A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | WINTER 2015 POINTTHE READY FOR A NEW STAGE Curtain Rises on the New Pittsburgh Playhouse Dear alumni and friends, are international students from eight countries: Lebanon, India, Saudi Arabia, As a new year, and a new semester, begins, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Venezuela it is an opportunity to reflect on the accomplish- and Brazil. ments of 2014. And what a year it was for the University community! We concluded 2014 with a very big announcement. In December, we raised Last fall, we welcomed the largest freshman the curtain on plans for a much-anticipated class in the University’s history, with 633 addition to our urban campus: the new 12 U.S. and international students starting their Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park TABLE OF CONTENTS college careers at Point Park. The 2014-15 University. As I remarked at the unveiling of freshman class, which comes from 35 states the plans, we believe the new Playhouse, 2 Feedback 26 On the Job and 10 foreign countries, is 18 percent higher to be located on Forbes Avenue near Angela Scaramucci, coordinator than fall 2013, when Point Park had 535 new Market Square, will be a game-changer for 3 News and Views of employer relations, connects U.S. and international first-year students. In Downtown Pittsburgh. Not only will the new businesses and organizations 14 12 Angel of Music addition, Point Park welcomed 277 transfer facility be a dynamic learning environment with Point Park talent. students from 18 states and 10 countries. for students in our Conservatory of Point Park musical theatre major Kaley Ann Voorhees debuts in The new freshmen class is the first to benefit Performing Arts, it will allow their creative 28 Alumni Connection lead role of Christine in The Phantom from a new core curriculum course this process to be an integral part of the of the Opera on Broadway. semester — City-University Life — a seminar Downtown experience. You can learn all 29 Class Notes designed to help them develop skills for about the Playhouse project on page 14. 14 Ready for a New Stage 36 Coming Home success in studying, living and working in a east looking | AVENUE FORBES The University raises the curtain Former Pioneers reconnected diverse urban community. As we welcome 2015, we know that the 24 on plans for the new Pittsburgh at Athletics Alumni Weekend years to come will hold new opportunities Playhouse in Downtown Pittsburgh. last September. On the graduate level, Point Park marked and new reasons to celebrate. Be sure to Take a look inside this state-of-the- another major milestone. Last fall, 38 stop by for a visit whenever you’re in our art learning environment and professionals began their studies in Point Downtown neighborhood. We want each theater facility. Park’s very first doctoral program, an Ed.D. and every member of the Point Park family 22 Star Power in leadership and administration. They were to share in the excitement. Legendary actress and Playhouse among 231 new graduate students who alumna Shirley Jones is the entered the doctoral program or one of the Warm regards, A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | WINTER 2015 ON THE COVER: honorary chair of the campaign TALK TO US! University’s 17 master’s degree programs, An illustration of the for the new Pittsburgh Playhouse. The Point wants to hear from you. Send your POINTTHE planned new Pittsburgh including a new low-residency M.F.A. program READY FOR A NEW STAGE comments and suggestions to: Curtain Rises on the New Pittsburgh Playhouse Playhouse at Point Park in writing for the stage and screen. Included University, as seen from 24 On the Record Managing Editor Forbes Avenue looking The Department of Sports, Arts Marketing and Communications toward nearby Market Point Park University Dr. Paul Hennigan Square. Rendering and Entertainment Management 201 Wood Street courtesy of architects launches a new recording artist and President Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Westlake Reed Leskosky. new label, Pioneer Records. Phone: 412-392-6108 Fax: 412-392-6185 Email: [email protected] 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 Tom Bell 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 Jim Judkis 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 Victoria A. Mikula Cristina Rouvalis 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 Martha Rial 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 Managing Director, Kevin Taylor 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 Graphic Designer Christopher Rolinson University Marketing and 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, Public Relations Judy Sporka Communications Chris Squier the human resources officer or the dean of students. Christine Zapinski Jeff Swensen Lou Corsaro POINTPARK.EDU 1 FEEDBACK NEWS AND VIEWS Professional Advancement University, were honored by the YWCA focused on “Conscious Leading for of Greater Pittsburgh with a Racial Global Change: Emergence of Our Dear Editor, Michele Langbein, Ph.D., associate Justice Award on Oct. 29. Scott was Collective Realities.” Talbott’s presenta- professor in the School of Business, recognized for his work in supporting tion was titled “Social Entrepreneurs — Great story on the Whites’ transforma- was the keynote speaker for The Institute equity and inclusion in education. He Leaders Spanning Boundaries.” Last tional gift (The Point, Fall 2014). As the of Management Accountants at the directs the Accounting Career Aware- spring, Talbott also spoke about global first vice president for development, I Rivers Club last fall. She spoke about ness Program at Point Park, an effort leadership, along with Helena Knorr, remember when George walked into my the “Ethical Shades of Gray and our aimed at increasing an understanding Ph.D., associate professor of organiza- office for the first time, unannounced, Fiduciary Duty.” In addition, Langbein and about the field of accounting and its tional leadership, at the Emerging and said that he and his wife [Kathleen] Lou Sabina, adjunct faculty member, career opportunities among high school Leaders seminar held on campus hosted — he always included her in everything traveled to Penn State and presented students in underrepresented minority by the Master of Arts in organizational — wanted to get involved with Point two papers at the NABET Conference. groups. Besong’s Racial Justice Award, leadership program. The seminar featured Kathleen and George White in the GRW Theater. Photo by Tom Bell. Park College. President Matt Simon had The first paper was “Rapidly Changing in the category of public safety, recog- workshops for alumni and students and just received the Bank Center building Technology - Ethics & Privacy Issues” nized his efforts to advance diversity in was facilitated by Helen Sobehart, D.A., the workplace and equity in carrying out as a gift from Mr. Ryan and wanted it to Dear Editor, Dear Editor, and the second presentation was about associate vice president for graduate become Point Park’s library. George was “The Perceptions of Social Networking public safety and response services. education, Marsha Tongel, Ph.D., Point delighted in the library center project Thank you so much for the eight page I am a 1976 Point Park graduate and in the Age of Technology.” Park adjunct instructor and president and wanted a tour of the property. I article on my uncle Dr. George White just finished reading the latest edition Jamesena Talbott, D.M., professor of of Tongel Consulting Group, Inc., and introduced him to Dr. Simon and a (The Point, Fall 2014), and thank you to of The Point. As a side note, I majored Edward Scott, C.P.A., M.B.A., the George organizational leadership for the School Dina Clark, senior director of the YWCA relationship began that has led to this whomever thought to send me