Immaculata Magazine - Fall 2008

IMMACULATA
MAGAZINE
Kisoro’s Gift
Realizing A Dream
Pura Vida
FALL 2008
CAMPUSNEWS
Commencement
Immaculata University’s 84th class graduated at the commencement
ceremony held at the Valley Forge Convention Center on Sunday,
May 18. Sister R. Patricia Fadden, IHM, EdD, president of
Immaculata University, conferred degrees on 692 graduates.
Dr. Mary Crowley McDonald ’66 received the Immaculata Medal
and served as commencement speaker. Dr. McDonald,
superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, is a
long-time educator who has dedicated her life to the education of
children. Under her leadership the Catholic schools in the Diocese
of Memphis have grown in number from 16 to 29 in the past ten
years with the highest student enrollment since 1975.
George Weigel, Distinguished Fellow of the Ethics and Public
Policy Center in Washington, DC, received the honorary doctorate
degree, Doctor of Laws.
An esteemed author and editor of nineteen books, George Weigel is
a Roman Catholic theologian and one of America’s leading
commentators on issues of religion and public life. A frequent guest
on television and radio, he is also Vatican analyst for NBC News.
His weekly column “The Catholic Difference,” is syndicated to
sixty newspapers nationwide.Weigel’s Witness to Hope:The Biography
of Pope John Paul II, published in the fall of 1999, was subsequently
made into an award winning documentary film.
CAMPUSNEWS
New Vice President for University
Advancement
Theresa Shank Grentz ’74 has been
named vice president for university
advancement, succeeding Dr. Linda
Hopkins who resigned in May. A wife,
mother, coach, businesswoman, teacher
and leader,Theresa has had a varied
public career.
As a player,Theresa was a three-time
All-American member of the Mighty
Macs three championship teams. She
scored over 1,000 points, was named
the 1974 Collegiate Player of the Year and her #12 jersey is retired
at Immaculata.
Theresa’s leadership qualities can best be demonstrated by her
success as a head coach both at Rutgers and the University of
Illinois.
In 1976, hired by Rutgers University, she became the first full-time
women’s basketball coach in the nation. She built a successful
program with nine consecutive post-season NCAA Tournament
appearances and led Rutgers to a national championship in 1982. At
Rutgers she also chaired the presidential committee for protocol on
sexual assault on campus.
At the University of Illinois, where she was coach of women’s
basketball for 12 seasons, she ran a multi million dollar basketball
program. She led Illinois to ten post-season tournaments and won
the only Big Ten title in school history.
Theresa Grentz ranks tenth in wins on the NCAA’s all-time list.
She holds the record for most wins in school history.
George Weigel, Sister Patricia Fadden, IHM (center) and Dr. Mary Crowley
McDonald ’66 gather prior to the commencement ceremony.
At Illinois, she helped implement the number one national fundraising Coaches vs. Cancer event. In both states she served on the
Governor’s committee for physical fitness.
In 1981, she coached the U.S. Maccabiah Team in Israel winning a
silver medal.Theresa coached the U. S. Olympic Team to a bronze
medal in 1992. She became a national spokesperson for women’s
basketball in 1999 when she became president of the Women’s
Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). She participated in clinics,
wrote articles, and traveled the country speaking out on behalf of
the women's basketball coaching profession.
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I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
In 2007, she returned to Immaculata as assistant to the vice
president for Student Affairs.
Sister Patricia Fadden, president of Immaculata commented,
“Theresa’s dedication to Immaculata and her success are well
known. In her years as a head coach,Theresa developed many
transferable skills in team building and leadership, as well as friend
and fund raising for large athletic programs.We congratulate
Theresa on her new position and wish her well in the work ahead.”
NSF Grant
Immaculata received a $600,000 National Science Foundation
Grant extending from March 2008 through February 2011. Jim
Murray, assistant professor of chemistry and Sister Marie Cooper,
IHM, professor of mathematics/physics were instrumental in
bringing this grant to closure. Sister Ann Heath, dean of the college
of graduate studies assisted in the process. Jim Murray will serve as
the principal investigator.The grant is in conjunction with the
Chester County Intermediate Unit and the University of
Pennsylvania. Immaculata is the lead institution on the grant which
is entitled: “Transforming the Tri-State Philadelphia Region:A Partnership
for Innovation in Science and Technology Education.” The grant will fund
a project to encourage interest in science at local schools over the
next three years.
Lindback Award
Sister Susan Cronin, IHM, PhD,
professor of biology at Immaculata, was
awarded the 2007-2008 Lindback
Distinguished Teaching Award at the
commencement ceremony in May.
After graduating from Immaculata,
Sister earned a master’s degree from
Villanova University and a PhD in
molecular genetics from the Catholic
University of America. Prior to coming
to Immaculata, Sister Susan taught at St.
