Reflections on Rome Exploring Duquesne's Connections to Italy - Duquesne University
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FALL 2018
Reflections
on Rome
Exploring Duquesne's Connections to Italy
Also in this issue: A Decade in the Dominican Republic www.duq.edu
Rooney Symposium Recap1
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
Contents
36 An Inspirational Morning
with Pope Francis
6 ADominican
Decade in the
Republic
12 Biden, Former Steelers
Honor Dan Rooney
Every Issue Also...
Did You Know?.......................................11
DU in Pictures....................................... 32
20 23
Creating Knowledge..........................58 Engaging to Make Duquesne to Host
Bluff in Brief............................................60 a Difference National Experts at First
Athletics...................................................62 Duquesne University’s new Office Amendment Symposium
Alumni Updates...................................67 of Community Engagement University to hold two-day event to
Event Calendar..................................... 72 connects the University and discuss the history and current-day
community resources. impact of this bedrock of
American freedom.
Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps
Vol. 17, Number 1, Fall ’18. Duquesne University Magazine is published by the Office of
Marketing and Communications, 406 Koren Building, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
15282, Tel: 412.396.6050, Fax: 412.396.5779, Email: dumagazine@duq.edu
2 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Thoughts from
the President
S ince its creation, Duquesne University’s character has been
international in scope. The University’s founding Spiritans were
from Europe. Its earliest mission was to help the children of
immigrant families. So, 140 years later, it’s fitting that the University
continues to focus on international ties.
This issue’s cover story celebrates Duquesne’s links to Rome, home of
the University’s Italian campus, headquarters of the Spiritans and center
of the Roman Catholic Church.
Earlier this year, I traveled to the Eternal City for a firsthand look at
the University’s connections to Rome. Not only did I meet our students
during their European study-abroad experience at the Italian campus
and get an inside look at the Spiritan headquarters near the Vatican, I
also met Pope Francis. As I detail in this issue, meeting the Holy Father
was the greatest honor of my life.
Remarkable Duquesne experiences are also happening across the globe
from Rome, closer to Pope Francis’ Latin American birthplace. A decade
has passed since Duquesne students and staff started traveling to the
Dominican Republic to help run a children’s day camp there as part of a
cross-cultural mission experience. One young man has been part of the
camp since its beginning—first as a child attending the camp and now as
an adult who has returned each year to volunteer there. Roy Alejandro
Reyes credits Duquesne students and staff members with helping
“Duquesne’s mission
him become stronger and create bonds of friendship, and he wants to
continue that experience for other young people in his community.
for 140 years has
In these pages, you’ll also discover a new study-abroad program in been to serve God by
Trinidad, read about pharmacy students who traveled to Haiti to assist a
community-based medical clinic and learn how an alumna is working to
change the image of the nursing profession in her native Lebanon.
serving generations of
We will continue to offer a transformative educational experience for students, who use their
our newest freshman class, which includes students from 13 countries.
You will read in this issue that 24 percent of new freshmen have relatives education to make a
who are Duquesne alumni. Not only does our influence stretch across the
world, it stretches across generations of families. difference close to
Duquesne’s mission for 140 years has been to serve God by serving
generations of students, who use their education to make a difference home or far away.”
close to home or far away. Thank you for all you do to continue this
Duquesne tradition.
Sincerely,
Ken Gormley
Duquesne University President
www.duq.edu 1
President's Corner
BELOW IS A SAMPLING OF PHOTOS OF EXCITING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT KEN GORMLEY HAS PARTICIPATED IN DURING RECENT MONTHS.
In May, President Gormley spoke at “Autumn in Undergraduate students, President Duquesne hosted its first annual “Pancakes
Spring: Notable Pittsburghers Share Favorite Gormley and Professor Kristen Allen with the President” in April.
Poems,” a benefit to support Autumn House pose for a photo after the final lecture
Press in cooperation with the Duquesne of the Presidents and the Constitution
Club Literary Society. He is shown with (from course. Students received presidential
left): Joanne Rogers (widow of Fred Rogers and Pez dispensers featuring an array of
retired concert pianist); Ted Pappas (former U.S. presidents to celebrate the end of a
artistic director of Pittsburgh Public Theater); successful semester.
Karen Wolk Feinstein (president and CEO of
the Jewish Healthcare Foundation); and Anne
Martindale Williams (principal cellist of the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra).
In April, alumna Patricia Doherty Yoder was
presented with the Anthony L. Bucci award for
Excellence in Communication Ethics. Pictured
here are: Dr. Ronald C. Arnett, chair and
professor of the Department of Communication
& Rhetorical Studies; J. Ronald Wolfe, A’54;
In April, members of the Duquesne Patricia Doherty Yoder, A’61; President Gormley;
community participated in the August Anthony L. Bucci, A’69; and Jim Miller, associate
Wilson House’s third annual August Wilson vice president and senior advisor to the
Birthday Celebration. Students and faculty president, leadership giving.
In June, John G. Rangos Sr., benefactor of the
Rangos School of Health Sciences, met in the from the Duquesne University School of
president’s office with President Gormley and Pharmacy provided free screenings at the
proudly showed off his Duquesne ring. block party. Here, they are shown with
President Gormley.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (fourth from left)
met with Duquesne officials in April to talk
about ongoing community engagement efforts,
In May, President Gormley attended the Vietnam including the exciting new EcoInnovation
Symposium held at Duquesne. He is shown with Duquesne alumnus and former NBA District in Uptown.
organizer and alumnus Robert Rodrigues and player Norm Nixon and his wife, actress
Rodrigues’ daughter Annmarie (a DU alumna). Debbie Allen, hosted a reception in April
Rodrigues and his wife, Eleanor (a DU alumna), for President Gormley and alumni in the
have six children, all of whom have multiple Santa Monica (California) area.
degrees from Duquesne.
