Fall Magazine 2014

Inside the New Dinneen Business Laboratory Opens

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INSIDE: TEST YOUR AlumnIQ

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Presence of the SpiritFor centuries, the Mass of the Holy

Spirit has marked the beginning of an

academic year for Jesuit institutions, and

has long been a treasured tradition at

Saint Peter’s University. The Mass offers

an invitation to pray for inspiration

and enlightenment, and is even

more significant this year as we find

inspiration all around us.

For instance, in this issue of Saint

Peter’s University magazine, you will

read about how the renovation of

Dinneen Hall has empowered students

in the School of Business and School of

Education to better prepare for the real

world challenges and opportunities that

await them beyond the Saint Peter’s

campus.

In addition to consolidating classrooms

and professors’ offices in one state-

of-the-art facility, the new School of

Business features a Business Laboratory—

a hands-on learning environment with

a simulated financial floor, complete with

Bloomberg terminals, real-time stock

ticker, video conferencing and other

capabilities that emulate the tools used

to navigate markets around the world.

The School of Education also better

reflects the real world of professional

educators by providing collaborative

teaching and learning spaces for students

and faculty. These improvements, which

are crucial for the education of our

students, also accrue to the University.

As our graduates emerge with more

comprehensive skills and real world

experience, their accomplishments reflect

and enhance the reputation of Saint

Peter’s University itself.

This issue also features two

tremendously diverse stories of

philanthropy. The Class of 1964,

through extraordinary organization

and enthusiasm, has shattered its

class gift fundraising goal. And on

a much more personal level, two

benefactors have endowed scholarships

in memory of beloved Saint Peter’s

educators and alumni.

Whether pooling resources to make

a large gift or sacrificing personally in

honor of a loved one, each gift is given

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, for the greater

glory of God. Each gift is also a sign of the

Holy Spirit’s presence in the hearts—and

hallways—of the Saint Peter’s University

community.

Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D.

President

PRESIDENT’S

Message

“Each gift is given Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—for the greater glory of God.”

New Statue Honors Ignatius Students conversing outside of the Mac Mahon Student Center now have inspiring company. A new statue of the master of spiritual conversation, Saint Ignatius Loyola, sits atop the wall that surrounds the patio where students gather between classes. The statue, which was dedicated on October 15, was made possible by gifts to the Jesuit Mission and Identity priority of Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s University.

Saint Peter’s University 1

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Online Web Exclusive:“How Small Business Gets

Noticed on Social Media”

Practical tips for entrepreneurs

with Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.,

assistant professor of business

and acting director of the Ignite

Institute. To read the article, visit

saintpeters.edu.

ADMINISTRATION

Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President

Michael Steinman, Ph.D. Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Virginia Bender, Ph.D. ’78 Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning

Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J. Vice President for Mission and Ministry

Michael A. Fazio, M.B.A. Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs

Jeffrey Handler, M.A.Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

Eileen Poiani, Ph.D.Special Assistant to the President

Denton StargelVice President for Finance and Business

FALL 2014 SAINT PETER’S UNIVERSITYVolume 34, Number 1

EditorSarah Malinowski Ferrary Director of University Communications

Editorial & Design Services Erbach Communications Group

Contributors & Editorial AssistanceAngeline BoyerAna M. CravoLeah LetoGloria MercurioSharon Morrissey

PhotographyMichael MarmoraCatherine MernarEneida Rebyak, NJ Sharing NetworkSaint Peter’s AthleticsSaint Peter’s University Archives

FEATURES

10. What’s Your AlumnIQ?

12. Cover Story: Welcome to the Real World of Business

16. All Together in the School of Education

18. 10 Minutes With... Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.

DEPARTMENTS

3. University News

20. Donors Who Make a Difference

24. Peacock U

26. Class News and Notes

32. Then and Now

HOW TO REACH US Alumni News and NotesE-mail: [email protected] of Alumni Engagement 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306

Letter to the EditorE-mail: [email protected], Saint Peter’s University 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 761-6239Fax: (201) 761-6241

On the cover: The new Dinneen Hall is now home to the School of Business and the School of Education.

CONNECT

Saint Peter’s University is printed on FSC certified paper containing 10% post-consumer waste and was manufactured using 100% Green-e certified renewable energy.

IN THIS Issue

2 Fall 2014

IN THIS

IssueIN THIS Issue

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UNIVERSITY

News

Mass of the Holy Spirit Brings Inspiration for a New Academic YearFor centuries, Jesuit schools and universities have

observed the tradition of the Mass of the Holy Spirit as an

opportunity to ask for the blessing and inspiration of the

Holy Spirit before embarking on the adventure of a new

academic year.

On September 17, the Saint Peter’s University students,

faculty and staff who gathered at St. Aedan’s: The Saint

Peter’s University Church found not only inspiration, but

soul-stirring excitement in the passion and enthusiasm of

homilist Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., director of campus ministry.

“Can I have an AMEN?” he exhorted, challenging the

gathered faithful to invite the Holy Spirit into their hearts.

Following the Mass, which was celebrated by Rev. Michael

L. Braden, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, all

were invited to Panepinto Plaza for a barbecue sponsored by

the Office of Campus Ministry and the Office of the President.

“Can I have an AMEN?”


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DATA EXPERTS JOIN ADVISORY BOARDSaint Peter’s University announced the creation of a University Data Sci-ence Advisory Board. This fall, Saint Peter’s launched a master’s pro-gram in data science with a concentration in busi-ness analytics. The Data Science Advisory Board exists to advise, assist, support and advocate for this graduate program. Members are volunteers who share expert knowl-edge and serve as a sounding board for senior University executives.

The members of the board include Ray Chiu ’86, former vice president of software development at ISO; Mark Hilbush, vice president of cor-porate repositories and architecture portfolio at UPS; Hua Huang, engineering manager at Oracle; Gery Menegaz, IT executive architect for IBM; Claudia Perlich, chief scientist for Dstill-ery; John Quinn, vice president of health value analytics and develop-ment for Pfizer Inc.; Jason Sroka, director of analyt-ics for Quanttus; and Paul Walsh, vice presi-dent of weather analytics for The Weather Channel.

Top Talent Leads New Master’s ProgramsNew Data Science and Public Administration programs draw on industry leaders

In response to the rapid changes facing today’s

business environment, Saint Peter’s University

has recruited top talent to helm two crucial new

graduate-level programs.

The Master of Science in Data Science with a

concentration in business analytics was created

to keep pace with the recent growth in Big Data.

Coursework focuses on statistics, data mining

and visualization, machine learning, predictive

modeling and decision analysis and optimization,

as well as applications in business, marketing

and information systems that use these tools.

The 12-course, 36-credit program is for full- or

part-time students, and its curriculum aligns with

“best of industry practice” in Big Data concepts as

utilized by the Oracle Corporation.

Sylvain Jaume, Ph.D., was appointed director

of the program in July. Dr. Jaume earned his M.S.

and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Université

Catholique de Louvain and was a research fellow

at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Har-

vard Medical School. Prior to joining Saint Peter’s,

he was the director of interdisciplinary engineer-

ing at Wentworth Institute of Technology, where

he taught engineering and computer science. He

developed large data analyses and medical imag-

ing technologies currently used in hospitals.

“Two passionate faculty, Douglas Bedard

and John Wang, each with more than 20 years

of experience, are helping our students design

business-driven data warehouses and build ana-

lytical and communication skills,” said Dr. Jaume.

He also acknowledged the many additional

departments and individuals who helped make

this program possible. “Many colleagues and

supporters paved the way for this unprecedented

success, including our tireless teams from mar-

keting, admissions, advancement and commu-

nications, as well as Professor Edward J. Moskal,

M.M.S. ’79, who did a tremendous job in the

transition and helped me immensely as I arrived

on campus,” he said.

Michael Steinman, Ph.D., interim provost

and vice president of academic affairs, Interim

Academic Dean of CAS/SBA Andrea Bubka, Ph.D.,

and Vice President for Enrollment Management

and Marketing Jeffrey Handler have given strong

support to collaboration with Big Data compa-

nies like Cloudera, EMC, IBM and SAS, as well as

with overseas universities interested in working

with Saint Peter’s, Dr. Jaume added. “I am looking

forward to a very promising first year and to

‘petabytes’ of enthusiasm from current and

future students.”

The Master of Public Administration program

provides an entree to a career in leadership in

the public, civic and nonprofit sectors. Philip

Mark Plotch, Ph.D., formerly director of World

Trade Center redevelopment and special projects

at the Lower Manhattan Development Corpora-

tion, was appointed director in June.

“The program truly symbolizes Saint Peter’s

mission to lead ethically, serve compassionately

and promote justice,” said Dr. Plotch. “Right now,

our M.P.A. students are using the skills they have

honed at Saint Peter’s to tackle real-world health,

economic development and homeless issues in

Jersey City, Hoboken and Newark.”

Sylvain Jaume, Ph.D.

Philip Mark Plotch, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY

News

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GIFT OF LIFEJersey City police detective Marc Dinardo ’96 may

be gone, but his heart beats on in the body of a

man he never met, fellow Saint Peter’s alumnus

Don Zolkiwsky ’64.

Dinardo was shot in the line of duty in 2009 and

died after being on life support for five days. His

wife, Mary Dinardo, made the difficult decision to

donate Marc’s organs. Zolkiwsky was the recipient

of a life saving heart transplant, but at the time,

all he knew was that his new heart came from a

37-year-old male.

Four years later, Mary and Zolkiwsky met in

an emotional reunion. They also discovered the

heart donor and recipient shared a common

background: Dinardo and Zolkiwsky were both

born in Jersey City, both were of Italian and

Ukrainian descent and both graduated from Saint

Peter’s University.

The two men also exemplified the Jesuit credo

to serve others. Dinardo was a decorated police

officer and Zolkiwsky is a Vietnam War veteran

who was awarded a Purple Heart.

July 22 would have been Dinardo’s 43rd birthday.

Mary and Zolkiwsky came together on that day

to advocate for organ donor awareness at a New

Jersey Sharing Network Gift of Life ceremony in

New Providence, N.J.

“We lost a husband, father, a son, a friend,

but in the past five years we have gained many

friends that have become our new family,” Mary

said. “To honor him, to remember him, to be able

to do something wonderful in his name and bring

awareness to organ and tissue donation and to

just show that his legacy lives on and he won’t be

forgotten...it was a good event today.”

