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Carlow University Receives Largest Alumna/Trustee Gift in Its History |
Carlow University has received the largest gift from an alumna and trustee in its history, a $1.5 million gift from Carlow Woman of Spirit,® Michele Rehfeld Atkins ('82). The gift will endow the Michele R. Atkins Endowed Chair for Ethics Across the Curriculum to expand the study and application of ethics in the University's academic programs. "I consider it a privilege to give something back to Carlow after all it has done for me," says Atkins, who is the president and CEO of Heritage Community Initiatives, and who earned her BA with a specialization in Sociology and Anthropology from Carlow in 1982. "With this endowment, I hope to foster an understanding of the principles of ethics as they apply to disciplines and professional programs at the University and to encourage interdisciplinary interaction of faculty and students." The Michele R. Atkins Chair will promote and provide teaching and research about ethics and will facilitate opportunities for faculty to enrich coursework by including ethics within the context of their disciplines. The Chair of Ethics Across the Curriculum will produce publications and provide presentations at conferences and seminars, and will facilitate seminars and conferences at Carlow addressing critical contemporary ethical issues. While Carlow University has, through its history, emphasized ethics across its academic curriculum, the new endowed chair provides the opportunity to greatly propel interdisciplinary scholarship with an emphasis on ethics. "On behalf of the University, I thank Michele and Pat Atkins for their outstanding generosity to Michele's alma mater by establishing the first endowed Chair at Carlow, and for supporting the integration of ethical principles in our academic programs," says Dr. Mary Hines, president of Carlow University. "Michele's focus on ethics is consistent with Carlow's commitment to the charisms of the Sisters of Mercy and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching which shape our University's mission and values. This is truly an historic gift in the life of Carlow University." The academic home of the Michele R. Atkins Chair for Ethics Across the Curriculum will be Carlow's School of Management, with a joint appointment in the Department of Philosophy. The chair will report to the dean of the School of Management. |
Carlow Laureates Honored at Third-Annual Luncheon |
Carlow University honored this year’s Carlow Laureates at its third-annual awards luncheon held Friday, May 13, 2011, at the Twentieth Century Club in Oakland. Invited guests, including Carlow alumnae, faculty, staff, students, Sisters of Mercy, and Carlow community partners, celebrated The Honorable Margaret A. Mangan, M. Monica O’Keefe, Mary Ann Sestili, PhD, and Stella L. Smetanka, JD. Dr. Mary Hines, president of Carlow University, who introduced each laureate, led the ceremony. Carlow’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs Margaret McLaughlin, PhD, bestowed the recipients with the Carlow Laureate medallion. Following the medal presentation, the laureates spoke briefly about how Carlow and the Sisters of Mercy laid the foundation for their academic achievement and future success. The Honorable Margaret A. Mangan, an administrative law judge in the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings, who earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Carlow in 1970, spoke of her childhood on 810 Hanna Street and how the rooms were filled with love, prayer, books, and dreams. Mangan noted that these values and spirit were nurtured at Carlow. Her message to the audience and to current Carlow students was: dream, pay attention, and be kind. M. Monica O’Keefe is a senior inspector in the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. State Department. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Carlow in 1969. Of her career in public service, O’Keefe noted that her success required intellectual rigor, the ability to think clearly, and a sense of responsibility—all of which she learned at Carlow. O’Keefe said she was inspired by Carlow guests speakers like Father Daniel Berrigan and Seymour Hersh, as examples of people who encouraged an ethic of service. For O’Keefe, Carlow set her on a path of leadership, intellectual achievement, and service to others. Mary Ann Sestili, PhD, president of Health Sciences Associates, Inc., a Potomac, Md.,-based consulting firm, earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, and French, in 1961. Sestilli, who was a first generation college student, noted that the teachers and advisors at Carlow were supportive mentors who fostered in her a love of scholarship and would not allow her to fail. Stella L. Smetanka, JD, a clinical professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Carlow in 1970. For Smetanka, Carlow was her “city on the hill, ” as those 14-acres rooted her as a young girl. She relayed how Carlow had imbued her with the spirit of academic achievement, along with the message that it isn’t enough to strive for glory for yourself; that life’s reward is found in service to others. Smetanka has continued to live her life by the adage that to those God has given much, much is to expected This inspirational class of laureates was also recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and professional contributions at Carlow’s spring commencement ceremony Saturday, May 14, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. |