2 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18
HAPPY 140 th
BIRTHDAY DU!
D uquesne University will celebrate
its 140th birthday on Oct. 1. The
Spiritans who founded Duquesne in
Throughout this remarkable growth and
change, the University’s commitment to
serving students and the community has
1878 would be proud of how their remained steadfast. This year, harnessing its
As part of his vision has flourished. rich history and potential for an even brighter
inauguration After humble beginnings with 40 future, Duquesne launched an ambitious
celebration, Ken students and six faculty members strategic plan to re-imagine the Spiritans’
Gormley, Duquesne’s holding classes in rented space above legacy for an ever-evolving world.
13th president, a bakery in Pittsburgh’s Hill District As President Ken Gormley shepherds
produced a video neighborhood, Duquesne is now among the University into a new era, generations
about the history of the top 12 Catholic universities in the of Duquesne students, faculty, staff and
the University. nation, a key contributor to the regional alumni around the world will proudly
Watch this special and local economy, and dedicated to celebrate nearly a century and a half of
video by visiting educating students from 70 countries excellence and look with excitement to
www.duq.edu/ and all 50 states. the next 140 years.
history-of-duquesne.
www.duq.edu 3
Welcoming the Class of 2022
The freshmen who arrived on campus in August are part of a class that is one of the largest and
most diverse in University history. While final figures are still being calculated*, the estimated
enrollment of more than 1,500 freshmen in the Class of 2022 makes it one of the top five largest
ever for Duquesne. The other largest classes included 1,562 freshmen in 2017 and 1,556 in 2016.
The new freshman class is also among the top three most diverse in Duquesne’s history.
1214
More than
Freshman class represents
one of the highest mean SAT scores plus Puerto Rico and the
in University history stated Duquesne was Virgin Islands
a top choice
acceptance rate–
24% of freshmen
are students with relatives
one of the most who are DU alumni
selective years ever
Freshman class represents approximately
including China and Brazil
of freshmen
are from outside Pennsylvania
*Final enrollment figures are available via the University census in late September. Information above is based on preliminary enrollment statistics available in mid-August.
4 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18
Technology, Social Media Focus of
Duquesne Civil Discourse Series
By Ken Walters
Duquesne University President Ken Gormley, featured prominent young associate professor of communication
Gormley presented the second major scholars from across the United States studies at the University of Kansas,
program in his civil discourse series who have studied how smartphones, noted that prioritizing who gets one's
with Technology, Social Media and Civil technology and social media impact attention online can help mitigate stress
Discourse, a March panel discussion relationships, empathy and civility. and help people to develop healthier
that explored how new technology is The importance of empathy was a relationships.
dramatically affecting society’s ability common theme among the panelists. The second panel, moderated by
to engage in civil discourse. Dr. Reynol Junco, fellow at the Betsy Benson, publisher and vice
“Our country has become polarized Berkman Klein Center for Internet and president of Pittsburgh Magazine,
on many issues. How we communicate Society at Harvard University, spoke of focused on the modern media. Joined
with each other significantly impacts the online disinhibition effect, by which by KDKA-TV legal editor and reporter
our ability to address those issues,” people express themselves online in Julie Grant and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
says Gormley. “Through this ongoing ways they wouldn’t in person. reporter and Duquesne alumnus Julian
civil discourse series, I hope that we Dr. Sara Konrath, a social Routh, Benson and the panel explored
can provide a foundation for students psychologist and assistant professor how journalists and publishers cope
and other members of the Duquesne of philanthropic studies at Indiana with the challenges posed by new
family to feel comfortable sharing their University-Purdue University technology in seeking to maintain
views on complex, challenging issues in Indianapolis, added that empathy an atmosphere of civil exchange of
a respectful manner.” can be improved by practicing active information.
The event included two panel listening and looking for similarities
sessions. The first panel, moderated by rather than differences. Dr. Jeffrey Hall,
Moderators and panelists at the Civil Discourse series included Dr. Reynol Junco discussed social media’s influence on civil
(left to right): Betsy Benson, Julian Routh, Julie Grant, discourse in front of a packed house in the Power Center Ballroom.
President Ken Gormley, Dr. Sara Konrath and Dr. Jeffrey Hall.
www.duq.edu 5
A DECADE IN THE
By Michelle M. Boehm, GA’12
A DECADE HAS PASSED since Duquesne
University staff and students first traveled to a Spiritan
mission in Villa Liberación, Dominican Republic, to
help run a children’s day camp as part of a cross-
cultural mission experience. Through the years, this
collaborative effort has inspired numerous friendships,
hope for better futures and, for one Dominican camper,
Roy Alejandro Reyes, a yearly return trip.
6 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18
R oy Alejandro Reyes has never missed a week
of camp—not as a 10-year-old camper, not as a
teen helper and not even as an adult, who moved
SPIRITAN MINISTRY IN THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
away to live, work and attend university in Santo It has been 10 years since Duquesne students first
Domingo. Reyes returns each year. He doesn’t care traveled to the Dominican Republic as part of a cross-
that it takes close to seven hours to travel just a
cultural mission experience, but the first Spiritan
bit more than 100 miles. Nor that he has to begin
his journey on foot, take two taxis and sit through
missionary presence was established several years
a six-hour, stop-and-go bus ride. He happily earlier through a collaborative effort by the Spiritan
repeats the trek so he can spend his vacation as a Provinces of North and Central America.
camp volunteer overseeing roughly 90 children. The initial team, which included the Reverends
The camp means so much to Reyes because it was Jonas Rivera Martinez, C.S.Sp., from Puerto Rico,
where he first learned to shed life’s burdens and Donald McEachin, C.S.Sp., from the United States,
for a brief moment in time, just be a kid. and Werby Mitial, C.S.Sp., from Haiti, arrived in 2004
ready to establish three parishes to achieve four key
Spiritans in the Dominican Republic
pastoral goals:
Villa Liberación, a poor barrio located in the
northern section of San Juan de la Maguana, • Strengthen and grow local churches
began as an emergency refugee tent camp after • Expand evangelization and youth ministry
Hurricane Georges swept through the Dominican
Republic in 1998, destroying entire neighborhoods • Construct chapels in areas without adequate
and displacing the country’s most vulnerable structures
residents. The newly formed community struggled • Build larger chapels to support growing
with poverty, high rates of unemployment and communities
widespread gang violence.
