fall 2017 - marist college

from THE OFFICE of PRESIDENT YELLEN

FALL 2017 UPDATE

FALL 2017 UPDATE from THE OFFICE of PRESIDENT YELLEN 2

FALL 2017 UPDATE from the Office of President Yellen

On August 26, we were pleased to welcome an exceptional group of 1,318 freshman and 175 transfer students to campus for the beginning of the 2017-18 academic year. We received more than 11,000 applications for the class, accepting only 42.6 percent. I’m proud to say that students

from underrepresented groups represent just over 21 percent of Marist’s freshman class, reflecting the College’s strong commitment to admitting a diverse student body.

The Class of 2021 is geographically diverse as well, with more than 58 percent of students coming from outside New York

(representing 28 different states). Our freshman class also includes 51 international students from countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, China, Croatia, Finland, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, United

Kingdom, and Vietnam. More than 90 percent of freshmen are housed on campus, while 67 freshmen are commuters. In addition, 51 students are spending their first year at Marist’s branch campus in Italy as part of the Freshman Florence Experience.

Marist also had another successful year with our Summer Pre-College Program, which gives high school students the opportunity to live and study on a college campus while earning college credit. Students could choose between 21 different courses, including the new Marketing and Communication course offered at Marist’s branch campus in Florence. In all, a total of 303 rising high school juniors and seniors (272 students in New York and 31 in Italy) participated this year, compared to 281 students in 2016.

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall semester. There are many exciting activities happening at Marist, and I would like to bring you up to date on some of them. Since arriving at the College last year, I’ve been extremely impressed by the outstanding work being conducted by our students, faculty, and staff. I know you join me in taking pride in Marist’s culture of excellence.

MARIST WELCOMES THE CLASS OF 2021


Speaking of Italy, 11 students from Marist and other colleges took part in our Venice Biennale Program over the summer, immersing themselves in the world of studio art and art history in Venice. The students, including two from the Institute of Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, created work in sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, jewelry, photography, and digital media while participating in a combination of lectures, studio workshops, and critiques. Leslie and I had the opportunity to meet these talented students and experience their work as it was being created. The culmination of the Marist Venice Biennale Program was the final exhibition, entitled ABROAD in VENICE, which showcased the students’ creations and took place in Campo San Geremia on June 30 and July 1. Thanks to Professors of Art Ed Smith, Richard Lewis, and Donise English for their great work on the program!

ACADEMIC AFFAIRSMARIST JOINS THE AMERICAN TALENT INITIATIVEI am pleased to announce that Marist has joined the American Talent Initiative (ATI), a consortium of top colleges and universities committed to expanding opportunity and access to higher education. The goal of ATI is to enroll and graduate 50,000 additional highly talented, low- and moderate-income students by 2025.

The invitation to join ATI is a great honor for the College, as it gives us an opportunity to help address issues of income inequality and social mobility in the United States. There is incredible untapped talent in many of our nation’s communities, and ATI seeks to harness it by expanding students’ access to top-performing institutions, where they are most likely to graduate. Membership in ATI is limited to high-performing colleges and universities that graduate at least 70 percent of their students within six years. As such, this initiative allows Marist to partner with some of the country’s most prestigious schools, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford.

ATI’s focus is three-fold: 1) a sustained national campaign to raise awareness about the talent in low-income communities and create momentum among higher education leaders to act on improving access and success for lower-income students; 2) setting aspirational, measurable goals to reach our national target of 50,000 additional students by 2025 and sustaining that increase thereafter; and 3) research and knowledge dissemination to identify and promote replication of effective practices and elevate ATI member efforts.

ATI is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, working in concert with the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program and Ithaka S+R. I am proud to join with my fellow college presidents to find practical and results-oriented solutions to the challenge of access to higher education. We know that this country is at its best when every young person has the opportunity to fulfill their potential and play a constructive role in our society. You can learn more about ATI at http://americantalentinitiative.org.


FASHION MAGAZINE EARNS MAJOR RECOGNITION

The College’s Fashion Program has earned national plaudits for FM/AM, the Fashion Magazine at Marist. The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications recently announced the 2017 winners of its Student Magazine Contest, and FM/AM won two awards from a professionally juried field of 222 entries from 22 universities across the United States and Canada. Specifically, it took first place for Single Issue of an Ongoing Magazine – Design and second place for Single Issue of an Ongoing Magazine – General Excellence

To quote juror Stephanie Mehta, deputy editor of Vanity Fair, “As a fashion magazine, it might be easy for FM/AM to rest on its stunning photography and sophisticated styling, and indeed, FM/AM is by far the best-looking entry in the category. But like the best professional fashion titles, FM/AM also delivers compelling essays and interviews...” Congratulations to Professional Lecturer and Special Projects Coordinator Melissa Halvorson and her talented students!

