As I finished my Ph.D. in English in 1986, my graduate school professors urged me to get out on the market and get a job. But when I accepted my first full-time teaching position at Stonehill in 1987, I didn’t realize that I would also get a life.

I guess you could say that for 26 years, I’ve been living that old jazz standard: “nice work if you can get it.”

Yes, I got a life. I got a life of the mind, free to pursue exciting ideas in teaching and research. I discovered a life of community, where I collaborated with colleagues to discern the needs of students, foster their growth, challenge their expectations, nourish their dreams. And I found a life of the spirit on a campus that encouraged contemplative reflection—and where the beauty of the natural world was a continual source of wonder.

When I arrived, I never could have predicted the centrality this place would come to have in the life of my entire family. My husband and I have made many of our most enduring friendships here. As I fulfilled my faculty work, our three daughters grew up coming to campus. They put together puzzles and popped balloons in a corner of my office while I advised students, and they played in the senior courts with Stonehill babysitters while I attended faculty meetings.

Later, as they progressed through high school and chose colleges (one chose Stonehill), they all benefited from the expertise and generosity of various Stonehill faculty and staff members who took a genuine interest in them, offering research prospects, advice about
courses of study, campus work-study opportunities, internships and career counseling. The willingness of Stonehill folks to help students—whether or not they are Stonehill students—has been a source of inspiration for me.

While I take enormous pride in how the College has evolved during my quarter-century on campus, nothing makes me happier than seeing the next generation of Stonehill faculty and staff “getting a life” here: mentoring students on a research project, harvesting vegetables at The Farm, building a house with the student Habitat group, playing in the faculty jazz band, skating with their kids on the May Pavilion.

I’m sure they’ve discovered, as I did, that getting a life is mostly about making a life. That the esprit de corps they bring to our academic commons can profoundly affect a single student and can move an entire institution. That it really is “nice work if you can get it—and you can get it if you try.”

In June, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Katie Conboy, the College’s longest-serving chief academic officer, will leave Stonehill after 26 years of service as a professor and senior administrator. She will join Simmons College as its new provost and senior vice president.

When she moved into academic administration at Stonehill in 2000, Conboy had a vision to shape the intellectual culture of the College by building a community of teaching, learning and scholarly excellence and by providing the organizational structure to support that vision.

It is no surprise that under her leadership, Stonehill has grown in academic stature, developing a reputation as a college that engages, nurtures, challenges and champions both students and faculty.

Click here to read the press release announcing Conboy’s position at Simmons.

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SHARE YOUR STORY. Submit your 500-word essay about your Stonehill thoughts and memories to klawrence@stonehill.edu.

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William Conroy Jr. ’52

David Carroll ’53 of Brockton died July 12, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Mary, fouf daughters, six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Harry Donahue ’53 of Raynham died Oct. 11. He is survived by two sons and five grandchildren.

Eugene Connolly ’54 of Moorestown, N.J., died Feb. 6. He is survived by two sons, a daughter, three brothers and seven grandchildren.

Joseph Silipo ’54 of Brewster died Dec. 26. He is survived by a brother, three nieces and three nephews.

Donald Bergeron ’58 of Easton died Sept. 11. He is survived by his wife, Marion ’55, a sister, two brothers, a son, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Thomas Whalen ’58 of Taunton died Nov. 26. He is survived by two sisters, a brother and several nieces and nephews.

Cornelius O’Leary ‘61 of Wellesley died Oct. 29. The 1996 recipient of the Alumni Service Award, he is survived by his wife, Marilyn, five sons and four grandchildren.

Richard Dwyer ’62 of Plymouth died Dec. 31. He is survived by two sisters, two nieces and a nephew.

Patricia McCarthy ’63 of Crystal River, Fla., died Sept. 23. She is survived by three sisters, three brothers, including Kevin ’69, and many nieces and nephews.

Gertrude Dermody ’64 of Taunton died Nov. 21, 2006. She is survived by three nieces and nine nephews.

Hugh Gallagher ’66 of Westwood died Jan. 20. He is survived by his wife, Carol, three daughters, seven siblings and several nieces and nephews.

