Dr. Petillo's Blog

President Petillo's Blog: September 29, 2017

It is Homecoming weekend and I am looking forward to seeing alumni back on campus, attending the many events, visiting our new facilities and, of course, watching our Pioneers play Central Connecticut State University at 5 o’clock tomorrow on Campus Field. Hope to see you there.

The SHU Band hosted “Be the Match: Banding Together” on Tuesday. The event raised awareness for blood cancer and allowed members of the SHU community to take the first steps in becoming bone marrow donors. Sixty new donors were registered. Thank you to everyone who participated in this important event.

The Isabelle Farrington College of Education hosted an event focusing on English language learners on Tuesday. The panel included speakers from SHU, Bridgeport and Stamford public schools. The educators talked about their own experiences and challenges as well as the need for instruction to help emerging bilinguals receive the skills they need for academic success.

The U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women has awarded the Wellness Center with a $300,000 grant over the next three years to work on a project to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking on campus. This project is designed to enhance victim services, provide prevention and education programs, strengthen campus security and investigation strategies. Congrats to the Wellness Center for securing this grant.

Congratulations to Mike Kinney, SHU’s senior vice president for finance and administration, on being named one of Fairfield County’s CFOs of the Year by the Fairfield County Business Journal and RSM. Mike is a key voice in the University’s prudent spending and budgeting strategies.


Albertus Magnus College got a new president, Marc M. Camille, Ed.D., this summer. I had the pleasure of meeting with him this week and discussing all things having to do with higher education and Catholic universities.

Over the weekend, members of the SHU community participated in the Bigelow Community Challenge road race and won the team competition as well as other awards. The event raises $150,000 for local charities including our Horizons at SHU program. It looked like a fun day.

Last week our College of Nursing held its first Senior Career Fair in the Art & Design Gallery. Recruiters from a variety of surrounding hospitals were at the event to talk about job opportunities and the many benefits of working for their healthcare facilities. 

Our accounting students also attended a career fair on Thursday in the Martire Forum. Accounting professionals met with students and provided them with information on careers and companies they could potentially work for. Thank you to everyone who made these important career fairs possible.


Last week our Saudi students celebrated Saudi National Day with food and music in the Art & Design Gallery. The national holiday commemorates the establishment of Saudi Arabia.

Besides the many Homecoming events we have going on this week, the SHU Dance Program will present their Senior Showcase at the Edgerton on Saturday. The senior members of the group will perform their final pieces. SHU’s Theatre Arts Program production of William Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors opened on Thursday. Be sure to catch it this weekend or in October.

Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away. Go Pioneers!

Be sure to follow me on social media this weekend for Homecoming updates.

Enjoy the weekend!

President Petillo's Blog: September 22, 2017

While it is officially fall, it still feels like summer with these warm temperatures. It was, however, the perfect day for a ribbon cutting. Faculty, staff, students and community members celebrated the opening of our new Center for Healthcare Education this morning. The group gathered in front of the beautiful building for speeches and praise. It was a great reception honoring the building and the faculty and staff who will educate our College of Health Professions and College of Nursing students.

We had some great guest speakers this week. Taya Kyle, activist, author and widow of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, was at the Edgerton Center on Tuesday recounting her personal experience as the wife of the American hero. She talked about faith and how it has gotten her through the years since his death. It was a moving presentation. Constitution Day was Wednesday and it was a pleasure hosting guest speaker Thomas J. Healy, a professor at Seton Hall University’s School of Law. He spoke about free speech. It was an enlightening lecture.

Students looking to get involved in the community attended our annual Volunteer Fair on Thursday. The Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning hosted the event and provided students with many opportunities to get involved. I look forward to hearing about the many ways our students will be giving back to the community.

Our first undergraduate open house of the semester is happening tomorrow. Please give our prospective Pioneers and their parents a warm welcome as they visit campus.

SHU Band and the College Band Directors National Association is hosting “Banding Together to be the Match” in University Commons on Tuesday. The event brings awareness to blood cancer and the need for marrow donors. You can take the first step in helping to save a life.