CENTER FOR SPORTS COMMUNICATION RECOGNIZES JOURNALIST HANNAH STORM

On April 20, luminaries from the worlds of broadcasting, sports, and literature joined Marist alumni and friends at New York’s Edison Ballroom to celebrate sports broadcasting trailblazer Hannah Storm and support the College’s Center for Sports Communication. It was my honor to present Hannah with the Center’s Lifetime Excellence in Sports Communication Award in recognition of the quality and range of her work, including coverage of major athletes such as LeBron James and Derek Jeter and events including the Super Bowl, Wimbledon, and the NBA playoffs. She has spent the past decade at ESPN, where she hosts SportsCenter’s Face to Face with Hannah Storm and SportsCenter Sunday Morning during the National Football League season.

Guest speakers at the event included ESPN legend Bob Ley, tennis great Patrick McEnroe, best-selling author and screenwriter Nicholas Sparks, NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks (Hannah’s husband), former American Basketball Association Commissioner Mike Storen, former NBA Commissioner David Stern, ESPN host and reporter Wendi Nix, and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lisa Kerney, who served as emcee.

Marist’s School of Communication & the Arts has launched the Center for Social Media, adding another distinctive educational experience to the School’s offerings. The Center will educate students about industry-leading practices in social media listening, engagement, influence, and analytics. Located in a state-of-the-art command center in Lowell Thomas 154, the Center features seven flat-screen TVs displaying real-time social conversations and analytics powered by Salesforce’s Social Studio and Command Center platforms, giving students access to the same technology used by communication professionals to turn social media insights into action. Marist is one of only six colleges nationally using Salesforce in the classroom.

The Center is the brainchild of Lyn Lepre, Dean of the School of Communication & the Arts. Directed by Senior Professional Lecturer of Public Relations Jennie Donohue, the Center will host a variety of activities during the academic year, including a guest speaker series and themed workshops. Said Professor Donohue, “We’re so excited to launch the Center for Social Media this year. Our goal is to give communication students greater access to professionals, technology, and experiences to help them learn firsthand how companies how companies can glean insights and build relationships via social media that deliver results.”

On September 25, Marist alumna Kelsey Donohue ’13 kicked off the Center’s speaker series by sharing insights from her career as a Media Strategist with the OutCast Agency (continued)

Honoree Hannah Storm (center) was joined on the red carpet by (left to right) President David Yellen, Leslie Richards-Yellen, Dan Hicks, and Lisa and Patrick Kerney.

CENTER FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Kelsey Donohue ‘13


ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

FACULTY AND STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

On June 25, Professor of Strategy in the School of Management Helen Rothberg, right, launched her new book, The Perfect Mix: Everything I Know About Leadership I Learned as a Bartender, at Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Newburgh, New York. The idea for the book arose when she was tending bar in New York City while pursuing advanced degrees in business and behavioral science. By using colorful stories of the people she met while bartending, Helen writes about her special “mix” for leadership success. ADVICE forms the pillars of her leadership model – Action, Determination, Vision, Integrity, Communication, and Empathy. The Perfect Mix has garnered significant praise and attention. It was featured on Money magazine’s website, and Lois P. Frankel, author of See Jane Lead and Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office called it a “fun and practical guide to bringing out the best in people.” The book is available in both hardcover and electronic form and is published by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.

Congratulations also go out to Director of Archives and Special Collections John Ansley, who received a $39,101 Conservation/Preservation Discretionary grant from the New York State Library to preserve and digitize the Scenic Hudson Administrative History Collection. This collection documents the landmark court case known as the Scenic Hudson Decision, which set important precedents in environmental law, including the right of citizens to participate in environmental disputes, the emergence of environmental law as a legal specialty, and federal and state regulation of the environment. The Scenic Hudson Decision is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

In June, Associate Professor of Psychology Sherry Dingman and Assistant Professor of Marketing Vernon Murray had the unique opportunity to participate in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting on human trafficking in New York City. Sherry and Vernon serve on the board of directors of Fang Protective Services (FPS), a nonprofit organization providing safety and security consulting services to help organizations meet their duty to care for volunteers and staff on humanitarian missions around the world; FPS has “consultative status” in the Economic and Social Council of the UN. Sherry and Vernon received security briefings and training from the U.S. State Department and they, in turn, passed that information along to humanitarian aid workers overseas. In addition, both professors do academic research on human trafficking, and for these reasons, the UN granted them special permission to attend the session.

