NURTURING THE MERCY MISSION - INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MERCYHURST COLLABORATIONS BENEFIT ERIE COMMUNITY P. 2 STUDENTS SERVE 'BEYOND THE GATES' P. 6 ...
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FALL 2018 NURTURING THE MERCY MISSION SISTER LISA MARY McCARTNEY P. 8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MERCYHURST COLLABORATIONS BENEFIT ERIE COMMUNITY P. 2 STUDENTS SERVE ‘BEYOND THE GATES’ P. 6 UNIQUE CYBER EDUCATION CENTER OPENS P. 16 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS P. 30
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT In today’s hypercompetitive higher education ecosystem, universities market in a big way. We that are tentative in the face of change will fail to prosper. Mercyhurst are also holding true to University has changed in many ways since I took office in 2015, our roots in educating the evolving and innovating to better meet the needs of our community of whole person through faculty, staff, students and alumni. REACH; this newer core curriculum offers our Mercyhurst’s student experience – long among the region’s best – has students both flexibility become more robust, especially with this fall’s grand opening of the and choice in pursuing new amenity-rich sophomore residence, Ryan Hall. We also expect their interests. to open an Irish-themed pub on campus in January that will further enhance the residential experience while creating a safe environment While we are busy on the campus-front, we have sought to use our for our students to socialize. As a result of our efforts to attract more community’s talents in partnership with others in academia, business underrepresented minority students to Mercyhurst, our student and government to enrich our city. Through the Mercyhurst-led population has grown more diverse. In support of that progress, we Erie Innovation District (EID), we are helping to deploy smart-city established a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force aimed at fostering a technology in Erie and recently brought nine new startup companies to more hospitable and compassionate community of learners. town for the EID’s accelerator program. We know that student success relies heavily on advising and support Accomplishing these many changes has been the handiwork of a systems that take into account the developmental and academic needs dedicated and determined Mercyhurst community. Many years ago, of our students. To that end, we are bringing all our student support during her Mercyhurst presidency, Sister Carolyn Herrmann described efforts – from Learning Differences to the Honors Program – under one Mercyhurst as “a vital, alive college in which there is no room for umbrella. As we seek to deliver positive outcomes, like graduating on complacency or for satisfaction with less than the best...” I believe she’d time and helping our students get good jobs, we are also reinventing be pleased with how we are staying true to that message. our Career Services program to better accomplish these goals and meet the expectations of students in today’s global marketplace. Carpe Diem. Perhaps nowhere is change more evident than in our academic programming. From our distinctive foray into the fields of cybersecurity, data science and risk management, supported by our new MCPc Cyber Education Center, we expect to produce highly skilled and sought-after graduates. Our Office of Distance Learning is working diligently to Michael T. Victor, J.D., LL.D. improve students’ access to learning through these new technologies President, Mercyhurst University and we have every confidence that it will propel us into the online ON THE COVER: Sister Lisa Mary McCartney, RSM, Ph.D. ’71, who stepped down in May from her full-time position as vice president for mission integration, is pictured in front of Egan Hall. With the number of Sisters of Mercy in the Erie community dwindling, Sister Lisa Mary has spent the past decade working to ensure that the spirit of the founding Sisters of Mercy continues to thrive at Mercyhurst. (Photo by Jeremy C. Hewitt ’07)
The Office of Marketing and Public Relations publishes Mercyhurst Magazine twice a year. Magazine Editor Susan Hurley Corbran ’73 scorbran@mercyhurst.edu 814-824-2090 Design Jeremy C. Hewitt ’07 jhewitt@mercyhurst.edu 814-824-3022 Contributing Writers Susan Hurley Corbran ’73 Joseph Cuneo Sean Cuneo INSIDE THIS ISSUE Elizabeth Eidnier ’12 Jennifer Smith Deborah W. Morton 2 MERCYHURST PARTNERSHIPS BENEFIT ERIE COMMUNITY 6 STUDENTS BROADEN HORIZONS WITH SERVICE ‘BEYOND THE GATES’ Contributing Photographers Ben Friesen 8 MERCY EMISSARIES COMMIT TO FOSTER MERCY MISSION Jeremy C. Hewitt ’07 10 EARLY BLACK STUDENTS REFLECT ON EXPERIENCES AT THE HURST Angela Zanaglio ’16 14 ROBERT MILLER’S LEGACY LIVES ON AT MERCYHURST NORTH EAST Director of Alumni Engagement 16 INNOVATIVE CYBER LAB INSPIRES STUDENTS Lindsay Cox Frank ’12 ’14M 18 MIAC EXTENDS STREAK OF SELLOUT SHOWS lfrank@mercyhurst.edu 814-824-2330 20 SIX HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI 21 ALUMNI PROFILES: SUKI FULLER ’05; SCOTT DONNELLY ‘88 22 ATHLETES INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME 23 LONGEVITY OF LAKER COACHES UNIQUE IN DIVISION II 26 IN THE NEWS Send changes of address to: Alumni Relations BROWN EARNS TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD Mercyhurst University MARY HOFFMAN ‘74 RECEIVES ROMERO AWARD 501 East 38th Street Erie, PA 16546 BRAD DAVIS NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR alumni@mercyhurst.edu MNE LAUNCHES PROGRAM FOR SINGLE MOTHERS ADMIRAL KOHLER GIVEN HONORARY DEGREE JOSEPH NECASTRO ’78 LEADS INNOVATION DISTRICT BOARD If you haven’t been receiving the bi-monthly MASS OF THANKSGIVING HONORS SISTERS OF MERCY Alumni eNewsletter, Mercyhurst does not have an active email address for you. Visit RILEY-BROWN NAMED HAFENMAIER DEAN mercyhurst.edu/alumni/update to update 28 CLASS NOTES your information and reconnect. 29 IN MEMORIAM: DR. RANDY HOWARTH We’d love to hear from you. Send your 30 FUNDRAISING YEAR IN REVIEW story ideas, suggestions and comments to scorbran@mercyhurst.edu. 31 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 1
MERCYHURST GALVANIZES CHANGE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP By Deborah W. Morton Basketball great Michael Jordan once said “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Whether creating internal partnerships between colleagues and departments, partnerships between academia and industry, or traditional town-and-gown collaborations, harnessing the skills of others is one of the most strategic ways to solve complex challenges. Things change when everyone on the team is equally invested in the overall purpose and goal. Consider Mercyhurst’s involvement in the ERIE INNOVATION DISTRICT. By partnering with regional academic institutions, government and business, the university is leading a plan to transform downtown Erie into a destination for digital-economy jobs, particularly in the robust fields of cyber security and data science. “Together, we are discovering new ways of driving innovation to provide our students with internships and job opportunities, to provide businesses with a highly skilled workforce, and to strengthen our community in terms of economic growth and global competitiveness,” said Mercyhurst University President Michael Victor. But, that’s just the latest in the university’s longstanding commitment to collaboration and the power of many. The following is an abbreviated look at a few of Mercyhurst’s many partnerships and the results they are reaping. 2