The New Jersey Sustainability and Small Business Summit was held in The Duncan Family Sky Room at the Mac Mahon Student Center on September 18. Univer-sity President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., served as moderator for the first panel, “The Art of Sustainability.” He is shown at left with Joseph Prusik, manager of asset management renewables at PSE&G; Jamie Ewalt Gray, from the Assistant Commission-er’s Office, Water Resource Management for the New Jersey Department of Environ-mental Protection; and Pam Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards.

SAINT PETER’S AMONG TOP 100 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2015 guide ranked Saint Peter’s University among the top 100 universities in the Regional Universities North region. In the category of Average Amount of Need-Based Aid Awarded, the University was ranked first in the state of New Jersey and 15th in its region. Saint Peter’s is also ranked third among New Jersey private institutions in the category of Least Debt.

University Hosts Sustainability Summit

DID YOU KNOW…The Office of Cam-pus Ministry engages students in service activities which ben-efit the community and beyond. Each year, more than 800 students contribute a total of approxi-mately 16,000 hours of service to local, national and global organizations.

Mary Dinardo, widow of slain Jersey City Detective Marc Dinardo, their children and her husband’s heart recipient, Don Zolkiwsky, at the New Jersey Sharing Network Gift of Life ceremony.

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CYBERSECURITY EXPERT AWARDED FACULTY FELLOWSHIPAssistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Edward J. Moskal, M.M.S. ’79 is a visiting assistant professor at Notre Dame University for the 2014–2015 academic year. Awarded a Faculty Fellowship from Saint Peter’s University, the computer scientist is teaching an upper level course in cybersecurity and collaborating with Notre Dame’s Department of Computer Science on the design of a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. During the fellowship, Professor Moskal will also plan a cybersecurity program at Saint Peter’s.

FILM NOIR RELEASED IN CHINESE“William Luhr is the intrepid sleuth of cinema studies, tracking down film noir under all the aliases—classic noir, pre-noir, neo-noir—that

its infinite variety has pro-duced,” wrote David Ster-ritt, chairman, National Society of Film Critics, about Film Noir (New Approaches to Film Genre), by English Pro-fessor William Luhr, Ph.D. First published in

2012, Film Noir is now available to an even larger audience. The critically acclaimed book has been released in Chinese by its publisher, Wiley-Blackwell. POIANI APPOINTED TO ITALIAN CULTURAL COMMISSIONSpecial Assistant to the President and Professor of Mathematics Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D., was appointed by Governor Chris Christie as a commissioner of the New Jersey Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission (NJIIAHC).

NJIIAHC works to increase public aware-ness of the positive contributions from Italian and Italian-American culture through public educational programs. It has produced a curriculum titled “The Universality of Italian Heritage” for use in grades K–12.

OF ELEPHANTS, WALLS AND WELLSPatricia Ann Redden, Ph.D., professor in the chemistry department, is a firm believer that good fences make good neighbors. In fact, she spent five days during her summer vacation building tall stone walls in the desert of Namibia in the interest of fostering good relations between local farmers and the herds of wild elephants that roam the region.

“I’m an elephant fanatic,” said Dr. Red-den, who first visited Africa on a photo safari 30 years ago. “I always thought, if I were to take another exotic trip, I would go back to Africa.” In June, Dr. Redden volunteered with Elephant Human Relations Aid, a

FACULTY NOTEBOOK

its infiniteduced,”ritt,SocietyaboutApproachesGenre)fessorPh.D.

NEW INTERIM PROVOSTSaint Peter’s University recently welcomed Michael Steinman, Ph.D., as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Before joining the University, Dr. Steinman was interim special assistant to the provost at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. He also served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at John Jay College of the City University of New York, associate provost and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Massachu-setts in Dartmouth and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sci-ences at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Dr. Steinman received a B.A. from The George Washington University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chi-cago. He is the coauthor or editor of five books and many published articles and conference papers.

Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY

News

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SHE DID IT HER WAYThe School of Professional and Continuing Studies gives adult students options to receive the same quality education as Saint Peter’s University’s more traditional programs, with the flexibility to complete a degree while working full time, raising a family and fulfilling other obligations.

Nina Iglesias ’14 received a B.A. with a double major in interdisciplinary studies and elementary education last summer. She had come to the University with credits from two colleges she had attended previ-ously, and received guidance so that the work she’d already put in would be used to complete Saint Peter’s graduation require-ments. “They really do try to help you figure it out,” she said.

With a commute from Sayre-ville, N.J., a job and family obliga-tions, Iglesias had little time for her personal interests, which in-cluded cantoring at her church. Fortunately, she was able to cantor at St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church. “I was able to become part of campus life at student Masses,” she said. Iglesias remains involved in the church’s chorale.

Iglesias said she appreciated the program’s flexibility and the University’s willingness to work with her schedule. “Saint Peter’s has my heart,” she said.

group dedicated to reducing conflict between elephants and humans. One tactic involves building strong walls around irrigation wells to keep elephants from destroying valuable cis-terns and pumps in their own search for water. Her “vacation” to Namibia consisted of a week of tourism followed by five long days of manual stonemasonry, at the end of which Dr. Redden and her fellow volunteers tracked elephants for another week.

She stressed the importance of the work done by the volunteers. Surrounding the wells not only benefits the farmers; it protects the elephants by dramatically reducing their nuisance factor. “Namibia is very strict about conservation,” she said. “But, if elephants are knocking down cisterns, the locals will want them killed.”

As exhausting as the trip sounds, Dr. Red-den said, “We were all working together, cook-ing over an open fire. Looking up you could see a full panoply of stars—the Milky Way, the Southern Cross. It was wonderful.”

Fazio Recognized for Philanthropic Excellence In higher education today, much of the growth,

progress and innovation is driven by philanthropy

and the leadership of advancement professionals.

Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs

Michael A. Fazio, M.B.A. was recognized for such

excellence and his role in leading Students at the

Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s University.

Fazio received the Robert J. Smythe Award

for Outstanding Professional Fundraiser at the

Association of Fundraising Professionals New Jersey

Chapter 33rd Annual Excellence in Philanthropy

Award Luncheon held in May.

University President Eugene J. Cornacchia,

Ph.D., commented on Fazio’s role in the impending

successful completion of the University’s historic

$62 million capital campaign. “Nearly 50 percent

of all the philanthropy Saint Peter’s ever received

has been secured on Mike’s watch, and we would

not be so close to celebrating this momentous

accomplishment without his leadership. Mike’s

record of excellence in his field is certainly worthy

of recognition.”

Fazio has been at the helm of the University’s

fundraising, alumni engagement and

communications units since 2007. He was

nominated for the award by Graham-Pelton

Consulting, Inc., a nonprofit consulting firm.

Patricia Ann Redden, Ph.D., building walls around irrigation wells in Namibia.

Saint Peter’s University 7 Saint Peter’s University 7

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The 25th anniversary of the M.B.A. program was celebrated in The Duncan Family Sky Room at the Mac Mahon Student Center on May 28. Since its founding, the program has grown from 16 to 330 students and from one to eight academic concentrations.

Alessandro Calianese, Ph.D. ’56, founder of the M.B.A. and computer science programs at Saint Peter’s University, was presented with the Petrean Medal. Terrence J. Checki ’67, distin-guished visiting fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former vice president and head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Emerging Markets and International Affairs Group, served as keynote speaker.

In addition to celebrat-ing all the M.B.A. program has accomplished, the silver anniversary pre-sented an opportunity to look ahead. The Univer-sity announced a fund to support the graduate business program and its continued pursuit of growth and excellence. To learn more, please contact Sharon Morrissey at [email protected] or (201) 761-6126.

UNIVERSITY WELCOMES NEW TRUSTEES AND REGENTSThe Saint Peter’s University Board of Trustees welcomed five new members in 2014.

Noreen Beaman ’86 has been a member of the University’s Board of Regents since 2011. CEO of Brinker Capital, Beaman has more than 20 years of experience working with financial advisors and institutional and high net worth investors in strategic planning and investment management. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, she has been quoted extensively in financial industry media. A board member of the Madison High School Education Foundation, Beaman resides in Madison, N.J. with her husband and three children.

Rev. Kenneth J. Boller, S.J., was named president of Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City in 2013 after serving as president of Fordham Prep in the Bronx, headmaster and then president of Xavier High

School in Manhattan and principal of Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y. Fr. Boller, who entered the Society of Jesus in 1964, also served as pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Harlem for seven years.

Rev. Joseph Costantino, S.J., was appointed president of Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y. in 2013. The Brooklyn native entered the Society of Jesus in 1977 and was ordained in 1987. He holds a B.A. from New York University, a master’s in philosophy from Fordham University and both a master of divinity and licentiate in sacred theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. He is on the board of Canisius College in Buffalo, and served as pastor of St. Francis

44% of Freshmen (272 Total)

Live on Campus

96 Transfer Students

26% of New Transfers are

Living on Campus

3.15 Average GPA for Freshman Class

Prep for the FutureThe camaraderie of the Class of 2018 was in bloom

well before the first day of classes. Throughout the

summer, the University kept incoming freshmen

engaged and informed, as it built enthusiasm for

the upcoming academic year. And Peacock Prep,

the new orientation program for all new students,

ensured that the group was more than ready to get

the fall semester rolling.

In the past, the orientation took place over three

days and two nights. Now a comprehensive one-

day program, it offers students and their parents an

opportunity to learn about financial aid, enroll in

classes and attend a campus ministry session. More

than 96 percent of the freshman class attended.

Nicole DeCapua, Ed.D., dean of freshmen and

sophomores, addressed the team effort that went

into making Peacock Prep a success. “We work with

almost every department on campus in order to

execute Peacock Prep day,” she said. “It shows how

vested the people here are in the students, and

that’s what helps the University grow.”

78% of freshmen are from New Jersey

39% from Hudson County

12% from New York

10% from other U.S. states and foreign nations

Admissions 2014 By the Numbers

581 107% of Goal

Freshmen Enrolled

UNIVERSITY

News

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GOING GREENSaint Peter’s University has been included for the first time in The Princeton Review’s Annual Guide to 332 Green Colleges, now in its fifth edition. A presence on this list means Saint Peter’s is one of the 332 most environmentally responsible colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Sexual Assault Prevention Conference Draws Education Leadership from Across the State

In a joint initiative with CarePoint Health Foundation,

Saint Peter’s University welcomed college and

university presidents and other higher education and

community leaders from across New Jersey to “The

Campus Accountability and Safety Act: Navigating

Compliance Issues and the Challenges of Campus

Sexual Assaults” conference on October 7.

