OSALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THEW STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEEW YORK AT OSWEGGO n VOL. 41, NOO. 1 n WINTER 2015 One Day: Countless Students’ Lives Transformed! Connect to the Alumni Network LinkedIn Group: “ State University twitter.com/ of New York – OswegoAlumni SUNY Oswego” sweG onnect You instagram.com/ Tube youtube.com/ OswegoAlumni sunyoswegovideo facebook.com/ OswegoAlumni alumni.oswego.edu Don’t miss out on the latest news, events and connection opportunities from SUNY Oswego! Update or add your email today at [email protected]. Alumni Ad_Winter15.indd 1 12/12/14 3:31 PM winter 2015 Alumni Connect to the Alumni Network Association of the State University of New York at Oswego OSOSWWEEGGOO Vol. 41, No. 1 25 Years of Welcoming LinkedIn Group: “ State University twitter.com/ Torchlight 9 of New York – OswegoAlumni Since 1989, incoming freshmen and transfer students have lit their candles from the torch of Learning in the welcoming SUNY Oswego” torchlight ceremony, a bookend to the longer established Commencement eve torchlight tradition. 24 A Day to Remember 16 SUnY Oswego celebrates the public launch of its historic $40 sweG million campaign, With Passion & Purpose, with a day full of memorable events on Oct. 16. ‘Tomorrow’ Starts Today 34 SUnY Oswego’s new strategic plan ensures that the college onnect You remains relevant and worth students’ investment. instagram.com/ Tube youtube.com/ OswegoAlumni 52 sunyoswegovideo The Last Word Award-winning author Diana Abu-Jaber ’80 shares an excerpt from her soon-to-be-released memoir, Grace at the Table, including an important moment at SUnY Oswego. 19 facebook.com/ PLUS OswegoAlumni Campus Currents 3 Calendar 7 Class notes 37 Alumni Bookshelf 41 weddings 48 alumni.oswego.edu in Memoriam 49 36 On the CO ver: Clockwise from upper left: Members of the “the tomorrow Show” production crew Christy Somers ’15, Josh Kay ’15 and Justin Dobrow ’17; telefund student callers Marcus McFee-Walters ’17 (foreground) and Matthew Davoult ’17; early risers to be part of the live, on-campus “today” show broadcasts; and Roodline Cineus ’15, a biology student featured in “the tomorrow Show” broadcast. Photos by robert Mescavage Photography, Tyler Edic '13, Taylor Clock '15 and Charles wainwright Cover design by Jennifer Broderick Don’t miss out on the latest news, events and connection opportunities from SUNY Oswego! Update or add your email today at [email protected]. 3227 Alumni Ad_Winter15.indd 1 12/12/14 3:31 PM frOm the OSWEGO Alumni Magazine Elizabeth Locke Oberst Linda Loomis ’90 M’97 President’s Desk Publisher Jeff Rea ’71 Margaret D. Spillett Contributing Writers Editor Jennifer Broderick Taylor Clock '15 s we welcome l the 10th Annual Dr. Lewis B. Edwin Acevedo M’09 Associate Editor Scott Eason Mike Greenlar A 2015, it is clear O’Donnell Media Summit, moder- Tyler Edic ’13 Susan Kahn that SUNY Oswego ated by the award-winning writer, Associate Editor Online Robert Mescavage Magazine Photography has never been as journalist and media critic Ken Jim Russell ’83 Jeff Newell ’12 M’13 strong as it is today. Auletta ’63, and the presenta- Staff Photographer Lana K. Slinkard ’15 Kiefer Creative Charles Wainwright We provide excep- tion of a Presidential Medal to Graphic Design Contributing Photographers tional opportunities its founder, Louis A. Borrelli Jr. Lisa Potter Ryan Haas ’15 for our students ’77, and an honorary doctorate to In Memoriam Brittany Sperino Diana Abu-Jaber ’80 Horsford ’14 to realize their full renowned newsman Charlie Rose; Julie Blissert Luke Parsnow ’15 President Interns Deborah F. Stanley potential and their l a wildly successful 24-Hour individual destinies— Challenge, sponsored by The Oswego Alumni Association, Inc. they are immersed in hands-on, minds-on ESPN “SportsCenter” Anchor Board of Directors learning in the traditions first established Steve Levy ’87, which raised Keith Chamberlain ’87 Jerry Esposito ’70 by our founder Edward Austin Sheldon, nearly $200,000 from 1,163 President La-Dana Renee Jenkins ’94 Lisa Marceau Schnorr ’87 Ana Rodriguez King ’94 with extraordinary faculty and staff who donors in a single day; and First Vice President Maureen Flynn Kratz ’04 l Don Levine ’78 also mentor and guide them on their paths. “The Tomorrow Show,” a live Donna Goldsmith ’82 Steve Messina ’91 With the passing of 2014, we reflect student webcast co-hosted by Steve Second Vice President Josh Miller ’08 Elizabeth Locke Oberst Dana Segall Murphy ’99 on our accomplishments and the chal- and me, featuring our accomplished Executive Director Cathleen Richards ’09 Mark Salmon ’93 lenges we’ve overcome. And we’ve students and faculty discussing Edgar Ames ’68 Dan Scaia ’68 Tim Barnhart ’02 *Jennifer Shropshire ’86 got a lot to be proud of! On Oct. 16, Oswego’s exceptional programs Marc Beck ’93 Christie