A Family Affair Warren Family Keeps MMC Legacy Alive This Is the Day to Envision Our Future

VOLUME 16 NO. 3 Summer 2009

Seventy-First Street

71A l u m n i m A g a z i n e

A Family Affair Warren Family Keeps MMC Legacy Alive This is the Day to envision our future.

Marymount Manhattan College has surpassed the $21.9 million mark of its $25 million campaign, the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the College’s history. This is the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Manhattan will substantially increase need-based student financial aid, encourage higher levels of scholarship and research, and increase the number of full-time faculty; and enhance our existing spaces to create a dynamic, yet comfortable environment for learning and growing. We are grateful to all donors whose generosity has supported our strong momentum toward reaching our campaign goal.

This is the Day campaign is an extraordinary undertaking that has been supported and recognized by The Kresge Foundation, which recently awarded the College an extension to the challenge grant deadline from June 30, 2009 to March 31, 2010. To comply with Kresge’s requirements, campaign pledges must be received by that date; however, payments may extend up to five years, as long as they are received by March 31, 2015.

This is the Day to show your support.

CONTACT: Jean Wilhelm at [email protected] (212) 517-0460 Contents SEVENTY FIRST STREET 71ALUMNI MAGAZINE

71st Street Alumni Magazine is published three times annually by Marymount Manhattan College, and mailed to alumni and friends. Printed in the United States, 10 16 18 71st Street Alumni Magazine can also be viewed online at FEATURES www.mmm.edu/alumni /publications.html. MMC Women Grow in Mother and Daughter Value Numbers Abroad ...... 8 MMC Experiences ...... 16 Rachel Balma ’10 Nathalia Fonseca ’10 Cristiana Shields ’08 Send letters to: , and her mother and Angela Poh ’10 return to MMC with Barbara Shields ’66 describe the Editor, 71st Street new perspectives. transformations of the College since they Alumni Magazine each attended. Marymount Manhattan A Family Affair: Warren Family College Keeps MMC Legacy Alive ...... 14 Summer Offers Opportunities 221 East 71st Street Jerianne Niebergall Warren ’72, Jacob for Scientific Research ...... 18 New York, NY 10021 Warren ’09 and Evan Warren ’11 share MMC professors work closely with students E-mail: [email protected] common appreciation for MMC. on focused projects.

EDITOR Manuel L. Romero DEPARTMENTS Alumni Avenue ...... 12 ASSISTANT EDITOR MMC News ...... 2 Reconnect with MMC alumni as they Megan Youngblood Learn about MMC’s comprehensive participate in local events and reunite at Reunion 2009. DESIGN campaign, This is the Day, summer Connelly Design renovations, campaign receptions and MMC and BHCP Commencements. Faculty Focus ...... 18 COVER PHOTOGRAPH Check out faculty achievements and Elena Olivo Recent Major Gifts ...... 7 books written by faculty members. Read about the generosity of alumni, friends and supporters of MMC. Class Notes ...... 22 Reunite with classmates as they share Campus View ...... 8 updates after graduation. Discover what’s happening on the MMC campus: Strawberry Festival, Spring Dance Calendar of Events ...... 28 Repertoire, Theatre Arts’ performances, Learn about exhibits and activities and more. hosted by MMC. MMC NEWS

MMC Summer Construction Continues

By Manny Romero he sights and sounds of construction continue as TMarymount Manhattan College (MMC) prepares to welcome students for the 2009 Fall Semester. On March 10, 2009, MMC’s Board of Trustees approved a new construction project that will join The Lowerre Family Terrace with a new Commons, a key component of the 2006 Facilities Master Plan. Once completed, The Commons will serve as a two-tiered dining facility and lounge located on the northern portion of the third and fourth floors of the Main building and adjacent to The Lowerre Family Terrace and across from the Shanahan Library. Construction of The Commons will 8TH FLOOR OFFICE help advance the President’s Climate SPACE (BEFORE): (Above) The design Commitment by incorporating energy concept for the 8th floor efficient lighting and mechanical office area focused on systems. The new lighting and HVAC maximizing the usage of space to meet the needs systems will help reduce the College’s of departments. carbon footprint. (Right) Before The College will celebrate the construction began in opening of The Commons with a March 2009, the 8th floor reception for invited guests on of the Main building served as a multi- September 14. The event will provide purpose room for college guests the opportunity to see the gatherings and meetings. renovated space and learn more about This is the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Manhattan. In June, Marymount Manhattan’s Offices of Academic Affairs and 8TH FLOOR OFFICE Student Affairs relocated to the 8th SPACE (AFTER): floor of the Main building, which was The 8th floor has been transformed into the part of the College’s summer new location for the construction project. Offices of Academic In order to accommodate the new Affairs and Student Affairs. The renovated space, the offices of Academic Affairs space includes new and Student Affairs relocated from the cubicles, offices and third floor of the Main building to the work areas. eighth floor in early June. The eighth

2 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE floor has been transformed into a new was removed. Construction will the third floor; and additional work office space that includes eight offices, continue on the third and fourth floors will continue in the library and several cubicles, and restroom facilities. of the Main building, The Great Hall the chapel. The space previously served as a and the library. According to Paul “As anticipated, the multiple multi-purpose room for staff gatherings Ciraulo, B.A., Executive Vice construction projects are ambitious and and meetings. Originally, the seventh President for Administration and difficult,” Ciraulo said. “However, our and eighth floors of the Main building Finance, contractors will install general contractor remains confident housed a swimming pool, which was structural steel in The Great Hall and of completing all projects in a built in 1929 when the building was on the fourth floor. Masonry timely manner.” the clubhouse of the Manhattan Junior construction, ductwork installation, All projects should be completed by League. The College continued to use plumbing and electrical work will the beginning of Fall 2009-2010 the swimming pool until 2003 when it continue throughout the north side of semester.

The Kresge Foundation Extends Challenge Deadline to March 31, 2010 n recognition of Marymount Manhattan’s Arts, and Jason Rosenfeld, Ph.D., successful fundraising efforts during this Associate Professor of Art History, as the Iunique economy, The Kresge first Distinguished Chairs at Marymount Foundation granted an extension to meet Manhattan College. its challenge grant. In order to receive the Campaign Director Jean Wilhelm, B.A., $1.5 million grant, the College must have said the extended deadline presents new gifts and pledges totaling $25 million by opportunities to meet the College’s March 31, 2010. As of August 12, 2009, the campaign goal. College has raised $21,884,173 in gifts and “To comply with Kresge’s new deadline, pledges. the College must develop more than In January 2008, the College launched $3,000,000 in gifts and pledges by March 31, the public phase of This is the Day, the 2010,” Wilhelm said. “However, actual comprehensive campaign to dramatically payments may be spread out, as long as increase need-based student financial aid, they are received by March 31, 2015.” encourage unprecedented levels of faculty Throughout the remainder of the scholarship and research, as well as campaign, MMC will be scheduling meetings increase the number of full-time faculty, and receptions to provide information about and enhance our existing spaces to create the campaign in general as well as special a dynamic, yet comfortable, environment for learning initiatives in honor of Sr. Judith Savard, Professor and growing. The campaign is an extraordinary Gurcharan Singh, Professor Marvelle S. Colby, Ph.D., undertaking that requires funding that is quite separate and Professors John and Priscilla Costello. These from general operating support raised through the inspirational educators touched the lives of thousands of College’s Annual Appeal. students during their many years of teaching at the There have been exciting milestones throughout the College. A number of endowed scholarships also exist course of the campaign. Each milestone supports one of that honor other distinguished faculty and staff members the three campaign initiatives: who span MMC’s history. They include the Professor The Lowerre Family Terrace, the campaign’s first major J. William Bordeau Scholarship, Sr. Raymunde McKay facilities project, was unveiled on September 8, 2008. By Scholarship and the Sr. Dymphna Leonard Scholarship. fall 2009, the new Commons will be completed, along The Maureen Lyons Olson ’79 Endowed Scholarship was with renovations to the Shanahan Library. established by Trustee Ginger Lyons de Neufville ’70 Today, with the demand for scholarship support at in honor of her sister who died on September 11. nearly historic levels, the College has been able to To learn more about This is the Day, the Campaign for significantly increase its financial assistance to MMC Marymount Manhattan, visit the Web at students through funds raised as part of This is the Day. www.mmm.edu/campaign or contact Jean Wilhelm, In March 2009, the College named Kathleen Campaign Director, at (212) 517-0460 / LeBesco, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Communication [email protected].

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 3 President’s Medal Gala Raises More Than $667,000

Marymount Manhattan vote of confidence in the College presented the 2009 College and its Mission at a time President’s Medal to Rabbi when philanthropy is Philip Hiat, religious advisor, understandably in decline almost friend to the College and everywhere. I am so very happy Scholar-in-Residence at Central to say that all the proceeds from Synagogue in New York City. the Gala will be used for student The presentation was made financial aid, which will increase April 27, during the College’s by 13% next year.” annual fundraising gala at The The event’s Master of Boathouse in Central Park. Ceremonies was NBC News More than 240 people Correspondent Peter participated. Trustees, friends, Alexander, who introduced the alumni, parents, faculty and (L-R) Gala Chair Marilyn Simons, President’s Medal evening’s speakers that included staff contributed more than Honoree Rabbi Philip Hiat, President Judson R. Shaver, Board Chair Anne C. Flannery, Ph.D., and Gala Chair Jim Simons. $660,000 to the College and Esq. ’73; Gala Chairs Marilyn This is the Day, the Campaign and Jim Simons; Student for Marymount Manhattan. Speakers Kadi Edenfield ’09 and Matt Mancuso ’09. In In an e-mail to the MMC Community, President Judson addition, Diana Zambrotta ’09 and Melissa Benoist ’11 R. Shaver, Ph.D., stated, “This is an extraordinary sum, and Nathan Atkinson ’07 performed a selection of songs more than double the average raised by this event, and a real from Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Receptions Bring Support to Costello College Offers Opportunity Fund and Aphasia Program to Support BHCP On April 25, members of the MMC community gathered Marymount Manhattan College’s Bedford Hills for a reception on The Lowerre Family Terrace to honor College Program will be the focus of two special John and Priscilla Costello for their many years of dedicated receptions scheduled in November. The College will service to the College. The event marked the establishment be hosting a reception at MMC and a reception in of the John and Priscilla Costello Fund, which will provide Westchester County, NY to offer information about the resources to MMC’s English Department. BHCP and a special screening of the movie featuring Contributions, including multi-year pledges, to the testimonials from Bedford Hills graduates and Costello Fund will also support This is the Day, the members of the MMC community. Announcements Campaign for Marymount Manhattan. For more information, and updates for these receptions will be forthcoming. please contact Jean Wilhelm, Campaign Director at (212) Contributions to the BHCP Endowment support This is 517-0460 / [email protected]. the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Manhattan. On May 13, The Ruth Smadbeck Center, located at With the cooperation of a consortium of New York Marymount Manhattan College, hosted a fundraising area colleges, MMC has served as the degree-granting reception in support of the Byrd Drucker Fund and the institution for the program since the spring of 1997, Center’s Aphasia Program. and has managed its operations since late 2004. The Aphasia is the communication disorder resulting from BHCP offers non-credit college-preparatory courses in brain damage. Stroke survivors often have trouble with writing and math, as well as credit-bearing courses communication, feeding and other cognitive and physical leading to Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts skills. The Smadbeck Center is part of the College’s degrees. Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders. To make a contribution to the Bedford Hills College To learn more about MMC’s Aphasia Program and the Ruth Program or Endowment, contact Jean Wilhelm, B.A., Smadbeck Communication and Learning Center, contact Campaign Director, (212) 517-0460/[email protected]. Dr. Teresa M. Signorelli, CCC-SLP, at (212) 774-0728 / [email protected].

