The Chair Starz Channel Debuts New Docuseries Filmed at Point Park and in Pittsburgh

A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | FALL 2014 POINTTHE THE CHAIR Starz Channel Debuts New Docuseries Filmed at Point Park and in Pittsburgh IN FOCUS A $15 Million Legacy from George and Kathleen White Dear alumni and friends, It’s back-to-school season, one of my favorite It is impossible to overstate the impact that times of the year. Point Park’s campus is the Whites, longtime champions of the bursting with the energy and excitement University’s transformative potential, have had that our students bring with them as they on Point Park. Their bequest will be dispersed arrive for the first time in, or return to, our among several critical initiatives, including the Downtown neighborhood. Pittsburgh Playhouse construction fund and enhancements to the University’s School of This fall is especially exciting because the Business, including continued funding of the University welcomes a record number of George Rowland White Endowed Professor 14 first-time, full-time freshmen. These new of Accounting and Finance. TABLE OF CONTENTS students will participate in Point Park’s new core curriculum, beginning with the City- George and Kathleen White’s extraordinary University Life freshman seminar course and generosity will enable us to expand programs 2 Feedback 30 Alumni Connection culminating with a senior capstone project. and campus enhancements that are signifi- They will also benefit from a new eight-term cant and meaningful, not just to our students advising model, “Pathways to Success,” in and academic community, but to the Pitts- 16 3 News and Views 31 Class Notes which students will connect with both an burgh region as well. In this issue of The academic advisor and an advisor in Point Point, we pay tribute to their pivotal legacy 14 Creativity on Tap 34 Sports Chat Park’s Center for Student Success during and creative vision. New gastro-pub Hundred Wood A conversation with Dan Swalga, each semester. It’s all part of our focus on stirs up a campus gathering spot. 2014 KIAC Athletics Director of the high impact education: that is, enhancing Whether you are a student arriving on campus Year, on the rise of the Pioneers. the overall student learning experience to for the first time, or a long time alum, you are 16 A Transformational Legacy ensure student success. a key element of Point Park’s success. We are $15 million bequest from the proud to say that our commitment to success 24 late George and Kathleen White The late George and Kathleen White were and creative transformation will remain in focus, is the largest single donation in also focused on the success of Point Park now and in the years to come. Point Park history. and its students. Their dedication to the University’s growth and prosperity is mani- Warm regards, fested in their $15 million bequest – the 24 Roberto Clemente Musical single largest gift in the University’s history. “21” and More TALK TO US! 2014-2015 Playhouse season The Point wants to hear from you. Send your features world premieres, classics comments and suggestions to: and contemporary works. Dr. Paul Hennigan On the cover: Managing Editor Point Park cinema Marketing and Communications President Point Park University student Kevin Stiller 26 The Chair Debuts on 201 Wood Street on the set of The Chair, the Starz Channel Pittsburgh, PA 15222 filmed this past spring Point Park is home to a new at Point Park and in Phone: 412-392-6108 Pittsburgh. Photo by television documentary series Fax: 412-392-6185 Sarah Cunningham, senior that puts filmmakers’ vision in Email: [email protected] photojournalism student. the spotlight. President Managing Director of Director of Organizational Web Services Administrator Photographers Paul Hennigan, Ed.D. Communications and Identity and Photography Stephen Shanahan John Altdorfer Client Services The Point is published by the Department of Marketing and Communications, Point Park University, 201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of published Dalton Good Tom Bell information. Please visit our web site at www.pointpark.edu for current information regarding University programs, departments, alumni activities and events. Vice President of Nancy Commella Writers Sarah Cunningham External Affairs Manager of Printing Lou Corsaro Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Initiatives Managing Editor Services Jim Judkis This policy affirms Point Park University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and the pursuit of diversity. Point Park University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national Mariann Geyer Amanda Dabbs origin, sex, age, religion, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, caregiver status or familial status in the administration of any of its educational programs, Cheryl Valyo Don Pastorius Richard Kelly Cristina Rouvalis activities or with respect to employment or admission to the University’s educational programs and activities. This policy is in accord