Edward Zarrella ’67 of Saint Charles, Ill., died Sept. 24. He is survived by his wife,  Maureen, a son, two daughters, a sister, a brother and two grandchildren.

Leatrice (Cantelmo) Klimasara ‘77 of Fall River died Sept. 23, 2011.

Donna Jo (Hatfield) Lin ’78 of Trinidad, Calif., died Nov. 27. She is survived by her husband, Chi Wei, her parents, a sister and two brothers.

Kathryn (Lanigan) Reilly ’79 of Rockland died Sept. 1. She is survived by her husband, Daniel, four sons, including Peter ’73, two daughters, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Stephen Griffin ’81 of Dennis died Oct. 31. He is survived by his wife, Lisa ’83, three sons, his parents and six siblings.

William Brown ’82 of Sandwich died Jan. 26. He is survived by his wife, Diane, two sons, his mother, four siblings and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Maureen (Martin) Kelleher ’84 of Bridgewater, N.J., died Dec. 21. She is survived by her father, two brothers, including Kevin ’75, a sister and several nieces and nephews.

Richard Howes ’85 of Upland, Calif., died Dec. 17. He is survived by his fiancée, Karen, his mother, four siblings and many nieces and nephews.

JoAnn Riley ’85 of Bourne died Nov. 29. She is survived by her parents, four siblings and many nieces and nephews.

James Davin ’87 of Foxborough died Oct. 20. He is survived by his wife, Nicole, two sons, a daughter, his parents, four brothers and several nieces and nephews.

John Santos ’90 of Taunton died April 7. He is survived by his wife, Donatila, and two children.

Jason Nusbaum ’98 of Gaithersburg, Md., died Feb. 16. He is survived by his mother,
stepfather, a brother and grandmother.

William Bryan III ’99 of Whitman died Dec. 28. He is survived by his mother, grandmother, two sisters and several nieces and nephews.

Mary Pasquarosa ’00 of Rochester, N.H., died Nov. 19. She is survived by her husband,
Wardell, four siblings and two nieces.

College Obituaries

Carole Calo, chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, died Feb. 9. A professor of arts history, Calo built the arts community at Stonehill into a vibrant presence that touched everyone. Art history, studio arts, graphic design, music and dance exist in the curriculum because of her vision.

Paul Foucre, former chair of the foreign languages department, died Nov. 26. Fource taught French and Spanish at the College from 1964 until he retired in 2011.

Dolores Shelley, professor emerita of English, died Dec. 20. A talented writer, Shelley was the first person in her family to attend college. A Stonehill faculty member since 1967, she taught literature and creative writing. From 1986 to 1991, she also chaired the English Department.

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MAY 31-JUNE 2
Reunion 2013 Classes of 1963, ’68, ’73, ’78, ’83, ’88, ’93, ’98, 2003, ’08 and the Pillar Society

JUNE
  8 Alumni Night at Boston Pops

AUGUST
TBA Back to School Backpack Project
  24  Freshmen Move-In Project
  24  Alumni Night at Tanglewood

OCTOBER
13-20  Alumni Travel Program (See below for more information.)

______________________________

Send Us Your News!

Have you recently moved, changed jobs or earned a degree?

Have you recently married or celebrated a birth?

Please remember to share your news with the Office of Alumni Affairs by visiting www.stonehill.edu/keepintouch.xml.

______________________________

NOTEPAD

Alumni Travel Program
We are pleased to share our 2013 trip, “A Patriotic Journey Through the Civil War in
Virginia and at Gettysburg.”

Running from Oct. 13-20, this trip will cover many important sites from the Civil War, including Manassas, Shenandoah Valley, Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Appomattox, Harpers Ferry, Chatham Plantation, Berkeley Plantation, the Museum of the Confederacy and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.

We are delighted to have History Professor John Rodrigue serve as our faculty host for  his program and know that his expertise will be a great addition to the trip!

Contact the Alumni Office at 508-565-1343 for more detailed information.

Notepad

Become Educators in the Faith
The Congregation of Holy Cross Priests and Brothers is an international community dedicated to educational, pastoral and social ministries. for vocations, contact Rev. James Gallagher, C.S.C. at 574-632-6385 or at vocation.1@nd.edu. Visit www.holycrossvocations.org.

