ventures · as seen on the cover of this issue of ventures, stevenson’s new quad opened this...

EsportsTHE GROWTH OF

Page 8

Professional Minors 4 | New Student Commons Page 18 | Advancing the Mission Page 20

VenturesStevenson University Vol. 39 | No. 1 | Summer 2018

As seen on the cover of this issue of Ventures, Stevenson’s new Quad opened this

spring on the Owings Mills campus. The Quad provides an attractive green space,

gathering spot, and walkable link between the School of Business and Leadership,

Garrison Hall, and Rockland Center. The Quad will continue to be developed in

the coming year, with seating areas and other features on the horizon. We invite

you to visit the Owings Mills campus to enjoy this scenic part of the Stevenson

student experience.

President Elliot Hirshman, Ph.D.

Chair, Board of Trustees James B. Stradtner, CFA

Vice President, University Advancement Christopher R. Vaughan

Vice President, Marketing and Digital Communications and Publisher John A. Buettner

Editor Sherry E. Bithell

Design Atsuko Biars, Tiffany Reese

Contributors Chip Burkey, Cierra Colón, Alison Cuomo, Samantha Brooke Murray, Emily Reely, Greg Royce, Brandon Seidl, Dan Walker

Advancing the Mission Contributors Meghan Culbertson, Judith Jackson, Allison Humphries ’11, Office of University Advancement

Photography Maximilian Franz, Aaron Harris, Nora Long, Sabina Moran, Dan Siebenhaar, SU Photography Interns, Office of University Advancement

Questions or comments about this issue? Please contact: Sherry E. Bithell, AVP, Marketing Communications Stevenson University 100 Campus Circle Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 443-352-4483 [email protected]

Please visit stevenson.edu for the latest news about the university.

FEATURES

Next Level: The Growth of Esports at Stevenson UniversityOne of the fastest-growing collegiate-level student activities,

esports has come to Stevenson. Learn about this exciting new

venture.

New Professional Minors Give Students a Major AdvantageStevenson has introduced five new career-focused professional

minors to give students an edge in a competitive job market.

The Garrison Hall Student CommonsTake a tour of the new commons that offers students more

opportunities to interact, play, and get fit.

8

14

18

VenturesNews for alumni and friends of Stevenson University Vol. 39 | No. 1 | Summer 2018

Starting with this issue, Ventures magazine is breaking new ground. The university will now produce two issues of the magazine each year instead of the previous four. This will allow us to present a more robust publication with additional news and stories about our students and community. Additionally, we will continue to produce an accompanying online version of Ventures with supplemental content such as additional photos, longer articles, and videos. If you haven’t done so already, visit us at stevenson.edu/ventures.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or digital form without prior permission from the publisher.

IN THIS ISSUE

2 President's Perspective

3 News Briefs

20 Advancing the Mission

27 Class Notes

This summer marks an important milestone. June 11

is the 10th anniversary of Villa Julie College becoming

Stevenson University.

This milestone is an opportunity to reflect upon the debt of gratitude

the Stevenson community owes to the founders of Villa Julie College.

It is also a moment to reflect upon the values of Stevenson and Villa

Julie. Our close-knit community of caring faculty, staff, and students

tie our past to our present. Similarly, our efforts to help students

develop professionally mark another important continuity. Every day,

our faculty and staff help our students experience opportunities to

grow, develop, and reach their fullest potential—just as they did when

we were founded 70 years ago.

This heritage has produced many successes. In the past year, we

successfully completed our Middle States reaccreditation process,

and, in May, nearly 800 traditional and Stevenson University Online

graduates crossed the stage to receive their bachelor’s and master’s

degrees. As part of our focus on creating career connections for

students, we are introducing five professional minors this fall. You

will read about these and more in this issue.

Since our last issue of Ventures, the university has renovated

facilities for student activities in Garrison Hall, creating spaces

for student clubs and organizations, a satellite fitness center, and

facilities for our new esports club. We also created new green space

in front of Rockland Center and Garrison Hall. This green space

provides opportunities for communal gatherings as well as a walkable

connection between our residence halls, Rockland Center, Garrison

Hall, and the Brown School of Business and Leadership.

Last, I am pleased to share that the first phase in the development

of the Rosewood site is complete with the demolition of 20 buildings

on the site. We are now working with the State of Maryland to prepare

for site grading that will allow us to develop roadways, athletic fields,

and recreational facilities.

As we say here, it’s a great time to be a Mustang! I hope you enjoy

this issue of Ventures and learning more about your university.

Elliot L. Hirshman, Ph.D.

PERSPECTIVEPRESIDENT'S

| VENTURES/SUMMER 20182

NEWSB R I E F S

New Vice President for Student Affairs Named

Stevenson University has appointed Tiffany Sanchez as

Vice President for Student Affairs. Sanchez, who most

recently served as Interim Dean of Student Life at Johns

Hopkins University, started on Feb. 15.

Sanchez brings more than 20 years of experience in

student affairs and residence life, including the past 15

years overseeing student programming, housing, health

and wellness, diversity and inclusion, and student

conduct. She joined The Johns Hopkins University in

2013 as Associate Dean of Student Experience where

she provided leadership for student orientation and the

first-year experience as well as student arts programming,

fraternity and sorority life, and student leadership and

involvement. Previously, she served as Director of New

Student Programs at American University, 2001-2013,

and held positions with Youth for Understanding

International Exchange and Heidelberg College in Ohio.

Sanchez is a graduate of the University of New Mexico

and holds a Master’s in College Student Personnel from

Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Read about our new Vice President of University Advancement on page 23.

Rosewood: Preparing the Way for Our FutureIn summer 2017, Stevenson University reached an agreement

with the state of Maryland to acquire the former Rosewood

Center property in Owings Mills. The 117-acre site is adjacent

to Stevenson’s existing Owings Mills campus and nearly dou-

bles the total acreage of the University.

The Rosewood project proceeds as scheduled with the

completed remediation and demolition of 20 buildings on

the site this spring. Stevenson’s next step will be to secure the

permits needed from the State of Maryland to begin grading

the site. Site grading will help us set the stage for the future

development of infrastructure such as roads, athletic fields, and

recreational facilities. We are excited about the possibilities that

Rosewood will offer our students. Stay tuned for updates.

3STEVENSON.EDU |

Tiffany Sanchez

NEWSB R I E F S

Student Design Agency Provides Real-World Career Connection

Last fall, students in the inaugural Design Center

course taught in the School of Design learned first-

hand how it is to work for more than one client. The

course, co-taught by Stephanie Verni, M.F.A., Professor

of Business Communication, and Inna Alesina, M.F.A.,

Assistant Professor of Art, served as an integrated mar-

keting communication agency during the fall semester,

tasking students with understanding clients’ needs and

concerns.

The first client of the 18 students in the course—

who were business communication, graphic design,

and film and moving image majors—was the School of

Design itself. Their mission: to establish a new Design

Center. Students researched possible names and created

brand identities to showcase the in-house, student-run

agency. These were pitched to faculty in the School of

Design who ultimately chose the name “The Mill at

Stevenson University.”

Once The Mill was established, the students focused

on their second client, the Eastern Communication

Association (ECA). Leeanne Bell McManus, Ph.D.,

Professor of Business Communication, was in charge of

planning the annual convention for ECA in Pittsburgh,

Pa., held April 25-29, and she worked with the students

in The Mill course to promote the event. Students

created collateral such as invitations, brochures,

convention logos, 30-second videos, and social media

messages to spread the word about Pittsburgh, ECA,

and the convention.

