WINTER 2012 Lending a Hand
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SienaSIENA NEWS • A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS • WINTER 2012 Lending a Hand Alumni Lead Superstorm Sandy Recovery Efforts INSIDE: Lending A Hand 2012 Election: Youth Will Be Served Saints Abroad Message from the Editor This was an inspiring issue to put together as we heard more and more Faculty Secure about the recovery efforts of alumni after Superstorm Sandy slammed the east coast. The feature stories in this $1.55 Million issue highlight Siena graduates who are leading these efforts, but we know there are many others who were either in Grants impacted or have spent countless hours volunteering. These stories reinforce the Right: Adam Mason, Ph.D., value of a Siena College education. Siena alumni have always been responsive to assistant professor of biology, the needs of others and continue to was awarded a $362,000 assume leadership roles in their National Science Foundation communities, especially during times (NSF) research grant. Since of crisis. April 1, 2012 Siena College has I would like to take this opportunity secured several additional NSF to thank you for the positive feedback grants along with funding from we received on the first ezine we agencies such as the National published last fall. Many of you reached Endowment for the Humanities, out to us with your preference in how you would like to receive this magazine Space Telescope Science in the future – electronically only, Institiute, New York State hardcopy only or a combination of the Department of Environmental two. Conservation and New York If you have feedback or a story idea State Higher Education for Siena News, we would like to hear Services. A complete list of these from you at [email protected]. grants can be viewed at www.siena.edu/grants. Happy New Year, Jim Eaton departments On Campus News | 10 Alumni Connection | 21 Saints Corner | 16 Class Notes | 28 Faculty and Staff News | 19 SIENA 2 Faculty Secure $1.55 Million in Grants contents SIENA 3 from the president 2012 - 2013 Board of Trustees Thomas L. Amell ’89 Ronald E. Bjorklund ’85 J. David Brown Robert F. Campbell ’66 Judy Capano/Michaelson ’87 Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., Ph.D. Robert M. Curley Robert T. Cushing ’77 Susan Law Dake Howard S. Foote ’74 Violet T. Grennan, M.F.I.C., D. Min. Robert L. Guido ’68 Do you remember the very first word you uttered in 2013? Chances Douglas T. Hickey ’77 are it was “happy.” After the champagne bottle was uncorked and the Rev. Kenneth R. Himes ’71, O.F.M., Ph.D. giant ball dropped in Times Square, you probably turned to a fellow Pamela McCarthy reveler and said, “Happy New Year!” The traditional greeting expressed Robert J. McCormick ’87 your hope that a change of calendars would be a change for the better and James J. Morrell ’66 that you, your family and friends would enjoy abundant blessings in the Very Rev. Kevin J. Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. months ahead. John F. Murray ’79 “Happy” is also the first word in the book of Psalms. Yet, of the John J. Nigro 150 poems that follow, more than half are psalms of lament, cathartic Very Rev. John F. O’Connor, O.F.M. acknowledgements of both personal and communal loss. Clearly, the Walter A. Osterman ’87 Mark S. Rose ’65 authors of these poems did not believe that a happy life was devoid of Rev. James P. Scullion ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. suffering. What they did believe was that happiness was a function not David M. Stack ’73 of pain’s absence, but of faith’s presence. They equated happiness not Christine L. Standish with a stress-free existence, but with a confident trust in the steadfast and Nimmi M. Trapasso enduring love of God. A new calendar year and a new academic semester are usually accompanied by renewed hope for fresh starts and creative possibilities. Siena News - Winter 2012 One of the great joys of working on a college campus is that young Published by: Siena College people seem to be optimistic by nature. Certainly, here at Siena, we 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211-1462 have much to look forward to as we continue to make great strides in 518-782-8300 • [email protected] implementing our strategic plan. True, we know there are challenges ahead, just as we know from both the distant and the recent past, that • Publisher: Delcy Fox ours is an imperfect world in which natural disasters and random acts of • Editor: Jim Eaton • Contributing Editors: Mark Adam, Fr. Bill Beaudin ’76, violence inflict untold suffering on our brothers and sisters in the human O.F.M., Chelsea Brumagen ’13, David Driver, community. Jodi Ackerman Frank, Leon Halpert, Ph.D., Ken Jubie ’04, Yet, despite the trials we have faced and will face in the future, there Don Levy, Ph.D., Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D., are good, solid reasons to approach 