In addition, Director of the James A. Cannavino Library Rebecca Albitz has co-edited a book entitled Leading in the New Academic Library, published by Libraries Unlimited. The book’s essays examine the rapidly changing environment for academic libraries and the variety of leadership roles librarians must take on to successfully implement innovative services and practices.

and Assistant Press Secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama. In a lecture entitled “Storytelling with Snapchat: Lessons from Michelle Obama’s Digital Strategy,” Kelsey recounted the experience she gained as a member of the First Lady’s communication team, including launching the First Lady’s Snapchat account. She also advised students on using Snapchat to connect with their audience to build community in authentic and meaningful ways.

Future guest speakers at the Center for Social Media include Adam Bryant, the Emmy-Award-winning Director of Digital Media at AMC Networks, who will deliver a talk on October 18 entitled “Speaking Your Audience’s Language: The Heart of Digital Storytelling.” In addition, Mark Schaefer, best-selling social media marketing author, college educator, keynote speaker, and strategy consultant will share his thoughts on “Unleashing Your Personal Brand in the Digital Age” on November 8.

Professor Helen Rothberg


FACULTY AND STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A recent book by Marist Trustee and Scholar in Residence Brother Sean Sammon, FMS ’70, Life After Youth: The story of one man’s journey through the transition at midlife (right) won an award in the area of gender studies at the annual meeting of the Catholic Press Association this past summer. The group, which represents Catholic media in North America, presents awards annually in a number of subject areas, including history, biography, immigration, faith and science, interfaith relations, gender studies, and several other areas. Brother Sean’s book examines the emotional and physical challenges of middle age, as well as the opportunity for self-reflection. The Kirkus Review called it “a useful guide for embracing aging.”

Congratulations to Dean of the School of Communication & the Arts Lyn Lepre (left) on the release of her new book Diversity in U.S. Mass Media, 2nd Edition, published by Wiley-Blackwell. The book, co-authored with Catherine Luther and Naeemah Clark, presents a review of the evolution and the many issues surrounding portrayals of social groups in the mass media of the United States. Mass media depictions often play a crucial role in shaping our views about individuals and social groups, and this book offers instructive insights into the ways different groups are represented through the mass media.

FIRST YEAR SEMINAR LECTURE

On September 27, Marist welcomed award-winning author Reyna Grande to campus to deliver the College’s fifth annual First Year Seminar Lecture. Ms. Grande is the author of The Distance Between Us (Washington Square Press, 2013), an inspirational coming-of-age story about the pursuit of a better life that is required reading this year for all Marist freshmen. The book is based on the author’s childhood experience of immigrating illegally to the United States from Mexico and the long-term impact it had on her and her family. She spoke before a crowd of more than 1,000 students, faculty, and staff in the McCann Center Arena.

Fleeing dire poverty in Mexico, Ms. Grande’s father immigrated first to the United States when she was two, followed by her mother. She and her siblings stayed behind with her grandmother before joining their parents in the United States several years later. Ms. Grande was 10 years old. The long separation took a toll, however, creating significant family discord and emotional fallout. Through her writing, she has been able to explore the question of what immigration costs migrants. Said Ms. Grande, “I’m still paying for my American dream. The psychological violence of watching your family fall apart is the price I paid.”

Kevin Gaugler, Associate Professor of Spanish and the Co-Director of First Year Seminars at Marist, indicated that the Common Reading Committee chose The Distance Between Us for several reasons. Said Professor Gaugler, “Committee members were drawn to this well-written personal story of an individual’s struggles from childhood through adulthood, and they thought the book gave Marist students the opportunity to experience a modern immigrant story in the first person, as well as to consider the larger societal issues around that story.” Added Professor of History Robyn Rosen, First Year Seminars Co-Director, “The committee typically looks for a book that will start a meaningful intellectual conversation with freshmen in the hopes that it will carry through to residence halls, classroom discussions, and club activities throughout their first year at Marist. In many ways, the common read sets a kind of academic theme to contemplate for the year.”

Dean Lyn Lepre

Reyna Grande, author of The Distance Between Us, speaks at Marist


ACADEMIC AFFAIRSSTUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

The 2016-17 academic year was another banner year for Marist undergraduates, with several being awarded nationally competitive scholarships. Among these, we are delighted to announce two Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants, one Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching grant, two Goldwater Scholarships, a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute internship, a DAAD Research in Science and Engineering (RISE) award, and a Gilman International Scholarship.

Darriel McBride ’17, an English/writing major and HEOP graduate from the South Bronx, was awarded the Fulbright Student grant to teach English in Umlazi

Township, South Africa. Darriel was also recognized as a Humanity in Action John Lewis Fellow, and she participated in a month-long program in Atlanta this past July, together with 30 other students and recent college graduates from the United States and Europe. The Humanity in Action program focuses on diversity and civil rights in America.

In addition, Samantha Monroe ’17 was also awarded the Fulbright U.S. Student grant to become an English Teaching Assistant. She will be teaching English in Malaysia for 10 months starting this January. Sam hails from Simsbury, Connecticut and completed a Marist degree in psychology/special education.