Since their arrival, the Spiritan parishes have met
In 2004, the Spiritans arrived in the Dominican the needs of their growing communities through the
Republic for the first time and established Nuestra construction of new facilities and the development
Señora de la Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope Parish). of educational programs. Community relations have
When the Reverend Donald McEachin, C.S.Sp., been strengthened through a lively and energetic
a former Duquesne University campus minister youth ministry, which includes hundreds of youth
and seasoned Spiritan missionary who worked participating in youth groups, retreats, summer
in Africa and the Caribbean, began to serve the camps, social outreach activities, catechism classes
community, he found the people demoralized and and sacramental preparation.
disorganized.
“Coming from different rural villages, the
resettled refugees had no real sense of community. students with Dominican children and teens from
In a traditional Dominican village, there are strong his parish.
bonds of family and people look after one another. “We spoke about parish needs and how
But in our barrio, the gangs controlled the situation Duquesne might best make an impact by working
and people lived in fear,” he says. with its at-risk youth,” says McEachin. The camp
would offer a safe space to children like Reyes.
Rebuilding Through Youth Outreach McEachin’s work paid off. In 2008, the first
Life in the barrio is difficult for adults; for a Duquesne CCME group arrived. Camp Duquesne
child, it is harder. Children as young as 7 years old was born.
manage households and raise younger siblings
while parents travel for work. This limits future Structured Play at Camp Duquesne
opportunities and leaves them vulnerable to Locals refer to it as Camp Duquesne, but it is a
negative influences. McEachin sought to counteract truly collaborative effort shared by the Duquesne
this growing trend and rebuild the community students and Dominican teens, who must work
through youth-directed initiatives. through language barriers and logistics to create
“By focusing on youth, we could address a positive mentoring experience for the barrio’s
problems of delinquency, violence and drugs, and youth. They work to develop and present four
improve not only their lives, but the lives of entire daily structured play activities: crafts, dance,
families,” he says. sports and story time.
As a former campus minister, McEachin was Former Duquesne Campus Minister Kate
familiar with Duquesne-sponsored cross-cultural Lecci explains that children living in poverty are
mission experiences (CCME) and approached frequently robbed of childhood.
Duquesne officials with the idea of expanding to “Structured play is a developmental tool
the Dominican Republic. He proposed a weeklong used for children living in lower socioeconomic
camp that would bring together Duquesne environments. They surrender their adult-like
www.duq.edu 7
Each year, Duquesne students work closely with Dominican teens to run a day camp for children as part of the Dominican Republic
Cross-Cultural Mission Experience. While running the camp is the primary focus, students also spend a lot of time taking in the
various aspects of Dominican culture and getting to know the teens through various activities and excursions.
responsibilities and learn things like the put time into, it shows they care. These
months of the year through song or fine activities do more than teach; they
Crowdfunding is a new motor skills through crafts,” Lecci says. strengthen the bonds between participants
tool to help broaden the Positive interactions through and set the stage for lasting memories and
services Duquesne students structured play help improve children’s friendships.”
physical, cognitive, interpersonal and Reyes was only 10 years old when he
provide as part of their cross-
emotional skills. As Duquesne students attended that first camp, yet memories of
cultural mission experiences.
and the Dominican teens work together, his experience remain fresh.
Lecci and McEachin take a hands-off “From the beginning, camp meant so
In three years, 31 students
approach. much to me,” he says. “Each morning, for
raised roughly $7,600 “Sure, we’re there if needed, but we just a few hours, for a whole week, I got to
through crowdfunding want them to work independently, gain escape and take a vacation from a difficult
to aid the elderly and confidence and be strong role models,” life. I got to be a child, to make friends and
infirm living within the Lecci says. “When the children see them be a part of something wonderful.”
Dominican Republic. together, presenting activities they’ve He recalls seeing the sea for the first
8 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18Emily Crisan, who participated in the 2017 trip.
Crisan enjoyed the language and culture, but
remarks that it was getting to know the teens and
working with them and the children that made the
experience so worthwhile.
Over the years, Duquesne students claim the
friendships they’ve formed with the Dominican
teens and children have had a long-lasting impact.
Maggie Zangara, GE’18, says it was the Dominican Rev. Donald McEachin, C.S.Sp.
people and the connections she made that drew her
back to the mission not once, but a total of three times. A Ray of Hope for Nuestra
“I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to Señora de la Esperanza
go multiple times,” says Zangara, whose favorite To rebuild and strengthen
part of the trip was spending time with the teens the Nuestra Señora de la
outside of camp and seeing their unique sense of Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope
community. Parish) and its surrounding
In addition to the lifelong friendships and community, the Reverend
memories, the trip exposes participants to the Donald McEachin, C.S.Sp., has
everyday challenges the communities face. During focused on several educational
Crisan’s trip, the town was shut off from water for outreach initiatives. He has
several days and then experienced a major rain established:
storm and subsequent flooding.
