_{William R. Jacobs, Jr. a professor of Microbiology and Immunology and professor of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, gave the keynote speech at the SEA-PHAGES Symposium at Mount Saint Mary College on April 14.}

Science students from ten tristate area schools descended upon Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. for the 2018 NYC Regional SEA-PHAGES Symposium on Saturday, April 14. 

“SEA-PHAGES” stands for Science Education Alliance - Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science. A bacteriophage, also known informally as a phage, is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

About 100 participants enjoyed a poster symposium featuring student research into viruses, as well as a keynote address by William R. Jacobs, Jr. a professor of Microbiology and Immunology and professor of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y. Jacobs is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. 

His speech, “Why Mycobacteria Phages Will Lead to the Eradication of Tuberculosis,” was an interactive one, with Jacobs calling on members of the audience to share their scientific knowledge and experiences. 

“My lifelong passion is viruses,” said Jacobs. “I’m delighted to see so many of you working with and interested in them.”

The event was sponsored by the Mount’s Division of Natural Science, and the college’s Tri-Beta and Gamma Sigma Epsilon honor societies.

At the Mount, students can take a course called The Science of Viral Discovery. It is a classroom-based undergraduate research experience that introduces students to concepts and methods involved in scientific discovery. Using state-of-the-art technology, the students isolate, identify, and characterize bacteriophages. 

_{John Hofbauer, associate professor of Philosophy at Mount Saint Mary College.}

John Hofbauer, associate professor of Philosophy, gave the final presentation of this semester’s Investigating Research on Campus (iROC) series with “The Elephant Can Be Ignored No More: A Kierkegaardian/Thomistic Analysis of Societal Despair” at Mount Saint Mary College on Thursday, April 19.
 
Hofbauer’s presentation examined what philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and St. Thomas Aquinas would point to as the metaphysical cause of current “societal chaos.” 

Despair, “the silent elephant in the room of adult human reflection, has been exponentially ratcheting up its influence in the last decade,” said Hofbauer. 

This presentation was based on research performed during the professor’s recent sabbatical and will be published under the same name as part of the Vernon Press Series in Philosophy. 

Hofbauer has taught Philosophy at the Mount for the last 14 years, including General Ethics, Medical Ethics, Logic, Contemporary Philosophy, and Philosophy of Science. He also served as chairperson of the Division of Philosophy and Religious Studies in 2009 and 2015. In 2011, he served as the Chair of the 11th International Conference on Persons in Provo, Utah. Hofbauer has published a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals, made guest appearances on radio shows, and presented papers at multiple conferences.
 
The goal of the college’s iROC lecture series is to “provide a forum for Mount faculty, staff, and students to showcase their research endeavors with both Mount Saint Mary College and the local community in a manner easily understood by attendees,” explained series coordinators Evan Merkhofer, assistant professor of Biology, and Jennifer Park, assistant librarian for access and outreach services. Presentations include research proposals, initial data collection, and completed research projects.
 
Mount Saint Mary College is ranked a Top-Tier University by U.S. News & World Report, and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for careers in healthcare, business, education, social services, communications, media, and the liberal arts.

The Mount Saint Mary College community showed off its creative side at the recent Art, Reality, Truth (A.R.T) Show Part II, which highlighted works in a variety of traditional and digital formats.

The show included a gallery, a film screening, and live performances. The artwork was submitted by Mount students, staff, and faculty. 

“I hope that the artists got to see their artwork being appreciated and admired by viewers,” explained Madison Herley of Miller Place, N.Y., who spearheaded the event. “And for the viewers, I hope they were able to appreciate all different forms of art. I just wanted everyone at the event to enjoy their time at the show.”

Herley thanked Mount alumnus Danangelowe “A.J.” Spencer ’17, who kicked off the A.R.T. Show series last year, for his help with the program. 