Founded in 1910, the Eastern Communication

Association is the oldest professional communication

association in the United States, and Stevenson

students were able to work with scholars, teachers, and

other students from across the region. Students from

The Mill also presented on a panel at the convention,

sharing their experiences of working with a client

based on what they learned in the classroom.

4 | VENTURES/SUMMER 2018

NEWSB R I E F S

Director of Bands Leads U.S. Army Band

This spring, Mark Lortz, Interim Director of Music

and Director of Bands, had the honor of directing

the United States Army Field Band as they prepared

for the Norsk Militær (Norwegian Military) Tattoo.

The tattoo, which was held April 20-21, is a military

music show held every two years with participants

from Norway and abroad. With more than 800 par-

ticipants on stage, it is Norway's largest indoor show.

Lortz was contacted by the Army Field Band—

one of six premiere military bands in the world—to

help design the show and then teach it to the band

members. “Many of the band members have never

had marching experience, except for boot camp,”

Lortz explains. “I met with the design team to get an

initial idea of the program and offer suggestions on

what would be the most impactful moments of the

show.” He also spent several rehearsals with the band

working on marching fundamentals, choreography,

and musical performance.

“The Army band was the only U.S. band invited to

the prestigious international event and represented

our country proudly,” says Lortz.

Two Fraternities Coming to CampusAfter assessing student interest and requests, Stevenson Uni-

versity has decided to invite two national fraternities, Phi Mu

Delta and Phi Beta Sigma, to colonize on campus. They will

complement the university’s two sororities, Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority, Inc., and Phi Sigma Sigma.

A committee of faculty, staff, and student representatives

was created to consider the Stevenson community’s needs and

expectations, to evaluate proposals from fraternities, and to

select groups to invite to campus. After a thorough review of the

proposals and community meetings, the committee offered two

nationally recognized fraternities the opportunity to become

part Stevenson’s new Fraternity and Sorority Life community.

Starting in fall 2018, Phi Mu Delta and Phi Beta Sigma Fra-

ternity, Inc., will begin the process to become Stevenson’s first

two fraternities. Representatives of each organization will host

interest and informational events on campus in the fall, dates

to be announced, for students who wish to become founding

members of the fraternities in fall 2018.

To watch a video about Mark Lortz’s experience in training the band, go to the online version of this article at stevenson.edu/ventures.

STEVENSON.EDU | 5

NEWSB R I E F S

New University Honors Program To Launch in

Fall 2019

The university is developing a new four-year Honors Program that brings to-

gether honors general education classes with honors experiences in students’

majors to help them become independent, creative, and analytical thinkers.

The Honors Program will allow students to build relationships and make con-

nections between disciplines and with faculty and fellow students and to pur-

sue research and scholarship.

Rivka Glaser, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology, has been selected to be

the Honors Faculty Director and will lead the further development of the

program. The students in the Honors Program as well as those in our Service

and Leadership Programs will have opportunities for exceptional experiences

such as meeting distinguished political, social, and cultural leaders through

the Baltimore Speakers Series.

For a longer version of this article, please go to the online version at stevenson.edu/ventures.

Stevenson has received approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission to offer the

state’s first online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. Combining cyber-

security concepts and skills with those in the field of digital forensics creates a unique degree

specifically designed to respond to the growing demand for more specialists with the expertise to

combat cyber crimes. The program will begin in fall 2018 for Stevenson University Online and

fall 2019 for traditional undergraduates in the School of Business and Leadership.

New Program Approved by MHEC: Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

Mission: I’m Home Celebrates

10 Years of Service

The Mission: I’m Home student service

organization is celebrating its 10-year an-

niversary by continuing to help rehabilitate

communities in New Orleans, Baton Rouge,

New Jersey, Staten Island, and Baltimore.

These trips give students the opportunity to

spend their breaks helping those in need.

During the past decade, nearly 700

students have attended 25 service trips that

have helped more than 50 families.

Stevenson Service and Leadership Scholars meet award-winning National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen.


WANT MORE? Check out gomustangsports.com and find videos, photographs, stats, schedules, interviews, and much more. To stay up-to-date, bookmark the site and visit it frequently.

NEWSB R I E F S

Mustang Club Launched to Support Athletics

Since the launch of its official athlet-

ics program in 1994, Stevenson Uni-

versity has been dedicated to recruit-

ing talented student-athletes who

are committed to excellence both on

and off the field.

Members of the Mustang Club

will be able to help support our

student-athletes and allow the uni-

versity to remain competitive in the

Mid Atlantic Conference and at the

national level.

Gifts will create a positive impact

on the experience of current and

future student-athletes while assist-

ing in the creation of opportunities

where they can become champions

in the classroom, in the community,

and in competition.

Learn more about the Mustang

Club on page 31.

Mustang Champs!Saluting our teams that won conference

finals this spring.

Men’s GolfMen’s Ice Hockey

Women’s Ice HockeyMen’s Indoor Track and Field

Men’s LacrosseMen’s Outdoor Track and Field

Men’s VolleyballWomen’s Volleyball

7STEVENSON.EDU |

FIERCE ATHLETESFIERCE SUPPORT

MUSTANG CLUBMUSTANG CLUB

The Growth of EsportsAT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

NEXT LEVEL:

BY EMILY REELY


STEVENSON.EDU | 9

In February, Stevenson opened its new student activities space on the Owings Mills campus, the Garrison Hall Student Commons. Among the features of this modern, student-friendly area is a state-of-the-art esports suite, home to Stevenson’s esports club.

Esports is a new venture for the university—but

it’s a popular one. In esports, short for “electronic

sports,” individuals and teams play a schedule of

video game matches and competitions. Although

the global presence of professional esports really

only began to surge in the 2010s, today it has

millions of followers watching the games on a live

streaming video platform.

The events are held in arenas around the

world, oftentimes drawing more viewers than

the NBA, NHL, and MLB championship games.

Top professional players can earn hundreds of

thousands of dollars annually in endorsements

and prize earnings.

On the collegiate level, growth has been

remarkably swift. In 2014, Robert Morris

University announced its scholarship-sponsored

League of Legends team. Now, there are more

than 60 programs at U.S. universities and its

momentum isn’t slowing. For example, 22 percent

of all millennial-aged men watch esports, a

number nearly equal to those in that demographic

watching baseball or hockey. Additionally,

Newzoo—a leading provider of market information

about global games and esports—projects that

To watch a video about Stevenson esports, go to stevenson.edu/SUesports

college esports will be a $1.5 billion industry by the

year 2020.

“There is a clear desire for collegiate level esports,

and it only seems to be growing,” says Vice President

of Enrollment Management Mark Hergan. “We are

proud to offer esports as a modern, community-

building experience for both our current and

incoming students.”

BRINGING ESPORTS TO CAMPUS

“When we were approached about adding a serious

esports arena, we felt that it was another extension

of appealing to more students, especially in this area

where esports offerings are harder to come by than,

say, the West Coast,” Hergan notes. “We thought,

‘How could we use the existing space we had on the

Owings Mills campus as a tool for those interested

in this emerging and evolving sport?’”

Hergan was approached by Tyler Price (computer

information systems ’17), a graduate student in the

university’s Business and Technology Management

program, who saw a need for esports during his

undergraduate years. He served as the catalyst for


THE GROWTH OF ESPORTS

STEVENSON.EDU | 11


Tyler Price (computer information systems ’17), a graduate student in the university’s Business and Technology Management program, saw a need for esports at Stevenson during his undergraduate years. He approached the administration and served as the catalyst for getting the program off the ground.



SU

making esports a serious group on campus because while

the video games club was popular it didn’t meet the needs

of players who wanted to play more competitively, he says.