4 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE MMC Loses Beloved Mentor, Professor and Friend J. William Bordeau

Marymount Manhattan College Theatre Company at the College recently lost a beloved member of when students could observe as the its community. Professor Emeritus early works and premieres of J. William (Bill) Bordeau passed Marsha Norman, Christopher away suddenly on Saturday, July 25. Durang and Wendy Wasserstein. Professor Bordeau’s dedication, Professor Bordeau was a guest artistic vision and vibrant director for Fordham, SUNY Stony personality built a strong foundation Brook and Columbia University and for the success of MMC’s Theatre worked professionally in opera, Arts and Dance programs. In his 30 television and film. A board years of teaching, Professor member for several institutions, Bordeau was a much loved mentor including the Alvin Ailey Dance and educator, who went to great Foundation, Circum-Arts Foundation lengths to nurture and challenge his and the Neurological Research (L-R) The late J. William Bordeau, Professor students. Emeritus of Theatre Arts, in attendance at the Foundation of NYC, Bill also served Professor Bordeau received his 2008 Dance Gala with close friends Charles Fries as the U.S. consultant to the Drama B.A. in Theatre and English at and Mary Fleischer, Ph.D., Chair of the Division of Studio (London) where he directed Fine and Performing Arts. Northern Michigan University and and taught master classes. During his M.A. in Theatre from the the mid-1980s until his retirement, University of Michigan; additional graduate work in theatre Bill served as MMC’s first Director of Recruitment for and dance was completed at Columbia University. Bill Theatre Arts, taking particular care in mentoring students began college teaching in 1961 at Suffolk Community through the admissions process and, in collaboration with College where he created the first Telecommunications colleagues, substantially increasing the program in size program of its kind in New York State, and served as the and quality. design consultant for the construction of its theatre and arts In recognition of Bill’s many accomplishments, MMC’s complex. Board of Trustees named him Professor Emeritus of Theatre When Bill arrived at MMC in 1968 he focused on teaching Arts upon his retirement in 1999. To honor his commitment acting, directing and communication arts. As Chairperson of to the College, alumni, colleagues and friends established the Communication Arts in the 1970s, he was central to J. William Bordeau Scholarship at that time. establishing the B.F.A. programs in Acting and in Dance, The College will hold a memorial service for Bill on and he served as the design consultant for the Theresa Lang October 4. For more information visit www.mmm.edu. Theatre, which was originally dedicated in 1975 as the Contributions to the J. William Bordeau Scholarship can be Marymount Manhattan Theatre. For that occasion Bill sent to the Office of Institutional Advancement at directed the Theatre’s inaugural production of Beckett’s Marymount Manhattan College, 221 E. 71st Street, New York, “Waiting for Godot.” The Theatre then served both as NY 10021. classroom and Off-Broadway venue for professional music, Bill is survived by his partner of 24 years, Randal Tupper; dance and theatre performances. Professor Bordeau was by his brother Robert, his sister Jeanne, his sister-in-law Sharon, especially proud of the five-year residency of the Phoenix his niece, nephews, and grandnieces, and many friends.

Balakrishnan and Quigley Leave MMC Radhika Balakrishnan, Ph.D., has accepted the of Women’s and Gender Studies as her academic position of executive director for The Center for Women’s affiliation. Global Leadership at Rutgers University. Balakrishnan After serving as the Director of Counseling and joined Marymount Manhattan College in 1996 and served Psychological Services (CAPS) at MMC for the past four as a professor of economics and international studies. She years, Brian Quigley, Ph.D. has accepted the position began her new duties on September 1, 2009, and joined of Director of the Counseling Center at Keene State the faculty as a full Professor in the Rutgers Department College in Keene, New Hampshire.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 5 MMC Presents 355 Undergraduate Degrees

Marymount Manhattan College celebrated the academic achievements of 355 graduates at the College’s 60th Baccalaureate and Commencement on May 22. MMC’s Commencement, which took place in Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, featured addresses by President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., Valedictorian Sara Bauknecht ’09, a communication arts major with a President Shaver presents Carla A. Harris, Dr. William Baker was awarded an double minor in creative writing and Managing Director in the Strategic Client honorary degree of Doctor of theatre, and Senior Class Speaker Group at Morgan Stanley Investment Humane Letters in the Arts. David Alex Andrejko ’09, Management, with an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. acting major. The College presented honorary degrees to Carla A. Harris, Managing and Former President and Chief Director in the Strategic Client Group Executive Officer of WNET/Channel 13. at Morgan Stanley Investment Harris was presented with an honorary Management, and Dr. William F. degree of Doctor of Laws, and Dr. Baker, President Emeritus of the Baker received an honorary degree of Educational Broadcasting Corporation Doctor of Humane Letters in the Arts. MMC’s Valedictorian Sara Bauknecht ’09 addresses the senior class.

Bedford Hills College Program Garners National Attention

The Bedford Hills degree-granting College Program institution for the (BHCP) held program since the Commencement spring of 1997, and has Exercises on May 28 at managed its operations the Bedford Hills since late 2004. The Correctional Facility for BHCP offers non-credit Women. The special college-preparatory event attracted courses in writing and graduates’ families, math, as well as credit- BHCP supporters, bearing courses leading faculty, administrators to Associate of Arts and and students from Bachelor of Arts Marymount Manhattan degrees. To date, MMC College (MMC); and the has conferred more BHCP graduates with MMC President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D. community-at-large. than 110 associate and With the cooperation of bachelor’s degrees to a consortium of New York area colleges, MMC presented BHCP students since the program’s inception. five Bachelor of Arts and nine Associate of Arts degrees. Cathy Watkins ’09 was the valedictorian and was New York Times Columnist Clyde Haberman, who also awarded a Marymount Manhattan Gold Key for wrote a column about BHCP published in the May 29, academic achievement. Lanie Robertson, an 2009 issue, attended the celebratory event. award-winning playwright, was the guest speaker Marymount Manhattan has served as the for the 2009 BHCP Commencement.

6 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE RECENT MAJOR GIFTS (March 2009—Present)

Maureen Kavanagh Chilton ’83 and George I. Alden Trust awarded a Joan Kelleher Heaney ’68 pledged Richard Chilton contributed $25,000 to $90,000 grant to support the Thomas J. $25,000 to This is the Day. support the William Kavanagh Endowed Shanahan Library renovation part of the Trustee Judith M. Carson ’03 pledged Scholarship through The Chilton facilities enhancement initiative of an additional $120,000 to This is the Day. Foundation. This is the Day. Trustee Anne C. Flannery ’73 made James H. Lynch pledged $10,000 to the The Joseph C. and Clare F. Goodman a further pledge of $50,000 to This is campaign in support of the Jacqueline Memorial Foundation contributed the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Lynch Endowed Scholarship Fund. $30,000 to The Manhattan. Writing Center. Michael G. Norkus made a $10,000 The Arthur A. Williams Charitable unrestricted pledge to support This is The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Trust awarded a grant of $14,500 to the Day. awarded a grant of $60,000 for the provide scholarship funds for Business Learning Communities Program. Trustee Natasha Pearl pledged an Management students. additional $60,000 and contributed an Cecilia Tudela-Montero ’90 and Trustee Gloria Spinelli Bohan ’63 additional $12,500 in unrestricted support Fernando Montero pledged $20,000 to pledged an additional $100,000 toward to the campaign. This is the Day. her challenge to alumni from the 1960’s Margaret Mahony Prowse ’61 pledged Trustee James E. Buckman made an for need-based scholarship grants. $40,000 to This is the Day and contributed additional pledge of $100,000 to This is Helyn Quinn Waldorf ’50 and $16,000 to the Annual Appeal. the Day. Christopher V. Waldorf pledged Madeleine D. Burns ’84 contributed Marjorie Porter-Kuhn ’86 pledged $10,000 for the Mary Waldorf Scholarship $10,000 to the Madeleine Burns $25,000 to the Sr. Judith Savard Travel Fund through The Waldorf Family Scholarship through the Ludwig W. Fellowship, a special initiative of the Foundation. Frohlich Charitable Trust. campaign. Jephson Educational Trusts awarded Marsha A. Hewitt ’67 contributed $10,000 for scholarship grants, one of the $25,000 to the Annual Appeal initiatives of the College’s comprehensive through the Carl and Marsha Hewitt campaign. Foundation, Inc.

Sixth Annual Golf Tournament

The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT October 7, 2009

Golf Tournament proceeds provide a high quality liberal arts education as an affordable option for our diverse student population. Your participation supports increased scholarship opportunities, an initiative of This is the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Manhattan. INFORMATION: (212) 763-8598 [email protected]

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 7 CAMPUS VIEW

MMC Women Grow in Numbers Abroad

By Megan Youngblood tudying abroad has become a rite of passage for college Sstudents, often providing an experience that changes their cultural views and delivers insight about their own identity. Thirty-six Marymount Manhattan College students ventured abroad to learn about other cultures in 2008-2009, studying in Argentina, Nathalia Foncesca ’10 Australia, Chile, England, France, India, stands in front of the Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, Spain, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona during her ﬁrst Switzerland, and a Semester at Sea day of the GSE study summer program. Ninety-two percent abroad program. of these students were female, furthering a trend sweeping across the United States according to the Open Doors 2008 report from the Institute of International Education (IIE). Three female students representing intimate experience with French the Zambia Build 2009 team MMC abroad this year, who each culture and an understanding of the (www.zambiabuild.org) in Kaoma, embarked on separate programs and city’s idiosyncrasies. During the first participated in local cultural activities, academic experiences, included semester, Balma said that she began to and visited orphanages. When Rachel incoming seniors Rachel Balma ’10, learn how to adapt to the culture, and returned from her experiences abroad Nathalia Fonseca ’10 and by the end of the year, she had in August, she put her cross-cultural Angela Poh ’10. After incorporating obtained a greater understanding of skills to work at Project Common Bond overseas study into their academic the language, the people and (www.projectcommonbond.org), a careers, they return to MMC with a Aix en Provence. unique, international community that deeper knowledge of international, “I think there is something quite engages children who have lost an political and cultural affairs and a special about the study abroad immediate family member in a better understanding of themselves. experience that really rips you out of terrorist attack in enjoyable and Rachel Balma ’10, a theatre arts your comfort zone and makes you constructive activities. major with minors in international curious at a time when you’ve already Speech-Language Pathology and studies and French, spent her entire been ‘independent’ for a couple of Audiology major Nathalia A. Fonseca ’10 junior year studying at the Institute for years,” said Balma, who had spent two spent last summer in Barcelona, Spain, American Universities’ (IAU) Le Centre years at MMC. “I think the experience studying at the Universidad Autonoma de d’ Aix en Provence in France. She took has not only affected the way I’ll deal Barcelona. Foncesca, who also has minors courses in comparative literature, with all people in my life in the future in Hispanic studies, psychology and Mediterranean geopolitics, art history, but how I’ll approach conflicts, education, was deciding between Spain history of France in the media, and difficulties and challenges in all areas and London as her destination but French language, among others. of my life.” chose Spain because she wanted to Balma chose to immerse herself in Balma left France in July to immerse herself in Spanish culture while the year-long program because the volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in improving her Spanish language skills. extended semester allowed for a more Zambia, Africa. She built houses with During the three-month Global

