geneseoA magazine for alumni, parents and friends of SUNY Geneseo

sceneWinter

20

11

Accounting for the future • Adventure Italy: Study abroad for alums

Presenting:Campus leadership

in a new light

FEATURES8 GeneseOh!

For 139 years, Geneseo has fostered an environment inwhich students learn for life. After class lets out, facultyand staff embody these values as pioneers, artists,world-changers and world-class experts far beyondtheir titles — and usually unnoticed.

14 Accounting for the futureThe finance profession is evolving and so is Geneseo’saccounting program with nationally acclaimed faculty,on-the-job experience and unprecedented growth.

16 Adventure Italy: Study abroadfor alumsLife-changing adventure with a perk: no grades. Thecollege kicks off its first travel opportunity for alumni,parents and friends of the college in one of Europe’smost pristine medieval cities.

DEPARTMENTS3 One College Circle

21 Alumni News

30 Class Notes

COLUMNS2 President’s Message

7 Letters to the Editor

18 Perspectives

20 Athletics

28 Random Profile: One Cup

36 Memory Lane

Cover photography: Kris Dreessen

Table of contents photography: Keith Walters ’11

Ice Knights goalie Cory Gershon ’12, center, deflects a puck —and an attacking player who missed the shot — during the Dec. 4home game against SUNY Oswego. Pictured from left to rightare Geneseo defenders Carson Schell ’14, co-captain JimmyPowers ’12 and Andrew Rygiel ’11.

geneseosceneWinter 2011

CONTENTS

Postmaster: Please address changes to the Collins Alumni Center, McClellan House, SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454-1484. Third-class postage paid at Rochester, NY 14606

2 geneseo scene

Vol. 36, No. 3; Winter 2011

The Geneseo Scene is publishedby SUNY Geneseo, Division ofCollege Advance ment, Office ofCollege Communications.

Christopher C. Dahl, PresidentMichael J. Catillaz, Vice President for College AdvancementAnthony T. Hoppa, Assistant VicePresident for College Communications

Kris Dreessen, EditorCarole Smith Volpe ’91, Art DirectorContributing writers: Lisa M. FeinsteinAnthony T. HoppaDavid IrwinZach Motl ’07

Peter B. Wayner ’11

Alumni Relations OfficeRose G. Anderson,

Assistant Vice President ofAlumni Relations

Michelle Walton Worden ’92,Associate Director of AlumniRelations

Tracy Young Gagnier ’93,Assistant Director of AlumniRelations

Francis E. Zablocki, Online Community Manager

Alumni Relations Office at Collins Alumni Center McClellan House SUNY Geneseo 1 College Circle Geneseo, NY 14454-1484 Phone: (585) 245-5506 Fax: (585) 245-5505 alumni@geneseo.edu

Parent Relations OfficeTammy Ingram ’88,

Director of Parent RelationsErwin 202Phone: (585) 245-5570

Contact the Scene at scene@geneseo.edu. Visit the website atwww.geneseo.edu/geneseo_scene

s we begin a new year, Geneseo continues to gain momentum, evidenced by theusual indicators and increasingly, by rising levels of alumni engagement.

As my travel schedule attests, the Geneseo Alumni Regional Committee initia-tive — covering 18 cities — is reuniting classmates across the country. I take spe-

cial delight in sharing the Geneseo story and hearing it through the experiences of ouramazing alumni.

For many, the transformative power and lifelong influenceof a liberal arts education are well known — first discoveredas a student and later as a professional and engaged citizenwho calls upon the knowledge and relationships gained inearlier years. This is the venerable tradition of Geneseo.

Less visible but equally compelling are the hidden stories offaculty and staff who embody the value of the liberal arts in theiroff-campus pursuits. They, too, reflect the lasting impact of liber-al learning, such as the provost and former whitewater riverguide who now leads colleagues through the rapids of academicchange, and the professor who mobilizes volunteers to make aworld of difference in a developing country.

These vignettes (page 8) reflect the ongoing curiosity anddiversity that define a liberal arts college and uniquely capture

the essence of Geneseo. The excitement is translated beyond the classroom and reflected inthe vibrancy of our communities near and far.

It is a wonderful sight to behold, especially in a fiscal environment that has resulted inpainful but necessary decisions following years of repeated state budget cuts. Morethan ever, we rely on the creativity and talents of faculty and staff to invigorate our cur-riculum and reinvent Geneseo, as we have done previously.

For example, our accounting program (page 14), has earned a reputation that demon-strates how the liberal arts can enhance professional programs to meet today’s evolvingbusiness needs. Soon, our new travel program (page 16) will unite alumni in the magicalcity of Siena, Italy, where centuries-old history is alive and relevant.

Even in the midst of economic turmoil, Geneseo strives to provide the education andexperiences that change students’ lives. Our ability to do that — with your support —calls to mind Brutus’ lines from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”

There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.On such a full sea are we now afloat,

And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.

We all value the history of this special college and recognize the challenges ahead.Together, we can shape our destiny and ensure that Geneseo emerges stronger forfuture generations, “calm rising,” in the words of the Harvard alma mater, “throughchange and through storm!”

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEgeneseoscene

Christopher C. Dahl

A

Calm rising through changeand through storm

Winter 2011 3

PH

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BY

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ITH

WA

LTE

RS

11

One College Circle

Winter on the Tundra!Robert Hawley ’11 gets a running start to give Janelle Heinig ’12 more go as shesleds behind Nassau and Suffolk halls after the first snowfall of the season.

4 Humanities in Central America

5 Fulbright winner links cultures

5 Celebrating the sciences

6 News in brief

CAMPUS NEWS

The small town of El Sauce,Nicaragua, was the backdrop forGeneseo’s first Humanities IIcourse offered in a developingcountry.

Last summer, 10 studentsexplored themes such as colo-nialism and globalization whileexamining classic texts byGalileo, Thoreau and others.The interdisciplinary WesternCivilization core course exam-ines history, literature and phi-losophy from 1600 onward.

El Sauce is an ideal locationbecause Nicaragua has beengreatly affected by Europeanand North American colonial-ism and other issues, saysinstructor Wes Kennison ’79,faculty fellow for internationalstudies.

In addition to class and fieldtrips to León and other historiccities, the students immersedthemselves in the community,living with host families andhelping teach English language

classes at night. They also vol-unteered with communityimprovement programs thatGeneseo has developed with ElSauce residents.

Every day, Anna McDonough’11 discussed with her familywhat she talked about in class,and the family’s experiences ofliving through civil war.

“It gave me a broader perspec-tive,” says McDonough. “ … I felt

like a part of the community.”The opportunity to meet

with local leaders and evaluatehow the books they read trans-fer to real life made the ideascome to life, says McDonough.

The new offering is also anopportunity for Spanishmajors to practice their lan-guage skills. The number ofSpanish majors at Geneseohas nearly doubled from 72students in 2003 to 143 in 2009. The GeneseoHumanities course in El Sauceis the only one offered in aSpanish-speaking country.

“With the increase in student

interest in study abroad, there isalso increased interest in differ-ent sorts of opportunities instudy abroad, particularly serv-ice-learning and the developingworld,” says Rebecca Lewis,interim assistant provost andhead of International Programs.“Geneseo is actively working todevelop a range of opportunitiesto meet student interests. Wehave had students tell us thatthey chose Geneseo because ofthe programs we offer.”

Geneseo offers Humanities I in Greece and Italy andHumanities II in Oxford,Paris, Prague and El Sauce.

Kennison will lead the secondcourse in El Sauce early thissummer.

— By Kris Dreessen

CAMPUS NEWS

ONE COLLEGE CIRCLE

Humanities course expands into Central America

4 geneseo scene

PHOTO BY KRIS DREESSENStudents and Wen Kennison ’79 discuss literature at the main church in El Sauce, Nicaragua.

:Read Anna McDonough’s El Sauce blog athumniinicaragua.blogspot.com

Sixteen distinguished alumni in the fields ofbiology, chemistry, geology and physics sharedtheir professional expertise with students at thesecond annual Celebrating the Sciences eventlast September.

Among them were patent holders, professors,company founders and presidents, and scien-tists for the National Institutes of Health andthe Institute of Defense Analyses. Through pre-sentations and panels, the alums providedinsight into career and study options after Geneseo.

Gerald Rhodes ’74 flew 3,000 miles to speak with students. Achemistry major at Geneseo, Rhodes is vice president of researchat Gilead Sciences Inc., a company that developed Tamiflu, whichis used to treat the bird flu and other flu strains, and specializes indrugs for the treatment of HIV, hepatitis B and other anti-virals.

Such panel discussions are important, he says, because studentsget to see how careers of different people have evolved and whatopportunities exist.

The event also brought one of the world’s top scientists to cam-pus. Norman P. Neureiter, director of the American Association

for the Advancement of Science’s Center forScience, Technology and Security Policy, reflect-ed on science policy during his keynote lecture.He was a U.S. and international affairs expert toPresident Gerald Ford’s science adviser and in2000, he was appointed the first science andtechnology adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State.Japan recently bestowed upon him the Order ofthe Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star in recogni-

tion of his significant contributions in promotingscience and technology cooperation and exchange between Japanand the United States. Neureiter delivered the Geneseo RoemerLecture on World Affairs Feb. 23.

It’s evident, says Rhodes, that Geneseo has consistently improvedthe quality of science programming. Last spring, a state-of-the-artastronomy observatory was added to the $53 million IntegratedScience Center.

Celebrating the Sciences is one of dozens of workshops andevents throughout the academic year that bring alumni back tocampus to mentor students.

— By Kris Dreessen

She may be in Spain, but thestudents Hannah Birdsall ’10teaches really adore Americancinema. When she introducesnew words in English, she ismore likely to cite scenes fromblockbusters than anythingelse. The high school studentslove their trips to the movies,so it’s easier for them to inte-grate the language into theirdaily lives.

“Learning is tied into yourpersonal experience,” saysBirdsall. “They can latch ontoit. Those words have meaningfor them.”

Birdsall is in Madrid thisyear as a Fulbright Englishteaching assistant in I.E.S.Maximo Trueba High School.She is the first Geneseo stu-dent to receive a Fulbrightaward in more than a decade.

“It is an honor,” she says. “Iam here representingGeneseo, not just the UnitedStates as a whole. I hope thatthis will motivate more stu-dents to apply for Fulbrights

and other prestigiousawards.”

Birdsall received news thatshe had received theFulbright award while she wasstill a senior earning herbachelor’s degree in child-hood education, special edu-cation and Spanish. As a stu-dent teacher for bilingualfourth- and fifth-graders inRochester, N.Y., she honedher ability — and philosophy— to teach each studentbased on his or her individualneeds. She also studied inHeredia, Costa Rica, as anundergraduate student. Lastsummer, Birdsall taughtmigrant workers Englishbefore leaving for Europe.

The Fulbright award coversall of Birdsall’s expenses whileshe is in Spain. Upon herreturn this June, she expectsto enroll in the master’s pro-gram in deaf education atRochester Institute ofTechnology. She wants to useher knowledge of teaching

second languages to supporther studies in deaf education.

“I feel like I’ve becomemuch more of a risk-taker atGeneseo,” says Birdsall, whonever dreamed she’d be livingin another culture when shewas in high school. “I’ve alsobecome an independentlearner.”

Two Geneseo studentsreceived Fulbrights in 1998-99.Tiffany Hopkins ’98 studiedgeology in Germany andDavid Binns ’98 studiedphysics in Sweden. In 1995,Elizabeth Fraser ’95 received aFulbright to explore women’sstudies in Honduras.

— By Kris Dreessen

Winter 2011 5

Fulbright winner links cultures in Spain

NEUREITER

Science alumni mentor students

PHOTO BY KRIS DREESSEN

Fulbright winner Hannah Birdsall ’10 says Geneseo helped her become moreof a risk-taker. Birdsall is teaching English as a second language in Madrid.

RHODES

6 geneseo scene

GOLD marks 10th anniversaryThe Geneseo Opportunities forLeadership Development(GOLD) program is celebratinga decade of preparing studentsfor leadership roles and service.

GOLD hasearned state,national andinternationalawards, andrepresenta-tives fromhigher-edu-cation institu-

tions around the United Statesand Canada, Korea and Japanuse Geneseo’s program as a rolemodel for their own programs.

“I read journal reflectionsevery day from students,” saysGOLD creator Tom Matthews,director of leadership educa-tion, training and development.“What I read are those a-hamoments. They are able torelate what they are learning totheir lives.”

Matthews says alums oftensay that what they learnedabout leadership and them-selves during their GOLD expe-rience has directly translated totheir professional careers.

Student wins esteemedDante PrizeFor the second time in fiveyears, a Geneseo student —Will Porter ’12 — has won the

DanteSociety ofAmerica’sDante Prize.

The socie-ty presentedthe prize forthe bestcompetitive

essay by an undergraduate inan American or Canadian col-lege or university on a subjectrelated to the life or works ofthe Italian poet Dante Alighieri.

Distinguished TeachingProfessor Ronald Herzman is aworld-renowned Dante expertand has mentored thousandsof students, including Porter,who is an English major.

