A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | SPRING 2014 POINTTHE ON TRACK Track and field athletes are newest Pioneers High Impact Education A new core and more will enhance students’ learning experiences to the broader campus to our Downtown Creative renewal also characterizes Point neighborhood and beyond, creative Park’s Academic Village initiative in our collaboration is thriving here. Downtown neighborhood. In fact, one of the most recent projects might be described We all know that working together – whether as “back to the future.” A new student it’s with fellow students on a class project, a lounge on the second floor of Lawrence teacher on a research project, or a mentor at Hall is designed to be reminiscent of the a professional internship – can make all the area’s original purpose as a grand lobby difference in student success. entrance to the Keystone Athletic Club. See page 14 to learn more about this latest That’s why community building is a key restoration and revitalization project, which 16 focus of a new core course for first year will be completed by the beginning of TABLE OF CONTENTS students, City-University Life. This new first- summer 2014. year experience course will not only provide freshmen with basic study and research There is much to celebrate and enjoy here skills and other academic tools to help them on our campus, as well as the greater 2 Feedback 28 Alumni Connection succeed, but also unique opportunities to Downtown community. Next time you’re connect with the greater urban community in the neighborhood, we hope you’ll drop 20 3 News and Views 29 Class Notes Dear alumni and friends, of Pittsburgh – a distinctive characteristic by and take a closer look at the creative of a Point Park education. transformation that is always in season 12 High Impact Learning 34 On Track It’s spring, and that means it is commence- at Point Park. A new core curriculum and New track and field teams more are aimed at enhancing ment season here at Point Park. Our entire The City-University Life course and other will boost Point Park’s roster students’ learning experiences. campus community joins our graduates and enhancements to the core curriculum are Warm regards, of varsity sports in the 2014-15 academic year. Meet the new their families in celebrating this time of joy, part of the Point Park 2020 initiative, a 16 War Is Serious Business head coach and see a roundup transition and renewal. multi-faceted effort to enhance the overall On an annual class trip to 26 of sports news. student learning experience here at the Gettysburg, students discover Both community and creativity have always University. You can learn more about our timeless lessons about played an important role in defining the efforts on page 12, and in future issues of Dr. Paul Hennigan business strategy. Point Park experience. From our classrooms The Point. President 20 On Location with The Chair Point Park is home to a new TALK TO US! television documentary series The Point wants to hear from you. Send your that puts filmmakers’ vision in comments and suggestions to: | SPRING the spotlight. A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University 2014 ON THE COVER: Managing Editor Track and field athletes Marketing and Communications POINTTHE are poised to become 26 March for Babies Point Park University the latest Pioneers. Alumni Erin and Dan Hart 201 Wood Street See page 34 to Pittsburgh, PA 15222 learn more. honor their infant sons’ legacy by serving as 2014 March of Phone: 412-392-6108 Fax: 412-392-6185 ON TRACK Email: [email protected] Track and field athletes Dimes Ambassador Family. are newest Pioneers High Impact Education A new core and more will enhance students’ learning experiences President Managing Director of Director of Organizational Web Services Administrator Photographers Paul Hennigan, Ed.D. Communications and Identity and Photography Stephen Shanahan John Altdorfer Client Services The Point is published by the Department of Marketing and Communications, Point Park University, 201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of published Dalton Good Jim Judkis information. Please visit our web site at www.pointpark.edu for current information regarding University programs, departments, alumni activities and events. Vice President of Nancy Commella Writers Richard Kelly External Affairs Manager of Printing Amanda Dabbs Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Initiatives Managing Editor Services John McKeith This policy affirms Point Park University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and the pursuit of diversity. Point Park University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national Mariann Geyer Gina Puppo origin, sex, age, religion, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, caregiver status or familial status in the administration of any of its educational programs, Cheryl Valyo Don Pastorius Martha Rial Kevin Taylor activities or with respect