Aloysius Academy in Bryn Mawr, PA;
St. Michael’s in Annandale,VA; and Lourdes Regional High School
in Shamokin, PA.
As a biology teacher, Sister Susan values the importance of science
in our world and the necessity for students to become scientifically
literate. Sister sees her role as “an encourager, prodder, and a
challenger for each student to reach full potential.” Last year she
initiated a course for students to travel to Costa Rica for field
experience.
Through the Office of Sponsored Research, Sister has obtained a
number of grants for student research from the National Institutes
of Health. Among the projects that were funded are programs to
research genetic analysis of plant and animal DNA. She recently
received the DNA Lasergene Rising Star Grant which provides
matching funds to acquire Lasergene software to edit, manipulate,
assemble, and analyze DNA.
Sister was also involved in creating and conducting a five-week
residential workshop on Bioinformatics for students entering their
senior year in high school through a grant funded by the National
Science Foundation.
Cultural Arts Series
CA
Immaculata has
joined with the
Delaware Valley Arts
Consortium to offer a
series of cultural
events on campus. The
Delaware Valley Arts Consortium is
a not for profit community-based
organization founded in 1981, whose
mission is to develop audiences of the future
through the development of arts literacy. The
Cultural Arts Series is focused in three art forms—
dance, theatre and music. Brochures will be printed twice a
year listing the presentations for fall or spring events. For those
interested, a brochure is available by contacting the public
relations office at 610-647-4400, ext. 3874
LTURAL
RTS
series
She hosted an award-winning live radio and TV show and over her
33 year history of coaching has had over 1,000 speaking
engagements for Fortune 500 companies, banquets and schools. A
strong believer in community outreach,Theresa has spoken to
hundreds of public service organizations such as Lions, Kiwanis,
Rotary clubs and other groups. She continues as a color
commentator for women’s basketball on the Big Ten Network.
Theresa has served as chairperson of the Kodak All-American
committee and as a member of the NCAA Rules committee. In
2001,Theresa was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of
Fame.
Sister Susan has been a member of various University committees
including Campus Ministry, University Council, Promotion and
Tenure, Pre-professional Committee for the Health Professions. As
a member of the Middle States Steering Committee, she was chair
of the special topics committee “Institutional Culture.” As a
member of the Strategic Planning Taskforce, she planned and
coordinated the faculty workshop Future Search with Dr. Janice
Jacobs. She has been involved with the Campus Ministry outreach
to hurricane Katrina victims as an organizer and participant in five
trips to New Orleans.
In addition, Sister has directed two doctorial dissertations, has
published numerous articles and reviews and presented at many
meetings and conferences.
The Lindback Award is granted each year to a faculty member who
has demonstrated excellence in teaching.
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
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sportsnews
CAMPUSNEWS
Dr. Wrightson Named Dean of CLL
Dr. Samuel Wrightson has succeeded Dr.
Elke Franke as dean of the College of
LifeLong Learning. Formerly assistant dean of
CLL, Dr.Wrightson concentrated on
developing new off-site locations. His former
experience in the education field includes
positions at Valley Forge Military College,
Cabrini College, and the United States
Military Academy Preparatory School in
New Jersey.
After serving from 1966 to 1989 in the U.S. Army, Dr.Wrightson
retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is a graduate of the United States
Military Academy at West Point, received a master’s degree from
Norfolk State University and an EdD from Temple University.
Dr.Wrightson comments on his new position,“I am excited to be able
to continue working with our adult learners in the College of LifeLong
Learning to provide rigorous, high quality, Catholic education, on
campus and to the many students in our off-campus cohorts.”
In Memoriam
Sister Florence Marie McCarthy was former librarian at Immaculata.
In 1938, Sister Florence Marie entered the Sisters, Servants of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary and was professed in 1940. Sister Florence
Marie received a bachelor’s degree from Immaculata in 1959 and
earned a master’s in library science from Drexel University in 1962.
She was involved in elementary education in the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, where she taught at St.Alice in Upper Darby; at St.
Joseph in Frackville; and St. Francis
Xavier in Philadelphia.At the high school
level, she taught mathematics, history and
religion at St.Ann High School in
Lansford; at West Catholic Girls’ High
School; and at St. Hubert High School.
Many will remember Sister Florence as
librarian of the Immaculata Library when
it was housed in Lourdes Hall. Sister
served as head librarian and library
director from 1961 until she retired to Camilla Hall in 1996. She
was a member of numerous library associations, on the board of
directors of Tri-state College Library Cooperative and a member of
the Library Science Honor Society Beta Phi Mu.
PAC Conference Changes Name
The PAC Conference to which Immaculata is a member, has been
renamed Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). In a rebranding
effort, the conference officially changed its name on July 1. The member
institutions of the Colonial States Athletic Conference now include:
Baptist Bible College, Cabrini College, Cedar Crest College, Centenary
College, College of Notre Dame, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Keystone
College, Marywood University, Neumann College, Rosemont College,
Philadelphia Biblical University, and Immaculata University. Shenandoah
University will continue as an associate member in men’s lacrosse.
