Mercyhurst Magazine - Winter 2005-06

Mercyhurst welcomes 11th president: Thomas J. Gamble, Ph.D.
Mercyhurst observed a milestone day on Friday, Oct. 28, 2005, with the announcement that Thomas J. Gamble, Ph.D. had been elected the college's 11th president. The revelation was made in the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center before an audience of approximately 600 that received the news with a standing ovation and jubilant round of applause. Gamble, the college's vice president of academic affairs who has also served the college as director of the Mercyhurst Civic Institute and as associate professor of criminal justice and psychology, was humbled by the overwhelming endorsement. "I feel fortunate indeed to have been chosen to lead this wonderful institution into the future and I vow that I will fulfill my duties as president of Mercyhurst College with great energy, great enthusiasm and a deep commitment to those principles we hold dear," Gamble told the crowd that included his wife Mary and their three children: Mary Elizabeth, William and Thomas. He succeeds Mercyhursts 10th president, Dr. Michael J. McQuillen, effective March 1, 2006. Gamble rose to the top of a list of 50 national candidates who were considered as part of an exhaustive 10-month search by the 17-member Presidential Search Committee headed by William C. Sennett, Esq. The committee included every constituency: trustees, Sisters of Mercy, administrators, alumni, faculty and students. They were assisted in their efforts by Academic Search Consulting Services and senior consultant Dr. Jamie Ferrare. In announcing Gamble as the committees pick and, subsequently, the board of trustees' choice, trustee chair Marlene Mosco '68 said, "Dr. Gamble is a scholar with a deep commitment to higher education as well as a proven and effective administrator. With Dr. Gamble as president, Mercyhurst College will be in extremely capable hands and will continue to make tremendous progress as we head into our 80th year." Sennett, likewise, expressed his faith in Gamble, adding, "We have a new leader who blends into his life the Mercy characteristics of Truth, Integrity, Mercy and Justice. He has demonstrated the ability to lead Mercyhurst to the next level of achievement." Gamble earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Gannon University and a master's degree and doctorate in psychology from Syracuse University. He also holds a doctoral degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse. Following graduate studies at Syracuse, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship in the child psychology program at Yale University where he spent two years. While at Yale, Gamble became affiliated with the Yale Bush Center for Child Development and Social Policy and is a graduate of that post-doctoral program. Prior to coming to Mercyhurst in 1997, he worked in various capacities in Erie County government, including executive director of the Erie County Office of Children and Youth. In accepting his new charge, Gamble told members of the college community that he intends to preserve and strengthen "this institution we all love, and to assure its future vibrancy" through significant new
i
Editor's Note: As we were putting thefinishingtouches on this issue of Mercyhurst Magazine, which has as its theme "leadership," it became apparent that were we to push back our deadline, we wouldfindourselves in the fortunate position of announcing our newest leader, president-elect Dr. Thomas J. Gamble. Here, the soon-to-be 11th president of Mercyhurst College headlines a host of inspiring leaders, from coaches to educators to alumni, whose stories we share with you on the following pages.
initiatives, among them: Drive up applications to more than 3,000 to improve student quality and increase diversity on the Erie campus, develop additional graduate programs consistent with xMercyhurst's academic strengths, increase distance learning offerings, expand programs and enrollment at Mercyhurst North East, and move to identify academic programs for Mercyhurst West. Gamble spoke highly of Mercyhursts strengths, particularly those derived from its Catholic identity and Mercy heritage, which provide "a profound history of faith-seeking understanding and of compassionate service to those in need." In addition, he said, Mercyhursts commitment to the centrality of the liberal arts is crucial to its identity and must be preserved and strengthened. "Because of its Mercy Catholicity, Mercyhurst is called to combine the power and the beauty of the liberal arts with a deep appreciation for the dignity of work," he said. "It is this combination that points to the special role of xMercyhurst College. Preparing students for ethical and competent service to their community through the deep integration of the liberal arts with professional preparation goes to the very heart of Mercyhursts mission and connects its past to its future" Story by Debbie Morton, photo by Rich Forsgren '84
Reprinted with permission of Times Publishing Co., Erie, Pa. Copyright 2005
In This Issue
Interim presidency presents challenges, joys Frank Hagan spies changes in academia Film series succeeds as fascinating exploration of the frontiers of cinema Looking back: Janet Price among the vanguard in Mercyhurst women's sports From cradle to college and beyond ... Lanzillo: The making of a leader Sisters seek creative solutions to universal challenges Greetings from Dublin... a message from Sister JoAnne Courneen, RSM '66 A Tale of Four Women: Legacies create intimate portrait of Mercyhurst Omigosh it's over! - Captain Chrissy Yule '05 reflects on her Mercyhurst ice hockey career Judith Pitney '66 - Leadership makes for 'risky business' Brian Dougherty '83 wants his students to learn from his life lessons Alumna Ann Badach '98 shows that leadership pays dividends down the road Alumnus challenges students, college to lead way to the future Class Notes... 2005 Michael Fuhrman - Memoirs of a jock Mercyhurst dedicates new building at North East
8
10 12 13 14 16
18
20 22 24
On the Cover: This surrealistic view of the Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building at Mercyhurst North East was created by North East, Pa., photographer Ed Bernik. For more on the dedication of the newest addition to the North East campus, please see the inside back cover of this issue.
26 28 29
CD
Issue Editor Gennifer Biggs Director of Publications and Web Development Contributing Writers Gennifer Biggs Deborah Wallace Morton, Assistant Director of Publications Photographers Gennifer Biggs, Debbie Morton, Paul Lorei, Ed Bernik and Gary Peterson '86 Class Notes Editor Tammy Roche Gandolfo 76 tgandolf@mercyhurst.edu 814.824.2004 The Office of Publications and Web Development, a division of the Institutional Advancement Office, produces Mercyhurst Magazine. Vice President of Institutional Advancement Gary L. Bukowski CFRE 73 gbukowski@mercyhurst.edu 814.824.2246 Director of Alumni Services Patricia Liebel '53 pliebel@mercyhurst.edu 800.845.8568 814.824.2538 Fax:814-824.2153 Send your change of address to: Mercyhurst Magazine Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie, PA 16546 Fax: 814.824.2473
n3
3
CJ CD
Volume 22 Issue 1 Winter 2005
Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005
Interim presidency presents challenges, joys

