Illustration of white plane flying on dotted path

SJNY Magazine Winter 2023

SJNY Magazine Logo
Winter 2023
Collage of students traveling abroad and a postcard that has St. Joseph's University, New York students get back to traveling the world
Spanning the Globe Once Again
close up detail of frost on a window
Vivian Ciollo Ackerman headshot
“When white lacy frost Crocheted against my window, I snapped a phone shot.”
Now living life’s ups and downs surrounded by Washington County, New York’s natural settings, Vivian Ciollo Ackerman ’66 dabbles in poetry, knitting, quilting and photography.

Contents

Cover Story of SJNY magazine with collage of students abroad and students in greece
Departments
24
News from across the University.
29
Highlighting the accomplishments of St. Joseph’s professors and instructors.
30
Featuring Allison List, director of Institutional Research, and Hannah Wood, associate director of the Academic Center and coordinator of accessibility.
32
Featuring students Sharon Dalzell ’23, Asma Hosein ’23 and Natalie Fanthorpe ’24.
36
Catching up with Philip Branigan ’16 and Dr. KMarie King ’94.
40
A look at recent events that brought together the St. Joseph’s alumni community.
42
Highlighting the Brooklyn softball team, legendary women’s basketball coach Margaret Ward and Long Island assistant baseball coach Andrew Aschettino.
Best Colleges US News Regional Universities North 2022-2023
Three students sitting in a lounge area on a modern orange couch with vibrant colored wallpaper behind them
Man presenting woman with award
Features
6
St. Joseph’s University, New York staff, faculty, students and alumni continue to have a positive impact on the world.
Cover Story
8
Since the return to in-person learning, students are making the most of St. Joseph’s diverse study abroad opportunities.
By Samantha Cheyenne miller ’13
12
One-in-seven learners at the Brooklyn Campus call another state — or another country — home.
by MICHAEL BANACH
14
St. Joseph’s honors six distinguished alumni in the field of healthcare.
by brian harmon
Donald R. Boomgaarden headshot

A message from

DONALD R. BOOMGAARDEN, PH.D.

President of St. Joseph’s University, new york
I am delighted to share with you our winter issue of SJNY Magazine. It serves to document the success of our students, alumni, staff and faculty, as well as the invaluable impact St. Joseph’s University, New York continues to have on our region and the world at large.

As I reflect on the stories featured on the following pages, I am deeply inspired by the passion and resilience of our community, and I am filled with a tremendous sense of gratitude.

Pope John Paul II perhaps said it best when, at the dawn of the new millennium, he advised us all “to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm, and to look forward to the future with confidence.”

Getting to Know a Trustee

Neal Bermas, Ph.D.

By Brian Harmon
Photo by Max Flatow, NYC
Someone Speaking into a microphone
P

eople — no matter their circumstances — have “all kinds of possibilities.”

It’s that belief that has fueled Dr. Neal Bermas’ professional success across a wide range of fields. And it’s the kind of optimism that has empowered Dr. Bermas to absolutely transform the lives of hundreds of impoverished young Vietnamese adults.

STREETS International, founded by Dr. Bermas in 2009 after witnessing the endemic child poverty that existed on the streets of Vietnamese cities, is a no-cost culinary and hospitality training program offered to disadvantaged and vulnerable youth mired in poverty. The program has now placed 300 trainees in jobs with hotels and restaurants across Vietnam and at resorts around the world, including Dubai, Maldives, Cambodia and Singapore.

POINTS of PRIDE

Compiled by Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
NOAA logo

Awarded NOAA Research Grant

The St. Joseph’s University Department of Biology has been awarded a three-year grant that will support research investigating the effects of ocean acidification on harmful algal blooms (HABs). The grant, awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), will provide approximately $25,000 per year for three years to fund SJNY faculty and student research.
Best Colleges award emblem

SJNY Reaching ‘New Heights’

St. Joseph’s University, New York once again ranked as one of the nation’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report — this time moving up 30 spots from last year’s ranking, to No. 48 in the Regional Universities – North category.
Big Ben in London; Woman on the beach in Barbados; Tiles; Buddha Statue; Greece

Spanning
the Globe

Once Again

St. Joseph’s University students get back to traveling the world
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
T

hirteen students who studied abroad independently. Eight faculty-led trips. More than 10 countries visited. All in one year.

Since the return to in-person learning, students have been making the most of St. Joseph’s University, New York’s diverse study abroad opportunities. Through a myriad of faculty-led trips, summers spent traveling foreign cities and independent semesters abroad, nearly 60 students in 2022 seized the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures while participating in one of the best experiential learning environments in the world.

