Fairfield University - Press Releases

Fairfield announces Men's Lacrosse will join CAA

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fairfield University announced today that the men's lacrosse program will join the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) as an associate member. The Stags will begin CAA competition in 2015 with the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Hofstra University, the University of Massachusetts, St. Joseph's University, and Towson University.

"The landscape of Division I lacrosse has been evolving rapidly and we are pleased to be joining the CAA," said Fairfield Director of Athletics Eugene P. Doris. "The prospect of aligning with these like-minded institutions is a tremendous opportunity to have our lacrosse program compete at the highest national level."

"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Fairfield's men's lacrosse program to our league," said CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager. "The Stags have built a tradition of success on the field and in the classroom that will strengthen the caliber and character of our conference. We are excited for them to begin competition in 2015."

Fairfield completed its eighth season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League in 2013 and will compete with the Air Force Academy, Bellarmine University, Hobart College, the University of Michigan, and The Ohio State University in 2014. The Stags went 8-7 in 2013 and played in the ECAC Tournament for the third time in as many seasons.

"We are pleased to have found a new home with the CAA and for the opportunity to align ourselves with some fantastic institutions and lacrosse programs," said sixth year head coach Andy Copelan. "The ECAC has provided us some tremendous experiences and we are thankful to have one final year in a conference that has meant an awful lot to us. At the end of the day, we are going from one challenging conference to another challenging conference that keeps us a little closer to home. Seeing new rivalries emerge is healthy for college lacrosse and it is my hope that Fairfield can continue to do our part in making sure the CAA remains among the elite conferences in the country. Lastly, I would like to thank our Athletic Director, Gene Doris, for his efforts during these last couple weeks. It feels good to be able to say that we have a new home and to begin a new chapter of Fairfield lacrosse."

In each of the past two seasons the Stags have won 20 games, including a program-best 12-4 mark during the 2012 seasons. Fairfield has spent 16 weeks in the USILA National Poll the past two seasons, reaching as high as 13th in both seasons. In Copelan's five years at the helm, the Stags have won 43 games and have finishing .500 or better every seasons, the program's longest such stretch. Included in those victories is the program's first-ever win over a #1 ranked team, 10-9 in Denver this spring, and a win over then #3 Notre Dame, 10-8, in 2010.

This past season, the CAA sent a pair of squads in nationally ranked Penn State and league champion Towson to the 2013 NCAA Championship. The league has had multiple teams selected to the NCAA Championship in four of the last five seasons.

Collection of poetry created by Newtown children

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

What: Garden party celebrating the publication of In the Yellowy Green Phase of Spring: Poems from Newtown, a collection of poems written by 3rd-6th graders from both public and private schools in Newtown, Conn., and their parents during a six-week free workshop held at Newtown's Hawley School this spring. Some students will read from their work.

Date: Monday, June 17, 2013

Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: Dana Holcombe House, 29 Main Street, Newtown, Connecticut (Inclement weather: Antiques Room, Booth Library, 25 Main Street, Newtown, Connecticut)

Details: Print media may inquire about attending the event; contact information below. Carol Ann Davis, author and faculty member in Fairfield University's MFA in Creative Writing Program, Hawley School fourth-grade teacher Lea Attanasio, Elizabeth Boquet, Ph.D, University dean of academic engagement, and Fairfield University student Charlotte Pecquex '15, an English major, collaborated to give students and their parents a chance to try their hand at poetry for both creative and therapeutic reasons. The Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield, which is based on the University's campus, the University's Office of Service Learning and Humanities Institute, along with DonorChoose.com, sponsored the initiative.

The organizers hope to take the Newtown model into schools and community centers in Bridgeport in the coming year.

Contact: Carol Ann Davis, (843) 814-7159

University leadership updates

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fairfield University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., announced Wednesday that two members of Fairfield's senior management team have accepted leadership positions at other higher educational institutions.

Julie Dolan, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer of the University, has accepted an appointment as Executive Vice President and Treasurer at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Stephanie Frost, Vice President for University Advancement, will assume the position of Associate Dean for External Relations at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in Stanford, California.

Ms. Dolan, who will join Clark in mid-August, joined the Fairfield administration in the summer of 2010, from Dartmouth College where she served for nine years as Associate Vice President for Fiscal Affairs. Prior to that she held administrative and finance positions at Vanderbilt University, Harvard University and Tufts University.

While at Fairfield, Ms. Dolan put her financial expertise to work in developing a 10-year Long Range Financial Projection model related to the University's strategic plan; designing the analytic methodology for the financial aspects of the undergraduate and graduate academic programs, and gaining efficiencies in overall program delivery that freed resources for new strategic investments. She led the effort to consolidate all technology functions and personnel under a new Chief Information Officer and reorganized administrative computing services from an "outsourced" team to an in-house function.

Ms. Frost was appointed in 2006, after serving as Director of Major Gifts at Yale University, where she held a variety of fundraising positions over a period of 16 years. Prior to that, Ms. Frost was involved in fundraising for the Metropolitan Opera, Churchill School and Center, and the Youth Counseling League, all in New York. When she begins work in early September at Stanford, Ms. Frost will oversee development and alumni relations for the Graduate School of Business. During her seven-year tenure here, Ms. Frost recruited and developed Major Gift, Planned Giving, and Annual Fund teams; increased total fundraising revenue by 30% and increased the Major Gift prospect pool by 500%. She created new reunion giving and non-legacy parent giving programs; oversaw the creation of a national University alumni chapter system resulting in 10 new chapters, and developed three new University advisory boards, bringing to six the number of active advisory boards serving the college, schools and centers of the University. Ms. Frost has been engaged in building the foundation for a multi-million-dollar, comprehensive fundraising campaign, including recruitment of campaign leadership and solicitation of principal and leadership gifts.

In making the announcement, Father von Arx said, "Both Julie and Stephanie will be greatly missed, and I thank them for their significant contributions to Fairfield. The institution has been strengthened as a result of their work and is well positioned to achieve its goals."

During the transition period, Mark Reed, Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff, will oversee operations in the Advancement Division including Development and Alumni Relations. Michael Maccarone, retired Associate Vice President for Finance, who has been assisting Ms. Dolan in recent months, will help supervise finance operations along with Ken Fontaine, Assistant Vice President & Controller. There will be searches forthcoming in the near future for a Chief Financial Officer as well as a Vice President for Advancement.