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Stonehill Connect
Visit www.alumniconnections.com/stonehill to join the online community for alumni. On Stonehill Connect, alumni can register for events, search for classmates, upload and view photos, make a gift and much more!

For information about the site, contact the Alumni Affairs Office at alumni@stonehill.edu.

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Dress Rehearsal

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Dodgers Chaplain
In addition to being the national director of Family Theater Productions in Hollywood, Rev. Wilfred Raymond, C.S.C. ’67 [second from left] is also chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Left to right with Fr. Willy: Former Dodgers Manager Joe Torre, sports columnist Brian Golden, hitting coach Manny Mota and right fielder Andre Ethier.

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Finding Solace

“It was difficult, to say the least,” says Katie. As the couple processed their grief, they found solace in activity, raising money for the hospital that cared for them, Johnson Memorial in Stafford Springs, Conn.

In six months, the Vaghinis netted nearly $17,000 through events, fundraisers and corporate donations. The bulk became a gift to the hospital’s maternity ward; Katie
used the balance to assemble bereavement baskets that nurses can give to other families facing an infant death.

Though the baskets are more mother-focused, with a birthstone necklace for  the month of the baby’s birth and casting kits to capture handprints or  footprints, Thomas notes they’re helpful for the whole family. “The subject  is so taboo—people don’t know how to talk about it. The basket gives an entry  point into a conversation,” he says.

“When it happens, you feel so alone,” adds Katie [above with Thomas and their children, Scarlett and Logan]. “I want women to know that this happens to other people. You can talk about it.”

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Champion’s Mindset
In many American cities, juvenile crime rates nearly triple between 3 p.m and 8 p.m. That gap—between the end of the school day and the return of parents from work—gives teens 25 unsupervised hours each week to get into trouble. In Brockton, Jason Lynch ’12 is working to draw high school and middle school youths off the streets and into the boxing ring.

With funding from the Samuel Huntington Public Service Award, Lynch started the Champions Project. Combining boxing conditioning with tutoring, the program offers an athletic outlet that teaches focus and discipline while providing academic support to improve school performance.

The project instills a champion’s mindset in the 15 boys and girls participating in the program by training them to engage in long-term goal setting and by prompting them to ask: “How would a champion act in this situation?”

“The program is not just about the individual, though,” says Lynch. “It’s also about building camaraderie and support among the participants and tutors.”

Lynch completed a year of service with Americorps in February and is now a development associate with the Alzheimer’s Association. Using boxing for his program, he tapped into Brockton’s rich boxing tradition. His base in the City of Champions is on Main Street, where he partners with Cappiello Bros. Boxing and Fitness on recruitment and training.

In the program’s second term, Lynch says, “I’ve already noticed some differences in the participants. One is avoiding bad company, and the other is making choices with long-term goals in mind. Seeing that you’re making a difference is the rewarding part.”

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Cooking Up a Dream
There’s an old saying that when one door closes, another one opens. Claudia (Moses) Denelle ’75 took this maxim to heart after being laid off from a position in the corporate world during the down economy. Having long had the dream of sharing her passion for cooking with the world, Denelle seized the opportunity to start her own catering company.

That’s Tasty!, based in Brockton, became a full-time gig for Denelle, a business major while at Stonehill, and her husband, David, in 2011. “I’m still learning as I go. Stonehill gave me a great foundation in business from which to work, and thus the company has grown organically,” says Denelle.

“My route has been somewhat circuitous, but at the same time it has provided me with the skills and experience necessary for this venture,” she explains.

“The hardest part was making that initial leap of faith. I didn’t want to have any regrets, so I just went for it,” Denelle admits. “For me, this dream was tangible. I can cook and I enjoy it, so I combined the passion with practicality.”

Hoping to open a storefront in the future, Denelle is serving up her signature Italian-style
cuisine at events ranging from intimate dinners for two to parties with upwards of 250 people, and finally doing work that she loves.

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Camp Connector
A chance visit to a U.S. summer camp when she was a teen paved a career path for Fatima Velez ’90. A native of Madrid, Spain, Velez was captivated by the experience—the great outdoors, a sense of independence and the ability to practice English.