“Having esports and the esports arena here can reach

students that Stevenson may not have been reaching

otherwise,” Price explains. “I wanted to break the mold

of students not leaving their room to play video games to

making a community centered on video games where people

actually come together.”

The new Esports Suite is impressive, containing 25 custom

gaming PCs with 144hz monitors, special gaming chairs, a

wall-mounted flat-screen TV, and a projector. The players

can use the room to practice individually or within teams,

or to host gaming-related events such as viewing parties, in-

house tournaments, and more.

“When I started here a year ago, we only had a classroom

of computers to practice with,” says League of Legends

Coach and Esports Advisor Jonathon Neely. “Then we made

the move to the esports arena and it was so exciting to

watch. Out of other participating colleges on the East Coast,

we are absolutely ahead in terms of facilities—we have one

of the best esports rooms around.”

Because the sport is so new, each college manages its

program in differing ways. They can fall under the auspices

of athletic departments, student affairs, and even academic

departments; Stevenson’s esports program currently falls

under Club Sports.

As with other sports programs, recruiting the right players

is crucial. Currently, much of recruitment is by word of

mouth, but esports programs can follow a player’s rank by

watching their game stats. Beyond identifying players who

excel, the recruiting process is similar to that of traditional

college sports in establishing a coach-player relationship.

MORE THAN JUST A GAMEMouse clicks, keyboard taps, and the occasional words of

frustration fill the room three days a week for practices, with

official scrimmages falling on Wednesday evenings. The

noise levels increase as the games progress. Conversation

becomes louder. Clicks and taps become more energetic,

and people gather to watch the main competitor’s screen.

This is all part of what makes esports a team event—the

energy is dynamic.

Price, who was a co-founder of the original Stevenson

League of Legends (a multi-player game) team, sought to

build the program up by building it around that team and

then branching into other games such as Overwatch (a first-

person game). These are two of the most popular games in

esports competition and attract a diverse range of players.

“This is a community of players for people who are striving

to improve,” says Luke Zarcone, freshman psychology major

and esports player. “When I saw the esports suite on my

campus tour, I saw an environment I had never experienced.

When I entered the room I just knew Stevenson was for me.

I didn’t see this anywhere else.”

Sarah Kruse, a junior biochemistry major and esports team

player, says that being part of the program has benefited her

commuter student experience. “I’ve made friends here that

I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I’ve felt nothing but support

in the gaming community on campus.”

In addition, as with other student athletics and club

activities, the program gives students a well-rounded college

education. “Esports helps you apply the skills you are

learning in the classroom, whether it’s teamwork, computer

building, marketing, social media, and more,” Price notes.

And even if you don’t play, you’re always welcome to

watch.

“ When I saw the esports suite on my campus tour, I saw an environment I had never experienced. When I entered the room I just knew Stevenson was for me. I didn’t see this anywhere else.”

STEVENSON.EDU | 13


14 | VENTURES/SUMMER 2018

PROFESSIONAL MINORS

New Professional Minors Give Students a Major AdvantageBY SHERRY BITHELL

STEVENSON.EDU | 15

PROFESSIONAL MINORS

PROFESSIONAL VS. TRADITIONAL MINORSBoth discipline and professional minors give

students the opportunity to learn outside of

their field and tailor their education to their

own specific interests, but they differ in their

primary focus. Where traditional, discipline-

specific minors such as English, economics, or

music give a student a more in-depth education

in an academic field relevant to their major or

their personal interests, the new professional

minors focus on introducing students to in-de-

mand professions and industries when coupled

with their major, provide them with additional

career options after graduation.

Each professional minor consists of four

courses designed to teach foundational

knowledge related to a discipline or industry. The

courses will be supplemented by programming

hosted by the Office of Career Services.

“This new, career-centered credential is

another example of how Stevenson helps its

students stand out in a competitive job market,”

says Bridget Brennan, Ph.D., Assistant Vice

President of Academic Affairs. “Adding a solid

knowledge base and workforce experience in

one of these industries to the skills and career

preparation they gain in their major will give

students the versatile skills employers want and

open up new career paths for them.”

The professional minors will officially

launch in fall 2018 but the program is being

embraced by faculty in different programs

across campus. Students have already begun

declaring professional minors, and Student

Success Coaches, Academic Advisors, and

Career Services staff are positioned to help

students decide whether they might benefit

from declaring a professional minor.

Stevenson has always looked for ways to provide its students with a competitive

edge in their career paths, and now, the university has introduced five professional

minors specifically created to do so. These new minors—Applied Management,

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Human Resources, Real

Estate, and Software Design and Coding—were conceived to expand students’

career options and offer an opportunity to shape their education to meet their

specific career goals.

STEVENSON HELPS

ITS STUDENTS

STAND OUT IN A

COMPETITIVE

JOB MARKET


PROFESSIONAL MINORS

HOW: Provides a foundation in busi-

ness management through the study

of management fundamentals, em-

ployee relations, and organizational

leadership.

WHY: “An Applied Management pro-

fessional minor pairs well with any

School of the Sciences major,” says

Meredith Durmowicz, Dean of the

Fine School of the Sciences. “For in-

stance, a science major who pursues

an advanced degree in a medical field

would use skills from an Applied

Management professional minor in

setting up and managing their own

medical practice. An Applied Man-

agement professional minor can also

help science majors who intend to

pursue a career in industry by giving

them a strong foundation for leader-

ship and management positions.”

APPLIED MANAGEMENT

MORE ABOUT THE MINORS: DESCRIPTIONS

AND SAMPLE OUTCOMES

OF PAIRING A MAJOR WITH

ONE OF THE NEW MINORS

HOW: Prepares students to understand

the skills and commitment required to

start a new venture or build a small busi-

ness; to organize and write a complete busi-

ness plan that can be used to start a new

business and apply for venture capital; and

to set appropriate marketing objectives for

small business growth.

WHY: “As a graphic designer, I will likely

experience freelancing at some point in my

career, and might even choose to begin my

own photography/freelance design career

one day,” says Hailey Guit, Graphic Design

’20. “This minor offered me a chance to

learn about how to manage and be success-

ful in any business endeavors.”

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

SU

STEVENSON.EDU | 17

PROFESSIONAL MINORS

A CONNECTION TO CAREERSue Gordon, Vice President of Career Services, is quick to note that

the professional minors aren’t just about classes—they’re suffused

with career experiences.

“There are three elements to the career-related aspect of the

professional minors,” she says. “There will be sponsored internships

developed specifically for the minor. For example, a real estate minor

will have an internship at an agency. There also will be panels with

professionals who are working in the industry related to the minor.

And finally, with employer site visits, students would travel to a

business to learn about the industry, how the company recruits, and

what skills truly apply to that field.”

The panels will begin this fall, she says,

with internships and site visits beginning

in fall 2019.

Gordon also notes that she would

embrace the opportunity to partner with

Stevenson alumni working in any of the

fields related to the new professional

minors on sponsored internships and

panels.

Overall, the new professional minors are

yet another example of Stevenson’s goal of

connecting students to careers both in and

out of the classroom.

“The professional minors allow students

to customize their experience at Stevenson

to reflect their unique skills, interests, and

career goals. They also provide students

with additional possibilities in response to

the important question, ‘What do I want

to do when I graduate?’ ” Brennan says.

HOW: Provides a foundation for ca-

reers in the human resources indus-

try through the study of workforce

development, compensation and

planning, and employee relations.

