ac spring 2015 magazine

MagazineAssumptionAssumptionAssumption College Magazine • Volume 13, Number 1 • Spring 2015

Rome campus named Top 10

Professor Weiner bringsWashington to WorcesterPLUS Swim team wins

2nd championship

Tomorrow’ssporT Business Leaders

from The presidenT

recent report released by the Association of AmericanColleges & Universities confirmed what those of us teachingand working at liberal arts institutions have collectivelyfound to be eminently true. The study found that 91 percent

of surveyed employers believe that “a (job) candidate’s demonstratedcapacity to think critically, communicate clearly and solve complexproblems is more important than his or her undergraduate major.” Put simply, the world values—and relies upon—people who not only possess relevant skills but also a unique, informed and broad perspective, and who can apply it to the world around them.

The liberal arts have always been committed to this goal. Morethan a myopic checklist of courses it instead offers a path throughwhich students can seek to better explore and understand the worldaround them and the many different viewpoints and aspects that makethat world possible. Liberal arts students are not taught what to think;they are encouraged to discover “how” to think and how to share theirinsights. These virtues cannot be passed along in a vacuum of textbookchapters and charts of statistics and figures; they require introspectionand conversation.

At its heart, and at its best, Assumption College is a place that valuesthis conversation and seeks to further it. In 1904, the Augustinians of the Assumption, inspired by the teachings of their founder, theVenerable Emmanuel d’Alzon, built an institution devoted to the richCatholic intellectual tradition, which in itself rests on a dialoguebetween faith and culture. Following in the footsteps of their founder,they saw the immense and lasting value of an education built upon illuminating dialogue—between faith and reason, between science and art, and between knowledge and ethics. They made this the cornerstone of a college devoted to forming thoughtful, confident and principled graduates of good character, reflective of Fr. d’Alzon’sconviction that “by this great and magnificent work of education, werefashion the being of our students.”

“The conversation” depends on knowledgeable faculty versed in their fields and eager to share their accumulated wisdom, but it doesnot end with a simple recitation of examples and lessons. PoliticalScience Professor Gregory Weiner brings his impressive experience and credentials gained through faithful service in Washington, DC, toa new generation. However, in the tradition of Aristotle, he also seeksto make his students consider what they have learned as they formulatetheir understanding on matters of policy, ethics and philosophy thatimpact society today. Professor Weiner exemplifies the Assumption faculty’s role as guides and mentors who bring out the best in their students, helping them discover who they are and what they believe in.

Programs like the College’s new Sport Business and Leadershiptrack build on this foundation by immersing students in the widerworld through experiential learning and meaningful internships.Through the program, they find and excel in positions where they can contribute in a worthwhile and substantial capacity while gaining a more nuanced understanding of their career path as well as the challenges—and potential triumphs—ahead of them. They give back to their sponsors and, having already met their careers head-on, they

know what it takes to succeed at them, and how to do so within an ethical framework as conscientious, dynamic and compassionate citizens.

As guides and mentors, it is vitally important to remember thatconversation is built upon a two-way exchange, otherwise one findsthat they are merely delivering empty speeches and not truly engagingwith others. Our students have much of value to share with us and areseldom shy about expressing it. Fifty years ago the College’s studentnewspaper Le Provocateur brought a new perspective to Assumption’sconversation. Founded on the idea that every student has something tosay, the Provoc has become an important fixture of campus life, and hashelped to shape it.

From the paper’s first editor, Fr. Richard Ryscavage ’67, to thecurrent chief, senior Pablo Sierra-Carmona, hundreds of students whohave served as reporters, editors and photographers have shared theirviews on campus and national issues, politics, art and media. Throughtheir dedicated efforts they have all honed their commitment to truth,learned technique and discipline and—just as importantly—foundtheir own voice.

Here at Assumption, helping students find that voice is important.We know that “the conversation” is actually many conversations, inwhich Fr. d’Alzon himself engaged as he sought to reform a society inneed of a new direction. This conversation revolves around three basicquestions at the heart of a Catholic liberal arts education—who am I,how should I live my life and how can I contribute to society for thesake of the common good? The answer to these questions serves as thecatalyst for a conversation that, at times, leads to a critique of the “val-ues” of our contemporary secularist culture, which does not concludefor our students when they graduate and leave 500 Salisbury Street.Like any good conversation, it will continue and engage more voicesand viewpoints throughout their lives.

And it is that conversation, grounded in a set of transcendent values, and their willingness to engage in it, that will make Assumption students successful—and makes us proud to be a part of it.

Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D.President

Learning how to think throughongoing conversation

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Assumption College Magazine Spring 2015 1

Assumption College Magazine • Volume 13, Number 1 www.assumption.edu/magazine

features4 rome campus named Top 10 study abroad program6 memorable send immersion trip to equador

10 professor Greg weiner brings d.c. experience to campus 14 preparing tomorrow’s sport business leaders18 Le Provocateur turns 5023 swim team captures 2nd straight northeast -10 championship

We encourage your feedback. Please address your letters, class notes and story ideas to:Assumption College Magazine500 Salisbury StreetWorcester, MA 01609-1296e-mail: [email protected]––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Assumption College MagazineAssumption College ISSN 1089-3903Spring 2015

Executive Director of CommunicationsMichael K. Guilfoyle

EditorTroy Watkins

Contributing WritersFr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A. ’69Stephen KostrzewaLorraine U. Martinelle G’14Molly Sweeney ’16

Art Direction/DesignCenturia Inc., Boston, MA

PrintingThe Lane Press, Burlington, VT

Assumption College Magazine is published threetimes a year (spring, summer, fall) by the office of Communications, Assumption College, 500Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1296.Tel.: 508-767-7175. Printed in the U.S.A.,Assumption College Magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty, staff, administra-tion and parents of undergraduate students.

Visit us online at: www.assumption.edu/magazine

ON THE COVER:Sport Business and Leadership students DanielleDriscoll ’14, Christiana Barela, Taylor King ’15, and Alex Marshall ’14 tour U.S. Cellular Field,home of the Chicago White Sox, during aDecember immersion experience.

@ACMagazine

departments2 editor’s page4 campus news

22 hounds watch24 alumni news27 class notes32 in memoriam6

contents spring 2015

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already know who you are,” said the director of alumni relations, whom I was meeting for the first time as a sophomore in college. “You’re famous.”

After studying my puzzled response, she said that she was familiar with me because I was a reporter for our student-runnewspaper. Although “famous” was a bit exaggerated, it was then that Irealized the proverbial “power of the press.”

Two years later I served as editor-in-chief of the paper, a biweeklypublication, similar to Assumption’s Le Provocateur. Because of thisbackground I have a special respect for the Provoc’s first editor, Fr.Richard Ryscavage, S.J. ’67, and all that he accomplished. I hope youtake the time to read in this issue about Fr. Rick and the rich history of this publication, which has a fresh new design and focus.

The “Provoc” is one of many extracurricular activities in whichstudents participate, contribute, learn and gain valuable experience tohelp them along their path of self-discovery. Taking advantage of

opportunities like the Provoc, SEND trips,a semester in Rome (each of which is high-lighted in this issue) are an important partof learning valuable lessons outside theclassroom and assuring the well-roundedexperience afforded at a liberal arts college.In addition to the information shared

in this and each issue of AssumptionMagazine, you are welcome to follow us on our new Twitter account,@ACMagazine, where we share interesting info about the College andits many accomplished alumni, students, faculty and staff in betweeneach publication.

As always, best wishes,

“IFeeling the power

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Congratulations on Magazine improvementsCongratulations on the recent issue of Assumption Magazine. Itwas a vast improvement over earlier issues, in the more attractiveformat and with more informative articles about faculty and students, their interests and contributions to enhancing the College’sreputation as an academic institution. The magazine is a veryimportant contribution to informed discourse about the Collegefor a wide audience, including many alumni and retired faculty.–Michael True, Ph.D., emeritus professor of English

Alumni teachers a tribute to EducationDepartmentThank you for publishing the article about AMSA and those beautiful Assumption girls teaching at this wonderful school.My husband and I are so pleased and have framed the picture of the eight teachers. Bethany is having a great experience atAMSA. Clearly she was well prepared by Assumption andits excellent education department. AMSA is also lucky to have such a great source of staff from Assumption. I hope itsrelationship continues.–Elaine Bartolini P’13

Catholic Best-SellerWe have learned in the past months that our previous book,Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters: Placing Them in the Heart of God, has become a Catholic Best-Seller. SurelyAssumption Magazine helped to play a part in that. Thank you for highlighting it in the winter 2013 issue.–John G’76 & Therese Boucher G’83

Please submit your letter to [email protected]

Letters to the editor


Trending Keep up with the College, Alumni Relations, and AC Magazine online!

We’re proud to share that Assumption alumna (and sociology andEnglish/writing double major) Hannah Brencher ’10, was featured on arecent episode of The Meredith Vieira Show -- and her memoir, “If You FindThis Love Letter,” was published this month and is available for purchaseon Amazon. Check out her inspiring interview with Meredith, below, and joinus in congratulating Hannah on her achievements! Go Hounds!

Love Letter Surprise!Hannah Brencher, author of “If You Find This Letter,” has been writing love letters tostrangers in New York City for years, and leaving them in unexpected places. Shenever dreamed that she would one day come face-to-face with a letter recipient,…

MEREDITHVIEIRASHOW.COM

Alana Mitchell Wow, this really moved me! Hannah, you are a gift to theworld. Thank you. So proud to be an AC alum!

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“Graduated undergrad in 2010 and master’s in2013 and it was the bestchoice I ever made!”

In response to:5 reasons to apply by 2/15

—Emily Pegoraro’10, G’13

“It is so awesome that these students give up their Spring break to serve others.”

In response to:Assumption students spend spring break in East Coast cities serving people in need

—Rick Gibbons P’18(father of Alexis ’18)

“AWESOME day with Cubs President Theo Epstein.Having class at the ball fieldhas been incredible.”

In response to:Today our #ECTMBAsport students will attend Chicago Cubs SpringTraining.

—Christiana BarelaECT MBA student

“In a blink of an eye!Almost there Cam!”

In response to:Today marks 100 days untilCommencement for Assumption’sClass of 2015!

—Ana Fernandez de Garrant P’15(mother of Cameron ’15)


campus newsAssumption’s Rome campus has been namedone of the 10 “best study abroad programs inAmerica” by the independent college rankings journal Best College Reviews.

Calling it one of “the most desirable studyabroad opportunities” in the United States,Best College Reviews noted that Assumption’sRome campus was “unique” to the Collegeand “provides students a personal experience.”

“It is an honor to have Assumption’sRome campus nationally recognized as one ofthe best study abroad programs in the UnitedStates in only its second year of operation,”said President Francesco Cesareo, Ph.D. “Our students experience Rome and all of

Italy as part of a learning community—living,studying and traveling together, enjoying atransformative adventure as they grow bothpersonally and intellectually. They can standwhere the classical liberal arts tradition wasborn and influenced the development ofWestern Civilization.”

Located in a residential neighborhoodwhere students are immersed in the Italian culture, the program is open to sophomores,juniors and seniors. Staffed by Assumptionfaculty, the campus—which is walking distance to St. Peter’s Basilica and other historical sites in the heart of Rome—offersunique courses that take full advantage of all

that the city has to offer.Students are immersed in their studies by

internationally experienced faculty membersand travel excursions to sites and cities such asPompeii and Florence. Housing includes bothclassrooms and living accommodations, wherestudents enjoy family-style meals in an elegantdining room prepared by an authentic Italianchef, who is beloved by the students.

