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What's New 2007 Press Releases

December

Salerno Appointed to Board of Trustees at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., December 14, 2007—St. John Fisher College recently named Victor Salerno ’66 as the newest member of the Board of Trustees. Salerno is CEO of O’Connell Electric Company.

Salerno began his career at Deloitte & Touche, where he served as a CPA, performing audit, tax, and business advisory services for a diverse client base. In 1971, he joined O’Connell Electric, which has since become one of the largest electrical and communications contractors in the country, with headquarters in Victor, N.Y. and branch offices in Buffalo and Syracuse, N.Y.

“We are pleased that Vic has joined the Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President, St. John Fisher College. “As a Fisher alum, he has dedicated his time to give back to the College, and it is only fitting that he move forward with us as a member of the Board.”

Salerno’s civic involvement is extensive. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Board at the Rochester Museum and Science Center; Executive Board Member and Treasurer of the Rochester Builders Exchange; and Board Member at Unions and Businesses United in Construction (UNICON). He is also involved with the Western New York chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association, of which he is a past president; the NYS Society of Certified Public Accountants; the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the Institute of Management Accountants; and Financial Executives International. He is currently the Pension Fund Chair at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 86.

Salerno has also remained active within the Fisher community. He is a member and past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Accounting Awards Banquet Committee, and the Fisher Scholarship Golf Tournament Committee. He was also involved in the formation of the DuPlessis/Wolfe Accounting Alumni Society.

As a Trustee of St. John Fisher College, Salerno, working with the entire Board, will help determine the general, educational, and financial policies of the College. In addition, the Board has responsibility for sound resource management of the institution and works closely with the President in planning the strategic direction of the College.

For more information about St. John Fisher College, including a complete listing of the Board of Trustees, visit www.sjfc.edu.

Dr. Mark Rice to Share Challenges of Teaching American Studies in Vietnam for First Friday Lecture Series at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., December 4, 2007—Dr. Mark Rice, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of American Studies at St. John Fisher College, will present “The Challenges of Talking About American Society and Culture in Contemporary Vietnam” on Friday, December 7, as part of the College’s First Friday Faculty Lecture Series. The event begins at 10 a.m. in Basil 135 on the Fisher campus, and is free and open to the public.

The Vietnamese government has decided in recent years that it is valuable to teach its students courses in American studies. In 2006, Dr. Rice was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to help develop an American studies program at Can Tho University in Vietnam. Dr. Rice’s work became more complicated when he was told that the words “democracy” and “capitalism” were too sensitive to use in the classroom. 

Beginning in February 2007, Dr. Rice spent five months in Vietnam. In his presentation, he will talk about his efforts to assist the college in the design and implementation of its American studies curriculum, and the challenges he and his family faced as the only western family in a city of 1.5 million people. During his time at Can Tho University, Dr. Rice also taught courses on American literature and American society and culture, and worked with graduate students on their master’s theses.

Dr. Rice received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington, his master’s degree in American culture studies from Bowling Green State University, and his Ph.D. in American studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The First Friday Faculty Lecture Series takes place on the first Fridays of October through December during the fall semester and February through April in the spring semester. The lectures are designed for individuals who are interested in hearing learned perspectives on a variety of current topics from members of the St. John Fisher College faculty.

Prior to the presentation, lecture attendees are welcome to attend mass and enjoy breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Midlevel of the Golisano Gateway. Parking is available in Lots A and B off of the main entrance to the College at East Ave./Fairport Road. Follow the signs through Skalny Science Building into the Golisano Gateway.

For more information about the lecture series or to register for the December 7 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

Fisher Football Falls to Mount Union

PITTSFORD, N.Y., December 1, 2007—The St. John Fisher College football team lost to host Mount Union College 52-10 on Saturday in Alliance, Ohio in the NCAA Division III Championship Quarterfinals.
 