WHY: Jeffrey D. Elliott, Ph.D., Profes-

sor of Psychology and Department

Chair, says “A minor in Human Re-

sources may be attractive to Psychol-

ogy majors who want to apply their

skills in a workplace or business set-

ting rather than in a clinical or re-

search setting. The minor can help to

make them competitive for an entry-

level position in HR, where they might

focus on recruitment and training of

employees or on employee relations.”

HUMAN RESOURCES

HOW: Provides instruction in the ba-

sics of the commercial real estate in-

dustry and offers core skills for entry-

level work in the fields of commercial

real estate and development.

WHY: “There are many job oppor-

tunities for paralegals and lawyers

in the real estate field,” says Hilary

Michaud, Chair and Professor of Law

and Justice Studies. “While they could

work for law firms, they could also

work for title companies, real estate

brokerage firms, estate-specific types

of employers, and more.”

REAL ESTATE

HOW: Provides a foundation in information

systems to prepare students to perform indus-

try-specific IT tasks in the workplace through

the study of programming and technology in-

frastructures.

WHY: Laura Smith, Chair and Associate Pro-

fessor of English Language and Literature says,

“Tech companies need people with those clas-

sic English skills in storytelling, communica-

tion, and complex thinking. At the same time,

English majors who want writing careers will

be increasingly writing in digital spaces. They

need to graduate with the ability to understand

and navigate digital platforms, including cod-

ing, information architecture, and design.”

SOFTWARE DESIGN AND CODING

GARRISON HALL NORTH ENTRANCE NEW QUAD

ESPORTS SUITE

STUDENT LOUNGE

GAMING ROOM

CLAIRE E. MOORE STUDENT ACTIVITIES

ROOM

MUSTANG ROOM

ESPORTS SUITE

Home to the university’s esports team, this room has numerous consoles and a large television where players can watch live-streaming matches. Learn more about esports on page 8.

STUDENT LOUNGE

Upon entering the Garrison Hall Student Commons, you’ll find the Student Lounge, a casual area for students to relax and chat.

GAMING ROOM

This room offers all students a place to play! With 10 consoles and numerous video games available on loan, the new Gaming Room is a popular spot.

CLAIRE E. MOORE STUDENT ACTIVITIES ROOM

The Claire E. Moore Student Activities Room, named for Stevenson’s longtime Vice President of Student Activities (see page 28), provides a flexible space for formal and informal meetings.


GARRISON HALL STUDENT COMMONS

ESPORTS SUITE

COMMONS MEETING ROOM

COMMONS MEETING ROOM

COMMONS FITNESS CENTEROPEN

LOUNGE

Garrison Hall Student Commons

COMMONS FITNESS CENTER

Offering stairmasters, elliptical machines, and weightlifting equipment, this fitness center is now one of three on the Owings Mills campus available to students, faculty, and staff.

COMMONS MEETING ROOMS

In addition to the Claire E. Moore Room, two meeting rooms offer venues for members of student clubs and other organizations to gather.

OPEN LOUNGE

The lounge provides more space for students to meet and study.

STEVENSON.EDU | 19

GARRISON HALL STUDENT COMMONS

ADVANCING THE MISSION


Alumni@WorkIn The Company of AlumniAs our alumni move through their careers,

many choose to establish businesses of

their own. These entrepreneurs seek em-

ployees who can help them to grow and

achieve success, and some have recognized

that the best resource is in their own back-

yard: Stevenson graduates.

Classmates and visual communication

design graduates Bryna Stello Colley ’06

and Rebecca Smith Biello ’06 founded

2fold Collective in 2012. Their company’s

mission is to help clients love their brand,

and their team treats each project as an op-

portunity to make that brand a little more

amazing. To help accomplish that goal,

Colley and Biello brought two SU alumni—

also visual communication design majors—

onto their team: Alyson Cockrell ’14 and

Alex Neric Pak ’15.

When asked why she looks toward Ste-

venson graduates, Colley explains, “We

have a great relationship with Stevenson

and meet many students at portfolio reviews

and networking events. We like to support

Stevenson—and the students—however we

can. In addition to being great designers,

Stevenson students have a well-rounded

liberal arts education. Being a designer isn’t

just about making something ‘look pretty,’

it’s about communicating effectively and

thinking about your work from a business

perspective, not just a creative perspec-

tive. An education at Stevenson prepares

students to approach design in this way.”

STEVENSON.EDU/GIVING | 21

From Student to Employee Networking, applications, interviews—re-

member how intimidating it can be? Be-

fore our students step into the professional

world, they must be prepared to successfully

navigate these crucial steps that lead to em-

ployment or even internships. Many of our

graduates can attest to the important role

of the Office of Career Services in helping

with these skills and offering opportunities

to connect with employers.

Did you know that alumni also have access

to these services?

More Than a Business Investment“ Through my relationship with clubs like ENACTUS and our partnership with the Career Center, I have been able to connect with Stevenson students and hire them into our company. At Enterprise, we believe in giving back to the organizations that support us, and one way we can do that is with the scholarship grant.”

– Elizabeth Hardesty, Enterprise Holdings

Stevenson has built strong relationships with a variety of local businesses: vendors who have provided

crucial services over many years, companies that offer student internships and employ our graduates,

and others who recognize the benefits of collaboration. Many of these businesses have taken the next

step and become members of Stevenson Partners, providing vital tuition support to our students.

Nearly 30 corporate members contributed $85,000 in scholarship awards for the 2017-2018 academic

year. This generosity in turn benefits those companies because Stevenson Partner members employ

more than 200 SU graduates, helping students to succeed who may one day be part of their team.

8,500+ 226 EMPLOYERS CAME ON CAMPUS FOR NETWORKING/RECRUITING EVENTS

IN 2016-2017:

JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS WERE ADVERTISED

In February, Stevenson’s communication club, '47 House, hosted their 2nd annual BizMix event, a career networking night with a professional panel and Q&A session. Panel participants included Marianne Martino (Gaga Marketing), Amy Nelson (Biohabitats), Jessica Kartalija (CBS Baltimore), Emma Ragon ’16 (Whiting-Turner), Kaitlin Kirkwood ’17 (Discovery Communications), Megan McSwain ’16 (Chesapeake Conservatory), Dayne Turner ’17 (W.B. Mason), and Adam Oberfeld ’94 (Entrepreneur/Freelancer).

If you would like information about how your company can partner with Stevenson, contact Derek

Spahr, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and Special Gifts, at [email protected] or

443-334-2195.

mailto:[email protected]



Life as a student creates myriad memories,

many cherished and some, perhaps, filed under

“lessons learned.” We want to help you make new

memories. The Office of Alumni Relations strives

to make the alumni experience more meaningful

by creating satisfying opportunities to engage with

current students and add value to their Stevenson

experience. You can make a difference from the

moment they set foot on campus to the moment

they turn the tassels on their graduation caps.

Whether assisting at a college fair, an Open House,

an Accepted Student Dinner, an Adulting seminar,

or a milestone occasion such as Commencement,

alumni have the ability to make a meaningful

impact.

One opportunity that provides the chance to

truly be hands-on is New Student Move-In Day

each August as incoming freshmen, new transfer

students, and their families face the exhilarating

but daunting task of moving into the residence

halls. Alumna Donna Kahoe ’99 is an enthusi-

astic champion of her alma mater and also serves

on the university’s Board of Trustees. She has as-

sisted at Move-In Day for the past two years and

provides these insights into the experience.

SU: What do you enjoy most about assisting with

New Student Move-In Day?

Kahoe: The excitement of both the incoming

students and their parents/family. Everyone is

excited, some are bit apprehensive, and if we can

tap into that with them it becomes infectious. So

I would say helping to calm nerves and make the

day less sad and stressful is the biggest plus for

me. I think the appreciation from the students

and their families for us doing that is a great

feeling. SU does such a terrific job in coordinating

the entire day, which is much appreciated and

somewhat unexpected. The experience makes me

very proud to be a part of the SU family.