Students enjoy a transformative experienceduring their semester at Assumption’s campusin Rome. For them, the program is more thansimply “studying abroad”—it’s also about fullyembracing a new place, its culture and its history.

“The out-of-classroom component of theRome campus allowed us to learn in a wholenew way,” said senior Tracy Baldelli, who studied there in 2013. “I would recommendthis program to other students, because it isextremely unique. The fact that our own professors are teaching the courses, coupledwith the community aspect, is a great featureof the program. You become a family, just asyou do on the Worcester campus.

Gwen Sawyer, a sophomore who studiedin fall 2014 at the Rome campus, said shefound the experience to be “invigorating.”

“Many of our classes were on site—meaning, when we studied a piece of art wewere there in person looking at the actual work,instead of just reading about it in a textbook,”Sawyer said. “The full Rome campus experi-ence cannot be duplicated in just a classroomor on a vacation. Living with the Italian people and understanding their culture requirestime and experience. In the four months we werethere, we met people from all over the worldand lived in one of the most historic places onearth. By the end of the semester, we were notjust tourists; we felt like we were part of thecity. When you live in that kind of stimulatingenvironment, your education means more.”

For more info, visit www.assumption.edu/rome.

Top 10! Rome campus named among the best studyabroad programs

assumption students in rome for the spring semester visited porta del popolo in march with professor of french elisabeth howe, ph.d. it is almost the same site as the ancient porta flaminia, one of the mostimportant entrances to rome. The outer face of the gate was designed by michelangelo (1561), the inner face was redesigned in honor of Queen christina of sweden by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1655).


ajor General Robert Catalanotti(Ret.) ’80, one of the Iraq War’s leading commanding military officials, will deliver the address at

the College’s 98th Commencement exercises onSaturday, May 16, and receive an honorary degreefrom the College. An honorary degree will alsobe conferred upon Terrence W. Macy, Ph.D.’70, former commissioner of the ConnecticutDepartment of Developmental Services.

“Major General Catalanotti was selectedas this year’s Commencement speaker becausehis ability to lead and his service to this countryembody the values of a Catholic liberal artseducation,” said President Francesco Cesareo.“He understands that the aim of such an education is to form virtuous citizens who will become advocates for the common good.He has demonstrated this through his militaryleadership and in his work as an advocate ofthe liberal arts, Catholic identity andAssumption College’s mission.”

As base commander at Camp Taji in Iraq (2004–05), Catalanotti was responsiblefor 15,000 Iraqi soldiers and more than 500coalition soldiers from the United States,Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Poland andEstonia—earning a Bronze Star for his service.Located 20 miles north of Baghdad, Camp

Taji was the largest military base used by coalition forces in Iraq.

Catalanotti retired from the U.S. Army in September 2014 and currently serves aschief operations officer and director of theMilitary Veteran’s Psychology Program at the Massachusetts School of ProfessionalPsychology in Newton.

He previously served as director of exercises for U.S. Central Command, Tampa,FL, (2012–14), where he was responsible forexercises and strategic partnership building inthe Middle East and Central Asia. Prior tothat, he was commanding general of the 98thTraining Division in Rochester, NY, (2006–08),

where he oversaw more than 3,000 drill sergeantsand leaders training the Army’s newest recruitsand as senior advisor to the Saudi ArabiaMinistry of Interior, Riyadh, (2008–12). InJanuary 2008, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in a ceremony held atAssumption and attended by high-rankingU.S. Army officers.

Catalanotti has commanded at everylevel—from platoon through division-levelpositions—and was responsible for over 6,000soldiers and civilian personnel in both activeand reserve organizations. During the IraqWar, he received the Combat Action Badgeand was awarded the U.S. Army DistinguishedService Medal and the Department of StateSuperior Honor Award, two of the highestservice awards presented in peacetime, upon retirement.

A 1980 Assumption alumnus, he holdsmaster’s degrees from Suffolk University andthe U.S. Army War College. He and wifeKaren (Farina) ’78 live in Grafton. They havetwo children, Brigit ’11 and Eric, a U.S. Armycaptain assigned to the 75th Ranger Regimentat Fort Benning, GA.

Dr. Macy, former commissioner of theConnecticut Department of DevelopmentalServices (DDS), will receive an honorary degreefor his outstanding contributions to the fieldof intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A 1970 graduate of Assumption, Dr.Macy was appointed DDS commissioner in2011. In this role, he oversaw the $1.1 billionstate agency, which serves 19,000 individualswith intellectual disabilities and their families,including 4,000 infants and toddlers.

Dr. Macy has worked in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities for 40 years, serving in both the public andprivate sector. He began his career working in Connecticut in various positions at theDDS Hartford Regional Center. Followingthat he worked in state regional systems inOhio, where he was instrumental in developingresponsive methods for supporting individualstransitioning back to their communities frominstitutional settings. During this period, healso worked on transition issues at The OhioState University.

Dr. Macy received a BA in psychologyfrom Assumption and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in developmental disabilities (developmental psychology) from The Ohio State University.

Major General Robert Catalanotti ’80named Commencement speakerTerrence Macy, Ph.D. ’70 to receive honorary degree

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major General robertcatalanotti (ret.) ’80

Terrence w. macy, ph.d. ’70


campus news

“To be with, not to do for.”These were the words that 13 members of

the Assumption College community lived bywhen they traveled to Mount Sinai, a commu-nity in Guayaquil, Ecuador during winterbreak as part of the College’s SEND immersionprogram. Led by James Lang, Ph.D., professorof English and the director of the Center forTeaching Excellence at Assumption, the 12students, including several student athletes andstudent leaders, lived in solidarity with those inneed, and learned about the importance offaith, love and kindness.

After arriving in Ecuador, the group meteight volunteers from the Rostro de CristoFoundation, an organization that funds twohouses in Guayaquil—one in Mount Sinai andthe second in Arbolito—and runs yearlongvolunteer programs.

Throughout the week in Ecuador, theAssumption group traveled to the differentworksites at which the Mount Sinai volunteerswork during their year of service, including aCatholic school, a women’s shelter, an after-school program and Hogar de Cristo, anorganization that provides housing assistance

among other programs.At each site the students worked hard to

make whatever difference they could. “Idecided to spend my winter break servingothers because I have a strong desire to see andbe involved in the improvement of mankind,”said senior Myra Zhinin, a chemistry majorfrom Westchester, NY. “Although my contri-bution may be small, I know that any little bithelps and I get great satisfaction knowing I’mbenefiting others with my time and presence.”

When the group wasn’t at the worksitesthey visited the homes of neighbors to talkwith them, hear their stories and witness thestruggles that they face each day. Branded an“invasion community,” there is no runningwater or legal electricity in Mount Sinai. Allelectricity is pirated from a borderingcommunity that is legally recognized by theEcuadorian government.

With no drainage system, the communityfaces significant flooding during the rainyseason, which was just beginning at the time ofAssumption’s visit. When flooding occurs, thecane homes are flooded or washed away; lastyear many children died as a result.

Foreignservicesend trip toecuador immerses students in the lives of theless fortunateBy molly sweeney ’16

prof. Jim Lang and 12 assumption students visit with a women’sgroup, sponsored by hogar de christo, in mount sinai, ecuador.


The people of Mount Sinai do not, how-ever, let these trials change their beliefs; in fact,their struggles only strengthen their faith anddesire to overcome these challenges. Despiteuncertain circumstances in most aspects oftheir lives, the faith of the people of Ecuadorproved to be a constant theme throughout theweek. Nearly everyone the group encountered,whether it was a child or a 93-year-old woman,had a visible relationship with God, regardlessof their faith.

“The trip was a reinvigoration for my rela-tionship with God, and with myself in the sensethat it helped me to never be afraid of jumpingoutside of my comfort zone, because that isthe best way of figuring out who you are andwhat you stand for,” said junior human servicesand rehabilitation studies major Alicia Garamy,of Webster.

While in Ecuador, the Assumption groupalso met with two members of the Assumptionfamily who are completing a year of service:former employee Jesus Torres and ColleenPutzel ’14. The SEND group accompaniedPutzel to her worksite, the Damien House,a hospital for those seeking treatment or recov-

ering from Hansen’s disease, formerly knownas leprosy.

“Seeing Assumption students waswonderful,” said Putzel. “It was great to sharemy worksite and experiences with the groupand feel as though a piece of home had come toEcuador. Every day I am reminded what a bless-ing it is to be here. I am constantly learning andgrowing. I am learning what it means to be afriend, how ‘to be with, not to do for’ and Iam learning about dependency and socialstructures and how to live in community.”

Torres works at an afterschool programthat offers homework help and a safe place forchildren to go at the end of the academic day.While visiting this worksite, Lang and theAssumption students helped with homework,played games, and interacted with the children.

Though not everyone from Assumptionspoke Spanish, they learned that laughterand smiles were just as effective as spokenwords with the children. Out of the 13group members, nine were mostly fluent inSpanish, including Eduardo Rivas, a senioraccounting major, who moved to Worcesterfrom El Salvador.

“I think that being involved in SENDtrips is a great way to have a positive impact inthe community,” he said. “I have been in theU.S. for five years and, as a native Hispanic,I want to give Hispanics a sense of hope that,with hard work, they may come to be great rolemodels for the community.”

Assumption sponsors SEND trips duringboth winter and spring breaks, with tripsranging from Immokalee, FL, to Baltimore,MD, to Tuscaloosa, AL, amongst other loca-tions, though the Ecuador trip is the only onecurrently offered outside the country.

“I highly recommend this trip to othersbecause it is such a heart-warming experienceto be able to do so much for someone by doingwhat seems like so little,” said Garamy. “Thelove, faith, joy and happiness we experiencedon this trip is a true inspiration to live your lifeas simply as the people of Ecuador do.”

That inspiration, for some, can belife changing.

“Assumption was a great starting point forme,” said Putzel. “It made me interested insocial justice, service and forming a relationshipwith God.”

molly sweeney ’16 withher new friend, suri

he goal of education is to guide and support the development of the freedom to make right decisions, which may run counter towidespread opinions, the fashions of the moment, or forms of political and religious ideology.

- Pope Benedict XVI, to the leaders of LebanonThe Nazis did it. So did the Mongols, the Crusaders and the

Khmer Rouge. ISIS, the Islamic State fanatics, have resorted to the age-old practice of burning books. Ransacking the Central Library ofthe ancient city of Mosul and moving on from there to the library atthe University of Mosul, the vandals “made a bonfire out of hundredsof books on science and culture, destroying them in front of students,”the Associated Press reported.

To those invested in keeping alive and carrying on the great tradi-tion of learning, the burning of books is an especially diabolical act. Itstrikes so close to the heart of who we are as educators as to rouse usfrom the “global indifference” recently decried by Pope Francis. Thatthe burning of books should lead to even greater forms of evil is part of the historical record.

Another part of that record is the ultimate futility of book burning.Jeff Jacoby gives the deeply moving account of Chanina ben Teradion, asecond century Jewish sage, killed by the Romans for violating a ban onteaching Torah. “He was wrapped in a scroll from which he had been

teaching and set on fire, with wet wool placed on his chest to prolongthe agony.” Forced to witness this horrible death, his disciples cried out,“Rabbi, what do you see?” He replied, “I see parchment burning, butthe letters are soaring free.”