Engineering student designed rainwater-collector watering Fairfield University campus

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Think of a residential rain barrel, but on a very, very big scale.

That's one way to describe a Fairfield University student-designed rainwater-harvesting system recently installed on a campus building roof, which is projected to corral 41,000 gallons of rainwater annually to use on the University's lawns, shrubs and flowers. With each inch of rain, approximately 560 gallons of water can be collected. The eco-friendly endeavor is expected to shave off costs from the University's water bill, while reusing otherwise wasted storm water runoff. Harvesting projects like this one alleviate environmental strain like soil erosion and damage to animals' habitats, while thwarting flooding.

"The goal of this harvesting system is to provide the University with a sustainable, cost saving water collection system," said Joseph Bocchino, of Mills, Massachusetts, who came up with the idea with fellow recent School of Engineering graduates Andrew Jackowitz, of Moosic, Penn., and John Perry, of Farmington, Connecticut. The three mechanical engineering majors designed the system's collection site so that it runs alongside the Barone Campus Center's 4th floor roof and 3rd floor food court patio - a ~1,100 square foot area. Existing rain leaders and pipes are used to gather water down to a new 1,100-gallon water storage tank in the mechanical room on the 1st floor. From the tank, the rainwater is pumped into an irrigation line and then used to water the lawn and greenery nearby. The harvested rainwater can also be put into the University watering truck that is used all over the 200-acre campus.

"It's a sustainability project in the best sense," said David Frassinelli, associate vice president for Facilities Management, which helped install the system. "We envision replicating this system to other University buildings."

The Campus Sustainability Committee awarded the students a $1,500 grant for their project, which is an effort to further reduce the campus carbon footprint.

Representing the new generation of engineers and scientists, we have to realize that our resources are not all renewable and that this should be a significant consideration in our design solutions, said the students. The group devised the system for the two-semester Senior Design course, which challenges seniors to devise needed tools and systems. The course was taught by faculty member Dr. Shahrokh Etemad, with Dr. Shanon Reckinger serving as faculty advisor.

Image (top): Three Fairfield University graduates developed a rainwater harvesting system for the campus, with guidance from School of Engineering faculty Dr. Shahrokh Etemad, left, and Dr. Shanon Reckinger. (L-R) Joseph Bocchino, Andrew Jackowitz, John Perry.

Fairfield University panel to discuss innovation and early stage ventures

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In recent years, there's been an intensive effort in Connecticut to support the development of new products, technologies and the entrepreneurs behind them. On Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m.,the public is invited to learn about this expanding entrepreneurship ecosystem at a free Fairfield University panel discussion focusing on early stage ventures.

Co-sponsored by Fairfield University's School of Engineering and the Inventors Association of Connecticut (IACT), the event - "The Commercialization of Innovation" - will take place in the Dolan School of Business Dining Room.

"The members of the panel have prior experience starting successful businesses," said Doug Lyon, Ph.D., professor of computer engineering and IACT president. "They'll share insights, experience and connections. We encourage people to bring their ideas to the meeting, where you can learn how to bring them to market."

Janis Collins, the panel moderator, is a startup company advisor in the ‘Connecticut Innovation Ecosystem,' a public-private partnership accelerating the creation and growth of innovative companies and industries in the state.

The panelists include:

Vince D'Agostino, president of Brilig, an open marketplace where online advertising audiences are created, analyzed, bought and sold under the supervision of the company's audience commerce platform.
Bill Gordon and Andy Moss, co-founders of Lean Launch Ventures, a business and technology accelerator based on LeanLaunchPadTM methodology.
Janet Steinmayer, founder and chief executive officer of Appleseed Food Frontiers, a business accelerator and investment firm chiefly supporting expansion-stage consumer packaged good food companies.

The IACT series of events are about taking that first step in creating a startup, and are an opportunity to network. For more information about the School of Engineering, and for directions to campus, visit www.fairfield.edu. For further event details, visit http://www.inventus.org

New exhibition! Fire & Earth: Native American Pottery from New Mexican Pueblos

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

June 27, 2013-October 3, 2013
Bellarmine Museum of Art
Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT

For hundreds of years, the native inhabitants of the American Southwest have cultivated a tradition of pottery that continues today as a vibrant, highly skilled art form. For its latest exhibition, Fairfield University's Bellarmine Museum of Art presents Fire & Earth: Native American Pottery from New Mexican Pueblos, which features nearly three dozen potted vessels from ten different Pueblos in New Mexico. Drawn from a private collection, these objects inspire not only with their formal values but also through their rich cultural histories. The exhibition is on view from Thursday, June 27, 2013, through Thursday, October 3, 2013. The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center is a Community Partner for this show. Exclusive media partner is Morris Media. There will be an opening reception on June 27, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

A wide range of styles and forms of traditional and contemporary pottery are on view and include works by noted 20th-century artisans such as Maria and Julian Martinez, Helen Naha, and Robert Tenoria. Historical works from the late 19th and early 20th century are also featured. Bellarmine Museum Director Dr. Jill Deupi notes: "Pueblo pottery bears witness to the incredible legacy of the Pueblo people. It is a testament to the strength of their ancient roots and rich cultural heritage. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase these remarkable objects in our gallery and to provide our visitors, who may not yet be familiar with this class of objects, with new opportunities to broaden their horizons, both aesthetically and intellectually."

Using techniques and styles passed from one generation to the next, modern Pueblo artists have created pottery characterized by graceful forms and decorated with geometric patterns and stylized symbolic forms drawn from nature. Fascinated with Pueblo pottery, European-Americans began actively collecting such objects around 1880, when the expanded rail network opened up the West and ended the relative isolation of most Pueblos. Private collectors, such as Albert C. Barnes, formed extraordinary collections of historical and modern pottery to incorporate into their collections of paintings and decorative arts. Historical museums such as the Smithsonian began collecting and documenting the work of various Pueblos and of individual artists. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition.

Public Programs related to the exhibition include:

Family Day. Sunday, Sept. 14, 2013. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Native American Pottery (best for ages four and up). Children can design "pots" using modeling clay and child-safe pigments inspired by works on view in the galleries. Age-appropriate gallery talks that address materials, methods, and culture in addition to story-times featuring two titles related to Native American art and history. The Museum is open to the general public from 12 to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Lecture. Wed., Sept. 25, 2013. 5 p.m. Dr. Bruce Bernstein, independent curator and Native American pottery expert, will speak about the materials and methods used in the creation of Pueblo pottery. Free admission.

