.
National Nursing Licensure Pass Rate Tops 98 Percent
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12/01/2020
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.
Celebrating 50 Years of Computing Science with Prof. Paul M. Jackowitz ’77, P’11, ‘16
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11/23/2020
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.”
Open Doors by Learning a Language, Alumni Tell Their Stories
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11/04/2020
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.
Alumna Takes Atypical Accounting Path to Arrive at SoulCycle
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11/04/2020
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.
University To Host Thanksgiving Floral Workshop
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11/04/2020
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 ForgeMarriages
Kateri Sternberg '17 to Matthew Owens '17, Ridley Park
Friends' DeathsRaymond F. Chase, D.D.S., father of R. Donald Chase, D.O. ’90
Alumni Class Notes, Nov. 2020
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11/03/2020
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.
Nursing Program Nationally Recognized for Impact
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10/28/2020
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.
Theresa Haley ‘86 Prepares and Protects VA Hospital
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10/21/2020
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.
Finding a Purpose: Relvas Thrives as School Psychologist
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10/14/2020
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.
Alumni Nurses Featured on 'Today Show'
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10/14/2020
The virtual President’s Business Council (PBC) 19th 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 8th 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) 19th 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.
Three Receive President’s Medals at Virtual Event
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10/14/2020
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.
Honor Roll Of Donors Recognizes Donor Generosity
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10/13/2020
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 11th 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.
Scranton among Best Colleges for Public Good
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10/07/2020
The President’s Business Council (PBC) 19th 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.
PBC To Hold Virtual Celebration Oct. 8
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10/07/2020
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.
Remembering Jack Brennan '68
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10/07/2020
The Alumni Society recently announced that it will hold a pumpkin carving competition through Oct. 30.
The competition is open to all alumni and friends of the University. To participate, carve or paint a Scranton-themed pumpkin, take a picture of the creation and submit the photo along with the artist's first name, last initial, and graduation year, if applicable, to alumni@scranton.edu by Oct. 30. The Alumni Society will announce three winners, who will all receive Scrantastic prizes, on Halloween.
Alumni Society Announces Pumpkin Carving Contest
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10/07/2020
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.
University To Celebrate Jesuit Friends And Alumni Sunday Oct. 24, 25
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10/07/2020
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.
At the conclusion of the year, Curtin shattered the program record for digs, finishing the campaign with 811 to help Scranton win 25 games and advance to the very first Landmark Conference championship match. She also went on to earn All-Landmark Conference second-team honors, as well.
Now, in her professional life as the assistant nurse manager at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, the now Meghan Ledetsch is playing defense against a much stronger opponent -- COVID-19. Before taking her current position in July, Ledetsch served as a nurse in the Cardiac ICU at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York for five years, as challenging of a position as there is in the entire hospital.
“As one of the biggest Heart Center's on Long Island, I took care of the sickest of the sick cardiac patients,” Ledetsch said. “This includes but is not limited to carcinogenic shock, septic shock, end-stage heart failure, heart attacks, LVADS, heart transplants, arrhythmia's, pulmonary diseases, end-stage renal disease, etc. Sometimes these patients were so sick they needed to have two nurses instead of the 1-nurse to 2-patient ratio we typically have.”
But, even working in a high-pressure unit such as the Cardiac ICU could not prepare Ledetsch for what was to come this past spring. Once the pandemic reared its vicious head into the New York metro area in March, Ledetsch’s Cardiac ICU unit became a full-blown COVID ICU.
“Over the past few months, words cannot describe what my hospital has seen or gone through,” she said. “Myself and my colleagues were exposed to a whole different type of nursing.”
Read on, here.Ledetsch Adjusts on the Fly, Helps Long Island Block Back COVID-19
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10/07/2020
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, PlainsBirths
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, VirginiaAlumni Class Notes, Oct. 2020
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10/06/2020
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.
Scranton Among Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges
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09/28/2020
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.
University of Scranton Names Four New Trustees
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09/21/2020
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.
Kelly Loughlin '14 Blocks COVID-19 Spread in Honolulu
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09/15/2020
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.
Planned October Commencement Events Cancelled
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09/14/2020
U.S. News & World Report has ranked The University of Scranton among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for the 27th consecutive year. U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 6 in the 2021 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook, which became available online today.
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. 40 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North,” which compares academic quality of programs to cost of attendance. This is the eighth consecutive year U.S. News has recognized Scranton as a “Best Value” school. Scranton was ranked No. 136 in its category in a new listing U.S. News of “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. 201 in the U.S., and among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs,” ranking Scranton No. 141 among schools where a doctorate is not offered. Also, 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.
U.S. News changed the methodology used in its rankings this year to include graduate indebtedness among the data used to determine a school’s “outcomes” assessment, which represents 40 percent of the overall score. Other factors in the “outcomes” assessment include a social mobility score, freshman retention, graduation rates and graduation performance rates, which compares a school’s actual graduation rates with predicted graduation rates based on characteristics of the incoming class.
In addition, U.S. News considers a range of quality indicators for its ranking that includes peer assessment of academic excellence (20 percent); faculty resources (20 percent), which now includes regional cost-of-living adjustments to faculty pay and benefits; student selectivity (7 percent); 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 2021 U.S. News “Best Colleges” rankings became available online Sept. 14. The printed edition of the guidebook will be available in bookstores Oct 27.
U.S. News Ranks Scranton No. 6 in 2021 Guidebook
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09/09/2020
Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, provided an update on University’s pandemic response, campus active cases and contingency planning in a video message sent to members of the University community on Sept. 8.
In the video message, Father Pilarz noted the number of positive cases reported on campus was “concerning,” however “the level of case activity so far is manageable … If activity were to rise sharply from current levels during the course of this week then we may need to pivot to online learning for all classes for two weeks to let things settle down. I hope pausing in-person classes will not be necessary, but I wanted to alert you to the possibility.”
Father Pilarz discussed the University’s screening tests of all students, faculty and staff on campus as a proactive approach that “helps to limit the spread compared to testing only individuals who develop symptoms.”
“From the start of the semester, we expected that we would have positive cases. The virus is too widespread nationally to avoid it. Our hope then and now is that our case numbers would be manageable and that anyone impacted would be spared the more serious effects of COVID-19,” said Father Pilarz.
Father Pilarz ended the message by thanking faculty for their “flexibility in working with individual students who need to isolate or quarantine;” staff for their “dedicated, mission-driven work across campus;” and students for “embracing our plan so seriously, for dialing back your social activities in responsible ways and, most importantly, for continuing to display the care and concern for each other that is a hallmark of the Scranton community.”
Father Pilarz’s full message can be seen here and below.
President Updates Campus on Pandemic Response
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09/02/2020
The University of Scranton Book Club has provided nearly 450 Scranton alumni and parents with a virtual space to discuss compelling works of fiction and nonfiction since its launch in February.
The club will begin discussing "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson via zoom Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Subsequent discussions of the book will occur biweekly.
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.
To join the club, visit this link.
The University of Scranton Book Club discussed "The Power And The Glory" by Graham Greene on Aug. 23. Watch below.
University Book Club Provides Compelling Discussion
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09/02/2020
More than 1,000 alumni, parents and friends of the University "masked up" for Scranton students while raising more than $33,000 for The Father Sweeney Family Outreach Fund.
The Fr. Sweeney Fund provides emergency financial aid to students who are at risk of withdrawing because of unforeseen financial circumstances. In these unprecedented times, this fund has emerged as a saving grace for many Scranton students. Those who make a gift to the fund of $25 or more will receive a Scranton mask as a gesture of gratitude for their generosity.
To support our students and claim your Scranton mask, visit this link and make a gift to the Fr. Sweeney Fund.
1,000+ 'Mask Up' For Scranton Students
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09/02/2020
The Medical Alumni Council of The University of Scranton will hold "Finding Mentors and Maintaining Your Sense of Self in Medicine," a webinar for medical alumni of the University, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.
The session was designed to help aspiring and early-career doctors at all levels understand the importance of mentorship and choose and nurture the mentor/mentee relationship throughout training and beyond. Presenters will span the spectrum from private practice dentistry to faculty in academic medicine to medical fellows and residents.
The webinar's panelists will include Ann K. Astolfi, D.M.D. '88, periodontist at Ann K. Astolfi, D.M.D., Domenic W. Casablanca, M.D. FAAFP '89, family physician at Northeast Medical Group, Family Medicine Residency Faculty at Middlesex Health, Christopher A. Jones, M.D., M.B.A. '02, director of Outpatient Care at Duke University Health System, John J. Mangan, M.D., M.H.A. '11, Rothman Institute Orthopaedic Surgery Resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and Scott Alan Pesiak, M.D., Ph.D. '06, Hematology/Oncology Fellow at University of Pennsylvania. To register for the webinar, visit this link.
Medical Alumni Council To Hold Webinar Sept. 12
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09/02/2020
The Alumni Society recently launched the first issue of the Post-Scranton Survival Guide, a 12-month email series for the members of the Class of 2020.
The series provides new alumni with advice on life after graduation. The first issue features links to career development resources, surveys on future e-newsletter content and a video message from Chris Whitney, director of the Center for Career Development. To read the first issue, visit this link.
University Launches Post-Scranton Survival Guide 2020
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09/02/2020
The University will hold a kick-off zoom social to celebrate 50 years of Computing Sciences at Scranton Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
The event will gather department faculty, current students and Computer Science alumni in one virtual space to converse and reminisce about the program. Alumni interested in attending can visit this link to register, and alumni who are planning to attend can visit this link to declare their intention to attend.
The kick-off social is the first of many planned activities commemorating this milestone. For more information on the social, contact Jenna Bruchalski '17, G'20, program manager for Alumni Engagement, at jenna.bruchalski@scranton.edu.
University To Celebrate 50 Years Of Computing Sciences Sept. 17
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09/01/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
John J. Luciani G’87, York, president of First Capital Engineering (FCE), is now officially certified as a professional traffic operations engineer (PTOE). The PTOE certification is the highest level of licensing available in the field of Traffic Engineering.
Christen Gilmore Pionzio ’91, Doylestown, a principal in the firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin, was included in the 2021 edition of the Best Lawyers in America. Pionzio was recognized for Land Use and Zoning Law.
Mona Spellman-Benjamin ’07, Griffin, Georgia, was recently inducted into the The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing 2020. Spellman-Benjamin is currently working toward building a business model for Nursing Research Implementation, American Nursing Care Solutions. The objective is to put nursing research into action in order to implement nursing research findings. One of the first research leadership papers looked at staffing and short staffing issues.
Ashley Miller Colona, ’09, Teaneck, New Jersey, is now a fourth grade teacher at The Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly, New Jersey.
Deaths
Harold J. Laggner, M.D. ’42, Longwood, Florida
Albert Tawil, M.D. ’58, Tampa, Florida
John T. Gough ’59, Horseheads, New York
Walter B. McNichols ’59, Endicott, New York
Robert D. Zoka ’61, Kingston
George Karsko, Jr. ’62, Toms River, New Jersey
Leonard L. Szpara, Ed.D. ’65, Mount Joy
Joseph F. O’Donnell G’73, York
Joseph G. Betachini ’75, G’79, Archbald
Patricia P. Lawhon G’76, Corpus Christi, Texas
Rev. Lynn H. Tompkins ’76, Kingsley
Sean P. McCauley ’11, Levittown, New YorkBirths
A son, Flynn Joseph, to David and Angela Colarusso Boonstra ’02, Hoboken, New Jersey
A son, Wyatt Ellis, to Grif and Jen Gentile Gassert ’08, Alpharetta, Georgia
A son, Edward Michael, to Thomas, M.D. '09 and Tara Gramigna Churilla, D.O. '11, Roaring Brook Township
A son, Jack Robert McDermott, to Michael ’10 and Joan Miller McDermott '10, Kennett Square; grandson of Michael McDermott '71, Newtown SquareAlumni Class Notes, September 2020
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09/01/2020
Karolyn Teufel, M.D. '98 co-authored a study alongside other George Washington University researchers that found five biomarkers were associated with higher odds of clinical deterioration and death in COVID-19 patients.
In a study of 299 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to GW Hospital between March 12 and May 9, 2020, they found that elevated levels of the biomarkers IL-6, D-dimer, CRP, LDH and ferritin meant an increased risk for ICU admission, invasive ventilatory support and death. This is an important finding, because it may help physicians in the U.S. better predict outcomes of COVID-19 patients.
“The association between biomarkers and clinical outcomes in novel coronavirus pneumonia in a US cohort” was published in Future Medicine and is available here.
Chemistry Alumna Co-authors Study on COVID-19
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08/26/2020
The University of Scranton ranked among the nation’s best values for a college education based on educational quality, affordability and alumni success, according to a 2020 ranking by Money magazine published online Aug. 25. Money ranked Scranton at No. 274 among its selection of the 739 “Best Colleges for Your Money” in America, a ranking of “schools that successfully combine quality and affordability.” Money based its ranking on its analysis of more than 20,000 data points.
This is the sixth consecutive year Money has listed Scranton among America’s best values in college education. Scranton was the highest ranked school in Northeastern Pennsylvania and had the eighth highest rank of the 25 Jesuit colleges listed.
The factors Money analyzed to determine a colleges’ “academic quality” included the six-year graduation rate, the standardized test scores of incoming freshmen, 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 need- and merit-based financial aid offered to students. The “affordability” criteria also looked at student debt, student loan default rates, the affordability for low-income students and student loan default rates adjusted for the economic and academic profile of a school’s student body, in addition to other factors.
The factors Money used to assess “outcomes” included the average salaries of alumni reported in PayScale early- and mid-career, and their reported earnings at these points adjusted by major. In addition to other factors, the “outcomes” criteria looked at socio-economic mobility index that uses data from the Equality of Opportunity Project, a study that examines the percentage of students that move from low-income backgrounds to upper-middle-class jobs before the age of 34.
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.
Scranton has been recognized for its value in other national rankings such as U.S. News Forbes, The Economist and Barron’s.
Scranton Among Nation’s Best Values for College
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08/18/2020
For the 19th consecutive year, The Princeton Review included Scranton among the nation’s “Best 386 Colleges” in its annual guidebook that published Aug. 18. In addition, The Princeton Review ranked Scranton for the sixth consecutive year among the nation’s “Best Campus Food” (No. 7) and “Best Science Lab Facilities” (No. 8). The Princeton Review also ranked Scranton at No. 15 in the nation for “Most Religious Students.”
The 2020 edition of the guidebook includes detailed profiles of each of “The Best 386 Colleges.” Scranton’s profile stated that students “like the fact that they are required to take courses in the ‘humanities, philosophy, and theology irrespective of [their] major.’ In turn, this ensures that students receive a well- rounded education.” Students also touted Scranton’s strong science programs and high acceptance rates to medical schools. Student’s also praised the faculty saying “they’re just so engaging and really know how to present the material in such a way that it’s interesting for us as students.”
For the annual guidebook, The Princeton Review selects schools it “believes are the best in the nation, academically.” Just 13 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges and universities are included. The book also includes The Princeton Review’s much publicized “Best of” lists of the “Top 20” colleges in 62 categories. The “Best of” lists are based entirely on surveys of students at colleges selected by The Princeton Review for inclusion in its guidebook.
In addition to The Princeton Review, U.S. News has ranked Scranton among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 26 consecutive years, placing the University No. 6 in its 2020 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 5 in its category in a listing, based on peer assessment recommendations, of the nation’s “Most Innovative Schools,” which recognizes colleges that are making “innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and facilities.” In addition, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 12 in its category in its “Best Undergraduate Teaching” listing of the top colleges in the nation expressing “a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”
Scranton in Princeton Review’s Best Colleges List
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08/12/2020
Three information websites for prospective college students have ranked The University of Scranton in the top 25 best Catholic colleges in the nation in recently published rankings for 2020. The rankings include some of the most prestigious Catholic universities in America.
Niche.com ranked Scranton No. 18 among the 2020 Best Catholic Colleges in America, which is a ranking based on key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. According to their website, “top-ranked Catholic colleges are leading academic institutions that offer students an education and college experience rooted in Catholic traditions and faith.” 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.
College Factual ranked Scranton No. 22 in its 2020 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. Scranton ranked No. 3 “Best Colleges Affiliated as Roman Catholic in Pennsylvania.”
College Choice ranked Scranton No. 23 among just 75 “Best Catholic Colleges and Universities” in the nation. 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.
In April of 2020, College Consensus ranked Scranton No. 37 among the “Best Catholic Colleges and Universities” in America. For the ranking, College Consensus calculated an “average rating score” for colleges based on national guidebook rankings, which include U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and others. College Consensus also calculated an “overall score” for colleges based on student reviews posted on multiple sites, including Niche.com. The schools were ranked based on a “consensus ranking” that combined both these scores.
In addition to the above rankings, The University of Scranton is listed in numerous well-known national “best college” rankings and guidebooks, such as U.S. News, The Princeton Review and others.
Scranton Ranked Among Best Catholic Colleges in US
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08/05/2020
As the keynote speaker for the April 30 President’s Business Council webinar, Col. James Cummings, M.D. ’88, H’15, president of ICON Government and Public Health Solutions, Inc., discussed everything from the history of pandemics to possible vaccines.
Following his graduation from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Cummings spent 26 years in the U.S. Army. He has maintained a close connection with The University of Scranton as a member of the University’s Medical Alumni Council (MAC) and mentor to pre-medical students. Prior to his current position at ICON, he was vice president of clinical development and translational medicine at Novavax, a clinical-state biotechnology company “committed to delivering novel products to prevent a broad range of infectious diseases.”
Prior to Novavax, he was director at the Department of Defense’s Global Emerging Infection Surveillance and Response Systems (DoD-GEIS) responsible for oversight, development, functionality and fiscal accountability of the DoD’s global surveillance program for emerging infectious disease.
Here are some highlights from his talk, which you can watch in its entirety, here.