The bipartisan bill at the heart of the conference,

the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, created

incentives for institutes of higher learning to take

proactive steps to protect their students and rid their

campuses of sexual predators. The legislation was

introduced by eight United States senators in July.

“A startling number of sexual assaults occur on

college campuses every day, and, unfortunately, a

large majority of them go unreported,”

said University President Eugene J.

Cornacchia, Ph.D. “We are very proud

to be leading the charge in raising

awareness about this important issue

and the new regulations surrounding it.”

Robert D. Laurino, first assistant

prosecutor, Essex County Prosecutor’s

Office, was the keynote speaker. The

two panels were moderated by Kevin

Callahan, J.D. ’69, professor of criminal

justice at Saint Peter’s University and

retired Hudson County Superior Court

Judge; and Michelle Fine, Ph.D., distinguished professor

at the CUNY Graduate Center. The panelists included

Patricia Teffenhart, M.P.A., executive director of the

New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Ruth Anne

Koenick, director of the Office for Violence Prevention

and Victim Assistance at Rutgers University; La’Shawn

Rivera, director of sexual violence response at Columbia

University; and Jackie Moran, director of compliance,

student affairs, Title IX coordinator, Rutgers University.

Assault survivor, activist and writer Wagatwe Wanjuki

gave the closing remarks.

CarePoint Health Foundation is a nonprofit

organization dedicated to improving access to health,

wellness and health education for the residents of

Hudson County.

Xavier Parish in New York City and executive director of the St. Ignatius Retreat House in Manhasset, N.Y.

Robert Tortoriello, Esq. ’71 is a partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. He received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1974 and an undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, in three years from Saint Peter’s. A world-renowned banking lawyer, Tortoriello lectures and has written about bank acquisitions, securities-related activities and bank regulatory developments. He has served as a board member for Montclair Kimberley Academy, chairing their development committee. He lives in Montclair, N.J., and has three grown children.

Gabrielle Sepulveda ’14, elected to a one-year term as a recent alumna, graduated in May with a B.A. in elementary education. She currently teaches at the

Ethical Community Charter School in Jersey City and attends Teachers College, Columbia University.

William Cozine ’60 has served the Board of Trustees and Regents for four decades and has earned the distinction of Trustee Emeritus.

The Board of Regents also welcomed two new members in 2014.

Patrick Annello, M.D. ’99, director of interventional pain management at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, N.Y., met his wife, Katrina, at Saint Peter’s University and is enthusiastic and eager to be a part of the future of the University.

Christina M. Shea ’00, a partner at KPMG, is looking forward to making a strong contribution to the Regents Enrollment Initiative and the Regents Business Symposium.

Admissions 2014 By the Numbers

CAMPUS KITCHEN OPENSThe Saint Peter’s University Campus Kitchen opened on September 11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Located in the convent at St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church, the Kitchen is the first of its kind in northern New Jersey. A Campus Kitchen is a student-led commu-nity service project that provides free, healthy meals to local residents by using donated food that would otherwise go to waste.

Jackie Moran, Kevin Callahan, J.D. ’69 and Patricia Teffenhart


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What’s yourAlumnIQ

a. Lecto Divinab. Vocal Prayerc. Contemplative Prayerd. Meditatione. Rumination

a. Proteinsb. Catalystsc. Strings of amino acidsd. All of the above

2. Criminal JusticeThe Knock and Announce Rule requires police to “knock and announce” their presence and their purpose before forcibly entering a place to be searched, unless the officer reasonably believes that doing so would (check all that apply):

a. Be dangerousb. Be futilec. Wake a sleeping childd. Inhibit the investigation

4. EnglishMatch the Shakespeare play with its modern adaptation:

a. Romeo and Julietb. Taming of the Shrewc. Macbeth d. Twelfth Night

1. She’s the Man2. Deliver Us from Eva3. West Side Story4. Wyrd Sisters

5. EducationThe Saint Peter’s University Alternate Route Program enables graduates to become fully certified teachers without first obtaining:

a. A driver’s licenseb. A 4.0 averagec. A master’s degreed. A letter from their parents

1. Theology Graduates of Saint Peter’s University are familiar with the Ignatian Daily Examen, but there are many other forms of Christian prayer. Which of the following is not a method of Christian prayer?

3. ScienceEnzymes are __________________.

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15004_mag.indd 10 10/27/14 4:46 PM

AlumnIQ

What’s yourAlumnIQ

Test your memory of the knowledge gained at Saint Peter’s University. The following questions cover a wide range of disciplines studied at Saint Peter’s, and some focus on the history of the school itself.

9. Business (Marketing/Management)Which of the following are two of the earliest venture capital firms?

a. American Research and Development Corporationb. Venrock Associatesc. J.H. Whitney & Companyd. Dewey, Cheatum & Howee. Sequoia Capital

7. HistoryWhen the Dutch settled the region destined to become Jersey City, what did they first name it?

a. Hudsonb. Bergenc. Stuyvesantd. Pavonia

6. MathKnowing that the Saint Peter’s University campus is 18 acres, which of the following can you calculate?

a. Perimeterb. Areac. Radiusd. Quadrilateral

a. Faster than an advancing conquerorb. As fast as you can cook asparagusc. With the velocity of a falling stard. Faster than a taxi on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

10. Latin BonusSome students describe their time at Saint Peter’s as having gone too fast. Latin students might phrase it as “velocius quam asparagi coquantur,” which means:

8. Sociology/Urban StudiesIn 1968, Saint Peter’s students peacefully protested the visit of ________________ to the campus.

a. George McGovernb. John Waynec. Richard Nixone. Jane Fonda For answers, see page 31.


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Inside the new Dinneen Hall, a dynamic living and learning laboratory in the School of Business means even more opportunities for students to tackle real world problems facing business and society.

For many years, business students at Saint Peter’s

University have used the University’s proximity to

major corporations in downtown Jersey City and

Manhattan to gain concrete, hands-on experience.

Now, the real world has moved on campus with the

nearly $4 million transformation of Dinneen Hall into a

state-of-the-art facility for the School of Business

and the School of Education.

Business students, who began classes in the

new facility on August 27, say it has boosted the

professionalism of the academic program. “It’s a huge

upgrade for the School of Business,” said Richard Palma

’15, an international business major and president of

the University chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, the national

business fraternity. “It gives you the feeling of what it is

like to work in the business field.”

The capital project was made possible, in part,

by funds from the Building Our Future Bond Act, an

investment in higher education approved by New Jersey

voters in 2012. Fifty-two million of the $750 million in

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD OF BUSINESS

12 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 12 10/27/14 4:46 PM

COVER

StoryCOVERCOVER

Story StoryCOVER

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WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD OF BUSINESSstate bonds authorized were allocated to independent

colleges and universities in New Jersey.

The centerpiece of the renovated facility is the

Business Laboratory, which includes a simulated

financial floor—a hands-on learning environment

equipped with Bloomberg terminals, a LED ticker, video

conferencing and other capabilities that deliver busi-

ness intelligence to students in real time.

“Until now, it wasn’t possible for us to tap into all the

resources around,” said Assistant Professor of Busi-

ness and Chairperson of the Business Administration

Department Karl Alorbi, Ph.D. “Students can analyze

what is happening in the business world by way of data

in real time.” Experience with the Bloomberg terminals,

a professional investment computer system created

for the financial marketplace, and other tools will give

Saint Peter’s students a definitive edge as they start

their careers.

Loan IQ, for instance, a leading loan servicing

software used by banks and financial institutions, is a

program many business students will learn before they

graduate. “If you join a bank after graduation you are

going to spend the first six months learning how to use

the software,” Dr. Alorbi explained. “Banks will prefer

our students because they are already trained. Our

students will come out of Saint Peter’s ready to hit the

ground running.”

Above: Matthew Fung, Ph.D., teaches finance in the Business Laboratory.


15004_mag.indd 13 10/29/14 4:57 PM

Research tools and databases available in the

Business Laboratory will also enhance teaching and

learning in accounting, marketing, economics, interna-

tional business and the M.B.A. program. Located on the

plaza level of Dinneen Hall, the School of Business facil-

ity also features a conference room, two project rooms

where students can collaborate on assignments and

flexible space to accommodate guest lecturers, sympo-

sia and special events.

Experience CountsThe new facility is tailor made for a business program

that has already integrated service learning and project-

based assignments into the curriculum. Assistant

Professor of Business Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., believes

this is a core strength of the program. “I think our

students are very well prepared in terms of having

significant internship experiences and even in the

skills gained in practical coursework and marketing

competitions,” she said.

Students work in teams in the marketing com-

petitions, which often involve nonprofit organizations,

to create and implement campaigns and measure the

impact of their ideas.

Three years ago, Matthew Feeney ’15 and Christo-

pher Cowell ’15 won a national collegiate competition

sponsored by the higher education resource company

Pearson with their marketing idea for (RED), an interna-

tional organization dedicated to eliminating HIV. Their

concept, an option to donate one cent with every iTunes

BUSINESS PROGRAMS GRANTED ACCREDITATIONThe International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) granted accreditation to programs in the School of Business at Saint Peter’s University in July. A recognized leader in mission-driven and outcomes-based programmatic accreditation in business, the IACBE commended Saint Peter’s for its commitment to continuous improvement, excellence in business education and advancing academic quality in its business programs and operations. The first-time accreditation is part of a University-wide initiative to attain specialized accreditation for academic programs. “The IACBE accreditation is a stamp of approval from the international academic community for the University’s commitment to very high academic standards in its business programs,” said Assistant Professor of Business and Chairperson of the Business Administration Department Karl Alorbi, Ph.D. The accredited programs include the bachelor’s programs in business management, international business, marketing and accounting, as well as the master’s programs in business administration and accountancy.

Above: Karl Alorbi, Ph.D., and students from freshman seminar, Principles of Management.

14 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 14 10/27/14 4:47 PM

GLOBAL BUSINESS PERSPECTIVEOver the course of 11 days, 31 Saint Peter’s University business students and three professors visited Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong during a study abroad program last May. The trip was part of the courses “Do-ing Business Overseas” for undergraduates and “Global Business Cultural Experience” for M.B.A. candidates.

