Fordham Scholarship Winners Voyage to Connemara, Ireland

Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim

This summer, three Fordham students will trade in the Manhattan skyline for a panorama of Irish moors during two and a half weeks at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, one of the National University of Ireland Galway’s Irish language outreach centers.

Sarah Elizabeth Lahoud, FCRH ’12, Patrick Kelly, an FCLC rising senior, and Michael Dahlgren, an FCRH rising junior, are the recipients of 2012 Irish Language Scholarships from Fordham’s Institute of Irish Studies. The three will travel to Carna, a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) in Connemara, in the west of Ireland.

“Carna, where the school is situated, is renowned for traditional arts, and is also an area of stunning natural beauty,” said Helen Maginn, administrative director of the Institute for Irish Studies.

Lahoud, who studied at University College Cork in Ireland during her junior year, said her participation in the Carna language program will be an opportunity for genuine cultural immersion, which isn’t always the case with study abroad experiences.

“I want to study the language in the Gaeltacht and expand my perspective,” said Lahoud, who graduated on May 19 with a degree in English. “Living in New York City, and my time at Fordham, have taught me that the university is only a fraction of a cultural experience, and that real cultural exchange happens when one is willing to immerse oneself in a culture.”

In addition to studying Irish at Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, the students will take an Irish culture course to learn about traditional signing and dancing, folklore, and local traditions of the Gaeltacht.

For Lahoud, that will include honing skills she picked up in Cork City.

“The class I took on ancient Irish vision texts [at University College Cork] inspired me to write my senior thesis, and I even started playing the tin whistle and still play traditional Irish music here in New York,” she said. “I am also extending my Irish trek this summer to attend two summer schools to play Irish music.”

Established in 2008, the scholarship is funded by a grant that the Institute receives annually from the Irish Government’s Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht. To date, nine Fordham students have been awarded the scholarship.

“They will no doubt be outstanding ambassadors for Fordham and for the Institute of Irish Studies,” Christopher Maginn, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Irish Studies, said about this year’s cohort.

Go dté sibh slán!

— Joanna Klimaski

Center for Positive Marketing Seeks Papers

The Fordham Schools of Business’ Center for Positive Marketing is looking for submissions for its second annual conference for positive marketing, which will be held November 1-2 at the Lincoln Center campus. 

If you see marketing as an agent for positive influence in society and not simply a facilitator of the exchange of goods and services, and can demonstrate it in a paper that incorporates interdisciplinary research, your work could be considered for the “Best Positive Marketing Paper” award. 

The award carries a $1,000 cash prize and acceptance for publication in the Journal of Business Research.

The deadline for extended abstracts (1,000 words or less, not including references) of the papers is Monday, July 2, with decisions to follow by August 6. The deadline for full papers (following the acceptance of extended abstracts) is October 1.

Proposals can be submitted by creating an account at: http://fordham.bepress.com/cpm/ and submitting it through the “Author Corner” section at the bottom right.

For questions about the conference, contact Linda Purcell at Lpurcell2@fordham.edu.

For more information about the Center for Positive Marketing, please visit www.CenterforPositiveMarketing.org.

—Patrick Verel

Gabelli Student Honored in Information Technology Panel

Robert Villegas, seated at the far left with the panel.
Contributed Photo

Robert Villegas took home a diploma along with his fellow Gabelli School of Business graduates on Saturday, May 19. 

But Villegas, who majored in management of information and communications systems (MICS), was already well on his way to a promising career, as evidenced by his inclusion in an April 30 panel discussion, “Welcoming the Next IT Generation,” at the CIO Executive Council, held at San Marco Island, Florida.

Villegas was the only college student to participate in the panel, which featured six standout entry-level rising stars in information technology, aged 18-25, and was designed to educate chief information officers on how to increase student interest and attract top talent to the IT industry. 

He was nominated to be on the panel by Frank J. Sirianni, Ph.D., vice president and CIO at Fordham. A Davie, Florida native, he interned with Fordham IT’s Business Intelligence team, the Investment Bank Technology Audit department at JP Morgan Chase, and as an IT desktop analyst with the Crohns & Colitis Foundation.

 Congratulations Robert!