“The letters are soaring free…” It is easier to destroy bodies, as anynumber of destructive fanatical movements give proof, than to eradicatethe power of ideas and the distinctively human quest for understanding.In the daily rounds of teaching and learning about differential equations,best business practices and cognitive behavioral therapy, the awarenessof what is at stake in the profession of learning may rest below the sur-face. But in a world where books are still being burned, it is our dutynot to forget the hard-won conditions that make possible the freeexchange of ideas as well as the bracing freedom that beckons thosewho give themselves to the adventure of a liberal arts education.

The mission

“The letters are soaring free...”BY FR. DENNIS GALLAGHER, A.A. ’69, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION

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Alumni host business students on tour of New York City companiesnine assumption students, accompanied by professors cary LeBlanc, dan Jones ha’12 and david hoyle, met with alumni and friends of the college innew York city during spring break, where they toured industry and gained valuable career advice. here, the students visited the ABC World News Tonightwith David Muir studio and newsroom. The group also visited max iori ’94 at Jp morgan, Bryan dockett ’91 at disney Theatrical Group, Ken corriveau ’92 at omnicom media Group, ed diTolla p’16 at Jones Lang Lasalle, don morrison ’77 at Bpn, as well as the Bloombergheadquarters and the new York stock exchange trading floor.


The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently awardedAssumption College History Professor Mark Z. Christensen, Ph.D., ahighly competitive federal grant to support his ongoing translation andanalysis of a rare, late 18th century manuscript written in the YucatecMaya language by Christianized Mayas from the town of Teabo.

Professor Christensen’s project, “The Teabo Manuscript: MayaChristian Copybooks, Chilam Balams, and Native Writing in Colonial Yucatan” seeks to better understand how the Maya used both Christian and preexisting beliefs to compose localized versions of Christianity.

Christensen came across the previously unknown, 44-page manu-script Teabo Manuscript in 2012, while looking through the Mayatexts housed at Brigham Young University in Utah. The manuscriptcontains religious texts that blend Christianity with the Mayas ownpre-European contact beliefs and was intended as an educational tool.

The manuscript, Christensen discovered, has several features that associate it with the Maya Books of Chilam Balam, anthologiescontaining histories, mythology, traditions and practical knowledge on subjects such as medicine. It begins with an interpretation of thecreation of the world and follows through to a genealogy of Jesus

Christ. This is accompanied by a discussion of Christ and his secondcoming. The manuscript then discussesways to avoid purgatory, and ends withremedies for curing common ailments.

“This new manuscript contains manyChristian values, but still exemplifiesMaya religious beliefs, stemming fromtheir ancestry,” said Professor Christensen.“It will help historians learn more aboutthe Maya culture and their colonial wayof life.”

Professor Christensen’s analysis compares the manuscript with the nine existing Books of ChilamBalam and the only other translated Maya religious copybook, theMorley Manuscript, and presents new insights into how the Mayasnegotiated their pre-European contact intellectual traditions within a Spanish and Catholic colonial world.

Christensen’s work on the Teabo Manuscript is slated to be pub-lished as a book from the University of Texas Press.

Professor Mark Christensen awarded NEH grant

mark Z. christensen, ph.d.


Merely Players presents Much Ado About Nothingassumption’s merely players theatre group presented william shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in earlydecember in La maison salon. co-directed by patrick o’donnell ’16 and christian flannery ’15, the modern takeon the classic comedy was the first full-length shakespeare play produced by the players. it featured nicoledufresne ’18 and andrea Garry ’15 among a cast and crew of 19 students. assistant professor of english paulshields, ph.d., serves as the group’s advisor.

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reg Weiner, Ph.D., started at the bottom of Capitol Hill onhis first day on the job as a lowly United States Senate mail-room clerk in Washington, D.C., but the tall Texan foundhimself happy. Despite the humbleness of the position, he

was fulfilling his dream of working in politics. Just two weeks prior, hehad been a small-town newspaper reporter for the Williamson CountySun in Georgetown, TX.

Now, he was part of one of the most powerful institutions in theworld—and he wasn’t done yet. “Politics is a business with intenseimperatives for short-term success and harsh punishments for failure,”said Weiner. “If you can prove yourself, you move up quickly.”

He was right—that small-time position would lead to servingthree U. S. senators as a staff assistant, high-level congressional aide, and press secretary—and eventually to becoming a nationally recog-nized expert on the U.S. Constitution, author and assistant professor of political science at Assumption College.

“I came to work in the Senate just in time to witness the last few years of what the institution used to be and, of course, could beagain,” said Weiner, who joined Assumption’s faculty in 2011. He still remembers how he felt the first time he set foot on the Senate floor during a session.

“You’re overwhelmed with a sense of history and—one hopes—the modesty but also responsibility of your small part in events,”remembers Weiner, who served for several years as communications

and policy director to now former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Nebraska.“Something about the atmosphere is exceptionally quiet and dignified.Even when full of people, I would describe the Senate Chamber ashushed.” Senator Kerrey’s first impression of his press secretary was thathe was a good listener with critical capacities to find agreement and todescribe that agreement in clear, concise writing.

“Greg brought strong, well-grounded beliefs to internal debatesabout policy,” Senator Kerrey told Assumption Magazine. “His calm-ness—at least on the surface—enabled others to learn in an environmentof tense, stressful moments when decisions often had to be made without the benefit of lengthy reflection, and where choices were often between ‘bad’ and ‘not so bad.’”

In 1999, Weiner would use what he learned in the Senate to found the Washington, DC-based speechwriting firm ContentCommunications, LLC, through which he would ghostwrite speechesand newspaper opinion articles for governors, members of Congressand Fortune 500 CEOs.

Teaching and learningToday, Professor Weiner brings his Washington experience—and vast research into American political thought—to the classroom. In addition to Assumption, he has also taught at Johns HopkinsUniversity, Georgetown University and Brown University’s PoliticalTheory Project. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University

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campus news

Prof. Greg Weiner brings D.C.experiences to his classroomand scholarship

BY LORRAINE U. MARTINELLE G’14

of Texas at Austin and his master’s and Ph.D. from Georgetown. “The best part of teaching is when a student makes a remark or

a facial expression indicating a light has gone on,” he noted. “They aresubtle, but you learn to recognize those expressions. I see them a lot atAssumption, and it’s immensely gratifying.”

Learning comes with a responsibility to convey knowledge andtradition, he explains, but good teachers also learn by teaching. Thisphilosophy drew him to Assumption and its embrace of the Catholicintellectual tradition.

“The value of the Catholic intellectual tradition, to me, is its focuson the important, enduring questions,” he said. “Education in technicalissues becomes rapidly obsolete. The Catholic intellectual traditionfocuses on the underlying ideas. These are what stay relevant.”

Senator Kerrey praises his former staffer’s professorship. “Dr.Weiner’s practical experience combined with his academic researchgives Assumption College students a rare opportunity to acquire anunderstanding of the ideas that have created a democratic form of government, the techniques used by citizens and active participants,and the commitments needed to increase the chances that democracywill survive,” said Kerrey.

When he’s not teaching, Professor Weiner has also penned numerous articles and blog posts and has been quoted by national news reporters and columnists such as George F. Will in TheWashington Post (whose columns are syndicated in newspapers across

the country) and by Newsweek/The Daily Beast. He has also authoredtwo well-received books: Madison's Metronome: The Constitution,Majority Rule, and the Tempo of American Politics and American Burke: The Uncommon Liberalism of Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

A deeper understanding“Greg is wise beyond his 45 years,” Will told Assumption

Magazine. “He says things in his writings that leap off the page withtheir intelligence.”

Professor Weiner’s honors thesis advisee, Pablo Sierra-Carmona,agrees. The senior economics major plans to follow in his footsteps and work in Congress after graduation.

“Dr. Weiner has this special way of presenting questions that have no black-or-white answer,” Sierra-Carmona explained. “His classes taught me that there’s a lot of grey in the circumstances of life,especially in politics. His questions can be so intriguing that I findmyself pondering them after class ends.”

Yet despite this acknowledgement of “the grey areas,” ProfessorWeiner has kept one important lesson, learned during his time onCapitol Hill, close to his heart.

“There is nobility to politics that should not be lost amid the cynicism that infects public discourse today,” he said. “I want my students to learn that ideas are important—in fact, that ideas not only have practical importance; they have enduring importance.”

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The Political Bible of HumorousQuotations from American PoliticsBy Rich Rubino ’01In The Political Bible of Humorous Quotations(2014), the reader embarks on a tour through

the humorous historyof American politics.Quotations from presidents, congress-men, governors, mayorsand many others fillthis hard-to-put downcollection. Rather thanpresenting just a seriesof hilarious and

unusual political quotes, the author includesthe context in which the words were said, toprovide a historical understanding regardingwhat prompted the particular comment, aswell as a photo to accompany each quote.

As one reviewer said, “The offerings arerevealing, funny or shocking—sometimes allthree. Anyone who thinks today’s political discourse hits new lows will see otherwise inthese pages. It turns out our leaders have beenslinging snark for as long as America’s been inbusiness. This book is irresistible page-turningpolitical entertainment.”

A political consultant for TheHuffington Post, Rich has authored two previous books: The Political Bible of LittleKnown Facts in American Politics and MakeEvery Vote Count: What a Novel Idea.

Sharing the Faith That You Love: Four Simple Ways to Be Part of the New EvangelizationBy John G’76 & Therese Boucher G’83For those who wonder, “How could I bring

someone back to Godor to the Church?” or“How can I share myfaith, if I am not alwayssure of what to say?”Fear not! Sharing theFaith That You Love(Word Among UsPress, 2014) helps you

see the details of everyday life in the light of alived faith, so you can move from accidentalkindnesses and invisible beliefs towards inten-tional acts of faith that enable others to experience Jesus. It includes down-to-earthexamples, pointers from the life of Jesus andthe Saints, as well as exercises for growth. Thereader will gain a deeper awareness of the spiritual needs of those we meet in everydaylife, so that each of us can respond to the spiri-tual hungers of family, friends and co-workers.Finally, it offers practical skills for sharing yourfaith through four simple steps: evangelizingprayer, compassionate caring, sharing faith andinviting others into the Christian community.

Translated ChristianitiesBy Mark Z. Christensen, Ph.D., assistant professor of historyBeginning in the sixteenth century, ecclesias-tics and others created religious texts written

in the native languagesof the Nahua andYucatec Maya. Thesetexts played an impor-tant role in the evangelization of central Mexico andYucatan. TranslatedChristianities (PennState University Press,2014) is the first book

to provide readers with English translations ofa variety of Nahuatl and Maya religious texts.

The diverse texts included in this workinclude authors ranging from Spanish ecclesi-astics to native assistants, from Catholics toMethodists, and from 16th century Nahuas to19th century Maya. Although translated fromits native language into English, each text illustrates the impact of European and nativecultures on its content. Medieval tales popularin Europe are transformed to accommodate aNew World native audience, biblical figuresassume native identities and texts admonishingChristian behavior are tailored to meet thedemands of a colonial native population.Ultimately, readers are offered an uncommon

opportunity to read for themselves the trans-lated Christianities that Nahuatl and Mayatexts contained.

Madison’s Metronome: TheConstitution, Majority Rule, and theTempo of American PoliticsBy Gregory Weiner, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science

In the wake of nationalcrises and sharp shiftsin the electorate, newmembers of Congressmarch off toWashington full ofintense idealism andthe desire for instantchange—but oftenlacking in any sense of

proportion or patience. This drive for instantpolitical gratification concerned one of the keyFounders, James Madison, who accepted theinevitability of majority rule but worried thatan inflamed majority might not rule reasonably.

