Southern Alumni Magazine Spring 2026

Working with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions n Anthropology and Archaeology Fieldwork n Ukraine’s Youngest Artists on War

FEATURES

12 Say it Loud! Say it Proud! SCSU! National research rankings, global engagement, and exceptional value place Southern among Connecticut’s top universities.

22 Wild Life

Anthropology

From Alaska to Antarctica, naturalist Marylou Blakeslee, ’78, follows her passion to the planet’s most remote places — and inspires others to protect them.

16 Sea Change

A Southern research team sets sail as visiting scientists aboard a National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition, studying the impact of fish farming on Iceland’s waters.

30 Drawing Strength

Hope

By Yeva S., 5 years old

September 2022

“A hope for a good and better future. And the main thing is a quiet and peaceful life! About the unity of Ukraine, and that there would be no war and bombs would not fall from the sky.”

Ulia Gosart, M.L.S. ’05, brings the stories of Ukraine’s youngest artists to the world — one drawing at a time.

32 Digging Deeper

In the Afar region of Ethiopia, Michael Rogers, professor of anthropology, and his students have spent almost two decades uncovering ancient artifacts. A field site at West Rock Nature Center in Hamden is also a land of discovery, teaching the tools of the trade to both undergraduates and graduate students in a newly launched master’s program.

38 Coming Home to Southern

Nearly 4,000 members of the Southern community gathered on campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend.

DEAR SOUTHERN ALUMNI,

s spring arrives on our campus, Southern Connecticut State University is once again alive with energy, possibility, and purpose. Each

semester reminds me why this institution matters

public education does not mean a workforce engine for our state. Every day, university for our region and a critical Haven, and to Connecticut as a whole. so deeply to our students, to Greater New

Southern is proud to serve as the public

our faculty and staff demonstrate that a

diminished education. On the contrary, Southern continues to achieve levels of excellence that stand alongside, and often surpass, our private peers.

Southern plays a vital role in advancing applied research, workforce development, and social mobility.

As Connecticut’s only Carnegie Research 2 (R2) university, we are uniquely positioned to prepare the research workforce of our state while adapting our programs to meet evolving employer needs. That momentum is visible across campus. We recently secured a National Science Foundation grant to strengthen academic–industry partnerships and expand research capacity. Our School of Business continues to thrive following AACSB accreditation, with strong enrollment growth and increased external funding. Our College of Education is leading a transformative collaboration with Yale University and New Haven partners to prepare diverse, high-quality educators. In STEM, Southern now serves as Connecticut’s hub for quantum workforce development through our expanded Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology. Our School of Nursing — supported by a landmark partnership with Yale New Haven Health — has expanded access, doubled annual BSN graduates, and dramatically increased student diversity. These

achievements reflect Southern’s deep commitment to meeting the real needs of our communities.

Behind every milestone is a dedicated campus community working year-round to support student success. Even during winter months, our teams are repairing facilities, advancing technology, delivering courses, sustaining student life, and preparing for each new semester. Their commitment ensures that when students return, they find not only a beautiful campus, but a caring university ready to help them thrive.

As alumni, you remain an essential part of this story. Your achievements reflect Southern’s mission in action, and your engagement through mentorship, advocacy, philanthropy, and pride helps open doors for the next generation. Eighty-six percent of our graduates stay in Connecticut, strengthening our economy and communities, and many do so because alumni like you continue to believe in the power of access, opportunity, and public higher education.

Thank you for being part of the Southern family. I hope you enjoy this issue of Southern Alumni Magazine and feel inspired by the remarkable work happening on campus. Together, we are shaping a future filled with promise for our students, our region, our state, and each other.

Sincerely,

Sandra Bulmer, Ph.D. Interim President

National Award for Communication, Media, and Screen Studies

SOUTHERN’S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, MEDIA, AND SCREEN

STUDIES (CMS) received the Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award — the highest programmatic honor bestowed by the National Communication Association’s Undergraduate College and University Section.

Southern is the only Connecticut university ever to receive the award and one of just three institutions of higher learning in New England so honored since the award was launched in 1994. The two previous New England honorees are Dartmouth College in 2018 and Simmons College in 2011.

“I’m particularly proud that we’re being recognized as a department that continues to innovate — fostering creativity, critical inquiry, and collaboration that prepare students to excel as thoughtful, engaged communicators in an evolving media landscape,” says David Petroski, professor and chair of the department.

Students in the program gain hands-on experience in the university’s CMS Digital Production Facility — a state-of-the-art media production hub featuring a fully functional television broadcast studio, editing suites, a live-streaming podcast studio, and high-end field equipment.

The real-world experience provides a distinct educational advantage, notes Bruce Kalk, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences: “The faculty enthusiastically mentor students, many of whom enter directly into careers in broadcasting.”

Sandra Bulmer, Interim President

Colleen Bielitz, Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Executive Director, SCSU Foundation, Inc.

STAFF

Allison O’Leary, Interim Director of Integrated Communications & Marketing

Villia Struyk, Editor

Christina Levere, Associate Editor

Marylou Conley, ’83, Art Director

Isabel Chenoweth, Photographer

Mawin Belfort,Ashley Donahue, Student Photographers

Malcolm Smiley, Contributing Photographer

Mary Pat Caputo, Alumni Notes

OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Gregory Bernard, ’04, Director of Alumni Relations (203) 392-6500

EDITORIAL OFFICE

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New Haven, CT 06515-1355

Telephone (203) 392-6591; fax (203) 392-5083

Email address: StruykV1@SouthernCT.edu

University website: SouthernCT.edu

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Southern Alumni Magazine is published by the university in cooperation with the SCSU Alumni Association two times a year and distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of the university.

Opinions expressed in Southern Alumni Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the university or the SCSU Alumni Association. Although the editors have made every reasonable effort to be factually accurate, no responsibility is assumed for errors.

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Southern Connecticut State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or criminal record. Inquiries related to nondiscrimination policies and Title IX may be forwarded to Paula Rice, Title IX Coordinator and Director of Diversity and Equity Programs, 501 Crescent Street, BU 240, New Haven, CT, 06515; (203) 392-5568;

RiceP1@SouthernCT.edu

■ CSCU Center Expands Mission to Quantum and Nanotechnology

THE CONNECTICUT STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (CSCU) CENTER FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY has a broader mission and a new name: the CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology (QNT). The QNT center supports Connecticut’s growing investment in cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future workforce.

Nanotechnology works at an incredibly small scale, manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level, focusing between 1 and 100 nanometers (nm). (For perspective, a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nm thick.) Quantum technology harnesses the unusual behavior of atoms and subatomic particles to create powerful new tools. Together, these fields are driving breakthroughs in healthcare, cybersecurity, finance, advanced materials, and more.

Although the center is a collaborative effort between Southern Connecticut State University, Yale University, the University of Connecticut, and the CSU system, it is housed at Southern, serving as an important hub for quantum workforce development. The expanded mission strengthens Southern’s partnership with

from right: Christine Broadbridge, QNT director, and Thomas Sadowski, (center) Werth IAF coordinator and adjunct professor of physics, work with Nicholas Sceusa, (left) a teacher from the Marvelwood School in Kent, Conn., during a Teacher Professional Development Workshop on quantum technologies and AI; Physics majors Maggie Blanchard and Andrea Correa work in the QNT; and technology as displayed on a quantum cube.

QuantumCT, a statewide public-private initiative advancing quantum research, education, and industry collaboration across Connecticut and beyond.

The center is led by Professor of Physics Christine Broadbridge, the executive director of research and innovation at Southern and a member of the QuantumCT leadership team. Broadbridge played a key role in the establishment of QuantumCT by fostering collaborations with Yale University and the University of Connecticut; they join Southern as the state’s only three Carnegie-classified research universities.

QuantumCT is a finalist for the prestigious National Science Foundation “Engine” grant with Broadbridge serving as a co-principal investigator. If awarded, the grant could bring up to $15 million initially — and potentially $160 million over 10 years — to support research, education, and workforce development.

“Quantum technologies will transform Connecticut’s workforce by creating demand for specialized skills and opening lucrative career opportunities in industries such as aerospace, biotech, and finance,” says Broadbridge. “Southern’s strategic

location in the second-largest biotechnology hub in New England makes this name change both timely and meaningful.”

CSCU Interim Chancellor John Maduko echoed that vision: “Southern Connecticut State University is at the forefront of building the state’s quantum workforce.”

MORE AT:

nano.SouthernCT.edu

■

AExpanding Career Pathways with OWLL

CCORDING TO A 2023 REPORT BY DELOITTE , 75% of surveyed employers worldwide have had difficulty locating qualified workers. Simultaneously, 46% of Americans see themselves as underemployed, holding jobs they feel do not fully utilize their education or expertise.

Southern Connecticut State University’s Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL) is working to address those troubling statistics, offering noncredit and workforce training as well as a variety of low-cost professional development opportunities some of which connect to undergraduate and graduate credit-

level certificate programs. Programs are offered in a wide variety of disciplines including computer science, MiniMBA Microcredentials, medical Spanish, tourism and hospitality, business and leadership, the Teacher Leadership Academy, the NextGen Parent Academy, and even a Drone Academy. Additionally, the Wise OWLLs program offers a variety of virtual and on-campus workshops and seminars throughout the year. Upcoming topics include Minecraft and eGaming for Adults (April 14, 1 p.m., on campus) and Sustainable Gardening (May 19, 7 p.m., on campus).

The program is ideal for those seeking a new career or growth in their current jobs, notes Amy Feest, OWLL’s senior director. Many classes are held in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate those who have a fulltime job or childcare needs. Most courses also are online.

A partnership between OWLL and The WorkPlace, a regional workforce development board based in Bridgeport, Conn., was recently recognized for excellence. The collaborative effort earned the 2026 UPCEA New England Regional Program Award, which honors programming that expands access for learners and demonstrates regional impact. UPCEA is a nonprofit association for professional, continuing, and online

higher education. OWLL also was named The WorkPlace’s Company Partner of the Year in 2025.

Launched in 2023, the OWLL and WorkPlace collaboration provides

receive tuition support through a federal Good Jobs Challenge Grant.

“SCSU’s Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning is honored to be recognized for our partnership and

The bronze sculpture, Serie Metafisica XVIII, overlooks the campus pond.

credential-based pathways that prepare disengaged youth ages 18-24 for indemand careers in technology, business, and related fields. Youth connect with OWLL through The WorkPlace, where program manager Mark Lazarus assesses their skills and helps them choose a pathway. Students

■ Respiratory Therapy Program Among Nation’s Best

Sgroundbreaking work with The WorkPlace,” says Feest. “Our partnership is changing the lives of our learners, and we hope that the work we are doing becomes a model for other programs.”

MORE AT: SouthernCT.edu/owll

OUTHERN’S BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RESPIRATORY THERAPY (BSRT) PROGRAM

is one of only five educational offerings in the nation to earn the 2026-27 American Association for Respiratory Care APEX Designation. Established in 2017, the designation recognizes programs and departments demonstrating the highest standards of quality, evidence-based practice, and educational excellence.

Southern’s fully online BSRT program serves licensed, practicing respiratory care professionals from across the country. “This recognition is a reflection of the extraordinary work of our students, faculty, and leadership,” says Joan E. Kreiger, founding director of Southern’s respiratory therapy program. “Our mission has always been to create accessible, attainable, and high-impact educational experiences for working respiratory care professionals. The APEX Award validates that commitment and reinforces our role as a leader in respiratory therapy education.”

MORE AT:

SouthernCT.edu/academics/programs/respiratory-therapy-bsrt-leadership

■ Fieldwork and Fossils in Arizona

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY

JONATHAN WEINBAUM led graduate students Adé Ben-Salahuddin, ’25, and Danielle Hill, ’23, on a summer field expedition to the Chinle Formation in Arizona, a fossil-rich site dating back more than 200 million years ago to the Late Triassic Period. The region’s unique geology reveals a dramatic shift in the ancient landscape — from a wet, rainforest-like environment at the base to a full-blown desert at the very top.

“We have some dinosaur material, but the majority of fossils we find are early relatives of crocodiles,” says Weinbaum.

It was the second site visit for Ben-Salahuddin, whose passion for paleontology was sparked by dino documentaries and honed through work as a curatorial assistant at the Yale Peabody Museum. “The most

Clockwise from lower left: graduate student Adé Ben-Salahuddin, ’25; a sightseeing excursion; expedition colleagues include Southern’s (front left) Jonathan Weinbaum, associate professor of biology, (center) Danielle Hill, ’23, and (right) Ben-Salahuddin; measuring a fossil; and Ben-Salahuddin.

challenging part was finding was relentless but “when you iconic landmarks including too many fossils,” he says of unearth bones that haven’t the Petrified Forest, Meteor the bountiful finds and seen that same sun in 213 Crater, and the Grand delicate excavation work. million years, the discomfort Canyon. Weinbaum, who has For Hill, who grew up in goes away,” she says. led digs at the quarry for an environment where

The expedition also more than a decade, stresses evolution was a taboo subject, included collaboration with the value of hands-on the fieldwork was equally colleagues from the Texas research: “Being in the field transformative. Yes, the sun Tech Museum and visits to is life-changing.”

