FALL 2017 REIMAGINING DOWNTOWN ERIE CHRISTINA CARBONE MARSH ’88 P. 14 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: NEW ERA FOR RIDGE COLLEGE P. 2 21ST CENTURY ALUMNI ON THE MOVE P. 6 REMEMBERING SISTER ANGELICA P. 12 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS P. 30 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Innovative, action-oriented, committed: these are key characteristics of our cyber and data science people who are engaged in the world around them. Throughout this programs and, in time we issue of Mercyhurst Magazine, we highlight examples of our students, hope, segue into local jobs and faculty, staf and alumni who epitomize engagement as they infuence a future investment in our city. better world through education, leadership and service. In this issue, we’ve taken a In the 24 months since I assumed the Mercyhurst presidency, I have look at some of our young been witness to a highly engaged community—individuals who, alumni, who have parlayed through their discretionary efort, contribute in diverse ways to the their Mercyhurst education well-being and success of our university. into successful careers in short order. You’ll also read Our people are the common denominator in the health of our about signifcant changes institution and, clearly, our alumni are reaping the rewards and in the way we manage our delivering on them. Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture, intended to bring in top names while, at the same time, making Our cover story casts the spotlight on Christina Carbone Marsh ‘88, chief performances accessible to broader audiences. community and economic development ofcer at Erie Insurance, who is part of a growing network of business, community and academic And, speaking of accessibility, please see a series of vignettes on how leaders intent on transforming downtown Erie into a vibrant and Mercyhurst North East provides life-altering opportunities to a diverse thriving region. and engaged student body. What resonated with me more than anything else was Marsh saying I am so grateful to all the people of Mercyhurst for their commitment that the Mercy charism isn’t far from her thoughts when doing the work to our mission, and I would like to take this opportunity to particularly she does. “I do feel, when we do this work in the community, that we are thank our alumni. Through your engagement with your alma mater, we keeping a compassionate eye on our community members,” she said. yield global perspectives that infuence our curriculum, internships, jobs “I think that is something I learned from being at Mercyhurst. Having a and robust learning experiences. servant heart guides me in the diverse experiences I’ve had in my career and in life.” Pride in our afliation with Mercyhurst drives our forward progress, innovation and success. Your engagement in our future is essential. In her role with Erie Insurance, Christina supports her alma mater in its leadership of the Downtown Erie Innovation District, which you’ll be hearing more about in the near future. Clearly, in creating opportunities Until next time, Carpe Diem. for the growth and vitality of our university, we are further empowering our town-and-gown relationship. Together, we hope to do great things. As you peruse your magazine, do check out the story on new developments in our Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Michael T. Victor, J.D., LL.D. Sciences. Not only have we hired three high-profle faculty leaders, President, Mercyhurst University but we have received a $1 million investment from Cleveland-based national technology company MCPc to build a cybersecurity lab and operations center in Hammermill Library, a move intended to accelerate ON THE COVER: Christina Carbone Marsh ’88 is pictured in her ofce at the Erie Insurance Group. Now the company’s chief community and economic development ofcer, she draws inspiration for her work from the Don W. Lord oil painting of the City of Erie that hangs behind her. Photo by Jeremy Hewitt ’07. Read more about Marsh on page 14. The Ofce of Marketing and Public Relations publishes Mercyhurst Magazine twice a year. Magazine Editor Susan Hurley Corbran ’73 [email protected] 814-824-2090 Design Jeremy C. Hewitt ’07 [email protected] 814-824-3022 Contributing Writers Susan Hurley Corbran ’73 Deborah W. Morton INSIDE THIS ISSUE Jennifer Smith 2 MCPc INVESTS $1 MILLION IN MERCYHURST CYBER PROGRAM 3 NEW LEADERSHIP NAMED FOR RIDGE COLLEGE Contributing Photographers 4 SOPHOMORE RESIDENCE HALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION Jeremy C. Hewitt ’07 Curtis Waidley ’19 ST 6 21 -CENTURY HURST ALUMNI ALREADY MAKING IMPACT Angela Zanaglio ’16 JENNIFER MOBILIA ‘03 ANNIE DEMEO REZNIK ’02 Printing THOMAS REZNIK, M.D. ‘01 Leader Graphics, Erie, Pennsylvania SARAH KEENE ‘08 ANNA PATRICK ‘07 Director of Alumni Engagement PATRICK LYNCH ‘07M Lindsay Cox Frank ’12 ’14M RYAN KERR ‘10 [email protected] 814-824-2330 NICK ROBERTS ‘10 BRITTANY MCCRACKEN SHAFFER ‘08 Class Notes Editor ADAM OLSZEWSKI, M.D. ‘10 Courtney F. Olevnik ’08 ’13M ANDREA HASHIM HANSEN ‘04 [email protected] 12 REMEMBERING SISTER ANGELICA CUMMINGS 814-824-2246 14 CHRISTINA