Sam Krahe ‘14 works with young clients at Harborcreek Youth Services. THERAPEUTIC ARTS INITIATIVE Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie Civic Institute Director Amy Eisert, A partnership between Mercyhurst University and Harborcreek Youth Erie Mayor Joseph Schember and Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny Services designed to provide experiential learning for university students while offering research-supported expressive arts therapies MERCYHURST CIVIC INSTITUTE for HYS clients. A college-community partnership dedicated to the social, educational and civic well-being of the Erie region and state of The longstanding relationship between Harborcreek Youth Services (HYS) and Mercyhurst University, once focused solely on experiential learning for Pennsylvania. students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice programs, has evolved over time, most recently through a partnership called the Therapeutic One of the most exciting results-driven programs coming out of the Arts Initiative – a mission-driven project overseen by Dr. Maria Garase, Mercyhurst Civic Institute in recent years is the Group Violence Reduction associate professor of Criminal Justice and vice president of the HYS Board Strategy, originally brokered by institute director Amy Eisert. Eisert of Directors. Through the use of expressive therapies like music, art and learned of the strategy through an out-of-town training program, and movement, the program aims to help Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable subsequently shared it with local law enforcement authorities. With youth – those who have experienced abuse, neglect and childhood trauma. buy-in secured, she further assisted in writing the grant that netted $1.2 million from the United Way and Erie Community Foundation to “Trauma has been called ‘the great thief,’’’ said Mercyhurst Music Therapy implement the Group Violence Reduction Strategy. Director Craig Stevens, who has been instrumental in leading the initiative, assisted by Sam Krahe, one of music therapy’s first graduates. “Most of Through the initiative, local law enforcement, concerned residents and these young people have extreme difficulty trusting and connecting social service providers meet with individuals who are identified as high with another person; most have never experienced unconditional love risk for involvement in group- or gang-related violence. During what and, because of their experiences, live in a world that does not feel safe. is termed a “Call-In,” participants are offered resources like education We are now looking at how early childhood traumas can affect not only and employment in exchange for stepping away from crime and gang psychological health, but also physical health, neurodevelopment, and violence. If they choose to ignore the offer and engage in violence, the virtually every other aspect of a functional life. Through arts therapy participants are informed that they will receive focused attention from all techniques combined with counseling, we are able to address goal areas levels of law enforcement. such as self-esteem, self-worth, emotional expression and social skills development.” Since the Call-Ins began in April 2017, Eisert said there has not been one gang-related homicide. Further, thus far in 2018, the city has had only Together, Mercyhurst students and HYS youth have built trust and rapport three homicides, the result of two incidents of domestic violence. Other by working on a number of local initiatives, including the Weed Warriors at violent incidents, such as people shot, shots fired and robberies, have Presque Isle project, the Therapeutic Foster Care Family Outreach Initiative also been dramatically reduced. and the National Water Dance. MERCYHURST-FLAGSHIP NIAGARA items from the Flagship Niagara League, and provides support for a number of the league’s existing programs. PARTNERSHIP A developmental partnership between Mercyhurst Reconstructed in 1988, the Niagara is a replica of the University and the Flagship Niagara League designed square-rigged sailing warship that fought in the 1813 Battle to create special opportunities for both organizations. of Lake Erie. For the past two summers, it has served as the centerpiece of a three-credit history course offered by Don’t be surprised if someday you spot a Mercyhurst Mercyhurst professor Ben Scharff and enjoyed by nearly University flag waving in tandem with the stars and stripes 20 students who spend two-and-a-half weeks on board of the U.S. Brig Niagara. Thanks to the initiative of Cal Pifer, learning traditional seafaring skills. vice president for external relations and advancement, Mercyhurst is an “Official University Partner” of the Niagara. Besides lessons in seamanship and maritime history, The development sponsorship creates a number of special students acquire a deeper understanding of the seafaring opportunities for both organizations. culture, including sailing terminology, physical skills and familiarity with the social structure of shipboard life. For Mercyhurst’s contribution, it means potential dockside receptions for donors and alumni at cities like Buffalo, “The Niagara represents a floating extension of Mercyhurst, Cleveland and Rochester along the Niagara’s sailing route. serving as a marketing platform around the Great Lakes,” Erie alumni socialize at the Niagara. On the flip side, Mercyhurst offers its guests promotional Pifer said. “We consider it a wonderful opportunity.” 3
The Mercyhurst Empowerment and Prevention Project team: Mercyhurst Police Chief DJ Fuhrmann; Residence Life Director Megan McKenna; Attorney Greg Grasinger with SafeNet; project coordinator Rianna Bartlett; project manager Ariel Dodick; Dr. Judy Smith, executive director of wellness; Alice Agnew, Title IX officer; and Amy Elisa Belfiore reads to a class at St. Gregory Preschool. Blackman, director of prevention and education for the Crime Victim Center. ‘IT’S ON US’ MOVEMENT EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS DRIVE A partnership among Mercyhurst, law enforcement and social service ACADEMIC SUCCESS groups to raise awareness and to fight against sexual assault on Early on, the Mercyhurst University Education Department recognized the college campuses. value of partnerships between K-12 schools and universities, both in better preparing the educators of tomorrow and in increasing the academic Thanks to a $300,000 “It’s On Us” grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, success of today’s youth. From the university’s pioneering Carpe Diem Mercyhurst has created an All-Campus Violence Prevention Project in Academy to its contribution to autism education in the Erie School District, collaboration with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the Erie Police it has opened new pathways to creativity, expression and achievement Department, the Crime Victim Center and SafeNet. among young people. “The key word here is ‘comprehensive’ in that