SEVENTY-FIRST STREET VOLUME 13 ● NUMBER 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS MMC Students Around the World Every semester ten to fifteen MMC students reap the benefits of a study abroad program. 71st St Magazine sits down with SEVENTY-FIRST STREET two students to find out more about their unique experiences abroad . 2 From College Productions to Professional Theatre, MMC Influence’s a Couple’s Journey VOLUME 13 ● NUMBER 1 Richard and Courtney Whittington met and began dating while at MMC. 71SPRING 2005 Learn how their experiences at the College brought them to the Triad area of North Carolina. 6 Editor: Erin J. Sauer Design: Connelly Design 30th Anniversary Benefit Celebration of the Theresa Lang Theatre a Smashing Success 71st Street is published twice a The Benefit Celebration has raised nearly $80,000 to refurbish year by the Office of Institutional the Theatre’s sound and lighting equipment, exceeding the Advancement at Marymount original goal of $50,000. See who attended this successful event . 9 Manhattan College. The title recognizes the many alumni and Recent Major Gifts to the College. 12 faculty who have come to refer affectionately to the college Interview: Judith Nicholson Gruber ’59 by its Upper East Side address. on the Benefits of a Charitable Remainder Trust. 14 Marymount Manhattan College Eyes on Stamos at the Hewitt Gallery of Art . 15 221 East 71st Street New York, NY 10021 ALUMNI FOCUS: RECENT EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS (212) 517-0450 Alumni in D.C., Philly, and LA . 16 The views and opinions expressed Author Michael Stadther and Wife, Helen Demetrios ’73, by those in this magazine are Bring Fairytale A Treasure’s Trove to Life at MMC. 20 independent and do not necessarily represent those of Meet the Alumni Leadership Council. 21 Marymount Manhattan College. Campus Notes Notable lectures, important campus events, faculty and student achievements, new additions to administration, and other COVER ART: interesting news from around campus. 24 MMC Students Around the World. Illustration by Reece Quinones Class Notes ©2005 Find out what your fellow alumni are up to. 28 Alumni Calendar . 32 By Erin J. Sauer ecent donations to Marymount Manhattan College have increased MMC the study abroad options for students. In October 2004, MMC received a grant from the Andrew RW. Mellon Foundation to support the hiring of a TUDENTS full-time Director of Summer and Study Abroad S Programming. In March, the Stavros S. Niar- chos Foundation provided funding for a two- year program to include a student exchange between MMC and the American College of ROUND Thessaloniki in Greece. It is expected that the A MMC-ACT study abroad program will be in place by the fall semester in 2005. “Study abroad is one of the most life changing experiences a student can have,” THE WORLD says Dr. Marguerita J. Grecco, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. And Dean Grecco should know, as she has worked with countless students to select, organize and plan for their experiences abroad. “They learn a great deal about themselves; they always return and look ‘new.’ I think it is a very essential experience to offer our students.” Marymount Manhattan College has not traditionally operated a study abroad program, referring students instead to apply to other U.S. colleges and universities or private or non- profit agencies that have articulation agree- ments with various international programs. Dean Grecco’s role in this process has been to put students in contact with these institutions/organizations, help them obtain student visas, if necessary, and provide advice on how to prepare for their experience and what they should expect abroad. Once accepted into a program, students meet with MMC faculty advisors and select the courses they will complete abroad. They also sit down with financial aid counselors to deter- mine whether or not their financial aid can be Theatre Studies Major Learns the Importance of applied to the international experience. When Heritage, Housing, and Good Friends While in Ireland the semester- or year-long experience is over, students receive college credits for the experi- annah Lilly ’05 knew that she wanted to study abroad at Trinity College in ence from MMC. Dublin, Ireland probably before she knew she wanted to attend MMC. Last year, more than 20 students went Hannah, who is part Irish and lived for a time on the Irish populated abroad for a semester or more. They studied H Beaver Island in Michigan, had it in her blood to go over seas and study in in such fascinating areas as the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Ireland, England and India. Ireland. During her junior year, she applied to a college that had an articulation Each student returned to MMC with a unique agreement with Trinity and was accepted. story to share. 