The event was sponsored by the Mount’s Student Activities and Student Affairs; the student clubs Musical Exchange and Improvology; as well as community sponsors Billy Joe’s Ribworks, The Pizza Shop, Planet Pizza, Dunkin Donuts, and the Mount’s foodservice provider, Parkhurst Dining.

_{RIGHT: Madison Herley of Miller Place, N.Y spearheaded the recent Art, Reality, Truth (A.R.T) Show Part II on the Mount Saint Mary College campus.}

Mount students celebrate Earth Day by volunteering with the Newburgh Community Clean-Up on April 21.

Mount Saint Mary College students celebrated Earth Day by participating in several local community cleanups on Saturday, April 21. 

In the morning, Mount students and staff joined the Newburgh Community Clean-Up event. Members of the Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams, as well as other students, volunteered their time. 

The students were accompanied by Michael O’Keefe, executive director of Operations and Risk Management; Kathleen O’Keefe, director of the Center for Career and Experiential Education; and Christina Musacchio, Operations Manager.

_{Lisa Alvarez’s Environmental Sustainability class work to clear a path on Snake Hill at Crystal Lake in Newburgh.}

At the same time, Lisa Alvarez’s Environmental Sustainability class pitched in at the Scenic Hudson Clean Up at Crystal Lake in Newburgh. Alverez, who is the Mount’s director of Admissions for Graduate and Adult Degree Completion Programs, and the students worked alongside others from Fields Good Chicken restaurant and Newburgh Free Academy’s Excelsior Academy to pull up invasive plants, plant native seedlings, and clear a trail on Snake Hill for hikers.

_{Fr. Gregoire Fluet, director of Campus Ministry and campus chaplain, holds a candle at the recent vigil honoring those affected by sexual assault.} 

Mount Saint Mary College hosted a number of April events to help students make healthy, proactive choices and to reinforce the campus’s commitment against violence. 

Mount students created and attended several events in April as part of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The programs fall under the coordinated effort known as No Knight Left Behind. 

No Knight Left Behind is spearheaded by Amy Beard, Mount project coordinator for Prevention, Advocacy, and Intervention Programs.

“I’m very proud of our students and their tremendous work on these events,” said Beard. “They’re devoted, dedicated, and their passion is infectious.”

Early in the month, students hunted for numbered Easter eggs, which earned them spins on a tabletop carnival wheel. Each spin directed participants to take a specific prevention-related action, such as attending a prevention event during the month, posting a message on their social media accounts, and more.

The presentation “#MeToo, #IWILL, #TIMESUP: Making Sense of Media Today” challenged students to evaluate the role that social media has played in recent national conversations about assault, such as the viral use of the hashtag #MeToo. The presentation was led by Megan Mausteller, youth educator at Safe Homes of Orange County, who walked the students through an evaluation of social media posts from various celebrities and the impact they had.

Later in the month, students were invited to join the Clothesline Project by writing messages of support on t-shirts for those who have experienced sexual violence. The shirts were displayed in the college’s main academic hall the week of April 18-21. 

The month culminated with a candlelight vigil, where students honored those who have been impacted by sexual assault. The vigil was held in the Guzman Chapel on campus. 

The Mount Saint Mary College community ushered in the warm weather with its annual Spring Weekend, an on-campus celebration held near the end of the academic year.

On Saturday, April 28, students enjoyed a block party with a barbecue, games, student performances, and more. 

The weekend culminated on Sunday, April 29 with a concert by singer Jesse McCartney in the college’s Aquinas Hall Theatre. 
 

_{The Mount’s 25th annual Beth Roeper Health and Wellness Fair attracted hundreds of students and community members.}

Mount Saint Mary College hosted its 25th annual Beth Roeper Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, April 25, attracting hundreds of students and community members. 

Sponsored by the Mount’s Health Services Wellness Center, and David Melby with the Rose & Kiernan Inc. insurance agency, the fair featured free health screenings, interactive exhibits, door prizes, and raffles. 