we are working together The university’s graduate special education program continues to celebrate as partners to create for our campus the best possible education and the success of two longstanding partnerships: one with the R. Benjamin response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking Wiley Community Charter School in Erie, and one with St. Gregory Parish crimes,” said Dr. Judy Smith, executive director of wellness at Mercyhurst, School in North East, both in existence for more than 10 years. who wrote the grant and serves as project director. Ariel Dodick has been hired full time as project manager and Rianna Bartlett as part-time project Leaders of both institutions said their partnerships with Mercyhurst have coordinator. Both are Mercyhurst alumnae. played an important role in driving student success. The first phase of the three-year grant, which began in October 2017, Last year, for example, elementary teachers at the Wiley charter school focused on planning and training. The second phase, which will begin this partnered with Mercyhurst graduate assistants in a concerted effort to fall, is implementation, while the third will concentrate on sustaining the heighten reading levels across the population. As a result, the majority project. of students behind grade-level expectation were able to increase their reading levels to grade-level expectation or above. “We are hoping that together with our partners we can build a program that will make a lasting difference in shifting the culture on college At St. Gregory’s, educators credit Mercyhurst not only for helping to drive campuses, starting with our own,” Smith said. “We are committed to high student achievement but also for keeping the doors open. Enrollment keeping our students safe and in healthy relationships that respect both has climbed each year, starting with 72 students in 2013-14 to 97 students men and women.” in 2017-18. In addition, 6th and 7th graders ranked among the highest nationally on the 2017 TerraNova standardized tests in reading, language The grant enables Mercyhurst to create a Coordinated Community and math. And, for the past three years, 8th graders have scored in the 80th Response Team (CCRT) with the goal of expanding victim services and percentile in all content areas on the TerraNova standardized tests when advocacy, prevention education, and staff training at the Erie and North compared to the rest of the country. East campuses as well as the Booker T. Washington Center. The common denominator in both cases, said Mercyhurst Education The Crime Victim Center intends to augment Mercyhurst’s efforts by Professor Phil Belfiore, is that the schools employ master’s-level Mercyhurst providing access to support groups, accompanying victims through the students, most of whom are already certified teachers. legal system and helping with victim compensation. SafeNet provides prevention education, particularly in how to sustain healthy relationships, “The Mercyhurst partnerships demonstrate the pedagogical leadership sheds light on the early warning signs of controlling behavior, and assists role graduate departments of education should be taking within K-12 victims with Protection from Abuse orders. education,” Belfiore said. “With these partnerships, we seek to improve education through our graduate students, who are taught current evidence-based practices, and our professional involvement at each school site.” 4
But with Riesmeyer, it’s a bit more personal. His daughter, Megan, is an AIM student. And he’s familiar with the research that shows as many as 85 percent of college grads affected by autism are unemployed. “Having a child on the spectrum you come to know that long-term career success is very difficult,” Riesmeyer said. While unemployment and underemployment are high, Riesmeyer said it is not a result of the autistic person’s lack of ability, but often of the interviewer’s inability to understand this unique demographic. “Our goal at this point is to establish a bridge between AIM and Wells Lights over Lake Erie Fargo that we can leverage over time as students matriculate college,” Riesmeyer said. CITY, MERCYHURST TEAM UP FOR FUN, SMART BIZ Under the leadership of Erie Mayor Joe Schember and Mercyhurst In 2008, Mercyhurst introduced AIM to meet the unique needs of the President Michael Victor, the city and the university are partnering on a growing numbers of college students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum number of initiatives this year. Long famous for its Old-Fashioned Fourth Disorders (ASD). AIM focuses on building a foundation of self-advocacy, of July celebration and fireworks display, Mercyhurst stepped up as chief social skills and sound academic progress. The program has grown sponsor of the city’s holiday fireworks – Lights Over Lake Erie – on July considerably in recent years, particularly with the addition of a career 3 from the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbins Landing, and as a presenting services component to help AIM graduates be productive and successful sponsor for the Celebrate Erie summer festival Aug. 16-19 in downtown beyond college. Erie. “We are very excited about our collaboration with Wells Fargo and are On a more serious note, the Erie Police Department contracted with looking forward to this partnership,” said AIM Director Brad McGarry. Mercyhurst’s Municipal Police Training Academy at North East to conduct “The AIM program continues to identify collaborations that will benefit Civil Service Act 120 testing. Instead of taking a separate exam for the city, our students and, in turn, we can benefit Wells Fargo’s efforts to develop as had been the case previously, officer candidates can now take one exam diversity in their workforce and strengthen their ability to engage autistic that qualifies them for 26 police departments throughout the region. In adults for long-term meaningful employment.” announcing the partnership, Mayor Schember said the move would save the city time and money, allowing it to focus on minority recruitment. SHARING PIECES OF THE PAST Mercyhurst University geologist Scott And, through Mercyhurst’s leadership of the Erie Innovation District comes McKenzie has delighted in sharing the Secure Smart City™ pilot project taking shape on State Street, between his love of digging up the past with 6th and 12th streets. The project makes way for: thousands of fans. Partnering with the late Michael Sincak and his wife, • Broadband Wi-Fi access across Perry Square. Barbara, was the beginning of acquiring • Energy-efficient LED lighting on an estimated 66 existing poles to a collection of casts, fossils and collectors’ connect traditional street lighting, increase efficiency and reduce pieces that ultimately became the Sincak costs. Natural History Collection at Mercyhurst Rich Reislund and Scott McKenzie • Video surveillance capabilities in Perry Square to enhance security University. speak at Brown’s Farm Barn. and automatically alert authorities to potential threats. For years, the university opened its doors for the public to experience the exhibits until they became too vast in size. Then teaming up with the Tom AIMing FOR EMPLOYMENT Ridge Environmental Center allowed even more Erie people and tourists to Mercyhurst