“We have a vision and legacy of engaging with our global and local communities,” said Linda Lubranski, director of the University’s Office of Global Studies. “As a university, we’re continuing in that tradition by leading students to study, conduct research and intern around the world.

students hanging out on a couch

Providing an Opportunity for
‘Unparalleled Diversity’

St. George Residence welcomes influx of students from around the world
By Michael Banach

A decade ago, only a small contingent of students at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus lived more than 10 miles from campus. Today though, one-in-seven learners at the campus in Clinton Hill call another state — or another country — home.

“Over the past five years, we’ve enjoyed steady and consistent growth in both out-of-state and international student enrollment,” said Christine Murphy, St. Joseph’s University’s vice president for enrollment management. “New York City and Brooklyn in particular are global destinations for higher education, and the University has successfully met these learners and their dreams where they are.”

‘Being’ Excellence

‘Being’

At its Esse Non Videri Gala, St. Joseph’s honors six alumni whose passion for quality healthcare embodies the University’s chief principle: ‘To be, not to seem’

Excellence

‘Being’ Excellence

‘Being’

Excellence

At its Esse Non Videri Gala, St. Joseph’s honors six alumni whose passion for quality healthcare embodies the University’s chief principle: ‘To be, not to seem’

By Brian Harmon
S

t. Joseph’s University, New York hosted its second annual Esse Non Videri Gala Awards Dinner on Nov. 18, this year honoring six alumni who have achieved transformational success in their healthcare careers.

Among the award recipients was Sandra Lindsay ’99, a critical care nurse manager for Northwell Health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the very first person in the United States to be vaccinated against the virus. She now serves as Northwell’s vice president of public health advocacy.

“The common thread that runs through tonight’s program is excellence,” St. Joseph’s President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., said. “And excellence comes at a price — the price of excellence is hard work. Everyone that is being honored this evening has worked terribly hard to be in the positions they’re in.”

SJC Classroom Rendering

St. Joseph’s University Student Center:

ON TRACK FOR FALL 2023 COMPLETION

University receives three generous donations dedicated to construction
By Melissa Nicefaro
C

ome next fall, Long Island Campus students will have a new central hub for learning and student life activities.

The campus’ new Student Center featuring indoor and outdoor space to accommodate more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate learners, as well as areas for faculty, staff, friends and partners within the community to enjoy is expected to be ready for full use in time for the start of the fall 2023 semester.

The $17 million, 32,000-square-foot building is the first construction on the Long Island Campus in two decades. An official opening is expected to happen this summer.

When was the last time you got together with friends from St. Joe’s?

Return to campus this spring for one of our special events, games, reunions or other opportunities for family fun and to catch up with old friends!

Find our events calendar and more information on alumni programs at: sjny.edu/alumni.

Got an idea for an alumni event?
Email us at alumni@sjny.edu.

Spring 2023 Alumni Events calendar
Stained glass with saint holding lamb
As we celebrate our university status, we thank the stars in our universe —
the Aquinas Society.
The Society, established in 1995 in honor of Sister George Aquin O’Connor, recognizes loyal alumni, parents, faculty and friends who have included a gift to St. Joseph’s in their estate plans.

For more information, please email rshaffer-walsh@sjny.edu.

The Chapel Fund Project

Renovated Brooklyn Campus chapel hosts opening Mass
By Valerie Esposito-Sadaat and Brian Harmon
S

tudents, professors, staff, alumni and other members of the St. Joseph’s University, New York community gathered in October for the opening Mass celebration and blessing of the Brooklyn Campus’ newly renovated Kennedy Chapel in Burns Hall.

Celebrants at the Mass, led by Fr. Juan Luxama, were greeted by new, light-colored wall panels that brighten up the chapel, along with new carpeting and fresh paint, a refurbished floor, and new padded chairs.

S. Marie Mackey ’84, a faculty member on campus and the former director of Campus Ministry, noted that some of the other changes included new vestments, altar cloths and candles. The thurifer — the metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services — also is new.

Get
involved

at St. Joe’s

A Call for Applications For Alumni Association Leaders

We are seeking dedicated alumni with a passion for helping to join the Alumni Boards. The Brooklyn Alumni Board and Long Island Alumni Board represent the diverse interests and needs of the St. Joe’s alumni community. Applications are now being accepted. For more information, contact us at alumni@sjny.edu.
Katalina P. ’23 headshot

“Having a Student Emergency Fund available to people like me solidifies that St. Joe’s cares about its students and that alumni like you are willing to support us.”