The fair is named after former Health Services director Beth Roeper, who retired from the Mount after many years of dedicated service. 

About 40 vendors offered their services, including local health care organizations, medical insurance companies, student clubs, and campus departments.

_{Colin Williams of Maybrook, N.Y., a freshman at the Mount Saint Mary College, smiles as his head is shaved during a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event held on campus.} 

It was hair today, gone tomorrow for Mount Saint Mary College students, faculty, and staff during the college’s second annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving on Thursday, April 26. 

The hair-razing event, organized by Journalism and English student Tanner Tait of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., helped to fight childhood cancer through donations totaling about $1,000. All proceeds will go to fund childhood cancer research, he noted.

“We shaved our heads in solidarity, standing together with those afflicted with cancer,” he explained. 

Tait says he spearheaded the event for a second year in a row to help cement it as a recurring event at the college. 

“I’m graduating this year, so I wanted to create the tradition here at the Mount so someone else picks it up,” he said.

About a dozen people in the Mount community got the razor treatment, including Robert Miller, assistant professor of Religious Studies, and Roger May, assistant director of Campus Ministry, who had his long beard trimmed down to size.

_{Mount students Loraine Oswald of Levittown, N.Y. (facing the camera) and Debbie Francisco of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico embrace after going under the razor at a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event held at Mount Saint Mary College.} 

Five students from Mount Saint Mary College received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the college’s Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary on April 15.

The students were James Farrell of East Brunswick, N.J.; Derek O’Hanlon of Goshen, N.Y.; Courtney Raifstanger of Webster, N.Y.; Megan Rodriguez of Godeffroy, N.Y.; and Danielle Zaleski of Walden, N.Y. They were confirmed by Bishop Dominick Lagonegro, an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York.

Fr. Gregoire Fluet, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry at the Mount, helped to prepare the students for reception of the sacrament and congratulated them on their hard work. 

“I want to thank [the students] for their dedication to preparing to receive this Sacrament,” he said. “I also want to thank all those who supported them in this preparation and those who showed this support by attending the Mass.”

The students were grateful for Fr. Fluet’s direction and guidance throughout the process. 

“Fr. Greg is a truly amazing person who’s always there for anyone who needs help or just wants to talk,” said Rodriguez. “I am very grateful he was here to guide me along the entire process.”

Zaleski agreed. The senior resident assistant first met Fr. Fluet, who joined the Mount during the summer of 2017, at a Residence Life dinner. She knew right away “that he would be an asset to the Mount Saint Mary College campus. He welcomes all students with open arms and generously goes above and beyond to get involved in all activities on campus and in the community.”

She adds, “Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation was a very important time for me. I have to thank Fr. Greg for being so encouraging and for his guidance in my journey to discover my faith.”

_{RIGHT: Mount student Danielle Zaleski of Walden, N.Y. with Fr. Gregoire Fluet on her Confirmation day.}

_{Francisco Mojica of New Windsor, N.Y. was recognized as an Aquinas Scholar on Tuesday, April 24 by Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP.}

Nearly 60 Mount Saint Mary College students were celebrated for their academic achievements at an induction ceremony for Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholars on Tuesday, April 24. 

About 200 people attended the ceremony, held in Hudson Auditorium on campus, which recognized the Mount’s best and brightest. 

Before distributing honor cords to the scholars, to be worn at graduation, Mount Interim President Dr. David Kennett congratulated the students on a job well done. The cords were then blessed by Fr. Gregoire Fluet, campus chaplain and director of the Mount’s Campus Ministry. 

The keynote address was delivered by Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP, a Mount alumna and professor emerita of Communication Arts. Sr. Walsh currently serves on the Leadership Team of the Dominican Sisters of Hope.

“You have reached a milestone by being named a scholar,” said Sr. Walsh. “Whatever talent you have, use it, develop it, and enjoy it. Be a scholar as you move through your career with integrity, perseverance, and courage.” 

Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholar awards are presented to those students who attain a high degree of proficiency in their studies and have demonstrated a sincere commitment to learning at MSMC. Candidates must be full-time students, and only 5 percent of each class may be nominated. 

A Ralph Scholar is a sophomore who has attained a grade point average of at least 3.40 who has received the recommendation of at least two faculty members. The Ralph Scholar Award is named in honor of Sr. Mary Vincent Ralph, O.P., co-founder of the college and its first academic dean.

An Aquinas Scholar is a junior or senior with a minimum grade point average of at least 3.60 who has received the recommendation from their major’s division. The award is named after St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of students and Catholic colleges and universities.

The event marked only the second group of Boyle Scholars the Mount has ever produced. A Boyle Scholar is a senior in the Mount’s Adult Degree Completion Program who has attained a minimum grade point average of 3.60, and has been recommended by their division and their academic advisor. The Boyle Scholar Award is named in honor of Sr. Agnes Boyle, OP. During her time at the Mount, Sr. Boyle initiated the adult degree program. She was also one of the founders of what would become the Catholic Dominican Institute (CDI), which hosted the induction ceremony.

CDI promotes the Mount’s heritage of St. Dominic, advances the Dominican charism of study and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue. The Institute welcomes persons of varied faiths and acknowledges different religious traditions as essential to the college’s intellectual and spiritual life. 

The institute is directed by Charles Zola, associate professor of Philosophy and chair of the Division of Philosophy and Religious Studies.

_{Mount Saint Mary College students handed out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, water, and bags of chips, as well as clothing and toiletries, at the recent Midnight Run event in Manhattan.}

More than a dozen Mount Saint Mary College students headed to New York City last month to help the homeless.

Joined by Roger May, Jr., assistant director of the Mount’s Campus Ministry; Maxine Monroe, director of Residence Life; and Megan Rossi, resident director of Sakac Hall, the students volunteered for the Midnight Run event, which distributed food, clothing, and toiletries to those in need in Manhattan.

The preparation night occurred on April 6, during which 15 students came together to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, create sandwich bags, toiletry bags, sort clothing, and write notes of encouragement to those living on the streets. 

The event marked the fourth time Mount students and staff have participated in a Midnight Run. It was hosted by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a humanitarian aid organization.

In addition to the college’s work with the Midnight Run, “We are looking to implement the CRS initiative of Helping Hands, through which the ambassadors will make 10,000 meals to send to families in Africa,” noted Christina Mistretta of Brooklyn, N.Y., president of the Mount’s Catholic Relief Services Student Ambassadors and an adolescent education major who helped spearhead the Mount’s outing.

_{About 100 students of Pine Tree Elementary School in Monroe, N.Y. enjoyed learning from 34 Mount Saint Mary College students at the recent Family Math Night.}

About 100 eager children of Pine Tree Elementary School in Monroe, N.Y. and their families had a blast with mathematics, thanks to dedicated teacher-candidates from Mount Saint Mary College.

More than 30 Mount students lent their skills to the college’s latest Family Math Night. Held periodically at area schools, Family Math Nights give Mount students unique fieldwork experience as they serve their community. 

Faculty advisors for the event were Lee Fothergill, Kathleen Venable, and Sarah Winden, mathematics. 

Preparing the Mount’s pre-service math teachers is a top priority for Mount mathematics professors.

“The more often they’re in front of students, the more comfortable they are going to be in their student teaching and in their own classrooms,” said Fothergill.

Strong faculty and small classes, along with state-of-the-art equipment, helps prepare Mount students for careers in educational technologies, networking, web technologies, and more. For future math teachers, a SMART board develops skills required for New York State assessments.

Students graduating with Mathematics and Information Technology degrees work as financial analysts, actuaries, bank managers, statisticians, researchers, programmers, teachers, and in other fields.

