A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | WINTER 2016 POINTTHE A NEW CENTER FOR MEDIA INNOVATION New collaborative space is latest University project to help reshape Downtown A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Exploring air and water quality through faculty and student research BLUES BROTHER Alumnus Ron Esser is champion of live music and regional food banks Dear alumni and friends, such areas as business, education, and intelligence and national security. You can As 2016 begins, and the spring semester visit online.PointPark.edu to learn more. commences, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the events and accomplishments of the past As 2015 drew to a close, we were very happy year. 2015 was a year of purposeful change, to share yet another exciting announcement and continued growth, for Point Park. about the latest University project that will help reshape the Academic Village. The new Last fall, we welcomed 607 new freshmen Center for Media Innovation, to be located at 12 and 243 transfer students, representing more the corner of Wood Street and Third Avenue TABLE OF CONTENTS than 13 countries and 36 states. At our annual in the very heart of campus, will be an extra- opening Convocation, these newest members ordinary academic laboratory in which students 2 News and Views 22 Blues Brother of our University community were encouraged in Point Park’s communications programs will Journalism alumnus Ron to venture out and discover Pittsburgh and the learn their craft by collaborating with media 11 Signs of the Times “Moondog” Esser is Pittsburgh’s places and people of our city and region. At professionals and working with the latest A new digital signage and way- champion of live music and Convocation, I enjoyed sharing the following technology. Like our plans for the new 18 finding system makes navigating regional food banks. advice from my wife, Colleen, with our new Pittsburgh Playhouse, which will be situated campus, and staying up to date on students: ‘We will teach you, challenge you, nearby on Forbes Avenue near Market Square, news and announcements, easier. 24 Alumni Connection and inspire you. We want to push you to your this new facility will enable our students’ 12 Gifts at Work limit so that your thirst for knowledge will creative process to be an integral part of 25 Class Notes New scholarship funds are require you to ask more from us. You will the Downtown experience. You can learn transforming lives and helping to 30 Going Pro learn from us and we will learn from you.’ all about the Center for Media Innovation build a culture of philanthropy at Men’s basketball alum Gabe on page 14. 22 Point Park. McNeal is teaching kids to Over the past year Point Park’s academic “Go Pro in the Game of Life.” offerings continued to expand, providing new As 2016 unfolds, we look forward to sharing 14 Center for Media Innovation opportunities to undergraduate and graduate more exciting news about pioneering academic A new incubator and collaborative students alike, both on campus and online. programs and ground-breaking ventures. space for journalists and other For example, in fall 2015 we welcomed a new Please stay tuned, and stay in touch. communicators is the latest group of doctoral students into our region’s University project to help reshape Downtown. first interdisciplinary Ph.D. in community Warm regards, TALK TO US! engagement. Also newly launched during The Point wants to hear from you. Send your A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | WINTER 2016 ON THE COVER: 18 A River Runs Through It the current academic year is a fully online An illustration of the comments and suggestions to: THE Environmental Science Professor M.S. in health care administration and man- POINT planned Center for Media A NEW CENTER FOR Managing Editor MEDIA INNOVATION Innovation to be situated at Matt Opdyke leads exploration of New collaborative space is latest University Marketing and Communications agement, among many online degrees in project to help reshape Downtown the corner of Wood Street air and water quality through Point Park University Dr. Paul Hennigan and Third Avenue in the heart of Point Park’s Down- student research. 201 Wood Street President town campus. Rendering Pittsburgh, PA 15222 courtesy of Pittsburgh- A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Phone: 412-392-6108 Fax: 412-392-6185 Exploring air and water quality based GBBN Architects. through faculty and student research BLUES BROTHER Email: [email protected] Alumnus Ron Esser is champion of live music and regional food banks President Managing Director, Manager of Printing Writers Photographers 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 Paul Hennigan, Ed.D. Communications and Services Amanda Dabbs John Altdorfer published information. Please visit our web site at www.pointpark.edu for current information regarding University programs, departments, alumni activities and events. Client Services Don Pastorius Gina Puppo Tom Bell Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Initiatives Vice President of Nancy Commella Christina Rouvalis Jim Judkis 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 sex or gender or in a External Affairs Managing Director, Online protected class which includes the following: race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age (40 years and over), ancestry, individuals with disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientation, height, weight, Kevin Taylor Richard Kelly Mariann Geyer Managing Editor Communications genetic information, marital status, gender identity, caregiver status or familial status, in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities or with respect to employment or admission to the Barbara Vilanova Zachary Labos University’s educational programs and activities. Cheryl Valyo Christine Zapinski Victoria A. Mikula This policy is in accord with local, state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 Managing Director, Graphic Designer Martha Rial of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Act. Inquiries regarding these regulations, policies or complaints of University Marketing and Web Services Manager discrimination should be referred to the human resources officer, telephone number 412-392-3952. Inquiries regarding Title IX and the Title IX regulations should also be referred to the senior vice president Judy Sporka of academic and student affairs as the Title IX coordinator or to the deputy coordinators: the associate vice president of academic and student affairs, the human resources officer or the dean of students. Public Relations Stephen Shanahan Christopher Rolinson Lou Corsaro POINTPARK.EDU 1 IN MEMORIAM NEWS AND VIEWS Professional Advancement Thomas Cook, M.B.A., part-time instruc- Brendan Mullan, Ph.D., assistant Remembering Joanne Blum tor for the public administration program professor of physics, presented “Every- Elaine Luther, D.Sc., professor of busi- and assistant chief of Pittsburgh Bureau thing in the Universe Is Terrible: Here’s Joanne Lee Blum, the founder of Point Point Park College and founded the ness management, received IABC/Pitts- of Fire, received the 2015 Firefighter Why That’s Awesome,” at the Allegheny Park College’s Education Department, Education Department. She acted as burgh’s 2015 Business Communicator Hero Award at the American Red Cross Observatory on Oct. 16. Mullan gave an passed away on Oct. 10, at the age of chairman of that department until 1969, of the Year Award. The Business Com- of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Heroes astronomy-focused public lecture about 83, in Cary, N.C. and stayed at the school until 1973. municator of the Year Award was created Breakfast Sept. 24. The event aims to the universe’s bitter shortcomings and in 2004 by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the raise public awareness of local heroes how they are paradoxically its greatest Blum was the wife of Arthur Blum, presi- Blum was the longtime director of devel- International Association of Business and volunteers who carry out the mission strengths. He also discussed why the dent of Point Park College from 1967- opment for Project SEED, a nonprofit Communicators to recognize an individual of the Red Cross every day by making a most disappointing realities of the cosmos 1973, and the daughter of the college’s organization based in Berkeley, Calif., that for outstanding contributions in practicing, personal commitment to creating safer are actually crucial to people’s existence. founder, Dr. Dorothy C. Finkelhor. Arthur uses mathematics to increase the educa- promoting and enhancing professional communities and providing help when Named a National Geographic Emerging and Joanne Blum were married in 1959. tional options of low-achieving, at-risk stu- business communications in southwest disaster strikes. Cook was honored for Explorer in 2013, Mullan is an interna- Born Aug. 30, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Blum dents in school districts across the nation. Pennsylvania. According to Mark Toth, his role in rescuing three people from a tionally respected astrophysicist, science earned a bachelor’s degree