McQuillen's time on the Hill has taken him through the presidential transitions of Sister Carolyn Herrmann to Dr. Marion Shane to Dr. Garvey. In each instance, there was a specific set of burning issues, much like there is now, and it was the prevailing spirit of mercy that saw the college through those challenges. So here he is - the middleman - one who has assumed the presidency in this period of transition, quite simply, because, "I felt it was the right thing to do." As leader pro tern, McQuillen's goals have not been bold, but neither have they been shallow in scope. "My time has been spent, at least in part, challenging the college community to look ahead, to be optimistic about the future and to generate a positive spirit so that our new president will be able to move forward with the strength of momentum that has been developed during the past two decades," said McQuillen, who assumed the presidency March 7, 2005. In addition to elevating morale among Mercyhurst constituencies, McQuillen committed himself to maintaining a strong budget posture and developing creative recruitment strategies for attracting top students. He also began the official drive toward Mercyhurst West and the future of what is expected to be a thriving third campus in west Erie County. McQuillen said that initiative is well positioned for the college's new president to take up the reins. The new president, he said, will face many challenges, not the least of which isfindingnew avenues toward growth outside of those previous well-marked channels. "We are reaching a plateau in terms of growth and are facing tremendous space constraints on our campus," he said. "We need to find alternative ways of getting funds outside of tuition, be it through grants, or creative ways of utilizing existing resources." For his part, McQuillen last fall introduced several initiatives that he believes are fundamental to building momentum, among them a plan to strengthen the college's Web site as a recruiting tool and to overhaul Mercyhurst publications campus-wide to reflect consistency and distinction.
Dr. Michael J. McQuillen After 34 years of unyielding devotion to Mercyhurst, both at the faculty and administrative levels, Dr. Michael J. McQuillen finds himself nearing the end of his tenure as president during one of the most significant periods in college history. Leaders play a crucial role during the implementation of change, the time from the announcement of change through the installation of that change. During this middle period, constituencies often are characterized by confusion, anxiety, and a lack of clarity about direction. Transitioning can produce an emotional quagmire for some, wondering what the future will bring. For McQuillen, a former academic dean and beloved history professor, this particular juncture in history, a time when Mercyhurst is welcoming a new president after 25 years of visionary leadership by former president Dr. William P. Garvey, is something of a deja vu. It is a time that he approaches with optimism, both personally and professionally, with the surety that Mercyhurst, as it has always done in the past, will embrace change and emerge the stronger for it.
Mercyhurst President Michael J. McQuillen talks with alumni services director Pat Liebel '53, at left, and Jeanne Ledoux Linek '48 at the Buffalo, N.Y. alumni reception held in May. He also stressed the need to strengthen programs across the board at xMercyhurst, pointing to the new physics lab in Zurn as a manifestation of the college's mandate to advance the sciences. He called Mercyhurst's internship and co-op programs "the best in the region" and urged that they be strengthened through the career services office. "We have an extremely bright and forward-thinking faculty and administration as well as a talented study body that are at the heart of outstanding programs and resources," he said. "Our job in the years ahead will be to strengthen them all as we move toward the next level of excellence." He compared Mercyhurst's current transition to a similar time in his past. When he arrived on campus in 1971, he encountered a Mercyhurst transitioning from an allwomen's college to a coeducational institution, and from a faculty and administration dominated by Sisters of Mercy to a predominantly lay constituency. "There were heated battles, but there was also a sense of moving to a higher level; that is where I believe we are today," he said. As for his personal legacy at xMercyhurst, McQuillen said, "I would like to be remembered as having done my best, whether in the classroom or administration, and for caring deeply for this college and the people who serve it."
Story by Debbie Morton, photos by Paul Lorei, Gary Peterson '86
two decades/'
- Dr. Michael J. McQuillen, 10th president, Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst Magazine Winter2005
changes xu-_ _ _
Hagan. Frank Hagan. OK, so maybe he's not the James Bond of iMercyhurst, and maybe his encounters with fearsome adversaries haven't been up close and personal. Still, his research has afforded him glimpses of the Russian underworld, the lucrative East European cigarette smuggling racket, the crime enterprises of the Yakuza, and the world of white collar crime in America. Hagan is one of Mercyhurst's most prolific scholars, the author of seven books and more than 60 articles, monographs and papers. A Fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, he is also a sought-after lecturer and consultant on organized, white collar and professional crime. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Gannon University, a masters from the University of Maryland, and his doctorate from Case Western Reserve University, all in sociology. His family consists of wife, MaryAnn, and daughter, Shannon Glennon '97 '03, of Erie. A Mercyhurst mainstay since 1975, and before that from 1971-1973, Hagan views the college through the eyes of a veteran scholar who has observed its evolution over the course of more than 30 years. He remembers when he first arrived on the Hill and inquired about the whereabouts of his phone and filing cabinet. "I was told that first-year faculty didn't getfilingcabinets and that only department chairpersons got phones," he said. "If you got a phone call, they'd announce your name over the PA system on the first floor of Preston and you'd run down the hallway to a little closet to take it. I remember a few of us put a sign on the door that read: CLARK KENT!" "I was living in Cleveland in 1973," he started. "My wife and I had an apartment and, as I was to find out later, the person who lived above us was a hit man for the Irish Mafia. On one occasion we double dated with him and I'm sure people probably thought I was a member of the Mob, too. I was with him and had an Irish name. What else would you think?" Years later, Hagan said he learned through the news that this man had killed a judge's wife, and was later convicted of the murder. "I had no clue," he remarked. But, without a doubt, living vicariously through his research and spy novels was as close to the criminal mind as Hagan would ever want to get again. By virtue of his reputation in criminal justice circles, Hagan could have gone anywhere in academia, but opted to stay at Mercyhurst, an institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy. "I think it was written in the stars," he said. "I was born in Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. I grew up in an old Irish neighborhood called The Ward on the North Side and I went to St. Peter's grade school, which was run by the Sisters of Mercy. They were always warm, encouraging and kindly, just like here, and I think they fulfilled their mission with me, taking a poor working-class kid from Pittsburgh and giving him afirst-classeducation and the confidence to feel he could do anything."
What Hagan has done is help to grow a criminal justice program at Mercyhurst that has earned a reputation as one of the best in the country among smaller schools. As senior criminal justice and sociology professor at Hagan's work on international extortion and corruption, Mercyhurst and director of the James V. Kinnane Graduate assassins, and espionage has brought him, and Mercyhurst, Program in Administration of Justice, Hagan has touched exposure in international circles, as have his books. His text, the lives of both undergraduate and graduate students, not Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology, is in to mention doctoral students whom he has taught through its seventh edition and used at more than 200 colleges and the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Educational universities worldwide. Leadership offered at Mercyhurst in conjunction with Duquesne University. He laughs when asked whether he would have enjoyed a more hands-on career in a specialty that is both glamorous and notorious. He offers an emphatic "no," but not before relating the story of his one-time brush with a Mob hit man. "One of the things I've been most gratified by over the years is the success of our criminal justice students," he said. "We have graduates of our program who are tenured at major universities and are my colleagues now. We have a graduate who is director of training for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and another with the U.S. Probation Office. I wish I could mention them all. For a small college, we have a big footprint."
"I was told that first-year faculty didn't get filing cabinets and that only department chairpersons got phones. If you got a phone call, they'd announce your name over the PA system on the first floor of Preston and you'd run down the hallway to a little closet to take it!' - Dr. Frank Hagan, Criminal Justice/Sociology Professor
Hagan received an unexpected compliment recently when his former student, 2nd Lt. Met Berisha '00, U.S. Army, director of security at a United States airbase in Uzbekistan, agreed to teach a criminology course for the Army and to his surprise was furnished with Hagan's Introduction to Criminology text (sixth edition). "He's using my book and developing PowerPoint presentations that I am going to use in my classes at Mercyhurst," Hagan said. "It's stuff like that that is really gratifying to me." During the past 30 years, Hagan has watched time and again as Mercyhurst faced challenge, change, controversy, and emerged triumphant. In this historic academic year, Mercyhurst again directs its attention to a momentous change, the inauguration of a new president to replace Dr. Michael McQuillen, who accepted the interim presidency following the retirement in February 2005 of Dr. William P. Garvey, who guided Mercyhurst through a period of phenomenal growth and prestige for 25 years. It's difficult, perhaps, for modern-day faculty, staff and students to imagine Mercyhurst as anything but a beautiful and thriving college. It takes someone like Hagan, whose tenure spans 30 years, to see the peaks and valleys that Mercyhurst traversed to achieve what it has today. There were times, Hagan recalled, when Mercyhurst didn't look at all as it does today - money was tight, maintenance was deferred and "there was even the concern that we might fold." But then, he added, "Dr. Garvey came along and took the college to where it is today." With two campuses, Erie and North East, boasting a combined enrollment exceeding 4,000 students, and plans progressing toward the establishment of a third campus in western Erie County, Mercyhurst is on the cusp of fulfilling a key component of its strategic plan and responding to the growing educational needs of the greater Erie community and beyond. "I think we have been fortunate to have strong leaders like Mike McQuillen and Tom Gamble in place," Hagan
said, adding that he believes the strength of the current leadership is crucial to facilitating a smooth transition as the college welcomes its 11th president. He is confident that Mercyhurst will continue the vision and momentum of the Garvey years as it heads into its 80th year. Many questions remain to be addressed as Mercyhurst moves forward, though. With the college now offering five master's degree programs, Hagan said there is a compelling need to reevaluate its identity as a small, liberal arts college devoted to teaching in the context of expansion into the world of graduate education. "It's great for our faculty to have graduate programs like these because they get to teach at a more sophisticated level," he said. "But, it also changes the fundamental nature of the institution." Hagan also said the college may need to more closely consider its growth curve. "Ever since I came here, it's been growth, growth, growth, and we've done it well," he said, acknowledging the college's newest stake in west county. "But, I think at some point, we should be prepared for a period of stabilization, which isn't bad. I just think we need to consider at what kind of pace we want to grow in the years ahead." As for Hagan himself, he hopes to grow with Mercyhurst, whatever direction it takes. "I'd like to keep teaching as long as I'm not boring people," he said with a wink, never one to miss taking a humorous potshot, even at his own expense. Last year, Hagan was unable to attend a meeting of the Northeastern Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Bristol, R.I., where he was to receive the academy's Founders Award. So, he wrote an acceptance speech and asked friend and Mercyhurst colleague Dr. Peter Benekos to deliver it. The joke was on Benekos when he read the conclusion to Hagan's otherwise humble remarks: "As a small token of my thanks tonight, the drinks are on Pete Benekos!"
Story by Debbie Morton, photo from Mercyhurst files
Film series succeeds as fascinating exploration of the frontiers of cinema