On Pre-COVID
“We’ve done a lot of learning through all of these outbreaks. And we do a lot of continued planning and learning even when there’s not an outbreak occurring. Across the whole of government, and not just the U.S. government, but other governments as well, NGOs, academic institutions, commercial biopharmaceutical companies, CROs, like the one I run at Icon, and others. We get together very regularly to discuss and learn from what we call Disease X, that’s the next pathogen, generally considered to be a viral pathogen, that will be infecting humanity and could be responsible for an outbreak or a pandemic.”
On Who it Affects
“I can tell you from the death rate…it’s not only the elderly or those who are medically compromised who are ill in the hospital, on ventilators or who are dead. This certainly has a concentration in elderly or medically compromised, but it crosses the spectrum of humanity in terms of who it’s affecting directly.”
On Biosurveillance
“There’s a national strategy for biosurveillance that’s been in place for many years. When you see a constellation of people becoming ill and you don’t know why they’re becoming ill, we’re very fortunate now that we have gene sequencing available and we can detect novel infectious agents just like this coronavirus. And that was done in China. We take that data, we review it, we integrate it, we analyze it. We turn it into actionable information that you can disseminate to key leaders and to people who can make a difference in what that information might mean. That decision gives support and feedback about where next to go for biosurveillance.”
On Healthcare Innovations
“There are DNA-based vaccines and mRNA-based vaccines. These vaccines involve injections either intramuscularly or subdermally, and then, generally speaking, some electroporation, just a fancy name for a little bit of electrical stimulus on the skin to drive that DNA or mRNA into our dendritic cells and get a robust immune response.”
“There are more traditional vaccine production methodologies either protein subunit vaccines, replicating viral vector vaccines, and virus-like particles, nonreplicating viral vectors and live attenuated virus. The inactivated, think of that like your traditional flu vaccine where we grow a bunch of virus, we kill it, then we give your immune system a little taste of that virus. Your immune system develops a robust response to that and realizes that’s the wanted poster for your immune system. The majority of these are all, for the most part, acting against the glycoprotein spike on the coronavirus.”
“There is good news on the horizon, because these platforms have already been developed for other coronaviruses. The good news is that they were able to turn the key on the machine and go very quickly with a safe product into phase one testing.”
On Cooperation
“In my short career, 26 years or so, there’s been a great development or maturation, I think, of relationships with the FDA and other regulatory agencies and industry. There are partnerships for developing solutions moving forward. Where, at one point in time, the FDA may not have been looked at as a facilitator of great products, but more of a policeman, now what’s happening is that the FDA is really bringing to bear the full might of their knowledge and their power as a regulatory agency…to ensure that we’re very rapidly assessing these investigational new drugs or vaccines or diagnostics and facilitating great work moving forward faster.”
“The regulatory process has really sped up in terms of total amount of time it requires to ensure a safe product is moving forward. That is key. You don’t want a rubber stamp, and that’s not what they’re giving. They are giving a very thoughtful review in a more expedited fashion.”
“No one’s looking for shortcuts.”
On Opening
“It’s a very fluid situation. This isn’t a light switch that we flip on and say ‘OK we’re open for business now.’ This is going to be a very segmented transition. And when you say, ‘getting back to normal,’ it’s a new normal.”
“I’m a fan of the build, measure, learn cycle. So, we’ll take a look, we’ll make a data-driven decision, then we will monitor to see what that decision produced.”
“In educators’ standpoints, there’s so much value in having people together. …You really want kids to have that socialization and that process of further maturation and development, but it can’t be at the cost of endangering their health. So I think we have to be very practical and pragmatic.”
Infectious Disease Expert Discusses Outbreaks, Responses and Covid-19
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08/05/2020
The President’s Business Council (PBC) will present President’s Medals to Margaret “Maggie” Quinn Mariotti, Au.D. P’10, John R. Mariotti, D.M.D. ’75, P’10 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L. ’72 at its virtual 19th Annual Award Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 8.
“While we are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we feel that it is important to continue with our annual fundraising initiative in support of the student needs and scholarships at Scranton,” said Timothy J. Pryle ’89, executive director of the PBC. “This year, we feel that it is important to expand the impact of our fundraising efforts to support more students while also recognizing Father Pilarz’s tireless leadership through this pandemic.” In addition to the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, this year’s proceeds 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, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and who personify the University’s mission of Catholic and Jesuit excellence and service. Through its previous 18 dinners, the PBC has generated over $16 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Planning for this year’s celebration, including a virtual Honoree Announcement, is ongoing, so please visit our website at www.scranton.edu/PBCcelebration for up-to-date information and the October 8 event link. For more information on this year’s event or the PBC, please contact Tim Pryle at (570) 941-5837 or pbc@scranton.edu.
PBC To Offer Virtual Celebration Oct. 8
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08/05/2020
Nearly 100 Class of 2024 families signed-up to meet Scranton alumni, parents, students and staff members via Zoom before heading to campus for the fall semester. These “Welcome to Scranton” sessions gave incoming first-year students a chance to ask questions, meet fellow members of the Class of 2024 and hear proud alumni share their favorite Scranton memories.
University Holds Zoom Welcome For Class of 2024 Families
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08/05/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Mary M. McCambridge '79, Lake Mary, Florida, a grief and bereavement specialist and author of several works in her field who established the Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., has launched a podcast, The Mary Mac Show, lending her 35 years' experience to comfort and educate those grieving the death of a loved one. Her show was recognized among the 10 Best Podcasts on Grief by several organizations. She is also offering products for the bereaved through The Mary Mac Shop. Mary is a 2009 recipient of the Frank J. O'Hara Award.
Stephen P. Castellano ’90, Glen Mills, was named chief practice operations officer at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). In this role, Castellano will be a key member of the leadership team, overseeing a multispecialty, multi-location group of medical practices as well as the design of organizational structure, day-to-day oversight of performance and operations, and the continuous improvement of administrative and clinical operating models.
Karen M. Murphy, Ph.D. ’91, Clarks Summit, chief innovation officer and founding director of the Geisinger Steele Institute for Health Innovation, was named a “2020 Woman to Watch in Health Information Technology” by Becker’s Hospital Review. In her role at the Steele Institute, Murphy leads Geisinger’s commitment to innovation, developing leading-edge solutions that slow rising costs, improve quality and increase access to healthcare.
Courtney Roselle ’11, Jersey City, New Jersey, was a competitor on The Rock’s “Titan Games,” on NBC. Roselle is a professional Crossfit athlete and trainer for Brazen Athletics in Hoboken and Black House Strength and Conditioning in Fairfield. Roselle also has her own fitness company, Iron Grace, which sells workout apparel and offers training classes.
Deaths
Eugene M. Langan ’58, Clarks Green
Edward B. Vanisky ’58, Clarks Summit
Edward E. Adrian ’59, Johnson City New York
Eugene R. Molnar ’59, Cary, North Carolina
Henry D. Ritzie, Jr. ’63, Dupont
Raymond J. Lintner ’66, Honesdale
William F. Yachymiak ’68, Brooklyn
Joseph S. Kutsop ’73, Blakely
Henry P. Magdon ’82, Olyphant
Edward L. “Ned” Posluszny ’92, ThroopBirths
A daughter, Michalina Marie, to Chris '08 and Allison Martyn Samuels '08, Centennial, Colorado.
Alumni Class Notes, August 2020
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07/22/2020
In January, NBC’s The Office cast member Brain Baumgartner (Kevin) stopped by The University of Scranton campus to speak to students, staff and alumni about the show’s connection to Scranton for a podcast airing on Spotify. The History of The Office, hosted by Baumgartner, chronicles the show from its origins to its continued popularity today on streaming services like Netflix.
In addition to interviews the show’s creators, cast members, writers and fans, Baumgartner interviewed organizers of The Office Convention and The Office Wrap Party, which took place on the University’s campus and other locations in the city. Scranton alumnus Tim Holmes ’88, along with area resident Michele Dempsey, were interviewed in the University’s Weinberg Memorial Library for the podcast. Scranton alumni Emily Holmes G’14 and Colin Holmes ’13 also participated.
Scranton staff members who helped to organized The Office Convention and The Office Wrap Party on campus also spoke to Baumgartner during the visit, including Randy Shemanski, associate director of athletics; Frani Mancuso ’93, executive director of conferences and event services; Stan Zygmunt ’84, G’95, director of news and media relations; Shannon Murphy Fennie ’99, assistant dean of students; and Michael Ritterbeck ’09, director of the Center for Student Engagement, who was a University student volunteer for the Office Convention.
Scranton students who were fans of The Office were also interviewed, including Virginia Farrell, Scranton; Abril Lopez, Scranton; Makenzie Mason, Doylestown; Conor Nealon, Duryea; Eliza Phenneger, Center Valley; Adrianna Smith, Covington Township; Claire Sunday, South Abington Township; and Lily Warhaftig, New York, New York.
Makers of The History of The Office Visited Campus
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07/14/2020
Karen Murphy, Ph.D., RN '91 is executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Geisinger and founding director of the Steele Institute for Healthcare Innovation.
In a recent interview with HealthLeaders, she discussed how Geisinger and the Institute pivoted to respond to COVID-19, from using bots to screen employees to launching efforts to do contact tracing.
Murphy was named a 2020 “Woman to Watch” in health information technology by Becker’s Hospital Review in January 2020.
Read the Q&A with her here.
Alumna CIO Discusses Innovation in the Time of COVID
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07/06/2020
Beginning in the fall 2020 semester, The University of Scranton will offer a new Master of Science in Business Analytics. The 30-credit graduate program will be offered both online and on-campus and can be completed in as little as one year when taken on a full-time basis. Applications for the program are currently being accepted
Business analytics is one of the fastest growing professions in the country, with job opportunities available in companies of all sizes and in all sectors. A recent survey in Forbes found that more than 95 percent of businesses had some kind of need to manage large amounts of data. Job titles include: business intelligence analyst, data analyst, information technology analyst or marketing research analyst, among other titles.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) 2019 Corporate Recruiters Survey, 72 percent of technology companies looked to directly hire personnel with a master’s in business analytics last year. According to GMAC, the median starting salary for Master of Science in Business Analytics graduates is $85,000. According to Payscale, salaries for Management Consultants rise to more than $140,000 at top companies. Salary estimates of business analysts range between $65,000 to $130,000 based on postings listed by indeed.com.
Students pursing a master’s degree in business analytics will develop specialized knowledge in using advanced analytics techniques such as data visualization, predictive analytics and prescriptive analytics to solve business problems. Students will develop hands-on experience with highly sought after software tools such as Python, R, and Tableau. Courses for the program include data mining, introduction to Big Data, business database management systems, forecasting models, data visualization, business simulation and customer relations management analytics.
The University also offers a specialization in business analytics in its MBA program, as well as a bachelor’s degree in business analytics.
Business programs offered at The University of Scranton are accredited by the rigorous standards of AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Less than 5 percent of business colleges worldwide hold AACSB International accreditation, which is widely considered the gold standard mark of excellence for business schools.
For additional information visit the Master of Science in Business Analytics webpage.Master’s in Business Analytics Offered at Scranton
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06/30/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Vivienne T. Meljen, M.D. '13, Durham, North Carolina, a resident at Duke Obstetrics and Gynecology, was a 2020 Virtual Hammond Research Day winner. Hammond Research Day is a time to celebrate and honor Duke Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology residents and fellows for their exceptional achievements.
Connor M. Shanahan ’15, G’16, West Harrison, New York, manager of Multi-Specialty Clinics and AIDS Care at Westchester Medical Center, was named one of the 2020 Rising Stars – 40 Under 40 Award Winners by the Business Council of Westchester. The 2020 Rising Stars-40 Under 40 is a diverse and highly talented group representing an impressive array of professionals and fields, including many COVID heroes who have been on the front line helping those in need. The winners, including Shanahan, will be honored on September 2.
Deaths
Joseph T. Reddington ’52, Canton, Massachusetts
Algrid J. Moceyunas ’54, St. Simons Island, Georgia
Leonard Weiss, O.D. ’55, Honesdale
Daniel J. McGlone ’64, Scranton
Eugene J. Zaverl ’66, G’71 Charlotte, North Carolina
Michael G. Fuller ’69, G’76 Clarks Summit
Andrew G. Golden ’73, Scranton
Rev. Peter D. Menghini ’76, Scranton
Sophie V. West ’17, Los Angeles, California
Friends' Deaths
Thomas Hughes, father of Amy Hughes Hassaj ’92 and brother of Edward J. Hughes, Sr. ’58Alumni Class Notes, July 2020
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06/04/2020
Alex Isakov, M.D., MPH ’87 is a professor of emergency medicine and the executive director of the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) at Emory University in Atlanta.
“Preparation for emerging special pathogens has been a large focus of my career in medicine,” he said.
In 2014, he and his team at Grady EMS, the city of Atlanta’s 911 ambulance service, transported the first person brought to the United States who was confirmed to have Ebola Virus Disease.
He was subsequently a lead contributor for the EMS Infectious Disease Playbook published by the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources and Information Exchange (TRACIE).
He is now busy responding to COVID-19.
“In the early days of the pandemic, my colleagues and I recognized the need to assist the public to find guidance about their signs and symptoms of illness, and how best to seek evaluation and care," said Dr. Isakov.
They adapted SORT, a tool that they had developed and implemented for the 2009 influenza pandemic, and created c19check.com. Available for free to the public, this tool steers people to relevant CDC guidance, helps those who need emergency care to seek it immediately, and advises others with mild symptoms to seek an evaluation while maintaining social and physical distancing.
“In addition to educating the public, this tool can also provide real-time epidemiologic data that can help to identify community hotspots and inform potentially life-saving public health interventions,” said Dr. Isakov.
The tool is available in over 30 languages.
Dr. Isakov also is the Emergency Medical Services lead for the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), a federally funded program that provides education, training and expert consultation to the health care community about high consequence infectious diseases like COVID-19. He contributes weekly as a panelist for the National COVID-19 Grand Rounds hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Locally, in Atlanta, as the executive director of CEPAR, he engages daily with inter-disciplinary teams that are forging Emory University’s response to the pandemic, with “a laser focus on health and safety,” he said.
As the Director of Emory’s Section of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine in his academic department, he leads a team of emergency medicine and EMS physicians who serve the community as medical directors for 911 call centers, emergency responders and ground and air ambulances, all on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Isakov also serves on the frontline himself, seeing patients in the Emory University Hospital Emergency Department.
“These are trying times for everyone,” Isakov said. “It’s a privilege to work with caring colleagues, skilled teams and to be part of a community that is committed to making a difference in people’s lives.”
Expert in Emerging Special Pathogens Responds to Pandemic
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06/03/2020
Reunion Weekend, originally scheduled for June 12-14, 2020, will take place on campus at a later date. In the meantime, The University of Scranton will offer milestone alumni an opportunity to commemorate the weekend virtually with a series of online events. Alumni with class years ending in "0" or "5" are invited to participate.
The University will hold a virtual Memorial Mile for alumni to honor the memory of their departed classmates, mentors, and friends. To participate, alumni in a reunion year can exercise any time, in any way, between Friday, June 12, and Sunday, June 14, and designate their registration fee to a memorial scholarship, or to the University fund of their choice. To register, visit this link.
On Saturday, June 13, at 8 p.m., reunion classes are invited to put on their favorite Scranton apparel and join us in the Virtual Purple Lounge, the hottest virtual night club on campus! Groove along to the sweetest tunes of your college years and watch for a drop-in by a few special guests. Stay tuned for more info on this Scrantastic event.
Finally, all alumni are invited to join us on Sunday, June 14, at 10 a.m. for a virtual Reunion Mass featuring readings by your fellow alumni and liturgical music performed in Madonna della Strada Chapel. A link for the Mass will be available soon.
For more information on Reunion, visit scranton.edu/reunion.Virtual Reunion Events Planned For June 12-14
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06/03/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Thomas R. McGann, M.D. ’77, York, received the 2020 Healthcare Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award from the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal.
Marion Munley ’83, Moosic, has been listed as Lawyer of the Year in The Best Lawyers in America 2020 for the practice area of “Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs” for metro Allentown, Pennsylvania. This is the third time Munley has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year. For 2017 and 2019, she received the award for the practice area of “Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs.”
Brian Eltz, '02, G'05, Millersville, recently published his first children's book, “Shaking Up Shakespeare”, through Christian Faith Publishing (for ages 3 to 12).
Edward J Foster, V. ’17, Throop, graduated Drexel School of Law with honors.Deaths
John J. Fendrock, DPS ’48, Burlington, Massachusetts
William R. Montone ’49, Harrisburg
Paul T. Burke ’51, Scranton
John J. Malina, M.D. ’51, Taylor
John G. Signorino ’51, Venice, Florida
Leonard S. Maldonato ’57, Scranton
Paul F. Dwyer ’60, Scranton
John P. Mahon ’60, Studio City, California
Nicholas Pezak ’60, Jessup
Robert J. Morgan ’61, Marlton, New Jersey
Michael D. Costa ’62, Mayfield
Robert G. McAndrew ’62, Scranton
Edward J. Sowinski, Jr., Ph.D. ’62, Williamsburg, Virginia
Joseph J. Barbuti ’63, Scranton
Ronald G. Roskos ’71, Kingston
Kenneth G. Lewis, Ph.D. ’75, G’76, Scranton
James A. Rodda G’86, Prompton
H. Merritt Hughes G’00, Wilkes Barre
Mary Grace Dolores Dirks ’01, New Hyde Park, New York
Francis Dehaut ’10, Wilkes BarreBirths
A son, Owen Charles, to Christopher and Maria Kern Haggerty '09, South Abington Township
Alumni Class Notes, June 2020
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06/03/2020
Danielle (Gilson) Healey '11 is an RN at Yale New Haven Hospital in the Perioperative Services Adult Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 2. Her mom, sister, niece and husband also contracted the virus.
"The University of Scranton nursing program definitely taught me to be flexible and to be ready for any situation," said Healey. "I think It has helped throughout my nine-year nursing career feel prepared and confident. I will be forever grateful for the experiences, education and the professors at Scranton."
She shared her recent experiences with us.
You got COVID-19 as more strict measures were being taken at the hospital where you work. Can you tell us what it was like at your hospital at the time?