8 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Student Experience (GSE) program, Fonseca took two courses: Advanced Spanish and Spanish Culture and Civilization. For Foncesca, who claims to be the “quiet, shy one,” the study abroad experience allowed her to break down her boundaries. “I had the most amazing experience,” Fonseca said. “I became Angela Poh ’10, originally from Singapore, arrived at MMC with more independent and gained the three years of undergraduate confidence and strength I lacked. It musicology and piano was truly a life-changing experience performance studies from the Central Conservatory of Music in for me.” Beijing. Studying abroad gives students a rare opportunity to discover the culture and values of another society, said David Podell, Ph.D., Vice performance studies from the Central MMC Becomes Member of President for Academic Affairs and Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Poh, Large Study Abroad Network dean of faculty. a philosophy and religious studies Marymount Manhattan College “I observe that one of the most major and an Asian studies minor at recently joined the Council on powerful effects is students’ deeper MMC, witnessed both the Sichuan International Educational Exchange understanding of their own culture and earthquake and the Beijing Olympics (CIEE) Academic Consortium (AC), their own values, as they see the and became fascinated with China’s a non-governmental international contrast between their home country ethnic minority, whose culture she education network of more than and the one they are visiting,” said believes has been compromised since 200 institutions from 10 countries. Podell, who once studied abroad in the onset of modernity. Academic Consortium (AC) college and directed a study abroad On August 13-14, Poh traveled to membership grants students of member colleges the eligibility for program in Copenhagen for many years. Bangkok, Thailand, to present her specific CIEE scholarships, including Angela Poh ’10, originally from research paper, “Mongolian Music in a the Robert B. Bailey Scholarship, Singapore, arrived at Marymount Post-Secular China,” at the 3rd Annual the John E. Bowman Travel Grant, Manhattan with three years of and the CIEE-International Study Continued on page 10 undergraduate musicology and piano Programs Scholarship. The Consortium of colleges and universities also serves as the vehicle through which the member institutions provide accreditation to CIEE programs. In addition to the Academic Consortium of CIEE, MMC has joined the College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS). “Together, these two consortia have programs in 50 countries and offer MMC students a wide range of programs in terms of sites, host institutions, language instruction and costs,” said Cindy Sittler, MMC’s Study Abroad Coordinator. Through the Academic Consortium membership, educators can also participate in 26 summer seminars Rachel Balma ’10 (right) poses with her ﬁrst-semester in 28 countries. roommate in front of the Rotonde Fountain, the largest fountain in the center of Aix en Provence.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 9 MMC Community Enjoys Strawberry Festival Writers’ Conference The Campus Activities Board hosted Strawberry Promotes Hope for Festival: “Cirque du New Age in Publishing Strawberry” on May 6. Strawberry Festival is an annual tradition at Marymount Manhattan to celebrate the end of the academic year. The MMC community enjoyed a day of food and fun activities that included Bouncy Boxing, dunk tank, a (L-R) Panelists Meredith Berlin and Theatre Arts majors Peter Martin ’11 and Katie Kathryn Livingston join moderator balloon artist, a photo Dimery ’11 sampled organic strawberries at the Christopher Lehmann-Haupt in booth and face painting. annual Strawberry Festival. conversation on the Editors Panel. A DJ provided a lively During The Writing Center’s 2009 collection of music throughout the afternoon and The Soldiers of Hip-Hop also Writers’ Conference and Intensives, performed on 71st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. editors and writers collaborated June 1-4 at Marymount Manhattan College, fostering ideas for the Students Abroad choose not to study abroad are future of the print industry. On Continued from page 9 missing out on career development, June 4, the conference’s keynote Podell said. When Podell directed a editor speaker J. Peter Scoblic International Asian Cultural Studies study abroad program in the 1990’s, addressed what he called “a dark Association Conference. he witnessed the beginnings of the time for publishing.” Her paper investigates the trend that female students study More than 200 expert and “reconstruction” of the (Inner) abroad more frequently than males. aspiring writers attended the Mongolian identity in a post-cultural “I’m not sure what underlies this conference. The Memoir panel, revolution China and argues that China pattern, but I fear that many students moderated by Lance Morrow, has evolved into a “post-secular” are missing out on an opportunity included panelists Gertrude society following Deng Xiaoping’s that may not present itself again,” Vanderbilt Whitney Conner, Open-Door policy. Through Mongolian Podell said. Carole Gault, Dani Shapiro, music and religion, she examines the As every field in the job market Kenneth Whyte and Bob Morris, reconstruction of the Mongolian becomes more competitive, the who drew the largest audience. identity and finds that it consists of a personal and intellectual growth that Writing Intensives led by Lance mix of Tibetan Buddhism, shamanism comes with studying abroad yields Morrow, William Zinsser, Meg and folk customs. significant advantages for graduating Wolitzer and Ellen Sandler were “Angela’s research conclusion is students entering the job market. held at Marymount Manhattan from both original and might bring the “If an employer values a potential Monday through Thursday. topic, seldom studied outside of China, employee’s ability to adapt, to think Panelists included writers Mary to the attention of non-Chinese creatively, or to represent an Higgins Clark, Colin Harrison, scholars,” said Yu-Yin Cheng, Ph.D., organization well, a student who has Daphne Merkin, Bruce Jay associate professor of history, who studied abroad will have distinct Friedman, Ben Cheever, Tony helped Poh explore new ideas and advantages to one who has not,” Hendra, Jeffrey Deaver, Harry construct a thesis for her paper. Podell said. “Most students change Evans, Christopher Lehmann- “Until now, research on Mongolian profoundly. Their assumptions are Haupt and others. Other keynote music in English remains to focus on challenged; their understanding of speakers included Joseph O’Neill, the Republic of Mongolia,” Cheng said. what is possible grows; they see the author of Netherland, and While female students continue to themselves differently.” Christopher Reich, the author of make strides abroad, students who the best-seller Rules of Deception.

10 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Millie Falcaro, Theatre Arts Students Perform in Sold-out Shows M.F.A., assistant During the spring professor of art, is exhibiting “Red semester, MMC’s Theatre Cosmos Diptych” Production Workshop in the faculty presented She Stoops to show. She uses Conquer an image-making and sold-out practice that performances of involves a direct Thoroughly Modern method via the camera-less Millie. Under the technique of direction of Associate the photogram. Professor of Theatre Arts Her artwork Kevin Connell, incorporates plant life as She Stoops to Conquer metaphors for featured cast members the cycles of life. Diana Zambrotta ’09, Chip Rodgers ’11, Ryan Rinkel ’10, Amy Hewitt Gallery Features Young ’09, Erica Knight Zac Walker MMC Art Faculty , Amy Young ’09 and Zac Walker ’09 star as Miss Kate ’09, Nick LaMedica ’10 Hardcastle and Charles Marlow in She Stoops to Conquer. The Art Department Faculty and Diana Gonzalaz- Exhibit, a biennial event featuring a Morett in April. range of media, styles and With direction by Bob Durkin, Thoroughly Modern Millie featured Melissa viewpoints, will run through Benoist ’11, Michael Longo ’11, Becky Geggatt ’11, Johnny Weissgerber September 29 in the Hewitt Gallery ’12, Diana Buchwald ’10, Antoinette Henry ’10, Molly Rose, Matthew of Art. An opening reception will be Mackey ’11, Jesse Marchese ’09, Rachel Jesien ’10, Devin Elizabeth held Thursday, September 17 from Nelson ’12, Sammi Meckes ’10, Morgan Smith ’11, Emmy Raver- 6-8 p.m. in the Hewitt Gallery. The Lampman ’11, Meghan Fitzgerald ’10, Claire Scholes ’12 and Maeve gallery will be closed on Monday, Halloran ’10 in March. September 7.

Dance Department Presents Spring Repertoire and Annual Gala

From April 30-May 9, MMC Dance Department’s 2009 Spring Repertoire paid homage to a variety of choreographers. The performance featured a suite of duets by Martha Graham, excerpts from The Most Dangerous Room in the House by Susan Marshall, and One by Takehiro Ueyama. The dance performance also featured two world premieres by Christopher d’Amboise and Edgar Zendejas, whose company, ezdanza, is based in Montreal, Canada. On May 8, MMC’s Dance Department hosted its annual gala. Following the dance performances in The Theresa Lang Rei Akazawa ’09 and Armando Morales ’12 perform in Martha Graham’s Theatre, a champagne reception was held Helen & Paris duet. in The Great Hall. The gala raised $21,000 in support of the MMC Dance Company.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 11 ALUMNI AVENUE

Alumni Celebrate Anniversaries at Reunion 2009

Alice Finley ’79 receives The Sr. Raymunde McKay Award from President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D.

Members of the Class of 1959 smile for the camera during MMC’s Reunion.

Reunion 2009 brought together more photos and assembled in the Regina than 120 alumni, who celebrated MMC Peruggi Room to view a slideshow and graduation anniversaries. Members from the participate in the Q&A “MMC Then and classes of ’49, ’54, ’59, ’64, ’69, ’74, ’79, ’84, Now” with Dean Peter Baker, M.A., Vice ’89, ’94, ’99 and ’04 attended the celebration President for Institutional Research and on Saturday, May 30. After attending a Planning, and Professor of Communication morning Mass, alumni gathered in the Great Arts Alister Sanderson, Ph.D. Alumni Hall for the Reunion luncheon that honored then had the chance to reconnect with one Eilene Keller Bertsch ’59 with the Pere another at their class meetings. A cocktail Eilene Bertsch ’59 receives Gailhac Award and Alice Riley Finley ’79 reception on The Lowerre Family Terrace The Pere Gailhac Award from with the Sr. Raymunde McKay Award. allowed guests to enjoy a beautiful President Judson R. Shaver., Ph.D. Following lunch, alumni took class spring evening.

MMC Alumni Association Inducts Class of 2009 The MMC Alumni Association welcomed new alumni at its induction dinner on May 21. The annual event recognized student, faculty and staff accomplishments. President of the Alumni Leadership Council Marilyn Mills ’02 spoke on behalf of the MMC Alumni Association and encouraged graduating seniors to remain involved with their alma mater. Senior Marshal Chair Holly Dougherty ’09 announced the senior class gift by presenting a fax machine and scanner to the library. Alexandra Krueger ’09, Senior Marshal, presented the Outstanding Administrator Award to the Assistant Dean/Director of Student Activities Rosemary Ampuero, M.A. Senior Marshals Ian Ames ’09 and Jessica Coleman ’09 awarded Assistant Professor of Communication Arts Anastacia Kurylo, Ph.D., Senior Marshals: (Standing L-R) Monet Hurst-Mendoza ’09, Diana Zambrotta ’09, Alexandra Krueger ’09; (Sitting L-R) with the Outstanding Faculty Award. Jessica Coleman ’09, Ian Ames ’09, Angelique Smith ’09 and Holly Dougherty ’09.

