Weekly news from Mercyhurst College

Vol. 20, No. 16 February 3, 2003 IDPEL Makes Positive Strides At Hurst Sixteen individuals with interesting albeit Another bonus is that the six Mercyhurst admin- diverse backgrounds are pioneering the Interdisci- istrators and faculty who are students in the pro- plinary Doctoral Program for Educational Leaders gram receive a special tuition remission. Mercyhurst (IDPEL) being offered on the Mercyhurst College participants include Ruth Auld, Marion Monahan, campus this year. Kyle Foust, Daryl Georger, Jim Theeuwes, and A satellite program of Duquesne University, Bill Shannon. IDPEL is in its inaugural year at Mercyhurst. Suc- The Erie cohort is comprised of a special edu- cessful completion of the four-year program yields cation director, elementary and secondary school I a doctor of education (Ed.D.) in educational leader- principals, and college personnel, among others. ship. Students also may apply for the Superinten- Their ages range from 35 to the mid 50s, and they dent's Letter of Eligibility issued by the state hail from Pennsylvania and New York. Dr. Missy Department of Education. "I have a sincere interest in contemporary edu- Breckenridge "It's a win-win situation for us," said Dr. Missy cation and issues, and I felt this doctoral program Breckenridge, associate dean for graduate pro- was a good direction for me to take," said Mary calls IDPEL grams and academic services, who serves as the Lee Lynch, assistant principal of Emerson-Gridley "a win-win liaison between Mercyhurst and Duquesne. School in Erie. She said the curriculum is challeng- ing and she is pleased with the diversity of the situation "for Duquesne is a well-respected school and part- nering with it is a plus for Mercyhurst, she said. group. Mercyhurst. The arrangement also provides special academic Likewise, Hagan said he finds teaching at the opportunities for Mercyhurst's faculty to advise doctoral level akin to talking with fellow scholars. and teach in a doctoral program. Breckenridge "The level at which they perform is very high," he and Drs. Frank Hagan and Phillip Belfiore are said. "Everyone is interested in the subject matter the program's advisers. Hagan and Belfiore are and interested in doing well." also instructing. (cont. on page 3) In The Spotlight...Adrian Spracklen As the son of one-time "International Coach of Still, how far and how the Year" Mike Spracklen, Mercyhurst College fast he steers from the There's not head rowing coach Adrian Spracklen might easily home waters remains to be be steered in the direction of his dad's elite seen. one person on Olympic coaching career in rowing. "Sure, I feel the pull to my team that Clearly, coaching is his legacy and, some bigger things but, for now, I wouldn t put observers say, his destiny. With his skill and his I'm happy," said Spracklen, ability to train, support, and inspire his rowers, a native of Marlow in a roof over Spracklen is accumulating his own trove of England. "I have a wife and their head if awards. In December, he was named "Women's two small children with another one on the way. Coach of the Year" for small colleges at the "Joy they needed Plus, Mercyhurst is my alma mater and coaching of Sculling" national conference. He led the Lady here is something I hold very dear." / / one. Lakers to three consecutive Avaya national Spracklen graduated from Mercyhurst in 1990 championships since he became the women's with a degree in sportsmedicine and furthered his head coach in 1992. He also took over the men's studies at Western Michigan University before program in 2001. (cont. on page 3) Stepherson Eyes Open Houses Focus Challenges Ahead On Adult Education Kenneth Stepherson, The office of adult and Did You new physical plant director graduate programs at Mer- at Mercyhurst, comes to • cyhurst College will host two Jttrife [ tne college with more than open houses in February for Know? jd^S ' 20 years of facility and con- prospective students. struction management ex- Both programs will be Tired of trudging perience. In his most recent offered at the Catherine through snow to get post as project manager at McAuleyAdultEducation Cen- across campus these ter, 3928 Wayne St., which Baylor University in Waco, days? Consider Mercy- Texas, Stepherson was is situated at the eastern edge ^^•^•*«-' responsible for the manage- of the Mercyhurst campus. hurst's first class of ment of two high-profile projects: the Mayborn The first program, an information session 25 students and the Museum, a 143,000-square-foot project with highlighting the college's 17 post-baccalaureate obstacles they encoun- a budget of $23.1 million; and the Stacy Riddle teacher certification offerings, will be Thursday tered. A strike had de- Forum, a 51,000-square-foot building with a from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The second event, an open layed construction of budget of $7.3 million. house outlining the graduate programs offered at He worked in the private sector, managing Mercyhurst, will be Thursday, Feb. 13, from 5:30 Old Main, but the Sisters multimillion-dollar projects for construction com- to 7:30 p.m. were determined to panies. He also served as facility operations Teachers who wish to add a new area of open on Sept. 7, 1926, manager for the largest high-rise office building certification or individuals with a non-teaching as planned. Thus, with in Austin, Texas. bachelor's degree who want to obtain teacher the front campus a