“This experience really got to me—it was • a job training center
incredible and difficult at the same time. It was a for adults
struggle to accept that I, alone, would not be able to
change things,” says Crisan. • Ludoteca, a children’s
“The poverty is so bad. You come to know and creative play/day care
love these kids and teens in just a week and you center
want to do something to fix everything for them but
• catechetical formation,
you can’t,” she continues. “I knew going in that I which welcomes more
was there to provide mentorship, to get to know the than 300 children
people and learn, but even with that mentality, it is annually
hard to push away the urge that something bigger
than what you are capable of needs to be done to • a new basketball
help them.” gymnasium
“I Lived for the Camp” • adult literacy training
Above: Roy Alejandro Reyes, pictured with former
Reyes tried, but did not know how to fully
Spiritan Campus Minister Kate Lecci and in a camp • two computer centers
classroom, values the many Duquesne friendships express the impact Camp Duquesne had on his life.
with free internet access
he has made throughout the years. “I just know I lived for the camp,” he says.
for school children
“I learned to be stronger and to create bonds of
friendship.” • a music school that
time while taking part in a camp activity. When not attending camp, Reyes studies teaches piano and guitar
“It was incredible. That week is what I business administration at Autonomous University
imagine winning an all-inclusive trip to of Santo Domingo and works as a hotel customer • Saint Michael’s Fe y
Disney would be like,” he says. “I never service representative. He hopes to travel and help Alegria, a tuition-free
forgot that day or my new friends.” his family. But his greatest dream is to one day build technical high school
The next year, Reyes learned he could an orphanage. that welcomes more than
return to camp as a teen volunteer. He “I want to help children who have had their 500 students
hasn’t missed a year since. childhoods taken away,” he says. “I want to give
all children the happiness I did not have—give that “We are slowly making real
Inspiring Friendships joy, happiness and emotion that I only knew for a our dream of a better life and
Most mornings, children will begin to single week each year with the people of Duquesne a vital Christian community at
gather around the church fences more than University. I want to help change the world.” the very center of the life of
an hour before camp is set to open. our barrio,” says McEachin.
“This is something they look forward to
all year,” explains senior nursing student
www.duq.edu 9Hearst Foundation Grant to Support
Innovative Nursing Simulations
“It seems obvious that will learn to not only treat the
we should be focusing on obvious physical symptoms but also
people with disabilities recognize secondary physical, mental,
since they’re the largest emotional or social conditions; identify
minority group in the applicable ethical and legal principles;
world,” says project leader and demonstrate appropriate “person-
Dr. Rebecca Kronk, associate first” communications strategies.
professor and chair of the Villanova University trains
school’s undergraduate advanced practice nurses using a
programs. “People think similar model, and a scholar from
they’re addressing it when Villanova is consulting on Duquesne’s
they talk about chronic project. Kronk knows of no other
conditions or care for the nursing schools trying this approach
critically ill adult, but with undergraduates.
nobody’s really tending to “There are medical schools that
Despite technological advances, the disability itself and its impact on try to address this with standardized
Americans with disabilities remain a person’s functioning, recovery and patients, but their ‘patients’ are
less likely to receive preventative lifestyle.” actors—not real people with
health screenings and they are far disabilities,” she explains. “It makes
more likely than peers who are not a very big difference to have a person
disabled to have a chronic disease. The initiative received a boost with a disability as the patient.”
Thirteen years after the surgeon earlier this year with a Outcomes of the pilot project
general issued a “call to action” to will serve as the basis for further
address these concerns, there are curriculum development within
still few educational programs for nursing and perhaps across
health care professionals that fully grant from the William Randolph Duquesne’s other health-related
integrate training designed to address Hearst Foundation. schools.
the unique challenges and needs of “Health care involves a team,”
people with disabilities. says Kronk. “For a person with a
The School of Nursing is poised In the first phase of the initiative, stroke, the team might include a
to address these disparities by Kronk and her colleagues work with physical therapist, maybe a speech
developing an undergraduate key stakeholders—including faculty therapist, nursing care and social
simulation program incorporating and community members with and workers.”
standardized patients—people without disabilities—to identify Health is one of four focus areas
who have been trained to present elements that will be incorporated for the William Randolph Hearst
simulated symptoms and situations to into pilot simulations to make them as Foundation, which was founded by the
students—with disabilities. Typically, authentic as possible. media tycoon in 1948. Also a resource
standardized patients are actors who Standardized patients and for initiatives in the fields of culture,
do not actually have the conditions supervising faculty members will education and social services, the
they portray, but Duquesne’s then be trained to present complex foundation funds nonprofits to ensure
innovative initiative envisions using scenarios, such as, “An elderly male that people of all backgrounds in the
real people with disabilities. post-stroke with aphasia and right- United States have the opportunity
The program received a boost side weakness is exhibiting symptoms to build healthy, productive and
earlier this year with a $100,000 grant of depression. His wife is suffering inspiring lives. Previous Hearst grants
from the William Randolph Hearst from a heart condition and worries to Duquesne—in 1993 and 2001—
Foundation. This is Duquesne’s third about her ability to care for him.” established endowed scholarships
Hearst grant—the first in 17 years and Working through the simulations, supporting minority undergraduates
the first for the School of Nursing. about 200 undergraduate students and community college transfers.
10 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18Did You Know?
Over the summer, Duquesne hosted 101
college students on campus to explore A team of four students from the
science-related fields and careers at its MBA Sustainable Business Practices
program—Kelsey Aerni, Michael Findley,
21ST ANNUAL Patricia Nicholson and Joseph Winkler—
UNDERGRADUATE recently earned third place in the
Aspen Institute’s 2018
RESEARCH PROGRAM, Business and Society
one of the largest programs of its kind
in the state. It is primarily funded by the
International MBA Case
Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Competition.
Sciences, the National Science Foundation
and the National Institutes of Health.
The University’s Department of Public Safety
and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
continued their partnership with the Pittsburgh
Bureau of Police to host another session of the
COPS AND KIDS Duquesne celebrated the
accomplishments of more than
SUMMER CAMP. 1,400 graduates
The free, weeklong program, held on campus in during its 2018 Spring
July, gives kids the opportunity to learn about Commencement Ceremony on
law enforcement and public safety, experience May 11. Nationally syndicated
positive interactions with police officers, and columnist and television
participate in competitive games and team commentator E.J. Dionne
building activities. delivered the keynote address.