So in 2002, the entrepreneurial Velez, who was a communication major at Stonehill, launched Camp Overseas, a service helping international families enroll their children in American summer camps.

In her first year, she placed 20 children from Spain. Today, Velez and her staff situate 220 kids from Europe, the Middle East and South America in 45 different camps. They interview each child and family to discern which camp is the best fit.

“Some camps are more competitive, more sports oriented; some have more arts and drama activities,” she notes. “I always say there’s a camp for every child.”

To make sure the fit is good, Velez spends six weeks each summer in the United States,
driving an average of 200 miles daily, visiting each camp enrolling her clients. “I love what I do,” she says. “I love when kids come back and talk about what great experiences they had.”

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This Judge is OK
McAlester, Oklahoma, is a long way from his native Brockton. But that’s precisely where Bernard Porter ’80 finds himself on the bench as an administrative law judge for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).

It wasn’t exactly a direct flight. Porter’s legal career has taken him  from Michigan to Texas to Connecticut to Florida and now to the Sooner State. The one constant has been his employer: the ODAR, where for years he wrote judges’ opinions in cases appealing the denial of Social Security disability claims.

Tapped last year to be a judge himself, Porter finds it enlightening. “For years, when I drafted opinions, I would wonder, ‘Why didn’t they ask this, or follow up on that?’” Now he appreciates the constraints. “You have six or seven hearings in a day. You have to be prepared, able to think on your feet for long stretches of time.”

Despite the pace, Porter calls the work “satisfying.” “For those who are truly deserving, I’m happy to reward benefits to them. And for those who do not meet the requirements of disability, I’m required to turn down their claims.”

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“No matter what is going on with the team, when Jake enters the locker room, everybody is all smiles,” says Tasiopoulos. For the Stonehill men’s and women’s basketball, ice hockey and field hockey teams, that’s exactly what happens every time they greet their team member from the Quincy-based Team IMPACT program.

“We often describe ourselves as sort of a fusion between the Make-a-Wish and Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations,” says Dan Walsh, executive director of Team IMPACT.
The children are “drafted” by the college teams and become, to the greatest extent  possible, full-fledged teammates. They have their own locker, uniform and opportunities to practice.

“It has been an unbelievable experience to witness firsthand how excited Jake is when he is around our team,” says Tasiopoulos. “The fact that he battles through all of the adversity he faces daily and still manages to have a smile on his face is really inspirational.”

Teammate Dana Borges [above with Jake] agrees. “The Quinn family always thanks us for working with Jake, but I thank them because it is amazing what perspective Jake gives you on life. Seeing him have fun, there’s nothing better.”

Initially starting with the women’s basketball team, which drafted 12-year-old Lexi Simoes last year, the men’s basketball and ice hockey teams joined Team IMPACT shortly thereafter. This past fall, the field hockey team came on board, making Stonehill one of the most active schools in the program.

Positive Influence
For Lexi and her 8-year-old brother Cameryn, a member of the men’s basketball team, the program has been equally beneficial. Their mother, Heidi, says Team IMPACT has been a wonderful social outlet for her children.

With Lexi in the hospital up to four days a week as she battles Mitochondrial Disease, it has been difficult for her to make good friends at school. But through Team IMPACT,
Lexi has gained the friendship and support of the women’s basketball team. “They’re like big sisters to her. They accept her. There’s no bullying, there’s no being made fun of,” says Heidi.

“Lexi says the girls make her feel special,” notes Head Coach Trisha Brown, who along with her assistant Jackie Smith, originally got the ball rolling with Team IMPACT in the
Athletic Department. “For college students in general, it’s a pretty self-focused
time,” comments Brown. “For them to be able to step out of that little bubble that they’re in and see this young child who faces challenges every day, it really puts things in perspective for them.”
—Kristen Magda

Support your Skyhawks! Log on to www.stonehillskyhawks.com to get scores, schedules, news and more on all 20 varsity teams.