Andrew Paulsen ’12 was awarded

Darriel McBride ’17 and U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA)

a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching grant to travel to Taiwan to research eastern mathematics pedagogy and consider how to implement best practices that are culturally (continued) relevant and responsible. Andrew, who was president of the Student Government Association during his senior year at Marist, is one of only 35 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through this program in 2017-18. After graduating from the College, Andrew taught in Newark, New Jersey through the highly competitive Teach for America program. Last year, he received the program’s Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. He continues to teach mathematics in the Newark Public Schools.

Samantha Monroe ’17

Andrew Paulsen '12 and Marist Trustee/Scholar-in-residence Bro. Sean Sammon, FMS '70 at Columbia University


STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

For the first time in Marist history, two of our students were awarded Goldwater Scholarships. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier national scholarship awarded to undergraduate students in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Marist awardees are Alec Lee ’18 and Carolyn Turcotte ’18. Alec is an environmental science and policy major from Albany, New York who has conducted environmental toxicology research. Carolyn, a biomedical science and biochemistry double major from Hopewell Junction, New York, is working on a molecular genetics project. Both are students in the College’s Honors Program and plan to attend graduate school after graduation. Alec and Carolyn are two of only 240 students nationwide to be chosen Goldwater Scholars from a pool of 1,286 nominees. Among New York State

colleges and universities, 13 had Goldwater Scholarships awarded to its students, and only five had two students recognized.

Congratulations also go out to Marist alumna (and former Goldwater recipient) Cathy DeBlase Mulzer ’11, who recently received the DSM Science and Technology Award Americas 2017 at the annual American Chemical Society meeting in

Washington, DC. The award recognizes Cathy’s discovery of redox-active Covalent Organic Frameworks as a technology platform for energy storage. Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition, and materials, presents the Science and Technology Award Americas as part of its Bright Science Awards program, which is designed to nurture, recognize, and reward excellence in key research fields. The Awards have been given out for more than a quarter-century and are meant to honor bright

young scientists in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Cathy, who was valedictorian of Marist’s Class of 2011, went on to earn her doctorate in organic chemistry at Cornell University. She currently works at Dow Electronics in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Cathy’s brother Andrew DeBlase ’09, who was also a Goldwater Scholar while at Marist, was recently awarded a very prestigious

national award in his field, the 2016 American Society for Mass Spectrometry

Carolyn Turcotte ’18 and Alec Lee ’18

Cathy DeBlase Mulzer ’11

(ASMS) Postdoctoral Career Development Award. The awards, which are worth $10,000, promote the professional career development of postdoctoral fellows in the field of mass spectrometry. Andrew graduated with his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale University in 2014 and since then has been a postdoctoral fellow at Purdue University. He plans to pursue a career in academia.

In other award news, Brendon Boldt ’18 of Osseo, Minnesota is the first Marist student receive a summer internship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) internships are for North American, British, and Irish university students to study for the summer in Germany. Brendon’s three-month RISE placement was with the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems in Kaiserslautern, where he conducted research with a doctoral student. Brendon

is a dual major in computer science/software development and philosophy, in addition to being a member of our Honors Program.

Andrew DeBlase ’09

Brendon Boldt ’18

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS


Dylan Lopez ’19 (above) has been awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to help finance his studies in Amsterdam this fall. Dylan, from Bushwick, New York, is majoring in journalism, with minors in psychology and photography. He is a member of the HEOP program.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Elio Velazquez ’18, above left, spent this past summer in Washington, DC as a congressional intern through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Elio, an HEOP student from the South Bronx, is studying international business and was also the recipient of Marist’s Jonah and Joan Sherman Scholarship for Volunteer Outreach. During CHCI’s paid summer and semester internships, promising Latino undergraduate students work in a congressional office while participating in weekly professional and leadership development and civic engagement through community service. Elio worked with Jose Serrano, (D-NY) above right, who represents New York’s 15th Congressional District (South Bronx). CHCI interns typically respond to constituent inquiries, write policy briefs, conduct legislative research, and attend congressional hearings and briefings.

MARIST STUDENTS GET CAREER-READY WITH MEANINGFUL SUMMER INTERNSHIPSAs part of the this year’s Albany Summer Internship Program, nine students from the School of Liberal Arts had the opportunity to work and study in New York’s capital city. Benefiting from Albany’s many political, non-profit, and cultural organizations, the students completed six-week internships in such fields as political communications, professional writing, and public service.

