homecoming - Robert Morris University

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RMU.EDU
HOMECOMING
SAVE THE DATE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 29
Last fall we set Homecoming
attendance records with our first
night game, Tailgate Alley gala,
and fireworks show. So we're doing
it again... only this time it'll
be even better. Don't miss it!
WINTER} 12
Foundations
DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,
Indulge me for a moment: In June I became a grandfather for the
first time, when my daughter, Lara, gave birth to a baby girl.
Some of you know what this is like, to see your own child – an extension of
yourself, in a way – become a parent, with all the joys (and trials) that come
with it, to proudly cradle the next generation in your arms. It gave me
pause to reflect on the life Polly and I have built for ourselves and our
family, and to consider the legacy we will one day leave behind.
CREDITS
Of course, you don't have to be a parent or a grandparent to leave a legacy.
You don't have to have been a great artist or inventor, an entrepreneur, or a
record-setting professional athlete. All you need to do to create a legacy is to
leave the world better than you found it, to contribute in some way to something that is bigger than yourself.
That's what we do at Robert Morris University. It's what we've done for 90 years. Everyone who has
studied here, or taught here, or provided the services and resources that run this university has contributed
to that legacy. RMU is a great place because our students make it a great place. Because our alumni who
carry our name into the world make it a great place. Because the faculty and staff who touch their lives
make it a great place.
We see our legacy manifested in myriad ways. We see it in the success of our alumni, who work hard to build
influential careers and make their communities better places. We recognize this each year with our Heritage
Award, which we give to alumni whose distinguished service and accomplishments bring honor to them and
to RMU. You'll read on page 26 about our 2011 recipient, John Bartling '82, who not only has achieved
tremendous professional success but who has changed the lives of those less fortunate than himself.
We presented the Heritage Award, as we do each year, at our President's Council Dinner, an event where we
thank those donors who have contributed $1,000 or more during the previous year. We invite several of our
best students to attend that dinner, because we want members of our President's Council to see exactly how
their gifts get put to use.
Our donors' legacy, like ours, is the students who benefit from all our supporters' generosity. So it is fitting that
at our President's Council Dinner we present a graduating senior with our Rising Star Award in recognition of
his or her achievements at RMU and potential for professional success.
This year's winner, Briana Smith, happens to be the daughter of alumnus Alvin Smith '86. The Smiths and
others are featured in an article on page 12 about alumni who have given RMU the ultimate endorsement –
entrusting us with the education of their children. Naturally, we call these students "legacies." But it's a fitting
name for all our students, and I hope you are as proud of them as I am.
Sincerely,
G R E G O R Y G . D E L L’ O M O , P H . D .
PRESIDENT
EDITOR
Mark Houser
Scan thiS code With
YoUR SMaRt Phone
CONTRIBUTORS
Valentine J. Brkich, Robert Isenberg,
Susan Jacobs Jablow, Jonathan
Potts M'11, Bonnie Pfister
ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER
Amy Joy
PHOTOGRAPHY/ILLUSTRATIONS
Front Cover: Michael Will '08
Back Cover: Mitch Kramer '08
Other Photos/Illustrations: CSI: Photo, Valentine
J. Brkich, Glenn Brookes, Jason Cohn, Kevin
Cooke, Hot Metal Studios, iStockphoto, Amy Joy,
Mitch Kramer ‘08, Michael Will ‘08
PRINTING
RR Donnelley Hoechstetter Plant
FOUNDATIONS ONLINE
Douglas A. Derda
Foundations (ISSN 1934-5690) is published three
times a year by the Office of Public Relations
and Marketing in conjunction with the Office of
Institutional Advancement and mailed free of
charge to alumni, donors, trustees, faculty, staff
and friends of Robert Morris University. The
opinions expressed in the magazine do not
necessarily reflect the official policies of
Robert Morris University.
Contributions to Class Notes and address
changes may be sent to:
Office of Alumni Relations
Robert Morris University
6001 University Boulevard
Moon Township, PA 15108-1189
Phone: (412) 397-6464 Fax: (412) 397-2142
E-mail: rmualum@rmu.edu
It is the policy of Robert Morris University to provide
equal opportunity in all educational programs and
activities, admission of students and conditions of
employment for all qualified individuals regardless
of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, national
origin and/or sexual preference.
All in the Family. . . . . . . . . . . . 12
No endorsement of a university is quite as compelling as a
family legacy. Here are three stories of fathers and daughters
who share a special bond as RMU legacies.
The Untold Story
of Flamenco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Captivated since childhood by Spain's dramatic dance, an RMU
media arts professor is directing "Inheritors of a Burden," a
documentary about flamenco's arrival on American shores.
Peace, Love & Little Donuts . . .18
They originally planned to open a Christian marriage retreat center.
They wound up with a donut shop. But what a donut shop it is.
Stuck in the Middle . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
an "opera fanatic," took the
f
Julie Woloshin '03 took up the university's challenge to gain
a global perspective.
Now she is helping to build a democracy in formerly war-torn Kosovo.
10 Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Not to be nebby, but what's it like being married to Pittsburgh's most
popular yinzer? Pretty fun if you like dogs, says Hedy Polifroni Krenn '97.
CAMPUS REPORT
> The Inn Crowd
The university hosted a research
conference in November examining
the intersection of communication
and information systems in
organizations and academia. The
conference, "Playing in the
Intersection: Revisiting the 'New
Convergence,'" was sponsored by
the university's doctoral program
in information systems and
communication (D.Sc.) and its
Alumni Research Group.
With undergraduate enrollment, residential
enrollment, and student retention all at historic
levels this year, the university purchased the
Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport to help
accommodate the influx of students. The hotel,
less than a mile from campus on University
Boulevard, currently houses some 144 students
on floors separate from hotel guests.
President Gregory G. Dell'Omo, Ph.D.,
contributed $500 for two best-of-conference paper
awards. Third-year students Mary Beth Lang and
Steven King won the Debons Award for Best Applied
Paper for "Federated Searching: Turning Metadata
into Information;" and John Lawson, Ph.D.,
associate professor of English studies, earned the
President's Award for Best Theoretical Paper for "Narrative
Frames of Keynesian Economic Commentators." The conference also featured a keynote talk by Fred Kohun, Ph.D.,
founder of the D.Sc. program and university professor of computer and information systems.
In August the university opened its 13th residence hall,
Peter Salem Hall, which houses 190 students. Including the
students at the Holiday Inn, nearly 1,700 students live in
campus housing, approximately half of all full-time undergraduates and an
86 percent increase since 2000. RMU plans to continue to operate the Holiday
Inn as a hotel through at least 2012, dedicating some floors to student
housing, to be called Yorktown Hall. The hotel ultimately will provide
space to house 500 students.
> Not Too Shabby
> Spin Masters
A dozen PR majors attended the Public Relations Student Society of America's
annual conference in Orlando, Fla., with their professor, Ann Jabro, Ph.D.,
to learn about and discuss the latest developments the field. Jabro's
research on student professional development through conference
attendance was competitively selected for presentation in the Educators
Academy of the Public Relations Society of America.
2
RMU's online degree programs are getting rave reviews. U.S. News
& World Report put the master's degree programs – competitive
intelligence systems and Internet information systems – in its
"Top Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs."
The bachelor's degree in health services administration
was included in The Best Colleges' "Top 10 Bachelor of
Health Management and Health Administration Degree
Programs." And SuperScholar, an online education and
career information website, designated Robert Morris University
a “Smart Choice” among the top 25 online nursing degree
programs. (Read more about online degrees on page 20.)
> SEE THIS MAGAZINE AND EXTRA FEATURES AT RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS
> The New
Convergence
> Student
Research
Debra J. Borkovich,
a third-year student
in the D.Sc.
program,
won the Jay
Liebowitz
Outstanding
Student Research Award for
the International Association for
Computer Information Systems fall
conference held in Mobile, Ala. Her
paper, "The Social Science of Data
Warehousing: Its Ever-Evolving
Corporate Culture," reviewed the impact
and influence of a corporate culture
approach to data warehousing.
Artemisia
Apostolopoulou,
Ph.D., associate
professor of sport management, presented
the paper she wrote with co-author
Brian Gayso '11, "Sponsorship Goals
and Activation in the National Hockey
League," at the European Association for
Sport Management conference in Madrid.
recycle this magazine
Give it to a neighbor who’s in high school
and help spread the word about RMU.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3
> The Envelope,
Please
> It's Gold, Baby!
> They Are Our
Heroes, Too
The Bayer Center for Nonprofit
Management received
the Community
Hero Award from
UCP/Class, United
Cerebral Palsy's
community
service entity, at the organization's
19th annual Community Heroes
awards dinner.
> Cracking the Case
CSI has come to RMU. In the fall, the university launched a bachelor of
science in cyber forensics and information security. The program, which
trains students in information security and the basics of criminal
investigation, is the first of its kind in western Pennsylvania.
Cyber forensics involves recovering evidence from computers or other
digital storage devices. Such evidence isn't limited to crimes committed
with computers, such as hacking personal data; for instance, the
notorious BTK serial killer was caught because
of data gleaned from a floppy disk he sent
anonymously to police. The U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics projects 20 to 50 percent job
growth in the field over the next eight years,
with entry-level salaries averaging from
$45,000 to $85,000 annually.
> Some Familiar Initials
RMU, meet RMUTT. The university has signed a memorandum of
understanding with Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi,
an institution in Thailand. Under the agreement, RMU and RMUTT
will create student and faculty exchanges and explore other ways for
international collaboration.
The university also has renewed its partnership with the Universidad
Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI), a highlight of which is the twice-yearly
trips nursing students and faculty make to provide medical care to poor
residents in the Central American country.
> From Central Lines to Central Casting
It sounds like something from an episode of "Seinfeld" – actors portraying patients to help student nurses learn
how to diagnose illness. But it's serious work, so much so that The Hearst Foundations designated part of a
$100,000 grant to the medical simulation center at Robert Morris University to fund its standardized patient
program. The grant allowed Colonial Theatre director Ken Gargaro, Ph.D., to train student actors to take on the
roles of patients for student nurses, who gain experience diagnosing disease as well as interacting with patients
and their family members.
The bulk of The Hearst Foundations grant, $75,000, allowed the university's Regional Research and Innovations
in Simulation Education (RISE) Center to purchase another computer-controlled mannequin for its
simulation laboratory. The center is developing partnerships with local health care facilities, including
St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon, to allow medical workers to advance their training.
4 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
> It Hardly Feels Like
Work Most Days
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named
Robert Morris University as one of the 15 Top
Workplaces in the region among companies and
nonprofits with more than 500 employees. The
newspaper ranking is based on email surveys of
employees.
> WATCH SAMPLES OF THE TELLY AWARD-WINNING EPISODES AT FOUNDATIONS ONLINE.
The university chapter of the
National Society of Collegiate
Scholars received the
Gold Star Award at the
society's annual convention
in Puerto Rico. The honors
organization for highachieving freshmen and sophomores has
more than 300 student-run chapters at
universities across the country.
"RMU Live," the
university's
student-produced
television newscast,
has won its second
Bronze Telly Award of Excellence.
The newscast was produced by Kevin
Williams '11, now a news producer at
KDKA-TV. Weatherman Channing
Frampton '11 is now a weatherman and
reporter at TV3 (ABC) in Winchester, Va.
Watch samples of the award-winning
episodes at Foundations Online.
> Déjà Vu All
Over Again
The Actuarial Foundation has
awarded its annual Actuarial
Diversity Scholarship to
sophomore Philippe Rigaud.
He joins 30 other students
nationwide recognized with this
prestigious scholarship. This is
the second year in a row that Rigaud
has received this award.
> As Good
as it Gets
The Joint Review
Committee on
Education Programs
in Nuclear Medicine
Technology has extended
the accreditation for the university's
nuclear medicine technology program
for the maximum two years.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 5
> Awards
Ben Campbell, Ph.D., assistant professor of engineering, spoke at the
Westinghouse Science Honors Institute to more than 300 high school
juniors from western Pennsylvania. Campbell, who has been invited
to speak to the group five times, discussed his research in laser
technology and described his education, background, and career path.
Campbell also gave a presentation at the National Conference of
Governor's Schools in Fargo, N.D., about efforts being made to restore
Pennsylvania's Governor's Schools since their budget was eliminated
in 2009. He is one of two Pennsylvania representatives on the board
of directors for the National Conference of Governor's Schools.
> > FIND US ON FACEBOOK
Page:
RMU Alumni
URL:
facebook.com/ RMUalumni
> FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @RMU FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS
> Scholar, Teacher, Mentor
> Upward and Onward
The university named Derya Jacobs, Ph.D., its new vice provost
for research and graduate study. Formerly dean of the School
of Business, Jacobs brings 21 years of experience in
academia to her new role, including extensive experience
as a teacher, researcher, and academic administrator.
