Even though the year coming to an end, we still have plenty going on. This week we prayed for those who lost their lives in Sri Lanka, heard business students give their predictions on the state’s economy, welcomed potential Pioneers to campus and geared up for a full weekend of events. Enjoy the weekend and be sure to follow me on social media as we close out the semester.
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April 2019
President Petillo’s Blog: April 18, 2019
With just a four-day week for students, staff and faculty, we managed to stay quite busy.
Over the weekend, the Office of University Advancement hosted the Parent Council on a tour of the almost-completed Bobby Valentine Recreation Center, led by Bobby himself. It was great for parents to see the many amenities and features students will soon benefit from.
Parent Council Tour with Bobby Valentine
The Farrington College of Education held its seventh annual literacy conference Saturday morning at the University Commons Auditorium. Educators from around the state came to hear keynote speaker Gravity Goldberg and attend a variety of workshops.
Literacy Conference
Graduate students forgot about classes and exams for an evening as they celebrated, ate and danced the night away at the Graduate Student Life Gala Saturday. Over 300 students attended the dinner dance at the Trumbull Marriott and it looks like they all had a great time.
Graduate Student Life Gala
We heard our instrumental and percussion ensembles play concerts Sunday afternoon. Their talent always amazes me.
Chamber Ensembles
Congratulations to engineering professor Tolga Kaya for completing the Boston Marathon on Monday and for surpassing his fundraising goal by raising $8,200 for student scholarships. Tolga trained for the race for 12 weeks and ran through sunshine and rain before crossing the finish line. Afterwards, he met up with SHU alumni Theresa Campbell ’10 and J.P. Bigouette ’12 who also ran in the marathon. The gathering took place at Trillium Brewing Company in Fort Point, owned by alumnus J.C. Tetreault ’98.
Professor Tolga Kaya and Alumni Theresa Campbell ’10 and J.P. Bigouette ’12
We hosted our share of concerts, art exhibits and lectures this week. The Music Faculty Concert Series presented “Jobimfest VI” on Tuesday in the Edgerton. Professor Joe Carter and the Brazilian Jazz All Stars played tribute to Brazilian music composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. Yesterday, Mary Catherine O’Reilly-Gindhart of the University of Glasgow spoke at the “#MeToo and Sexual Consent: Christian Ethical Reflections” colloquium and the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences presented the second annual Honor of Academic Distinction Finalist Presentation at the Martire Forum. Presentations were given by student-finalists Michael Bubolo (mathematics), Laura James (sociology) and Eve Papa (languages and literature). Yesterday evening, the School of Communication, Media & the Arts hosted an exhibition of photography by Spencer Stovell in the SCMA office suite. Tonight, the SHU Dance Ensemble will perform a “Spring Finale” at the Edgerton Center. The show will highlight student-choreographed works, including a few by the Irish Dance Ensemble.
From top left, clockwise: Professor Brian Stiltner introduces Mary Catherine O’Reilly-Gindhart, Joe Carter at Jobimfest, student Michael Bubolo presents his research at the CAS Honor of Academic Distinction Finalist Presentations, the photography of Spencer Stovell, CAS presentations and #MeToo and Sexual Consent: Christian Ethical Reflections.
It was an exciting weekend for the SHU club figure skating team. The team finished sixth overall in the 2019 U.S. Intercollegiate National Championship at the University of Delaware. Twelve teams competed in total. Eleven students received individual medals, five of them being first-place medals. Congrats, all.
Club Figure Skating Team
Baseball plays URI in a single game at Veteran’s Park tomorrow at 3. Our softball team plays Wagner for a NEC doubleheader tomorrow at 1 and 3 at Pioneer Park. Our women’s lacrosse team hosts Saint Francis University Saturday at 1. Good luck to our student-athletes playing home and away.
Be sure to follow me on social for news and updates.
A happy Easter and Passover to those who celebrate. I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend. I look forward to everyone coming back refreshed and ready for a successful close to the semester.
President Petillo’s Blog: April 12, 2019
There are 30 days left to the semester, and we are not slowing down. We hosted a variety of lectures, art exhibits and more over the past week.
Our fraternities and sororities celebrated Greek Week last week with several team-building exercises, entertainment showcases and, of course, they volunteered their time to help out the community by putting together boxes and bags of goods for the less fortunate.
Greek Week 2019
On Friday, we hosted our 11th annual Relay for Life. The community event raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Thanks to the organizers and participants and everyone who supported this great cause.
Relay For Life
As always, the chorus amazed us with their talents at Gospelfest on Saturday.
Gospelfest
Members of SHU community came together Sunday on the quad to remember students Matthew Dalling, Matthew LeClerc, Matthew Galligan and Audrey Niblo who are no longer with us. There was a ceremony and blessing of memorial trees in the newly created Garden of Remembrance.
Garden of Remembrance
On Sunday, the Fairfield County Alumni Chapter hosted the third annual Alumni Easter Celebration at Great River Golf Club. The sold-out event welcomed SHU alumni and their families for an afternoon of activities and an Easter Egg Hunt.
