Dr. Petillo's Blog

President Petillo's Blog: Friday, September 26th

Despite the football team’s first loss of the season to Bucknell, we had a wonderful homecoming weekend with great weather and more than 500 families returning to campus to visit their alma mater. The beer garden and BBQ tent was a big hit as were the other activities, including the alumni Mass, that were scheduled throughout the weekend. We received a lot of positive comments about the changes and growth here, and it was good to see so many old friends. To check out photos from the various events throughout the weekend, click here.

One of our special guests during homecoming was a seeing-eye puppy in training named Grand. In general, we don’t allow dogs on campus, but an exception was made for Grand after his trainer, who was planning a visit with her daughter—a 2015 lacrosse recruit—called to ask permission. We received a thank-you email from her this week explaining what a great experience it was for Grand who needs to learn what to do in crowds where there are multiple distractions. In her note, she expressed appreciation for every single staff member she encountered while here for making her, her daughter and Grand feel welcome. She described it as “assisting this puppy in fulfilling his destiny.” Thank you all for doing what you always do!

Homecoming weekend included SHU’s fourth annual Blessing of the Hands ceremony in the Chapel, which was filled to capacity with family members of the nursing students and nursing alumni. This has become an important and meaningful tradition as the students prepare to begin their clinical experience. Last spring, under the leadership of Professor Shery Watson, a Blessing of the Hands ceremony also took place at our campus in Dingle, Ireland, for nursing students there. The ceremony took place near a holy well with Brother Sean Ahearn conducting the blessing. To see a video of the ceremony, click here.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that one of our Upward Bound students, Geranne Darbouze, was a finalist in the Caribbean American Heritage Essay Contest. I am pleased to share that Geranne won for her essay entitled “Queen Nanny: Warrior Woman.” Congratulations!

I was pleased to see so many faculty and staff turn out for our annual State of the University message. The news is good as we are experience unprecedented success—something that is not happening with many of our peers. That doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels. We need to stay focused on the goals of our Strategic Plan and continue to put the needs of our students above all else. For those who missed the meeting, the presentation has been posted on Blackboard.

It was also nice to see a full house for the annual anti-bullying concert in the Chapel. The beautiful music of 4 Heart Harmony was interspersed with advice from Professor Terry Neu of our Griswold campus on how to prevent bullying. I want to thank John Michniewicz, Galen Tate and 4 Heart Harmony for continuing to throw light—and song—on this important topic.

I had chance to duck into the Edgerton Wednesday night to see the performance by our student improv troupe, the Awkward Handshakes. It was incredibly entertaining. They will be performing again on December 2, and I highly recommend you try to catch it.  

If you haven’t had a chance to head down to Stamford for the FTMA program’s film festival, there are plenty of exciting events still on the agenda. Tonight, there is a screening of Boardwalk Empire and a conversation with its director, Allen Coulter. Tomorrow, Hitchcock’s Rope will be screened, and the discussion will be led by Professor Sid Gottlieb of the communication and media studies program. There will also be a chance to see films by some of the FTMA program’s students tomorrow. On Sunday, there will be a 30th anniversary screening of Amadeus and a discussion with its producer, Michael Hausman; writer, Peter Schaffer; and actor, Tom Hulce. The turnout for the opening awards gala last night was great. Congratulations to Justin Liberman and Damon Maulucci for their hard work in putting this event together. It is a fun and educational way to raise awareness of our exciting FTMA program.

Next Thursday, the Art & Design Gallery at the Edgerton will begin featuring an exhibit entitled “Faces of Heart,” sponsored by the Stamford Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute. There will be several interactive and engaging events and presentations during the next two weeks designed to increase the awareness of how to prevent heart attacks and strokes. This opening joins the Fresh Check Day and the Wellness and Health Fair in making October 2 truly a day devoted to health awareness.

This weekend is the first of four open houses scheduled for interested members of the class of 2019 and their families. We added an additional weekend this year to make it more comfortable for everyone after we had large attendance at the three we hosted last year. All indications are that we will continue to have a lot of interest in seeing what we have to offer. A variety of activities—both informational and fun—are planned. I know we can count on all of you to make our guests feel welcome and assist them in any way they may need.

Enjoy the weekend!

President Petillo's Blog: Friday, September 19th

The football team is 3-0 and will be attempting to continue their perfect record at this weekend’s Homecoming game against Bucknell. It was great to see another big crowd at last week’s game despite the inclement weather. Those of you who stuck around for the fireworks got to see a fabulous display! We did hear from a couple of our neighbors who were not expecting the noise caused by the fireworks, and we want to apologize to them. If we do it again, we will make sure that we tell everyone well ahead of time.

Thanks also to everyone who turned out for my “celebrity” chef gig at 63’s on Wednesday. Those of you who know me know how much I love to cook for others, and I hope you enjoyed the pasta. I am looking forward to tasting what the other volunteer chefs come up with. Wrestling coaches: I’m throwing down the gauntlet!