Carlow Professor Enrique Mu Receives Mayoral Proclamation for Information Technology Expertise Shared with City |
Enrique Mu, PhD, the co-director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Carlow University, was honored for his service to the City of Pittsburgh with a proclamation from the Honorable Luke Ravenstahl, mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The proclamation recognizes and thanks Mu for his assistance and reads in part: "this joint collaboration of Carlow University and the City of Pittsburgh has proven to be a successful initiative leading to the solution of a real and urgent future City of Pittsburgh problems." Mu helped the city with the complex task of choosing an information management network that would move the city's in-house e-mail messaging system to "the cloud" via Software as a Service (SaaS), which provides computer resources through the internet. "This selection process has been one of the most complex I have worked on and took several months," says Mu, who has been a member of the Carlow faculty since 2007. "This collaborative work with the City of Pittsburgh demonstrates, in practice, Carlow's vision of a scholar-practitioner using his or her skills to address societal and community problems." Last year, after the City of Pittsburgh issued a request for proposal (RFP) to move its in-house e-mail messaging system to the cloud, they received seven complex proposals from vendors that required a detailed analysis of the submissions. Aware of Mu's background and real-life experience in the evaluation and selection of new technologies, Howard Stern, PhD, the city's chief information officer (CIO) asked him to serve on the City's selection committee. "Dr. Mu enthusiastically agreed to assist the City in the difficult decision of selecting a vendor," says. Stern. "He immediately engaged the committee with his insightful questions and analysis. After many hours of research and development, he showed us how to evaluate the vendor proposals in an objective and transparent way by using an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) that he teaches in the classroom. Because of Dr. Mu's contributions, the City was better equipped to make an informed decision." Mu further explained his reasons for helping the City of Pittsburgh: "I believe in engaged scholarship, that is, the need to ground our scholarly work in solving real-world problems. |
Carlow University Honors Retiring Faculty and Staff |
Carlow honored retiring faculty members at a special reception on May 10, 2011, in the atrium of the A.J. Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology. The faculty members included: Andrea Beranek, PhD, assistant professor of English; Carol Caliendo, ND, professor of nursing; Anne Marie Emanuel, MSN, MA, assistant professor of nursing; Martha H. Ezzell, PhD, professor of professional leadership; Emma T. Lucas-Darby, PhD, professor of social work; and Martha Legates, PhD, professor of psychology. “Our retiring faculty members have provided Carlow University students with over 130 years of teaching experience,” says Margaret McLaughlin, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “They have dedicated their lives to their disciplines, professions, and the core values of the institution. Most of all, they have dedicated themselves to serving our students, and the influence they have had on the countless lives they have touched cannot be measured.” Beranek, Caliendo, Emanuel, Ezzell, and Lucas-Darby were honored again during Commencement on May 14, 2011, where they were named faculty emeritae. Also retiring at the end of the academic year are staff members Joyce McDermott, assistant director of Financial Aid, and Nieves Stiker, program director and instructor in Community Education. “Nieves has a passion for educating others to overcome the challenges of their life situation and for nurturing them to achieve new personal and professional goals,” says Andra Tokarsky, director of Human Resources. “She has had a dramatic impact on the evolution and growth of community education. She leaves us with a legacy of commitment, enthusiasm, and selflessness that will not be forgotten.” About McDermott, Natalie Wilson, director of Financial Aid, says, “Joyce worked in the Financial Aid Office for 17 years. During that time, she worked tirelessly to help students and their parents navigate the complicated world of financial aid. She was a compassionate, caring individual with a friendly disposition and a positive attitude who genuinely cared about all people. She was a true asset to the Financial Aid Office and Carlow University and will be missed by all who worked with her, and by the students and families she assisted over the years.” |