Accounting under-graduate Genesis Balarezo ’16 said the trip was eye-opening. From a visit to the General Motors auto plant in Shanghai to exploring the Great Wall, “We were able to look at the culture and education system and see how it is different from our own,” she said. In a global economy increasingly dependent on cooperation and un-derstanding, Balarezo learned valuable les-sons about conducting business abroad.

The Spring 2015 course “Global Busi-ness Centers of Asia” will include travel to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau in March.

purchase to (RED), was born in Dr. Alorbi’s “Principles

of Marketing” class.

Last year, Dr. Naatus’ students developed an integrat-

ed marketing plan to help Domino’s Pizza promote a

mobile application in a national competition sponsored

by the nonprofit organization Marketing EDGE. This

year, students of Dr. Alorbi will continue to work with A

Free BirdTM, a nonprofit that uses the arts to help chil-

dren diagnosed with cancer. Students created a market-

ing plan to raise awareness of the organization and are

using Google Analytics to drive online donations.

“Businesses need to adapt to this generation,” said

accounting major Genesis Balarezo ’16, who, along

with Dr. Naatus and three business undergradu-

ates, researched the social media practices of local

companies and the impact of consumer generated

online reviews on profitability. The summer student

research project was made possible by a five-year Title

V federal grant awarded to Saint Peter’s University in

2010. While the student-researchers honed skills in

research, data analysis and communication, Balarezo

noted that business owners were eager to hear their

perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of

social media marketing.

Town and GownMore Saint Peter’s students will have the opportunity

to put their business education into practice with

the Town and Gown Project—a new collaboration

between the School of Business and the Hudson

County Chamber of Commerce. Students enrolled

in the senior business seminar last spring served as

marketing consultants in a competition involving six

small business members of the Chamber, ranging from

Brennan’s Florist in Jersey City to the New Jersey Beer

Co., a craft brewery based in North Bergen.

“It was a really positive experience,” said Jeffrey

O’Connor ’14, who graduated with a degree in mar-

keting and management last May. O’Connor’s team

created and presented a digital marketing strategy

for Quintile Solutions, Inc./Website Jungle, a website

design, e-commerce and mobile application firm in

Jersey City. The team garnered first place in Town and

Gown, and the firm hired O’Connor on a freelance

basis to help implement the plan.

“Just being able to say what I did on Town and

Gown helped me tremendously,” said O’Connor, who

landed a position with Atlas Data Systems in Berkeley

Heights, N.J., shortly after graduation.

The business consultancy competition is set to con-

tinue next spring, fostering stronger ties between area

businesses and the University.

“I think these types of community-centric proj-

ects are a great start,” said Chamber President Maria

L. Nieves, who also serves on the School of Business

Advisory Board and the Board of Regents. “These types

of programs allow for real learning and relationship

building, and have vast potential for ripple effects and

the type of awareness that comes from word-of-mouth

advertising. Every one of the businesses that partici-

pated in Town and Gown, each of which is a center of

influence in the local community, is now a potential

ambassador for Saint Peter’s. And, likewise, these stu-

dents and their professors are now potential ambassa-

dors for these businesses.”

Unified School of BusinessWith a permanent home for the School of Business

in place, the prospects for Saint Peter’s business

students are even brighter. “It’s all coming together,”

said Dr. Alorbi. “With our focus on real-world learning

and technical ability, our students will be even better

prepared to take advantage of all the opportunities our

location provides.”

Faculty, too, are benefiting from the new loca-

tion. “We were scattered,” said Kevin A. Leeds, M.B.A.

chairperson of the accountancy department, noting

that business, accounting and the M.B.A. program

were based in three different locations on the Jersey

City campus. “Now, we’re able to work together more,”

Leeds said.

“The School of Business is right there in the Quad.

I have better access and interactions with my profes-

sors,” said Palma. “Saint Peter’s always had a good

reputation for its business program. Now that the new

facility is here, it’s going to attract more students to

the School of Business.”

With capacity for more students in a unified School

of Business, the new Dinneen Hall is also helping to

drive growth and progress at Saint Peter’s University.

“In the past, we were departments and units,” said

Dr. Alorbi, who credited the leadership of University

President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., in bringing the

project to fruition. “Now we are becoming a unified

School of Business, which positions us at the cutting

edge of business education.”

COVER

Story


15004_mag.indd 15 10/30/14 7:59 AM

For many years, Saint Peter’s University education

classes have been spread out in three buildings across

the Jersey City campus.

Today, thanks to the nearly $4 million recent transfor-

mation of Dinneen Hall, School of Education students

attend classes, meet with faculty advisors and collabo-

rate on coursework and projects in a purpose-built space

on the first and second floors of Dinneen Hall.

Just one week into the new semester, the new facility

is already generating positive results, according to Dean

of the School of Education Joseph V. Doria Jr., Ed.D. ’68.

“We’re seeing a lot more interaction between the

faculty and students,” he said.

In addition to being more accessible to students, the

new space also furthers collaboration among faculty

members. “Faculty now have the opportunity to interact

more conveniently with one another,” Dr. Doria said.

“That, in turn, creates a better academic environment.”

Greater cohesion among the faculty also sets a stan-

dard of teamwork and cooperation that undergraduate,

graduate and doctoral students can emulate as teach-

ers, counselors, administrators and leaders.

Alumni in Education Network LaunchedThe permanent home in Dinneen Hall gives the School

of Education more capacity for students to start or

advance their career in education. The fully equipped

seminar rooms, Curriculum Resource Center and Learn-

ing Commons also provide ideal spaces for curricular,

co-curricular and continuing education programs for

professionals in the field.

In fact, the new School of Education facility provided

the perfect venue for the launch of Saint Peter’s Univer-

sity’s newest alumni network, Alumni in Education. Held

on October 21, the networking event gave students, fac-

ulty, administrators, alumni and friends an opportunity

to tour the two-story complex and make enduring con-

nections at a reception in McIntyre Conference Center.

“We have alumni all over the state in positions rang-

ing from teacher to superintendent,” said Dr. Doria.

The introduction of Alumni in Education “brings them

together in one place to share ideas and to become ac-

tively involved in the School of Education,” he said.

With greater demands placed on teachers in the

form of increased standardized testing and the new

State-of-the-Art Facility Brings Great Educators—Current and Future—Closer TogetherALL TOGETHER NOWJennifer Ayala, Ph.D., associate professor of education, and James Clayton, Ed.D., associate professor of education, meet with students in the new School of Education facility in Dinneen Hall.

16 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 16 10/29/14 4:58 PM

Core Curriculum, organizers anticipate that Alumni in

Education will be a valuable resource for profession-

als in the field. “It’s a challenging field to be in at this

time,” said Joseph P. Sirangelo, Ed.D. ’71, assistant su-

perintendent of Hudson County Schools of Technology

and member of the Host Committee. “We’re all in this

together and can learn a lot from one another.”

Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department

of Education David Hespe served as keynote speaker

and discussed central issues facing educators.

“I believe people go where they can do the most good

in life,” said Hespe. “None of our jobs are easy, but we

have this moral passion that we are here because we

believe we can make a difference in children’s lives.”

Alumni in Education organizers hope the success

of the inaugural event will inspire more graduates to

reconnect with the University and one another.

Tribute to ‘Doc Caulfield’A fundraising effort is underway to

name the School of Education for

the late education professor Patrick

J. Caulfield, Ed.D. ’47, who influ-

enced generations of graduates.

“He started the education pro-

gram, worked to make it grow and

created the graduate program,” said

Dr. Doria, who, like many graduates, knew “Doc Caul-

field” as a teacher, as well as a colleague. “He was the

visionary who understood the importance of develop-

ing what has become the School of Education.”

Dr. Caulfield’s vision lives on in the cura personalis

afforded each student and the rigorous preparation

to become effective educators. “Our program demands

quality, but understands that there is a need for

the personal touch,” said Dr. Doria. “Pat Caulfield

encouraged students to learn, encouraged hands-on

experience and also understood the need to be

flexible in education.”

While standards and technology have changed, and

the number of degree and certification programs have

increased, students remain the number one priority.

“We have maintained who we are while growing

the School of Education with new master’s programs

and the doctoral program,” Dr. Doria continued. “We’re

still dealing with students in a very personal way. We

still adapt our programs to meet the needs of students

so they can be successful.”

To invest in the dream of naming the School of

Education in Dr. Caulfield’s memory, please contact

Sharon Morrissey at (201) 761-6126 or smorrissey@

saintpeters.edu.

FEATURE

Story

PARTNERS IN GROWTH Establishing perma-nent facilities for the School of Business and the School of Education was a huge achievement for the two flagship academic programs. It also pres-ents the opportunity for corporations, founda-tions and donors to change students’ lives, partner with Saint Peter’s University and attain sizeable recogni-tion and presence in the new Dinneen Hall.

Currently, there are nearly 50 naming opportunities within the School of Business and School of Education, ranging from faculty offices and program rooms to the Curriculum Resource Center in the School of Education and naming rights for the School of Business.

A donor wall will also be located in Dinneen Hall. All donors of $5,000 or more to the President’s Prior-ity Fund, the School of Business or the School of Education will be recognized on the wall.

For further informa-tion, please contact Sharon Morrissey at [email protected] or (201) 761-6126.

The Alumni in Education event on October 21 was hosted by: Robert J.

Donato ’65, RPND Consultants, LLC; retired principal, Dickinson High

School; Joseph A. Giammarella, Ed.D. ’71, principal, High Tech High

School; Nadia E. Makar ’69, science supervisor for Union City High

School/Academy for Enrichment and Advancement; Vincent J. McFadden

’67, executive county school business administrator, State of New Jersey

Hudson County Office; and Joseph P. Sirangelo, Ed.D. ’71, assistant

superintendent, Hudson County Schools of Technology.

(L to R): Robert Donato ’65, Joe Doria, Ed.D. ’68, Vincent McFadden ’67, Nadia Makar ’69, Joseph Sirangelo ’71, Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., Joseph Giam-marella, Ed.D. ’71 and Dave Hespe. Saint Peter’s University 17

15004_mag.indd 17 10/29/14 5:10 PM

How did you become interested in entrepreneurship?

I think I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship.

My family owned a restaurant in Hoboken. Growing

up, I worked in the restaurant and ran the hot dog

stand outside, so I was always fascinated with the idea

of owning your own business.