Under her leadership, the School of Business earned
accreditation by AACSB International, the Association
to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, joining only
5 percent of business schools worldwide to carry this
prestigious recognition. Jacobs succeeds university
professor Fred Kohun, Ph.D., who returns to the
faculty in the School of Communications and
Information Systems.
> Getting Down
to Business
Three faculty members participated recently at the Middle
Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Adminstration's annual
conference. Darcy Tannehill, Ed.D., vice president of online and
off-campus programs, and assistant vice president Anthony Petroy, D.M.,
gave a presentation titled "Academic Integrity and the Assessment of Online
Programs." Darlene Motley, Ph.D., associate dean of the School of Business,
took part in a panel discussion about M.B.A. students.
> Movers & Shakers
Denise Ramponi, D.N.P., assistant professor
of nursing, published an article on shoulder
pain in the Advanced Emergency Nursing
Journal with the help of two media
arts students. David Brous and Frank
Vieira, seniors majoring in graphic
design, produced illustrations of
shoulder bone and muscle anatomy
for the article.
6
The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
gave a 2011 Racial Justice
Award to Rex Crawley,
Ph.D. Crawley, assistant
dean of the School of
Communications and
Information Systems, is the
co-founder and co-director of the Black
Male Leadership Development Institute,
a partnership between RMU and the
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh that
provides leadership training to teenagers
and is funded by the Heinz Endowments
and the Buehl Foundation. Crawley also
leads the university's Council on
Institutional Equity, which promotes
inclusiveness and diversity on campus.
He recently wrote a chapter about
fatherhood in the book Masculinity
in the Black Imagination: Politics of
Communicating Race and Manhood.
The Pennsylvania
Communication Association
gave its Carroll Arnold
Distinguished Service
Award to Ann Jabro, Ph.D.,
university professor of
communication. The award
recognizes a member's contributions to
the organization and the communications
profession. Jabro's article, "The Use of
Social Media in Crisis Response Strategy:
A Diffusion of Innovations Analysis,"
was published in the Journal of
Communications Media Studies.
> A Major Minor
Abi Ibraheem, assistant professor of
learning resources, presented a paper
titled "Whither Evidence-Based
Librarianship: A Comparative Reflection
on the Practices in Some University
Libraries in Nigeria, UK, and USA" at the
Evidence-Based Library and
Information Practice conference
in Manchester, England.
Engineering professor
Arif Sirinterlikci,
Ph.D., co-authored a
chapter, "Automation
and Robotics in
Processes," in Instrument
Engineers' Handbook. He collaborated with
Arzu Karaman of Yildiz Technical University
and Oksan Imamoglu from Istanbul Technical
University, both in Turkey.
Ordinary People Extraordinary Planet, the fifth
book by Shellie Hipsky, Ed.D., associate
professor of education, examines how one
person’s actions can inspire others and create
a chain of charitable acts. The book is a
companion to a radio show of the same name
hosted by Ray Leonard on KMR-Media in
Grand Rapids, Mich.
School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science faculty
members Tony Kerzmann, Ph.D.; Gavin Buxton, Ph.D.;
and Maria Kalevitch, Ph.D., wrote an article about the
development of the university's new minor in alternative
energy and sustainability that was published in the
proceedings of the American Society for Engineering
Education's Middle Atlantic section fall conference.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 7
A Winning Tradition
"Banaszak's Bunch" can get their old banners
out of the attic. The big defensive lineman from
the Super Steelers of the '70s has been named
coach-in-waiting of the Robert Morris Colonials.
John Banaszak, now assistant head coach,
will succeed head coach Joe Walton after
the 2013 season.
"I understand very clearly that Coach Walton is still my boss," Banaszak
said at a January news conference. "But our relationship goes much
deeper than that. He's a friend and a mentor. What he's accomplished in
building this program is immeasurable, and I hope to continue the
tradition of success that he created here."
8 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
Banaszak got his first of three championship rings with the Steelers his
rookie season as a special teams player. The Eastern Michigan grad went
on to earn two more as the team's starting defensive end. His highlight
performance was Super Bowl XIII, a thrilling rematch against the Dallas
Cowboys in which Banaszak sacked Roger Staubach twice and
recovered a fumble, earning the honor of Defensive Player of the Game.
Before coming to RMU in 2003, Banaszak was head coach at Washington
and Jefferson College, leading the Division III team to a 38-9 record.
The Presidents' Athletic Conference, made up of mostly small western
Pennsylvania colleges, named Banaszak Coach of the Year each of his
four seasons at Washington and Jefferson.
With the Colonials, Banaszak has
AW
orchestrated great defenses year after year.
WALTO INNING TR
N, BANA
ADIT
SZAK &
The team has earned the Northeast
THE CO ION
LONIAL
S
Conference's top ranking in yards allowed four
K
A
Z
times in his nine seasons, most recently in 2010,
NAS
JOHN BAA
when the Colonials claimed the NEC's
IN 2014
H
C
O
HEAD C
inaugural berth in the Football Championship
the team. He said the Colonials will be in good hands when
Subdivision playoffs. Eight defensive linemen
Banaszak succeeds him. "He's a good football coach, and he's a good
under Banaszak's tutelage have garnered All-NEC recognition, including
leader," Walton said. "I'm very confident that the success our program
Nolan Nearhoof, who led the Colonials with seven-and-a-half sacks last
has had in the past will continue with him as head coach
year and can break the team's career sack record his senior season with
in the future."
four more.
Walton, who started RMU's football program in 1994, signed a
two-year contract extension last fall that will give him 20 seasons with
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY
THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS & RMU ATHLETICS
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 9
THE
BIGG
AME
BASKETBALL
MEN'S NEC
QUARTERFINALS
THURS., MARCH 1
STARS TO WATCH
MEN’S HOCKEY
Next year RMU hosts the NCAA Frozen Four
here in Pittsburgh. This year the Colonials can
focus on just getting in the tournament.
BASKETBALL
Both the men's and women's teams cracked the
College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 this season,
boosting the growing national reputation of RMU
basketball. The Big Dance beckons, but first the
Colonials will have to take care of business in the
NEC championships.
THE BIG GAMES: WOMEN
NEC QUARTERFINALS: MARCH 3
SEMIFINALS: MARCH 6
FINAL: MARCH 11
HOCKEY
WOMEN'S
CHA TOURNAMENT
FRI., MARCH 2-3
Almost 5,000 cheering fans watched the
Colonials take No. 4 Ohio State to the wire
in December at the Consol Energy Center,
a highlight in another big season. Now the
Colonials are vying to host an Atlantic Hockey
quarterfinal on their Neville Island ice, with the
winner heading to Rochester, N.Y., to play for
the conference title and NCAA bid.
> LIJAH THOMPSON
THE BIG GAMES: MEN
NEC QUARTERFINALS: MARCH 1
SEMIFINALS: MARCH 4
FINAL: MARCH 7
WOMEN'S NEC
QUARTERFINALS
SAT., MARCH 3
THE BIG GAMES:
MARCH 9-11
MEN'S AHA QUARTERFINALS
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
As an assistant coach, Paul Colontino helped Mercyhurst qualify
for the NCAA tournament each of his five years there, including two Frozen Fours.
Now that he's taken the reins at RMU, can he take the Colonials past the Lakers? New
assistant coach and Team USA goalie Bri McLaughlin, whose banner hangs in the
Clearview Arena, figures to play an inspirational role too.
MEN'S AHA
QUARTERFINALS
FRI., MARCH 9-11
LACROSSE
MEN VS. CANISIUS
TUES., MARCH 27, 7 P.M.
> CHECK RMUCOLONIALS.COM FOR THE LATEST ON GAME TIMES, VENUES, AND SCORES.
WOMEN VS. QUINNIPIAC
SAT., APR. 7, 11 A.M.
SUPPORT
YOUR SPORT!
MAKE A CHARITABLE GIFT
TO THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM
OF YOUR CHOICE AND
BE A COLONIAL BOOSTER.
WOMEN’S
LACROSSE
The super-octane Colonials offense has led the NCAA in scoring
for two years running – a feat last achieved by Virginia 15
years ago. The team also knocked off its first nationallyranked opponent last year when it beat Bucknell. New
coach Andrew McMinn, the former offensive coordinator,
will have to figure out how to adjust schemes for players
like star midfielder and NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kiel Matisz now that the three leading scorers have
moved on.
THE BIG GAME:
APRIL 7 VS. QUINNIPIAC
THE BIG GAME: MARCH 27
VS. CANISIUS
Come watch the Colonials play under the lights.
The team takes on Canisius for the first-ever night
lacrosse game at Joe Walton Stadium.
> MATISZ
RMU.EDU/GIVE
10
THE BIG GAMES: MARCH 2-3
WOMEN'S CHA TOURNAMENT
RMU CLEARVIEW ARENA
MEN'S LACROSSE
SOFTBALL
DOUBLEHEADER
VS. CENT. CONN. ST.
SUN., APRIL 29,
NOON
> COURTNEY LANGSTON
We pick some of the big
games this season. And we
give you the inside skinny.
So while you’re cheering for
the Colonials, you also can
show off your sports smarts
to your friends and family
in the stands. Make an
afternoon of it!
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Six straight wins at the
end of last season earned the
Colonials their first postseason
tournament. Can they return
under NEC Coach of the
Year Katy Philips? This match
against the defending champs
should give us a clue.
SOFTBALL
As defending regular season
champs, the Colonials will rely
on the strong bat of Allie Patton
and speedy arm of Alexa Bryson,
seniors who earned All-NEC and
All-Tournament honors.
#35 BROOKS OSTERGARD
The goalie was named
AHA Goaltender of the
Month in December after
posting a .955 save
percentage for the month.
Backstopping RMU to an
eight-game unbeaten
streak, the team's longest
ever, Ostergard notched a
32-save shutout of RIT
and stopped 47 shots in a
win over Niagara.
#14 MARY DUROJAYE
The British rebound
specialist led the NEC in
offensive boards through
the first half of the
season. Durojaye also is
the team's most accurate
shooter, and her .521 field
goal percentage at
midyear was third in the
conference.
RACHEL KOTULA
Kotula won her collegiate
debut last year with a
45.77-meter throw that
was long enough to
immediately qualify
for the IC4A/ECAC
Championships in
Princeton. At that event,
the freshman placed third
and earned All-East
Coast honors
with
her
second-best
throw of the
season, at
45.74 meters.
THE BIG DOUBLEHEADER:
APRIL 29 VS.
CENT. CONN. ST.
> KOTULA
all
in the
family
f
or most college students, having their father go to
the same school and attend classes with them would
be a nightmare. But not sophomore accounting
student Caitlynn Albright. When her stepfather, John Hillen,
was forced to change careers and wanted to study accounting,
Caitlynn let him know he only had one choice.
"I forced him to go here," she says. "I actually got mad when
I heard he was considering other schools. I told him that if
he wanted to do accounting, RMU was his only choice."
Last year Caitlynn and John took managerial accounting
together. On the first day of class, Caitlynn and her friends
sat up front and John sat way in the back row. Caitlynn didn't
approve. "I told him, 'Dad! Get up here!'" she says. Turns
out that dad was just trying to give his daughter some space.
"I didn't want to bother her or ruin her college experience,"
says John, who's in his junior year and considering RMU's
integrated M.B.A.
the veterans office have been especially helpful. They'll give
you anything you need." The students have accepted him
as one of their own, too. "They call me Pops. I have a blast
with them."
Caitlynn also suffers from an injury – reflex neurovascular
dystrophy, a condition caused by a slip on the ice when she
was 13. Her muscles sometimes constrict suddenly, pulling
bones apart and causing her hip to dislocate. It happens
about once a week, and she often needs to use crutches. She
plays E-flat clarinet in the band, but instead of marching,
Caitlynn is the announcer introducing the band when it's on
the field. As for traversing campus, Caitlynn says she deals
with it. "I'm late a lot, but the teachers are all understanding."
Her goal is to get her C.P.A. license, then maybe an M.B.A.
from Robert Morris. "My dad wants to be more on the
auditing side of things," she says. "So I'll do the work,
and he can check it."
"He's like my little brother," she says. "When I got my
tattoo, he got his tattoo. When I said I was going to get into
accounting, he said, 'That sounds like fun!' We joke about it,
so it's all good."
fathers and daughters share a special bond. and
when they end up attending the same university, that
bond grows even stronger. the following are three
tales of fathers and their daughters, and their
common connection to Robert Morris University. in two
of these stories, the connection spans generations; in
the other, the story's still being written. for each of
these Colonials, RMU is truly a family affair.
12
.
RMU.edU/foUndations
A retired Air Force aircraft mechanic, John was injured while
in service and reaggravated the injury working as an auto
mechanic. "My doctor told me to get a new vocation," he says.