Carlow University Celebrates Spring Commencement |
Carlow University celebrated its Spring Commencement ceremony with pomp and circumstance on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Nearly 200 students donned caps and gowns to walk in the ceremony and receive their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees. Carlow awarded a total of 264 degrees this semester, which includes 186 bachelor’s degrees, 76 master’s degrees, and two doctoral degrees in nursing practice (DNP). In keeping with Carlow’s Catholic heritage, the day began with Baccalaureate Mass, celebrated this year by the Most Reverend David A. Zubik, M.S.Ed., D.D., the Bishop of Pittsburgh, in the St. Agnes Center of Carlow University. Bishop Zubik began his homily by speaking of the memories that the graduates would carry from this day. He urged them to remember the people—staff, faculty, administrators, or fellow students – who touched their lives while they attended Carlow. “Someone from Carlow became the face, hands, and heart of God while you were here,” he said. “Think about that person connected with Carlow who made a difference in your life. Take what you have received from this University and make a difference in someone else’s life. Someday, someone will be a success because of you.” After a reception in the A.J. Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology, Commencement took place in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The commencement speaker was Dr. Helen Sobehart, executive director of ASSET, an education improvement non-profit located on the South Side. Dr. Sobehart applauded the recent announcement of Carlow’s newly endowed chair in ethics, thanks to a gift by alumna and board member Michele Atkins ’82, and her husband, Pat. “No matter what field you pursue, it will only be ethics that will make the difference,” Dr. Sobehart said, encouraging the graduates to find their profession’s code of ethical conduct and post it in their offices where they can view it every day. She told the graduates that when ethics are abandoned, it creates a situation that is untenable. “In such a place, the meek will not inherit the earth. They will be trampled into it unless you make the difference.” Emily Kolek—the 2011 recipient of the Joseph G. Smith Award, Carlow’s highest academic honor— gave the student address and described college as an “adventure” in her life’s journey. She encouraged the graduates to also think of their education as an adventure, saying that an adventure is something that can’t be planned out in its entirety but is a mystery that from time to time needs inspiration to continue. “I needed to find inspiration to keep my adventure moving, and I found the motivation I needed in you,” she said. “You are truly inspiring. We, as a group, are inspiring. Many of you will be the first in your families to graduate from college. Many of you are not only students, but mothers … and role models … and leaders. Many of you are so passionate about your life’s work. “Today we embark on a new adventure in life’s journey,” she said. “For some, this new adventure may be clear, for others less so. Regardless, we must invest in it, embrace it, hold onto it, and make it what we want it to be. Don’t stop. Keep moving forward, and if we find ourselves at a dead end or approaching a stop sign, we can seek advice by turning to one another for inspiration.” The 2011 Carlow Laureates were honored during the ceremony. This is the highest honor an alumna/us can receive from the University. This year’s laureates are: Mary Ann Sestili, PhD ’61; M. Monica Fallon O’Keefe ’69; The Honorable Margaret A. Mangan ’70; and Stella L. Smetanka, JD ’70. (See article in this edition.) In addition to the degrees awarded, several faculty awards were presented. Five faculty members were invested as faculty emeritae: Andrea Beranek, PhD, Carol Caliendo, ND, Anne Marie Emanuel, MSN, MA, Martha H. Ezzell, PhD, and Emma T. Lucas-Darby, PhD. (See article in this edition.) Katie Hogan, PhD, and Emma T. Lucas-Darby, PhD, received the Dorothy Weber Cochran ’43 Award for Excellence in faculty Scholarship. Two awards were voted on by students, and were announced for the first time at the ceremony. Stephanie Wilsey, PhD, received the Sisters of Mercy Award for Excellence in Advising. Michael Balmert, PhD, received the Max and Esther Sestili Award for Excellence in Teaching. |
New Campus Minister Brings Religious Education and Communication Experience |