The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania recognized
Duquesne as a Bronze Circle awardee and one of its
TOP 100 CAMPAIGNS
for 2017. Thanks to the generous support of the Duquesne community,
the United Way campaign total topped out at $117,387. The United
Way described Duquesne’s campaign as one that was “widely inclusive,
reaching just about everyone in the University community.”
www.duq.edu 11Biden, Former Steelers Honor
Dan Rooney at University Event
By Ken Walters
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden delivered the
keynote address at Slainte! Celebrating the Life and Legacy
of Dan Rooney, a daylong symposium honoring the life of
former Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman and U.S. Ambassador
to Ireland Dan Rooney. A Duquesne alumnus, Rooney died
last year at the age of 84.
“He’d always look you in the eye, shake your hand
and he’d say thank you,” Biden said of Rooney. “It didn’t
matter whether you were his star quarterback or one of
his fellow North Siders passing on the street. This is a guy
who stood in line to get his own hot dog at halftime even
though he owned the whole damn team.”
Duquesne University President Ken Gormley delivered
the symposium’s opening remarks and later introduced
Biden to the crowd of 700 people in the Union Ballroom at
the March symposium.
“Dan Rooney was one of my own personal heroes,” 1
Gormley told the audience, adding that Rooney and his
wife, Patricia, attended his inauguration as Duquesne’s
13th president. “His presence [at the inauguration]
underscored the magnitude of the position I was accepting,
but most of all, it was so touching to me because it
reflected his own deep love and respect for his alma mater,
Duquesne University.”
“This is a guy who stood in
line to get his own hot dog at
halftime even though he owned
2
the whole damn team.”
The symposium explored Rooney’s impact on 3
Pittsburgh, Ireland, the Catholic Church and the National
Football League, and included panel discussions focused
on various aspects of his career.
Event moderators and panelists included Pittsburgh
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin; NFL Today Analyst and
former Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher; former CIA and
NSA Director General Michael V. Hayden; Worldwide
Ireland Funds President and CEO Kieran McLoughlin; NFL
Vice President Jeff Pash; and former Steelers players Charlie 4
Batch, Franco Harris, Mike Wagner and Rocky Bleier.
The symposium was hosted by Duquesne and The
Ireland Funds, which was co-founded by Rooney. 5
To learn more, visit duq.edu/rooneysymposium
to watch a video produced by recent Duquesne
graduate Sydney Bauer, A'18.
12 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '181. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
delivered the keynote address at the
8 Rooney Symposium.
2. Former Pittsburgh Steelers Charlie
Batch, Franco Harris and Mike
Wagner reminisced about Dan
Rooney’s leadership and compassion
during a panel discussion.
3. NFL executive Jeff Pash participated
in a panel discussion about Rooney’s
influence on the NFL.
6 7 9
4. NFL Today Analyst and former
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach
Bill Cowher delivered the closing
remarks at the Rooney Symposium.
5. More than 700 people packed the
Union Ballroom at the event honoring
Dan Rooney.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers President Art
Rooney II made remarks during the
event.
7. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
took the stage with Patricia Rooney,
10 11 wife of the late Dan Rooney, at the
symposium.
8. Duquesne alumnus General Michael
Hayden, former NSA and CIA
director, spoke of Dan Rooney’s
legacy.
9. Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette moderated the former
players panel.
10. Paul Hennigan, president of Point
Park University; Jack McGinley, chair
12 13 of Duquesne’s Board of Directors;
and President Ken Gormley are
shown at the symposium.
11. Dan Rooney’s son Jim Rooney,
The Ireland Funds Gala ESPN commentator and Duquesne
alumnus John Clayton, University
Dan Rooney was also honored of Pittsburgh professor Rob Ruck
in March at The Ireland Funds and Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach
Gala at Heinz Field, where Mike Tomlin participated in a panel
Duquesne University President discussion about Dan Rooney’s
Ken Gormley moderated impact on the NFL.
a panel of distinguished
speakers. The panel included 12. The symposium included a
former Pittsburgh Steelers discussion on Dan Rooney’s
Head Coach Bill Cowher, NFL commitment to his faith, family and
Commissioner Roger Goodell, the region.
and former Chairman and CEO
of PNC Financial Services 13. A panel discussion on Dan Rooney’s
Group Jim Rohr. work as the U.S. ambassador to
Ireland was part of the symposium.
Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers/Karl Roser
www.duq.edu 13DU Receives Irish History, “We’re incredibly honored to
have received this significant
collection of works on Irish
Literature Collection from history and literature from
the late Dan Rooney,” says
the Late Dan Rooney President Ken Gormley. “Dan
Rooney was a man of great
Gumberg Library has been awarded an impressive compassion and integrity who
collection of volumes on Irish history and literature from the was known for his deep love of
family of late alumnus Daniel M. Rooney, the former U.S. Pittsburgh and Ireland. Through
ambassador to Ireland and Pittsburgh Steelers chairman. this very generous gift, future
The Ambassador Daniel M. Rooney Irish History and generations of faculty, students
Literature Collection comprises 438 volumes dating from and scholars at Duquesne
the early 1800s to the present, including The Trembling of University will benefit from
the Veil (1922 edition) and Poems (1923 edition) signed by Ambassador Rooney’s lifetime devotion to literature, learning
Nobel Prize-winning author William Butler Yeats. Rooney and love for the communities that were dear to him.”
acquired a wide array of books on history, poetry, literature, Rooney, a 1955 graduate of the Palumbo-Donahue School
archaeology and folklore from 2009 to 2012, when he served of Business, was an active alumnus and longtime friend of the
as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland. University.