Film screening: "Classic Martina Martinez: Native American Pottery Maker of San Ildefonso" (1999). All screenings take place at 12 noon; Fri., June 28, Thurs., July 25, Wed., Aug. 28, and Tues., Sept. 24, 2013, in the museum's on-site, smART classroom. Free admission.

An essential component of Fairfield University, the Bellarmine Museum of Art cultivates, inspires, and enriches its many audiences while stewarding the artistic and cultural objects entrusted to its care. The Bellarmine Museum of Art is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on select Saturdays. Admission is free. For more information, call the Bellarmine Museum of Art at (203) 254-4046, or visit www.fairfield.edu/museum. The Bellarmine Museum of Art is located in Bellarmine Hall on the campus of Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. For directions, visit http://www.fairfield.edu/arts/bell_info.html#directions.

Faculty John McDermott and Ying Zhang win top awards from Fairfield University's Dolan School of Business

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When he's not teaching Fairfield University business students about high stakes investing, John McDermott, Ph.D., is busy applying those lessons to his scholarship and advising financial firms managing billions in client assets.

Dr. McDermott, of East Lyme, Conn., associate professor of finance at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, was recently honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award, voted on annually by students. Students provide statements on why they think a particular faculty member deserves to be nominated, based on their alignment with the school's mission, ability to engage students dynamically, and embodiment of Jesuit values.

"One of his best attributes is his ability to seamlessly relate the theory being discussed in the classroom to real life problems," said Brian Devenney, the Rev. John M. Conlisk Irish Scholar who has taken two classes with Dr. McDermott - financial modeling and corporate finance. "His charisma and passion for teaching are very evident by the lack of dull moments in his classroom... He is very supportive of students, always encouraging and offering great advice wherever he can."

One student wrote that Dr. McDermott encourages all students to participate in class and to seek extra help when needed. "[He] takes an interest in his students and encourages success both inside and outside of the classroom," said the student.

To that point, in April he took a group of students to the RISE Finance Forum, an internationally renowned student investment conference, and he's shared his expertise at public events like the Charles F. Dolan Lecture. He's Chief Investment Strategist of Symmetry Partners in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Extensively published, his research areas include market microstructure, market liquidity, information asymmetry, and index reconstitution effects.

"Professor McDermott really exemplifies what a Dolan School of Business professor is all about: engagement with students, bringing the latest finance trends into the classroom, and cutting-edge research," said Donald E. Gibson, Ph.D., dean of the Dolan School. "John's work with the Student Managed Investment Fund - investing $230,000 of the University's endowment - is a great example of how his expertise is combined with practical, impactful experiences for students."

Before academia, McDermott was a member of the United States Coast Guard. He earned a B.S. from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, an MBA from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

The Dolan School's Outstanding Research Paper of the year went to Ying Zhang, Ph.D., assistant professor of finance, for "What Explains the Investment Growth Anomaly?" It was published in The Journal of Banking & Finance, and co-written by Wikrom Prombutr and Chanwit Phengpis, both faculty of California State University, Long Beach.

"We observed higher returns on stocks of the firms with lower growth in capital expenditures," said Dr. Zhang. "This is an investment anomaly and hardly can be explained by classical finance theories. In this paper we try to find the determinants of such anomaly."

Dr. Zhang researches investments, asset pricing, behavioral finance, and portfolio management. His papers have explored how the Internet can impact the financial markets, among many other issues. He earned a B.S. in Finance from JiNan University in Guangzhou, China. His advanced degrees include a M.S. in Information System Management and a Ph.D. in Finance with a minor in real estate from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Images: Two Finance faculty members at the Dolan School of Business received major awards this year. (L-R) 1) Thomas J. Fanning, Sr. '78, of the Dolan School's Advisory Council; John McDermott, Ph.D.; and Donald E. Gibson, Ph.D., dean of the Dolan School. 2) Thomas J. Fanning, Sr. '78; Ying Zhang, Ph.D.; and Dr. Gibson.

Faith-Anne Dohm to serve as dean of Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Faith-Anne Dohm, Ph.D., professor of psychology, will serve as dean of Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP) for the 2013-2014 academic year, replacing Susan Franzosa, Ph.D., who will step down after serving seven years as dean. The University will conduct a national search in the coming year for the next dean of the school.

Dr. Dohm will begin as dean on August 1. She has served as GSEAP's senior associate dean since 2007.

"She will be an able supervisor of our professional staff members, and she will be an excellent mentor to faculty colleagues, with particular attention to the newest members of our community, guiding them towards success," said the Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J., Fairfield's senior vice president for academic affairs. "Faith-Anne will also be a clear advocate for GSEAP within the University and the surrounding communities."

Dr. Dohm earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology at Christopher Newport College in Virginia, followed by a master of arts degree in community clinical psychology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland Graduate School in Baltimore.

Dr. Dohm has been a member of the Fairfield University faculty since 1998 and a licensed psychologist in the state of Connecticut since 1990. She is the author or co-author of many peer-reviewed studies, several with student co-authors. Her list of academic awards and honors, and her list of presentations at academic conferences are extensive, as is her service as a peer reviewer of the scholarship of her colleagues in her fields of inquiry.

Dr. Franzosa, who became dean in 2006, will take a sabbatical and return to the GSEAP faculty.

"During her tenure, GSEAP matured on a number of fronts, and she is in large part responsible for leading that growth and innovation," said University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Dr. Franzosa oversaw GSEAP's national accreditation in teacher education in 2008, approval of a number of new programs, and the formation of the GSEAP Advisory Board. She served on Gov. Dannel Malloy's task force on Teacher Preparation (EPAC) and the executive council of the Bridgeport Higher Education Alliance, as president of the American Educational Studies Association and as the program chair of the American Educational Studies Association annual conference.

Fairfield University presents Distinguished Teaching Award to Fairfield resident

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fairfield University's College of Arts and Sciences has presented its 2013 Distinguished Teaching Award to Robert Epstein, Ph.D., associate professor of English, a Fairfield, Conn., resident.