MORE AT: news.SouthernCT.edu/arizona_dig_2025

■ National Honor for Veteran Leader

Britt Conroy, ’16, M.S. ’20, coordinator of veteran, military, and adult learner services, was named the 2025 National Veteran of the Year for the Air Force. The prestigious recognition builds on a previous honor; Conroy also was named the 2025 Connecticut Veteran of the Year for Higher Education.

“Representing the state of Connecticut and now the United States Air Force feels surreal,” says Conroy. “I will do my best to continue to adhere to the Air Force core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence. These awards have helped to reaffirm my desire to serve every day and to strive for excellence in all that I do.”

Conroy’s recognition is part of a nationwide effort by Military Friendly to celebrate the contributions that veterans make to their communities. Last year, thanks largely to Conroy’s work, Southern earned a spot on Viqtory Media’s esteemed list of 2024-2025 Military Friendly Schools. The university achieved Silver Status, making it the highest-ranking institution among Connecticut’s small universities included in the ranking. More than 1,200 colleges and universities participated in this comprehensive survey.

MORE AT: inside.SouthernCT.edu/veteran-military-adult-learner

■ Recognizing Teaching Excellence

THE J. PHILIP SMITH AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING , which recognizes exceptional classroom instruction, is presented annually to a full-time professor and a part-time faculty member.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees.

Joel Dodson, professor of English, was honored as the fulltime faculty recipient.

Patricia Paugas was recognized as the adjunct faculty recipient. She is an instructor in the Department of Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Management.

■ Faculty and Staff Honors

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS (NASW) FOUNDATION has recognized the late George Appleby, professor emeritus of social work, as a 2025 NASW Social Work Pioneer. Appleby also served as interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

• Mercedes Himmons, an assistant athletic trainer and the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Designee with Southern’s Department of Athletics, was selected to participate in the 2025-26 Division II Athletics Directors Association Women and Ethnic Minorities Mentoring Program.

• Isabel Logan, associate professor of social work, has been honored with the Conceptual Article of the Year Award by the Journal of Social Work Education. The award recognizes her team’s groundbreaking work on the Social Work and Law Enforcement (SWLE) Project Integrative Model on Police Social Work — a framework for embedding social workers within public safety and crisis-response

■ FastFacts. GREATNEWS.

• A total of 1,260 high school students were enrolled in Southern’s Early College program in September 2025. Working with more than 100 partner high schools, the program allows students to earn up to 30 credits. More at SouthernCT.edu/early-college

• Southern is ranked among the top three research colleges in Connecticut. Yale University and the University of Connecticut also were recognized.

• The Department of Journalism welcomed more than 400 high school students to campus for Southern’s 40th annual High School Journalism Day on Oct. 24. Kent Pierce, veteran WTNH News 8 reporter and adjunct faculty member, was the keynote speaker.

• The U.S. Department of State has recognized Southern as a top-producing institution for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for the 2024-25 academic year. The university was one of only 46 institutions of higher learning honored nationwide.

• Southern’s 10 most popular undergraduate majors (Spring 2026) are: healthcare studies, nursing, psychology, business administration — management, computer science, business administration — marketing, business administration — finance, biology, business administration — accounting, and social work.

systems. Co-authored by Logan, Robert Madden (University of Saint Joseph), and Matthew Solak (Willimantic Police Department), the article draws from field placements and emphasizes the importance of ethical training, trust building, and

interprofessional collaboration.

• Armen Marsoobian, professor of philosophy, has been awarded a 2025-26 Fulbright Scholar Award for his work in Armenia.

Hosted by the American University of Armenia as a researcher and educator, he also is curating a major exhibition at the History Museum of Armenia.

• Chelsea Ortiz, M.P. H. ’20, the director of nursing admissions and enrollment management at Southern, received the 2025 Emerging Leader Award from the

ACE Women’s Network — Connecticut.

• Lauren Tucker, assistant professor of special education, is the recipient of Southern’s Outstanding Academic Adviser Award.

■ Leadership Appointments

• Thomas Armstrong is the newly appointed chief information officer of Southern. Previously, he served as the director of strategy and enterprise architecture for the State of Connecticut.

• Colleen Bielitz was named interim vice president for institutional advancement and the executive director of the SCSU Foundation, Inc., in October 2025. She is also serving as chairperson of the search committee for a permanent replacement. Bielitz most recently was the associate vice president for strategic initiatives and outreach at Southern, a position she held since 2018.

• Maria Krol has been named interim executive director of healthcare programs in the College of Health and Human Services. Her work at Southern has focused on academic leadership, nursing education, workforce development, and initiatives related to access and equity.

■ Honors College Celebrates Growing Community

SOUTHERN’S HONORS COLLEGE kicked off the 2025-26 academic year in spectacular style, welcoming its largest cohort of new students in recent years: 75, including 50 firstyear students and 25 transfer students. The Honors College — designed for student scholars and leaders — also celebrated the opening of an expansive new home in Hilton C. Buley Library, the academic heart of campus. Set on the fourth floor of Buley, alongside the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, it includes a large shared “Scholars Space” with sweeping views of campus.

The honors community marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the start of the semester. Among the guests were political science major Lena Eifes and nursing major Caitlin Walsh, both of whom expect to use the space often. The two met years prior as high school students at Girls State, a selective leadership and citizenship program founded by the American Legion Auxiliary.

“I came to Southern specifically because I was accepted into the Honors College. I really like the staff, faculty, and overall environment,” says Walsh, who enrolled at the university in March. She later shared information about the program with Eifes, who also enrolled. The two are now roommates living in the Honors College Living-Learning Community in the West Campus Residence Complex. It’s just one of many benefits offered through the Honors College. Others include:

• Generous scholarship support.

• Personalized capstone options including studying abroad, thesis research, and community service.

• Small class sizes to enhance student-faculty interactions; firstyear honors courses typically have 15 students, and upper-level courses are designed for fewer than 20.

• Transdisciplinary courses from across the curriculum with customized advising and degree programs to meet personal and professional development goals.

■ Gaining Hands-on Experience in Plant Science

BIOTECHNOLOGY MAJOR SARAH GRAY was one of two Southern students selected for the Plant Health Fellows program, a summer research internship co-hosted by Southern and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). The selective program — supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — provides students with mentored lab experience, a $5,000 stipend, on-campus housing, and career development opportunities.

Since starting at Southern in 2017, the program has trained 80 students from 43 colleges in 21 states. Impressively, 19 of the student researchers have hailed from Southern. “Our alumni have gone on to careers at biotech startups, government agencies, universities, and more,” says Elizabeth Roberts, associate dean of STEM at Southern. She co-leads the project alongside Lindsay Triplett, vice director and chief scientist for the Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology at the CAES.

In summer 2025, Gray, along with biology major Erik Galvin, spent nine weeks gaining experience in plant science. Gray focused on protecting crops — like soybeans — from harmful UV rays using carbon dots, tiny particles made from leaf waste. She worked in the CAES laboratory of scientist Washington da Silva and at the CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology at Southern to test how the particles absorb and re-emit light.

MORE AT: SouthernCT.edu/plant-health-fellows

The 2025 Plant Health Fellows — including Sarah Gray (fourth from left) and Erik Galvin (third from right) visited Enko, an agricultural startup focused on plant health technology in Mystic, Conn.

■ All the Stage’s a Classroom: Southern and Shubert Partner

SOUTHERN HAS PARTNERED WITH THE HISTORIC SHUBERT THEATRE to create original children’s theater for New Haven Public Schools — while providing Southern students with handson experience in arts education and performance.

Supported by a $1.2 million gift to the Shubert from global tech company ASML, the collaboration will help the theatre expand its educational programming in meaningful and lasting ways. As part of the initiative, Southern students will help conceive, build, and perform a new piece of original children’s theater. The production will tour several New Haven schools in the Spring 2025 semester.

its North American tour at the Shubert in September. Students in Theatre Professor Michael Skinner’s theater history class — many of whom were preparing to devise their own production attended the performance.

Kelly Denice Taylor as Jane Seymour in The North American Tour Boleyn Company of SIX. Photo Joan Marcus, Courtesy of the Shubert Theatre and Arts Paper

The collaboration launched during the final dress rehearsal of the critically acclaimed musical SIX, which opened

“This is another exciting connection to New Haven and a full-circle moment for me personally,” said Skinner, who is chair of the Department of Theatre and an alumnus of both Southern, Class of 2007, and the Yale School of Drama.

“Our students have already worked with many of New Haven’s theaters. Now they’re collaborating with the Shubert — one of the most iconic performance venues in the country. And this time, they’re not just backstage or in the audience. They’re the creators.”

■ Soccer Legend Speaks at Lyman

ALYSSA NAEHER — one of the most decorated goalkeepers in U.S. women’s soccer history — spoke at Southern’s Lyman Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 24. The Stratford, Conn., native shared memories from her soccer career, from competing on local playing fields to being named the U.S. Soccer Federation’s 2024 Female Player of the Year. Naeher captivated fans of all ages at the event, meeting with members of Southern’s soccer teams and local youth players, inspiring the next generation of women’s soccer.

■ Southern at COP30 in Brazil

SOUTHERN

CONNECTICUT STATE

UNIVERSITY students and faculty attended the COP30 [Conference of the Parties] global climate change conference, serving as official observers of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belém, Brazil. The conference was attended by (below right) Miriah Kelly (middle), associate professor of environment, geography, COP30, the United and marine sciences, and lead faculty Nations climate summit, was held in member of Southern’s COP contingent; Belém, Brazil, home Aaron Radulski (left), an environmental of the gateway to systems and sustainability major who the Amazon River. was awarded the Undergraduate Research Award; and graduate student Daisy Everingham (right), who is working toward a master’s degree in coastal resilience and was awarded a Graduate Research Grant.

■ In a League of Its Own

THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION, TOURISM AND SPORT MANAGEMENT

received accreditation from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) for two of its programs: the Bachelor of Science in sport management and the Master of Science in sport and entertainment management. Founded in 2008, COSMA promotes excellence in sport management education worldwide in colleges and universities at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

“As the only COSMAaccredited program in Connecticut and 1 of 36 nationwide, this designation signifies our commitment to our students’ success and aligns with our department’s mission to be studentcentered,” says Joseph

Milone, associate professor of recreation, tourism, and sport management, and chair of the department.

Kevin McGinniss,

graduate coordinator and affirmed that our program, director of the sport its curriculum, initiatives, management program, strong faculty, and students echoes his enthusiasm: “This are among the best in the external peer review process nation.”

■ Inaugural Varian Fry Day

SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY

hosted the inaugural observance of Varian Fry Day on Oct. 15, 2025, what would have been the American journalist’s 118th birthday. The event, held in Engleman Hall, commemorated Fry’s heroic efforts to rescue more than 2,000 refugees — many of them Jewish — from Nazi-occupied France during World War II.

Fry’s legacy was honored through remarks from Connecticut legislators, faculty scholars, and community leaders, alongside student readings from

Fry’s writings and a video message from his son, Dr. James Fry.

The initiative was spearheaded by David Pettigrew, CSU Professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy, whose advocacy led to the unanimous passage of Public Act No. 25-59, officially recognizing Fry with a statewide day of remembrance.

“His story is a lesson in moral clarity and civil courage,” said Pettigrew, “precisely the kind of legacy we must uplift in times of division.”

State Rep. Christopher Rosario, Southern Interim President Sandra Bulmer, CSU Professor David Pettigrew, and State Rep. Matt Blumenthal gather at Southern for the inaugural observance of Varian Fry Day on Oct. 15, 2025.

Say it Loud! Say it Proud! SCSU

Nationally ranked research opportunities, global engagement, and exceptional value place Southern among Connecticut’s top universities.

Owl pride is running sky high — with good reason. Southern Connecticut State University is ranked among the top three research universities in Connecticut in the 2026 Best Colleges report from Research.com, just behind Yale and the University of Connecticut. The accolades continue with Southern positioned in the state’s top two for Best Value Colleges and Most Affordable Colleges, highlighting the university’s strong return on investment and commitment to accessible excellence.

More National Accolades

This latest achievement underscores Southern’s ascension as a premier research-driven regional university. In February 2025, Southern earned the prestigious Carnegie Classification “R2: High Research Activity” designation, becoming the first university in Connecticut outside of Yale and the University of Connecticut to receive Carnegie’s national research recognition. This distinction places Southern among just 139 research universities nationwide and affirms the university’s expanding research infrastructure (labs, equipment, and support systems), growing doctoral profile, and increased faculty scholarship.

Following the R2 milestone, the U.S. Department of State honored Southern as a top-producing institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the 2024–25 academic year — once again placing Southern in elite company. Southern also continues to be lauded by U.S. News & World Report.

National Funding for Advanced Technology and More

Much of the money spent on research comes from institutional investments, complemented by external support. This includes highly competitive grants from federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and Education. As of the new year, total awards from federal, state, and private external sponsors in Fiscal Year 2025 were $4.3 million, according to the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research at Southern — with decisions still pending on many funding applications submitted in the spring and summer.