Study unearths climatechangeBenjamin Laabs, assistant pro-fessor of geological sciences,

and studentsare examiningclimatechange andglacial reces-sion in theRockyMountains.Laabs was

awarded a National ScienceFoundation Research inUndergraduate Institutionsgrant for the project, whichprovides several Geneseo stu-dents with lab, field and profes-sional conference experience.

The team uses geologic dat-ing and glacier modeling tech-niques to reconstruct climateduring the last ice age, and themagnitude of climate warmingthat accompanied glacierretreat at the end of the ice

age. The data will provideinsight into the history of cli-mate change in that region andinto the accuracy of model pre-dictions for future precipitationchanges in the Rockies.

Peace Corps marks 50years — with a lot ofGeneseo volunteers The Peace Corps is celebratingits 50th anniversary in 2011with a 40-year high in thenumber of volunteers — andthe college is doing its part.

Eighteen Geneseo alumnicurrently serve throughout theworld, including Armenia andUganda.

The college has a rich histo-ry in the Corps: 211 Geneseograduates have joined thePeace Corps since its creationin 1961. Geneseo consistentlyis near the Corps’ top 20 colleges nationwide for recruits.Such dedication to helping others — locally and abroad —is one reason why Geneseo wasnamed by The WashingtonMonthly last year as a top-10college for community servicein the nation. The college ishosting a celebration in honor

of Peace Corps alumni March 1.(Did you serve? Tell us atalumni@geneseo.edu.)

Athletic teams win top titlesGeneseo athletic teams claimedtwo State University of NewYork Athletic Conference titlesin the fall season. It was the firsttime the women’s field hockeyteam won.

The men’s cross-countryteam clinched the title for thesecond year in a row. It is themen’s 10th overall SUNYAC title.

Geneseo moves up in rankingsThe college is ranked secondfor out-of-state students andseventh for in-state students inKiplinger’s Personal FinanceMagazine’s 2011 list of best values among the nation’spublic four-year colleges.

Geneseo jumped two placesfrom its in-state ranking lastyear. The out-of-state rankingremains the same. The maga-zine produces the list partlybased on outstanding educa-tional and economic value.

NEWS IN BRIEF

ONE COLLEGE CIRCLE

Women’s field hockey team members celebrate their championship title.

MATTHEWS

LAABS

PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11

PORTER

Winter 2011 7

Love connection spursvolunteer service atSummer ReunionIn 2009, Ken Sniper ’71,Suzanne Nuffer Balstra ’71and I made a spur-of-the-moment Homecoming trip toGeneseo. It was there that wesaw Al ’72 and Patty Sullivan’72 Smith. I asked if they everhear from Al’s former roo-mate and Sig Tau brother,Doug Dixon, a young manwho I dated 40 years ago.They had, and I asked themto say hello.

Doug e-mailed me. We dis-covered our lives had takenmany similar paths. He andmy son are even both environ-mental scientists! E-mailsbecame phone calls and inNovember 2009 we met inWashington, D.C. and discov-ered how many more thingswe had in common.

We have happily been travel-ing back and forth between myhome in Syracuse and his inVirginia.

As a result of our good for-tune and success as a “couple,”we have volunteered to serveon our Summer Reunion com-mittee and look forward tomeeting up with more of ourold friends.

As a cancer survivor, I like totell people that I not only hada second chance at life, butalso a second chance at love.Thanks, Geneseo! — Linda Hughson Pacelli ’71

like yesterday. AttendingGeneseo was one of the bestdecisions I ever made. Thesouthside friends I made arestill very close to me today. Iloved the annual snowballfight, the walk through the“tundra,” the cardiac and coro-nary hills, the plethora of regu-lar frat parties, the Vital, the IB... During my four years, thequad was under construction,so we used the area for mud-wrestling events.

We tried to study atLetchworth State Park, but whocould study with that view?

I loved most of my professors.We loved attending basket-

ball and hockey games andparticipating in intramurals. Iloved how the broomballgames were held around mid-night. No wonder we neverslept. I could go on and on.

I am now attending gradu-ate school and things are sodifferent. I loved how we didn’t have cell phones asundergrads, so running intofriends when we were out andabout was a special treat! It wasthe best four years of my life.

— Tina McPherson ’97

Race against timeAs a Vietnam veteran andfounder of the ColoradoVeterans Monument at thestate capitol in Denver, the“Legacy of Freedom” articleabout graduate MatthewRozell’s efforts to interviewWorld War II veterans andrecord their experiences isgreatly appreciated. OurWorld War II veteran commu-nity is rapidly diminishing.

The race against time topreserve their experiences willenable future generations tolearn from their courage andheroism.

— Tim Drago ’65

Living History Projectsparks personal memoriesThe article about MatthewRozell ’83/MS ’88 and hisproject with his high schoolstudents at Hudson Falls HighSchool to preserve World WarII experiences, and the workhe has done to reunite sol-diers with the Holocaust sur-vivors they rescued, moved meto tears. I congratulate him onall of the effort and thoughthe expended. His students willremember this for years.

As a former teacher inGeneseo, I have students whoare now in their 30s and 40swho speak to me about “socialstudies.” Mr. Rozell also shad-owed me in my 10th-gradesocial studies class before hestudent-taught. I am now 80

and remember World War IIand the Holocaust. My moth-er, who was Jewish, broughtmany of her cousins to theUnited States. She was able todo this if she promised to sup-port them if they did not findjobs. This was in the late 1930sand 1940s, until we enteredthe war. This was the time ofthe Great Depression, so it wasa difficult time to persuadepeople to assist her. I remem-ber sitting around my grand-parents’ table, listening to thestories of the travails of thecousins who arrived safely. So,I thank him for helping peo-ple to remember. We are fast“fading away.”

— Myra HerlihyGeneseo resident,

former Geneseo adjunct lecturer

Survivor and veteran interviews make impressionCongratulations to MatthewRozell ’83/MS ’88 and his stu-dents on the Living HistoryProject. The “Legacy ofFreedom” article/photographsin the fall issue was a fascinat-ing and moving story aboutHolocaust survivor Lily Cohen… and the remarkable veter-ans of World War II. I wish Icould shake all of your hands.

— Lisa Twomey Holm ’89

The very best four years I graduated from SUNYGeneseo in 1997 and it feels

LETTERS

The Scene welcomes feedback and encourages discussion of higher-education issues andcontent. Send letters, which may be edited for space, to scene@geneseo.edu or to theScene editor, SUNY Geneseo, Roemer House, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454.

Letters to the Editor

8 geneseo scene

Open the curtain onGeneseo and

you will discoverdiversity and depthfar beyond job titles

and academicdegrees.

And, maybe a few surprises.

Stories and photosby Kris Dreessen

Oh!Genese

When Bethany Murray ’91 was wor-ried about declaring a major andwhether her decisions were right

for her future, she met with ProfessorEmeritus Bill Edgar.As her adviser and teacher, Edgar had

spent many hours sharing his expertise andhelping her to select courses and researchtopics.

He told her to take the timeshe needed to choose, and totrust herself. Believe, he said,that things will work out.

Twenty years later, Murrayknows those simple wordschanged her life.

“It really opened up the wayI was able to look at life. Hewas able to see in me every-thing I could become one dayand the person I wouldbecome,” says Murray. “Hebelieved in me in a way thatstill inspires me.”

As with many alumni, Murray found the most valuable lessons she learned at Geneseo weren’t impartedduring class. Faculty members’ personalities,wisdom and mentoring made the difference.

“What they taught me were different waysto look at the world,” says Murray.

That is the essence of a liberal arts educa-tion, says President Christopher C. Dahl. It produces citizens who are well-rounded andconfident in taking risks to succeed in their

careers and personal lives and contribute totheir communities, he says.

“The college has fostered an environmentin which the students, faculty and adminis-trators embody these values,” says Dahl.

Kurt Fletcher, professor and chair ofphysics and astronomy, sees that in many ofthe aspiring scientists. Outside of the lab,

they have been swimmers,musicians and soccer play-ers. Some may even sharethe stage with him.

Most alums know him as abrainpower behind the parti-cle accelerator. But for aslong as he’s been teaching,Fletcher has been bringingBroadway hits to life.

He is among more than250 full-time faculty and165 full-time professionalstaff at Geneseo, whomalums, parents and friendstrust to guide current students and advance theinstitution.

Geneseo faculty and staffcontribute to their commu-

nities in ways students and alumni mightnever imagine — sometimes transforminglives in other parts of the world.

They are risk-takers and role models whodemonstrate the values of creativity andcuriosity that make Geneseo a premier liberal arts college, says Dahl.

Life-changing moments

rarely happen

inside the classroom.

For 139 years

Geneseo has embraced

well-roundedness and

life exploration as part of

an outstanding liberal arts

education. The faculty

and staff who lead this

mission demonstrate

this value — in ways

many never expect.

Winter 2011 9

:Do you know faculty or staff of Geneseo who contribute to the community orexcel outside their traditional roles? Let us know at scene@geneseo.edu

[[

10 geneseo scene

Henry, Auntie Em and twoteen-aged flying monkeys.

For all the fun of the spot-light, opening night isn’t whatFletcher loves. It’s the show’sevolution, as strangers trans-form a concept to a polishedperformance, and cast andcrew become a community.

The cast — none of themprofessional actors — arefrom all walks of life. Theybring their talents. The actorsand the director share ideasand draw from one another’sexperiences and skills to develop a unique and temporary work of art.

“All of a sudden, it becomesmuch more alive,” says Fletcher.

Producers, directors —everyone has their own visionand way to run a show. Always,they make it work.

That satisfaction is similar tothe joy he finds in teachingthe fundamentals of physicsand helping future scientistsreach their goals. Teaching —like theater — involves collab-oration with students andother faculty members andexperimenting with new ideas.

“A lot of times people havethis view of scientists sittingalone at their desks and think-ing great thoughts, or hunchedover an oscilloscope and working in the lab all by themselves,” says Fletcher.“That’s just not the case.”

Fletcher is an active memberof the college’s InertialConfinement Fusion researchteam. Last summer, he super-vised students working onfusion-related projects and led ateam of four undergraduatesworking on a new science edu-cation project, supported by theNational Science Foundation.

Fletcher says he’s learnedmore about teamwork in the-ater; it makes him a betterteacher and faculty member.

“I understand people betterbecause of the work I do onstage,” he says.

There are 253 faculty atGeneseo, all who performmany shows a week for

their students, says ProfessorKurt Fletcher.

Some semesters, he’s infront of 100 students a day,discussing the finer points ofelectrical and magnetic fieldsor inspiring aspiring scientiststo probe the subatomic worldof the atomic nucleus. Thereare no scripts, no man inblack back stage whisperingdirection.

To pique student interest,Fletcher relies on his 18 yearsof experience teaching atGeneseo. He also draws uponlessons and skills he’s learnedfrom his second life as a musi-cal theater performer.

Fletcher, who holds a doctor-ate in nuclear physics from theUniversity of North Carolina atChapel Hill, has had a 30-plusyear passion for acting andsinging baritone.

He sang his first notes foran audience in a seventh-grade production of “Guysand Dolls.” During high

school in upstate New York, heplayed many roles. He alsodesigned and built sets anddid backstage tech. It was asmall school; he had to be ajack of all trades.

“There were many timeswhen I turned on the lightsand then walked on stage andperformed,” says Fletcher.

Since those early days,Fletcher has performed in 16productions as a singer, anactor and an occasionaldancer. During his career atGeneseo, he’s won roles withseveral community theaters.He recently belted out tunesin the Geneseo CommunityPlayers production of “The25th Annual Putnam CountySpelling Bee,” which his wife,Leah, produced and his sonEthan acted in, too. Theentire family performed in“The Wizard Oz” — Uncle

Kurt Fletcher

Campus Leadership:Professor and chair

of physics

Degrees:Master’s and doctorate in

nuclear physics

Hidden Talent:Musical theater

performer

“I understand peoplebetter because of thework I do on stage.”

- Kurt Fletcher

[ ]

academics. “I was one of those kinder-

garten to Ph.D. babies,” shesays. “I didn’t take any breaksalong the way. This purifiedme a bit.”

Long wanted to find innerbalance with something physicalbefore entering a career in edu-cation. Growing up in the

California desert, she hadnever been on a river until shemoved to Oregon.

At first, guiding was a steeplearning curve. The companyowner immediately put her onthe rapids in her own boat.

“I thrived in that becausethat’s my learning style,” saysLong. “You try things out andadjust. I like trial and error —thinking your way through.”

On the river you live in themoment, says Long, but beingsuccessful is all about strategyand understanding the mechan-

ics of the river. But no matterhow well she prepared, shecouldn’t always see the big pic-ture until she was in the rapids.

“‘Go with the flow.’ ‘Don’tpush the river.’ All those cornyphrases have relevance,” saysLong. “It built in me a toler-ance for process.”

As Geneseo provost, Longoversees 21 academic depart-ments, libraries, research, com-puting and other divisions. Herapproach to whitewater guidingdirectly influences her role atthe college.

“I genuinely believe a lot ofthe things I absorbed andlearned in that set of experi-ences of my life play into myleadership style now,” she says.

Leading trips, Long saw themyriad ways in which people ofall ages and capabilities deal withfear, competition and emotions.She became an expert in keep-ing everyone unified, especiallyin conflicts.