University wants to help graduates of its autism program get view the collection’s larger samples, like a cast of the teenage T-rex whose jobs after college, and has long sought out prospective employers to fossilized remains were unearthed from northwest South Dakota in 1998. engage autistic adults for meaningful employment. This year, in an about- face, world banking leader Wells Fargo came to Mercyhurst, sending five This summer the university partnered for the first time with Asbury Woods representatives, from Boston and Pittsburgh, to the Erie campus to discuss Nature Center to share even more unique finds, these local in origin. Erie career paths with students of the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM). area resident Rich Reislund and his two sons, Jonathan, 12, and David, 10, discovered an extraordinary fossil on undisclosed private property in The April 20 session included mentoring, résumé review and mock McKean Township. Upon examination, McKenzie confirmed it as evidence interviews with the goal of preparing students for possible employment of what is arguably the most terrifying creature of the Devonian Period – opportunities at Wells Fargo while helping Wells Fargo learn how best to Dunkleosteus – a powerful prehistoric fish with thick armor plating and a interact with people on the spectrum. bite rivaling that of T-Rex. “Wells Fargo is committed to a diverse work force,” said Wells Fargo Senior “This is the first time that we have found evidence of several of the big Vice President Michael Riesmeyer. “I think a lot of companies realize fish at one place in Pennsylvania and that’s very exciting,” McKenzie said. that creating a diverse community of “Records show that another collector found one at the same place over employees helps us better engage the two decades ago. All three finds are of the same bone of the shoulder diverse community of people that we armor, so we could be dealing with a Dunkleosteus graveyard.” In all, serve.” McKenzie said, more than 350,000 people have viewed parts of the collection at one exhibit or another since 2006. President Michael Victor greets Wells Fargo representatives Susannah Geletko, Michael Bohley, Eugenia Tibamanya and Michael Riesmeyer. 5
SERVICE WITH A DISTINCTLY MERCY FLAVOR By Sue Corbran Lauren Abbott at Neighborhood Art House On paper, it’s a requirement. Mercyhurst students Hurley and Assistant Director of Community “It was disheartening to see vets who’ve done so must earn one credit – out of the 121 credits they Engagement Bethany Brun spend months much for our country now being able to do so little. need to graduate – through a service-learning coordinating the placements. They have to balance But it was so rewarding to see them experience the experience “Beyond the Gates.” the needs of the community agencies with the music,” Larry added. He’s a business management academic, personal and career interests of the and marketing major from Rochester, New York. But Director of Community Engagement Colin students, and then work around each student’s Hurley prefers to think of it as an opportunity – a unique weekly schedule. Lauren Abbott, an Erie native majoring in intelligence chance for students to challenge preconceived studies, found herself in a familiar setting for her notions, broaden their horizons, and perhaps even A series of written reflections helps students to BTG placement: the Inner City Neighborhood Art be changed for the better. assess where they started, where they finished, and House. She spent many summers there as a child, how they were transformed by their work. taking part in creative arts and crafts. Today the Art Like the Sisters of Mercy who left the cloister to work House provides classes in the visual, performing and directly with those in need, students literally go About 550 Mercyhurst sophomores completed their literary arts and a safe, caring environment for at- beyond Mercyhurst’s iconic front gates. But they’re Beyond the Gates (BTG) experiences during the risk children. Lauren assisted the teachers or helped also challenged to go beyond some internal gates, program’s first year. With each spending at least 12 improve literacy with Hooked on Books. Once she to overcome anxieties and fears that may have held hours in the community, that’s well over 6,000 hours even got to fill in for the ailing dance teacher. them back from engaging with “the other,” people of direct service. who are different from them in some way. “This experience really let me see how we embody Just as important, though, was what the collegians the Sisters of Mercy and their mission as a university,” “As much as our students are giving, they’re took away from the experience. she said. “I can apply what I’m learning and actually receiving just as much in return,” Hurley observed. make a difference in people’s lives.” “The experience can be life-changing, because Larry Staub’s BTG assignment took him to the they’re opened up to a whole new worldview.” Pennsylvania Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, where he Logan Ford mentored and tutored students in an spent most of his time in a special unit for those after-school program at Erie’s Quality of Life Learning Some students head across the country or around with dementia. Sometimes he was the bingo caller, Center. He particularly remembers working with a the world on service trips, but most work with other times the “pin-setter-upper” for some hallway young woman nearing graduation from high school one of more than 30 Erie-area nonprofits serving bowling. He particularly liked helping with music who hoped to become a nurse’s aide. To reach that the hungry, the homeless, at-risk youths, refugees therapy. goal, she had to quickly complete several math or the elderly. Each community partner reflects courses. Mercyhurst’s Core Values and the Critical Concerns Each patient has his own playlist of familiar music, of the Sisters of Mercy, and each assignment calls for he explained. “It was breathtaking to watch. Once person-to-person interaction with people in need. they recognized a song, it seemed to flip something in their brains. They’d smile, or sing along, and sometimes even dance.” 6
STILL LIVING Above: Larry Staub at the Pennsylvania MERCY Students who complete the Beyond the Gates Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home experience will be ready to go forward and lead with conviction – first as students and later as graduates. Right: Students Monica Tinsley and Tessa It’s clear that the call to service still lives in Mercyhurst Sayre play games with English language alumni, wherever they are. Below, see a few snapshots learners at Pfeiffer-Burleigh School. from recent service projects completed by alumni chapters in Erie, Cleveland and New York City. “She didn’t have a good foundation to do the “We were living the Mercy Mission in a class,” she math,” he recalled, “and the courses were online, added. “I still can’t believe I get to be part of it.” which made it 10 times more difficult.” Together, A Cleveland resident, she’s majoring in sports they worked through each problem on her medicine and pre-med. practice tests, and she completed three classes with his help. Tessa Sayre acknowledged she was very nervous when she started her placement at