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Children’s Christmas Concert
The Children’s Christmas Concert was the first of these new initiatives. Started in 2010, the event highlights the student Concert Band and Orchestra, which now totals more than 100 members as they perform traditional Christmas songs for attending alumni and their children. In between songs, musicians introduce their instruments and offer demonstrations for the children. The concert concludes with a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells” during which the children join the musicians with their own sets of bells. And an appearance by Santa Claus is always a hit. Alumni volunteers from the Committee are on hand throughout the event, managing many of the logistical details—from greeting guests to monitoring the line to visit Santa. To view a photo gallery of the Children’s Christmas Concert, visit here.

Easter Egg Hunt
The success of the Children’s Christmas Concert motivated Committee members to consider another holiday popular with children—and the annual Easter Egg Hunt was born. Each spring, hundreds of children of alumni line up around the Quad to gather eggs once the start is signaled. Again, volunteers from the Committee are present to make sure the event runs smoothly. (To view a photo gallery of the Easter Egg Hunt event, click here.) With just these two popular events, the Special Projects Committee has improved alumni engagement. More than 50 percent of the alumni attending either  event had not attended an alumni event in the previous three years.

Committee Chair Amy Chapin ’00 notes, “Now that they have reestablished their relationship with the College, they are more visible within the Alumni Association. And so
many of them have mentioned to us how they appreciate the opportunities to show off Stonehill to their children and spouses.”

The Committee’s new programming efforts have not stopped with the addition of family programming. Last summer, the group hosted a sunset cruise on the Cape Cod Canal to help reach out to alumni living on the Cape— another alumni demographic with lower than normal event participation. Similar events are planned for the future.

The Alumni Council Special Projects Committee is always looking for new volunteers to help generate fresh programming ideas or help support current initiatives. Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at 508-565-1343 or alumni@stonehill.edu for more information.

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I MOST ENJOY SPEAKING: It’s not only speaking but also reading and writing in several languages which defines a polyglot. I love French because I can read and discuss Baudelaire, Flaubert and Hugo. German because of Goethe and Kleist and Russian because of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.

MY FAVORITE SAYING IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE: I have two: “nuqneH” and “Qapla.” Both are Klingon from “Star Trek.” Used as a greeting, “nuqneH” means, “What do you want?” “Qapla” means “success” and is used as a rallying cry before any arduous task.

TIPS FOR LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE: First, it is imperative to memorize a few
dialogues. This teaches pronunciation, gives you phrases to use and allows you to create new utterances by changing or adding words. Second, use as many senses as possible. For example, students often make flashcards to memorize the three genders of German
nouns. I suggest that they say—not just read—the flashcards. Visual learners might use a different colored marker for each gender, while kinesthetic learners might tap with one hand for one gender, with the other hand for the second and use no tap for the third.

STUDENTS IN MY CLASS OFTEN SAY THAT I: Should cut down on the coffee!

SPOT I LIKE BEST ON CAMPUS: Rhododendron Drive. I sometimes walk back and forth between home (one mile away) and campus. I use the Rhododendron Drive entrance and enjoy the chance to gather my thoughts.

I READ MY FIRST STEPHEN KING NOVEL LAST SUMMER BECAUSE: “11/22/63” is an “alternative history” about a man who goes back in time to try to prevent the assassination of JFK. I devour alternative history; it brings together my interests in history and fiction.

ONE DAY I’D LIKE TO: Read the books next to my bed, travel to Brazil and Japan, see definitive proof that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

IN MY OFFICE I HAVE: My Ph.D. diploma from Cornell, the two Stonehill awards, three Impressionist paintings, Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis posters, a replica of Degas’ “Petite Danseuse de 14 Ans,” a figure of Willie Mays in his New York Giants uniform and a figure
of Hendrix burning his guitar at the ’67 Monterey Pop Festival.

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Weighing What We Watch
Attitudes towards our bodies are formed very early in our lives. In an increasingly mediated world, many of the images we see in the media shape these attitudes for both women and men. Conversations about body image and the media continue to take center stage in my classroom. These discussions are often sparked by my students’ experiences—they cite unrealistic images of celebrities, athletes, magazine models and reality shows—as well as my own observations and research.