“You learn how to deal withcrises differently because otherpeople are dependent on you,”she says. “You have to develop alot of trust.”

Deep in Hell’s Canyon inthe Pacific Northwest,Wild Sheep Rapids is a

roiling ride of whitewater thatflips many of the rafters whotry to run it.

Carol Long hit it solo. Thewaves pinned her against a rockon the wrong side of “the hole”— where the rapids fold backand trap whatever falls in andhold it under.

When she pushed her wayout, both oars snapped. Herboat tipped. Thankfully, aftersome very long seconds belowthe waves, the rapids shot herout, hurtling her downstream.

Long’s “Wide World ofSports” moment — clinging tothe raft just as it flipped — waspreserved on film. (See it atgo.geneseo.edu/wild.)

“I still have a scar on my kneewhere the wing-nuts on the raftframe smashed me but I didn’tbreak anything. A couple ofsupplies came loose and we justpicked them up down below. Iwas fine,” she says.

Such calm under extremepressure was essential duringher 10 years as a professionalwhitewater guide on theNorthwest’s most complex andturbulent rivers.

“My commercial guiding lifesurprises people,” says Long.“It’s not what they expect froma career English major.”

Long worked her way up tofull guide on class IV and Vrapids. She even challengedclass VI rivers on her own —

the most dangerous.Class V rapids — like Wild

Sheep — impose incredibly longand violent rapids, in which res-cue conditions are difficult,according to the InternationalScale of River Difficulty. Class VIrapids are rated as “nearlyimpossible and very dangerous;involves the risk of life.”

Long was the first licensedfemale guide in the state ofOregon. She was trained infirst aid and practiced moun-taineering medicine to behandy with a splint or snake-bite kit. She paddled clientssuffering from anaphylacticshock to safety and rescuedendangered rafters. She evenstudied how to perform anemergency tracheotomy.

“Thank God I never had todo that,” she laughs.

Long started paddling as adiversion after 20-plus years of

Winter 2011 11

“You learn how to deal with crises differentlybecause other people are dependent on you.

You have to develop a lot of trust.” - Carol Long

Carol LongCampus Leadership:Provost, vice presidentfor academic affairs

Degrees: Master’s anddoctorate in English

Hidden Talent:Whitewater daredeviland pioneer

[ ]

12 geneseo scene

including national rankingfrom the American KennelClub (AKC).

In fact, in his first competitionwith a dog that he bred andraised, Levison took First in Classand the Winner’s Dog titles.

“People were furious,” helaughs, remembering. “Herewas this new guy, who wasn’tsupposed to know anything.”

Kennel clubs across thecountry — and the world —call on Levison’s expertise asan AKC judge.

Before they even get close totrial judging, AKC judges aretested on show procedure andthe anatomy of the specificbreeds they want to critique.

Even more challenging —and nearly impossible sounding— they must breed at least fourchampions before they areallowed to start that judge train-ing process.

Levison has met the stringentrequirements for judging fourhound breeds and is completinganother four — in just 12 years.

He also has served as treasurerof the Dachshund Club ofAmerica for seven years. And,he’s still showing champs. BabyLouise is two competitionpoints shy of becoming an AKCGrand Champion.

Despite his accomplishments,Levison never expected to bean expert in the competitivedog world. But he was willing tojump in when he was needed —and he was used to taking risks.

Prior to joining Geneseo in1994, Levision served for sevenyears in New York state’s budgetoffice, overseeing operating

budgets for education and trans-portation. Before entering theworld of finance, Levison earneda master’s and a doctorate inGermanic languages and litera-tures from Harvard University, aswell as a Fulbright grant. He wasa lecturer at Harvard and anassistant professor of Germanand humanities at several univer-sities before he switched careers.

At Geneseo, Levison managesthe vision for an all-funds budgetof $119 million and 11 depart-ments, including the bursar’soffice and student accounts.

Financial management, saysLevison, is more art than sci-ence in some ways. To guide thecollege to meet its goals, youhave to think creatively abouthow to solve problems, makeoperations efficient and exploreways to move Geneseo forward.You have to see the big picture.

Levison has adopted some ofthose aspects to be a betterjudge.

“The dog with the greatestpositive qualities should be thewinner,” says Levison. “It makesyou see them as a whole.”

The broader vision hasallowed Levison to take his ownleaps — in life and in the com-petition ring. It’s the corner-stone of a liberal arts education,especially at Geneseo, he says.

“It forces us to explore andquestion our own thinking. Ithelps us to understand ways ofdealing with issues that maycome up that we’ve never dealtwith before,” he says. “It givesus a base from which to jump.It gives us the ability to knowwhen to take a risk.”

It was her competitive debutand while Wyrhaus Lulu’s aDazzler was ready to go, no

one was around to take thedachshund into the judgingring. After months of prepara-tion, at the big moment, herowner was queasy.

But the show had to go on.Kenneth Levison planned on

being there for his friend formoral support. Instead, heshowed the dog himself.

His pinch-hitting back in1980 set Lulu on course to laterwin a championship andspurred his own pedigree incanine competition.

For nearly 30 years, Levisonhas kept wirehaired dachshundsas pets and raised show-qualitypups of the breed. He has gar-nered many awards for his dogs,

Kenneth H. LevisonCampus Leadership: Vice president for administration and finance

Degrees: Master’s and doctorate in Germanic languages and literatures

Hidden Talent: International dog judge

“It gives us a basefrom which tojump. It gives usthe ability toknow when totake a risk.”

- Kenneth H. Levison, on a liberal arts education

[ ]

Winter 2011 13

There is one dirt road toBorgne. As many as 80 percentof residents are unemployed.Most live on less than $1 a day.

Until H.O.P.E, there werevirtually no trained teachers orhealthcare providers. The onemedical clinic was abandoned.

The Rochester, N.Y., nonprofitgroup not only reopened theclinic, but partnered with Haiti’sMinistry of Health to expand itinto a 16-bed hospital with 60employees treating 3,000 peopleper month. Residents walk up tosix hours to receive a wide rangeof health services.

In addition, 150 teacherscompleted H.O.P.E’s secondannual teacher training lastyear. H.O.P.E also recentlylaunched a mobile teacher pro-gram, which reaches 300orphans, young refugees andchildren from destitute familiesevery month.

After the 2010 earthquake,H.O.P.E. opened its services torefugees who moved intoBorgne. The organization alsoassisted Borgne in the subse-quent cholera epidemic.

H.O.P.E. demonstrates whatpeople can do for each otherwhen they work together, saysChierici.

“It feels like something huge,like a government would haveto do that level of change,” shesays. “But that’s not the case.”

Chierici’s group has done itwith a team of dedicated vol-unteers — including approxi-mately 20 former students andalumni — and the communityof Borgne. All work is dona-tion- and foundation-driven.

Chierici made her first tripwith H.O.P.E to Borgne in 1996and together with religious, civicand peasant leaders, agreed onthe most crucial needs.

Locals run the daily Haitioperations in Borgne.

“We work on an empower-ment model,” says Chierici.“We empower them.”

Chierici not only teaches globalhealth issues and a seminar inthird-world development —she’s doing it.

“I believe in not only analyz-ing social problems but doingsomething about them,” saysChierici. “I call myself a prac-ticing anthropologist — some-one who not only teaches anddoes research, but whose mainpurpose is to apply theories toreal-life issues.”

Along the way, she has beeninspired by Geneseo studentswho have returned to Haiti,earned medical degrees andadvanced degrees in anthro-pology and public health, orbecame Peace Corps orAmeriCorps volunteers. Shehas also met some of the mostbrilliant people on those dustyback roads who work toimprove their futures.

“It has changed me immea-surably in terms of under-standing my own history andlooking at the pride peoplehave in their own culture,”says Chierici. “The privilege tobe a part of that is amazing.”

Rose-Marie Chierici andher family fled Haiti in1960, just after she grad-

uated from high school. Herfather, a U.S.-educated agrono-mist, was exiled by former dic-tator Francois “Papa Doc”Duvalier for being an outspo-ken proponent for social justiceand freedom of the press.

They started a new life inWashington, D.C., where herdad worked for a developmentbank. While she went on to earnthree college degrees, raise afamily and teach, her father’scourage and concern for hiscountrymen stayed with her.

“That really influenced me,”says Chierici. “I always wantedto go back to Haiti, but I had tofind the right way.”

For 16 years, she has dedicat-ed her life outside the class-room to improving the lives of

people in her native country.As co-founder and executive

director of Haiti Outreach —Pwoje Espwa, or “Project Hope”in Haitian Creole, Chiericiworks with U.S. volunteers andlocal Haitian residents toimprove health, education and

economic development oppor-tunities in Borgne.

This northern coastal regionof Haiti is home to about80,000 people who have norunning water or electricity.

Rose-Marie ChiericiCampus Leadership:Associate professor chair of anthropology

Degrees: Master’s and doctorate in anthropology

Hidden Talent: Haiti transformation

“It feels like something huge, like a governmentwould have to dothat level ofchange. ”

- Rose-Marie Chierici

[ ]:

Find out more about HaitiOutreach — Pwoje Espwa atwww.hopehaiti.org/

14 geneseo scene

Both Geneseo accounting professorHarry Howe and alumna TiffanyCourtney ’02 laugh out loud when

asked to describe the significant changesthey have seen in the accounting profes-sion over the years.

“Do you have about 12 additional hoursto chat?” Howe responds with Courtneynodding in agreement.

The traditional perception of account-ants as bookkeepers crunching numbersbehind desks all day is a defunct image,they say, stressing that accountants’ dutiesand methods have expanded enormouslythe past two decades. The metamorphosisstems from technology combined withmonumental changes in global economics,

finance, law and politics. Geneseo’saccounting faculty members have respond-ed by adapting an already rigorous aca-demic program to the emerging needs ofthe profession.

“It’s an interesting time to be in account-ing and the pace has never been so quick,”says Courtney, director of financial report-ing for the Philadelphia IndustrialDevelopment Corp. “We are breakingthrough historical stereotypes, and ourwork has become much more relationship-driven with additional layers of responsibil-ity and more multitasking requirements.”

Enactment of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 is an example of achange that forced accountants to adaptquickly, says Courtney. The act set toughnew public accounting mandates inresponse to several highly visible corporatescandals during that period.

According to Howe, a new wave of stu-dent interest in Geneseo’s accounting pro-gram began around 2000. In 10 years, thenumber of undergraduate students major-ing in accounting has risen 56 percent —from 147 in 2000 to 230 this year. Theaccounting master’s degree program, whichbegan in 2005 with four students, continuesto grow and will graduate 16 in 2011.

Courtney, who played center on theBlue Knights basketball team, visited cam-pus last fall to partici-pate in a Women’sLeadership Instituteprogram. After gradu-ation, she workedeight years for thepublic accounting firmPricewaterhouseCoopers before mov-ing to her new posi-tion in Philadelphia.

Howe notes that accounting — the “lan-guage of business” — has several distinctdialects such as financial reporting, mana-gerial accounting, taxation, regulatoryaccounting and International FinancialReporting Standards.

“Our students receive a tremendousamount of practical training wherever theyare working but leave Geneseo with a verygood foundation for lifelong learning,”says Howe, who started teaching atGeneseo in 1995 and coordinates theaccounting program. “Our goal is to pre-pare students for success in entry levelpositions or graduate study.”

The School of Business added a fifthyear to the accounting program in 2004 to

The last 20 years have

brought monumental

change to the financial field.

Geneseo’s expanding

internship opportunities

and outstanding academics

give students an edge —

and a master’s degree.

By David Irwin

futureAccountingfor the

Courtney

ILLUSTRATION BY FRED ZERNITSKY

Winter 2011 15

annual trip to New York City to hear presen-tations from alumni and others at firms suchas Deloitte, KPMG and Eisner.

School of Business Dean Mike Schinskisays accounting is a more dynamic industrythan most people realize.

“We have a strong and loyal accountingfaculty, including part-time instructors, whohave crafted a very solid program,” he says.

Professor Mark Mitschow, for example,received a Chancellor’s Award forExcellence in Scholarship and CreativeActivities last year. During his 16 years at Geneseo, he has established himself as anational leader in accounting and finan-cial ethics.

The ongoing changes in the financialworld, say Schinski and Howe, haverevealed the increasing importance of astrong liberal arts education for account-ing students.

“It provides a solid foundation for themto think and analyze situations and makegood sound judgments and decisions,”says Shinski.

Howe says alumni overwhelmingly feelthey have been well prepared for theindustry, not only on technical content buton being effective team members.

“Former students occasionally call seek-ing my advice on handling a situation,” hesays. “I find they usually know somethingabout the industry that updates me. It’squite gratifying learning from the studentsyou taught.”

meet a new 150 credit-hour requirementin New York for those interested in publicaccounting. Students who complete thefive-year program receive a master of sci-ence degree in accounting in addition to abachelor’s degree.

Geneseo accounting students have bene-fited greatly from the school’s burgeoninginternship program, supported by alumniand others who sponsor students. The expe-riences open doors to solid mentoring rela-tionships and networking opportunities.

The Rochester public accounting firmDeMott & Smith has been sponsoringGeneseo interns for about 15 years, andthe firm’s president, Tom DeMott, says theGeneseo students excel.

