Worcester Statement The magazine of Worcester State College fall 2007 Features 10 History Comes Alive at the AAS Three Worcester State College alumnae help 6 preserve and disseminate the nation’s history at the American Antiquarian Society. 12 Together, Making a Difference Urban Studies Professor Maureen Power, Ph.D., brings generations together to tackle hunger and homelessness in the community. 14 Opportunity for a Lifetime The College kicks off its $10 million major gifts 16 initiative with a summer party at the home of Howard ’83 and Jayne ’97 McGinn. 16 From Tiny to Spectacular With the College’s electron scanning microscope, science students see some of the planet’s smallest life forms in a whole new light. 22 Departments 1 Perspective 2 Campus News 18 Alumni News The Worcester Statement is published semi-annually in spring and fall. 21 Graduate and Continuing Education Editor Class Notes Rachel Faugno ’80 Nancy Lapriore 508-929-8141 22 Sports Corner Sports [email protected] John Meany Alumni Office Photographer 24 Class Notes Erika Sidor 508-929-8141 [email protected] Publications Advisory Board Camilla Caffrey Development Office 508-929-8872 Tara Hancock, M.S. ’06 [email protected] Donald Lightfoot Cover Thomas McNamara ’94 Lancer Club Megan Bocian ’02, seen here in the stacks of the Annmarie Samar ’79, Ph.D. 508-929-8866 [email protected] American Antiquarian Society, is one of three Editorial Office Worcester State College alumnae employed 508-929-8064 by the venerable institution. [email protected] perspective Dear Alumni and Friends of Worcester State College, s we extend a warm for this and future generations. Three welcome to our new others – Eva Ikonomu, Katerina freshman class and Ikonomu, and Adrienne Smyth - are enthusiastically greet our pursuing significant work in the returningA students, the campus is alive sciences. And this year’s with the energy and excitement of commencement speaker, Dr. Susan another academic year. Our new Shanee Stepakoff, has played leading parking garage is a great success, and roles as an advocate and healer around renovations to the Student Center have the globe, most recently serving as the transformed the facility into a bright lead psychologist in the United and inviting place for students to Nations-backed War Crimes Tribunal gather, exchange information, and in Sierra Leone. build relationships. These outstanding alumnae give us Beyond completed and ongoing a small glimpse of the many ways our structural improvements that enhance alumni are contributing to their campus life, the academic environment communities and truly making the e n o at the College is flourishing. We have r world a better place. They remind us a r r welcomed a new Vice President for e that, as members of the WSC F . Academic Affairs – Dr. Julie Wollman, J community, we have much of which to who joins us from Rhode Island be proud. College in Providence. Julie is an chemistry in Thailand and other On a final note, I would like to extremely accomplished administrator rapidly developing areas of Southeast draw your attention to a new with a strong background in higher Asia. fundraising campaign, a major gifts education. She is bringing fresh vision In addition, you will learn about initiative that seeks to raise $10 and leadership to the College, to innovative programs that are million over a five-year period. I invite ensure that our academic programs expanding education beyond the you to consider supporting this continue to meet the evolving needs of classroom. Recent faculty-led service- important initiative. In so doing, you our students and communities. learning initiatives have taken students will enable more students to receive Our faculty, too, continue to excel to Nicaragua, Belize, and Bermuda, scholarship assistance, expand support as outstanding scholars and highly and engaged them in innovative for faculty initiatives, and help build committed professionals. In this issue community-service projects right here our endowment. of the Worcester Statement you will at home. As always, I welcome your meet (or renew your acquaintance Of course, our alumni are the comments and look forward to with) Dr. Maureen Power, whose surest reflection of what we accomplish meeting with as many of you as commitment to the community is as an institution, and the alumni possible in the months ahead. almost legendary, and Dr. Peter featured in this issue of the Worcester Bradley, who is helping students Statement have indeed made us proud. Sincerely, acquire the skills they need to succeed Three alumnae – Megan Bocian, in biotechnology and related emerging Jaclyn Penny, and Marie Lamoureux - fields. You will also read about our play important roles as employees of latest Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Margaret the American Antiquarian Society, Janelle C. Ashley Kerr, who is helping to promote