mass From 1974 to 1984, Stepherson was in the certification would benefit from the first session. of mud and a huge hole U.S. Navy as a boiler technician, serving on five Prospective students who want to learn about naval vessels. graduate programs will have the opportunity to in the ground near the "I know I am trying to fill the shoes of the meet directors of the various programs at the entrance to Old Main, impressive legacy left by Bill Kerbusch, but I saw second session, which will feature presentations students had to walk some challenges here at Mercyhurst and met by Dr. Frank Hagan, director of graduate admin- the people and was very impressed," he said. over planks to get to istration of justice; Robert Heibel, director of the "They have a can-do attitude and that is what I their classes and a trac- like." Research/Intelligence Analyst Program (R/IAP); Dr. Phillip Belfiore, director of graduate special tor was stationed near- Stepherson brings his wife, Kathie, and son, by to retrieve vehicles Brett, 9, to Erie with him. He also has three adult education; Dr. Missy Breckenridge, associate children. Kathie, he noted, has not lived outside dean for graduate programs and academic ser- from the mud. of Texas and, before coming to Erie, had never vices; and Lynda Schaaf, director of the Adult experienced snow. Education Center and graduate student services. "If we can get through this first winter, it For more information, contact the office of should be gravy from then on," he said. adult and graduate programs at 824-2294. Happenings on the Hill • Mercyhurst dancers push the edge through Hnwn •HttnMHMnHMMIf The 2003 Phonathon is nearing the end of its annual run. As a wide spectrum of styles ranging from of last Friday, volunteer callers had obtained 1,777 pledges jazz to ballet in this weekend's presenta- totaling $86,404, according to Phonathon director Steve tion of "Raw Edges V." In preparation for Zinram. That leaves 223 donors and $13,596 more to gain the production, which will be staged Sat- toward this year's goal of 2,000 donors and $100,000. "It's urday at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at definitely attainable," Zinram said. "I feel we can make it." The 2 p.m. in the Mary D'Angelo Performing Phonathon ends Thursday. Arts Center, the dancers have set their own choreography, blending together the >P Mercyhurst College Student Government presented a check music and patterns of movement that most for $1,200 to United Way of Erie County for the Erie County inspire them. In addition, the audience is invited to participate Crime Victims Center during a reception held prior to the in the Performance Plus Lecture Series that will take place dur- college's winter formal last Friday. To raise the money, MSG ing intermission and includes an informal discussion with the used its annual Charity Snow Ball, with a portion of every choreographers. Dance department director Tauna Hunter ticket sold going toward the contribution to the crime victims said, "Raw Edges is always a performance that pushes the center. MSG selected the center as its "favored charity" of the edge of innovation. The 2003 production showcases 12 new year in recognition of the support it offers to student victims of works that are highly creative, sometimes clever and some- sexual assault. times dramatic." (cont. on page 3) Applause! As Laura Rowles, a senior Hotel Restau- Mercyhurst grads 75 and John rant and Institutional Management major, Burton '88 shared the front page of the People- HRIM nabs was rubbing elbows with famous TV host Plus section of the Erie Times-News Sunday, Jan. Bob Barker of "The Price Is Right" after 26. The stories focused on their artistic creativity: spotlight - winning a spot on contestants' row last Stark as a television writer under contract to Dis- AGAIN! month, the HRIM family found ney; and Burton as a well-known local actor and another celebrity rendezvous to singer as well as a teacher at the Erie Day School. crow about, this time involving The feature on Stark recounted his career with one of its graduates. Christina writing partner Tracy Newman, with whom he co- Maffei '01, a food service wrote the Emmy Award-winning "coming out" ^ professional at internationally episode on "." The duo also wrote for "' renowned Charlie Trotter's in and launched the family sitcom, "According to Chicago, III., was taped as part of Jim," which has become a major hit on ABC-TV. a segment carried last Friday on "The Oprah The interview with Burton spotlighted his commu- Winfrey Show." According to Oprah's offi- nity theater work and his efforts to expose area children to music and theater. cial Web site, Friday's show was to highlight Oprah's attempt to serve as matchmaker for her best friend Gayle, who she sent on blind dates with four eligible bachelors. Contact- IDPEL (from page 1) ed in Chicago, Maffei said a film crew was in the restaurant a week earlier taping one Mercyhurst is the second of Duquesne's IDPEL of Cayle's blind dates and she acted as the satellite programs, the other being at Shippens- couple's primary server. burg University in south central Pennsylvania. The program is taught by faculty from Duquesne, • It was a very good year for Mercyhurst head including IDPEL director Dr. Helen C. Sobehart, rowing coach Adrian Spracklen (see Spot- and Mercyhurst. Classes are held primarily on light), who was awarded "Women's Coach the Erie campus, although the cohort travels to of the Year" for