“I have always found Geneseo interns tobe highly motivated and intelligent withgood communication and social skills. Weload them up with sophisticated work.They know coming in they will work hardbut also will learn a lot,” says DeMott, whoalso chairs the business school’s BusinessAdvisory Council and the StudentManagement Investment Fund.

Senior accounting major Molly Kanefrom Syracuse completed two internships— one at the public firm Dermody, Burkeand Brown in Syracuse and one withGenesee & Wyoming Railroad, whosechief accounting officer and global con-troller, Christopher Liucci ’91, also is aBusiness Advisory Council member.

“I spent about half my time doing corpo-rate accounting and half in financialaccounting,” says Kane. “Doing both ofthese internships confirmed that I was veryhappy with my major because I can go inany direction with it.”

Courtney secured two Buffalo-area intern-ships while she was at Geneseo through thenational INROADS program, which devel-ops and places talented minority youth intobusiness and industry and prepares themfor corporate and community leadership.

About a third ofGeneseo’s accountingstudents take intern-ships for credit, whichinvolves a commit-ment of 15 to 24hours per week on sitein addition to othercourse work. Othersfind non-credit intern-ships independently.

School of Business Assistant DeanBarbara Howard, who has directed theschool’s internship program for more than

12 years, says she is always seeking moreinternship opportunities for students.

“Internship availability is cyclical,” saysHoward. “It depends on the economy sothere is more competition now for fewerpositions. We have some alumni in NewYork City doing preliminary work in organ-izing other alumni in that area who may

be willing to sponsor summer interns. Weare always looking for willing internshipsponsors and I encourage them to contactme if interested.”

Howard says the school tries to make aninternship a win-win: both the student andsponsor gain. Accounting sponsors, forexample, often need extra hands for a spe-cial project or to help during a busy timesuch as tax season.

“The accounting firms, probably morethan anyone else, also take advantage ofinternships as a recruiting tool,” saysHoward.

The school also capitalizes on visits to keyfinancial centers where students can connectwith alumni and others in the field. Howeaccompanies students from the GeneseoAccounting Society, for example, on an

Molly Kane ‘11 will enter her accounting career with professional internships under her belt.She says she has learned a lot from faculty such as accounting Professor Harry Howe, right.

PHOTO BY KRIS DREESSEN

The ongoing changes in thefinancial world have revealed

the increasing importance of astrong liberal arts education for

accounting students.

Howard

expertise from Geneseo in the historiesof art, math, science, Christianity andcivics.

Now, the Geneseo professors will sharetheir passion for Siena with alumni andthe lessons of “joie de vivre” they havefound there.

This August, Geneseo is hosting its firsttravel opportunity for alumni, parents andfriends of the college in Siena, one ofEurope’s best-preserved medieval cities.

Travelers will spend 11 days exploringsouthern Tuscany and Siena — whichremains relatively unchanged since the15th century and is a United NationsEducational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization World Heritage Site.

“The relationship between Geneseoand Siena gives travelers an opportunityto get inside the Contradas — or neigh-borhood system — that tourists reallycan’t,” says Kennison. “It opens up entirely new possibilities.”

Kennison will lead the trip and Cookwill serve as a guide for some of the days.They know every nook and cranny of the

Adventure Italy:

Eight hundred years ago, the peopleof Siena, Italy, gathered for their firstpalio — a horse race revered as

much for its epic parties and fanfare as itsone minute and 30 seconds of competition.

Ever since, the Sienese gather twice eachsummer to transform their main squareinto a racetrack and rejoice in one of thefew authentic palios in an Italian city.

Anyone can go to the race, but onlythose who are official members or guestsof one of the city’s 17 neighborhoods getan intimate view into Siena’s complex,close-knit community.

Distinguished Teaching Professors BillCook and Ronald Herzman, FacultyFellow for International Studies WesKennison ’79 and a handful of otheresteemed colleagues are among them. As“baptized” members of the Onda neigh-borhood, they have a 34-year history offriendship and learning among theSienese people. Some have made it a sec-ond home, literally. Cook has had anapartment in Siena for more than 30years. They bring with them world-class

Geneseo professors have reveled in Siena’s treasures for decades. Now, they open the medievalcity for the first travel opportunity for the wider college community.

Distinguished Teaching Professor Ronald Herzman, right, as he’s made anofficial member of the Onda neighborhood.

PHOTO BY WES KENNISON ’79

A Geneseo contingent, at right, enjoys an Onda pre-palio gathering.

Study abroad for alums

16 geneseo scene

By Kris Dreessen

PHOTO BY WES KENNISION ’79

city, having fostered a strong relationshipwith Sienese citizens since 1971. That’swhen Cook and Herzman led the first“Age of Dante” course in the city. Sincethen, Geneseo professors have led study-abroad opportunities and developed aninternational following for their own aca-demic work.

In 2003, Herzman and Cook wereawarded the Medieval Academy ofAmerica’s first Centers and RegionalAssociations Award for Excellence inTeaching Medieval Studies for theirknowledge of early Christianity, Danteand philosophers, and St. Francis ofAssisi. They have published a variety ofbooks and lectured internationally.

Cook and Herzman have led dozens ofseminars for the National Endowment ofthe Humanities.

“This is another educational opportu-nity that our campus can give theGeneseo family — and we’re kicking itoff with something spectacular,” says RoseAnderson, assistant vice president foralumni relations. “This is what Geneseocan do that no one else can do. You can’treplicate this anywhere.”

Creating such a unique travel opportu-nity has been a long-standing goal at thecollege, says Anderson. Siena embodieswhat’s best of Geneseo and is a perfectlaunch point, she says. Of all the long-time friendships the college has fostered

with communities all over the world,Siena is the oldest.

“This program is a great opportunityfor alumni to travel with an institutionthey trust, and with adventurers whoalready share the Geneseo experience,”says Tracie Lopardi Brown ’95, vice presi-dent of the Geneseo Alumni Association.“It lets you explore like a college kidagain and go back and learn.”

A city of firsts, Siena is a birthplace ofthree-branch modern civic government.The first stone was laid at the grand

cathedral in 1196. It is one of Italy’s mostimportant Gothic structures and is hometo grand statues of philosophers and cele-brated mosaics.

Kennison and Cook also will takeGeneseo adventurers on behind-the-scenestours of museums and collections theyhave studied and collaborated with formore than three decades. Cook will pro-vide a private tour of the famous Ufizzi, thepremier art gallery in Florence.

The collection of early Renaissance artin the region, say Kennison and Cook,include some of the most famous works byMichelangelo and Donatello. Dig deeperand Siena’s landmarks are art themselves,adorned with centuries-old frescoes depict-ing culture and everyday life.

Even the design of the main square,the Piazza del Campo, creates a kind ofdance of movement throughout the day,says Kennison.

Siena also is nestled between two ofItaly’s most important wine districts,Chianti and Brunello. That means excel-lent day trips, and dinners with cookingclasses in rural restaurants where everyview “is like a calendar,” says Kennison.

“It’s a beautiful and charming and evenkind of magical place,” says Cook. “Theyare going to remember it as a communi-ty. Those are the kinds of experiencesthat make Siena not just a monument tothe past but a living place.”

Winter 2011 17

The Piazza del Campo is Siena’s main square. Siena’s Mangia Tower was built in 1325.

The medieval city of Siena ishome base for the college’s first

travel adventure for alumni, parents and friends of the college, Aug. 1-12, 2011.

Faculty members are creatingthe itinerary, with built-in flexi-bility, so adventurers can choose

how they spend their time.

Contact: Alumni Relations at (585) 245-5506 or alumni@geneseo.edu.

Visit: go.geneseo.edu/italy2011

Explore Italywith Geneseo

PHOTO BY OLYMPIA NICODEMI PHOTO BY RONI LEE KENNISON ’98

What does living in New York Cityhave in common with living oncampus?

A lot. If you’re fortunate enough tolive alone, chances are you are payingtoo much for too little and you’re figur-ing out how to cram an entire life into aroom that’s about the size of a largebathroom stall.

Such is the story of my life, and somany others before me, who willingly testthe limits of patience, comfort and wal-lets so they can live in one of the greatestcities in the world.

New York City.Upon graduating from Geneseo in

2007, armed with a degree in musicaltheater, the only thing I was certain ofwas that I no longer wanted a career inacting. The years, the shows and thedrama had taken their toll. If I couldn’tstand it in a university atmosphere, noway would I keep at it in a professionalenvironment.

I had reservations even before graduat-ing, but a good sit-down with my momconvinced me to “make the best of the sit-uation” and follow it through to the end.

So there I was: disinterested in per-forming, working two jobs waiting tablesand not sure what I was going to do. Iwas totally psyched, however, that I final-ly had my slice of New York — albeit avery small, dingy studio apartment slice.

In fact, my apartment is 178 squarefeet. Double the size of your doctor’sexam room and that’s about right.

I moved in a bed and a table. After thebasics, there wasn’t much room left.Suddenly, the 11-by-15-foot space looked

PERSPECTIVES

18 geneseo scene

Thinking outside the

A living space the size of abathroom stall? Who cares!Zach Motl ’07 did the

impossible. He transformed hisminiscule studio into a fullhouse. His ingenuity won hima spread in The New YorkTimes, a new career and creative can-do to live by.

and felt very, very tiny.Then, I realized there must be some-

thing I was overlooking. Certainly therewas a twist that could make this minis-cule space feel much more grand.

I had some experience with that, as Ihave been obsessed with interiors all mylife. Anyone who knew me in college cancertainly attest to that. I was always metic-ulous about making my side of the dormroom as chic as possible — which wastricky on the wages I earned at Mia’s.Later, my apartment above the old PalaceTheatre had built-in bookcases and aplayer piano, which I tuned for cocktailparties and impromptu concerts. The sat-isfaction of being crafty and inventivekept it interesting — and unique.

Those Geneseo decorating daysinspired me to transform my Big Appleitty-bitty room. In the end, it inspired mynew passion for interior decorating. And,thinking outside the tiny little box alsointroduced me to my new profession.

For three years, I turned my tiny studiointo a mini-house, which I added to myportfolio to enter the world of interiordesign.

Luckily, I had taken a shift towards theart world at the end of my college careerand took some sculpture classes withAssociate Professor Dan DeZarn and ajewelry class with Associate ProfessorPatrice Case. They got me to think on awhole different conceptual level; theywere my only exposure to studyingdesign concept.

I used it, and dived in.I practically gutted the bathroom and

lacquered the walls in a navy blue (which

tiny little box

PHOTOS BY ROBERT WRIGHT www.robertwrightphoto.com

:Read The New York Times feature about Zach Motl go.geneseo.edu/alumnytimes

Winter 2011 19

took months and probably a few of mybrain cells along with it). I rebuilt thekitchen to look like a ship’s galley, thenstained it the color of green tea and var-nished it high gloss. I scoured flea mar-kets, my parents’ attic, garage sales, thriftstores and eBay for unique finds and fur-niture that I could re-work and cram intothe space to give it the feel of a largerapartment.

Many people feel you have to sparselyfurnish a small room and paint it lightcolors to make it feel more open andairy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

It sounds crazy, but it’s true.Putting more furniture in a smaller

space draws less attention to any oneobject, and your eye takes in everythingas a whole. Darker walls and floors pro-vide a homogenous ground for objectsand furniture to disappear into, ratherthan specks of furniture on a blank whitecanvas.

I even went as far as to empty mybelongings into a neighbor’s apartmentso I could sand the dirty old wood floorsand ebonize them to a piano-black finish.

With much planning and even moreexperimentation, I was able to fit into my178 square feet an entire house: akitchen, a breakfast bar, a dressing areawith a commode, a living area, a bed-room and a home office.

All the while, I was trying to break intothe professional design world for which Iwas completely unqualified. I boughtmagazines galore, poured over designblogs and websites, and paid way toomuch attention to the window displaysalong Madison and Fifth avenues and

vignettes in the Ralph Lauren mansion.I was lucky enough to land an interior

design internship with Miles Redd, a personal favorite, but after a year, I wanted a full-time job and to move up inmy dream career.

I saw a job posting for a junior designerat Robert Couturier Inc., a New York-based, high-end interior design and dec-orating firm. I almost passed on it after Iread the description. It seemed waybeyond my capabilities and experience.

Then I remembered what my mothersaid not so long ago: “Make the best ofthe situation.” I had nothing to lose.

I sent Robert Couturier my portfolio— with photographs of my packed mini-house and interior inventions. Not oneday later, I received the phone call.Armed with my portfolio of my apart-ment and Geneseo sculpture work, Iwent to the interview determined to landthe position.

Determination paid off, and one weeklater I started as a junior designer.

— Zach Motl ’07 and his inventive creations in his apartment were featured inthe Home section of The New York Times

(Feb. 11, 2010). He recently started his own firm and now works as a window

designer for the very designer he studied forinspiration — Polo, Ralph Lauren.

Visit www.zachmotl.com.

PHOTO BY TANIA GUINSBERG

Zach Motl ’07 achieved the feat oftransforming a 178-square-foot studiointo a full house with ingenious interiordesign, like making his bed into storage

and his books part of the décor.