For 15 years, Dr. Epstein has enriched the English curriculum with courses on everything from medieval literature to fairytales. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Princeton University and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

"Students respect Professor Epstein for the right reasons: He has an infectious enthusiasm for his material, he is demanding and pushes students to think critically and deeply, and he gives students every opportunity to succeed," said Robbin Crabtree, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Epstein is known for promoting academic excellence through detailed attention to students and their work, enforcing the highest intellectual standards. "Professor Epstein brings these same habits to extensive service and leadership at Fairfield, much of which supports the core curriculum, promotes interdisciplinary inquiry and defends the inherent value of the liberal arts," Dean Crabtree said.

Dr. Epstein said he was extremely grateful for the award. "Over the years, I have seen many of my colleagues teach, and I know how talented and dedicated they all are," he said. "There isn't a professor in the College of Arts & Sciences who doesn't deserve recognition for teaching excellence. So I take this award as a symbol of the College's commitment to quality teaching and the faculty's dedication students."

Fairfield University celebrates Reunion Weekend

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Over 1,500 Fairfield University alumni, family and friends are making plans this weekend to reunite, reminisce, and celebrate their Fairfield years at the annual Fairfield University Reunion Weekend taking place Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, 2013. A variety of campus-wide events are planned, with a host of area businesses also participating this year. All alumni, family, and friends are invited, with special reunion celebrations planned for graduates from '68, '73, '78, '83, '88, '93, '98, '03 and '08.

Restaurants throughout the Town of Fairfield and the region are participating as host sites for welcoming events. These include: Flipside Burgers and Bar, Vinny's Ale House owned by John and Julie (Gates) Hekker '79, The Field, Brennan's Shebeen at Richardson Golf Course in Fairfield owned by Michael Brennan '96, The Seagrape Café, Southport Brewing Company in Southport, and Brennan's Shebeen in Bridgeport owned by Michael Brennan '96. On Saturday, the "Taste of Fairfield" Food Fair on campus on the Barone Campus Center Green will highlight a number of food and drink providers from the area. These include: Flipside Burger & Bar, Fryborg in New Haven, The Local Meatball food truck, owned By Michael and Anne (Meleney) '01 Distassio, Moja Café in Westport, owned by Thomas and Beth (Whelan) '86 Linell, The Sugar Bakery in East Haven, Taco Loco in Bridgeport, The Westport Inn Restaurant in Westport, Vazzy's - Vazzano's Four Seasons in Stratford, and Mr. Softee. The Beer Garden will include beverages from Dichello Distributors, Star Distributors, and Drinx Unlimited. For Saturday evening's "Reunion Dinner Dance," beverages are supplied by Super Discount Wine & Spirits, owned by Jason Hackney '91, desserts are supplied by With Love from the Cupboard, owned by Nicole Peranick '03, and flowers are supplied by Vintage Gardens.

"We are looking forward to welcoming all of our grads and their families and friends back to Fairfield for ‘Reunion Weekend,'" said Janet Canepa, Fairfield University Director of Alumni Relations. "We are also extremely pleased to be collaborating with so many businesses in Fairfield and the area. 'Taste of Fairfield' is now in its second year for Reunion Weekend, and because of its success, we have even more local providers participating this year. We hope all those attending will be taking home yet another exciting memory of the Fairfield experience."

Reunion Weekend welcomes all alumni to return to campus with families and friends and participate in a full schedule of activities that includes a tennis mixer, yoga, golf lessons, a Fun Run (or Walk!), campus tour with Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., Reunion Weekend Memories gatherings, Kidzone, Bellarmine Museum activities, Stags Sports Talk, plus the very special Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony, Reunion Weekend Mass, and Reunion Dinner Dance.

For a detailed schedule of events, visit: http://www.fairfield.edu/alumni/ar_reunions.html.

Fairfield University Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Diana M. DeVellis joins U.S. Representative Jim Himes in a panel discussion on funding for college education

Thu, 30 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fairfield University Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Diana M. DeVellis joins U.S. Congressman Jim Himes in a panel discussion entitled "How To Fund Your College Education" from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at Fairfield Warde High School, 755 Melville Avenue, in Fairfield, CT. Other members on the panel include U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Federal Student Aid Dr. James Copeland, Jr., University of Bridgeport Financial Aid Director Christine Falzerano, and VP & Financial Services Mgr., People's United Bank-Fairfield Branch Darrin Fodor. Admission is free.

RSVP by phone: Office of Congressman Hines, (203) 333-6600; or e-mail: Shanté Hanks, Deputy District Director, shante.hanks@mail.house.gov, or Paul Coyle, Outreach Coordinator, paul.coyle@mail.house.gov.

The event is being hosted by Congressman Jim Himes and the Federal Student Aid Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

Aspiring Bridgeport teen writers find day of inspiration at Fairfield University

Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than 115 Bridgeport students in grades 8 through 12 bolstered writing skills and considered life beyond high school at Writing Our Lives-Bridgeport, a May 21 workshop at Fairfield University organized by the campus-based Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield (CWP).

The daylong event, which featured notable speakers from a wide variety of writing genres, was sponsored, in part, by Bank of America.

CWP Director Bryan Ripley Crandall, Ph.D., an assistant professor in Fairfield's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, organized theevent. "Students often want more opportunities to write in real-world ways," Crandall said, "but schools currently provide test-only instruction because of the demands of state assessments." He brought the program to Connecticut after collaborating with Marcelle Haddix, Ph.D., at Syracuse Universityto host similar conferences in Syracuse, N.Y. "Dr. Haddix and I wished to act on what young people were telling us and to give them more opportunities to have their voices heard."

The Writing Our Lives-Bridgeport conference offered students several chances to be in charge of their learning, said Azaria Drakeford, an academic advisor from Yale-Bridgeport GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) who brought students to campus. "We decided it was really important for them to come," she said. "It's not so much ‘this is an essay you have to write.' Instead, students chose sessions that interested them."

The day featured 11 breakout sessions with titles such as "On Mix Tapes and Poets," "Advertisements for Myself: Thinking and Writing about Consumer Culture," "Sports, Hope, & Literacy: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" and "Skills for a Successful College Writer." Each workshop was designed to bring life and academic skills to students through writing.

Bob Albert, one of the presenters was highly impressed with the teenagers from Bridgeport. "It was an inspiring experience to work with these kids," he said. "They were smart and arrived with great ideas. I wish I had gone to something like this when I was in school." Albert and artist Gordon Skinner worked with students on professional ways that artists use writing to promote their craft.

Emily, a junior at Bassick High School, said she signed up for the workshop because she is interested in writing. "I like to write about myself," she said. Asked what she plans after high school, she didn't skip a beat: "I want to go to college."