Torruella I was enormously pleased to publicly and signature experiences. Paul Brennan ’93 Michael Byrne ’79 Smith ’08 announce With Passion and Purpose: The events of that day, along with Mike Caldwell ’70 Jeffrey Sorensen ’92 **Deborah F. Stanley The Campaign for SUNY Oswego, our our many other successes, emphasize Raelynn Cooter ’77 Lisa Court ’83 Koren Vaughan ’95 most ambitious effort to date with a a recurring theme in Oswego’s history. **Kerry Casey Dorsey ’81 Rick Yacobush ’77 Thomas Yates ’89 Amy Vanderlyke * At large ** Ex officio goal of raising $40 million, and we are SUNY Oswego is meant to be here—our Dygert ’01 well on our way to reaching our goal. mission in our time is exactly right—to The daylong celebration of the be a great public institution that marries State University of New York at Oswego launch—documented in the cover story excellence and opportunity with access Deborah F. Stanley Kerry Casey Dorsey ’81 that maps a historic 24 hours—included: and affordability; an institution that President Vice President for Lorrie Clemo Development and l national broadcasts of on-campus can make the dream of attaining a Provost and Vice President Alumni Relations segments for the Weather Chan- spectacular education a reality. for Academic Affairs Jerald Woolfolk Nicholas Lyons Vice President for Student nel’s “Wake Up With Al” and Vice President for Affairs and Enrollment NBC’s “Today” show with our Administration and Finance Management loyal alumnus Al Roker ’76; Office of Alumni and Parent Relations King Alumni Hall, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-312-2258 Fax: 315-312-5570 Email: alumni@oswego Website: alumni.oswego.edu facebook.com/oswegoalumni @oswegoalumni IN HONOR OF THE 20th Anniversary of National Poetry Month in April, OSWEGO is published three times a year by the Oswego Alumni Association Inc., King Alumni Hall, State we invite all alumni to submit a poem by Feb. 1 University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126. It is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty, to be considered for publication in the staff and families of current students, with support from OSWEGO Alumni Magazine and alumni web site. The Fund for Oswego. Printed January 2015 For submission guidelines, visit alumni.oswego.edu/poetry, Oswego Alumni Magazine is printed on recycled paper with inks that are non-toxic, contain no heavy metals, and call 315-312-2258 or email [email protected]. are composed of bio-derived renewable resources ranging from 25-40% (as a percentage of total ink weight). OswegO l Winter 2015 2 campus CURRENTS Take Advantage of Opportunities, ALANA Alumni Panelists Urge T Ji aylor he value of an Oswego education M R USSELL began to pay off for Emmanuel C T loc ’83 Cruz ’09 from the day he moved into k '15 his residence hall freshman year. “I talked to my roommate’s father when he came to campus to move his son in,” said Cruz, who was part of the Sept. 22 alumni panel for the ALANA Student Leadership Conference. “And he said, ‘Hey, I know you’re a marketing major. There’s an opening in our office. Do you want to stay at our house over the winter break and just come and intern for us?’” The alumni panel was part of SUNY Oswego Executive Assistant to the a weeklong conference for ALANA President Howard Gordon '74 M'78 talks (African, Latino, Asian and Native with students following the ALANA Student American) student groups and organiza- Leadership Panel. tions. The Student Leadership Confer- ence, which began 28 years ago, helps students develop leadership skills and “All these things make me more an understanding of ALANA cultures. marketable,” Matombo said. “The minute you leave here, that is what it’s all about. Highlights of ALANA week included: The Fashion Show is a popular ALANA event. What makes you different from the next l Fashion Show applicant that’s right under your resume?” King, now a paralegal with a New York l Unity Peace walk City law firm, advised students to diver- The alumni panel featured Cruz, l Mini-Carnivals and Festivals event sify their skills now to make themselves Adam King ’11 and Rufaro Matombo more attractive to job recruiters later. l “Collections of expressions” open ’12. They spoke to a crowd of about 75, Each panelist urged students in the mic night nearly half of whom were freshmen. audience to use the resources and oppor- l Cuban drummer and composer Cruz, King and Matombo also visited tunities at Oswego. Dafnis Prieto and his Si o Si Quartet several classrooms and made presenta- As an undergraduate, Cruz was an Ji tions through the Oswego M admissions tour guide for four years, R Alumni Association’s Alumni- USSELL leading prospective SUNY Oswego In-Residence (AIR) program. ’83 students around campus. The experience Matombo, a professional led him to work in the admissions office DJ, credits working on the at St.