20 geneseo scene

ATHLETICS

Among the dozens of photographs,awards and Knight-themed itemsthat adorned Marilyn Moore’s

office, the poster always stood out.The artwork showed a road forking left

and right and the words of Robert Frost:“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — Itook the one less traveled by, and that hasmade all the difference.”

The sentiment always held special signifi-cance for Moore, who was the college’s firstfemale athletic trainer. She became assistantdirector of intercollegiate athletics and recre-ation, then director in 1999. She retired inDecember after 31 years of service.

Moore says there were very few women inathletic training when she pursued hercareer in the 1970s, and equally few in ath-letic administration when she changedgears: “So I took the road less traveled, andit wasn’t always a paved road!”

Moore’s determination and visionchanged the Blue Knights landscape — and

advanced female leadership in sports.As director, Moore oversaw 20 varsity

teams, 55 employees, a multi-million budg-et and an array of athletic facilities. In 2000,the National Association of CollegiateWomen Athletic Administrators named herNational Administrator of the Year. Duringher leadership, the Blue Knights captured69 SUNY Athletic Conference titles plus the

2005 NCAA National Championship inwomen’s cross-country. The college alsoadded equestrian to women’s sports oppor-tunities at Geneseo.

“Marilyn Moore’s legacy will not merelybe defined by the competitive successes ofour teams and student-athletes,” saidRobert Bonfiglio, vice president for studentand campus life. “Under her leadership,the college’s core values were woven intothe work of our coaches and athleticadministrators and the experiences of ourstudent-athletes.”

That’s no easy feat for athletic directorsaccording to Jim Leary ’75, GeneseoFoundation vice chair, Roundtable AthleticAssociation (RAA) member and commis-sioner of the Washington Catholic AthleticConference.

“There are ADs that talk the talk butdon’t walk the walk,” he says. “Marilynalways put the student-athletes first, andthat is a rare commodity.”

At the Hall of Fame dinner last fall,RAA Chair Dan Loughran ’86 announcedthat alumni and friends of the collegegenerously made gifts and pledges ofmore than $100,000 to endow theMarilyn M. Moore Endowment for theRoundtable Athletic Association, whichwill enhance the experience of all stu-dent-athletes.

“For once in my life, I was totally speech-less,” remembers Moore. “I feel honoredthat our alumni would contribute such asignificant amount in my name to supportour student-athletes.”

It’s a fitting legacy for Moore, saysLoughran. “She was part educator, coach,sports psychologist, cheerleader and lifecounselor. Her athletes always knew thisand wanted her contribution to be recog-nized in the form of a perpetual benefitto Geneseo athletics. Her actions are amodel for all.”

PHOTO BY KRIS DREESSEN

More on Moore …• go.geneseo.edu/moorecareer —

Highlights from Marilyn Moore’s career

• Make a difference — Contribute to the Moore endowmentat giveto.geneseo.edu (Designate your

gift for RAA-Moore endowment)

More on Geneseo athletics …• www.geneseo.edu/athletics —

Geneseo’s complete sports round-up

Marilyn Moore, center, retired after more than 30 years of leadership. Friends and alumni created anendowment in her honor. She is pictured with student-athletes Jimmy Powers ’12, hockey, back left,Michelle Rodriguez ’11, swimming, Katie Crawford ’11, equestrian, and Michael Baker ’11, basketball.

An endowment honors Marilyn Moore’s 31-year career andenhances the Blue Knights program

A sports legacy

by Anthony T. Hoppa

Moore, as a trainer, early in her career.

Winter 2011 21

22 Alumni event photos

26 High-flying dance

27 Behind the scenes in theater

30 Class Notes

ALUMNI NEWS

Say Cheese!Nearly 250 alums gathered on campus for Homecoming 2010 to reunite attheir old stomping grounds, revel in their shared experiences and make newconnections.

New this year: Photo booths at the happy hour for all alumni. Recognizeanyone? Homecoming 2011 is Sept. 23-24. Save the date!

Alumni News

Upcoming

Alumni Events

GENESEO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Washington, D.C. Professional Networking Event sponsored byKristin Graham Koehler ’91Students from the Political Affairs Club: Nicholas Allwell ’10, left, William Perillo’11, Shaun Tooker ’11, Claire Bould ’12 and Kristin Graham Koehler ’91.

VisitBe on the look out for affinity events and reunions on campus and in yourown backyard. Check the Alumni Relations website (go.geneseo.edu/alumni)frequently for event details and to see what new things we have planned.

The pictures you see on these pages are a sample of the hundreds of photoswe have on our website from events across the country and on campus. To view the complete photo galleries, visit go.geneseo.edu/alumniphotos

The Office of Alumni Relations is always looking for regional eventideas and event sponsors. Contact the office if you would like to workwith us on an event.

22 geneseo scene

March 2, 2011New Jersey Region (Scotch Plains)go.geneseo.edu/newjersey030211

March 3, 2011Northern New Jersey Region(Nyack, N.Y.)go.geneseo.edu/nyack030311

March 16, 2011Rochester, N.Y. Region go.geneseo.edu/amerks

March 17, 2011New York City Region go.geneseo.edu/nyc031711

March 19, 2011Long Island Regiongo.geneseo.edu/skating031911

March 31, 2011Livingston County, N.Y. Regiongo.geneseo.edu/educators033111

April 2, 2011Washington, D.C. Regiongo.geneseo.edu/potomac040211

April 14, 2011Los Angeles Region (Culver City)go.geneseo.edu/moser041411

April 21, 2011Syracuse, N.Y. Region go.geneseo.edu/syracuse042111

April 30, 2011Geneseo, N.Y. Spring Weekend/GreekfestAlumni Athletics Gamesgo.geneseo.edu/greekfest2011

May 19, 2011North Carolina Region (Charlotte)go.geneseo.edu/charlotte

Spring-Summer 2011Long Island RegionRochester, N.Y. RegionNew York City RegionChicago RegionPhiladelphia Region

July 8-9, 2011SUMMER REUNION Geneseo, N.Y.go.geneseo.edu/reunion2011

August 11, 2011Saratoga, N.Y. Day at the Races

September 23-24, 2011Homecoming, Geneseo, N.Y.

October 21-22, 2011Parents Weekend, Geneseo, N.Y.

Denver, Colo. Networking Event sponsored by Jay Perry ’79 and Miriam BlumKaren Andrews ’88, left, Jay Perry ’79, Earl Peterson ’80 and Caroline Peterson.

Long Island Networking Event sponsored by John Camiolo ’86John Keene ’98, John Camiolo ’86 and School of Business Dean Mike Schinski.

Save the Date!Summer Reunion 2011 — July 8 and 9Celebrating all class reunions for graduation years ending in 1 or 6.If you would like to get involved please contact the Alumni Office at (585) 245-5506 or alumni@geneseo.edu.

Long Island Region Networking Event hosted by John ’88 andMaryGrace Jiran ’84 GleasonClio sisters Michelle Flood ’88, left, Marianne Leonard Cunningham ’85,Christine Zukowski ’85 and MaryGrace Jiran Gleason ’84.

Westchester/Connecticut Region Networking EventThe Maro Family enjoyed the sunshine and a Bluefish Baseball game.From left to right are Christian Maro, Pete Maro ’87, Lynne Maro, EliseMaro and Peter Maro.

Washington, D.C. Networking Event sponsored by Thomas Moser ’60Chad Salitan ’09, George Sullivan ’07, Michael Catillaz, vice president for college advancement, and Tom Moser ’60.

Rochester, N.Y.Professional Networking

Event sponsoredby Myrtle Merritt, emerita professor

Laura Mills-Lewis ’89, left,Elaine McConnell ’86 and Lisa

Maddison Fingar ’89.

Buffalo, N.Y. Networking Event sponsored by Ann WiedenbeckGalbraith ’89 and Terri Suozzi ’82Tracie Lopardi Brown ’95, left, Ann Wiedenbeck Galbraith ’89, Stephen Sharkey ’95,Jennifer Noah ’95 and Rose Anderson, assistant vice president for alumni relations.

Chicago, Ill. Networking Event sponsored byGary Grose ’87President Christopher C. Dahl, left, and Gary Grose ’87.

Winter 2011 23

Geneseo, N.Y. Prometheus Reunion CelebrationSeated: Dirk Zuhlke ’75, left, Denise Pearston, Denny Pearston ’78, Linda Avallone. Standing: PresidentChristopher C. Dahl, Jeff Brilling, Ruth Rowse, Bob Avallone ’76.

New York City Region Networking Event sponsored by Michael ’85 and Anne Wyffels ’88 EblePresident Christopher C. Dahl, Michael Eble ’85, Anne Wyffels Eble ’88 and Frank Vafier ’74.

Buffalo, N.Y. Professional NetworkingEvent sponsored by Tracie LopardiBrown ’95 and Stephen Sharkey ’95Steve Vanuga ’89, Elissa Morganti Banas’90, Heather Hoffman Maldonado ’95 andAnn Wiedenbeck Galbraith ’89.

Albany, N.Y. Professional Networking Event sponsored byJohn McManus ’94 and Stephen Woodard ’88Elizabeth Snow ’01, left, Catherine Geoffroy ’88, Stephanie Busse ’09,Emily McDonald ’07 and Katie Richardson ’05.

Saratoga, N.Y. 8th Annual Day at the RacesAlumnae from Alpha Delta EpsilonSorority: Stephanie Norton MacIntosh ’87,left, Tanya Lynch Halse ’89, Anne McKevittGreen ’90, Catherine Reggio Ceriell ’89and Fran Murphy Dwyer ’88. The ADEGeneseo chapter celebrates its 125thanniversary in 2011. Look for exclusiveAlpha Delta Epsilon reunion plans as partof the college’s 2011 Summer ReunionProgram.

24 geneseo scene

New England Region NetworkingEvent sponsored by KathleenAcierno Baron ’83 and AmeliaAlberghini Angella ’96Kathleen Acierno Baron ’83, left, AmeliaAlberghini Angella ’96, Jim Rogers ’04and Kelly McGinnis.

Winter 2011 25

Syracuse, N.Y. Networking Event sponsored by Chris ’88 and CatherineEichenberger ’92 Pinckney Ronald Berger ’74, left, Chris Pinckney ’88, HonoreStockley ’90, Martha Palumbo Peterman ’80, Joe Szlosek ’02, Thomas Cambier ’01, TanyaWoldbeck Gesek ’93 and Eric Hinman ’02.

New York City Networking EventAlumnae from Sigma Kappa Sorority: Elise Kahn ’07, left, Jenna Nigro ’07 and Kim Sciarratta ’07.

Palo Alto Region, Calif. Networking Event sponsored Jeffrey Clarke ’83President Christopher C. Dahl, Erika Rottenberg ’84 and Jeffrey Clarke ’83.

Rich Kuhn ’81, left, Pete Kennedy ’83, Tom Basher’74, Ira Shinske ’83, Nick DeNicola ’82, Paul Kulick’83 and Jim Forger ’82.

Geneseo Homecoming Highlights

Terry Suozzi ’82 and Mark Zimmer ’82 pose nextto AGO sorority alumnae Micki Agresta ’80, SueBradt ’80 and Julie Mullins ’81, who are proudlywearing their “AGO 125th Anniversary” shirts.

The 2010 Sports Hall of Fame inductees MichelleStandora Wolinski ’00, left, Danielle Schoen ’01,James Leary ’75, David Spennacchio ’04 andLogan Hadzicki Blask ’04.

Jersey Shore Networking EventAndrea Luria ’97, left, Janielle Zinna ’97 andSheila Halligan ’97.

Celebrating the Sciences geology panelists MaryJane Armitage Stell ’85, left, Mark Hamilton ’80,Henry Telfer ’80 and Andrea Hyatt-Cutt ’96.

class of’80Norwood Pennewell

ALUMNI PROFILE

26 geneseo scene

ALUMNI NEWS

There was a moment in collegewhen Norwood “PJ” Pennewellcould have gone either waywith his love for dance.

From his first time showingsome groovy moves on stage asa Jester in “Once Upon AMattress,” dance professors toldhim he had talent. They con-vinced him to take classes inballet and modern dance tolearn technique. He was fluid.A natural.

At a SUNY dance festival in1977, Pennewell and ProfessorJonette Lancos watched a newlittle company perform — TheBottom of the Bucket, led byGarth Fagan, who wouldbecome one of the most reveredchoreographers in the world.

“I was absolutely blown away,”remembers Pennewell. “It wasthe most incredible movementthat I had ever seen.”

Pennewell turned to his men-tor and told Lancos he wished

he could dance like that. “It was just really a very bit-

tersweet moment,” saysPennewell. “I thought it wasincredible, but at the sametime, I felt like, ‘I am nevergoing to be able to do any-thing likethis.’”

Lancostold himhe had alot of workto do andneeded dis-cipline, buthe coulddo it.

“It was a pivotal moment,”says Pennewell. “It was eithergoing to be devastating, or Iwas going to roll up my sleevesand work. Fortunately, she gotme to take the high road.”

Within a year, Pennewell was practicing with Fagan’s company, which is based in

Rochester, N.Y. Throughout thenext year, he was folded intotheir rehearsals and finally wasa full-fledged member, bound-ing across the stage. He leftcollege after his second year,having achieved his goal.