Students were placed in internships that introduced them to career possibilities related to their majors and minors. Krista Ricke ’18, an environmental studies and policy major with a minor in political science, combined both interests interning with Parks and Trails of New York, an organization that works with local politicians, cycling groups, and other stakeholders to improve trail access in the state. Similarly, Samuel Fontanez ’18 drew upon both his history major and political science minor in his work with the office of New York State Senator Terrence Murphy. Participants work four days a week in an office setting, complete a seminar course, interact with guest speakers from a variety of fields, and visit key sites such as Albany Law School. The goal is to provide students with a substantive experience they can draw on as they interview for professional jobs or go on to graduate school.

Service and experiential learning are key component of the Marist educational experience, and these two goals are being realized through the Marie and Rupert Tarver Summer Internship program. For the fourth consecutive year, a cohort of Marist students participated in the Tarver Summer Internship program, which gives undergraduates the opportunity to work on a community improvement project by interning at a local non-profit organization. The program honors the exceptional accomplishments of local community leader Marie Tarver and her husband, the late Rupert Tarver, a renowned civil rights pioneer in the Hudson River Valley. It is run in conjunction with Marist’s Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership (CCEL), and participants receive a stipend, three tuition credits, and on-campus housing for the summer. Tarver Interns work closely with their Marist faculty sponsor and non-profit site supervisor to design an internship project, identify the key issues their work will address, and complete agreed-upon goals and objectives.

Tarver interns and the non-profit organizations for which they worked were Annie Callaghan ’18 (Family Services); Diana Carballa Chanfón ’18 (Rural and Mi-grant Ministry); Ian Krout ’18 (Hudson River Sloop Clearwater); Eliza Patterson ’18 (Mental Health America/Dutchess); Riana Ramirez ‘18 (Catholic Charities); Abby Ritson ’18 (Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie); and Kathryn Zielinski ’18 (Hudson River Housing). Congratulations to all of these students and to CCEL Director Melissa Gaeke on a job well done!

The 2017 Tarver Interns are seen here with CCEL Director Melissa Gaeke (third from left)

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS


MARIST MARCHES IN 2017 NEW YORK CITYPRIDE PARADE On June 25, approximately 30 members of the Marist community participated in the annual New York City Pride March, joining more than 450 other contingents of non-profit and community organizations, corporate partners, small businesses, political candidates, and activists. This was the second year in which members of our college community marched, including Director of Student-Athlete Enhancement Alyssa Gates, Associate Professor of History Janine Peterson, Assistant Professor of History Kristen Bayer, Professor of English Moira Fitzgibbons, Counseling Services Psychologist Marisa Moore, Assistant Director of First Year Programs and Leadership Development Melissa Lulay, Head of Public & Research Services Nancy Calabrese, and Tyler Rodriguez ’20. The College’s participation was organized by the LGBTQ Subcommittee of the Diversity Council, which organizes ally training, brings guest speakers to campus, and hosts social gatherings for the Marist community.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRSNEWS FROM DIGITAL EDUCATIONThis fall, the Digital Education team is pleased to announce the launch of five new certificate tracks designed to enhance the way in which iLearn is used by faculty and students. All of the workshops are available either face-to-face or through a webinar. The tracks include: 1) Student Engagement, designed to promote active learning within iLearn; 2) Blended Classroom, specifically developed for faculty members who want to use iLearn during face-to-face courses and maximize class time with students; 3) iLearn Level 1, designed for users who are new to

iLearn and want to build their skills and; 4) iLearn Level 2, developed for users who want to delve further into advanced lesson design and tool usage. Finally, the new E3 (Enhance, Engage, and Empower) is an early teaching engagement certificate track. It consists of a one-and-a-half week online interactive course designed to introduce newly digital faculty to the systems and tools available to them on iLearn.

ON & OFF CAMPUS


MARIST POLL UPDATE

The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) has embarked on a new national polling partnership with two of the nation’s most respected news organizations, NPR and the PBS NewsHour. The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll will regularly measure public opinion on issues critical to the nation’s public discourse. It will complement The Marist Poll’s highly successful battleground state polling with NBC News and The Wall Street Journal. The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll’s inaugural collaboration focused on the Trump administration, Congress, the nation’s relationship with Russia, trust in institutions, and the Fourth of July. MIPO Director Lee Miringoff appeared on the PBS NewsHour hosted by Judy Woodruff to discuss the survey’s findings, appearing alongside Amy Walter, National Editor of The Cook Political Report.

The inaugural NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll was just one of many high-profile activities this year. In April, The Marist Poll had the distinct pleasure of being chronicled by the SHOWTIME documentary The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth. The show’s production team, including host and distinguished political journalist Mark Halperin, spent three days on campus and took an in-depth look at our survey process. On the docket that week was a survey which focused on the aftermath of President Trump’s decision to launch air strikes on Syria.

The Marist Poll will again team up with its battleground state polling partners to survey residents of three states which helped propel President Donald Trump into the White House – Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. With high-profile gubernatorial races on the ballot this fall and the 2018 midterm election just around the corner, there will be more to come from the NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll.