Around that time he got letter in the mail from the VA about
the Post-911 G.I. Bill, which enables qualified veterans to
attend college free of charge. "I was a little nervous about
going back to school after 15 years," he says. It wasn't long,
however, before John found his groove. "They really work
with you here," he says. "Heather Jericho and Dan Rota in
RobeRt MoRRis UniveRsity foUndations
.
13
W
hen Ellen
Ellen Langas
Langas '79
'79 was
was five
five years
years old,
old, her
her family
family
hen
lived in
in aa house
house that
that stood
stood where
where the
the Sewall
Sewall Center
Center
lived
lower
parking
lot
is
today.
"Back
then
the
campus
lower parking lot is today. "Back then the campus
was much
much different,"
different," she
she says.
says. "There
"There were
were stables
stables and
and apple
apple
was
and everything.
everything. It
It was
was aa real
real country
country experience."
experience."
orchards and
orchards
They moved
moved there
there when
when Robert
Robert Morris
Morris hired
hired her
her father,
father,
They
George
Langas,
to
be
director
of
maintenance
in
1963.
"Dad
George Langas, to be director of maintenance in 1963. "Dad
came over
over from
from Greece
Greece and
and taught
taught himself
himself to
to speak
speak and
and write
write
came
English. It
It was
was impressive
impressive that
that he
he was
was given
given this
this opportunity."
opportunity."
English.
W
hen he
he first
first found
found out
out his
his daughter
daughter would
would
hen
be attending
attending his
his alma
alma mater,
mater, Alvin
Alvin Smith
Smith '86,
'86
be
here,"
was
overjoyed.
"I'm
dating
myself
was overjoyed. "I'm dating myself here,"
he says,
says, "but
"but II was
was like
like Gene
Gene Kelly
Kelly in
in 'Singin'
'Singin' in
in the
the Rain,'
Rain,'
he
dance steps
steps and
and all."
all."
dance
Imagine how
how many
many puddles
puddles he
he splashed
splashed in
in when
when
Imagine
Briana Smith
Smith '11
'11 was
was named
named the
the 2011
2011
Briana
recipient of
of RMU's
RMU's Rising
Rising Star
Star Award.
Award.
recipient
The honor
honor is
is given
given to
to aa graduating
graduating senior
senior
The
who demonstrates
demonstrates academic
academic success,
success,
who
individuality, determination,
determination, passion,
passion, and
individuality,
potential.
Briana
graduated
in
December
and potential. Briana graduated
in
with a degree
and
December
withinacommunication
degree in
and is now systems,
a
information systems,
communication
and information
business
technology
analyst
at
PNC
bank,
and is now a business technology analyst
where
she
had
been
an
intern
for
two
at PNC bank, where she had been an
summers.
intern
for two summers.
Once she
she was
was attending
attending classes,
classes, having
having her
her father
father on
on campus
campus
Once
did present
present some
some challenges.
challenges. "He
"He kept
kept us
us right
right under
under his
his
did
surveillance,"
she
says.
"It
was
tough
having
this
strict
Greek
surveillance," she says. "It was tough having this strict Greek
dad
and
his
entire
dad and his entire
crew keeping
keeping an
an
crew
eye
on
you
at
all
eye on you at all
times.
It
certainly
times. It certainly
wasn't the
the typical
typical
wasn't
college
experience."
college experience."
Briana is
is one
one of
of the
the first
first graduates
graduates who
who
Briana
came to
to college
college through
through the
the Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Promise,
Promise, aa scholarship
scholarship
came
program
started
in
2008
to
help
city
public
school
students
program started in 2008 to help city public school students
afford higher
higher education.
education. She
She was
was vice
vice president
president of
of events
events and
afford
and programming
for Pittsburgh
Promise
students
at RMU,
programming
for Pittsburgh
Promise
students
at RMU,
community service
service efforts
efforts and
and planning
planning events
events for
organizing community
organizing
for
her
cohort.
Even
though
she
has
her
diploma,
Briana
her cohort. Even though she has her diploma, Briana willwill
continue helping
helping with
with similar
similar RMU
RMU events
events this
this spring.
spring. "I
"I want
want
continue
to make
make sure
sure those
those that
that follow
follow know
know how
how to
to run
run things
things and
and
to
that the
the program’s
program's in
that
in good
good hands,"
hands," she
she says.
says.
An active
active volunteer,
volunteer, Briana
Briana helped
helped raise
raise money
money to
to provide
provide aa
An
month's
worth
of
rice
for
600
families
in
the
African
country of
month's worth of rice for 600 families in the African country
she
also
volunteered
with
Girls
Hope
of
Ghana,
and
Ghana, and she also volunteered with Girls Hope in in
Coraopolis, which
which provides
provides support
support to
to at-risk
at-risk girls.
girls. "By
"By
Coraopolis,
impacting
the
lives
of
these
girls,
I
realized
that
I
wanted
to
impacting the lives of these girls, I realized that I wanted to
strive
to
be
an
even
better
person,"
she
says.
"Changing
lives
strive to be an even better person," she says. "Changing lives
motivates me
me to
to do
do better."
better."
motivates
Alvin, aa graduate
graduate of
of Robert
Robert Morris's
Morris's business
business information
information
Alvin,
systems program,
program, was
was happy
happy that
that Briana
Briana got
got aa chance
chance to
to
systems
evening student
student at
at the
the
experience college
college campus
campus life.
life. "As
"As an
an evening
experience
downtown
campus,
my
experience
was
geared
more
towards
downtown campus, my experience was geared more towards
the working
working adult
adult experience,"
experience," he
he says.
says. "It's
"It's aa parent's
parent's dream
dream
the
having your
your children
children achieve
achieve and
and do
do even
even more."
more."
having
After 22
22 years
years in
in management
management at
at UPS,
UPS, Alvin
Alvin retired
retired as
as an
an
After
operations business
business manager.
manager. He
He also
also had
had the
the opportunity
opportunity to
to
operations
represent the
the company
company as
as the
the district
district loan
loan executive
executive for
for the
the
represent
United Way.
Way. "Robert
"Robert Morris
Morris helped
helped make
make itit possible
possible by
by making
making
United
and take
take chances,"
chances," he
he says.
says.
me willing
willing to
to take
take on
on challenges
challenges and
me
"Failure is
is 100-percent
100 percent guaranteed
guaranteed if
if you
you never
never take
take the
the shot.
shot."
"Failure
"RMU genuinely
genuinely pursues
pursues excellence
excellence in
in the
the development
development of
of its
its
"RMU
students to
to help
help them
them become
become the
the future
future leaders
leaders of
of tomorrow,"
tomorrow,"
students
he
adds.
"I'm
proud
to
see
that
Briana's
become
part
of the
the
he adds. "I'm proud to see that Briana's become part of
change
here."
change here."
"Growing up
up on
on campus,
campus, II could
could never
never have
have known
known how
how
"Growing
much
of
an
impact
the
college
would
have
on
my
life,"
she
much of an impact the college would have on my life," she
says. "Not
"Not only
only did
did II
says.
live
there,
receive
my
live there, receive my
education
there,
and
education there, and
work there,
there, but
but II also
also
work
met
my
husband
met my husband
there. It's
It's like
like oneonethere.
shopping at
at its
stop shopping
stop
"I loved
loved growing
growing
its best!"
John
"I
best!"
John
M.
up with
with the
the entire
entire
Wilson '77
'77 studied
studied
up
Wilson
campus
as
my
communications
campus as my
communications
backyard," says
says
management and
and
backyard,"
management
Rita Langas
LangasWilson
transportation
at
Rita
transportation at
Wilson
'77,
Ellen's
Robert Morris.
Morris. His
'77 , Ellen's sister.
Robert
sister.father
"My father
His brother,
"My
was
brother,
MattMatt
G.
was respected
Wilson
'85,
studied
respected
and
Wilson '85, studied
>> Matt Wilson '85, nicholas Wilson '06 M'09,
and admired
marketing and
and
admired
by by
ellen Langas '79 (pictured), John Wilson '77,
marketing
Rita
Langas
Wilson
'77,
George
Langas
(pictured).
students
and
peers
business
students and peers
business
alike. He
He would
would
administration,
alike.
administration, and
coordinate faculty
faculty
and their
mother,
coordinate
their
mother,
and
staff
picnics
Margaret E.
Wilson
'44,
and staff picnics
Margaret
Wilson
tennis courts
courts so
so that
that students
students and
and kids
kids
and freeze
freeze over
over the
the old
old tennis
attended
classes
at
the
William
Penn
Hotel
downtown.
and
'44, attended classes at the William Penn Hotel downtown.
from the
the neighborhood
neighborhood could
could go
go ice-skating.
ice-skating. He
He really
really went
went
from
above and
and beyond
beyond in
in his
his job."
job."
John and
and Rita
Rita were
were married
married in
in the
the Rudolph
Rudolph Family
Family Gardens
Gardens in
above
John
in 1978.
Their
son,
Nicholas
Wilson
M'09,
degree
1978.
Their
son,
Nicholas
Wilson
'06,'06
M'09,
gotgot
hishis
degree
in
Ellen earned
earned aa degree
degree in
in marketing
marketing from
from Robert
Robert Morris
Morris in
in just
management
and
followed
it
up
with
a
master's
in
in
sport
Ellen
sport management and followed it up with a master's in
just three
years,
graduating
summa
laude.
She helped
instructional leadership.
leadership. Like
Like his
his mother,
mother, Nicholas
Nicholas now
now works
three
years,
graduating
summa
cumcum
laude.
She helped
found
instructional
found
the Students
Free Enterprise
team,
inled
1978,
leda
works
at school
a high tennis
school coach
tennisand
coach
and teacher
atArea
MoonHigh
the
Students
In FreeIn
Enterprise
team, and,
inand
1978,
it to
at
a high
teacher
at Moon
it to a national
championship.
Now
she founder
is the founder
and
Area High School.
national
championship.
Now she
is the
and president
School.
a
Philadelphia
president
of
NouSoma
Communications
Inc.,
of NouSoma Communications Inc., a Philadelphia marketing,
marketing, publishing,
and public
relationsBefore
company.
Today John
John and
and Rita
Rita stay
stay connected
connected with
with the
the university
university by
by
publishing,
and public relations
company.
that, Before
she
Today
that, sheatworked
at the shopping
channel
Inc.,
she
attending
RMU
basketball
games
and
through
the
alumni
worked
the shopping
channel QVC
Inc.QVC
where
shewhere
handled
attending RMU basketball games and through the alumni
handled
public relations
and was
also
of the company's
association. "The
"The education
education and
and people
people that
that II have
have connected
connected
public
relations
and was also
one of
theone
company's
first on-air
association.
first
on-air
hosts.
She
is
also
the
author
of
the
Girls
Know
How
grow,"
with since
since my
my first
first day
day at
at Robert
Robert Morris
Morris continues
continues to
to grow,"
hosts. She is also the author of the Girls Know How book series,
with
book series,
whichyoung
encourages
young
girls
pursueofthe
John
says,
"and
I
look
forward
to
seeing
the
university
which
encourages
girls to
pursue
thetocareers
their
John says, "and I look forward to seeing the university
careers of their dreams.
expand."
dreams.
expand."
>> see Photos from february's Legacy Luncheon at RMu.edu/foundations
.
/ fI OoNUS n d a t i o n s
1144• R M UR
. EM
D UU
/ F.OeUd
NU
D AT
Rita studied
studied secretarial
secretarial sciences
sciences at
at Robert
Robert Morris
Morris and
and
Rita
eventually
got
a
bachelor's
degree
in
business
administration.
eventually got a bachelor's degree in business administration.
She came
came back
back in
in 1995
1995 to
to earn
earn her
her teaching
teaching certificate,
certificate, and
and
She
today she
she is
is aa creative
creative writing
writing and
and English
English teacher
teacher and
and tennis
tennis
today
coach at
at West
West Allegheny
Allegheny High
High School.
School. Before
Before that,
that, she
she taught
taught
coach
marketing and
and communications
communications part-time
part-time at
at RMU
RMU for
for over
over 12
12
marketing
with
years. "Teaching
"Teaching in
in RMU's
RMU's business
business program,
program, combined
combined with
years.
the knowledge
knowledge II gained
gained from
from the
the teacher
teacher education
education program,
program,
the
really prepared
prepared me
me for
for the
the classroom
classroom -– not
really
not just
just academically
academically
but also
also as
as aa classroom
classroom manager,"
manager," she
she says.
says.
but
WRITTEN BY
BY VALENTINE
VALENTINE J.
J. BRKICH
BRKICH PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
BY MICHAEL
MICHAEL WILL
WILL ‘08
‘08
WRITTEN
.
R o b e R t M o R R i s U n iRvO BeE R
ns
R T sMiOt
R RyI S UfNo
I VU
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S I TdYa
F OtUiNo
D AT
I O N S • 11 5
5
the story of oppression, of a people coming together
because of the Spanish Inquisition. You can hear the
lamentation."