That was 1978. Now, 34years later, Pennewell is a prin-cipal dancer of Garth FaganDance, the company’s rehears-al director and Fagan’s muse.Fagan has created piecesinspired by and for Pennewell.It’s still his dream job.

“I was pretty much raised bythis professional family. This ismy family,” says Pennewell.“This is what I drink, breathe— dream about.”

Throughout the years,Pennewell has performed withFagan’s company on everycontinent but Antarctica.Critics swoon over Pennewell’sability to float in the air like ahelium balloon and his pre-cise yet free movements thatmelt into one other.

He has won a coveted“Bessie” New York Dance andPerformance Award. He assist-ed Fagan in creating the chore-ography for “The Lion King”musical, which won six Awards,including best musical and bestchoreography in 1998.

Last December, Pennewellreached yet another milestone.He premiered his first choreo-graphed piece. It is the firsttime the company has per-formed a piece created bysomeone other than GarthFagan. Fagan’s invitation is oneof the highest honors of hislife, says Pennewell. And, hiscreation has garnered topreviews.The New York Times last

November said Pennewell’spiece “is witty and muscular, acrystalline vehicle for two ofmodern dance’s most ravish-ing performers.”

Traveling the world doingwhat he loves and watchingGarth Fagan Dance evolve has

Norwood Pennewell ’80 soars as aworld-renowned dancer

Norwood “PJ” Pennewell ’80, a world-renowned dancer with Garth Fagan Dance, soars in one of hisfamous leaps with fellow dancer Nicolette DePass.

He is grateful fordance ProfessorJonette Lancosand his other

Geneseo mentor,Nona Schurman,who encouragedhim and kept him

inspired.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GREG BARRETT

Continued on page 29

Behind the scenes, Andrew Hamingson ’90 is a key to the success of The Public Theater’s Shakespeare inthe Park series.

Andrew Hamingson ’90 thoughthe would return home to workin Rochester, N.Y., after earninga master’s degree from New YorkUniversity in performing artsadministration. He soon real-ized, however, that theater was inhis veins and he very likelywould never leave the Big Apple.

His instincts were spot-on.Hamingson dived into the NewYork theater community afterfinishing at NYU, clearing theway for a highly successfulcareer in arts administration.Two and a half years ago, he wasnamed executive director ofThe Public Theater, a 55-year-old organization founded bythe late Joseph Papp, anacclaimed American theaterproducer and director.

Hamingson oversees budget-ing, trustee relations, contracts,marketing and fundraising forThe Public.

“I am extremely fortunate to berunning a place like The Public,”says Hamingson. “It’s a dream

job, a terrific opportunity.”Before accepting his current

position, Hamingson spentfour years as managing direc-tor of the Atlantic TheaterCompany in New York, found-ed by playwright David Mametand actor William H. Macy. Agraduate school internship atthe Manhattan Theater Clublanded him a full-time posi-tion there for 12 years. Herose to director of develop-ment at the Manhattan beforemoving to the Atlantic.

At The Public, Hamingsonand Artistic Director OskarEustis are perpetuating Papp’svision of showcasing the worksof the best up-and-coming play-wrights and performers. ThePublic stages five or six playsper year at its headquarters inthe East Village, many of themedgy and thought provoking.Theater productions have won42 Tony Awards, 149 Obies andfour Pulitzer Prizes. “A ChorusLine,” which premiered at The

Public in 1975, for example,won the Pulitzer Prize fordrama that year and went on towin nine Tony Awards.

Hamingson and his col-leagues also continue to extendThe Public’s reach by nurturingits popular Shakespeare in thePark series in Central Park andby transferring many of the the-

ater’s commercial productionsto Broadway, most recently“The Merchant of Venice.” Thetheater has brought 52 addi-tional shows to Broadway,including some of the mostfamous — “A Chorus Line” and“The Pirates of Penzance.”

The Public’s first show, theiconic 1967 musical “Hair,”became the first off-Broadwaymusical to transfer to Broadway.The Public revived “Hair” in2008, which also transferred toBroadway, winning a TonyAward for best revival of a musi-cal. Hamingson is now oversee-ing the national tour of “Hair.”

“It’s certainly challengingkeeping all of the balls I’m jug-gling in the air,” he says, “butit’s very exhilarating bringing anew play to life and possiblyadvancing it to regional theateror beyond. It’s all about thework and team effort that goesinto making it possible.”

Hamingson’s fundraisingexperience has been particularlybeneficial in a weak global economy, but he says The Publicis weathering the storm well. Infact, he is guiding a $35 million

class of’90AndrewHamingson

Winter 2011 27

Andrew Hamingson ’90 energizesNew York Theater

PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO PROVIDED

Continued on page 29

28 geneseo scene

Mollie Cross Rosier ’99 tucks her 6-month-old son insideher down coat and plunks herself down onto hersnowmobile. It’s 11 o’clock and on a day with only five

hours of daylight, she’s got nine miles to cover through whatshe calls “take-your-breath-away cold” to get to her family’scabin by nightfall.

Their lakeside cabin outside of Talkeetna, Alaska, is tooremote for electricity or running water. They pump water froma well and rely on a kerosene lamp. At night, Mollie and herhusband, Mark, venture outside to lie down on the frozen lakeand look into infinity.

“It’s so far out and so dark it’s really spectacular for stargaz-ing,” she says.

Mollie has always relished living so close to nature. She grewup in the cabin until she was 6 years old, playing by the lightof the kerosene lamps amid the cold dark of the forest. Mollieconsiders the cabin a member of her family, constructed byher mom and dad. They even cut the logs.

Mollie and her family later moved to Palmer, near Anchorage.When it was time to choose a college, she ventured 4,000 milesaway, to Geneseo.

“It was a leap of faith and it was hard,” she says. “I was reallyhomesick that first semester.”

Mollie chose Geneseo because of the reasonable tuition andthe reputation of the biology program. She wanted to pursuepre-med. That was before she took an introductory poetryclass: “I realized I liked reading stories, writing and peoplemore than I liked studying cells.”

So she switched to a double major in English and sociology.A decade after graduation, Mollie appreciates the care facultyhad for her. She says Associate Professor of English BethMcCoy challenged her to think of the world in new ways, andshe fondly remembers weighing the pros and cons of theAmerican medical system with Professor of Sociology ElaineCleeton.

After graduation, Mollie ventured thousands of miles again,to Nepal. She spent five months there helping a friend film,photograph and interview Sherpa who live near Mt. Everestabout the modernization of their homes, as amenities like theInternet are introduced.

“Seeing the world changes the way you see things and itconfirms other things,” says Mollie. “ … We all cherish many ofthe same things — the comfort of home, family and friends,our health and a good laugh.”

Mollie went on to earn a master’s degree in public health atthe University of Michigan and chose to return to Alaska forher career and to raise her family in Anchorage. Since May2008, Mollie has overseen HIV care and prevention programsin Alaska, allocating federal funds to agencies for Alaska’sDivision of Public Health, in the Section of Epidemiology.Mollie oversees HIV prevention interventions and the provisionof HIV care services.

Mollie Cross Rosier, Class of 1999

Home: Anchorage, AlaskaGraduation year: 1999Degree: Bachelor of arts—English and sociology

How you describe Geneseo:A great school where you know your professors.

Favorite campus hangout:The ledge above theCollege Union, to watchthe sun set. Beautiful!

Best Geneseo memory:Adventures with friends andthose amazing fall colors.

Most important life lessonyou learned at Geneseo:I learned to think more critically at Geneseo aboutpolicy, culture and humannature. I figured out how tocombine my skill set withmy interests to find a careerpath I really enjoy.

What you would tell graduating seniors: Keepperspective on the big pic-ture. Go outside every day.

Favorite saying: “To laughoften and much; to win therespect of intelligent peopleand the affection of children;to earn the appreciation ofhonest critics and endure thebetrayal of false friends; toappreciate beauty; to find thebest in others; to leave theworld a bit better, whether bya healthy child, a gardenpatch or a redeemed socialcondition; to know even onelife has breathed easierbecause you have lived. Thisis to have succeeded.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

One Cup

PH

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OV

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DIL

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RANDOM PROFILE

By Peter B. Wayner ’11

QUICK FACTS

Inspired by the idea that

everyone has a story

to share, we offer

the “random profile.”

Each issue, we don

a blindfold and throw a dart

at a map of the United States

to choose our state, then take

aim again to choose a lucky

alum. We catch up, relive

memories and share life

insight, like we are talking

over coffee.

Up next ... Tennessee.

Could it be you?

ONE CUP

Continued on page 29

Winter 2011 29

“My heart is here, in Alaska,” she says.Alaska — twice the size of Texas with 5,000 glaciers — is

where she can satisfy her enduring love for nature. Mollie hasgone on many camping trips through the wilderness. She haslanded on a glacier in a ski plane and hiked to a cabin built onan ice field. She has accompanied seals through PrinceWilliam Sound in her kayak.

“I think that when I'm in the mountains, or woods, or at sea Iam most alive and aware … When I come back from theseadventures I feel deeply content and they bring such fulfill-ment to my life. I believe God — love, truth, creation, howeverthat is defined — resides deeply in these non-man-madeplaces.”

Even from her dining room, Mollie can see the mountains. Inthat environment, she says, you’re not the center of the world.

“I like how I feel small and humble and how the stresses oflife come into perspective.”

PHOTO PROVIDEDMollie Cross Rosier ’99 backpacking with her family in Alaska.

Hamingson ... continued from page 27

Pennewell ... continued from page 26

One Cup ... continued from page 28

been a storybook life, says Pennewell. Walking onto theGeneseo campus as a theater major, he never dreamed he’d bewhere he is now.

He is grateful for Lancos and his other Geneseo mentor,Nona Schurman, who encouraged him and kept him inspired.In Nona’s case, he remembers her telling him not to come backto dance class if he chickened out of auditioning for Fagan allthose years ago.

“It gave me the nerve” to do it, says Pennewell.Pennewell has returned to campus to teach a master’s class in

the same studio he practiced in. He is a role model, saysLancos, for aspiring dancers. He took the leap — and landedwhere he wanted to be.

“It’s just a dream come true,” says Pennewell, of his life as acelebrated dancer. “It’s like a second skin.”

— Kris Dreessen

capital campaign to renovatethe theater’s headquarters.

“You have to work harderwith the economy strug-gling, particularly for con-tributed income such asgrants,” says Hamingson,“but our ticket sales haven’tdipped in the two yearssince the economy hasstruggled. We’re in a periodof great growth and artisticprosperity and that benefitsus greatly. We just complet-ed a production of ‘Gatz,’for example, a stage adap-tion of every word of ‘TheGreat Gatsby,’ and everyshow was soldout.”

Hamingsonsays hisdiverse educa-tional andprofessionalbackgroundhas aided himgreatly inmanaging thevariousaspects of his job. He cameto Geneseo as a non-tradi-tional student. After twoyears at Colgate studyinghistory and religion, hereturned to Rochester tohelp build a successfulDomino’s Pizza franchise,eventually becoming thearea supervisor. He laterdecided he needed some-thing else in his life so whileworking full time forDomino’s, he commutedevery weekday to Geneseofrom Rochester, arriving forclasses at 8 a.m. and leavingat 8 p.m.

His brutal schedule didnot allow involvement intheater or any extracurricu-lar activities, but he finishedhis business degree in ayear and a half.

“My supervisory work withDomino’s was my on-the-jobtraining for business,”Hamingson says. “I learnedabout budgets, contracts andvendors, which was a founda-tion for much of the work Ido today in theater. My MOis to keep your head downand do the work.”

Hamingson consideredpursuing entertainment lawafter graduation but favoredworking for an arts organiza-tion and decided to lookinto performing arts admin-istration.

“If I hadn’t had the rigor-ous training ineconomics andaccounting atGeneseo, partic-ularly auditing,I certainlywouldn’t havehad the skills toenter NYU,where I had totake tough busi-ness courses in

the Stern School ofManagement,” saysHamingson. “Geneseodemanded top-level perform-ance to help me succeed atStern, which became a step-ping stone for my excellenttheater internship.”

While Hamingson spends agreat amount of time behindthe scenes raising funds,marketing the theater, man-aging contracts and otheradministrative tasks for pro-ductions, he still relishes theeuphoria of attending ashow’s opening night.

“My favorite thing is sittingin the dark theater on thatfirst preview night and see-ing the play we have workedon for so long come to life,”he says.

— David Irwin

“I am extremelyfortunate to berunning a place likeThe Public,” saysHamingson. “It’s adream job, a terrificopportunity.”

30 geneseo scene

ALUMNI NEWS

1960sThe latest story by Douglas Brode’65, “The Ides of Texas,” was pub-lished in the recently releasedanthology “More Stories From theTwilight Zone.” He also con-tributed a number of articles in theAmerican Cowboy Magazine as a trib-ute to John Wayne. BerniceHarvey Gordon ’65 has written achildren’s book called “Owliver’sBusy Day” for children ages 2-7.