The Marist Poll also has two major media initiatives in the works. PollHub, The Marist Poll’s new podcast, is being launched on iTunes this fall. It features Lee, Marist Poll Director Barbara Carvalho, and former political journalist and media expert Jay DeDapper. PollHub goes beyond the top-line numbers and unpacks public opinion polling to explain how survey research is conducted, addresses some of the challenges facing the industry today, and provides context and analysis to poll findings.

In addition, The Marist Poll is piloting a student newsroom this fall. Through educational modules and hands-on

mentoring from the professionals at The Marist Poll, students will create polling and research content for distribution on The Marist Poll’s multi-media channels. The newsroom will also provide a production and distribution structure within the Poll, which will create an extensive and cohesive marketing strategy.

Panel discussion at the Newseum

In April, The Marist Poll hosted a panel discussion, entitled Changing America: What’s at Stake?, which featured the insights of distinguished political journalists E.J. Dionne, Jr., Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and columnist for The Washington Post; Maggie Haberman, White House Correspondent for The New York Times; Mark Murray, Senior Political Editor for NBC News; and Amy Walter, National Editor for The Cook Political Report. The panel discussion was moderated by Lee Miringoff and Barbara Carvalho and was presented in partnership with Marist’s Office of College Advancement. More than 160 alumni, current students, and friends of the College attended this event, which took place at the Newseum in Washington, DC. Those who couldn’t travel to DC were able to watch the discussion via live stream and follow along via Marist Poll social media.

MIPO Director Lee Miringoff with Amy Walter on the PBS NewsHour hosted by Judy Woodruff

ON & OFF CAMPUS

Recording the PollHub podcast


2017 COMMENCEMENT

Marist’s 71st Commencement Exercises were held on May 19-20, and we were delighted to have two outstanding speakers address our graduates. Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist with The Washington Post, delivered the address to traditional undergraduates on May 20 and was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Mr. Robinson’s journalism career at The Post included stints as a reporter and editor on a variety of local, national, and international beats before he launched his twice-weekly column on politics and culture in 2005.

He also holds the title of Associate Editor at The Post. Through his reporting and his columns, Robinson has established himself as one of the most thoughtful writers on politics, race, and culture. In 2009, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, with the Pulitzer Committee citing “his eloquent columns on the 2008 presidential campaign that focus on the election of the first African-American president, showcasing graceful writing and grasp of the larger historic picture.”

Addressing graduate and adult undergraduate students on May 19 was Trustee Brother Sean Sammon, FMS ’70, a leader, scholar, and public intellectual. From 2001-09, he served as Superior General of the Marist Brothers, and before that, as Vicar General, overseeing the

work of more than 4,000 Brothers in 79 countries around the world. As worldwide leader of the Marist Brothers, he encouraged the order to take a more global and multicultural view of its mission and helped expand the Brothers’ reach by establishing a relationship with the United Nations Human Rights Council. Brother Sean has also been a senior leader in the wider Catholic Church. He was the only Brother to be a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, which advises the Pope and makes policy decisions for religious orders worldwide.

CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Over the past year, we have continued to pursue an ambitious building program with the goal of providing Marist students with some of the best facilities in the nation. The north campus housing complex is now almost complete, and we have begun work on a renovation/addition to the Steel Plant.

During 2016-17, students moved into Buildings A and B of the north campus housing complex, which has been extremely popular and has brought new life to that area. The complex features sweeping views of the Hudson River and is in keeping with our campus architectural palette of granite stone, limestone, red brick, and bronze-colored aluminum windows. In August, students moved into Building C. Building D, which features residential housing, a dining hall, fitness center, and multi-purpose space, will be ready for move-in by the end of the fall semester.

In June, we began a renovation/addition to the Steel Plant that will make it a showcase for the arts at Marist. When completed next summer, the building will provide superior space for the College’s fashion and art programs. The design features 38,000 square feet of new building space and 13,000 square feet of renovated space, including dedicated space for each program. There will be a total of 23 faculty

offices; three classrooms; four digital labs; fashion studios and maker space; a garment archive; fashion trend and textile labs;

painting, drawing, and sculpting studios; a 2D lab; and dedicated gallery space for

both the fashion and art programs.

Eugene Robinson

Brother Sean Sammon, FMS ’70

Exterior rending of Steel Plant

Rendering of Winter Garden Café in the Steel Plant

Aerial view of North Campus housing complex


ATHLETICS

Congratulations to Marist’s baseball team, which won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships on May 27, defeating the Iona Gaels 5-1 and earning a trip to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. Unfortunately, the Red Foxes’ NCAA run was brief, as they fell 10-6 to the University of Florida Gators on June 2 and saw their season end on Saturday, June 3 with a 4-2 loss to the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats.