My hospital had just started requiring employees to wear a mask at all times. Everyone was on edge and we didn't know what was going to happen with our hospital or our unit. We started training and shadowing in the ICUs to prepare for possibly floating there. Although all of the RN's in the PACU are critical care or Emergency Department trained, some nurses had never worked in an ICU or hadn't worked in one in years. Luckily I had worked in the medical ICU four years ago so I was better prepared than most of my coworkers.
We eventually would close our PACU, open as an ICU non-COVID overflow unit, and float to the various COVID ICU floors. There would eventually be four Medical COVID ICU floors in my hospital. The evening before our shift, our manager would text us saying if we were to report to the float pool or our ICU overflow unit the next day. This started happening just as I became sick, so I did not care for any COVID patients (as far as I know) before that, though looking back there may have been a couple suspected cases before we starting locking everything down.
Can you tell us what it was like to get the virus?
I was tested for COVID-19 on April 2, 2020. I started having symptoms a few days before that, which started as slight body aches. I eventually progressed to have a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from a headache behind my eyes to chills and losing my sense of taste and smell. Although I would feel like I had a fever at times my home thermometer said otherwise. I ended up losing my taste for about a month, which was very depressing as I couldn't even use food as a comfort. I developed slight respiratory symptoms about a week or so into it, which was a slight dry cough and wheeze. Luckily it never progressed to shortness of breath or anything more severe. I also had gastrointestinal symptoms at one point. All in all, it lasted about two weeks before I returned to work. My hospital's criteria was that I was symptom-free for 72 hours before returning; I did not have to test negative. Physically I was just tired throughout the whole course, mostly laying on the couch and not being very active. Mentally it was a roller coaster, because, at the same time, my mom, sister, niece and husband all got the virus as well.
Your mom and sister are nurses also nurses who tested positive. What were their experiences like?
I was extremely worried about my mom, as she is in the high-risk age group and my sister who has bad asthma. My mom had the worst symptoms of all of us. She developed a very bad cough, had fevers and severe joint aches. She was put on Z-Pack Antibiotics for possible secondary pneumonia. She and my sister both luckily avoided the hospital. My sister had similar symptoms to my mom and they also all lost their sense of taste and smell. It took my mom a month and a half to fully recover, and she just went back to work last week. I am so thankful they are all OK. It was definitely one of the scariest times of my life.
What was it like when you returned to work at the hospital?
When I returned, I cared for COVID patients who ranged from being on high amounts of oxygen on a high flow nasal cannula to being very sick on ventilators. There was such a wide variety in the ages and medical history of the patients that I soon realized COVID does not discriminate.
The whole experience was very surreal. You would arrive in the morning, stand in line to receive your PPE for the day, and then go to the charge nurse to see which floor you were assigned to. You would get a paper bag to store your masks that you reused all day and then placed in a recycling bin at the end of your shift.
I quickly realized these patients were sicker than I thought, with it being extremely difficult to wean down their oxygen requirements. There was a lot of hoping and waiting.
I tried to share my experience with the patients that I could to offer them hope and understanding. One patient I had was a very active man in his 70s who still worked and had almost no medical history. He was very frustrated and just kept looking for answers, asking me why I think this happened to him. I was at a loss for what to say to him. I just tried to make his experience as positive as I could. It made me appreciate, even more, that my family and I had mild symptoms and were able to avoid the hospital.
Can you tell us about one experience treating a COVID patient?
One of the last patients with COVID that I took care of would probably be the most memorable. She was an older woman from a nursing facility with a history of schizophrenia and dementia. She was a no-code DNR/DNI which means do not resuscitate and do not intubate, so she was on a BIPAP machine to help her breathe. She had no family or next of kin, only a legal power of attorney who made her medical decisions. The doctors caring for her painted a bleak picture in rounds that morning, talking through her plan of care but eventually realizing there was not much else they could do for her. They then talked to the medical representative about discontinuing care. When the time came, the respiratory therapist and I sat with her, and I did my best to keep her comfortable in her last moments with medication drips and pushes. I sang her a song and held her hand. I was happy that at least she wasn't alone when she passed.
How do you decompress after your days with patients?Coming home to my husband, cat, and dog would help me decompress and let go of the day's events. My friends have also been incredibly supportive and there for me every step of the way. It helps tremendously that my mom and sister are nurses; I can talk about my stressful days and they know exactly what I'm going through.
Danielle Healey, RN '11 Returns to Work after COVID
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05/27/2020
Eileen Parinisi Dimond '85 was part of The University of Scranton’s first graduating class of nursing students. From there, she went on to a deeply rewarding career at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Rockville, Maryland, where she’s been an integral part of research teams responsible for numerous innovations in the treatment of the disease.
"NCI doesn’t stop even when a pandemic hits the globe. Our mission in cancer research continues and, in fact, NCI has been tapped to use its unique resources and breadth of experience to address aspects of the pandemic," said Dimond.
She weighed on what has changed at work during the pandemic.
"While many of the cancer prevention trials I work with had to pause for accrual due to canceling of elective surgeries, research staff working from home and to limit participant exposure, the cancer treatment trials continued," she said. "It has been amazing to see everyone working together even though many of us are working from home, to do all we can to keep research moving forward."
Read The Scranton Journal profile about Dimond, before COVID-19, here.
Read more about the work NCI is doing on the NCI website www.cancer.gov or in this post about how NCI is involved in evaluating antibody tests.
Eileen Parinisi Dimond '85: The Role of National Cancer Institute During the Pandemic
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05/27/2020
Maura Regan ‘13 G’14, an Acute Care Occupational Therapist at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation, is guiding COVID-19 survivors through their post-ventilator recoveries. She was named New York Post's "Hero of the Day" on May 26, 2020.
Read the story from the New York Post:
Occupational therapist teaches NYC coronavirus survivors how to walk, talk again
Maura Regan ‘13 G’14 Named New York Post's Hero of the Day
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05/19/2020
While most are keeping their distance during the pandemic, three Scranton alumnae remain in close proximity to one another in New York City.
Mary Rose Ho '10 and Liz Waldron Capobianco '01 are nurse educators at NYU Langone, responsible for the education of nurses entering the health system as well as the ongoing education needs of all the nurses at NYU. As the first stop for new nurses, the two often meet Scranton alumni as they begin their new jobs.
"It is a special connection, and I think it is comforting for us, as well as the nurses new to NYU," said Capobianco.
In April, they welcomed one recent alumna to NYU: Lauren Garel ‘17. Once Ho found out she was a Scranton graduate, she shared the news with Capobianco, and they quickly connected with her.
"She started her first nursing job at the height of the pandemic here in New York, which has been a most difficult and frightening time," said Capobianco. "As we would expect from a fellow Royal, Lauren has handled herself with poise and grace during this uncertain time."
Ho and Capobianco have worked in the Department of Nursing Professional Practice as Nursing Professional Development Specialists for about two years. In just two weeks during the pandemic, they "have educated an increased number of nurses new to NYU as well as 400+ travel RNs."
They have also trained existing nurses that work in perioperative and procedural settings to the inpatient setting and over 200 acute care nurses to care for ICU-level patients as NYU opened more ICU’s to meet the need of the COVID-positive patient population.
Garel and Capobianco helped discharge the 1,000th COVID patient from the hospital when Capobianco suddenly recognized an attending physician in the crowd, Dr. Kevin Huack '07.
"I introduced him to Lauren, and said, 'Look at us Scranton grads at this historic moment!'" said Capobianco. "I then had the honor of helping to escort the 1,000th COVID patient out of the hospital to the cheers of hundreds of our employees and watched her reunite with her daughter who she had not seen for a month while she was in the hospital. There was not a dry eye in the crowd, and I was so honored to be a part of it."
The Scranton alumnae continue to reach out to new nurses who enter the NYU system.
"It is always fun to connect with them and reignite our Scranton community here," said Capobianco, who met one of her best friends, also a Scranton grad, at NYU. "I think Scranton grads gravitate to each other and also gravitate to the greatest challenges, which is why I am so proudly with so many right now."
One she can no longer be with is her former NYU colleague and Scranton classmate, Mary Grace Dirks '01, who recently died of cancer at the end of April. Because of the pandemic, no visitors other than Dirks' husband, also a Scranton alumnus, were allowed to visit her. Just hours before she died, a mutual NYU friend was able to hold Dirks' hand and "tell her that all of her Scranton friends loved her," said Capobianco.
"The nursing world is strong and loyal," she said. "Scranton built a sense of community that is unlike other universities."
Nursing Alumnae Connect at One NYC Hospital
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05/11/2020
Freshman year roommates James Kompany '95 and Vince Carsillo '95 don't get to see each other often, but they were both looking forward to reconnecting at Reunion this year, a break from their demanding jobs in law enforcement and health care. Instead, Reunion has been postponed and they're both navigating unfamiliar territory during the pandemic. Kompany is a police officer in Roselle Park, New Jersey, and Carsillo is a physician whose internal medicine and nephrology practice in Albany, New York, is taking in COVID patients from New York City.
"Personally, I am taking the same precautions as most of the rest of society in order to stay healthy and safe. Like so many others, I have been forced to alter my lifestyle until this crisis is behind us," said Kompany, a 17-year veteran of the police force, currently a corporal in the patrol division.
At work, Kompany and his fellow officers wear protective gear when interacting with the public and respond to many non-emergency calls in what would be considered a highly unusual way during normal times, via phone rather than patrol car.
As Kompany is receding from the frontlines in some ways, Carsillo is advancing toward the frontlines as his team takes on COVID-19 patients.
"My group provided care to those patients and many required ICU care and acute dialysis related to the virus," said Carsillo. "In the outpatient setting, we needed to reorganize our dialysis units so that we could care for the infected patients at one isolation unit. Personally I am happy that we have seen a decrease in cases and proud of the job my group and my colleagues have done treating the sick and navigating this new medical challenge."
Carsillo is also proud of his former roommate and good friend.
"I have great respect for our police and the work that Jim and his colleagues do every day to protect the public," he said.
They both credit The University of Scranton for helping them through this difficult time.
"My preparedness comes through faith in God," said Kompany. "And this faith was solidified during my time at The 'U.'"
Carsillo agreed.
"Scranton surely prepared me to manage this crisis. I learned that you can find joy in the service of others and, in the words of Thomas Aquinas, that 'there is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship,'" he said.
Kompany and Carsillo both said that they'll miss seeing each other during Reunion this year, but they appreciate one another more than ever.
"When [Vince and I] connect, we constantly laugh at the same stories and can easily pick up where we left off on our last conversation," said Kompany. "I'm proud to call him a lifelong friend."Reunion is Postponed. Friendship is not Canceled.
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05/06/2020
Royals around the world will unite virtually today for 5.06, The University of Scranton’s sixth annual Day of Giving.
Since 2015, the University community has pulled together on each 5.06 to show its true strength. May 6th has become a symbol of spirit, generosity and hope for all alumni, family and friends of Scranton. A tradition as powerful as this can bring us light in this time of darkness and truly unite the Scranton community in support of our students. Celebrate the occasion by visiting this link or texting scranton506 to 71777 and making a gift to your favorite University cause today.
Father Sweeney Emergency Fund $40,000 Match
On Tuesday, current and former members of the Board of Trustees generously joined together to match the next $40,000 in gifts to the Father Sweeney Fund for Emergency Financial Aid. This dollar-for-dollar match enables donors to the fund to double their gift and provide twice the amount of relief to Scranton students experiencing unexpected financial hardships. To donate to the fund and double your impact, visit this link or text FRSWEENEYFUND to 71777.
About The James P. Sweeney, S.J., Family Outreach Fund
The Very Rev. James P. Sweeney, S.J., was Provincial of the Society of Jesus in 1942 when the Jesuits were invited to assume administration of the University. It was a time of great uncertainty for the nation and for higher education, with college enrollments dropping dramatically due to enlistments and the draft. Even so, Sweeney accepted the invitation, saying, “Acceptance of your invitation is of course a challenge in these abnormal times, when all colleges are facing a crisis…However, St. Ignatius was never one to run away from a difficult proposition, and we are supposed to imitate his example.”
Inspired by this example of hope and faith, the University established the James P. Sweeney, S.J., Family Outreach Fund in the late 2000s, when the recession left many students unable to meet tuition payments. Since then, the fund has continued to be a beacon of hope, helping Scranton students to continue their studies after encountering unexpected financial hardship.
For more information on 5.06, including how to participate in the Virtual 5.06K and how to host a Virtual Scranton Happy Hour, visit scranton.edu/506.
5.06.20: Royals Rise Up
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05/05/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Joseph F. Weiss, Ph.D. ’61, Kensington, Maryland, received the Msgr. Geno Baroni Award as part of Catholic Charities’ of Washington, D.C. Caritas recognition program. The Msgr. Geno Baroni Award is given to an individual who has been a strong advocate for the oppressed through his or her activities in the archdiocesan community. Dr. Weiss has volunteered with Dorothy Day Place for more than six years, providing donations for clients’ emergency needs. He uses his own resources and time to provide food and clothing to clients in dire need of support.
Michael J. O’Neill ’94, Newtown Square, has joined Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law, concentrating his practice on catastrophic injury litigation, including representing people catastrophically injured by negligence associated with motor vehicle and truck collisions, medical malpractice, product liability, and premises liability.
Michelle D. Gano ’13, Pittstown, New Jersey, published an uplifting, inspirational book for teachers called “Look Beyond the Clouds: Transform Your Daily Habits to Overcome Teacher Burnout and Find Joy in Teaching Again.” Gano’s mission as a teacher and author is to spread a much-needed message of positivity, hope and gratitude to teachers. The book is available to purchase on Amazon.Deaths
William U. Roulette ’50, Stroudsburg
Angelo J. Fata ’51, Valhalla, New York
Paul J. Dougherty ’57, G’64, Dunmore
John J. Kearney ’61, Pottstown
Anthony P. Molinaro, Jr. ’64, Blakely
Otto J. Heil ’70, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Howard M. Pachter ’71, Scranton
Joseph F. Poklemba ’76, Blakely
Rev. Joseph F. Sica ’77, Scranton
William J. Schlittler ’78, MoscowBirths
A son, Chase Jonathan, to Jonathan ’09 and Caroline Crennan Perina '09, North Brunswick, New Jersey
Alumni Class Notes, May 2020
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05/05/2020
It's Nurses Day. We value the hard work of our RoyalRNs every day, but today, this year, we want to send them a special thank you. We have gathered some of our recent Royals Respond stories featuring nurses, and those who support them, below.We continue to honor them, and other health care workers, each evening when we light St. Thomas Gateway with a red cross, which you can read about here.
You can browse through our Honor Roll, which honors Royals on the frontlines, including 159 nurses, here.
Taylor Kerrane '16: Brother Pays Tribute
Conor Kerrane '12 writes a tribute to his sister, Taylor Kerrane '16, an ER nurse for Northwell Health in Long Island, New York.
Taylor Kerrane '16 graduated at the top of her class from The University of Scranton with a BS in Nursing. She chose this career path as it compliments her caring nature and ambition to bring good health and faith to the world.
Early in life, Taylor succeeded at many things and, after graduating, was propelled by her education into a great career as an ER nurse for Northwell Health in Long Island, New York. She was selected from hundreds of other graduates across the nation into a high-profile program at Northwell to train with best-of-breed professionals and cater to a high demand, high-stress environment.
With her training and drive, Taylor has stepped up to the plate to address the COVID19 outbreak alongside her colleagues with world-class professionalism and bravery. She has endured the stress of helping over 100 COVID19 positive patients in her hospital and continuously fights on the line to save lives.
Read the entire story here.
Isabella Dolente '17 is Honored by her Parents
Isabella Dolente '17 is a nurse who is working to combat COVID-19 in Philadelphia. Her parents, small business owners Carl and Lisa Dolente P'17, P'23 from Haddon Heights, New Jersey, were so proud of their daughter on the front line of the pandemic that they made shirts that say, "Not All Heroes Wear Capes. My Daughter Wears Scrubs." The saying was sent to them from Scranton staff member Lynn King Andres '89, P'17, director of the Parents' Executive Council (PEC). The couple, members of the PEC, sent the T-shirts to the family and friends of Isabella's nurse colleagues. Their daughter, Miranda, is a first-year student at Scranton.
Isabella responded to her parents' generosity by posting a thank you on her Facebook page, "Before all this, I can say that I’d taken my parents hugs and kisses for granted. I have not missed something more. Thank you for being the two best humans I know. The strongest and greatest support system a daughter/nurse could have."
Read the entire story here.
Thank you, nurses!
Tell us how Royals you know are responding during this crisis.
Share a Story
The University community is invited to share individual stories, photos with captions, news coverage, video footage or reflections that may be featured on the Royals Respond section of the Royal News website and shared in social media and other University publications in the weeks and months ahead.
Click here to share a story.
Honor a Royal
We also invite students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends to recognize someone connected to the University who is helping the nation and the world respond to the pandemic. Submissions will be gathered in a Royals Respond Honor Roll which will be shared on this page, and on the Royal News website.
Click here to Honor a Royal.
Nurses Day: Collection of Stories
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05/01/2020
In mid-March, Alyssa Muchisky '16, a medical student at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and many other third and fourth-year medical students around the country were pulled from their clinical rotations due to the lack of personal protective equipment.
"We knew the strain this pandemic would put on our country's hospital systems, and we felt powerless because we could not help our colleagues on the frontlines," she recounted. "A bunch of third-year students got together and brainstormed ways we could support our hospitals from afar, and that is when we came up with the idea of Meals for Medics."
The group of students, along with Scranton Tomorrow, founded Meals for Medics, which raises money to buy hot meals from local restaurants for health care workers at Geisinger Community Medical Center. They are delivered to the hospital by the medical students. On April 23, they delivered more than 300 meals to third shift staff who work at night.
"All of us have worked shifts in the hospitals that are hectic and unpredictable. Sometimes hospital workers have as little as five minutes to quickly eat before moving on to the next task," said Muchisky. "We wanted to provide readily available nutritious options for all hospital staff during this time."
Muchisky, a Scranton native, is glad to be able to help her community during the pandemic.