to employment or admission to the University’s educational programs and activities. This policy is in accord with local, state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Christopher Rolinson of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act Graphic Designer Melissa Williams Schofield of 1975 and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Act. Inquiries regarding these regulations, policies or complaints of discrimination should be referred to the human resources officer, telephone number Managing Director, Online 412-392-3952. Inquiries regarding Title IX and the Title IX regulations should also be referred to the senior vice president, academic and student affairs, as the Title IX coordinator, or deputy coordinators, Judy Sporka Communications the human resources officer or the dean of students. Christine Zapinski POINTPARK.EDU 1 PITT HONORS PRESIDENT HENNIGAN who presented the medallion at a Jan. 30 NEWS AND VIEWS meeting of Point Park’s Board of Trustees. Professional Advancement Laboratory of Ecology, to study the Joshua Daugherty and Robin Shaw, “As president of Point Park, Dr. Hennigan is helping to forge the futures of countless species diversity and distribution of have achieved an exceptional level of young people and making enormous Gregg Johnson, Ph.D., associate profes- lichens at Pymatuning State Park in performance. Shaw’s “effective and contributions to the revitalization of our city.” sor of electrical engineering technology, summer 2014. Opdyke was awarded his professional presentation of ATSDR’s spoke on “Unlocking the Mysteries of first grant to study lichen in 2009 by the Health Assessment of American Chain Hennigan has served as an adjunct faculty Chaos and Control” in the 2014 Leonard Pennsylvania Department of Conserva- and Gable Site (Reading, Pa.) and Chem member and senior management analyst tion and Natural Resources. His research Fab Facility (Doylestown, Pa.) earned a for the H.J. Heinz School of Public Policy Finkelhor Lecture on campus on April and Management at Carnegie Mellon Uni- 16. Johnson explored how systems with involves studying lichen as indicators perfect score of 50 points. “My congratu- versity and as a consultant to the govern- seemingly identical starting conditions of air quality in areas such as Schenley lations and best wishes for continued ment of Allegheny County, where he lead to remarkably different outcomes Park, Frick Park, Mingo Creek, Roaring success,” said Gaglierd. managed its strategic planning project. He and how these and other real-world sys- Run and Downtown Pittsburgh. was the chief financial officer for the City tems exhibit the earmarks of a phenom- Nicole Chytil has joined the University of Pittsburgh from 1994-1999. Hennigan April Friges, assistant professor of as the administrator for Development accepted the Innovations in American enon called “chaos.” Johnson said his talk Government Award from the John F. Kennedy explores “a classic example of a chaotic photography, was among 11 artists to and Alumni Relations. She previously School of Government at Harvard University system that appears quite benign yet dis- display her work at the recent exhibit worked in the development offices of on behalf of the City in 1999. The award plays all of the rich, underlying complexity “Pop Explosion: the Artist and Popular the Medical and Health Sciences recognized Pittsburgh for the first-ever of chaotic motion.” Some of the areas of Culture,” which ran through March 29 at Foundation and Carnegie Mellon use of the Internet to sell municipal bonds, Johnson’s lecture were developed during the Sweetwater Center for the Arts in University and has her associate’s Point Park President Paul Hennigan which he built a successful career in gov- a project that Hennigan directed and was Sewickley, Pa. Friges, an award-winning degree from Kaplan Career Institute. received a special-edition 225th Anniversary ernment, consulting and higher education. reported on in The Wall Street Journal. communications research he did at the Medallion from his alma mater, the Univer- Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C. photographer, joined the School of sity of Pittsburgh. Marking Pitt’s 225th “I have often said that an institution of Hennigan is vice chair of the Pennsylvania Communication in fall 2013. Penny Schnarrs has been appointed anniversary, the award is given to alumni higher education makes many of its most Economy League board of directors and Michele Langbein, Ph.D., associate director of donor relations and develop- who have made outstanding contributions important contributions through the work a member of the board of directors of the professor in the School of Business, Amy McCall, J.D. has been appointed ment communications in Development to their professional fields and contributed done by its graduates, and it is a particular Association of Independent Colleges and presented “Ethical Shades of Gray and as general counsel at Point Park.