—Patrick Verel

Fordham MBA Programs Ranked 'Top-Tier' by CEO Magazine

For the third year in a row, Fordham University’s MBA programs have been ranked in the upper echelons by CEO Magazine.

As with last year, both the MBA and EMBA programs were ranked in the tier one category in the magazines’ Spring 2012 issue. 

The MBA program was included with 39 others in the North American regional ranking, along with the likes of Princeton, Georgetown and Vanderbilt Universities, in that category. The Executive MBA program is ranked within the Global EMBA Rankings.

It is the fourth annual ranking of Global MBA programs for the magazine, which is published in London by the Callender Media Group.

In addition, Francis Petit, Ed.D. associate dean for executive MBA programs, wrote an article for the magazine, "The Moment of Truth for Executive MBA Programs." In it, Petit identified three market indicators that are presenting a challenge to EMBA programs:

-Decreasing corporate sponsorship;

-Changing EMBA student expectations and program perceptions;

-Geographical shifts for new program opportunities

He suggested business schools respond by:

-Promoting students’ return on investment

-Changing internal mindset away from attitudes that treat EMBAs as “cash cows.”

-Reposition the offering to include programs such as Fordham’s “Wellness Initiative,” which emphasizes a well-rounded approach.

“Executive MBA programs are at a crossroads. Recent trends indicate an industry that is changing and evolving,” he wrote. “Business schools must not only understand these trends and developments but must also be proactive and strategic in moving the industry forward. The time is now.”

—Patrick Verel

Three Fordham Grads Commissioned as U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Officers

Three Fordham students in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) were commissioned as U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps officers at a ceremony held in Keating Hall on May 18.

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, presented remarks to the new officers, their families, friends, and members of the NROTC unit. Msgr. Joseph G. Quinn, vice president for University mission and ministry, gave the invocation, following an introduction by Capt. Matthew E. Loughlin, USN, commanding officer of the State University of New York Maritime College NROTC Unit.

Capt. Loughlin administered the oath of office to Ensign Chelsey Caitlin Sellers, FCRH ’12, who graduated with degrees in general science and theology. A native of San Bernardino, Calif., Sellers was selected for surface warfare officer duty and will report to the USS STOUT (DDG 55) in Norfolk, Va.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Miller, USN (Ret.), administered the oath of office to Ensign Isabel Ramona Gomez, FCRH ’12. Gomez, who graduated with a degree in biology, will report to the USS STETHEM (DDG 63) in Yokosuka, Japan, as a surface warfare officer.

Lt. Cmdr. John Cieslewicz, USN (Ret.), administered the oath of office to U.S. Marine Lt. Tyler Cieslewicz, GSB ’12, who graduated with a B.S. in entrepreneurship and a minor in psychology. Cieslewicz will report to The Basic School in Quantico, Va.

All three students were members of the NROTC unit headquartered at the SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx. The unit, of which Fordham students have been a part since 1985, is one of the largest NROTC units in the country and commissions Navy, Marine, and Strategic Sealift Officers. Established in 1973, the unit also includes students from Molloy College and Columbia University.

Ensign Chelsey Caitlin Sellers and
Captain Matthew Loughlin

Ensign Isabel Ramona Gomez and
Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Miller

Lieutenant Tyler Cieslewicz and
Lieutenant Commander John Cieslewicz

Photos contributed by Jane Bartnett

— Joanna Klimaski

Memorial Mass for Pete Fornatale Scheduled

WFUV DJ Pete Fornatale will be remembered in a Month’s Mind Mass on Thursday, May 24 at Rose Hill.

The mass, which will be held at 12:05 p.m. at Dealy Chapel on the Rose Hill campus, is open to anyone who wants to come together and remember Fornatale, who died on April 26. Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn will preside over the service.

“It's an opportunity for WFUV’s staff to come together to remember Pete. With the suddenness of his death, and a private family service, many of us lacked a collective setting to reflect on his passing,” said WFUV general manager Chuck Singleton.  

“I'm grateful to Monsignor Quinn for making this opportunity possible.”

—Patrick Verel

Fordham Law Honors Grads in Diploma Ceremony

The Fordham School of Law celebrated its 105th diploma ceremony on Sunday, May 20 by honoring one of its own.