In Madison’s Metronome (University Pressof Kansas, 2012), the author challenges long-standing suppositions that Madison harboredmisgivings about majority rule, arguinginstead that he viewed constitutional institu-tions as delaying mechanisms to postponedecisions until after public passions had cooledand reason took hold. In effect, Madisonbelieved that one of the Constitution’s primary functions is to act as a metronome,regulating the tempo of American politics.

The Other Solzhenitsyn: Telling the Truth about a MisunderstoodWriter and ThinkerBy Daniel J. Mahoney,Ph.D., professor ofpolitical science andAugustine Chair inDistinguishedScholarship The great Russian writerAleksandr Solzhenitsyn

assumption authors


(1918–2008) is widely recognized as one ofthe most consequential human beings of thetwentieth century.

Through his writings and moral witness,he illuminated the nature of totalitarianismand helped bring down an ‘evil empire.’ Hiscourage and tenacity are acknowledged evenby his fiercest critics. In The OtherSolzhenitsyn (St. Augustine’s Press, 2014), theauthor explores the world-class novelist, histo-rian, and philosopher (one uses the latter termin its capacious Russian sense) who has largelybeen eclipsed by a caricature that has trans-formed a measured and self-critical patriotinto a ferocious nationalist, a partisan of localself-government into a quasi-authoritarian, aman of faith and reason into a narrow-mindeddefender of Orthodoxy. The caricature, widelydispensed in the press, and too often taken forgranted, gets in the way of a thoughtful andhumane confrontation with the “other”Solzhenitsyn, the true Solzhenitsyn, who is awriter and thinker of the first rank and whosespirited defense of liberty is never divorcedfrom moderation. It is to the recovery of thisSolzhenitsyn that this book is dedicated.

Liberating Logos: Pope Benedict XVI’sSeptember Speeches; 2014By Marc Guerra ’90, Ph.D., associate professor of theologyLiberating Logos (St. Augustines Press, 2014)brings together six of Pope Benedict’s impor-tant addresses in one volume. The themes

of these speeches arewide ranging: Benedictcomments on the denaturing effects ofDehellenization, thetrue grounds of religiousdialogue, the transpoliti-cal and timeless natureof Christianity’s message,the relation of moraland political freedom

to truth, the self-limitation of modern reason,and Europe’s and the West’s enduring Christianroots. A source of moral strength and intellec-tual clarity for a world that increasingly cravesboth these things, Pope Benedict bracinglychallenges modern human beings to be willingto engage the whole breadth of reason. Thespeeches and commentary in this volume

provide a glimpse into the mind and soul of a Pope who remains a man for our season, precisely because he possesses the humility,courage, and faith to be a man out of season.

Socrates and the Gods: How to ReadPlato’s Euthyphro, Apology, and CritoBy Nalin Ranasinghe, Ph.D., professor of philosophySocrates and the Gods (St. Augustines Press,

2012) is the first book on the threePlatonic dialoguesabout Socrates’ trial for impiety. Rejecting the dogmatic belief in Socrates’ atheism,Ranasinghe shows howSocrates actually over-turns Homeric religion

and anticipates Christian Humanism.Passionately defending God’s goodness,Socrates battles claims to piety that stressdivine omnipotence and deny our ability topractice human virtue. While Socrates affirmsdivine inspiration, he denies that poets caninterpret their own utterances. The Apologydemonstrates Socrates’ own ignorance-basedabilities to practice heroic virtue and piousexegesis. Socrates argues that every human can live philosophically. His lived proof of this power to interpret revelation and live virtuously co-exists with a firm belief that God will not allow a good man to be spiritually harmed. Socrates’ synthesis ofinspired revelation, rational interpretation and moral resilience is yet retrievable today.Recovery of Christianity’s Socratic originscould be crucial to its surviving today’s irascible and irrational times.


“I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a career in sports,”Nold said, “and this MBA program is a great opportunity for me tofurther my education and gain experience in the field, where I’velearned the most valuable lessons.”

Now with the knowledge, skills and experience he’s developingthrough the program, he’ll be well prepared to go from the footballfield to the boardroom.

Assumption’s Sport Business and Leadership program, whichcompleted its first semester in the fall, strives to develop principled,ethical leaders in the world of sport business who are ready to meet—and exceed—the demands of the workforce. Coordinated by VisitingAssistant Professor of Management and Marketing Elizabeth “Libby”O’Hara, whose vast experience in the sport management field includesserving as director of community relations and communications atNew York City’s famed Madison Square Garden, the program pridesitself on an innovative internship program, solid academic groundingand a bedrock devotion to ethics.

It emphasizes sport-related contexts in business as well as theunique dynamics of the sport environment. Students in the concentra-tion prepare for a career in sport-related organizations through a 13-course (36-credit) curriculum that includes classes on accounting,

human and organizational behavior, marketing strategy and ethics.Coursework is reinforced by panel discussions—featuring

industry-leading experts in the world of sport business and academ-ics—held several times during the academic year. The panelists discusswith students topics such as career opportunities (for example, collegeathletics director, marketing, sponsorship branding, facilities manage-ment, executive management); ethics; effective leadership; and womenin sports—complementing theory with true-life examples and hard-earned advice.

“Students who complete this program will possess ethical leader-ship skills; real world, resume-building professional experience; criticalthinking and communication skills; and an industry-wide perspectivethat will help them identify, analyze and implement how best to manage the highly demanding and growing field of sport business,”explained Visiting Assistant Professor Eric Drouart, director ofAssumption’s MBA program.

Paramount to the program and reflecting the mission of the college is forging individuals of critical intelligence, thoughtful citizen-ship and compassionate service—with the Ethics for Sport Businesscourse at its center. The course emphasizes relevant ethical issues insport, focusing on areas such as sport media, sport ownership, fiduciary

Sports have always played a major role in the lifeof Blake Nold ’14. A former member of theGreyhounds football team, playing competitivelyhas helped him learn about teamwork, commit-ment, hard work and fair play. Now, as a graduatestudent in Assumption’s Early Career Track(ECT) Master of Business Administration(MBA) degree concentration in sport businessand leadership, he’s ready to take the next step.

Jonathan reinsdorf, of froogaliT/unitedcenter Joint Venture, talks to studentsduring a december immersion experience in chicago.

Sport Business & Leadership program focuses on ethics and real-world experienceBy Troy Watkins

Pursuing a dreamcareer in sports


PARAMOUNT TO THE

PROGRAM IS FORGING

INDIVIDUALS OF

CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE, THOUGHTFUL CITIZENSHIP

AND COMPASSIONATE

SERVICE—WITH THE

ETHICS FOR SPORT

BUSINESS COURSE

AT ITS CENTER.

students meet with mentorsduring arizona springTraining immersion experience in march.

sport students Taylor King ’15, alex marshall ’14, christianaBarela, Blake nold ’14, chicago cubs executive assistant to thepresident/Gm hayley dewitte, danielle driscoll ’14 and ceo &executive director of The foundation To Be named Later allycenajimy ’86 at the cubs spring Training facility in mesa, aZ.


and stewardship responsibilities in sport, and athlete behavior standards.Classwork examines the intersection of sports and gender as well ashow sport, society and ethics are integrated. To that end, students are provided a framework for handling these issues in their careers.

“Recognizing Assumption’s commitment to teaching ethics acrossthe MBA curriculum, the sport management and leadership programfocuses on ethical leadership and will enable its graduates to developprincipled approaches to inspiring, influencing and guiding others inthe sport business industry,” Drouart said.

In addition to the classroom work, the program also requires ahands-on internship. Through these internships, students gain com-prehensive, foundational knowledge and resume-building practicalexperience by working in assigned consultant teams to solve problemsfaced by sport businesses. The students observe and analyze sport business culture; demonstrate the ability to conduct effective meetings;apply a structured process to solve sport-related business problems thatoptimize profit; incorporate principles from effective communicationinto work products; and integrate an ethic of integrity and fidelity into work processes.

Sport business partners hosting internships for the 2014–15 academic year include The Base in Roxbury, MA, the New EnglandRuffnecks Baseball and New England Baseball Enterprises (NEBE) in Northborough, MA. In the fall, the students worked as a team toassist NEBE as it constructed three baseball fields.

“Our students collaborated with the NEBE leadership in a consultative relationship to assist them with a marketing strategy, gaining sponsorship, selling the product, daily event operations, long-term planning, etc. They also worked at an event with professionalathletes at the TD Garden in Boston, coordinated by Allyce Najimy’86,” said O’Hara.

In December, O’Hara traveled with the students to Chicago for an immersion experience. There, they witnessed and analyzed theoperations-side of game management of a Bulls basketball game and a Blackhawks hockey game at the United Center.

Drouart said, “Assumption MBA students learn the intricacies of sport business through direct, hands-on experience. The local,regional and national sport business communities play an integral part in many facets of our program and provide an experiential opportunity in which students apply, strengthen and extend the skills learned in the classroom setting.”

“Through our immersion experiences, we’ve connected withnumerous successful professionals in the business,” noted student Alex Marshall ’14, who wishes to work in either player personnel or development with the NFL or NBA. “Witnessing the operations ofprofessional sports teams and events was an invaluable experience Iwill never forget.”

Assumption’s program is unique in the way it approaches learningby doing or, “experiential learning.”

“This is not a standard internship,” O’Hara explained. “It is a full-bodied, multi-dimensional experience that includes internshipcomponents such as mentorship and job shadowing, as well as directengagement with professionals in a speaker series, and the constantexposure to expert practitioners. Students are required to engage withprofessionals on a daily or weekly basis to build a real network. This is

· Daniel Burger, strategic advisor, Ripken Baseball andboard member of The Base

· Dan Duquetteexecutive vice president ofbaseball operations, BaltimoreOrioles

· Brian Kelly ’83, head footballcoach, University of Notre Dame

· Jason Kosow, chief financialofficer, New England BaseballOperations

· Robert Lewis Jr., president and founder, The Base

· Josh Mora, program director ofsports marketing and media,Full Sail University

· Allyce Najimy ’86, CEO & executive director, FoundationTo Be Named Later in Bostonand Chicago

· Tom O’Connor ’68, former assistant vice presidentand athletics director, GeorgeMason University, and member of the NCAA Division IMen’s BasketballChampionship Committee

· Jonathan Reinsdorf, (advisory committee chair)FroogaliT/United Center Joint Venture

· James Samuels, The EducationAlliance

The College’s National Advisory Board for Sport BusinessLeadership is comprised of 10 members representing some of the leading sport organizations in the United States:

only possible because we have the best advisory board in the business.”That 10-member National Advisory Board for Sport Business

Leadership represents some of the leading sport organizations in theUnited States.

“The board members have each been instrumental in developingthe program’s curriculum, facilitating and shaping our practicum experiences, and establishing strong mentoring relationships for ourstudents,” said O’Hara. “Through them, we have the best connectivityand access to professionals who are motivated by wanting to give back.They understand that the industry needs the next generation of lead-ers in order to continue to have sport be a positive part of our society.”

Students worked as a team at several events last semester.“I really enjoy that we work together,” said student Danielle

Driscoll, who aspires to become a chief of operations or a collegiate-level athletics director. “We all have unique skills to contribute, maximizing our time with our diverse talent and successfully completing tasks and projects.”

It’s that passion and drive that draws students. Christiana Barelafound what she was looking for in Assumption’s ECT SportManagement MBA program after extensive research.