Alumni Easter Egg Hunt
The School of Computer Science & Engineering started its collaboration with Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) in India through a joint video conference speaker series last week. Professor Tolga Kaya presented his research to PDPU colleagues on “Internet of Things,” and professor Mehul Raval talked about his groundbreaking machine-learning algorithm for human identification through surveillance cameras. This unique event brought 30 researchers into the same room who were 9,000 miles apart.
PDPU Speaker Series
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we kicked things off with our annual White Ribbon Campaign on Monday. Our Office of Title IX, Department of Public Safety, the Center for Family Justice and community members joined together to support the international effort to stop violence against women. I look forward to seeing many of you at the annual Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes event in downtown Fairfield on April 27. The event encourages participants to take the first step in ending violence against women and girls. Show your support and register for the event here.
White Ribbon Campaign
We heard from several enlightening guest speakers this week. On Monday, the Jack Welch College of Business hosted a panel discussion with four health-care experts on the business of health care. The opening reception for the Art & Design Gallery’s Senior Project 2019 was Tuesday night. It featured the work of seniors Casey Cmiel, Jasmeen-Desiree Philips, Allison Riback and Mariko Yamamoto. Wednesday was a busy day. Three guest speakers, which included SHU’s Michael W. Higgins, distinguished professor of Catholic thought, spoke at the College of Nursing’s “A Dialogue on Compassion: The Art of Dying.” Speaker Christiana Zenner addressed issues related to the current climate and ecology crisis and Pope Francis’ response at “Climate Change: The Urgency of Values and Ecology According to Pope Francis.” Three alumni, Justin Baigert ’05, vice president, data & analytics at GE; Joseph Lucibello ’11, senior manager, data scientist at WWE and Suzanne May ’13, research manager at Purchased, attended the Welch College of Business and the Office of Alumni Engagement’s “Careers in Analytics.” Professor Khawaja Mamun moderated the event. Wendell G. Davis, regional director of small business for the United States Department of Small Business was at the West Campus Guest House for a philanthropy networking reception with the members of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Wendell spoke with students one-on-one and then gave the keynote speech. David Nantais, director of Mission and Community Benefit at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, was at the Martire Forum for a Contemporary Catholic Conversation on “Rock and Roll Testimony: Finding the Sacred in Guitar, Bass and Drums.” Yesterday, Molly Crocket, assistant professor of psychology at Yale University visited the Art & Design Gallery to discuss “Conscience and Context in Moral Decision-Making.” The School of Communication, Media & the Arts and the Office of Alumni Engagement presented our annual “Getting in the Game: A Symposium on Women in Sports Media” yesterday. The event showcased alumnae who currently work in the sports media industry. Beth Anne Voight-Jause, area coordinator for Bergoglio Hall, was the guest speaker at last night’s Agape Latte event. Students enjoyed snacks as Beth shared her spiritual journey.
Top row, from left: Senior Project 2019, the Art of Dying, Careers in Analytics and Wendell Davis. Bottom row: David Nantais, Molly Crockett, Women in Sports Media and Agape Latte with Beth Anne Voight-Jause.
Also yesterday, our College of Health Professions thanked its community partners and the many organizations and facilities where our students intern throughout the year at their annual community breakfast. It is a great way to thank those who help our students learn and thrive.
CHP Community Partners Breakfast
Last night we held a reception for our admitted students from the Connecticut area. It was wonderful to meet future Pioneers as well as young people who have not made their college decision yet. Hopefully a visit to our beautiful guest house at West Campus will help them make the right decision!
The Office for Alumni Engagement hosted its annual Pioneer Pride Philanthropy week. The team is still tallying the numbers, but as of this morning, over 1,200 alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends came together to show their Pioneer Pride. Thank you to all for your support of Sacred Heart and for making SHU's Pioneer Pride Giving Challenge a success.
Day of Giving
Catch up on the latest Pulse Plus program for spring 2019, which is brought to you by the graduate students in the broadcast news and media production program
Looking for something to do this weekend? There is still time to purchase tickets to Sunday’s performance of Mozart: Hidden in Plain Sight at the WSHU Broadcast Center.
Congratulations to our women’s bowling team who beat top-seeded Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament yesterday before being eliminated today after losses to Nebraska and Maryland. They did a great job ending up in the top six teams in the country. They have a lot to be proud of.
Our men’s tennis team plays Wagner at 6 tonight at Yale University. Our men’s volleyball team takes on Charleston at 6 tonight and again tomorrow at 4. Our men’s lacrosse team plays St. Joseph’s tomorrow at 1. Our women’s tennis team battles LIU Brooklyn at 6 tomorrow at Yale University. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.
Be sure to follow me on social media for news and updates.
Have a wonderful weekend.
President Petillo’s Blog: April 5, 2019
I hope the first week of April brought spring joy and no one found themselves in the role of the fool.
Students enjoyed themselves at last Friday’s Khalid concert at the Pitt Center. It was nice to see so much excitement.