"This project is really near and dear to me because its a small way I can give back to a community that has already done so much for me," she said.
Alumna Establishes Meals for Medics in Scranton
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04/30/2020
In early March 2020, a cruise ship carrying passengers afflicted with COVID-19 docked in Oakland, California, and many of the patients were sent to the hospital where Liz Durkin, M.D. ’93 works as a palliative medicine physician.
“These patients were fortunately not critically ill, but we were aware early of the challenges for staffing and PPE [personal protective equipment] in caring for COVID-positive patients,” said Durkin, who works at Permanente Medical Group in northern California. “Our palliative hospital teams have been working on preparedness for a possible surge in cases for the last two months, including new workflows relying on virtual visits, even with hospitalized patients, to minimize the need for PPE in the room. We have also been working on educating other physicians and team members on how to care for patients at the end of life in a compassionate and dignified manner.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the United States, Scranton palliative care physicians and nurses are a vital part of caring for patients and supporting their families in isolating circumstances. Both in Scranton and on the West Coast, Royals in palliative care are using technology to maintain connections among patients, families and care teams. And they have been bolstered by community support in times that are unnerving for patients, families and health care workers alike.
Palliative care is not the same as hospice care, which begins after treatment for a disease concludes. While both these methods aim to keep patients comfortable, palliative care is for anyone with a serious or chronic illness and is best begun at diagnosis. Palliative care physicians and nurses, working with specialists who provide curative treatments, help patients understand their choices for medical treatment and recommend treatments that can help control symptoms and improve quality of life.
“In palliative medicine, our goal is to make sure that we are inclusive of all of a patients’ beloveds, which usually includes meeting them in person and having large family meetings to discuss the plan of care for a patient,” said Lauren Nicholls, M.D. ’11, who works at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. “We make it a priority to break down any barriers between families and the medical team.”
Patricia Wright, Ph.D., a University of Scranton nursing professor, said that palliative care is especially important for patients with COVID-19, since there is no immediate cure and it is life-threatening for some patients.
“Palliative care is often incorporated into the treatment of chronic conditions, but it becomes even more important when a disease is potentially life-threatening,” said Wright, who specializes in community health and hospice care. “In cases of COVID-19, the challenge is to hope for the best while preparing for the worst, meaning that even patients with mild symptoms should be invited to develop an advance care plan in the event that their condition rapidly worsens.”
Working with patients and family members to do just that has become more challenging during the pandemic, according to Nicholls. Her hospital has a no visitors policy in place, unless patients are dying. But patients dying of COVID-19 are not allowed visitors for fear of passing on the disease to family members.
“Now, in addition to the physical barrier of distance between us and the family, we have the physical barrier of the PPE between us and the patients,” Nicholls said. “The entire manner in which I typically connect with families has been disrupted. To make up for the lack of physical contact with patients and families, I have been relying on the telephone far more and making sure to relay the little things, such as get-well cards made by local children for our ICU patients, to let families know that their loved ones are not just another name in a bed; they are a whole person, being loved by our team in their absence.”
In Oakland, Durkin is employing similar phone and video communication methods with patients’ families, especially elderly patients who are without their usual support systems in hospitals with restricted visitor policies. Here in Scranton, Laura (Pikulski) Marion ’92 is the assistant vice president of Allied Services Hospice and Palliative Programs in Scranton, and she is working with patients in their homes, nursing homes, or the organization’s hospice care center. She’s helped implement telemedicine virtual appointments for patients and helps them stay connected to their families with video calls instead of in-person visits.
“We’re rewriting policies almost daily as things change so quickly with the Department of Health and the CDC. Some days trying to manage, learn, read, and share all the information is exhausting, and the days are long and I tend to be weary,” said Marion. “Loved ones aren't seeing their family for two to three weeks, elderly are isolated and no one is immune. Healthy people are being stricken by this virus. This is not hype; this is real and it is highly contagious.”
Durkin shared Marion’s concern for the elderly and isolated patients, as well as the health care workers treating them.
“I think the hardest part of this is the unknown,” said Durkin. “I am vulnerable to this infection, and even otherwise healthy individuals may have poor outcomes when faced with this disease. We are usually able to have the perspective of ‘distance’ from our patient's illness, but not in this case. We are all vulnerable.”
Even in the face of fear and unknown, Marion said people in the Scranton community are rallying to support both patients and health care workers.
“Folks reaching out to offer to make homemade masks and donate, local restaurants offering to feed our nurses and staff, donations of food being dropped to the hospice center,” Marion said. “There are folks offering to sit and make phone calls to our home patients to make sure they are not isolated. Amazing things are coming out of this on a daily basis.”
‘We are all Vulnerable’: Palliative Care during COVID
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04/24/2020
Hear from Kelly Sarti Wroblewski ‘02, director of infectious disease programs for the Association of Public Health Laboratories, about the COVID-19 testing landscape.
WHO: Kelly Sarti Wroblewski ‘02, director of infectious disease programs for the Association of Public Health Laboratories
MAJOR: Medical Technology
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION: Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University
HOMETOWN: Moosic, PA
CURRENT CITY OF RESIDENCE: Silver Spring, MD
FAMILY: Husband, Ed, and sons, Eddie, 8, and Calvin, 4
Kelly Wroblewski’s role in the pandemic response can be likened to that of a detective in a war zone. As a director in a public health network, she’s worked both quietly behind the scenes yet vocally on the frontlines. Her primary weapon has become the holy grail in this battle: the long-awaited COVID-19 test.
Wroblewski’s daily tasks differ from those of other scientific groups responding to a public health emergency. Public health laboratories, present in every state, monitor the collective health of the public and inform the care of the population rather than the individual. An organizational leader in the national network of public health labs, all of which were on high alert awaiting from the CDC the assay, or chemicals, that would detect the virus, Wroblewski and her crew have been first responders in another sense of the word. That’s because, in the early days of the virus, only public health labs were allowed to run testing. She became a vanguard, however, in getting all critically needed hands on deck.
Having begun her career at a microbiology lab at a small Pennsylvania hospital before taking a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health working on antimicrobial resistance then earning her MPH and working in the clinical lab at Johns Hopkins, Wroblewski has participated in many outbreak responses. So while COVID-19 is a novel virus it’s familiar ground for her.
She kicked her leadership into high gear after Jan. 18, the day on which the CDC detected the first case of the virus in the United States. Much of her role then was to work the phones furiously, assessing whether individual laboratories were ready with the necessary supplies and equipment once the assay was released and the labs could then “test the test,” so to speak, before themselves administering it.
Because of the now-well-known problems with the first released test and the initial prohibition on private labs doing testing, Wroblewski made an unprecedented move as the country awaited some positive news: She wrote to the FDA asking for permission for public health labs to make their own tests.
Because the first case in the United States with untraceable origins confirmed that COVID-19 had taken root here, the FDA essentially agreed, permitting advanced labs to develop their own tests.
This was a watershed moment for public health laboratories, and Wroblewski was at the forefront.
Royal News (RN): Kelly, it can be said that you are working in an epicenter of the fight against COVID-19. You recently told NPR that the situation with testing in America was “a giant mess” but that you were trying to remain optimistic that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. In the few weeks since you’ve spoken to NPR has the availability and effectiveness of the rapid test increased your optimism on the testing front?
Kelly Wroblewski (KW): The rapid molecular test is certainly another welcome tool in the toolbox, but, like many other testing supplies, there are limits to the availability of reagents, and it is not going to be the best fit for every setting. We continue to increase and improve capacity, but we still have room to improve both in terms of testing capacity and testing strategy. We are making progress, though.
RN: Early on, just after the virus hit the United States, the initial test fast-tracked by the FDA was considered glitchy at best, and it wasn’t until late February that a new test finally showed up. Can you tell us a little more about the mood in your sector during those waiting days?
KW: There was definitely an anxious vibe. We roll out and implement new tests with some frequency, and this had never happened. So there was a certain amount of disbelief and a lot of anxiousness as the public health laboratories waited for some resolution to the problem.
RN: Are the right people able to receive access to the rapid test right now? And, if not, who are the right people who should be receiving access?
KW: The rapid test has opened up testing, but it’s by far not accounting for the bulk of the tests being performed. The rapid test is really best used in settings where a there isn’t easy access to laboratory testing and a fast result is needed to inform decision making. Examples include places like rural critical access hospitals, nursing homes or prisons.
RN: What needs to change right now when it comes to testing?
KW: We need a high-quality, well-vetted antibody test. More than that, we need a thoughtful, feasible testing strategy that includes implementation details. Up to this point we’ve been so reactionary; we’ve been reacting to a new problem every day. We need to take the time to build plans with some scientific rigor behind them.
RN: Can you describe your emotions after you essentially got the ball rolling with the FDA so that public health labs could work independently on their own tests? We’d love to hear of your excitement as well as your fears.
KW: A few things happened at once. As they opened up the pathway for laboratories to develop their own SARS-CoV-2 tests, FDA and CDC also dropped the problematic component of the original CDC test. So in the end, most of the public health laboratories moved ahead with the CDC assay. My primary thought at the time was pushing to make sure public health labs brought a test on as expeditiously as possible. It was exciting to be involved in shaping policy in that way. I really look forward to the after action and thinking through how we use some of these actions to build a system that allows us to do better in the future.
RN: The testing landscape – at least in terms of who was allowed on the mat – essentially went from public health laboratories flying solo to private laboratories and eventually the private sector all contributing. What’s the next best step in this battle – for everyone involved in testing?
KW: We are going to need all hands on deck for a long time. It goes to what I said before about developing a thoughtful strategy. All of those laboratories from point-of-care testing sites to hospital labs to commercial labs to public health labs have a role they are best suited to play. Defining those roles and ironing out the logistics of getting the right specimens to the right labs is going to be key to ensuring we are using all of our laboratory resources most efficiently. It will be a critical component of this next phase.
RN: Is this the fight of your life so far? Can you tell us how your Scranton education armed you for it?
KW: Someday, I am sure it will all sink in and I will feel that way. Really though, I’ve been taking it one day at a time, addressing the problem in front of me to the best of my ability and moving on to the next one. Scranton, for me, struck that perfect balance between being challenging and supportive. I never felt coddled and worked really hard. At the same time, I felt that my professors wanted the very best for me and therefore expected the very best effort out of me. It’s that sense that putting forward your best effort is going to yield good results.
Ask the Expert: Kelly Sarti Wroblewski ‘02
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04/24/2020
The University of Scranton was selected to the Catholic Volunteer Network’s 2020 “Top Schools for Service,” a list of just 29 elite Catholic colleges in the nation noted for the expression of their commitment to service. Scranton is among the seven schools selected in the Mid-Atlantic Region and is among 13 Jesuit colleges listed in all four regions of America.
The national list of “Top Schools for Service” recognized “campuses who have demonstrated consistent excellence in collaborating with our network and championing post-grad service among students.” According to Catholic Volunteer Network, the recognition celebrated “the women and men who serve in Campus Ministries, Service-Learning and Social Justice Offices and Career Centers at colleges and universities nationwide” who make long-term commitment to service by students possible. The Catholic Volunteer Network honored the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice.
“The University of Scranton is delighted to be among the select universities in the nation recognized by the Catholic Volunteer Network for the ways in which we encourage in our students a commitment to service,” said Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president. “Our Catholic and Jesuit mission is central to the transformative education we provide to our students to inspire in them a passion to serve others for the greater glory of God and the betterment of human kind.”
In addition to the community-based academic learning service projects that are part of a course, student volunteers assist community agencies and participate in numerous campus service projects, many of which are organized and facilitated by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice. Service projects also include those completed by members of the University’s 85 student clubs which are required to complete at least three service events each academic year. Patricia Vaccaro serves as the director of the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice.
Each year, more than 2,800 Scranton students volunteer for more than 175,000 hours of service. In addition, each year members of the University’s graduating class commit to long-term service projects with nonprofit organizations and underserved populations throughout the country and internationally. Catherine Seymour, campus minister, coordinates the University’s post-grad service program.
Scranton’s previous national recognition for its commitment to service includes being named among just 361 colleges in America to earn the highly-respected Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Community Engagement Classification. Scranton has also been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
Catholic Volunteer Network, the leading membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs, fosters and promotes full-time domestic and international faith-based volunteer service opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and skills.
Scranton Among Nation’s Top Schools for Service
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04/16/2020
Colonel (R) Richard H. Breen, Jr. ’77, past president of the University's Alumni Society Advisory Board, is the director of Strategic Communications for the Military Health System (MHS), Department of Defense, at the Pentagon. In this capacity, he directly supports the assistant secretary of defense for Health Affairs and the director of the Defense Health Agency in all aspects of Military Health communications. He is coordinating all the military medical communications activities for the MHS during the COVID-19 crisis.
The MHS is responsible for the delivery of health care to more than 9.5 million beneficiaries eligible for the military health care benefit worldwide through 53 hospitals and more than 400 medical and dental clinics, as well as all health policy for the department. It serves as medical advisor to the White House, conducts an extensive research and development program, manages the education and training of all military medical personnel, leads a military medical university called the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and conducts coordinating activities with all federal agencies including the Center for Disease and Control, Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The MHS consists of Army, Navy and Air Force medical departments, a joint staff surgeon, the Defense Health Agency and the University.
During COVID-19, he is coordinating all strategic planning, operations and tactics impacting medical issues for the 9.5 million beneficiaries, managing two of the five largest DoD websites (health.mil and Tricare.mil), conducting media training, interfacing with the media, pitching stories and responding to media inquiries, leading a customer service interface program, managing a newsroom, developing outreach products for strategic partners, managing several social media platforms and serving as the senior communications advisor to the entire worldwide Military Health System.
We asked him a few questions about his work and life during COVID-19.
What does your day-to-day look like and how is that vastly different from what it looked like before the crisis?
The greatest challenge is the higher level of intensity in the daily mission and managing both the speed and accuracy of timely, critical information in an environment that changes by the minute. My day starts at 0545 hrs. (5:45 a.m.) when I receive my first media reports from the previous 24 hours. Then I work with my media team to conduct an analysis and prepare to brief senior leaders on media engagements daily at 0730 hrs. At 0800 hrs., I set the day's priorities for my team of more than 80 people. At 1015 hrs. daily, I hold a communications operations call where I receive updates from the team on worldwide communications missions. These include a situational overview of how the department is managing the crisis and the impact of the communication, the critical information that needs to be disseminated to both beneficiaries and stakeholders worldwide and updates on programs, policies and activities.
Throughout the day, there are numerous meetings, briefings, discussions, strategic advising and project guidance provided. At 1700 hrs. (5 p.m.) I have a leader’s recap, review the missions of the day and begin the plans for tomorrow. Then at 1800 hrs., I go for a long walk with my wife Lorrie (Marywood University '78), return to my computer and respond to the more than 300 emails I received throughout the day. Today’s biggest challenge (Friday, April 10) is a major media presser in the Pentagon Briefing Room.
Obviously, Communications and outreach are incredibly important at this time. How do you ensure that the entire country hears your message?
Great question and a hard question. Fortunately, my communications team has a good network and series of communications tactics developed over years of hard work, planning and outreach. The challenge is not the delivery or the dissemination of information. The real challenge is sorting through conflicting information from multiple sources to consolidate the most accurate message to be delivered to our various audiences.
Testing of the COVID-19 virus, access to care, canceling elective surgery, waiving co-pays, limiting pharmaceuticals and communicating a 500 percent increase in calls to our 24/7 nurse advice line require focused communications. Just think of the stories. The deployment of the USNS Comfort and Mercy hospital ships, the establishment of Army field hospitals, the activation of National Guard and reserve medical units, the early graduation of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences medical school and graduate school of nursing, the research efforts to find a cure and the education of the military medical force are stories we try to tell worldwide. And we use multiple channels: media, our two websites, video conferences with stakeholders, internal communications, gov. delivery email blasts, video messages, daily leadership messages, graphics, are some ways. Sending products to stakeholders and encouraging them to share our communications message are also key to success.
Bottom line. Consistent, accurate, timely and credible information delivered fast over many channels contributes to success. The challenge is getting this data and validating it. And we are always looking at ways to cut through the massive news clutter. It is a real challenge. The key is finding the right, unique story that grabs the interest of the audience.
How are you coping, personally, with what is going on right now?
Keeping everyone on my team focused, encouraging personal time and family time, emphasizing exercise and movement and sometimes using comedy to put some leverage into the day. However, we experienced a tragedy recently.
On April 2, my media relations chief, Kevin Dwyer, died in his sleep. This was not COVID-19 related. At 51 years of age, the previous night, he had completed a long bike ride, spent time in his yard and called his sister saying what a great ride he had. When he did not come to work on Thursday, I sent the Alexandria, Virginia, police to his home where they found him in bed. Single with no health issues at all, we were stunned. On Friday morning at 0800 hrs., I conducted a phone call with my team to break the news to them. The hardest part is we are all separated and cannot grieve as a team.
I can handle a long day. I’m a soldier, and I have served in several crises. I am devastated at the loss of both a colleague and friend, especially during the Easter season. So, I pray a lot and do all I can to encourage my team to honor his memory through our work.
How have you relied on your training?
I totally rely on my training and experience. I was the senior spokesman as an Army Colonel on the grounds of the Pentagon for the first three weeks after the attack on 9-11 and conducted media training to the New York National Guard in New York City. As the senior Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, I led a wartime scenario on a battlefield in my hometown. I had a very young and inexperienced team, so my leadership was critical to success. We did two daily news conferences in front of more than 300 media daily, briefed senior leaders, dignitaries, congressional and in some case celebrities on the operation and the specifics of what happened. I have commanded six times in uniform and am very comfortable in crisis scenarios. But it is the resilience and professionalism of my teammates, not necessarily me, that gets us through a crisis. I just provide guidance. These pros execute the mission flawlessly.
