Report from Newport
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REPORT FROM NEWPORT Salve ReginaUniversity Magazine Spring 2020 x Tian Quinn ’21 won the “Nature’s Beauty” category in Salve Regina’s “Capture It” photo contest for students studying abroad with “Salar de Uyuni,” taken in Uyuni, Bolivia. Campus News and Notes Stories Matter . 24 The power of storytelling is all in a days’ work for English com- Campus News and Notes . 2 munications alumni Kalene Brennan ’08, Barbi Jo DiMaria ’04 Multicultural Education Week features a visit from Dr. Cornel and Dave Ellis ’04. By Emily Whelan ’20 West, a panel discussion on life as a minority and a vibrant mul- ticultural festival; J. Malcolm Smith is named vice president for A Friendly Competition . 28 The Regan brothers, Daniel ’17 and Nicholas ’20, waste no time in student affairs; a Pell Center lecture on genetic engineering raises getting down to business. questions on ethics; and the annual Governor’s Ball hits a record- By Quentin Warren high fundraising total. An Untold Tale . 30 The secret story of Salve Regina’s role in the recovery of Tom Campus Conversations . 12 Brady’s Super Bowl jerseys. A Capacity for Hope Meet Dr. Steven Rodenborn, dean of undergraduate studies. With Matthias Boxler ’04 (M) Alumni News and Notes Athletics . 14 The Way We Were . 32 Captain’s Corner features Casey Kelly ’21. In Memoriam . 33 The Salve Regina community mourns the loss of beloved alumni, professors and friends. Features Alumni Profiles Nick Giacobbi ’05 embraces commercial real estate at all levels; Back in the Saddle . 16 Gabrielle Corradino ’11 shares her research on marine organisms; Shane Bowes ’21 is the first male equestrian team member. Kat Witschen ’14 is a rising star in the stage, screen and musical By Matthias Boxler ’04 (M) world; and Adam Cove ’15 (MBA) combines management exper- tise and a love of sailing to become CEO of Edson International. Profiles in Medicine . 18 Richard Dowd ’10 and Bianca Caetano Thorpe ’06 share how the Viewpoint . 48 pre-med track prepared them for success. Kelly Lee ’96 (M), executive director of Lucy’s Hearth, advocates By Quentin Warren for the homeless. As Report from Newport goes to press, the University is continually monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak and implementing measures accordingly. For up-to-date information, please visit salve.edu/coronavirus. 2 CAMPUS NEWS AND NEWS NOTES AND NOTES Author and activist Dr. Cornel West gathers for a photo with students Feb. 25. Teaching the World About Love A prominent and provocative recurring theme throughout the evening democratic intellectual, Dr. Cornel as West discussed the importance of West visited campus Feb. 25 to offer loving the people in your life who may his words of wisdom to the Salve disagree with you on a number of issues. Regina and Newport communities. “Love is not reducible to politics,” West is professor of the practice he said, as the crowd applauded. He of public philosophy at Harvard encouraged the audience to stay in University and professor emeritus at contact with the humanity of others, Princeton University. The author of 20 not their opinions on controversial books, he is best known for his classics, issues. Quoting philosophers and writers “Race Matters” and “Democracy from Socrates to Samuel Beckett, Matters,” and for his memoir, West spoke about the importance of Dr. Sami Nassim, Dr. Cornel West and Rose Albert ‘13 “Brother West: Living and Loving Out education in learning how to think Loud.” His most recent book, “Black and be a good person, and ultimately on our stage in Bazarsky Lecture Hall Prophetic Fire,” offers an unflinching answering the question: What kind and his ability to talk about perennial look at 19th- and 20th-century African of human will you choose to be in the societal issues with deep insight and American leaders and their visionary short time from womb to tomb? understanding modeled for all of us a legacies. The self-proclaimed “redeemed brighter future. What an honor it was West has a passion to communicate sinner with gangster-like proclivities” to host him at Salve.” to a vast variety of publics in order took the conversation down many West’s time on campus was a part to keep alive the legacy of Martin paths, but always brought it back around of Multicultural Education Week, Luther King Jr. – a legacy of telling the to education, back to mercy and back to which takes place every fall and spring truth and bearing witness to love and Salve. semester to celebrate diversity and spark justice. In a conversation moderated “Mercy is like Beethoven’s Opus 131, conversations on important topics. by President Kelli J. Armstrong, whom like music, it’s a giving of self, it’s giving The week is hosted by the Office of he referred to as “Sister President,” he everything,” said West. Multicultural Programs and