I was in the Peace Corps in El Salvador after I

graduated from college. I saw how local businesses

were key to employing people and improving com-

munities. When I became a business professor at Saint

Peter’s and needed to develop my area of research, a

colleague was interviewing business owners in Staten

Island, and I thought, “Why not look at small busi-

nesses in Jersey City?” The more successful our small

businesses are, the better our communities are. Living

in Jersey City for the last 10 years and being part of the

same community where we are studying the entrepre-

neurial environment has been great.

What do you pay attention to or notice when you’re out

and about in Jersey City?

I notice all kinds of things. It could be a “Like us on

Facebook”sign at a restaurant for a chance to win a

$50 gift certificate. I’ll like the business on Facebook,

observe the kinds of messages and pictures they are

posting and see how they are trying to stay in the public

consciousness. There’s a new bookstore called Word

near the Grove Street PATH station. They are involved in

a “Where’s Waldo” contest with 20 other participating

businesses. Customers get points for going into each

store, which is interesting because it’s a conscious and

creative effort of local businesses encouraging their

customers to shop at other local businesses.

There’s also been a lot of news about progress and

development in other parts of Jersey City, influenced

by the support of organizations like Rising Tide Capital

and Special Improvement Districts, and I think small

Meet a Saint Peter’s University business professor who served in the Peace Corps, speaks fluent

Spanish and involves students in research projects like urban entrepreneurship and startups in

a digital environment. Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., who was recently appointed acting director of

the Ignite Institute, discusses her time as a Peace Corps volunteer, small business marketing and

plans for the University’s newest Center of Excellence.

10 MINUTES with...

Small Business.

Big Dreams.

Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.

18 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 18 10/29/14 5:12 PM

businesses and entrepreneurs have a huge role to play

in that growth. When neighborhoods transform for

the better, entrepreneurs are right at the center of it.

Many local entrepreneurs turned out for the inaugural

event of the Ignite Institute at Saint Peter’s last year.

Where do you see Ignite going this academic year?

There will be a series of events and activities geared

around entrepreneurship in our urban environment.

The second Local Economy Agenda Summit was

hosted by Ignite in October, continuing the work of the

previous year’s Summit, which was attended by more

than 80 national and local leaders. It led to the creation

of the Local Economy Working Group, consisting of

business, government and civic leaders, including Alfa

Demmellash H ’10, CEO of Rising Tide Capital, and

President Cornacchia of Saint Peter’s University.

Ignite will also host the Town and Gown Student

Consulting Project this year [see cover story on page

12]. We plan to implement a student intern program

and research fellowship program, as well as other

programs that incorporate students and faculty. We

also want Saint Peter’s to feel like a home or a center

where entrepreneurs can come and access resources,

learn something and be part of our community.

Does the Institute fill a void in Jersey City?

I wouldn’t say it’s a void. Jersey City has been growing

and is being widely recognized for its excellent

restaurants and vibrant arts and cultural community.

It is also one of the most diverse cities in the country.

So, there’s an opportunity to leverage the energy and

movement around all the great things happening

and be a force in that growth. At Saint Peter’s, we

have professors and students who are experienced

in entrepreneurship and urban development. We’re

right next to New York City and we’re right next to

Port Newark, one of the most important importing

destinations on the East Coast, so there are a lot of

opportunities to become involved.

Your own journey from Peace Corps volunteer to

business professor is an interesting one.

When I was in the Peace Corps, I honestly didn’t know

that graduate school was something I wanted to do.

Living in rural El Salvador and having close friends

who didn’t have the opportunity to go to high school

made me realize I needed to take advantage of all the

opportunities I have.

I was lucky as a graduate student and then employee

at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and to have

had great mentors who developed my passion for busi-

ness and economic development. During my doctoral

studies, I started teaching as an adjunct professor and

loved it. I focused on the impact of migrant remit-

tances (earnings) from the U.S. on local economies and

communities in El Salvador for my dissertation, which

made me realize I liked research as well, and I consid-

ered a full-time academic position.

When I came to Saint Peter’s and interviewed for the

position, I got such a great feeling from the business

administration department and faculty. And, I liked the

idea of being in a Jesuit university where there was a

focus on social justice, community and engagement.

The focus on social responsibility and ethics and being

“men and women for others...” that’s what is so great

about Saint Peter’s and our students.

Are students surprised to learn you served with the

Peace Corps?

A lot of my students are interested in the Peace Corps.

Two recent graduates, Suegatha Kai ’12 and Giancarlo

Antigua ’14, are currently serving in the Peace Corps.

It’s a wonderful experience, but I don’t think it’s for

everyone. You are in a developing country, most likely

in a rural area, so there are risks involved. And it’s

a very, very different pace of life guaranteed pretty

much wherever you go, so you have to be comfortable

with that. But it’s a life-changing experience. I always

tell my students, “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here,

teaching at Saint Peter’s, if I hadn’t joined the Peace

Corps.” It changed my whole trajectory, not only for

my career, but my entire life.

Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., is assistant professor of business

and acting director of the Ignite Institute at Saint Peter’s

University. A graduate of The College of New Jersey, she

earned a M.B.A. from NJIT and a Ph.D. in global affairs

with a concentration in international management from

Rutgers University. Dr. Naatus resides in Jersey City with

her husband, Joel Naatus, a Jersey City public school teacher

(the couple met while serving in the Peace Corps), and three

children. Follow her on Twitter @mknaatus.

“When neighborhoods transform for the better, entrepreneurs are right at the center of it.”

ABOUT THE IGNITE INSTITUTEThe Ignite Institute at Saint Peter’s University was creat-ed in partnership with Rising Tide Capital in 2013 to build bridges between the Univer-sity, small businesses, entrepreneurs and policy makers. Its mission is to “provide thought leadership, academic research and direct education-al service, positioning itself as an innovative spark for 21st century social and economic justice.”

Ignite will promote research on entrepre-neurship, local living economies and in-dustry clusters. It will facilitate internship and service learning opportunities for stu-dents and will strive to make Saint Peter’s a source for informa-tion and resources for the small busi-ness community.

To learn more, contact Mary Kate Naatus at [email protected] or (201) 761-6393. Fol-low Ignite on Twitter @ignitestpeters.


15004_mag.indd 19 10/27/14 4:47 PM

GenerosityRuns in the

Family

Saint Peter’s benefactor Melanie Sze with photographs of her parents, Palmer Sze, Ph.D., and Edith Sze.

20 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 20 10/27/14 4:47 PM

DONORS WHO MAKE A

Difference

Rev. Anthony S. Aracich, S.J., was a member of the So-ciety of Jesus for 58 years and a priest for 46. As proud as he was of his Croatian heritage, Fr. Aracich was also devoted to the spiritual care of Hispanic immigrants. He served as pastor at Nativity Parish on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and as associate pastor and coordinator of Hispanic activities at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn and Assumption/All Saints parish in Jersey City. For the last few years of his life, he spent a month each sum-mer in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Saint Peter’s University shapes the lives not only of its

students, but of its faculty, administration and their

families, as well. Sometimes, the commitment to Saint

Peter’s students that educators expressed throughout

their careers is extended posthumously through the

generosity of their surviving family. Such is the case

with proud donors Melanie Sze and Lucy Aracich-

Hughes.

Melanie Sze, daughter of late economics professor

Palmer Chiyuan Sze, Ph.D., has recently endowed The

Palmer C. Sze, Ph.D. & Edith B. Sze Endowed Scholarship

Fund in memory of her parents.

Dr. Sze’s education spanned the globe. He graduated

from the Peking American School in 1929 and Yenching

University in Peking in 1933. After earning a M.B.A. from

Harvard University and a Ph.D. from New York Univer-

sity, he pursued a successful career in banking, mainly

with the Central Bank of China. Upon immigrating to

the United States, he taught at Seton Hall University,

Saint Peter’s and Rutgers University while simultane-

ously serving as a consultant to the Alexander Hamilton

Institute, The New York Stock Exchange and the State of

New Jersey.

“One of my father’s last wishes was to establish a

scholarship at Saint Peter’s in memory of my mother,

Edith,” Sze said. “In my discussions with the Saint

Peter’s administration, we decided it would be fitting to

name the award after both of my parents.”

Dr. Sze, who has been cited by many successful

Saint Peter’s alumni as a positive influence on their

careers, felt strongly about providing financial support

to talented, committed young men and women study-

ing economics at the University. “He thought the cost of

higher education was very high for many students,” Sze

said. “For some, a college education may be unobtain-

able without this kind of help.”

Sze cited the importance of academic excellence

as a major criterion for award candidates. “My father

believed in high achievement, so the student who earns

this scholarship should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.”

Continuing a Family Legacy Lucy Aracich-Hughes was moved to establish the George

J. Hughes ’69 Annual Scholarship in memory of her late

husband, George J. Hughes ’69, and the Rev. Anthony

Aracich, S.J. Annual Scholarship in honor of her cousin,

Rev. Anthony S. Aracich, S.J., who taught languages at

the University. “George and Anthony spoke highly of the

benefits of the Jesuit education Saint Peter’s provides,

both from an academic standpoint and a religious per-

spective,” she explained.

“I have some of George’s old notepads from his

classes at Saint Peter’s. Reading through them, I could

see how the faculty challenged his ability to think both

analytically and compassionately.” Like many alumni,

Hughes’ Peacock pride extended beyond the classroom.

“He also played baseball for Saint Peter’s and was an

avid fan of the basketball team.”

Fr. Aracich, who was fluent in Croatian, Spanish,

Italian, German, Russian and Polish, taught modern

languages at high schools in the metropolitan area, as

well as at Saint Peter’s. Aracich-Hughes said her cousin’s

love of learning and faith were evident throughout his

lifetime. “His devotion to his family and the people he

served was equally apparent,” she said.

She is pleased to offer a scholarship to current Saint

Peter’s students in memory of these two great men.

“George and Anthony were two of the most generous

people I have ever known,” she said. “I truly believe they

would be happy to know they have helped someone else

obtain an education from Saint Peter’s.” She also said

that their namesake scholarship is a part of their legacy

on Earth. “I love knowing that it’s an extension of their

lives,” she said.

Current Saint Peter’s students can thank the Sze,

Aracich and Hughes families—among many others—for

their generosity. As Aracich-Hughes observed, gifts that

help support the next generation of Saint Peter’s stu-

dents serve as fitting tributes to beloved family members

and friends. “What better way is there to remember two

people I loved and respected so much,” she asked, “than

to help offer an excellent Jesuit education to others?”

