Dr. Petillo's Blog

President Petillo's Blog: January 26, 2018

It was the first full week of the spring semester, and it was nice to see students, faculty and staff bustling around campus, attending events and getting excited for the weeks ahead.

We officially welcomed Michael Alfano, new dean of the Isabelle Farrington College of Education, to the SHU community on Monday at West Campus. We are happy to have Michael here and look forward to working him.


We are also excited to welcome three new chaplains to Campus Ministry from the Jewish and Islamic faiths. Imam Gazmend Aga, Rabbi Marcelo Kormis and Mark Block, ’98 MBA, will initiate inter-faith programs and be available to students, faculty and staff of all faith traditions. They will also take part in a weekly podcast. Welcome, chaplains.

From left are Rabbi Marcelo Kormis, Imam Gazmend Aga, Father Anthony Ciorra,
Trustee James Morley and Mark Block.

Journalist, author and former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager joined us on Wednesday in the Martire Atrium for the Distinguished Leaders Series, hosted by Trustee Katie Burke of Edelman. Jenna talked before a standing-room-only crowd about her latest book, Sisters First, that she wrote with her twin Barbara Pierce Bush. Jenna also spoke about leadership, balancing motherhood and a career and what it was like being daughter and granddaughter of two U.S. presidents.

The Film and Television Master’s Program hosted an evening with actors and filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass. Attendees watched the brothers’ film The Puffy Chair and later had a chance to ask them questions during an interview via Skype from Los Angeles. Jay and Mark answered questions and talked about the movie.

Fourteen students and Professor Kirsten Nestro went on a “trek” to Ghaila in western Nepal from January 3-9 as part of SHU’s buildOn chapter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty. A “trek” is buildOn’s term for a trip that involves school building, cultural exchange and cultural immersion. buildOn schools are constructed in partnership with the very people who benefit from them. Over the past year, the SHU trek team, along with other students from the SHU buildOn chapter, raised $30,000 to build the school in Ghaila. During the trip, students worked alongside the villagers to prepare the ground and foundation for the school. What an amazing experience for all of them. We are very proud.

For those of you who missed the Martin Luther King, Jr., remembrance event held last week in University Commons, you can watch it here. Trust me, it is worth the watch.

Drop off your canned soup and other canned food items to the Campus Ministry office now or at the 5 p.m. Mass on Sunday, February 4, as part of the annual “Souper” Bowl Can Collection. It is important that we always remember those in need.

Our women’s ice hockey team takes on Holy Cross tonight at 7:30 and again on Saturday at 4. Both games will be played at the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton. These games are special because the student-run mental health awareness organization Heart to Heart; will be hosting a fundraiser. The athletes will wear special jerseys to show their support for those who suffer from mental health illnesses.


Our men’s volleyball team plays Lindenwood tonight at 7 and battles Harvard Saturday at 7. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.

Follow me on social media for updates on campus events.

Have a great weekend.

President Petillo's Blog: January 19, 2018

Welcome back Pioneers. I hope you had a restful break and are ready for a successful spring semester.

We had a great turnout at the Martin Luther King, Jr., remembrance event on Wednesday. University Commons was packed with students who listened intently to our spoken-word poets, singers, panelists and keynote speaker, Patricia Walker, dean of the College of Health Professions. Members of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity impressed us with their strolls. I hope everyone was encouraged to do the right thing, speak up when they see wrongdoing and stay aware of what’s going on in the world around them.


Mark Messier, former professional hockey player and CEO of Kingsbridge National Ice Center in the Bronx, was at the Edgerton Center on Wednesday night. Mark talked about leadership, the state of hockey today and his ice center that, when completed, will have nine ice rinks. It was a great talk.

I would like to give a warm welcome to Michael Alfano, our new dean at the Isabelle Farrington College of Education. Michael started his new job last week at West Campus. He comes to us from Central Connecticut State University where he was dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies. We are happy to have you, Michael, and we look forward to seeing your vision for the College come to fruition.