Retention. discussed the roles of race, gender and Armstrong was honored to sit down In collaboration with the Office of class in American society. with West. “To be in the presence Student Engagement, the office was able “I come from a tradition of people of Dr. West was an experience I will to bring Dr. West to Newport. who have been hated for 400 years, yet never forget,” she said. “He is one of Rose Albert ’13, assistant director we taught the world so much about the great luminaries of our generation. of multicultural programs and love,” he said. Love and hope became a His brilliance and kindness radiated retention, thought that West’s visit REPORT FROM NEWPORT | SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY 3 “Students should be on fire for the good, the true, the beautiful and the holy. And we must love one another along the way. – Dr. Cornel West was successful. “He was able to share left with a new perspective.” working through today,” she said. with us some critical issues happening Michelle Ostolaza ’21, an West encouraged students to take around the world and at Salve in an administration of justice major and a stand for what they believe in. “Your enlightening way,” she said. “I felt like member of the Multicultural Student voice is like your fingerprint – there’s everyone was actively listening to the Organization, said that having people only one like you,” he said. “Students questions that were posed and the way like West come to campus is important. should be on fire for the good, the true, that Dr. West shed light on some very “It allows people to sit down and the beautiful and the holy. And we serious topics felt unthreatening to the educate themselves on topics like racial must love one another along the way.” audience. Everyone was listening and inequity and tolerance, issues we are still ” - Emily Whelan ’20 Conversations on Culture The Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention and the Multicultural Student Organization hosted Multicultural Education Week for the University community Feb. 24-28. Designed to promote interaction among students from different backgrounds, the goal of the week is to learn from other peers and influential speakers “A Day in My Shoes” panelists (from left) Dr. Timothy Neary, Ethan Davis ’22, Khelde Bourque ’20, Toyosi Akanji ’19, Rose Albert ’13, Michelle Ostolaza ’21, Tatiana Sola-Mendez ’23, Roxana Sola-Mendez, Dr. Kelli J. about many diverse cultures. Armstrong; back row (l-r), Dr. Troy Catterson, Dr. Sami Nassim, Dr. Sean O’Callaghan and Dr. Robin Hoffmann. The opening speaker was Matthew Photo by Cocoa and Co. Shenoda, who presented “The Stakes of stories about what it is like to truly be Multicultural Education Week in Diversity in Higher Education Today.” in someone else’s shoes for a day and to a better way than the festival,” said The associate provost for social equity understand the difficulties they face. Albert Watkins ’23. “Amazing food and inclusion at the Rhode Island Panelists included Rose Albert ’13, from around the world, stellar perfor- School of Design, he spoke about how assistant director for multicultural pro- mances, and the music throughout the we think about diversity and its inter- grams and retention, Toyosi Akanji ’19, night brought people together. What sections in higher education, sharing his Kheldhe Bourque ’20, Ethan Davis ’22, a great turnout for such a great night. own experiences and ways in which sys- Dr. Sami Nassim, assistant vice presi- And ending the night with raffle prizes temic frameworks can be transformative. dent for student success and director of for people to win was definitely a high- The multicultural coffee house show- multicultural programs, Dr. Timothy light. If you weren’t there, then you cased different cultures and traditions Neary, professor and chairman of missed out, big time!” around the world through song, story- the Department of History, Michelle - Morgan Rizzo ’23 telling and food. Music performances Ostolaza ’21 and Tatiana Sola-Mendez by students entertained visitors who ’23. With courage and candor, each stopped in to sample the abundance of presented a unique perspective that left different coffees, teas and desserts from the audience moved and transformed. various cultures. Multicultural Education Week came In addition to Dr. Cornel West’s to an end in Ochre Court with Friday visit, a highlight of the week was a night’s multicultural festival. This pop- discussion panel titled, “A Day in My ular event had a wide range of learning Shoes: Life as a Minority in the United opportunities, including personal experi- States.” The panel featured students, ences from students’ home countries or faculty and staff sharing stories of their travels around the world as well as cui- challenges in school and life because of sine, dancers, performers and a fashion their race, ethnicity or identity.