Message from the President Dear Friends, There was much to celebrate during this past year at Marywood University. From a personal perspective, it was a transformative experience to serve my inaugural year as Marywood’s 11th president. However, I do not and could not do this alone. While this special year has provided an exciting backdrop, the meaningful role that each of you plays in shaping the future of this University is the underpinning of what continues to inspire and create our outstanding progress. In keeping with the spirit of progress, we decided this year to produce a “green” President’s Report— a solely online piece—to reduce our use of paper products and take another positive step in our ongoing efforts to cultivate and practice environmental stewardship. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, “institutions of higher education are poised to play a leading role in developing and executing climate-neutral policies.” (“A Green Curriculum Involves Everyone on the Campus,” by John Peterson, June 20, 2008 issue) Marywood University continues to evaluate its current practices and engage in future initiatives with environmental considerations in mind—for the benefit of our students, our campus, our community, and our world. This report represents the fiscal year 2007-2008, covering the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Please accept my deepest appreciation for all you have done to advance the goals, initiatives, and mission of Marywood University. I am enthusiastic about the progress we have made, as well as the momentum we continue to generate, and I look to our future with great optimism and abundant hope. May our shared enthusiasm for goals accomplished, along with anticipation of opportunities that lie ahead, continue to strengthen Marywood University’s position as a premier provider of Catholic higher education in the 21st Century. Sincerely, President of the University Marywood University Annual Report of the President 2007-2008 2 Marywood Highlights2007-2008 The year began in an historic way, as Sister Anne Munley, IHM, Ph.D. officially became the The 2007-2008 academic year began with 11th President of Marywood on July 1, 2007. A nearly 1,100 new students from 14 states and 7 ceremonial inauguration was held in the fall. countries, bringing the Marywood University The overarching theme of “Celebrate student body to 2,017 undergraduates and Marywood” was presented through an 1,316 graduate students for a total of 3,333 integrated series of events and messages tied students—the majority of whom were full- to this 2007-2008 inaugural theme. During her time. The incoming freshmen hailed from 230 inaugural address. Sister Anne emphasized that different high schools, and transfer students the Catholic education Marywood provides, came from 63 different colleges or universities. “blends the pursuit of a life of wisdom with the During 2007-2008, there were more than 900 development of human potential for the sake students residing on the Marywood campus. of the common good.” She concluded by With the addition of Loughran Hall and the issuing a stirring challenge to students, fully renovated Madonna Hall, total housing emphasizing that they have “a right and duty” capacity increased to 927 spaces. to dream, to hope, to envision possibilities for a better world, and to fully realize these aims. “I charge you today to be courageous and hopeful, become global citizens, choose life, Marywood University announced the addition claim your goodness and convert your dreams of seven newly endowed scholarships and to deeds,” she said. the establishment of five new annual scholarships. During the 2007-2008 academic year, over $21.6 million in scholarship awards and financial aid grants were made to For the fifth consecutive year, Marywood Marywood students. University is again ranked in the Top Tier of “Best Universities—Masters—North” in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide, America’s Best Colleges 2008. Ken Rundell, Ph.D., Director of Respiratory Research and the Human Physiology Laboratory at Marywood University and an expert on asthma and air pollution, spoke at the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission consensus meeting on asthma, held in Switzerland in January 2008. Dr. Rundell, the sole United States representative asked to speak at this meeting, gave two presentations on air pollution, asthma and Olympic sport, both of which dealt with recent research that he conducted on asthma and air pollution. Over 150 families in the Scranton area were supplied Thanksgiving dinner last year, thanks to Marywood University's Campus Ministry. Student leaders coordinated the annual “Thanksgiving Adopt-A-Family” program Marywood University Annual Report of the President 2007-2008 3 Marywood Highlights2007-2008 Marywood University’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic got into the Christmas spirit by offering the gift of healthy hearing to the community last year. The clinic hosted three free hearing screenings in the William G. McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies. The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is staffed by Pennsylvania licensed and ASHA certified audiologists and speech language pathologists. Marywood University is transforming its core curriculum classrooms into technology-integrated, flexible learning spaces with a $125,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust in Worchester, Massachusetts. The University also received assistance from the George Alden Trust in 2004 to create “Smart Classrooms” in five campus buildings. Marywood University, building on the success of its graduate Sports Nutrition program and Volunteers mean so much to the lifeblood anticipating the needs of this emergent sector of any institution, and Marywood University of wellness and health care professionals, is no different. The Office of Constituency announced the approval of a new Master’s Relations reported a 62% increase in the degree in Kinesiology, which began in fall 2008. number of volunteers serving Marywood. Over 350 alumni, parents, and friends provided volunteer service to the University Other cultural and community events included in support of our students during the 2007- Marywood University’s Theatre and Dance 2008 academic year. Program joining forces with The Northeast Theatre’s Zuppa del Giorno and playwright Steve Deighan to create Prohibitive Standards, Straight from Turkey, the Whirling Dervishes the 2007-2008 Portal Project, which premiered of Rumi performed at Marywood University’s on October 4 in the Sette LaVerghetta Center Sette LaVerghetta Center for the Performing for the Performing Arts. Prohibitive Standards Arts on Wednesday, October 17. Seen as one is a play that was created entirely in rehearsal of the most exquisite ceremonies of and which featured five members of Zuppa del spirituality, the Dervishes enacted a Giorno, as well as four Marywood students mesmerizing seven-century old ritual, through trained in the technique. The play, set in the a vibrant performance that featured beautiful main ballroom at the Hotel Jermyn in Scranton, costumes and hypnotic, live music with flutes, depicted the immediate post-Prohibition string and percussion. atmosphere, when news broke about the repealing of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. Celebration of culture and diversity was the theme of the events taking place at Marywood University from November 12 -18 during International Education Week 2007. International Education Week activities featured the annual international dinner on Monday, November 12. Students from different cultures prepared dishes native to their countries to share with students and faculty. Additional activities throughout the week included a panel discussion, “Our Country, Our Culture,” presented by students representing Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Taiwan, world dance lessons, and an international art and photo exhibit. Marywood University Annual Report of the President 2007-2008 4 Marywood Highlights2007-2008 Spring Break was not a time for relaxation for 28 Marywood University students, as they offered their services to four different Three Marywood University students and Net communities this year, including Scranton. The Impact NEPA Officers participated in a United service trips were coordinated by Marywood Nations program designed to shape business University’s Campus Ministry and Collegiate school curricula. Paula Ralston Nenish, Archbald; Volunteers and took place the week of March 12. Ida Bridges, Scranton; and Frank DiCindio, Four student groups were sent to different Throop, attended a working session at the United locations during the week. Nations on January 25, 2008. The program, titled The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), launched at the 2007 Global Sister Mary Reap, IHM, Ph.D., C.M.F.C., President Compact Leaders Summit on July 5 in Geneva, Emerita of Marywood University, and Mr. Joseph provided an engagement framework specifically K Grieboski, President of the Washington, D.C.- for academic institutions to advance corporate based Institute on Religion and Public Policy, were social responsibility through the incorporation of presented with honorary doctorates at universal values into curricula and research. Marywood University’s 90th Commencement ceremony on Sunday May 11, 2008, at the Wachovia Arena, Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Grieboski also The Insalaco College of Creative Arts and delivered the Commencement address Management at Marywood University presented a performance that explored the art and theatrics of puppetry,