Loyola-Garcia first brewed the idea for a documentary in
documentary-inprogress, "Inheritors of
a Burden." "Flamenco is the
one performance form that I fell in
love with," says Loyola-Garcia. "It speaks
Loyola-Garcia is an energetic polymath whose creativity
to me on a very raw, internal level."
is blinding. She has already produced a dozen videos, from
traditional documentaries
topolymath
commissioned
and
Loyola-Garcia
is an energetic
whoseworks
creativity
experimental
films.
These
videos
is blinding. She has already produced a
demonstrate
incredible
range of vision
dozen
videos, an
from
traditional
and intent. "The
Land" is aworks
dreamy
documentaries
to Other
commissioned
and
exploration
of
language
and
culture,
filmed
experimental films. These videos
in unnaturally
colors
andof
starring
demonstrate
an bright
incredible
range
vision a
creepy
mix"The
of mummers
andisnuns.
In
and
intent.
Other Land"
a dreamy
contrast, "Pascua
Lama"and
is aculture, filmed
exploration
of language
straightforward
documentary
in
unnaturally bright
colors andthat
starring
ainvestigates
creepy mix of
andindustry
nuns. in
themummers
gold mining
In
contrast,
"Pascua
Lama"
is a incorporate
Chile.
Many
of these
projects
straightforward
documentary
both English and
Spanish. that
investigates the gold mining industry in
Chile.
Many
projects
incorporate
But the
artistofisthese
involved
in far
more than
both
English and
videography.
SheSpanish.
has also created art
T
T
hheetotlodld
nn
Story
Story ofof
Flamenco
Flamenco
uu
There
's nothing
quite
flamenco.
Toit looks a little
There’s
nothing quite
like like
flamenco.
To newbies,
newbies,
it with
looks
a little gestures.
like tango,
with
itsthe
like tango,
its elaborate
But then
there’s
rhythmicgestures.
clapping, theBut
heavy
steps,there’s
and the solo
elaborate
then
theguitar playing
melancholic
songs.
Created
by
the
Roma
-or
Gypsies -- of
rhythmic clapping, the heavy steps, and
southern Spain, this passionate dance has spread through
the solo guitar playing melancholic songs.
Europe, Latin America, and even Japan.
Created by the Gitano people of southern
Spain
of southern Spain, this passionate dance
But what is the story of flamenco in the United States? How
has spread
through
Europe,
Latin
did flamenco
come here,
and who
dancesAmerica,
its steps?
and This
even
Japan.
is the
question posed by Carolina Loyola-Garcia,
M.F.A., associate professor of media arts, in her
But what
is the story of flamenco "Inheritors
in the United
documentary-in-progress,
of aStates?
Burden."
How did
flamenco
come
here,
and
who
dances
its steps?
"Flamenco is the one performance form that
I fell
This is the in
question
posed
by Loyola-Garcia.
Carolina Loyola-Garcia,
love with,"
says
"It speaks
M.F.A., associate professor
media
arts,
in her
to me on aofvery
raw,
internal
level."
1 16 4• •R RMMUU. E. EDDUU/ F/ FOOUUNNDDAT
ATI O
I ONNSS
installations, she has curated art shows,
But
is involved
in farbackdrops
more thanfor
andthe
sheartist
has provided
video
videography.
She
has
also
created
art
Quantum Theatre and other theatrical
installations,
she
has
curated
art
shows,
troupes. Her work has been showcased in
and she has provided video backdrops for
film and art exhibitions from Pittsburgh to
Quantum Theatre and other theatrical
Spain, Canada, Cuba, and her native Chile.
troupes. Her work has been showcased in
Meanwhile, as an associate professor,
film and art exhibitions from Pittsburgh to
Loyola-Garcia teaches video and motion
Spain, Canada, Cuba, and her native Chile.
graphics at Robert Morris, as well as classes
Meanwhile, as an associate professor,
for Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Carlow College,
Loyola-Garcia teaches video and motion
and Carnegie
Mellon
University,
where she
graphics
at Robert
Morris;
she formerly
earned
her
M.F.A.
in
2000.
taught at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Carlow
College, and Carnegie Mellon University,
But through
it all,her
there
is flamenco.
where
she earned
M.F.A.
in 2000.
Loyola-Garcia’s love affair goes back to her
childhood
Her
father, an
"opera fanatic,"
took
the
But
throughinitSantiago.
all, there is
flamenco.
Loyola-Garcia’s
love
affair
family
to to
seeher
a performance
CarmenHer
thatfather,
featured
goes
back
childhood inof
Santiago.
andance
"opera
sequences
modeled
on flamenco.
Loyola-Garcia
was
fanatic,"
took
the family
to see a performance
of Carmen
that
mesmerized.
she was
13, heron
family
took aLoyola-Garcia
trip to Spain
featured
danceWhen
sequences
modeled
flamenco.
to visit
relatives, and
sheshe
encountered
flamenco
for
was
mesmerized.
When
was 13, herauthentic
family took
a trip to
Spain
to visit
and
she encountered
authentic took
the first
time.relatives,
When she
reached
college, Loyola-Garcia
flamenco
for the
first
time.
she reached
college,you
Loyoladance classes,
and
the
rest When
is historia.
"I got hooked,
Garcia
took
classes,
the restthat
is historia.
"I got hooked,
know?"
shedance
says. "It’s
not and
something
I do full-time.
It’s one
you
know?"
she
says.
"It’s
not
something
that
I
do
full-time.
of my hobbies. But I’m very much in love with it. It tells theIt’s
one
of of
myoppression,
hobbies. But
very much
intogether
love withbecause
it. It tells
story
of I’m
a people
coming
of the
Spanish Inquisition. You can hear the lamentation."
2005. The process has been slow, beginning with a trip to New
Loyola-Garcia
first
brewed
the idea
for a documentary
in 2005.
York, where she
began
to learn
flamenco’s
complex family
tree
The
process
has
been
slow,
beginning
with
a
trip
to
New
-- instructors, choreographers, performers, and students. "I was
York
in 2008,
where she began
to learn
flamenco’s
complex
casting
the documentary,
in a way,"
she
recalls. Among
the
family tree – instructors, choreographers, performers, and
many personalities Loyola-Garcia hopes to introduce to wider
students. "I was casting the documentary, in a way," she
audiences is José Greco, an early proponent of flamenco in
recalls. Among the many personalities Loyola-Garcia hopes
America. Greco passed away in 2000, but Loyola-Garcia
to introduce to wider audiences is José Greco, an early
interviewed the dancer’s daughter and many of Greco's
proponent of flamenco in America. Greco passed away in 2000,
students and collaborators, hoping to illustrate his powerful
but Loyola-Garcia interviewed the dancer’s daughter and
legacy.
many of Greco's students and collaborators, hoping to
illustrate his powerful legacy.
"Inheritors of a Burden" is characteristically ambitious, and
Loyola-Garcia
has crossed
the country in
"Inheritors
of a Burden"
is characteristically
pursuit
of
material.
Using
grants
the
ambitious, and Loyola-Garcia has from
crossed
Heinz
Endowments
and
the
Pittsburgh
the country in pursuit of material. Using
Foundation,
theHeinz
intrepid
producer traveled
grants
from the
Endowments
and
to Washington,
Lancaster, and
Philadelphia.
the
Pittsburgh Foundation,
the intrepid
Her research
tookto
her
team as far as
producer
traveled
Washington,
Madrid,
and
she
also
planned
toresearch
shoot
Lancaster, and Philadelphia. Her
footage
New
and
took
her in
team
as York,
far asCalifornia,
Madrid, and
she
also
planned
to shoot
in New
York,
Florida.
But last
year footage
she stumbled
into
a
California,
andsizable
Florida.grants
But last
yearnot
she
problem: Her
would
stumbled
Herone
sizable
fund her into
tour aofproblem:
New York,
of grants
would
not fund
tour of New
York, one
flamenco’s
mosther
important
hotspots.
of flamenco’s most important hotspots.
Not to be deterred, Loyola-Garcia turned to
Not
to be deterred,
Loyola-Garcia
Kickstarter,
an online
fundraisingturned
tool forto
Kickstarter,
an
online
fundraising
tool
for
grassroots art projects. She described her
grassroots
projects.
She described
her
project, setart
a goal
of $2,500,
and offered
project, set a goal of $2,500, and offered
rewards for contributions. Investors who
rewards for contributions. Investors who
pledged $10 would receive free admission
pledged $10 would receive free admission
to the film’s premiere; at the $50 level,
to the film’s premiere; at the $50 level,
investors would receive a "special thanks"
investors would receive a "special thanks"
film credit and a signed DVD. Loyolafilm credit and a signed DVD. The effort
Garcia not only met her goal, she far
earned $3,873 from 56 backers in 30 days.
surpassed it, earning $3,873 from 56 backers
Soon after, she traveled with her film crew
30 days.
after, she
traveled
toinNew
YorkSoon
and filmed
hours
of with her
film
crew
to
New
York
and
filmed
hours of
interviews and performance. Loyola-Garcia
andseeking
performance.
isinterviews
still actively
sponsors to fund her
remaining shoots and post-production.
The film's official premiere is planned for
December.
Loyola-Garcia
to recut
film in aLoyolavariety of
The
film's official
premierewants
is planned
for the
December.
forms wants
to appeal
to a range
of in
viewers
andofmaximize
Garcia
to recut
the film
a variety
forms to her
appeal to
the festival
circuit. "We
to describe
the
aaudience
range of on
viewers
and maximize
herwant
audience
on the festival
history."We
Wewant
wantto
todescribe
show contemporary
flamenco
circuit.
the history. We
want toartists.
show And
contemporary
flamenco
artists.
And we
to itshowcase
we want to showcase
what
flamenco
is want
-- what
looks like,
what
– what
looks"In
like,
like," she
whatflamenco
it soundsislike,"
sheitsays.
thewhat
end, it
it’ssounds
all very
says.
"In
the
end,
it’s
all
very
intertwined."
intertwined."
WRITTEN
WRITTENBY
BYROBERT
ROBERTISENBERG
ISENBERG
PHOTOGRAPHY
LOYOLA-GARCIA
PHOTOGRAPHYPROVIDED
PROVIDEDBY
BYCAROLINA
DIANNE FEAZELL
ROSSINI ‘64
RROOBBE ERRT TMMOORRRRI SI SUUNNI VI VE ERRSSI TI TYYF FOOUUNNDDAT
ATI O
I ONNSS• •1 17 5
Ron Razete '85
came to southwestern
Pennsylvania 30 years
ago to be a pastor, not a
businessman. But through a
series of what he calls "holy
accidents," Razete and his wife, RMU
Island Sports Center guest services
coordinator Marci Razete, have created a
gangbusters business: Peace Love and Little
Donuts, a psychedelia-themed hole in the
wall in Pittsburgh's Strip District.
"My wife and I got into business to raise money to open a
retreat for marriage enrichment," says Razete, whose degree is
in marketing. "Working in the ministry helps you develop a
realistic set of instincts about human behavior. You can build
a better mousetrap, but it's more important to figure out what
people like."
The Razetes began selling candied popcorn and other treats
at outdoor festivals, and eventually private label snacks to
groceries. But Pittsburgh's often rainy weather makes
festival sales risky, and the raves about the donuts that
were part of their repertoire seemed worth pursuing.
&
&
PEACE
LOVE &
LITTLE
DONUTS
LOVE &
LITTLE
LOVE &
LITTLE
Among the felicitous twists of fate: taking a small mobile
donut fryer off the hands of a fellow concessionaire for a
few hundred dollars. A fire-suppression hood thrown in for
free brought the apparatus up to code for indoor use.
Looking for a storefront "so small we'd never go
broke," the Razetes found a 209-square-foot
space – formerly a newsstand – on Smallman
Street near the iconic St. Stanislaus Kostka
church, and opened in 2009.
DISCOUNT DISCOUNT
10% OFF 10% OFF
YOUR ORDER
COUPON AT
FOUNDATIONS ONLINE
Because of its compact size, the fryer
can only handle a few donuts at a
time. SoOUwhile
cooking oil
C PON AT
temperature can drop
dramatically when a lot of
food is immersed at once,
the oil at Peace Love and Little Donuts
stays a steady 375 degrees. Hence the crisp
exterior that is the hallmark of Razete's delicacies.
Then there's the innovative flavorings. "Groovy"
donuts – 75 cents, please – are rolled in flavored sugars like
ginger and Saigon cinnamon. "Far out" varieties are $1 frosted
with icings that include coffee and orange. "Funkadelics"
will set you back $1.25 and feature icing and toppings in
combinations that start with banana split, cherry pie, and
s'mores, and get more adventurous. Maple frosting topped
with shredded bacon, anyone?
As for the '60s and '70s-era imagery, Razete says, "That's my
life. AM radio, Wolfman Jack, the Doobie Brothers, Boston.