1970sJoseph Martin ’71 has publishedthe book “A Piece of the Banner,”and has included a chapter abouthis student years at SUNYGeneseo in the ’60s and ’70s.David Barnard ’73 is a schoolpsychologist/CPSE chairperson atCanisteo-Greenwood (N.Y.)Central School District. ChesterKozlowski ’73 published a collec-tion of short fiction, “Home atLast,” by Florian LettersPublishers. Michael Benton ’74recently completed 30 years ofteaching at Walsh Jesuit HighSchool in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.He teaches Spanish and history of science. Glenn Wahl ’75retired after 33 years of teachinghigh school science and hasjoined the faculty of JamestownCommunity College as a geologyinstructor. Peter Zaccarella ’75retired in 2005 after a 28-yearcareer with the U.S. Departmentof Justice and lives in Carrollton,Texas. Janet DefranciscoCallahan ’76 was elected manag-ing partner by the partnership ofHancock & Estabrook LLP,Syracuse, N.Y. Dale Hayes Klein’77 has been featured monthlyfor the last three years on FOXNews as a corporate communica-tion expert.

1980sKathleen Hart-Zavoli ’81 is amember of the Board of Directorsfor Cambodia Tomorrow and isthe director for EnglishEducation for Cambodia

Tomorrow, overseeing the operation of an English School in Kompong Speu, Cambodia.Sandra Ayala ’85 recentlyearned a doctorate in education from the University of California, Riverside. Maureen Pernick Huber ’85recently accepted a position atCoastal Carolina in Conway, S.C.,as an employer relations coordi-nator/career counselor. JeffreyCramer ’86 is managing directorand in charge of the Chicago andDallas offices for Kroll Associates,an international investigationfirm. Marisa Lyden-Geraghty’86 is the community relationsmanager for Barnes & NobleBooksellers in Albany, N.Y. Dr.Jeannette M. Anderson ’87 wasa member of 2010 United StatesOlympic Committee MedicalVolunteer Program in Lake Placid,N.Y. Kirk Dausman ’87 earned hisMaster of Divinity in 2008 fromwhat is now Union PresbyterianSeminary in Charlotte, N.C. andhas been ordained and installed aspastor of two Presbyterian church-es in southwest Georgia. CorriHalpern Wilson ’88 was promot-ed to a full-time lecturer fromadjunct faculty at Southern NewHampshire University inManchester.

1990Carlos Millan is the director oflabor relations for the New YorkState Thruway Authority inAlbany. David Miller was promoted to senior director,strategic planning at Jabil Circuitin Saint Petersburg, Fla.

1991Celebrating their 20th reunion July 8 and 9, 2011.

1992Stephen Goldstein helped startan otolaryngology department atthe University of Arizona and waspromoted to associate professor.Thomas Henk became a partner

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at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPin New York City.

1993Bethany Brown Cantin was pro-moted to the position of underwrit-ing technical director at ZenithInsurance in Sarasota, Fla. ScottMarshall was elected to the boardof the Delaware Council ofTeachers of Mathematics as the pri-vate/parochial representative andis the assistant director of studiesand acting head of the mathemat-ics department at The TatnallSchool in Wilmington, Del. DanielMody is CEO of PinnacleSolutions in Syracuse, N.Y.

1994Cathryn Brese Doebler was fea-tured in Buffalo’s Business Firstnewspaper for publishing her firstbook, “Ditch the Joneses, DiscoverYour Family: How to Thrive on LessThan Two Incomes.” MichaelO’Connell recently accepted a posi-tion at ETC Laboratories inRochester, N.Y., as deputy qualitymanager. Christian Riso was hiredas the assistant superintendent ofgovernment services and specialprojects for the Diocese of Buffalo’sDepartment of Catholic Schools.

1995Thomas Farrell is principal ofMcCall Primary School inAcworth, Ga. Rebecca MehringVoymas is the deputy districtattorney with the 22nd JudicialDistrict in Cortez, Colo.

1996Celebrating their 15th reunion July 8 and 9, 2011.Matthew Tappon is a house principal at Churchville Chili(N.Y.) Central School District.

1997Amanda Vergien Hinchcliffe isan account manager at SelectOneSearch in Buffalo, N.Y.

1998Rebecca Benner received anMPS in publishing from The

George Washington Universitylast August. Daniel Fox has beenan assistant professor of chemistryat Suffolk University in Bostonsince September 2007. ToddGoho is the CSE/CPSE chairper-son for the Alfred-Almond (N.Y.)Central School District. MikhaelRubin was promoted to supervis-ing senior accountant at TronconiSegarra & Associates LLP inWilliamsville, N.Y.

1999Jaclyn Boushie is the director ofdonor data and grants for theAmerican Red Cross, SouthernTier Chapter, in Endicott, N.Y.Kristen Palmer Driskill earnedher Doctor of EducationalLeadership/Curriculum andInstruction from the University ofPhoenix. Her dissertation focusedon differentiated instruction andreading achievement. ElizabethMartorella recieved her master’sdegree in psychology from NewYorkUniversity inMay 2010.ChadLoblaw is alicensed realestate sales-person, orrealtor, withNothnagleRealtors inRochester, N.Y. Jill PowersSteinhauser was promoted to vicepresident of Digital Media Pricing& Inventory at DiscoveryCommunications in New York City.Robyn Walker recently accepted aposition at Catholic Relief Servicesin Baltimore as a data analyst.

2000Andrew Caffrey has been appoint-ed the advanced optics divisionmanager of program managementfor Corning Inc. Jesse Craneteaches English in the Geneva(N.Y.) Central School District.Kathryn Ellish Crane is a schoolpsychologist for the Pittsford (N.Y.)Central School District. MollySmith Metzler has had one of herplays selected for main stage pro-duction in the 2011 HumanaFestival of New American Plays inLouisville, Ky., this March. The play,

“Elemeno Pea,” was one of six playsselected from over 1,000 entries inthe country’s largest and most pres-tigious competition for new playsand emerging playwrights.

2001Celebrating their 10th reunion July 8 and 9, 2011.Meredith Bernadt was selectedas a Fulbright Teacher and isspending a school year inEngland teaching students.

2002Marc Bartels earned an MBAwith honors from AmericanUniversity in Washington, D.C.and was promoted to lead finan-cial analyst at MITRE Corp. inMcLean, Va. Ralph MinervinoJr. is an ambulatory clinical infor-matics and performance improve-ment manager with Unity HealthSystem in Rochester, N.Y.

2003Tami Root Holihan graduatedfrom SUNY Buffalo with a mas-ter’s degree in library science inMay 2010 and is a school librarymedia specialist in the Pittsford(N.Y.) Central School District.Richard Simons has joinedTurner Investments as a security analyst/portfolio manager. JadeWoodford-D’Orsi was recentlynamed a fellow of the CasualtyActuarial Society after successfullycompleting nine examinations.She is an assistant actuary atLiberty Mutual.

2004Laura Jacobs was promoted tosenior account executive at e3com-munications. Joshua Katz is ateacher at Oxford Academy inWestbrook, Conn. and was a candi-date for comptroller of the state ofConnecticut. Regina D’ArcangelisSeguin earned tenure as a librarianat Valencia Community College,Orlando, Fla.

2005Jeffrey Chien accepted a positionat PAETEC Communications inFairport, N.Y. as a product support

technician. Deanne Day is a thera-pist at Liberty Resources Inc. inSyracuse, N.Y. Matthew Wilcott isa reading teacher at Kenmore WestHigh School in Buffalo, N.Y.

2006Celebrating their 15th reunion July 8 and 9, 2011.Amanda Wildman Colebeckearned a doctor of dental surgerydegree from the University atBuffalo School of Dental Medicineand is continuing her education atUB to specialize in prosthodontics.James Helms received his masterof science degree in EducationalTechnology from Buffalo StateCollege in May 2010 and is a sci-ence teacher in Williamsville, N.Y.Kasey Hundt is a geologist forChesapeake Energy Corp.,Oklahoma City, Okla. Nancy Priorearned a master’s degree in speechlanguage pathology.

2007Cassie Gielow was recently pro-moted to senior addictions coun-selor at Horizon Health Servicesin Buffalo, N.Y. Allison Lanereceived a master’s degree inpublic communication fromAmerican University last August.Amanda Krigsman graduatedwith a master's degree in speechlanguage pathology from QueensCollege. Nathan Lull is theannouncer for Play-by-Play radiobroadcasting for Men’s Hockeyfor Division 1 - Canisius Collegein Buffalo, N.Y.

2008Rachel Kingston was promotedto the position of full-time newsanchor and reporter at WBEN(930 AM) radio in Buffalo, N.Y.Eric Pedersen is a project man-ager at Epic Systems in Verona,Wis. David Podsiedlik complet-ed his master’s degree in adoles-cent education and social studiesat SUNY Cortland in May 2010and is a licensed history teacherfor grades 8 through 12 in theCommonwealth of Massachusetts.

2009Kalei Ensminger is enrolled in

Fall 2010 31

Chad Loblaw ’99

her first semester at Regis Collegein Weston, Mass., in the acceleratedBSN/MS Nurse PractitionerProgram. Lindsay Joy recentlyaccepted a position at the Universityof Pittsburgh Medical Center as arecruiter after relocating from LongIsland. Kelly McGarry received her master’s degree in literacy edu-cation from the College of SaintRose in Albany, N.Y. and is a pre-Kteacher at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington, N.C. TheresaSaunders is in the Coast Guard,stationed in Point Judith, R.I.Daniel Spada joined the firm ofTronconi Segarra & Associates LLP as a staff accountant in theaccounting and auditing department.

MARRIAGESPeter Baltradis ’80 & Anne MarieSpooner, June 5, 2010.David Miller ’90 & Amy Tupper,Aug. 30, 2008.Allison Langerak ’97 & LamarWyatt Tuzo III, Oct. 16, 2010.

Kathryn Crockett ’98 & DanielPresley, May 30, 2009.Stacey Cook Klein ’99 & ScottKlein, May 7, 2010.Ericka Utegg Graves ’00 & AdamGraves, Aug. 21, 2010.Lorraine Todd ’01 & Dr. JamesBowman, June 26, 2010.Jennifer Stachowski Burton ’03 &Eric Burton, April 24, 2010.Amanda Bogucki Caminiti ’03 &Jordan Caminiti, Oct. 4, 2008.Noelle DiMarzo Collins ’03 & Dr.Craig Collins ’03, Dec. 19, 2009.Christina Barth ’04 & NicholasTewksbury, Aug. 21, 2010.Vicki Beighley ’05 & Brian Pack’05, Aug. 21, 2010.Carly Wisotzke Dlugoszewski ’05& Chad Dlugoszewski, Sept. 5, 2010.Joanna Laker Kane ’05 & JasonKane ’04, June 5, 2010.Sarah Scott-Edwards ’05 & OwenHahn ’09, Jan. 11, 2010.Nicole Spiridgliozzi ’05 & JackGlazebrook ’06, Oct. 11, 2009.Amanda Wildman Colebeck ’06& Matthew Colebeck ’06, July 3,2010.Meredith Costello ’06 & KrisHeeres ’06, Aug. 28, 2010.Catherine Pratico Stockton ’06 &

Timothy Stockton ’06, July 11,2009.Amanda Kelly ’07 & RyanMcMahon, Aug. 7, 2010.Victoria Briars ’08 & AndrewGebel ’08, July 14, 2010.Emy Rustin Sewnauth ’08 &Andrew Sewnauth ’08, June 26,2010.Kalei Ensminger ’09 & MehmetAktas, Aug. 20, 2010.Correction: A recent marriage announcementfor Scott Perkins ’72 was incorrect and printed in error. Our sincere apologies.