About the name change, conference commissioner Amy FrankensteinFriedman comments, “The new name recognizes that we have member
schools that are not in Pennsylvania. And, after years of being confused
with other conferences that are similarly named, we will be able to
create a new identity and really stand out from the crowd.”
Sister Marita David Kirsch, current archivist of Gabriele Library,
remembers Sister Florence,“When I think of Sister Florence Marie,
memories of her welcome smile and her readiness to be of assistance
come immediately to mind. Sister was well equipped in all areas of
librarianship and quickly acquainted herself with the new advances
in technology as they came into use to enhance all phases of library
work.After contributing so much to the Immaculata academic
world, she was able to see her dream come true—the brand new,
state-of-the-art Gabriele Library.”
Men’s Tennis Receives
PAC Team Sportsmanship Award
The Immaculata men’s tennis team received the Pennsylvania
Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Team Sportsmanship Award. The
award is presented to the team that most closely demonstrates
good sportsmanship, based on the ideals of the PAC and its Code
of Conduct.
Student-athletes from each sport voted on a variety of criteria,
including respect from others teams’ fans, performance of game
management staff, coaches’ actions and behavior and the overall
atmosphere of the game.
Men’s tennis becomes the second team to earn a PAC Team
Sportsmanship Award this season after Immaculata’s volleyball
team earned the award in the fall.
Sim Honored for Efforts on the
Field and in the Classroom
Immaculata sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Sim was selected to the
Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) Second Team, marking the
second consecutive season Sim has earned second team All-PAC honors.
Sim was also recognized for his efforts in the classroom as he was
named to the 10-member Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men’s
Lacrosse Team.
THE 2009 IMMACULATA ART SHOW MOVES TO MAY
A gala preview reception
on Friday, May 8, from
7 to 10 p.m.
Tickets are $75.
The show continues free of charge
from May 9 through May 17.
Featured Artist is Michele Byrne
Special Reception for Alumni on
Friday, May 15.
No more or
icy roads s.
snow date
Carol Mastrosante Named to
Softball All-PAC First Team
Immaculata sophomore catcher Carol Mastrosante was named to the
Softball First Team All-Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC).
The Philadelphia, Pa., native hit .513 for the season to lead the Mighty
Macs, starting all 24 games. Mastrosante amassed 39 hits, including
nine doubles, three triples and three home runs. She also scored 11
runs and drove in 16. This marks Mastrosante’s first all-league plaudit,
while she earned PAC Weekly Honor Roll selection on March 31.
Sim started all 13 games for the Mighty Macs, playing 791:53 minutes
to record an overall record of 3-10. He made 233 saves for a .597 save
percentage, which ranked fifth overall in the PAC, and registered 11.90
goals against (GAA). He amassed 20 or more saves during six games
during 2008, including recording a season-best 24 saves against
Elizabethtown and Cabrini. Sim also scooped up 31 ground balls during
the season.
A first-time Academic All-Area selection, the Immaculata goalkeeper has
been equally sensational as a math and secondary education major. He
is a two-time member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference AllAcademic Team.
Volunteers Needed
For ticket and volunteer information, call 610-647-4400, ext. 3122.
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I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
I5
sportsnews
Mighty Macs Coach Inducted
into the Basketball Hall of Fame
a
Cathy Rush, coach of Immaculata’s national championship women’s basketball
teams of the 70s has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in
Springfield, Massachusetts. Cathy Rush, previously elected to the Women’s
Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2000, compiled a record
149-15 in seven seasons (1971-77) at Immaculata. Besides winning the national
championship in 1972, 1973 and 1974, Rush’s teams participated in three other
final four appearances from 1975-1977.
“We were pioneers
before we knew what
pioneers meant.”
Nominated five previous times, Cathy Rush joins Coach Pat Riley, broadcaster
Dick Vitale, former NBA players Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and Adrian
Dantley and Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson in the Class of 2008 inductees
to the Hall of Fame.
“I am humbled by the honor,” commented Cathy Rush, “and certainly thank the
people who have supported me for so long.”
b
c
d
a. Phil Martelli (left), men’s basketball coach at St. Joseph’s University; Patty Canterino ’92, Immaculata athletic director
and women’s basketball coach; and Geno Auriemma, head coach of women’s basketball at the University of Connecticut.