2013 with firm hope and graceful Lexi Palma ’13, Chelsea Platt ’13, Jason Rich ’98, courage. As the pages of this magazine will attest, our students, faculty Jack Sise ’75 and Sarah Vistocco ’13 and alumni are making a positive difference in the world. As the writings • Online Editor: Allison Turcio ’06 • Art Director: Sergio Sericolo of St. Francis affirm, that world, flawed though it might be, is nevertheless • Alumni Class Notes, On Campus, Saints Corner the profoundly good and infinitely beautiful creation of a good and loving Design : Jean Higgs God. And as even the hard-nosed realism of the book of Psalms asserts: • Alumni Class Notes Editors: Mary Beth Finnerty ’85, “O God … you crown the year with your goodness; abundance flows in Jake Hill ’09 and Lori Lasch ’06 your steps.” • Photography: American Red Cross, Athletics Office, Michael Crockett, Development Office, Mike Hemberger, So, it is with great confidence that I wish you all a “Happy New Year.” Anita Jackson ’15, Tim Lattener ’15, Tony Purificato, Kris Qua, Sergio Sericolo, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, Surf City Fire Department and Sierra Zorn ’14 • Printer: The Lane Press, Burlington, Vt. On the cover: Photos supplied courtesy of Surf City, New Jersey Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. Fire Department and American Red Cross of Superstorm Sandy. President SIENA 4 FEATURES The 2012 Election: Youth Will Be Served By Leon Halpert, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science SRI Over the last decade, increased scholarly attention has been given to examining the political Tells values and voting behavior of the “Millennial” generation (those born between the early 1980s and mid 1990s and who fill the classrooms of Siena College today). Many had reached political majority with the 2008 election and 2012 welcomed the second wave. It Like The last two election results have shown us that differences between the policy preferences, party affiliation, voting choices and demographic composition of older and younger aged cohorts have been growing during the 21st century. Early in the 2012 election cycle, there was a concern It Is that the differences in the turnout rates between younger and older voters would widen as some observers noted an “enthusiasm gap” between the groups. Some predicted that there would be a The Siena Research decline in youth turnout from their 2008 levels, which generally had benefitted the Democratic Institute enjoyed another Party. However, most exit polls and surveys indicated that Millennial turnout rates held steady or successful election season. even increased slightly in 2012. From August to Election While Obama’s margin of victory among 18-29-year-olds did diminish by 10 points, from Day 2012, SRI conducted 34% in 2008 to 24% in 2012, it was strong enough to help him win re-election. In contrast, Mitt 30 separate polls in New Romney’s margin among the 65+ age cohort was two percent larger than John McCain’s margin York, Connecticut and in 2008 (eight percent over Obama). While not growing, the partisan-based presidential voting Pennsylvania. The results gap between old and young remained wide and is indicative of the political divide in the U.S. of these polls garnered state It is apparent that the young are becoming a pivotal part of the election process and it appears and national coverage from this will continue to be the trend for the 2016 election as well. major media outlets. During the 10 days prior to the election, SRI conducted polls on the Siena News - Winter 2012 Presidential and U.S. Published by: Siena College Senate races in New 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211-1462 York, six Congressional 518-782-8300 • [email protected] District races and three • Publisher: Delcy Fox New York State Senate • Editor: Jim Eaton races. Their final polls • Contributing Editors: Mark Adam, Fr. Bill Beaudin ’76, predicted 9 of 11 winners. O.F.M., Chelsea Brumagen ’13, David Driver, In the two contests SRI Jodi Ackerman Frank, Leon Halpert, Ph.D., Ken Jubie ’04, deemed “too close to call,” Don Levy, Ph.D., Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D., Lexi Palma ’13, Chelsea Platt ’13, Jason Rich ’98, one was still undecided Jack Sise ’75 and Sarah Vistocco ’13 in mid-December while • Online Editor: Allison Turcio ’06 in the other, challenger • Art Director: Sergio Sericolo Dan Maffei edged out • Alumni Class Notes, On Campus, Saints Corner incumbent Ann Marie Design : Jean Higgs • Alumni Class Notes Editors: Mary Beth Finnerty ’85, Buerkle in a tight race. Jake Hill ’09 and Lori Lasch ’06 • Photography: American Red Cross, Athletics Office, Michael Crockett, Development Office, Mike Hemberger, Anita Jackson ’15, Tim Lattener ’15, Tony Purificato, Kris Qua, Sergio Sericolo, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, Surf City Fire Department and Sierra Zorn ’14 • Printer: The Lane Press, Burlington, Vt.