I've lived a very, very conservative life. I never did drugs or
drank, but I enjoyed the music of that time. And the TV:
Scooby Doo, The Dating Game, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
Our signs and graphics are straight out of Laugh-In."
On a recent busy Sunday, a line snaked down the block while
six people pinwheeled expertly around each other behind the
counter. At one point or another, all the Razetes have taken
their turn at the fryer – Ron and Marci; their daughters Macy,
Christianna, and Brianna, who's studying early childhood
education at RMU; sons Gabriel and Caelin, who's a
manufacturing engineering major; and daughter-in-law
Jennifer Edwards Razete, a student who also works with
Marci at the Island Sports Center. Razete says he appreciates
the way RMU "helps students transition into the real world,
helps them figure out how to solve real-world problems. The
school has its roots in capitalism, which I like."
While the Razetes' marriage retreat is still in the plans, the
donut shop keeps galloping forward. Razete has licensed the
business, and two other shops have opened recently, one on
Meyran Avenue in Oakland and another in Naples, Fla.
Licensee agreements are also in the works with other out-ofstate entrepreneurs, some of whom plan to open much bigger
shops. Razete wishes them luck but has his reservations. "Our
small size is part of the appeal," he says. "You have to step in
and accept and enjoy the intimacy."
WRITTEN BY BONNIE PFISTER
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY HOT METAL STUDIOS
FO
UN
D AT
IONS O
I
NL
NE
R O B E RT M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 1 9
The last time Larry O'Leary
walked into a classroom
was 1983. Today, he's back
at school via the virtual
classroom, earning his M.S.
degree in organizational
leadership in RMU's fully
online graduate program.
O'Leary says it's too early for him to
assess how e-learning stacks up to a
traditional education, but he has
noticed that class participation and
discussions are much more extensive
than they were in his brick and mortar days. While
students in a classroom typically have three hours a
week to talk about issues, he notes that those online
are reading, writing, and posting comments five to
seven days a week, 24 hours a day. And while he might
not know what his classmates look like, "you can get a
feel for how people think and the type of personality they
have by reading their introductory bios, posts and
responses," he says.
Whatever opinion one may have of distance learning, one
thing is sure: It is not going away. From 2002 to 2010, while
the overall student body in higher education increased by two
percent annually, the number of students taking at least one
online class a semester grew by 20 percent, according to a
recent report in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Today,
nearly one out of every three college students takes at least
one course online.
The growth spurt is apparent at RMU. Two years ago, the
university offered four graduate online degrees. Last year the
number jumped to nine, including instructional leadership,
HR management, competitive intelligence systems, and the
university’s flagship M.B.A.
Some RMU faculty argue that an online
education is better than a traditional one.
Anthony Petroy, D.M., assistant vice president of the
university's online and off-campus programs and
assistant professor of organizational leadership, says
a lot depends on the instructor. Online learning can
be much more successful than the traditional
classroom, he says, provided the instructor has a
strong presence and is active in discussion
threads and responds promptly to student
questions. Even face-to-face interaction is
possible in the virtual classroom; Petroy uses
Skype for real-time video chat with his students.
Undergraduates can choose among seven online degrees,
from business and nursing to English and psychology.
"Students expect it, the market demands it, and the
technology makes it possible," says professor Lois Bryan,
D.Sc., who teaches managerial accounting for RMU's online
M.B.A. program.
But the jury is still in session over how well virtual learning
compares to a traditional education. Tensions are apparent in
a recent Pew Research Center survey of college presidents, in
which nearly half said they believe an online course does not
provide an equal educational value compared to one taken in
the classroom. Bryan, who also teaches traditional business
courses, agrees there are some drawbacks. "In the classroom,
I get a lot of energy and cues from students as to where the
discussion should go. When students don't understand
something, I get an immediate question. That's not
happening online yet."
The only difference in an online course is the delivery, says
Darcy Tannehill, Ed.D., vice president of online and offcampus programs and associate professor of education. And,
she adds, students cannot hide in an online class. "Many
professors can vouch that often in the classroom setting, two
or three students dominate the discussion, while the majority
contribute little," says Tannehill. "But online, all students must
respond to discussion posts from their professors and peers."
While intimidation, uncertainty, or apathy may keep some
classroom students from participating, Tannehill says those
studying online can take the time they need to read and think
about their responses, do some research and reply
intelligently – when they are ready.
The university's B.S. degree in
health services administration
used to be a hybrid of
classroom time and online
work, but the major is now
entirely online. The program's
new director, Joseph
Angelelli, Ph.D., formerly of
Brown University, says the
change actually sets the
bar higher.
"Students are
not limited by
a weekly class
time, but
are able to
communicate all
the time," he says. "They can be more reflective, and faculty
are able to be in constant contact with them." Many of the
students are already working in health care fields, so they
bring their everyday work experiences to the discussions,
Angelelli says.
That appeals to students like John Shingle, a sophomore
in the program. "Classroom discussions tend to be more
teacher-driven, but online they are more student-driven,
which has its benefits," he says. For example, one recent
discussion about long waits in the emergency room garnered
40 comments. "In the classroom, one or two students would
have said something, and that would have been the end
of it," Shingle says.
RMU's online health services administration degree program
was ranked #5 in The Best Colleges' Top 10 Bachelor of Health
Management and Health Administration Degree Programs of
2011-2012. Angelelli is grateful for the distinction, but adds,
"I'd like us to be number one."
Another sign of the health of the university's online programs
is that the majority of students keep coming back. While most
online courses have retention rates that average about 50
percent, according to Tannehill, RMU had a 94 percent
retention rate in graduate online courses and a 97 percent in
undergraduate courses in fall 2011. "Once you're here,"
Tannehill says, "we want to do everything we can to keep
and engage you."
WRITTEN BY JIM TALERICO >> TALERICO IS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF
ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS AT RMU
At the factory store of Betsy Ann
Chocolates, James Paras '80
notices when the aroma of fresh, handmade
chocolates conjures powerful memories
among his customers. "You can see on their
faces these memories come alive," says Paras,
president of the family business for more
than two decades.
Founded in 1938 by Betsy Ann Helsel, the West View company
supplied the candy shops in Horne's department stores. In
1968, when Helsel retired, she sold the business to Harry and
Catherine Paras. The middle son of five boys, James grew up
in the candy business. For him, the chocolate factory was
always a place of work, not a Willy Wonka fantasy.
Just steps above the store, in the factory's kitchen, industrial
mixers agitate gallons of molten chocolate. Workers pour and
spread the smooth, brown liquid by hand onto grooved
marble tables to prepare it for various confections. On one
table, a inch-thick slab of chocolate meltaway seven feet long
by five feet wide waits to be cut into bite-sized squares.
In the next room, underneath a photo from the iconic "I Love
Lucy" chocolate factory episode, three ladies in hairnets keep
pace with a white conveyor belt dotted with chocolate-covered
caramels. The candies emerge from the coating machine,
where their bottoms are first coated by a grooved metal belt
drenched with molten chocolate, then a chocolate waterfall
coats their tops and sides. The candies cool, and the ladies
carefully place them into paper liners and pack them in boxes.
The chocolates are "exactly the same as they were more than
50 years ago," Paras says.
He worked in the factory on weekends and school breaks
since the age of 12, but he didn't initially plan to stay in the
family business. After earning his accounting degree at RMU,
he got a job selling mutual funds for a financial services
company. One day a few months later, when he stopped by
the chocolate factory to say hello, his father asked him to stay.
Income from investment sales was unpredictable, but the
factory offered steady pay. So Paras quit his new job and
joined Betsy Ann full time, making candies, packing boxes,
and helping wherever he was needed.
See the ChoColate FoundationS being poured, and tour
the FaCtory with JameS paraS ‘80 at FoundationS online.
When his mother had a heart attack and could no longer run
the company office, Paras stepped in to handle business
operations. Since 1990, he has been president of Betsy Ann
Chocolates. His brother, Bob, runs the factory now, while their
father, now in his 80s, still comes in to make candies during
rmu alumni diSCount – Free Shipping
or 10% oFF Coupon at FoundationS online.
busy times. Betsy Ann now has some 40 employees and
produces 200,000 pounds of chocolates annually, with hopes to
eventually double that output.
In addition to maintaining the company's high standards,
Paras has helped it weather major changes. When Horne's
stores began closing – the retailer shut down in 1994 – Betsy
Ann rebounded by opening its own shops. That strategy
worked until the economic downturn of 2001, when sales
declined and never bounced back. In 2004, Betsy Ann was
forced to close stores and rethink its strategy again.
"A lot of people thought after we closed all
those stores that we were gone," says Paras.
The company was just searching for the
right way to grow again. Today, in
addition to the factory
store, Betsy Ann has a
store in Allison Park
and a franchise in the
South Hills. The rest of
the business comes
from Internet sales,
fundraising through
schools and organizations, and
most recently, a return to department
stores. Since 2008 Macy's has carried
displays of the chocolates at its Pittsburgh
area stores.
SCratCh
'n' SniFF!
Paras credits his RMU education with helping
him navigate changes in the market. When he makes
important decisions, he often thinks about a class he took in
business policy. "I have drawn upon the case studies we
reviewed in class to help with my decisions," he says.
The company's success is also due to a passion for fine
chocolates, and the type of family traditions that their aroma
can evoke. "Chocolate is almost always associated with the
best times of your life," Paras says. "It adds a dimension to
those occasions. It anchors our lives to good, wholesome
things that they should be anchored to."
WRITTEN BY SUSAN JACOBS JABLOW
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL WILL ’08
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 3
STUCK IN THE
It can be an exciting adventure, greeting the
It can
an exciting
adventure,
greeting
day
in anbeexotic
European
locale no
tourist the
day
in
an
exotic
European
locale
no
tourist
has ever heard of. Sometimes, maybe too
has ever heard of. Sometimes, maybe too
exciting.
exciting.
As a United Nations observer in postwar
As a United
Nations observer
Kosovo,
Julie Woloshin
'03 usedin
topostwar
be jolted
Kosovo,
Julie
Woloshin
'03
used
to
jolted
out of bed every morning by an angrybe
phone
out
of bed
morning
by an angry
call
from
the every
town mayor,
threatening
to phone
mayor,
threatening
to
call from
the town
launch
an armed
assault
against
his rivals.
launch an armed assault against his rivals.
Suddenly, Viti threatened to become the next Balkan
Suddenly,
Viti middle
threatened
nextworker
Balkanwho
tinderbox.
In the
of itto
allbecome
was onethe
U.N.
tinderbox.
In
the
middle
of
it
all
was
one
U.N.
worker
had only just learned to speak the language. And she
waswho
had
only
just
learned
to
speak
the
language.
And
she
was
starting to get some rather unnerving phone calls.
starting to get some rather unnerving phone calls.
"The municipality here really wanted to flex its muscles and
"Thethat
municipality
wanted
to boss
flex its
muscles
and
occupy
building,"here
saysreally
Woloshin.
"My
told
me, 'You
occupy
that
building,"
"My
boss told
me, 'You
have
to hold
it until
Serbiasays
has Woloshin.
its elections
in May.'
Every
to at
hold
it until
Serbiawould
has itsbe
elections
Every
have
single
day
7:30,
the mayor
calling in
me,May.'
waking
me
single
day
at
7:30,
the
mayor
would
be
calling
me,
waking
me
up, screaming, 'We're going in the building today!'"
up, screaming, 'We're going in the building today!'"
This was not the kind of morning the social sciences major
was not
theshe
kind
of morning
the study
social abroad
sciences
hadThis
in mind
when
signed
up for the
It was 2008, and the Moon Township native was stationed in
major
had
in
mind
when
she
signed
up
for
the
program. Woloshin was an accomplished hurdler study
who came
2008,
and the
Moon
nativeKosovo.
was stationed
Viti,It awas
town
of about
59,000
in Township
rural southeast
At the in
abroad
program.
Woloshin was
an
accomplished
hurdler
to
RMU
on
a
track
scholarship.
She
joined
the
honors
Viti,
a town
of about
59,000
in rural
Kosovo.
At the
time,
nearly
a decade
had
passed
since southeast
NATO bombed
Serbia
who
came
to
RMU
on
a
track
scholarship.
She
joined
the
time,itsnearly
decade
had passed
since in
NATO
bombed Serbia program as a freshman, and started to think about a career in
to stop
armyafrom
crushing
a rebellion
the breakaway
and
started
to
think
about
honors
program
as
a
freshman,
business or law.
to stopU.N.
its army
fromlike
crushing
a rebellion
in the across
breakaway
province.
workers
Woloshin
were spread
a career in law.
province.