Pfeiffer- BTG gave Logan, an Erie resident who’s double- Burleigh Elementary School. “I can be really shy majoring in intelligence studies and political and wasn’t sure the kids were going to like me, science, a chance to experience the diversity plus there was a language barrier to overcome,” of his hometown. He added, “I find it hopeful she said. “I wasn’t very experienced socializing that so many people are excited to engage the with different types of people.” community and give back. We’re both giving and receiving that Mercy mission at the same time.” To help English language learners at the school, Mercyhurst volunteers brought in a tub of board For Kailee Gorczyca, working with the Gliding and card games. Playing Uno, Chutes & Ladders, Stars program was a natural choice. She’d been Connect Four and Jenga helped students hone figure skating since she was 6 and, even though their language skills and learn colors, numbers she was no longer competing, she found herself and shapes, all while having fun. missing it. She spent Monday nights throughout her freshman year at the Mercyhurst Ice Center “The unexpected was a little scary,” she added, helping special needs individuals of all ages “but I realized that kids, wherever they come enjoy her favorite sport. She expects to do her from, are just kids.” BTG experience there this fall. With five years of Spanish study, she was able Besides developing special relationships with to ask one of her students questions in his the skaters she was paired with, she also taught native tongue. “I was reaching out halfway, and them life lessons – like how to fall and then get I think it got him to trust me a little bit.” Tessa’s a back up again. “Our motto was ‘I can do it. I can psychology major from Albion, Pennsylvania. skate,’ which was really empowering for these kids,” she said. 7
IT TAKES A VILLAGE... EMISSARIES ENSURE MERCY SPIRIT ANIMATES CAMPUS By Sean Cuneo Since Sister Lisa Mary McCartney first came to Mercyhurst as a cadet student more than 50 years ago, Mercyhurst has experienced a number of milestones. The first lay college president. The move to coeducation and the first class of men. The first graduate program. McCartney’s retirement in May, however, marked another important first for Mercyhurst: For the first time in the institution’s 92-year history, Mercyhurst does not have a Sister of Mercy employed full time on campus. “When I came to Mercyhurst, the president was a Sister, the dean was a Sister, Sisters worked in food service, every residence hall had at least one Sister. It was a different world,” McCartney said. With the numbers of priests and women religious declining on college campuses, faith-based institutions increasingly turn to newly established “mission officers” to safeguard their founding ideals. In 2008, Mercyhurst joined the ranks, naming McCartney as the first vice president for mission integration and charging her to assimilate the university’s educational mission, Catholic identity and legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. “I determined that the role of the vice president of mission would be to tend to employees,” she said. “If the employees get the mission, it is they who will pass it on through teaching and daily interactions with students.” In her first years on the job, a campus-wide survey found that most people did not think Mercyhurst’s mission could continue without the Sisters of Mercy. “Immediately, I thought that’s a perception we’ve got to change,” she said. Following a series of discussions with a key group of administrators and faculty—“people who couldn’t say no to me,” she said—the decision was made to establish a voluntary employee Mercy Mission training program, which would become known as the Mercy Emissary Program. Loosely modeled on the Mercy Associate program of the Sisters of Mercy, the program—which is open to employees of all faith backgrounds— consists of a series of monthly gatherings throughout the academic year. The first semester addresses Mercy while the second focuses on Catholic higher education. The training concludes with a daylong retreat. Alumni President Dr. Melanie Titzel and President Michael Victor present Sister Lisa Mary with the Sister Carolyn Herrmann Award, Mercyhurst’s highest alumni award. Natalie Koons presents a gift to Sister Lisa Mary on behalf of the Class of 2018, which 8 endowed a scholarship in her honor as its Senior Class Gift.
Sister Lisa Mary McCartney is surrounded by many of the faculty and staff who have completed training as Mercy Emissaries. “We wanted to make it as available as possible,” “The Sisters were always concerned with the “Something in the atmosphere catches people McCartney said. “It’s important to understand the students. It was nothing for a Sister in a residence here,” she said. “It doesn’t just attract people who Mercy Emissary Program as a work of community, hall to talk directly to the president with a concern are Catholic; it attracts people who have a depth and not another committee.” about a student,” she said. “Rather than people just and spirituality, and a sense of faith and service that working in their own areas, we need that fluidity for animates them.” Employees on the Erie and North East campuses the sake of the students.” responded with enthusiasm. During the first year For now, though, Mercyhurst is still fortunate to have in 2015-16, about 40 individuals completed the Looking ahead to Mercyhurst’s future, change is a few Sisters working part time on campus in various program, with about 20 employees taking part in inevitable. But McCartney is optimistic that thanks capacities. And as Greg Baker, former director of each of the past two years. to buy-in from the university leadership, the Mercy campus ministry, steps into the role of vice president Mission will continue to make Mercyhurst special. for mission integration, McCartney still expects to With fewer Sisters at Mercyhurst than there have a presence on campus, visiting with students once were, the Mercy Emissaries have seized the “The essential mission identity will protect and employees and attending sporting events and opportunity to preserve the Mercy Mission. They do Mercyhurst from becoming just another mid-size performances. so by volunteering at community events, planning liberal arts college,” she said. “With a clear, vibrant retreats and prayer meetings, establishing ongoing mission identity, Mercyhurst can evolve while “It lets those on campus know the Sisters are still programs to promote understanding of the Mercy remaining distinctive, and be effectively nimble.” here, we still care about the place,” she said. “It also Charism, and organizing welcome receptions for new shows my confidence that I really do believe the U.S. citizens following naturalization ceremonies in In addition to the Mercy Emissary program, the Mercy Charism will be carried on by people of faith, Erie, to name a few recent activities. university has demonstrated its strong commitment service and goodwill.” to the Mercy Mission by weaving it into academics Notable for McCartney is the role the Emissaries play through the REACH core curriculum and into campus As McCartney is often fond of saying, “the Sisters of in keeping students’ well-being front and center at life with projects like the Door of Mercy to mark Mercy don’t have a ‘lock’ on mercy. There is certainly all times. This philosophy, grounded in a sense of the Year of Mercy in 2016, to name a few recent a crying call worldwide for people to be merciful.” community responsibility, is a characteristic of the initiatives. McCartney sees this as a testament to Sisters that McCartney remembers from her own the way those working at Mercyhurst today seem to Thanks to her pioneering efforts, Mercyhurst days as a student. absorb the Mercy Mission and perpetuate the “mist employees and the growing ranks of Mercy in the halls,” as she calls it. Emissaries are rallying to answer that call. 9