Khalid
There was something for everyone this week. On Tuesday, the Art & Design Gallery hosted its 27th annual Design Expo with guest speaker Philip VanDusen. Samantha Barry, the editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine, discussed the future of fashion media at the Martire Forum on Tuesday afternoon. Lee McIntyre, research fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University, spoke about the post-truth era and “alternative facts” at the Martire Theater Tuesday evening. Our academic music program presented “Make a Long Story Short” with the Lin-Seidenberg Duo at WSHU Tuesday night. Pianist Hui-Mei Lin and cellist Peter Seidenberg played works by Beethoven and other composers. Ben Glotzer, creative director at 1HQ Brand Agency in New York City, talked about “Why Matters: Brand Connection in a New Media Age” on Wednesday. The Department of Biology presented the “International Ocean Film Tour” Thursday night at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. Attendees watched short films about the sea followed by a panel discussion with SHU professors. Presenter Jessica M. Rath, managing director of the Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute, was at the Schine on Thursday speaking about the who, what, why and how of e-cigarettes and vaping.
Samantha Barry
Ben Glotzer
We are thrilled to be the new and permanent home of the Great Minds art collection donated by Dick and Jane Resnick. The opening of the exhibit took place Tuesday night in West Campus’s East Building auditorium and lobby, but before attendees enjoyed refreshments and viewed the amazing artwork, we heard from Jane and Dick who told us a little bit about the collection. Our keynote speaker was Michael W. Higgins, distinguished professor of Catholic thought.
Great Minds Collection
SHU’s Upward Bound program received a $40,000 grant allowing students to explore the world of coding, engineering and environmental science. During these Saturday STEM workshops, students are learning to use drones, robotics and more. The program will continue throughout the summer and culminate with a field trip to the Naval Submarine Base in New London and the Museum of Science in Boston. Meanwhile, the Upward Bound staff, Carylanne Rice-Ehalt and Emma Sanchez, visited our nation’s capital and met with members of Congress to update them on the progress of their programs and ask for continued support for low-income and first-generation students.
Upward Bound
Student Peter Tobitsch worked hard on a video project featuring football coach Mark Nofri. Please check out Peter’s video detailing Mark’s career at SHU here.
There are a variety of noteworthy causes that could use our support. This afternoon, we will kick off our 11th annual Relay for Life fundraiser in the Pitt Center. The walk-a-thon raises money for the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research and assist patients and caregivers. It also celebrates cancer survivors. I hope to see many of you at this great event, and if you cannot make it, please considering donating here.
Relay For Life
Todd Cassler of John Hancock Life Insurance Company, who is a member of the Welch College Board of Visitors, generously presented the WCOB with a bib—no qualification required—for the Boston Marathon on April 15, which allows us to have a participant in this prestigious event. Computer engineering professor Tolga Kaya will represent SHU in the race, but he needs our help raising $7,500 for student scholarships. Please help Tolga reach his goal here.
Professor Tolga Kaya
From June 16 to August 3, student Ryan Litwin, is running from San Francisco to Boston. He is part of a team of about 30 people who will cover about 4,500 miles in relay fashion, raising funds and visibility for the Ulman Foundation, a charity dedicated to creating a community of support for young people impacted by cancer. This week, as a way to raise funds and support for his run, he raffled off cases of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at a table in the 63’s hallway. With help from the Student Nurses Association, he raised $653. To support Ryan’s run, visit his page here.
Ryan Litwin
Recently, members of Southern Connecticut Storm Special Hockey, a group dedicated to providing young people with a development disability the opportunity to play ice hockey, attended a SHU men’s ice hockey game. While they were there, they met up with the SHU band, and director Keith Johnston allowed them to conduct the student-musicians. Some of the band members were invited to Storm’s end-of-year banquet. What a great partnership.
Members of Southern Connecticut Storm Special Hockey guest conduct for the band at Webster Bank Arena.
Please join us Sunday afternoon as we remember four students who are no longer with us—Matthew Dalling, Matthew LeClerc, Matthew Galligan and Audrey Niblo. Mass will be celebrated at noon, followed by a ceremony and blessing of memorial trees in the Garden of Remembrance.
Class of 2023 admitted students with an interest in Campus Ministry have been invited to a retreat with our Peer Ministry team on Sunday. Students will attend Mass and participate in workshops on faith. Please give them a warm welcome.
Looking for something to do this weekend? Tickets for Hair are on sale now. This is your only chance to see the musical put on by our talented theatre arts program students. SHU’s choral program will host Gospelfest Saturday night where they will perform music that speaks to the soul.
Hair
Our baseball team plays Wagner today at 3, at 1 tomorrow and at 1 on Sunday. Our women’s lacrosse team plays Bryant today at 3 and Central Connecticut State University Sunday at 1. Our women’s tennis team plays Wagner today at 7, Saint Francis tomorrow at 6 and Mount St. Mary’s at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday. All games will be played at Yale University. The softball team plays LIU Brooklyn tomorrow at 1 and 3 and takes on Central Connecticut State University Sunday at noon and 2. On Sunday, men’s tennis faces Mount St. Mary’s at Yale at 8:15 a.m. Go Pioneers!
Follow me on social media for news and updates.
Have a great weekend!