“As a whole, the collection represents a strong survey of the
culture of Ireland,” says University Librarian Dr. Sara Baron.
“Through this very generous “It is especially fitting that it has found its home at Duquesne
because of the long history of Irish Spiritan involvement at
gift, future generations...will the University.”
Duquesne English Chair and Professor Dr. Greg Barnhisel
benefit from Ambassador says the materials in the Rooney collection will help expand
the scope of classes in Irish literature.
Rooney’s lifetime devotion to “The collection also will bolster the strong links that
already exist between Duquesne and Irish universities,
literature, learning and love such as the National University of Ireland in Galway and
University College Dublin,” says Barnhisel. “The English
for the communities that department is very grateful to the Rooney family for its
donation of this incredible collection to Gumberg Library.”
were dear to him.”
New Provost Dr. David Dausey began serving as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs on
July 1. Prior to joining Duquesne, Dausey served as provost and executive vice president
of Mercyhurst University. He was also a distinguished professor of health policy and
Gets to Work management at Carnegie Mellon University. “I’m excited by the opportunities to build an
even stronger University that continues to provide students with a world-class education,
allows Duquesne’s talented faculty to further their educational and research pursuits, and
continues to have a significant impact on both the region and the world,” says Dausey.
14 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18Two New Duquesne Trauma Programs
Help Violence-Torn Communities
By Ken Walters
When violence strikes a neighborhood, first responders
make it to the scene to help the victims and stabilize the area.
But who’s left to pick up the pieces once they’re gone?
Through two new programs, Duquesne University
professors and students are helping communities find the
answers.
In June, the University hosted the first summer institute
on Trauma Informed Community Development (TICD),
a program developed by Duquesne and University
partners that may become the national model for helping
neighborhoods recover from trauma caused by violence.
And earlier this year, a Duquesne-led team unveiled the
Community Trauma and Resilience Care Tool Kit, a training Duquesne University created a training program to assist
after-school staffers working with children who have
workshop for the staff of after-school programs, which are
suffered trauma due to violence in their communities.
at the frontline when it comes to working with children who
have experienced trauma.
TICD has gained attention from community agencies across
the country that are looking for ways to help violence-torn day and then describe how they felt about those places.
areas recover from tragedy. “It was eye-opening,” says Simms, the Adrian van Kaam
Some of the main components of TICD are developing professor of psychology at Duquesne. “They were mostly
a dialogue among residents, educating communities on African-American children. The way they talked about
protective and risk factors, and creating solutions to violence school, their neighborhoods, their homes and experiences—
in neighborhoods. it was obvious that many had witnessed violence in their
“One of the goals is to create a space where residents can neighborhoods and schools, and experienced loss and grief.
talk about trauma,” says Dr. Lisa Lopez Levers, professor of But they also expressed great affection for their homes and
counselor education and supervision at Duquesne’s School of community.”
Education. “What does the trauma caused by drugs, gangs, That project led to the creation of the Community Trauma
sex assault and other crimes do to the community, and, more and Resilience Care Tool Kit, a training that serves as a
importantly, what can be done about it?” playbook to help after-school staffers when they encounter
Levers and Dr. Matt Walsh, assistant director/community situations related to trauma. Community partners Lillian
engagement coordinator for the University’s Counseling Grate from Neighborhood Allies, Richard Bigelow from
Services, have been working with residents in Pittsburgh’s UrbanKind Institute, Julius Boatwright and Robert Ware from
Hill District neighborhood to help address such issues. Steel Smiling, Dr. Jessie Goicoechea from Duquesne’s Rita
Joining forces with the non-profit group FOCUS Pittsburgh McGinley Psychology Clinic, and Duquesne and Point Park
and various community stakeholders, Levers and Walsh University psychology graduate students played an essential
developed a set of recommendations for the Hill District, role in developing the materials and assisting in training staff.
which led to the development of the TICD model. Processing traumatic events is especially difficult for
The strategy includes training and deploying Behavioral children and adolescents, says Simms, and they need adults
Health Community Organizers, creating school and youth who understand the effects of trauma on children.
programs, and developing block interventions. Training community staffers provides children with help
“The model works to destigmatize behavioral health, they need without the formality of seeing a therapist, she
build resilience and encourage residents to seek help in says. The program builds on the strength and resilience of
various ways,” says Walsh. “Whether it’s through block neighborhood organizations buoyed by the expertise and
captains, trained peers in the community or access to knowledge of community partners. Simms says the training
behavioral health and primary care professionals, the goal is an example of what can happen at the intersection of
is to educate and create pathways to access for residents to communities and universities.
build a stronger community.” “How can the knowledge we have, as a university, be
communicated so people in the neighborhood can use it?
DESPITE VIOLENCE, CHILDREN EXPRESS AFFECTION How can we learn from the community and help find small
FOR COMMUNITIES solutions to very complex problems? How can we use our
In a nearby neighborhood, Dr. Eva Simms was addressing knowledge for good? This is an example of what can happen
trauma through the eyes of kids. Providing children ages 7-16 when the community and University work together,” she
with cameras, she and her team of graduate students asked says. “And the students are at the heart of it. They are using
them to take pictures of the public places they visited each their knowledge for good.”
www.duq.edu 15DU Students Bring
Voices to Life Through
Oral History By Christine Gipko, A’03, GA’06
Duquesne’s public history graduate students are using
History has long College Hall’s new grant-funded Digital History Lab to
focused on prominent capture the stories and voices that history lessons often omit.
Under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Taylor, assistant
figures, but sometimes professor of public history, master’s degree students are
the people who are not collecting oral histories and creating documentary projects,
often in collaboration with community partners, other
well known have the campus departments and the University Archives. In the
most to say. process, they are gaining experience and garnering national
attention from experts in the oral history field.