Students, parents, alumni and community members

who are thinking about paying it forward should know

that scholarships and awards can be established at

many financial levels—and that all monetary gifts mat-

ter greatly to the University community. To learn more

about establishing a scholarship for a loved one, or to

give to an existing scholarship, contact Daryl Levy ’83 at

[email protected] or (201) 761-6123.

“What better way is there to remember two people I loved and respected so much than to help offer an excellent Jesuit education to others?”

George Hughes ’69, shown in a yearbook photo, played baseball and continued to be a basketball booster after graduation.


15004_mag.indd 21 10/27/14 4:47 PM

In the half-century since they gradu-

ated from Saint Peter’s University,

members of the Class of 1964 have

achieved countless personal and

professional milestones, from attain-

ing leadership roles across a variety

of industries to witnessing the births

of children and grandchildren.

This year, as they celebrate their

50th reunion, they’re setting a bril-

liant example for alumni from all

classes yet again. They’ve already

smashed their initial reunion gift

fundraising goal of $500,000, with

a total of $650,000 raised at press

time. And while the reunion festivi-

ties took place September 20, the

official fundraising cutoff date isn’t

until December 31.

“We hope we’ve set a precedent

for the University and that we’ll

serve as inspiration to other classes,”

said Dan Toomey, Esq. ’64, chair of

the 50th reunion committee. “We

came to this process with a strong

sense of gratitude. The alumni who

have been working on the fundrais-

ing effort have come to realize what

a wonderful, sound grounding we got

in college.”

Jim Loughlin ’64, co-chair of the

fundraising committee, added that

the sentiment was popular among

members of his graduating class as

they chatted about the upcoming re-

union and their class gift. “As a class,

we went out into the world well-pre-

pared for the roles we took on—doc-

tors, lawyers and other profession-

als—and we see that reflected later

in our lives,” he said. “When we’re

speaking to our former classmates,

they recognize the value of what the

University has done for them.”

In addition to the generosity of his

fellow alumni, Jim Kelly ’64, the com-

mittee’s other co-chair, credited the

development staff at Saint Peter’s for

their guidance and support. “Their

advice was excellent, and they made

numerous phone calls on our behalf.”

Off the ChartsClass of 1964 sets a new bar for reunion giving.

cutoff date cutoff date cutoff isn’t they chattedthey chattedthey about the about the about upcoming re upcoming re upcoming -

1.

2.

3.

22 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 22 10/29/14 5:13 PM

ADVANCEMENT

Off the Charts

1. Dan Toomey ’64, Jim Loughlin ’64 and Jim Kelly ’64, pictured with Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., were instrumental in their class year’s success in surpassing fundraising goals. 2. Glee Club members Tom Dinneen ’64, Roland Lucid ’64, Ed O’Connor ’64, Denis Kelleher ’64, Manlio Yozzo ’64, George Hunter ’64 and Dan Toomey ’64. 3. Jack Campion ’64 and Robert Figurski ’64. 4. John Rosta ’64 and his wife, Maryann. 5. Cal Heitzmann ’64 and his wife, Marilyn. 6. The Class of 1964.

Alumni Weekend2014

Kelly also noted that his class

comprises a particularly successful

number of alumni who truly under-

stand the tax environment in which

they make financial planning deci-

sions. “If they don’t think about es-

tate taxes and include Saint Peter’s

University or some other charitable

organizations in their estate plan-

ning, they can end up doing harm to

their own beneficiaries,” he said.

Toomey also cited Loughlin’s and

Kelly’s extensive business develop-

ment experience as an important

factor in the committee’s success. “I

can’t say how proud I am of the job

they did,” he said.

Working together on fundraising

inspired new friendships, Toomey

said. “We’ve all gotten to know class-

mates we didn’t interact with much

in college. Every one of our confer-

ence calls was a reunion of sorts.”

Kelly offered this advice to future

fundraising volunteers: Don’t be

intimidated by cold-calling your

peers. “Even though I’ve had a lot of

experience, I’m as apprehensive as

anyone when I pick up the phone

to call someone I haven’t seen in

50 years to ask about giving money

to Saint Peter’s,” he said. “When I

had the person on the phone, it was

more delightful than I could have

imagined. People had great memo-

ries. I would hang up the phone in

a much better mood than when I

picked it up.”

As pleased as the committee

members are about the money

they’ve raised for the University,

they’re hopeful that future classes

will do even more. “The classes

of 1965 and 1966 are particularly

competitive,” noted Kelly. “I know

they’ll be looking at our numbers

with an eye for improving on them.”

A healthy dose of friendly compe-

tition, combined with a profound

sense of appreciation for the well-

rounded Jesuit education Saint

Peter’s University’s provides, can

only mean great things for future

reunion fundraising efforts.

2.

4.

5.

6.


15004_mag.indd 23 10/27/14 4:47 PM

Margaret “Maggie” Neiswanger ’14 and Madison “Maddie” Gregory ’14

graduated from Saint Peter’s University on May 19 and were at the

airport headed for Iceland the very next day. Both spent their summer

playing soccer in Iceland for the town of Akranes’ Íþróttabandalag

Akraness Football Club (ÍA Akranes). Gregory played defense, while

Neiswanger played midfield.

Saint Peter’s Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach Julia Bazi, who—

among her many accomplishments—has played professional soccer in

Iceland and Australia, recommended the women’s soccer co-captains

to ÍA Akranes. “She thought we had what it takes,” said Gregory.

Neiswanger and Gregory were two of four English-speaking (that is,

non-Icelandic-speaking) players on the team. “The language barrier

was hard to overcome,” said Gregory. “Pre-game meetings were held in

Icelandic. While we did pick up some phrases for use on the field, we

really had to learn from watching the other girls.”

The ÍA Akranes, who had recently moved up a division, faced fierce

competition all season. “We had a young, inexperienced team,” said

Neiswanger. “It was tough not having that many experienced players,

while our opponents had players from the Icelandic national team.”

Both players expressed their gratitude to Coach Bazi. “It was a

really good experience,” said Gregory. “I’m glad Julia got us involved.”

Gregory—a four-year starter for Saint Peter’s who graduated with dual

degrees in psychology and criminal justice—said she probably will not

pursue a professional soccer career. She is currently enrolled in a two-

year graduate degree program in community and trauma counseling.

Neiswanger, who received her degree in business management,

said she is not sure which direction she will take. “I may want to keep

playing,” she said.

Saint Peter’s University Captains Translate Their Skills to the Icelandic Pro League

Captains Translate

From Jaroschak Field to Íþróttabandalag

Akraness

Maggie Neiswanger ’14 (above) and Maddie Gregory ’14 (middle); the mountains of Iceland (below).

A LESSON IN ICELANDICÍþróttabandalagAkraness is the full name for the Icelandic sports club based in the town of Akranes, located in west Iceland. Founded in 1946, the sports club’s informal name is IA and its nick-name translated from Icelandic means “yellow and happy.”

24 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 24 10/27/14 4:47 PM

PEACOCK

U

“Saint Peter’s is a really, really good stage for anyone who has goals, athletically or academically.”

T.J. Baxter Named Baseball Head CoachAfter joining the Peacocks as an assistant coach in the fall of 2013 and serving as acting head coach during the 2014 season, T.J. Baxter has been promoted to head baseball coach. Highlights of Baxter’s first Peacocks season include a three-game sweep of the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season champion Rider University, a 9–8 win against Seton Hall University and placing four players on the All-MAAC second team.

“T.J. did a remarkable job with a challenging situation last year as the acting head coach and was able to help our team be competitive for the 2014 season,” said University Director of Athlet-ics Joseph Quinlan.

“I’m ecstatic to be named head coach at a prestigious Jesuit university like Saint Peter’s,” said Baxter. “I cannot thank the Univer-sity and the community of Jersey City enough for welcoming me with open arms.”

Crossing BordersInternational Students Put the Accent on Academics

In addition to the alumni whom Saint

Peter’s University has sent overseas to play

professional sports, the University has hosted

countless international athletes. Many come

not only for an education in their chosen major,

but for a taste of the American style of play.

Peacocks basketball forward Elias Desport ’16

played for the Swedish U18 National Team

and at the Solna Gymnasium in Stockholm,

Sweden, before coming to Jersey City. He

said his decision to pursue college ball in the

United States instead of professional ball in

Southern Europe hinged, in part, on the chance

to develop his skills. He said college basketball

was the best way to develop as a player, as

well as a person. “The game is more about

athleticism here, and sometimes raw talent. In

Europe, it’s more about finesse.”

Desport is pursuing a degree in communica-

tion with a minor in sociology and plans to play

professional basketball after graduation.

“I might go back overseas somewhere. To

Spain, maybe France,” he said. While Europe is

familiar territory to Desport, so is the United

States. “I see myself as American,” he said. “I

can speak English and Swedish. My dad grew

up in Queens. There’s really no culture gap—I’ve

been here so many times.”

Oliver Bellomi ’15, from Nanaimo, British

Columbia, Canada, plays tennis for the

Peacocks. A political science major with a

minor in business law, he chose Saint Peter’s

for its proximity to New York City, as well as

its Jesuit roots. “Jesuit ideals are attractive to

me,” he said. “Saint Peter’s came with certain

comforts—the ability to go to Mass, the ability

to discuss theology. I relate to the values they

emphasize here and knew I would feel at home

in a Jesuit university.”

Bellomi said he was also impressed with the

high number of international players on the

tennis team. “They are all trying to find a new

home, as well,” he said. “That’s made for a good

community environment as we play together.”

The Canadian has high praise for the school

he traveled 4,000 kilometers to attend. “Saint

Peter’s is a really, really good stage for anyone

who has goals, athletically or academically,”

he said. “The faculty and coaching staff are

amazing and have helped me succeed both on

and off the court.”

Marvin Dominique ’14 hugs Desi Washington ’16 as they celebrate with Elias Desport ’16 after Saint Peter’s victory over Seton Hall University.


15004_mag.indd 25 10/27/14 4:47 PM

1954 Toms River Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher, Esq. received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree at Georgian Court Univer-sity’s commencement ceremony for graduate students on May 21.

1956 Rudolph F. Beisser recently joined The Gottesman Company, a national mergers and acquisi-tions firm that works with midsize corporations, as senior business intermediary.

1958 Richard Piscal reports on his family’s military adventurers: his son retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel and is now commandant of cadets at Valley Forge Military Academy. His granddaughter,

Hayden Howell, is a Blackhawk medivac pilot and is airborne and air assault qualified. Her husband, Andy, is a pilot. Both are captains who have served in Afghanistan and are now stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. Richard’s grandson is a first lieuten-ant in the Army Rangers airborne, currently stationed in Europe.