“I came from New Mexico to pursue a degree here, and I couldnot have asked for a better group of fellow students and faculty tonavigate this with,” she said. “I am impressed with the way the facultymembers care about us as students and truly have our success in mind.We have worked with amazing people, met with CEOs of variouscompanies, talked to professional athletes; and attended immersionexperiences, events and panels relative to our program. I feel so blessedto be a part of a program that is providing amazing opportunities thatwe would likely not have elsewhere.”

“For any young college graduate looking to get involved in thesports industry–including collegiate, amateur and professional sportsand the retail industry–we have a variety of opportunities to launch acareer and contribute to society. I hope they will visit Assumption andsee if our program is a good fit for them,” said O’Hara.


Najimy ’86 connects studentswith sports leaders

The inspirational story of Jackie Robinson ignited a passion for sports in Allyce Najimy ’86. The CEO and executive director of the Foundation To Be Named Later (FTBNL), she has facilitated networking opportunities and learning experiences for the graduate students in the College’s newSport Business and Leadership MBA program.

As an advisory board member for the program, Najimy matches each student with a mentor from sports entities suchas: ESPN, the Boston Red Sox, the Doug Flutie Foundationand Blue Sky Sports and Entertainment. Najimy has also introduced the students to sports journalist Peter Gammons,Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein and Red Sox GeneralManager Ben Cherrington, among others. “If I am able tointroduce them to athletes, journalists and sports industry professionals and they develop those relationships – then the sky is the limit,” she said.

During spring break, Najimy arranged an immersive experience for the students with the Chicago White Sox andCubs during Spring Training in Mesa, AZ. The students gainedexperience in customer service, ticket operations, baseball operations and community relations and sponsorships.

Najimy worked with college and professional sports teamsas well as a number of high-profile athletes from a variety ofsports during her seven years as COO of the Center for theStudy of Sport in Society at Northeastern University. “We tookthe values that sports promote and used them to teach leader-ship, to break down barriers and make a difference in society,”she said. Najimy was asked by Epstein to run the FTBNL, created to capture the good will of fans and supporters and use it as a force for social change in the community.

Today, Najimy is using her connections, experience andexpertise to help educate and train the next generation of sportbusiness leaders through Assumption’s MBA program.

SEE VIDEO of Allyce Najimy speaking about the EarlyCareer Track MBA–Sport Business & Leadership programat www.assumption.edu/magazine.

special session with Theo epstein, chicago cubs presidentof Baseball operations, and connie falcone, Vp communityaffairs and cubs charities at the arizona spring Trainingimmersion experience in march.


The Provoc BY TROY WATKINS

Le Provocateur celebrates goldenanniversary with redesign

During the 1964–65 academic year, a small group of pioneers started a new student-run

campus publication. Led by Editor Rick Ryscavage ’67, the first issue of The Provocateurconsisted of only three mimeographed pages. Alongside articles on social and cultural obligation

and “The Importance of Being a Freshman” the paper offered a statement of purpose—and call

to action.

“Every campus needs a voice,” the editorial opened. “The free exchange of ideas is a

university tradition which should be respected if education is to mean more to us than textbooks

and lecture halls.”


turns assistant editorTimothy savage ’68and editor rickryscavage ’67 in 1965.

This year, Le Provocateur celebrates the 50thanniversary of that first issue. The paper,published every two weeks during theacademic year, has grown to 20 pages andcovers everything from news to sports to artsand entertainment. Thanks to the efforts ofcurrent editor-in-chief Pablo Sierra-Carmona’15 and consultant Creative Circle Media, thenewspaper has a new look and focus for 2015.

Humble beginningsAccording to the Assumption Class of 1965yearbook, Le Provocateur began “as a rhetoricalexpression of the growth and novelty evidenton campus.” The publication, it noted, was inmany ways “a much more dynamic and contro-versial journal” than its predecessor, TheAssumption Courier, and that “while it lacks themore attractive format of its predecessor(which folded in 1963 due to insufficientfunding and interest) its purpose is certainlymore justifiable.”

The Provocateur did not initially identifyitself as a newspaper but rather as “a journal ofstudent opinion, recognizing the shortcomings of both students and administration, but alsoseeing its strong points.

“Anyone is invited to contribute an article,”the yearbook entry declared, “so long as hisarticle is intelligent, readable and supportedby proof.”

Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., the firsteditor of Le Provocateur, is now a FairfieldUniversity professor of sociology and anthro-pology and the founding director of Fairfield’sCenter for Faith and Public Life. He receivedan honorary doctorate from Assumption in1999 and is a member of the federalgovernment’s Interagency Task Force onUnaccompanied Children. Widely consideredan immigration expert, Fr. Ryscavage has metwith Pope Francis twice to discuss the topic. Inaddition to Ryscavage, the staff included theHonorable Timothy Savage, J.D. ’68 and KarlRodenhauser ’67, a retired colonel from the U.S. Air Force.

The new publication faced an uphillbattle, Ryscavage recalls, aiming to fill a voidleft by the defunct Courier.

“There was some hesitation on campus tostarting the Provocateur,” said Fr. Ryscavage,“The students were put off by the name. TheCourier wasn’t stimulating enough,” he said. “Itwas the ’60s, and we hoped to get people tothink and talk around social issues. Things

were bubbling around campus, and we hadsome spirit in us. The French roots of theCollege led us to provocateur, which wethought captured our purpose.”

Although Fr. Ernest Fortin, A.A. ’46, aformer Assumption vice president, encouragedFr. Ryscavage to start the paper, a request forfinancial support from Student Activities(overseen by “Fr. Ernie,” as Fr. Ryscavage says)was denied due to a lack of funds.

“We used a mimeograph machine to makecopies and distributed them under dorm roomand faculty office doors,” Fr. Ryscavage said.

“It was a lot of fun in the beginning, as webrainstormed … we wanted to include thingslike sports, while capturing the internationalside of the College,” he continued.

Due to the small size of the student body(approximately 420), some questioned its need,but the editors hoped the new publicationwould facilitate discussion and build cama-raderie, as well as attract students to socialevents, lectures and sporting events. “It allowedstudents to have a direct voice … to addressissues with which they were concerned,” Fr.Ryscavage explained. “By the time I graduated,I felt that it had started to serve its original pur-pose, and I was proud of that.”

After the first few issues, the paper and itsstaff began to grow in size and stature—andalso caught the interest of the College’s admin-istration. In the summer of 1965, Assumption’salumni magazine reproduced an article fromLe Provocateur where Ryscavage asked: “Whatcauses the discontent with the Church andCatholic education, which so frequently comesup with students’ conversation?”

This led to a regular space in themagazine for Ryscavage to present an “under-

graduate slant.” “That was one of the things we were push-

ing at the time,” he recalled, “… that studentshave things to say, and they should have aformat to articulate what was on our minds.”

Hot off the pressesOver the course of the next 50 years, interest inthe Provoc (its nickname) rose and fell, butthere always remained a core team of dedicatedstaffers committed to the paper’s mission.When Keith Krauss ’75 took over as editor inchief in 1974, he oversaw an effort by the edi-tors to change the name of the paper so it wouldbetter reflect its place in time.

“We assumed that the name went back tothe early days of the College, when all thecourses were taught in French [until 1953],”he said. “Many changes had occurred atAssumption since its early days. It had goneco-ed [in 1969], the student body was morediverse, and fewer religious were teaching.”

The newspaper ran a contest to renamethe paper, offering a $10 prize. The Propositionwas the name selected.

“We took some heat for the name change,but moved forward, regardless,” Krauss admitted.

The Proposition moniker lasted for twoyears, continuing under the paper’s first femaleeditor, Christine Cannon Marcks ’77, nowpresident of retirement services for thePrudential Foundation in Hartford and chairsthe YMCA’s national board. It was changedback to Le Provocateur in September 1977.

Currently a contracts lawyer in New Jersey,Krauss values his time as editor and writesevery day. “My Provoc experience definitelyhelped me,” he said. “I find that my journalismexperience has made me more precise with


1964 1975 1985

The Evolution of Le Provocateur

my grammar.” He vividly remembers his time at the

student newspaper and laughs while recallingthat his twin brother, Kevin ’75 (a formerStudent Government Association president)was angered by an unflattering photo of himthat was published with an article about SGA.

“He’s still upset about that,” said Krauss.Alongside the good memories, the paper

has also known tragedy. In December 1979,Editor-in-chief Kevin Cahill ’80 lost his life inan automobile accident shorty after completingthe last issue of the fall semester. The Kevin J.Cahill Award was created in his memory and is awarded annually to a senior student leaderwho has displayed continued dedication andservice to at least one Assumption studentorganization—and who has also been a valuedand committed contributor to the Officeof Student Publications. The Class of 1980yearbook was dedicated in memory of Kevin.

And then there have been the oddballmoments.

Former editor Dave Nordman ’96, nowa Worcester Telegram and Gazette assistantmanaging editor, reminisced about whenLe Provocateur printed the voting results ofstudent government elections. The boyfriendof a female student, who was embarrassed bylosing the election in a landslide, collected thepapers around campus and threw them in adumpster. Campus police found them, theboyfriend admitted committing the act, andwas reprimanded.

Today’s headlinesToday the Provoc retains its original goals andvalues, even as much around it has changed.Mike Land, Ph.D., associate professor of

English and a former newspaper reporter, hasserved as Provoc faculty advisor since 2001. Headvises the students on the practice of journal-ism and how to tell a good story (while thestudent life advisor assists with technologyissues). He offers an independent study to theeditor and assistant editors in chief, where theycritique each issue, work on their columns andarticles, and discuss plans for upcoming issues.

“I also require students in Introduction toJournalism to write event stories for LeProvocateur, and have representatives come toclass,” said Land. “One important aspect of theProvoc’s role on campus is that it providesstudents with a place where they can beginthinking of themselves as writers for the generalpublic, not just for their writing teacher. So theProvoc helps fulfill the academic mission ofthe College.”

He noted that despite his role as anadvisor, final control is always is in the hands ofthe student editors. “They run the paper,” hesaid. “I’ve been proudest of them when they’vewritten intellectually and/or emotionallychallenging stories, such as ones about heatedcampus issues or ones that require reporters to

interview people after the death of a belovedmember of the campus community. For everymisstep, there are always students who rise tothe challenge and honor the role of being thestudent voice.

“Most of the editors I’ve worked withgenerally want to grow, and do,” Land added.“They’re the ones who care enough to tacklethe challenge to begin with, so it’s one of thebest parts of my job.”

Today Sierra-Carmona is the latest in theproud tradition of Provoc editors-in-chief.Guided by a five-student editorial board, andsupported by a dedicated staff of 23, he has lefthis own mark on the student newspaper andlaid the groundwork for the future with itsnew design.

Sierra-Carmona is quick to credit the stafffor his fruitful run as editor noting, “Withoutcontributions from all our editors and writers,the paper wouldn’t exist,” he said.

Excited about the redesign, he also hopesthe Provoc could enhance its online presencethis spring. With a redesigned paper andimproved website, Le Provocateur is lookinggood for a “middle-aged” paper, notedSierra-Carmona.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am that thispublication has lasted 50 years,” Fr. Ryscavagesaid. “The idea that you can do something onthe undergraduate level that actually has apermanent impact on your school is wonderful.”

Both the first and current editors bothrealize that although they may get much of thecredit for Le Provocateur, it truly belongs toeveryone who has contributed to it.

“I loved doing it, and it really is a pleasureto hear that it’s still going and having an effecton the College and its students,” said Fr.Ryscavage. “We had a great group that workedon it, and it’s a credit to them as well that it isstill going strong.”