U.N.
workers
like Woloshin
were
spread
across
Kosovo,
trying
to cool
tensions
between the
ethnic
majority
But the daughter of a French Canadian mother and Russian
majority
Kosovo,and
trying
cool tensions
the ethnic
Albanians
the to
minority
Serbs, between
who consider
Kosovo
their
But the daughter of a French Canadian mother and RussianAlbanians
and the minority Serbs, who consider Kosovo their father also yearned to experience the world for herself. So
historic
homeland.
Cossackspent
father
also yearned
to experience
world
for
Woloshin
a semester
in Paris
her juniorthe
year,
studying
historic homeland.
herself. International
So Woloshin spent
a semester
in Paris hershifted.
junior year,
at Schiller
University.
Her perspective
"I
When Kosovo declared independence that February, things
studying
at
Schiller
International
University.
Her
perspective
realized there is more to life than working in an office -- one
Kosovo
declared
that
February, things
gotWhen
even more
tense.
In Viti,independence
Serb municipal
workers
shifted.
thereyou're
is more
to life than
in an
learns
that "I
inrealized
Paris, when
enjoying
wineworking
and cheese
got eventhemselves
more tense.inIn
Viti,office
Serb in
municipal
workers
blockaded
their
protest. The
town's
office.
One learns
thatpeople.
in Paris,Atwhen
you're
enjoyingI wine
and
spending
time
with
that
time
I
realized
didn't
blockaded
themselves
in their
office
in protest.
town's
Albanian
mayor
fired them,
but they
ignored
him.The
Armed
and
cheese
and
spending
time
with
people.
At
that
time
want to get into the corporate world. I wanted to experienceI
Albanian
mayor tried
to fired
them,tobut
they ignored
him.
local
Serbs gathered
around
the office
"guard"
it.
realized
I didn'tand
want
to get
intoand
the corporate
different
cultures
meet
people
travel." world. I
Armed local Serbs gathered around the office to "guard" it.
22 24
• RMU.EDU
• RMU.EDU
MIDDLE
After graduation, Woloshin went back to Schiller to earn a
wanted
experience relations
different and
cultures
and meet
people
master's
in to
international
diplomacy.
She
worked
and
travel."
in Brussels for a international conflict resolution group, then
was hired as a consultant by the government of Macedonia,
After graduation,
went
Schiller
to earn
Kosovo's
neighbor toWoloshin
the east. A
yearback
later,toshe
took the
U.N.a
master's
post
in Viti. in international relations and diplomacy. She worked
in Brussels for an international conflict resolution group, then
was
hired
as aherself
consultant
by the
government
Macedonia,
And
soon
found
shuttling
back
and forth of
between
the
Kosovo's
to the south.
later,ashe
tooktruce.
the U.N.
town's
Serbs neighbor
and Albanians,
trying A
toyear
preserve
fragile
post in Viti.
point across," she says. "My colleagues may be more
that coveror
a territory
with
millionfor
residents.
experienced
intelligent.
Buthalf
if itawasn’t
those Her studies
at
RMU,
Woloshin
says,
provided
excellent
career
preparation
communication skills that were drilled in at Robert
Morris,
I
for
her
leadership
role.
"One
of
the
reasons
I
am
the
youngest
wouldn't be able to present my knowledge and experience
as
person
this position is that I am able to communicate
clearly
andineffectively."
clearly and get my point across," she says. "My colleagues
maynot
beworking,
more experienced.
if it wasn’t
for those
When
Woloshin But
is usually
traveling.
Back home
skillsto
that
wereexciting
drilled destinations
in at Robert Morris,
I
communication
once
a year, but usually
exotic,
-wouldn't
able to
present my
knowledge
Greece,
Italy,be
Russia,
Thailand.
Africa
is next onand
theexperience
calendar. as
and effectively."
Allclearly
much more
enjoyable when she doesn't have to take
First she persuaded the Serbs to release government property
herself
back
and forth
between
And
foundpiece
from
thesoon
building,
by shuttling
piece -- first
official
stamps,
then the
town's
Serbs
and
Albanians,
trying
to
preserve
a
fragile
truce.
computers, finally a school bus. She gummed up the mayor's
plan to fire the Serbs, by arguing he hadn't given them the
First she
persuaded
the Serbs
to by
release
government
property
required
three
days' notice.
Hurdle
hurdle,
she helped
Viti
from
the
building,
piece
by
piece
–
first
official
stamps,
then
-- and Kosovo -- make it to the finish line. Moderates won the
computers,
finally
a
school
bus.
She
gummed
up
the
mayor's
Serbian elections. The United States and most of Europe
plan to fire
the Serbs,
by arguing even
he hadn't
given
them the
recognized
Kosovo's
independence,
if Serbia
still
required
three
days'
notice.
Hurdle
by
hurdle,
she
formally won't. When it was over, Woloshin hung up helped
her
Viti and
– and
Kosovo
– make itvacation
to the finish
Moderates
phone
took
a three-week
to theline.
seaside.
won the Serbian elections. The United States and most of
Europe
Kosovo's independence,
even if Serbia
Now
she isrecognized
a senior democratization
officer in Kosovo,
still
formally
won't.
When
it
was
over,
Woloshin
hung up
supervising 11 international field teams covering a territory
her
phone
and took
a three-week
vacation
to theWoloshin
seaside.
with
half
a million
residents.
Her studies
at RMU,
phone calls from the mayor.
When not working, Woloshin is usually traveling. Back home
a year,has
butalso
usually
excitingand
destinations
Butonce
Woloshin
cometotoexotic,
love Kosovo
the rest of–the
Greece,
Italy,
Russia,
Thailand.
Africa
is
next
on
thestruck
calendar.
Balkans. The generosity and hospitality of the people
much more enjoyable when she doesn't have to take
herAll
immediately.
phone calls from the mayor.
says, provided excellent career preparation for her leadership
Now
she
a senior
officer
in Kosovo,
role.
"One
of is
the
reasonsdemocratization
I am the youngest
person
in this
overseeing
effort
good governance
andmy
human
position
is thatthe
I am
abletotopromote
communicate
clearly and get
rights principles by supervising 11 international field teams
"People are happier. They're more optimistic. They enjoy life
Woloshin
alsoabout
comewhether
to love Kosovo
anda the
rest of the
ButThey
more.
don'thas
worry
they have
car or
Balkans.
The
generosity
and
hospitality
of
the
people
struck
how much money they make. They spend more time living,
her
immediately.
dancing and singing, spending time with their families. That's
what's really nice. They deal with life differently, and that
"People
taught
me aexhibit
lot." a passion for life regardless of their conditions.
They spend more time living, dancing and singing, spending
timeBYwith
families and friends. That's what's really nice.
WRITTEN
MARKtheir
HOUSER
They deal with life differently, and that taught me a lot."
WRITTEN BY MARK HOUSER
ROBERT
MORRIS
UNIVERSITY
FOUNDATIONS
• 23
ROBERT
MORRIS
UNIVERSITY
FOUNDATIONS
• 25
Making an Impact
When John Bartling '82 was
studying for his B.S.B.A. in
marketing at Robert Morris, he
probably never imagined that
one day he would be ringing the
opening bell of the New York
Stock Exchange. But it took him
less than 20 years to get there. "You
get up on that little balcony
overlooking the floor with all
the traders, with CNBC over in
one corner, and there is all this
pent-up excitement," says Bartling.
"Then your moment comes, and never
in your life do you think you will be
the person who gets to stand on the
podium and push that button."
2 6 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
Bartling is the 2011 recipient of the Heritage Award, RMU's
most prestigious alumni award, given for distinguished
service and accomplishment. He is global head of real estate of
Ares Management and senior partner of Ares Commercial
Real Estate, an affiliate of Los Angeles-based Ares, a global
alternative asset manager and investment adviser with some
$46 billion of committed capital.
Bartling transferred to Robert Morris from Westminster
College to finish his degree while paying his way through
college. "Going to school at night and working during the day
really focuses your attention on how much a degree is really
worth to you," he says. "Asking myself that question – is
going to school really important to you – definitely
matured me."
After graduation, Bartling's first position was with Mellon
Bank’s commercial mortgage banking group. One of his
clients, a major real estate development and investment firm,
asked him to head their new land development division. "So
at 28, I moved from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., to start a
business I had no clue how to run," he says. But Bartling
found success; in 1992, he moved to Wall Street to assist big
banks in pooling commercial mortgages to sell to investors.
Later, as CEO of an Ohio real estate company with a billion
dollars in real estate investments, he took the company public
on the NYSE – and rang the celebrated opening bell. Another
string of successes followed, eventually leading up to his
joining Ares Management in 2010.
Bartling says his wife and children help him keep his
perspective. "Ringing the bell on Wall Street, as exciting and
fun as it was, pales in comparison to watching your child take
their first steps, go to their first dance, or graduate from high
school. For me personally, parenting is about being able to
enjoy the world in which we all live in through their eyes."
When his daughter Amanda was three months old, she had a
bad reflux condition, causing her to choke and almost die. She
ended up spending a significant portion of the next six months
in the hospital and on a heart monitor. Because of that scare
and the lifesaving medical treatment his daughter received,
Bartling became an active supporter of hospitals and medical
charities – both in terms of the dollars he raises or donates as
well as time and effort on their behalf. A charity he created,
Caring Partners for Kids, makes available vacant apartments
and houses to families who need a place to stay while their
child undergoes surgery or needs long-term health care.
"Little things can have a huge impact in your community,"
says Bartling. "Sometimes just making use of what you are
not using can make an enormous impact."
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL WILL '08
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 7
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
FACULTY PROFILE
STUDENT PROFILE
The transfer from Kent State already has his bachelor's degree in competitive
intelligence systems and is currently pursuing his M.S. in information
security assurance. As the starting fullback for the Colonials football team
last season, Little was named the inaugural recipient of the Tim Hall
Scholarship, named for the late RMU running back and member of the
Oakland Raiders. "I've been playing football since I was 8 years old,"
says Little. "Achieving something like this is a reflection of 14 years of
hard work."
When he's not hitting the books or the opposing defense, Little likes to do
his best John Coltrane impersonation on the tenor saxophone, which he's
been playing since seventh grade. "It was either play an instrument or join
the choir," he says. "And I can’t sing, so..." Today he plays several
instruments and is a member of RMU's jazz band and the Center of Life
jazz band. Little has played in jazz clubs in the Strip District with renowned
jazz artists like Roger Humphries and Sean Jones.
WRITTEN BY
VALENTINE J. BRKICH
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY
JAMAR CROMWELL LITTLE
The third of five boys, Wu came from a working class family in then-British Hong Kong.
With a full tuition scholarship to the University of Rochester, he arrived in 1975 not
knowing a soul, with two suitcases and $300. Wu went on to earn a master's and doctorate
at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, then spent seven years as a computer science researcher
at the IBM Watson Research Center. He went back to Hong Kong and taught for two years,
then came to Pittsburgh to join a colleague in starting a consulting business. Although that
venture didn't pan out, another did: Wu met his wife here, Taiwan-born Yijen,
and they have two boys, Zechary and Joshua. After four years at
Pitt, Wu came to RMU in 2003.
With the university now in
the process of renewing its
accreditation, Wu was chosen
to co-chair the committee
measuring progress on student
retention and support services,
such as tutoring. "This is purely
a learning experience for me," he
says. "The learning part and the
thinking part is interesting.
Writing the documents and making
them foolproof, that is tough and
hard." His students may be glad
to know that Wu has a lot of
homework too.
WRITTEN BY
MARK HOUSER
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY
PETER WU
rmu.edu/foundations
And, oh yeah, he's also quite the poet. "I love writing
because it's a release," he says. "You are able to be
nonconforming to society's everyday train of thought. You
can take off the shackles and walk in whatever direction
you desire with a pen and pad."
Students know they will get a lot of homework from Peter Wu, Ph.D. The associate
professor of computer and information systems has a reputation for giving out assignments
on the first day and not letting up until finals. But whether he's teaching database design,
web development, or geographic information systems, Wu believes his students learn best
through practice. "It takes a lot of time for them to appreciate it," Wu says. "For me the most
encouraging thing is when they come back to me years later and say, 'What I learned from
you was valuable."
Peter Wu
Jamar Cromwell Little
One day Jamar Cromwell Little will be giving some company a strategic
competitive advantage. But for now, the advantage belongs to RMU.
29
DOROTHY FRANK '78 was hired as
director of corporate support for
Essential Public Radio 90.5 FM
and WYEP 91.3 FM. She was
formerly director of broadcast
sales and underwriting for
WQED Multimedia. Dorothy lives
in Pittsburgh.
>
KEVIN COLBERT '79 was promoted
to general manager of the
Pittsburgh Steelers, the first
CINDY BERIE GLANZER
'79 is an administrative
NICHOLAS GARRUBBA '81 is
executive vice president for loan
and credit administration at
Brentwood Bank. He lives in
McKees Rocks.