_{Therapy dogs from Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause visit Mount Saint Mary College during midterms so students can take a break.}

With finals looming and commencement less than three weeks away, trained therapy dogs provided a break for Mount Saint Mary College students, faculty, and staff on Wednesday, May 2 at the Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center.

Research has indicated that watching, petting, or talking to an animal can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Interacting with animals can also reduce mental distress, and lower anxiety levels – for example, during finals for college students.

“The dogs are comforting for the students during this stressful time of year,” explained Orin Strauchler, assistant dean of Student Support Services and director of counseling. “This event makes the students feel a little less tense and tired.”

The animals came to the Mount via Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause. The popular event has become a tradition at Mount Saint Mary College.

“Wagging Tails Stress Relief” was co-sponsored by the Mount Saint Mary College Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, the Counseling Center, and Health Services. 

_{Tanner Tait of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. and Claudia Larsen of Bethel, Conn. recently attended the Eleventh Annual Student Newspaper Editors Workshop, held at the offices of the New York Times.}

Mount Saint Mary College students Tanner Tait of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. and Claudia Larsen of Bethel, Conn., Communication-Journalism majors, recently sharpened their editing skills at the Eleventh Annual Student Newspaper Editors Workshop, held at the offices of the New York Times in New York City. 

Tait and Larsen, reporters and co-editors of the Mount Saint Mary College student newspaper, worked directly with New York Times editors and reporters to explore the role of a newspaper in contemporary society, develop their journalistic skills, and strengthen their editing processes.

“Our trip to the New York Times taught me a lot regarding ethics, editing, and journalism…but my deepest reflections came from working with our fellow student editors under the leadership of [New York Times] Senior Editor Mark Bulik,” explained Tait. 

During an exercise where Bulik asked the students to edit an article according to Associated Press style, Tait made all the necessary “small-picture” changes, he explained. But the exercise also showed him the importance of the “big-picture” of a news piece, such as organization and flow.

“Being part of that group…taught me to think with both sides of my brain, big-picture and small-picture, which is crucial when analyzing and synthesizing information as a journalist,” he said.

The experience made Larsen a better editor, she noted.

“Having the opportunity to listen to the experiences of professional journalists from such a successful outlet was something that was very eye-opening to both Tanner and I,” she explained. “We spoke not just about editing, but about evolving our papers.”
 

_{Mount Saint Mary College recently hosted a panel on eliminating food waste. Left to right: Lisa Alverez, the Mount’s director of Admissions for Graduate and Adult Degree Completion Programs; Michael Olivette, Vice President for Academic Affairs; and Ludmila Smirnova, Mount professor of Education.}

Less than a week before Earth Day, Mount Saint Mary College recently hosted a film screening and panel discussion about food waste recovery.

“Food waste is an issue that more often than not takes a backseat to more dramatic events that seem to populate the news,” said Michael Olivette, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Mount. “Food waste isn’t a thing we consciously think about…but the fact is, we do waste our food, and we do so in staggering quantities.”

Olivette noted that the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that a third of food prepared for human consumption– about 1.3 billion tons with a value of $3 trillion – goes to waste. 

Participants viewed clips from the documentary Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, which features celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and experts in various fields who discuss the impact of food waste in the United States.

Following the screening, a panel of local restaurant owners, farmers, agencies, and other institutions discussed successful examples of food waste prevention and recovery techniques, including “nose-to-tail” cooking, donation of food, composting, and more.

_{Marissa L. Sappho gave the featured presentation at Eating Disorders Across the Lifespan at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, April 25.}

Mount Saint Mary College hosted the Eating Disorders Across the Lifespan conference on Wednesday, April 25.

The free, public event was sponsored by the Mount’s Center for Adolescent Research and Development and the Center on Aging and Disability Policy.