With the loss, Fisher finishes its season with an 11-2 overall record – the second-highest win-total in the program’s history. It is the second straight season that the Purple Raiders have ended Fisher’s season. Mount Union, who has won each of the last two national titles and eight of the last 11, defeated Fisher 26-14 in last year’s national semifinals.
 
Fisher will meet Mount Union again next year in Alliance in the 2008 season opener for both teams.

For a complete summary of the game, visit the Fisher Athletics web site.

November

Fisher Passion Players Present “Children of Eden” Musical on December 7-9

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 30, 2007—The St. John Fisher College Passion Players will present the musical, “Children of Eden,” on December 7-9 in the Cleary Family Auditorium on the Fisher campus. Performances are scheduled on Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8 at 7 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, December 9 at 2 p.m.

General admission tickets are available now at all Wegmans locations. Admission is $5 for all students and $10 for adults. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Proceeds will benefit Bethany House, which serves the needs of homeless women and children in Rochester.

With words and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (of “Godspell,” “Wicked,” and “Pippin” fame), “Children of Eden” recounts the biblical stories of Creation, Cain & Abel, and Noah’s Ark, and shares the promises God has made with his people. Freshman Brenden Hobbs is cast in the role of “Father.” Six additional Fisher students round out the ensemble cast: Emily Housecamp as “Eve;” Tom Racculia as “Adam;” Andrew Alba as “Cain;” Rob Taylor as “Abel;” Tom Tharp as “Noah;” and Sarah Sendlbeck as “Momma Noah.” More than 40 other students are involved in the production, including Katie Gravelle as director, Dane Noble-Rosema as musical director, and Kristen Massett as choreographer.

Sponsored by Campus Ministry and the Spiritual Life Resource Center, “Passion Players” is a dramatic arts group at Fisher that specializes in performances of a spiritual or faith-based nature. Deacon Tom Jewell, a Fisher Campus Minister and Director of the Resource Center, serves as producer for this production.

For more information about “Children of Eden,” please contact Deacon Tom Jewell at (585) 385-8325 or tjewell@sjfc.edu.

First Generation Scholars at St. John Fisher College Host Bowling Tournament to Benefit Jessi's House

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 30, 2007—Senior First Generation Scholars at St. John Fisher College will hold a bowling tournament to benefit Jessi's House on Sunday, December 2 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Clover Lanes in Pittsford. Twenty-five teams of four are already signed up to participate.

Jessi's House, a respite home for families with children who have cancer, was co-founded by Jessica Dunlap, a senior Fisher nursing student and First Generation Scholar. Dunlap successfully battled cancer as a child.

For more information, please contact Mary Duprey, Coordinator of the First Generation Scholarship Program, at (585) 385-8249.

Fisher’s “Day of Celebration” Observes Diverse Holiday Traditions

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 28, 2007—On Saturday, December 1, St. John Fisher College will host a “Day of Celebration,” an all-day, campus-wide festival that showcases holiday celebrations from various races, cultures, ethnicities, and traditions. These observations include Kwanzaa, Three Kings, Hanukkah, Christmas, Chinese New Years, Ramadan, and others. This year, the focus of the Day of Celebration is the Asian/Pacific Islander culture. The event is free and open to the public.

The festivities at the College will consist of a cultural marketplace area and stage in Cleary Family Auditorium in Kearney Hall that will feature dance, music, displays, food, and “make it and take it” arts and crafts. In the late afternoon, the celebration will move to Murphy Hall where Gospelicious, an annual gospel concert, will take place.

The Day of Celebration schedule is as follows:

For more information, please contact Dr. Arlette Miller Smith in the Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs at (585) 385-8212.

Fisher Football Advances to Regional Finals

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 24, 2007—The St. John Fisher College football team scored 38 unanswered points and cruised to a 38-7 win over Curry College at Fisher's Growney Stadium on Saturday in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division III Football Championship.

For a complete summary of the game, visit the Fisher Athletics web site.