12 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Manhattan Sets Stage for MMC Alumni Events

During the spring and early summer, Greenwich Village. Stops along the the Office of Alumni Relations and way included Cooper Union and Peter MMC alumni enjoyed contemporary art Cooper’s statue, McSorley’s Ale House, in Chelsea, toured the history of the Joseph Papp Public Theatre, and Greenwich Village, took in a Lincoln Judson Memorial Church. Center swing night, and watched a MMC Art Professor Merrily Kerr, movie in Bryant Park. M.A., led alumni on a May 16th tour On April 18, Mary Brown, Ph.D., of six Chelsea galleries. Since the first the archivist at MMC’s Thomas J. galleries opened in Chelsea a decade Shanahan Library and adjunct ago, the area has changed dramatically professor in the history department, to include some of the most led alumni on an in-depth tour of contemporary and young up-and- coming spaces. Mary Shea ’94 and Mary-Ann Brady Bennet ’69 at the Gladstone Gallery. On three different nights, alumni curled up on Bryant Park’s lawn for Museum of Art devoted to the art and the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film architecture of medieval Europe, was Festival. Participants enjoyed a picnic assembled from architectural elements, dinner while watching feature film both domestic and religious, that date Close Encounters of the Third Kind. from the twelfth through the fifteenth On July 22, Lincoln Center’s century. Its collection also comprises Midsummer Night Swing had alumni approximately 5,000 works of art from dancing in Damrosch Park. Big Bad medieval Europe, dating from about Voodoo Daddy, the little big band that the ninth to the fifteenth century. The helped ignite the 90’s swing scene, tour included discussions of the played high-octane nitro jive after Museum’s gardens and the famous Mary Brown describes the Greenwich Erik Novoa and Anna Brady gave Unicorn Tapestries. House as a “settlement” to Phyllis swing lessons. On August 20, MMC alumni Gwatkin ’67, Janice Fodero, Peter On June 20, alumni toured The gathered at the new Citi Field to watch Connolley, Louise Ross ’83, Eileen Connolley ’65, Teresa Curmi ’03 and Cloisters Museum and Garden. The Jerry Manuel’s New York Mets take on Arcadius Kazimierski. Cloisters, a branch of The Metropolitan Bobby Cox’s Atlanta Braves.

Dialogue Conference Features Geraldine A. Ferraro ’56

Marymount Manhattan alumna an on-stage interview conducted by Geraldine A. Ferraro ’56, J.D., was NPTD Board Member Laurence the featured speaker at the “Dialogue Berg. The interview, which took In/As Action” Conference presented place in the Theresa Lang Theatre, June 12 and 13 at the College. The provided audience members with an Network for Peace Through Dialogue opportunity to learn about the art of (NPTD), in collaboration with MMC, dialogue through Ferraro’s personal presented the two-day conference experience in politics and everyday that focused on the methods, life. Ferraro, an attorney, Democratic processes, and actions of dialogue politician and a former member of MMC Alumna Geraldine A. Ferraro ’56 answers questions during a in the business, political and the U.S. House of Representatives, discussion led by Laurence Berg, social arenas. spoke candidly about her experience Board Member with the Network for On June 12, Ferraro participated in visiting foreign countries. Peace Through Dialogue.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 13 A Family

arymount Manhattan MCollege (MMC) has been a home for many students seeking a quality liberal arts education. Since 1936, when MMC was founded by The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the College has graduated many students who have gone on to have families of their own, and sometimes their children have also chosen to follow the tradition of becoming a Marymount Manhattan graduate. Affair

Warren Family Keeps MMC Legacy Alive

By Manny Romero

Jerianne Niebergall Warren ’72 chose Marymount Marymount Manhattan. Manhattan College to make a change from her College “It was my mother who suggested applying to MMC in experience in the Midwest. the first place,” Jacob said. “I visited the school, had an “I was very unhappy. I wanted the college experience, interview and a tour, and loved it. I thought to myself, ‘It’s but wanted to study dance,” said Jerianne, who a small school, the training seems intense, and the faculty transferred from Butler University. “Very few colleges at seems very dedicated.’ I was right.” the time offered a dance program that was not linked to Jacob pursued dance intensively and graduated in May the physical education major. I did not want to study in a 2009 with a B.F.A. in dance and a minor in musical conservatory, but wanted a liberal arts education and theatre. Through it all, Jacob said his mother continued to Marymount Manhattan offered what I was looking for. I support his passion for dance—“She was ultimately the also was able to take all my education classes that one who led me to this wonderful place where I would allowed me to become certified to teach. As a transfer learn to dance.” student, I felt Marymount was very accommodating and On stage in The Theresa Lang Theatre was where Jacob made me feel welcome from day one.” collected his most memorable experiences. Jerianne graduated magna cum laude with a major in “I remember stepping onstage for the very first time,” Communication Arts and a minor in Dance. “At the time Jacob fondly recalls. “It was in a dress rehearsal for there was no dance major, but the college offered an Anthony Ferro’s Fall 2005 Repertory Piece. I split a roll independent study program that allowed one to take with my classmate Joshua Tuason ’08. In the first of the dance classes outside of the college and receive college parts, I walked around stage wearing an orange credit,” she said. “So, I took ballet classes with Peter electrician’s suit, revving a drill. I had to dance the second Nelson, jazz at Luigi, and modern at the Graham School part the night of the rehearsal, the part of “Humanity,” a in addition to my dance classes at MMC.” representation of the human element in the political theme Jerianne’s most memorable experience is also tied to a of the piece. The first step out of the wing was a long, significant time in the College’s history. sideways lunge. As soon as I took the first step, my shorts, “Looking back and attending my son Jacob’s dance a brand new, hand-made costume, split wide open, right performances in The Theresa Lang Theatre, I love that I down my crotch, leaving me utterly exposed. I have since was part of the ground breaking ceremony in 1972 for made a handsome career of tearing costumes to pieces this theatre—then on a vacant lot on 72nd Street,” she unintentionally on that beautiful stage.” said. “Rudy Perez choreographed ‘Lot Piece’ which During his years at MMC, Jacob eventually grew as a was a part of the ground-breaking ceremony and a piece dancer and was presented with the opportunity to take I performed.” the Theresa Lang Stage in a solo for Edgar Zendejas’ Jacob ’09, Jerianne’s oldest son, followed his mom’s piece, “Azadi.” footsteps, in more ways than one. “It was joy I have never felt,” he said. “Being alone on When Jacob began the process of looking for a college, that stage is like being alone in the universe, and having he wasn’t sure what specific discipline of the performing the infinite potential to bend space and discover ways of arts he wanted to specialize in. With only two years of moving you never knew you could perform.” formal dance training, Jacob applied to an array of schools Evan ’11 is an English major and the latest member of for musical theatre, acting, and dance before deciding on Continued on page 17

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 15 (L-R) Barbara ’66 and Cristiana Shields ’08 reﬂect on their time spent at Marymount Manhattan.

MMC’s Core Values Span Generations

By Megan Youngblood the 70’s and expanded to include a who received a Bachelor of Arts in hen Cristiana Shields ’08 greater variety of students, including political science. W decided to attend men, nontraditional students and MMC’s small class structure was a Marymount Manhattan students from a variety of ethnic and privilege she said her friends at other College (MMC) in 2004, she had grown geographic backgrounds. Even with New York colleges didn’t have. up hearing stories about MMC from these changes occurring in the student Cristiana’s professors challenged her to her mom, Barbara Casolaro Shields ’66, body and a shift in curriculum over the think about issues using multiple who began studying English when the years, Barbara said the heart of perspectives. When Cristiana was College had recently become a four- Marymount Manhattan remains intact. researching autism for her capstone year independent institution. The “The neighborhood hasn’t changed,” project, Michelle Ronda, M.A., College wasn’t co-ed then, nuns still Barbara said, “in the sense that [MMC] associate professor of sociology, was prepared meals every day, and all is a community within a large instrumental in connecting Cristiana students needed to pass swimming booming metropolis.” with resources and a network within class in order to graduate. Marymount Manhattan makes her field. Even today, Cristiana said, “If you had a ham sandwich, connections to New York City’s Ronda keeps her informed on the someone had a ham in the oven and intellectual and cultural life and opens latest autism research and events. [a nun] was cooking it,” Barbara said the world to its students, Barbara said. “It’s almost like a professional about eating in the cafeteria the The College’s smaller, one-on-one mentorship,” Barbara said. students called “Tea House.” atmosphere allows professors to Through MMC, she got a job with After 1961, MMC was granted an establish these close relationships. Coach, which was recruiting for a sales independent charter, and 568 students “When I was applying for college, I associate position in the Black and were enrolled in 1963. MMC now was so torn between wanting a big White Gallery while she was attending enrolls approximately 2,000 students campus life with sororities and all that Marymount Manhattan. After working from 48 states and 36 countries. Diverse fun stuff and wanting to be one step at the company flagship on 57th and populations began attending MMC in ahead of everyone else,” said Cristiana, Madison for three years, she was

16 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE promoted to her current management business world in the 60’s, couldn’t position with the company’s Legacy The neighborhood hasn’t really be assertive,” Barbara said. “So I boutique on Bleecker Street. had tools that I learned from attending Barbara is a writer, currently changed in the sense that Marymount Manhattan—maybe it working on a fiction piece. She is also “ wasn’t anything you could write on [MMC] is a community writing grant proposals and paper, but I kind of absorbed it from creating stewardship reports and within a large booming watching people and watching some fundraising publications at Winthrop- of the teachers and how they University Hospital’s Cancer Center metropolis. conducted themselves.” for Kids, where she was formerly —Barbara Shields ’66 Taking classes that addressed social the director of development. She ” issues, crafted the way Barbara began her career in publishing, and When Barbara worked at McGraw addressed problems or confrontations grew tremendously as a writer at Hill, only about 15 percent of women in the business world. MMC, especially through the represented the management level. “You learned how to treat people influence of her professor During the 60’s, her writing skills set and how to be the person you wanted Dr. Joseph P. Clancy, she said. her apart in publishing at a time when to be,” Barbara said. “I’m very proud “Writing really has sustained me the majority of women in business that I went to Marymount Manhattan, because I’ve made my living my whole were given a typewriter to be a and I have a place in my heart for it, life from writing,” said Barbara, who secretary, she said. especially when my daughter received a B.A. in English. “A woman, especially in the came here.”

MMC Tradition statement and say MMC professors never thank him enough,” Jacob said. Continued from page 15 provide more than a wealth of “Professor Katie Langan (Chair of the knowledge in the classroom. In fact, Dance Department) took the next step the Warren Family to attend Marymount they continue to apply what they’ve and through thick and thin pushed me Manhattan. Evan had just graduated learned from MMC experts. to become the greatest dancer I could from the Center For Digital Imaging “Without a doubt, Bill Bordeau be. She drove me to realize my own Arts with a certificate in digital film (Theatre Professor Emeritus) potential, and gave me the means to making, when he made the decision to influenced my life,” said Jerianne. “He achieve any goal I set my life towards. attend Marymount Manhattan. After was an engaging teacher, tapped into She changed my life, and she forever having conversations with his mother the professional world of dance that changed the way I move. I owe my and older brother, Evan decided to he shared with his students and career to her, as does anyone who had keep the MMC tradition alive. responsible for developing what is the honor of learning from her.” “My mother was probably the one now a top dance and theatre program. Marymount Manhattan has a special who put the idea in my head to apply Later, when I developed my own place in the hearts of Jerianne and at first,” Evan said. “But it was a program at Las Positas College in Jacob. Both describe MMC as a place combination of being in New York Livermore, CA, Bill served as my that welcomed them with open arms City, a few conversations I had with mentor. I saw him regularly at Dance and provided them with a foundation my brother, and a visit to the MMC Department functions and I am happy to express their creativity and to grow campus. And so far, the experience has that I am still in touch with him after into the people they are today. been good.” 38 years.” College life at MMC has just begun So good in fact, Evan says he has Jacob is thankful for the pride his for Evan. However, what he’s learned gained a greater appreciation for one professors instilled in him and his from his mother and brother, Evan says area of study. fellow classmates, and for “dedicating his future looks bright. “Marymount Manhattan is already themselves, above all to creating “Next semester I am really looking leaving a lasting mark on me,” Evan breathtaking art, and fostering the forward to taking my first class in said. “Since attending classes, I have development of the greatest dancers I creative writing, which I have been greatly increased my love of literature have come to know,” he said. looking forward to for quite a while,” and writing, and a great deal of that I “Dance Professor Anthony Ferro Evan said. “I am also excited to be credit to the professors I’ve had.” began my training, and sparked my studying journalism. I think I have a lot Jerianne and Jacob echo Evan’s interest in ballet, for which I could to look forward to this semester.”