The keynote speaker was Marissa L. Sappho, LCSW, BCD, CEDS. Sappho is the founder and director of Clinical Services at Aurora Behavior Health Eating Disorder Treatment Center, a comprehensive yoga-based eating disorder treatment center in New York City. It is the first such center in the area specializing in the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder. 

In addition to her work at Aurora Behavior Health Eating Disorder Treatment Center, Sappho is an adjunct professor at New York University in the graduate school of social work, as well as being faculty and supervisor at the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia (CSAB), where she serves on the Advisory Board and the Executive Committee.

According to Sappho, most eating disorders develop during adolescence, but disorders can occur during all phases of life. In addition, a family history of eating disorders can increase one’s risk of developing one.

Involvement in competitive sports, both for men and women, can also increase one’s risk of developing an eating disorder, she said. 

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, said Sappho: “We often think about eating disorders affecting mostly women, and that’s not true,” she noted. “We also talk about eating disorders affecting mostly middle class white women, and that’s also not true.”

In addition to a panel discussion, Mount students also presented their research on the topic of eating disorders across all age groups.

_{Mount staff and faculty honored for their publications, left to right, front row: Dean Goldberg, associate professor of Communication Arts and Film Studies; Robert Miller, assistant professor of Religious Studies; Jennifer Bready, professor of Mathematics; and Priscilla Sagar, professor of Nursing. Back row: Michael L. Fox, assistant professor of Business Law and Pre-Law Advisor; Derek Sanderson, assistant librarian for Instruction Services; and Rob Wakeman, assistant professor of English.}

The Mount Saint Mary College Faculty Library Committee and the Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center recently celebrated the achievements of 15 faculty who have published books, articles, and essays in the last year. 

Jennifer Bready, professor of Mathematics, wrote “A Ten-Year Study of Suicides in a Rural/Suburban County,” Journal of Forensic Sciences, 62(4), 2017; and “Polynomials on Pictures with Different Platforms,” Mathematics Teacher, 111(2), 2017.

James Finn Cotter, professor of English, wrote “I and Thou in ‘The Wreck of the Deutschland,’” The Hopkins Quarterly, 45(1-2), 2017. 

Larry Force, professor of Psychology and Director of The Center on Aging and Disability Policy at the Mount, wrote “The Detoxing of Caregivers: Key Tips for Survival, Strength and Patience,” CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Michael L. Fox, assistant professor of Business Law and Pre-Law Advisor, wrote  “I Show You Exhibit E for Identification: Differing Approaches for Authentication of Electronic Evidence at Trial,”  NY Litigator (The Journal of the Commercial & Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar), 22(14), Spring 2017;  “The Legal Profession: Attorneys & Courts, Bulwark Against Injustice,” Pathway, the Newsletter for Law Students, Volume 9, Summer 2017; “Corporate Counsel & HR Managers Be Aware - In Employment Law, Protected Classes are Expanding to Include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Transgender Status,” 35 Inside 35 (Journal of the Corporate Counsel of the New York State Bar Association), Fall 2017; and “Symposium Commentary: Evidence Today – Discussing the Impact of Technology on Traditional Evidence and its Influence on the Evolution of Modern Evidentiary Techniques,” Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, 27(2), 2017.

Denise A. Garofalo, associate librarian for Systems and Catalog Services, wrote “Let’s Flip It!: Delivering Information Literacy Instruction in the First Year Experience,” EdMedia: World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, 2017.

Dean Goldberg, associate professor of Communication Arts and Film Studies, wrote “More Than a Touch of Madness: The Flawed Brilliance of Nicolas Roeg and Donald Cammell’s Debut Film, ‘Performance,’” Film International 81, 15(3), 2017; “Verity Less Lively: ‘Flesh and Blood,’” Filmint.nu (Film International), November 2017; and “Misapprehension of the Mainstream: ‘Darkest Hour,’” Filmint.nu (Film International), December 2017.

Jeffrey S. Kahana, associate professor of History, wrote the book “Disability and Aging: Learning from Both to Empower the Lives of Older Adults,” Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2017.