Colonel Richard H. Breen, Jr. ’77: A New Mission
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04/16/2020
As the president and CEO of Main Line Health (MLH), I have the honor and privilege of working with more than 12,000 employees and medical staff members who comprise one of the Delaware Valley’s largest health systems. In the summer of 2019, we launched a new brand campaign to capture the essence of the MLH spirit and to differentiate the experience our team strives to deliver. The foundation of the campaign was crafted after dozens of interviews with team members from across the organization to explain what drives us at MLH; to describe the values we bring forth every day to make MLH the best place to both give and receive care. This work resulted in a brand narrative that defines our promise to see, hear and connect to each of our patients as individuals, and our belief that Health Care is Human Care.
Since the arrival of COVID-19 to our region in early March, our MLH spirit has undergone the ultimate test. While the Philadelphia region, in general, had the opportunity to learn from areas severely hit with less time to plan (such as Seattle and New York City) we at MLH treated some of the earliest cases on the East Coast. In fact, Montgomery County, located directly in our service area, saw among the first COVID-19 cases in the state and by mid-March, our campuses had treated close to 20-30 percent of all the cases in Pennsylvania.
With the early signs that COVID-19 had infiltrated our communities, we implemented our incident command structure across the System and began comprehensive planning, and 24/7 coverage to ensure a coordinated response across our five hospitals. The safety of our patients, team and community always remains at the crux-of our planning and decision making. Key areas of focus for us over the past six weeks included:
- Changing processes and procedures: This included canceling elective surgeries, implementing screening checkpoints, and the suspension of volunteer services and visitor restrictions.
- Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our team: Our Logistics team has literally scoured the globe to ensure our team is appropriately protected, and we secured shipments from around the world. While we believe we currently have sufficient supply, our responsibility as health care leaders is to ensure responsible and prudent use to conserve as much PPE as possible for the duration of the pandemic.
- Securing and deploying testing for the community: The MLH team was one of the first in the state to establish drive through testing for those who were ill, but did not need emergency level care. Likewise, we worked doggedly to secure rapid testing for our inpatients—this type of testing is key to appropriately managing patients and protecting our team. To date, we have tested almost 7,000 community members.
- Surge planning: Our team has created predictive modeling to anticipate when our area could experience the highest volume of cases. In order to serve as many in our community as possible, we worked extensively on a three-tiered surge model that allows us to scale our bed capabilities and use non-traditional patient areas, like large conference rooms, should it be necessary. When fully activated, we could care for 1,600 inpatients across MLH.
I am incredibly proud — and forever grateful to — our administrative team for their dedication, ingenuity, collaboration and exhaustive efforts to ensure we are operationally prepared to serve the community when they need us most. However, it’s those by the bedside — our heroes directly battling this silent enemy — whose work surpasses all expectations. These brave individuals on the front lines who provide critical care, serve as family for those patients who have none, and create a safe and clean environment are the ones who truly embody the concept that health care is human care. Despite their own fears and facing so many unknowns, these crusaders “suit up” every day, committed to saving as many possible. In the span of a day, they experience sorrow and triumph, but in response to every situation, they respond with strength and grace.
Take for instance Lindsey, a nurse caring for a COVID-19 hospice patient. As the virus took this patient’s life, several family members visited throughout the day, but all had just gone home for the night. Due to the set-up on the unit, Lindsey was able to see directly into the patient’s room from the nurses station. Within a short span of time, she noticed an acute change in her patient's status. She gowned as quickly as possible to enter the room and spend the last 3-4 minutes of her patient’s life by their side. When the physician called the family to share the news of their loved one’s death, she was also able to offer the solace that Lindsey was present at the bedside… their parent did not die alone.
While we mourn those taken by COVID-19, we also celebrate our survivors. Such as when one of our Hospital teams arranged a joyous farewell for a patient who spent more than 20 days in the Intensive Care Unit, on a ventilator. Just as the lives that are lost leave scars on our team, this patient, too, leaves an indelible imprint on our front-line heroes. It is these moments that offer a revitalizing reminder of why we are in this work, after all. While there can be profound sadness in health care, there is also unforgettable joy.
These moments demonstrate compassion and empathy that represent not only the MLH spirit but the human spirit. This pandemic has taken lives, upended the financial infrastructure of our nation, and altered daily existence as we have known it for so long. But it’s also given something to us … these human moments. Moments that demonstrate the goodness of humanity. Moments that allow our faith to shine. Moments that give us strength and hope for a future that is far brighter than we could have possibly imagined.
Something Found in COVID-19: Human Moments
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04/11/2020
When people think of front-lines health care workers, they rightfully imagine those in direct care.
But legions behind the scenes fuel the critical work of the front lines, and University accounting graduate Melissa Schnipp ’96, of Bogota, New Jersey, is among them. So are her 10-year-old son, Antonello, and husband, Dan.
Melissa is site finance controller at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Palisades Medical Center, a community hospital increasing its ICU beds and converting floors to serve a community hard-hit by COVID-19. Her role in this pandemic, she explained, is “keeping the cash flow moving, monitoring the materials supply chain, pushing all the paperwork through and making sure emergency purchasing gets accomplished.”
At Hackensack Meridian, workers in many roles have been redeployed as the virus progressed, and Melissa has been no exception. Originally working from home when the crisis became full-blown, she had been, at points, called back to the physical site to play various roles. It was during her time at home, though, when some bonus family bonding led to a special mission for the Schnipps, initiated by Antonello.
While Melissa was working at home, she said, her family heard more than usual of one another’s work or school conversations, giving her a new understanding of her husband’s and son’s days and them of hers.
“They got to hear some of the safety calls and the things we talk about every day,” she said. Antonello, understandably, had been worried about his mother, especially when she was going into the medical center.
“I just reassured him that I was going in to help, and that this is what we need to do for society as a whole,” she said, noting that value was formed early on while a student at Scranton.
“He asked why there wasn’t a cure, and I explained we need research,” she recalled.
Antonello had an idea. Having already dabbled in fundraising efforts, raising money for childhood cancer and for the American Heart Association, he asked Melissa if he could raise dollars to help find a COVID-19 vaccine.
He explained his mission as simply as any 10-year-old would: “I wanted to get research so people wouldn’t get sick and nobody would die.”
The Schnipps used the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation’s platform to set up a personal page, The “Big A COVID-19 Combat Fund.”
“Because he is 10 we set the goal at $1,000 and told him we’d match whatever he was able to raise,” Melissa said. “We sent emails out and a few Facebook posts using the URL link for his team site."
The page reached its goal in a week, has now hit $1,150 and is still active. The money will go to Hackensack Meridian’s Center for Discovery and Innovation, which is researching and working on a vaccine.
Scranton, Melissa said, laid the groundwork for this.
“Dean Michael Mensah taught me well,” she said. “He always stressed we were going to face things in life that were not ‘textbook.’ When we got into the world, we would need to be prepared for anything.”
“That lesson really resonates with me now,” Melissa said, as does the way the University stressed service. “My compassion and passion for service – and my trying to instill the same in my son – definitely came from Scranton.”
A Family Fundraising Effort from Behind the Frontlines
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04/09/2020
Conor Kerrane '12 writes a tribute to his sister, Taylor Kerrane '16, an ER nurse for Northwell Health in Long Island, New York.
Taylor Kerrane '16 graduated at the top of her class from The University of Scranton with a BS in Nursing. She chose this career path as it compliments her caring nature and ambition to bring good health and faith to the world.
Early in life, Taylor succeeded at many things and, after graduating, was propelled by her education into a great career as an ER nurse for Northwell Health in Long Island, New York. She was selected from hundreds of other graduates across the nation into a high-profile program at Northwell to train with best-of-breed professionals and cater to a high demand, high-stress environment.
With her training and drive, Taylor has stepped up to the plate to address the COVID19 outbreak alongside her colleagues with world-class professionalism and bravery. She has endured the stress of helping over 100 COVID19 positive patients in her hospital and continuously fights on the line to save lives.
With the current circumstances, her role as an ER nurse presents more emotional hardships than any chief executive can endure, and Taylor takes her day-to-day operations in full stride. Due to the significance of this pandemic, Taylor has made a selfless request that our parents live outside of the home during this time to protect them from the unfortunate reality we are currently living.
Our entire family is proud of what she has accomplished and thankful for her services to our local community. We love you Taylor and keep up the great work!
Taylor Kerrane '16: Brother Pays Tribute
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04/09/2020
It all started when her freshman year floormate asked her for sewing advice to make masks. That gave Cat Munzing '05, from Oceanside, New York, an idea. She had just quit her full-time job as a customer relations manager for a jewelry store to focus on her business, making custom children's dresses, baby clothes and repurposing old wedding dresses into such garments as christening and communion gowns.
"I actually contacted Cat to ask her for advice on a sewing machine so that I could make some masks [for my family] since I’ve known since Martin Hall, freshman year, that she was a pro at sewing," said classmate Karen Hoerst '05, a neurologist who is now home with her young children.
Hoerst "planted the seed," Munzing said, and she quickly pivoted the focus of her regular business to sewing masks for health care professionals. The first masks were donated to NYU Winthrop on Long Island, where her sister is a surgical technologist, and eventually throughout the Northeast and across the country to California and Arizona. As of April 9, she has made and shipped more than 1,000 masks.
"My customers typically come to me for alterations, custom dresses, things that are wants rather than needs," she said. "So, while it's disheartening that our health care providers don't have what they need during this time, it's nice to be able to help."Munzing is also heartened by the generosity of others. A few people from her community are helping her with the cutting and sewing and "the donations are pouring in," she said. "Supplies, money, their own time, it's been incredible."
And, take it from Hoerst, Munzing's hard work is appreciated.
"So many people right now feel helpless in this situation, but Cat took the opportunity to take a bad situation and do something for others, many of whom she doesn’t even know personally," said Hoerst. "As someone who is a doctor (even though I’m not currently working) I know how much it means to the doctors, nurses, and all other hospital staff to know people are in their corner."
Pictured above: Cat Munzing '05
Cat Munzing '05: A Scranton Connection Inspires the Making of Masks
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04/07/2020
Isabella Dolente '17 is a nurse who is working to combat COVID-19 in Philadelphia. Her parents, small business owners Carl and Lisa Dolente P'17, P'23 from Haddon Heights, New Jersey, were so proud of their daughter on the front line of the pandemic that they made shirts that say, "Not All Heroes Wear Capes. My Daughter Wears Scrubs." The saying was sent to them from Scranton staff member Lynn King Andres '89, P'17, director of the Parents' Executive Council (PEC). The couple, members of the PEC, sent the T-shirts to the family and friends of Isabella's nurse colleagues. Their daughter, Miranda, is a first-year student at Scranton.
Isabella responded to her parents' generosity by posting a thank you on her Facebook page, "Before all this, I can say that I’d taken my parents hugs and kisses for granted. I have not missed something more. Thank you for being the two best humans I know. The strongest and greatest support system a daughter/nurse could have."
Isabella continues to help patients in the ER at her hospital, while her parents donate food to her and her colleagues.
"Seeing them through the window when picking up dinner from their house hit home for me because all I wanted to do was hug them, squeeze them forever and thank them endlessly for being the best," wrote Isabella in her Facebook post.
Isabella Dolente '17 is Honored by her Parents
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04/07/2020
The University's Medical Alumni Council collected tributes to doctors on National Doctors' Day on Monday, March 30. Read a selection of the tributes here. You can also Honor a Royal or share a story by visiting scranton.edu/royalsrespond. See the Honor Roll at scranton.edu/honor-a-royal. Read all the tributes from Doctors' Day here.
My brother, Dr. Joseph Cahill '08, is currently completing his last year of surgical residency in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with Pinnacle Health. He graduated from Scranton in 2008 with a degree in Biology. He went on to complete his master's in cell and molecular biology from Binghamton University. He then completed Medical School at Lake Eerie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He will begin a fellowship this summer. His Scranton education helped create a strong foundation for his career. Together, with his perseverance and education, he has become a stellar and well-respected doctor. His work ethic is unmatched and has inspired me to work harder than I knew I could. He truly embodies the quote on Brennan Hall's wall, "Of those to whom much is given, much is expected- Luke 12:48". Joe's commitment to his patients is unwavering. Thank you, Joe!
- Elizabeth Cahill '15
Please recognize Dr. Michael T. Brown '82, as he works continuously to treat patients throughout this pandemic. Dr. Brown is a surgical oncologist at Tower Health in Reading. He recently celebrated his 60th birthday with festivities postponed as he did not want to unwittingly spread anything to his wife, Dr. Patti Brown, or his three children, son-in-law or 2-year-old granddaughter. Dr. Brown is an incredible surgeon and mentor who warrants recognition year-round and especially this Doctors' Day.
- Douglas Brown
Dr. Eileen (Hoffner) Bishop '05 earned a degree in biomathematics and continued her studies at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Bishop completed a fellowship in critical care at Dartmouth before joining the team at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
She is a dedicated advocate for the care of the sickest patients. She works tireless hours as a critical care physician and has worked been a leader at the Cleveland Clinic in many regards. She is on maternity leave but will be returning to the frontlines of patient care in a short time, around the peak-projection point for the pandemic in her area. She is an example of Royals for Others.
- Kim Collins '08
National Doctors' Day Tributes
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04/07/2020
Captain Vincent Solomeno '07 is assistant operations officer for New Jersey National Guard's Joint Task Force 57, which is responsible for the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard's support of COVID-19 statewide. In his full-time work, he is a principal staff officer with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, working in veterans programs and services.
Nowadays, Solomeno finds himself referring to an Ignatian prayer that he learned as a student at Scranton, "More than ever I find myself in the hands of God."
"That's a fair assessment of how I feel these days," he said.
He is taking care of himself in order to ensure he can help others.
"I am doing my best to eat healthy and sleep when I can," he said.
Although he is deployed to his community, he gives credit to health care workers.
"My contribution to the overall effort is modest in comparison to others. I pray for the healthcare workers who are on the front line helping people through this pandemic. here is a whole lot of suffering here in New Jersey and in the wider world," he said. "Our long hours and work may ease that suffering. That's the goal."
When the hours seem long and the light seems dim, he reassures himself and his team.
"When it feels difficult, I tell the others on my team to put one foot in front of the other," said Solomeno. "We find ourselves in the hands of God."
Captain Vincent Solomeno '07: I Find Myself in the Hands of God
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04/06/2020
Lauren Carosi '16 is a physician assistant working in the emergency room at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. She had been working in the ER for about a year and a half before the COVID-19 crisis.
Tell us what life is like for you right now.
Life is hard here for all of us in the middle of a pandemic, will little PPE and no ventilators left for patients. Each day is extremely challenging and upsetting, but knowing how many people’s lives we are saving at the same time is remarkable. I am so honored to be a health care professional during these times and do my little part in helping save the world.
How are you coping when you're at home or how do you prepare for the next day or night at work?
I am so lucky that I have the most amazing support system of friends and family. Friends and family have continuously been checking in to see how I am doing mentally and emotionally and although they cannot understand completely, they have done an excellent job of keeping me sane.
I have always loved to exercise and it has continued to be a great escape during these difficult times; lots of walking and long runs! When mentally preparing before a shift, I try to refer back to two of my favorite quotes. One is from a University of Scranton Christmas card I received a few years ago that I still display in my room. It states "When there is darkness, you can be the light." Another quote I tend to refer to is "All you can do is the best you can do at any given time." It's difficult to go to work and know that we cannot adequately do our job due to short staffing and lack of resources. In a time period of uncertainty and of fear, where my hands are tied, my colleagues and I may not be able to take care of and save every single patient. A more positive thought that I try to ruminate on is that I can be supportive and comforting to my patients when they are alone and need it most.
Do you find yourself telling others how they can help? What do you say?
Others can definitely help in the midst of a pandemic! We are so grateful for all the donated meals, donated masks, and recognition that everyone is providing healthcare workers during this time. Each individual can help by continuing to quarantine and practice social distancing as a way to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Continuous hand washing and avoiding touching your face not only protects you, but it protects others. And just remember, we are all in this together!
Have you felt prepared for this?
When choosing to become a physician assistant, I did think I would be an essential employee on the frontline of a pandemic. But I am still extremely happy with my choice to become a healthcare professional, especially during a time when I am needed most!
Honor a Royal or share your story, here.Lauren Carosi '16: Being the Light
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03/31/2020
On Monday, The Medical Alumni Council of The University of Scranton (MAC) wished its alumni physicians a happy National Doctors' Day by asking the alumni, students and friends of the University to submit stories of outstanding alumni doctors to the MAC at scrantonmac@scranton.edu.
To read the many stories of alumni physicians making a difference in the world, visit scranton.edu/mac.
Royals Recognize Alumni Doctors On National Doctors' Day
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03/31/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Charles B. Gibbons ’67, Pittsburgh, a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, lectured on federal evidence at the Pacific Judicial Conference Trial Practice Training held in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, in January 2020.
Patricia Richards-Service, Ph.D. G’91, South Abington Township, instructor in the Communication Arts department at Marywood University, was notified by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and World Learning that she has been recommended by the Peer Review Panel for placement on the Fulbright Specialist Roster for a tenure of three years. As a candidate on the Fulbright Specialist Roster, Dr. Richards-Service is now eligible to be matched with projects designed by host institutions in more than 150 countries globally. The Fulbright Specialist Program is unique among programs in the Fulbright portfolio in that host institutions lead the project development process. This ensures that any outside expertise requested through the Fulbright Specialist Program meets a need that the institution has identified as a critical area for its growth and development.
James P. Walsh ’91, Clarks Green, was promoted to director of sales-east coast for United Gilsonite Laboratories, a paint specialty manufacturing company, located in Scranton.
Patrick Stokes ’01, Hillsborough, New Jersey, was elected president of the Central Jersey CPCU Society Chapter. The CPCU designation is widely considered the most distinguished designation offered in the insurance industry. Stokes works for Chubb developing advanced analytics solutions.
John R. Patro, OTD. ’07, G’08, West Long Branch, New Jersey, was named chair and associate professor of Occupational Therapy at Monmouth University. Dr. Patro is working to open an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program at the University’s campus in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Patro is a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Studies from Lesley University and has earned OTD from Chatham University.