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 17 FACULTY FOCUS

Summer Offers Opportunities for Scientific Research

By Manny Romero arymount Manhattan science professors and their students spent this summer conducting focused Mresearch. The biology majors participated in summer science research at MMC are able to contextualize their coursework with hands-on experience, while making fundamental discoveries about the natural world. MMC Assistant Professor of Chemistry Alessandra Leri, Ph.D., recently visited the Brendan Byrne State Forest in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey along with her research student, Laura Herren ’11, to collect soil and mulch Assistant Professor of Chemistry Alessandra Leri, Ph.D., (left) and Laura Herren ’11 recently visited the Brendan Byrne State samples for Forest in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. biochemical analysis. Herren and Leri measured the activity molecules in plant litter decaying on the forest floor. of the enzyme “Organochlorine molecules have a bad reputation as chloroperoxidase in toxic, manmade pollutants, but they are also produced forest ecosystems. naturally in the environment,” Leri said. “We know that Under certain these Pine Barrens soils have high concentrations of natural conditions, this organochlorine, but we don’t fully understand how it’s enzyme can chlorinate produced. Laura developed a method to assay organic material and chloroperoxidase activity in these soils, to identify a Associate Professor of Biology thus may be potential biochemical pathway of natural chlorination.” Ann Aguanno, Ph.D., (center) implicated in the Associate Professor of Biology Ann Aguanno, Ph.D., conducted research with biology majors Ray Romano ’11 (left) and natural formation of conducted research with Ray Romano ’11 and Olympia Olympia Gaglioti ’12 (right). organochlorine Gaglioti ’12. They examined the role of the protein cyclin dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in the development of tissue systems in mammals. “Specifically we investigated the function of CDK5 in the establishment of the nervous system,” Aguanno said. “We have shown that CDK5 plays a role in the shape and therefore the function of neurons. We have further shown that disruption of CDK5’s activity resulted in abnormal neuron structure and ultimately may lead to abnormal functioning of the nervous system. This has implications for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.” Aguanno’s team also examined the role CDK5 plays in the developing pancreas, specifically in the ability of the pancreas to make and secrete insulin.

18 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE “Preliminary results show that CDK5 preparing appropriate media, testing is important in the regulation of insulin the extracts for antimicrobial production and availability in the properties, and beginning the developing and mature pancreas,” identification of compounds that Aguanno said. “This of course bears exhibit potential. great implications for diseases The team collaborated with MMC associated with insulin dysregulation, alumna Dr. Sarah Crawford ’76, who such as diabetes.” is a molecular biologist at the Aguanno’s research students present University of Southern Connecticut in at three conferences each year. “We New Haven. Crawford is working with will also try to publish our results in an a plant extract from the fern, appropriate journal,” she said. “We Jasmina Bogdanovic '11 (left) and Thelypteris palustris (marsh fern), Associate Professor of Chemistry have been conducting this Benedetta Sampoli Benitez, Ph.D. which has shown to be effective investigation in my lab for more than examined the DNA/protein interactions of against both breast carcinoma cells and 10 years, even before I came to MMC. DNA polymerase X. glioblastoma cells. Barbati has visited All of the results contribute to the Dr. Crawford’s lab in New Haven twice ongoing research project.” Associate Professor of Chemistry Benedetta Sampoli Benitez, Ph.D., worked with Jasmina Bogdanovic ’11, to conduct research using computational methods to examine the DNA/protein interactions of DNA polymerase X, which is a protein that repairs damaged DNA to preserve genomic integrity. “In particular, we studied how this protein can discriminate the correct base pair versus a wrong one during DNA repair,” Benitez said. “In order to do that, we used molecular models and molecular dynamics simulations and compare our results with available experimental kinetics data.” Benitez and Bogdanovic will continue doing research during the next academic year and will present their results at an international conference next April in California, in addition to a local undergraduate research conference in Baltimore in October. The team also hopes to have its (Right) Zachary Barbati ’10, a biology major, worked with results published in a peer-reviewed journal sometime Associate Professor of Biology Judith Hanks, Ph.D. (left) to study the chemical makeup of plants for potential antibacterial next year. phytochemicals. The research project was done in collaboration with Dr. Tamar Schlick, professor of chemistry and mathematics and will begin preliminary chemical characterization of the at New York University. Dr. Karunesh Arora, a Research extract in a project that will continue throughout his senior Fellow with the Michigan State University, also collaborated year. on this project by providing his expertise on DNA All of the student research projects are supported polymerases. through MMC Science Awards or funding through the Rose Zachary Barbati ’10 worked with Associate Professor of M. Badgeley Charitable Trust. Biology Judith Hanks, Ph.D., to study the chemical MMC’s science professors agree that conducting scientific makeup of plants for potential antibacterial phytochemicals. research during the summer months has many advantages Hanks said the ever-increasing resistance of human for both students and faculty. pathogens to current antimicrobial agents is a serious “In the summer months, I can train my students one-on- medical problem. one and spend valuable time with them to advance their “Since plants have been the historical source of medicines skills and ultimately advance my research project,” there is interest in finding novel plant compounds for Aguanno said. treatment of disease,” Hanks said, “and testing those that “To those of us in science at MMC,” said Hanks, “the have been purported to have medicinal properties.” summer provides an uninterrupted opportunity to conduct During this research project, Barbati learned the our research, pursue our specific areas of interest, and techniques that are used in these types of studies - engage in learning that benefits us, our students, and the extracting plant chemicals, culturing microorganisms, scientific community.”

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 19 Ann Aguanno, Ph.D., associate preeminent Hudson River School Through a $20,000 grant from the professor of biology, and two MMC aesthetician. The symposium, which John Templeton Foundation, Cohen will biology research students presented coincided with an exhibition of the curate two exhibitions on the spiritual at the 2009 Annual Experimental same name, was co-sponsored by the and the visual in math, from September Biology Conference in New Orleans, Boscobel Historic Site in New York. through November 2009. Cohen also La., in April 2009. Devin Columbus published two illustrations in Steven ’09 presented data addressing the Millie Burns, M.F.A., assistant Heller’s Design Disasters: Great impact of peer mentors on the professor of art and director of the Designers, Fabulous Failure and Lessons training of undergraduates to conduct Hewitt Gallery of Art, was a Scholar-in- Learned, in 2008. She exhibited her biology research in a liberal arts Residence at New York University watercolors in January 2009 at the setting. Jessica Stevens ’09 presented (NYU). Through participation in the Westbeth Gallery in New York and will data implicating a relationship between Faculty Resource Network Visiting be in the Art Department Faculty diabetes and neurodegenerative Scholar Program, Burns is Exhibition in MMC’s Hewitt Gallery in disease. These research findings were collaborating with the NYU community September 2009. also published in the Journal of the to refine materials for a new course. Federation of American Societies for With research consultants and fellow Millie Falcaro, Experimental Biology (FASEB Journal). program participants, she is M.F.A., assistant experimenting with a range of professor of art, Sue Behrens, Ph.D., professor of teaching methodologies. Burns is also has creative communication sciences and disorders, using the residency to delve into interests in the recently published a book review on statistical software, including SPSS, intersection of NSTA Recommends about The Atom SAS, and STATA. Inspired by fellow photography, “Foot” by Millie and the Apple by Sebastien Balibar. scholars, she has begun two new psychology and Falcaro, M.F.A. Her essay “Service Learning” appeared research projects: one involving food poetry. Her in the spring 2009 issue of Field Notes, and the other dealing with GIS photograph, “Foot,” was recently a publication of the Masters of Arts in analysis. In addition to her scholarly awarded second place in the Teaching at Bard College. Behrens work in the program, Burns organized SoHoPhoto’s 14th annual members currently has an article, “Control/F to a a day of art, history and culture, and juried exhibition. The guest juror, Brian Stronger Vocabulary,” in press with the escorted fellow scholars to the Brooklyn Paul Clamp, the director of ClampArt, a Research and Teaching in Historical Society, BRIC Contemporary gallery located in Chelsea specializing Developmental Education journal. Art, a souk marketplace, and the in contemporary photography said, “It Brooklyn Museum; she also conducted is the bold, graphic quality of Millie Adrienne Baxter a docent tour of the public art in the Falcaro’s photogram of a big, green Bell, Ph.D., New York City subway system. foot that excited my interest. An object assistant professor so banal, nearly abject, is artistically of art history, gave Hallie Cohen, rendered by means of a radical shift of a lecture entitled M.F.A., associate scale and a strange, happenstance “Asher B. Durand: professor of art palette into an odd and beautiful ode Philosopher of the and head of to the quotidian.” Hudson” as part MMC’s Art of the symposium Department, is the Cecilia Feilla, Ph.D., assistant “Home on the Adrienne Baxter curator for the professor of English, is currently Hudson: Women Bell, Ph.D. Philoctetes working on a book manuscript & Men Picturing Center for the on the tutor-pupil relationship in the Nineteenth-century Hudson Valley Multidisciplinary Hallie Cohen, eighteenth-century fiction. She M.F.A. Where They Lived” at The Graduate Study of presented a talk on the subject, Center, City University of New York on Imagination exhibition space, which “Bodies of Knowledge, Bodies of June 12, 2009. Bell explored the role of offers educational programs that reach Seduction: The Private Tutor in Fiction the “metapicture”—a type of painting audiences around the world. Cohen after Rousseau,” at the Rousseau that seems to be concerned primarily organizes five to six exhibitions each Association Colloquium at UCLA in with the art of painting—in Durand’s year in the center’s third floor space, June 2009, and will be presenting two middle period and the relationship of displaying the talents of artists from related papers at the Modern Language this pictorial form to his role as a New York and around the country. Association in December 2009:

20 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE “Mediating Bodies: The Preceptor in Monster (Rodopi), and “The Embodied Peter Naccarato, Ph.D., associate Eighteenth-Century Fiction and City: Walking and Writing in the Urban professor of English and chair of the Culture” and “‘The Daughters of Eve’: Classroom,” co-written with Jens Humanities Division, and Katie Science, Seduction, and Biblical Richard Giersdorf, Ph.D., and LeBesco, Ph.D., professor of Narrative in the Eighteenth-Century Magdalena Maczynska, Ph.D., in communication arts and Distinguished Gendering of Knowledge.” Transformations: The Journal of Chair, presented “Resisting Culinary In addition, she chaired a panel on Inclusive Scholarship and Pedagogy. Capital Through the Embrace of ‘Junk,’” “New Directions in Eighteenth-Century Feilla was scholar-in-residence at New at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Studies” at the Northeast Modern York University in spring 2009, and Agriculture, Food and Human Values Language Association (NeMLA) in currently serves as Director of British Society and the Association for the March 2009 and will present a paper Literatures for NeMLA. Study of Food and Society, held at Penn entitled “From Periphery to Center: State University in May 2009. They will Prud’hon’s Illustrations for The Indian MMC seniors awarded Anastacia present their paper, “Celebrating ‘Junk’ Tribe, or Edward and Stellina” at the Kurylo, Ph.D., assistant professor of Food Culture: Pleasure, Irony and Northeast American Society for communication arts, a plaque for the Earnestness in Carnivalesque Eighteenth-Century Studies in Outstanding Faculty Award at the MMC Consumption” at the National November 2009, which is forthcoming Alumni Association Induction Dinner. Communication Association Annual as a chapter in Book Illustration in the Conference, in Chicago during Long Eighteenth Century (Cambridge David Linton, Ph.D., professor of November 2009. Additionally, Naccarato Scholars Publishing). She published communication arts, was the keynote and LeBesco were awarded a Sokol two articles in 2008-2009: “Literary speaker at the June 2009 Society for Grant to support ongoing research and Monsters: Gender, Genius, and Writing Menstrual Cycle Research conference writing of their current book project, in Diderot’s ‘On Women’ and Mary in Spokane, Wash. Culinary Capital. Shelley’s Frankenstein” in Hosting the Faculty in Print