R2 status further positions Southern for competitively awarded research funding and strategic partnerships. In October 2025, Southern secured a $398,176 National Science Foundation EPIIC grant to strengthen Connecticut’s research and innovation capacity in emerging technologies

including biotechnology, nanotechnology, quantum technology, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

Southern has furthered its role in the state’s quantum technology community. Christine Broadbridge — professor of physics and executive director of Research and Innovation at Southern, and a QuantumCT leadership team member — presented a workforce plan to the National Science Foundation for the highly competitive NSF Regional Innovation Engines program. The initiative supports the development of regional innovation ecosystems — including universities, startups, and research labs — working on quantum technology nationwide. If funded, it could bring up to $160 million to Connecticut over 10 years, with Southern collaborating alongside Yale and UConn.

“This is a monumental opportunity for our students, research community, and partners,” says Broadbridge, a coprincipal investigator on the proposal.

The newly renamed CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology, located on Southern’s campus and led by Broadbridge (see page 4), underscores Southern’s pivotal role in the state’s quantum industry.

Research Opportunities for Grads and Undergrads

As Connecticut’s only public R2 university, Southern offers research opportunities that rival the state’s flagship institutions — while maintaining the close faculty-student collaboration of a mid-sized university. Students benefit from programs such as the FirstYear Research and Artistry Experience (FYRE); university-wide research and creative activity conferences; the Werth Endowed Industry Academic Fellowship; and access to multiple Centers of Excellence spanning disciplines from nanotechnology to coastal and marine studies.

These initiatives place Southern in the sweet spot, notes Elliott Horch, CSU professor of physics and department chair. “We offer the kinds of research

experiences here that you could get at UConn or Yale, but we do that in a small-department environment with personalized attention,” says Horch of opportunities offered to Southern’s physics students.

Hilton C. Buley Library serves as a cornerstone of student research, offering access to more than 500,000 books and media, including extensive databases and electronic collections. Expert guidance also comes from subject librarians across academic disciplines.

A National and Global Commitment

Southern faculty and students are also making their mark on the global stage. This summer, they were prominently represented at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, engaging with global leaders on sustainable ocean stewardship and climate resilience. Led by Miriah Kelly, associate professor of environment, geography, and marine sciences, and Suzanne Huminski, sustainability coordinator, the delegation participated in high-level discussions and explored cutting-edge ocean health technologies aboard the OceanX research vessel with Vincent Pieribone, professor of neuroscience.

In November, Kelly accompanied two students to COP30, short for Conference of the Parties, in Belém, Brazil, where they served as official observers of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Among the many Southern students who recently participated in national and global research experiences are:

• Biotechnology major Sarah Gray and biology major Erik Galvin, who completed a USDAsupported Plant Health Fellows internship. Gray’s research explored carbon dots made from leaf waste to protect crops from harmful UV rays.

• Public health and psychology students, who traveled with Public Health Professor Jean Breny to Rome and Sardinia, Italy, to study “Blue Zones” — regions of the world where

people live significantly longer, healthier lives.

• Anthropology students who worked at Roman and medieval excavation sites in northwest England with Kathleen Skoczen, professor of anthropology, and Liverpool John Moores University faculty.

• Graduate students who conducted aquaculture research in Iceland with Emma Cross, professor of environment, geography, and marine sciences (EGMS), supported by EGMS Professor Patrick Heidkamp’s study abroad program. The group also was invited to serve as visiting scientists with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. (See page 16.)

• Biology graduate students who joined Jonathan Weinbaum, associate professor of biology, on a field expedition to Arizona’s Chinle Formation, a fossil-rich site dating back more than 200 million years.

Delivering these experiences within an accessible, supportive environment, Southern blends academic excellence with hands-on, workforce-aligned learning and global engagement for both undergraduate and graduate students. Through its Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL), Southern also supports current professionals looking to learn new or updated job skills in emerging technologies, offering credentials in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and extended reality (XR). A partnership between OWLL and The WorkPlace, a workforce development board based in Bridgeport, Conn., was recently recognized for excellence. (See page 4.)

“I’m proud to lead Southern during this time of rapid innovation and tremendous faculty prestige,” says Interim President Sandy Bulmer. “This recognition affirms Southern’s transformation into a research-intensive institution that delivers both excellence and access, holding true to our age-old mission. We are proud to stand among Connecticut’s top universities.” ■

■ Owls Crowned Regional and NE10 Cross Country Champions

ITWAS ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.

On Nov. 8, both the men’s and women’s programs won their respective NCAA Division II Cross Country East Regional titles.

It was the fourth straight regional victory for the men’s team and marked the second time in three years that the women’s team finished first.

Building on the day’s triumphs, two Southern studentathletes were named the individual men’s and women’s champions, crossing the finish line ahead of all competitors.

Courtney Henchcliffe became the first Southern woman to claim the individual regional title. She finished with a personal-best time of 21:29.00, almost 10 seconds ahead of the next runner

Jonathan Volpe won the men’s competition with a time of 31:02.78 — a 32-second victory over the secondplace finisher. It was the first time a member of the men’s team finished first at the regional competition. Volpe finished 10th as a freshman, third in 2022, and second in 2023.

The regional victory built on a season of success. On Oct. 26, the men’s and women’s programs won the 2025 Northeast-10 (NE10) Cross Country Championships. It was the fourth consecutive NE10 title for the men’s team.

Southern once again swept the individual titles. Volpe was first among all NE10 male competitors, reclaiming his individual title from 2022. Henchcliffe, in turn, was crowned the NE10 individual cross country women’s champion. This was only the second time that a Southern student-athlete finished first at the women’s tournament; Laura Brustolon won the gold in 2009.

Southern is the only public university competing in the NE10 Conference.

AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .

The Owls men’s and women’s cross country programs dominated the Northeast-10 Conference’s postseason awards. Congratulations to Southern’s honorees:

Men’s Runner of the Year • Jonathan Volpe

Men’s Rookie of the Year • Colton Sallum

Men’s Coach of the Year • John Wallin, ’00

Women’s Runner of the Year • Courtney Henchcliffe

Women’s Coach of the Year • Melissa Stoll Funaro

Meet the Student-Athlete

■ New Head Coaches

MEET TWO HEAD COACHES LEADING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF OWL SUCCESS.

GYMNASTICS

Corrinne Tarver became head coach of Southern’s gymnastics program in June, bringing to the university a record of personal and professional national achievement. As a studentathlete at the University of Georgia, Tarver made history in 1989 when she became the first Black woman to win the NCAA all-around national championship. Overall, she earned nine All-American honors and helped Georgia win two NCAA Division I national championships.

She came to Southern from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., where she was the founding head coach of the first women's gymnastics program at a historically Black college. She also served as athletic director at Fisk.

Tarver holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia and a law degree from New York Law School.

SOFTBALL

Kate Bowen was named head coach of the Owls softball program after serving in the role on an interim basis for a season. Previously, she was with Springfield College, where she compiled an overall record of 180-88-1 (win, loss, tie) for a .697 winning percentage. In addition to earning numerous Coach of the Year honors, Bowen led Springfield to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference regular-season championship in 2024.

As a student-athlete, Bowen was a four-year starter for Manhattan College, where she was twice named Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She played professionally for the Stratford Brakettes (2011-13), helping the team win three consecutive Major Softball National Championships as well as the United States Specialty Sports Association Women’s Fastpitch World Series Championship in 2013. Bowen is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Springfield.

Junior, majoring in athletic training

Sports: Gymnastics (bars, beam) and Track and Field (pole vault)

Hometown: Lebanon, Conn.

Early start: “I took my first steps in the gym,” says Dinisoe, whose mother is a longtime gymnastics coach.

Another way to fly: Dinisoe began pole vaulting in high school at her coaches’ urging. Gymnastics training develops speed, strength, body control, flexibility, and air awareness — all of which transfer to pole vaulting.

A two-sport champion: Dinisoe won a bronze medal on the balance beam at the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championships with a score of 9.8125. In the pole vault, she won silver at the 2024 and 2025 Northeast-10 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Why Dinisoe is majoring in athletic training: “Gymnastics can be hard on the body. Growing up, I had PT (physical therapy), chiropractic care, and more. I want to give back to the sport,” she says.

Fast learning: Dinisoe is enrolled in Southern’s accelerated athletic training program; the 3+2 pathway lets students earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. Southern offers about 50 accelerated options.*

Competition ritual: “My hair has to be perfect or it’s not going to be a good day,” she says with a grin. Competition calls for her signature two-braid updo.

On campus: You’ll often find Dinisoe in the Student-Athlete Wellness Center Powered by Connecticut Orthopaedics. Located in the James Moore Field House it has spots for studying, recovery, socializing, and more.

Off campus: She coaches young athletes at New Era Gymnastics in Hamden.

Goals: Dinisoe is a Dean’s List student. “It’s important to focus on the student part of student-athlete,” she says.

*MORE AT SouthernCT.edu/academics/accelerated/programs

in the Fjords

A Southern research team sets sail as visiting scientists aboard a National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition, studying the impact of fish farming on Iceland's waters.

By Natalie Missakian

FOR MORE THAN 130 YEARS, THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY HAS DOCUMENTED THE MOST REMOTE AND EXTRAORDINARY PLACES ON EARTH. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions carries that legacy onto the water, offering voyages to all seven continents.

Last summer, Emma Cross, associate professor of the environment, geography, and marine sciences (EGMS) at Southern, joined that tradition, connecting curious travelers not just to Iceland’s dramatic fjords, but to the science unfolding beneath the water. For eight days in July, she and two graduate students — Olivia Vallejo, ’25, and Katie Wagner, ’24, both enrolled in the master’s program in integrative biological diversity — worked as visiting scientists on a National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition, a luxury cruise that carried nature-loving adventure travelers through remote coastal regions of Iceland.

While other passengers headed out for hikes and sightseeing on shore, Cross and her students loaded their gear into a small inflatable Zodiac and braved the chilly Nordic seas to collect water and zooplankton samples. Their goal: to study the impact of fish farms on local coastal ecosystems.

Since 2022, Cross has led similar research at the Skálanes Nature and Heritage Center in East Iceland, where she travels with students each summer to conduct fieldwork, supported by EGMS Professor Patrick Heidkamp’s study abroad program. The team spent an additional week in Iceland working at Skálanes after the voyage.

Cross’ ongoing research exemplifies

Southern’s commitment to collaborative facultystudent research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In fact, Southern is nationally ranked for research, Connecticut’s first and only university to earn the prestigious Research 2 (R2) Carnegie classification.

Cross’ biodiversity research uses environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to detect microscopic traces of DNA shed by organisms. This method allows scientists to create a snapshot of the species present in an area without resorting to more disruptive techniques, such as trawling the seafloor.

Cross combines these eDNA results with traditional water-quality measurements — including salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature — to monitor ecological changes over time in locations where fish farming has been introduced. The expedition provided a rare opportunity to collect baseline data in more remote waters still untouched by the industry.

THE WORK IS TIMELY. Fish farming has expanded rapidly in Iceland in recent years, raising concerns was genuinely among conservationists who fear nutrient pollution and in awe of medication used to prevent the spread of disease and parasites Iceland’s in the pens could harm fragile fjord ecosystems. Worries nature and the intensified in 2023 when a

beauty around me.” breach released thousands of farmed salmon in the Katie Wagner Westfjords, sparking fears that

Emma Cross, associate professor of the environment, geography and marine sciences; and Olivia Vallejo, ’25, are visiting scientists on the expedition. This page: collected ocean samples and Cross makes a science presentation to guests.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY EMMA CROSS

genetically modified fish might mate with wild salmon.

“It’s a complex issue,” Cross says. Aquaculture brings jobs and revenue to coastal communities that are mostly reliant on tourism. Many locals “are not very keen on these fish farms going in” because they want to keep the fjords pristine, she explains. She hopes her work will give residents and policymakers objective data.

“The work is really important because it provides information to the residents in these areas . . . so they can have a say,” says Vallejo.

Cross applied for the visiting scientist opportunity after learning about it from a National GeographicLindblad Expeditions science lead she met at a national marine eDNA conference in 2024. (Applications are by invitation only.)

HE RESEARCH WAS ONLY ONE PART OF THE JOB. Back on the ship, the Southern team mingled and discussed their work with cruisers, including children ages 5 to 14 in the ship’s Young Explorers club.

Explaining research on the ecological impact of fish farming in Iceland to school-age children — and holding their attention — is a tall order, especially when the specimens are mostly invisible. Luckily for Cross, the test tubes filled with zooplankton resembled miniature snow globes. The

children were captivated by the tiny sea creatures floating in the sealed test tubes. “They were very much treating them like snow globes, turning them up and down,” says Cross.

The explorers’ questions followed: Are the zooplankton still alive? (No, unfortunately.) Did the researchers have a permit to collect them? (Yes!) Then, a teenage boy delivered the kicker: “So you have permits where you’re allowed to take these organisms and then kill them, all in the name of science?”

“As a scientist, I had to be honest with these kids,” Cross says, laughing now about the tricky exchange. She told the teen he was correct but quickly added context: “They’re the most abundant organism in the ocean. And we’re going to learn a great deal about our environment just by taking a small sample.”

Interacting with the tourists was a highlight of the trip, Vallejo and Wagner agree. They swapped stories with retirees, seasoned travelers, and young families, and met a renowned National Geographic Traveler photographer, Macduff Everton, whose work spans the globe. They also coincidently crossed paths with Southern alumna Marylou Blakeslee, ’78, who works as a naturalist on board. (See page 22.) Blakeslee realized the shared connection after spotting Cross and the team decked out in Owl gear.