1960 John (Jack) Semon and wife Bar-bara of Jarrettsville, Md., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 2. Also in May, Semon played volleyball at the USAV National Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.His team took the gold medal in the 76 age bracket and third place team in the 73 age bracket.

1962 Richard Derrig, Ph.D., co-

authored Predictive Modeling Applications in Actuarial Science: Volume 1, Predictive Modeling Techniques (International Series on Actuarial Science). The book, released in July, is available on Amazon.com.

1963 Ed English found himself, by chance, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at the same table with fellow Saint Peter’s alumni Lou Cella ’54 and Frank Hindelong ’72. The party took place at Spring Run at The Brooks in Bonita Springs, Fla. Casual conversation revealed their college connection—proud Peacocks from three decades!

1973 Julia DiGioia, M.D., F.A.C.S. was honored at the sixth annual gala of the Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation for Cancer Prevention, which took place on October 4 in Jersey City.

1977 Donald Tretola was appointed as the state chair of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve office of U.S. Department of Defense.

1987 Gary Gemignani was appointed chief financial officer of Biodel Inc. in September.

1990 James Damiano was named the Belleville, N.J., boys soccer head coach.

1991 UBS Global Asset Management has hired Kevin Granelli as a client advisor focusing on busi-ness development efforts in its U.S. Financial Institutions Group.

1994 Eugene A. Batelli, DPM, opened a new medical office, Metropolitan Ankle and Foot Care Specialists, in Totowa, N.J.

Kenneth J. Sheehan gained a new position as chief of staff for the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

1997 Steven M. Fusco, M.B.A. has been named senior executive vice president of Sussex Bancorp,

Send us your news!Saint Peter’s University wants to publish your good news. We welcome any and all news about your career, education, family life and reconnecting with other Saint Peter’s alumni. Submit a note via e-mail to [email protected] or send to: Office of Alumni Engagement, 2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306.

Gridiron Gathering

Top row: (L to R) Thomas Brodo, Esq. ’69, Joseph Sirangelo ’71, Mark Campbell ’72 and Anthony Amato ’72. Bottom row: (L to R) John Mucci ’71, Leonard Scattereggia ’71 and Joseph Spano ’70. Right: John Mucci ’71 and Anthony Amato ’72.

Former Saint Peter’s University football players from the classes of

1965 through 1972 gathered in The Duncan Family Sky Room at the

Mac Mahon Student Center for a festive reunion on June 7.

“The camaraderie these football players—and, most importantly,

friends—had from 40-plus years ago never left us,” said Joseph

Sirangelo ’71, chair of the 1965–1972 Football Reunion Committee.

Sirangelo shared memorabilia including newspaper articles, uni-

forms, yearbooks and game statistics going back to 1872.

A portion of the ticket sales was donated to the Saint Peter’s ath-

letics department. To learn more about making a gift to Athletics or

one of the University’s other priorities, visit saintpeters.edu/giving.

26 Fall 2014

CLASS NEWS & Notes

15004_mag.indd 26 10/27/14 4:47 PM

the holding company for Sussex Bank. He will continue to serve as the chief financial officer of both Sussex Bancorp and Sussex Bank. Fusco is also a certified manage-ment accountant and certified fi-nancial manager. He was president of Financial Managers Society, New York and New Jersey Chapter, and was recently nominated for the national board of directors of the Financial Managers Society.

2000 Joshua Schrier, Ph.D., received a grant from the National Science Foundation for the study “The Dark Reaction Project: A Machine Learning Approach to Materials Discovery” and will be chairing a symposium on “Applications of Theoretical Chemistry for Energy and Fuel Production” at the fall 2014 American Chemical Society National Meeting.

2003 The New Jersey Council of Com-munity Colleges has awarded Paula Pando Adelhoch, Ed.D., the 2014 Community College Spirit Award.

2004 Lindsey Navarro was honored with the Community Service/Business Award at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisi-ana Excelencia Gala on September 19 in New Orleans.

Jeffrey Kane graduated from Yale Law School in May.

2009 Sinclair Ceasar is now assistant director of residence life at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmits-burg, Md.

Coleen Raparelli was named Outstanding Intermediate School Teacher for 2014 by the Optimist Club of Westfield, N.J. Raparelli holds a Master of Arts degree in administration and supervision from Saint Peter’s University. She is a member of the National Coun-cil of Teachers of Mathematics.

Marriages Ryan Hunt ’00 was married in October 2013. He is currently enrolled in graduate school at Saint Peter’s.

James A. Waiters ’07 and Denise T. Strasser ’09 were married on August 2.

Katie O’Connell ’08 and Matt Svensen were married on March 8. The ceremony took place at St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church and the recep-tion was held at Liberty House in Jersey City. Attendees included Cheryl Cuento ’08 and Dominic Sheridan ’08.

Katherine Swierad Cirkoski ’09 and Hristijan Cirkoski were married on March 22 at Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Church in Bennington, Vt. The nuptials were attended by brides-maids Meredith Earley ’09, April McKee ’09, Agata Erenc Duross ’09, Garrett Duross ’10, Priscilla Arboleda ’09, Nikki Toro ’10 and Tiffany Walton ’10.

Anelia Stanimirova ’10 married Mario Markovski ’07, ’10 on June 12 in Liberty State Park, Maritime Parc venue.

Births Michael Simone ’03 and Erica Simone welcomed a baby girl, Sophia Marie Simone, on May 29.

Billy Joe ’07 and Rose Mercado ’06 welcomed a new baby boy, Raphael Braeden Cunningham Mercado, on June 17. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and mea-sured 19 inches at birth.

Elizabeth Zamorski ’10 and husband Dave Pepe announced the birth of their second and third children, twin girls Audrianna and Alessandra Pepe.

Mike DeLorenzo ’11 married on May 26, 2012, became a father on February 22, 2013, bought a home on October 31, 2013 and welcomed a second son in July.

Saint John’s Bible Goes on the RoadSaint Peter’s University has been home to a beautiful fine-art Heritage Edition facsimile of The Saint John’s Bible since 2012.

It is displayed on the first floor of the Theresa and Edward O’Toole Library, but it can travel to you.

Alumni can host a viewing/prayer service, question and answer session or presentation and discussion with Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry. For more information, contact Alumni

Engagement Officer Karen Hackett at (201) 761-6113 or [email protected].

Save the DateFlorida Alumni Mass & Brunch Sunday, January 18, 2015, 10:30 a.m.Naples Sailing & Yacht Club896 River Point Drive, Naples, Fla.Hosted by Josephine and Thomas O’Reilly ’69For more information or to register, please contact Gloria Mercurio, executive director of alumni engagement, at (201) 761-6125 or [email protected].


15004_mag.indd 27 10/27/14 4:47 PM

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS VISIT SPAIN:

Experiencing the Life of IgnatiusSaint Peter’s University President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., his wife, AnnMarie, and Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, joined alumni and friends for an unforgettable eight-day journey through Spain June 2–9 to walk “In the Footsteps of Ignatius.” Fr. Braden celebrated two Masses during the trip.

The group traced the life of Saint Ignatius during his time in Spain, visiting places of great historical and religious significance such as Loyola, Xavier, Monserrat, Manresa and Barcelona and also enjoyed the culinary heritage of the Spanish countryside.

Alumni attending with their spouses included James O’Brien ’64 and Ellen O’Brien; William Cozine ’60 and Mildred Cozine; Frederick Jacques ’70 and Ellen Jacques; Thomas Hoffman ’62 and Louise Murray; James McGuinness ’73 and Marie Beebe; Kenneth Mahon ’73 and Henrietta Mahon ’74.

“The trip was extraordinary. To follow [Saint Ignatius’] journey, to learn more about his life and to attend Mass in the same room where his spiritual transformation occurred was impressive and inspiring. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and our driver was superb. We completely enjoyed this tour, meeting and making new friends, especially at meals, when we challenged each other with 60s music trivia.”

Ellen and Fred Jacques ’70

“In Barcelona, we went to Monjuic to enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful city and to the Gothic Quarter to see a 13th century ca-thedral, Santa Maria del Mar (Our Lady of the Sea) both were breathtaking.”

Gloria Mercurio

2.

3. 4.

5.

1.

“This trip took us through the towns of Spain that we would not otherwise have visited on a secular tour of the country. The Saint Ignatius-laced theme of the trip added wonderful contemplative, religious and historical elements to the tour. We highly recommend it.”

Henrietta ’74 and Kenneth Mahon ’73

28 Fall 2014

CLASS NEWS & Notes

15004_mag.indd 28 10/29/14 5:13 PM

In the Footsteps of Ignatius 2015Another trip to Spain is planned for June 8–14, 2015. To preview the trip itinerary, visit alumni.saintpeters.edu/event/travel. For more information, contact Gloria Mercurio, executive director of alumni engagement, at (201) 761-6125 or [email protected].

1. Walking tour of Bilbao (L to R): Rev. John Hyatt, S.J., Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., AnnMarie Cornacchia, Saint Peter’s University President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., William Cozine ’60, Mildred Cozine, James O’Brien ’64, Ellen O’Brien, Louise Murray, Tom Hoffman ’62, Gloria Mercurio, Rev. Ron Wozniak, S.J., Ken Mahon ’73, Henrietta Mahon ’74, James McGuinness ’73, Marie Beebe, Fred Jacques ’70, Ellen Jacques and Rev. George Williams, S.J. 2. Xavier Castle. 3. Cypress trees behind Xavier Castle. 4. Rev. Paul Holland, S.J., celebrates Mass in the Cave in Manresa. 5. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. 6. Rev. George Williams, S.J., celebrates Mass in Santa Maria of Olatz Chapel. 7. Our Lady of the Pilar Basilica be-hind buildings in Zaragoza. 8. Top of Xavier Castle: Bottom row (L to R): Louise Murray, Gloria Mercurio and AnnMarie Cornacchia. Top row (L to R): William Cozine ’60, Mildred Cozine, James O’Brien ’64, Ellen O’ Brien, Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., Ellen Jacques and Fred Jacques ’70 and Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D. 9. Our Lady of the Sea Cathedral in Barcelona. 10. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

“It was wonderful for me to see how well and eagerly the people on the trip embraced the early travels of Saint Ignatius.”

Rev. Michael Braden, S.J.