– Katalina P. ’23

Support the
Student Emergency Fund
Katalina P. ’23 headshot
“Having a Student Emergency Fund available to people like me solidifies that St. Joe’s cares about its students and that alumni like you are willing to support us.”

– Katalina P. ’23

Support the
Student Emergency Fund

Make a gift,

Change
a Life

Make a gift,

Change
a Life

Make a gift,

Change
a Life

Start a tradition of giving to St. Joe’s today.
Make your gift at giving.sjny.edu.
Your generosity will keep St. Joe’s students where they belong — in class. Your support will ensure current students benefit from the same experience you had: lifelong friends and impactful professors who prepared you for life.
SJNY badge logo
three circular headshots of students and mascots
AroundCampus

Delivering Unique Opportunities

Student exchange program gives students from affiliated schools a chance to study in New York
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
Student at waterfront with bridge in background
T

hanks to the Student Exchange Program created by the Association of Colleges of the Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ), three students from affiliated colleges across the country immersed themselves in New York City and all it has to offer, while spending a semester studying at St. Joseph’s University, New York this fall.

“The program allows opportunities for students to expand their experiences by studying on another campus — studying with new faculty members, making new friends, and accomplishing their personal and professional goals,” said Martha Malinski, executive director of the ACSSJ.

Malinski believes the program started in the 1970s or 1980s, predating the ACSSJ itself.

“My favorite thing about the program is hearing about the ways in which (students) find new academic, social and professional opportunities to grow,” Malinski said. “Many of the students continue relationships with other students, faculty members and staff after their semester on another campus.”

cover of Writer's Foundry Review Summer 2022 Issue 1

Scripting Their Legacy

Writer’s Foundry program releases its first literary journal
T

he Writer’s Foundry at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus released the inaugural edition of its new literary journal, a showcase of original work crafted by students in the program.

The “Writer’s Foundry Review” features an array of literature that spans fiction, non-fiction and poetry, as well as profiles of Writer’s Foundry instructors and published authors Cleyvis Natera, Randall Horton and David Gates.

The literary journal also boasts pieces that earned the Writer’s Foundry Prize in Short Fiction (Jane Snyder’s “A Durable Fire”) and the Writer’s Foundry Prize in Poetry (Despy Boutris’ “Meditation on Need”). The prizes were judged by Foundry Director Lee Clay Johnson and Professor Alicia Mountain, respectively.

Investiture: A Time-honored Tradition

Freshman students outside campus in chairs at incoming students event
Freshman students inside large hall at welcoming event
St. Joseph’s University, New York formally welcomed its Class of 2026 during its time-honored Investiture ceremonies, hosted in September on both the University’s campuses. The Brooklyn Campus event (pictured left) saw more than 220 first-year students in attendance, and the Long Island Campus event (pictured right) welcomed 360 students.
President of school playing the piano

Presidential Recital

S

t. Joseph’s University, New York President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., led an interactive Presidential Recital for the University community last spring in Tuohy Hall. A lifelong musician, he performed piano transcriptions of composer George Gershwin’s most famous songs. Recreation and Leisure Studies Instructor Veronica Kaninska, M.S.Ed., C.T.R.S. — who has a broad multilingual repertoire including opera, Broadway and folk music — accompanied the president on two songs.

St. Joe’s to Host Next ACSSJ National Gathering

By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
S

t. Joseph’s University, New York is set to host the national gathering for the Association of Colleges of Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ) June 5–7, 2023, at the University’s Brooklyn Campus.

“This is a great honor for St. Joseph’s,” said St. Joseph’s President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., who began serving as the board chair of the ACSSJ in 2021. “Working as the chair of this organization has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I know that the energy generated at this event will be a transformative, joyful and mission-centered experience for all who participate.”

Christine Murphy

Expanded Role for Enrollment Management VP

A

fter serving for seven years as the head of enrollment management at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus, veteran college admissions leader Christine Murphy last summer became vice president for enrollment management for the entire University.

Ms. Murphy took on the new role when Gigi Lamens, vice president for enrollment management at the Long Island Campus, retired.

With more than 20 years of experience in undergraduate and graduate recruitment in local, national and international markets, Murphy utilizes data to drive decisions and develop strategic plans; implements new technology to enhance and streamline the enrollment process; and designs enrollment events for prospective students.