Vallejo says she was nervous at first about explaining her research to passengers, initially turning to Cross to speak on her behalf. But before long, she was leading discussions and answering questions with authority. “As the trip went on and I talked to more people, I gained a lot of confidence,” says Vallejo.

Conducting research in an unconventional setting posed logistical hurdles. For starters, Cross and her students couldn’t fly with the needed supplies; they spent the sleep-deprived day after their arrival trudging around Reykjavík, the capital city, searching local pharmacies for ethanol and sterile water.

The water was especially hard to come by, Cross says, since it’s typically

stocked only for American tourists who use CPAP machines to treat sleep apnea. “Americans in Reykjavík are probably very unhappy with us, because we wiped out the sterile water supply,” Cross jokes.

Sampling from an inflatable boat brought challenges as well. The fieldwork is highly physical. “The beauty of the Zodiac is that they move fast, so you’re able to get to your sites very quickly,” Cross says. “But it means you have to do everything manually, as opposed to [working from] a boat with a winch on it.”

To collect the water samples for eDNA testing, the team repeatedly dropped and raised a weighted, 1.7-liter

bottle (known as a Niskin bottle) to depths of 2 meters and 20 meters. The first level shows what organisms were recently present just below the surface and, the second, is just below the depth of a typical fish farm.

The team also lowered a large cone-shaped net — sometimes as many as 30 times — to collect the zooplankton, providing a visual survey to complement the eDNA results. Cross was 21-weeks pregnant, so Vallejo and Wagner did most of the heavy lifting

“We joke that Katie and Olivia definitely got their gym workouts in,” Cross says.

For Wagner and Vallejo, it was all part of the adventure. “I didn’t realize how fun it was going to be,” says Wagner. She has conducted similar research in Long Island Sound, but going abroad opened her eyes to other possibilities. “I didn’t expect that I was going to gain such a love for fieldwork.” ■

From Alaska to Antarctica, naturalist Marylou Blakeslee, ’78, follows her passion to the planet’s most remote places — and inspires others to protect them.

By Beth Levine

SK MARYLOU BLAKESLEE, ’78 , where she lives, and there is a surprising pause. “Well, hmmm,” says Blakeslee, who grew up in the New Haven area where she still has many friends and relatives. Pinpointing where she now hangs her hat is a little complicated for this world traveler.

THEY CALL HER THE WANDERER

An artist and naturalist, Blakeslee has a passion for guiding visits to remote, wild regions, often with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. For the last 25 years, she and her wildlife photographer husband, Richard Kirchner, have educated travelers. Each season brings a new adventure. Their guests have trekked Alaska’s Inner Passage; watched polar bears romping in Churchill, Manitoba; spied wolf packs hunting in Yellowstone National Park; and caught sight of gray whales birthing in Baja, Mexico.

The couple’s journeys also have carried them to Guam, the Galápagos Islands, the Arctic, South America, and South Georgia Island — the latter described by Britannica as one of the world’s most remote islands, home to vast penguin colonies and seal herds.

Each trip provides an immersive lesson on the fragility of the natural world. Between expeditions, Blakeslee and Kirchner share what they’ve learned through lectures and workshops on the wilderness, often accompanied by a 65-minute multimedia slide show they created.

Looking Back Just Eye

So, back to the original question: Where is home sweet home? “We’ve got places in Massachusetts, Alaska, and Montana,” says Blakeslee.

IT STARTED WITH A CANVAS

As a student at Southern in the 1970s, Blakeslee never envisioned this nomadic lifestyle. She was an art major with a focus on studio art.

“I had amazing parents who encouraged me to follow my passion for art. They didn’t have a lot of money, and they had five kids, but they wanted me to explore the world on my own terms,” she says.

Her Southern art professors — the late Nicholas Orsini who taught from 1966-92, and Michael Skop, whose work led him to Denmark, Italy, Austria, and beyond — also encouraged Blakeslee to see where life led her.

hey nurtured a way of seeing the world that allowed for multiple perspectives and experiences,” she says.

Blakeslee spent one summer studying further with Skop at his studio based on a historic homestead in Fort Thomas, Ky. True story: Skop won it after responding to a newspaper article about a free home being competitively offered to an artist. He applied, was accepted, and moved in with his family ultimately creating a beautiful studio where students worked. “I remember his teachings to this day,” says Blakeslee.

LIFE TAKES A TURN

After graduating from Southern, she earned a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She taught art for a while at Hampshire College and Trenton State College. But around age 27, a desire to see the world from a unique vantage point returned. It was time to experience the artist’s life.

In the next of many moves, she relocated to Cape Cod, Mass., where the plan was to paint all winter and work a side job during the summer.

It worked for a while; Blakeslee was paying the bills, if not exactly living the high life. But unforeseen dental expenses forced her to focus on earning a steady living.

CALL OF THE WILD

That seeming misfortune led Blakeslee on a journey of discovery — one that uncovered her soul’s passion — when she was hired as a cook at an environmental education center, NEED Collaborative, in Truro.

Snow Geese in Freezeout Lake in Montana; cactus and lizard; and scene from the National Geographic Endurance expedition to Antarctica.

flying over our heads; it’s crawling on the ground. It’s there all the time, and it brings people back to a sense of wonder that they may not have experienced since they were children.”

Blakeslee’s affinity to natural science was apparent, and she was soon asked to teach at the center. She balked at first, thinking she didn’t have the knowledge. “I can teach you what you need to know,” said her boss, “but I can’t teach anybody to love it the way you do.”

After a few years, Blakeslee had learned so much that her mentor encouraged her to apply to become a park ranger at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. It would mean leaving NEED short-staffed, but her employer saw it as the logical next step, an opportunity she was meant for.

“I fell in love with the place,” says Blakeslee. “Artists and naturalists tend to find their way to the same places, and I’ve always loved being outside. I would cook and clean as fast as possible so that I could go out with the groups when they went on hikes,” she says.

The great outdoors was her happy place. “Anytime you step outside, magic can happen,” says Blakeslee, who encourages others to find joy in nature. “We get so involved in our own human reality that we’re not aware of what’s going on right outside the door. It’s

“Now here I am — an abstract painter in Alaska — surrounded by world-class naturalists,” says Blakeslee. “I learned and trained hard for 23 summers in Glacier Bay National Park as well as on the job in other locales. I feel like I’ve got a master’s degree in the various sciences.”

Alaska inspired other life changes. Blakeslee connected with Lindblad Expeditions, which partners with National Geographic, and she met her continues on page 47

Look Whooooo’s Talking

Music reviewer Anthony Fantano, ’08, is in the spotlight. Named one of Rolling Stone’s 25 Most Influential Creators of 2024, the Southern grad has earned more than 1.1 billion views on YouTube. He honed his craft at the campus radio station — and returned this August to welcome the Class of 2

Posts, ’Grams, and More

School of Nursing students traveled to Cusco, Peru, for a life-changing servicelearning experience. Ten days of clinical work and cultural immersion offered new perspectives and deeper connections. ��

#LeadingTheWay

• debbiepotrepka

Awesome experience for all of you. Will enrich your nursing career.

The School of Business hosted its 2nd Annual International Speaker Series, diving into today’s volatile global economy with panelists Joyce Ribeiro, chief-of-staff, Stanley Black & Decker; Chris DiPentima, president and CEO, CBIA; Samuel Andoh, professor of economics, SCSU; and moderator Emmanuel Emenyonu, professor and director of the Center for Business Education at Southern. Congratulations to honoree Carlton Highsmith, founder of ConnCAT and ConnCORP.

#SCSUBusiness

#InternationalBusiness

#Leadership #GlobalEconomy

When the social media manager was away, Otus saved the day with a take over highlighting why students choose Southern — including our distinction as the state’s first and only R2 research university with a razor-sharp focus on experiential learning.

“Otus is iconic! Attending Southern changed my life!! Everyone should apply ��” — ambs_17

INSTAGRAM • @southernscsu • 17,800+ followers Follow Southern on:

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TIKTOK

@SCSU • 6,300+ followers

Southern honors three trailblazing alumni with campus spaces named in recognition of their achievements and lasting support of students.

By Natalie Missakian

One is a barrier-breaking sports journalist who cohosts a national Fox Sports radio show. Another is a tenacious environmental lawyer who spent his career championing social justice. The third is a lifelong educator and counselor who dedicated her career to helping women and LGBTQ+ students feel safe.

Each of these accomplished professionals came from modest beginnings, and they all credit Southern with setting them on the path to success. Now, their names are permanently etched on campus — a tribute to their inspiring achievements, steadfast commitment to students, and leadership-level support of the university.

Meet the legendary Owls behind the newly dedicated Rob Parker Press Box at Jess Dow Field; the Neil Thomas Proto Reading Room in the Michael J. Adanti Student Center; and the Rita Landino Rotunda in Engleman Hall.

ROB PARKER, ’86

Standing on Jess Dow Field at Homecoming last October, Rob Parker, ’86, looked up at the press box bearing his name and thought about a conversation he had with his late mother.

It was 1982 and they were riding a Greyhound bus from New York City to New Haven for a journalism student orientation at Southern. Parker dreamed big dreams of becoming a sportswriter, and his mother warned him it might be tough, since there were so few Black men covering sports at the time.

“She really wanted to make sure I wasn’t setting myself up for a situation where I wouldn’t be able to make it,” he recalls. But once he committed, she backed him 100%.

“If this is really what you want to do, then I’m all the way in,” he remembers her saying.

Turns out, his mother had no reason to worry. Parker, who grew up in Queens, would not only make a living as a sportswriter — he’d go on to work at some of the country’s biggest media outlets, including The New York Daily News, ESPN, and MLB Network, to name a few. Starting as a writer and transitioning to a broadcast analyst, he blazed a trail for other sports journalists of color who followed.

In 1993, he became the first Black sports columnist at The Detroit Free Press, and two years later achieved the same milestone at Newsday. In 2023, he was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. In April, he will be inducted into the Black Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

It all began at Southern, where he honed his journalistic chops at

the Southern News, the school newspaper, and then as a student intern at the New Haven Register, WTNH, and WELI radio. He went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Now living in Los Angeles, Parker co-hosts a national show on Fox Sports Radio and teaches sports journalism at the University of Southern California. He also edits MLBbro.com, a website he launched that covers Black and Brown Major League players.

He remains deeply committed to Southern. In 1990, he established the Rob Parker Award for a standout Southern News sportswriter. He was honored with Southern’s Outstanding Journalism Alumni Award in 2008 and has returned to campus many times to speak.

For Parker, seeing his name immortalized on the press box

during Homecoming, while being surrounded by family, friends, students, alumni, and university leaders for the Oct. 4 dedication, “was just unreal.”

Above all, he hopes the dedication provides inspiration. “It’s about other people — and what you can do to inspire, motivate, and make people feel like they, too, can accomplish things,” he says. He says his story proves that “you can be a young Black man from the inner city, come from a divorced home without wealth, and still achieve.”

“The greatest thing [about the naming] could be that some journalism student looks at that press box, sees a name, and says, ‘Well, who is that? And what did he do?’ And then learns about the path I took from Southern to get to that point,” Parker explains. “That’s what you want to leave behind.”

NEIL THOMAS

PROTO, ’67

NEIL THOMAS PROTO, ’67, has stood up for Indigenous populations, challenged the nation’s railroad system, and even taken on Disney stopping it from opening a Virginia theme park near Civil War landmarks.

The now-retired environmental litigator built a stellar career fighting corporate greed and pressing for social justice, both in private practice and as an appellate attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. Along the way, he landed coveted teaching assignments at Yale and Georgetown universities and penned books on topics ranging from Three Mile Island to baseball.

Honoree Neil Thomas Proto, ’67, and Brooke Mercaldi, ’20.

established five endowments toward achieving that goal. The funding has supported everything from scholarships for aspiring lawyers to programs that promote civic engagement and preserve New Haven’s political history — including a mayoral archive housed in Hilton C. Buley Library.

Proto, a first-generation college student, says Southern offered a springboard to his success and nurtured the values he acquired growing up in a working-class family in New Haven’s Fair Haven neighborhood.

On campus, he studied history and political science and, as a senior, served as the Student Government Association president. His first big legal win began while he was still in law school at George Washington University, where he chaired Students Challenging Regulatory Agency Procedures (SCRAP). The court ultimately concluded that SCRAP had standing to sue.

It was a landmark decision. SCRAP challenged the nation’s railroads and sued the federal government, leading to the first Supreme Court case to consider the National Environmental Policy Act in 1973.

Proto would go on to fight the construction of highways, shopping malls, coal-fired utility plants, and other projects that threatened to harm Indian reservations, squander natural resources, or tread on civil rights.

Always mindful of his Elm City roots, Proto is deeply committed to ensuring other Southern students have the same opportunities to influence their communities and the world.

Over the last 10 years, he has

Beyond his monetary gifts, Proto has spoken on campus and spent time personally mentoring his scholarship recipients, emphasizing the importance of values embodied in Southern’s mission — including fairness, justice, and perseverance.

“It’s about elevating those values and saying to students: those values will count later in life,” says Proto.