With the win, Fisher advances to the national quarterfinals and will face top-seeded Mount Union College on Saturday, December 1 at noon in Alliance, Ohio. The Purple Raiders are the defending national champions and have won nine of the last 14 national titles. Mount Union defeated Fisher 26-14 in last year's national semifinals.

Fans making the trip the Ohio can purchase tickets in advance.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students/children and will be sold outside of Fisher's Campus Center on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Thursday during free period.

Wegmans School of Nursing Students Hold Nutrition and Wellness Fair for Parents at Wegmans Inner City Schools

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 21, 2007—Students from the Wegmans School of Nursing at St. John Fisher College will host a Nutrition and Wellness Fair for the parents/guardians of students at three of the Wegmans Inner City (WIN) Schools on Wednesday, November 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Held in the gymnasium at Corpus Christi School, the nursing students will set up seven tables and present information on topics such as: how to read nutrition labels; understanding BMI, and why it is measured at physical exams; and exercise options to help prevent obesity and promote health for kids. In addition, Wegmans Chef Christopher Scott will demonstrate how to prepare healthy and fast snack and meal options.

“Nutrition and maintaining good health are important topics for us all,” said Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner, Dean, Wegmans School of Nursing. “In today’s society, obesity and obesity-related health problems are a major concern. At the Nutrition and Wellness Fair, our students will provide parents with the tips and tools needed to keep their children healthy and active, which is something we hope remains with them throughout their lives.”

At the Nutrition and Wellness Fair, parents will have the opportunity to visit every table for more information on each topic, or pick topics that are especially relevant to their children and learn more about them. To allow parents to walk around and gather information without distraction, supervised activities will be provided for children.

Invitations to the Nutrition and Wellness Fair were extended to the parents of children who attend St. Monica’s School, Cathedral School at Holy Rosary, and Corpus Christi School. The Wegmans School of Nursing plans to hold another fair for parents at the other three WIN schools in the spring.

The WIN Schools are: St. Andrew’s School, St. Boniface School, St. Monica’s School, Corpus Christi School, Cathedral School at Holy Rosary, and Holy Family School.

For more information about the Wegmans School of Nursing, or the Nutrition and Wellness Fair, please contact Pamela Mapstone, RN, MSN, CPNP, at pmapstone@sjfc.edu.

Collins Receives Nursing Education Award from the New York State Nurses Association

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 20, 2007—At its annual Awards Banquet this fall, the New York State Nurses Association presented the Nursing Education Award to Mary S. Collins, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Glover-Crask Professor of Nursing at St. John Fisher College.

The Nursing Education Award recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to basic, graduate, or continuing nursing education. Criteria for the award state that the contribution must: distinctively clarify or refine the knowledge base of the discipline of nursing; promote innovative educational methods, patterns, or systems; enhance professional socialization; and strive to enrich the professional nursing organization.

Collins was nominated by District 5 (Binghamton) of the New York State Nurses Association. Prior to joining Fisher, she was Professor and Decker Chair in Community Health Nursing at the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University. She also is the former Dean at the Decker School, having served in that capacity for 16 years. Collins was instrumental in bringing the first doctoral program in nursing to the Binghamton region, and is currently working on establishing a doctoral program in nursing practice at Fisher. She is also actively pursuing funding for regional, national, and international studies and research projects.

Collins’s extensive contribution to nursing’s knowledge base includes research, presentations, and published work on such diverse studies as: mentoring internships for long-term care managers; improving health care in rural Korea and China, and prenatal care in Egypt; adolescent healthcare issues in rural communities; factors affecting prenatal care among low-income women; and development of professional commitment among baccalaureate nursing students.

In 2006, Collins was the recipient of the Margaret Tyson Dean’s Award in Excellence from Binghamton University, and the New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit. She was the New York State Nursing Association’s 2006 District 5 Honored Nurse of the Year for her outstanding contributions to education and leadership in the Binghamton community.

Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Keuka College in Keuka Park, N.Y., and a master’s degree in community health nursing from Syracuse University. She earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration, also from Syracuse University.