green helping to preserve our nation’s history President Worcester Statement Fall 2007 1 campus news Student Center Turns 30! he Student Center/Student the Alumni Office, is planning several birthday party on April 3 for the Activities Office will be events. There will be a photo exhibit Student Center. On Saturday, April 5, celebrating the 30th and historical display with Student there will be an evening event for any anniversary of the opening of Voice articles detailing the challenges alumni who were employed by the Tthe Student Center during the 2007- and delays that the Student Center Student Center or were student leaders 2008 academic year. The opening of the faced in opening. During Family and since the building has been open. It building on April 3, 1978, ushered in Homecoming Weekend, there will be a will be a great opportunity for all those expanded leadership and employment dedication of the newly renovated who had strong connections with the opportunities for our student body. Bookstore and Living Room. Student Center to recall those Many WSC students have been part of Immediately following the dedication memories. Please contact Tim Sullivan the Student Center family over the years, there will be an informal reception for at [email protected] if you as a student employee, as a student alumni who worked as Student Center would like more information or would leader, or in many cases, as both. employees and former student leaders. like to be involved in the planning of The Student Center/Student In April the office is planning two any of these events. Activities Office, in conjunction with additional events. There will be a “Learn to Ride” Clinics Help Kids hat could be more success by putting them through rewarding than balancing activities and steering getting a big bear hug practice. They also lowered the seats from a child? That’s for fearful children who gained whatW some Occupational Therapy confidence from knowing their feet students received after helping kids could touch the ground. learn to ride a bike during a free OT- While not every child who attended sponsored clinic on April 14. became proficient in bike riding, they “It was surprising how much fun it all improved their skills, said Miller. “I actually was, not just for the kids but worked with a young girl who did not for the ‘big kids’ too!” said Karen quite master riding a bike without a Miller, a graduate student in the OT students with young bicyclist little help, but she told me she wasn’t Master of Occupational Therapy afraid of falling anymore and would program. “One young boy mastered some of their skills into practice while keep practicing, in the grass, with her the skill and was so happy and excited at the same time providing a helmet and pads until she got it,” Miller that he gave both of his ‘teachers’ a community service,” said McNeil. recalled. “I think she gained the huge bear hug. This is the kind of “Bike riding has always been an confidence to keep trying and overcame reward that is hard to imagine.” important milestone, but a lot of play her fear, which was great to see.” The “Learn to Ride” clinic was today is structured and some children The “Learn to Ride” clinic was so developed by Assistant Professor of don’t have a chance to learn to ride a successful that the OT Department Occupational Therapy Catherine bike,” she noted. “I wanted our decided to sponsor several others McNeil, M.S., and Associate Professor students to have the opportunity to during the year. McNeil concluded, and Department Chair Joanne teach kids to ride.” “Nothing is more satisfying than Gallagher, Ed.D. “It seemed like a During the two-hour clinic, 13 OT seeing children’s faces light up when good way to help OT students put students prepared kids for bike riding they have learned a new skill.” 2 Fall 2007 Worcester Statement campus news Spring Break Was Time for Service spring break trip to an impoverished region of Belize introduced six WSC nursing students – all seniorsA - to a culture very different from our own. More importantly, it deepened their resolve to become compassionate, committed health care providers. The Health Care Outreach initiative, developed by Nursing Instructor Kathryn Baldor, M.S.N., was designed to give students the opportunity to put many skills and otherwise abstract ideas into practice. “Our nursing program addresses the health needs of multicultural populations as an integral part of our curriculum,” Baldor explained. “Thus, we strive to develop Samantha Brown with school children in Belize the cultural competence of our students and faculty.” find myself getting frustrated when pockets at the end of each day and you Over a period of 10 days in March, people are complaining about trivial just throw them away, but there are the students assessed 300 children, things and all that I am thinking about not alcohol wipes in Belize.