Tonight our women’s volleyball team takes on Fairleigh Dickinson at 6 and our field hockey team battles Towson at 7. Tomorrow, our women’s rugby team faces Bowdoin at noon. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.

Follow me on Instagram for the latest construction updates. I cannot wait to eat at our new diner.

Have a great weekend.

President Petillo’s Blog: September 15, 2017

This week we found out SHU was ranked fourth “Most Innovative School” in the North by U.S. News & World Report. We also landed on the publication’s Best Colleges list. We are pleased with these recognitions and continue to work hard to reach our goals.

Last weekend, members of our choir program went to New York City to perform in a live recreation performance of Pete Townsend’s Classic Quadrophenia, featuring Townsend himself of The Who and Billy Idol, at the Metropolitan Opera House. What an amazing experience! I am so glad to see them showcase their talents beyond campus and on such an impressive stage.


Congratulations to the faculty and admissions counselors in our master’s in accounting program who welcomed the largest cohort ever this fall. We are excited to educate 40 new students and future CPAs. Welcome.

Last week, our nursing students participated in our annual Blessing of the Hands ceremony. The hands of our nursing faculty were blessed and then, in turn, they anointed the hands of the junior and senior nursing students. Senior nursing students also helped present lab coats to their younger peers. It is a beautiful and meaningful ceremony that commemorates the importance of the hands in the nursing profession.

I had a wonderful time at our President’s Gala last week. Everyone was dressed to impress and I enjoyed taking photos with students – especially the Bow Tie Brigade. I hope everyone had a good time dancing the night away.

On Monday, we celebrated the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit in the chapel, said in remembrance of the 9/11 anniversary.  In Father Michael’s homily, he spoke of using the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit to bring God’s light into the world.

Campus Ministry held another informative and fun Agape Latte event last night. Over coffee and refreshments, students, staff and faculty listened to Rob Gilmore, director of campus experience, share stories of personal growth.

Congratulations to our Film and Television Master of Arts program (FTMA) for receiving a $20,000 grant from the Newman’s Own Foundation to produce one-minute film spots over the next six months. These short films will be part of a cohesive series that promotes positive life messages. The group of FTMA students, faculty and alumni were filming this week at the new Center for Healthcare Education. We are looking forward to seeing the end results.

SHU’s 7th-ranked Winter Guard team has been promoted to the “Open” class after having three consecutive seasons as finalists in the “A” class. They are in a competition to win a free custom printed floor worth $3,000. Please take a moment to vote here before October 13. Only one vote per person per email address. Good luck, Guard!


Our women’s volleyball team will be participating in the SHU Hampton Inn by Hilton Shelton Invitational this weekend. Games are scheduled throughout the evening tonight and throughout the day tomorrow. Our men’s soccer team plays Siena at 3 p.m. on Saturday as well. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away. Go Pioneers.

Give me a follow on Instagram for fun updates on happenings around campus.

Have a great weekend!

President Petillo’s Blog: September 8, 2017

It has been a packed four-day week and it is only getting busier. I hope everyone is ready to attend the President’s Gala tonight. It should be a fun night filled with dancing and merriment. Gentlemen, be sure to wear your bow ties.

If you missed my statement on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), I encourage you to read my stance on this important program here.

Last weekend we celebrated staff and faculty at our annual SHU Day, which was followed by our first football home game of the season. The fact that we won the game made the event even more special. Congrats on your first victory of the year, team. I hope there will be many more.


The Jack Welch College of Business Fall 2017 Research Forum presented economist Abu Parves Shonchoy on Wednesday. Abu talked about on-the-job training and if it increases employment for the rural poor in the manufacturing sector. Abu used research and evidence from Bangladesh to discuss the topic.

Students interested in seeing more of the world attended our annual Study Abroad Fair in University Commons on Wednesday. Students learned about the numerous places they can explore as part of their Sacred Heart experience. I encourage all our students to see what global opportunities are available to them.

We continue to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. The Office of Campus Ministry is accepting cash donations now until September 15. Thank you to SHU’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee for collecting donations at last weekend’s game.  