Fisher Football Advances in NCAA Championship

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 17, 2007—The St. John Fisher College football team advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship with a 24-7 win over visiting Hobart College on Saturday. With the win, Fisher (10-1), the No. 2 seed in the East Region, will now host No. 3 Curry College (12-0) next Saturday, November 24 at noon.

In Saturday's victory over Hobart, senior James Reile scored three touchdowns, and became just the third player in Fisher history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his college career. For a complete summary of the game, visit the Fisher Athletics web site.

Tickets for the Regional Semifinals game vs. Curry College will go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of the game (two hours before kickoff) and can be purchased at the main ticket area in front of Growney Stadium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students/children.

St. John Fisher College Presents “Guys and Dolls”

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 16, 2007—The Fisher Players at St. John Fisher College will present three performances of the musical “Guys and Dolls” this weekend. Performances are scheduled for Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the Cleary Family Auditorium on the College campus.

Tickets are available at the door. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, and $4 for children; it is free for Fisher students. The musical is directed by Fisher senior Erin Hurd, and choreographed by junior Kathy Fallon.

“Guys and Dolls” is set in New York City in the 1940s. Small-time gambler Nathan Detroit bets his big-time pal, Sky Masterson, that he can’t make the next woman he sees fall in love with him. When the next “doll” happens to be the neighborhood missionary, Sarah Brown, the stage is set for an unforgettable evening’s entertainment.

The play was first produced on Broadway in November 1950 with an initial run of 1,201 performances, and won five Tony Awards in 1951, including the award for Best Musical.

Parking is available in Lots A and B off of the main entrance to the College at East Ave./Fairport Road. Cleary Family Auditorium is located within Kearney Hall.

For more information about the “Guys and Dolls” performances, please call (585) 899-3836.

St. John Fisher College Holds Fall 2007 Commencement Ceremony

On Saturday, November 10, St. John Fisher College held its Fall 2007 Commencement ceremony for graduate students who completed their degree requirements by August 2007.

Nearly 70 students were eligible for graduation. The graduates represented the Bittner School of Business, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, and the School of Arts and Sciences.

The commencement address was delivered by Sandy Parker, President and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance.

St. John Fisher College to Host “Goddesses of the Americas: The Sacred Feminine in Native American Cosmology” Lecture by Nadema Agard

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 14, 2007—St. John Fisher College will welcome Nadema Agard to campus on Friday, November 16 to present her lecture, “Goddesses of the Americas: The Sacred Feminine in Native American Cosmology.” The event is free and open to the public.

Agard is a Lakota/Cherokee/Powhatan artist, curator, educator, museum professional, and consultant in repatriation and multicultural/Native American arts and cultures. In addition, she is the Director of Red Earth Studio Consulting and Productions.

The lecture, made possible by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Wegmans School of Nursing, room 100.

“Goddesses of the Americas: The Sacred Feminine in Native American Cosmology” is a multimedia presentation that explores the images and symbolism of various Native American feminine divinities represented in the arts, their interconnection with spirituality, and how the arts are often vehicles for sacred communication.

Agard holds a bachelor’s degree in art education from New York University. She also received her master’s degree in art and education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. A former art educator with the New York City Board of Education, Agard has held positions at various museums and universities throughout the country. Since 2002, she has consulted with and lectured at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Scholastic, Inc., The Graduate Center, and City University of New York.

For more information about the lecture, please contact Dr. Ruben Gomez, Professor of Modern Languages and Cultures, at (585) 385-7348 or rgomez@sjfc.edu. 

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for Humanities.

St. John Fisher College’s 6th Justinian Medal to Be Presented to the Honorable Joseph D. McGuire

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 12, 2007—St. John Fisher College will award its sixth annual Justinian Medal to the Honorable Joseph D. McGuire, Supreme Court Justice in the Fifth District, at a reception on Wednesday, November 14.