The next time you re sitting beside someone sucking down a liter of Coke and chomping onfistfulsof popcorn, you might want to consider a less mundane approach to moviegoing. In recent years, a record number of area moviegoers have discovered the Guelcher Film Series at Mercyhurst College as a fascinating exploration of the frontiers of cinema. Nearly every Wednesday during the school year, the independent film series brings a challenging, relevant and sometimes controversial film to the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center. As PAC director since 1996, Michael Fuhrman '85 is charged with selecting the 32 to 35 movies shown on campus each year, and is largely responsible for the series' growth and popularity. What's more, the film series represents only a fourth of Fuhrman's responsibilities as head of the PAC. _ The numbers speak for themselves. Total ticket sales for the 14 movies shown during the 1996-97 season were 1,639. That number spiked to 9,006 during the 2004-2005 season when 30 movies were shown. Student attendance likewise has skyrocketed, especially among Mercyhurst students. During the 1996-97 season, 165 Mercyhurst students bought tickets. By the 2004Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center director 2005 season, attendance had Michael Fuhrman '85 stands in the lobby of grown to 1,950 students. his workspace, which features some of the best entertainment - both on screen and on stage "This shows me that in the Erie region. Mercyhurst is attracting students interested in learning about different cultures throughfilm,"Fuhrman said. "It also says to me that there is a culturally vibrant community out there, and we don't always get that recognition. That, to me, is really the success of thisfilmseries." Fuhrman screens 85 percent of the movies shown in the PAC, choosing from a wide array of genres: independent ("indie"), documentary, and international. Besides traveling to movie houses in the tri-state area once a month to previewfilms,he is widely read on the subject, relying on national and international periodicals, the Internet Movie Database, Film Comment, and The New Yorker to keep his finger on the pulse of what's happening in the industry. Last season alone, Fuhrman picked more than a dozen films that went on to earn Academy Award nominations in one category or another.
6 Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005
The former football player-turned-ballet dancer - a man deeply committed to nurturing the cultural complexity of the Erie community - is reluctant to take credit for the film series' success, but there's no denying his ability to make the hot picks. How does he do it? "I guess its sort of like being a chef," he analogized. "You don't always have to follow the recipe. You know what your audience appreciates, but you aren t afraid to test them. You are confident enough to throw in a few capers, and maybe some tarragon instead of oregano." Probably the all-time biggest hit at the PAC box office was the Academy Award-winning "Lost in Translation," which drew 1,000 moviegoers, 200 of whom had to be turned away. "A lot of people thought it was the most boring film in the world," he said. "Then there were others who loved it." Fuhrman considers all sorts of criteria when selecting films, but he won't hesitate to make a pick "just because I think the Mercyhurst students will enjoy it." That's how "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" made its way to the PAC screen. Typically, though, Fuhrman's choices represent the antithesis of moviegoing as escapism. "I think this series lets you link up with and learn about the world," he said. "When I put a season together, I consider what's happening in our society today. 'The Promise,' for example, was a beautiful and inspiring film shot in Israel and Palestine that really gave the audience a glimpse into that area of the world." Among other recent foreign films that generated considerable audience appreciation, he said, were the Moroccan "AH Zowa;" "Shall We Dance," a Japanesefilm;and a Chinese picture called "The Mask." While nudity isn't taboo with thefilmseries, Fuhrman carefully considers the degree of nudity and the level of profane language in afilmbefore he books it. He also admits to walking a fine line in terms of reservingfilmsthat might ignite controversy. There was one film - "In the Company of Men" - that featured a white manfightinghis way up the corporate ladder, who, in an attempt to humiliate a black subordinate, abused his authority by forcing the black man to remove his pants. "It got a couple people in the audience exercised, but we felt it was a valid film that exposed the dark side of the corporate world and illustrated what lengths some people will go to to get ahead," Fuhrman recalled. "It's not always easy, but we attempt to strike a balance between what we are as a Catholic institution and what we are as a market of free ideas and expression."
Beyond his own propensity for making choice movie picks,. Fuhrman points to a number of other reasons that have propelled the film series into its current state of grace: donors Robert and Elizabeth '58 Guelcher, whose support not only provides a financial resource but validates the cultural merit of the series; the aesthetics of the concert hall in which the movies are shown and the technical sophistication of its 35-mm production system; the high visibility of the series generated through Erie Times-News reviews; not to mention the emergence of a counterculture in America that is responding favorably to "indie" films as opposed to the glut of formulaic Hollywood flicks. The college's independent film series started in the early 1980s with three or four movies a term, and Fuhrman said it was the vision of that original group, headed by the late Dr. George Garrelts, who had taught theology at Mercyhurst from 1979 to 1997, that broke ground and established the foundation for its current success. That group organized a series known as "Films for Discussion." The movies were shown in the intimate 275-seat Zurn Recital Hall to audiences numbering anywhere from a dozen to 50 people. "A lot of the films were challenging with very gripping issues, and a core group would stay afterward and discuss them," Fuhrman recalled. "The series was a conduit to thoughtful dialogue and, in that sense, it assumed an element of real academia." With the move to the PAC in the mid '90s, a concert hall cavernous by comparison to its predecessor, the two-projector, 16-mm format lacked the guts to fill the 800-seat venue with adequate sound. "What really set us apart was when we moved to the 35mm format; essentially, we went from playing an 8-track to a DVD," Fuhrman said. "With a little luck and support from the administration, we were able to get a 35-mm projector through the military, and it is absolutely phenomenal." Over the years, the PAC has enhanced its movie house capabilities by upgrading the sound system, installing a perforated screen and adding computer automation. Fuhrman also credits technical director Randy Stankey, calling him "one of the finest projectionists in the tri-state region." Like anybody at the top of his game, Fuhrman knows it takes a ton of work to stay there. "Once you get a sellout, people expect you to do it again and again," he said. "But, I know there is a life to everything. There are natural ebbs and flows and, right now, we just happen to be riding a wave." Still, it would appear that as long as Fuhrman goes sparingly with the cayenne pepper, he seems to have found a recipe that keeps moviegoers coming back for more.
Story and photo by Debbie Morton
Upcoming Events!
In addition to the Guelcher Film Series, the 2005-06 season at the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center includes live performances by artists like Pink Martini, the Celtic Tenors, Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and Jesse Cook. For more PAC offerings, visit http://pac.mercyhurst.edu/events.php
Sat., Jan. 28, at 8 PM Maria Schneider Orchestra
Fri., Feb. 17, at 8 PM Pink Martini
Fri., March 10, at 8 PM The Celtic Tenors
Sun., March 12, at 2 PM Nashville Mandolin Ensemble
Sun., March 19, at 2 PM David Krakauer and Trio Solisti Walker Recital Hall
Sat., April 8, at 8 PM Jesse Cook
Thurs., April 13, at 7:30 PM Trio Joubran Walker Recital Hall
For more information on Michael Fuhrman, be sure to read the article "Michael Fuhrman - Memiors of a Jock" on page 28.
I
Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005 7
II
II
There really is no slowing Janet Price down. Sure, she retired, but that doesn't really mean anything. There is golf three times a week, birding with the Audubon Society, her gardens - plenty to keep her up and about since she hung up her hat and walked down the Hill toward retirement in 2002. But then again, Price was never one for sitting around. She landed at Mercyhurst College in 1969, just as the college was going coeducational, and began teaching physical education. "People think you have to change jobs to keep from being bored," said Price, smiling at her memories of the early days at the 'Hurst. "But that is not the case at Mercyhurst; I probably worefivehats while I was here. It really was an opportunity if you were in tune with your profession and our students' needs; that is how it evolved for me. You don't get that opportunity often." When Price first started teaching, her responsibilities included phys ed classes and intramurals for the female students, and from that would evolve organized women's sports at Mercyhurst - all under the tutelage of Price. What began as a reflection on the competitive nature of the young women enrolled at Mercyhurst in the 1960s and 1970s would eventually grow to encompass 12 NCAA women's varsity teams, including a women's rowing team that brought home the college's first national title in 2004. "It started so casually; we played other teams, had a little social hour afterward," said Price. "Then we started talking about a more organized way of doing things, and we started the Keystone Conference with all the area colleges." Soon, the talk turned to varsity sports, and under the leadership of Price and with the full encouragement of the administration, efforts focused on that next step. Price laughs remembering the odd problems that had to be solved: "We couldn't even get women's uniforms, the people from Erie Sports Store had to come up and measure our girls and they all had tailor-made uniforms." "For the men, athletics was a recruiting tool, but for us, it was just a reflection of extreme interest," said Price. "I'd start a sport, coach for a while, then move on and let them hire a part-time coach as I started on the next one." Those early intramurals evolved into varsity teams over time - first basketball, then volleyball, followed by tennis and softball. Today female student-athletes can participate in those sports as well asfieldhockey, ice hockey, cross country, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer and water polo.
Janet Price, shown here in 1974 with the women's basketball team, was the first female coach at Mercyhurst College, and a pioneer in sportsmedicine.
"For the men, athletics was a recruiting tool, butfor us, it was just a reflection of extreme interest!'
Janet Price, retired director of Mercyhurst sportsmedicine department and first head women's basketball coach
Mercvhurst Magazine Winter 2005
in
The entire process unfolded in 1972, about the same time Congress passed several amendments to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. One of those amendments would change women's sports forever-Title 9. But at Mercyhurst, it would be some time before scholarships, financial support and the inclusion by the NCAA of women's sports would fuel even more athletic opportunities for women. Until then, it was up to the enthusiasm of students and members of the administration, such as Price, to open the doors for female athletes. "Once the NCAA expanded to include women, it became big business," recalled Price, who eventually assumed the mantle of assistant athletic director in order to handle women's sports at Mercyhurst. Perhaps luckily, about that same time, health and wellness had become a new trend in the United States, and Price quickly picked up on that movement. "We realized it could be a field of study," she explained. And she was right. Sportsmedicine had its start when Price and Brad Jacobson, who succeeded Price as sportsmed department director after her retirement, contacted owners of big businesses and directors of a few existing sportsmedicine programs to determine what training students could get that would make them a good fit in the real world. Since Jacobson had been hired as an athletic trainer for the college, it was a simple first step to offer athletic training, but since then, the department has evolved to include several tracks, including health/fitness promotion, prephysical therapy and pre-medicine. With three full-time faculty, and nearly 130 students enrolled in the program, it has surpassed Price's expectations. "Our rep was built on the number of our students who were successfully going on to graduate school. That was something we never could have anticipated," said Price. Those successful graduates helped counter the feeling, both on campus and off, that sportsmedicine is not an "academic" subject. "Sometimes that feeling that we weren't truly academic led to feelings of isolation," admitted Price, quickly adding that it was never an intentional shun. But to battle that, she became heavily involved with the college's governance process in order to stay in touch, and encouraged her departmental colleagues to do likewise. "We created connections that way, and it was wonderful," said Price.
Janet Price, top left, also coached women's tennis (this is 1974) and women's volleyball, among others. Whether the creative and encouraging atmosphere Price enjoyed still exists at Mercyhurst is a question Price had to ponder. "There was such a feeling then that we could try anything," she said. "It would be harder now because then we were small and growing and we needed some creativity and freedom to do that. Now Mercyhurst is large, established ... but there are still some nooks and crannies where those with vision can still make a difference." All those days of breaking new ground may be in the past for Price, but retirement hasn't meant slowing down. "Time is all about now, I don't live in the past or the future," said Price, who admits that while her time at Mercyhurst was invigorating and rewarding, she doesn't miss it now that she has adjusted to retirement. "I knew my whole life, when I was teaching, 1 was here," said Price, who admitted that knowledge made her a bit anxious about retirement. "But I haven't had time to even miss work."
Story by Gennifer Biggs, photos from 1974 Mercyhurst yearbook
From cradle to college and beyond... Lanzillo: The making of a leader

As one of Mercyhurst College's youthful leaders - a two-time Mercyhurst Student Government president and Carpe Diem Award recipient - Richard Lanzillo, Esq. '83 was on familiar terrain when he walked into his first board of trustees meeting as a grown man. "Walking in in your mid 40s is a lot easier than at 19," he said, comparing his appointment to the board in 2003 with his tenure as a student trustee representing his fellow classmates. "My greatest concern going into my first trustees meeting as a student was scaring up a suit thatfit,"he quipped. "It was pretty intimidating for me." Back then, Lanzillo was something of a social animal and his platform centered on student activities and creating innovative educational and recreational opportunities. "In 1980, if you had a good idea and a willingness to put effort into it, people were willing to follow, especially if you could convince them it was something novel," he said. "At that age, everyone is looking for new experiences." But, seriously, he said, part of being a good leader is understanding who and what you are serving. As a student, that was easy. "The complaint time and again had been 'there's nothing to do on campus,'" he said. "So, a group of us worked together to come up with some new ideas." Toward that end, Lanzillo was very successful. During his tenure as MSG president, his administration worked with faculty, particularly the late Dr. George Garrelts, who taught theology at Mercyhurst from 1979 to 1997, to establish a cultural film series, a precursor of the acclaimed Robert and Elizabeth '58 Guelcher Film Series. "We had an annual Spring Weekend that included everything from an outdoor dance in The Grotto to hospital bed races," he recalled. "And ours was the first group to bring in some really significant entertainers, like comedian David Brenner." But, it wasn't all fun and games. Lanzillo can take credit for instituting a lecture series in collaboration with the college administration that brought to campus such notables as Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who talked to Mercyhurst students on the eve of the 1980 presidential election between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.
"I remember when adding football at Mercyhurst was being debated back in the early '80s. There were a lot of naysayers; some feared dozens of noneck meatheads would be brought to campus. But the outcome was just the opposite. I remember, statistically, the football players were afinegroup of scholar-athletes and great additions to the college. It was a risk back then, but it worked out well."
- Richard Lanzillo, Esq. '83, Mercyhurst Trustee and former MSG president, shown above with his wife Jo-Ann
10
While at Mercyhurst, Lanzillo majored in history and minored in business. He also met his wife, Jo-Ann Israel '86, at Mercyhurst. Today, they are the parents of two daughters, Amanda, 14, a junior at Mercyhurst Prep; and Elizabeth, 11, who attends Asbury Elementary School in Millcreek Township. Another Lanzillo coup, meanwhile, was hosting Cal Thomas, one of Americas leading political columnists and broadcast veterans, in a debate against former Mercyhurst faculty Barry Grossman of Erie. As effortlessly as he appeared to get things done, Lanzillo said he learned from the best, even if it was by osmosis. "As I recall, during my tenure as a student on the board, the trustees were debating some pretty lively issues, like the direction of athletics, and many of the people I work with now on the board, I admired as leaders back then ... people like Bill Sennett, Jane Theuerkauf, Bill Grant, Sister Maura Smith and the late Al Duval. They, along with Dr. (William) Garvey, of course, made a lasting impression on me with their collective vision." Lanzillo observed that Mercyhurst leaders, from the beginning with the founding Sisters of Mercy, have always had the guts to take measured risks. "I think that is a quality that has served this institution well," he said. "The college has been willing to do things that aren't a guaranteed success - not recklessly, of course; they calculate the risk well. "I remember when adding football at Mercyhurst was being debated back in the early '80s. There were a lot of naysayers; some feared dozens of no-neck meatheads would be brought to campus. But the outcome was just the opposite. I remember, statistically, the football players were afinegroup of scholar-athletes and great additions to the college. It was a risk back then, but it worked out well." As a junior trustee, Lanzillo admits the Mercyhurst of today is a far cry from the Mercyhurst he attended in the early '80s, and he is in the process of "relearning" it so he can bring a sense of enlightenment to major issues facing this board. "I think the two greatest challenges we face are the selection of a new president and turning the west Erie County initiative into a reality," Lanzillo said last fall. "We are in a time of transition and my goal is to see us emerge from it with the same strength we had going in." Part of leading, Lanzillo said, is being willing to commit the time.
Richard Lanzillo, Esq. '83 "My family and friends would probably tell you I'm a workaholic," he said. "But, I think they'd also tell you that I keep a pretty good sense of humor and try not to take myself too seriously." Leaders come in all shapes and sizes, temperaments, organizational styles, so tossing a little humor into the mix can't hurt, he figures. Some leaders - the best of the bunch - he notes, have a rare, intangible quality. "I think the true mark of a great leader is the ability to inspire others to follow your lead, and that's a quality you either have or you don't have," he said. "Mercyhurst has been very fortunate in its history to have leaders with that quality, and we need to continue looking in that direction as we face our collective future."
Story by Debbie Morton, contributed photos
11
Sisters seek creative solutions to universal challenges