‘We Are Wednesdays’

Students taking picture with big novelty Polaroid frame
Students at shirt tie-dying event
The Office of Student Involvement, Leadership and Intercultural Engagement hosted “We Are Wednesday” events across the fall semester, inviting the SJNY community together to celebrate school pride. Events took place Sept. 14, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9 at both campuses. The first “We Are Wednesday” events (Brooklyn Campus pictured left, Long Island Campus pictured right) celebrated St. Joseph’s new status as a university, with refreshments, music, a tie-dye station for t-shirts and a selfie station in front of a panel with St. Joseph’s new logo.

Summer Research Opportunities Granted to Three Students

Donors help create new fellowship program
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
Student in water holding monitoring equipment
C

ontributions from generous donors allowed St. Joseph’s University, New York last summer to provide three students with $4,000 research grants.

The newly formed Student Undergraduate Research Fellowships (S.U.R.F.) is the University’s largest undergraduate student summer research grant yet.

Blanca Reyes, a psychology major at the Long Island Campus, worked on her research with faculty mentor Corinne Donovan, Ph.D., focusing on predicting student success in a post-pandemic era.

“My favorite part of the S.U.R.F. experience was bringing my vision to life, and conducting my own research, while being guided with the expertise of someone who has been in the field of psychology and as a researcher,” Ms. Reyes said.

Mathematics and computer science major Bora Dibra was overseen by faculty mentor Elizabeth Zollinger, Ph.D., at the Brooklyn Campus during her research on the role artificial intelligence plays in relation to diagnostic accuracy. Caitlin Anetrella, a biology major with a concentration in adolescence education at the Long Island Campus, worked with faculty mentor Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., and analyzed the impact microplastics have on grass shrimp.

Shinnecock Bay Named a ‘Hope Spot’

Professor Konstantine Rountos led research that helped establish the bay as critical to the ocean’s health
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
Professor Konstantine Rountos on boat smiling and holding a fish
S

hinnecock Bay was recently named a “Hope Spot” (Or a space critical to the health of the ocean) by Mission Blue, a global nonprofit organization that aims to explore and protect the ocean. It ranked among 144 total locations, with the list including such places as the Great Barrier Reef and the Galápagos Islands.

Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and coordinator of the environmental studies minor at St. Joseph’s University, served as lead fisheries field scientist from 2012 to 2016 during a restoration project of Shinnecock Bay.

“In our world today, we are constantly bombarded with bad news when it comes to how we humans impact our environment,” said Dr. Rountos, head of the Sustainability Committee at St. Joseph’s. “In Shinnecock Bay, however, we see how a science-based restoration approach, along with the galvanized resolve of scientists, community volunteers and supporters, and government officials, can completely switch the script and bring a bay back from the brink.”

To date, Shinnecock Bay is the only Hope Spot in New York, as well as the only one near a major city.

SJNY Connect Logo
Are you ready to connect? Go to SJNYconnect.com to get started.
SJNYconnect offers you the opportunity to:

  • Reconnect with classmates,
  • Volunteer to mentor students and up-and-coming alumni,
  • Search for job opportunities and alumni talent,
  • Expand your professional network,
  • Access digital yearbooks and a directory.
FacultyNotes
Prof. Michael Hanophy, Ph.D. in lab with two students
Michael Hanophy, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology Michael Hanophy, Ph.D., presented “Herbert W. Conn: Pioneer of Biology Education” at the June NEMPET (NorthEast Microbiology: Physiology, Ecology, and Taxonomy) microbiology meeting. This was the latest in a series of “History of Microbiology” talks by Dr. Hanophy at the annual event.

The Hon. Elizabeth Bonina, J.S.C. (Ret.), a business administration lecturer, received top honors from the New York Law Journal Best of Survey, once again being named the No. 1 Arbitrator in New York. It’s an honor she’s received five times in the past 10 years. She was also named a Top 10 Media, which is a title she’s held since the survey began in 2010.

Renee White, Ed.D.
Renee White, Ed.D.
Renee White, Ed.D., professor of child study, published two books in August to help promote diversity in the classroom: “Sistah Girl: Step Into Your Greatness” and “Yo Bro, Strive Toward Excellence.”

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences David Siegel, Ph.D., published an article this past summer in the journal World Affairs, titled “From Oligarchs to Oligarchy: The Failure of US Sanctions on Russia and its Implications for Theories of Informal Politics.”

Joseph Pascarella, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice, and a team of researchers published their findings in the FBI’s Law Enforcement Bulletin. “Depression in the Ranks,” honed in on a significant mental health issue among law enforcement.

Asst. Prof. Harry Voulgarakis, Ph.D.
Harry Voulgarakis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Jessica Scher Lisa, Psy.D.; assistant professor Harry Voulgarakis, Ph.D., BCBA; and assistant professor Kerry Ann Conde, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, all in the child study department, presented “Assessing cultural responsiveness in behavior analytic practice” at the ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) conference in Dublin, Ireland, in September.