The Mercyhurst group at Peggy Fox’s wedding in 1975: (from left) Beverly Miller, Sharon Ford Watkins, Carol White Mohamed, Val McLaughlin, Karen Gallo Maragolio, Rochelle George Wooding, Sandy Sanchez, Kathy Duda Newman, Peggy Fox Lape and Wendy Hackinson Fitzmartin. TRAILBLAZERS: FIRST BLACK WOMEN AT HURST BONDED TO COPE WITH ISOLATION By Sue Corbran A quick scan of Mercyhurst yearbooks of the 1950s and ‘60s quickly It was Dr. Barbara Chambers, her high school chemistry teacher and makes it clear: the student body was just about exclusively white. That a 1960 Mercyhurst graduate, who encouraged Rochelle to check out began to change in the late ‘60s as more black women not only enrolled, Mercyhurst and arranged for her to visit the campus. The two remain but soon made their presence felt on campus. close friends today. The first cluster of black women arrived in 1966, and included Alicia King Peggy Fox Lape, on the other hand, was white and had virtually no Redfern ’70, the late Beverly D. Miller ’70 and Rita Hazel Johnson ’71. They experience with black classmates before she arrived at Mercyhurst were soon followed by Carol Blue ‘71, Sharon Ford Watkins ’71, Rochelle and was assigned to room with Sharon. The two hit it off and roomed George Wooding ‘71 and Carol White Mohamed ’73. together for four years. Peggy became an integral part of the black women’s circle. Though they weren’t the only, or even the first, black women at Mercyhurst, many of these women gravitated together, forging “They were really my center,” she said. “I had white friends, but I friendships that have endured to the present. developed so I had more black friends during the four years. Being black in a predominantly white environment was nothing new “When we walked into the room we were sharing, I was a little excited. for several of these women. Carol (Mohamed), Alicia and Sharon had But my father walked in, put down my suitcases, turned around and all attended mostly white high schools and weren’t fazed by being walked out. Mom said he just wasn’t expecting … well, at that point we trailblazers at Mercyhurst. called them Negroes.” Rochelle’s high school, John F. Kennedy High School in Cleveland, was But by the time her dad returned for Father-Daughter Weekend the virtually all black, but she said she was actually excited by the prospect of following spring, things had changed. “He ended up being dad for all of studying with white students. “I thought I was pretty smart, and I wanted us. I told him, ‘See Dad, they’re just like me.’ He got to love them all, and all to see if I was as smart as white people,” she added with a laugh. of them came to my wedding,” she said. 10
INTENSE BONDING around more African-Americans. She organized the Association of Black Collegiates (ABC), which included students at Gannon and Villa Maria SPRING OF 1968 All students tend to gravitate toward others All the women mentioned spring of 1968 – like themselves, but for these black women, the colleges as well as her friends at Mercyhurst. following the assassination of Martin Luther bonding was even more intense. King Jr. – as a tough time for black students on ABC sponsored social events; hosted an Erie campus. While none of them recall facing any open appearance by comedian and activist Dick hostility or overt racism, all agreed that they felt Gregory; did tutoring and other service projects Sharon said, “I vividly recall MLK’s assassination very isolated at Mercyhurst. in Erie’s inner city; and even staged a production and how a number of us were gathered in of Jean Genet’s provocative drama The Blacks for the dorm lounge watching TV and were “I think mainly there was some passive the Mercyhurst Drama Festival. devastated by his death and the riots that aggressive behavior but little overt hostility,” followed. And I also remember the insensitivity recalled Sharon. LEAVING THEIR MARK of one individual in particular who said out loud as we watched, ‘I’m so glad my family Alicia said, “I didn’t feel hostility or negativity, but I did feel isolated. Coming from D.C., AT MERCYHURST lives in the suburbs and away from all that.’ A heated discussion followed and I’ll leave it at it was lonely at Mercyhurst. Erie was very, Though their number was small, the black that.” very different. It may have been more of an women were making an impact at Mercyhurst adjustment to Erie than to Mercyhurst.” as well, including Rochelle, who was elected the Rochelle’s memory is even more wrenching. As first African-American president of Mercyhurst images of burning cities filled the newscasts, “I did not feel discriminated against, but socially student government in 1970-71. At that time she says a white classmate asked her, “If they we were isolated unless we found a way to of growing student activism, the government told all black people to start killing white make our own fun,” Carol (Mohamed) said. was known as RUS – the Representative Union people, would you do it?” “I didn’t experience bigotry, but sometimes of Students – and had a voice in the College there can be some racism just from a sense of Senate. Peggy said she noticed a change in her friends superiority. Like, ‘I feel sorry for you because you during their sophomore year when their are in a minority race.’” “Mercyhurst had a way of wanting us to identities as black women were becoming experience certain things, to be an officer, to stronger. “It was hard on me because I didn’t “There weren’t situations at Mercyhurst that be involved in politics, to be a leader, and to be understand why I felt alienated from them,” she nurtured social life for minority women. There responsible for someone other than yourself,” explained. “I wanted things to be the way they would be mixers, but the people who attended Rochelle mused. “They encouraged us to run were. I didn’t think there was anything wrong, them were majority race,” Carol (Mohamed) for office and I really found out about politics which shows just how naïve I was coming from noted. Rochelle agreed, “They were dating. We – about how things could get done if the right my background.” weren’t dating – who would we date?” person said the right thing to the right people.” It fell to Alicia – who described herself as the At times they felt overlooked, even invisible. She noted that her white classmates militant of the group – to try to explain the encouraged her to run and supported her in the situation to the university as a whole. “The In a piece for the Merciad, Rochelle tallied the election. university was attempting to become more number of images of black students in the 1968 sensitive to issues going on