Annual Report 2013 A Publication of Felician College RIDING THE WAVES page 5 Felician College Board of Trustees FELICIAN Ray Bramucci FRANCISCAN Sister Mary Bridget Becker, CSSF VALUES Sister Mary Felicia Brodowski, CSSF LeeAnn Carlson ••• Regina Coyle Stephen LoIacono Respect for Human Dignity James Lubawski COMPASSION John Mazur Transformation Curt Meltzer SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR John P. Potter Justice and Peace Anne Prisco, Ph.D. REVERENCE Diversity Hon. Anthony J. Sciuto SERVICE Christopher Swenson Joy Sister Mary Aquinas Szott, CSSF Gary E. Walsh Esq. Sister Mary Charles Wienckoski, CSSF FOCUS Table of Contents Felician College ANNUAL REPORT 2013 The Office for Institutional Advancement, Board of Trustees Felician College, publishes Focus on Felician. Visit us on the Internet at: www.felician.edu FEATURE STORIES Ray Bramucci A Message from Dr. Anne Prisco ........................................ 2 Vice President for Institutional Advancement William K. Back, J.D. Celebrating Academic Excellence ..................................... 3 Sister Mary Bridget Becker, CSSF Director of Institutional Communications Angela Daidone Sister Mary Felicia Brodowski, CSSF DEPARTMENTS & OTHER FEATURES Design Faculty Notebook ...................................................................... 4 Peter J. Gargiulo LeeAnn Carlson Campus Chronicles .................................................................. 5 Contributing Writers Nicholas Delahanty, Mark Mentone Alumni News and Notes ...................................................... 12 Regina Coyle Contributing Photographers Mission ........................................................................................ 16 Teri Gatto, Bill Wittkop, Stephen Smith Stephen LoIacono Development ..............................................................................17 Printing Financial Data .......................................................................... 18 Action Graphics James Lubawski Annual Fund .............................................................................. 19 Focus On Felician welcomes your comments. Donor List ...................................................................................20 John Mazur Please e-mail: [email protected] or write to: Sports ...........................................................................................34 Focus On Felician Curt Meltzer Angela Daidone Felician College John P. Potter One Felician Way Rutherford, NJ 07070 Anne Prisco, Ph.D. 2 7 Hon. Anthony J. Sciuto Christopher Swenson Felician is an independent co-educational Catholic/ Franciscan College founded and sponsored by the Felician Sisters to educate a diverse population Sister Mary Aquinas Szott, CSSF of students within the framework of a liberal arts tradition. Its mission is to provide a full complement of learning experiences, reinforced with strong academic and student development programs designed to bring 11 35 Gary E. Walsh Esq. students to their highest potential and prepare them to meet the challenges of the new century with informed minds and understanding hearts. The enduring Sister Mary Charles Wienckoski, CSSF purpose of Felician College is to promote a love of learning, a desire for God, self-knowledge, service to others, and respect for all creation. A MESSAGE FROM DR. ANNE PRISCO Dear Friends, It is a pleasure to present the Felician College Annual report. As I reflect upon the past academic year, my first as president, I do so with immense gratitude. I have been encouraged and inspired by the efforts of so many, and am continually impressed by the dedication of our hard- working faculty and staff as well as the commitment to learning of our extraordinary students. Fiscal trends are clearly impacting the landscape of higher education, and we are not immune to their influences. As president, my top priority and greatest challenge is to control costs and align resources to uphold and strengthen the excellent educational experience that defines Felician. We continue to upgrade our facilities, including newly refurbished biology labs, a technology project that will make both campuses wireless, new spaces in the restored historic Castle for student use as well as staff, fac- ulty and community meetings, and completely renovated residence halls. Construction is underway on what will be our new education commons. This state-of-the art building on the Rutherford campus will house library services, individual and group study spaces, high-tech classrooms and a nursing skills resource center. Our commitment to the Felician Franciscan mission remains steadfast. Our teaching-learning experience continues to be a hallmark of what is distinct about a Felician College education: an experience that encourages you to have an open mind and heart, enables you to find a sense