While Marist’s student-athletes are talented on the field, on the court, and in the pool, they also make us extremely proud in the classroom and in the community. I’m especially pleased to note that for the 16th straight year, the College leads the MAAC in the number of student-athletes named to the MAAC honor roll. This past year, 267 students earned this distinction. Indeed, 80 percent of student-athletes were named to their conference’s All-Academic Team or Academic Honor Roll. Student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.24. They also performed more than 3,000 hours of community service. Kudos!In February, our women’s swimming and diving team celebrated its eighth

consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship (and the 18th in program history). Meredith Wurtz ’17 and Sara Nestrowitz ’18 were named Co-Most Outstanding Swimmers, while Megan Berardelli ’18 was named Most Outstanding Diver. In addition, Head Men’s and Women’s Swim Coach Larry VanWagner was honored as Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year for the eighth time and Associate Head Coach/Diving Head Coach Melanie Bolstad was honored with the MAAC Diving Coach of the Year award.

The women’s basketball team ended its season with a record of 15-17 (11-9 in MAAC play). Rebekah Hand ’20 was

named Rookie of the Year by the MAAC, Eastern College Athletic Conference, and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. The Marist men’s basketball team ended its season at 8-24 (5-15 in conference play).

Men’s lacrosse ended its season at 10-6 overall, falling to Monmouth in the MAAC Championship

game. J.D. Recor ’17 was selected as one of 55 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Division I Scholar All-Americans; J.D. is the program’s fourth USILA Scholar All-American and the third in as many years, joining Corey Zindel ’11, Dave Scarcello ’15, and Joseph Radin ’16. One of 10 finalists across the country for this year’s Senior CLASS Award, J.R. got further national recognition when he was taken in the ninth round, 79th overall, by the New York Lizards in the 2017 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft.

Women’s lacrosse finished its regular season at 10-9 overall and 5-3 in the MAAC; they fell to Fairfield in the MAAC semifinals. The team and four of

its student-athletes were recognized for their academic achievements during the 2016-17 school year by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association on July 26. Marist was one of 92 Division I programs to earn the Zag Sports Academic Honor Squad distinction. To qualify for the IWLCA Academic Honor Squad, a team must post a 3.0 or higher team GPA for the academic year. 2016 graduates Natalie Bonaroti, Madison Calkins, Alyssa Pitonzo, and Abigail Witczak were named to the 2016-17 IWLCA Zag Sports Division I Honor Roll. To be eligible for this recognition, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Our softball team went 35-20 overall and 13-7 in the MAAC, but saw its season come to an end at the hands of Monmouth during the MAAC tournament. The 2017 team was honored as an Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Academic Team. The Red Foxes turned in the nation’s 15th-highest cumulative grade-point average at 3.525, the highest of any of the 11 schools in the MAAC.

Men’s tennis went 17-4 overall and 6-1 in the MAAC, losing in the MAAC title match to Monmouth, while women’s tennis had a record of 8-8 overall and 5-2 in conference play; the team fell to Siena in MAAC semifinal action. Finally, water polo finished its regular season at 19-14 overall and 11-3 in the MAAC, losing an exciting MAAC Championship match to Wagner.

Congratulations to all our talented student-athletes. Go Red Foxes!

The Marist baseball team


COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT$11.35 MILLION IN NEW GIFTS AND PLEDGES

I’m pleased to report that the College has secured more than $11.35 million in new gifts and pledges from all sources over the past fiscal year, including nearly $8.8 million in private support and more than $2.55 million for academic research and sponsored programs. Marist continues to benefit from the wonderful generosity of both individuals and foundations, and scholarships remain one of the College’s highest funding priorities. Scholarships help Marist attract and retain the most talented, diverse student body possible and make a profound impact on the lives of their recipients. Over the past fiscal year, eight new endowed scholarship funds were established and 48 existing endowed funds were fortified with additional support. In total, nearly $2 million was raised in invaluable scholarship support.

With the College’s continued commitment to educating the next generation of leaders in STEM professions, it’s especially gratifying to highlight the establishment of three scholarships earmarked for students in STEM majors. Our thanks to Trustee Don Duet ’88, who recently pledged an additional $250,000 in support of the Goldman Sachs–Duet Family Technology Scholarship. Don first established this program in 2013 through Goldman Sachs Gives, and it provides full scholarships for underrepresented students studying computer science or information systems and technology at Marist. This is the fourth cohort of technology scholars Don has generously supported at the College through Goldman Sachs Gives, and the program continues to have an immeasurable impact.