small colleges at the "Joy of Duquesne for two to three days as part of its Sculling" national conference Dec. 14,2002, summer sessions. at the Sheraton Convention Center in Sara- toga Springs, N.Y. The 2002 season was a memorable one for the Lady Lakers. They won the Avaya national championship for Adrian Spracklen (from page 1) a record-breaking third time in a row by 23 joining Mercyhurst as an assistant rowing coach seconds and came in fourth at the Division I and athletic trainer in 1991. He stays involved championships behind Princeton, Wisconsin, with the sports medicine field as a member of the and Harvard. They finished ahead of Stan- medical staff for the U.S. rowing team. ford, Villanova, Georgetown, Delaware, and But, for the moment, Spracklen seems to have the University of Santa Barbara. found his niche at Mercyhurst and frequently espouses the merits of the athletes he mentors as a major reason for the program's success. "There's not one person on my team that I (from page 2) Happenings on the Hill wouldn't put a roof over their head if they needed • Do you know any students who are struggling with their own sobriety or one," he said. "They have morals and values and that of another? Several students have been meeting on Wednesdays at that's very important to me." 9 p.m. in the reading room of the student union to support each other in A family man, Spracklen enjoys spending his their efforts toward sobriety. Faculty may want to personally recommend free time with wife, Mia '94, and daughters, the meetings to students they believe would benefit from this kind of peer Henley and Teagan. He also participates in support group, said Sister Geri Rosinski, director of campus ministry. marathons, triathlons, mountain biking and is a However, she added, please do not make this a public announcement to great dog lover. He owns an English Golden your classes. Contact Sister Geri at ext. 2301 with questions. Retriever named "Belle." • Mercyhurst archivist Earleen Glaser is searching for five issues of "The Merciad" that she needs to complete the college collection: Nov. 17, 1999; Dec. 1, 1999; March 22, 2000; Dec. 20, 2001; and Jan. 17, 2002. Anyone who can help is asked to contact Glaser at ext. 2190 or e-mail her at RNING [email protected] Weekly news from Mercyhurst College

Monday Morning is an internal publication published weekly during the academic year by Mercyhurst College. Contact us: [email protected] This Week at the Hurst FEB 3-9,2003 The Arts Sports at Home FILM: SPIRITED AWAY TUES., FEB. 4 WED., FEB. 5, 8 p.m. Men's Varsity Hockey vs. Canisius 7 p.m. Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center FRI., FEB. 7 In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world Women's Hockey vs. Wayne State 7 p.m. ruled by witches and monsters where humans are changed Wrestling vs. Kutztown 7:30 p.m. into animals. SAT., FEB. 8 General Admission: Women's Tennis vs. Carnegie Mellon 3 p.m. President's Card holders, free; Mercyhurst Students, free Men's Tennis vs. Carnegie Mellon 3 p.m. with ID; Adults, $4; Senior/non-Mercyhurst Students, $3. SUN., FEB., 9 DANCE: RAW EDGES V Women's Tennis vs. California U. of Pa 2 p.m. SAT., FEB. 8, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. SUN., FEB. 9, 2 p.m. Open skating at the Mercyhurst Ice Center: Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center Wed., Feb. 5,8 - 9 p.m. An evening of faculty and guest choreography. The Sun., Feb. 8, 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. /. audience is welcome to participate in a chat with the Sun., Feb. 9,12:15-1:45 p.m. choreographers during intermission. V Reserved Seating: President's Card holders, $6.50; Mercyhurst Students, $1 with ID; Adults, $8; Senior/non-Mercyhurst Students, $8; Youth (15 and under) $8. Meetings & Events

CLASSICAL SERIES: STRING ENSEMBLE THURS., FEB. 6 SUN., FEB. 9, 2:30 p.m. Open House for adult and graduate Walker Recital Hall programs 5:30 7:30 p.m The string students of The D'Angelo Department of Music, Catherine McAuley Adult Education Center coached by Rossitza Goza, will present works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. Grouped in different con- figurations such as sonata duo, string trio and piano quar- tet, the students will join forces with guest artists Robert Milestones Frankenberry (music faculty, piano), Ann Bommelje (staff Congratulations to: accompanist), and 13-year-old Miranda Blanchard (cello). Dr. Melissa Gibson, assistant professor of communica- General Admission: Free and open to the public. tion, who gave birth to a baby girl, Abigail Lynn, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003. Cards may be sent to parents Melissa and Michael Hancox at their residence: 10350 Faculty/Staff Training Reservoir Road, Albion, PA 16401. Get Well Wishes to: MON., FEB. 10 Cecile Hreha, part-time clerk in the development and alumni Excel 4 4-5:15 p.m. offices, who is home recuperating from knee surgery. Cards Old Main Computer Lab can be sent to Cecile at her residence: 1604 W. 44th St., Erie, PA 16509. TUES.,FEB. 11 Excel 4 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. Sister Joseph Mary Kosarsky, former nurse practitioner Old Main Computer Lab at the college for many years, who is a patient at Saint Vin- cent Health Center. Cards may be sent to Sister in Room Contact Nancy Eichelsdorfer to register by the previous Friday: 6222 of the health center, 232 W. 25th St., Erie, PA 16544. Ext. 2549 or [email protected]