Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of recent graduate Jarrod Marotto who tragically passed away in an accident during Wednesday night’s storm. We are planning a service in his memory when everyone is back in the fall. We will share the details once they are complete.
We have changed the name change of the Office of Special Learning Services to the Office of Student Accessibility. This name better speaks to the broad support and services provided by the office and relays our all-encompassing reach across campus to undergraduate and graduate students. This change was navigated carefully, using student survey feedback and research from more than 50 schools across the United States. Ultimately, it was determined the new name is in keeping with best practices of disability services in higher education.
Last week, the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology began its Summer Institute for Global Business Management. The four-week program provides a practical framework for understanding global business. On Friday, international engineering teams presented projects to students from India, China and Ireland. The presentation was set up like the TV show Shark Tank, and audience members invested in projects using fake money. What a fun way to end their first week at the institute.
Pro-football player Joshua Dobbs came to campus on Tuesday to learn more about the Horizons at SHU summer enrichment program. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback met with Horizons staff and saw the program in action and the benefits it provides to under-served students in the Bridgeport community.
This week, high school juniors and seniors interested in gaining in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and physiology attended the “Human Anatomy and Physiology Exploration of Structure and Function Summer Enrichment Program” at SHU. I hope students enjoyed their week immersed in science.
Our equestrian team will have a new home starting next month at Silvermine Farm, in Norwalk, just 15 miles south of campus. The team plans to focus their efforts on strengthening their competitiveness in the Hunt Seat competition.
The Center for Nonprofits was selected as one of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Hall of Fame honorees. The Foundation is grateful for the collaborative partnership it has with SHU that helped foster the Center’s growth. All honorees of the Hall of Fame will be recognized at a celebration in November. Congrats to Bill Hass, the Center’s director, and all those involved with its good work.
Jennifer Mattei, a professor in SHU’s coastal and marine science program, gave a keynote address to the members of the 4th International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs at Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, Guangxi, China, last month. In her 25th year of integrating science, conservation and education, Jennifer shared her experiences with her East Asian audience on how involving students and local community members in her research has led to the understanding of the population dynamics and conservation of the American horseshoe crab in Long Island Sound. Jennifer also traveled to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, and showed tourists and locals that the tri-spine horseshoe crab is harmless and important to the ecological functioning of the Bay and should be conserved.
Our Parent Council is close to wrapping up the 2019 Summer Send-Off receptions around the region that welcome the class of 2023 and their families into the SHU community. On Tuesday, Rich and Jamie Comstock, parents of Henry ’19, welcomed incoming Pioneers from Westchester County to their home in Chappaqua, NY. The following night, new SHU families from southern Connecticut came together in Fairfield at the West Campus Guest House. The final of seven Summer Send-Offs hosted by the SHU Parent Council is Tuesday, July 23, in West Hartford. To register or to see photos from past receptions, visit the Summer Sendoffs webpage.
The Office for Alumni Engagement hit the road for the first 2019 Summer Series event in New York City last night at Papillon Bistro & Bar in Midtown. Summer Series events are hosted by SHU’s regional alumni chapters and are a great opportunity for alumni to meet and network with others who live, work, or visit these areas. The next Summer Series events will be held next week on Long Island and in Stamford.
Our Alumni Educational Program ran from June 28 to July 6 and was a big success. Exploring the Dingle Peninsula, 15 alumni and friends traveled to one of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions. In addition to visiting SHU’s Dingle campus, the group enjoyed expert guided tours of the peninsula’s most scenic and iconic areas from Connor’s Pass and the Maharees to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. They visited historic beehive huts, the Gallarus Oratory, Brandon’s Creek, ogham stones and learned about the culture of the Dingle Peninsula. On their free day, many chartered boats to catch a glimpse of Fungie, a locally famous wild dolphin, went fishing, shopping and rode horses on the beach. They shared group meals as part of the trip and spent evenings in pubs listening to Irish music. If you are interested in such an adventure, the 2020 trip is slated for June 26 to July 4.
Have a great weekend!