The Landscape Painter Stephen Hannock Jim Holl, M.F.A., associate Jason Rosenfeld, Ph.D., professor of art, will publish associate professor of art The Landscape Painter, a book history and Distinguished designed for art students, in Chair, published Stephen September 2009 with Charta Hannock, a fully illustrated Books. It recounts Holl’s monograph on the important efforts to understand through art, the dichotomy between American landscape painter, in thinking and feeling, art and life, artifice and authenticity. May 2009. His essay explores the influence of living in New Holl came of age in the mid-1970s. At that time, the course York City in the 1980s on Hannock’s work, which has often of modern art had been evolving for more than a hundred been erroneously lumped into the tradition of American years. In the early 70’s, Modern Art had reached its panoramic landscape painting dating back to the Hudson apotheosis, according to some circles. During this time, Holl River School. Instead, Hannock is seen as a powerfully addressed anti-art, performance art, earth art, installation art, suggestive postmodern artist, whose works channel issues narrative art, pop art, conceptual art, relational aesthetics, of appropriation, textuality, and the challenge of luminosity painting and sculpture. This essay and photographic in paint in particularly incisive ways. documentation tell the story of his development and reflections in relation to the backdrop of events and theories he experienced while living and working in New York City from his arrival in 1974 through 1994.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 21 CLASS NOTES

N.Y., for 40 years. She also has acted in the New York City Board of Education 1950s and produced educational films for in 2004 as a special education libraries, worked in radio, doing supervisor/assistant principal. She and Athina Leka Aston ’56, B.A., an MMC voiceovers. She has been teaching Hatha her husband, Michael, are enjoying the communication arts graduate, is enjoying yoga for the past twenty years. She “good life” and are proud to be “Florida her grandchildren. Theresa, 17, is became an Interfaith Minister and was a Snowbirds” for five months each heading to college. Twins, Oscar and Chaplain for the Red Cross after 9/11. year. They have an apartment in Miami Faye, are almost 8 years old. Athina Elizabeth lives in Croton-on-Hudson Beach and with an ocean view. Cecilia enjoys every Wednesday picking them and spends the summer on said it is truly a paradise. up from school and spending time with Chincoteague Island with friends and Rosemary Byrne ’68, J.D.,is them during after-school activities and family. She has travelled extensively and beginning a new career as a personal dinner. Athina is launching a Web site continues to be a life-long learner. and life coach, specializing in weight about American regional food. It will management and career transitions, after cover the background of the region, 1960s many years as a successful corporate product, favorite recipes and more. attorney, litigator and mediator. Once Eileen Brady ’56, B.S., an MMC she was certified as a Life Coach by New Joyce Heffernan Barber ’69, B.A., is chemistry graduate, is a Maryknoll Sister York University, Rosemary founded now the manager of benefits who returned to her mission in East Step-By-Step Coaching, working with administration with Praxair, Inc., in Timor. She is involved in a trauma people who want to make change in Danbury, Conn. Her husband, David, is healing program using holistic their lives but can’t seem to do it on in his second career as an adjunct health methods and a parent their own. economics professor at several local education program. Eleanor M. Imperato ’68, M.A. Connecticut colleges. Her son, Jonathan, , an Julianne Thompson Grace ’59, M.A., is going into his senior year at Ursinus MMC English graduate, published her who received a B.A. in political science College in Collegeville, Pa. first collection of original poetry entitled from MMC, has been elected President Woman’s Work. According to Susan Cecilia O’Shea-Boutilier ’69, an of the Board of Directors of the New Astor, author of Spider Lies and Walt MMC psychology graduate, retired from Canaan Community Foundation. The Whitman Birthplace Association Long Foundation, established in 1977, manages donor advised and special interest funds and makes annual distributions to non-profit organizations in the greater Sullivan ’64 Creates Children’s Books New Canaan, Conn., area. Maureen Naughten Sullivan ’64, B.A. Connie Roccanova ’57, B.A., of Palm , Beach Gardens, Fla., and Island Park, is the former publisher and editor of N.Y., married John P. Kearns of Rockville DBM Publishing, and the author of Centre, N.Y., on September 5, 2008. They E-SPEAK (Harcourt) and Boomerangers met at a Holy Sepulchre Day of (Thomson), career press titles dealing Recollection at St. Joseph’s Seminary in with workplace communications. Her Yonkers on March 3, 2007. Connie’s articles on e-mail and intergenerational husband of 44 years, Bill Kerwick, passed conflict have appeared in the Wall Street away on June 11, 2002. Connie has four Journal, Fortune, and USA Today. Her children and 11 grandchildren. John has articles on style have appeared in three children and one grandchild. Coastal Living. Sullivan is a corporate Elizabeth ter Poorten ’59, M.A. , communications speaker and guest MMC communication arts alumna, expert on Martha Stewart Radio’s Making a Living. received a master’s from Columbia In collaboration with illustrator, Alison Josephs, Sullivan has formed MoJo University. She has been married to Inkworks, a children’s press. She and Josephs have just been awarded the Jacob for 20 years. They have two daughters, Mieke and Francesca, and Independent Publisher’s IPPY Gold Medal for their first work, Ankle five grandchildren. Mieke lives in Santa Soup (September 2008), in the picture book for children of all ages category. Monica and is a talent manager. She will Their second book, Custard and Mustard, (May 2009) is a love letter to Coney finish law school in a year. Francesca Island as expressed by Ankle Soup’s canine hero, Carlos the French Bulldog. lives in Fernie, British Columbia, where Visit www.anklesoup.com and www.custardmustard.com to view the list of she has a yoga studio. upcoming events surrounding the books. Elizabeth has owned and directed a Montessori School in Croton-on-Hudson,