He says, it’s a philosophy he shared with the late Southern President Emeritus Michael J. Adanti, a friend and major influence.

Proto says he knew that if there was ever an opportunity to have a place on campus bearing his name and portrait, he wanted it to be inside the Michael J. Adanti Student Center.

Speaking at the center during the Oct. 30 dedication of the Neil Thomas Proto Reading Room, scholarship recipient Brooke Mercaldi, ’20, credited Proto with guiding her toward a career in environmental law.

Mercaldi, who now works as a staff attorney with the Marine Affairs Institute and Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program at Roger Williams University, said Proto instilled in her the importance of acting ethically, challenging oneself, and acknowledging and appreciating “the people and places that shape us along the way.”

“So as current and future students sit here in the Neil Thomas Proto Reading Room, I hope they reflect on what matters to them and drives them to do good in this world,” she says.

WHEN SHE JOINED THE SOUTHERN FACULTY IN 1966 , Rita Landino, ’64, quickly realized how tough it could be as a woman in the male-dominated world of academia.

“I had to deal with a lot of skepticism about women’s abilities,” says Landino. She recalls female colleagues who were labeled “too ambitious” simply for “trying to be the best people they could be.”

The experience, shared with many women who were breaking barriers at the time, fueled her determination to create positive change for women on campus. And for much of her 35-year career as an educator and counselor at Southern, Landino did just that.

She played a key role in launching the university’s Women’s Center in the 1970s, providing resources and support for victims of sexual assault. She also cofounded Committee W, a union-based advocacy group for female faculty members.

For the retired educator, the dedication of the Rita Landino Rotunda was a powerful validation of those efforts — and not just because her name is now immortalized in Engleman Hall.

“I was meeting so many women in leadership positions at Southern [at the Nov. 7 dedication ceremony],” says Landino. “I was pleasantly surprised by that.”

She mentioned her observation to Southern Interim President Sandra Bulmer, who told

her many other women have assumed leadership positions on campus and at universities around the state.

“That warmed my heart,” Landino says.

Coming from a working-class, Italian American family, Landino credits Southern with helping her grow as a student and educator. She launched her career as a junior high school teacher in Hamden, Conn., but soon joined Southern’s faculty. She taught first-year English composition before switching to a counseling role, where she left a legacy of support for sexual assault victims and early safe spaces on campus for LGBTQ+ students.

While teaching at Southern, Landino pursued a master’s in English at Wesleyan University. She also holds a 6th year certificate in counseling psychology from Fairfield University and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Since her retirement in 2001, Landino has remained committed to Southern, funding scholarships for aspiring teachers and providing generous support for the SOAR (Support, Opportunities, Access and Resiliency) program and student services. She also provided financial support for the wooden sculpture that is part of the SCSU Sandy Hook Remembrance Garden.

For Landino, the rotunda that now bears her name holds special meaning. She remembers it as a popular gathering spot for

students and faculty. “Whenever you wanted to meet with someone before or after class, you would say, ‘I’ll see you at the rotunda,’” she recalls.

Landino always admired the rotunda and was impressed that even as the building underwent renovations, designers took care

to preserve its beauty and character.

“They didn’t change the midcentury art deco look of it. They put up those beautiful wooden walls to enhance the beauty of the space and modernize it a bit,” she says.

When asked to explain why she gives, Landino mentions a graduation speech by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, who called Southern a place that honors and celebrates the American Dream.

“I wanted to maintain that tradition at Southern in the best way that I could,” she says. ■

Ulia Gosart, M.L.S. ’05, brings the stories of Ukraine’s youngest artists to the world — one drawing at a time.

By Natalie Missakian Artwork Cherkasy Universal Regional Library

HE DRAWINGS PACK AN EMOTIONAL

PUNCH. A ponytailed preteen stands in front of a burning school, clutching a stuffed animal as bombs rain down and a tank rolls up behind her. A girl covers her ears as the screams of an air raid siren drill into her skull. A teddy bear lies toppled on its side, its edges soaked in blood.

“The tears come when I don’t expect them,” says Ulia Gosart, M.L.S. ‘05, speaking at Children Draw War, Not Flowers, a traveling

explains; the contest was designed to provide a creative exhibit held at Southern Connecticut State University’s outlet to help them cope with trauma and grief. Hilton C. Buley Library last fall.

Gosart, an assistant professor of library science at San José State University, is intimately acquainted with the artwork. She curated the exhibit, which is now touring the United States. But each viewing moves her deeply —– all the more so because the artists are children from her native Ukraine, some as young as 4. Her goal: to help people understand the human toll of the war in Ukraine through the eyes of its youngest residents.

Many of the drawings portray scenes of loss and violence, but others carry messages of resilience. Ukrainian flags stand tall amid the ruin. Children hold hands beneath a yellow-and-blue-striped umbrella, symbolizing the protection of the Ukrainian armed forces. Sunflowers, doves, and storks suggest hope, peace, and rebirth.

The traveling exhibit draws from a collection of more than 450 pieces created by children aged 4 to 18. Each was inspired by a contest Gosart and her colleagues sponsored with the public library in Cherkasy — the central Ukraine town where Gosart was born and raised. Many of the young artists relocated there to escape the fighting, Gosart

“To me, this [collection] is wonderful because each child had their own way of telling their story and being heard,” says Gosart. “It’s not necessarily just about horror and destruction. There is a lot of camaraderie, a lot of love, a lot of care, a lot of hope — a lot of resistance.”

For Gosart and her family, Ukraine had long been a place of refuge. Her mother and uncle were born in a Siberian prison camp. Her grandfather — a Ukrainian journalist — was imprisoned there as a political detainee under Stalin’s regime, and her grandmother was assigned to serve as a prison doctor. Eventually, her mother and grandmother found safety in Ukraine.

“I didn’t know any of our family’s history until the 1990s, after the Soviet Union collapsed,” Gosart says. “That’s when my mom finally felt safe enough to tell me the story.”

Her desire to research her family’s past led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in librarianship at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts in 1990. She enrolled during a time of political upheaval and joined student activists supporting Ukraine’s emerging independence.

With Faith in Victory

By Anastasiia B., 14 years old September 2022

“The sky is crying with rocket rain, but hope will never die in us. We are waiting until VICTORY!”

She moved to Shelton, Conn., in 1996, where she worked in a donut shop and then as a nanny and house cleaner. She married and started a family, settling in Guilford, Conn., but always dreamed of studying in the U.S. In 2002, she enrolled in Southern’s Master of Library and Information Science Program, an experience she describes as both challenging and transformative.

“When the professor would ask a question, I couldn’t answer at first,” she remembers. “I was so terrified about my English.”

She went on to receive “incredibly wonderful training” at Southern, building a foundation for a rewarding career as a library scholar.

Now living in Los Angeles, she earned her doctorate in library studies in 2013 from UCLA, where she also taught in the graduate school of education and information studies.

Gosart joined the faculty at San José State University (SJSU) in 2022 — the same year Russia launched its military attack, which she describes as “one of the worst days of my life.” She immediately began reaching out to friends and colleagues in Ukraine, some of whom she hadn’t spoken to in years. “It was very difficult,” she says.

She realized her feelings would “completely destroy” her unless she found a constructive outlet. Naturally, she turned to libraries. During the war, libraries have become 24-hour community hubs, explains Gosart, noting the Ukrainian phrase used to describe them translates to “points of invincibility” — places where people can charge their phones, find shelter, and access reliable information.

Her efforts were also inspired by a children’s book drive she led decades earlier while at Southern; her goal then was to reestablish libraries destroyed by the Kosovo War in the former Yugoslavia. She remembers loading her young sons into her SUV and driving “from one public library to another,” collecting discarded books and sending them abroad. (Today those sons are 28 and 26 — one a professional ultimate frisbee player with the Los Angeles Aviators, the other a doctoral candidate in physics at the University of Pennsylvania.)

Gosart’s work with the Cherkasy Oh Lord, Have Compassion on Regional Library began with a request Children's Tears for a scanner to digitize Ukrainian By Oleksii Shch., 11 years old cultural materials. She and her September 2022 colleagues at SJSU raised money to “All children's tears will sprout send the scanner and funded art flowers on Earth. They will ring therapy sessions for displaced children with silver bells: ‘Peace to all! at libraries throughout the region — Peace to all!’ It will be very soon when the war is over.” leading to the contest that inspired the exhibit. They later worked with an international volunteer effort called Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online to scan the artwork and provide additional digitization equipment. Since its debut at Loyola Marymount

University in Los Angeles, Children Draw War, Not Flowers has made stops at SJSU, the University of Connecticut, Fairfield University, the University of South Florida, Tufts, Southern, and other colleges across the country. It is slated to visit George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in 2026.

For the future, Gosart hopes to publish a book of the art and accompanying poetry. Proceeds would benefit Ukrainian cultural and humanitarian efforts. She also continues to support Ukrainian libraries. Working with the American Library Association, she has solicited funds and book

on page

Digging Deeper

In the desert of Ethiopia, Michael Rogers, professor of anthropology, and his students have spent almost two decades uncovering artifacts. Closer to home, a field site at West Rock Nature Center in Hamden is also a land of discovery, where Rogers teaches the tools of the trade to undergraduates and graduate students in Southern’s new master’s program in archaeology and cultural resource management.

By Villia Struyk

IT’S A DAPPLED-SUNSHINE, PICTURE-PERFECT FALL DAY and Michael Rogers, professor of anthropology, is leading about a dozen undergraduate and graduate students down Huff-Puff Hill at West Rock Nature Center in Hamden.

Carrying blue plastic tarps, buckets, shovels, and other tools, they travel to Field Site 6225, the home base for Rogers’ Field Methods in Archaeology course.

In fall 2025, Southern launched a master’s degree program in archaeology and cultural resource management. As a result, for the first time, Rogers is simultaneously teaching Field Methods at both the

undergraduate and graduate levels.

The graduate program is a rarity in New England, established to meet student requests and workforce need.

“There are people working in the field who want to move up the career ladder . . . to take on a supervisory role or be authorized to sign off on paperwork,” says Rogers.

Mention archaeology and many imagine an exotic scene from Indiana Jones. But archaeologists are also needed close to home for development projects (roads, buildings) and land-use planning — especially when there is a risk of disturbing cultural heritage.

“Preservation is a whole industry,” says Trevor Kincaid, a member of the first graduate cohort. In addition to cultural resource management, an

earn doctoral degrees and pursue careers as college professors. Robichaud is interested in zooarchaeology, the study of animal remains, while Corrales is focused on human origins. Although the field site at West Rock Nature Center doesn’t yield all types of artifacts, Robichaud values the opportunity to gain excavation and site-management experience. Corrales, meanwhile, found the course essential preparation for fieldwork abroad.

The course got off to an auspicious start with a field trip. The first day of class, everyone traveled to the top of West Rock Ridge State Park to visit Wintergreen Notch, an archaeological site high above the Wilbur Cross Parkway tunnel. About 25 years ago, anthropologist Cosimo Sgarlata was

advanced degree opens doors to leadership work in museums and local, state, and federal heritage agencies, among others.

Kincaid, who earned his undergraduate degree in the field, works with Yale University’s Department of Anthropology. “I love that we have this master’s program that is local instead of having to leave the state or pursue a Ph.D., which is a huge commitment,” he says. “It’s a great way to get your hands dirty and gain experience without trekking across the country and uprooting your whole life.”

Graduate students Charlie Robichaud and Natalina Portillo Corrales agree. Both plan to eventually

left: Students carry supplies to the West Rock Nature Center field site, where they practice field excavation techniques in search of artifacts.

hiking in the area when he recognized rock fragments. An excavation followed, revealing what Sgarlata, who died in 2022, believed was a hunting camp, a glimpse of life some 4,000 years ago.

“He discovered these projectile points in large concentrations,” says Rogers, “and when we went up last fall, we found one of these points. It is mostly intact, which was very exciting and not something that happens often.”

Down the road, the search continued throughout the semester at West Rock Nature Center, where Rogers has taught Southern students for more than 20 years. Meeting once a week for each day-long session, students practice techniques used by archaeologists

throughout their careers: gridding (dividing the site into a measured grid system using a fixed reference point for three-dimensional mapping); hand excavation (the precise removal of soil to expose fragile artifacts); recording and documentation; sieving all excavated soil to recover small artifacts; conservation techniques; and more.

Paleoanthropological Research Project in Ethiopia’s Afar region — one of the world’s most important archaeological landscapes. For decades, he’s worked alongside co-director Sileshi Semaw, a senior researcher at the National Research Center for Human Evolution in Burgos, Spain.

It’s been a fruitful collaboration.

Artifacts found at the site date from the Late Archaic period, between 5,000 to 2,000 years ago, left behind by those drawn to the beautiful area. The location — close to water and a historic game trail — made it an attractive spot for ancient communities.

But one resource was scarce: highquality stone such as chert or flint used to make tools. Quartz, however, was found in abundance. It isn’t easy to work with — the students try their hand at toolmaking early in the course — but thousands of years ago experienced flint knappers used antlers or stones to create tools.

“Ninety-nine percent of what we find are quartz fragments from toolmaking,” says Rogers. “If we are lucky, we also find a finished projectile point — an arrowhead or atlatl dart.”