Theodore Hamm, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the journalism and new media studies department, has been covering several post-conviction proceedings at the Brooklyn courthouse, wherein defendants imprisoned for murder fight to prove that they were wrongfully convicted.

Assistant Professor of Psychology Corinne Donovan, Ph.D., published an article in the journal Psychology of Leaders and Leadership entitled “Examining Employee Engagement Amid a Crisis: Reactions to Mandatory Stay-at-Home Orders During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Cleyvis Natera, a faculty member with The Writer’s Foundry at the Brooklyn Campus, published her first novel, “Neruda on the Park.”

Barbara Morrell, Ph.D.
Barbara Morrell, Ph.D.
Sarah Birch, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the M. A. in Childhood or Adolescence Special Education at the Brooklyn Campus; Joan Silver, Ed.D., associate professor and director of the M.A. in Childhood or Adolescence Special Education at the Long Island Campus; and Barbara Morrell, Ph.D., professor and chair of criminal justice, presented at the International Association for Special Education’s Biennial Conference in Vietnam in July. “Caught in the Net: A Cross-disciplinary Proposal for Change,” discussed the school-to-prison pipeline from the perspective of educators, psychologists and criminal justice professionals.
StaffSpotlight

Providing Help the University Can Count On

Allison List plays crucial role in St. Joseph’s transparency
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
Allison List

Integrity.

It’s at the heart of what Allison List does as the director of institutional research at St. Joseph’s University, New York.

In her role, Ms. List oversees all things involving data at the University — collecting, interpreting, organizing and reporting it.

“Integrity for a director of institutional research — and institutional research in general — is very important because you need the faculty, staff and community really to trust you,” said Ms. List, 43, who’s worked at St. Joseph’s for nine years. “They don’t necessarily have any way of knowing what’s right when you’re putting these numbers out.”

Getting Students on the Write Path

Hannah Wood ’17 coordinating students and tutors
By Melissa Nicefaro
Hannah Woods
Hannah Wood ’17 eats, breathes and sleeps words, and she thoroughly enjoys sharing that passion.

As associate director of the Academic Center and coordinator of accessibility at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus, she handles scheduling and coordinates students and tutors. A published author and the holder of two master’s degrees, including an MFA via The Writer’s Foundry at St. Joseph’s University, Ms. Wood is not shy to jump in and tutor students herself.

“Hannah is well-liked and respected by students and faculty for her contributions as an instructor, tutor, and adviser. We look forward to her … adding her own unique talents and skills in leading the center,” said Associate Dean for Student Success Joseph Ross, Ph.D.

StudentSpotlight

Californian Discovers Where Dreams Are Made In Brooklyn

Natalie Fanthorpe ’24 fulfilled a promise she made herself by attending St. Joseph’s
By Michael Banach
Natalie Fanthorpe
For Natalie Fanthorpe ’24, enrolling at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus was the fulfillment of a promise she had made herself four years earlier.

“When I was in eighth grade, I came to New York City and fell in love with it,” said Ms. Fanthorpe of Santa Cruz, California. “The yummy food, the sights, the plays and knowing that my Italian ancestors came through Ellis Island and started their lives here was so surreal.”

The child study major remembered the day she left New York on that would-be fateful trip.

A Teacher at Heart

Asma Hosein ’23 embraces her passion for education and service
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
Portrait of Asma Hosein
E

ver since she was a child, Asma Hosein knew she wanted to be an educator.

“My mom was a teacher, and she’s one of my biggest role models,” said Ms. Hosein, 21, who expects to graduate from the St. Joseph’s University, New York Long Island Campus this spring with a bachelor’s degree in child study and a concentration in psychology.

“I remember playing school with my siblings when I was younger. Going into teaching was always a passion of mine,” she added.

While Ms. Hosein is enjoying many aspects of her senior year, the time she has spent student teaching has been her favorite so far.

OnlineSpotlight

Health Admin Student Reaches Her Goal With SJNY Online

Sharon Dalzell, 61, earns a B.S. in Health Administration from SJNY Online in 2023
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
A portrait photograph of Sharon Dalzell smiling and sitting on a chair indoors next to a window as she poses for a picture in her green blouse and dark navy blue pants
S

haron Dalzell was 57 when she decided to enter the world of higher education and earn a bachelor’s degree — just for the personal satisfaction of it.

“I never attended college before,” said Ms. Dalzell, now 61. “I always wanted to go back to school, so I Googled St. Joseph’s and the decision was made.”