Bank of America representatives appreciated the college - and career-readiness that was emphasized in each session. "Students who attended the Writing Our Lives conference left equipped with valuable communications skills that will help them succeed in school and the workplace," said Bill Tommins, Southern Connecticut market president, Bank of America. "This conference was an excellent example of local schools, institutions of higher education, and the business community working together to create opportunities for the young people in the area."

Author Sonya Huber, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at Fairfield University, showed students how being aware of their surroundings would make them better writers. Huber's work of creative non-fiction "Opa Nobody" (2008) was shortlisted for the Saroyan Prize.

"Your first job in creative writing is to train yourself that you are constantly watching," she told a group of about 20 students. "You're looking for things - ideas - that you can put in your pocket to use later."

In a neighboring room, Connecticut journalist Brynn Mandel showed attendees how reporters organize stories, explaining how the headline grabs a reader and the first sentence in a story should be its most compelling. "You can use journalistic practices to make the reader want to continue reading," she said.

The highlight of the day, however, came from the keynote speaker Kwame Alexander, author of 14 books, including his young adult novel "He Said, She Said." Alexander, a poet and book publisher who founded Book-in-a-Day, a program that teaches teenagers to write and publish their own books, explained the secret to his roundabout route to success.

"My philosophy in life is to say yes - and then figure it out," he told the students.

Alexander began writing poetry at the age of 12 out of necessity, saying his first effort wasn't terribly memorable. "The only reason I wrote it was because it was Mother's Day and I didn't have any money for a present," he said.

Alexander's can-do spirit led to an eclectic career, including a stint selling his own books in churches across the country, organizing a concert featuring the late rapper Tupac Shakur, creating a fellowship in Italy and writing the children's book "Acoustic Rooster & His Barnyard Band," which features Theolonious Monkey and Duck Ellington.

Alexander studied with master poet Nikki Giovanni at Virginia Tech and remembers well the advice she gave him. "Are you going to be able to say yes to the opportunities in your life?" he asked the room full of Bridgeport youth.

The students shouted back a rousing "Yes!"

"As the students left for the day, a young man came to me to state that Kwame Alexander was the best experience of his school year," said Crandall. "He said he was going home to write."

The Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield is one of three National Writing Project locations in the state. Each year CWP sponsor summer institutes for teachers and offers youth programming with a mission to promote best practices for writing. Bank of America has lent support for two sessions of the 2013 Young Writers' Institute this summer for students in grades 6 to 12-July 8 through 19 and July 22 through August 2. There will also be a new Younger Writers' Institute for children in grades 3 to 5 from July 8 through 12. All sessions run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lunch included. Bank of America will provide limited scholarships for high school applicants with financial need. Applications and more details are available at www.cwpfairfield.org.

For more information on CWP events and initiatives, contact Crandall at bcrandall@fairfield.edu.

2013 Dean's Award goes to engineering students who invented device to help astronauts and the aging

Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Each fall, Fairfield University's School of Engineering requires all seniors to take their knowledge and ripe imaginations, and collaborate on innovative designs for much needed devices, tools or computer applications. The best of the projects is awarded the Dean's Award.

This year's award was given to a group of students who made a prototype of a device to help NASA astronauts living for extended periods in a weightless condition, a situation that causes problematic bone density loss. It is equally important to the many men and women who suffer chronically from osteoporosis leading to brittle and easily fractured bones. Called "Infrared Bone Densitometer and Photoplethysmograph," it's a miniature device to measure bone density and blood flow using infrared light, and was created by Eamonn Grant, of Dobbs Ferry, New York; Daniel Liashek, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Rafique Vahora, of Norwalk, Conn., who developed it for the Senior Design course.

"Physiologically, living in weightless conditions causes loss of bone mass density over time - not a good situation," said Jack W. Beal, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering, explaining it can lead to easily fractured bones, other serious bone problems and loss of mobility. "The standard medical exam for bone mass density involves either X-Rays or radioactive tracers. Both of these procedures require big heavy equipment and the patient needs to lie still in the machine for about 30 minutes."

That situation is not something practical for monitoring astronauts on the Space Station, so the engineering students decided to come up with a lightweight, portable solution; The idea is to use small infrared LEDs [Light Emitting Diodes] and IR [Infrared Radiation] sensors in a small package that an astronaut could wear on his or her arm. "Essentially this is a real-time monitor," said Dr. Beal. "Reflecting the IR light off of bones gives a signal that can be used to measure bone mass density."

It's a development that has the chance to help many: Reportedly about 40 percent of American women and six percent of American over 50 will suffer a vertebral fracture due to bone density loss annually.

It is capable of wireless connectivity, said Vahora, who received a NASA undergraduate scholarship to develop the tool. "This way if used in space to monitor the bone health of astronauts, data could be obtained easily and frequently over a short span of time, to investigate the exact cause of severe BMD [bone mineral density] loss in space," he said.

E. Vagos Hadjimichael, Ph.D., professor of Physics and Engineering and the students' mentor along with Dr. Ryan Munden, said the tool will help the general aging population. "I think the project stands out because of its potential as a useful, portable, medical device which will benefit all those men and women who are at risk of losing bone mineral density due to osteoporosis, or suffering from celiac, a condition that requires folks to adhere to a strictly gluten-free diet," said Dr. Hadjimichael. It has a big advantage over the current practice of using a dual-energy X-Ray device. That's because unlike X-Rays, IR light is non-invasive and the designed device is portable. "The measurement can be done at home, not unlike the portable blood-pressure devices we have at home," he added.

Vahora will further develop it while pursuing a master's degree at the School of Engineering in electrical and computer engineering, with a specialization in biomedical engineering.

This project bested a competitive field of student projects that included a rainwater harvesting system, an unmanned quad copter for rescue operations, SenseFit: a Bluetooth fitness monitor, an automated video metrology device, Heliostat: Sun Tracker Photovoltaic Solar Energy Converter, a light sport utility aircraft, Brian Buddy: Helmet Integrated Impact Detection System, load slot bearing lapping, Bearing Radial/Axial Clearances Measurement Device Development, Aerodynamic Nose Improvement of a Formula Ford Racecar, and Formula F Racecar Frame Enhancement.

Image: Fairfield University's School of Engineering asks seniors to take their knowledge and ripe imaginations, and collaborate on innovative designs for the Senior Design course. This year, two projects were 'Aerodynamic Nose Improvement of a Formula Ford Racecar,' and 'Formula F Racecar Frame Enhancement.'