“In Barcelona, we went to Monjuic to enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful city and to the Gothic Quarter to see a 13th century cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar (Our Lady of the Sea). Both were breathtaking.”

Gloria Mercurio

6.

7.8.

9.

10.


15004_mag.indd 29 10/30/14 3:19 PM

From the Halls of Saint Peter’s to the African SavannahALUMNI AND FAMILY DEMONSTRATE DEEP COMMITMENT TO KENYA SCHOOL PROJECT

When Jerry Kallman ’52 speaks about his years of volunteer

work at Kishermoruak Primary School in the Maasai Mara

Reserve in Kenya, his profound commitment to serving

others becomes immediately apparent. “The first time my

wife, Lorraine, and I visited the school,” he recalled, “we told

the head teacher, ‘We really want to help you.’”

Kallman, who studied English at Saint Peter’s University,

has worked as a teacher, track coach, journalist and public

relations professional. In 1961, he founded Kallman

Associates, a full-service public relations agency. “When

I stepped back—I won’t say I retired!—in 2000, my sons

took over and expanded,” he said. Today, their respective

companies—Kallman Associates and Kallman Worldwide—

are pre-eminent managers of international trade shows

and fairs.

Inspired by the outreach work of the Rotary Club of Ridge-

wood, N.J., Kallman has traveled to the Maasai Mara Reserve

with a group of volunteers every year since 2008. Projects

have included classroom construction, the completion of a

well, exterior fence construction (“to keep elephants out”)

and the addition of a washing station where students can

clean up before eating lunch.

Volunteers work to ensure that all students receive a hot

lunch daily. “When there has been a drought or the harvest

has been reduced,” Kallman said, “it’s often the only hot meal

the students have that day.” The volunteers’ commitment to

providing clean water also helps the students avoid tracho-

ma, an infectious eye disease that, if left untreated, can lead

to blindness.

The volunteers also devote their time and energy to pro-

viding academic support to the students at Kishermoruak,

helping with room and board, textbooks, tuition and medi-

cal expenses. “When members of my family and I visited

in 2010, we each had an eighth-grade ‘buddy’ who followed

us around—seven kids total,” Kallman said. “We decided we

wanted to send all our buddies to high school.” Four years

later, one of the graduating seniors plans to become a lawyer,

he noted.

If it had not been for an injury he suffered in college, Kall-

man would not have benefited from the influence of a Saint

Peter’s education, and his life may have taken a completely

different turn.

“I started out at Providence College on a track scholar-

ship,” said Kallman. “In my second year, I hurt my leg and had

to give it up.” When he transferred as a junior, Saint Peter’s

“opened its arms to me. I didn’t know I was losing my schol-

arship until June and had to transfer quickly. Saint Peter’s

accepted all of my credits. I have a special place in my heart

for the faculty who welcomed me.”

He cited Rev. Joseph Schuh, S.J., as an important positive

influence. “I worked in the bookstore, and he would stop in

and chat with me. He was the one who helped me to realize

I wanted to become a Catholic.”

Now Kallman is committed to ensuring that the young

people he works with receive an excellent education, too.

“We have a lifetime job ahead of us,” he said.

“[Saint Peter’s] opened its arms to me... I have a special place in my heart for the faculty who welcomed me.”

Lorraine Kallman, who visits Kenya annually with husband Jerry Kallman ’52, demonstrates a laptop computer to Maasai students.

PEACOCK PROFILE

CLASS NEWS & Notes

30 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 30 10/27/14 4:47 PM

Irene Barnes ’83Richard F. Berk ’62Edward M. Bolger, Ph.D. ’59John B. Bonner ’69Thomas Breheney ’72Michael M. Brown ’56James Joseph Butler ’67James W. Calandriello ’74John M. Colarusso ’72Paul R. Colletti ’55Rev. Thomas P. Conheeney ’48John M. Corbliss ’60Thomas E. Cross III ’57Herbert B. Danielsen ’52Mauro De Bari, CPA ’62Vincent S. De Lorenzo ’67Martin C. Dolan, Esq. ’72Maureen Donnelly ’77Joan B. Du Bois ’75George T. Erbe, Ph.D. ’54Louis Fink, D.D.S. ’40James J. Fischer, S.J. ’45Henry T. Fitzgerald ’54Patrick F. Fitzmaurice ’57Edward E. Foster, Ph.D. ’61R. Donald Gamache ’58Joseph A. Geiss ’59Edward J. Gilhooly ’63John A. Gleavy ’53Charles E. Haight Jr. ’55Gerald F. Healey ’60Edward J. Hurley ’70William G. Jaeger ’73Timothy C. Kehoe ’65

Thomas J. Kitrick ’57Charles L. Kohler ’61Edward F. Korzun ’70Joseph L. Kronski ’64John E. Madden, Esq. ’61James F. Mahon ’43Robert L. Marcalus H ’96, HA ’06Francis N. Marzulli, Ph.D. ’37Thomas G. McCarthy ’50Edward J. McCrossin III, Esq. ’68Francis J. McGuire ’47Xavier McKay ’86Kerry M. McKay, M.D. ’80Stephen J. Miller ’58Albert A. Natelli, Esq. ’51Lawrence F. Noble, Esq. ’57Albert H. Noll ’51Charles P. O’Farrell III, Ph.D. ’60Vincent C. Ortolani ’63Charles M. Otranto ’72Fred C. Petruzzello ’80David Randolph H ’06Elias A. Sarkar ’73Herbert G. Sauer ’41John Sheridan ’64Joyce SheridanAsmar Smith-Bey ’04Samuel L. Tagliareni ’64James A. Ward ’50Philip J. Weiler Jr. ’53Harold Weinstein ’50Nicholas J. Willson, M.D. ’59Gary Wondolowski ’75Donald H. Woronecki ’59

Requiescant in PaceSaint Peter’s University wishes to extend its prayers and condolences to the families of alumni, members of the University community and friends who have passed away.

Answer Key for “What’s Your AlumnIQ” on Page 10:1 — e; 2 — a, b, d; 3 – d; 4 a — 3, b — 2, c — 4, d — 1; 5 — c; 6 — b; 7 — d; 8 — c; 9 — b & e; 10 — b.

Amanda’s Serves Up Support for Church

Above: Rev. Michael Braden, S.J., Rev. William McKenna, S.J., Rev. Peter O’Brien, S.J., Rev. Matthew Cassidy, S.J., Rev. Vincent Sul-livan, S.J., Rev. Thomas Sheridan, S.J., Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., and Eugene Flinn ’80. Right: hosts Eugene Flinn ’80 and his wife, Joyce, with Rev. Thomas Sheridan.

On May 29, more than 100 alumni, faculty, administrators

and friends gathered for an event benefiting St. Aedan’s: The

Saint Peter’s University Church. Stalwart University supporters

Eugene Flinn ’80 and his wife, Joyce, hosted the event at their

Hoboken restaurant, Amanda’s. Guests were treated to a five

course dinner with wine pairings, as well as an impromptu ren-

dition of Io Pavo, performed by former members of the Glee Club.

PORTRAIT OF HOPE: SAINT PETER’S ALUMNI CREATE UPLIFTING DOCUMENTARYMarylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno ’84 and Jerome

Bongiorno ’84 tell a unique story of success in

their new documentary, The Rule, about St. Bene-

dict’s Prep in Newark, N.J.

The husband-and-wife filmmakers, who met

as undergraduates at Saint Peter’s University

and reside in Newark, tell the powerful story of

how the monks of Newark Abbey turned an in-

ner city school into an educational triumph. In

a city where the crime rate is high and the high

school graduation rate low, the school achieves a

near 100 percent college acceptance rate.

The film opened to packed audiences and

rave reviews. “This uplifting documentary offers a

rare hope in its portrait of an urban school that’s

defying the odds,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter.

PBS broadcast The Rule in September. The DVD

will be released on November 28 and the film

returns to The Quad in New York City, November

28 through December 4. For further information,

visit bongiornoproductions.com or follow on

Twitter @TheRuleFilm. St. Benedict’s Prep studentsCourtesy of and ©BongiornoProductions Inc.


15004_mag.indd 31 10/30/14 3:20 PM

THEN AND Now

Business Tools from the 20th to the 21st CenturyAt left, students from Hudson

College, The School of Business

of Saint Peter’s College, work

with pen and paper in a photo

from the Saint Peter’s yearbook,

The Pavonian.

Below, today’s business

students take advantage of

state-of-the-art computers

and a simulated trading floor

in the School of Business’ new

Business Laboratory.

2014

1947

Planning for Your Future

Project rooms forstudent/facultyresearch andcollaborative

learning

No one knows whatthe future holds.

Making a plan can help you achieve

your ultimate goals.

To assist you, Saint Peter’s is offering a free personal estate planning kit on its website.

Simply go to www.saintpeters.edu/giftplanning.

For additional information, contact Ana Cravo, director of planned giving,

at (201) 761-6104 or [email protected].

• Provide for your loved ones

• Have income for life

• Create a lasting legacy at Saint Peter’s University

Join these alumni in including

Saint Peter’s in your estate plans.

Herbert Schneider ’59

Cecilia Michalik ’7332 Fall 2014

15004_mag.indd 32 10/27/14 4:48 PM

Planning for Your Future

Project rooms forstudent/facultyresearch andcollaborative

learning

No one knows whatthe future holds.

Making a plan can help you achieve

your ultimate goals.

To assist you, Saint Peter’s is offering a free personal estate planning kit on its website.

Simply go to www.saintpeters.edu/giftplanning.

For additional information, contact Ana Cravo, director of planned giving,

at (201) 761-6104 or [email protected].

• Provide for your loved ones

• Have income for life

• Create a lasting legacy at Saint Peter’s University

Join these alumni in including

Saint Peter’s in your estate plans.

Herbert Schneider ’59

Cecilia Michalik ’73

15004_mag.indd 3 10/29/14 5:16 PM

2641 John F. Kennedy BoulevardJersey City, New Jersey 07306

Change Service Requested

Office of University Communications

The most transformational campaign in Saint Peter’s University history is about

to conclude. Join us as we wrap it up.

December 5, 2014 6:30 p.m.

Mac Mahon Student CenterJersey City, New Jersey

By Invitation Only ~ Black Tie

[email protected](855) 772-1000

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDS. Hackensack, NJ

Permit #79

15004_mag.indd 4 10/29/14 5:16 PM

Documents

Fall Magazine 2014