The Justinian Medal is given by the College and the Justinian Order, which is comprised of 420 judges and attorneys, all graduates of Fisher, to an individual in recognition of his or her outstanding service and civic leadership in numerous professional, business, and charitable endeavors in the community and at the College.

Justice McGuire joins past Justinian Medal recipients U.S. District Court Judge David G. Larimer; Monroe County Supreme Court Justice Francis A. Affronti; Thomas N. Trevett, Partner in the law firm of Trevett, Lenweaver & Salzer, PC; the Honorable Edmund A. Calvaruso, Monroe County Surrogate’s Court Judge; and R. Wayne LeChase, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at LeChase Construction Services, LLC.

Justice McGuire received his undergraduate degree from St. John Fisher College, and was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from the Albany Law School of Union University. Following private practice in Rochester, N.Y., he was selected as Confidential Law Clerk to the Honorable Fred Young, who was then Presiding Judge of the New York Court of Claims. At that time, he also began practice in Lowville, N.Y., served as municipal attorney for numerous towns in Lewis County, as well as for the Village of Lowville, and was counsel to the local Industrial Development Agency.

In 1998, Justice McGuire was elected Lewis County Judge and Surrogate, and served by assignment as a Family and County Court Judge in Onondaga, Oneida, Herkimer, and Jefferson Counties. He was elected as a Supreme Court Justice in the six counties of the Fifth District in 2001.

Justice McGuire is a member and past president of the Lewis County Bar Association, and is a member of the Oneida County and New York State Bar Associations, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

The Justinian Order of St. John Fisher College, formed in the spring of 2002, is an academic and legal society intended to create collegiality among Fisher graduates professionally involved in the law. The members have the opportunity to gather socially, bond professionally, and pass on the legacy of Fisher’s legal scholarship to younger Fisher alumni and students.

St. John Fisher College Improves Writing Concentration Within English Major

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 9, 2007—To help better prepare its students for life after graduation, St. John Fisher College recently introduced improvements to its writing concentration within the English major. The enhancements are designed to offer students more options, and educate them about rhetoric and many different types of writing, including professional writing and creative writing.

“This is the way English is heading,” said Dr. Dana Nichols, Assistant Professor of English, St. John Fisher College. “The changes to our program are in response to a need for more expansive English studies, which prepare students to write in a wide variety of genres.  Our new concentration is designed to give students a broad skills base to draw from.

“In studying rhetoric, students look at the fundamentals of writing, and learn how language is used persuasively to accomplish different goals. The improved writing concentration will help our students communicate more effectively, whether they go on to graduate school or start their careers.”

Dr. Nichols played a significant role in the development of the new writing concentration. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisville with a specialty in rhetoric and composition. Dr. Nichols came to Fisher in 2006.

New courses offered under the writing concentration include The Rhetoric of Social Movements, The Rhetoric of Hate and Social Justice, and Digital Literacy.

For more information regarding the writing concentration at St. John Fisher College, please visit http://home.sjfc.edu/English/, or contact Dr. Nichols at (585) 385-8359, or dnichols@sjfc.edu.

World War II Memorabilia on Display in Lavery Library at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 5, 2007—Lavery Library’s latest exhibit, “The War Comes Home: Monroe County and the Second World War,” is on display through Friday, November 16 at St. John Fisher College. Featured in the Lower Level Gallery, the exhibit is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features Rochester and Monroe County’s contributions to World War II, illustrated through nearly 50 panels of commentary and prints of original World War II posters. The display is divided into five segments: At War, At Home, In the Community, At Work, and Home at Last.

The materials used in the exhibition are derived from Monroe County Historical Collection acquisitions. “The War Comes Home” is sponsored by Monroe County Historian Carolyn Vacca, and Lavery Library, in cooperation with Fisher’s History Department.

In celebration of the exhibit, a wine and cheese reception will be held on Monday, November 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. in Lavery Library on the lower level.

Parking is available in Lots A and B off of the main entrance to the College at East Ave./Fairport Road. The exhibit is handicapped accessible.