of self with educational and community opportunities, and inspires you to be more than you ever imagined. Felician students continually offer their time and talents to individuals and organizations in need – a true testament to the living mission and values of our Franciscan heritage. We thank you for your generous support of Felician College and its stu- dents. Your commitment truly energizes our College community, ensures our future success and allows us to continue to provide an affordable, high quality education to all who desire one. In the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, pace e bene. Anne M. Prisco, Ph.D. Honors Convocation Celebrates Academic Excellence The Franciscan values of respect, peace and seeking the good in all mankind were among the compelling messages brought to life at the Academic Honors Convocation on November 7, which celebrated excellence in the classroom by students and faculty alike. Felician College President Dr. Anne Prisco and Sister Mary Rosita Brennan, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, greeted the audience of faculty members, Dean’s List recipients and their friends and family who gathered in the Breslin Auditorium on the Lodi campus for the ceremony. “This is a night to truly celebrate academic excellence,” said Sister Rosita, noting that more than 500 students were on the Spring 2013 Deans List, which requires a 3.5 grade point average. Dr. Prisco told those in attendance: “It’s always a pleasure to honor our students, as well as our faculty, and to applaud their efforts, tireless dedication and countless hours of study and hard work. And it is our mission, as a Franciscan community, to provide each individual with the educational opportunities that bring you to your highest potential with informed minds and understanding hearts.” Dr. Prisco, along with Sister Rosita and Dr. Charles Rooney, Senior Executive Vice President, conferred an honorary doctor of Humane Letters upon Father Andre Cirino, who was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Father Andre, a renowned presenter of the works of Saint Francis, the patron of Felician College, also has led travelers to Francis’ hometown of Assisi, Prague, Germany and the California Missions for Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs. He has many published works on the Franciscan traditions, and shared those messages during his address. “Only God is good but it must flow through us,” Father Andre told the audience. “That message is the hope of the Franciscan theology – that we always try to speak to the good that is in people, as Francis did.” Among the other highlights of the evening were the musical selections by the Felician College choir and the presentation by Sister Rosita of the Faculty Excellence Award, which was given to Dr. Sherida Yoder of the English Department. “Teaching is an art just as poetry is an art,” said Dr. Yoder in accepting the honor. “If one can improve every year, every semester, it’s as high a calling as we can receive.” 1. Felician College President Dr. Anne Prisco with Dr. Sherida Yoder, recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award. 2. Gathered before the honors Convocation ceremony were, from left, Dr. Rose Rudnitski, Dean, School of Education; Dr. Edward Kubersky, Dean, School of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Muriel Shore, Dean, School of Nursing; Fr. Andre Cirino, keynote speaker; Dr. Ann Guillory, Asst. Vice President, Academic Support Services; Sister Rosita Brennan, Provost, Vice President Academic Affairs; Dr. Dolores Henchy, Dean of Assessment, Instructional Technology and Faculty Excellence; Dr. Beth Castiglia, Dean, School of Business. 3. Students at the Honors Convocation in the Breslin Theater in Obal Hall on the Lodi campus. 4. Keynote speaker Father Andre Cirino with Felician College President Dr. Anne Prisco. 3 Faculty Notebook Pictured from left to right are Daisy Perez, Member NAHN; Dr. Muriel M. The panel of experts who offered advice and counseling to students Shore, Dean, Felician College School of Nursing; Dan Suarez, President- included Cathy Lentini, Clinical Informatics System Specialist at Elect, National Association of Hispanic Nurses; Felician College President Dr. Anne Prisco; Dr. Gina Miranda, Member of the NAHN; Francine Hackensack University Medical Center, and Jazz Young-Trinidad, En- Andrea, Vice President of Administration, Enrollment and Planning, tertainment Industry Promoter, both of whom are MBA alumni from Felician College; Joanne Munoz, Member NAHN. Felician. Professionals from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, JC Penney and Action Graphics also were on hand for the event. Professor Dennis Huzey, Chairman of the Management and Marketing Forging New Department at Felician College, served as event moderator. Partnerships