Sister Bernadette Bell, RSM '53, president of the Erie Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy, jokes that the only thing in her office older than her is a 76-year-old toddler-sized teddy bear named Prince. The childhood companion of her late brother, Prince has welcomed generations of new additions to Sister Bernadette s family and is en route to her great nephew in Columbus, Ohio, with a stopover in Erie for some much needed repairs. Like Prince, Sister Bernadette is a trooper with a wellspring of strength and resilience, vital qualities in an age when the Sisters of Mercy face universal challenges presented by their dwindling numbers. "We aren't in the classroom in the numbers we used to be, but we've evolved to fill many different roles. That was the teaching of Catherine McAuley (Sisters of Mercy founder) -fill a need and move on to another. " - Sister Bernadette Bell, RSM '53, president of the Erie Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy Although she has been in office only for a year, Sister Bernadette's learning curve is marginal; she already served eight years as vice president under the previous leadership of Sister JoAnne Courneen, RSM '66. Despite their declining numbers, Erie's Sisters continue to serve the poor, the sick and the undereducated in their various ministries. Visionaries as they are, though, they see their world evolving, their sisters aging, their finances tightening and they are brainstorming for creative solutions. They are in the midst of merger talks with Mercy communities in Rochester, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and the Philippines. The plan is for one administration by 2008, a move that would provide a sharing of resources and free more Sisters for ministry. The new configuration is a plan devised by The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, which represents 25 regional communities in North, Central and South America. Under the new plan, the 25 communities would consolidate their respective governing bodies into six areas (five in the United States and one for South and Central America). Erie would become part of the NYPPAW community that would total 590 members and represent 13 percent of the Institute. While the new configuration will solve some problems, Sister Bernadette said nobody views it as a panacea. "We're all having the same problems and we have to keep looking for new ways of handling them," she said. The Sisters have turned to government grants as one way to help sustain their ministries. They have delved more into local fund raising, and are grappling with ways to offset the high cost of caring for their elderly, acknowledging that the infirmary is one of their biggest expenses. Being resourceful through partnership is another avenue the Mercy Sisters continually explore. They are working with the Benedictines and the Sisters of St. Joseph in an organizationfittinglycalled POWR - Partnership of Women Religious - through which they collaborate on 12 different ministries locally, among them Erie DAWN and the House of Healing. While their presence in schools has shrunk, the Mercy Sisters continue to educate "from the womb to the tomb," said Sister Bernadette, pointing to the preschool in the basement of their Motherhouse to the adjacent Mercy Center on Aging as examples. "We aren't in the classroom in the numbers we used to be," she said. "But, we've evolved tofillmany different roles. That was the teaching of Catherine McAuley (Sisters of Mercy founder) - fill a need and move on to another." Still, there is the concern that the Sisters - less in number and spread over far more territory - are losing their presence in the community. Even at Mercyhurst College, there is some anxiety that the Sisters are no longer as visible as they once were.
She knows her fouryear tenure will be fraught with change, and it is that challenge that energizes her. She doesn't bemoan the fact that she could be enjoying retirement. As a rule, she said, the Mercy Sisters don t focus on age or its perceived limitations. To do so would be folly considering that the average age of the 60 Sisters who make Erie their home is 71. "We don t think about age or retiring," Sister Bernadette said. "There's too much to be done. Sister Maura (Smith) once said, 'We don't retire. We get recycled.' And that's true.
tt
12
In recent years Sister Lisa Mary McCartney, RSM 71, made history as the last remaining Sister of Mercy to serve full time on the Mercyhurst faculty, a post she vacated in 2004 to assume the vice presidency of the Erie Sisters. She continues to face the challenge of how to best pass on the Sisters' legacy at Mercyhurst. "We've started, but we have a way to go," she said. "We've returned to starting the school year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, we have the Ambassadors who pass on our history and tradition, and we must continue to find those kinds of creative activities and seek the right people to whom we can pass on our sacred trust" In the bigger picture, Sister is currently working with the Conference for Mercy Higher Education, an effort designed to facilitate collaboration among the 18 Mercy colleges and universities in the country. "With fewer Sisters of Mercy, we need tofigureout a way to preserve our Catholic identity and our legacy in the i schools," Sister Lisa Mary said. "The hope is that our colleges and universities will collaborate in some way, seeing one another as resources, and will strengthen the relationship between the Sisters and the institutions." That and the many complex challenges facing the Sisters of Mercy were at the forefront of the 4th Institute Chapter in Laredo, Texas, last June. The meeting is held once every six years and is attended by representatives of all the Mercy communities. "We have a lot to be grateful for and I'm very optimistic in the way we are addressing our future," Sister Bernadette said upon her return. "The highlight of the chapter was the election offivegraced women of Mercy to lead the Institute forward toward the new dawn."' On the homefront, a recent open house sponsored by the Erie Sisters welcomed seven young women who came to explore a possible calling. "That may not seem like a large number, but these young women know what they want," Sister said. "They are not fresh out of high school like in the old days. They've been around and they've decided they want religious life. "So, even though our Sisters are getting older and there are not as many young ones coming through the doors, we are open to change because we live in hope."
Sister JoAnne Courneen...