in America, and yearbook. “Out of 312 pictures in the yearbook, Sharon recalled, “Mercyhurst truly developed that was one you couldn’t overlook,” she said. black girls were only in 3,” she wrote. “And out and cultivated my complete love of theater In a speech to the college community, she of eight of us on campus, at that time, only 4 to this day. The Blacks was the first time I was tried to relate what Dr. King’s death meant managed to qualify for ‘candid’ photos.” involved with and actually acted in a play. I to African-Americans, and why riots were would go on to be involved in several other breaking out in so many metropolitan areas. She added, “Just for the record, we read books theater productions, both onstage and working in the library. We sleep in class. We talk with behind the scenes while there. My interest in Before Alicia arrived at Mercyhurst in 1966, teachers. We participate in Italian Night. Polish politics and voter registration issues also began she said, administrators polled the cadet Night. Halloween Night. We lay on our beds in and flourished there.” teachers who were on campus that summer our rooms and study. We wear curlers in our to see if there was someone who wouldn’t hair. We laugh – we cry.” Carol (White) Mohamed recorded another first mind rooming with an African-American. – the first African-American student to receive Candy Sporer volunteered and the two got Alicia came up with one solution to the isolation the Carpe Diem Award, the highest award along well, sharing a room for two years until she felt at Mercyhurst and to her need to be presented to a graduating senior. Candy left campus for her full-time teaching assignment. At a 2013 lunch in Washington, D.C.: (from left) Alicia King Redfern, Peggy Fox Lape, Sharon Ford Watkins, Carol White Mohamed, Carol Blue. “If there was anyone described as being militant, it would have been me,” Alicia said candidly. “I gave all my professors a hard time because I didn’t think they were emphasizing the black experience enough.” When her art survey course failed to mention African-American artists, she did her own report on Henry Tanner, one of the first African- 11
American artists to gain international acclaim. “Every time you saw me, you knew what my DEEP-ROOTED Others have stayed in touch on a one-to- one basis. Alicia saw Rochelle because of the conversation would be about,” she added. “I was in touch with African-American students CONNECTIONS sorority they both belong to, and met up with Carol (Mohamed) when she visited Pittsburgh throughout the United States and constantly All of the women enjoyed successful careers for meetings and conferences. bringing news of what was going on and what after graduation. And all of them have we could do to members of the ABC.” maintained relationships with at least some of “I love all of them today. Chelle and I are in the others. touch all the time,” Peggy noted. “I’m fortunate Alicia said that, while the other black people to have them in my life. They were always there with whom she has talked over the years said They’ve attended each other’s weddings, for me. A real sisterhood.” they had enjoyed their college years, her own celebrated birthdays together, and helped their experience was different. “For me it was a battle friends through childbirth, medical crises and Rochelle coined another name for that every day. … My greatest disappointment was more. sisterhood. When Beverly Miller died, Rochelle because I became so involved with the ABC wrote a tribute in the form of a prose poem. and trying to make the student body and city “I have to say that Rochelle has been the one She signed it: of Erie aware of what was going on in America who actively worked to keep us connected with African-Americans, I kind of let my studies through the years,” Sharon said. “The group Carpe Diem! The true Sistahs of Mercy, fall and did not graduate with honors which I made a point of getting together every few should have.” Alicia was Mercyhurst’s last Latin years through the decades since we left Erie. Rochelle, Sharon Ford Watkins, Carol “Blue,” major. Clearly Mercyhurst created a very special bond Carol “White” Mohamed, Peggy Fox Lape, among us.” Alicia King Redfern ROCHELLE GEORGE WOODING ‘71 ALICIA KING REDFERN ‘70 Rochelle, who had been diagnosed with Alicia worked with Erie’s Urban Coalition for a while MS before arriving at Mercyhurst, fell ill after graduation, but soon headed to Philadelphia, and was hospitalized during her senior where she earned both a master’s and a doctorate year. She had to complete her English in educational psychology from Temple University. degree during summer school in 1971. She later earned a postdoctoral certificate in gerontology from the College of St. Scholastica. Married the following spring, she moved with her husband to Maine’s Loring She’s now retired after teaching at the college Air Force Base and began substitute level for 28 years, most recently at Bloomsburg teaching. When they returned to Cleveland, she got another University, where she’s a professor emerita. During her tenure there, she teaching job, where some of her former teachers were now her received the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Outstanding colleagues. Finally, her husband’s career took them to Chicago, Women of Color Faculty Award, as well as Bloomsburg’s Outstanding Woman where she had a 29-year career with the Chicago Public Schools. Award and Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. Always a book lover, she had already earned credentials in reading, Alicia founded the Circle of Sisters, an African-American women’s service but she then pursued a master’s degree in library science and organization, in Bloomsburg; is active with Delta Sigma Theta service worked in an elementary school library. organization; and served as eastern regional director, vice president and journal editor of the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education. She faced new health challenges in 1989, when she had to go on dialysis and eventually needed a kidney transplant. Almost 30 years She’s currently vice president and will soon assume the state presidency of later, she still has the kidney her sister donated to her. Her MS now the Pennsylvania chapter of PEO, a philanthropic education association that confines her to a wheelchair, but Rochelle stays as active as she can helps women achieve their educational goals. with her church and with Delta Sigma Theta, a historically black sorority that’s involved in community service including tutoring, Alicia’s husband, Dr. Carroll Redfern, is also a professor emeritus at voter registration drives, and projects to help families. Bloomsburg. The first African American faculty member hired by the university, he served as a chair of the special education department for 10 Mercyhurst honored Rochelle with a Distinguished Alumni Award years before retiring. They have three daughters and five grandchildren. in 1999. Rochelle George Wooding During a visit to Aruba in July, Alicia King Redfern chanced to meet 2018 Mercyhurst graduate Ryan Kronmiller. 12