A generous commitment was also made by Joshua and Carolyn Matheus ’99/’02 to establish a new endowed scholarship to support women studying in STEM majors offered within our Schools of Computer Science & Mathematics and Science. Josh is a member of the Computer Science & Mathematics Advisory Board and a vice president in the technology division at Goldman Sachs, while Carolyn is Associate Professor of Information Systems and Internship Coordinator at Marist. We are grateful for their thoughtful support and leadership in this strategic area.

Joshua and Carolyn Matheus ’99/’02

Marist Trustee Don Duet ’88 (center) spoke to computer science and information technology students at Marist

In addition, Trustee Patrice Connolly Pantello ’76 and her husband Ron have made a generous pledge to establish the Connolly–Pantello Family Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will support talented students with financial need majoring in School of Science disciplines. The Pantellos were inspired by Pat’s mother Mary Patricia O’Sullivan Connolly, who was an Army lieutenant stationed on a hospital ship off the coast of France in World War II, and by Ron’s father George A. Pantello, who served as Director of Pharmacy at the University of Miami Medical School. Pat and Ron have our great thanks for this meaningful new commitment.

Among those whose recent giving and noteworthy historic support have made a considerable impact in building the College’s scholarship resources are Dick Corbally and Mike Gartland, trustees of the James J. McCann Charitable Trust. With Dick and Mike’s leadership, the trust has contributed more than $2.1 million to support scholarships for local students pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Marist. In fact, the trust has issued grants for this purpose for 48 consecutive years, and its support and advocacy for both Marist and education in our (continued)

Marist Trustee Pat Pantello ’76 and her husband, Ron


region more broadly is truly admirable. We’re grateful to Dick and Mike, who also serves as a Marist Trustee, for their generous support, and to all those who continue to expand access and opportunities for our students through their thoughtful philanthropy.

I’m also pleased to share that the Marist Fund raised $1.36 million over the past fiscal year to enhance educational opportunities and experiences for all Marist students. The College again extends its thanks to Trustee Patrick Lavelle ’73 for his leadership and generous support as National Marist Fund Chair during the past year. I’d also like to acknowledge the good work of all of our Marist Fund division chairs, including Anthony and Sheila Ethier Lorello ’86/’87 (Alumni Chairs); Meaghan Neary ’12 and Patrick Massaroni ’10 (Young Alumni Chairs); Peter and Donna Ruttura P’19 (Parent Chairs); Robert Ranieri, Jr. ’92, Rose & Kiernan, Inc., and Jen Dunn, of the Jen Dunn Agency Inc., State Farm Insurance (Hudson Valley Scholars Program); and Sean Kaylor ’90, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Communication (Campus Division). The College is grateful for these hardworking volunteers who help ensure that we are able to offer our students the very best educational experiences and opportunities available.

Over the past year, 11 new members have joined the Marist Legacy Society, a dedicated group of supporters who have thoughtfully included the College in their estate plans. New members include Martin Charwat, Alice Wendover Ellis ’82, Joan Gasparovic Gambeski ’83 and George Gambeski ’77, Dino Quintero ’92/’94M and Ixchel Mulino, Toni Emery and Joe Lucas, and three members who wish to remain anonymous. With these new additions, the Society’s total membership has now reached 127. On May 11, new and existing members were recognized at a special luncheon at the Payne Mansion. The luncheon celebrated the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Marist Brothers, and Trustee Brother Sean Sammon ’70 delivered a wonderful keynote address.

MARIST AGAIN IN U.S. NEWS TOP 10

Finally, Marist College held its No. 9 spot for the second year in a row on U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings of the “Best Regional Universities” in the Northern United States, one of the most influential lists of top American colleges and universities. In addition, Marist came in at No. 2 on the 2018 list of the “Best Colleges for Veterans” in the North.

The U.S. News rankings are based on peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, class size, the academic quality of the freshman class, student selectivity, and alumni giving. Being ranked among the top 10 best regional universities is extremely gratifying and is a testament to our dedicated faculty and staff and motivated students. We take pride in the recognition we receive from the respected institutions that evaluate our academic programs and our resources.

This distinction is in addition to the recognition given to two Marist online degree programs – the Master of Business Administration and the BA/BS in Professional Studies – which both ranked among the top in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Online Education Programs” for 2017. Both programs have appeared on the list since its inception in 2012. Finally, Marist again appears on the publication’s “Best Of ” list for graduate business programs, which debuted in 2015.

Marist Trustee Mike Gartland (left) and Richard Corbally are trustees of the James J. McCann Charitable Trust.

Legacy Society members gather on the steps leading to the loggia of the Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne Mansion in Esopus, NY

COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT

Comments, Questions, or Concerns: [email protected]

In Closing,I would like to congratulate everyone for the many accomplishments contained in this memo and wish you all an enjoyable and productive fall.

David Yellen, Marist College President

fall 2017 - marist college

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