22 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Island Poet of the Year, “Many of the company, and Charlie is the home poems in this volume are portraits… parent. Kate and Charlie’s oldest son, some of these are personae of the Nick, graduated from high school this poet…others are drawn from Imperato’s spring. Ruth’s daughter, Aleecia, and her finely tuned observations of family, husband, Faisal, have been married five friends, strangers and created characters. years and live in the San Francisco area. In this way, Woman’s Work reminds me She is finishing her Ph.D. in public of Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, policy and engineering management Ohio, another book full of intriguing from Carnegie Mellon. Aleecia spends characters with whom we quickly feel three weeks of the month in San intimate…it reads like a piece of music, Francisco and one week in Pittsburgh. smooth and amazingly lyrical…” Faisal is working with a startup company Jean Lovejoy ’66 and husband Doug, with some friends and loving the Eleanor M. Imperato ’68, M.A., published Alison Rich Oliver and husband Tom, challenge of getting it going. her first collection of original poetry and Susan McKeon ’66 spent a Ruth and Bart are looking to semi-retire entitled Woman’s Work. pleasant afternoon with Connie Brady and relocate to a warmer climate, ’66. Connie resides at the Jewish although they have not made definite Hospital, located at 120 W. 106th Street, plans. Ruth wishes all well and hopes New York, NY 10025, Room 470, (direct that you are clear minded and able phone: 212-866-3460). Connie would bodied. She would love to hear from welcome visitors, particularly ones who you should you be in the area. Feel bring a dark chocolate Hershey bar. free to check out her Web site: Ruthandbartschofield.com. Dotty Lynch ’66, just signed another Barbara Casolaro Shields ’66 four-year contract with the CBS Network is the for radio and exit polling. She continues proud mom of Ryan, best-selling author; to enjoy teaching at American University Maria, doctoral candidate in Miami; and Christiana ’08 in Washington, D.C. , assistant manager at Coach. Barbara is currently employed at Jean Samartan Pawlik ’66, B.A., enjoys Jean Samartan Pawlik ’66, B.A. ,is Winthrop-University Hospital Cancer retirement and spending time with her the happy mother of three daughters Center and recently snagged a three daughters and eight grandchildren. and eight grandchildren, ranging in ages ghostwriting job for a biography. 1 to 10 years old. She has retired as the Margaret E. Smith ’60, M.S. principal of Jean Cahalan and Associates, , an MMC a real estate brokerage firm, and Cahalan psychology graduate, wishes to extend a Company, a real estate consulting and belated thank you to the original appraisal company. Jean founded Marymount Maritones singing group for Wilton’s Children’s Theatre and Wilton working so hard to establish a group Suzuki Violin Program, and was a that became a college tradition. Fall 2009 founding member of the Wilton Arts marks the 50th anniversary of the Council. Today, she has more time to Marymount Maritones. The original Peggy reflect and cherish the friendships she Maritones included founders Minarovich Smith ’60 Eleanor made at Marymount Manhattan College and Hammond Noll ’60 Irene and the education she received from the , and Adiarte Patricia Caparelli ’62 dedicated professors. , , Linda Basilice-Hoerrner ’71, Loretta Deneher ’62, Ann Marie B.S. has joined the New Ruth M. Schofield ’64, LMFT , has McGovern ’61, Maureen McGrane York real estate firm been a Licensed Marriage and Family Mayer ’61, Mary McMahon and Stribling and Associates. Therapist in Connecticut since 1985. She Eileen Monahan Carroll ’61. works part time in her Wilton office on Route 7 and in her home office here in Newtown, Conn. Ruth’s husband, Bart, is also now a Licensed Marriage and 1970s Family Therapist. He went back to Leslie Humm Cormier ’73, Ph.D. school for his master’s at age 59. , has The Greenwood Encyclopedia Their three adult children are all published of Homes Through American History, married. The eldest, Scott, and his wife, Volume III, 1901-1920 Lisa, live and work in Los Angeles. (Greenwood Scott’s in post production, and Lisa does Publishing 2008), on early modern editing—most recently working on the architecture. Leslie received a Ph.D. from T.V. show “Kyle XY.” Ruth’s daughter, Brown University in 1986 as a Kress Kate, spouse Charlie and their two Fellow, and she is now an adjunct After graduating from children, Charlotte, 6, and Daniel, 4, professor of visual arts at Emerson MMC, Peggy Richards ’84, relocated to North Carolina last spring. College in Boston, teaching history and B.F.A. became a Rolfing Kate is employed with a mortgage theory of modern art, architecture and massage therapist.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 23 design. Leslie and her husband, Vernon, with a celebration and tribute. Her many and is on the board of Kingsbridge- live in Wellesley, Mass., having recently accomplishments were highlighted in a Riverdale-Marble Hill Food & Hunger returned from sabbatical in Australia. program that was distributed to all who Project, the Community Board 8 She returns to Manhattan as often as she attended. Rosalie graduated from Education Committee, and the DYCD can for museum exhibitions, skyscrapers Marymount Manhattan in 1974 with a Neighborhood Advisory Board 8. Karen and Central Park. B.A. in sociology, she is also a graduate and her significant other, Emanuel Gilda Farias Healy ’76, M.A., of Columbia Hospital School of Nursing, Gelman, have three sons—Michael, completed the master’s program in Cola, South Carolina, and she has a Jeffrey and Scott—and five grandchildren museum professions at Seton Hall master’s in Health Care Administration with another one on the way. University. She is currently looking for a from C.W. Post, Long Island University. Lois Horowitz ’89, B.A., an MMC museum position while working as a Rosalie served on the Board of Directors business graduate, has been happily volunteer for a local historical society as of Montefiore Comprehensive Health working for H&R Block, both during tax a docent. Gilda and her husband, Care Center, received awards for her season and off-season, for several years. work as president of Key Women of Michael, recently spent vacation time in Joan Regen-Ramirez ’82 America and for her work in the , an MMC San Diego, Calif., and the pandas are still business administration and marketing a big hit. Children’s Court in the Benjamin Banneker School. She also received a graduate, has launched her own English Linda Basilice-Hoerrner ’71, B.S. , has certificate of appreciation as well as an as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring embarked on a new career in New York Honorary Doctorate Degree from the service. The company serves children real estate sales with Stribling and Abyssinian Baptist Church and was K-12, college students, adults and private Associates at the Madison Avenue office. voted Alumni of the year 2008 by and group sessions. Joan, who has a During the course of 35 years, Linda Columbia Hospital Nurses Alumnae, master’s in journalism from Columbia has bought, sold and renovated many Columbia, South Carolina. Rosalie is a University, received a master’s in properties in New York, Florida and widow, mother of three daughters, ESL instruction from City College of Pennsylvania. Linda was an investor in one granddaughter and three CUNY in May. the nationally recognized Carmines and great grandsons. Peggy Richards ’84, B.F.A., is a Rolfer Virgils restaurants. Her present portfolio Miriam Muley ’76, M.B.A. and massage therapist. She went into the includes multiple real estate investments , recently The 85% Niche: The Power of healing arts full time after graduating as well as owning several thoroughbred published Women of All Colors—Latina, Black, and from MMC with a B.F.A. in Dance. She race horses that are currently trained in Asian. In her book, Miriam argues invites alumni to reconnect with her in New York, Kentucky and Florida in Arizona or Idaho. preparation for racing in some of the that women of color generate nearly most prestigious stakes races across $1 trillion in consumer spending and the country. another $230 billion as entrepreneurs, Linda embarked upon her yet most companies market to women as 1990s professional career at age 21 as a high a monolithic group, aiming primarily at Veronica Burgos ’93, B.A. school science and math teacher. After white women. With proprietary research, , and her attending Marymount Manhattan, she Miriam explores how cultural and ethnic son, Ian, went to Costa Rica last summer completed her master’s at St. John’s differences shape the way women and to Aruba over Christmas break. University. She credits her skills as a respond to life experiences. The result is Veronica is in the M.S. program at Mercy teaching professional in laying the a concise and practical guide to what College. She is also engaged to Pedro groundwork for her future success drives the trillion dollar women of color Guadalupe, whom she has known for 30 dealing with many challenges. market to consider brands for future years. purchase decisions. When not attending to the needs of Patricia Burkhart ’90, M.A., who her clients, you can find Linda enjoying Kathleen Quinn Vaccari ’71, B.A., an received a B.A. in history from MMC, is a the pursuit of her other passions. The MMC communication arts graduate, has founding board member of Friends of blessings of a loving family and friends appeared in Seton Hall University the Edgewood-Oak Brush Plains are her greatest joy. Linda, a devoted Theatre-in-the-Round, local community Preserve, an all-volunteer, not-for-profit “people person,” also works tirelessly to theatre and classical chorale singing environmental and advocacy promote the success of various while working for her North Jersey town, organization. Patricia was selected as a charitable organizations and programs. Maplewood. She has also served as a 2008 Woman of Distinction by New York Through the years, she has served on monthly lecturer in a series she created, State Senator Owen Johnson for her multiple committees and/or chaired “What’s Up: A Down-to-Earth Sky tireless efforts to improve and protect several philanthropic events for Guide,” at William S. Sperry Observatory the 850-acre, state-owned Edgewood Madonna Heights, Crohn’s and Colitis on Cranford Campus, Union County Preserve, a rare and critical wildlife Foundation of LI and Wall Street Charity College, New Jersey. habitat located in Western Suffolk Fund. Most recently, Linda and her County. Her efforts raised awareness of husband, Augie, have started an the need for groundwater protection, the endowment to benefit Dowling College 1980s dangers of light pollution and the students with Learning Disabilities. benefits of native gardening. Under her Rosalie Tyler Long ’74, B.A., Karen Green ’88, B.A., who earned a guidance, the organization has celebrated her 85th birthday this past bachelor’s in political science from MMC, developed a strong volunteer steward May and was honored by her family is currently involved in volunteer work program, which includes many Boy and

24 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Girl Scout troops. Patricia supervised the City. The piece was invited to play at first-ever Eagle Scout project to be done Erik van der Gjign gallery, Padeletti, in at the preserve, which was a Buenos Aires in November 2009. She is collaborative effort of the town, county currently Assistant Professor of Theatre and state. The Woman of Distinction at Colgate University. Award was presented at a reception in Albany. Patricia lives in Deer Park, N.Y., with her husband, Sid Cherry, a musical theater composer, and their 2000s many animals. Janet Kaufman ’93, L.C.S.W., attended Rachel Brereton Aurich ’02, B.A., an Fordham University Graduate School of MMC sociology graduate, married Peter Veronica Burgos ’93, B.A., Social Service after receiving her B.A. in Aurich on September 20, 2008. and her son, Ian, traveled to Costa Rica English Literature from MMC. She Brian Avers ’00, M.F.A., appeared on and Aruba last year. practices medical social work in a major the last two season episodes of “NCIS.” New York City teaching hospital. Janet Starting in September, he will play a also has a private psychotherapy and recurring character, Special Agent Mike coaching practice. Her education at Renko, in CBS’s new spin-off series MMC as a mature student, she said, gave “NCIS Los Angeles” alongside Chris her the opportunity to change her career O’Donnell and LL Cool J. He also has a from registered dental hygienist to role in an upcoming episode of “The licensed clinical social worker. Closer” and has relocated to Los Barbara Lekes ’93, B.A., an MMC Angeles. studio art alumna, decided to pursue Dan Bittner ’04, B.F.A., is performing fashion design after five years of at the Geffen Playhouse in Farragut teaching art to elementary students at North, repeating the role he played at Discovery Charter School in Chula Vista. the Atlantic Theatre in New York. Set Patricia Burkhart ’90, M.A., is a founding Through a class project, her clothing against the backdrop of a close collection me-di-e-val modern Farragut North board member of Friends of the presidential race, is a Edgewood-Oak Brush Plains Preserve, transpired. She plans to launch her own timely tale of hubris, loyalty and the lust clothing line. Barbara has also sold her a not-for-proﬁt environmental and for power. Bittner, who recently advocacy organization. oil paintings and prints through appeared in The Vertical Hour on Ward-Nasse Gallery in New York City, Broadway, plays deputy press secretary, and her work has been exhibited in Ben. Bittner can also be seen on the big Southern California and Florence, Italy. screen in Adventureland. Her last series of paintings, addressing Weng Kuan Chan ’02, B.A. her overcoming cervical cancer, were , an MMC exhibited last fall at Marymount liberal arts graduate, has been enjoying Manhattan. teaching. She said that each day is a brand new day where new challenges Edward Van Saders ’95, B.F.A. , an await her, and it is the most rewarding MMC acting graduate, had a civil union field she has come to love. in New Jersey with his partner, Paul Elsa Córdoba ’02, M.S.Ed. Shusterman, on June 28, 2008. Many , who graduated from MMC with a B.A. in Marymount Manhattan faculty and Rachel Brereton Aurich ’02, B.A., married former students attended. psychology, received an M.S.Ed. in Peter Aurich last September. rehabilitation counseling from Hunter Shannon April Sweeney ’95, M.F.A. , College in June 2008. She successfully performed in the Obie award-winning passed the CRC examination and is a Untitled MARS (This Title May Change) at Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Elsa is Performing Space 122 in April 2008 and also a Certified School Counselor and at the National Theatre in Budapest last currently works for the NYCDOE as a November. She also performed in Jay guidance counselor. Scheib’s This Place is a Desert as part of Leslie De Jesus-Sirret ’06, B.A. the 2008 Under the Radar Festival at the , who Public Theater. The play was selected as graduated from MMC’s Theatre Arts the second best theatre piece of 2008 by playwriting program, married Alexander Time Out NY theatre critic Helen Shaw. Sirret in a private ceremony in Puerto Last July, April wrote and directed a Plata, Dominican Republic, on production entitled She, and the Empty January 8, 2009. Living Room, a chamber play in Spanish Taleia Gilliam ’03, B.A.,isan Dan Bittner ’04, B.F.A., and English, as part of the 2008 enrichment teacher (dance and takes the stage of the Undergroundzero Festival in New York theater) for the non-profit organization Geffen Playhouse in Farragut North.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 25 Galli ’06 Helps Coordinate ‘Born for Broadway’

Sarah Galli ’06, B.A., realized her Broadway performers and dream of living in New York City undiscovered talents performed for when she attended Marymount the event to raise money for The Manhattan College as a theater Christopher & Dana Reeve major. During her time at the College, Foundation (CDRF), the creation and she performed on stage and served namesake of late actor Christopher as an assistant director in a variety of Reeve, who suffered a spinal cord campus productions. Galli also injury that resulted in paralysis. served as a residence assistant and The charity is geared to fund as president of Student Theatre at research for spinal cord injuries and Marymount (STAM). improve the quality of life of people Galli’s love for theatre and with such injuries. community service led her to help BFB started as a student-run coordinate the inaugural “Born for (L-R) Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director event (originally called “Bound for of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Broadway” (BFB) benefit concert America, Sarah Galli ’06, and Broadway”) when Galli was a gala, which was held June 22 at the Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Director of freshman, and has continued to be New World Stages in New York. Born for Broadway. an MMC event ever since.