1995 2005 2015

2015 provoc editing staff: Kathryn severance ’17, Jordan aubin ’16, Kyle forbes ’16, Jenna demasi ’15,paola Trabanco ’15, pablo sierra-carmona ’15, sara heath ’15, Kaitlyn akers ’16, ashley fuller ’15 andmolly sweeney ’16

visit The Provoc online at www.leprovoc.com


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In January, freshman swimmer CarylynWaite became the first Greyhound in morethan 20 years to earn a mention in SportsIllustrated. She appeared in the “Faces in the Crowd” section of the January 26 issue,which noted that Waite “has set five schoolrecords, broke her own mark in the 100-yardfree in 52.50, won the 200 free (1:55.06)and led the 400 free relay to victory (3:36.49)as the Hounds beat 11 teams for the WPIGompei Invitational title. She was namedthe Northeast-10 Conference swimmer ofthe week.”

Profiled in the fall 2014 issue of

Assumption Magazine, Waite was also featured in a video on the Northeast-10Conference’s website, as part of its “We arethe Northeast-10” series. See www.north-east10.org/sports/swimdive/index.

Waite was recognized at the NE-10Female Swimmer of the Week three timesand as its Female Rookie of the Week five times.

The last Greyhound to appear in Sports Illustrated was AC Hall of Famer and football standout Fran DeFalco ’95. He was cited in SI’s “Players of the Week” in the November 1, 1993 issue.

fall and winter sports highlights

The women’s swimming and diving team captured its second straight Northeast-10 Championshipwith a dominating 339-point victory over second place Bentley. Freshman Niamh Morganearned Swimmer of the Meet honors with three individual gold medals, while classmate CarylynWaite won two events and placed second in another.

Junior Victoria Weber earned NE-10 Swimmer of the Week accolades twice and sophomoreRachel Gagnon receive the same honor one time. A strong nucleus will return next season as the teamcarried just five seniors this season, including top performers Elise Prayson and Katherine Medeiros.

The team closed the season by earning the NCAA Division II Team Scholar All-AmericanAward from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America for the 15th straight semester, with an overall team GPA of 3.12.

Northeast -10 champion swimming team defends its titleniamh morgan ‘18, ne-10 championship swimmer of the meet

carylyn waite ‘18

Carylyn Waite ‘18 appears in Sports Illustrated

paige radomski ‘16, second team all-american


Follow the Hounds at assumptiongreyhounds.com

The women’s soccer team won its first-everNortheast-10 Conference regular season title in 2014, advanced to the NCAARegional Championships and finished theseason with a 15-5-1 record.

Junior Paige Radomski was named to the Daktronics/Division II ConferenceCommissioners Association All-AmericaSecond Team, leading the team with 33points (15 goals, three assists) to also win NE-10 Player of the Year accolades. Freshman Amanda Arnold (11 goals, 5assists) was named NE-10 Rookie of the Yearand Kevin Meek took home NE-10 Coach of the Year honors. Radomski and Arnoldwere joined by seniors Rachel Edgin andKelsey Imondi on the 2014 NEWISA All-New England First Team.

Women’s soccer team earns first NE-10 title

Field hockey ranks No. 9nationallyThe field hockey team finished the regularseason ranked No. 9 in the National FieldHockey Coaches Association (NFHCA)Division II National Poll with a 12-6 recordand advanced to the Northeast-10 Tournamentfor the first time since 2002. Junior KileyColucci was named a NFCHA Second TeamAll-American, after leading the team with 37points on 15 goals and seven assists. She wasjoined on the NE-10 All-Conference Team by senior Paige Anderson (Second Team) andfreshman Allison Sheahan (All-Rookie Team),who led the rookies with 19 points, includingnine goals.

Kiley colucci ‘16

Football’s Derrick Mannnamed Division II New EnglandDefensive Player of the YearSenior defensive lineman Derrick Mann received three Defensive Player of the Year honors, for Division II New England, Worcester Area and Northeast-10 Conference.A two-time New England Football Writers Association All-New England player and a Daktronics Super Region 1 First Team All-Region selection, he led the Northeast-10 with 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. Mann and senior RB/return specialist De’Ontray Johnson represented Assumption at the National Bowl Game in Miami.

derrick mann ‘15

Two cross country runnerscompete at national championshipSenior Tony Fierimonte placed 97th out of245 runners and freshman Antonia Pagliucafinished 171st out of 249 at the NCAADivision II Cross Country NationalChampionship. It was the first time inAssumption history that two individuals had qualified in the same season for thenational championship race. Fierimonte isAssumption’s only runner to appear in back-to-back national championship races.

Pagliuca became the first freshman inGreyhounds history and just the secondfemale overall to take part in the nationalchampionship race. At the NE-10Championship, Pagliuca’s fifth-place earned her Conference NE-10 Rookie of the Year honors.

Tony fierimonte ‘15

antonia pagliuca ‘18

reetings, fellow Greyhounds!It’s hard to believe that almost two years have gone by

since I started in my role as the Alumni Association president.What a great honor and experience it has been.

We’ve had thousands of alumni attend events these past couple of years, on and off campus. Some highlights from the past two yearsinclude our trip to Italy in the spring of 2013; the presentation of Les Miserables at The Hanover Theatre in the spring of 2014; FallHomecoming sports (and tailgate) events; Reunion Weekends (including the alumni awards presentations); and our DecemberBreakfasts with Santa. As Alumni Board president I really enjoyed participating in Commencement welcoming our newest alumni.

Please keep in mind that regional events are held numerous

times throughout the year and information is available on the website. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for June 13 and 14, this year’sReunion Weekend, including special celebrations for our classes withyears ending in “0” and “5.”

These past two years have also seen some exciting changes on ourBoard, including the establishment of our fundraising, member servicesand programs sub-committees. Our efforts on these committees haveresulted in the College offering new benefits to alumni, including ourmortgage program with Mortgage Network, Inc., and insurance andtravel discount programs.

Our dedicated Alumni Relations office is always working onopportunities for alumni to connect and engage with each other andthe College. Check the website, www.assumption.edu/alumni, forinformation about events and alumni services. Diane Laska-Nixon ’76and Amy Logue ’01 do a terrific job, and I know I could not have donemy job without them!

I am grateful to have served as the Association president, and Iwish Bob Knittle ’85 much success as he takes over in that role.

Go Hounds!

From the Alumni Association President

Katie Hall CE’04

G

alumni news

Watch for Alumni e-Newsletters and check the Alumni Events website at www.assumption.edu/alumni/events for frequent event updates.

events


MAY 28Central Mass Young (and Young-at-Heart) Alumni EventWormtown Brewery and SweetKitchen & Bar

JUNE 12-14ReunionAll alumni are invited to ReunionSaturday and the Food Truck Festival.There’s fun in your future. Updates at:www.assumption.edu/reunion

JUNE 26Athletics Golf OutingHighfields Golf Club, Grafton, MA

JULY 18Cape Cod receptionHosted and sponsored by Jeff ’76 and Sue DaleyLagarce ’80 at their North Chatham home

JULY 19Maine ReceptionHosted and sponsored by Tom ’81 and Paula Carey P’14 at their Cape Neddick home

AUGUST 22Prep Reunion AC Campus www.assumption.edu/prep

SAVE THE DATESSEPTEMBER 21FBI golf tournament at historicWorcester Country Club

OCTOBER 24President’s Council dinner atMechanics Hall

NOVEMBER 7Fall Homecoming

scenes february reception,naples fL(pictured left) eileen & Jack duBois ’69enjoying the evening with Larry ’70 and Beth Thayer G’72

(pictured right) Terry Lapierre ’63, aida& mike martin ’63 and nancy Lapierreswap stories.

APRIL 29Washington, DC, reception Bulgarian EmbassyPresident Cesareo and BulgarianAmbassador to the U.S. ElenaPoptodorova host, sponsored by Tim ’85 & Suzanne Dowd

For Mary & Will Waldron ’92, Assumption is a part of their family.

The Waldrons are members of The 1904 Society, a group of alumni, parents and friends who have made a deferred gift or provided for Assumption in their estate plans/wills. “Mary and I are

strong believers in Catholic education,” said Will. “Our college experiences were ones that we look so fondly upon that we consider our alma maters as an extension of our family. We want to help

provide for them. A planned gift through a life insurance policy provides an impactful way to donate. Colleges will always have needs, and giving back to a college is the only investment we

can make that guarantees a positive return.”

If you are interested in joining The 1904 Society by including Assumption College in your estate plans, please contact Melanie Demarais HA’92 at 508-767-7332

or [email protected]

PROVIDING FOR

Assumption’s Future

The waldron family: will ‘92 and mary with colette (15), Liam (13), clare (11), cate (9), rose (7),Lily and Tom (5) and Ben (2). will is director of development at mcLean school in potomac, md.



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’60Ron Zenaro and wife Carol were presented with

the Circle of Life Platinum Award in August fortheir fundraising work for the Lazarex CancerFoundation. Lazarex helped their late son, Scott,diagnosed with incurable cancer, participate in aclinical trial credited with adding years to his life.e Zenaros have raised $56,000 for the Foundationby making and selling beaded bracelets for $20 each.

’71Lou D’Abramo married Anna Maria

D’Antonio in June 2014 and recently joined theAC Alumni Board.

James Hanley, D.M.D., is the dean of theUniversity of New England’s College of DentalMedicine. He previously served Tus University ofDental Medicine for 34 years, most recently asassociate dean for clinical affairs and associate pro-fessor of periodontology.

Bill Humbert recently started a new company,Provocative inking Consulting, LLC, which willbroaden his platform for speaking, consulting andwriting.

’73 William McAndrews was recognized by the

Diocese of Bridgeport, CT, for his dedicated serv-ice to the schools of the Diocese, where he hasserved as a teacher for 41 years.

Daniel McKee was elected Rhode Island’s lieu-tenant governor in November. He previously

served for six terms as the mayor of Cumberland, RI.

’75omas Leary has been appointed consul gen-

eral of the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia,effective in June 2015. A career foreign serviceofficer, he currently serves as minister counselorfor public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad,Pakistan.

Michelle Mylod Marvel is the executive direc-tor of Bethel Ridge, which supports people withspecial needs.

An articulate, powerful storyteller, who is both charismatic and funny, Fr. Warren Savage, S.T.B. ’75 is a rareindividual. Featured on masslive.com in December 2014, Fr. Warren is one of only 250 African-Americanpriests in the United States.

Raised in Springfield with five siblings, his mother was a Baptist and his father was Catholic. As a childhe explored and enjoyed both faiths and attended Catholic schools. He worked in Admissions at Assumption for a year after graduating, before deciding to pursue the priesthood. Relinquishing the opportunity to have a wife and kids was a difficult decision for Fr.Warren.

“I still need people to love me,” he said. “You don’t lose your humanity when you become a priest. Youdon’t stop questioning your decisions or suddenly shed your flaws or insecurities.”

Fr. Warren, who speaks fluent Italian, attended the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He is a lecturer at Elms College and Catholic chaplain at Westfield State University, where he facilitates conversationsand encourages all students, faculty and staff to find common ground, no matter their faith tradition.

While aiming to find a common response to things that shouldn’t divide people, Fr. Warren tries to help people become more accepting of others bybuilding trust and relationships and without imposing upon anyone or trying to convert them. He hopes that students aren’t intimated by the “Dr.” in frontof professor’s name, or the “Fr.” in front of his, which can occasionally hinder dialogue.