Deaths
Eli Fleisher ’49, Kingston
Richard H. Capozzi ’57, Dunmore
Hon. James M. Munley ’58, Archbald
Ronald Skiscim ’59, Crestwood, Kentucky
David P. Chowanec ’64, Frederick, Maryland
John F. Rooney, Ed.D. ’64, Taylor
Albert J. Serino ’69, Pittston
Gerald A. Beurket ’70, Binghamton, New York
Jeremy P. Mulderig, Ph.D. ’72, Chicago, Illinois
Thomas C. Kenney ’83, Clarks GreenBirths
A daughter, Hannah Jena, to Rebecca and Philip Loscombe ’07, Wyoming
A daughter, Isabella Angelina, to Patrick and Alexandra Mickler Auth ’08, Hoboken, New Jersey
A son, John Joseph, to John ’11 and Stephanie Reidlinger O’Connor ’11, HavertownMarriages
Thomas Grady ’07 to Aileen Cordaro
Friends' Deaths
Helen Kost, twin sister of Frank G. Kost ’64
Joan Lonsdorf, widow of James Lonsdorf ’50Alumni Class Notes, April 2020
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03/11/2020
Earlier today, Fr. Pilarz announced to the University Community that, after careful consideration of CDC recommendations related to COVID-19, he made the difficult decision to cancel Shamrockin’ Eve for the first time in the event’s 12-year history.
"Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control provided additional guidance for colleges, universities and businesses regarding large events and activities," he wrote. "Acting on this advice but with a heavy heart, I wanted to share my decision to cancel our Shamrockin’ Eve celebration that was scheduled for Friday, March 13.
Across my two tenures as president of Scranton, the founding of Shamrockin’ Eve is among the decisions of which I am most pleased and proud. I am sure that you all share my disappointment but trust that you understand that I think it is warranted given the current circumstances around COVID-19."
In true Scranton fashion, many registrants have decided to turn a negative into a positive and donate their registration fee to the University’s SEED Program, which provides tuition to K-9th grade students at the Santa Luisa School in El Salvador.
“In the grand scheme of things, my $35 fee is already out of my pocket and it can provide a half-year of education to a student in El Salvador. I’m Shamrockin’ in spirit!” said Emily Erickson ’19.
To join Shamrockers in shining some unexpected luck on this deserving group of children, click here to make a contribution. Every $60 raised funds a full-year tuition for one student.
Shamrockin' In Spirit
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03/11/2020
The University of Scranton ranked No. 3 in the nation for “Best Online MBA Programs for Military” in a 2020 list published online by College Consensus. In other national rankings, College Consensus placed the University’s Online Masters in Human Resource Management at No. 3; Online Accounting MBA at No. 4; Online Finance MBA at No. 6 and Online Healthcare MBA at No. 9.
For all of these rankings, College Consensus picked the nation’s best programs based on their analysis of the program’s affordability, reputation and convenience. For reputation, College Consensus calculated an “average rating score” for colleges based on national guidebook rankings, which include U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and others. The University of Scranton is ranked in all of these publications, in addition to numerous other national “best college” rankings. For convenience, the programs had to be able to be completed 100 percent online, among other factors.
In addition to the 2020 online program rankings, College Consensus ranked The University of Scranton at No. 10 among the “Best Catholic Colleges and Universities” in America in a 2019 ranking that included some of the most prestigious Catholic universities in the nation.
Scranton Online Programs Rank Among Top 10 in US
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03/04/2020
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. Please see this link for more.
The 12th annual Shamrockin’ Eve will return to the Byron Center Friday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m. The yearly event will unite alumni from the classes of 2010-2019 with current seniors to celebrate one of Scranton's favorite traditions with a live band, photo booth, and a sea of green t-shirts in support of student scholarships at the University.
In 2009, the University held its first Shamrockin' Eve. The event was founded by a group of young alumni who wanted to reconnect with Scranton and each other prior to their five-year class reunion. It quickly evolved into an opportunity for current seniors and recent graduates to contribute to the success of future University students.
Alumni can register online for $35 through Friday, March 13, at 8 a.m.; alumni may also register as walk-ins at the event for $40. Seniors must register online for $30 by March 13 at 8 a.m. as senior walk-ins will not be admitted. All who choose to make a Shamrockin' gift to any University cause will receive a green Scranton koozie.
For more information, visit scranton.edu/shamrock or contact Jenna Bruchalski, program manager for Alumni Engagement, at jenna.bruchalski@scranton.edu.
CANCELED EVENT: Shamrockin' Eve
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03/04/2020
The University will hold a Council of Alumni Lawyers (CAL) mixer March 11 at The Pyramid Club, 1735 Market St., Philadelphia, at 5:30 p.m.
The reception is open to all alumni lawyers and Scranton alumni currently in law school. The $10 registration fee will provide attendants with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a short presentation on the CAL's mission. To register, visit this link. To learn more about the CAL and its mission, visit this link.
University To Hold Philadelphia CAL Mixer March 11
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03/04/2020
The University will hold a complimentary pre-game reception March 6 at 5 p.m. in Brennan Hall's Rose Room for alumni, parents and friends looking to cheer on the Lady Royals as they take on Endicott in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The reception will include complimentary appetizers and cocktails. To register, visit this link.
The game will begin at the Long Center at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the Long Center beginning at 4 p.m. Adults (ages 18-61) can purchase tickets to the game for $7 per person; seniors (ages 62 and older) can purchase tickets for $4 per person; students and children can attend the game for free. If you can't make it to the game but would like to watch it, visit athletics.scranton.edu.
University To Hold Lady Royals Pre-Game Celebration March 6
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03/04/2020
The Jesuit Center recently launched the Alumni Book Club, a digital experience that gives alumni a place to participate in group discussions of books of note with the Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center, and the Rev. James D. Redington, S.J.
More than 150 Scranton alumni from around the world have registered for the club. Rogers and Redington led a spirited discussion on the first few chapters of "Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Endless Compassion" by the Rev. Gregory Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries in February, and the club will meet to discuss the book further March 8 at 8 p.m.
To register for the club, visit this link. For more information on the club, visit this link.
Jesuit Center Launches Alumni Book Club
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03/04/2020
The University will hold its annual Day of Service April 18.
Each year, alumni throughout the nation honor the University's mission by volunteering with their fellow Royals in their regions. Registration is currently open for the following regional sites:
Massachusetts
Boston - St. Francis House
Pennsylvania
Collegeville - Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
Harrisburg-Central PA Food Bank
Philadelphia-The Drueding Center
Philadelphia-Gift of Life House (Philadelphia Nursing Alumni)
Philadelphia-Our Brothers' Place
NEPA-Weinberg Food Bank
Worcester - Variety the Children's CharityNew Jersey
Hillside - Community Food Bank of New JerseyNew York
New York City - Carter Burden Center
New York (Floral Park)- Hance Family Foundation Park Clean-UpWashington, D.C.
Arlington-Arlington Food Assistance CenterFor more information, visit scranton.edu/dayofservice.
Register Today For The Day Of Service
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03/04/2020
The University will hold a Happy Hour event for alumni, parents and friends May 1 in Binghamton, New York at Social on State at 6 p.m.
Registration for the event will open soon. For more information, contact alumni@scranton.edu.
Save The Date For A Happy Hour In Binghamton May 1
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03/04/2020
The University will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Liva Arts Company April 25.
The celebration will take place between two showings of Liva's production of "Mamma Mia!" in Brennan Hall's Rose Room. Registration for the celebration will open soon. For more information, contact Jenna Bruchalski '17, program manager for Alumni Engagement at the University, at jenna.bruchalski@scranton.edu.
Save The Date For The Liva Arts Company's 30th Anniversary Celebration
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03/04/2020
Registration for Reunion 2020 will open in mid-March. Class years ending in "5" and "0" will celebrate their milestone reunions at this year's event.
The planning to attend form, which will add your name to the "planning to attend" form, is now available. To sign up, visit this link. For more information on Reunion 2020, visit this link.
Reunion 2020 Registration To Open Mid-March
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03/04/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Lynn M. Heard G’97, Covington Township, has been recognized as “Nurse of the Year” in Pennsylvania and is now up for national recognition. Heard is a school nurse at North Pocono High School.
Paul M. Collins, Ph.D. ’00, Amherst, Massachusetts, published his third book, "The President and the Supreme Court," with Cambridge University Press. Paul is Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research and commentary have appeared in a host of popular media outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, National Public Radio, Time, USA Today, Voice of America, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. He has also authored articles in Slate, The Conversation, and the Washington Post.
Holly K. Pilcavage ’12, Wilkes-Barre, was named chief executive officer of Coal Creative, an NEPA-based creative agency.
Tenaz Katrak Purdy G’12, Yardley, recently published a book called “Stand Out or Sit Down: Stories and Lessons for Teens and Young Adults to Find a Job They Love.” For more information, visit this link.
Deaths
S. Leonard Shufler ’50, Pittsburgh
William J. Bevelock ’55, Lakewood Ranch, Florida
John T. Comeford ’57, Scranton
Stephen A. Korducavich ’60, Binghamton, New York
Francis Oberman ’62, Webster, New York
Ronald Krafjack G’66, Newton Township
John J. Lucchi ’66, Moosic
Henry Evan Powderly, Ed.D. ’66 Pawling, New York
Edward B. Testa ’68, Eynon
Frederick P. Bifano ’71, Newark, Delaware
James Soya ’78, Dickson City
Jeanne Piccirilli Milazzo ’85, Wyoming
Karen Amann Talerico, Ph.D. ’88, Portland, Oregon
Births
A son, Jacob Joseph, to Robert and Elizabeth Pulice Wideman, VMD ’10, Harleysville
Friends' Deaths
Louise DeSanto, mother of Jerome DeSanto ’75, G’78Alumni Class Notes, March 2020
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03/03/2020
Multiple online information websites for prospective college students have ranked several of The University of Scranton’s programs to be among the nation’s best in 2020.
Master’s Program Guide ranked the University’s online MBA program in accounting at No.4 in the nation. The ranking is based on affordability (25 percent); student satisfaction and support services (25 percent); online accessibility (25 percent); and accreditation and commendation from such respected sources as U.S. News (25 percent).
University HQ (headquarters) ranked the University’s undergraduate accounting program at No. 12 in the nation. The ranking referenced Scranton’s new four-year BS/MAcc accelerated program. The ranking is based on retention rate, four- and six-year graduation rates, admissions selectivity, percentage of students receiving financial aid, tuition, loan default rates and salary of graduates, among other factors.
Online College Plan ranked the University’s online master in healthcare administration degree at No. 12 in the nation. The ranking is based on assessment of the program’s reputation, cost, graduation rates and student-to-faculty ratio.
Intellegent.com ranked the following nine online programs among the nation’s best: master’s in accounting at No. 13; master’s in human resources at No. 15; human resources degree at No. 16; MBA in international business at No. 24; master’s in health informatics at No. 26; master’s in curriculum and instruction at No. 34; MBA in healthcare management at No. 37; MBA in human resources at No. 37; master’s in finance at No. 39. The ranking is based on an assessment of student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third-party evaluations of the programs.
GradReports ranked the University’s online master in healthcare administration degree at No. 19 in the nation; its online master in human resources degree at No. 21 in the nation; and its bachelor’s degree in public health at No. 13 in the nation. The ranking is based on media salaries and median debt, as well as statistical data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
College Rank placed the University’s online master in healthcare administration degree at No. 24 in the country. The ranking is based on metrics assessing the affordability, quality of education and support services provided.
Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “Best Online Graduate Programs” ranked the University’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 51 and its MBA program at No. 118 in the nation. U.S. News also ranked the University at No. 64 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”
Online Rankings Place Scranton Programs Among Best
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03/03/2020
“My womanhood and the things I do as a woman are not going to slow me down or stop my story,” Emmy Award-winning producer of 60 Minutes, Nicole Young, said at a recent Schemel Forum luncheon on campus.
Young, a graduate of The University of Scranton, spoke about her harrowing experiences covering news in unique and dangerous situations as not only a woman, but also as a person of color.
In her talk, “Covering Crisis as a Woman,” Young gives her account of the harder stories that she has covered in her years working as a producer of 60 Minutes. She gave context to stories before playing different segments of her work that took place in areas such as South Sudan, Afghanistan, China, Haiti and Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Newtown, Connecticut.
“I will give you a warning: the stories I cover are hard,” Young said.
Young spoke about how during some points of her career she had to leave behind her determination to get the story herself and put the safety of her team before her.
For example, while doing a story about gold in the Democratic Republic of Congo, although Young meticulously planned the excursion into a militia-held goldmine, the night before it was to take place her 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley pulled her aside, urging her to realize that it was safer for herself and everyone involved if she stayed behind.
“It was a moment where I had to make a decision that was more about being smarter as a producer than it was about being a woman,” Young said.
Young explained that the appearance of her team and how they were traveling would signal that they had valuables. Young also explained how the militias in the area were known to use sexual violence as leverage and as the only woman in her team, it was not improbable that the militia would take her as a hostage.
“I was mad because something that I obviously can’t help – being a woman -– put the rest of my team in danger,” Young said.
Young closed the seminar thanking everyone for bearing witness to the stories she has covered.
“All of these stories, I feel, have been the greatest privilege of my life – to be able to cover regardless of the danger and how hard they are, how sad they are, how complex they are – because it has allowed me to be the best person, wife and mother I can be,” Young said. “I’ve been humbled by the women I’ve been able to meet. Every single woman who shared their story leaves me so honored. I hope I have another 20 years of being able to hear more.”
The seminar was part of the Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminars, which are sponsored by Munley Law. The next seminar in the series will take place at noon, on Mar. 6, in the Rose Room in Brennan Hall. The topic is “Navigating in an Uncertain World: Global Challenges, Populism and Brexit” with guest speaker David Donoghue, Ph.D., Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2013-2017).
Emmy-Award Winning Graduate Speaks at Scranton
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02/26/2020
The Jesuit Center has officially launched its Lent Daily Devotional project with an inaugural email reflection on Ash Wednesday by the Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center.
The Lent 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. For more information on The Jesuit Center and its mission, visit this link.
Jesuit Center Launches Lent Daily Devotional Project
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02/21/2020
“In 1888, the founder of the University, Bishop O’Hara, hoped that the University would quote ‘Light up this valley with the fires of learning.’ This gateway will literally light up the valley,” said University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., of the St. Thomas Gateway at the first lighting ceremony of the newly renovated façade.
Following a prayer and blessing of the Gateway façade, which features a lit glass wall etched with the University’s seal that spans the center of the four-story hall, Father Pilarz launched a demonstration that showcased some of the lighting capabilities the design.
Also speaking at the ceremony were: Fahad Ashraf, Clarks Summit, Student Government president, who is a biology and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and its undergraduate Honors Program; and Casey Welby, Dunmore, Student Government chief-of-staff, who is a classical languages and history double major and member of the University’s undergraduate Honors Program. Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, assisted with the blessing.
The St. Thomas Gateway is key entry way to campus for many prospective students and their families and can be seen for blocks from downtown Scranton. The renovation of the facade layers the region’s distinctive West Mountain stone with granite quarried from the same site as the stone used in 1867 to construct the Scranton Estate on campus. The base of the Gateway includes a wood trellis, a wall carved with The University of Scranton’s name and a stone bench for seating. At the top of the Gateway, a cross rises above the left side of the building. The center glass wall will be lit in evenings to accentuate the image of the University’s seal.
Hemmler + Camayd designed the updated St. Thomas Gateway. A.J. Guzzi General Contractors, Inc., served as the construction manager for the project.
St. Thomas Gateway Lights-up Campus and City
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02/19/2020
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. 51 and its MBA program at No. 118 in the nation. U.S. News also ranked Scranton at No. 64 in the country for “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.”
This is the ninth 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 2020 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 2020 Best Online Program rankings; be regionally accredited; be certified for the GI Bill, which includes participation 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, 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 & World Report, Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 26 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 6 in the 2020 edition of the guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 5 in its category in a ranking of the “Most Innovative Schools” and No. 12 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” U.S. News also ranked Scranton’s programs in entrepreneurship at No. 33, finance at No. 43, and accounting at No. 52 in the country, among other rankings.
US News Ranks Scranton Online Programs Among Best
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02/12/2020
We talked to a few University of Scranton couples. Hear what they have to say about their love stories, here.
Joseph '08 and Kristen Sorbera '09
Joseph and Kristen didn't actually meet at Scranton, but they consider themselves a "Scranton couple," so much so that they were married on campus.
Tell us how and where you met.
Actually, despite spending three years on campus together, attending the same events, and even having some overlapping friends, we didn’t actually meet until 2016 at an alumni Christmas reception! We like to say we didn’t meet at Scranton, we met because of Scranton; and that’s how we knew we were meant for each other.
Is there a place in the Scranton area that was your “go-to” spot that you both treasure?Because we didn’t know each other during our time on campus, there are no spots we have from back then. However, there are more than a few spots that we hold dear. The first is the Rose Garden, where we sat on our first time visiting campus together. The second is Brennan Hall, where we got engaged right on the seal of the University. And, of course, our hearts will always be in Madonna della Strada Chapel where we said our vows and became husband and wife.
What is your best relationship advice for current Scranton couples and others?
Go to alumni events! You never know who you’re going to meet. And when you do, you’ll have at least one thing in common.
And when you finally find your forever Royal, remember to be a man or woman for them, caring for their whole person, and dedicating yourself to doing more for them and for the greater glory of God.
PHOTOS
TOP: Joseph and Kristen on their wedding day at Scranton.
BOTTOM: Joseph and Kristen around when they met.Don '72, G'74 and Rosemary Broderick '76, G'80, G'89
Don and Rosemary were introduced by a mutual friend in the University's student affairs building.Where was your first date?
At a University of Scranton function, after the Snowball event in 1970.
Is there a place in the Scranton area that was your “go-to” spot that you both treasure?
We spent a lot of our time in the dormitory visiting with friends; we enjoyed taking long walks in the park and dined on pizza at Granteeds and burgers at O'Toole's.
What is your best relationship advice for current Scranton couples and others?
Mutual trust, respect and consideration! Give it your best! Laugh a lot and have each other’s back.