Two of the research projects I have worked on explore how students’ media exposure and preferences inform attitudes towards their own bodies as well as how they perceive others. In one study (with Jennifer Aubrey, University of Missouri and Megan Hopper, Illinois State University), we examined how exposure to sexually  objectifying videos influences male students’ attitudes towards women.

Through our research we found that, compared to those who watched videos low in sexualized content, undergraduate males who watched videos where sexualization of females was high, appeared to have more negative attitudes towards women. Specifically, we found that exposure to highly sexualized music videos predicted higher acceptance of
interpersonal violence and agreement with adversarial sexual beliefs (e.g., “Most women are sly and manipulating when they are out to attract a man.”).

In light of highly rated and sexual media events like “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show,” the Miss America Pageant and the Grammys, our study suggests that what we watch matters.

There is mounting evidence that women and, increasingly, men are experiencing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders at unprecedented levels. Undoubtedly, there are many
factors that contribute to this social problem, so why focus on the media? I encourage students to list all of these factors and to consider what it would take to control each one.

The media aspect is the easiest to control. We can make informed choices about what we consume, and we can also learn more about how advertisers represent certain bodies as the ideal. Research suggests that young girls are showing signs of negative body image from very early on. In fact, girls as young as 8 have been found to show signs of body dissatisfaction. The more we weigh what we watch, the more media literate we become and the more realistic we can be about body image.

Wanjiru Mbure, assistant professor of communications, coauthored “Check that Body! The Effects of Sexually Objectifying Music Videos on College Men’s Sexual Beliefs,” published in the “Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media.” Another project on skin tone and body representations in cosmetic advertising is under review by the “Journal of Mass Communication Quarterly.”

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Guitar Lessons
“Here, we consider the electric guitar as musical instrument, technology and cultural icon, providing students with a unique angle on musical performance, the arts and historical change in modern America. The theme of musicianship— what it really means to be a musician—becomes a powerful lens to look beneath the surface of contemporary music and its media representations, in order to understand and experience it more deeply and immediately.”

—Todd Gernes, left, associate professor of history and American studies,
describes the Learning Community (LC),
Joyful Noise: Music, Technology
and Contemporary Culture that he
will teach with Assistant Professor
and Music Program Director
Leslie Goldberg. The upcoming LC
links an American Studies seminar
and a course on Introductory Musicianship.

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An early photo of Fr. Mac as he enters the Holy Cross Chapel.

On March 1, 2003, Stonehill lost one of its greatest stewards, Alumni Minister Jack McCarthy, C.S.C. But “Fr. Mac,” as he was affectionately called, left a mark on the College that will last for generations to come. He made sure of it.

Before he died, Fr. Mac and his family set up the John E. McCarthy, C.S.C. Scholarship Fund. That fall, the Alumni Auction donated all of its proceeds to the fund. Since then, more  than $70,000 has been awarded to Stonehill students in his memory.

On Nov. 2nd, the 2013 Auction will remember this Stonehill legend, as the College marks 10 years since his passing. The evening will bring together many alumni and friends who admired Fr. Mac for his kind example as well as his ability to listen attentively and offer sage advice.

Fr. Mac alongside friends and colleagues, Anne (Pollick) Sant ’88 and Peter LaBreck ’96.

“Fr. Mac remains one of the most beloved figures in the College’s history, and this year’s Auction Committee is not just remembering him but also celebrating his  legacy,” notes Peter LaBreck ’96, senior associate director of alumni affairs.

Fr. Mac joined Stonehill in 1964 and held several positions on campus. From 1991 until his passing, he served as alumni minister, touching countless lives along the way.

“It’s time to put the spotlight on him,” states Stephanie (Maher) Benz ’96, cochair of this year’s Alumni Auction Committee with Joanne (Collins) Harrington ’69. Fr. Mac was a lifelong friend of Benz and her family, baptizing her and her siblings and even marrying her parents, Daniel ’68 and Roberta (Jennings) ’68 Maher.

Fr. Mac as many remember him.

“Fr. Mac was a constant in my life, but his greatest gift was that he was able to make so many other people feel the same way. He had a way of making you feel as if he was your number one fan,” explains Benz.