SU: Do you have a favorite memory from Move-In

Day in 2016 or 2017?

Make a Memory, Make a Difference

Kahoe: The comments from students and parents are amazing:

“Everyone’s smiling here!”

“Wow, we don’t have to move anything?”

“This is SO organized!”

“Other schools could take a lesson from SU on how to do this!”

My best memory is Dr. Hirshman walking amongst the students

and trash bins full of stuff in the parking lot to greet the parents

and students—it was great.

SU: What compelled you to volunteer at Move-In Day a second

time?

Kahoe: It is fun! And it is also a great way to interact with the

current and incoming students.

Alumni making a memorable Move In Day: (left to right) Tonia Cristino ’08 ’10M, Morgan Somerville ’14M, Katie Decker Reilly ’10 ’12M, Susan Fisher Humphries ’70, Allison Humphries ’11, Marcia Neuburger ’05, Donna Kahoe ’99.

Would you like to make a difference? Contact Allison

Humphries ’11, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni

Relations, at [email protected] or 443-334-2063.




Christopher R. Vaughan was appointed as the

new Vice President for University Advancement,

bringing a well-rounded background in philan-

thropy as well as deep connections in the Greater

Baltimore community. He joined Stevenson on

Jan. 29, 2018.

“I am excited to be here at Stevenson and am

looking forward to working with our alumni,

donors, and colleagues across campus to advance

our mission. The Stevenson community feels like

a family, and it is a privilege and pleasure to be

here,” says Vaughan.

A native of Baltimore, Vaughan served as

the Division Director for Development at

Associated Catholic Charities for four years.

In this role, he oversaw major and lead gifts,

annual giving, program giving, planned giving,

grants, development events, and donor services.

During his tenure, the agency saw significant

increases in annual and program giving support,

planned gifts, donor retention, and new donor

acquisition.

Prior to joining Catholic Charities, Vaughan

served in advancement for Loyola University

Maryland, his alma mater, for 11 years. His roles

included Director of Annual Giving, Director

of Planned Giving, and Special Assistant to the

Vice President for Development and College

Relations. He began his career at Deutsche Bank

Alex. Brown, the oldest investment banking firm

in the United States, where he was an analyst in

the Margin Group, managing investment margin

accounts for several branch offices across the

country.

A graduate of Calvert Hall, Vaughan earned

both his bachelor’s degree and Master of Business

Administration from Loyola.

Christopher R. Vaughan

Stevenson Welcomes New VP for University Advancement



“The best time to plant a tree

was 20 years ago. The second

best time is today.”

– Chinese proverb


We are truly grateful for the foresight and generosity of the members of the Great Oaks Society. Like those who plant a tree

that will grow to maturity many years in the future, these individuals have chosen to make arrangements now for a gift that will

later benefit the university through their estate plans, such as the contribution of stocks or securities, or through a charitable

bequest or gift annuity. Recently, the university received three such thoughtful gifts directed to the financial and academic

support of our students for years to come. While we are saddened by the loss of these friends, it is our privilege to honor their

philanthropic spirit.

Kitty Franklin Cromwell ’75

Class of 1975 graduate Kitty Franklin

Cromwell passed away in November

2016. A long-time supporter of her

alma mater, she instructed that a

portion of her estate go toward the

Carolyn Manuszak Scholarship Fund

in Memory of Dr. T.J. Manuszak, which

provides tuition support to incoming

freshmen and new transfer students

with financial need. This bequest

was made in memory of Carolyn

Manuszak, former president of Villa

Julie College. During her time as a

student in the 1970s, Cromwell felt

close to Manuszak and Rose Daw-

son, who provided dedicated leader-

ship. She had special appreciation

for Manuszak’s open-door policy

that encouraged free communica-

tion with students. Cromwell be-

came a world traveler with visits

to Vietnam, China, and the British

Isles. This global perspective shaped

her philosophy of “working for world

peace and the awareness of all life’s

oneness.”

Elizabeth and Robert McWethy

Helping to create well-rounded edu-

cators was the goal of Elizabeth “Liz”

McWethy. As a faculty member, she

developed the Preschool Education

Department at Villa Julie College in the

1970s and prepared preschool teachers

for the new Head Start Program. For

many years, the university has recog-

nized her spirit with an annual award

to a graduating senior, the Elizabeth

McWethy Award.

In 2007, Mrs. McWethy and her hus-

band, Captain Robert McWethy, estab-

lished the Elizabeth and Robert McWethy

Visiting Scholars Fund in Education at

Stevenson University, funded through a

charitable gift annuity that provided the

McWethys with an income during their

lifetime. In addition to being an edu-

cation advocate, McWethy was a poet,

artist, and environmental activist. She

passed away in October 2014. Captain

McWethy, a commissioned officer from

the U.S. Naval Academy who enjoyed a

lifetime career in the Navy, passed away

in January 2018.

Jeanne Cohen Savage

Stevenson’s largest single gift from

an individual came from someone

with no connection to the univer-

sity; she was simply looking for a

deserving institution to receive a

substantial legacy. Jeanne Cohen

Savage lived in Pikesville for many

years before moving to Ocean City,

Md. She flew her own plane, had an

interest in art, and assisted with her

husband’s business. When she began

to investigate estate planning, an in-

terest in higher education led her to

Stevenson. She was impressed with

our career guidance and student sup-

port, which she had not received as a

college student.

In September 2017, Savage passed

away, leaving half of her estate to

Stevenson—more than $2 million.

She directed this transformational

gift to establish an endowed scholar-

ship fund, to benefit many genera-

tions to come. We are proud to hon-

or her through the Eugene and Jeanne

Savage Endowed Scholarship Fund.

If you would like information about planned giving options, contact Meghan Culbertson,

Assistant Vice President for Advancement, at [email protected] or 443-334-2227.




In celebration of the foundation laid by Villa Julie

College that is carried on with pride as Stevenson

University, VillaFest Weekend is an important

tradition, bringing students, alumni, and fami-

lies together. Volleyball tournaments and a food

truck rally were part of the community activities,

and former soccer players showed that they still

have the Mustang spirit as alumni from the men’s

and women’s teams continued their own tradition

through friendly matches at Mustang Stadium.

VillaFest Celebrates Our Past and FutureThe heart of VillaFest is the Reunion Brunch,

held on April 29, which brings VJC and SU alumni

back to renew friendships and build new ones. Cur-

rent students also attended, comparing experiences

with alumni of campus life then and now, main-

taining the connection that brings our past and

future together under one vision. Special acknowl-

edgment was made of members of reunion classes

ending in 2, 3, 7 and 8 as well as Jubilarian Society

members from the classes of 1949-1969.

CLASS NOTES

1983Our condolences to Marlene Greenebaum on the passing of her husband, Stewart, on Dec. 10, 2017.

1985Glen Geelhaar ’85 ’02 ’07 is running for a seat on the Baltimore County Council in 2018 as a representative from the Sixth District.

1989Our condolences to Chris Engel ’89 ’91 on the passing of his father on Jan. 6, 2018.

1998Mindy Myers Hinsley serves as chair of the Professional Marketer’s Leadership Exchange, which meets regularly throughout the year and is comprised of senior-level marketing professionals from local engineering and architectural firms. She is the President of Hinsley Collective, LLC, a professional services marketing consulting and leadership training firm established in 2014.