PHOTOSTOP: The Broderick WeddingMIDDLE: Don and Rosemary at her graduationBOTTOM: The Broderick family
Kevin and Jacquey Dermody, Class of 2013
Kevin and Jacquey met during their freshman year at Chapman Lake, but they didn't start dating until the end of their senior year.
Where was your first date?
Our first date was at Sibio’s Restaurant in Dunmore, Pennsylvania - one of Kevin’s favorite restaurants.
Is there a place in the Scranton area that was your “go-to” spot that you both treasure?
DeNaples Third Floor Cafeteria -- we both loved the social atmosphere and the food of the third-floor cafeteria!
What is your best relationship advice for current Scranton couples and others?
Trust God that it will all work out. Love is patient.
PHOTOS
TOP: Jacquey and Kevin on their wedding day: June 22, 2019
BOTTOM: Jacquey and Kevin on their graduation day: May 26, 2013
Jeff and Kathleen Rossi, Class of 1988
Jeff and Kathleen were friends first. He likes to rely on her memory.
Tell us how and where you met.
We were friends since sophomore year. We ran in the same circles and I got to know her even though I was in Redington Hall sophomore year and she lived off campus.
Where was your first date?
We didn't start dating until the second semester of senior year. Kathy tells me that our first official date was at a Bennigans Restaurant near her home (Hazlet, New Jersey) -- although I don't remember (but I believe her). I do remember our first official date at the U was at one of the senior formals.
Is there a place in the Scranton area that was your “go-to” spot that you both treasure?
She says I used to regularly drive her to a laundromat in Dunmore (I don't remember that either, but I believe her :)) Her house senior year was on Mulberry St right next to Scanlons and Oscars, so we definitely treasured each of those fine establishments on a regular basis.
What is your best relationship advice for current Scranton couples and others?Be flexible, be forgiving, be easy going, don't sweat the small stuff. Those are the themes that describe both of us and it's worked for the last 26 years. I'd also say surround yourself with similar traits in friends. Our longest and best friends are all Scranton grads (or connected to Scranton grads). Scranton breeds good people, and our Scranton friends have been a source of love and happiness that I think has helped us stay grounded throughout our marriage.
PHOTOS
TOP: Jeff and Kathleen at the prom (or senior formal) last semester, senior year.
BOTTOM: "Our family": son, Thomas, 24, daughter, Nicole, 21Tell us YOUR Scranton love story by using #ScrantonLoveStory or by emailing socialmedia@scranton.edu!
Scranton Love Stories
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02/05/2020
The University will hold its annual Day of Service April 18.
Each year, alumni througout the nation honor the University's mission by volunteering with their fellow Royals in their regions. Registration is currently open for the following regional sites:
Massachusetts
Boston - St. Francis House
Pennsylvania
Collegeville - Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
Harrisburg-Central PA Food Bank
Philadelphia-The Drueding Center
Philadelphia-Gift of Life House (Philadelphia Nursing Alumni)
Philadelphia-Our Brothers' Place
NEPA-Weinberg Food Bank
Worcester - Variety the Children's CharityNew Jersey
Hillside - Community Food Bank of New JerseyNew York
New York City - Carter Burden Center
New York (Floral Park)- Hance Family Foundation Park Clean-UpWashington, D.C.
Arlington-Arlington Food Assistance CenterIf you are interested in coordinating a Day of Service site in your region, email Marge Gleason P'14, '17, assistant director of Alumni Engagement/Class Notes Editor, at margery.gleason@scranton.edu. For more information, visit scranton.edu/dayofservice.
University To Hold Day Of Service April 18
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02/05/2020
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. Go here for more info.
The University will hold its twelfth annual Shamrockin' Eve celebration Friday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m. in the Byron Center.
Hundreds of alumni from the Classes of 2010-2019 will return to campus to celebrate with current seniors. To register, visit this link. To join the Shamrockin' Alumni Committee, visit this link or contact Jenna Bruchalski '17, program manager for Alumni Engagement, at jenna.bruchalski@scranton.edu. For more information, visit scranton.edu/shamrockin.
CANCELED EVENT: Shamrockin' Eve
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02/04/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Robert J. Mancuso G’06, Philadelphia, was elected partner at Drinker Biddel & Reath LLP, effective February 1, 2020. Mancuso is one of 13 attorneys elected in the new partnership class and represents and counsels clients on a variety of life insurance and annuities matters and property and casualty insurance issues.
Brian J. Patchcoski ’08, State College, was the recipient of the 2019 Alumni Achievement Award from The Pennsylvania State University. Alumni Achievement Award recipients are nominated by an academic college or campus and invited by the president of the University to return to Penn State to share their expertise with students and the University community. Honorees demonstrate to students that Penn State alumni succeed in exceptional fashion at any age.
Steven A. Picozzo ’17, Covington Township, was among the first Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students named to the Geisinger Primary Care Scholars program. Geisinger Primary Care scholars pay no tuition or fees and receive a monthly stipend in exchange for signing on to become primary care providers in the Geisinger system. Program participants may specialize in family medicine, internal medicine or medicine/pediatrics.Kara A. Romanowski ’19, Swoyersville, was among the first Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students named to the Geisinger Primary Care Scholars program. Geisinger Primary Care scholars pay no tuition or fees and receive a monthly stipend in exchange for signing on to become primary care providers in the Geisinger system. Program participants may specialize in family medicine, internal medicine or medicine/pediatrics.
Deaths
Walter J. Sweeney ’50, Syracuse, New York
Thomas J. Powell ’55, Nashville, Tennessee
George W. Compton, Ph.D. ’56, Hawley
John J. Farrell, Jr. ’57, Mamaroneck, New York
August J. Nicastro ’60, Forest Hill, Maryland
John M. Martin ’63, G’71, Lake Winola
Edmund Zelno ’65, Narberth
Russell O. Gunton ’74, Mill City
Joseph B. Dente, M.D. ’75, Metlakatla, Alaska
Christopher P. Arnone ’91, Jefferson Township
Michael A. Hegedus ’93, Jefferson Township
Danielle P. Irvin ’94, ScrantonBirths
A daughter, Cora Sophia, to Anthony and Erin Barrett DeCicco ’03, Clarks Summit
A daughter, Lauren Anne, to Bill ’08 and Ashley Miller Colona ’09, Teaneck, New Jersey
A daughter, Elliot Louise, to Eric and Sarah Albrecht Ward ’09, Oreland
A daughter, Olivia Quinn, to Stephen ’12 and Sarah Phillips Fernando ’12, Dunmore
A daughter, Rory, to John ’12 and Molly Harms Hogan ’13, Rockville Center, New York
A daughter, Ella Rose, to Dave ’13 and Cassie Doheny Savino ’14, Paramus, New JerseyMarriages
Paul Torok ’90 to Jodi Castiglia
Emily Halpin ’12 to Peter Thomas ’11
Lindsay McLaughlin ’15 to Stephen Wasylenko ’15, G’15
Friends' Deaths
Donna Lewis, sister of William George ’79, G’81Alumni Class Notes, February 2020
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01/08/2020
The University of Scranton will hold several alumni events throughout the winter of 2020.
Ride for Royals: Private Scranton Spin Classes
The University will hold regional Ride for Royals events in Scranton, Philadelphia and Hoboken, New Jersey. Spin away the holiday stress (and carbs) with fellow alumni and then enjoy a post-ride happy hour together.
The $30 registration fee for each event includes a 45-minute spin class, a post-ride drink and snacks, and $10 of each registration benefits the campus fund of your choice.
The Scranton event will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 12 at Trybe Fitness Studio inside The Giving Tree, 311 Penn Avenue, Scranton; the after-ride happy hour will take place at The Giving Tree.
The Philadelphia event will take place at 12:45 p.m. Jan. 19 at Soulcycle Rittenhouse Square, 113 16th St., Philadelphia; the after-ride happy hour will take place at Ladder 15, 1528 Sansom St., Philadelphia.
The Hoboken event will take place at 12:45 p.m. Jan. 19 at SoulCycle Hoboken, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, New Jersey; the after-ride happy hour will take place at City Bistro, 56 14th St., Hoboken, New Jersey.
To register for any of the events, visit this link.
Council of Alumni Lawyers Mixer Tour
Come together with fellow alumni lawyers in Scranton, Philadelphia and New York City to learn more about the mission of the Council of Alumni Lawyers.
The Scranton event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at The Scranton Club, 404 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. To register, visit this link.
The New York City event will take place Feb. 20. More information will soon be available on the New York City and Philadelphia events.
Follow the Council of Alumni Lawyers on Facebook @ScrantonCAL or by visiting this link.
Wall of Fame Day
The University of Scranton will induct the six newest members into its athletics department Wall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 8, in a ceremony held between games of the men's and women's basketball doubleheader against Catholic in the John Long Center.
This year's class includes Brooke (Hinkley) Ferro '08 (volleyball), Beth Howlett (field hockey), Liz (O'Connor) Huck '04 (women's soccer), Kathleen (Daly) Jordan '08 (women's basketball), Erin (O'Connor) Lentini '09 (women's swimming), and Chris Psihoules '09 (baseball).
The Wall of Fame was founded in 1970 to honor student-athletes, administrators and those in the community who have been instrumental in the overall development of the University's athletics program. This year's class brings the Wall's membership to 266.
The ceremony will take place at approximately 2:35 p.m. The men's basketball game begins at 1 p.m., and the ceremony will begin approximately five minutes after the conclusion of the doubleheader. Tickets for the cocktail reception are $20 for ages 12 and older and $10 for children ages 5-11. Children under 5 can attend for free. A registration link for the reception will be available soon.
An Ignatian Journey: Seeking God In All Things
The University will hold a retreat for Scranton alumni and parents Feb. 28-March 1 at The Jesuit Center in Wernersville. Retreatants will receive concrete ways to “find God in all things” and use Ignatian spirituality in their lives.
The retreat will be led by the Rev. Brendan Lally, S.J. '70 of The University of Scranton and St. Joseph's University and the Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center at The University of Scranton.
The weekend will offer presentations, time for silent reflection, guidance on incorporating Ignatian spirituality into participants’ daily lives using elements such as the Examen prayer of St. Ignatius, opportunities to find inspiration in the lives of Jesuit figures such as the Rev. Walther Ciszek S.J., and companionship with other retreatants.
Registration for the event is $100. To register, visit this link.
Coming Soon: Alumni Book Club
Brought to you by The Jesuit Center at Scranton, the Alumni Book Club is a completely digital experience that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Read along with fellow alumni and then tune-in for scheduled online discussions and reflections with the Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J., Executive Director of The Jesuit Center. The inaugural book will be “Tattoos on the Heart” by Gregory Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries. A sign-up link will be available soon. For more information, email alumni@scranton.edu.
Coming Soon: Career Conversations Webinar Series
Are you re-entering the work force, changing careers or looking to advance in your current field? Join our Career Development team for an online discussion of these topics. They will answer your questions and give you personalized tips that are applicable for any field. Sign-up link will be available soon. For more information, email alumni@scranton.edu.
Shamrockin’ Eve
Members of the Classes of ’10-’19 will have the opportunity to celebrate with members of the Class of 2020 at Shamrockin’ Eve 2020 on March 13. Registration will open soon for this event. If you are interested in joining the alumni planning committee, please email alumni@scranton.edu.
Reunion 2020
While registration for Reunion 2020 won’t open until mid-March, you still have time to volunteer as a member of your Class Committee. Visit scranton.edu/myreunion to update your contact information, say you plan to attend and join your class committee.
Alumni Winter Preview 2020
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01/08/2020The University of Scranton will induct the six newest members into its athletics department Wall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 8, in a ceremony held between games of the men's and women's basketball doubleheader against Catholic in the John Long Center.
This year's class includes Brooke (Hinkley) Ferro '08 (volleyball), Beth Howlett (field hockey), Liz (O'Connor) Huck '04 (women's soccer), Kathleen (Daly) Jordan '08 (women's basketball), Erin (O'Connor) Lentini '09 (women's swimming), and Chris Psihoules '09 (baseball).
The Wall of Fame was founded in 1970 to honor student-athletes, administrators and those in the community who have been instrumental in the overall development of the University's athletics program. This year's class brings the Wall's membership to 266.
The ceremony will take place at approximately 2:35 p.m. The men's basketball game begins at 1 p.m., and the ceremony will begin approximately five minutes after the conclusion of the game. A cocktail reception will take place after the conclusion of the doubleheader. Tickets for the cocktail reception are $20 for ages 12 and older and $10 for children ages 5-11. Children under 5 can attend for free. A registration link for the reception will be available soon.
Brooke (Hinkley) Ferro - Volleyball, 2004-07
A standout for the Royals volleyball team for three seasons, Ferro led the Royals to 100 victories in her time in the program, including a Freedom Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2005.
Despite missing a portion of her junior year rehabilitating an injury from a severe car accident, Ferro earned All-Freedom Conference First Team accolades in 2006 and went on to do the same when the Royals joined the newly formed Landmark Conference in 2007. All-time, Ferro still ranks first in career block-assists in program history and second in career total blocks. She also holds program records for most block-assists in a season and most total blocks in a campaign.
The 2008 Peter A. Carlesimo Award winner recognizing the most outstanding athletics and academic achievement in the graduating class, Ferro also earned the Landmark Conference's Senior Scholar Athlete award for volleyball in 2007 and was named to the conference's All-Academic Team the same year.
Beth Howlett - Field Hockey Head Coach, 1980-90, 1994-97
The field hockey program's winningest coach until this past season, Howlett finished her 15- season career at Scranton with 153 triumphs and won two conference championships, taking the 1992 MAC Northern Division crown and the 1997 MAC Freedom title. Also in 1997, Howlett led the Royals to the NCAA Tournament, the program's lone bid all-time until this past season.
A leader of seven Scranton teams that earned MAC tournament bids, Howlett's first team in 1980 finished ranked eighth in all of NCAA Division III. Overall, she guided 23 student-athletes to All-Conference honors, three more to NFCHA All-Region Accolades and one (Andrea Thompson) to All-American honors in 1994.
Liz (O'Connor) Huck - Women's Soccer, 2000-03
A member of four Freedom Conference and NCAA Tournament teams, Huck scored 17 goals, including nine game-winners, in her four-year career as a midfielder at Scranton, adding 14 assists for 48 career points. An NSCAA All-Region Third Team pick in 2003, Huck was a two-time Freedom Conference First Team selection (2002, 2003) and led the Royals to a pair of Elite Eight appearances in 2001 and 2003.
Helping the program post a 71-13-4 record over her four-year career, Huck was also honored for her outstanding work in the classroom, nabbing NSCAA East Region Third Team Scholar Athlete (2003) and MAC Academic Honor Roll (2001-03) in her career, as well.
Kathleen (Daly) Jordan - Women's Basketball, 2004-08
Jordan shined in her senior season of 2007-08 on her way to earning WBCA Honorable Mention All-American honors, Landmark Conference Player of the Year and All-Landmark First Team honors. Jordan played in 109 career games, scoring 640 points and adding 461 rebounds, 137 assists, and 102 steals. In that outstanding senior season, she averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals while leading the Lady Royals to the conference title.
A member of two Final Four teams (2005, 2006) and a Sweet 16 team (2007), Jordan helped the Lady Royals go 108-14 overall and 55-1 in conference play while winning four conference crowns over four seasons. She was also named to the 2007-08 D3hoops.com All-South Region Second Team and the ECAC All-South Region Second Team the same season. Scranton's recipient of the 2008 Dr. Harold Davis Award honoring the team's most valuable senior, Daly was also the Landmark Conference's Senior Scholar Athlete in 2007-08.
Erin (O'Connor) Lentini - Women's Swimming, 2006-09
One of Scranton's most decorated women's swimmers in program history, Lentini was a back-to-back Landmark Conference Female Swimmer of the Year, taking the award in both 2008 and 2009, leading Scranton to the Landmark title in both seasons.
Overall, Lentini won 10 combined individual conference championships in the MAC and Landmark Conferences, taking six alone in two Landmark Championship meets. She also was a member of four Landmark Conference champion relay teams and broke the Byron Center pool record in the 400-IM in her career.
Chris Psihoules - Baseball, 2006-09
A standout on the diamond from the moment he stepped on the field, Psihoules etched his name into the Scranton record books throughout his banner four-year career. An infielder who helped the Royals win a program-record 26 games in 2008, Psihoules was a career .371 hitter at Scranton, smacking 18 home runs and collecting 143 career RBI's.
The 2006 Freedom Conference Rookie of the Year, Psihoules was a First Team All-Freedom pick twice (2006, 2007), a First Team All-Landmark Conference selection in 2009, and an ECAC South All-Star First Team pick the same season. In 2009, Psihoules batted .417 (the 11th best mark in program history) and knocked in 44 RBI's (fourth-best in a season, all-time). He also posted 14 doubles, which is still the third-most in a campaign in school history. His 41 runs scored in 2008 are also ranked ninth in program history.University To Hold Wall Of Fame Day Feb. 8
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01/08/2020
Hundreds of Royals celebrated the Christmas season together in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Morristown, New Jersey, Honesdale, Harrisburg, Scranton, Boston, Massachusetts and New York City throughout the month of December.
To see photos from the New York City reception, visit this link. To see photos from the Washington, D.C. reception, visit this link. To see photos from the Philadelphia reception, visit this link. To see photos from the President's Circle reception on campus, visit this link.
Alumni Celebrate Christmas At Regional Christmas Parties
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01/08/2020
The University of Scranton will host an Alumni Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Mumbai, Sahar Airport Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m.
Gerry Zaboski '87, vice president for Enrollment Management & External Affairs, will host the dinner and will discuss the possiblity of establishing The University of Scranton Alumni Club of India. To register for the event, visit this link.
University To Host Alumni Dinner In Mumbai Jan. 24
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01/08/2020
PPL contributed $10,000 through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program to support The University of Scranton’s University of Success, a multi-year, pre-college program for high school students designed to develop the skills needed to successfully gain entrance to college.
Students enter the University of Success at the completion of the eighth grade and continue through their high school years. The program offers enrichment courses in study skills, SAT prep, public speaking, math, science, art and cultural activities, as well as financial aid and wellness seminars. The ultimate goal is for University of Success students to be accepted into a four-year college or university.