DALE H. KILLMEYER '81 was
elected chairman of the board of
Southwinds Inc., a nonprofit
agency providing quality
residential care and life skills
training for adults with
developmental challenges. Dale is
vice president and director of
corporate finance for
International Capital Networks
LLC. He and his wife, DEBBIE
KILLMEYER '03, live in Pittsburgh.
MARK DODDS M'93 co-edited the
recently published Encyclopedia
of Sport Management and
Marketing. Mark is an associate
professor of sport management
at SUNY Cortland.
JEFF BELSKY '87 M'96 and
JOHNENE BELSKY '07 are owners
of J.W. Hall's Steak and Seafood
Inn in Hopewell. For the past
11 years, Jeff has been an
administrator at the Pittsburgh
Technical Institute, and Johnene
has worked as an emergency
room nurse at St. Clair Memorial
Hospital. The Belskys reside in
Moon Township with their three
teenagers.
WAYNE P. KURTZ '89 is the
president and CEO of Karlsberg
International Insurance Corp.
He lives in Belize.
BETH D. MASLANKA LYNCH '94
was promoted to investment
relationship manager for
Schneider Downs. Beth and her
husband, JEFFREY M. LYNCH M'10,
live in Pittsburgh.
Collins, Colo. She lives in
live in Loveland, Colo., with
her husband, Jeff, and their
children, Jeremy, Andrew,
and Chelsea.
1990s
DEAN MILLIGAN '90 was
promoted to senior vice president
of reimbursement for Apria
Healthcare. He and his wife,
Kimberly, and twin sons, Aidan
and Riley, live in the Philadelphia
area.
the London office of
parents of Sophie Rose
Purvis, born October 20.
in their comprehensive
Julie is willing to serve as a
Shari is the university's
mentor for RMU business
Dean of Engaged Learning.
students in London.
The family resides in
lives in Washington County
with her husband and
stepchildren.
COURTNEY ANDRASSY
HEIL'96 and her husband,
Joe, welcomed their third
on October 5. Molly has two
big sisters: Casey 3, and
Jenna, 1. Courtney works at
the Lake County (Ohio)
YMCA as a preschool gym
-.
+ -.'
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DIANE M. PEARSON '85 was
named 2011 Woman Business
Owner of the Year by the
Pittsburgh chapter of National
Association of Women Business
Owners. She is an adviser and
instructor and Joe is a
firefighter and paramedic.
The family lives in
Willoughby, Ohio.
U
ONLINE @ RM
THOMAS YOUNG '91 is senior vice
president for administration and
treasurer for Brentwood Bank.
He lives in Beaver.
RMU
U..E
ED
DU
U/
/O
ONLINE
3 0 • W W W. R M U . E D U
SHARI PAYNE M'00 and
Michael Purvis are the proud
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
services organization. She
!
2
2
JULIE LOUCKS '00 is U.K.
operations risk manager for
Bonnie is employed by ADP
daughter, Molly Elizabeth,
assistant with Parametric
Technology Corp. in Fort
July 20 in Marco Island, Fla.
"
# 2
PETER DENARDIS '83 received
a 2011 Jefferson Award for
Public Service for his volunteer
work with the International
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
Foundation, which supports the
fight against a rare form of
lymphoma. In 2003, Pete was
diagnosed with the incurable
disease and given six years to
live. He continues to teach part
time at Robert Morris University
and volunteer regularly.
BONNIE WILSON '96 and
Ken Haines were married on
>
1980s
JEANNE V. CRICHLOW '88 was
named to the board of Uptown
Partners. Jeanne is the director
of volunteer and community
services for UPMC Mercy.
She lives in Pittsburgh.
P.J. DINUZZO M'95 was named
to the board of Valley Care
Association Endowment Corp.
He is the founder of DiNuzzo
Investment Advisors. He lives in
Beaver.
2000s
JOHN A. LYTLE '95 joined the
nonprofit niche team in the
accounting and auditing
department of Horovitz, Rudoy &
Roteman. John lives in Pittsburgh.
ELLEN MCCABE M'00 is a principal
with LarsonAllen, leading the
firm's state and local tax practice.
She was formerly with Ernst &
Young. Ellen lives in Chagrin
Falls, Ohio.
BRIAN CLEARY '98 M'01 is now
RMU Radio's color analyst for
football broadcasts. A former
member of the Colonials football
and track and field teams, Brian
now lives in Robinson with his
wife, Nikki, and their daughter,
Abigail.
MARK DEBIASIO M'99 is the chief
financial officer at State Bank
of Cross Plains in Wisconsin.
Previously he was corporate
vice president of Northwest
Bancshares Inc. Mark and his
family reside in Middleton, Wisc.
GREG MCBRIDE '99 is the national
account executive for Corporate
Screening Service Inc. He had
been an account executive for the
Cleveland Indians. Greg lives in
Pepper Pike, Ohio.
Lower Burrell.
TRACEY CEKADA D'02 is an
associate professor of safety
sciences at Indiana University of
Pennsylvania. She was honored
by the American Society of Safety
Engineers in November as one
of 100 women in the country
making a difference in
occupational safety, health,
and the environment. Tracey's
students recently won the
society's student chapter of
the year award.
HEATHER FENK '02 is an executive
recruiter and HR consultant with
Vantagen. She is currently
pursuing her master's in public
management at Carnegie Mellon.
Heather resides in Pittsburgh.
>
DANIEL D. WOLFE '77 merged his
accounting firm with A.S. Fricano
& Co., where he was a former
shareholder. The new firm is
Byler, Wolfe, Lutsch & Kampfer
Inc. He lives in East Liverpool,
Ohio.
shareholder at Legends Financial
Advisors Inc. of McCandless,
where she oversees financial
planning and money
management services. Diane and
her family live in Pittsburgh.
>
JOHN K. YAKLICH '71 is the author
of the e-book romance Monica,
under the pseudonym "Jocko."
The story concerns a woman who
has been severely injured in a
crash. John lives in Verona.
person in team history to hold
that title. Kevin joined the
Steelers in 2000 as the director of
scouting and player personnel.
Kevin also was recently
appointed to the RMU Board of
Trustees. He lives in Pittsburgh.
>
1970s
CLASS NOTES
>
CLASS NOTES
AARON HAUCK '02 and
LISA FATULA HAUCK '03
welcomed their daughter,
Mallory Mae, on June 10.
Aaron is operations manager
at Elan and Lisa works at
BNY Mellon in ACH
compliance and quality
assurance. They live in
Aliquippa.
CAROLYN M. HALL '02 was
named to the board of LifeSpan
Inc. Carolyn is the administrator
of Eldercrest Nursing Center.
She lives in Carnegie.
MARIE STEWART '02 is the new
instructional supervisor at Laurel
(cont.)
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 1
CLASS NOTES
MONICA A. CLARK '06 is PSH
quality assurance analyst at CGI
Federal Inc. She lives in
Alexandria, Va.
JACLYN MALECKI '04 and Matt
Dean were married in July.
MICHAEL D. WELSH '06 is a
fraud investigator at Facebook.
He previously was a senior
consultant with McCrory &
McDowdell in Pittsburgh.
Michael has moved to Palo
Alto, Calif.
Class Notes would love to hear from you.
JENNIFER LYNN KORZEN '08
was promoted to senior tax
accountant in wealth
management tax services
Email us at rmualum@rmu.edu.
KIMBERLY CORSETTI
CHRISTOPHER
BRANVOLD '05 and KRISTEN
M'06 welcomed a daughter,
LAGONIS '06 and her
assistant and transcriptionist
ROTH BRANVOLD '06 M'06
Adelyn Jade, September 3.
husband, George, welcomed
at Greater Pittsburgh
welcomed their second
Olivia is an Advanced
their first child, Theodora
Physical Therapy and Sports
daughter, Alexa Marie, in
Planner at Bayer Material
Angelia, on July 1. The
Medicine in Cranberry and a
July to join big sister Mazie
Science and lives in Mt.
family lives in the South
Lebanon.
Hills.
water aerobics instructor at
Elizabeth. Kristen is a
the Beaver County YMCA.
proposal development and
Kimberly married Patrick
project support analyst at
Leslie Jr. in 2009. They live
Bayer Corp. and Chris is
with their son, Mason
assistant golf pro at the
Patrick, 1, in Fombell, Pa.
Sewickley Country Club.
Oakdale.
TOM MARCHLEN M'80
SENIOR TAX ATTORNEY FOR ALCOA
Be PaRt
of SoMething
YoU can Believe in
For just $84 a month, President's Council members like
Tom are part of something important. They give the gift
of opportunity to RMU students. They invest in the future
prosperity and growth of our region. They change lives.
To find out more about joining the President's
Council, please contact Jen Crawford at
(412) 397-5452 or CRAWFORD@RMU.EDU.
Or contribute online at RMU.EDU/GIVE
3 2 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Jennifer lives in Pittsburgh.
DON'T MISS A MOMENT!
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ABOUT
ALL THE EVENTS, SOIREES, AND SPECIAL
OFFERS JUST FOR RMU ALUMNI LIKE YOU.
GIVE US A HOLLER AT RMUALUM@RMU.EDU
AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE ON
OUR EMAILING LIST.
GET ALUMNI BULLETINS ON YOUR PHONE.
TEXT RMUALUMNI TO 94253
TO JOIN THE ALUMNI MESSAGING SERVICE.
ANGELA KOKANOS
LESLIE '04 is an office
The Branvolds live in
"I made a lot of personal and
professional connections at Robert Morris,
and they've enhanced my career opportunities.
Considering what I received, I am pleased
to return something to the university each year."
OLIVIA KOHNFELDER
>
NELLE STAHURA '07 returned to
RMU as the assistant coach for
the women's rowing team.
Previously she was an account
supervisor for Adrenaline, a
New York City ad agency.
>
JACLYN E. GOEHRING '07 married
Brad Barker on August 5. She
is a kindergarten teacher in the
Shenango Area School District
near New Castle. The Barkers
live in Greenville.
JARVIS POWERS '08 walked the
runway in the fall at ManStyle,
Pittsburgh Fashion Week's first
men's show at The Mall at
Robinson.
ROSS S. ALESSANDRO III M'09
has been promoted to senior
manager at Ernst & Young.
Ross lives in Mars.
LUKE BUMGARDNER '09 joined
Thermo-Fisher Scientific in
Pittsburgh as a sales account
manager.
JILLIAN HOWLEY '09 is lacrosse
coach at Lake Erie College. She
had been an assistant lacrosse and
field hockey coach at Bloomsburg
University.
2010s
CHRISTA M. FITZPATRICK
BRADLEY '10 is an associate
software application engineer
for Charles Schwab. She lives
in Centennial, Colo.
STEPHEN M. KOBERT '10 recently
took a position with Northwest
Savings Bank as a management
trainee. He lives in Pittsburgh.
KEVIN PRESTON '10 is the Toyota
new car sales manager at Preston
Motors. He recently completed
the NADA dealer candidate
academy. Kevin lives in New
Castle.
CHELSEA WALKLAND '10 is
the assistant coach for women's
hockey at Rochester Institute
of Technology. She played four
seasons of hockey for the
Colonials.
LAUREN BARNES '11 is a
registered nurse in the surgical
intensive care unit at Allegheny
General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
MEGAN BARNES '11 is a registered
nurse at the Western Psychiatric
Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh.
RICK CANTER M'11 is the assistant
strength and conditioning coach
at Longwood University in
Farmville, Va.
JOHN C. EAVES '11 is the sous chef
at Burgatory in the Waterworks
Mall near Fox Chapel. John lives
in Aspinwall.
CHANNING FRAMPTON '11 is
working as a full-time weatherman
and reporter at TV3, the ABC
affiliate in Winchester, Va.
SAMANTHA J. SHEARN '11 is a
staff accountant in the assurance
and advisory services group for
>
MELISSA BUCK '04 M'04 was
promoted to supervisor for
Sisterson & Co. tax services.
She lives in Pittsburgh.
KATIE SELBY '05 and Dan Hughes
were married on May 28. Katie is
an HR coordinator for Maryland
Quality Meats in Baltimore. After
a honeymoon in the Bahamas, the
Hughes are residing in
Westminster, Md.
TIMOTHY DIANA '06 and BECKY
KENNEDY DIANA '99 M'02
welcomed daughter Caroline
Marie on July 26, to join brothers
Patrick, 6, and Andrew, 4. Tim
works for Guardian Protection
Service and Becky is assistant
director of RMU conference and
facilities services. They live in
Moon Township.
>
SAMANTHA STEWART '02 was
named president of the board of
directors of the Pennsylvania
Society of Enrolled Agents.
Samantha is corporate tax
manager at Liberty Tire and
Recycling. She lives in
Portersville, Pa.
Jaclyn is an IT research and
communications specialist for
UPMC. The couple lives in
Pittsburgh.
>
Technical Institute in Sharon, Pa.
She lives in Conneautville, Pa.