Yasmine Kalkstein, associate professor of Psychology, wrote “Owning the Birth Experience: What Factors Influence Women’s Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Decision?,” Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 35(4), 2017.

Robert Miller, assistant professor of Religious Studies, wrote “Jesus and Mary at Cana: What Did Jesus Really Say?,” Hope and Vision: The Magazine of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary U.S.A., 3(1), 2016-17.

Tracey Niemotko, professor of Accounting and chair of the School of Business, and Moria Tolan, professor of Business and Business Program Graduate Coordinator, wrote “Business as a Calling Revisited,” Northeast Business and Economics Association Conference Proceedings, 2017; and “The Relationship of Sustainability Reporting to Practice,” Northeast Business and Economics Association Conference Proceedings, 2017.

Rebecca Norman, associate professor of Education, wrote “If You’re Writing about Animals, Don’t Talk about Lollipops: Children’s Views on Writing Informational Text,” Journal of the New England Reading Association, 52(20), 2017

Regina Pappalardo, assistant professor of Communication Arts, wrote “Streaming an Event? How to Supplement Before, During and After,” The Book of Social Media Strategies and Tactics, PRNews Press, 2017.

Priscilla Sagar, professor of Nursing, wrote “Promoting Synergistic Partnerships in Low Resource Countries: A Case Study Exemplar,” Contemporary Nurse, 53(5), 2017.

Derek Sanderson, assistant librarian for Instruction Services, wrote an interview with Daniel Mendelsohn, Library Journal, 142(14), 2017.

Rob Wakeman, assistant professor of English, wrote “Peaceable Kingdom: The Place of the Dog at the Living Nativity Scene,” Performing Animals: History, Agency, Theater, Penn State University Press, 2017.
 

_{Mount Saint Mary College Writing Contest winners and judges, from left: Lisa Zylberberg of New Windsor, N.Y.; Gina Evers, director of the Writing Center; Brigid Kapuvari of Lindenhurst, N.Y.; Derek Sanderson, assistant librarian for Access Services; Emma Sabini of Mountainville, N.Y.; Daniel Shea, professor of English; and Elizabeth Harper, assistant professor of Biology.}

Mount Saint Mary College recently announced the winners of the Third Annual Writing Contest for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Emma Sabini, a sophomore Nursing major from Mountainville, N.Y., won the undergraduate contest with her essay, “Hormonal Responses to Stress and Exercise.” Brigid K. Kapuvari, a junior English major of Lindenhurst, N.Y., received an honorable mention and Excellence in Research award for “Feminism is Fulfillment.”

On the graduate level, Lisa Zylberberg of New Windsor, N.Y. walked away with the top honors for “Therapeutic Plan of Care: Myocardial Infarction,” while Kristen Greco of Warwick, N.Y. nabbed an honorable mention and Excellence in Research award for “Societal Influence of the Advanced Practice Nurse.” Both are part of the Master of Science in Nursing program to become family nurse practitioners.

All of the essays were written for Mount courses during the 2017-2018 year, with a particular focus on research implementation.

Gina Evers, director of the Mount’s Writing Center, was pleased with the high caliber of entries from students of all majors. Among all of the entries, these four essays stood out for writing that “exemplified the highest levels of argumentation, integration of research, organization, and professionalism,” she noted. 

The entries were judged by Elizabeth Harper, assistant professor of Biology; Jenifer Lee-Gonyea, associate professor of Criminology; Derek Sanderson, assistant librarian for Access Services; Daniel Shea, professor of English; and Evers.

The Writing Center sponsors a variety events for students throughout the year. The center’s tutors assist Mount students in all stages of the writing process, including brainstorming and organizing ideas; structuring sentences, paragraphs, and essays; strengthening argumentation; incorporating research; appropriate systems of citation; and improving grammar and style. 