Hall of Fame
Induction
Ceremony
b. Former Mighty Macs (l. to r.) Judy Marra Martelli ’75, Dr. Lorrie Gable Finelli ’78, Laurie Mann ’78, and Tim Chambers,
director/writer of the movie Our Lady of Victory.
c. Former Mighty Macs players (l. to r.) Theresa Shank Grentz ’74, Dr. Lorrie Gable Finelli ’78, Denise Conway Crawford ’74,
Coach Cathy Rush, Laurie Mann ’78 and Dr. Marie Liguori Williams ’77.
d. Sister Patricia Fadden, IHM, president, and (far right) Sister Carroll Isselmann, IHM, vice president for academic affairs,
are pictured with Cathy Wooten and Coach Morgan Wooten, who was coach at DeMatha Catholic High School and is
renowned for the most wins in high school basketball history and for a number of his players going on to play in the NBA.
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I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
For sports information visit www.immaculata.edu and click on Athletics.
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
I7
O
Gift
S
I
O
’
S
R
KO
by Dr. Bernadette Thomas ’01
My colleague and I gripped tightly to the worn leather
handles of the taxi that we had hired to bring us to
Kisoro, trying not to look down. Our driver was at ease,
whistling quietly as he skillfully maneuvered the rugged
terrain. They were not roads, but narrow rock paths that
we struggled over as the car labored down the slopes of a
mountain to reach the remote village where we would
be working for a month. Our surroundings were a far cry
from the congested streets and numerous skyscrapers of
New York, the city that we left to come to Uganda to
learn about its people, illnesses, and needs. Though I had
come to serve its impoverished inhabitants, I would leave
a month later much richer after living among them.
The town is composed of one main road lined with
small businesses and shops selling home-grown
eucalyptus honey, but farming is the main industry.
Surrounded by unspeakably lush beauty, the small village
is nestled between inactive volcanoes and rolling green
hills bordering the Congo. Not an inch of the land is
untilled, giving a patch-work appearance to the earth
known as “terraced” landscaping. I explored these
grounds on a hike during my first day in Kisoro. My
lungs were still acclimating to the higher altitude as I
climbed and met the families that lived on the farmed
grounds. Little shacks housed families sharing potent
banana gin, eating breakfast, or getting ready for church.
Small children quickly gathered to stare at the foreigner.
They followed at a careful distance, adeptly leaping
barefoot over the rocks that I labored over in booted feet.
The people that I met were unspeakably poor, but
offered food and drink, and shyly introduced me to their
elaborate rules of etiquette. In Kisoro you always greet
those that you meet, never walk between two people
having a conversation, and always share your meal with
someone who passes by.Those that I met along the hike
were gentle, welcoming, and charmed by my attempts to
learn a few words of greeting in their native language.
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I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
With this introduction I began my work in the hospital.
I witnessed the consequences that lives of hard labor,
disease and poverty brought on the inhabitants in the
little town during my work in the local government
hospital. HIV, tuberculosis, tetanus, malnutrition, and
malaria were a few of the conditions that I constantly
diagnosed as I assessed the numerous patients that would
present during a day. The imaging studies that are
abundantly provided in the US are a luxury in Kisoro.
Patients often struggle between paying for an x-ray and
life-saving medication or food. The beds in my ward
began to hold more and more Congolese refugees—
those lucky enough to escape the escalating violence in
the nearby country. One of my patients was a young
teenage Congolese refugee, who had been forced into
the service of one of the militant groups. The soles of his
feet had been burned to prevent any attempt of escape,
one of the many abuses he had suffered. In screening him
for signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, I asked what
he dreamt when he slept. He gazed at me calmly and
replied,“When I dream, I hear music.”
Bernadette Thomas, MD (left) received her BA from Immaculata
in 2001, completed Temple University School of Medicine in 2005
and graduated from residency at the Albert Einstein Montefiore
Medical Center in June. She spent one month working at the local
government hospital in Kisoro, Uganda serving the medical needs
of impoverished inhabitants. Currently, she is working for Doctors
without Borders (MSF) and will start a Nephrology fellowship at the
University of Washington in Seattle in July 2009.
This article is a reprint of one she wrote for the Doctors for
Global Health newsletter. The Web site for Doctors for
Global Health is www.dghonline.org
I sat in the back pew of the local church, gazing at the
fellow worshipers who had become my patients and
community during the past month. I struggled to
understand their calm, their peace in the setting of
hunger, disease, early mortality, and nearby war.Their
voices lifted in prayerful song as their hands kept time
with an elaborate clapped rhythm. They sang as one—the
sound swelling with praise and gratitude.Tears streamed
down my face at its beauty, and in that instant I caught a
glimpse of the source of their strength.Though now back
amid the clamor of my New York life, when I close my
eyes, I can still hear that music—and feel that peace.
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
I9
25
Realizing
a
Dream
Years of
Scholarship,
Service & Spirit
by Sister Ann Heath, IHM, PhD and Jeffrey Rollison
educational leadership • organization leadership • cultural and linguistic
diversity • applied communication • nutrition education • music therapy
• clinical psychology • nursing • counseling psychology • education •
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I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
‘‘N
ot much happens without a dream. And for
something great to happen, there must be a great
dream.” After 25 years, looking at the College
of Graduate Studies in 2008 leaves little doubt that a
great dream unfolded in 1983.
