Fall 2019 Crafting Solutions Biomedical Engineering Program Develops Zero Waste Process Also in this issue: Inaugural Leadership Academy Established Duquesne Announces College of Osteopathic Medicine www.duq.edu 1 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Contents Duquesne University 10 Leadership Academy John G. Rangos, Sr. BME Recycling 6 Prizes 38 Program Check out new Duquesne University Magazine videos at duq.edu/magazine highlighting: The Duquesne Leadership Academy, The Gussin Spiritan Division, A Nationally-Recognized History Teacher of the Year, and an Innovative Approach to Recycling. Every Issue Also... Creating Knowledge .........................64 9 50 Bluff in Brief ...........................................66 Duquesne to Launch Positioning Athletics ..................................................68 New College of Students to Succeed DU in Pictures ......................................46 Osteopathic Medicine The Gussin Spiritan Division Alumni Updates .................................. 72 The new college is targeted to focuses on creating a better college Event Calendar ....................................76 open and admit its first class experience for students. in fall 2023. Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Vol. 18, Number 1, Fall ’19, Duquesne University Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications, 406 Koren Building, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282, Tel: 412.396.6050, Fax: 412.396.5779, Email: [email protected] 2 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '19 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Thoughts from the President ur Spiritan founders envisioned a university that would enable sons and daughters of recent immigrants to Pittsburgh—working in mills and Ofactories—to grow and prosper. The University they built transformed lives—and in the process, transformed our city, our region and far beyond. The Spiritan story is not finished. Today, with that same determination, Duquesne University is a dynamic hub of activity and research—an enterprise that continues to transcend boundaries, tackle new challenges and engage with our community in ways our founders never imagined. In this issue, you’ll read about exciting plans to create a College of Osteopathic Medicine here at Duquesne—a bold response to a growing need for family doctors and practitioners locally—and across the nation. You’ll also find a story about how our School of Nursing is helping to expand access to healthcare and improve patient outcomes for those living in rural or underserved communities; the school is one of the first in the nation to offer telehealth education. And you’ll get the scoop on “zero waste,” a plastic recycling program pioneered in our Biomedical Engineering Program that could completely eliminate the need for new plastic. This edition also includes stories of alumni and friends who continue to support life-changing initiatives at Duquesne, such as Bob Peirce, a 1962 graduate of our Law School. In conjunction with our School of Education and the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bob and his wife, Joan, recently made a “In the spirit of major commitment to support educational programs to overcome learning disabilities, particularly childhood dyslexia. our founders, our Also, we’re thrilled about the launch of our new Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology and Law—created through the generosity of University continues the Henry L. Hillman Foundation in honor of prominent Duquesne alumnus and former board member Carl Grefenstette. Read more about Carl, and learn its long history of how this new Center will allow us to examine unforeseen ethical concerns that arise as artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics and other frontier- service to others.” breaking fields continue to evolve. In the spirit of our founders, our University continues its long history of service to others. I hope you enjoy this edition of Duquesne University Magazine as it tells stories of amazing men and women who demonstrate this passion and commitment. You will be inspired, just as I’m inspired every day that I’m privileged to see this extraordinary community of students, faculty, staff and alumni in action. Sincerely, Ken Gormley Duquesne University President www.duq.edu 1 President's Corner BELOW IS A SAMPLING OF EXCITING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES PRESIDENT KEN GORMLEY HAS PARTICIPATED IN DURING RECENT MONTHS. A team from Duquesne’s Office of Community Engagement, President Gormley and Provost David Dausey met with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald in July to discuss the University’s initiatives and continued commitments to the EcoInnovation District and Uptown community. In April, Greek Life at Duquesne hosted another memorable Greek Week and Greek Sing. Here, President Gormley visits with the brothers of SAE. In July, President Gormley hosted the 4th Annual Ice Cream Social on Academic Walk. Hungry students gathered on A-walk in April for Pancakes with the President. The annual