Ms. Dalzell, who lives in Brooklyn but grew up in Guyana, graduated in January with a bachelor’s degree in health administration from St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Online Campus.

The College Years’

Oral History
project

Our alumni oral history project is coming to a close! Thank you to the many hundreds of alumni who shared their stories and will be part of these cherished books.

If you ordered a copy of the Brooklyn or Long Island oral histories, they will be available in Spring 2023.

“The professors at St. Joseph’s Long Island were my greatest takeaway. They taught me hard work and integrity. St. Joseph’s instilled in me the fact that what you do becomes who you are.”
— Michael Daniel Lyons ’91
“I didn’t choose nursing – nursing chose me. I enjoyed going to St. Joe’s. It was something I pushed myself to do once a week. It made me a stronger person, and I had more to offer.”
— Patricia A. Lewis-Gregory ’93
For questions or more information, please contact us at alumni@sjny.edu or 718.940.5579 or visit sjny.edu/alumni/oral-history.
AlumniSpotlight

Dr. KMarie King ’94 Reflects on First Year in Historical Role

She’s the first Black woman to become chair of surgery at a U.S. academic health sciences center

By Melissa Nicefaro

Dr. KMarie King in white coat
A year ago, Dr. KMarie King made history as the first Black woman to become chair of surgery at a U.S. academic health sciences center.

When asked how the first year at the helm of Albany Medical Health System went, the 1994 St. Joseph’s University, New York graduate laughed and simply said “Busy.”

“I wanted to focus on building the relationships I needed for success and meeting the important stakeholders in the medical school and hospital,” she said. “You need those relationships to be strong to get things done.”

Pursuing a Childhood Dream to Become a Doctor

Philip Branigan ’16 is pursuing an M.D. after earning a law degree in 2019

By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13

Philip Branigan portrait

A passion for science and a childhood dream of becoming a physician.

That’s what led Philip Branigan to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Joseph’s University, New York in 2016. And it’s what’s leading him to now pursue an M.D. at the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine.

“I have always loved medicine and enjoyed helping others,” said Mr. Branigan, who also earned a master’s degree in biomedical sciences with a concentration in physiology and biophysics from the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University last spring.

But Mr. Branigan’s passion for biology almost flatlined during a particularly challenging chemistry class at St. Joseph’s Long Island Campus.

Unwavering Support of Her Alma Mater

Margaret Broda ’04 remains dedicated to St. Joseph’s
By Valerie Esposito-Sadaat
Margaret Broda portrait

Brooklyn Alumni Board President Margaret Broda ’04 credits an enriching student experience as fuel for her desire to remain dedicated to St. Joseph’s University, New York.

During her time as a Brooklyn Campus student, Ms. Broda was a peer mentor and a member of the Student Government Association, Chapel Players and Dance Club. She also served as manager of the women’s basketball team and played for the softball and women’s volleyball teams.

“As a student, I was able to do so many wonderful things that I know were made possible in part due to the generous and active alumni who came before me,” Ms. Broda said. “After I graduated, I felt it was important to give back to a school that afforded me so many wonderful opportunities.”

New Group Connects Alumni with Students

By Cristina Costantino ’23
A new networking organization designed to connect alumni and students started this fall at St. Joseph’s University, New York. The Student-Alumni Association (SAA) is comprised of a Philanthropy Committee, Networking and Connection Committee, and a Spirit and Pride Committee.

“The Student-Alumni Association aims to foster relationships and camaraderie between the student and alumni populations in a way that is fun, educational and professionally valuable,” SAA President Sam Bifulco ’13 said. “Our group has made an immediate impact in our greater St. Joseph’s University community.”

In September, the organization attended the Club/Resource Fair, where students received more information on the new association and had the opportunity to join. In October, the organization held the SJNY Student-Alumni Conversations event, “Becoming the Best Version of You,” featuring alumnus Kevin Deutsch ’14.

ClassNotes

Ready. Set. Success

SJNY alumni continue to make a positive impact on the world
  • 1999

    A former history major at the Long Island Campus, Dr. John Christie was recently appointed and promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Eastport-South Manor Central School District.

    For her community health efforts, President Joe Biden awarded St. Joseph’s Brooklyn Campus alumna Sandra Lindsay — the first individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in the United States — with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony in July. She was also promoted to vice president of public health advocacy at Northwell Health.

  • 2003

    North Merrick School District named Brooklyn Campus alumna Jaclyn (Bobe) Guidice as its new assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and personnel.