If you would like to help honor Fr. Mac’s memory this year, there are many ways to get involved in the Alumni Auction—from joining the committee, to attending the event or donating an auction item.

Call the Alumni Office at 508-565-1343 or email alumni@stonehill.edu to learn how you can be part of this special event.
—Sandra Higgins

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All in a Day
Whether attending one of the many events held throughout the day (including a chili cook-off!), cheering on the basketball teams or enjoying a walk across campus, hundreds of alumni and their families returned to campus for the first-ever Alumni Day on Feb. 23. Take a look at all the fun!

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Mulligan Honored for Service
In accepting the Alumni Service Award, Mark Mulligan ’88 shared his admiration for fellow alumni volunteers. “I am amazed at the dedication and service to Stonehill by those that have previously received this award, and I am humbled to be recognized along with them,” he noted.

The Alumni Council honored Mulligan, the 40th recipient of the award, because of his longstanding service to Stonehill and the Alumni Association. His volunteer credentials include serving as president of the Alumni Council from 2008-2010, as chair of its Academic Committee and currently as an alumni representative to the Board of Fellows.

At the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, Director of Alumni Affairs Anne (Pollick) Sant ’88 noted that, “Mark’s sense of strategy and tactics, along with his meticulous approach to organization and planning, really helped to elevate the Alumni Council’s sense of its own mission and capabilities.”

Both Sant and Mulligan praised the other alumni volunteers in attendance and thanked them for their service to the College. Mulligan noted how proud he is to have worked alongside them over the years on so many projects. Mulligan, an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service, was joined at the event by his wife, Maria, his son, Brett, his parents
and other family members [right].

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Stonehill’s Future Leaders

Rex Macapinlac ’13 [left] met with Alumni Council member Peter Langton ’90 at the Student Leadership Dinner.

Attending the dinner were several top alumni volunteers who shared their stories with the students and explained how Stonehill supports their efforts. In addressing the students, Dillon remarked, “Tonight is a night we thank you for working to make Stonehill what it is today. The alumni present were student leaders as well, and they have continued to serve Stonehill. As I look around the room, I know I am looking at future members of our Board of Trustees and Alumni Council.”

Following the formal program, students and alumni networked with each other and learned even more about how their leadership is helping to advance Stonehill.

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Cohen chose a first-year literature course, Island Living/Island Leaving, a semester-long inquiry into how island living shapes literature and culture. Students study texts about castaways, pirates, tourists, islanders and adventurers in order to discern what makes island stories so compelling and enduring.

“The course is perfect for the iPad environment. It draws on an array of cultural materials, from travel narratives to advertising campaigns, from novels to television shows, from films to studies of the problems that confront islands today,” notes Cohen.

With a grant from Stonehill’s Faculty Initiatives in Technology (FIT) program, Cohen ensured that all of his students have a loaner iPad for the semester. With the course material integrated on their iPads, the students have books, film clips, notes, emails, blogs and other documents available at their fingertips.

This marks the first time that a Stonehill professor has launched a course on iTunes U.  After its public release in mid- January, more than 7,000 people worldwide have downloaded the public version of the course.

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QUICK CHAT
Pauline Dobrowski

Current Position Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students

Years at Stonehill 13

Most fun on the job Competing in this year’s Dancing with the Stonehill Stars competition! Along with Kristen Sauter ’13 and Jenny Cameron ’15, I performed an “old school” hip-hop routine and had an absolute blast. Being the fierce competitor that I am, it was nice to bring home the trophy! (To view a photo gallery of Dancing With Stonehill Stars, visit here.)

Most exciting day of the academic year Move-in day for new incoming students. While  much work goes into preparing for this day, it is exciting to welcome the new class of
students to campus each year and assist them in their transition to college.

What I wish all students realized How quickly their four years will go by and how important it is for students to take advantage of every opportunity presented to them.

Most challenging part of job Helping students navigate difficult moments due to a variety of circumstances, including personal, medical or disciplinary challenges.

Most rewarding part of the job Seeing students, particularly those who have struggled during their time here, graduate having developed into confident, self-aware and accomplished young women and men.

Most students come to my office because I always have a big bowl of chocolate on my office table!

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