“I’m just one of you,” he said. “just wandering through this forest, trying to find a way out, trying to find a way in, maybe. We go through it together,and we get out of this together. That’s the dialogue. That’s the journey.”

fr. warren savage ’75—mediator and dialogue builder”we go through it together.”

The deadline for the summer issue is June3.class notes

Gathering in september at their 50th reunion from david prouty high school were mary & carl wilson ’68,Lionel Lamoureux ’68, former dphs Guidance counselor richard Gaudette ’52, Gerry delongchamp ’68,Gail & John paul Lock ’68 and paul archambeault ’58.

Nadine Desrosiers McBride is the publisher ofthe Norwich Bulletin in CT.

’76Bill Sutherland is the senior vice president,

travel and publishing, for the AAA national office.He served as director of public affairs and associatedean of student affairs at Assumption in the early1980s. For the last 28 years he has been a travelindustry leader, and for 13 years served as the vicepresident, travel for AAA Southern New England.

’77Don Morrison, chief operating officer at BPN,

a global media planning and buying agency basedin New York City, welcomed Tyla Wade ’15 forthree days of job shadowing during winter break.

’78Patricia Cahill Paugh recently co-edited a

book, titled Teaching towards Democracy withPostmodern and Popular Culture Texts, withTricia Kess.

’80 Frank Doyle is senior vice president of AAA

Southern New England’s insurance agency. AAA wasrecently recognized as Brand of the Year status forits property and casualty insurance offerings,according to the 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend study.

’81 Judith Barratt is a property manager at Celtic

Property Management in Hartford, CT. Part ofher job involves collaborating with the state’s

Department of Rehabilitation Services. Phil Miller won re-election to the Connecticut

House of Representatives in November.

’82 Dennis Henderson was inducted into St. Peter-

Marian High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame inOctober for his accomplishments playing basketball.

State Representative Harold Naughton ofClinton was re-elected in November to the12th Worcester District in the MassachusettsHouse of Representatives. Prior to becoming a staterepresentative, Naughton had served as an assistantdistrict attorney and had served in the U.S. ArmyReserve, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

’83Beth Waldron Boothe recently joined the AC

Alumni Board. Russ Dillingham is the chief photographer for

the Sun Journal in Lewiston, ME. A photojournal-ist for 30 years, Russ was the first and only photog-rapher to ever win the Maine Press Association’sJournalist of the Year award. Over the years he hasdominated the spot news category, including firstplace wins the last two years. View Russ’s work atwww.russdillingham.com.

Attorney James Ermini has become theMassachusetts corporate law author/editor foromson Reuters Legal.

Sandra Merlini has retired from Sally’s BeautySupply in Marlborough aer many years of service.

’85 Rich DeCusati is a sales manager, promoting

hotels, meetings and functions for Mass MutualCenter in Springfield.

Sean J. Savage, Ph.D. has completed a book,e Senator om New England: John F. Kennedy,1952-1960, which should be in print by lateAugust 2015.

’86 Mary Racicot Legg has been hired as a financial

educator for Fiduciary Investment Advisors whereshe will provide perspective on participant com-munication and education. She will help redesignall of FIA’s programs and materials in this area, andwill help enhance FIA’s offering in the participantservices space.

’87 Tim Eagan presented a workshop in October

on common assessments in foreign languages to 40K–12 department heads and directors at theannual conference of the Massachusetts ForeignLanguage Association.

Robert Flaherty has joined FBR & Co. assenior vice president in the area of sales trading.

Neil Isakson recently joined the ACAlumni Board.

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members of the class of ’84 enjoyed a mini-reunion in newport last fall (L-r): Therese reynolds Gauthier,sue dailey malanga, maureen Bailey Kelly, deb ovian hopper, Lori alton Bassett, and Katie Greenwoodo’connell.

’90 Robert Gibbons retired aer 22 years with the

New York Police Department; during his timewith the NYPD, he was selected to attend theFBI National Academy. Gibbons has recentlyopened his own risk assessment and investigativeconsulting firm.

’91Todd Tallman is the newly appointed

Southbridge Savings Bank president. He hasworked for the bank for 15 years.

’92Tammy Clifford, D.D.S., earned Fellowship

status in e International Congress of OralImplantologists (ICOL) in December. is honor,bestowed upon a dental professional involved indental implant treatment, is achieved throughefforts in education, research and clinical experience.

Michael Novick is co-owner of the EdgemereDiner in Worcester, which re-opened in January.Michael has management experience at the formerPiccadilly Pub restaurant chain.

David Rice is director of the AfricapitalismInstitute, supported by the Tony ElumeluFoundation. He appeared on CNBC Africa inFebruary to discuss the Institute, a new pan-African think tank based in Lagos, Nigeria. It con-ducts rigorous, applied research on the critical role

the private sector must play in driving broader eco-nomic growth and social development across thecontinent. Rice is on leave from his role as professorat New York University’s Center for Global Affairs.

Rev. omas Simisky was appointed presidentof Fairfield College Preparatory School. He willassume his post at the end of the academic year.e College is a division of Fairfield University. Fr.Simisky currently teaches Spanish at Fairfield Prepand has additional administrative and pastoral duties.

’93 Joyce Allaire is a managing director and rela-

tions manager at LifeSci Advisors in New York City.Frank Guinta, a former member of the

U.S. House of Representatives, was elected toCongress again in November and represents NewHampshire’s first congressional district.

Joshua Mackey is a partner at Iseman,Cunningham, Riester & Hyde in Poughkeepsie, NY.

’94 Max Iori, J.D. has served as vice president and

assistant general counsel for JPMorgan ChaseBank, N.A. since 2005. He graduated from theQuinnipiac University School of Law in 1997.

Danielle Douillard Mackey is the marketingdirector at Finkelstein & Partners LLP in Albany, NY.

’95 Jen Caissie, has joined the Nichols College

Board of Trustees. She has also been both a mem-ber and chair of the Board of Selectmen of Oxford,MA, and earned a law degree from New EnglandSchool of Law.

Tom Civitenga married Meredith Mitchell on8/2/14.

Susan Posterro, executive director of Binkeezfor Comfort, was the guest speaker forAssumption’s Greyhound Association forMarketing Enrichment (GAME) group inNovember. A non-profit organization, Binkeezmakes blankets for children less than two years oldwho have a life-changing illness.

Cindy Walsh was named local sales manager atABC affiliate WLNE Providence, RI. She joinedWLNE in 2011 and previously served as a nationalsales manager.

’96William H. Moore CE’96, G’00, a U.S. Air

Force veteran, is the founder of Project New Hope,a Worcester-based program that provides supportfor veterans, including targeted workshops andcounseling.

’97Mark Duffy is co-owner of Judy’s Village

Flowers in Foxboro.

’98Meg O’Toole Kennedy, a school adjustment

counselor at Stoughton High School, recentlyopened a private practice offering mental healthand addiction counseling services to adolescentsand adults as a licensed mental health counselorand licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Visit heronline at www.mkwelnessccc.com.

BIRTH: Amy Hague Sacco and husbandAnthony announced the birth of James Alden on11/24/14. He joins Rob (10), Fletcher (7) andSpencer (3). Amy is Assumption’s director ofresearch. e Saccos reside in Brimfield.

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Submit your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes

Gathering at a worcester chamber of commerce event in december were (L-r) moe Boisvert ’66, mikemyers ’93, John dipietro ’72, melanie demarais ha’92, diane Laska-nixon ’76, Brian Lynch ’82, sheilawaldron Veideman ’85 and Todd Tallman ’91.

’99 BIRTH: Patrick Foran and wife Melissa wel-

comed daughter Emma Marion on 11/1/14.

’00 Paul Belsito was promoted in September to

assistant vice president of community relations atthe Hanover Insurance Group.

Rob Courtney was promoted to district chief ofthe Worcester Fire Department in September.

Kristen Bud Munger and husband Kevin residein Georgia, VT, with their four children, Justin (8),Ryan (6), Amelia (4), and Caleb (2).

’02Brendan Keenan is principal of Bagnall

Elementary School in Groveland. He earned anEd.D. in educational leadership, policy and admin-istration from UMass-Amherst and lectures atNortheastern University and Assumption College.

Rebecca Murphy has been named director ofmarketing and business development at Fox Runin Manchester, NH, where she oversees and evalu-ates marketing staff, social media channels and alladvertising efforts.

’03BIRTHS: Adam Hardenbrook and wife Lisa

welcomed their first child, Lucy Elise, on11/30/14. ey reside in Hampton, NH.

Heather MacQueen Maxim and husband Michaelannounced the birth of Phoebe Grace on 8/30/14.

’04BIRTH: Bridget Marvel Mulvaney and hus-

band Jack ’05 announced the birth of KathrynGrace on 11/26/14. Bridget is a 4th grade teacherat Mendham Township Elementary School, whereshe was named District Teacher of the Year in2013–14. Jack earned an MBA from CornellUniversity in 2012 and is the VP of performanceand risk management at Indus Capital Partners,LLC, in New York City. e couple resides inBedminster, NJ.

’05 Chris Colabello, at press time for this issue, was

still competing for a roster spot with the TorontoBlue Jays aer playing in the Minnesota Twinsorganization since 2011. He previously spent sevenseasons playing independent baseball.

Katherine Burke Davey resides in Manchester,NH, with husband Michael and their children,omas (4), Clare (2) and Mary Katherine (1).

Nicole Santosuosso Leonard is a 5th gradeteacher in the Chelmsford Public Schools. Sheresides in North Chelmsford with husbandMichael and their children, Evie (4) and Luke (1).

Casey Reske married Keith Holland on 7/5/14in Newport. Classmates Christina Terranova,Kaitlin Hagerty-Dunn, Lauren Hannon-O’Brien,Melissa DeVito and Jaime Glynn-Vivian served asbridesmaids.

Anthony Villella has been promoted to man-ager, insurance sales, at AAA Southern NewEngland. He began working with AAASNE in2007.

BIRTHS: Dennis Moran and his familyrecently welcomed a son, Matthew. He joinsNathan, who they adopted from Lowel, Africa.

Amanda Bradley Moriarty and husbandBraden announced the birth of Griffin Xavier on3/6/14.

’06BIRTHS: Jamie Fransson Moreau and hus-

band Jeff welcomed their first child, MatthewDavid, on 10/20/14.

Patrick Palladino and wife Katelyn announcedthe birth of Daniel Patrick on 7/4/14.

’07Jillian Cordiner married Roberto Alberti on

9/28/14 in Boston. Emily Nichols ’07 served as abridesmaid.

Lisa Cunningham has joined True North as afinancial advisor. Cunningham is a CFP practi-tioner and has experience in areas of financial plan-ning, which include tax, estate, life insurance andcash flow planning.

Lindsey Haxton McGovern and husbandMichael recently welcomed daughter SydneyJeanneAnne. She joins brother Bryce.

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Alumni speakers at Assumption Dayfour alumni shared how their assumption education and experience has guided them, professionally and personally at the annual assumption day in January, where faculty, staff and administrators gatherto celebrate education and reflect upon the college’s role as a catholic and assumptionist institution. L-r: Bryan coleman ’08, rob Tyler ’10, president cesareo, Kristen penkala ’07 and chris harrigan ’06.