Michelle DePass, LAW ’92, assistant administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs at the Environmental Protection Agency, received a doctorate of letters, honoris causa, and addressed the graduates at a ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.

The school awarded a total of 486 J.D.s (Juris Doctor) and 143 LL.M's (Master of Laws). Congratulations to the class of 2012!

Joseph M. McShane, SJ, the President of Fordham,  John N. Tognino, PCS ’75, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Michael M. Martin, Dean of Fordham Law, give Michelle DePass her hood signifying her new honor

DePass addresses the graduates

Photos By Chris Taggart

Graduate School of Social Service Holds Diploma Ceremony

On Sunday, May 20, the Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) held a diploma ceremony for the class of 2012 at Radio City Music Hall. The school conferred 430 degrees, including seven doctoral and 423 master of social work degrees. Congratulations to the GSS class of 2012!

Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns received a
doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa, from GSS
and gave the  commencement address.

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham,
with GSS’s commencement speaker,
Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns

Peter Vaughan, Ph.D., dean of GSS

Photos by Bruce Gilbert

Lincoln Center Students Feted for Public Service

Several graduating seniors from the Lincoln Center campus earned applause and words of encouragement from a recent alumna, at a post-graduate public service commissioning held May 17. The students are headed out into the world to work with Jesuit Volunteer Corps, teach in inner city schools, study social work, help newly-released inmates transition into society, do public interest scholarship, and work with the United Nations to promote international education, among other things.

From left to right (above) are Ray Walsh, Maureen Sweet, Dan Drolet, Abe Mendez, Zach Dorado, Hannah Donnelly, Sara Ingle, Sophie Stanish, Forrest Van Dyke, Mykhaylo Bonovskyy.

The group received encouragement from Betamia Coronel, FCLC ’09, associate coordinator for the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice. Coronel, a first-generation American whose mother, a trained nurse in Paraguay, worked domestic jobs to raise her, said a Fordham course on Urban Poverty helped ‘open my eyes’ to the injustices that underrepresented people face in America. She started organizing for better housing in poor New York City communities when she was still a Fordham student, she said, and she continues her service work at the Day Center. She encouraged the graduates to “listen to your hearts” when deciding which careers to pursue.

The event was sponsored by the Office of Mission and Ministry, which was sponsoring a similar event for Rose Hill campus students on May 18.

Fordham Theater Students Tapped as Broadway Show Ambassadors

When members of the Broadway League gathered at the Millennium Broadway Hotel Times Square on Tuesday, May 15 for their annual Spring Road Conference, Fordham junior Ellen Goldberg was there to greet them.

Goldberg, a theater major at Fordham College Lincoln Center specializing in set design, spoke to roughly 100 attendees on a panel about attracting new theatergoers. As part of her appearance, she read excerpts from two blog entries she wrote in late March for Broadwayworld.com. 

The posts detailed what it was like to be one of 15 students who were invited to take a peek backstage for two at the technical rehearsal of the production of Clybourne Park, which is currently playing at the Walter Kerr Theater. She was joined by the play’s producer and director.

“I thought being part of the creative process was fantastic, and Clybourne Park is one of the shows that I do theater because of, and I encourage everyone I see and meet to see it,” she said. 

The production, which Goldberg described as a sort of reverse of A Raisin in the Sun, and tackles sticky issues of reverse racism. The two days she was able to spend at the tech rehearsal altered her perception of the people who work on Broadway, which she called her ultimate goal.

“I thought they’d be more like super heroes, and these crazy insane untouchable people, but they’re just normal people,” she said. 

“It’s very similar to the tech rehearsals we have at Fordham, they just have a bigger budget and they have more people working on it.”

Along with Goldberg, Fordham contributors to the blog included: Anna Abowd, Jake Ahlquist, Zoe Allen, Emilie Amar Zifkin, Emily Auciello, Victoria Bausch, John Bezark, Quinn Coughlin, Jordana De La Cruz, Sarah Ford, Sierra Fox, Dan Geggatt, Megan Lang, Jenni Meador, Nora McNally, Sofia Montgomery, Lindsey Norman, Jacob Sexton, Emily Tabachuk and Andrew Watkin. 

To see their blog posts, visit Broadwayworld.com.

—Patrick Verel