1999After returning from Iraq and completing his 11th deployment, John Wilson recently moved to Miami, Fla., to be an instructor at the Army Trauma Training Detachment. On Jan. 1, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army.

2003David “Dave” Crisp, CPA, was recently promoted to Principal at Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra, LLC. Dave has more than 15 years of public accounting experience and has worked extensively on audit, review, compilation, and tax engagements in various industries including real estate and construction. He also provides audit services to employee benefit plans such as 401(k), Defined Benefit, ESOP, and other plans. He joined the firm in January 2001 as an intern from Stevenson and was hired full-time in spring 2003 after graduation.

Greg Goodwin ’03 ’05M has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer at Kiddie Academy.

Abby Ferretti Jackson is the Creative Director at The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She writes that her first hire at Carey was a fellow SU graduate, Kelly Knapp Cumberledge ’99, who is the new Marketing Operations Manager.

2005Catherine Benson Blum and her husband, Jesse ’05, welcomed their second daughter, Aria Grace, on Jan. 13, 2017. She joins big sister Lucy Marie, who turned three years old in September.

1963Our condolences to CeCe Di Giorgio Brooks Hilte, her daughter Molly Brooks Helmstetter ’90, and grandson Christopher Clay Hilte ’08 on the passing of their husband, father, and grandfather, Larry, on May 13, 2017.

1967At the end of December 2017, Claire Mosmiller Moore ’67 ’03 retired from Stevenson University as Vice President for Student Affairs. Claire spent 35 years at VJC/SU starting in 1982 as Director of Student Activities. She served as Interim President from November 2016 until July 2017 when Elliot Hirshman joined the university.

1968Our condolences to Paula Salamone Bangs and her son, Thomas Bangs ’06, on the passing of her husband and his father, Patrick, on Oct. 16, 2017.

1971Bonnie Caslow Allan had her landscape paintings featured at Irvine Nature Center in an exhibit titled “Wandering Our World.” The exhibit ran from January through March.

1974Donna Croucher Morrison was named an outstanding community member by the Towson Chamber of Commerce at their inaugural “Toast of the Town” event in April. She was honored for her tireless work to lead the community in a positive and forward direction. Donna is the Deputy County Administrative Officer working with Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Our condolences to Donna on the passing of her mother on Dec. 16, 2017.

1975Catherine “Cathy” Anderson retired last July after working more than 24 years at Towson United Methodist Church as Director of Family Life and most recently as Director of Communications. At the same time, she moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania, where her son and his family now live. She plans to continue creating art while playing with grandchildren. Her studio is set up for fibers and stained glass, and she has been offered an opportunity to revisit metalsmithing and theater.

1981Linda-Lee Coles Adams and her husband, Brett, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in July 2017 with a trip to Old Montreal, Canada. Brett is the Director of Athletics at SU.

Blaire Aull Miller together with her husband, Brooks, and daughter, Alex, welcomed a second daughter, Reese Jillian, on June 19, 2017.

Paul Oakes married Marjorie Fitzpatrick on Nov. 4, 2017.

2007Marc Grossblatt enjoyed a trip to Norway and Denmark in August. Since graduating from SU, he has visited Greece, Italy, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Finland, and Costa Rica. Grossblatt plans to continue traveling and hopes to visit some countries in Latin America and Asia.

Jessie Merryman Stever and husband, Brian, welcomed their first child together, Kent David, born on Feb. 23, 2017. He joins a very excited big sister, Lucy, who is nine years old.

2008Tonia Cristino ’08 ’10M is engaged to Nick Ramsel ’13 ’14M, and the couple is planning a September wedding.

Amanda Courter ’08 ’10M is married to Graeme Millar and they have a daughter, Faith, who was born in 2017. The couple works at Stevenson. Amanda is a Senior Enrollment Counselor and Graeme is Associate Athletic Director and head men's soccer coach.

Jessie Halpern married Pete Stefaniak ’07 in 2011, and the couple has two daughters. Natalie is three-and-a-half years old and Jocelyn is eight months old.

Mickelle Gregory Johnson ’08 ’10M and her husband, Michael, welcomed a daughter, Michaela Elizabeth-Jean, born on Nov. 21, 2017.

Shantell Roberts was selected by Baltimore Magazine as one of 30 Baltimore Visionaries—change-makers who are shaping the future of Baltimore City—for developing a safe way for babies to sleep. In 2012 she established Touching Young Lives, a nonprofit focused on improving the well-being of infants and children through public education. Shantell also developed and is the founder of the Portable Alternative Crib (PAC), which is a simple cardboard box with firm padding that gives babies a comfortable and safe place to sleep beyond the family bed. For every one sold, an additional PAC will be given to a family in need.

2009In August 2017, Jen Milam started at Carroll Community College as the Director of Student Life where she oversees student clubs, orientation, leadership opportunities, programming, a food pantry, and more. She is excited to get back into the world of higher education after leaving Stevenson in 2016 for a position at a small nonprofit in Baltimore.


Claire Moore Scholarship Fund Honors Dedicated Leader of StudentsImagine someone who has dedicated her career to her

alma mater, striving to create a positive, meaningful

experience for thousands of students over decades.

And imagine that person leading with enthusiasm, and

helping to transform a two-year junior college into a four-

year university. How does a community honor someone

who has made such an impact? By following her example

and focusing on students—by creating a scholarship in

her name.

In 1982, Claire Moore ’67, returned to Villa Julie

College to serve as the Director of Student Activities.

Through her leadership and collaborative spirit, she

developed the residence life program, established an

athletics program, and helped to create the Wellness

Center. After serving as Vice President of Student Affairs

for more than 10 years, in 2016, Moore was selected to

serve as Stevenson’s Interim President upon the retirement

of President Kevin J. Manning. As Stevenson’s fifth

president, she continued her unwavering commitment to

our students’ success, growth, and well-being.

When Moore announced her intention to retire in

December 2017, the Senior Class Council decided to

honor her in the most fitting way they could imagine:

by creating an opportunity to help students. The Claire Moore Scholarship Fund will provide tuition support to a

senior who has contributed to the Stevenson community.

Claire Moore ’67, ’03 is the person who made Stevenson

a home for so many students. Throughout her 35-year

career at Stevenson, she led the university with her heart

and kept her focus on its students.

Join the Class of 2018 by making a gift to honor Claire Moore and be part of honoring her legacy.

CLASS NOTES

2010Elizabeth Brooks is the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.

Laura Smith Schenk ’10 ’15M is working as the Academic Progression Coordinator of Nursing at Harford Community College and Cecil College. Last November she attended the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Annual Convention in Arizona and received the first place poster award for her entry entitled “Cecil-Harford Academic Progression in Nursing Initiative.”

2011Kayla Eckert is working as an associate veterinarian at the Pulaski Veterinary Clinic in Baltimore, Md. She received the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016.

Katherine “Katie” Hoffman and Pat Mueller welcomed the arrival of daughter Aubrey Elizabeth Mueller on May 29, 2017.

Allison Humphries is engaged to Donald Cuneo, and the couple is planning a wedding on Dec. 1, 2018.

Brittany Kaier Meyers is a senior compliance analyst at ACell, Inc., a leading regenerative medicine company that develops and manufactures products designed to facilitate the body’s ability to repair and remodel tissue.

2012Courtney Burkett is a desktop support specialist in the IT Department at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Brandi Powers Downing ’12 ’13M was nominated for the UnitedHealth Group company-wide Superhero Award, which recognizes employees who provide exceptional customer service and contribute to company growth by delivering quality service and demonstrating cultural values while serving customers.