Graduate education and its evolution at Immaculata
University truly reflect the great dream mentioned by
Robert Greenleaf in his book, Servant Leadership.What
motivated this dream? A group of core planners
including faculty, administrators and consultants
responded to a compelling desire to serve a new
population of working adults who sought graduate
education in psychology, education, and nutrition
education.The strong academic tradition of education
rooted in the liberal arts along with a commitment to
advanced preparation for the professions guided the
initial launching of the master’s programs.
Twenty five years later, the dream of 1983, has unfolded
into an enduring and dynamic vision of creating
opportunities for growth through graduate education.
This vision has led to the creation of various master’s
programs including music therapy, cultural and linguistic
diversity, organization leadership, nursing and applied
communication. Doctoral programs in educational
leadership and administration, clinical psychology, and
school psychology arose to expand offerings serving
students who sought advanced training for the
professions.The dream also led to the creation of
instructional and professional certification programs in
education and psychology along with certificate
programs in organization effectiveness and healthcare.
The vision began with just over 50 students enrolled in
fall 1983 and has resulted in close to 1300 students
engaged in graduate education in spring 2008.
In Built to Last, authors Collins and Porras indicate that
visionary organizations all seem to hold a set of core
values, established from their infancy, and these values
sustain the organizations as they evolve. Critical core
values have guided the growth and development of the
College of Graduate Studies taking on a variety of
expressions unique to the disciplines involved.These
core values revolve around three central themes: service,
scholarship and sense of spirit. How do these values
enliven and inspire graduate activities?
Nothing captures the centrality of service more clearly
than in the commitment to students. One current
student in the doctoral program in educational
leadership established in 1991 indicated that service
to people hallmarks Immaculata graduate education.
“This reaching out,” he says, “has great variety. Faculty
are actively interested in students.The sense of caring is
refreshing. Generosity of time, collegiality of spirit,
respectful listening and welcoming engagement provide
an environment that helps thoughtful students to grow
on many levels, personally and professionally.”The
founders of Graduate Studies, Sister M. Carroll
Isselmann, Sister Mary Lalande Drumm, and Sister
Kathleen Mary Burns, set expectations high for
providing service with a focus on quality,
responsiveness, and concern.This sense of service
extends to activities touching the community, people
served and affiliated profession.
A sense of community is derived from being a part of
an organization with a decisive service mission.This
sense of community flows directly from the University’s
mission which responds to the belief in the dignity and
potential of all men and women integrating them into a
community of service and seeking to empower them to
assume meaningful roles in a diverse and changing
world (paraphrase of Mission Statement).
The organization leadership program, founded
by Dr. Janice Jacobs in 1999, reflects this commitment
to student development in its program goals. Dr. Jacobs
writes, that “successful workers are those who lead
themselves, care about their work and engage effectively
with others, are open to change, and are conscientious,
optimistic and energetic.”The program in organization
leadership focuses on these qualities and hones the role
of self leadership as the foundation for making positive
contributions to the organization and society at large.
The cultural and linguistic diversity program
also is responsive to community but with a global
perspective and seeks to help students appreciate the
challenges and conflicts involved in developing
interdependence within multicultural diversity.
Students experience programs which focus on serving
others in a caring and ethically responsible manner.
The newly approved program in applied
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
I 11
Realizing
a
Dream
communication emphasizes the importance of
developing an awareness of the ethical functioning of
public relations practices that serve groups or individuals.
Students in all programs learn through role playing, case
studies, and discussion how to judge, question, and think
differently to achieve understanding, not just of facts,
but of the underlying reason for choosing a particular
course of action.
Since the Immaculata programs provide a direct career
orientation and focus on integrating research and
practice within the educational experience, scholarship
takes on many meanings. Over the past twenty-five
years, each area of specialty has sought to respond to the
highest standards of the profession in establishing and
refining program offerings.The dietetic internship
incorporated within one of the tracks of the master’s
program in nutrition education achieved its
initial developmental accreditation by the American
Dietetic Association as early as 1994. In 1995, the
master’s program in music therapy received final
approval by the National Association of Schools of
Music.The first accreditation of the clinical
psychology program by the American Psychological
Association in 1999 documented the accomplishments
of the graduate psychology department in internalizing
and demonstrating the competencies demanded from an
accredited program.The master of science in nursing
program established in 2003 achieved accreditation by
the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in
2006.
Achieving and maintaining excellence place demands
on the faculty and staff to remain responsive to the
evolving changes in the profession and to remain
resilient and energized incorporating changes into
program offerings.The vision of the College of
Graduate Studies emphasizes the scholar practitioner
model of teaching and learning.This includes the
scholarly appreciation of experience and the use of the
experiential learning in a scholarly manner.