Dolan School student designs award-winning app

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Do you ever worry about your pet when you're not home?

Cody Reinold '14, an information systems and operations management student in Fairfield University's Charles F. Dolan School of Business, created an award-winning app with that thought in mind.

Called 'LocalSitter,' it allows people to monitor their pets when they can't be with them, and it won the category of "Best Idea" at the 'Tails and Rails' contest co-hosted by Purina and 'Mashable,' a popular news website and technology and social media blog.

Reinold, of Sutton, Mass., explained that LocalSitter gives you assurance that your pet is fine while you are away. "When you go on family vacations, one of the hardest things to do is leave your pet behind with a sitter or at a kennel," said Reinold, who has a golden retriever named Ben. "You end up spending a lot of your vacation wondering, 'How is Ben doing?' So this app lets you stay in touch with your pet and gives you live text updates, pictures, and videos of your pet."

LocalSitter, a web-based application (app), can run on any web-enabled device such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. The app also catalogs what went on for the entire time that owners are away from their pets. Other opportunities exist for this app, such as allowing doggie-day-care centers to use the app and send updates to owners throughout the day.

Reinold developed the app during the contest's nine-hour 'hackathon' at New York City's Soho Grand Hotel that brought together computer programmers, software developers, graphic designers and others to develop new products to benefit pets. The Fairfield undergraduate was the only individual winner of the day (the other winners were groups). For his app, he received $1,500 prize money, which he will put towards his college education.

Web design and developing a business idea are nothing new to the Fairfield junior.

He designs websites and provides marketing and development solutions to clients through his firm, Elligson, a successful small business that had its origins in a web site he created when just twelve. Reinold plans to hire employees for Elligson and work there full time to elevate the company to the next level. "In the long run, I'd like to be a serial tech-entrepreneur, solving everyday problems and making people's lives easier using technology," he said.

Chris Huntley, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and operations management who is one of Reinold's Dolan School professors, said the LocalSitter concept is great. "Cody was able to identify a real problem and then come up with a no-fuss solution to it in a few hours," he said. "I'm sure if I had tried to do it, I'd have done something a lot more complex and not nearly so good. It takes real talent to pare off the irrelevant things so you can focus on the important things. Cody does that."

National Theatre Live in HD presents "The Audience"

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Thursday, June 13, 2013
2 p.m. (live) and 7 p.m. (encore)
Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts

Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts presents Helen Mirren reprising her Academy Award winning role as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audience," broadcast as part of National Theatre Live in HD at 2 p.m. (live) and 7 p.m. (encore) on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Tickets are $25, $20 for seniors, and $15 for students and children.

This highly anticipated West End production of The Audience reunites writer Peter Morgan and Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren following their collaboration on the critically acclaimed movie sensation The Queen. Academy Award-nominated director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) directs the production that the Daily Mail predicts as becoming "one of the theatrical highlights of 2013."

For sixty years Elizabeth II has met each of her twelve Prime Ministers in a weekly audience at Buckingham Palace - a meeting like no other in British public life - it is private. Both parties have an unspoken agreement never to repeat what is said. Not even to their spouses. The Audience breaks this contract of silence - and imagines a series of pivotal meetings between the Downing Street incumbents and their Queen. From Churchill to Cameron, each Prime Minister has used these private conversations as a sounding board and a confessional - sometimes intimate, sometimes explosive. From young mother to grandmother, these private audiences chart the arc of the second Elizabethan Age. Politicians come and go through the revolving door of electoral politics, while The Queen remains constant, waiting to welcome her next Prime Minister.

The critically acclaimed production has earned "5 Stars" from the Daily Telegraph and The Times and "4 Stars" from the Evening Standard, Independent, and Metro, which says "Helen Mirren dazzles again as Queen." Independent agrees: "Helen Mirren makes 'The Audience' a right-royal night out."

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.quickcenter.com.

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit www.quickcenter.com.

Image copyright Johann Persson.

Exhibition: "Munch 150"

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Film series brings world famous art exhibitions to big screen

7:30 p.m., June 27, 2013
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts continues its EXHIBITION film series with the screening of Munch 150, a film exploring the landmark Edvard Munch exhibition currently on display in Norway, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 27, 2013. This is the second in a new three-part film series, EXHIBITION, which brings world famous art exhibitions to the big screen. Tickets are $15, general admission; $10, senior citizen, student and child; and $5 for Fairfield University faculty, staff, and students.

This year, all of Norway celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edvard Munch (1863-1944), one of the towering figures of modern art. The exhibition "Munch 150," co-hosted by the National Museum and the Munch Museum (both in Oslo), and currently on view through October 13, 2013, is already being hailed a "once-in-a-lifetime show". Global interest is huge - not least as a result of one of his four paintings of "The Scream" having recently set a public art auction record of $120 million. Many know Munch as the man who painted "The Scream," but his complete works are remarkable and secure his place as one of the greatest artists to have ever lived.

The event film goes behind-the-scenes to show some of the process of putting the exhibition together - as well as touring Norway to provide an in-depth biography of a man who lived from the mid-19th century right through to the German occupation of Norway in the Second World War. Norwegian and international guests will also offer their expert insight and knowledge to host Tim Marlow. Munch 150 provides the unique experience of viewing an historic art exhibition and superb event film.

The final EXHIBITION screening in the series, "Vermeer and Music: The Art of Love and Leisure," takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2013. The National Gallery, London, is offering a major exhibition on one of the most startling and fascinating artists of all-time, Johannes Vermeer, painter of the "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Vermeer painted little more than 30 works that still exist, and the National Gallery has chosen to focus on his art in relation to music. The film goes beyond the exhibition to tell the entire story of Vermeer's life.

Tickets and subscriptions are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.quickcenter.com.

Fairfield University awards 861 diplomas at 63rd annual undergraduate commencement exercises

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fairfield University awarded diplomas to 861 undergraduate students at the 63rd commencement exercises today, as 5,000 family members and friends watched with pride on Bellarmine Lawn. The graduates earned degrees from the College of Arts & Sciences, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, School of Engineering and School of Nursing.

In keeping with tradition, the Jesuit institution celebrated students and honorary degree recipients who have led inspired lives.

The Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., president of Loyola University Chicago and a national figure in Jesuit higher education, gave the commencement address, asking graduates, "Who will help heal the world, if not for you? Some people can't help themselves ... Who will help create a just and right society, if not for you?"

His impressive life of service and a firm commitment to education served as an example of what one can do when fueled by passion and determination. The General Secretary for Higher Education for the Society of Jesus, Fr. Garanzini is known for his work concerning child and family therapy, moral development, and Catholic education.

Fr. Garanzini encouraged graduates to find inner peace. For him, that has involved staying in touch with God. He laced his address with humor, noting that the honorary Doctor of Laws degree he received came in part for living in a freshman dorm for the past 25 years.

The valedictory speaker was Kevin Reda, of Pleasantville N.Y., a politics and International Studies double major with a minor in economics, with plans to pursue an M.B.A. A lacrosse coach at Fairfield Prep, he shared treasured advice from the late North Carolina State University coach Jim Valvano concerning the benefits of laughing, thinking and crying daily. "Think about it, if you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day, that's a heck of a day," said Reda.

Reda also spoke of events that have moved him, including September 11, 2001, when his father survived the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. He also spoke about the outpouring of support from the Fairfield community when he ran a 5K race in support of M.S. awareness. A family member has fought the disease for a decade. "I have learned that being a man or woman for others is not as much about the impact it has on us individually, but the ability of our selfless actions to move and inspire those that we are serving."

Fairfield University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., presented Daniel Jones, of South Portland, Maine, with the prestigious St. Ignatius Loyola Medal, bestowed annually by the Fairfield University Alumni Association to the senior who best exemplifies the true spirit of a Jesuit education. A politics major, he plans to become an educator, and hopes to attend graduate school to study anthropology or comparative politics.

The Bellarmine Medal - awarded to the student with the highest four-year academic average - was presented to two individuals: Courtney Anne Onofrio, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, a School of Nursing graduate who plans to be a registered nurse; and Caitlin Hill Stote, of Stamford, Conn., an English major who minored in educational studies and religious studies. She plans on pursuing a master's of arts in elementary education at Fairfield. Both were also given the John and Veronica Gleason Award for the graduating senior with the highest academic average.

The ebullient group of graduates also included many other high achieving individuals. The William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award recipient was S‌arah Joseph, of Cambridge, Mass., an English, Communications, and Intercultural Studies major who has truly epitomized the Jesuit notion of the Magis.

The Class of 2013 Student Achievement Awards were given to an exemplary group of students for their commitment to the University, most notably through service work, mentoring, and student club involvement. Recipients included: Film/Television major Michael O'Keeffe, of Christchurch, New Zealand, who played for the Stags' soccer team and his native country's Olympic men's soccer team. He plans on pursuing a career in professional soccer in Europe; Environmental Studies and Communication major Alexandra Tarabour , of Red Bank, N.J., recognized for her dedication to student advancement programs; nursing major Morgan Zachary, of Somers, Connecticut, who will soon begin the Vanderbilt University Nurse Residency Program, pediatric track, in Nashville, Tenn.; and Courtney Onofrio, acknowledged for her global service work, including the School of Nursing's public health work in Nicaragua.

An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was bestowed on Sister Maureen Clark, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who worked in the correction system in Pittsburgh and then the Massachusetts correctional system. Fairfield graduate William P. McDonald '75, of New York, N.Y., who has been with The New York Times since 1988, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He was part of a team that won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for National News, for the series "How Race Is Lived in America." His family includes Fairfield graduates: brother, James E. McDonald '66, his wife Irene Leopold McDonald '84, and a cousin, Ann McDonald Langan '74.

At 3 p.m. today, a commencement ceremony will be held in Alumni Hall for 418 graduate students. Fairfield graduate Dr. Patrick W. Kelley '76, P'12, of Silver Spring, Maryland, a director with the U.S. National Academies' Institute of Medicine, will speak at the graduate ceremony and will receive an honorary degree. Dr. Kelley and his wife, Michele (Fairfield '76), are the parents of John (Boston College '07) and Maureen (Fairfield '12). The graduate student valedictory speaker is Erin Radocchia, from Westbrook Conn., who, like both of her parents, graduated from the School of Nursing. Loretta Egan Murphy, of Monroe, Conn., who earned an M.S. in nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner track, received the St. Ignatius Loyola Medal for outstanding University service. She works in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Vincent's Medical Center, and plans to continue her work in the service of people in the greater Bridgeport community after graduation.

An honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be bestowed on Sister Patricia Farrell, OSF, LCSW, LMHP, a Sister of St. Francis of the Holy Family, from Dubuque, Iowa. She committed her life to pastoral work, working in Texas and Latin America. She is the immediate past president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Fairfield University awarded a total of 1,279 degrees May 19, including 858 bachelor's degrees, 396 master's degrees, 19 certificates of advanced study from the Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions, three Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees, and three associate's degrees.

Photos: 1) Fairfield University awarded diplomas to 861 undergraduate students at the 63nd commencement exercises, May 19, 2013; 2) A joyful graduate at Fairfield University's commencement; 3) A happy graduate with diploma in hand on Bellarmine Lawn; 4) The Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., center, president of Loyola University Chicago and a national figure in Jesuit higher education, gave the commencement address and received an honorary degree; 5) A graduate embraces family members.

For updated information: http://www.fairfield.edu/commencement

More than 400 receive degrees at 63rd Fairfield University Graduate Commencement

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On a drizzly day that didn't dampen anyone's spirits, Fairfield University awarded 396 master's degrees, 19 certificates of advanced study and three doctor of nursing practice degrees at its 63rd Graduate Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19, 2013.

The crowd at Alumni Hall included two honorary degree recipients: Patrick W. Kelley '76, P'12, M.D., DrPH, of Silver Spring, Maryland, director of the Boards of Global Health and African Science Academy Development at the U.S. National Academies, who was the graduate commencement speaker; and Sister Patricia Farrell, OSF, LCSW, LMHP, a Sister of St. Francis of the Holy Family, Dubuque, Iowa, and the immediate past president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

The University conferred graduate degrees from its College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the School of Engineering, the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions and the School of Nursing.

In his commencement address Dr. Kelley challenged the graduates to be transformative leaders.

"The educated, especially at the professional level, like yourselves, are parties to a social contract," he said. "Empowered professionals, such as each of you, in recognition of their status, assume an obligation to use their position and capabilities to lead the creation of more equitable societies where health, education, security and opportunity are more accessible to all, where the treasury of the talents God has given to each of us, can be fully at the service of all of us."