springtime celebration President Gormley is shown featured pancakes prepared by President Gormley and his with The Duquesne University wife, Laura, giveaways, a photo booth and prizes. Red Masquers’ cast members and Director John Lane, left, after a packed performance of A Little Night Music at the Genesius Theater in April. The Duquesne community gathered to celebrate the successes and achievements of students at the annual Senior Celebration. In April, Duquesne’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion hosted President Gormley, a graduate of St. its 5th Annual Spirit of Diversity Dinner & Scholarship Anselm School in Pittsburgh’s Swissvale Benefit presented by UPMC. Five talented Duquesne neighborhood, was honored at the East students were recognized with the 2019 Diversity and Catholic School’s 2019 Gala with one Inclusion Leadership Awards. During finals week, the Office of of its Distinguished Graduate Awards. Residence Life sponsored a late night Shown with him are Sr. Melanie DiPietro, breakfast at Duquesne Dining’s Hogan Sr. Mary Lou Palas and Sr. Patrice Dining Center. President Gormley and Hughes, three Sisters of Charity who his wife, Laura, stopped by. taught him and his siblings at St. Anselm. 2 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '19 Moved by the Spirit STUDENTS SHARE HOW THEY FEEL CONNECTED TO DU By Megan Tressler Look around Duquesne University’s campus and you’ll spot plenty of places to stop and take a minute to connect with your spirit: the Duquesne Chapel, the Lourdes Grotto, installations of sculptures, paintings and murals. For some Duquesne students, no one place speaks to their spirit. For some students, especially those not from a Catholic faith tradition or those who are not practicing Catholics, it’s not the individual places that make a special connection—it’s the entire place. As Duquesne’s director of mission animation, Luci-Jo DiMaggio looks for ways to bring the Spiritan mission alive across the University. “The mission of the University is a living thing. If it was stagnant, like a stone, I think it would only be relevant to “Everyone is just so supportive; a certain group of people. It’s more like water, constantly moving and alive. Because of that, it can reach many it’s very familial and, quite people in many different contexts. That aspect is incredibly reflective of how the Spiritans work around the world,” says frankly, fun to be a part of.” DiMaggio. Three students on different faith paths recently shared how Duquesne’s mission, spirit and principles resonate with them. One day, a brochure from Duquesne arrived in the mail and he applied because it mentioned scholarships were available. STUDENT BECOMES AMBASSADOR FOR DU Soon, he and his dad were planning a road trip to Pittsburgh. Dan Smolsky was kind of freaking out. In the middle Arriving late, he didn’t even see campus until the orientation of his cross-country drive to Duquesne, when he started program the next morning. Duquesne made a good first perusing the syllabus for his theology course, he realized he impression. might be at a disadvantage when classes started because he’s “I met incredible leaders at orientation. I felt like I was a not Catholic. part of something special,” he says. “I never felt alienated.” “I was a little intimidated about it. I knew other kids He is now leading the orientation program this fall, helping would have a leg up because of their religion,” says Smolsky, to develop the theme “Begin. Build. Become.” who comes from a Mormon background. “I thought, ‘I’m “Duquesne is the beginning of your journey—we serve you. going to fail out of college before I know it.’” Build knowledge and social skills. Become something you As soon as he stepped into the “dreaded” class, all his never thought imaginable,” says Smolsky, explaining the theme. worries were put to rest. In May, his Duquesne journey led him to Africa as part of a “The professor was so engaging and said it’s great if University delegation meeting with Spiritans there. The visit you’re religious, it’s ok if you’re not,” recalls Smolsky. centered on several Duquesne initiatives, including exploring The class ended up being one of his favorites. In the three how the Office of Disability Services can continue supporting years since, he keeps finding more to like about Duquesne. a Spiritan school for deaf boys in Tanzania and the creation “Everyone around me in the offices on campus feels of a student ambassador program that will focus on sending like they’ve been here for 20 or 30 years—and for a lot of students to Africa to continue or enhance partnerships there people, that is actually the case—but there is no semblance and perhaps develop new ones. The student who had no of separation or ‘we know what’s best because we’ve been knowledge about the University—“I didn’t even know how here longer.’ Everyone is just so supportive; it’s very familial to pronounce Duquesne”—was on another continent, learning and, quite frankly, fun to be a part of,” says Smolsky, a senior about how the African programs embody Spiritan ideals by majoring in economics and marketing.