Spring 2000
- Class of 2000 Commencement Video
- Save the Date
Thank You for Making the Phonathon a Success!
Dr. M. Debnam Chappell appointed Dean of Freshmen
New Assistant to the Dean of Students
Four Students Honored by Alumni Association
Good News from the Career Planning Center
Parents And The Admission Process
Parent_Ties E-mail
Class of 2000 Commencement Video
 Fairfield University will be making available a videotape of the graduation ceremony. It will be professionally produced by the University's Media Center. The videotape (VHS format) will present the entire commencement program, and will attempt to show every student receiving a diploma. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied, you can return it for a full refund.
An order form will be sent to you in the mail (if you haven't already received it). The deadline for orders is May 5th. It will be ready three weeks after commencement, at a cost of $50 per tape, including shipping and handling. If you have any questions or need an order form, please call (203) 254-4004.
 Save the Date
Parents' Weekend 2000
October 14 & 15, 2000
Invitations will be mailed around Labor Day.
Thank You for Making the Phonathon a Success!
 This semester's phonathon was a huge success and we have you to thank for it. In February students called parents during our parents' Annual Fund phonathon. During the six nights parents were called, our students secured $38,000 in pledges. These funds directly enhance the education your child receives by helping Fairfield support the academic curriculum. Additionally, they help finance special programs which give Fairfield students a competitive edge when seeking employment or applying to graduate school.
Our thanks to you for your generosity! Your investment in the Parents' Annual Fund helps Fairfield meet its obligations to your child giving him/her the tools they need to succeed.
If we missed you during the phonathon please join with the many parents who have given to the Parents' Annual Fund; you can do so in one of two ways:
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1) Call our toll free number (877-748-5123) anytime and use your credit card
or
2) Mail your check (made out to Fairfield University) to:
Office of Annual Giving
Bellarmine 324
Fairfield University
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
Dr. M. Debnam Chappell appointed Dean of Freshmen
After serving as Acting Dean of Freshmen for the past year, Dr. M. Debnam Chappell has been named Dean of Freshmen. While her overall task is to foster students' academic success, Dr. Chappell has said her goal as an educator "is to enable all students to find the power, the tools and the gifts from within to succeed, not only academically, but also personally."
Dr. Chappell's other responsibilities as Dean of Freshmen include working with the Office of Admissions during recruitment of first-time freshmen and transfer freshmen; organizing the academic component of June Orientation and September Orientation; and working closely with students who are having academic difficulties to foster academic success. She is responsible for retention of first-year students and chairs the University-wide Retention Committee.
After a number of years of teaching in the English Department at Fairfield, Dr. Chappell became Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1994. She was promoted to Associate Dean in 1997. Prior to Fairfield, she worked in the corporate world as a programmer and systems analyst, trainer and manager.
New Assistant to the Dean of Students
 Jeanne Di Muzio has joined the Student Services team as the new Assistant to the Dean of Students. Jeanne arrived at Fairfield in 1982 as the Director of Freshman Orientation and Judicial Officer and she served in that position for 8 years. In the summer of 1990 Jeanne became the Director of Student Activities and served in the Barone Campus Center for 10 years.
As the new Assistant to the Dean, Jeanne's responsibilities will include Substance Abuse education, advising the SADD and Peer Education programs, as well as directing the Woman to Woman leadership program.
Jeanne has an MSEd in College Student Personnel from Alfred University. She is a native of Pittburgh, PA and currently resides here in Fairfield with her husband Rocco and their son Christopher. She is an avid swimmer and skater and was the founding coach of the Fairfield University Women's Volleyball Team.
Four Students Honored by Alumni Association
Every year the Alumni Association honors seniors who are recognized for their leadership, community service, and commitment to the Jesuit ideal. This year the following four seniors are being honored at the Annual Student Awards Dinner:
 Jennifer L. Mazzo is receiving a Student Achievement Award for her work with Hunger Cleanup. Not only did she raise the program's visibility and recognition on campus, but also nationally. In 1997, she was the first student from Fairfield to receive the 1997 Gold Award from the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness.
 Gregory E. Newman is receiving two awards, The St. Ignatius Loyola Medal and the William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award, for achieving excellence in both academics and service. He is the President of Fairfield's chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society and is also a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, the National Mathematics Honor Society. Additionally, he established a Habitat for Humanity Chapter at Fairfield, which currently has 35 dedicated volunteers.
 Karen M. Affinito is receiving a Student Achievement Award for her work on The Mirror. Her dedication and commitment to The Mirror began her freshman year as a staff writer for community events. Junior year she was promoted to managing editor and this year to editor-in-chief. As a result of her hard work, The Mirror and its staff have enjoyed improved quality, a larger workspace and a friendlier work environment.
 Lynda D. Jackson-Sealy is receiving the Student Achievement Award for her dedication to promoting a greater awareness and celebration of multicultural relations on campus. Through her membership in T.E.A.M (Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism) and as the Co-Director of Cultural Celebrations for FUSA, Lynda organized, planned and publicized activities and events helping to create positive Multicultural relations within the university community.
Congratulations to the honorees and their families!
Good News from the Career Planning Center
The Career Planning Center's (CPC) Post-Graduation Report for the Class of 1999 was completed this month. Of the 604 members of the Class of 1999, over 75% participated in the survey. Following is a summary of the results, and they are something to be proud of:
- For the second consecutive year, over 90% of the graduating class has secured full time professional employment or admission to graduate school.
- Once again, average-starting salaries exceeded $35,000 (not including bonuses). Highest salaries were offered to graduates entering telecommunications (average - $42,500), public accounting (average - $40,382), and consulting ($39,125).
- The greatest number of graduates have obtained employment with financial services employers (26.3%) followed by accounting (15.5%) and health care (11.3%).
- Graduates obtained employment primarily through campus recruiting (34.6%) and internships (33%). Direct applications and networking accounted for the remaining third.
- Admissions to graduate school degree programs account for 15.4% of the Class, or about 3% less than last year. This change is largely due to a growing number of graduates choosing employment with health care related organizations before enrolling in graduate medical programs.
- 2.4% of the class was still seeking employment or entry to graduate school five months after graduation.
The mounting successes of each graduating class is the result of supportive alumni and faculty, an increase in student use of the resources at CPC, and of a growing economy. The CPC sees the task now as getting students "to aspire to the best in any market," but the fundamentals remain the same: keep up your grades, build your resume, get a significant internship, enlist faculty and alumni support, and start thinking about careers as early as you can.
Parents And The Admission Process
We're already recruiting for the Class of 2005 and beyond! Would you like to help? Talk up Fairfield whenever you can - to the talented high school students you know, their parents, your neighbors and co-workers. Have Fairfield literature available, such as the latest Fairfield Now, in your office.
You can also get involved by participating in college fairs, hosting receptions for prospective students, or phoning admitted students. If you would like more information, please call Marianne Gumpper, our Volunteer Coordinator in the Admission Office at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2908.
Parent_Ties E-mail
We want to hear from you! Do you have any comments about this issue of Parent Ties? A suggestion for a Parents' Weekend activity? An idea for an article you would like to see in an upcoming newsletter? Then send us a message via e-mail. We are no different from your student - we love mail, too!
The Advancement Division of Fairfield University publishes Parent Ties three times a year for its current parents. Letters to the editor, address changes, and correspondence should be sent to:
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Parent Ties
Bellarmine Hall Room 327
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
Editor
Catherine Bassi Desmarais '93
Editorial Committee
Ann Minton
Clare Carney Schimpf '76
Kimberly Nickolenko
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