While verbally sharing stories is not new, oral history
emerged as a field alongside social history in the 1960s and
'70s. Oral history was a natural fit for social history’s focus on
everyday people and together they had a democratizing effect
on history at large.
Taylor points to the Works Progress Administration’s
Slave Narrative Collection, produced during the New Deal,
as one of the most important oral history projects in the
United States to date.
“Historians have a wealth of information about the period
of slavery, Reconstruction, the Great Migration and Jim Crow
because of those interviews. Sure, interviews are conducted
with famous people or vital leaders all the time, but more
often than not, oral histories are being conducted in local
communities and with rank-and-file members of historically
16 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18significant events,” says Taylor. “Those
are the stories that might get lost in “...we are positioning ourselves as the
administrative files or sit in an archive,
yet they are preserved because of oral place in the mid-Atlantic. If you want to
history.”
This spring, Taylor’s students used learn oral history, come to Duquesne and
the Digital History Lab’s sophisticated
equipment to preserve voices on earn your master’s degree with us.”
campus. While interviewing Duquesne
alumni for The Third Alternative
documentary project, which knits source of wisdom,” recalls Stoner, who Association, and his post sparked a
archival photos with stories of former recognized that same guidance and positive discussion about the need for
Dukes who helped to raise funds to save kindness in his own professors. “The accessibility in the field.
the University from a financial crisis classics department became like a family “The oral history field may not be
in 1970, the students discovered they to me during my undergrad years. entirely accessible,” says Stoner. “But
shared more than just an alma mater. Dr. (Sarah) Miller and Dr. (Stephen) by raising awareness, scholars can
Despite nearly 50 years separating Newmyer influenced me to pursue a eventually develop appropriate pieces of
their times on the Bluff, students degree in public history. Without their technology to allow disabled historians
heard their own experiences in the guidance and kindness, I would not to contribute.”
interviewees’ stories. have entered the program.” For Taylor, the interest in Stoner’s
The students also took their The experience and the students’ work
TO LISTEN TO THE THIRD Third Alternative project to Washington, overall is a sign of exciting things to
ALTERNATIVE ORAL HISTORY D.C., for the Oral History in the Mid- come—for the field, for the students
PROJECT, VISIT Atlantic Region conference, where they and for Duquesne.
www.duq.edu/third-alternative presented about the process of making a “Accessibility is such an important
documentary and challenges they faced. issue, and software developers
One of those challenges was have already reached out to Grant
When student Grant Stoner accessibility. Stoner tried using assistive for feedback,” explains Taylor,
interviewed Terry Hartnett, editor of technology to complete transcriptions who attributes her students’ new
The Duquesne Duke in 1970, he quickly for The Third Alternative project opportunities to their dedication, hard
connected to her nostalgic affection for because he does not have use of his work in the lab and support from
the Reverend Henry McAnulty, C.S.Sp., hands to type. Unfortunately, no Duquesne.
Duquesne’s ninth president and one of existing tools met Stoner’s needs, and “And we are positioning ourselves as
the University’s most beloved leaders. this made it impossible for him to the place in the mid-Atlantic. If you want
“She remembered Fr. McAnulty transcribe his interviews. to learn oral history, come to Duquesne
working with students, providing Stoner also shared his experience and earn your master’s degree with us.
emotional support and acting as a in a guest blog for the Oral History We’ll teach you how to do it.”
DU'S ORAL HISTORY INITIATIVE TIMELINE
JANUARY 2014 FALL 2018
Duquesne’s first formal oral Gumberg Library unveils new exhibit
JULY 2017 APRIL 2018
history, the Spiritan Oral based on Veterans' Oral History
Duquesne formally DeFries and public history students
History Project, begins Project. Thanks to generous funding
establishes the Oral help to create an intergenerational
preserving the history of the from the Daughters of the American
History Initiative. storytelling project at a Pittsburgh
Spiritan priests on campus. Revolution, this exhibit shares the
middle school. Public history students
also volunteer with South Side Voices, history of Duquesne’s veterans.
a collaborative effort to capture
the history of one of Pittsburgh’s
neighborhoods.
FALL 2018
JULY 2016 The collaboration between Duquesne’s
University oral historian Megan University Archives and public history
DeFries launches the Veterans' Oral FALL 2017 program is focus of panel presentation
History Project to capture stories of The Digital History Lab, funded by the by DeFries, Taylor, and students Anna
Duquesne’s veteran alumni. Wimmer Family Foundation and history Samuels and Grant Stoner at the
department, opens in College Hall. Oral History Association’s national
conference in Montreal.
www.duq.edu 17In addition to using the Digital
History Lab to complete coursework,
Like books and TELLING THE STORY
OF DUQUESNE
students are taking their oral history
training into the community. This
articles, oral histories
Over the course of 140 years,
spring, Taylor’s students gave their
time and skills to the South Side Voices
are a valuable primary Duquesne University has played a role
in countless personal journeys. From
project, a collaborative effort by several source for students. the Spiritans and those they serve, to
local organizations to commemorate students and faculty, to communities
East Carson Street’s 25th anniversary as in Pittsburgh and around the globe,
a historic district. innumerable voices have a Duquesne
“I think that’s what makes our story to tell.
graduate students so remarkable,” ‘Digital History Lab.’ I think we see it as
says Taylor. “This wasn’t for a grade. something much bigger than just an oral The University’s Oral History Initiative,
They were motivated by their love history lab,” says Taylor, who identifies based in the University Archives, is
of oral history and a chance to build interdisciplinary collaboration as one of helping to make sure those voices and
their experience and give back to the the lab’s best uses. stories aren’t lost.
community.” Taylor, along with Gumberg Library
Graduate student Anna Samuels was and the University Archives’ staff, is Led by Megan DeFries, Duquesne’s oral
among the group who volunteered eager to give all students a chance to historian, and Tom White, Gumberg
to help collect stories about the use oral history in their studies and Library’s archivist and curator of special
neighborhood’s historic buildings. The research. Soon the public will be able collections, the Oral History Initiative
experience taught her that sometimes to listen to the oral histories collected is focused on collecting, curating and
the people who are most reluctant to for various projects through Gumberg’s facilitating oral histories linked to the
speak are the most important to hear. website. Like books and articles, oral Duquesne community and beyond.