71st St Magazine sits down After arriving on Sept. 24, 2004, Hannah stayed in several hostels while she with two students to find out more about their searched for permanent housing. Classes didn’t start until mid-October, so she experiences abroad. had some time to establish herself and meet people. Finding housing in Dublin, 2 MARYMOUNT MANHATTAN COLLEGE Below, left: Trinity College’s front square. Above: Landscape scenes taken by Hannah while traveling between Dublin and Galway, Ireland. Kylemore Abbey, home of the Benedictine order of nuns in Ireland. however, turned out to be more of a challenge than she Niamh, who was from the U.S. but was also a citizen of expected. Ireland and England. Niamh needed a roommate and Hannah Students who attended Dublin colleges and universities needed a room, so it worked out well for both. Hannah lived with earlier start dates had snatched up many of the affordable with Niamh until the end of the program. They remain strong sublets, says Hannah. Also, like New York City, Dublin is very friends still. expensive and with the declining value of the U.S. dollar, In addition to Aideen, Niamh, and the ten other American Hannah’s money didn’t go as far as she’d hoped. and Canadian visiting students whom Hannah met in her After a too-good-to-be true sublet opportunity fell through, program, she also befriended several native Dubliners. They she stayed with Aideen Finnegan, a cousin of MMC alumna would often spend Sundays enjoying a Guinness at an area Kerry M. Donohue ’97, former Associate Director of Admis- pub and listening to a local band “One Tree Hill,” that played sions at MMC, until she could find permanent housing. Aideen there. attended college in Dublin and now works there as a radio When asked what she learned most from her experience in producer. She was a good contact for Hannah to know when Dublin, Hannah says, “Living abroad, I learned a lot about she first got to Ireland, and she remains a true friend, says myself. It also gave me a real appreciation for my mother and Hannah. my family.” At this time, classes had begun, and Hannah was already After graduation in May, Hannah Lilly plans to spend time well into writing and producing her play, “Careless Hands,” with her family in Michigan and Milwaukee, Wis. Perhaps in and managing four classes. In one of her classes, she met the future she will apply to Trinity College’s graduate program. (L-r) Brothers Stephen and Peter Carroll of the band “One Tree Hill,” (L-r) Hannah and friends Nate and Angie. playing at O’Neill’s (local pub). 71ST STREET ● SPRING 2005 3 At left: Jordan at the Berlin Wall in Germany. several day trips throughout the Netherlands and longer trips to other parts of Europe with friends that he made in the program. He traveled to Berlin, Germany and Warsaw, Poland by train with a few friends. While in Germany, he experienced the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, and in Warsaw saw the remains of the Jewish ghetto used during the Holocaust. The World Was His Classroom: International Studies Major On another trip, this one by car, he went to Prague in the Enjoys Travel Opportunities While in Amsterdam Czech Republic. “Driving across Europe in fter enjoying several summers in Europe with friends, as a small car with friends during a severe snow storm was one well as much international travel with his family, Jordan of the most memorable experiences of my life,” says Jordan. ABraver ’05 was set on studying in Europe while at MMC. “And although we only had two days in Prague and then had Because of his strong interest in Dutch culture and history, he to turn around and go back to Amsterdam, it was worth every had narrowed down his decision to Amsterdam, the Nether- minute of it.” lands by his sophomore year. Through a non-profit agency, Over spring break, he traveled with one friend to Egypt he applied and was accepted into the Universiteit van then Israel for Passover. They stayed with friends of his family Amsterdam International School for Humanities and Social in Israel. Sciences study abroad program for the spring of 2004. “It was really important for me to be in Israel for Passover. Once settled into his university housing, Jordan took full Spending the holiday in the Holy Land was very powerful, advantage of all that the University and Europe had to offer and it was great to be with my friends whom I have not seen him. In addition to the rich culture he gained from his course- in years.” work, he traveled consistently during his stay. He took “People should take advantage of this,” says Jordan. “I am Scenes from Amsterdam. Jordan in Jerusalem, Israel over spring break (April 2004).