  • 2006

    Long Island Campus graduate management alumnus Thomas Schuessler published a new book titled, “Spiritual Casualties: A Loving Outreach to Hurting Christians and a Call to Action for the Church.”

  • 2012

    Long Island Campus alumna Kaylin Peterson was recognized for her new position as philanthropy manager at The Harry Chapin Food Bank.

  • 2015

    Daniel Fazio, who earned a graduate degree at the Long Island Campus, became the new assistant principal for the Levittown Public School District’s Division Avenue High School.

  • 2016

    Samuel Bifulco, a Long Island Campus alumnus, was selected for a Law Student Spotlight in August 2022.

    Long Island Campus alumna Retha Fernandez, who majored in organizational management, was named to the Long Island Business News Power List, which honors the area’s 60 most powerful influencers.

  • 2018

    Alessandra Albano, a graduate of the
    Long Island Campus, joined the Real Estate Group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP as an associate attorney.

Outside view of campus buildings with transparent heart design on top

Thank You!

You made a difference once again! Thank you to our donors and friends who helped make Nov. 29 a successful Giving Tuesday.

Your generosity has provided much-needed support for the Bears and Golden Eagles athletic programs, the Student Emergency Fund and the 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships.

You gave more than $33,000 to keep SJNY strong.

Thank you!

AlumniEvents
Re-connecting and Engaging with One Another and SJNY
Alumni rally with the tennis team
Alumni rally with the tennis team for the program’s first alumni tournament.
A team of SJNY alumni, faculty and staff tip off against the Harlem Wizards in front of a packed Danzi Center on the Long Island Campus.
team of SJNY alumni, faculty and staff tip off against the Harlem Wizards in front of a packed Danzi Center on the Long Island Campus
team of SJNY alumni, faculty and staff tip off against the Harlem Wizards in front of a packed Danzi Center on the Long Island Campus
A team of SJNY alumni, faculty and staff tip off against the Harlem Wizards in front of a packed Danzi Center on the Long Island Campus.
Athletics
Music notes illustration

Clinton Hill Dreamin’

Southern California becomes a pipeline of talent for the Bears softball program
By Andrew Capitelli and Amanda Bernocco
softball team group photo on field
I

t was June 2016, and then-16-year-old Alexis Buchanan of Murrieta, California, was on her way to a college showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her travel softball team, the SoCal Breakers.

Looking to be recruited to play college ball for St. Joseph’s University’s Brooklyn Campus, the rising high school senior reached out to then-head coach Danielle Fazzolare, inviting her to the tournament.

Fazzolare dispatched assistant coach Rich Mauro to scout Buchanan. Impressed with what he saw, he spoke between games not only with Buchanan, but also with Ashleigh Hartwig and a couple of their Breakers teammates, in an attempt to sell them on St. Joseph’s.

St. Joseph's University Bears Logo

Catching Up with Coach Ward

Centurion remembers basketball glory days in Brooklyn
By Brian Harmon
Margaret Ward headshot
“G

ood players, people and atmosphere.”

St. Joseph’s Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach Margaret Ward keeps it simple when she’s asked what the keys to her success on the hardwood in Brooklyn were. Ward coached from 1951 to 1984, guiding the team to many winning seasons, including the program’s only undefeated season in 1963-64.

And yet, when asked what she considered to be her greatest achievement during her time at St. Joe’s, winning was not part of her answer.

“I educated the students and players on the importance of physical education,” responded Ward, who turned 100 years old this past summer.

Golden Eagles Long Island logo

Golden Eagles’ Assistant Baseball Coach Saves Umpire’s Life

By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
A portrait photograph of St. Joseph's Long Island Golden Eagles assistant baseball coach Andrew "Asch" Aschettino (pictured on the right) next to a Golden Eagles baseball player in their respective uniforms (navy blue and yellow) on first base as they glance over at the home plate area of the baseball field
W

hile coaching a championship tournament game for his Long Island Titans travel baseball team in Georgia last summer, Andrew “Asch” Aschettino was hoping for a win.

He had no way of knowing he’d end up doing something much more important — saving a man’s life.

After witnessing the home plate umpire collapse in the middle of an at-bat, Aschettino rushed onto the field and immediately performed lifesaving CPR on the man.

“It was intense, to say the least,” Aschettino, an assistant baseball coach at St. Joseph’s Long Island Campus, told News 12 Long Island, as part of the news station’s coverage of his heroics. “It at first didn’t look good. I saw right away that he wasn’t breathing, took his pulse and there was nothing there, so I started chest compressions.”

