THE 2021The 2021 UniversityUNIVERSITY ConvocationCONVOCATION Recognizing the recipients of the Bene Merenti Medal, the Archbishop Hughes Medal, and the Sursum Corda Award Sunday, 7 March 2021 | 3 p.m. VIAvia zoomZOOM webinarWEBINAR Program About the Awards Master of Ceremonies Dennis C. Jacobs The Bene Merenti Medal was specially struck for the first University Convocation of all faculties Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs on 10 May 1931 by Aloysius J. Hogan, S.J., President of Fordham from 1930 to 1936. On the face The National Anthem Jeff Ryan Miraflor, S.J., FCRH ’21 is a reproduction of the University seal and on the reverse side is the inscription Bene Merenti de Soloist Universitate Fordhamensi and the name of the recipient with the years of his or her service. Robert Minotti Organist The Archbishop Hughes Medal was commissioned by James C. Finlay, S.J., President of Invocation Michael C. McCarthy, S.J. Fordham from 1972 to 1983, to honor members of the administrative staff. This medal carries the Vice President for Mission Integration and Planning name of Archbishop John Hughes, whose ability in administration and devotion to the search for truth through education focused itself upon the founding of Fordham in 1841. Those who Presentation of Awards will receive this medal today serve his vision and his memory. The Bene Merenti Medal Maura B. Mast Dean, Fordham College at Rose Hill Laura Auricchio The Sursum Corda Award, established in 2005 by Fordham’s current president, Dean, Fordham College at Lincoln Center Joseph M. McShane, S.J., recognizes those members of the staff who have made outstanding The Archbishop Hughes Medal Jonathan Crystal contributions to the life and mission of the University. Recipients of the Sursum Corda Vice Provost (translated as “lift up your hearts”) Award have exhibited exceptional dedication and creativity in the fulfillment of their University duties while also exemplifying the Ignatian generosity of spirit Martha K. Hirst defined by men and women for others. Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer Jeffrey L. Gray Senior Vice President for Student Affairs The Sursum Corda Award Jeffrey L. Gray Remarks Joseph M. McShane, S.J. President Alma Mater Allyson Lambie, FCRH ’22 Soloist Robert Minotti Organist © Fordham University 2020 Produced by Development and University Relations. 21-1695 eeo Bene Merenti Medal | Forty Years Bene Merenti Medal | Twenty Years Mary E. Procidano | Associate Professor of Psychology Eva D. Badowska | Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Associate Vice President for Arts and Sciences We celebrate Mary Procidano’s 40 years of contributions to the Psychology Department, the When Eva Badowska arrived at Fordham, her colleagues in the English Department knew that University, and the field. Although she was hired in 1981 with her Ph.D. from Indiana University, they were welcoming a brilliant scholar and a dedicated teacher. But few realized at the time what her time at Fordham began when she enrolled as an undergraduate in Thomas More College, a transformative impact Eva would have on the University. Fordham’s college for women, and then graduated from Fordham College at Rose Hill after Thomas More merged with the College. Early on, she demonstrated a talent for academic leadership, starting with a stint as Co-Director of Comparative Literature and then Chair of the English Department. In 2012, she moved into Mary served as Chair of the Psychology Department from 1996 to 2002, and as Associate Chair the Dean’s Office of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, first as Associate Dean and then before and after that stint. One of her major accomplishments as Chair was revising the as Dean. She stabilized and strengthened the School at its centennial, resulting in a revival of its undergraduate Psychology major, bringing together the best of the different majors at Rose Hill programmatic offerings and student-focused professional development programs. She then and Lincoln Center as part of restructuring. assumed her current role, spearheading an effort to “Reimagine the Arts & Sciences” at Mary served with distinction on the Faculty Senate for 20 years, and as Associate Dean as well. Fordham, aimed at creating a stronger and unified Arts and Sciences voice across four schools Mary is a Clinical Psychologist who has had a private practice for many years. Her main research and two campuses. area is the impact of social support, illustrated by her current work with young adult survivors of Eva has prodded all of us to reimagine on a larger scale and to think more creatively about how we cancer. Mary and her husband, Steve, have three adult children. She is currently on phased can educate students and create knowledge in a changing world. She is a dedicated champion for retirement, and rumor has it that she is thinking about doing some bird watching. Thank you, faculty and a fierce advocate for the principles of liberal education. But most of all, she