Faculty always play the vital role in enlivening the
classroom practice by illustrating their knowledge and
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I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
expertise in addressing real-world, professional
experiences. Remaining current in the profession and
active in their fields strengthen the faculty members
position as role models, mentors, and facilitators of
practice.While written specifically about the clinical
psychology program, Dr.Yalof, chair of graduate
psychology, expresses a thought that aptly captures the
importance of faculty. He writes “faculty are outstanding
professional role models, committed to each other as
people and professionals, who work as a unified team to
bring their training, skill and character into the heart
and soul of the classroom. They are attuned finely to
their responsibilities as educators and trainers, and make
this work an important part of their life.”
A richness of practice and a networking among current
students and graduates flows through the activities of
Honor Societies. Beta Mu Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota
provides counseling psychology students with
the opportunity to meet professionals and to clarify
their career options. Honor Societies for students in
nutrition education, education, music
therapy and nursing offer similar opportunities for
students to gain recognition for their achievements and
to be socialized into their professions.
The spirit of the College of Graduate Studies lies
deeply rooted in a belief which transcends the
functionality of a series of courses or experiences. The
belief focuses on the development of the person, the
fulfillment of goals, and the transformation of the
individual into a professional with advanced
understanding of the discipline. Our spirit reflects an
awareness of the spiritual dimension of the individual
and recognizes the importance of the spiritual in lives of
service. This expresses itself from the genuineness,
interpersonal presence, and dedication to service
through which the spiritual mission of the institution
manifests itself. The twenty-fifth anniversary provides a
moment to realize how our graduates have touched and
enriched, strengthened and uplifted many lives. A
graduate of 1988 indicated, “Immaculata is about
communities. Students are challenged to define their
roles and contributions to others in all walks of life.”
Spirit never escaped the realm of Sister Jean Anthony
Gileno, founder in 1995 of the music therapy
program. She stated in an interview at the time, “People
are out there waiting. We’ve got to give them a little
encouragement through music and the arts.The arts are
important—dance, humor, music, Immaculata and music
therapy—part of the future!” This spirit of openness,
encouragement, desire for growth, looking to the
future, empowerment, and energy remain critical forces
in the realization of the dream of 1983.
The story of growth and development involves adding,
transforming, and eliminating programs to respond to
the cycle of need. For a period of time, programs in the
teaching of mathematics, the expressive arts, and
psycho-spirituality provided students with specialized
offerings enriching their professional development. In
addition to program expansion, the College of Graduate
Studies has also responded to location expansion. In an
effort to provide accessibility for working students,
education programs have been offered in over 15
locations. Graduates from our offsite locations
frequently share that without this ease of access to
programs leading to degrees and certifications, they
would not have been able to achieve their credentials.
The Logo designed to capture the 25th anniversary
represents two interlocking paths: past and future joined
at this precise moment with the focal point of 25.The
past with all of the people who have been a part of it,
plays the essential role of supporting and motivating the
future. Here we are at this wondrous moment
celebrating 25 years with all that is yet to come still
swirling around as dreams yet to be realized. And the
future path rolls out before us full of potential, waiting
for our students, faculty, administrators and staff to walk
in new ways, challenged to think differently, and ready
to create a new vision responsive to current invitations.
Sister Ann Heath, IHM, PhD is dean of the College of
Graduate Studies
Jeffrey Rollison is executive director of Gabriele Library
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
I 13
by Shaun Esbensen ’09
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Do not go
where the path may lead, go instead
where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Adventure and discovery do not come
from sitting in a classroom and repeating
the lesson a professor teaches, but from
embarking into the world to discover the
beauty and awe this God-given earth
offers.The trip to Costa Rica offered the
chance to step away from the so called
comforts of a stale classroom and into a
wonderland of new and amazing
experiences.
On service trips to New Orleans, we are
told “expect nothing.”This simple, yet
profound, idea flew in and out of my
mind when we embarked on our trip that
took us just under the equator. Despite
the workbook,Web site and other
paraphernalia for the class, nothing could
have prepared my five senses for the
extraordinary overload I put them
through. I heard birds, monkeys, and
music; tasted and smelled an array of
uniquely delicious Costa Rican fare; saw
creatures and foliage beyond my wildest
imagination; and felt the relentless sun
blister my skin.
I encountered another sensation on this
escapade, a feeling that bordered on
exhaustion and sheer delirium. I felt a
Pura Vida mindset from the expedition.
Yet, I continue to question what caused
me to reach that state of mind.
When someone states, “We’re going out
on a turtle watch” most people think,
“hey, what could be better, a walk on the
beach with the stars twinkling away in
the sky and a salty breeze tickling my
face. Sounds like fun; count me in.”
Gratefully, my “expect nothing” attitude
kicked in and I was not led astray by
preconceived ideas.We were warmly
greeted at Tortuga Marina with “Wear all
black, long clothes, and bring a bottle of
water; you are doing the late-early shift.”