Our social work and global health programs participated in a program in India over winter break. The group of students and faculty presented kits filled with personal hygiene information to the young women living in Dharavi. The efforts of our Pioneers made a big impact on the young women.

Last weekend in Orlando, our cheerleading team came in sixth place at the Universal Cheer Association College Cheerleading National Championship. The team showcased their cheers and SHU pride. Congrats and great work!


Congratulations to our men’s cross-country team on receiving a Northeast Conference 2017 Fall Team Sportsmanship Award. Great job to the team and coaches for your hard work and sportsmanlike conduct.

Our men’s basketball team plays St. Francis U at 1 on Saturday, and our women’s hockey team battles Post at 4 on Saturday at the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away. Go Pioneers!

Be sure to follow me on social media for the latest events happening around campus.

Have a great weekend.  

President Petillo's Blog: January 12, 2017

I look forward to seeing everyone back on campus on Tuesday following the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday to start another exciting and successful semester filled with enriching courses, inspiring events and great achievements. Even with most of the students away, there has been a lot happening on campus.

A group of eight students and one faculty member went to Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) in Gandhinagar, India, for a two-week program called Working a Cross-Cultural Context: Considering People, Behavior and Communication. This was the first time SHU students visited PDPU, a school SHU shares a joint academic initiative with. Students learned about intercultural communication skills in an immersive program that included distinguished guest lecturers, excursions to cultural sites, behind-the-scenes tours of organizations in communications and other industries and visits with nonprofits. Students visited cultural and world heritage sites, festivals and learned much about Indian cuisine. Each student was paired with a “buddy” student from PDPU to ensure they received an insider perspective during their time in India. You can watch a video about their experience here.

The SHU band traveled to Europe over break. After a rocky start because of harsh weather conditions, students and faculty ended up having a great time performing at many historical sites.


Engineering professor Tolga Kaya led an engineering workshop at a small rural Catholic high school in the Philippines over break. The three-day program allowed high school students to build model homes from recycled materials. Students also used Legos for the first time and were exited to see the robotic Legos move.

Many students participated in service learning and mission trips this month through the Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning and Campus Ministry. CURTIS Week, an acronym for Community Understanding and Reflection Through Inner-city Service, allows students to experience the urban issues of poverty, racism and immigration on a first-hand basis. Nineteen students returned to SHU early to volunteer their time at a number of Bridgeport nonprofit organizations and schools. Another group of students went to Houston to help with hurricane relief efforts. A group from Campus Ministry, 12 students and four adult-leaders, went to Jamaica on a mission trip. They worked with an organization called Mustard Seed Communities, which is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities, to provide assistance to its many residents. 

According to U.S.News & World Report, SHU’s online programs for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing are the best in the state. Our programs were ranked against those from hundreds of colleges and universities across the country in the 2018 U.S.News Best Online Programs rankings.

A group of 30 faculty members are participating in a semester-long course on teaching effectiveness. The course was designed by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and organized by the Provost’s Office and the Office of Digital Learning. The mostly online course focuses on evidence-based practice on topics such as promoting higher-order thinking, facilitating engaging discussion and developing self-directed learners. The opening orientation was on Monday in the Martire Forum. The experience will be supported by regular meetings that are open to all faculty members. The course will culminate in a three-day workshop in May. Participants will revise a course based on what they learned. They will then receive a Certificate in Effective College Instruction from the American Council on Education. Thanks to Steven Michels, Jaya Kannan and Wendy Bjerke who are serving as co-facilitators.

Tonight our men’s ice hockey team will play Holy Cross at the Webster Bank Arena at 7. This game will be played in memory of Jason Pagni and will raise money for the Connecticut Hockey Foundation. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.

I hope to see students, faculty and staff at the event honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., entitled Celebration & Reflection: The Many Voices of Social Justice, on Wednesday in University Commons. It will feature a keynote speech by Patricia Walker, dean of the College of Health Professions, and a panel discussion with Professor Anita August and students.

Enjoy the long weekend.