CAROL WHITE MOHAMED ‘73 SHARON FORD WATKINS ‘71 Carol took her first job out of college Following graduation, Sharon earned her master’s with Pittsburgh’s Equitable Gas degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh, and Company as a customer service then earned a fellowship from the National Institute for representative. She used her home Mental Health to study drug and alcohol addiction at the economics training to help customers Washingtonian Center for Addictions in Boston. better use their gas appliances. Six years later, she was promoted into Returning to Pittsburgh, she worked for the Pennsylvania the company’s human resources Governor’s Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse for several department. In 1990, she was years. In 1978, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work recruited by Duquesne Light, Pittsburgh’s electric utility for Dorothy I. Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women. That company, as director of compensation. experience instilled in her a love of activism, public policy and politics that would inform the rest of her work career. Late In 1994, she was recruited again, joining the University of Pittsburgh to head up its employment and employee relations At the end of December 2017, she retired after 23 years as field director of the divisions. She filled a number of roles at Pitt, but for the last 10 National Breast Cancer Coalition, an organization devoted to ending breast cancer years before her retirement in 2015 she directed the Office of through the power of advocacy and action. She loved her work directing and Affirmative Action, Diversity and Inclusion for all Pitt campuses. managing grassroots advocates across the country as the coalition forwarded a progressive public policy agenda that included working for passage of the Since the late 1980s, Carol has been active with Lott Carey Affordable Care Act. International Ministries, a global Christian mission community that now works in 26 countries around the world. She is While working in Washington, she met and married Alex Watkins Jr. in 1987. A currently president of its women’s unit, Women in Service Chicago native and Howard University graduate, he passed away in 1994. Everywhere (WISE). She has gone on Lott Carey mission trips to Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, and will Since retirement, she’s been spending time with her family in Pittsburgh, and is travel in October to Nigeria. Working with superintendents who actively involved in her church (Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia) are natives of these countries, she has served in day care centers, and in political resistance. orphanages, soup kitchens and food pantries, and provided one-on-one counseling at centers for the addicted and women who have been rescued from human trafficking operations. Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, congratulates Sharon Ford Watkins on her 20+ years of service with NBCC. BEVERLY DIANE MILLER ‘70 An English major at Mercyhurst, Beverly earned a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship, an award that recognized “the most intellectually promising 1970 graduates who plan a career in college teaching.” MARGARET (PEGGY) FOX LAPE ‘71 Peggy majored in elementary education and She went on to earn an M.A. in English taught for 38 years in the public schools of her Literature, with a concentration hometown, Elizabeth, New Jersey. She received in African-American Literature, from the University of North the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award for Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1973 and completed coursework for a the Elizabeth Public School District in 1998. She Ph.D. in English at Morgan State University. retired about 10 years ago. Beverly taught within the Department of English and Foreign Her husband, James (Jim), is also retired. They Languages at Fayetteville State University for more than sold their former home in Mountainside and now 30 years, and also taught at Morgan State University, UNC live on the Jersey Shore. They’ve been doing some traveling and the next Pembroke at Fort Bragg, Shaw University at Fort Bragg, Durham move, she says, will be to California, where both their grown daughters live. Technical Community College and UNC Chapel Hill. She received multiple National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships and was invited to speak in Avignon, France. She was active in Peggy Fox Lape with daughters Erin and Megan the community with Steel Magnolias Inc. and Brother’s Keeper. She died Jan. 8, 2016, after a long, valiant struggle with liver cancer. Beverly Miller and Rochelle George Wooding 13
REMEMBERING ROBERT S. MILLER A MAN WHOSE MISSION WAS TO HELP OTHERS SUCCEED By Jennifer Smith You don’t have to look far to find the impact “He knew education could uplift a person, give North East business owner Robert S. Miller had on them a better life, a chance to have a good job and Mercyhurst North East. support their family,” said Julie Griffith, one of his seven children. But the trustee emeritus, primary benefactor and biggest champion of MNE never wanted the focus One vehicle for that was the Robert S. and Janet to be on him. L. Miller Family Scholarship Fund created in 2004. Since its inception, more than 500 students have In fact, Miller, who passed away at age 81 in May, benefitted from the allocation of nearly $850,000. would have been shocked at the hundreds who filled the Ridge Great Room over several days to pay Countless others on campus and throughout the their respects. community were inspired by his example and encouraging words. Miller never sought the spotlight or recognition for his contributions. He felt fulfilled by helping others. Here are just a few of the MNE success stories made possible by the generosity of Miller and his family. REALIZING A DREAM Every semester Ashley Messenger would write the Millers a thank you note for the scholarship money she received. “You’re making things a lot easier,” said Messenger, 26, who earned an associate degree in hospitality management at MNE in 2013, then a bachelor’s degree at Mercyhurst University in 2015. Earlier this year, she realized a dream, opening her own restaurant, Best Spudz Kitchen, RETURNING TO MNE Like many students at MNE, Lexi Caldwell had already earned a bachelor’s degree, but with Jennifer and Julie Flack wanted to take her career in another direction by pursuing an associate degree. in the Sunflower Club. Her inventive soups, specials and “I wasn’t eligible for financial aid, so the Miller scholarship was a huge help financially,” said wings are already gaining the Caldwell, who graduated in 2016 with her physical therapist assistant degree. attention of diners, earning her an Erie’s Choice Award MNE’s beautiful campus and caring faculty and staff were a huge part of Caldwell’s nomination for Best Wings and decision to become a student. And also the driving force in her return to campus this year an invitation to cater the Dinner as a full-time employee. on the Diamond fundraising event for the Erie SeaWolves. Caldwell is the new lab supervisor the for the PTA program. “This is what I love to do,” she “It just felt like a perfect fit,” said the 27-year-old who loved physical therapy, but also said. “Cooking is my passion.” interacting with students. “I knew this was the place I wanted to work.” 14
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