Last Friday, the Board of Trustees voted to name our new academic building the Frank and Marisa Martire Business & Communications Center. The name honors Frank (who is an alumnus and vice chairman of the Board) and Marisa for their commitment to us, which they have shown through their service and leadership as well as a multimillion-dollar gift. They are excited to be part of our growth and want to be an example to other alumni. We are very lucky to have such forward-thinking and generous people as part of the Sacred Heart family.

After two years, the Civility Lecture series that we cosponsor in Stamford is still going strong. On Tuesday, the series featured Cindi Bigelow, president and CEO of R.C. Bigelow, Inc., who spoke before a full house about civility for a woman CEO. Perhaps surprisingly, more than half the audience was made up of men. The consensus was that it was rare to hear someone speak so candidly about the challenges for a woman leading a corporation.

Wednesday was our annual Constitution Day program, and we were honored to have Professor Robert C. Farrell of Quinnipiac University speak on the subject of “The March of Equality and Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Farrell praised and criticized both the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act, saying each is both brilliant and flawed. He believes the creators of the Civil Rights Act would be disappointed with the slow progress that has been made. Although he noted that there is less day-to-day racism on the part of individuals, he pointed to the disparity between the number of blacks and whites in prison and the vast difference between the average yearly incomes of blacks versus whites as some of the many issues that still need to be addressed.

Also on Wednesday, the SHU marching band was at Citi Field to perform the National Anthem before the start of the Mets baseball game. The Mets went on to lose to the Marlins by a run, making the Pioneers’ outstanding performance the highlight of the evening!

This is Homecoming weekend, and there are a lot of great activities planned for alumni and everyone who is part of the SHU community. The festivities kicked off this afternoon with a luncheon where several alumni were honored for their professional success and/or philanthropic work since leaving SHU. Other activities include a beer garden and family barbecue during the football game, a special alumni mass and more. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with former students and old friends.

In the midst of all the Homecoming festivities, the annual Blessing of the Hands for nursing students will take place this evening. This will be the third year of what has become a very special and moving tradition. It commemorates the beginning of the students’ clinical experience. After having their own hands anointed, the nursing faculty bless the hands of the students in recognition of the importance the hands play in the healing process.

I was happy to hear that the Wellness Center is gearing up for their second annual Fresh Check Day, which will take place October 2 on the 63’s patio. It is a fun way for the counselors to casually “check in” with students and make sure there is nothing going on to keep them from having a successful year. That same day, the annual employee health and wellness fair will take place from 10-2. It looks like October 2 is going to be a day to focus on the wellbeing of our entire community.

Next Wednesday afternoon at 2 is my annual State of the University update. I am hoping to see all faculty and staff there. Afterwards, you can head over to the Chapel for 4 Heart Harmony’s annual anti-bullying concert, which begins at 3:30. It is always a special event, and this year it will include Terry Neu offering suggestions about how to prevent bullying.

The football team is not the only Pioneer team on the field this weekend. Get out and cheer on the men’s soccer team as they take on Holy Cross tomorrow at 7 p.m. and the women’s soccer team as they challenge Hartford at noon on Sunday.

Have a wonderful Homecoming weekend!

Dr. Petillo's Blog - September 12, 2014

It’s a good thing that the parking situation has me walking a little more, because all the events to kick off the semester have me eating a bit more than I should. I hope you all had as great a time as I did at the Gala last Friday. It was wonderful to see everyone—thanks to those of you who made a point of saying hello. The music was perfect and, of course, the food was delicious. It was also fun to see so many of you wearing bow ties. Very classy! Personally, I hope this is a tradition that continues to grow—at the Gala and at other SHU events.

I hosted a barbecue for the students who are housed at the Trumbull Marriott this week. It was chance to check out their digs, which are very nice. The Marriott has done a great job of creating an environment that is more like a residence hall and less like a hotel. Marriott management made a point of telling me that our students have been excellent guests and outstanding representatives of the University. Thanks to everyone for making the best of an unusual situation.

I also hosted a reception this week for the new members of the faculty. It was great to have a chance to meet them and hear about their special research interests and their plans for the year. There are some exciting things happening. I am proud of our top-notch faculty who are delivering innovative and creative programs to our students.

Speaking of our outstanding faculty, I want to congratulate Kerry Milner and Anna Price, both from the College of Health Professions—the winners of the Naclerio Faculty Scholars Program for this year. The program is made possible by the generosity of Richard J. and Barbara A. Naclerio and was created to support and facilitate the work of emerging academic leaders from among the faculty. The Naclerios share the University’s vision of cultivating academic excellence through innovative research endeavors, and we are very grateful to them.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit on Wednesday was very moving as the community once again filled the Chapel to remember Kaitlyn Doorhy. During the service, we presented a plaque with a photo from the candlelight vigil to representatives from St. Vincent’s Medical Center in appreciation for all they did for Kaitlyn and her family.