A little more than a year ago, in September 2004, Sister JoAnne Courneen, RSM '66 began a two-year appointment as finance director of the Mercy International Centre, the original home of the Sisters of Mercy founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland. Previously, Sister completed two four-year terms as president of the Erie Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy Following is a message from Sister JoAnne to the Mercyhurst College community
Dear Friends: I have been living at Mercy International Centre (MIC) in Dublin, Ireland, for a year now and, yet, I feel as if I have been here much longer. There has been much to learn in my position asfinancedirector where foreign currency, exchange rates and bank drafts are a way of life. By the end of my two years here, I will have mastered some of thefinancialpractices, learned new terminology for various transactions and, just maybe, I'll be able to write the date the Irish way. Catherine McAuley founded the first House of Mercy here on Lower Baggot Street in 1828. Here, she housed and educated many poor women and children while at the same time founded the Sisters of Mercy. Now, as Mercy International Centre, 64a Lower Baggot Street is a place of renewal and spiritual enrichment for Sisters, associates and lay colleagues from all over the world. Seven Sisters of Mercy and a lay associate, assisted by volunteers, offer hospitality and experiences to guests who come for inspiration and insight into the spirit of Catherine. Our Sisters are represented in more than 40 countries around the world so the cultures of our communities and our ministries are diverse. Still, we find we are united in one Mercy spirit. Strangers walk through our doors as visitors and leave as friends. There is an excitement in meeting one another and in listening to lay colleagues say, "I work with the Sisters of Mercy" or "I was taught by the Sisters of Mercy" or "I couldn't go home without visiting Catherine's House." They find they have "come home" On occasion, the person ringing the doorbell has been someone I know, or someone associated with Erie, or even Mercyhurst College. Just this past June, a group of Mercyhurst students and faculty Dr. David Livingston, Dr. Daniel McFee and Dr. Mary Hembrow Snyder came visiting as part of a religious studies department trip. Those are special moments when I can share my two worlds, the Irish Mercy heritage here with the manifestation of that spirit in the ministry from home. Hopefully, during my stay here, I will have an opportunity to welcome many visitors from Erie to Mercy International Centre, where the Mercy World began. Peace, Sister JoAnne sjcourneen@hotmail.com
Mercyhurst Magazine Winter 2005 13
A Tale of Four Women
Everyone at Mercyhurst College is part of the metaphorical family, but some students claim an even stronger bond. They chose Mercyhurst, in part, because of an inbred reverence that only another "legacy" could understand. Sophomore Liesl Wagner of Erie is such a student. Liesl, a fourth-generation legacy, was raised on a medley of Mercyhurst lore passed from generation to generation by her grandmother's aunt, the late Sister Mary Andre Ahearn '52; her late grandmother, Dorothy Ahearn Fuhrmann '82; and her mother, Jane Fuhrmann Wagner '99. Not only are these alumnae connected by virtue of their decision to attend Mercyhurst, but by their choice of career; all became teachers. True to the idiom, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Liesl likewise is following the same path. She is a secondary education/Spanish major.
Mercyhurst as their own personal playground. They'd pack lunches and picnic in the Grotto, where they would deliver bouquets of fresh flowers at the statue of the Blessed Virgin. "Back then, there was no student union and the addition to the cafeteria hadn't been built so, in a child's mind, the Grotto was like a wilderness," Jane remembered. "In the summer, it was cool and secluded because of all the shade trees. It was a beautiful place, and that hasn't changed." As a high school student at the former St. Benedict Academy, Jane worked in the Mercyhurst College cafeteria. "The Sisters who lived in Egan had a dining room in the back of the kitchen," she said. "There were about 20 Sisters and my job was to take care of them at meal time. I would set the table, put their food out and clear when they were done. Once a month, there was a feast day celebration and we would break out the linens, the fine china, and the crystal goblets and they would have a fancy dinner." Many of the Sisters knew Jane's great aunt, Sister Mary Andre, and treated Jane as family. In fact, Jane confided, "I think all of them thought I was going to join the order!" Because Mercyhurst had been a prominent fixture in her life since childhood, Jane said she took it for granted she would attend college there, too. Her mother's positive experience was another convincing factor. Dorothy Ahearn Fuhrmann had long desired a teaching career, but, instead, chose marriage and stayed home to raise three children, all of whom became Mercyhurst alumni: Jane '99, Eda Fuhrmann Burhenn '94 and D.J. Fuhrmann '87. Dorothy's sister, Colleen Ahearn '65, is also a member of this prolific legacy family. Dorothy, meanwhile, began her college career taking an occasional course in hopes of pursuing a more demanding schedule eventually. Once her youngest entered school full time, so did she. "My mom was in her mid 40s when she started at Mercyhurst, and I remember her fearing that she would feel old and out of place, but that never happened," Jane said "I remember her doing projects with traditional-aged students, and I thought, 'how cool that my mom is friends with all these younger people.'" In 1979, while Dorothy was thriving as an adult student at Mercyhurst, Jane arrived on the scene, not as a child at play or a teen-ager at work, but as a freshman student. "Mom and I actually had a class together," Jane remembered. "It was a dinner theatre course. Our class performed LU'Abner and we both had parts in it." After graduating, Dorothy accepted a teaching job at the former St. John the Baptist Elementary School, now St. John/Holy Rosary Eastside Catholic. But Jane's college career took a detour when she opted to marry at the end of her junior year.
As students, the experiences of Liesl and her ancestors are markedly different, but the striking aesthetics of the campus and the sense of belonging that one discovers at Mercyhurst are trademarks that have stood the test of time. As a young girl growing up on Florida Avenue, Jane Fuhrmann and her neighborhood friends envisioned
Dorothy Ahearn Fuhrmann '82, Jane Fuhrmann Wagner '99 and Liesl Wagner '08
14
That advice made all the difference. "I toured with an Ambassador who had a huge influence on the way I viewed the college," Liesl said. "Not only was it beautiful, but I learned there was so much more going on than I ever thought." Today Liesl is an Ambassador, and eagerly puts her own spin on the legacy of her family for prospective students. As one who enjoys experiencing "a little bit of everything" Liesl has a busy social life at Mercyhurst, continues to dance and to teach dancing, and is an active volunteer, last year participating in Mercyhurst Service Learning's Border Awareness Experience, an alternative spring break trip. Dr. Thomas Forsthoefel, associate professor of religious studies, accompanied Liesl and seven other students to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, where they met with Border Patrol officials, human rights activists, and environmental groups to understand the cultural, economic, and political issues affecting the border. When Liesl told her mom that Forsthoefel was her guide on the trip, Jane smiled at the irony. "I know him," she said. "I took a class from him." Small world, she found, smaller still, Mercyworld.
Dorothy Ahearn Fuhrmann '82 and her sister Colleen Ahearn '65
In the years that followed, she and husband Kevin raised four daughters: Hanni, Brigitta, Liesl and Amelia. When the demands of childrearing lightened, Jane, like her mother before her, decided to complete her education as an adult student at Mercyhurst. She graduated in 1999 with a degree in elementary education. Again, she followed her mother's lead by taking a teaching job at St. John/Holy Rosary, where she remains to this day. What's more, her children arefifth-generationlegacies at St. John's, and Liesl has moved on to Mercyhurst, where she is building another generation of memories. "Maybe it's because I've known Mercyhurst since I was little," Liesl said, "but I've always felt a sense of belonging here." Still, that intimacy almost had the opposite effect. "I thought I knew everything about Mercyhurst from my family so I didn't feel the need to look any closer," Liesl said. "Back then, I was actually leaning more toward Canisius because, growing up, I did Irish dancing in Buffalo and was very comfortable with the city." The turning point came when she acquiesced to her mother's request to take a tour of Mercyhurst. "I told her the only way to give Mercyhurst a fair shake was to check it out just like she would any other school," Jane said.
"I toured with an Ambassador
who had a huge
influence on the way I viewed the college. Not only was it beautiful, but I learned there was so much thought!'
more going on than I ever
- Liesl Wagner '08
15
Captain Chrissy Yule '05 reflects on her Mercyhurst ice hockey career
The whack of pucks hitting the boards, the swoosh of skates crisscrossing the ice, the Zamboni barreling down the rink, jubilant outbursts eddying upward from the spectator stands ... how do you ever say goodbye to the sights and sensations that make women's ice hockey at Mercyhurst College such a rush? For senior captain Chrissy Yule '05, the experience was bittersweet. At 24, she felt ready to move on, to take the skills she had honed at Mercyhurst and create a niche career in prenatal and infant massage. But, being a rink rat since the age of 9, hanging up her skates was definitely painful, especially at Mercyhurst, where she played every game since day one of her freshman year. In fact, Yule holds the record for "most games played" - 33 her freshman year; 34, sophomore; 36, junior; and 37 as a senior. From her game-winning goal in the GLWHA championship game against Findlay her freshman year to the fabulous finale of her Mercyhurst career, the NCAA quarterfinal against Harvard last March; those 140 games are fodder for some pretty thrilling memories. That's what makes saying goodbye so tough. "After the Harvard game, 1 remember being in the locker room and looking in (senior goalie) Desi Clark's eyes ... we had this 'omigosh it's over' connection," said the 5'8" forward from Brampton, Ontario. "Suddenly, we looked around the room and there was that same sense from all the other seniors. Then we saw the younger players looking at us and you could tell they knew exactly what we were feeling. For us, it was over. For them, you could see it in their eyes. They knew they'd be back. And when they go back, we go back. The spirit carries on." And that's as it should be. A good leader inspires greatness, and greatness begets greatness. That is what Mercyhurst women's hockey has aspired to since the program began in 1999, and each year has yielded new milestones. Last year, the Lakers compiled a record of 28-7-2, winning both the CHA regular season and tournament titles. For the first time, the women reached the NCAA playoffs and, despite a 5-4 triple overtime loss at Harvard in the quarterfinal, did themselves and the college proud. Reflecting on her career, particularly her leadership tenure as alternate captain her sophomore year, co-captain her junior year, and captain her senior year, Yule said she had some amazing predecessors from whom to learn.
"After the Harvard game, I remember being in the locker room and looking in (senior goalie) Desi Clark's eyes ...we had this 'omigosh ifs over' connection. Suddenly, we looked around the room and there was that same sense from all the other seniors. Then we saw the younger players looking at us and you could tell they knew exactly what we were feeling. For us, it was over. For them, you could see it in their eyes. They knew they'd be back. And when they go back, we go back. The spirit carries on. " - Chrissy Yule '05, former captain of the women's ice hockey team
16
The first trip the Lady Lakers took to the NCAA playoffs landed them on the ice against historic ice hockey powerhouse Harvard.
"Somebody once asked me, 'How do you become a leader?' and I said you learn from the best. You find somebody who inspires you to be like them. For me, that was CJ. Ireland. She was our first captain at Mercyhurst. I admired how each and every player respected her. She had this wonderful, well-rounded kind of leadership style that I felt was critical to inspire a team to be successful. I looked to CJ to see what it took to be a captain and to be successful. I hope other girls have seen the same things in me. That's how you keep the momentum going." The force at the helm - head Coach Mike Sisti - is a role model whose influence has been far-reaching. "This program has climbed the ladder of success because of the leadership of so many great people, especially the man who started it all with every intention of representing our college and the city with pride and passion, and that would be Coach Sisti himself," Yule said. "So many girls have passed through our program and learned much from our coaching staff. I do believe they prepared us for adversity and taught us the importance of character." As for her role, Yule said being empathetic is one of the strengths she summoned to lead her teammates through successful seasons. "When girls come to college, some as young as 17,1 think they need that kind of emotional sturdiness within the program that I think I was able to provide," Yule said. One Yule initiative that proved effective last year was class meetings. The team met as a unit regularly, but Yule decided to initiate captains meetings with each individual class to solicit input from younger players who might not be comfortable speaking out in the larger group.
"As team captain, you are the voice and the pulse of the entire team," Yule said. "I think the individual meetings gave us a variety of views and that had a huge impact on our success." Another Yule trademark was her willingness to speak out. Whether chanting words of encouragement on the ice or voicing her opinion on how to better the program, she was never one to spare words. Her dependability went a long way toward boosting the team's efforts as well. While other players may have been sidelined by injury, relegated to the bench as punishment, or removed from a game by virtue of a coaching decision, Yule incurred none of the above. "I was lucky not to have been in those situations and I think that had a lot to do with being captain," she said. "You have to set the bar for your team." Now situated in her hometown of Brampton, the daughter of Fatima Seabrook and Charles Yule is looking forward to a whole new life. Armed with a bachelor's degree in sportsmedicine, Yule's plan is to attend massage therapy school and start her own clinic specializing in prenatal and infant massage. But Mercyhurst will never be far from her thoughts. "The memory I'll never forget is the first time I put my jersey on - I had worked so hard to get to Mercyhurst - and the last time I took it off - knowing I'd never wear it again."
17
LEADERSHIP MAKES FOR i
BUSINESS
It was the spring of 1966, the end of Judith Pitney's junior year at Mercyhurst College. As other students were emerging from the after-finals haze and eagerly anticipating a respite from the rigor of academia, Pitney was still hunkered down in Old Main. As incoming Mercyhurst Student Government president, she was in the throes of producing the college's first student handbook. Mercyhurst had no such guide and was in a transition period, attempting to distance itself from unrealistically strict protocols of the past and commit to paper a modern set of rules governing student life. Pitney had put together a small team of students that stayed on campus two weeks after classes ended to physically assemble the handbook. Judith Pitney '67 "I can still see us now collating that manual," she said. In reflecting, there was no woe is me, if only we had had a PC... From where Pitney stood, "It was a wonderful experience, taking something from an idea and delivering the finished product." It was also a lesson in organizational skills that she has fine-tuned throughout her professional career to its pinnacle at the University of Michigan, where she has spent nearly two decades. In her current position as the executive director of resource planning and management for the College of Engineering, which she has held since 1992, she supervises a staff of 18 and is responsible for a 2006 fiscal year operating budget of $320 million and $110 million in new capital projects.
As a senior administrator at one of the most prestigious universities in the country, Pitney knows a little bit about leadership. Without a doubt, she said, getting to the top demands a certain degree of risk-taking. She offered up one of her own. From 1982 to 1987, Pitney was associate provost at Southern Methodist University, commanding a very comfortable annual salary, not to mention considerable respect and prestige. Still, she felt that she had reached a plateau and could go no further without a terminal degree. So, at 42, she relinquished her job and enrolled in graduate school at Michigan, returning to a life of hitting the books 24-7 and living on a graduate assistantship stipend. The risk paid off and, in 1988, she earned a post as director of planning and administrative services in the office of the vice president for research at Michigan, and has continued to advance steadily from there. Her success at Michigan is the result not only of calculated risk-taking, but of hard work, taking responsibility, loyalty and strict adherence to ethical standards, all qualities instilled in her by her parents, Margaret Pitney and the late Jerome Pitney. It was during her years at Mercyhurst College, then an all-girls school, that she was given the forum to hone the skills that would one day form the foundation of her ascent into the world of leadership in higher education. At Mercyhurst, she developed her communication skills, which she identified as crucial to effective leadership; her writing and organizational skills; as well as an appetite for lifelong learning. : I Pitney is both satisfied and challenged by her work at Michigan, but she admits she probably wouldn't have fared as well as an undergrad at the Big Ten powerhouse as she did at Mercyhurst. "I grew up in the small town of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and my high school graduating class was only about 100 students. I always knew I wanted a small college. "I was a very competitive student who wanted to come out on top all the time, so being at a smaller school, where you had personal interaction with the faculty, provided reinforcement when I did well and gave me confidence," she said, crediting mentors like Sister Mary Charles Weschler, RSM '40, Sister Mary Matthew Baltus, RSM '45, and Dick Kubiak. In addition, not having to compete with males provided more opportunities to assume positions of leadership. Pitney took advantage of them, becoming editor of the Merciad student newspaper her junior year and student government president her senior year.
18
Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2(M)r>
"Those were very formative experiences for me," she said. Pitney graduated cum laude from Mercyhurst in 1967 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. Twice she has been honored by the college: in 1974 as recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 1986 as a recipient of the 60th Anniversary Achievement Awards. Over the years, she has graciously given back to the college; in 2002, she and her mother provided funds to rehabilitate the stained glass window in the Queens Chapel. Meanwhile, she went on to earn her master's degree in British history from the University of Wisconsin, did M.B.A. coursework at Texas Woman's University and Southern Methodist University between 1983 and 1986, and earned her doctorate in higher education at Michigan in 1991. The work ethic Pitney brought to her studies she also brought to her career; among her positions in higher education are stints in Washington, D.C., as acting deputy assistant secretary for legislation education at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and director of Washington Internships for Education, a Ford Foundation Project of the Institute for Educational Leadership. "To reach positions of leadership, you have to be prepared to work harder than everybody else," she said. "I am reasonably certain that you don't end up in a leadership position working only 40 hours a week. Career progression is putting in the time and grabbing new responsibilities on top of the job you already haw." W^^^ Its also being true to yourself, being willing to invest more time in getting a job done than, perhaps, another colleague would and not letting it embitter you. "You have to focus on your own satisfaction" she said. "I compare myself to myself, not to anybody else" When asked where to from here, Pitney said her job at Michigan is the one from which she intends to retire someday. And then will shefinallyrelax? Not a chance. She's too driven a woman to slow down, although she might be inclined to change course.
Judith Pitney '67, second from right, visited Mercyhurst in 2002 with her family, mother Margaret C. Pitney, her sister Kathleen Pitney and Kathleen's son Michael. The family provided renovation funds for the stained glass window in the Queen's Chapel. The Pitneys dedicated the window in the memory of Jerome V. Pitney, a devoted husband and father, and Jerome V. Pitney III, a loving son and brother.
"CAREER PROGRESSION IS PUTTING IN THE TIME AND GRABBING NEW
She just bought her dream home on two acres where she intends to pursue her interests in gardening,floralarranging, cooking and entertaining, and, hopefully, parlay them into a second career. She is a woman who lives moment to moment the Mercyhurst tenet of dedication to lifelong learning. "I tell everybody that the most energizing thing about my career is that there isn't a day that I don't go home at night and think about what I've learned and tally it all up as extraordinarily significant." Story by Debbie Morton, photos by Paul Lorei
RESPONSIBILITIES ON TOP OF THE JOB YOU ALREADY HAVE.
- Judith Pitney '67
19
It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Brian Dougherty was hanging with friends enrolled as education majors at Mercyhurst College in the early 1980s, debating decisions made by the local school district's board of directors. Dougherty could see both sides - his father was an administrator in the district, but his friends were future teachers. The deliberations raged on, and next thing he knew, he was running for office. "It was all because of an off-the-cuff remark: 'If you think you could do it better, why don t you run?' So I did, but I never expected to win," said Dougherty, shaking his head. "Next thing I knew, it was 4 a.m. and the Erie Times-News was calling to tell me I had won." The ability to focus on what he wants, and making a change in the world around him, has been with Dougherty since those early days. He didn't stop at winning that seat on the Erie School District board at age 21, instead, from there, he ran for and won a seat on Erie City Council.
Today he sits in his office at the Corry Area School District, his requisite identification badge hanging on a black and gold lanyard reading simply: Dr. Dougherty. That title just doesn't do Superintendent Dougherty justice. After graduating from Mercyhurst in 1983 with a degree in history and philosophy, Dougherty served four years on the school district board, four years on Erie City Council, and in 1991, moved from a very public life to a private one. "I've always been around kids, and I was always dancing around the fringe of teaching," said Dougherty. After teaching for several years in the Erie School District and earning his master of science degree in psychology, Dougherty became principal at Mount Calvary Catholic Grade School in 2000 and started work on his doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Pittsburgh. After serving as assistant superintendent in Athens, Pa., in Bradford County - "That was truly a rural school district; we had bears on the playground" - from August 2002 until spring 2005 and finishing his doctoral degree, Dougherty assumed the challenge of superintendent at Corry in August 2005. He is surrounded by a community he describes as well balanced in terms of academics and economy, and is looking forward to working with a cadre of young, enthusiastic teachers paired with an experienced and dedicated administration. Dougherty tracks his leadership tilt back to his parents, and Mercyhurst College. "I think it is partly being Irish, and partly because I was raised to say something when I had something to say," said Dougherty. "And Mercyhurst brought out a level of confidence in me that I've brought to the table wherever I go." That confidence might have helped him tackle the tough task of serving in public office at a young age, that and a bit of naivete. "I think the best part of that experience was being taken seriously by my peers, even when I was out in leftfield,"said Dougherty. "I probably didn't appreciate then that evaluation of my ideas, no matter how crazy. Now I do upon reflection." Dougherty said he learned important lessons in those early years, and tries to pass them along to students who come to him for advice.
"... I was raised to say something when I had something to say. And Mercyhurst brought out a level of confidence in me that I've brought to the table wherever I go."
- Brian Dougherty '83
But after an unsuccessful run for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1990, Dougherty hung up his political ambitions and focused on a different approach to leadership. He earned his teaching certificate, rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Moving up through the ranks seemed natural to Dougherty though, and that didn't change with his career shift.
20
r lercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005 V
"I think the best part of that