Master of Discovery ROGERS IS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR HIS WORK as co-director of the Gona

December. Karen Baab, a paleoanthropologist at Midwestern University in Arizona and the first author on the article, virtually reconstructed the face of early Homo erectus using a 1.5-million- to 1.6-million-year-old fossil, called DAN5, found at the site in 2000. Rogers has also co-authored papers in the Proceedings of the

The Gona Project has yielded fossils of hominins (humans and our extinct ancestors who walked upright on two feet) dating back more than 6.3 million years as well as stone tools spanning the last 2.6 million years.

Most recently, Rogers and his colleagues contributed to research that shed light on the face of early Homo erectus, the first hominin species to disperse from Africa. Their findings were published in Nature Communications in

National Academy of Sciences and Science Advances on a variety of topics, among them, the discovery of DAN5, the smallest Homa erectus cranium excavated in Africa, which was found with a mix of stone tool technologies. Rogers has conducted fieldwork in East Africa since 1990 and worked specifically at the Gona Project since 1999. He began bringing promising undergraduates to the expedition in 2007; to date, some 25 Southern

students have traveled with him to Ethiopia. “It’s almost always a mindblowing, world-changing experience, especially for those who haven’t traveled much,” he says. “I had a student who had never been to New York City. Yet here he was in the Afar region of Ethiopia.”

With the launch of Southern’s

identified, along with obsidian microliths, ostrich eggshell and marine gastropod beads, grindstones, and other artifacts.

Living conditions are basic for the researchers. Temperatures soar to 107° Fahrenheit in the dusty landscape, which includes little tree cover. The crew lives in tents and takes bagged-water showers, traveling in four-wheel-drive Land Cruisers. A pickup truck makes a Graduate student Charlie daily water run to a well about an hour Robichaud hopes to become away. “Occasional scorpions and a professor and found artifacts are stored to bring solifuges” — fast-moving, nocturnal back to the lab. arachnids including camel spiders, sun spiders, and wind scorpions — “keep us on our toes,” Rogers notes.

graduate program, Corrales joined Rogers for the first time, traveling there in January. They worked at the Kilaitoli complex in the Afar region, a site believed to include artifacts related to human habitation as well as burials dating back about 13,000 years. As of late 2025, eight to 10 human burials were

ANTHROPOLOGY DIGS

Corrales took it all in stride. She majored in psychology as an undergraduate but has dreamed of studying archaeology since taking an introductory course as a freshman. “I am so excited to do formal research,” she says. Rogers is equally inspired: “This is a big deal for us. There is so much potential to undertake original research on the Gona archaeological collection, and we hope the new graduate program will be a win-win for both our students and the project overall.” ■

SouthernCT.edu/academics/anthropology

IN ADDITION TO THE GONA PALEOANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT in Ethiopia’s Afar region and the field site at the West Rock Nature Center, Southern’s Department of Anthropology offers students numerous opportunities to develop archaeological skills. West Rock Ridge State Park is also a nearby source of inspiration.

• THE 17TH CENTURY HENRY WHITFIELD STATE MUSEUM (left) in Guilford, the oldest house in Connecticut, is a wealth of discovery, yielding Native American tools, colonial items, Victorian remnants (buttons, pins, coins), evidence of animal butchering, and more. Southern’s work at the site is overseen each summer by William Farley, associate professor of anthropology.

• Kathleen Skoczen, professor of anthropology and department chair, offers a summer field school in archaeology in the medieval city of CHESTER, POULTON IN ENGLAND . The multiperiod excavation site dates to the Mesolithic period. Prior excavations have uncovered a chapel and graveyard. The program is in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University.

NEW HAVEN OWL TERRITORY

SLICE OF LIFE

FOR GENERATIONS OF OWLS, NEW HAVEN PIZZA HAS BEEN MUCH MORE THAN A MEAL. IT’S A DELICIOUS LEGACY AND OCCASIONALLY THE SUBJECT OF A COURSE ASSIGNMENT.

By Villia Struyk

OOKING TO START A SPIRITED CONVERSATION? Ask a group of Owls to name New Haven’s best pizza palace. But please don’t call it pizza if you’re referring to the thin-crusted, coal-fired, lightly charred pie made famous by the city’s legendary trio: Modern, Sally’s, and Frank Pepe Pizzeria. The correct word is apizza (pronounced Ah-beetz), one of many pizza styles found in the Elm City — including Neapolitan (thin in the center with a puffy, airy crust), Greek (baked in a shallow pan), and tavern (cracker thin and crisp).

In May 2024, Connecticut was officially named the “Pizza Capital of the United States” when Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro entered a declaration into the Congressional Record. The reasons are clear: Connecticut has the highest density of pizza restaurants in the country and leads the nation in the percentage of family-owned and independent pizzerias (80% compared to a

national average of 43%).

New Haven is at the heart of this statewide pizza paradise. The Connecticut Pizza Trail — a self-guided tour of the top 100 pizzerias, chosen by public vote and expert reviews — illustrates the city’s dominance. The Elm City is home to four of the top five pizzerias (Modern, Frank Pepe, Sally’s, and BAR) and 11 of the 100 featured overall — more than any other city.

Cementing this claim to fame, the city officially hosted the “World’s Largest Pizza Party” on Sept. 12, 2025, on the New Haven Green with Guinness World Records verifying the results. Southern students joined the celebration, among them, Keira Droney 1 and Mawin Belfort,2 who are majoring in communication, media, and screen studies. Both work as student employees in Southern’s Department of Communications and Marketing — Droney in social media, Belfort as a photographer.

The two covered the pizza party on

assignment and gathered material for a shared documentary filmmaking project for Communication 475. Their film focuses on Liane Varipapa Page, the owner of Big Green Truck Pizza [BGTP], which operates eight trucks equipped with wood-fired brick ovens. Southern students Emma Jerram and Aaron Witkoski also are team members.

Droney knows the company well. Her family is close friends with the owner, and BGTP even catered Droney’s high school graduation party. Now, years later, the company was making New Haven history as a host of the world’s largest pizza party.

“Liane is so inspiring — a successful female entrepreneur in a very competitive, male-dominated field — and her pizza is the best,” says Droney, who directed the project.

In fall 2024, Droney transferred to Southern after attending Springfield College and Connecticut State Community College’s Gateway campus in

New Haven. “I’ve made the most of my time here,” she says. She also is the social media coordinator for Transfer Student Services, helping smooth the way for others.

Belfort served as director of photography and camera operator for the BGTP documentary. “My job is to bring the director’s vision to life,” he says.

It was a labor of love for the junior who grew up watching documentaries and dreamed of a career in photography. Today, in addition to working on campus with Isabel Chenoweth, the university photographer, he operates his own photography business, MB Production. The documentary gave him valuable experience — in everything from lighting to working with multiple cameras.

“I am most excited about telling her story,” Belfort says. “We also want to motivate college women by showing them they can do this, too. It’s empowering.” ■

Coming Home to Southern U

NDER PICTURE-PERFECT AUTUMN SKIES , nearly 4,000 members of the Southern community gathered on campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend, held Oct. 2 – 6. The celebration offered something for everyone, from tailgating and tent parties to children’s activities, campus tours, the Homecoming football game, and other sporting events. Guests also gathered in Owl Town, where alumni, coaches, and current student-athletes connected while sharing their Southern pride.

DDING TO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT, THE SCSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COMMEMORATED THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING. The historic milestone was celebrated on Friday, Oct. 3, with a 1920s-themed party featuring cocktails, dinner, and dancing. DJ Santo and the legendary swing band Eight to the Bar provided live entertainment. (Cynthia Lyon — the band’s founder, keyboard player, vocalist, and primary songwriter — is a Southern graduate.)

The evening also celebrated excellence, honoring alumni and members of the community for their achievements and support of Southern students. Congratulations to the 2025 Alumni Association Award recipients.

Dorothy Martino Alumni Appreciation Award

Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation

The foundation’s leadershiplevel contributions provide Southern students who are majoring in social work with expanded access to scholarships and support.

Center photo, from left: The award recipients were celebrated at the event: Michael Chambers, director of the Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation; Ruth Eren, ’71, M.S. ’84, professor emeritus of special education; Interim President Sandra Bulmer; Paul McKee, ’21; and Mike Arias, ’81.

Photos, detailed bios of the award recipients, and more: alumni100.SouthernCT.edu

Charlene Hill Riccardi Service Award

Ruth Eren, ’71, M.S. ’84

A visionary leader in autism education, Eren co-founded Southern’s Center for Autism Disorders and served as Southern’s first endowed chair.

Young Alumni Professional Award

Paul McKee, ’21

Ph.D. candidate. Marine veteran. Researcher. Adjunct professor. Scholarship founder. Proud Southern alumnus.

James

Barber Distinguished Alumni Award

Mike Arias, ’81

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiff attorneys, Arias is a founding and managing partner of Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team.

■ LA Story with a Southern Connection

Ben Baisden, ’99, a senior producer with Fox Sports, recently caught a production of Just Another Day at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. Among the highlights of Baisden’s evening was meeting legendary actor (left) Dan Lauria, ’70, who played the beloved father on The Wonder Years. Lauria wrote the new play and stars in the production alongside Patty McCormack.

Lauria shared the plot during a morning newscast with KTLA. “The play is about two old comedy writers who have dementia. Every day, they meet on a bench. They write comedy, so there’s a lot of humor — and they fall in love. The next day, they start all over again.”

The play has generated critical acclaim, including this review from The Boston Globe: “At first glance, Just Another Day exudes a poignant sense of loss. But within moments, playwright Dan Lauria shifts to joy — celebrating relationships, the pleasure of creativity, and the hope that laughter brings — for a play that is both tender and uplifting.”

■ Owls Honored as Top Educators

GRADUATES OF SOUTHERN’S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION have been repeatedly recognized with prestigious teaching awards, highlighting their outstanding contributions to education and the enduring legacy of the university’s teacher-training roots.

Among them is Damon Lewis, M.S. ’04, who was named the 2025-26 National Principal of Year at the middle school level for his leadership at Norwalk’s Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy. Also honored at the national level, Jahana Hayes, ’05, was named National Teacher of the Year in 2016 — and later elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Connecticut.

This tradition of excellence continues today. Congratulations to our recently recognized alumni honorees.

• Nora Mocarski, 6th Yr. ’02, a teacher and the chair of the Department of Social Studies for Canton Middle and High schools was named the 2025 Connecticut History Teacher of the Year by the Gelder Lehrman Institute of American History. Previously, Mocarski was named Teacher of the Year by Canton Public Schools (2019-20) and received the Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Teacher of American History Award (2014).

She is the third Southern graduate honored by the Gelder Lehrman Institute in recent years. In 2024, Rhonan Mokriski, M.S. ’96, an educator at the Salisbury School, was named the Connecticut History Teacher of the Year; Federico Fiondella, M.S. ’03, 6th Yr. ’18, a teacher at North Haven High School, received the honor in 2020.

• Jeffrey R. Newton, M.S. ’96, a veteran educator and superintendent of East Lyme Public Schools, has been named the 2026 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

With more than two decades of service in Connecticut schools, Newton has been recognized for his collaborative leadership style and student-centered focus. He began his career as a special education teacher and held leadership roles in Westbrook, Montville, and Hebron before assuming his current post in East Lyme. ARE YOU A RECENT AWARD-WINNING EDUCATOR? Southern would love to share your good news. Send us information on the honoree and their high-resolution photograph to StruykV1@SouthernCT.edu

■

EWelcoming Alumni Board Members

ight Southern graduates are newly elected to the SCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors to serve for the 2025-28 term.

Bruce DeBree, ’78, majored in physics at Southern after serving in the military. “I arrived a veteran with only vague ideas of what the future could be and left with clear direction and a solid education,” he shares. DeBree brings three decades of senior management experience to the board, including positions with General Electric’s research and development division and, most recently, with Berkshire Hathaway.

Stacey Fields, ’15, an emergency room registered nurse, worked on the frontlines through the COVID-19 pandemic. As a Southern student, Fields served on the executive board of the Programs Council. She also co-founded a collegiate chapter of the NAACP and held multiple executive positions with the organization, including president. Her dedication to the NAACP continued after college. She joined the Greater New Haven NAACP, where she serves on the executive board as chair of the organization’s Health Committee.

Charles Flynn, M.S. ’99, 6th Yr. ’03, describes himself as a proud “Double Owl,” having completed graduate programs in history and educational leadership after earning his undergraduate degree at Boston College. For the past 28 years, he has been an English and social studies teacher with Fairfield Public Schools.

Eduardo Foster, ’02, has served with the United State Army for more than 28 years, most recently, as an operations sergeant major. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2006-07) and with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (2012-13). His most recent deployment was to the Kingdom of Jordan in 2020-21. Foster also has provided support during state emergencies and disasters, and has been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions throughout his military career.

Latoya Lowery, ’01, a social work supervisor in the Department of Children and Families, has more than 20 years of experience in the substance use and social work profession. After graduating from Southern with a degree in social work, she earned a graduate degree from Fordham University in 2007.