“Physical landmarks may be histories are a valuable primary source
traceable through the narratives, but “Our goal is to conduct oral
for students.
each narrator’s experience is going to history projects and provide
With the University’s Strategic
be a little bit different,” says Samuels. training workshops to encourage
Plan focusing on making Duquesne a
“Sometimes narrators will apologize interdisciplinary projects and
flagship for community engagement,
for their bad memories or minimize the community collaboration,” says DeFries.
Taylor thinks this is the ideal time
importance of their stories. My favorite for public history to flourish on and The Oral History Initiative is closely
is when someone tells me, ‘Oh, I don’t around campus. linked to the Spiritans, who were the
have any stories,’ and then talks for 30 “What’s really exciting about our subject of DeFries’ first University oral
minutes about a favorite memory. That’s public history program and the Digital history project in 2014. But as White
why the practice of oral history is a History Lab right now is that they’re notes, the connection doesn’t end
powerful tool. It gives people the chance organically meeting the greater mission there. The Spiritan tradition of reaching
to share their stories and hands the and this new vision for the University. people who live on society’s margins is
microphone to those whose voices often As the lab grows, we can do bigger at the very core of oral history.
haven’t been amplified.” projects. We can move into new areas.
The new Digital History Lab, which And we’re going to see even more “What oral history does is capture
is supported by funding from the student community engagement and the stories of people who often aren’t
Wimmer Family Foundation and the success,” says Taylor. recorded in regular history,” explains
history department, houses everything White. “As an archivist, I deal with
students need to do a complete oral the paper—what people traditionally
history project: desktop computers think of as history. But oral history
equipped for transcription and video captures the stories of people who fall
editing; portable oral history stations; through the cracks. It fills in gaps in the
professional cameras for still images and VETERANS’ ORAL historical record. It tells their stories
video recording; a three-point lighting HISTORY EXHIBIT in their own words, so their voices are
system; and a dedicated interview finally heard.”
area. Taylor sees great potential for the A special exhibit, which will feature
lab’s growth and is careful to select the history and stories of veteran
equipment that supports a broad range alumni who participated in the
of interdisciplinary projects. Duquesne Veterans’ Oral History
“I’d love to see our program moving Project, will be open Nov. 1-30
into doing exhibit film and mini on the fourth floor of Gumberg
documentaries, so I’m building that Library. A “story share” event will
up alongside the oral history. That’s be held from 4-6 p.m. on Nov. 7.
why, when you see the door, it says
18 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Fall '18New Collaboration Between
Schools Merges Music and
Nursing Disciplines
By Tracy Jackson
Noah Potvin never According to the American Music Therapy
intended to play music Association, music therapy can help to
as a career. In fact, as relieve pain and reduce stress and anxiety for
According to the a child, he wanted to patients, resulting in physiological changes,
American Music be an airplane pilot. including improved respiration, lower blood
Therapy Association, Potvin’s ninth grade pressure, improved cardiac output, reduced
music therapy can instructor encouraged heart rate and relaxed muscle tension.
help to relieve pain him to audition for Potvin’s position involves teaching
and reduce stress the orchestra—Potvin 12 credits each semester shared across
made the cut, both colleges—nine credits in music
and anxiety for
and his world changed forever. and three in the School of Nursing.
patients, resulting
By the time he entered the Boston “Interdisciplinary research and study
in physiological Conservatory, Potvin was an aspiring flutist are essential components of preparing
changes, including and knew that he wanted to pursue a musical today's students for their future careers,”
improved respiration, career, but wasn’t quite sure what type. Potvin says Music Dean Dr. Seth Beckman. “We
lower blood took a special education music class taught are delighted to partner with the School
pressure, improved by a music therapist that became, he says, of Nursing, and we are excited that Dr.
cardiac output, a “true ‘lightbulb over the head’ moment.” Potvin has joined our outstanding school
reduced heart rate All of a sudden, he realized that he wanted faculties in this joint appointment.”
and relaxed to make music with people and not at them, Over the past year, Potvin has worked
muscle tension. and decided to pursue music therapy. to understand the nursing curriculum
Potvin, now a board-certified music therapist and learning requirements of students
with expertise in end-of-life care settings, is and what he can add to the program.
leading a collaboration between the Mary “I’ve worked with nurses my entire career,
Pappert School of Music and the School of but I’ve never been a part of their training
Nursing that merges the two disciplines. programs. It’s great to see and be involved
in how the whole process works,” he says.
“Music has been shown Potvin’s immediate goal as a music therapy
researcher is to develop clinical models and
to improve health protocols for music therapists working in
end-of-life care settings. Next spring, he will
outcomes among several begin teaching a music and nursing elective
that will explore how the intersections of
patient populations ...” music and culture can inform uses of music
across various health care professions.
“Music has been shown to improve health “In my guest lectures to nursing students, I
outcomes among several patient populations, talk a great deal about music and culture, and the
including premature infants, individuals different types of music,” says Potvin. “If a patient
with cancer and older adults in the ICU,” comes from a different cultural background
says Dr. Mary Ellen Glasgow, School of and is not used to our Western tonal system of
Nursing dean and professor. “It makes music, that music is not going to connect with
perfect sense to create a joint faculty position the patient. It’s important to understand your
combining medical music therapy and nursing patient’s personal relationship with music so
where faculty members can collaborate that you can truly use it as a medium.”
and study the effect of music on health.”
www.duq.edu 19You can also read