L l
seriously by my peers, even when I was out in left field, robably didn't appreciate
then that evaluation of my ideas, no matter how crazy Now I do upon reflection."
- Brian Dougherty '83
Brian Dougherty shares his experiences with those younger as new superintendent of the Corry Area School District. "When students do come to me, I usually advise them to get some life experience before they lead," said Dougherty. "Service isn't so much a lark as a commitment. There is something to be said about the life experience you bring to the table. There were times that brought me to my knees, I was naive and I needed more." As Dougherty moves back to the area, accompanied by his wife Brenda Servidio and their three daughters, Maria, 15, Brennan, 8, and Erin, 6, he has been able to reconnect somewhat to the Mercyhurst of his memory. An advisee of retired President Dr. William Garvey, and a former student of current president Dr. Michael McQuillen, Dougherty looks forward to becoming involved with his alma mater. "Mercyhurst was a pivot point in my life," reminisces Dougherty, who recalls a first term class load that included the triple threat of Garvey, McQuillen and political science instructor David Bethune. "I remember Garvey was always late, always had coffee. But nobody dared to leave, so we waited," said Dougherty laughing out loud at the memory. "And McQuillen, he was just a wealth of knowledge. Then it was the SALT treaties, and he could go on for hours. Dr. Bethune, he was about politics, and brought this certain Southern flair to the classroom. "I knew if I could get through that term, I could handle anything else" And so, it seems, he has.
Story and photo by Gennifer Biggs
iMercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005
21
Alumna Ann Badach '98 shows that leadership pays dividends down the road
When you meet Ann Badach, sit down in her office within the walls of St. Mark's Seminary, you just want to tell her ... well... everything. Badach has the warm smile of your favorite aunt. You know the one, she's your mom's youngest sister, not that different in age from you, but older and wiser nonetheless. You just know, in your heart, her advice would be sage. "Oh, it is a wonderful story," Badach said when asked how she arrived at Mercyhurst College. It was in 1982 that Badach first enrolled in Mercyhurst, the only college in the area that accepted nontraditional students. The name she uttered as her guiding light then is one well known to most adult students: Lillian Cohen, who served until her retirement in 2005 as the heart of the adult college. "She said to me: T know you can do this'' said Badach. "She planted the first seeds in my heart. So I dived in enthusiastically. While some professors weren't really sure what to do with me, they embraced me. They nurtured, encouraged me. My loyalty to Mercyhurst is so closely tied with those first people who wouldn't let me lose confidence in myself. They taught me study skills, they taught me to write - I'd been out of the classroom so long, it was like starting over. But they stuck with me." Badach soon learned that education is not inexpensive, and her funds were depleted. "I had bills to pay, and a car payment, and so I finally stopped because I had to," she said. "But Mercyhurst wouldn't let me go; they hired me instead." Ironically, Badach worked in space Mercyhurst rented at St. Mark's; the college used the building for music courses and the Mercyhurst Career Institute. That was where Badach met Cathy Anderson, now vice president of student services, and Joy McQuillen, now retired from Mercyhurst student services and the wife of current president, Dr. Michael McQuillen. "We grew to be wonderful friends, and they were the legs of my tripod of support," said Badach of Anderson, McQuillen and Cohen. "If any one of them had fallen, I wouldn't have succeeded." Soon Badach began moving through the other phases of her life. She met her husband Greg in 1986, married and started her family, and then reached another crossroad. "We made the decision that I would be a stay-at-home mom, so I left... again," said Badach with a laugh. She started to supplement the family income with evening work at Hamot Medical Center, and enjoyed the wonders of her family "Being a full-time mom was very important to me," said Badach, turning serious. "There are quiet leaders - those who make decisions and take responsibility - in ways that are often overlooked, and parents are those people. They are people willing to step up to the challenge, to forgo something they want for the better good."
Ann Badach '98
It can't be a coincidence that advice is Badach's business; she is the director of family ministries for the Catholic Diocese of Erie, charged with overseeing the marriage preparation classes, marriage enrichment programs and family ministry. "Family is at the heart of our society. That is where it all starts and ends," said Badach. Sitting in a comfortable chair in her office - not behind her desk, of course - she smiled at the memories of the long, winding road that led her to her current resting point.
22
But life is a circle, according to Badach, and that it was about to bring her back to Mercyhurst. In 1995, Anderson called. The college was launching an official adult college, the iMcAuley Center, and she wanted Badach to join the team as an office manager. "My kids were all for it, they told me it was my turn," said Badach. So back to the 'Hurst she went. "Being back on campus was life-giving to me. To see how it had grown was wonderful, and after a while, I hungered to finish my degree." Soon, she found her niche: Family Ecology. "Through the inspiration of professors like Sally Ondrejcak, I found the part of me that has always wanted to help others to grow, develop and heal. The counseling aspect of that program filled that need for me," said Badach. In 1998, Badach graduated with honors, and spent several years as a family counselor - an achievement she said is a testament to those who mentored her throughout her journey. 'T was so blessed, not only by an excellent liberal arts education, but also through the people at Mercyhurst who showed me the way. I think leaders beget leaders," said Badach. "Good leaders empower others to lead." Now, Badach works to follow that example. "If I can empower others with knowledge and resources and point them in the right direction, that is a good thing," said Badach of her all-volunteer staff and of the leadership teams she mentors in the church's marriage and family programs. As the family ministries director for the Catholic Diocese of Erie, Badach is responsible for maintaining and developing programs that touch all aspects of family life: whether its the engaged couple who are planning to marry, or the married couple who attempt to live out their marriage vows, or the parents who face the daily obstacles of raising good children. With her wide smile firmly in place, Badach talks about the hurdles of relationships through which she hopes to help guide families with the help of the traditions of the Catholic Church. One aspect of that is working with volunteers and individual parishes to allow them to handle their own family ministries. "Collaboration is the key," said Badach. "Leadership is about communicating with others, sharing ideas and working toward that common goal together." Badach faces the question each day of how to infuse the traditions of the church into the reality of life: "How can we minister to families already so busy they are living their lives in sound bites? How do we help them in their day-to-day lives?"
Supporting nontraditional families is another goal, as well as assisting children and young adults who want to live out their Catholic identity, but face overpowering influences from the mainstream.
"While some professors weren't really sure what to do with me, they embraced me. They nurtured, encouraged me. My loyalty to Mercyhurst is so closely tied with those first people who wouldn't let me lose confidence in myself. They taught me study skills, they taught me to write - I'd been out of the classroom so long, it was like starting over. But they stuck with me."
- Ann Badach '98
"We need to empower them to stand up for what they believe without feeling like they have to choose between their faith and the secular umbrella of their lives," said Badach, herself the mother of two daughters, Jessica, a freshman at Allegheny College, and Abby, a junior at Villa Maria Academy. "I think it is very hard for young people to stand up and be Catholic Christians. We have a tremendous responsibility to help them do that" If Badach learned anything at Mercyhurst, she said, it is the power of faith in God - and in other people. "1 learned that, as an individual you can do good things; but, with a community of people to surround and support you, you can do anything!" "There are many wonderful people out there willing to share their knowledge and provide support to other couples," said Badach about her responsibilities for marriage ministry. "The challenge rests infindingthose willing couples to mentor other couples in their relationship journey. It is my hope that people will find the courage to say yes, and that, over time, there will be a greater understanding that marriage is a covenant - and not simply a contract. "I believe people want marriages and families to work, but we need to give them the tools and show them the way." Perhaps the reason Badach has such faith is that she inspires it. With a 19-year marriage, two beautiful children, and the knowledge of just how tough life can make the path to dreams, who would you rather get advice from?
Story by Gennifer Biggs, photo by Ed Bernik
23
'
Most mornings I start my day with a cup of coffee - a necessary ritual to kick start my mind and body into action. As I enjoy the sun coming through the window today I consider
Alumnus challenges students, college to lead way to the future
how this wonderfully warm and aromatic experience arrived in my home. Lifting the cup above my head reveals its origin: Bangladesh. As the caffeine kicks in, I generate enough energy to lift the coffeemaker: Made in China. The coffee itself: Belgium (and I thought they were famous for waffles and beer). I marvel at how even an everyday occurrence for millions of Americans - savoring a cup of Java - requires an amazing array of human and capital resources from around the globe. This is the world our students will join in the near future - complex, fast-paced and transformed by globalization. A world in need of good, quality leadership to assess and address the positive and negative economic, social and environmental impacts associated with globalization. This letter is not a commentary on the notable benefits of globalization, nor is it meant to highlight the undeniable, and less discussed, costs to communities and countries on every continent. It is, however, important to acknowledge the reality that real people, real families and real communities cannot ignore the fiscal and human problems that now exist. We also must recognize closing our eyes and hoping for a better tomorrow is not enough - we must prepare the next generation of leaders for the best and worst of times. Thus, there has never been a greater need to prepare our youth - the future leaders of our families, companies and communities - with skills and values necessary to take on the inevitable, difficult challenges they will face as the result of globalization. A difficult task in itself, yet, it is not enough. We must do more. We need to inspire the next generation to embrace with courage and honor the toughest issues facing our communities and our countries. We must do our part to change the culture of passing the buck and blaming others that is all too common among leaders in our society. We must lead by example and provide the incentives for future leaders to step into the fray. For it takes more than skill and knowledge to solve any group or community problems - it takes courage and a willingness to engage. Mercyhurst has been inspiring students and preparing leaders for nearly a century. But our work is far from done and the stakes have never been greater, the challenges have
24
never been more overwhelming. There is a real crisis of leadership in all segments of our society. Mercyhurst is in a powerful position to answer this call to prepare leaders for the future. More specifically, the foundation of a Mercyhurst experience laid by the Sisters of Mercy includes an excellent, value-driven education with a commitment to serving others that is essential to preparing future leaders. In addition, the exceptional liberal studies curriculum combined with professional preparation taught by first-rate faculty rounds out the extraordinary educational experience. Mercyhurst does not stand alone in offering this type of superior collegiate experience, but, it is much less common than it ought to be. Mercyhurst, therefore, should recommit itself to seizing the reins of responsibility in preparing future leaders. In particular, Mercyhurst ought to raise expectations of everyone associated with the college: faculty, staff, benefactors, supporters and alumni. In each of our respective roles we must find a way to prepare and inspire students to literally change the world - one person, one family, one community at a time, A tall order indeed; but it is far from Quixotic. In fact, my own experiences have taught me the power of a college to inspire. As an undergrad, I was inspired by a few at Mercyhurst to engage the world around me, to embrace curiosity, challenge assumptions (always) and to try to positively impact people and organizations with whom I come in contact. More recently, at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the fire lit under me at Mercyhurst all those years ago was reignited and fanned into a wonderful flame of optimism, hope and faith in people and possibility. Mercyhurst and the Kennedy School are among a relatively small group of institutions committed to preparing and inspiring generations of students to change the world. Yet, both can and need to do abetter job. Both institutions can do a better job of demonstrating the power of engaging others in the search for solutions to complex problems. As exercising leadership in this context is incredibly difficult and often there is little recognition as a reward, colleges must offer leadership strategies with insights, concepts and tools sufficient to prepare students to take the lead in almost any situation, under almost any organizational conditions, no matter who's in charge. Students need to learn leadership is not synonymous with authority. Students need to discover, practice and assess the strengths, weaknesses and dangers associated with varying leadership theories and strategies. In closing, I met many wonderful students at Harvard from scores of countries who are engaged and committed to the hard and rewarding work of making a difference. They believe they can change the world in which we live for the better - and they are right. As an alumnus and former director of admissions at Mercyhurst, I know the students at Mercyhurst are equally capable to affect real change and positively impact our communities, countries and cultures. The challenge for Mercyhurst is to unlock that potential and to provide the inspiration - to set a beacon of possibility beyond their reach - and the encouragement to take the lead in shaping a better world. Carpe Diem, Robin Engel is the current dean of admissions and financial aid at Pine Manor College near Boston, Mass. an institution committed to preparing women for inclusive leadership and social responsibility.
a^rS^
Robin Engel '91
Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005 25
Notes... Fall 2005