News to share? E-mail [email protected].

include photos with names and graduation years of alumni pictured.

phoT

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ce’

07

’08Jake Longenecker married Liz Lahiff ’09 on

9/27/14. Alumni in attendance included ErinToomey Peterson ’01, Molly Taylor Toner ’01,Matt Cerins ’08, Jared Kelly ’08, Mike Otterbein’08, Danielle Perron ’08, Tony Savarese ’08, MikeSenella ’08, Aubrey Andreozzi ’09, Sheila Cawley’09, Samantha Chella ’09, Courtney AdamsDavison ’09, Christine Doran ’09, Caitlin Lahey’09, Taylor Humphrey ’09, Chris & KatherineGetchell Martino ’09, Katie Sussky McDermott’09, Brittany Gorham Roberts ’09, Billy ’09 &Meghan Ray Silva ’09, Kara Berggren Sittig ’09,Ashley Waterman ’09, Colleen White ’09, KateyZiter ’09 and Dustin Zitzmann ’10.

Liz Papp married Cale Putnam on 10/18/14.Classmates Sargent Pacejo and Ashley

Dill, were in the wedding party and Chelsea Dill’09 also attended. Liz graduated in May with aMBA from Bentley University and is the assistantadvertising manager for AAA.

’09Heidi Lukas married Steven Baj in August

2014 in West Boylston. Erica Lukas Resmini ’07served as matron of honor while classmates AmyLaurendeau Basbas and Jennifer Jaworek Abbottserved as bridesmaids. Heidi is a school counselorat White Brook Middle School in Easthampton.

Kazimera Morse graduated from theConnecticut State Police Academy in December.She was one of four women among 58 recruits tocomplete the 26-week program. e first woman toreceive the Lt. Colonel Leslie Williams Award forExcellence in Motivation, Dedication andLeadership, she is assigned to Troop F inWestbrook, CT.

Christine urber is an international and statecertified arborist with the Davey Tree Company,surveying for Asian longhorned beetles in theWorcester area.

’10 Austin Potter has been appointed director,

ambulatory services at Saint Mary’s Health Systemin Waterbury, CT.

Tyler Reilly is a corporate associate with CahillGordon & Reindel LLP in London, concentrating

on debt and equity capital markets. He earned aJ.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2013.

BIRTH: Michael Colebrook and wifeMichelle announced the birth of Lily inNovember. Michael teaches at St. John’s HighSchool in Shrewsbury.

’11 Kelsey Baltzell and David Taddei were mar-

ried on 9/27/14 in Phillipston. Kelsey isa special education teacher and David is a Vermontstate game warden. ey reside in southern VT.Alumni in attendance included photographerCaitlyn Clark ’06, Stephen Gunneson, JohnLandsvik ’12, Marrissa Malarkey, Jaime Marrone,Brendan McCann, Elizabeth Penta, Greg Rowlandand Zach Shepherd.

Brett Murphy Hunt, of Ayer, has started atutoring business. “I’ve been tutoring since highschool, but it was really at Assumption (College)that I realized it was something I enjoyed,” she saidin an article by Nashoba Publishing.

Laura Lambert is creating a film project calledWom[e]n of the Year, which will take her toLesotho, Africa, to document the work beingdone at the Good Shepherd Centre forTeenage Mothers. For more information, visitwww.womenoheyearleso.wix.com/strongwomen.

Danielle Lamoureux married Derek Bachandon 6/21/14 in AC’s Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

In attendance were Jay ’07 & AnnaMaffeo Dealy ’09, Bob ’65 & Maureen Gray G’67,Lionel Lamoureux ’68, Susan Melnick ’11, LindaBurlingame Rosenlund ’82 and AC VP for StudentAffairs Catherine WoodBrooks. Danielle is a comp-troller at Lamoureux Ford.

’12Scott Corain is head coach of the boys’ tennis

team at Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, RI.

’13Matt Metcalf is the assistant sports editor at the

Johnston Sun Rise. He has previously freelanced forthe Beacon, and the Worcester Telegram & Gazetteand worked as the assistant sports informationcoordinator at the Community College of RhodeIsland.

’14Sara Bonnick’s photography was on display at

the Worcester Historical Museum; nine of Sara’spictures, which were printed on canvas, were part ofthe “A Photographic Homage to Worcester” display.

Alexandra Caulway is the marketing director ofthe DCU Center in Worcester.

Carly Eckles is a volunteer assistant coach ofthe Wachusett Regional High School’s co-ed swimteam in Holden. She is a former captain ofAssumption’s swimming and diving team.

Nicolas Guerra, a district representative forRep. Jim McGovern, was named one of PulseMagazine’s “15 to Watch in 2015.” He works onwritten correspondence, community outreach anddata management for Rep. McGovern’s office.

Jordan Sweigart is an assurance associate withPricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in Philadelphia.

Note: indicates that a wedding photo isavailable online at www.assumption.edu/alums/Alumni/weddings.html

GraduaTe sTudiesAl Deluca G’72 received the Ryken Award at

St. John’s High School in the fall. Al has spent hiscareer working in public education, teaching lan-guage for 26 years at Leominster High School. Healso owned and operated Floral Al’s for 13 years,which was one of only two American Associationof Floral Designers approved florists in Worcester.He served as a Spanish teacher and class advisor forsix years at St. John’s.

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dennis white ’13, Keven meehan ’13, Kyle Zobler’14, dave d’amico ’13 and Joe fimiani ’13 participated in the assumption alumni hockeygame in January and teamed up to win the opendivision of the pond hockey classic on Lakechamplain in february.

Richard Rogers G’73 received the EminentFaculty Award from the University of North Texasin September. e Regents Professor of Psychologywas recognized for his outstanding and sustainedcontributions to forensic psychology and psychiatry.

State Senator Stephen Brewer G’74, joined theUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst faculty ofthe Center for Public Policy and Administration,aer he retired from the Legislature in January,following a 26-year career. He will teach a graduatelevel course on state budgeting and an undergradu-ate course on advocacy in state government.

Cynthia Bioteau G’77 was invested as presi-dent of Florida State College at Jacksonville inFebruary. She previously served as president andCEO of Salt Lake Community College in Utah’scapital city.

Craig Smith G’83 has joined BerkshireCommunity College (BCC) as vice president forinstitutional advancement and executive directorof the BCC Foundation, where he will be responsi-ble for developing, directing and implementinginternal and external fundraising for both the col-lege and the foundation. Smith will also be taskedwith advancing community initiatives that pro-mote BCC’s mission, direction and goals.

Kathleen Connors G’89 and her husband,Marty, have been chosen by the St. Paul CatholicSchools Consortium to receive the St. ElizabethAnn Seton Award for their work on behalf ofCatholic Education in Northern WorcesterCounty. is award is given annually in recogni-tion of a person or institution that has furtheredthe mission of the schools within the Consortium.

Sheila Harrity, Ph.D. G’92 has been appointedas superintendent-director of the MontachusettRegional Vocational Technical School. She previ-ously served as principal of Worcester TechnicalHigh School since 2006.

Nabil Farooq G’95 has joined St. Mary’s CreditUnion as senior vice president, senior commerciallending officer.

James Monette G’08, hasbeen appointed by the GFAFederal Credit Union to theposition of senior vice presi-dent/chief innovation officer.In his new role, he will overseethe retail branch operations,marketing, Financial Group, as well as thecredit union’s owned subsidiary, GFA InsuranceServices, LLC.

Maggie Paynich G’12 wasnamed by the YMCA of MetroAtlanta as the 2014 volunteer ofthe year award for her service atthe East Lake Family YMCA.She is the founder of EducationInspires, a middle school collegeexploration program, as well as a neighborhoodwatch coordinator, is active in local political organ-izations and volunteers at the local middle school.

Andrea Pianka G’13 was hired in January byStavros as its new vocational rehabilitation peercounselor. She is working on a Certificate ofAdvanced Graduate Study in rehabilitation coun-seling at Assumption.

Nicole Vassallo G’13 was named in Decemberas a branch manager/director of consultative serv-ice for GFA Federal Credit Union, working out ofthe Rutland branch.


cLass noTes

Normand J. Bedard AP’39, ’43died October 25, 2014Felix M. Tetreault AP’45, ’49died December 8, 2014Patrick R. Levesque, M.D. ’50died August 6, 2014Richard E. Brodeur AP’50, ’54died October 6, 2014Daniel R. Rainville AP’55died October 25, 2014Robert P. Sarja ’63died December 20, 2014Michael R. Rourke AP’64died July 29, 2014Alfred J. Talevi AP’66died August 10, 2014James M. Ryan ’65died October 23, 2014 Stephen P. Larivee ’67died October 18, 2014John V. Ambrose, Jr. AP’64, ’68died January 19, 2015Lawrence J. Branagan G’68died December 5, 2014

Rev. James P. Walsh ’69died December 24, 2014Evelyn Newton G’70died December 14, 2014Anthony Marteka G’71died January 12, 2015Anne M. Cataldo CE’73died January 19, 2015Ronald L. Dupont AP’68, ’72died October 23, 2014Richard J. Ranelli ’72died January 13, 2015Andree Cassavant G’72died November 2, 2014Ronald M. Leclerc AP’70, ’74died September 7, 2014Carol A. Harootian G’74died October 5, 2014James Whalen ’75died October 30, 2014Lawrence J. Branagan G’78died December 5, 2014Julie Matias Beckwith ’79, G’83died January 1, 2015

Carol E. Beeso G’79, G’83died December 12, 2014Timothy S. Kenney ’84died October 1, 2014David A. Rinaldi ’84died September 23, 2014April Balcom Hunter CE’88died December 22, 2014Tracy Longvall Rivera G’96died November 3, 2014Pamela McDonald DeBoise CE’95died January 19, 2015Ann M. Kaminski G’02died August 13, 2014Jeffrey R. Robert ’08 died July 14, 2014Amanda M. Medeiros ’14died September 21, 2014

For a regularly updated list of dearly departedAssumption College alumni, please visitwww.assumption.edu/obituaries.

News to share? e-mail [email protected]. include photos with

names and graduation years of alumni pictured.

in memoriam

THE ASSUMPTION FUND

On the surface, it may seem that your gift of $50 or $100 can’t make a difference. But there’s strength in numbers. When your gift is pooled together with thousands of other

generous contributions, it can really make things happen for Assumption students.

30 PEOPLE GIVING

$50

= NEW MICROSCOPETesta Science Center lab

40 PEOPLE GIVING

$250

= A MERIT OR NEED BASEDSCHOLARSHIP

26 PEOPLE GIVING

$35

= NEW COMPUTERInformation Technology

Center Lab

GREYHOUNDS ARE STRONGER IN PACKS.

It’s quick and easy to give online: www.assumption.edu/donate

Your gift of any amount has

IMPACT20 PEOPLE GIVING

$100

= ONE TUTORAcademic Support Centerfor 2015-16 Academic Year

Saturday’s highlightsALUMNI AWARDS CEREMONYhonoring this year’s recipients:

Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 OutstandingAchievement: edward mcGettigan ’75Jack L. Bresciani ’72 OutstandingAlumnus: robert Kenney ’65Honorary Alumnus: Terrence & rebeccamilka p’12Young Alumnus: ryan Brennan ’05

FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL WITH JAY ’N JOE BANDsample delicious foods from a variety of vendors at the 2nd annual food Truck festivalwith entertainment by our alumni musiciansJay Lacroix ’00 and Joe parrillo ’99

PARK AVE STROLLa bus will loop continuously to park avenue; orrelax on campus and reminisce with friends.

D.J. DAN MARSHALL ’96d.J. dan marshall ’96 will let the good times roll on campus after class dinners.

ReunionWeekendJune 12–14Renew friendships, relive memories

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #389

BURLINGTON, VT 05401

www.assumption.edu/reunion

500 Salisbury StreetWorcester, MA 01609-1296www.assumption.edu

ac spring 2015 magazine

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