Nick Farano was among seven American citizens invited by Hands Along the Nile Development Services to take part in the Professional Fellow Program Outbound Exchange which took place in Egypt from Feb. 10-21. This is a professional development exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program seeks to foster professional partnerships between American experts and Egyptian colleagues and to contribute to intercultural understanding. The theme of the program was the empowerment of women and persons with disabilities. Nick is the Public Relations and Fundraising Manager for the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington. He recently completed a M.B.A. in project management from Capella University.

Renae Hunter and Brian Diller were married on Sept. 30, 2017. The ceremony and reception were held at the Columbus Center in Baltimore.

Bobby Jackson ’12 ’14M ’16M returned to SU last summer for training in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum. This training prepares high school educators to use hands-on, inquiry-based learning techniques to instruct PLTW students. Bobby teaches science at Glen Burnie High School.

Stephannie Krulevitz ’12M is an Assistant State Prosecutor in Maryland. She received the J.D. degree in 2015 from the University of Baltimore School of Law and clerked for the Honorable Julie L. Glass of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County following law school. She is admitted to practice before state and federal courts including Maryland, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Grant Simard and Kellie Forsyth ’13 are living in Virginia where Grant works as a contracts administrator at Agile Defense and Kellie works in IT at the Department of State. They both travel to a lot of work-related conferences and meetings and enjoy seeing new places in the U.S. and around the world.

Trisha Tucci is working as a Financial Aid Advisor at Towson University.

Congratulations to Kayla Wilson who graduated from the Michigan State School of Law in May. While in school she worked at Legal Aid in Michigan and also spent a semester in a Michigan State clinic teaching high school journalism students about the First Amendment.

2013Janel Frazier ’13, Zac Stavish ’13, Melissa Pinkney ’15, and Lauren Speiser ’15 presented at the AACTE (American Association for the Council of Teacher Accreditation) national conference held in March in Baltimore. They were joined by School of Education faculty member Beth Kobett. The title of the presentation was “A University-Led Induction: Using a Strengths-Based Inquiry Approach to Support Beginning Mathematics Teachers’ Success.”

Nick Hoban and Katie Evans ’14 are engaged and the couple is planning a September wedding.

Brian Lewis ’13 ’13M graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in January 2017. He took the Minnesota Bar Exam in February, passed, and was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in May 2017. He is currently an associate at Francis White Law in Woodbury, Minn., where he handles VA claims appeals and military law matters nationwide as well as Social Security issues.

Rachel Mullett and Justin Hedrick ’15 were married on Sept. 2, 2017, at the Alumni Memorial Chapel at Loyola University Maryland. The reception was held at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Md. Members of the wedding party included SU alumni Kristy

Watts Willingham ’12, Katie Stuck Winfield ’12, Brandon Bayer ’15, Frankie Reynolds ’15, and Corey Wassum ’16.

Ashley Nelson-Raut has joined the wealth preservation group practice at Pessin Katz Law P.A. Her practice focuses on advising clients in the areas of estate planning, elder care, estate and trust administration, and income taxation of trusts and estates.

Kelsie Rites, along with Kyle Pottieger ’16, Katie Madigan ’17, and Emily Ostrander ’17 from the School of Education’s Beginning Teacher Community, hosted a Job Interview Preparation Discussion for School of Education seniors on March 8, 2018.

Brandon Smith ’13 ’14M and Ciara Faupel ’16 were married on July 21, 2017.

Megan Smith and Jason Scroggins ’13 were married in May 2017, and the couple welcomed their first child, Lena, born on Feb. 11, 2018.

2014Jaiana Boskett is engaged to marry Shalise Harris, and a wedding is being planned for 2019.

Nicolas “Nico” Garcia ’14 ’16M began working with Solar City/Tesla in June 2016 and was promoted to Bilingual Field Energy Consultant in February 2017.

Michael MacFee ’14 ’17M has joined the Stevenson Department of Business Communication as an adjunct professor teaching Introduction to Public Speaking and Business and Professional Communication. He also works as a Communications Associate at Maryland Public Television.

Marissa Meiklejohn and Brooks Miller ’14 are engaged, and the couple is planning a June 2019 wedding.

Taylor Mongold and Justin Dudley ’14 are engaged, and the couple is planning an April 2018 wedding. Taylor is a school counselor with Baltimore County Public Schools, and Justin is an ICU nurse at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson.

After dating for five years, Chelsea Moog and Heath Johnson ’13 were married on June 16, 2017. The ceremony and reception took place at Belmont Manor in Elkridge, Md. The couple honeymooned in Thailand.

Samantha Perillo ’14 ’17M is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Medifast and is the assistant coach for the Stevenson women’s volleyball team. During her student years at SU, she was a premier volleyball player for the Mustangs.

Amanda “Mandi” Sheroke ’14 ’15M is continuing to pursue her dream of becoming a medical examiner. She will be attending Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., this fall to begin studies for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.


CLASS NOTES

2015Sergut Admasu ’15 ’17M is working as a Research Administrative Coordinator at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.

Jenifer “Jen” Antonelli ’15 is working for The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults as their 4K for Cancer Program Coordinator, Events and Recruitment. She will focus on organizing events for the runs and rides, and recruiting college students to participate in the cross-country events. Jen spent the summer of 2017 running across the United States with a group of volunteers to help raise money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund.

Marissa Sue Cote is the Center Director at Huntington Learning Center in Eldersburg, Md.

Bradley “Brad” Garfield started a new position as a Sales Development Associate at T. Rowe Price. He is completing work on a M.B.A. at Loyola University.

Thomas “TJ” Janasek is working as a teacher in the Howard County Public School System.

Janice Laforteza spent the summer before graduation as a Quality Systems Intern at the Living Legacy Foundation and was hired full time as a Donor Services Coordinator. The Living Legacy Foundation is the organ and tissue procurement organization for the State of Maryland.

Frank Reynolds is working as a copywriter at Compulse Integrated Marketing, which provides digital marketing services to help businesses keep growing.

Michael Talley is working as a pretrial investigator at the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

Benjamin “Ben” Trently and Sabrina Robbins ’16 were married on March 26 at The Cloisters.

Ben is the Assistant Director of Development for the Annual Fund at the Maryland Science Center and Sabrina is a paralegal at Royston, Mueller, McLean and Reid in Towson.

Dan Waters and Courtney Dreisch ’15 were married on Nov. 3, 2017, in Mt. Airy, Md. Four SU alumni were members of the bridal party: Abbie Wright ’11, Jessica Downs ’14, Corey Vincent ’15, and Mercedes Acevedo ’15. Dan and Courtney live in New Market, Md., and are both pursuing master’s degrees at UMUC and Hood College, respectively.

2016Henry Adjah-Provencal is working as a Debit Card Resolution Specialist at Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va.

Megan Donahue is working as an Office Solutions Associate with Brown Advisory in Baltimore.

Ryan Drazenovic ’16 ’17M is an Assistant Toxicologist in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maryland. Since graduation, he also has been teaching general chemistry lab at SU and will continue to teach in the evenings.

Brendan Dreitlein started a new full time job in March as a second assistant professional at the Greenspring Valley Hunt Club, where he will be giving golf lessons, managing the outside golf staff, running golf tournaments, and managing the day to day golf shop operations. He will be working toward his class A PGA certification. Brendan says that the opportunity presented itself for him to pursue his passion, and he gets the chance to play golf as well. He also works part-time as a marketing associate at Crown Trophy in Owings Mills.

Kimoya Henry is working as a paralegal at Summerfield, Willen, Silverberg & Limsky in Pikesville, Md. She is continuing her studies at

Stevenson and anticipates receiving a master’s degree in forensic investigations this year.

Heather Hughes ’16M is pursuing an Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner/Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Maryland. She has been a registered nurse for 13 years and credits her experience at SU with helping to ignite her passion to keep moving forward with her education. Hughes hopes to one day teach in a nurse practitioner program.

Chris McKneely designed the new logo for Roberto Clemente Middle School. His first design for the Montgomery County, Md., school is featured on the school’s website and emblazoned in the gymnasium.

Malik Naanaa ’16 ’17M started work in May 2017 as an Analytical Chemist working for the Delaware Division of Forensic Science. In addition to a training period, he had to complete 10 proficiency cases, an oral exam, and a mock trial before beginning actual casework in October.

Emily Rosenthal has started a job with the Catholic Review as a staff writer. One of her recent articles combines her Catholic heritage with her love of Carroll County. Emily is excited about the job, where she will be able to combine her reporting, writing, and editorial skills.

Dzov Singman was accepted to the M.D./Ph.D. program at the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and began her studies there last August.

2017Courtney Aceto is headed to Johns Hopkins University in September where she will be studying for a master’s degree in biotechnology with a concentration in biodefense and infectious diseases. She will be enrolled in a part-time graduate program geared toward working individuals, and she hopes this advanced degree will allow her to expand her future career opportunities and may lead to an M.D./Ph.D. program down the road.

Kristen Brooks and David Moler ’15 are engaged to be married in April 2019.

Michael “Mike” Byrd completed his capstone internship at Northwestern Mutual, a financial planning company. He accepted a job offer at Enterprise Holdings and is preparing to pursue a master’s degree.

Bryan Corvera-Flores is a Sales Assistant with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, a professional minor league baseball team that plays in the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Tiffany DaCosta is working as a help desk assistant at the Maryland Department of Budget and Management in Baltimore.

Class of 2015 graduates Courtney Dreisch and Dan Waters celebrated their marriage with several fellow alumni.


The MUSTANG CLUB—an initiative to support our student-athletes—launches this summer. Keep an eye out for the opportunity to join alumni, families, students, faculty, staff and friends of Stevenson University who BLEED GREEN.Become part of a team that understands the importance of offering an exceptional SU experience—and strengthening our standing—

MUSTANG CLUBMUSTANG CLUB

To learn more, contact [email protected] make your gift now, visit Stevenson.edu/GivetoSU.

JOIN THE CLUBDO YOU BLEED GREEN?

FIERCE ATHLETESFIERCE SUPPORT

by supporting the university’s intercollegiate athletics program. By raising funds through membership and special events, the Mustang Club helps to make this possible. Membership also carries special benefits such as SU branded merchandise, tickets to Mustang athletic events, naming opportunities, and VIP access. By providing this support, we abide by NCAA, athletic conference, and university regulations.

CLASS NOTES

Alumni, we want to hear what you’ve been doing!Please send us your news and photos on personal and professional achievements, marriage, family, travel, and memories of your time at VJC/SU. Submit your news and photos via mail to Alumni Notes, Stevenson University, Attn: Carolyn Douglas, 1525 Greenspring Valley Rd., Stevenson, MD 21153-0641; via e-mail to [email protected]; or submit them online at stevenson.edu/ventures.

Emily Dinsmore ’17M is an assistant field hockey coach at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. She served two seasons as a graduate assistant field hockey coach at SU working primarily with goalkeepers and defenders, and also worked in recruiting and as an academic mentor.

Congratulations to Melissa Fisher and Andrew Zink on receiving the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) National Student Honor Award. This is awarded to students who have at least a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate exemplary leadership and community service participation, are a student member of ASCP, and are completing their final year of an accredited MLS program. Melissa and Andrew were two of only 78 total recipients nationwide to receive this prestigious honor.

Kaitlin Kirkwood is working as a Discovery Communications Intern Program Coordinator. As an intern with Discovery Communications in 2017, she worked in event scheduling and impressed her co-workers with her energy and organization, so it was a smooth transition to this new position.

Ariana Merrifield is currently teaching in Thailand, and she took part in a live FaceTime conversation with SU students on the methods of teaching social studies. Ariana says that it had always been a dream to teach abroad after graduation, and she started doing research in her senior year. She found a program called CIEE Teach Abroad, and she chose Thailand.

Since she knew a few people who taught there and loved it, she decided to give it a go and has never looked back.

Adraine Mewborn ’17M is a registered nurse/diabetes educator at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Shawn Rollins is a registered nurse working at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. He and his wife, Rene, have two sons, Joshua and Caleb, and the family resides in Bel Air.

Stephanie Schwarz is engaged to Christopher Taylor, Jr., and the couple is expecting their first child in August.

Emily Shannon is working at Rymax Marketing Services providing general office support.

Fred Terry is working as a technical recruiter in contract engineering with Aerotek Systems. His strong interpersonal and public speaking skills led him to success with Aerotek, a top global and staffing agency.

In MemoriamMary Bess Fahy Call ’61 on Nov. 4, 2016

Tracey Burgess Cunningham ’82 on April 4, 2017

Jessica Anne Forbes ’13 on Aug. 18, 2017

Mary Frances Hock Fry ’81 on Oct. 28, 2017

Catherine Guttenberger Gabriel ’62 on Nov. 25, 2017

Ann Carole Stevenson Haddaway ’58 on Jan. 8, 2018

Anne Irby ’82 on Dec. 18, 2017

Kaitlin Noelle Tennison ’09 on Oct. 22, 2016

During the month of February, love was in the air—or on the web—as we launched #MustangLove on SU social media. We received stories from 26 alumni couples about how VJC/SU brought them together. It was an opportunity to share news on marriage, children, and other life events, some of which can be found in the Class Notes of this issue.

#StevensonSiblings was featured on National Sibling Day, April 10, where we invited alumni siblings to share photos and tell us why they both—or all—chose VJC/SU.

Watch for these upcoming opportunities to share your stories of SU family.

#FutureMustangs In September, we invite alumni to share photos of their babies.

#LegacyFamilies In November, alumni can share photos of themselves and their parents who also attended VJC/SU.

We Are Family


Continue your journey at a place you call home.

Alumni areeligible to receive a

$250 scholarshipupon enrolling in an SU

master’s program inFall 2018.*

• Career-focused programs that provide specialized skillsfor growing industries.

• Convenient sessions for working professionals.• Personalized attention in a supportive community.

In order to qualify you must be a new online student,accepted and enrolled for Fall 2018.

Visit stevenson.edu/alum250 or call1-877-531-7118 for more information or to apply.

*

As an alum, you know the valueof a Stevenson education.By pursuing your master’s with Stevenson University Online, you will have access to:

Master’s Degree Programs

Business and Technology ManagementCommunication StudiesCommunity-Based Education and LeadershipCrime Scene InvestigationCyber ForensicsDigital ForensicsForensic AccountingForensic InvestigationForensic ScienceForensic StudiesHealthcare ManagementMaster of Arts in Teaching: Math and Science with a STEM FocusNursing with concentrations in Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership/Management, and Population-Based Care Coordination

1525 Greenspring Valley Road Stevenson, Maryland 21153-0641

stevenson.edu

Are YOU counted this fiscal year?Time is running out to make your annual gift.

You may also choose to support important initiatives like those featured in these pages:

Claire E. Moore Scholarship FundMission: I’m HomeMustang Club

Your contribution enriches the experience of our students and creates grateful future alumni.

Make your gift today and be counted!Visit our secure online site at Stevenson.edu/GivetoSU or complete and return the enclosed envelope.

ventures · as seen on the cover of this issue of ventures, stevenson’s new quad opened this...

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