Also on Wednesday, the class of 2018 heard from Michael Sandel, Harvard University professor and author of Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? The students were required to read his book over the summer. As he always does, Professor Sandel engaged the students in a lively debate on a number of ethical dilemmas in an attempt to determine what constitutes justice. The topics ranged from killing and eating one ailing member of a shipwrecked crew to save the lives of the others and torturing a prisoner if you think he knows where a bomb has been planted to surrogacy, bidding for adoptable babies and sperm donation. In each case, there were strong opinions on both sides. The lecture kicked off the 2014-15 Student Affairs Lecture Series.

Congratulations are also in order for Scott Gaffney and Michael Slaughter who are two of the five winners in the 2014 CFBTA (Commodity Futures Brokers and Traders Association) Scholarship Program. Applicants must be interested in a career in the financial industry, and winners are based on merit, need and an essay. Scott and Michael were chosen from more than 100 applicants.

One of our students is quoted in a blog post called College Students Remember 9/11 that includes comments from today’s college students who were in elementary school back in 2001. To read the blog, click here.

Congratulations also to the University Band on their invitation to perform the National Anthem prior to the Mets home game on Tuesday. The Mets have set aside a block of tickets in the Big Apple Reserve section of Citi-Field for SHU at $20 each. The National Anthem will be performed at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions has begun its Fall 2014 Campus Visit Program. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday throughout the semester. We are expecting a large numbers of participants once again. As always, I know I can count on you to be warm, welcoming and helpful to our guests.

Earlier today, you received an email from Paul Healy with information about the various programs we have in place to keep the members of our community and our visitors safe. Please take time to read through his message and then store it in a place that is easily accessible should you need it. The safety of everyone in our community is our top priority at all times.

Tomorrow is our annual SHU Day event for faculty and staff. I hope you are all planning to come out for the Oktoberfest celebration that will precede the football game against Assumption at 6 p.m. Immediately following the game, a Student Life-sponsored fireworks display will take place. Let’s continue the great support for the football team by once again filling the stands with red shirts for the game!

Also playing at home this weekend are the field hockey team against St. Louis tonight at 7 and the men’s soccer team against Marist at noon tomorrow. Go Pioneers!

Enjoy the weekend!

President Petillo's Blog: Friday, September 5th

I’m going to start this week with an update on SHU’s ice bucket challenge on Wednesday. Between 50 and 60 students, faculty and staff members gathered on Wednesday to take Professor Gary Rose up on his ice bucket challenge for ALS. Members of the local chapter of the ALS Association were also on hand, including Jim Mulhearn who, sadly, is afflicted with ALS. In addition to increasing awareness by taking the challenge, Gary had set a fundraising goal of $1,000. Participants exceeded the goal by raising $1,268. Congratulations and thanks to all involved for your efforts toward eradicating this insidious disease.

Yesterday was the annual Volunteer Fair organized by Volunteer Programs and Service Learning. Close to 500 students turned out to hear about volunteer opportunities from more than 30 community partners. This event creates a lot of positive energy as we start our academic year and think about getting involved in the local community.

Geranne Darbouze, a Central High School student who participates in our Upward Bound program, is a finalist in the SHU-sponsored Caribbean American Heritage contest. Three other Central High School students are also among the finalists. Congratulations to all involved!

Yesterday, we shared information about SHU Safe, a program we have been working on with 911 Cellular for the past six months. SHU Safe is a phone application tool that will serve as an emergency communication tool between the University community and campus security. It offers several features that allow you to quickly connect with 911 in case of an emergency, report suspicious activity or call for nonemergency help (for example if you have a flat tire or lock yourself out of your car) or set up a safety check with one of your contacts that will alert them if you have not deactivated it by a set time. I encourage all students, faculty and staff to download this app. It is a great enhancement to the safety features we already have in place.

The Keel Boat Team of Sacred Heart University won class honors and second place in the Seaflower Course Fleet in the 80th Stamford Vineyard Race over Labor Day weekend. This was the second race ever entered by the team. They placed in the middle of the pack last October in the Storm Trysail Intercollegiate Regatta, hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club. David Tampellini ’18, Colby Jennings ’16,  Joe Aiuto ’18 and Will Herlihy ’16, led by team captain, Brian Reilly ’17, worked with yacht owner Dave Otterbein, Vincent Dert, Patty Lukes and SHU Coach Dave White aboard the Tripp 37 Breakaway. Great job!

We have several sporting events on campus this weekend, so it’s a perfect time to get out and support your fellow Pioneers. The volleyball team takes on Rhode Island this evening at 7 p.m. and Hartford tomorrow at 1 p.m. as part of the SHU Hampton Inn Invitational. The football team plays Lafayette tomorrow on Campus Field at 6 p.m., and the women’s soccer team faces off against Rhode Island on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Before I close, I want to say how much I am looking forward to the President’s Gala this evening and the chance to meet and spend time with our students. We are expecting about 2,300 to attend. I hope any of you who I haven’t yet met will make a point of introducing yourselves, and I can’t wait to catch up with the rest of you who I may not have yet seen.

Have a great weekend!