The Fifties
Rozella Ulan Harpst '54, Jefferson, Ohio, retired in 1993 after nearly 36 years in education. Lori Hetrick '97, Erie, now works for the accounting firm of Malin, Bergquist & Co. and is pursuing her CPA license. Vanessa Pappalardo '97, Lakewood, Ohio, has graduated from the University of Akron with a master's degree and nurse practitioner certification. She has passed her boards and is working at the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric & Metabolic Institute. Aaron Stankiewiz '98, Erie, is the human resource manager for Erie Waterworks. Jerold Duncan '03, Apollo, Pa., earned his master of science in athletic training from West Virginia University on May 15, 2005. He is working as the head athletic trainer for the AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Wheeling Nailers, in Wheeling, W.Va. Richard Johns '03, Washington, Pa., earned his master of arts degree in social and public policy from Duquesne University on Aug. 4, 2005. Christopher Meyer '03, Rocky River, Ohio, is the owner services representative for Flight Options in Cleveland, Ohio. James Jackson '04, Erie, recently joined PNC Financial Services Inc. as a business banking officer at their east Erie banking center where his responsibilities include attraction, retention and management of the small business segment in the east Erie market. Lindsay Rider '04, Girard, Ohio, has joined Akhia Public Relations consumer roup as an assistant account executive. She will work with clients to develop successful media relations strategies on the local, regional'and national level.
&
The Seventies
Jean DeLucia Stang '70, Stow, Ohio, teaches sociology and psychology classes at the National Institute of Technology, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Joseph Pacinelli '78, Erie, was recently promoted to president and chief operating officer of Better Baked Foods Inc. f
The Millennium
Scott Koskoski '00, Williamsville, N.Y., was recently named associate athletic director for marketing at Niagara University in suburban Buffalo, N.Y. Koskoski was with Washington & Jefferson College near Pittsburgh, Pa., prior to this. Anne (Onofrey) McClendon '00, Tuscaloosa, Ala., has accepted a position at Holy Spirit School, Tuscaloosa, Ala., as a music teacher/ religious education teacher. She will teach music in grades K-12 and religious education to the fifth grade. Gregory Beato '01, Rochester, N.Y., was awarded his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on June 5. He is currently doing an internship at Christiana Care Health Systems in Newark, Del. Brandon Gabler '02, Tucson, Ariz., earned his master of arts in anthropology from the University of Arizona Dec. 18, 2004. He is now a doctoral student in anthropology with a concentration in archaeology at that university. Laurie Sienkiewicz '02, Sterling, Va., received her master's degree in reading at Frostburg State University, Md. She is currently employed as a third-grade teacher in Loudoun County, Va.
The Eighties
Rebecca Martin '82, Erie, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women by Governor Edward Rendell. She is vice president of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. Diann Petulla Buckingham '82, Dana Point, Calif., is now a principal in California, having moved from Scottsdale, Ariz., where she was an elementary school principal. She and husband Mike want friends to know they just got a new dog, Honeybear. Jamie Samilio '83, Falls Church, Va., earned his master's degree in Christian education from Virginia Theological Seminary in May 2005.
The Nineties
Jessica (Hughey) Santillo '91, Norristown, Pa., earned her master's of business administration in global marketing in May 2005. Santillo is currently employed as an operations manager for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where, in February 2005, she earned the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals President's Achievement Award. Raymond Oldach '96, Erie, recently graduated with distinction from Ohio Northern's Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University. He received the degree of juris doctor.
Weddings
Terese Wade '96 married Tom Houle July 17, 2005, at the Hyatt Regency, Waikiki, Hawaii. Nathaniel Mcintosh '97 married Danielle Stever June 11, 2005, in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Shawn Basile '01 married Sarah Pulley '03 Aug. 6, 2005. The wedding party included Kristen Brown '03, Michael Fleckenstein '02, Thomas Reznik '01, Brad Alvord '01 and Travis Lindahl '00.
26
Mcrcyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005
Celeste Ferrare '01 married Scott Farison '01 July 16, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. The wedding party included Anna Budavich '01, Daniel Fauth '01, Shaun Murphy '01, Garrett Patty '02 and Kristopher Vincler '01. Amy Perry '01 married Ron Cecere June 25, 2005. Danielle Reid '01 married Jonathan Baumgartner July 2, 2005, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The wedding party included Karen Jansen Viggiani '01 and Elizabeth Kahn '01.
>
Ronald Fleming '95 and wife Dawn (Wade) '97 had a daughter, Allyson Isabelle, April 7, 2005. Katharine (McKissock) McChesney '95 and husband Todd had a son, David Matthew, April 23, 2005. Kathleen Fox Holler '96 and husband have two daughters: Erin Therese, 3, and Fiona Catherine Anna, 1. Christine Glaz Askey '96 and husband Robert had a son, Trent Robert, April 21, 2005. Dawn DelBianco Graeser '97 and husband Brian had a daughter, Abagail Christine, May 23, 2005. Todd Hengerer '97 and wife Amanda (Loncto) '97 had a son, Nathan Augustus, March 22, 2005. Trisha (Klosky) Kirchner '97 and husband Chip had a daughter, Adelynn Margaret, May 9, 2005. Kathryn (Magee) Zerbe '97 and husband Christopher had a son, Colin Christopher, April 12, 2005. Sarah (Allen) Lorek '98 and husband Josh had a son, Peter Allen, June 3, 2005. Kristen Bidinger '99 and Kim HodgkissLilly '98 had a son, Cayden Otis, June 22, 2005. Jody Simpson Brecht '99 and husband had a daughter, Rachel Susan, Feb. 10, 2005. Heidi (Schnaekel) Woodrome '99 and husband Anthony Woodrome '97 had a son, Andrew Connor, July 4, 2005. Rachelle (Baker) Scott '00 and husband Jason Scott '00 had a daughter, Anna Elizabeth, July 14, 2005.
Condolences
Alumni Bertha M.McHale Ross'31 Ruth Sterrett Konnerth '34 Beatrice Banner Eilers '35 Marion Towne Bender '39 Mary M. Baltus Humers '44 M. Carol Reynolds McCloskey '49 Marguerite Fusaro Rittendale '50 Sister M. Ignatius Schlaak, RSM '50 Mary Kienzle Smith '55 Sister Kathleen Marie Leap, RSM '62 Betty J. Kahl '68 Mary Ann D'Urso Reeher 70 Timothy A. Baker'76 Edward M. Erichson 78 Richard J. Maxwell '04 Father of David M. Bagnoni 79 (Mario S. Bagnoni) Patrick Giammario '00 (Remo Giammario Mother of Joan O'Malley Ciucevich '60 (Mary O'Malley) Margaret Hock Heetman '65 (Margaret C. Hock) John Ross 75 (Bertha M. McHale Ross '31) Colleen Heher Kerr 79 (Anna Marie Heher) Husband of Mary Ellen Linney Avery '43 (Robert H. Avery) Margaret Hock Heetmann '65 (Paul R. Heetmann) Teresa Giammario, Housekeeping (Remo Giammario) Sister of Ruth Weber Hanhauser '40 (Jean M. Salchi) Sister M. Matthew Baltus, RSM '45 (Mary M. Baltus Humers '44) Mother-In-Law of Suzanne Geltch Heher '67 (Anna Marie Heher) Friends of the College Gilbert G. Brown William H. Lander, President's Associate
Brandon Gabler '02 married Rachel Westfall July 23, 2005, in Livonia, Mich. Emily Koski '02 married Adam McMahen Sept. 11, 2004, at Latrobe Presbyterian Church, Latrobe, Pa. The wedding party included Kimberly Russo '02 and Angela Villella '02. Grainne O'Donovan '02 married James Macklin July 23, 2005, in Wicklow, Ireland. Michelle Mays '04 married Matthew Sanborn '04 June 4, 2005, in St. Joseph Church, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Births
i
Catherine Wheeler Melian '93 and husband Paul had a son, Augustine Jose-Guillermo, June 14, 2005 (pictured above). James Doherty '94 has a son, Patrick Wade, born Aug. 16,2005. Jodi Dresel Sucharski '94 and husband Jody had twin daughters, Kayla Marie and Haylie Jean, April 29, 2005.
Mercvhurst Magazine / Winter 2(X)5
27
Michael Fuhrman - Memoirs of a jock