“Our goal is for every writer to learn and practice at least one writing skill during every consultation,” explained Evers. “When writers leave the center, we want them to feel confident in their ability and know what the next steps are for their continued improvement.”
 

_{Dr. David Kennett, Interim President of Mount Saint Mary College, congratulates student scholars and donors at the Fourth Annual Scholars’ Brunch.}

Student scholarship was the main course at two recent Mount Saint Mary College brunch events.

On April 29, friends of the college had the opportunity to meet their scholarship beneficiaries at the Scholarship Benefactors Brunch, which allowed the college community to thank the many generous donors who provide endowed scholarships for Mount students.

Senior Media Studies major Venezia Verdi of Medford, N.Y. noted that these benefactors helped her to achieve her dreams. 

“From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of all the scholars here, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for making it possible for me to be successful,” she said. “Myself, and all of the students at the Mount, could not have done this without all of you.”

The following weekend, the college community celebrated the achievements of the college’s scholars at the Fourth Annual Scholars’ Brunch. The brunch celebrated the successes of Ralph Scholars (top 5 percent of the sophomore class), Aquinas Scholars (top 5 percent of each division/school for juniors and seniors), Boyle Scholars (high-achieving seniors in the Adult Degree Completion program), members of the college’s Honors Program, and members of each of the college’s nearly 20 honor societies.

The high-achieving students were served a brunch by members of the faculty “who made students feel like true guests of honor,” said event co-chairs Barbara Petruzzelli, director of the Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, and Doug Robinson, professor of Biology.

_{Chalondra Garrett of Newburgh, N.Y. (left) and Raquel Rodriguez of North Baldwin, N.Y. recently received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for their upcoming study abroad experiences.}

Two Mount Saint Mary College students were recently awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for their upcoming study abroad experiences. 

Raquel Rodriguez of North Baldwin, N.Y., a junior Psychology major on the pre-Physical Therapy track, and Chalondra Garrett of Newburgh, N.Y., a sophomore Psychology and Information Technology double major, join 1,230 American undergraduate students from 269 colleges and universities across the United States who were granted the award for the summer of 2018. 

Rodriguez was awarded $3,000 and Garrett was awarded $2,500.

The Gilman Scholarship supports American undergraduate students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad and, since 2001, has enabled more than 25,000 outstanding Americans of diverse backgrounds to engage in a meaningful educational experience abroad. The Gilman Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). 

Rodriguez will be taking part in the Mount’s faculty-led summer program to Florence, Italy, and is grateful for the opportunities that this scholarship opens for her.

“While studying abroad I hope to gain self-growth by facing challenges, experience a different perspective of the country's culture and practices, improve on being more adaptable and independent, and hopefully gain networks with individuals I meet there,” she said.

Garrett, the first in her family to attend college, will be participating in an independent program with CIS Abroad in Japan for the summer.

“The scholarship not only benefits me going abroad by giving me the funds necessary, but also sets the steps for me to take in securing my educational and career goals,” Garrett noted.

The students are looking forward to not just their time abroad, but also how they can impact their community using their experiences. 

Rodriguez, who is also the first in her family to attend college, explained her intention to share her study abroad experiences with Relatives as Parents Program, a Cornell Cooperative Extension Program that mentors teenagers who are the primary caregivers for their relatives.

“My goal for this project is to not only encourage students to study abroad, but to encourage them to take a step into a life changing opportunity that could have such a positive effect on them,” she said.

Garrett hopes to encourage other Mount students to consider studying abroad in central and southeast Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and China by becoming a Study Abroad Ambassador at the college, visiting classrooms and encouraging other students to take advantage of the opportunity to explore another country. 

Many disadvantaged students “do not believe that they are able to go abroad due to the cost of many study abroad programs,” she said. “Students are unaware that there are many different programs and assistance they can receive to study abroad for a summer or even a semester. I am hoping to have an incredibly positive impact on the Mount in bringing to light [these] opportunities.”