The University of Success, offered free of charge to participants, is funded almost entirely by corporate and foundation grants.
For additional information, visit the University of Success web site.
PPL Supports The University Of Success
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01/08/2020
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Sean Keeler, M.D. ’98, Las Vegas, Nevada, and his wife Mary, celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in Paris, renewing their vows underneath the Eiffel Tower.
Christopher M. Gallagher ’00, Doylestown, an attorney with Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP (TTH), was promoted to partner in January 2020. Gallagher, who works out of TTH’s Philadelphia Office, handles general liability cases.
Gregory M. Shahum, Ph.D. '00, G'05, Stamford, Connecticut, a healthcare administrator, guided Edgehill in Stamford to a deficiency-free subacute rehab inspection from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, one of the highest distinctions of quality care and services to its residents. A deficiency-free survey certifies that all skilled nursing care and services provided at the community meet or exceed the regulatory standards outlined by both the State of Connecticut and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements of participation.
Daniel Munley, Esq. '90, Waverly Township, successfully achieved recertification as a civil trial advocate from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA). The NBTA was formed out of a strong conviction that both the law profession and its clients would benefit from an organization designed specifically to create an objective set
of standards illustrating an attorney's experience and expertise in the practice of trial law. Munley is part of a growing number of trial attorneys who have illustrated their commitment to bettering the legal profession by successfully completing a rigorous application process and providing the consumer of legal services with an objective measure by which to choose qualified and experienced legal counsel. The elaborate screening of credentials that all NBTA board certified attorneys must successfully complete includes demonstration of substantial trial experience, submission of judicial and peer references to attest to their competency, attendance of continuing legal education courses and proof of good standing. Board Certification is the highest, most stringent and most reliable honor an attorney can achieve. Board certifications are the only distinctions awarded by non-profit organizations. The NBTA as well as all board-certifying organizations are committed to safeguarding the public’s ability to choose a good attorney. Munley is a graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law. He is a member of the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America and is on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Munley is a past Chairperson of the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group. He frequently travels around the U.S. to speak on trucking matters. Approximately three percent of American lawyers are board certified, and Munley is a member of a very select group who has taken the time to prove competence in their specialty area and earn board certification.Deaths
Fred Mitchell ’56, Scranton
Robert M. Gilroy ’57, Silver Spring, Maryland
Nicholas J. Rossi ’57, Apalachin, New York
Gerald J. Davies ’58, Pittsburgh
Bernard Hochman ’58, Los Angeles, California
Paul J. Brazill ’64, Vestal, New York
Patrick F. Fischetti ’64, Archbald
Marie O. Carpenter G’69, Dickson City
Joseph P. Sharkness G’73, Dallas
Peter M. Millets ’96, G’97, Bethlehem
Kristen Erk Erbach, D.M.D. ’00, HonesdaleBirths
A son, Aaron Joseph, to Ali and Joseph Butash, M.D. ’07, Buffalo, New York
A daughter, Gia Rey, to Ashley and James Cilento ’14, Scranton
A daughter, Avery Lisa, to Olivia Warnero ’16 and Tyler Sherman, North Port, FloridaMarriages
Stephanie Kazanas, Ph.D. ’08 to Kevin Berry, M.D. ’09
Ryan Snyder ’11 to Tara Fleisher
Eilish Huvane ’13 to Robby Granstrand ’13
Friends' Deaths
William Fendrock, brother of John Fendrock ’48Alumni Class Notes, January 2020
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12/11/2019
Announced in May, the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities is completing its first semester with projects that have included the inauguration of the Humanities in Action Lecture Series. Renovations are set to begin this month to the Center’s home, a Victorian mansion on the corner of Mulberry Street and Clay Avenue.
Leading the Center’s efforts is its executive director, Gregory Jordan, J.D. A writer, teacher and film producer, Jordan has authored two books, “The Saints are Coming” and “Willie Mays Aikens: Safe at Home.” About the former, acclaimed writer Ron Hansen wrote: “In its psychological complexity, richness of detail, and discerning sympathy for its main characters, ‘The Saints Are Coming’ reads like a novel worthy of Graham Greene.” The latter recounts the life of the man who became the symbol of the racism inherent in America’s drug laws. Filming on “The Royal,” a movie based on his Aikens book and with the screenplay penned by Jordan, was completed in November in Augusta, Georgia. He has written several screenplays that have been optioned by producers in Spain and Los Angeles, collaborated on several books and penned articles for The New York Times, Vox Media and The Hill, among other publications.
“Our president and our provost, our board and our donors are doubling down on the humanities at the same time many universities are closing shop on them. We intend the Slattery Center to be not some high tower endeavor but a vital venue that will trade in the gritty stuff of personal and professional aspiration. The Slattery Center has certainly been created for the humanities departments and its students, but also for the entire University, for our larger community, for our students and for (their) parents as investors in (their) personhood and professional future,” said Jordan in his opening remarks at the launch of the Humanities in Action Lecture Series. The lecture series was launched in November with a talk by Denis McDonough, former chief of staff to President Obama and current senior principal at the Markle Foundation and chair of its Rework America Task Force.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Jordan received his bachelor’s degree at Williams College and a master’s degree in fine arts from the City University of New York, and a J.D. at Georgetown University. Upon graduating from college, Jordan was the special assistant to Thomas Krens, the director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, when Krens developed the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Jordan recently moved to northeast Pennsylvania from Spain with his wife and children to direct the Center.
The Center is continuing plans for the hallmark speaker series, program development, fellowships and community outreach programs with special emphasis on students.
The Center will advance the University’s liberal arts tradition and enhance the core role it plays in the formation of students to become “men and women for others.” The Center, named after the parents of benefactor and current University Trustee James M. Slattery ’86 and his wife, Betsy, will serve as a national model for humanities in action.
A Successful First Semester for Slattery Center
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12/04/2019
For the second year in a row, the University will hold the Deck the Decades alumni challenge to determine which decade of alumni has the most Scranton spirit.
Until Dec. 18, alumni who sign up for a Christmas party or who make a gift of any amount to a University of Scranton designation of their choice will be counted as participants in the challenge. Participating alumni from the winning decade will receive a special gift, and all alumni who donated on Giving Tuesday have already been counted. This year, the University will hold Christmas parties in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, NEPA, Harrisburg, Boston, and New York City; for a full list of this year's festivities, including dates and locations, visit this link. Visit this link to register for a Christmas party, or visit this link to make a gift to the University.
For more information on the Deck the Decades challenge, visit this link.
Deck The Decades Alumni Challenge Returns
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12/04/2019
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Kate O’Boyle ’80, Melbourne, Florida, celebrated her 5 year heart transplant anniversary in September 2019 and published a book, “Waiting…568 Thoughts While Waiting for a Heart Transplant.” The book chronicles the ups and downs of O’Boyle’s healing journal, dealing with loss, and searching for a new purpose in life.
John Zangardi ’83, Potomac Falls, Virginia, former chief information officer at the Department of Homeland Security, has joined Leidos’ civil group as senior vice president of business initiatives and strategic partnerships. Zangardi brings to the role decades of federal information technology modernization experience to help the company’s civil group build up strategic relationships and technical core capabilities.
Jennifer Dominiquini ’93, Sugar Land, Texas, was named chief digital experience officer at TDECU, Houston’s largest credit union. Dominiquini will also oversee the contact center and lending in addition to all digital.
Philip Grieco ’00, Costa Mesa, California, was promoted to senior director of Brand Strategy and Consumer Insights at Monster Energy Company, based in Corona, California. Grieco has been with the company for almost two years.Jennifer Koehl, VMD ’04, State College, was elected to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association’s Board of Trustees in August 2019.
Peter Barrale, M.D. ’13, Shohola, earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Ross University School of Medicine in May 2019 and is currently a resident in pediatrics at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.
Deaths
David F. Hoeschele ’50, Boyertown
Robert W. Munley, Jr. ’52, Dalton
Robert C. MacGregor, Sr. ’58, Scranton
James Conlon ’81, Blakely
Kathleen M. Schultz ’81, Wilkes-Barre
Louis “Sonny” Giordano ’91, ScrantonMarriages
Christopher Kane ’86 to Josefina Hernandez Quinn
Diane Burke ’12 to Sean Grieb ’12Jacqueline Eadie ’13 to Michael Giammarusco ’13
Jacqueyn Tofani ’13 to Kevin Dermody ’13
Friends' Deaths
Donna Lewis, RN, sister of William George ’79, G’81Alumni Class Notes, December 2019
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11/26/2019
The Princeton Review listed The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management among the nation’s “Best Business Schools” for 2020, marking the 15th consecutive year that Scranton has been included in the listing of just 248 of the most elite business colleges in the nation. Scranton was included among the list of “Best On-Campus MBA Programs,” which was published online in November.
“We commend these schools for their outstanding MBA programs, each of which has stellar academic offerings as well as on-campus and off-campus experiential components,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor in chief, in a news release announcing the 2020 “Best Business Schools” lists.
The listing of business programs is compiled from an analysis of institutional data and survey data from students attending the business schools. The data incorporates career outcomes, academic rigor, admissions selectivity and other factors.
The profile of Scranton on the “Best Business Schools” website noted its “Jesuit values add an element of social responsibility to the work students do at the Kania School of Management (KSOM).” The profile also said Scranton is “focused on what will be required of an MBA graduate in today’s marketplace” and described the school as an “excellent learning atmosphere,” where “everyone is friendly and willing to help.” The Princeton Review also noted Scranton’s professors were accessible and “provide critical insight.”
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 2020 edition of the “Best 385 Colleges,” ranking Scranton among the nation’s “Best Science Labs” (No. 7), “Best Campus Food” (No. 10) and “Best Run Colleges” (No. 20). The Princeton Review also included Scranton in its 2019 “Guide to Green Colleges.”
In other national rankings, U.S. News and World Report included Scranton in a national ranking of the “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” (No. 224) and ranked Scranton’s entrepreneurship program at No. 33, its finance program at No. 43 and its accounting program at No. 52 in the country. In the overall ranking for colleges, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 6 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North,” marking the 26th consecutive year that Scranton ranked in the top 10 of its category.
Scranton Listed Among Best Business Schools
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11/06/2019
The University will hold several regional Christmas parties throughout the holiday season. For a master list of this year's regional parties, visit Scranton.edu/ChristmasParties.
The University will also hold its Deck The Decades alumni participation challenge for the second year in a row. This year, the decade of alumni that shows the most Scranton spirit by collecting the most party regsitrants or making the most gifts to any University cause will win the challenge, and participating alumni from that decade will receive a Scranton ornament. Last year, the 2010s won the inaugural challenge. To register for the challenge and/or make a gift, visit Scranton.edu/ChristmasParties.
On Dec. 5, alumni and friends of the University in the Philadelphia area can celebrate together at The Bellevue Hotel, 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. To register, visit this link.
On Dec. 6, alumni and friends in the Washington, D.C. area can celebrate together at The Willard Intercontinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.. To register, visit this link.
Also on Dec. 6, alumni and friends in New Jersey can celebrate together at The Madison Hotel, 1 Convent Road, Morristown, New Jersey. To register, visit this link.
On Dec. 7, alumni and friends in New Jersey can Brunch With Santa at Basking Ridge Country Club, 185 Madisonville Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. To register, visit this link.
On Dec. 8, alumni and friends in NEPA can ride the Scranton Express via the Stourbridge Line and enjoy a visit from Santa, cookies, cocoa, candy canes and silver bells at The Stourbridge Line, 812 Main Street, Honesdale. To register, visit this link.
On Dec. 11, alumni and friends in Harrisburg can celebrate together at Appalachia Brewing Company, 50 Cameron Street, Harrisburg. To register, visit this link.
Also on Dec. 11, alumni and friends in NEPA can celebrate together at a Wine & Paint Night on campus; registtration will open soon.
Alumni and friends in New England will also have the chance to celebrate together Dec. 11 at the Boston Christmas Party; registration will open soon.
On Dec. 14, alumni and friends in the Philadelphia area can celebrate the season at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. To register, visit this link.
And, on Dec. 18, alumni and friends in New York City can celebrate together at The New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park South, New York, New York. To register, visit this link.
University Announces 2019 Christmas Parties
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11/06/2019
Nearly 30 Scranton Golf alumni recently teed off at Glenmaura National Golf Club at the Karpovich Cup 2019, an annual event that supports Scranton Golf programs in honor of legendary Head Coach Ed Karpovich.
Erik Meyer '15 and Eric Montella '16 took home this year's title. For more information on Scranton Golf, visit this link.
Alumni Support Scranton Golf At Karpovich Cup 2019
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11/06/2019
Several alumni of the Chemistry program recently returned to campus to tour the Loyola Science Center, visit with faculty members and reconnect with fellow graduates of the program.
To see more photos of the event, visit this link.
Alumni Gather For Chemistry Alumni Reception
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11/06/2019
Nearly 100 alumni, family and friends of The University of Scranton recently attended the Lady Royals Tip-Off Dinner to celebrate the beginning of this year's basketball season.
At the dinner, the University honored Canio Cianci '68, former men's and women's basketball assistant coach, with the Mike Strong Award.
For more information on the Lady Royals, visit this link.
Alumni Gather For Lady Royals Tip-Off Dinner
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11/06/2019
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
Walter Barry ’59, West Brandywine, has published a new book called “A Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s,” a story about love, companionship, and devotion. It is a story about a couple joining hands and going the distance in a difficult fight against an insidious disease. The storyline is similar to what millions of caregivers endure every day, yet is very personal.
Archbishop Joseph S. Marino ’75, Birmingham, Alabama, was named president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome by Pope Francis. Martino will be only the second U.S. prelate to head the Rome-based school, which was founded more than 300 years ago.
Joseph McComb ’94, D.O., MBA, Newtown Square, was recently appointed vice chair for quality and performance improvement and associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
Joseph Hart G’96, Mantua, New Jersey, and his wife, Lisa David-Hart, have opened an art gallery at the Village on High in Millville, New Jersey. Joseph and Lisa have permanent brain injuries and have experienced strokes. The gallery displays Lisa’s beautiful paintings, the works of individuals with disabilities, and veterans.
Michael A. Malia ’97, Manasquan, New Jersey, a partner with Peri & Stewart, was installed as the 54th president of the New Jersey Defense Association, New Jersey’s Defense Voice, in June 2019.
Paul Ryan ’97, Chantilly, Virginia, was promoted to senior tax manager at PBMares, LLP, a leading accounting and business-consulting firm.
Jamie Heenan ’99, Scranton, opened the doors to her business, Keep Well, at the Scranton Public Market in the Marketplace at Steamtown, on October 5. Keep Well is a wellness bar which offers a variety of healthy options that change according to season. Keep Well supports local agriculture as well as the environment and purchases their ingredients from local farmers’ markets when possible.
Erin Elizabeth Jennings Cody ’01, Vestal, New York, was selected as director of Harpur Edge at Binghamton University, SUNY and will start in her new role in January 2020 where she will work to connect alumni and employers with over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students in the Liberal Arts and Sciences each year through high impact learning experiences that assist them in deepening the edge they gain from their Liberal Arts and Science degrees.
Kelly Parent Huestis ’01, G’02, Frederick, Maryland, a physical therapy graduate, was elected as the Section on Women’s Health (APTA) secretary, effective 2020-2023.Jennifer Kelly Dominiquini '93, Sugar Land, Texas, was recently named chief digital experience officer at TDECU, Houston's largest credit union.
Deaths
James J. Balzano ’52, Easton
Edward J. Brislin ’52, Orange, California
John Krochta ’52, Ruskin, Florida
Msgr. Francis J. Beeda ’56, Wilkes Barre
Dominic R. Scott ’56, Clarks Summit
Sheldon Liberman ’60, Scranton
Robert J. Gaudio G’62, Drums
John Brier ’63, Spring Brook Township
John D. Cenera, Jr. ’77, West Pittston
Joseph Hessmiller ’78, Bethlehem
William F. Jackson ’80, Olyphant
Carl J. Vonden Steinen, Psy.D. ’82, Lafayette, New YorkBirths
A son, Owen Michael, to Andrew and Erin Elizabeth Jennings Cody ’01, Vestal, New York
A son, Michael Joseph, to Mike ’01 and Julie Quinn Husek ’03, Chalfont
A son, Patrick Holden, to Patrick ’06, G’16 and Nadia Gougeon Dunn ’05, G’06, G’17, Warwick
A son, Daniel Francis, to Daniel ’07 and Michelle Constantino Crowe ’07, Commack, New York
A daughter, Rosemary Margaret, to Arlen ’07 and Eileen Honan Stabbe ’07, North Haven, Connecticut
A son, Hank Joseph, to Rich Kaminski ’09 and Georgia Rose ’09, Montclair, New Jersey
A daughter, Natalie Elizabeth, to Alex’12, G’15 and Jennie Hofmann Rizzi ’12,G’15, Flemington, New JerseyAlumni Class Notes, November 2019
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10/22/2019
The University of Scranton will hold its annual Mass of Remembrance Saturday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. in Madonna della Strada Chapel.
The University community will gather together in prayer to remember the deceased alumni, family members, friends, faculty and loved ones of The University of Scranton. If you have lost a loved one in the past year and would like your deceased loved one's name read as part of the ritual at the Mass, contact Amy Hoegen at amy.hoegen@scranton.edu or 570-941-5510 by Wednesday, Oct. 30.
University to Hold Mass Of Remembrance Nov. 2
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10/22/2019
The University of Scranton ranked among the nation’s “Best Colleges” in an online 2020 listing by College Factual of “colleges and universities that meet high standards and provide quality outcomes to students.” Scranton ranked No. 177 in the national ranking of 1,727 schools. In a listing of 123 “Best Colleges” in Pennsylvania, Scranton ranked No. 19.
College Factual also ranked Scranton at No. 22 the nation in its ranking of “Best Religiously Affiliated,” which listed just 182 schools in the country.
In other postings on the College Factual website, several Scranton programs ranked in the top 15 percent in the nation, including accounting, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology