chatham alumni magazine

CHATHAM COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

COLLEGE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

COLLEGE FOR CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

SPRING2012

Chatham RecorderThe country’s oldest alumnae magazine continuously published since 1883

Editor-in-Chief Bill Campbell

Managing Editor Amanda Leff Ritchie

Design Consultant Krista Terpack, MBA ‘09

Copy EditorKelly Sjol

Marketing and Communications Assistant Julianne Victain ‘14

Information Systems Gary McKillop

Contributors Nancy Ambrosiano Mary Cvetan Fiona Fisher Doug Shanaberger Tina Tuminella

Photography John Altdorfer, Ric Evans

Design Think Tank Group www.thethinktankgroup.com

The Chatham Recorder is published biannually by the Office of Marketing and Communication, Dilworth Hall, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Letters or inquiries may be directed to the managing editor by mail at this address, by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at 412-365-1125.

SPRING 2012

It’s hard to believe that another spring has arrived on campus and along with that, another issue of the Chatham Recorder. With this issue, we’ve made some changes to the magazine in our efforts to ensure it helps you more easily connect to all that is going on at Chatham. In addition to the engaging coverage of alumni and University news that you’ve come to expect, look for special sections devoted to Chatham College for Women, the College for Graduate Studies, our online offerings in the College for Continuing and Professional Studies, and our University mission initiatives.

Within this issue, we highlight the work of alumna Mary Jo Wills ’73 and her academic outreach in Africa. Mary Jo’s work is a shining example of the power and importance of a strong liberal arts education in our world today. You will also want to read about the transformational gift given by trustee William S. Dietrich II, as well as two new professorships: the Karen Lake Buttrey Chair in Religion and Society and the Sigo Falk Chair in Social Justice and Sustainability.

As we now begin work on our next issue for the fall, we look forward to sharing more with you about our ongoing alumni outreach and fundraising efforts, as well as the latest information and groundbreaking details about the Eden Hall Campus. Your support will play an integral role in ensuring Chatham can become a leading national model for sustainable development and education.

We hope you enjoy this issue. If you have any suggestions or other thoughts you would like to share with us about the Recorder, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Ann J. Boyd-Stewart Vice President for University Advancement Chatham University

Bill Campbell Vice President for Marketing & Communications Chatham University

Dear Chatham Friends,

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Departments2 News briefs

4 Alumni events

14 Chatham College for Women

18 College for Graduate Studies

21 College for Continuing & Professional Studies

22 Mission initiatives Women’s leadership Sustainability and the environment Global understanding

27 In memory Remembering alumni, friends,

faculty, and sta!

28 New faces Introducing the new additions

to Chatham’s faculty and sta!

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ALUMNA PROFILE8 Mary Jo Wills ’73, former U.S. ambassador to the island republics of

Mauritius and Seychelles, works to bring positive change to Africa through academic outreach.

PHILANTHROPY PROFILE12 Long-time trustee William (Bill) S. Dietrich II lost his battle with cancer

in October 2011, but his legacy lives on through his many generous gifts to Pittsburgh institutions, including $5 million to support faculty excellence at Chatham.

RACHEL CARSON’S SILENT SPRING AT 5026 The best-selling and largely in!uential book about the hazards

of uncontrolled use of chemical pesticides, written by alumna Rachel Carson ’29, celebrates its golden anniversary this year.

Features

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2 CHATHAM UNIVERSITY • RECORDER • SPRING 2012

Chatham University recently announced the creation of two new endowed chairs: the Karen Lake Buttrey Chair in Religion and Society and the Sigo Falk Chair in Social Justice and Sustainability. The chairs are the result of two $1.25 million gifts.

The Karen Lake Buttrey Chair in Religion and Society was funded in honor of Chatham alumna and trustee Karen Lake Buttrey ’67. Karen served on Chatham’s Board of Trustees from 2004 until she passed away in November 2010. The chair was made possible by gifts from Karen’s parents, Thomas and Marjorie Lake; the Saltsburg Fund Charitable Trust; and Donald W. and Karen Lake Buttrey.

The Sigo Falk Chair in Social Justice and Sustainability is funded by the Falk Foundation and Sigo Falk, who has served as a member of Chatham’s Board of Trustees for 30 years. As chair, from 1995 to 2002, Sigo worked to advance the board's goals and stature within the local and national academic community.

These chairs were announced in conjunction with the $5 million gift from William (Bill) S. Dietrich II at Chatham’s October 13, 2011, Board of Trustees meeting. Bill’s gift will fund the Dietrich Endowment for Faculty Excellence; see page 12 for more information.

DEFINITION: An endowed chair (or endowed professorship) is a faculty position permanently

supported by an endowed gift to the University specifically for that purpose. The interest from the

endowment provides financial support for recruiting and retaining leaders in their scholarly fields. It is

one of the highest honors bestowed on faculty members and supports salary, research, and outreach.

Two generous $1.25 million giftsfund two new endowed chairs at Chatham University

Chatham graduated its 140th class of undergraduate women and its 18th class of graduate women and men during commencement in the Athletic and Fitness Center on December 18, 2011.

The University also conferred an honorary doctorate of public service on Dr. Marylouise Fennell, senior counsel for the Council of Independent Colleges. She

has also served as the chief consultant for the Association of Private Universities of Central America.

DECEMBER commencement

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Chatham celebrated its 17th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on February 10 in the Athletic and Fitness Center. At the luncheon, four received the Patience Blayden Spirit of Sport Award, named in honor of a former Chatham athletics director who dedicated 34 years to achieving greater awareness and recognition of women’s collegiate athletics.

This award is presented each year in recognition of the accomplishments of regional female high school and college student athletes who make positive contributions in the classroom, on the playing field, and in the community. Andrew Stockey, WTAE-TV anchor and sports director, presided over the ceremony, and sports reporter Lacee Collins, who covers the Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins, and high school football for ROOT SPORTS, gave the keynote address.

This year’s winners of the Blayden included students from Penn-Trafford High School, Shady Side Academy, and Carnegie Mellon University.

The event also honored Lori Poe, cross-country, indoor track, and spring track and field coach at Chartiers Valley High School, who received the 2012 Outstanding Coach Award in recognition of her positive impact on student athletes.

Dr. Zauyah Waite, Chatham’s vice president of student affairs and dean of students, was selected as the regional recipient of the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The award recognizes Zauyah’s sustained professional service in student affairs work, superior administrative skills, innovative response in meeting students’ varied and emerging needs, effectiveness in developing junior staff members, and leadership in community and university affairs.

Since 2008, under Zauyah’s leadership, the Office of Student Affairs has revamped its student government and honor code; created leadership, multicultural, and community service programs; and developed strong relationships with departments across the University. Most recently, Zauyah has worked to create a new health services system that meets the needs of the students and is economical for the University.

In addition to Zauyah, Ruben Henao, assistant director of student activities since 2009, was recently recognized for outstanding service. Ruben was selected to receive the Outstanding New Professional Award from the NACA Mid Atlantic Region. The award recognizes Ruben’s commitment to students and contributions to the campus community.

Ruben developed and executed Community Service Day, an event held each semester that brings more than 140 students, alumni, faculty, and staff together to volunteer in the surrounding community. In addition, he worked with more than 50 student organizations to develop constitutions and created a student organization policies and procedures manual.

Lacee Collins, ROOT SPORTS reporter; Carson Cougar; and Andrew Stockey, WTAE-TV anchor and sports director, help to celebrate Chatham’s 17th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Recognizing female athletes

Outstanding service at Chatham

DID YOU KNOW? First observed in 1987 in commemoration

of Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic

achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s

sports, NGWSD acknowledges the past and recognizes

current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports

participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access

for women in sports.

Dr. Zauyah Waite and Ruben Henao

CHATHAM UNIVERSITY • RECORDER • SPRING 20124

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1 Classmates Nicolette Canterna ’82 and Gwen Moorer ’82 are happy to catch up at the holiday reception.

2 Alumni Association Board members Gail Ruszczyk Emery ’84, Debra Lane LeBlanc ’85, and Meredith Weber ’06 don their Chatham purple.

3 Allie Reznik and Katie Rubino, both 2011 graduates, share their shining smiles for the camera.

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AUGUST 2011

Allie Reznik ’11, Meredith Weber ’06, and Leah Spix ’12 enjoy the Pittsburgh GOLD happy hour at Fox and Hound.

The GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) kickoff event took place at Fox and Hound in the North Hills of Pittsburgh on August 11, 2011. Guests enjoyed appetizers, drinks, billiards, shuffleboard, Ping-Pong, and great weather.

GOLD members seek to energize alumnae and provide opportunities to connect with students, other alumni,

and the University.

Every graduate of the last decade is automatically a GOLD alumna for

10 years and a member of the Chatham Alumni Association. There is no fee to join, and members receive

event discounts.

For more information, please contact GOLD committee chair

Meredith Weber ’06 at [email protected].

MORE ON

DECEMBER 2011 Chatham alumni rang in the holiday season with a reception and Candlelight celebration, held in Andrew W. Mellon Hall and the Campbell Memorial Chapel, respectively. The Chatham community has been celebrating Candlelight for more than 60 years. First held in 1950 after construction of the Chapel was completed, it has become one of Chatham’s most popular events. Fickes Eggnog, another beloved holiday tradition, has outgrown Fickes Hall in recent years; the dance and celebration now take place in the Mellon Board Room.

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Steven Stucky, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra composer in residence, joined Chatham guests on February 15 to celebrate the February 17 world premiere performance of his symphonic work Silent Spring, composed in honor of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s seminal book of the same name. “An Evening with Steven Stucky, Composer,” held in the Welker Room of the James Laughlin Music Center, featured performances of two Stucky compositions: “Album Leaves,” performed by Matthew Gillespie, piano, and “Two Holy Sonnets of Donne,” performed by Raquel Winnica, mezzo soprano; Lenny Young, oboe; and Matthew Gillespie, piano. Chatham’s Rachel Carson Institute, music program, and Office of Alumni Relations sponsored the event.

For more information about the 50th anniversary of Carson's Silent Spring, see page 26.

Pittsburgh alumni and their guests traveled across the Keystone State to Philadelphia on March 30 to take in the city’s historical, culinary, and cultural gems. While in town, the group joined Philadelphia alumni for a private tour of “Van Gogh: Up Close,” an exhibition of 40 masterpieces borrowed from around the world that explore the reasons and means by which the impassioned artist made such dramatic changes to his painting style in the final years of his life. Chatham alumni and their guests enjoyed a private brunch following the tour.

Alumni Career Day: Job One

Students heard from a panel of recently graduated Chatham alumnae as part of Alumni Career Day on February 16. Following the discussion, Q&A and individual breakout sessions gave students the chance to network with the panelists.

Featured panelists included:

Katie McAuley ’11, BA in public policy and cultural studies, AmeriCorps housing coordinator at Rebuilding Together, focusing on urban planning and renewal, Pittsburgh;

Maureen Fechik ’08, BA in visual arts, web designer, Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh;

Maureen McGuirk ’09, BS in biochemistry, research chemist, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga;

Caitlin Starkey ’10, BA in professional communication and public relations, member service representative, WQED Multimedia, Pittsburgh; and

Tiffany Tupper ’11, BA in political science and history, program officer, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.

Looking for class notes? Join CU Online, Chatham’s new online alumni community, for access to class notes, news, easy event registration, and a password-protected directory. Read on for instructions on how to register.

FEBRUARY 2012

Registration is easy! 1. Visit www.chatham.edu/classnotes.

2. Under “First Time Visitors,” select “Register Now,” and enter your full last name.

3. Next, you will need your Chatham University ID number, which is easily obtained by e-mailing [email protected].

4. Select “Verify My Record,” and create a username and password. Once you are logged in, you may create a pro!le, view class notes, register for events, or search the alumni directory.

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Chatham alumni have an excellent history of submitting, reading, and responding to their classmates’ notes – and CU Online maintains that tradition. Keep up the momentum and continue sharing the exciting events in your life.

If you have questions or concerns, or if you’d like additional assistance, please e-mail us at [email protected].

MARCH 2012

Left to right: Tiffany Tupper '11, Caitlin Starkey '10, Maureen Fechik '08, Katie McAuley '11, and Maureen McGuirk '09 share career advice with current students.

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1 Reunion Weekend festivities kick off at the welcome center in Mellon Hall.

2 The Heritage Club, which includes alumnae who are celebrating 50-plus-year reunions, enjoy a luncheon in Mellon Hall.

3 Robin A. DeKleine ’61, Marty Carson ‘62, Gretchen Geibel ’15, Stephanie Swift-Antill ’01, and Anne Reiber ’15 join in song with other alumnae and members of the Chatham University Choir.

4 (L-R) Esther L. Barazzone, Ph.D.; Marty Carson ’62; Dr. Mary Kostalas ’67; Mary Kay Poppenberg, HA ‘61; and Nancy Follett Waichler ’55 are among those who participated in a plaque dedication for alumna and former trustee Karen Lake Buttrey ’67 in the Campbell Memorial Chapel.

5 2011 Cornerstone Awardees (L-R) Regina Manzana-Sawhney ’96, Dorothy Boyles Beckwith ’81, and Bonnie Van Kirk ’81 gather following their panel discussion.

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6 Amy Loveridge ’03 and Alexa Dickinson Pontzer ’07 catch up at the President’s Reception at Gregg House.

7 (L-R) Susan Childs Matheson, Arlene Sinkus Lewis, and Donna Marinofsky of the Class of 1961 are happy to reunite at Chatham.

8 Amanda McKendree, Anya Schoss Schrier, Holly Brink, April Yandrich, and Kristin Nicewanger, all 2001 graduates, take their places prior to the Parade of Classes.

9 Jean Hague and Marlene Shettel of the Class of 1951 lead the Parade of Classes, representing Pennsylvania College for Women.

10 Dr. Barazzone presents her University Update at Eddy Theater on the Saturday morning of Reunion Weekend.

11 Sally Williams Vasse ’61 attends “Get to Class,” interactive teaching sessions designed to welcome alumni back to the classroom.


Mary

Jo W

ills ’73

A self-proclaimed lifelong learner, alumna Mary Jo Wills ‘73 says her strong liberal arts education at Chatham prepared her well for her 30-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service. Mary Jo recently returned to the United States after serving as the U.S. ambassador to the island republics of Mauritius and Seychelles, which are located in the Indian Ocean, about 100 miles east of mainland Africa.

Former U.S. ambassadorworks to bring positive change

to Africa through academic outreach

Nominated by President Barack Obama, Mary Jo was confirmed as ambassador by the U.S. Senate in December 2009. She arrived in Mauritius in February 2010, living there in Port Louis, and traveling often to the Seychelles.

Her priorities as ambassador, she says, “included first and foremost the welfare of U.S. citizens who lived, worked, or visited Mauritius and the Seychelles.”

Mary Jo describes Foreign Service officers as “generalists.” “A strong broad-based foundation of knowledge and critical thinking is required to contribute to possible solutions or developing plans to address complex international challenges,” she says.

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ALUMNA PROFILE

BY AMANDA LEFF RITCHIE

“I believe in the value and efficacy of a strong liberal arts education,” says Mary Jo. “I have said many times and to many people that I learned to think at Chatham. I learned to be open to ideas and how to manipulate them to solve problems and develop strategies, drawing on an extensive basis of general knowledge.

“Like many students who come from hard-working families with limited means, I desperately wanted to go to college, and the challenge was to find an institution that met my academic aspirations as well as one that was willing and able to provide financial assistance,” she says. “Fortunately, Chatham offered me a scholarship and the opportunity to receive a first-class education.”

In addition to her bachelor’s degree in history from Chatham, Mary Jo received her master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech and her master’s degree in national security strategy from the National War College. She has also earned a certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from the Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy, where she is currently a doctoral candidate.

Mary Jo recalls the challenge of balancing work and scholarship as a Chatham student. “As was the case with most scholarship students at the time, I was a working scholar, and I can remember distinctly bussing trays in the cafeteria, working in the bookstore, as well as off campus jobs with government agencies.”

These prioritizing and time-management skills honed at Chatham have been essential in the varied roles she has served in Foreign Service.

With a career quite literally all over the map, Mary Jo has served as deputy principal officer at the U.S. Consulate in Milan, Italy; chief of the Special Trade Activities Division and deputy chief of the Textile Trade Policy Division; and international economist in the European Bureau’s Office of Economic and Regional Affairs.

Mary Jo served in the following cities:

Mexico City, Mexico

Washington, D.C. Milan, Italy

Lagos, Nigeria

Niamey, NigerRiyadh, Saudi Arabia

Victoria, Seychelles

Port Louis, Mauritius

Earlier in her career, Mary Jo was the desk officer for Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia. She has also served at other posts abroad in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Recognized for her extraordinary performance, Mary Jo has been twice awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Superior Honor Award, in addition to the department’s Meritorious Honor Award.

“As ambassador, my job was to be the primary spokesperson for U.S. policies, interests, and values to the governments of Mauritius and the Seychelles on good governance; building strong democratic institutions; strengthening health systems; preventing, mitigating, and resolving conflict; and addressing transitional challenges – including, but not limited to, trafficking in persons, illegal substances, illegal fishing, piracy, and maritime security.

“Above all, I learned about the ties that join all people in a common purpose, and that these ties can overcome legitimate differences of opinions or points of view.”

At a port in the Seychelles, Mary Jo is “piped aboard” a visiting naval ship by the boatswain. This naval tradition honors flag-rank officers and important guests as they board.


One particular issue facing Mauritius and the Seychelles is climate change, says Mary Jo. Both countries are at risk of losing landmass due to rising ocean levels. Drought is also a concern with such dependence on season rains, limited ground water, and shifts in wind patterns.

With a heavy reliance on the ocean for food, the islands harvest what they can from the waters and ship in what they cannot grow or manufacture themselves.

“Preserving the environment and disposal of waste are also of great importance, because tourism contributes significantly to both countries’ economies,” Mary Jo says.

“These are among some the most beautiful islands on earth, and both countries take pride in protecting their environments and fragile ecosystems,” she says.

While she called these two islands home, she spent what little free time she had taking nature walks, sitting on the beach, reading, and appreciating the beauty of the Indian Ocean.

She also had the opportunity to see rare wildlife on the islands of Cousin and Praslin, both among the inner islands of the Seychelles archipelago. Cousin Island is a special reserve for sea birds and endemic land birds as well as the most important breeding site for Hawksbill turtles in the Western Indian Ocean. The reserve is managed solely by local staff and benefits communities on the neighboring Praslin Island through eco-tourism.

Now that she has returned home to the United States, Mary Jo has recently embarked on an exciting new assignment as a special advisor to the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), where her focus is on outreach to academia on models of foreign assistance, interacting with students and faculty, among others.

The USADF is an independent federal agency established to support African designed, led, and managed solutions that address grassroots economic and social problems in conflict and post-conflict communities. Providing grants directly to underserved and marginalized community groups and enterprises, the USADF helps organizations create such tangible benefits as increasing or sustaining the number of jobs in a community, improving income levels, and addressing social development needs.

“These are people who have been left behind because of geographic isolation, ethnicity, victimization, or other factors that have prevented participation in the economic, social, or political systems in their country,” says Mary Jo. “Often they have

been the recipients of humanitarian assistance. And they all want to earn a living, have a home, and send their children to school just like we do.”

Mary Jo shares a recent example of the positive change USADF helps to bring to communities in Africa. The Gahaya Links, a cooperative in Rwanda, received USADF grants that have benefited more than 4,000 women, and some men. For the U.S. market, it produces baskets; jewelry made from paper beads; and, soon, textiles.

“You might recognize their products in upscale department stores and discount stores,” says Mary Jo. “It is truly inspiring to see their enthusiasm and business savvy obtained through a relatively small investment by the people of the United States.”

Academia is a new area of outreach for USADF. “I would like to reach as many institutions and students as possible in the time I will be here,” says Mary Jo. “My challenge will be to match my enthusiasm and means available with that goal. But, I love a challenge – especially when I consider the good that can come from more people, institutions, and organizations gaining knowledge of and supporting an organization that produces so much good on behalf of the government and people of the United States. USADF, through the dedication of its small staff and small budget, helps people to change their lives.”

Mary Jo cuts the ribbon at a ceremony for the inauguration of the American Corner, named in honor of Harper Lee, at the historic Carnegie Library of Curepipe on the Island of Mauritius. American Corners are partnerships between the public affairs sections of United States Embassies and host institutions and provide access to current and reliable information from and about the United States via book collections and programming.

DID YOU KNOW? Sustainability has increasingly become the driving force for thousands of new jobs. Chatham offers

an online certificate in sustainable management and beginning in the fall, will offer a master of sustainability program. Both

transdisciplinary programs, the master's degree program will take students through academically sound, professionally

oriented solutions to improve economic development, social justice, and the environment. The online certificate can

be completed in as little as a year and significantly develops students’ professional credentials, skills, and knowledge in the

field of sustainability.

Creating a gift annuity is as simple as making a donation to Chatham with cash or securities. In return, Chatham makes fixed annual payments to you for life. The remaining donation after your lifetime helps to support Chatham students. We call that a smart investment.

Invest Wisely:Give a gift that benefits

Chatham and you.

Did you know that when you make a charitable gift annuity to Chatham

University, you can assist students and receive additional income for life?

Whether you would like to support academic programs, extracurricular activities, or scholarships, we can help you to achieve your personal and philanthropic goals

with this easy, tax-smart gift.

To learn more, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 412-365-1252.

GIFT ANNUITY RATES*

*Rates are recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities and subject to change.

AGE RATE

65 4.7%

75 5.8%

85 7.8%

The Anniversary Walk, which winds its way through the historic Mellon Green, was established in the 1980s and the tradition of recognizing Chatham friendships and memories continues today. Whether commemorating time spent at Chatham; honoring a special classmate, professor, or family member; or celebrating a special milestone, your engraved brick will be a lasting reminder of your relationship with Chatham and will help support future generations of Chatham students through the Annual Fund.

• A gift of $140 to the Anniversary Walk will secure an inscribed 4” x 8” brick.

• A gift of $300 to the Anniversary Walk program will secure an inscribed 8” x 8” centerpiece brick.

For more information about the Anniversary Walk or Chatham University’s Annual Fund, please contact Donna Holmes at 412-365-1262 or [email protected].

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In 1996, when long-time Chatham trustee William (Bill) S. Dietrich II was in his late 50s, he sold the family steel business, Dietrich Industries, for $178 million. He used the proceeds from the sale to establish the Dietrich Charitable Trusts and worked throughout the years to grow the funds to nearly $500 million.

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Image source: D

ietrich Charitable Trusts; photo illustration courtesy of Pittsburgh Q

uarterly

On Oct. 6, 2011, Bill lost his battle with cancer, yet his legacy will continue throughout Pittsburgh and here at Chatham through the gifts made possible by the Dietrich Foundation. Formed from the Dietrich Charitable Trusts, the Dietrich Foundation distributes funds to benefit academic and cultural institutions throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.

In addition to Chatham, other beneficiaries include Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and many other nonprofit organizations.

About the gift to Chatham

To Chatham, Bill bequeathed $5 million to create the William S. Dietrich Endowment for Faculty Excellence. Initially, the endowment will support funding for a startup laboratory for new faculty; summer stipends for faculty doing research, especially with students; research assistance for faculty with their scholarship; and finally, the hiring of highly accomplished faculty with a broad cross-disciplinary scope.

$5 million bequestfrom former trustee

William S. Dietrich IIwill support faculty excellence.

PHILANTHROPY PROFILE

BY MARY CVETAN

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Eventually, Bill’s gift will fund a chair in his name, allowing Chatham to hire a faculty member whose scholarship, research, and teaching transcend traditional academic “silos.”

“Bill was a member of Chatham’s Board of Trustees since 1989 and the long-time chair of the University’s Investment Committee,” says President Barazzone.

“He was someone we admired and respected, and someone we feel privileged to have known and considered a friend. “Because he pursued learning throughout his life, and pursued excellence in all of his professional endeavors, we believe the purpose of the fund in his honor is most appropriate.”

A businessman, author, and lifelong learner

Scholarship and excellence were indeed very important to Bill. After growing up in Conneaut Lake, Pa., he earned a degree in history from Princeton University in 1960. He served in the U.S. Marines and then returned to Western Pennsylvania to work in his father’s small steel warehouse and distribution business.

At the age of 40, while leading the company as it grew into the nation’s largest manufacturer of steel framing for the construction industry, Bill enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh. Within six years, he had earned a doctoral degree in political science.

“At his core, he was a lifelong learner,” says Larry E. Jennings, Jr., senior managing director at ValStone Partners, who served for many years with Bill on the Carnegie Mellon University Board of Trustees. “He wanted to support that, and the best way to do it was to support the universities.”

Bill was also a disciplined writer. During his years at Dietrich Industries, he scheduled time early each morning to work on his first book, In the Shadow of the Rising Sun: The Political Roots of American Economic Decline, which was published in 1991 by the Pennsylvania State University Press. When the award-winning magazine Pittsburgh Quarterly was launched in 2006, Bill volunteered to write profiles of Pittsburgh industrialists for editor and publisher Doug Heuck; this collection was published as a book titled Eminent Pittsburghers: Profiles of the City’s Founding Industrialists in 2011. Bill died before completing his third book, which he gave the working title “American Recessional: The U.S. Decline and the Rise of China.”

“William S. Dietrich II will go down in Pittsburgh history as one of the great philanthropists and in the league of those about whom

he wrote,” writes Doug in Pittsburgh Quarterly’s Winter 2012 publisher’s letter. “The $500 million will grow and be a lasting legacy, flourishing all around us in the life and future of the great institutions of our city.

“But the way he lived is another part of his legacy, and in that he was unlike many of the great Pittsburgh titans. Bill never reached a high point followed by years of decline and fallowness; his was a progression ever onward, ever upward.”

That progression was fueled by a continual investment in not only his intellectual and business pursuits, but in the hours given to him each day. Bill knew the value of time.

“Nobody ran by the clock better than he did,” says Dwight Keating, vice president and chief investment officer of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, who served on The Pittsburgh Foundation Investment Committee with Bill. “At 9:30 at night, he would get up and go home to bed. I would be out jogging at 5:30 a.m. and see him at the gym. He was very disciplined.”

His persistence was also notorious, especially when he wanted to work with desirable funds that were closed to new investments.

“Bill was a former Marine, and they have a very positive way of looking at the world. He would say ‘We’re going to do this,’ and he made it happen,” says investment manager Mark Laskow, whom Bill chose to serve as chair of the Dietrich Foundation.

This continual focus and effort makes Bill’s gifts all the more generous. “The gift isn’t just the dollars, but all the work that he put in to build the asset,” Mark adds. “He was selling the mission of the Dietrich Foundation to these managers. He went out like he was selling steel.”

Along with the time he spent travelling the world – flying economy class – to grow the Dietrich Charitable Trusts, Bill donated countless hours back home as an engaged, active member of boards across the region. In addition to his service at Chatham, he also supported the boards of Carnegie Mellon University, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Pittsburgh Symphony Society, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance, UPMC Health System, the Greater Pittsburgh Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the University of Pittsburgh.

“Bill loved this region,” says President Barazzone. “I think he saw himself in the tradition of great industrial giants who left Pittsburgh, but left behind a legacy. Bill, on the other hand, stayed in Pittsburgh, and left behind gifts for many through his foundation, which will offer continuing support to the region he knew and loved.”

Dear Chatham Friends,

I am so thrilled to be part of Chatham College for Women and to introduce

myself to you in the Recorder, one of the country’s oldest alumnae magazines.

I discovered for myself the special environment that exists at women’s colleges

at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, Calif., where I accepted my first

teaching job. During my 16 years as a psychology professor and administrator

at the women’s liberal arts college, I came to appreciate how the focus of a

women’s college purposefully supports and encourages young women in ways

that traditional higher education institutions do not.

Upon coming to Chatham in January, I was exposed to the vitality and innovation that marks the

Chatham approach to education. Here, faculty members enhance the student experience through

developing curricular opportunities that engage them in professionally meaningful ways, and they

are dedicated to supporting student projects that encourage scholarly development and service.

The close bonds that form with faculty inspire students to pursue prestigious internships, give

presentations at professional conferences, compete for notable awards, and produce academic and

artistic works based on their Chatham educational experiences. Chatham alumnae have attributed

their continued commitment to their alma mater to these student experiences that prepared them

to establish their professional careers and personal satisfaction.

I think one of the most engaging aspects of Chatham is its ability to maintain the spirit and

essence of the women’s college while constantly reinventing and redefining what a women’s

college experience is today. I value the global focus Chatham embraces and encourages both

inside and outside of classrooms through curricular and cocurricular activities, educational travel,

and exchange agreements with international institutions. The environmental mission is at the

heart of Chatham’s commitment to sustainability, which we express this year with our celebration

of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Chatham’s approach

to women’s leadership involves women students as scholars, activists, researchers, and leaders,

both on and off campus. You’ll see the mission reflected in these pages, as we share with you the

achievements of students and faculty who demonstrate “Big Thinking for a Big World.”

Great things happen at Chatham on a daily basis, and I look forward to continuing to share them

with you.

Warmest Regards,

From the desk of Dr. Karol E. Dean, dean of Chatham College for Women



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in December 2011 to rally alumnae to help reach the goal of attracting 1,000 undergraduate applicants for the current recruiting cycle. The Just ONE! campaign calls upon alumnae to encourage just one high school senior, transfer student, or nontraditional Gateway student to apply to Chatham.

The campaign has reached students locally, nationally, and internationally, and the office has achieved more than 80% of its goal as of April 20. Your help in reaching the goal is still needed. By supporting the Just One! campaign you will assist Chatham in enrolling the next class of dynamic women who will shape the student body and contribute to the University’s thriving community, just as you did while you were here.

Join the Just ONE! campaignIs there a student who you believe would make a great member of the Chatham community? Encourage her to apply for the fall 2012 term by forwarding her the online application link (apply.chatham.edu/ugrad) or printing her a hard copy. (Her application fee will be waived if she includes your name and “Just ONE!” in the “How did you hear about Chatham?” section.) You can also help by encouraging another alumna to join the campaign.

Helping to increase undergraduate enrollment

She also played a role in proofreading, checking continuity facts, making sure writers and artists were meeting deadlines, writing recap pages, and seeing that the storylines fit within “the greater Marvel universe,” she says.

One of her favorite assignments was bubble placement – strategically placing the word bubbles on each panel so as to not block out anything important in the scene.

Spending time at the Marvel studio meant coming into contact with such celebrities of the comic world as artists and authors. “My favorite thing about my internship was getting to meet

people who actually work in the industry,” says Abigail.

She had the opportunity to work alongside proofreader Flo Steinberg, whose

relationship with Marvel dates back to the 1960s when she and former

president of Marvel Comics Stan Lee were the company’s only two staffers. “She’s part of comic history, and I got to talk to her every Thursday,” says Abigail.

“It was a really cool work environment because everyone was super nerdy and loved to talk

about comic books,” she says.

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Interns sometimes !nd themselves doing such mundane tasks as !ling and fetching co"ee. But exciting internships abound for those up for the task. Surrounded by colorful villains and caped crusaders, Abigail Palbus ‘12, a senior English and history major at Chatham, spent last summer as an intern in the Heroes Department. What kind of company has a department devoted solely to heroes? Marvel Entertainment, of course.Spending the summer before her senior year with Captain America, the Avenger, and Fantastic Four was a dream come true for this self-proclaimed “comic nerd.”

Comics have enchanted Abigail since she discovered manga, or Japanese comics, in junior high school. She grew interested in American comics in high school, and became completely immersed in them in college. Abigail got swept up in worlds where giant robots played out historical dramas, where a gang of Victorian literary heroes set out to save the world, and where a man and his monkey struggle after the mass extinction of every male mammal on earth.

Comics eventually found their way into Abigail’s academic experience at Chatham. Her senior tutorial is on Captain America and deconstructing American national identity. “It’s an exploration of his character evolution and representation over the past 70 years,” she says.

As an editorial intern at Marvel, Abigail worked for Associate Editor Lauren Sankovitch and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. Once a comic book writer sends in a script, the editorial team edits the scripts and makes sure the storyline is laid out panel by panel for the artist. “Editors make sure it all comes together,” says Abigail.

DEFINITION: One

of the few universities across the

country that offers such an independent

and student-driven program, Chatham students

have the opportunity to conduct research and

gain a deeper understanding of a topic within their

concentration through the senior tutorial. A capstone of a Chatham education, this year-long

independent research or creative project is conducted in

collaboration with a faculty member during the senior year.

A marvelousopportunity

Captain America, © and ™ Marvel and subs. Used with permission.

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New research by Vadas Gintautas, assistant professor of physics at Chatham, and scientists with the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Emory University modeled brain structure to help computers recognize shapes and objects as humans do. The study, published in the fall 2011 Public Library of Science Computational Biology journal, garnered the attention of more than 250 print and broadcast news outlets across the globe.

While a human’s visual performance decreases when an image is shown for a shorter period of time and when shapes are more complicated, scientists expected computers to recognize shapes faster than humans. After measuring human performance, the researchers created a computer model based on human neural structure to recognize shapes, as reported by Medical Daily on December 21, 2011.

“This model is biologically inspired and relies on leveraging lateral connections between neurons in the same layer of a model of the human visual system,” Vadas was quoted as saying.

According to senior author Garret Kenyon of LANL, the research represented the first example of a large-scale cortical model being used to account for both the overall accuracy, as well as the processing time, of human subjects performing a challenging visual-perception task.

Other perks of the internship included a chance to watch the Captain America movie before it was released and explore New York City during her time off.

Abigail lived with her cousin for three months in South Brooklyn, near Coney Island. She got a taste of the Big Apple, visiting the Museum of Modern Art, seeing shows off Broadway, and learning to navigate the subway like a pro. She also went to Coney Island, and, like a true New Yorker, she ate a Nathan’s Famous hot dog.

“Being an editorial intern at Marvel was one of the best experiences of my life,” she says. “I really loved feeling like I contributed something to the creative process.”

Though she admits she would love to work at Marvel after graduation, she is confident that comics will play a role in her future wherever she lands.

“No matter what career path I take, comics will be a part of it,” she says. As she did with her tutorial, Abigail says she finds ways to incorporate comics into her life. “I’d hope to get a Ph.D. ultimately and teach about comics,” she says.


Students honor Dr. CooleyDr. Robert Cooley, much beloved Chatham professor of photography, passed away in February 2011 after a battle with cancer. To honor him, two Chatham students, Rebecca Pressimone ’14 and graduate student Emily Toigo, MAT ’12, took the lead in organizing a Relay for Life event on campus.

The 12-hour overnight event was held on November 4, 2011, at the Athletic and Fitness Center. More than 20 teams participated, raising a total of $12,000. The student-driven Relay for Life event is expected to become an annual tradition at Chatham.

Do you seewhat i see?

Did your senior

tutorial have a longterm

in#uence on your career?

Share your stories with us at

[email protected].

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Chatham senior Amber Phillips ’12 discovered a passion for people, community engagement, and politics in high school as a member of the Youth Commission in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. At Chatham, while pursuing a double major in social work and cultural studies, she continued explore her interest in leadership and government, serving as president of the Class of 2012 for two consecutive years, and later serving as executive president of Chatham College for Women Student Government during her junior year.Last summer, as the recipient of the Barbara Stone Hollander ’60 Student Leadership Award, Amber had the opportunity to get hands-on, practical leadership development experience. The $2,500 award allowed Amber to spend 10 weeks in Portland, Ore., as a PolitiCorps summer f ellow. Operated by grassroots, nonpartisan organization the Bus Project, PolitiCorps is a national leadership development program and political organizing boot camp. Designed to engage and prepare college students and recent graduates for a life of public service, the program offers

a combination of skills and policy classes, intensive fieldwork experience, strategy planning exercises, and access to a broad network of activists, strategists, and policy makers.

Amber and the other PolitiCorps fellows achieved impressive results through their hard work. They knocked on more than 20,000 doors, collected 10,000 pledges for marriage equality in Oregon, collected 5,000 signatures petitioning for transit justice in Portland, conducted more than 1,000 health equality surveys, and registered 1,500 voters.

The experience solidified her desire to pursue a career in public service; she hopes to work in politics as an advocate for those who often go unheard and unnoticed by society. “My ultimate goal is to start a nonprofit that seeks to empower people who are told by our country that they are powerless.” Running for public office at the state and/or federal level is also a possibility in her future, she says.

“I plan on being a lifelong community organizer and continue the legacy and work of great people who I admire like Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I want to be able to see the change that I have set out to do since leaving Portland this summer!”

A passion for

public service


Jessica Server, MFACW ’12, is the mind behind Earth, INK, an after-school nature-writing program at the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, led by students in Chatham’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFACW) program. “The program came about because I love working with kids and felt like there weren’t many opportunities within the creative writing program to do so,” says Jessica. “I also thought that the nature-writing component of the Creative Writing program was an opportunity to engage the community in a new way.”

Earth, INK aims to enhance students’ dedication to both their own creativity and the natural environment by building connections between the two. Writing projects focus on poetry, fiction, and nonfiction work and draw on students’ experiences in the natural world to enhance their skills of observation, communication, and innovation.

“Ultimately, I think that creatively engaging kids in the natural world helps them feel emotionally connected to it, and thus can make them better stewards of the environment – and better writers,” says Jessica.

Jessica’s fellow MFACW candidates Lindsey Scherloum, Kevin Trobaugh, Sarah Hamm, and Ian Riggins also participate in the Earth, INK project. As instructors, they gain valuable teaching experience working with children in kindergarten through sixth grade at the Environmental Charter School.

As the program continues to develop, the Chatham team is rethinking its structure. “We are looking to expand to a high school next year, further varying the opportunities for Chatham students to get involved,” says Jessica.

Ian Riggins reads the K-2 group's completed story aloud with students Anand Sooriamurthi (2nd grade) and Abby Blank (1st grade).

Earth, INK:Chatham students help local

elementary school children“branch out”

into nature writing

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Accoladesfor Chatham’s

MFA in Creative Writingprogram

In January 2012, The Writer magazine named Chatham’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFACW) program one of the “4 top schools you should consider.” The magazine highlighted Chatham professors’ incorporation of global citizenship in both the full- and low-residency MFACW programs: “Students may concentrate on travel writing or on nature/environmental writing, working with faculty that includes poet Peter Oresick, screenwriter and fiction writer Marc Nieson, and children’s/young-adult author Katherine Ayres.” In 2009, the same magazine named Chatham’s MFACW program one of 10 programs that offer a specialty focus.

The program offers students innovative field seminars that include travel to such places as Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, and Germany. In 2007 Poets & Writers magazine named the MFA one of “Nine Distinctive Programs,” and The Atlantic Monthly named it one of five innovative/unique programs in the country in its “Best of the Best” graduate program listings.

“We’re incredibly blessed, because the priorities of our administration are the environment and internationalism,” program director Sheryl St. Germain was quoted as saying in the article. “We’re all about travel; we focus on a country every year.”

Dr. Susan Perry, associate professor of physical therapy at Chatham, received the Distinguished Educator Award from the Education Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at the organization’s meeting in Chicago, Ill., on February 10. This national award recognizes a physical therapy educator who has distinguished herself or himself through excellence in academic or clinical education at

the national, regional, or local level, in addition to distinguishing herself or himself in a subject matter area as evidenced by publications or other appropriate demonstrations.

A physical therapy clinician for nearly 30 years and an educator/clinician for 20, Sue has been certified as a clinical specialist in neurological physical therapy for 18 years. She belongs to both the Education and Neurology sections of the APTA

As curriculum coordinator for Chatham’s physical therapy program, Sue mentors new and existing faculty and integrates the curriculum in a way that builds from basic to complex knowledge. She also trains faculty in problem-based learning facilitation, which makes up approximately 50 percent of the curriculum.

Sue has been actively engaged in service to the physical therapy profession, with an emphasis on practice and education. Recently, she has served as vice president of the APTA Neurology Section (2006-present) and cochair of the Education Committee for the Southwest District of the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association (2004-06).

A researcher in neurologic rehabilitation and fall/fracture prevention, Sue has had multiple publications and presentations at the national level. In addition, she is a manuscript reviewer

for the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy and Archives of Physical

Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Sue received her BS in physical therapy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, her Advanced Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and

her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Chatham.

Educationexcellence

in physical therapy

Sherrie Flick

Sherrie Flick, a lecturer at Chatham since 2009, teaches courses within the MFA in Creative Writing program and the MA in Food Studies program. She is the author of debut novel Reconsidering Happiness (University of Nebraska Press, 2009) and the award-winning !ash "ction chapbook I Call This Flirting (Flume, 2004). Her work also appears in many anthologies.

Honored as one of Pittsburgh’s “40 under 40” in 2005 by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, Sherrie has served for ten years as artistic director and cofounder of the#Gist Street Reading Series (giststreet.org), an “unpretentious and fun” series that features local and national poets and writers.

Very active in the local writing community, she has led interdisciplinary writing workshops at many art institutions and helps curate literary programs in alternative settings, such as the annual Wood-Fired Words with UnSmoke Art Space in Braddock, Pa.

A professional baker for "ve years, Sherrie can often be found baking, cooking, and gardening. She shares her adventures in writing and in the kitchen on her blog Sentences and Food at sherrie!ick.com/wp.

Currently hard at work on a new !ash "ction chapbook and her second novel, Sherrie lives on the South Side of Pittsburgh with her husband.


Into the furnace: Chatham lecturer encourages writers to harness Braddock’s creative energy

Braddock’s atmosphere and ongoing revitalization efforts seem like the right environment for creative production, says Sherrie.

“The residency is about giving one writer the gift of time,” says Sherrie. “Time to write.”

Named for its proximity to active steel mill Edgar Thomson Steel Works, “Into the Furnace” is a molten opportunity for writers.

Braddock already has a supportive writers’ community, says Sherrie. It is home to other writing residencies and has several writer studios. “We thought we could help cultivate a community that was already in place,” says Sherrie.

Josh Barkan is the program’s inaugural writing resident. He is the author of the short-story collection Before Hiroshima and the novel Blind Speed, which was named a finalist for the 2009 Paterson Fiction Prize. Josh was awarded a literature fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and has taught writing at Harvard University, New York University, and Boston University.

“Josh is a perfect fit for the program,” says Sherrie. “He’s lived all over the world and so has learned, I think, to adapt to his surroundings, to see and appreciate beauty in the unlikely.”


Inspiring creativity through the visceral energy of Braddock, Pa., is the idea behind a new writer-in-residence program organized in part by Sherrie Flick, MFA in Creative Writing lecturer at Chatham.

…with Bill LenzBill Lenz, Pontious Professor of English, has taught at Chatham since 1980. He has been the director of the Master of Professional Writing (MPW) program since its inception in 2003; it has since evolved into an all-online program.

Q How do online courses compare to those held in a traditional classroom setting?

AThey are often more compressed in content with a more intent focus on skills through rapid assignments. There is less of a margin for error in these courses, but students create a sense of community online just as they do in a classroom. Online students are highly interactive, and instructors require assignments that engage students in online activities like peer-review and group projects. Although students may not share a physical space three days a week, they construct a shared virtual space that becomes intimate.

Q Who should consider enrolling in an online program/course?

A Any student who has Internet access and enjoys working independently. I do find that it takes a little more motivation when your fellow students are virtual and not literally sitting next to you in a classroom. And you need to be especially good at keeping on task if your online course is offered in a seven-week format – that means there will be multiple assignments each week and the semester will fly by. I do believe that a good traditional student can also translate into a good online student.

…with Laura JacksonLaura Jackson is a student in the online MPW program at Chatham. At age 25, she works full time as a visitor services representative for VisitPittsburgh while attending graduate school online. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in applied media arts with a concentration in graphic design and a minor in art history from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Q Why did you choose online classes vs. those in a classroom?

A I like the flexibility this online program offers to its students. It allows me to work around my schedule at my job. Plus, by pursuing this degree online (and not having to worry about meal plans and housing) I am saving a ton of money!

Q What do you like best about Chatham's online classes?

A I enjoy the variety of tools the professors utilize – textbook, podcast, video, chat room, or forum discussion – and the time flexibility of the program. I also enjoy the interaction with the other students in the program, several of whom are also employed full time.

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COLLEGE FOR CONTINUING & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

In an effort to make higher education more flexible and accessible, many U.S. colleges and universities, including Chatham, offer online classes and even grant degrees for entirely online academic programs. More than three-quarters of college and university presidents report that their institutions offer online courses, according to an August 2011 report by the PEW Research Center. Of college graduates who graduated within the past ten years, nearly half report to have taken an online course. Half of the college presidents predict that within the next ten years most of their students will take classes online.

“Online learning eliminates the barriers to education caused by location and schedules,” says Christine Ricci, an adjunct professor at Chatham. “It opens up the possibility of pursuing a degree to individuals who in the past could not participate in a program because of atypical work schedules, distance to the university, or other personal issues. It is very exciting to see how the advancements in technology have made online learning as effective (if not more so in some situations) as on-ground instruction.”

Current online programming:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)MS in Nursing (MSN)Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)MS in Interior Architecture (MSIA)Master of Professional Writing (MPW)Low-Residency MFA in Creative WritingMS in Infant Mental Health Counseling MS in Infant Mental HealthCerti"cate in Infant Mental HealthProfessional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD)

In addition, "ve new programs in business, education, and health sciences are expected to launch this fall.

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This fall, Chatham was the first university in Pennsylvania to be recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bike Friendly University (BFU). Previously awarded a Bicycle Friendly Business designation by the league, Chatham adds the bronze-level BFU designation to its bicycling accolades.

“Chatham University has strong sustainability and employee wellness initiatives, and bicycle commuting is an important component of both,” says Mary Whitney, sustainability coordinator at Chatham. “Chatham’s bicycle infrastructure has grown significantly, and the adoption of the Bicycle Commuting Tax Credit and establishment of the Chatham Bike Works educational bike shop are highlights.”

Chatham accepted the award at the league’s BFU announcement during the conference for

the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), which was held in Pittsburgh Oct. 9-12, 2011. Chatham provided lunch and tours of

the solar thermal installation at the Shadyside Campus and the Eden Hall Campus to

conference attendees.

MISSION INITIATIVES

Chatham University’s three mission initiatives guide and direct the University as it undertakes its mission to prepare students to excel in their professions and to be engaged, environmentally responsible, globally conscious lifelong learners and citizen leaders for democracy.

Our mission initiatives help us to bring our mission to life in dynamic and creative ways for our students, such as through our School of Sustainability and the Environment, Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, and Global Focus program. These initiatives also re#ect the University’s strong and historical commitments to providing leadership to support these critical issues facing our world.

Pennsylvania's first

Bike Friendly University

Global understanding.

Women’s leadership. Sustainability and the environment.

In conjunction with the Global Focus Program’s Year of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, President Barazzone and Sheryl Stearns, director of international recruitment, recently embarked on an exciting journey to establish lasting partnerships with Vietnamese institutions and explore recruitment opportunities.

President Barazzone also joined more than a dozen Chatham alumni on a tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand – taking in the natural beauty of the countries while exploring their rich history and culture.

Visit our new blog, Chatham Travels, at http://blogs.chatham.edu/travels to read about the trip.

Chatham continues its

International focus

The Institute of International Education (IIE) recently announced that Chatham is one of 18 U.S. colleges and universities selected for the 2012 Brazil initiative of its International Academic Partnership Program. Throughout the year, the institute is leading a series of training activities to help each institution implement and sustain partnerships in Brazil, culminating with a study tour of Brazil to meet with potential partner campuses.

Chatham selected to strengthen ties with Brazil

CHATHAM UNIVERSITY

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The American Heart Association (AHA) recently honored Chatham alumna Phyllis Kokkila ’83 with the Rome Betts Award of Excellence for major gifts/

foundations. The prestigious award is named for the organization’s respected executive director from 1946 to 1968. The award recognizes Phyllis’ nine years of leadership, consistently high performance, and commitment as director of donor relations for the AHA Great Rivers Affiliate.

“Thanks to the funding we receive from outstanding donors, American Heart Association research has enabled and will continue to enable advancements of cardiovascular care and treatment witnessed in our lifetime,” she says.

Once the world’s oldest continuous school of learning, Nalanda University in Bihar, India, was destroyed by invaders three times throughout its history but rebuilt only twice. The final destruction of the university was the result of a violent 12th-century attack that claimed the lives of thousands of monks.

The ruins of Nalanda, which means “center of knowledge” in Sanskrit, are a protected historic landmark in India. But just six miles away, Nalanda is being reborn on a 446-acre site. As is Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus, the revival of Nalanda is being built from the ground up.

Sociologist Gopa Sabharwal, who was a visiting Fulbright scholar at Chatham in 2006, is at the center of Nalanda’s rebirth. Named vice chancellor of the forthcoming university, Gopa has maintained a friendship with President Barazzone throughout the years. With a shared interest in sustainability and

creating a “living laboratory,” Gopa returned to Pittsburgh in October 2011 to see how Chatham’s plans for Eden Hall Campus can be applied at Nalanda.

Built with the environment at its “heart and soul,” Eden Hall Campus is poised to be a leading example of the next generation in green building with features including onsite wastewater

treatment; constructed wetlands; solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy (resulting in zero greenhouse gas emissions); and an innovative underground energy loop that will allow buildings to share heat.

“Chatham was very willing to share the master plan for Eden Hall Campus,” says Gopa. “We are committed to green architecture and are here to explore that.”

Supported by the Indian government, with additional funding from such countries as Australia, Singapore, Laos, and China, the new Nalanda is expected to be functional by 2013. Originally known as a Buddhist center of learning, the secular Nalanda of tomorrow will include seven schools that focus on historical studies, ecology and the environment, languages and literature, comparative religion and philosophy, business management and public policy, international relations and peace studies, and information technology.

Chatham alumnahas heart

Chatham’s influencein

INDIA

Global Focus Program:Year of Southeast Asia: Vietnam

DID YOU KNOW? Established in 1995, the Global Focus Program at Chatham concentrates on one region of the

world each year, engaging the community in a comprehensive

study of that region through coursework, class assignments,

campus events, activities, cocurricular programs, and service-

learning projects. By graduation, Chatham undergraduates are

immersed in the culture and history of four world regions.

This year is the Year of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, and next year

Chatham will celebrate the Year of Europe: Scandinavia. Other

recent regions of interest have included Turkey, the Economic

Community of West African States, Brazil, Germany, and China.

For more information on Global Focus Program events, visit www.chatham.edu/globalfocus.

To kick off the Year of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Chatham welcomed His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Cuong, the

ambassador of Vietnam to the United States, to campus on October 6, 2011. Chatham conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service on the ambassador during his visit.

Many other Global Focus Program events throughout the year look at various aspects of Vietnamese culture and history.


Patricia DeMarco, director ofthe Rachel Carson Institute,

was named one of 15 honorees in the field of “Women Greening

the Pittsburgh Region” by the Women and Girls Foundation at its annual awards and fundraising gala on November 19, 2011.

Alumna Kelly Ogrodnik, MLA ’09, was also an honoree at the event. Sustainable design and programs manager at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Kelly oversees projects related to sustainable landscapes, energy and water efficiency, waste management, and sustainability education.

‘Women Greeningthe Pittsburgh Region’

Rebecca Harris, who has led the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) at Chatham since April 2009, develops strategic, innovative programs that are changing the way women do business in Western Pennsylvania and empowering women entrepreneurs to take a leading role in driving the region’s economy. In March, Rebecca was honored, along with other influential businesswomen at both for-profits and nonprofit, for her dedication to helping Pittsburgh women to start and grow successful businesses with a Pittsburgh Business Times 2012 Women in Business Award.

In 2011, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl invited Rebecca to join the first meeting of PowerUp Pittsburgh working group. Members of this group work with colleagues to stimulate the region’s economy. By providing direct advice and input on various efforts, they will help to write the next chapter of Pittsburgh’s great history as a center of innovation and opportunity.

“The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship is honored to be part of this working group,” says Rebecca. “Women continue to launch businesses at a rate exceeding the national average. We hope that our inclusion in this working group will ensure that resources are allocated to our local women-owned business to help them thrive.”

The CWE’s sixth annual Think Big Forum, held on October 21, 2011, in the Athletic and Fitness Center, explored branding and customer service issues. The event, which has tripled in participation and corporate support under Rebecca’s leadership, featured a panel discussion with regional women executives and entrepreneurs about creating strong brands that drive greater engagement through meaningful customer interactions.

Working to growPittsburgh's economy

(L-R) Keynote speaker Maxine Clark, chairman, founder, and chief executive "bear" of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.; Laurie R. Mizrahi, president of Mizrahi Inc. and interim vice president creative of GNC Corporation; Rebecca Harris, director of the CWE at Chatham; Susan Gregg Koger, chief executive officer and lead buyer for ModCloth; Michele Anne Petruccelli, president of Petrucelli Strategic Marketing Consulting; and Donna Sturgess, president and founding partner of Buyology, Inc. and former global head of innovation for GlaxoSmithKline.

The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (PCWP) at Chatham hosted one-day bipartisan campaign schools in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for women considering entering the political arena.

Ready to Run Pittsburgh featured media and public speaking training with Deb Sofield, a national award-winning speaker and executive speech and presentations coach. The Philadelphia event featured a session led by political communications specialist Chris Jahnke. And both events featured Nancy Bocskor, internationally renowned political speaker and educator, who led sessions titled “Fundraising for Success.”

Preparing womento enter the political arena

(L-R) Natalia Rudiak, Pittsburgh city councilwoman; Valerie McDonald-Roberts, manager of the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate; Deb Sofield, media trainer; Jeanne Clark, chair of the Democratic Committee for the 7th Ward; and Dana Brown, PCWP executive director; photographed at Ready to Run Pittsburgh, held on January 21, 2012.

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Students enrolled in Chatham’s Master of Arts in Food Studies (MAFS) program competed in a culinary battle against Chef Dan Dooley, Parkhurst Dining Services executive, to see who could create the most tasty and sustainable lunch.

Contestants had one hour to create a vegetarian soup and main entrée for the judges using a basket of fresh, local ingredients. The theme of the contest – “local foods in January” – demonstrated that it’s possible to eat locally grown foods in this region during even the coldest months.

No stranger to sustainable cooking, Dan uses the resources of the Eden Hall Campus, such as fresh herbs and honey from the apiaries, to prepare many of his meals.

Judges Chris Fennimore, program director at WQED-TV; Larry Lagatutta, owner of Enrico Biscotti; and President Barazzone, selected their favorite dishes based on appearance, taste, and creativity.

Victory went to the team of students, which included MAFS students Beth Taylor and Jody Barnhart and was led by undergraduate student Sarah Daigneault. The winning team’s dishes included a pan-seared tofu with black sesame seeds; tomato and celeriac puree with balsamic reduction; and shitake mushroom and butternut squash hash with soft poached egg, white truffle oil, and sea salt.

On a sunny afternoon last August behind Dilworth Hall, a crew began to plant Chatham’s first rain garden. Funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the rain garden will help to improve water quality and cut down on pollution reaching creeks and streams by absorbing storm water runoff.

Native plant species in the garden have deep roots that withstand saturation from water runoff, absorbing the water and returning water vapors to the atmosphere. Fairly easy to maintain and requiring no fertilization, rain gardens have the added benefit of attracting a variety of birds, butterflies, and insects to the surrounding area. Several rain gardens are being planned for Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus.

Sustainable

food fightHow does your

garden grow?

For more information on Chatham’s sustainability e"orts, visit

www.chatham.edu/outreach/sustainability.

(L-R) Undergraduate Sarah Daigneault and Master of Arts in Food Studies students Jody Barnhart and Beth Taylor prepare their winning dishes.

David Hassenzahl, dean of Chatham’s School of Sustainability and the Environment, is part of a project to provide educators access to a breadth of interdisciplinary resources, via a portal website, to foster effective teaching and learning about climate change. Dr. Hassenzahl announced the launch of the Climate, Adaptation, Mitigation E-Learning (CAMEL) community portal at the National Council for Science and the Environment’s conference that was held in Washington, D.C., in January. CAMEL is funded by a three-year $1.9 million award from the National Science Foundation.

Via CAMEL, educators can access a variety of reports, presentations, lesson plans, videos, games, field and lab exercises, case studies, podcasts, and many other tools to teach climate change causes, consequences, solutions, and actions. CAMEL also allows educators to build personal websites and invite others to collaborate around teaching materials, strategies, and assessment.

Climate changeand collaborative learning


Widely recognized as one of the founding documents of the modern environmental movement, best-selling book Silent Spring turns 50 years old this year. Written by the late marine biologist and nature

writer, alumna Rachel Carson ’29, the book explains the hazards of uncontrolled, widespread use of synthetic chemical pesticides across the country, including the devastating e"ect it was having on wildlife and the dangers it posed to human health.The chemical industry was quick to launch an attack discrediting Rachel and her writing, painting her as a radical. Rachel was not pursuing a ban on pesticides, but she expressed a need for more thorough research on how the chemicals affect health. She also advocated exploring the use of less toxic and alternative products, and giving the public the right to know the truth about (and refuse) uncontrolled pesticide use.

In many ways, Rachel’s writing and call for more research and understanding on how we live and interact with our environment is an early model for sustainability studies and Chatham’s School of Sustainability and the Environment.

Rachel was one of the many Chatham women who have helped to bring positive change to the world. From an early curiosity with the natural world along the banks of the Allegheny River to the inspiration she found in science at

the Shadyside Campus, her early years at Chatham had a profound influence on her work.

Throughout this anniversary year, Chatham and the Rachel Carson Institute will hold special events to celebrate and reflect on the importance of Rachel’s Silent Spring.

Rachel Carson’s

Silent Springat 50

Chatham’s green initiatives were recognized by the Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) on October 27, 2011, at the Green Power Awards luncheon at the Fairmont Pittsburgh hotel. The Green Power: Make It award recognizes Chatham for the installation of building-integrated solar thermal collectors on its research greenhouse and on the two highest-occupancy residence halls on the Shadyside Campus. The largest installation of its kind in Pennsylvania, the project incorporates advanced microchannel technology from Solar Tomorrow, Inc. to provide student residents with solar-heated hot water. Financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth financing authority, this project is just one example of Chatham’s commitment to reducing its global warming impact and reaching carbon neutrality by 2025.

A salute to SOLAR

For more information on the events celebrating the 50th anniversary

of Carson’s Silent Spring, visit www.chatham.edu/silentspring50.

Rachel Carson Book Award

To honor the legacy of famous alumna Rachel Carson ’29, Chatham began the Rachel Carson Book Award program in 1990. Recognizing young women with an interest in environmental studies, the program currently o"ers a renewable $1,000 scholarship to full-time undergraduate students at Chatham. Winners of the scholarship also receive a copy of Silent Spring and opportunities to participate in a variety of University events.

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At her Chatham commencement ceremony, Audrey kisses her first grandchild, Colin Hilliard.

Harry Goldby, a former lecturer at Chatham, passed away at age 94 on September 26, 2011. He spent the last 25 years of his life away from Pittsburgh, the city he called home for many years.

Yet during that period, when he lived in Carlisle, Pa., Harry faithfully supported the Nationality Rooms Program at the University of Pittsburgh, where his donations enabled director Maxine Bruhns to create videos of the rooms, which attract visitors from all over the world.

And in 2007, he created a fund through the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation so that he could support programs for two types of programs—those benefiting children, and those that emphasize the architectural heritage of Pittsburgh.

During his career, Harry was a French language professor at his alma mater, the

University of Pittsburgh. Following his retirement, he continued to teach courses and give lectures at Chatham, St. Edmund’s Academy, and Winchester Thurston School.

Harry was also an accomplished pianist who entertained on Scottish, German, and English ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In the 1970s, he undertook a project investigating the life of John Louis Ligonier, a Frenchman who was born during the reign of Louis XIV, who became the commander-in-chief of the British army, and is the man in whose honor the Western Pennsylvania fort and town are named.

In 1958, Harry and Jack Kolbert coauthored A First French Handbook for Teachers in Elementary Schools, which was published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. A second volume was released two years later.

Chatham alumna Audrey Hillman Hilliard ’82, who passed away at age 86 on October 9, 2011, was one of the most beloved philanthropists in the Pittsburgh area. She was best known for leading the efforts to create the Outdoor Garden at Phipps Conservatory and restore the Allegheny Commons on the North Side.

She also had the public’s respect as a founding member of the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Women’s Committee; as a lifelong member of Calvary Episcopal Church; as a board member of St. Edmund’s Academy; and as a supporter of Shadyside Hospital, the Frick Museum, the Carnegie Library, the Calvary-Lincoln After School Program, the Garden Club of Allegheny County, and the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute.

For many years, the Chatham community knew Audrey and her husband, Tom Hilliard, as neighbors on Woodland Road, where they resided next to Berry Hall. In 1959, Tom joined the Board of Trustees, and he remains active today as an emeritus trustee. Audrey, who attended Finch College as a young woman, came to Chatham in 1978 as a student and

Alumnae

Genevieve Shibler Karn ’33Evelyn Bitner Pearson ’33

Elizabeth McLaughlin Bryant ’36Elizabeth R. Bradley ’37

Lillian Taylor Franz ’37Mary Jane Totten Dickinson ’39

Julia Jackson ’41Elizabeth Maroney Aiello ’43

Jean Wyre Lamp ’43Jean Purves Bowman ’46

Suzanne Sutton Hepler ’48Patricia Fry ’49

Elizabeth Bilderback Frederick ’49Olga Mamula Kaish ’49

Rita E. Howard ’51Natalie Stern Miller ’55

Susan Bergman Gurrentz ’56Barbara A. Komlyn ’56

Alexa Nelson Plantz ’59Georganne Allebrand ’59

Nancy Levendorf Smith ’60Susan Herb Reichard ’63

Constance Shane Clovis ’64

Friends, Faculty, and Staff

Anthony Bianco Bill Cecil Campbell

Joseph GancarzJohn Karas

Erla Cramer MaxwellMary Ann Munsch

Stewart N. PoolValene Szklany

Harry Goldby

Audrey Hillman Hilliard

graduated four years later, cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in art.

Audrey was born in Pittsburgh on August 24, 1925, to James and Marguerite Hillman. In 1948, she married Tom, who would later become president, treasurer, and director of American Steel and president, treasurer, and director of Keystone Brass Works.

In addition to her husband, Audrey is survived by daughters, Connie Hilliard, Elsie Humes, and Peggy Martin; sons Jamie and Tim Hilliard; sisters Sally Childs and Maggie Purnell; and several grandchildren.


Ann Boyd-Stewart joins Chatham as vice president for university advancement. She has more than 16 years of experience in strategic fundraising, public relations, and nonprofit management. A native of Michigan, she served as the director of development for the School of Medicine and the School of Natural

Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan in addition to other roles in development.

She received her MA in philanthropic studies from Indiana University and her BA in philosophy and economics from the University of Michigan. A competitive runner in high school and college, she was a three-time Olympic Trials marathon qualifier and four-time World USA team member.

Bill Campbell joins Chatham as vice president of marketing and communications. He comes to Chatham from Clean Design, an innovative brand and design agency in Raleigh, N.C., though he is originally from Geneseo, Ill. During Bill’s long tenure at the firm serving as vice

president and brand strategy director, he successfully developed marketing and branding initiatives across a variety of industries and sectors for clients such as the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler School of Business, IBM, and John Deere.

He has also worked with clients on capital campaigns and has developed a reputation as a creative brand professional with a diverse background in public relations, advertising, and web design. He received his BA in English from the University of Illinois.

Karol E. Dean, joins Chatham as dean of Chatham College for Women and professor of psychology. She comes to Chatham from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, Calif., where she was a professor of psychology and assistant provost; she formerly served as department chair and interim dean.

She is active in the Association for Women in Psychology and the Society for the Psychology of Women of the American Psychological Association. Widely published, Karol is a reviewer for two professional journals, Psychology of Women Quarterly and Sex Roles.

She received her Ph.D. and master’s degree in personality psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and received her BA in psychology from Boston University.

Donna Holmes joins Chatham as director of annual giving programs in the Office of University Advancement. She comes to Chatham from Oberlin College and Conservatory, her alma mater, where she served as associate director of the Oberlin Alumni Fund. Along with her degree in

philosophy and a certificate in nonprofit management from George Mason University, Donna brings 15 years of experience in fundraising. She also is well-versed in capital campaigns, data mining, strategic planning, and volunteer management. While at Oberlin, she oversaw direct mail appeals and print marketing for alumni and parent giving, as well as the student phone-a-thon and development of e-mail and web solicitation strategies.

Marylyn Scott joins Chatham as director of undergraduate admission. With prior experience as a classroom teacher and college professor, Marylyn has seven years of experience in college admission and student affairs. She has presented at numerous national and regional conferences.

Marylyn has a master’s degree in foreign language education from the University of Florida. She is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and Native American and Indigenous Studies Association and an associate member of New England Counselors of Color Bridging Access to College and the Association of Black Admissions and Financial Aid Officers of the Ivy League and Sister Schools.

Sheryl Stearns joins Chatham as director of international recruitment. For the past six years, she recruited international students for a private high school in Maine. Sheryl is passionate about international education and travel and spent seven years living and working in Germany, Thailand, and

Zambia; she has traveled to 41 countries.

She received a BA in German and political science and an MA in German language and literature from Middlebury College in Vermont. She also holds a postgraduate diploma in applied linguistics from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and has her Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

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