A portrait photograph of St. Joseph's Long Island Golden Eagles assistant baseball coach Andrew "Asch" Aschettino (pictured on the right) next to a Golden Eagles baseball player in their respective uniforms (navy blue and yellow) on first base as they glance over at the home plate area of the baseball field
W

hile coaching a championship tournament game for his Long Island Titans travel baseball team in Georgia last summer, Andrew “Asch” Aschettino was hoping for a win.

He had no way of knowing he’d end up doing something much more important — saving a man’s life.

After witnessing the home plate umpire collapse in the middle of an at-bat, Aschettino rushed onto the field and immediately performed lifesaving CPR on the man.

“It was intense, to say the least,” Aschettino, an assistant baseball coach at St. Joseph’s Long Island Campus, told News 12 Long Island, as part of the news station’s coverage of his heroics. “It at first didn’t look good. I saw right away that he wasn’t breathing, took his pulse and there was nothing there, so I started chest compressions.”

ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY,
NEW YORK
ALUMNI BOARDS

Executive Officers and Board Members

2022-23
BROOKLYN ALUMNI BOARD
President

Margaret Norris Broda ’04

VICE President

Ayana Kone ’07, ’09

SECRETARY

Mary Collins Macchiarola ’62

Treasurer

Rose Marie Borg ’76

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Peter Andrews ’00
Elizabeth Williams Auricchio ’63
Mary Jo Burke Chiara ’69
Joan Reardon Dillon ’56
Ronna Feit ’80
Myrna Kelly ’12
Daniel Mace ’03
Frances Minichiello ’63
Antonia Bartoloma Mohan ’69
Mary Morry ’79
Dianne Piwinski ’72
Kevin Reilly ’76
Mary Buckley Teatum ’70
Christina Traverson-Mace ’06

LONG ISLAND ALUMNI BOARD
President

Melissa Henn Michaud ’01

Vice President

Liam Kuhn ’01

SECRETARY

John Diaz ’09, MBA ’16

TREASURER

Kevin Cantwell ’11, MBA ’13

Past President

Robert Sturges ’06

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Samuel Bifulco ’16
Linda De Motta ’83
Lisa DiFiore-Ridolph ’85
Nique’la Durham-Adams, MBA ’15
Diane Fox ’08
Cara Giannillo ’89
Joseph Macellaro ’07, M.S. ’10
Virginia Muller ’94
Teri Sandowski ’15
Benedict Tieniber ’06
Jeanette Wolters-Lennon ’92

St. Joseph's University New York logo
Future Ready typography
With campuses in Patchogue, Brooklyn and Online, St. Joseph’s University, New York delivers an affordable, values-oriented education so you’re ready for an exciting career and an authentic life.
sjny.edu
Golfer in mid swing
St. Joseph's University, New York 32nd Annual Golf Classic Save The Date

Monday, June 12, 2023

The Muttontown Club
East Norwich, N.Y.
This annual event is a vital fundraiser for our Bears and Golden Eagles athletic programs.

For more information, please contact specialevents@sjny.edu.

Masthead

  • President
    Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D.
  • Vice President for Marketing and Communications
    Jessica McAleer Decatur
  • Editorial Director
    Brian Harmon
  • Art Director
    Stephanie Kearney
  • Senior Graphic Designers
    Kerri Ball
    Dina Vigorito
  • Feature Writers
    Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13 and Michael Banach
  • Photography Editor
    Claudia Mirzaali
  • Production Manager
    Robert Gregson
  • Contributing Designer
    Michael McDonnell
  • Contributing Writers
    Andrew Capitelli, Valerie Esposito-Saadat, Cristina Costantino, Melissa Nicefaro and Amanda Bernocco
  • Contributing Photographers
    Amanda Bernocco, Sean Colgan, Bill Denison, Brian Harmon, Michael Macioce, Jörg Meyer, Benny Migs, Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13, Claudia Mirzaali, Northwell Health and Austin Williams agency

    Thank you to the students, faculty, staff and alumni who submitted photos for use in this publication.

  • SJNY Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications, 1 Terry Street, Suite 1, Patchogue, NY 11772. The print edition of the magazine is mailed to alumni and friends of St. Joseph’s University, New York without charge. Our digital version will be available at oncampus.sjny.edu.
  • Address Changes

    Please send to: Office of Alumni Engagement, 245 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11205. Phone: 718.940.5585. Email: alumni@sjny.edu. sjny.edu/alumni/update-your-information

  • Correspondence

    SJNY Magazine welcomes your comments and suggestions. Email us at magazine@sjny.edu.

SJNY Magazine Logo
Thanks for reading our Winter 2023 issue!