As challengers, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker may be as formidable as the Steelers or the Browns. Think about it, when they're working the kinks out of their sore muscles after a strenuous workout, are a dancer and a linebacker all that different? Former Mercyhurst middle linebacker-turnedballet dancer Michael Fuhrman, who at one time got as much of a thrill performing a pirouette as he did sacking a quarterback, speaks from experience. "Ballet's tougher, definitely," he said. "Both are physically demanding, but in ballet, you also have to make it look beautiful and appear effortless." Nowadays, with the demands of his position as director of the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, Fuhrman is doing neither football nor ballet. Of course, he's also 40-something. But the endeavors of his youth - football and ballet - helped frame the man he is today. The product of Erie's east side, Fuhrman learned discipline early on. His father was a drill sergeant in the Army and Michael spent the first seven years of his life in Germany. Growing up, the 205-pound linebacker at Academy High School earned all-city, all-state recognition, and was recruited to play football at West Virginia University. Instead, he opted to attend Mercyhurst, which had just launched a football program of its own in 1981. It was at Mercyhurst that Fuhrman made an inadvertent side step that literally changed his life. He needed an easy grade and wanted to meet girls, so he signed up for a basic ballet class. Hey, he figured if Lynn Swann could do it, why not Mike Fuhrman? "I fell in love," he said. "The music, the grace, the power and sheer athleticism of ballet captivated me. You've heard of priests and nuns receiving a calling? Well, so did V That term Fuhrman dropped football and his psychology major and committed to dance, a move that most of his friends and fellow students accepted with minimal taunting. "There were a couple jerks - there always are - but they soon found out a dancer couldfight,"he said, grimacing briefly at the flashback. Fuhrman's turnabout surprised a lot people, but as he looks back, the arts had a place in his upbringing, although not an outlet. "I grew up in a blue-collar environment, and although I proudly considered myself a jock, I felt that I didn't quite fit the role," he said. "My parents played a lot of classical and jazz music in the house and while growing up in Germany we made numerous excursions up and down the Rhine River visiting castles. "It wasn't until I entered Mercyhurst College and hung
28 Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005
up my cleats and put on a pair of tights that the road to understanding who I am really began." After graduating in dance, Fuhrman spent three years working with various professional companies in Germany. "It was a wonderful experience: getting paid to dance, traveling throughout Europe and reading four to five books a month ... it couldn't get much better than that," he said. Eventually, he knew he was not going to be a Baryshnikov and the prospects of work after 32 were not great, so he changed course and returned to Mercyhurst where he earned a second degree, that one in English. During that time, he was recruited for his support of numerous local arts endeavors and became active in Leadership Erie, which pivoted him into the position of executive director of the 1995 Erie Bicentennial Commission. There he developed an innate flair for staging productions, small and large. It was during that time that former Mercyhurst College President Dr. William Garvey took note of Fuhrman's talent and made an offer: Come run the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Centerfor us. Fuhrman signed on, and he's been there ever since where, in addition to directing the popular Guelcher Film Series, he is responsible for programming other events, fund raising and grant writing, and handling the basic day-to-day operations of the PAC. "Football taught me camaraderie; the exhilaration of victory, as well as the dejection of defeat," he said. "For me, football was a deeply meaningful activity to channel visceral boyhood energy and to build confidence. Yet sports are ultimately finite; time runs out and in the end there's a winner and loser. Art, on the other hand, whether the ballet Swan Lake, Michelangelo's La Pieta or the play Hamlet, lives forever - it's infinite, I believe, because it speaks to us on a personal level." Fuhrman's days as a linebacker may be history, but he admits he still loves his sports, particularly the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, where he earned a master's degree in business in 2003. Now married to Tina Kaliszak Fuhrman '90 and the father of two boys, Erich and Eliot, Fuhrman said he'd like to see his sons grow up with an exposure to the arts and athletics. If nothing else, he's one dad who will be able to watch his boys perform a pirouette or sack a quarterback with equal admiration.
Mercyhurst dedicates new building at North East

i
The saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" suggests a perception subject to individual taste, but all those who beheld the new Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building at Mercyhurst North East at the Aug. 26 dedication were unanimous in their praise. From the spectacular 1,400-square-foot serpentine glass wall to the impressive stone colonnade adorning the front entrance, the structure elicited a flurry of ooohs and aaahs from the more than 100 persons gathered to celebrate the building's official unveiling. Besides being an historic day for Mercyhurst, Aug. 26 also marked a milestone for former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, who celebrated his 60th birthday. He thanked the crowd for its stirring rendition of "Happy Birthday" and also for "the opportunity to be Michele s warm-up act." The $5.5 million academic building, which houses a library, offices, classrooms and labs as well as North East's burgeoning registered nursing program and the Hirtzel Institute on Aging, was named after the Ridges in honor of their public service and to Michele, in particular, for her lifelong commitment to learning and literacy. "There is no place I'm happier to be than in a library," said Michele Ridge, who directed the Erie County Library System for 16 years. "I can't tell you how gratifying this is for me and my family."
Doing the honors are the Ridges: Tom, Lesley, Tommy and Michele. Also speaking at the dedication was Dr. Gary Brown, executive vice president of Mercyhurst North East, who, like many others in attendance, attributed much of Mercyhurst's success to the leadership of retired president Dr. William Garvey. Brown also singled out Tom Billingsley, executive vice president for administration, for shepherding the state and federal paperwork required to advance the project, and Gary Bukowski 73, vice president of institutional advancement, for meeting the fund-raising challenge. Marlene Mosco '68, chair of the college's board of trustees, called Mercyhurst North East "a success beyond our wildest dreams," and showered praise on the many individuals, including several among then-Gov. Ridge s office staff, who worked tirelessly to make the new building a reality. During his remarks, Ridge praised MNE as "the opportunity college" where many students have gone on "to succeed even beyond their own expectations." The dedication, guided by emcee F. Brady Louis, a Mercyhurst trustee and special assistant to the president for Mercyhurst West, concluded with a blessing from MNE campus chaplain Father John "Tex" Hilbert. Showering the library windows with holy water, Hilbert implored "God's presence with us in all we strive for and accomplish." Then, in a moment of levity, he offered an apology to whomever would be charged with cleaning the new windows.
Story by Debbie Morton, photos by Gennifer Biggs and Ed Bernik
The Ridges' children, Lesley, a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University, and Tommy, a high school senior, also attended the 11 a.m. festivities, which marked Tom Ridge's first public appearance since he resigned as the director of Homeland Security Feb. 1. In her remarks, Michele Ridge remembered the Sisters of Mercy, who founded Mercyhurst, for their vision in guiding the school. She also credited all those who participated "in making this public-private partnership a success." As governor, Ridge was instrumental in helping the college secure $2 million in state funds for the building, which was also supported by SI million from the Orris C. Hirtzel and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation and $600,000 in funding from the United States departments of education and health and human services - a total of $3.6 million raised as part of the successful "Preserving the Legacy" capital campaign. The remainder of the funds for the building, about $ 1.9 million, came from the college.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
Paid
iv
1
\
Erie, PA Permit No. 10
501 East 38th Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16546 www.mercyhurst.edu Change Service Requested
/
s
r
I
'.
'
v\
/
\
J
\
- _

Mercyhurst Magazine - Winter 2005-06

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Исходное описание:

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Mercyhurst Magazine - Winter 2005-06

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Mercyhurst welcomes 11th president: Thomas J. Gamble, Ph.D.

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Interim presidency presents challenges, joys

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Mercyhurst Magazine Winter2005

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Film series succeeds as fascinating exploration of the frontiers of cinema

Sat., Jan. 28, at 8 PM Maria Schneider Orchestra

Fri., Feb. 17, at 8 PM Pink Martini

Fri., March 10, at 8 PM The Celtic Tenors

Sun., March 12, at 2 PM Nashville Mandolin Ensemble

Sat., April 8, at 8 PM Jesse Cook

Thurs., April 13, at 7:30 PM Trio Joubran Walker Recital Hall

Mercvhurst Magazine Winter 2005

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

From cradle to college and beyond... Lanzillo: The making of a leader

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Sisters seek creative solutions to universal challenges

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Sister JoAnne Courneen...

A Tale of Four Women

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

"I toured with an Ambassador

who had a huge

more going on than I ever

- Liesl Wagner '08

Story by Debbie Morton, contributed photos

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Story by Debbie Morton, contributed photos

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

LEADERSHIP MAKES FOR i

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2(M)r>

"CAREER PROGRESSION IS PUTTING IN THE TIME AND GRABBING NEW

RESPONSIBILITIES ON TOP OF THE JOB YOU ALREADY HAVE.

- Judith Pitney '67

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

r lercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005 V

"I think the best part of that

iMercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Ann Badach '98

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Alumnus challenges students, college to lead way to the future

Mercyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Notes... Fall 2005

Mcrcyhurst Magazine / Winter 2005

Mercvhurst Magazine / Winter 2(X)5

Michael Fuhrman - Memoirs of a jock

Mercyhurst dedicates new building at North East

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

Erie, PA Permit No. 10

Вам также может понравиться