Star, Inc. She continues to audition and Manhattan. Taylor spent the winter Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a work on various acting projects. season dancing in the ensemble of the focus in literature at the State University Taylor Gordon ’08, M.S., a Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New of New York at Stony Brook in August communication arts graduate, recently York City as a member of the AGVA 2008. Maran, who received a B.A. in completed her master’s in publishing at Union. She writes for a number of dance communication arts from MMC, is Pace University at the age of 20. She magazines and is a new member of the currently the College’s Residence began the program through the Dance Critics Association. Director at the 55th Street Residence Hall. consortium program at Marymount Maran Kajfez ’05, M.A., completed a Julia Khvasechko ’01, B.S., celebrated 10 years of good health by running three marathons, dedicating two to “Fred’s Team,” which raises funds for MSKCC, and one to NF, which raises funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Calling All Alumni Additionally, she cut off her long hair and donated it to a charity that Tell us about recent job changes, marriages, births, makes wigs for children who are publications, awards and other noteworthy medically bald. accomplishments.* Photos are especially welcome Bobbi Amundson Ordez ’03, B.S., but cannot be returned. If you know of alumni started her own children’s clothing who have passed away, let us know; we would like company, 1 of a Kind Creations by Luxe to remember them in our In Memoriam section. Veritas (www.luxeveritas.com). Her husband, Edmond, graduated from Fax, e-mail or mail your 150-word draft submission to: William Mitchell College of Law with a J.D. in May. Class Notes Editor Erin Race ’04, B.A., moved from New Marymount Manhattan College *All submissions are subject to editorial revision for York City to the D.C. area about two 221 East 71st Street length and/or content. This years ago. She was a ballet and musical New York, NY 10021 information may be included 71st Street Alumni theater teacher at a Performing Arts Fax: (212) 517-0465 in the Magazine in the Class Notes School in Maryland. Currently, she works [email protected] section and on the Web site full time at a legal agency and teaches under Alumni News. private voice lessons and entertainment for children’s birthday parties on the weekends. She and her husband, Jeff Graves, were married in July 2009. Melissa D. Rodriguez-Gonzalez ’03, M.A., graduated from Columbia University’s School of International and

26 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Public Affairs in 2008 with a Masters of Fraud Examiner and serves on the Board In November 2008, Gloria formed the International Affairs. She is currently a of Directors for the New York Chapter of MMC Psychology Alumni Association, program officer at the Institute of the Association of Certified Fraud along with six of her MMC alumni International Education. Examiners. This past year Linda spent colleagues. To view the growth progress Kelly Sebastian ’01, B.A., an MMC four months working in Deloitte’s of this new association please access the communication arts graduate, launched Hyderabad, India, offices supervising Web site: www.mmcpsychologyalumni.com. “Oh The Ladies Productions,” a boutique staff. Linda’s youngest daughter, Emilie, Jenna Ushkowitz ’07, B.A., an MMC production company in New York City. who is a student at George Washington Theatre Arts graduate, stars in Fox’s new She is Lead Director and Head of University, is spending the year in Tokyo high-school musical series “Glee,” which Development for commercials, promos as part of a study abroad program. premiered its pilot on May 19. The one- and films. Linda’s oldest daughter, Shana, is an hour musical comedy will begin in fall Assistant Attorney General for the Linda Silvestri ’03, M.P.A. 2009 on Fox. Jenna plays Tina, a , an MMC District of Columbia. accounting graduate, was recently stuttering Goth girl who blossoms onstage Gloria M. Stevens ’02, M.A. promoted to a manager in the New York , who is in her Ohio high school’s glee club. office of Deloitte Financial Advisory a summa cum laude Marymount Bridget Rouhan Wess ’05, B.F.A., Services, LLP, in the Forensic and Manhattan psychology graduate, earned married Philip Wess on September 18, Dispute Services practice. She assists a graduate degree at Teachers College 2008 in Gloucester, Mass. She is financial services clients in dispute and (TC) Columbia University in organizational currently teaching dance at Paulette’s forensic investigations as well as other leadership and received a Certificate in Ballet Studio in Newton, Mass., and consulting matters. She is also a Certified Conflict Resolution from the ICCCR Medfield, Mass. Department of Teachers College in 2004.

In Memoriam Births

Karen Bigornia ’81, who received a for numerous children and was Suzanne Greco, daughter of Mary B.A. in sociology from MMC, passed instrumental in the development of the Louise Tallent Chudd ’65, M.S., gave away on March 25 after a short illness. center. Paul is survived by his parents birth to a baby girl on December 8 (the feast of the Immaculate Conception) in Barbara Slattery Cramer ’61, who Helen and John, his brothers Brian and Boston. Suzanne and her husband, John received a B.A. in English from MMC, Tom, and his children Nicolas and Nina. Greco, named the baby Katherine passed away on Dec. 18, 2008. Alice O’Hara, mother of Alice O’Hara Marie. Kate was born at a healthy 8 McCarter ’65, M.S.W., passed away on Ann Quigley Frey ’56, who obtained a pounds, 2 ounces and 19.5 inches. Mary June 11, 2008, after a swift decline. She B.A. in communications from MMC, died Louise and her husband, Richard, are so was 98 years old. Alice’s family on July 14, 2009. Frey also worked at the ecstatic because Kate is their first relationship with the RSHM started when College at various times, most recently in grandchild. They wish the very best to her mother enrolled McCarter in the the mid to late 1980s as the director of all Marymount Manhattan graduates. Human Resources. Gerard School in 1949. Alice O’Hara McCarter ’65, M.S.W., Kimberly McGovern Pliska ’01, who Richard Horowitz, husband of Diane became a grandmother when her received a B.S. in business from MMC, Ascione Horowitz ’65, M.A., passed daughter, Susan, gave birth to a beautiful passed away in September 2008. away on September 11, 2008. They had baby boy on August 14, 2008. His name a terrific 41-year marriage, and Diane Radio personality is John William (Jack) McCarter. He was and her children and grandchildren miss Erika Roman ’99, baptized at St. Monica’s Church on East him greatly. an MMC 79th Street in New York City. communication arts Nancy Kerin Keating ’56, a sociology Bethann Bark Wolfe ’98, B.A., an graduate, died in a major and education minor who received MMC communication arts alumna, gave South Florida car a B.A. at MMC, passed away on October birth to Dean Martin Wolfe on June 1, accident. Erika 26, 2008. Her classmate Geraldine 2008. He joins sisters Sam Malone Wolfe Roman, 33, co-host Ferraro ’56 spoke at the funeral. and Carly Simon Wolfe. of the Obie & Lil Isa Gelabert Macisco ’59 , an MMC art Shawn Show on graduate, passed away in May 2007. Power 95.3 was born Erika Roman ’99 Helen Clarke Molanphy ’61 lost her and raised in New eldest son Paul Molanphy. Paul was an York City and began her career as a outstanding pediatric physical therapist promoter for Fever Records while who was honored at a memorial service attending Marymount Manhattan College. held by the Dell Physical Therapy Center Kenneth Smith, husband of Kathy at Children’s Hospital in Austin, Texas, Kerwin Smith ’61, an MMC psychology on December 2, 2008. The hospital will graduate, passed away on May 4, 2009, name a wing of the center in honor of in Sebastian, Florida. Kenneth lost his Paul, who spent many years as a healer battle with cancer.

71ST S TREET . S UMMER 2009 27 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A wide range of events are held for alumni and members of the MMC community each year. These provide opportunities to learn, to connect and to engage with fellow alumni community members. For further details on all events listed below visit www.mmm.edu/alumni/alumnihome.html.

SEPTEMBER 2009 OCTOBER 2009 NOVEMBER 2009

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29 OCTOBER 1 NOVEMBER 2-DECEMBER 1 Art Faculty Exhibit in the Hewitt The College will host the Class “11/9 – 9/11” exhibition juxtaposes the Gallery of Art features a range of media, Competition Thank You Dinner to fall of the Berlin Wall with the fall of the styles and viewpoints through honor the winners of the Class World Trade Center and is curated by September 29. An opening reception will Competition, from 6-8 p.m. Artist Exchange International with artists be held September 17 from 6-8 p.m. Congratulations to the classes of ’53, ’54, from Berlin. An opening reception will Contact: Millie Burns at (212) 517-0692 ’58, ’59 and ’61, winners of this year’s be held Nov. 5 from 6-8 p.m. in the SEPTEMBER 10 competition. Hewitt Gallery of Art. Contact: Contact: MMC will host an alumni reception at Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 Millie Burns at (212) 517-0692 the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, OCTOBER 5-27 NOVEMBER 12 located in Manhasset, NY, from 6-8 p.m. SixbySixbySix, co-curated by Christy Young Alumni Happy Hour is hosted The Office of Alumni Relations extends Ellis ’09, features sculptural works by by the Alumni Leadership Council a special thanks to Joan Brakman ’53, six artists. A reception will be held on Events Committee from 6-8 p.m. who has contributed her time to October 8 from 6-8 p.m. in the Hewitt Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 organizing this great event. Gallery of Art. NOVEMBER 18-22 Contact: Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 Millie Burns at (212) 517-0692 As You Like It by William Shakespere SEPTEMBER 14 OCTOBER 7 will be performed by MMC’s Theatre The Commons Celebration marks The Sixth Annual Golf Tournament is Production Workshop. An opening night the opening of MMC’s new Commons, an opportunity for alumni, parents and reception will follow the performance a facilities project supported by friends to enjoy a day of challenging on November 18. This is the Day, the Campaign for golf, friendly company, and great food at Contact: Theatre Office at (212) 774-0760 Marymount Manhattan. The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, or [email protected] Contact: Jean Wilhelm at (212) 517-0460 Connecticut. Register today. NOVEMBER 18 Contact: SEPTEMBER 17 Carolyn Bolt at (212) 517-0454 Career Workshop Series: Workshop 3 “Celebrating Art and the Legacy of OCTOBER 17 – Human Resources Panel with Q&A Sister Judith Savard” reception Volunteer for New York Cares Day by is an opportunity for alumni to learn job features faculty artwork in the Hewitt joining the Alumni Leadership Council development skills. The workshop is a Gallery and serves as the launch of the Outreach Committee and the Office of collaboration by Career Services and the first student Senior Art Exhibitions Alumni Relations for a day of Alumni Leadership Councils Career catalogue, dedicated to the memory of volunteering. Development Committee. Sister Judith Savard from 6-8 p.m. Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 Contact: Victoria Rehkugler at OCTOBER 21-25 NOVEMBER 19-21 (212) 517-0467 Girl Gone, a production by MMC’s Dancers At Work, MMC’s Dance SEPTEMBER 23 Theatre Production Workshop, will student choreography showcase, will Career Workshop Series: Workshop 1 include an opening night reception feature work by nine student – Mock Interview Sessions and following the October 21st performance. choreographers in the Great Hall. Resume Builder is hosted in Contact: Theatre Office at (212) 774- Contact: Dance Department at conjunction with Career Services, the 0760 or [email protected] (212) 517-0610 Office of Alumni Relations. The series is OCTOBER 23-25 NOVEMBER 20 led by the Alumni Leadership Councils Homecoming 2009: Family and Lincoln and New York exhibit at the Career Development Committee. Friends Weekend invites parents, New-York Historical Society is Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 students, alumni and the MMC scheduled from 6-8 p.m. The Office of SEPTEMBER 26 community to enjoy campus activities Alumni Relations invite alumni to learn City Hall Circle Walking Tour features and celebrations on the MMC campus. about Abraham Lincoln and his a historic perspective by MMC Professor Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 experiences in New York. Mary Brown, Ph.D. The tour is from Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463 12-3 p.m. Contact: Suzy Mulvihill at (212) 517-0463

28 M ARYMOUNT M ANHATTAN C OLLEGE Enhance the MMC experience for students with a gift to the Annual Appeal.

Marymount Manhattan is steadfast in its commitment to attract and serve a diverse student body, faculty and staff by offering a high-quality liberal arts education in an exciting, enriched environment. Alumni support of the Annual Appeal is critical to enabling the College to fulfill its mission.

Your tax-deductible gift to the 2009-2010 Annual Appeal will help the College meet priority needs and allow MMC to:

• Offer increased financial aid to students in need • Expand academic programs • Recruit and retain top faculty • Update facilities and provide access to the latest technologies

Make a gift today by mailing your check in the attached business reply envelope or visit our Web site www.mmm.edu/giving.

CONTACT: Ashley Porter at [email protected] (212) 517-0459 Thank You! 221 East 71st Street, New York, NY 10021 1-800-MARYMOUNT www.mmm.edu NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #14 HUNTINGTON, NY

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