is a creative Mary, for your leadership, care, and compassion! visionary, combining an idealism about what the University could be with a rigorous analytical focus on how to get there. And all this while keeping a sense of humor and a genuineness that Robert Wharton | Professor of Strategy and Statistics, Gabelli School of Business makes those of us who know her proud and grateful to call her a colleague and friend. Professor Robert Wharton has served the Gabelli School of Business and Fordham University with Associate Professor of Curriculum and Teaching honor and distinction. He has shown wisdom, expertise, and caring in his roles as Area Chair of Jane Bolgatz | Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Graduate School of Education the Management Systems Area, member of the Faculty Senate, AACSB Faculty Advisor, and current program director of the Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Decision Making. Jane Bolgatz is a gem in the Graduate School of Education whose infectious smile, keen intellect, Bob’s research on the publishing industry was honored with the 2007 Book Award from Alpha and staunch support for individuals of color consistently impress all who meet her. These qualities Sigma Nu and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities for The Culture and Commerce of have been evident since she joined the faculty of the Division of Curriculum and Instruction after Publishing in the 21st Century, which he co-authored. His students cite his vast knowledge of having taught high school Social Studies and Language Arts for seven years. Her research, statistics, his capacity to explain complicated topics simply, and the evident care he displays in teaching, and service focus on anti-bias pedagogy. This work has helped students, educators, and his teaching. parents navigate incendiary questions of race and racism that impact academic performance and school climate. His colleagues, meanwhile, know him for his thoughtfulness and for his calm, reasoned approach to solving problems. We salute Bob on his 40 years at Fordham and thank his wife, Jane is well-suited to this work, as she is a fearless educator and leader who challenges herself, her Florence, and their son and three grandchildren for sharing him with us for all these years. colleagues, and her students to identify and demonstrate best practices to show respect and give Congratulations, Bob! voice to all. This approach is reflected in her daily interactions with others and in her seminal, award-winning book, Talking Race in the Classroom. Her fearlessness is matched by a willingness to hear and honor others’ perspectives, and to acknowledge and learn from mistakes. As Associate Dean, Jane has shown herself to be a just, capable, and kind administrator who advocates and promotes all that is good in our school community while continually striving for improvement. Overall, to know Jane is to be inspired by her and to commit to doing our part to make Fordham a welcoming home for all. Bene Merenti Medal | Twenty Years Bene Merenti Medal | Twenty Years Dennis Cappello | Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Ethics, Gabelli School of Business Esther Lomas-Sampedro | Senior Lecturer of Spanish and Spanish Language Coordinator A proud alumnus of the Gabelli School of Business, where he received his B.S. magna cum laude, Esther Lomas-Sampedro started teaching at Fordham while she was still completing her Ph.D. in Dennis Cappello is a gifted educator and a valued colleague. Dennis is a three-time recipient of the Contemporary Spanish Literature at SUNY Stony Brook. Despite the pressures of simultaneously Faculty Cura Personalis Award for his commitment to Jesuit values, including his dedication to working on her dissertation and teaching at Fordham, Esther devoted much of her time to encouraging students to achieve their full potential. Through the infusion of real-world examples tutoring students, as well as sharing her knowledge about language pedagogy and technology from his career as a CPA and practicing attorney, Dennis has the remarkable ability to bring to life with other language instructors. She has risen through the ranks to become one of the Spanish the words of a textbook. Students love Dennis for his fountain of knowledge, wealth of practical Language Coordinators. As such, Esther has had the singularly important task of designing experience, and accessible pedagogy. course syllabi and supervising all of the Spanish language instructors. Especially last year, with the transition to online instruction, Esther’s spirit of organization, service, and collegiality rose For years, Dennis has served Gabelli students selflessly as Pre-Law Advisor. He is always available to meet the daunting challenge of providing our students with an academically stimulating and to help students with questions and to guide them through the complex law school admissions intellectually rich experience. She worked tirelessly to ensure that language instructors had the process.