I had the blind experience of a lifetime?
four hours and ten kilometers of walking
blindly and hearing “stick, branch,
Pura Vida (POO-rah VEE-dah), used by Costa Ricans since 1956, literally
translated means “Pure Life.” Contextually, it means “Full of Life,” “Purified
life,” “This is living!” or “Going great!” It is used as a greeting, a farewell, and
to express satisfaction. Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy
of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life slowly,
celebrating good fortune, whether small or large. (Wikipedia)
14
I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
another branch, rock, oh sorry, forgot to
tell you about that coconut, oh wait,
another branch!” from my guides
(though, I was completely grateful for
their assistance).
One would think anyone who tortured
their body and felt the kisses of a
thousand sand fleas would not wish to go
through another night of this torture.
But, we did.The second night, however,
paid off.We saw several endangered
leatherback sea turtles. Seeing these
magnificent creatures in their natural
habitat was a rare and privileged treat. I’ll
never forget the outlines of the turtles
and the soft snorts they produced.
While the turtles brought my mind back
to nature, the stay on the farm allowed
me to fall in love with humanity again. In
this day and age or in America anyway, if
you invite a bunch of college students
into your home for a few days your
neighbors would think you lost your
mind.Well, Costa Ricans think differently.
They are welcoming, amicable and quite
hospitable people who welcomed us into
their homes without a judging glance.
Marvin, Angelina and their son did
everything within their power to
accommodate us.Whether finding bandaids for a bite from the ferocious
Beethoven the Chihuahua, or creating
meals for the vegetarian, this family never
complained (or at least we could not
understand if they did).
Not only was this family accommodating,
they were entertaining. After a strenuous
day of milking a cow, planting one
hundred rare plants, and hiking through a
cloud forest, we returned to the casa for a
siesta and some dinner.We were also
greeted, unexpectedly, by the notion that
we should have a dance party. After some
convincing, the family, our tour guide
Humberto and our driver Rolando, all
agreed for the mini fiesta. Four hours
later, we discovered new dance partners,
new music, and new dance moves.
Personally, I strongly dislike dancing.The
family got each of us out of our shells
and up on our feet.We connected to the
family with a deep appreciation for the
time they took to teach and house us.
Out of the dozens of groups they have
housed over the last few years, we were
the first group they ever taught the
traditional (and somewhat provocative)
Costa Rican dances.
This family taught us a plethora of facts
and cultural lessons that I continue to
think about.They taught us ‘Spanglish’
and we taught them about American
music and language. Like all things in life,
this visit came to an end, and we were
forced to say our goodbyes, although I
would have chosen to stay.While saying
farewell is almost never painless, an
exchange of email addresses and phone
numbers made the ordeal much easier. It
was time for us to move on to our next
adventure.
We climbed into the bus and began our
journey. After several hours on the bus and
a few emergency pit stops to use el bano,
we arrived in the middle of nowhere to
go white-water rafting and zip lining, two
activities I was not sure how to react to.
While I generally do not mind a
challenge, these two activities caused me
to question my sanity and safety-harness.
They also gave me a chance to find
confidence in myself, something I often
lack in my spontaneous life.
Luckily for me, this was not only a
challenge, but déjà vu.White water rafting
in the warm and sensuous rains of the
country reminded me of blind dragon
boat racing on the Schuylkill River. I
remembered how important teamwork
and bonding are to the survival of those
on the boat. Between this memory and
the activity, I appreciated how the groups
in the different rafts started out as almost
strangers in some instances, and how we
bonded throughout the trip. I took note
of how some people seemed skeptical of
the rafts, yet rowed anyway.Though
everyone was utterly soaked and soggy,
we warmed up to the course and
persevered, but this activity only prepared
us for zip lining.
While I loved to sleep on my perches the
rest of society calls top-bunk, zip lining
was a different kind of height. Although I
usually don’t mind heights, simply being
hooked to a cord stretched tightly around
trees by a belay is not what I call the
most secure situation. However, like every
other activity we engaged in, this also
taught me a lesson: deep faith in others.
This may have been my rationale, but
without faith, none of us would have
been able to succeed on this adventure. It
IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
I 15
paid off too, because the slick wet ropes
took us on a trip of a lifetime and dished
out more adrenaline than any amount of
energy drink. Being able to see the
canopy from a birds-eye view was
exhilarating. It brought my creative
thought to new heights, literally and
figuratively! The best part was how we
managed to trek the course as a team.
After a day of strenuous outdoor
movement, I did not imagine we could
possibly do anything more amazing.Yet
again, I was completely wrong.There was
still Easter Sunday, and the Arenal
volcano. I was excited considering that up
to this point I had never seen an active
volcano. On the ride to the volcano, we
learned that while volcanoes are tracked
and their seismic activity is recorded,
volcanoes can be unpredictable, so we
could die if the volcano gods decided to
have a party.This comforting thought was
only made stronger by the common sense
signs stating “Zone of high volcanic risk,
you enter under your own risk,” as if we
didn’t get the idea from the billowing
plumes of smoke and rocks catapulting
down the slopes.