Dr. Kelley has overseen consensus advisory studies on subjects including the evaluation of U.S. foreign assistance for HIV/AIDS, the global problem of substandard and falsified drugs, and global surveillance for infections transmitted between humans and animals. In 2003, he retired from a career in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during which he founded the DoD Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System and the DoD Accession Medical Standards and Analysis Activity and edited the first textbook on military preventive medicine in more than 60 years.

Dr. Kelley received his B.S. (cum laude) from Fairfield University, an M.D. from the University of Virginia, and MPH and DrPH degrees from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from Fairfield on Sunday. His daughter, Maureen, is a 2012 Fairfield graduate.

Erin Radocchia, of Westbrook, Conn., who, like both of her parents, graduated from the School of Nursing, delivered the graduate class address. She joked that, as a baby, she was the youngest 'student' ever at Fairfield, "getting passed from my mother to my father in between classes in the halls of the School of Nursing.

"Eighteen years later, those halls would become the ones I knew best, as I pursued my own bachelor of science degree in nursing at Fairfield," she said. "I was inspired, not only by my parents' thirst for knowledge and commitment to service professions, but also by Fairfield's Jesuit ideals. Throughout a rewarding career in nursing, when faced with the desire to continue my education in nursing, there was nowhere besides Fairfield I even considered attending."

Loretta Egan Murphy, of Monroe, Conn., who earned an M.S. in nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner track, received the St. Ignatius Loyola Medal for outstanding University service.

Sister Patricia Farrell did pastoral work and community organizing in San Antonio, Texas, leading her eventually to 20 years in Latin America, beginning in Chile and ending in El Salvador. She also worked in the behavioral health field with Spanish-speaking people in Chicago and Omaha. She is currently part of the leadership team of the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa. She received an honorary doctor of laws degree on Sunday.

Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., told the graduates that they will always be part of the Fairfield community.

"We, the faculty and administration, are filled with pride in your accomplishments," he said. "During your time of study here, you shaped us all with your enthusiasm, with your passion for learning, with your good humor, and through the close relationships that you have forged here, which I am sure will be with you for the rest of your life."

Commencement for the University's 861 undergraduates took place Sunday morning on Bellarmine Lawn. The Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., president of Loyola University Chicago, was the undergraduate commencement speaker and received an honorary degree along with Sister Maureen Clark, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph from Pittsburgh, who worked in the correctional system for 13 years; and William P. McDonald '75, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editor at The New York Times.

Images: Patrick W. Kelley, M.D., of Silver Spring, Maryland, director of the Boards of Global Health and African Science Academy Development at the U.S. National Academies, delivers the Commencement speech; Sister Patricia Farrell, OSF, LCSW, LMHP, a Sister of St. Francis of the Holy Family, Dubuque, Iowa, speaks after receiving her honorary degree; A happy graduate holds his degree aloft; Erin Lynn Radocchia, of Westbrook, Conn., delivers the graduate valedictory speech; Beaming graduates celebrate their special day.

For updated information: http://www.fairfield.edu/commencement

Fairfield University senior is victim of tragic accident

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The following press statement was issued today (May 18, 2013) by Fairfield University administration regarding the death of a student:

A Fairfield University graduating senior has been the victim of a tragic accident. Deandre Lawton, of Brockton, Massachusetts, a member of the Fairfield University class of 2013, died as the result of injuries received during a single car accident that occurred early Saturday morning in the town of Fairfield. Deandre, 21, was a senior in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and was to participate in the undergraduate commencement ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 19, on campus.

The tragedy has shaken the entire community and all are profoundly saddened by the loss of a valued member of the Fairfield family. All in the Fairfield community are invited to prayer for Deandre, his family and friends.

The Fairfield University Counseling Services staff, along with Campus Ministry and Residence Life students is available to speak with and assist students and other members of the community in dealing with this tragic event. Plans are being made for prayer and remembrance, including at the Baccalaureate Mass on Saturday.

Fairfield University graduates and engineering professor among Connecticut entrepreneurs taking part in crowdfunding discussion

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

These days, the quickest way to access cash to fund a new business venture just may lie in crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter.com, Indiegogo.com and Rockethub.com.

Crowdfunding - the process of attracting a large number of investors online to pledge relatively small amounts of start-up money - will be the topic of a free panel discussion at Fairfield University on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m., in the Dolan School of Business Dining Room.Open to the public, the event - "Crowdfunding Your Invention" - will feature Fairfield alumni and a School of Engineering professor discussing their inventions.

Entrepreneur Mark Nowotarski, president of Markets, Patents & Alliances LLC, in Darien, Conn., will moderate the panel of four Connecticut entrepreneurs sharing what drew them to crowdfunding, how they were successful, and what they have learned since they raised money.

Panelists include:

Fairfield graduates Mark Donne '11, and Jason Maloney '11, makers of the Diffr3nt™ wallet and iPhone carry cases, a company based in Westport, Conn. Diffr3nt raised $4,609 on Kickstarter in 2012. A former Apple Store employee, Donne earned a bachelor's degree in New Media and marketing from Fairfield. Maloney works for IBM as a client research analyst and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Fairfield. Read their story at http://blog.fairfield.edu/magazine/?p=2329.
Doug Lyon, Ph.D., chairman of the Computer Engineering Department at Fairfield and the inventor of the Arduino Digital Signal Processing Shield (DSP for Arduino), based in Fairfield, Conn. The device is a programmable circuit board that helps musicians make unique sounds and helps students learn the basics of digital signal processing. He raised $7,859 on Kickstarter. Dr. Lyon is president of the Inventors Association of Connecticut (IACT).
Jim Vellano, a former chef de cuisine at Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, and Jen Vellano, former chef de partie at Per Se in New York, who founded Maison Privé, a boutique catering company based in Greenwich, Conn. They raised $14,920 on Kickstarter.
Cliff Thier, president of iKeyboard, Inc., maker of the TacType™ keyboard, a company based in West Hartford, Conn, which raised $26,000 on Kickstarter.

The event is co-sponsored by Fairfield University's School of Engineering and the IACT. For information about the School of Engineering, visit http://www.fairfield.edu/soe/.

Image: Fairfield University graduates Jason Maloney '11 and Mark Donne '11, makers of the Diffr3nt™ wallet and iPhone carry cases.