2025-26

SCSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Stacy Fields, ’15, President

Secrett Hampton, ’03, Vice President

Morris Patton, ’97, Treasurer

Charles Flynn, M.S. ’99, 6th Yr. ’03, Secretary

Antoinette Badillo, ’15

Sarah Belden, ’14, M.S. ’16

Binod Dahal, ’19, MBA ’21

Rachael Davis, ’06

Bruce DeBree, ’78

Eduardo Foster, ’02,

Aba Hayford, ’10

Leo Kivijarv, ’74

Latoya Lowery, ’01

Patricia Miller, ’69, M.S. ’75, 6th Yr. ’81, emeritus

Regina Misercola, ’23

Sarah [Lauture] Pullen, ’15

Kristy Sampieri, ’05, MBA ’06

Leah Secondo, ’84

Daniel Shields, ’96, M.A. ’99

Carolyn Vanacore ’52, M.S. ’68, 6th Yr. ’73, emeritus

Barry Woods, ’00

Malaysia Young, ’17

Southern Connecticut State University Office of Alumni Relations

501 Crescent Street

New Haven, CT 06515

Gregory Bernard, ’04, Director BernardG2@SouthernCT.edu

Doreen Cammarata-Gilhuly, ’89, Associate Director GilhulyD1@SouthernCT.edu

She holds numerous certifications and licenses in the alcohol and drug counseling field. During her career, Lowery also was a liaison for the Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team and held roles dedicated to stopping minor sex trafficking.

Regina Misercola, ’23, graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English and four minors: Italian, honors transdisciplinary concepts and perspectives, Judaic studies, and arts administration and cultural advocacy. She is the coordinator of annual giving at Daemen University.

With nearly two decades of experience across Wall Street and municipal finance, Kristy Sampieri, ’04, MBA ’06, has served as controller for the City of New Haven since January 2024. Previously, she spent 18 years with Merrill Lynch, helping lead a private wealth team that managed $5.6 billion in assets. She holds two degrees from Southern’s School of Business as well as a doctorate in higher education from Northeastern University.

Barry Woods, ’00, has more than 22 years of experience in leadership development through his work with Stamford Public Schools, DOMUS Kids, the Stamford Boys and Girls Club, and the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation. He is the author of Reasons Why Youth Don’t Give a Damn Anymore (2021). In May 2024, the passing of his mother inspired the launch of The Sandra Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about organ donation. Woods proudly leads the family organization as president.

■ From Pumping Iron to Lifelong Impact

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER AND MIKE KATZ, ’66, 6TH YR. ’76, WERE LEGENDARY TRAINING PARTNERS — a brotherhood immortalized in several iconic films, most notably Pumping Iron The duo acknowledged their long friendship in May when Schwarzenegger presented Katz with the 2025 Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award. Katz received two standing ovations at the presentation, which was held at the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

“I met Mike when I came to America, and we became friends very quickly,” said Schwarzenegger at the ceremony. “I recognized very quickly

that even though he is this huge guy, what are actually bigger are his generosity and humanity. He is a great, great human being.”

Katz, in turn, gave an emotional acceptance speech, touching on a variety of topics including growth of the sport and his own battle with cancer.

“This, to me, would be like winning the Heisman Trophy . . . I am so happy to receive it,” he said.

Bullied as a child, Katz turned to strength training — ultimately rising to the pinnacle of achievement as both an NFL football player and bodybuilder. He was a star football player at both Hamden High School and Southern and went on to play offensive

Arnold Schwarzenegger applauds Mike Katz, ’66, 6th Yr. ’76, the recipient of the 2025 Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award.

guard for the NFL’s New York Jets. After a knee injury, he refocused his career on education, working 33 years as a teacher before retiring in 1999.

Along the way, he continued to train and compete in bodybuilding, winning the sport’s most prestigious titles: Mr. America in 1970 and Mr. Universe and Mr. World in 1972. Katz then qualified for the 1976 Mr. Olympia competition, placing second in the heavyweight division.

“But what makes him special is not only that he is this great competitor and great character in Pumping Iron, but he also is a person who did not just think of building himself [up]. He wanted to build [up] everyone else,” Schwarzenegger said.

With that goal in mind, Katz opened the East Coast’s first World Gym in Hamden, Conn., with friend and business partner Jerry Mastrangelo. The business grew and the partners later transitioned it to a Planet Fitness franchise. Katz’s son Mike Jr. also joined the leadership team.

Previously, Katz was inducted into the Jewish Sports Heritage Association, a nonprofit organization committed to fighting stereotypes and racism by educating the public about the role Jewish men and women play in the sports world. The storied athlete also was inducted into the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

His commitment to Southern students remains ironclad: he established the Mike Katz Endowed Football Scholarship at the university in addition to making other leadershiplevel gifts. ■

1970s

SEMINA DELAURENTIS, ’71, announced her retirement from the position of managing artistic director of the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury. In 1991, she helped establish the nonprofit organization that became the theater.

MARTIN F. SCHAIVONE, ’75, M.S. ’82, 6th Yr. ’90, joined classmates DAVID H. MAINE, ’75, and SANDRA MEINSEN-HARREYS, ’75, M.S. ’85, 6th Yr. ’13, at Southern’s undergraduate commencement ceremony where they were honored in recognition of their 50th reunion. The event was held May 22 at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport.

SUSAN TOMKO, M.S. ’75, was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025. Tomko played under legendary head coach Louise O’Neal who led Southern to three Final Four appearances in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women’s national championship. In recognition of her world-class talent, Tomko was invited to participate in the U.S. Olympic Trials held in Albuquerque, N.M. She also played volleyball, field hockey, and softball, the latter with the Raybestos Brakettes (1970-74) and professionally for the Connecticut Falcons (1976-77).

RICHARD C. MEISENHEIMER, ’76, received the 2025 Notre Dame High School Knights of Honor Award for his personal achievements, dedicated service, and commitment to the school community. Meisenheimer is president of Spectrum Associates, a manufacturer of fluid-control instruments for the defense, aerospace, and commercial industries.

1980s

CARYL DEFRANCESCO, ’82, was honored as the recipient of the 2025 Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Women’s Achievement Business Leadership Award. She is president of H.H. Perkins, a familyowned business in North Haven that supplies materials for basket weaving, caning, and other crafts.

MAUREEN STEINBERG, ’84, M.S. ’89, has been appointed part-time assistant principal at Miller-Driscoll School in Wilton for the 2025-2026 academic year.

DANIEL COBURN, ’87, adjunct professor of geology at Southern, lectured on “Memories in Stone: The Geology of Grave Markers of the Grove Street Cemetery” at the historic PardeeMorris House in New Haven. The cemetery grave markers, which were

sourced from local quarries, vary in their composition and character, offering an opportunity to explore their distinctive geological differences, notes Coburn.

JODI HILL-LILLY, ’88, M.S.W. ’94, has been appointed director of the Child Well-Being Program at the Doris Duke Foundation, a nationwide organization that, among other things, advocates for children’s healthy development and protection from abuse and neglect. She was previously commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

ROBERT

KENEFICK, ’88, M.S. ’90, was named a professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is the associate editor for Wilderness and Environmental Medicine and has published more than 160 peerreviewed journal articles and textbook chapters. Kenefick served as president of the New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine and on various committees for the national organization of which he is also a fellow.

1990s

POLLY PARKER, ’90, has been appointed head of school at The Web School in Bell Buckle, Tenn., following a national search. She is the first woman to hold the title. Parker earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from California Southern University.

JOHN MILLER, ’91, was showcased in a solo art exhibit at the Columbus Museum in Columbus, Ga. The colorful and nostalgic show focused on American food favorites set in an environment reminiscent of 1950s and 1960s diners and roadside eateries. Miller’s work has been exhibited and recognized nationally at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, the Flint Institute of Arts, and the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami. His work also has been recognized internationally in Armenia, France, and Belgium.

ROBERT GOODWIN, M.S. ’92, has been appointed chief operating officer of Parexel, a clinical-research organization supporting the life sciences industry.

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PATRICIA SULLIVANKOWALSKI, M.S. ’97, 6th Yr. ’07, was named superintendent of Regional School District 17, bringing 30 years of experience in educational leadership to the public school district based in Higganum.

RONALD LUNEAU, M.S. ’98, was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club’s Hall of Fame in fall 2025. He is a volunteer assistant football and baseball coach at West Haven High School, where he teaches history. In 2021, he was named the Southern Connecticut Conference Coach of the Year while serving as the baseball coach at Derby High School.

CHRISTOPHER MONTINI, ’98, M.S. ’03, 6th Yr. ’06, was appointed superintendent of schools for the Woodbridge Board of Education. Montini previously served as superintendent of Naugatuck Public Schools.

VICTORIA SMITH, M.S. ’98, has been appointed principal of Hampton Elementary School. She previously served as the city’s director of special education.

MICHELLE CARON, MBA ’99, has been appointed chief financial officer of A10 Networks, a San Jose-based technology firm that provides security and infrastructure solutions.

SANDRA EHLERS, M.S. ’99, was named principal of Davenport Ridge Elementary School in Stamford. She previously was the interim principal of Roxbury Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year.

2000s

ERICA FORTI, M.S. ’00, 6th Yr. ’06, was named superintendent of Weston Public Schools. She previously held the position in East Haven.

LISA SABA-PRICE, 6th Yr. ’00, has been

appointed interim associate superintendent, elementary, for Stamford Public Schools. Previously, she was principal of Westover Magnet Elementary School.

ALEX PALLUZZI, M.S. ’02, who served as director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for the city of Branford for 32 years, was appointed to the Branford Community Foundation Board of Directors. Palluzzi is an adjunct professor in the Department of Recreation, Tourism, and Sports Management at Southern. He is a past president of the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association, which represents 750 members and covers 131 municipalities in Connecticut.

STEFAN PASIAKOS, ’02, has been appointed professor and director of human performance optimization at the University of Louisiana’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. Pasiakos’ work has been published more than 170 times. He previously worked at the U.S.Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and as the director of the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements. His research includes optimizing functional capabilities for warfighter resilience, space travel, and other projects.

SCOTT TRAUNER, M.S.‘02, has been appointed principal of Hamden Middle School.

KATIE BROUILLARD O’BRIEN, ’03, has joined the Dermatology Center of Worcester in Massachusetts. O’Brien is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner with more than 17 years of dermatology experience.

LASHANTE JAMES, ’04, M.S. ’14, the assistant principal at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, is the facilitator of the school district’s My Sister’s Keeper: Reflections of Sisterhood Program. The program’s mission is to provide young women with access to positive female mentors, empowering them to reach their full potential. She

recently worked with the district’s communications team to develop a video on the program’s impact. James was named the 2025 High School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools.

DAMON LEWIS, M.S. ’04, has been named the 2025-2026 National Middle School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He received the award at a gala celebration in Seattle on July 9, kicking off UNITED — The National Conference on School Leadership. He is the principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy in Norwalk.

MARISA MONTALVO STEFANI, M.S.W. ’04, has been appointed director of special services for Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools in Scotch Plains, N.J. She previously had a lead role in the Special Services Department at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, in addition to serving as the district’s transition coordinator, child study team case manager, and wellness counselor.

MICHELLE COOGAN, 6th Yr. ’06, was appointed assistant superintendent of schools and programs at Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES). Coogan was previously the principal of Hamden Middle School.

JESSICA DENIGRIS, M.S. ’06, is the 2025-2026 Educator of the Year for the town of Seymour. She is a school counselor for grades K-5 at ChatfieldLoPresti School.

ERIC DESTASI, ’06, has been appointed vice president of strategy and business development and general manager of advanced missile programs for L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Fla.

KARL GREEN, M.S.W. ’07, was named vice president of administration for Action for Boston Community Development. He is responsible for leading the strategy, development, and implementation of administrative procedures for information technology services, office services, property management, and purchasing departments.

ALEXANDRA LAGE, ’08, 6th Yr. ’16, has been appointed assistant principal at Hamilton Avenue School in Greenwich.

MELISSA SUTHERLAND MOSS, ’09, participated in the Parallel Cosmologies exhibition of art at the URSA Gallery in Bridgeport.Working with two of her best friends, Southern classmates JARRYN MERCER, ’09 and SYMONE K. WONG, ’09, she founded a gallery in Brooklyn, N.Y., called sk.ArtSpace, which focuses on creatives of color.

■ In Print and On Screen

ANTHONY J. TAMBURRI, ’71, shares news on the publication of his two books in August: Expanding Diasporic Identity: A Multi-directional Path to the New Italian Writer, which examines the changing dynamics of the “Italian” writer and how we, as cultural critics, need to rethink our definitions of the new Italian writer, and Gli americani italiani: cultura e società, a collection of previously published essays that the editors considered impactful on Italian diaspora studies and interpretation theory. Tamburri, who serves on the SCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors, is dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute (City University of New York) and a Distinguished Professor of European Languages and Literatures.

JAMES R. BENN, M.L.S. ’76, has released the latest book in his Billy Boyle World War II mystery series, A Bitter Wind, published by Soho Press. This marks the 20th release in the series about an Irish American cop from Boston who helps his “uncle” Ike Eisenhower in sensitive WWII military investigations in Europe.

DALE KROOP, ’79, M.S. ’85, has released his first book, How to Get the Job Done. He has more than 40 years of professional service in the economic and community development field.

DOM AMORE, ’85, an adjunct professor in the Department of Journalism at Southern and sports reporter for the Hartford Courant, has published a new book, More Than a Game: How the UCONN Basketball Dynasty Was Built on a Culture of Caring (Woodhall Press), co-written with famed basketball coach Jim Calhoun.