The trek to the base of the volcano, like
any other trail we took, was teeming with
wildlife, and the hot sun created a
captivating ambiance that added to the
adventure.We climbed the steep steps to
the base and were greeted by a panoramic
view of the valley adjacent to the
sputtering mountain.The view was
breathtaking, making the active volcano
more majestic and sublime than anything
thus far. After some time, we made our
way back down the mountain, passed a
tiny deadly yellow viper that people
deemed ‘pretty’ and back to the bus.This
tour of God’s creation added to the holy
day and was a reminder of how small we
as human beings are in the great scheme
of things.
Emerson stated, “Do not go where the
path may lead, go instead where there is
no path and leave a trail,” we embarked
on a trip without knowing what we were
getting into.We tried and experienced
every new thing our bodies could handle,
and learned that by not taking the beaten
and worn road (although sometimes
regretfully so), we could discover new and
crazy adventures, as well as a rooted love
for those crazy Costa Ricans.
The trip has long been over. My dirty
hiking boots, since hosed off are put away,
and my sunburn has peeled to a tan. I
have looked back on my experience and
am grateful for choosing to go on the
adventure of a lifetime, without
expectations, but with a hope to
rediscover myself through the animals,
greenery and culture of Costa Rica’s Pura
Vida lifestyle.
The events we encountered and the paths
we took to achieve what we
accomplished were extraordinary. As
donor2 0report
07-2008
Every contribution is important to Immaculata.
The University values her alumni and friends by wisely utilizing their gifts. Joining in the good
work of Immaculata requires only a sincere effort to help as much as one is able.
Distinguished Gift Clubs
Total Giving by Constituency
JULY 1, 2007 – JUNE 30, 2008
Trustees
$
397,095
Alumni
$
926,460
Parents
$
34,201
Faculty/Staff/Students
$
59,280
Friends
$
119,963
Foundations
$
130,940
Corporations
$
73,371
Events
$
75,500
Government
$
371,614
TOTAL
$ 2,188,424
Gift Designation
Annual Fund
$
485,879
Events
$
75,500
TOTAL
$
561,379
I IMMACULATA MAGAZINE FALL 2008
SISTER MARY OF LOURDES CIRCLE $10,000 TO $24,999
Honoring Sister Mary of Lourdes, IHM, president from 1955 to 1972
SISTER MARIE ANTOINE CIRCLE $5,000 TO $9,999
Honoring Sister Marie Antoine, IHM, president from 1972 to 1982
SISTER MARIAN WILLIAM CIRCLE $2,500 TO $4,999
Honoring Sister Marian William, IHM, president from 1982 to 1992
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $250 TO $499
This level of giving emphasizes the importance of the President’s role in the
development of the University.
AMETHYST CLUB $100 TO $249
The amethyst is the gemstone in Immaculata’s ring and pin, and traditionally is
known as a symbol of loyalty.
Another trip to Costa Rica is planned for Spring Break February 27 to March 8, 2009.
16
MOTHER LOYOLA CIRCLE $25,000 TO $49,999
Honoring Mother M. Loyola Gallagher, IHM, first president of Immaculata from
1921 to 1929
SISTER MARIE ROSEANNE BONFINI CIRCLE $500 TO $999
Honoring Sister Marie Roseanne Bonfini, IHM, president from 1992 to 2002
UNRESTRICTED
Pura Vida
IMMACULATA CIRCLE $50,000 TO $99,999
These benefactors recognize the special mission of the University and the
strength of the Immaculata experience.
PACESETTERS CIRCLE $1,000 TO $2,499
This group of benefactors is honored for their vision and leadership.
JULY 1, 2007 – JUNE 30, 2008
For more information please contact Sister Susan Cronin at scronin@immaculata.edu.
IHM CIRCLE $100,000 AND ABOVE
This group of benefactors manifests a unity and friendship with Immaculata on the
highest level and mirrors the dedication to Immaculata by the Sisters, Servants of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
RESTRICTED
Capital/Endowment
$ 1,255,431
Government
$
TOTAL
$ 1,627,045
TOTAL GIVING
$ 2,188,424
371,614
The fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. The names listed in this publication are
donors – alumni, trustees, parents, students, faculty, staff and administration, friends,
foundations, corporations, government, and matching gift companies – whose gifts to
Immaculata were received during fiscal year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Contributions
received after June 30, 2008 will be included in the 2008-2009 Donor Report publication.
Matching gifts are credited in the year in which they are received.
The Office of Institutional Advancement, which compiles this list, apologizes for any misspelling
or omission of a donor’s name. We will appreciate your calling any error to our attention.