Professors Marie Hulme, Joseph Nagy and Nathan Lewis attended the “European Liberal Arts Education: Renewal and Reformation” conference at the University of Winchester in the United Kingdom last weekend. They presented a panel discussion called “The Human Experience of Suffering: Silence, Solace and Salvific Hope.” They spoke on a variety of authors and talked about the significance of the Great Books in SHU’s Catholic intellectual tradition program.

From left are Professors Nathan Lewis, Marie Hulme and Josephy Nagy at the University of Winchester.

Speaking of the Catholic intellectual tradition program, this article features the program and how to effectively teach it. It was written by one of our former professors about her experience teaching the CIT courses here at SHU. It is a very interesting read.

The Christopher Cook Scholarship Fund is growing. The fund named after the son of Don Cook, executive director of Athletics, emeritus, who lost his battle with cancer in 2014, continues to benefit cancer survivors. Six students have received the scholarship to date. Once awarded, they receive it through graduation. Congrats to Don on his efforts to keep the spirit of Christopher alive by passing it on to survivors here at SHU.

From left are Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Emeritus, Don Cook, Cristina Zangagli, President John Petillo, Gillian Guerin and Vice President for University Advancement Bill Reidy. Zangagli and Guerin are the 2017 recipients of the scholarship. At right is Christopher Cook.

I would like to thank the Wellness Center for their hard work over the past couple of weeks. They worked throughout the summer to collect the immunization records for all new SHU students. All of the records then had to be entered manually, making this an arduous task. Their work does not go unnoticed.

Good luck to our nursing students who will be participating in the annual Blessing of the Hands this afternoon. And join us on Monday for the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Chapel. Our annual Mass will be said in remembrance of 9/11. 

On Saturday our women’s rugby team plays Molloy at 10 a.m. and our men’s soccer team plays St. Peter’s at 2. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.

Be sure to follow me on social media. I look forward to posting some great bow tie photos at the Gala tonight.

Have a wonderful weekend.

President Petillo's Blog: September 1, 2017

We had a wonderful start to the fall semester. Move-in weekend went smoothly for all our students and the weather was perfect for Welcome Week events like Massapalooza and Pioneer Chill. I hope by now everyone is settled into their residence halls and ready for a fun, enlightening and active semester.

It was great to see College of Health Professions and College of Nursing students, faculty and staff walk through the halls and use the space at the new Center for Healthcare Education. The impressive facility is up and running and serving the needs of our students. 

Approximately 1,500 students, the largest incoming class in SHU history, gathered with faculty and administration for the annual New Student Convocation at the Pitt Center on Wednesday. At the ceremony, we welcomed the first-year students and told them a little bit about what they can expect over the next four years. Good luck – your journey as Pioneers has just begun.


There are many clubs and organizations to get involved in at SHU. Students can learn about all the opportunities available to them at the Just SHU It Fair today on the 63’s patio. There is something for everyone.

If you have seen the news over the past few days, you know Texas is dealing with much devastation due to Hurricane Harvey. If you would like to help with relief efforts, cash donations are being collected until September 6 in the Office of Campus Ministry.

We are pleased to congratulate alumna Allegra De Vita, ’11, on her second season in Washington National Opera’s (WNO) Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. WNO is one of the leading opera companies in the U.S. Great work, Allegra – we are very proud of you.

Speaking of performing arts, we are excited to announce that members of our choir program were chosen to perform in a live recreation performance of Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia, featuring Townshend himself of The Who and Billy Idol, at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC on September 9 and 10. What a terrific opportunity.

SHU Athletics is back in action. Our first football home game of the season is at 6 on Saturday against Stetson. Women’s rugby takes on Castleton at 3 on Friday and women’s field hockey battles Lehigh at 4:30 on Sunday. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.

As some of you heard me mention in my convocation address, be sure to follow me on social media to get a glimpse of what happens on campus. You will also meet the newest member of the Petillo family, Rosso, my daughter’s new dog. I’m hoping he brings lots of smiles to the entire SHU community.

Have a nice Labor Day weekend.