with local, state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Martha Rial of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act Gina Puppo of 1975 and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Act. Inquiries regarding these regulations, policies or complaints of discrimination should be referred to the human resources officer, telephone number Graphic Designer Managing Director, Christopher Rolinson Kevin Taylor 412-392-3952. Inquiries regarding Title IX and the Title IX regulations should also be referred to the senior vice president, academic and student affairs, as the Title IX coordinator, or deputy coordinators, Judy Sporka Online Communications Jeff Swensen the human resources officer or the dean of students. Christine Zapinski pointparK.EDU 1 The Umbrella Man is Screened at Film Festivals in Pittsburgh, Portland and Kansas City NEWS AND VIEWS Professional Advancement Ensemble, and the Point Park Dance other great characters in memorable The Point Park University-produced feature film,The Umbrella Man, premiered Department. The book spans more than scenes,” Cuden said. D’Haene, a screen- last June at the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival, followed by another Paul Hennigan 80 years of his life, beginning with his writer, novelist and editor, and Molly Rice, screening in August at the Portland Film Festival in Oregon. It will be screened , president of Point Park a playwright and songwriter, presented in October at the Kansas International Film Festival, where it is one of five films University, received the EY Entrepre- childhood in Eastern Europe, and follows eligible for the jury award. neur Of The Year™ 2014 Award in the the dance career that carried him around on the topic of “Creative Disruption/ Community & Economic Development the world and ultimately to Pittsburgh, Distribution” to a group of filmmakers Directed by Michael Grasso, The Umbrella Man tells one couple’s story of love, category for Western Pennsylvania and where Petrov developed techniques and from around the country. loss, and the survival of their relationship in the aftermath of their child’s death West Virginia. The award recognizes out- programs that are used not just locally, and the acquittal of the boy’s killer. Point Park University was the driving force standing entrepreneurs who demonstrate but across the country. Helena Knörr, Ph.D., associate professor in developing the original material written by Michael and Joseph Grasso. excellence and extraordinary success in of organizational leadership, traveled The Umbrella Man marks the feature film debut by the Grasso brothers, who such areas as innovation, financial perfor- Steve Tanzilli, J.D., associate professor, to Mexico City June 26 - 27 for the Sec- are commercial film veterans. Set in Pittsburgh in 1983, the film follows Peter mance, and personal commitment to their chair and founder of the Department of ond International Meeting in and Annie Brennan as they face the tragic death of their young son. The boy’s businesses and communities. Hennigan Sports, Arts and Entertainment Manage- Entrepreneurship Development. At the death, and the subsequent acquittal of his killer, kindles a conspiratorial para- was selected by an independent panel ment, presented on the topic “Represent- conference she presented on the topic noia in Peter that threatens his sanity and marriage. While trying to discover of judges. The award was presented ing Athletes off of the Field” at the 2014 “Values, Ethics and Sustainable Develop- more about the killer, Brennan becomes fixated on the story of the “umbrella North American Society for Sport Man- ment of Businesses” and conducted a man,” a suspected shooter in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. June 20 at a gala event at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh. “I am humbled and agement Conference last May. NASSM workshop for business owners on “Tools The REP, Point Park University’s professional theatre company, mounted a honored by this award,” Hennigan said. is involved in supporting and assisting for Consolidating Businesses in Mexico.” staged production of The Umbrella Man in 2011 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. “It is representative of the work so many professionals working in the fields of Also at the conference, Knörr was inter- Directed by Robert A. Miller, who also is a producer on the movie, the stage play introduced audiences to the deep human drama people have done at Point Park to make sports, leisure and recreation. Tanzilli’s viewed by Forbes Mexico for the article in an unprecedented stage experience. The movie was filmed in the Pittsburgh area in 2013, and provided dozens of Point Park the University an important fixture and presentation at the conference was part “Three pieces of advice from Mexico to students a unique opportunity for on-the-job training. View a trailer for the film at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyO4SRNE47Q.

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