CLASS NOTES
W. JOSHUA FUCCO '07
M'09 married Jennifer Laurin
on September 24. Josh is
currently working in the
information technology
sector in Pittsburgh. The
couple lives in Imperial.
Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP.
She lives in Pittsburgh.
SIMONE SOUTHWELL M'11 is
working as an event assistant
in the sports and entertainment
industry for the U.S. Tennis
Association, VH1 Hip Hop
Honors, Urbanworld Film
Festival, and others. She lives in
New York City.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 3
>
>
BENJAMIN R. CAMPBELL
JASON PREM '09 and
D'08 joined RMU as an
ERIN NEELY PREM '09 were
assistant professor of
engineering, after working as
a laser engineer at Penn State.
married June 11. Erin is a
freshman admissions
counselor at RMU and Jason
is a commercial loan analyst
at PNC Bank. The couple
honeymooned in Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic,
and live in Ross Township.
>
treatment center. Sue teaches
nursing full time at Penn State
Behrend and sees patients part
time at the Regional Cancer
TODD HENDRY '09 and
JULIE COSTELLO '08 were
married on September 24.
Todd is an associate business
Center. She lives in Erie.
KEVIN WILLIAMS '11 was hired at
KDKA-TV as a news producer.
CLASS NOTES
NEW
TRUSTEES
WOMEN OF
EXCELLENCE
Four alumni recently
were appointed to the RMU
Board of Trustees. JEFF D.
BERGMAN '77 is a private
investor and consultant,
KEVIN COLBERT '79 is
general manager of the
Pittsburgh Steelers,
ROBIN SANDERS D'10 is
international affairs
advisor for Africare, and
JOHN J. WALDRON '82, is
an independent financial
advisor. Joining them are
recent appointments GARY
SOKULSKI, MARGARET
DICUCCIO, and MARGARET
LARKINS-PETTIGREW, M.D.
Four RMU women were
Marketing and Julie is a
public relations specialist at
Direct Energy. The couple
lives in Greentree.
KAYLEE STURM '11 is a public
relations and social media
specialist with MarketSpace
Communications. She welcomed
a son, Kaiden, on January 28,
2011. They live in Beaver.
SUSAN ROCHE D'11 is a nurse
practitioner at the Millcreek
Township outpatient cancer
3 4 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
Pittsburgh Courier among
its 50 Women of Excellence
for 2011. Honored for
their professional
accomplishments,
JOSEPH G. HARWICK '35 of Haines
City, Fla., passed away on June 1
at the age of 99. He worked on
the Manhattan Project for the U.S.
Army, then for Crucible Steel in
Pittsburgh, retiring as a division
controller. He is survived by his
wife, Betsy, and daughters Diana,
Beverly, and Patricia.
GEORGE M. BOYLE '54 of
Bridgeville passed away May 9
at the age of 86.
LINDA CLARK HOUSEMAN COVEN
'67 of Safety Harbor, Fla., passed
MARTY L. WINCHESTER M'02 of
East Finley Township, Ohio, died
on October 8 at the age of 43.
commitment to Pittsburgh,
and status as positive role
models for the AfricanAmerican community were
KIMBERLY PHARR MOSES
'89, an attorney at UPMC
Children's Hospital; TAMMY
MILES BROWN D'09, director
LEE J. STEEN D'06 passed away
unexpectedly in Ellicott City, Md.,
on August 26 at the age of 29. The
youngest individual ever to earn
a Doctor of Science degree from
Robert Morris University, he
worked for the Department of
MINDY RUPRECHT '06 of
Sewickley passed away on July
27 at the age of 33. She is
survived by her son, Trenton.
STEPHAN E. HARVEY D'06 of
Oelwein, Iowa, passed away
on September 1 at the age of 61.
He was retired from Bayer Corp.
as an accounting specialist after
25 years there.
HAROLD KIMMINS, a
retired history professor
whom students remembered
for his dramatic flair and
colleagues respected for his
advocacy – particularly his
role in founding the faculty
federation and serving as its
first president – passed away
November 20 at the age of 78.
A Presbyterian minister and
former U.S. Navy chaplain, Kimmins was a world traveler and
writer of two published books and several manuscripts. Married
three times himself, he taught a popular class on marriage and
family at RMU. His former secretary, Billie Schuller, said Kimmins
used to joke that his matrimonial experience made him the most
qualified teacher. He is survived by his partner of 14 years, Janet
Gale; a son, Christopher; daughters Jennifer O'Donnell and Keli
Ryan; five grandchildren; and two brothers.
of strategic initiatives for
Pittsburgh Public Schools;
SAVE THE DATE
president and training and
away on May 20 at the age of 65
after a battle with cancer.
RICHARD C. PORTER '72 of Oxford,
Fla., passed away on August 21.
design manager at PNC
Financial Services Group.
Joining those alumnae was
RMU professor DARLENE
GAMBILL MOTLEY, Ph.D.,
associate dean of the School
In Memoriam
JOEL D. WALTERS '97 of
Shippenville, Pa., passed away
September 29 at the age of 50.
Defense in Fort Meade, Md.,
and taught at Frostburg State
University, Johns Hopkins
University, and University of
Maryland University College.
He and his wife, Lauren Conway,
had welcomed their first
daughter May 21.
and KIM JEFFERSON '78, vice
development manager at
Advantage Sales and
recognized by the New
veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps
who served in Operation Desert
Storm, he had been an inventory
specialist at Westinghouse.
>
CLASS NOTES
RONALD PATRICK DAUGHERTY '74
of Mt. Washington passed away
on October 31 at the age of 63.
He owned Ron Richards
Photography in Oakdale. He is
survived by his wife, DENISE
PANOS DAUGHERTY '74, and
daughter, Bridgette Daugherty.
KATHRYN T. CORBETT MCCUNE '75
of Canonsburg passed away on
May 17 at the age of 57 after her
battle with cancer. Kathy retired
from the Pa. Department of Labor
and Industry in February after 35
years of service.
of Business and director of
the program in HR
management.
LARRY DUPONT SR. '76 of
Economy passed away on April 11
at the age of 67. A U.S. Army
veteran who served in the
Vietnam War, he was retired from
H.H. Robertson and a former
credit manager for Beckwith
Trucking.
WILLIAM P. "BILL" LAUDER '96 of
Economy Borough, passed away
on June 9 at the age of 42. A
Women
of RMU
ALUMNI NIGHT
AT PNC PARK
SAT., JULY 21 AT 4 P.M.
PIRATES VS. MARLINS
Join us for terrific tailgating at
this family favorite!
RMU.EDU/ALUMNI
April 19
Networking Luncheon
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Omni William Penn Hotel
With Linda Kuga Pikulin '81 The
former CEO and president of
PepsiCo Beverages Canada
shares what she learned
running a $2 billion business.
3RD AnnUAl AlUMni tOUR
i tAlY
Sept. 29 – OCt. 8. RMU.eDU/AlUMnitOUR fOR DetAilS.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 5
10Questionswith
Hedy Polifroni Krenn '97
has always loved animals.
In fact, when she was
growing up in New Castle, she tried to bring a couple chicks home from elementary school. Her parents didn't think it was such a great idea, considering they
had cats. Today she and her husband, well-known Pittsburgh character Jim Krenn, share their Green Tree home with five dogs and one cat, many of them
rescues from Animal Friends, a local no-kill animal shelter.
A marketing major at Robert Morris, today Krenn is an accomplished hatha yoga instructor, having studied for two years at the esteemed Himalayan Institute
of Pittsburgh. She is also a former model and has been featured on the cover of Muscle Training Illustrated as well as in the campaigns of organizations such
as UPMC and Pittsburgh Brewing. Last May she took part in Dancing with the Celebrities of Pittsburgh, an annual event that benefits local charities.
1
What was your RMU experience like?
I loved it. From the first time I visited
Robert Morris, I thought the campus
had a great community feel. Living on
campus was so much fun. We'd play
practical jokes on each other in the
dorm, go to basketball games. The
education was amazing and so were
the people. I'm still very close to some
of my Robert Morris friends today.
4
5
What led you to being a yoga
instructor? I actually have a
bad back, and I decided to try yoga. It
really helped me feel better. Plus, I've
always enjoyed fitness – running,
working out in the gym, and
Pilates – so I really enjoy that
part of it.
7
2
What's it like being
Pittsburgh royalty?
That's funny! I like that. I
know if we really were
Pittsburgh royalty,
Jimmy
would
demand that his crown
have the Steelers logo on it.
Why do you and Jimmy
support Animal Friends? We first
became involved through a friend who
was in charge of the organization, and
from there it just blossomed. The
people there are wonderful, and
they're really doing great work. They
do amazing things, and their heart is
truly in the right place.
Has anyone ever changed your life? Definitely my grandparents,
Romaine and Jack. Jimmy always says there are many things you can
do in life, but when you pass, people don't remember you for what you
did as much as how you treated people. They were wonderful role
models. They used to run a TV and radio shop in their hometown of
Franklin. They didn't do things for the money but instead for
the people. I was lucky to know them.
I know you don't have any birds in your menagerie, but
do you “tweet”? I just got on Facebook, and I'm trying
to learn about the ‘tweeting’ thing, but I don't think it's
going to happen. I mean, what am I gonna say? “I woke up... took
the dogs out for a walk... changed the litter box?”
10
You've got the dogs and cats covered. Any
chance of adding a lizard or maybe even a snake
to the mix? That would be fun, but I'm pretty sure
my two beagles would think they were snack food.
Written By Valentine J. Brkich
36
9
Photo Provided By Hedy Polifroni Krenn
Watch Hedy in "Dancing with the Celebrities of Pittsburgh" on Foundations Online.
How did you get into modeling?
My mother had been a model, so I
always had an interest in it. While
I was in college, my friend talked
me into meeting with a couple
casting companies downtown. I ended
up doing some local work and even lived in
New York for a month at a time.
But in the end I wanted to be back
home with Jimmy.
3
6
Were you a dancer before taking
part in Dancing with the Celebrities
of Pittsburgh? No. I'm definitely not a
dancer. But it was for a great cause. The
real star of the show was this boy from
Haiti, Fredo, who was adopted by a
family from Pittsburgh after the
earthquake destroyed his orphanage.
Seeing his big smile reminded everyone
where their money was going.
How is your German shepherd
puppy, Kota, getting along with the
other members of your pet family? At
70 pounds, he's already the biggest
one, so he's brought some serious life to
the house. He's really interested in Elvis,
our 6-year-old cat, and he's always
trying to play with him. Of
course, Elvis wants
nothing to do
with him.
Upcoming Events
>
MARCH
>
6 Alumi Open House.
APRIL
5 Alumni Association Council
Come see the new School
of Business. 5:30 p.m.
meeting, Sewall Center, 6 p.m.
19 Women of RMU Luncheon
14 Career Fair,
with fmr. Pepsi Canada CEO
Linda Kuga Pikulin '81, Omni
William Penn, Noon
Sewall Center, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
20 Happy Hour for alumni
at US Steel, BNY Mellon,
Federated Investors, and
Alpern Rosenthal, at Damon's
Grill, Downtown, 5 p.m.
26 Alumni Association
22 Colonial Theatre presents:
Series Tom Brokaw,
Heinz Hall, 8 p.m.
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Byham Theater, Downtown,
7:30 p.m. Through April 1
28 Pittsburgh Speakers
Series Gen. Stanley McChrystal,
Heinz Hall, 8 p.m.
Welcome, Primanti Bros.
in Moon, 5 p.m.
26 Pittsburgh Speakers
>
>
ON THE ROAD
April showers bring RMU alumni! Meet President Dell'Omo
or other friends at a reception this spring in a city near you.
Harrisburg, Apr. 10 • Philadelphia, Apr. 11
Washington, D.C., Apr. 12 • Cleveland, Apr. 17
Erie, Apr. 19 • Boston, Apr. 25
MAY
5 Golden Colonials (50 years)
breakfast and recognition,
Sewall Center,
Check the Events listings at rmu.edu/alumni for even
more events and up-to-the-minute information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on these and other upcoming events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (412) 397-6464 or rmualum@rmu.edu.
WIN THE
COVER!
Have we made you hungry?
Would you like to sink your teeth into
a magazine-sized chocolate bar?
We're giving the original Foundations
chocolate cover, custom-made and
hand-poured by our friends at
Betsy Ann Chocolates, to one lucky
contributor to the university.
That could be you!
Make a donation of $100 or more to
help change a student's life at
RMU.EDU/GIVEONLINE between
now and March 31 and you will automatically
be entered in a drawing for the
gigantic chocolate bar.
Meanwhile, go to Foundations Online to
watch how Betsy Ann made it for us.
Tee off
this
spring
RMU Alumnae
Weekly Golf Leagues
Choose from three courses:
Clover Hill, Moon, or
Murrysville.
Details at
rmualum@rmu.edu