Carlow University has named Siobhan DeWitt its new campus minister. With a background in both religious education and communication, DeWitt will use her experience to direct Carlow’s Department of Campus Ministry in serving the pastoral and spiritual needs of the University community. Dewitt’s experience includes youth ministry and religious education in Pittsburgh parishes, retreat development in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Kalamazoo, Mich., and the creation of catechetical lesson plans for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Prior to her work in the church, she was communications director for the United Way of St. Joseph, Mich., and a counselor for Birthright, a pro-life pregnancy support center dedicated to providing alternatives to abortion. DeWitt has two college-aged daughters, which the search committee felt gave her a good understanding of the challenges Carlow students face. “During the interview process, we encouraged each candidate to spend time with some of our students,” says Sister Sheila Carney, special assistant to the president for Mercy Heritage and Service and head of the selection committee. “Siobhan clearly made a real connection with the students. They responded very positively to her, which indicated to the search committee that she would be a good fit for Carlow.” DeWitt’s prior experience will also enhance positive connections with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, says Carney. “Siobhan’s two degrees are a great combination for this job,” says Carney. “She brings a unique set of skills and we look forward to seeing how she will evolve Campus Ministry at Carlow.” DeWitt earned a BA in mass communication from St. Bonaventure University and an MA in religious education from Duquesne University. |
Carlow University Names Dean of Student Affairs |
Spreading Diversity through Hard Work and Great Initiatives |
Barbara Johnson, director of Diversity Initiatives, has been having a busy spring representing Carlow University. It began on April 28 with a speaking engagement at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for their annual mother’s day program sponsored by the Turkish Cultural Center and the Rumi Dialogue Club, a CMU student organization that seeks to support diversity by improving relations between different cultures, creating opportunities for dialogue, and enhancing the level of mutual understanding while emphasizing similarities, common beliefs, and common values. “The theme was ‘Women as Timeless Mentors,’ and my presentation focused on the intersection of women and culture through mentoring,” said Johnson. The connection was made possible through Louise Sciannameo, vice president of University Communications and Community Relations, and Katie Hogan, PhD, director of Women Studies.” The next day, she was a member of a panel discussion for the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism Rally, downtown, which was attended by several Carlow students. “I spoke about how racism impacts college students,” said Johnson, who serves on the Advisory Committee for the YWCA’s Center for Race and Gender Equity. “One of our Carlow alumna, Melanie Steven Cosnek, has held a professional position with the Center for many years. I have collaborated with Dina Clark, the Director of the Center, as well as with the CEO, Magdeline Jensen.” In early May, Johnson spoke at the Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pa., on the topic, “Do Race and Ethnicity Really Matter?” The subject of mentoring is near and dear to her heart. “I am a mentor for a young girl through Gwen’s Girls, a weekend trainer for the Mentoring Partnership and a long-time colleague of their director, Colleen Fedor,” Johnson says. All these speaking engagements follow a full spring semester where Carlow witnessed nationally renowned speakers on the environment—Wilma Subra, the green chemist—and mandatory sentencing activist, Kemba Smith, speak to Carlow students and members of the community in a nearly full Kresge Theatre. Johnson’s dedication to her role helped bring this about. "I feel blessed to do work that I am passionate about in a community that values lifelong learning and with individuals who help me to grow.” |
For upcoming campus events, please visit MyPortal. |
Women of Spirit Institute® Summer Workshops 2011 This summer’s schedule is: To register online: www.carlow.edu/summerworkshop Register by June 1 to receive a $25 discount. Financial aid and flexible payment plans are available. For more information, please |
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@ 2011 The Carlow Sun enhances communication among members of the Carlow community in accordance with the mission and core values of the University. We, in University Communications and Community Relations, appreciate your feedback and suggestions, and invite you to submit your news, events, or story ideas by contacting Janet Horsch at jrhorsch@carlow.edu. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month. The Carlow Sun
is also available on Carlow’s Web site at www.carlow.edu. The Carlow Sun is produced by the staff of University Communications and Community Relations, 6th Floor, Antonian Hall, 3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. CREDITS: Publisher: Louise Cavanaugh Sciannameo, Vice President for University Communications and Community Relations; Managing Editor: Janet Horsch; Writers: Janet Horsch, Drew Wilson, and Laura Rihn; Graphic Designer: Nadine Fails; Photographers: Drew Wilson and Brian Gaither 0511017NF |