MARSH ’88 HELPING TO TRANSFORM ERIE 15 RETIRED PRESIDENT WILLIAM P. GARVEY DIES Send changes of address to: 16 MNE’S UNIQUE OFFERINGS ATTRACT VARIETY OF STUDENTS Alumni Relations Mercyhurst University 18 LEGENDARY ENTERTAINERS HEADLINE MIAC LIVE SEASON 501 East 38th Street 20 6 HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Erie, PA 16546 21 4 JOIN BOARD OF TRUSTEES [email protected] 21 WHEATON HONORED FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE 21 HYLAND APPOINTED TO LEAD MNE 22 COACH, 8 ATHLETES INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME 23 NEW SCOREBOARD ENHANCES TULLIO FIELD If you haven’t been receiving the bi-monthly 24 LAKERS, SAINTS SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Alumni eNewsletter, Mercyhurst does not have an active email address for you. Visit 26 THE CHANGING FACE OF CAMPUS hurstalumni.org/get-involved to update 28 CLASS NOTES your information and reconnect. 29 IN MEMORIAM: DR. KEN SCHIFF 29 ALUMNI OFFICE PLANS EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE We’d love to hear from you. Send your 30 YEAR IN REVIEW: MERCYHURST REPORTS RECORD FUNDRAISING YEAR story ideas, suggestions and comments to 32 HONOR ROLL OF 2016-2017 DONORS [email protected]. 1 MERCYHURST ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN CYBER PROGRAM MCPc TO BUILD HIGH-TECH CYBER LAB, NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER ON ERIE CAMPUS A $1 million investment by national technology company MCPc will student outcomes. The construction of new cyber training facilities take the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences and today’s introduction of three new leaders make for a potent to the next level by accelerating the expansion of its innovative combination that will ensure Mercyhurst remains the vanguard of the cybersecurity program. feld.” The Cleveland-based company, with ofces in Erie, will create a cyber Mercyhurst Provost David Dausey said MCPc’s expertise in cybersecurity lab in Hammermill Library that will be used by the Ridge College to “will build upon Mercyhurst’s strengths as a leader in the feld of educate students in the high-tech cyber feld. Adjacent to the lab, MCPc intelligence studies, and develop a pipeline of work-ready talent to will create and manage a high-security Network Operations Center that meet the nation’s cyber needs.” will employ Mercyhurst students. Today, Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies graduates are employed in all MCPc CEO Andy Jones joined President Michael Victor in making the 17 U.S. intelligence agencies, scores of law enforcement organizations announcement on July 25. At the same time, Victor announced the and a broad cross-section of corporate America, including a number of naming of a new dean for the Ridge College, and two other faculty Fortune 500 companies. leaders, charged with taking the Intelligence Studies program into a new era of growth and innovation. (See story at right.) “From terrorism, to the world of cybersecurity and big data, to corporate risk management, we continue to up our game to ensure that Former Pennsylvania Governor and the nation’s frst U.S. Secretary of our Intelligence Studies majors emerge as the best-equipped graduates Homeland Security Tom Ridge, after whom the Ridge College is named, in the feld,” President Victor said. said, “Mercyhurst University’s Intelligence Studies program enjoys a global reputation for world-class research, exceptional teaching and He added, “We all recognize the widespread incidence of cyber threats 2 around the world. We understand the seriousness of these threats and the need to guard against them. We also know that jobs in cybersecurity are growing at a robust pace.” Noting that a recent report from Cisco puts the global fgure of cybersecurity job openings at 1 million, with demand expected to rise to 6 million by 2019, Victor pledged, “Mercyhurst will be ready.” The cyber lab will include 20 work stations and be used as a teaching facility by Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies faculty and students. The operations center will accommodate at least 16 student-employees. An MCPc associate will oversee the students, whose customers will be actual MCPc clients. Victor said the commitment from MCPc is closely aligned with Mercyhurst’s goal of preparing students for real-world job experiences. About a third of the fve-year commitment from MCPc includes stipends that will pay students at industry rates for their services in the center. “What better way to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow than placing them in those very jobs while they are students?” asked Jones in his remarks during the announcement. Clockwise from top left: McGill, Upal, Danzell, Grifn Added President Victor, “The operations center will provide a hands-on learning opportunity second to none, and will put Mercyhurst in the fortunate position of being one of a handful NEW LEADERSHIP NAMED of universities in the country to have this kind of capability on campus.“ FOR RIDGE COLLEGE Victor credited Dausey for his role in facilitating the MCPc Following a national search, Mercyhurst has chosen Lt.