BIRTHSSusan Bauerfeind Thomas ’90& Andy, Jack Richard, July 27,2010 from South Korea.Thomas Henk ’92 & Kate,William Jones, Sept. 15, 2010.Jennifer Marthia ’92 & JayRoorbach, Steven Marthia, Dec.29, 2009.Donna Otto ’92 & RobertWheeler, Samuel Otto O’Shea,April 6, 2008.Bethany Brown Cantin ’93 &Emil Straubel, Connor Emil, Oct.23, 2008.Karen Noonan Martin ’93 &

Steven ’92, Tyler Robert, June19, 2008.Sophia Gavrielides McKeown’93 & Joshua, John Nicholas, July18, 2010.Susan Leonard Stanley ’93 &Rob, Meghan Rhode, Aug. 17,2009.Aim E. Darmer O’Connell ’94 &Michael ’94, Rory Patrick, Feb.27, 2007 and Kerry Clare, Aug.16, 2009.Pamela Curatolo-Wagemann’95 & Scott, Logan Fionn, Sept. 5,2009.Jennifer Pulver Masseth ’95 &Cory, Harry Christopher, Aug. 20,2010.Jennifer Allen ’96 & Terry ’97,Brooke Susanna, Nov. 2, 2009. Tracy Pawlowski Schneider ’96& Donald, Quentin Henry, April14, 2010.Jill Yonkers ’96 & JohnEmmons, Andrew and Jackson,November 2009.Amanda Vergien Hinchcliffe’97 & Craig, Ella Jeanne, May 10,2010.Hai Li ’97 & Jennifer, Andrew,Sept. 10, 2006.Carrie Knittel Rabasa ’97 &

ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES

Carter, Catherine Virginia, Feb.17, 2010.Michael Shiffer ’97 & Raina,Ryan Michael, Oct. 6, 2009.Jennifer Frechette Spears ’97& Andrew, Kellan Jamison, April13, 2010.Martina Mastroleo Baker ’98 &Jared ’96, Tessa Nadine, Oct. 23,2009.Amy Penkalski Bray ’98 & EricSpitzer, Avery Elizabeth, Aug. 28,2010.Kathryn Crockett ’98 & DanielPresley, Alexandra Ahn, June 7,2010.Kristen Tozer Kellick ’99 &Howard, Robert Joseph, Feb. 7,2010.Kevin Kozik ’99 & RobinCodding, Landon John and RylanRobert, May 31, 2010.Amy Penkalski Spitzer ’98 &Eric, Avery Elizabeth, Aug. 28,2010.Elizabeth Wilson Tomer ’99 &Ryan, Trenton Murphy, June 14,2010.Karen Melnyk-Vutrano ’99 &Gregory, Nancy, Jan. 17, 2009.Stacy Mason Pekarik ’99 &John ’98, Matthew Austen, June

18, 2010.Meghan McDonald Barker ’00& Brian, Katie Anne, May 23,2010.Andrew Caffrey ’00 & Rebecca,Lilyana Joy, Sept. 22, 2010.Jennifer Weldin Deshaies ’00& John, Maxim John, May 10, 2010.Hillary Koldin Harding ’00 &Daniel, Brianna Ilyse, Aug. 7, 2010Douglas Krupa ’00 & Michelle,

Charlotte Paige, Jan. 5, 2009.Margaret Moslow Scherer ’00& Brian, Felicity Jane, Sept. 7,2007 and Harrison Joseph, Sept.25, 2009.Stephanie Cox-Bussard ’01 &Matthew ’98, Andrew James,March 26, 2010.Karen Endriss Guzowski ’01 &Christopher, Lorelei Rose, March28, 2010.Heather Salvaggio ’01 & Alan

Wonder ’01, Carolyn Paige, April8, 2010.Katie Cutaia Gruschow ’02 &Mike, Kendall Eryn, March 18,2010.Anne Luckhurst Smith ’02 &Jeffrey, Chloe Madelyn, Aug. 27,2010.Betsy DeVincentis Spanagel’02 & Ivan ’02, Jack Robert andGracelyn Mae, Sept. 3, 2010.

Stephanie Palmer Straub ’02 &Thomas (Ted) ’02, Emily Paige,March 16, 2010.Jennifer Selby McCaffery ’03 &Nicholas ’03, Natalie Violet, Oct.10, 2010.Shawn Sanderson ’03 & Jessica,Nathan James, May 25, 2010.Heather Seabury Smith ’03 &Adam, Zoe Marie, April 30, 2010.Regina D'Arcangelis Seguin’04 & Brian ’04, Caroline Marie,

Oct. 1, 2010.Kalee Vales Glavach ’05 &Matt, Aubrey Marie, Sept. 8, 2010.

IN MEMORIAMALUMNIGladys Derrick ’31, March 4, 2010Ellen Prescott Delaney ’33,June 25, 2008Martha Twining Weaver ’34,April 19, 2010Margaret Ludwig ’34/’67, Oct. 9, 2010Glenn Olmstead ’35, Nov. 3, 2009Katherine Sisson ’35, July 21, 2008Monica Costello Huff ’37, Feb. 19, 2010Doris Parnell Parsons ’37, Jan. 27, 2009Helen Dwyer Hoffman ’38, Jan. 1, 2008Margaret Mekeel Palmer ’38,July 18, 2010Alice Hawley ’40, Dec. 28, 2005Lucinda Wright ’41, April 23, 2008Florence Seymour Hamilton ’42,Aug. 28, 2008Harrison Phillips ’42, Oct. 13, 2010.Frances Wandell Drew ’43, Feb. 2,2003Ethel Hobbie Smith ’45, April 11,

Send your class note or notice togo.geneseo.edu/uknight

Send your class note or notice togo.geneseo.edu/uknight

34 geneseo scene

Scene around the worldAre you packing to cruise the Nile or adventure in the Amazon?Rediscovering America on a drive? Take a photo of yourself with the Scene on vacation, business orother trips and submit them for our feature. Send your images to scene@geneseo.edu with a subject line of“Scene Around the World.”

At left, Cynthia Benci Gibbs ’75 on her dream trip to Israel, in the Mount of Olives with Old CityJerusalem and its ancient city wall and goldenDome of the Rock in the background.

Kerri O’Shea ’98 fulfilled her dream of visitingEaster Island off the coast of South America— with her Scene, of course.

Above, Jane and Spencer TenHagen ’80, both U.S.Airways flight attendants, visited the famous Christstatue during a layover in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Steve Beresford ’73 and Geneseo friends meet every fewyears at an away Buffalo Bills game. This year, they traveled from their homes in upstate New York, SanFrancisco and Texas for the game at historic LambeauField in Green Bay, Wis. Pictured are: Steve, left, GeorgeBennett ’75, Spencer Gosch ’74 and Al Smith ’74.

ALUMNI NEWS

Tom Wiggins ’84 at a Viking sculpture in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Above, Bruno Bernardino ’02 atthe pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

Jill Holcomb ’04 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Winter 2011 35

2010Edna Evans Hume ’47, Dec. 28, 2008Jean Copeland ’48, Aug. 7, 2010Lucy Lanphear ’48, Feb. 18, 2009Lorna Snyder McGuire ’48, Sept. 13,2010Elaine Catania Cecala ’49, Dec. 18,2009Mary Lou Kelkenberg ’51, Oct. 7,2010Beverly Laverty Schuyler ’55, Jan. 21, 2009Doris Goff Spink ’55, Jan. 21, 2009Carole Horn Whittard ’59, Dec. 4,2009Daniel McGuire ’61, Aug. 19, 2010Larry Naylor ’62, June 17, 2010Theresa Mistretta ’63, Aug. 2, 2010Margaret Harmon Kessler ’67, April30, 2009William Lane ’67, July 13, 2010Sue Thomas Turner ’68, May 25, 2009Cheryl Alm Day ’69, Nov. 1, 2008Thomas Frasher ’69, March 1, 2009John Hoffman ’69, May 5, 2010Craig Burgess ’70, June 30, 2010George Tallet ’70, April 25, 2010Barbara Druschel ’73, April 17, 2000Steven Luisi ’75, Dec. 7, 2009James Callahan ’79, April 8, 2010Alan Polisson ’80, Jan. 25, 2010Kathleen Caruana ’86, Nov. 25, 2008Bryan Whitney ’98, July 1, 2010Brian Oster ’01, Sept. 21, 2009

FACULTYAllen Reid, professor emeritus,who served as the chair of the biol-ogy department during his entiretenure at Geneseo from 1974 to1982, died July 30, 2010.

James M. Watson, professor of sociology, died Aug. 18, 2010. Heserved as chair of the sociologydepartment for nearly 20 years beforehis retirement in 1998, and was anactive scholar on urban riots andother social issues. He chaired theCollege Senate Faculty ResearchCommittee and taught as an adjunctlecturer after retirement until 2005.

Paul Stein, a professor of Englishfrom 1966 to 1984, died Oct. 11,2010. He served as chair of theDepartment of English from 1971 to1974 and received a SUNY FacultyResearch Foundation Fellowshipwhile at Geneseo.

Carolyn Davin Williams ’05 at Machu Picchu afterhiking the Inca Trail in Peru.

Too fast toread? Serge

Berig ’10, rideshis Earthwing

speedbaord inthe Catskill

Mountains withthe Scene.

Valerie J. Bassett ’73 at the Sphynx in Egypt.

Mary Ann Maccariello Guarino ’68, at the TreviFountain in Rome, Italy.

LindsayWelch ’07in Dingle,Irelandduring her2010 tourof Europe.

:See more Scene around the world submissions onlinevisit http://go.geneseo.edu/goworld

Jillienne Prechtl Allgauer ’01 and her husband, Lucas, in Vienna, Austria.

36 geneseo scene

MEMORY LANE

Wanted: Your favorite traditions

Every first Friday ofDecember for the last 15years, Betty Grant ’53

joins a scarved and mittenedcrowd at the Village Park inGeneseo. After revelers light afreshly decorated tree, theystroll down Main Street to thebeloved bear fountain for around of old-fashioned caroling.

Emmeline the bear is lit withhundreds of tiny bulbs, and thefountain is filled with miniaturetrees decorated by children.

For Geneseo Mayor DickHatheway, who taught in thecollege’s geology departmentfor 39 years and was the depart-ment chair, the community-organized sing-a-long representsthe “official start of the season.”

The tradition dates backmore than 60 years and bringsvillage residents and collegefaculty, emeriti, students andalumni like Grant together insong and community spirit. Infact, Grant participated as a stu-dent nearly 60 years ago.

A new project launched by theMembers of the UndergraduateAlumni Association (UAA), who

work to build constructive rela-tionships between alumni andcurrent students, will preservesuch traditions and rememberthose lost to time.

Information about traditionscollected for The TraditionsProject will foster new rituals orrejuvenate older ones for cur-rent students, says Tracy YoungGagnier ’93, assistant directorfor alumni relations.

There’s also a challenge.The UAA has created a “buck-

et list” of 11 rites of passage anymember of the Geneseo familyshould not miss: Watch the sunset at the gazebo for example orscream for the goal at an IceKnights home game.

Participating students checkoff what traditions they do andreceive a shirt to spread theword. The shirt, paid for by theGeneseo Alumni Association,features the “must-dos.” TheUAA will also host TraditionsProject events for students asthey tackle the list, such as a“mocktail” reception at a sunsetgathering at the gazebo, andphotos at a hockey game with

the Knight mascot.Julia McDaniel ’11 and Seth

Barradas ’11 are heading upthe initiative. The goal, saysMcDaniel, is to create one largecommunity between studentsand alums — no matter thegraduation year or major.

“…We’re hoping this will bring everybody closertogether,” says McDaniel.

Preserving and revitalizing traditions will unify the entireGeneseo family, enhance the student experience and increaseschool spirit, says Gagnier.

The Traditions Project kicksoff in this issue.

In the future, Gagnier envi-sions creating a booklet for students that shares ongoingtraditions and those celebratedin yesteryear.

Grant’s student tradition con-tinues. This season, she was onMain Street singing.

She applauds the UAA initia-tive because traditions are “notonly something you participatein at the time,” she says, “butsomething you look back onand you hope will continue.”

Students seek remembrances of alumni to preserve and continue beloved Geneseo activities.

By Peter Wayner ’11

Participating in community caroling has been a tradition for students and faculty for 60 years.

Share your memoriesVisit go.geneseo.edu/traditionsor mail responses to: UAA Traditions ProjectAttn: Tracy Young Gagnier ’93,Alumni Relations Office, SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454

Include:• Name and class year• Favorite thing about Geneseo

as a student• How you spent your leisure

time (include specific clubs)• Regular rituals or traditions

you participated in (official ornonofficial)

PHOTO BY SARAH KOSLOSKI ’12

Bridget Denicola is a busy young woman. A seniorwith dual majors in psychology and communica-tion, she is the student coordinator of the Women’s

Expo, a GOLD (Geneseo Opportunities for LeadershipDevelopment) mentor and the only female personaltrainer employed at the workout center. She also headsup the 2010 “Make Your Mark!” campaign.

“’Make Your Mark! is important because it helps studentsrealize why we should stay connected to Geneseo after wegraduate,” says Bridget. “It emphasizes giving back to whatmeans the most to each individual student.”

Seniors who make gifts are giving back to their fellowstudents in recognition of the quality education theyhave received. They can designate their gifts how theylike, to reflect course of study, athletic team or club.

For Bridget, that meant giving back to GOLD — aprogram that helped define her years at Geneseo.According to Bridget, the lessons and skills she learnedin GOLD inspired her to become the 2011 class giftcommittee chair and prepared her to take on the job.

“I became the class gift coordinator because it’s a greatway to be involved,” says Bridget. “I have been so fortu-nate to receive scholarships, and that would never havehappened without generous donors. That financial assis-

tance meant the world to me.”As the recipient of the Miller-Neverett Memorial

Endowed Scholarship and The Ward Leadership AnnualScholarship — both funded by private donors — Bridgetunderstands the importance of supporting Geneseo,especially in challenging economic times.

“I work hard to pay for school,” she says. “The generosityof Geneseo alumni has helped me along the way. When I graduate, I would love to help students in my same situation. So many organizations and departments wouldnot be what they are without our donors.”

Make Your Mark! focuses on educating current students about the impact private support has on thecollege while building awareness and appreciation foralumni giving. Last year, the Class of 2010 donated themost yet. This year, Bridget has set the bar even higher.

“Our goal is to have 50 percent of our seniors particiate,”she says.

And Bridget has a message for this year’s reunionclasses. “The senior class would like to challenge allreunion classes to match or beat our participation rate,”she says. “If any of this year’s reunion classes can do that,the Class of 2011 will sponsor a tree-painting party forthat class at Summer Reunion in July.”

The Class of 2011

Makes Its Mark

Bridget Denicola ’11 and other students are investing in future students’ education and opportunities through the Make Your Mark! campaign,

which allows them to choose how their contributions are spent.

Lisa M. Feinstein

PHOTO BY KRIS DREESSEN

:Make a difference ...visit giveto.geneseo.edu

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