SAMANTHA SCHWIND, ’16, shares that her poetry book, Enveloped: Love Letters, has been published by Dancing Girl Press. Told as a series of love letters between inanimate objects and forces of nature, this collection of poems reveals the hidden connections that transcend form and function. Schwind, a writer and marketing specialist, lives in Branford.

2010s

JENNIFER FALCONE, ’10, has been appointed director of elementary education for Darien Public Schools. She was previously principal of Cider Mill School in the city.

NATALIE M. COOPER, ’11, has joined the faculty at the Quinnipiac School of Nursing as a clinical educator. Cooper is a dual-board-certified nurse practitioner in adult-gerontology acute and primary care. She has worked in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital since 2018.

EVA SIEFERT, M.S. ’11, showcased her artwork — a series of expressive owl monoprints — in August 2025 on the Gallery Wall of the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck.

ALANNA MONGE, ’12, was inducted into the Danbury Old Timers Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025 in the sports category. From the age of 11 until coming to Southern as a studentathlete, Monge competed in club gymnastics, becoming the national champion on the balance beam.At Southern, she competed all four years and finished as high as sixth place on the beam with a score of 9.6 at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships.

WESLEY SIMON, M.S. ’13, is appointed interim principal of Adams Middle School in Guilford for the 2025-2026 school year.

MICHAEL COSTEINES, ’14, is a political writer and former sportswriter based in South Florida. He writes for The Fort Lauderdale Floridian.

GONZALEZ, ’14, was named to the Hartford Business Journal’s 2025 “40 Under Forty” list. Gonzalez is the branch manager for NBT Bank in West Hartford.

CYNTHIA MANIFOLD-DOUGHERTY, M.S. ’14, was appointed assistant principal at Toquam Magnet Elementary School in Stamford. She was previously the assistant director at APPLES Pre-K Program.

LUIS GOMEZ, ’15, is the first in-house creative at Milford-based Athletic Brewing Co., a craft brewery dedicated to non-alcoholic beer. He manages the creative department.

PHILIP MARTINEZ, Ed.D. ’15, was appointed to the faculty at Quinnipiac University School of Nursing as a clinical associate professor.At Southern, his dissertation focused on the academic impact of pre-requisite coursework on accelerated nursing students.

SHAY TAYLOR, ’15, was recently featured on The Jennifer Hudson Show as well as NBC CT (channel 30), and WTNH (channel 8), sharing her inspiring story of perseverance, hope, and resilience on the road to a medical career. Her journey began not as a medical student, but as a janitor in the halls of Yale University. Now, in 2025, Taylor stands on the brink of graduating from Howard University College of Medicine — driven by a deep commitment to serve her community and to help increase representation in the medical field.

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KATIE BARRY, ’18, was named to the Hartford Business Journal’s 2025 “40 Under Forty” list. Barry is the business development and sales manager for Marion Manufacturing in Cheshire.

ERIC CLINTON, ’18, starred in Nathan Louis Jackson’s Broke-ology at the Collective Consciousness Theater in New Haven in November 2025. Set inside a Kansas City home in 2009, the play explores the topics of male caretaking, brotherhood, poverty, and the meaning of family amid economic hardship.

THOMAS HOANG, ’18, completed his doctorate in biomedical sciences at the University of California San Diego with a research focus on head and neck cancer prevention. He has been awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center’s Cancer Therapeutics Training Program.

JEAN CARLO SALAZAR, ’19, participated in the Mister USA 2025 pageant after being named Mister Connecticut 2025 in the summer. The contestants were selected based on physical fitness, charm, talent, and a commitment to social responsibility. Salazar is a boardcertified ICU nurse and works as an infusion nurse for Option Care Health in Shelton. He is enrolled in a graduate program to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

2020s

JASON EDWARDS, ’21, received his master’s degree in strategic communication from Central Connecticut State University. He is the social media and communications coordinator at Southern.

IVELISSE HERNANDEZ, ’21, has joined the Lee H. Kellogg and Sharon Center School in Lakeville as an elementary and middle school Spanish teacher. She is a certified Spanish teacher with more than a decade of experience in language education.

both located in Monroe. He is currently enrolled in Southern’s master’s program in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in STEM.

SIERRA GRAY, ’24, MAT ’25, started a new position as a mathematics teacher at Ansonia High School in August.

EMILY LANGE, ’24, M.S. ’25, has been named the coordinator of athletic communications at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Lange was an athletic communications graduate assistant for the Southern Owls.

ALISON D. LIZARDI, ’24, has been accepted into the Yale Child Study Center’s Clinical Intern and Practicum Program for the 2025-2026 academic year. She is enrolled in the master’s in social work program at Southern.

SAMANTHA GUARDINO, M.S. ’25, was hired as a speech pathologist for the Region 1 School District, which serves the towns of Canaan (Falls Village), Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon.

EMILY WEINER, ’25, is a graduate student intern at Central Connecticut State University, working as a program adviser for the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development. She is studying strategic communications.

Births and Adoptions

KATHRYN R. IAIENNAROMUCCIACCIARO, ’11, welcomed her second daughter, Sofia Nicolina, on Aug. 12, 2025.

IN MEMORIAM

ELAINE LOSTY QUINN, ’55, July 26, 2025

CEIL PETRONE, ’56, M.S. ’58, 6th Yr. ’72, Aug. 22, 2025

MARCIA MANN SONDERGAARD, ’56, Oct. 22, 2025

FREDERICK R. KNOUS, ’59, Nov. 7, 2025

ROBERT LABRECHE, ’62, M.S. ’72, June 2, 2025

JAMES BRADY, ’63, Sept. 9, 2025

Signature ______________________________________________Date______

Spouse’s Name ____________________________________________________

SPOUSE'S SCSU DEGREE/YR.

Children’s Names/Ages ____________________________________________

GABRIELLA RUSSO, M.S. ’22, 6th Yr. ’24, is a school psychologist at Masuk High School in Monroe, as reported in The Monroe Sun

REGINA MISERCOLA, ’23, was appointed coordinator of annual giving at Daemen University in Buffalo, N.Y.

GEOFFREY NEVIN-GIANNINI, ’23, has been hired as a special education resource teacher at Masuk High School and the Jockey Hollow STEM Academy,

FRANCIS GAGLIARDI, ’63, Sept. 21, 2025

DOMINIC RAGUCCI, ’63, May 2, 2025

JUDITH DELIBRO ROWINSKI, ’64, 6th Yr. ’76, July 25, 2025

LYNDA HUNT SWANSON, ’65, M.S. ’86, 6th Yr. ’97, March 10, 2025

WESLEY ERTELT, M.S. ’67, July 29, 2025

JOSEPH GRACE, ’67, M.S. ’70, Aug. 11, 2025

DIANE RAHM NATTRASS, ’67, M.A. ’75, Sept. 11, 2025

ROSEMARY WHOLLEY MALIN, ’68, July 31, 2025

KATHLEEN DINNEEN-TORELLO, ’69, 6th Yr. ’81, Oct. 25, 2025

RUTH MAYNARD NUHN, M.S. ’69, 6th Yr. ’78, Oct. 20, 2025

SPENCER ADAMS JR., ’71, M.S. ’78, Oct. 20, 2025

PHILIP FRAZIER, M.S. ’71, July 4, 2025

FRANCIS G. BRENNAN, M.S. ’73, 6th Yr. ’81, Nov. 10, 2025

JOHN LACHAPELLE, M.S. ’73, Sept. 22, 2025

JOYCE CALARCO, ’74, M.S. ’77, 6th Yr. ’81, M.L.S. ’01, Aug. 7, 2025

JANETTE DEBIASE, ’74, M.S. ’76, Aug. 22. 2025

SANDRA AUCOIN YEAGER, ’74, M.S. ’88, Oct. 20, 2025

DOUGLAS GENTILE, ’75, M.S. ’77, Sept. 11, 2025

ALBERT GHIROLI, M.S. ’75, 6th Yr. ’76, Aug. 1, 2025

SUSAN BRANCATO JACKSON, ’75, Aug. 19, 2025

RHONDA LEMKIN, M.S. ’75, M.L.S. ’85, Sept. 5, 2025

RAYMOND BEHR, M.S. ’76, Aug. 17, 2025

HELEN CARRANO, ’76, July 4, 2025

VIVIAN PATNAUDE NOLE, ’76, Dec. 17, 2019

MARJORIE SCHICK, ’76, Sept. 21, 2025

LANA JOYCE RAHN, M.S. ’77, Sept. 19, 2025

JOAN LAMPASONA CAMMETT, 6th Yr. ’78, Oct. 10, 2025

BARBARA GRAY, ’78, Aug. 21, 2025

ELIZABETH FINNUCAN WASCAVAGE, ’81, Sept. 3, 2025

CHRISTOPHER MOORADIAN, ’82, Sept. 23, 2025

KEVIN PATCHELL, ’82, Oct. 1, 2025

NICHOLAS RICCIARDELLI, ’82, Oct. 3, 2025

KEITH DAYTON, ’83, Oct. 22, 2025

GEORGE WARDE, M.L.S. ’85, June 10, 2025

CARL FAZZIO, ’86, Sept. 17, 2025

PAUL SOUZA, ’86, Sept. 4, 2025

JUDITH SUCHY, M.L.S. ’86, Oct. 17, 2025

LAWRENCE ARGRAVES, ’89, June 21, 2025

MARY GAIL SCANLON MONGILLO, M.L.S. ’89, Nov. 10, 2025

DONNA WESTCOTT, M.S. ’89, Sept 1, 2025

Wild Life continued from page 24 husband on board one of the ships. They travel together while working for Lindblad Expeditions as well as Off the Beaten Path, which runs trips focused on nature, culture, and history.

Painting and photography remain important to Blakeslee, as she draws inspiration from the beauty of each travel destination. Her art — which captures stunning landscapes and the delicate interplay between humans and the wild — is featured in exhibits and collections in the U.S. and abroad.

THE FIGHT FOR THE PLANET

Unsurprisingly, Blakeslee is a strong advocate for saving the wild places under threat from climate change: “This topic is not political, and people who make it political are trying to undermine what it is that we’re seeing,” she says.

She gives talks on climate change every chance she gets. “I could be on a soapbox for hours,” she says with a laugh.

She notes countless reasons for concern. Each location is home to unique animal and plant species, some found nowhere else. “The planet has given us answers to questions that emerged as humanity evolved,” says Blakeslee. “Our very survival requires having wild places where we can search for what we may need in the future. And not by harvesting it and tearing it all down but by leaving places intact so we can learn from them.”

IF YOU WANT TO GO…

You can join Blakeslee on one of her adventures with Lindblad Expeditions at expeditions.com/about/expedition-team/marylou-blakeslee or offthebeatenpath.com.

MORE ON PROGRAMS IN ART AND DESIGN: SouthernCT.edu/academics/art AND THE ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY, AND MARINE SCIENCES: SouthernCT.edu/academics/egms

JAMES EASON, ’90, Oct. 7, 2025

PETER GAETANO, ’90, Aug. 30, 2025

MARIA PYMAN, ’90, M.S. ’94, Sept. 8, 2025

DAVID BAYERSDORFER, 6th Yr. ’92, Aug. 18, 2025

ANDREA HANSON CLANCY, M.L.S. ’92, Sept 7, 2025

MATTHEW MILLER, ’92, July 1, 2025

DELORES GREENLEE, M.P.H. ’98, Sept. 9, 2025

JACQUELINE KOLBUSZ, 6th Yr. ’99, Sept. 11, 2025

ELIZABETH SAHAGIAN, M.L.S. ’00, Oct. 5, 2025

LAURIE BORST, M.S. ’02, Sept. 30, 2025

LINDA FRIEDMAN ROGEN, M.P.H. ’04, Oct. 7, 2025

IEDA IVERSON ALLEN, ’10, June 15, 2025

DEBORAH DICICCO, M.S. ’10, Oct. 17, 2025

MELISSA MARKLESKI, ’18, M.S. ’20, Sept. 7, 2025

IRA ROSOFSKY, M.F.A. ’21, July 27, 2025

Drawing Strength continued from page 31 donations to open six Little Free Libraries for children and is collaborating with students and the Ukrainian Library Association to document destroyed libraries.

“Some people tell me there is fatigue about the Ukrainian war,” she says. “They say, ‘How long are you going to do this?’ I feel like I’m enlisted. I’m going to be with these kids and my colleagues in Ukraine until the end.” ■

VIEW MORE ART: gallery.sucho.org/exhibits/show/cherkasy-childrens-drawings

MORE ON ILS: inside.SouthernCT.edu/information-and-library-science

MARISSA OSBORNE, ’23, June 28, 2025

MARTIN HARTOG, professor emeritus of mathematics, Aug. 29, 2025

JENNIFER HOCURSCAK, grants fiscal associate, university accounting, Oct. 19, 2025

MICHAEL THOMAS KOZIK, former adjunct professor of political science, Nov. 10, 2025

JACK NOVICK, professor emeritus of counseling and school psychology, June 19, 2025

Alumni Notes are compiled from submissions as well as announcements in the news media. All towns are in Connecticut unless otherwise noted.

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