For more information about “The War Comes Home,” please contact Carolyn Vacca at (585) 385-8244 or cvacca@sjfc.edu.

5th Annual Philosophy Day Scheduled for November 6-7 at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 2, 2007—St. John Fisher College will host “Philosophy Day: Philosophy and Utopias” on Tuesday, November 6 and Wednesday, November 7 in the Midlevel of the Golisano Gateway on campus. “World Philosophy Day” is observed globally as an occasion for people to reflect upon the importance of critical thinking, peace, international cooperation, and the love of wisdom. The sessions at Fisher are free and open to the public.

The events will begin on November 6 at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation titled “A Man for All Seasons, A Man for Our Time: The Life and Teachings of Saint Thomas More” by Father Al Cylwicki, CSB, an adjunct faculty member in the Mathematics Department.

On November 7, sessions will begin at 8 a.m. and are scheduled through 9:20 p.m. Topics include “Philosophy and the Utopian Imagination,” “Philosophy and Health Care,” “Utopias in Popular Culture,” “Utopias and Racial Equality,” “Imagining a Perfect World,” and “Education and Utopia.”

At 6:15 p.m., nationally-known author and lecturer Bruce Jacobs will deliver the keynote address, “Shut Up! What Has Happened to American Racial Discourse and How We Can Reclaim It.”

Philosophy Day is sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), an agency of the United Nations. UNESCO was founded in November 1945 and is dedicated to furthering the education of the world beyond classrooms and the publication of scientific breakthroughs. Turkey is the host of World Philosophy Day’s international event, which will take place in Istanbul on November 22-23.

The full Philosophy Day schedule is as follows:

For more information about Philosophy Day at St. John Fisher College, please contact Dr. Tim Madigan at (585) 385-5259 or tmadigan@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College Marks “Four Freedoms Week” with Presentations, Panels, Readings, and Service Projects

PITTSFORD, N.Y., November 1, 2007—Students and faculty at St. John Fisher College will spend next week exploring the meaning of Franklin Roosevelt’s historic pronouncement of four universal freedoms inhered to every global citizen—freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of want, and freedom from fear.

“Four Freedoms Week,” which takes place November 5-10, is marked by both academic and service events, all of which focus on increasing understanding of Roosevelt’s powerful words and their relevance in today’s world. The College has scheduled an array of speakers, panels, training sessions, readings, and debriefings that are free and open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

For more information regarding Four Freedoms Week, please contact Dr. Carolyn Vacca, Assistant Professor of History, at (585) 385-8244 or cvacca@sjfc.edu.

The full schedule of events is as follows:

October

First Friday Lecture at St. John Fisher College Features “Leadership and the Lone Ranger” by Dr. J. Jason Berman

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 30, 2007—Dr. J. Jason Berman, Professor of Management at St. John Fisher College, will present “Leadership and the Lone Ranger” on Friday, November 2, as part of the College’s First Friday Faculty Lecture Series. The event begins at 10 a.m. in Basil 135 on the Fisher campus, and is free and open to the public.

In his presentation, Dr. Berman will examine how the meaning of leadership has evolved throughout the past 50 years. As Professor of Management, he offers classes in leadership and organizational behavior.

In addition to his academic responsibilities, Dr. Berman also serves as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the Bittner School of Business, where he previously held the positions of both Interim Dean and Director of the MBA program. For more than a decade, he has consulted with the Rochester City School District on issues pertaining to team and leadership development.

The First Friday Faculty Lecture Series takes place on the first Fridays of October through December during the fall semester and February through April in the spring semester. The lectures are designed for individuals who are interested in hearing learned perspectives on a variety of current topics from members of the St. John Fisher College faculty.

Prior to the presentation, lecture attendees are welcome to attend mass and enjoy breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Midlevel of the Golisano Gateway. Parking is available in Lots A and B off of the main entrance to the College at East Ave./Fairport Road. Follow the signs through Skalny Science Building into the Golisano Gateway.

For more information about the lecture series or to register for the November 2 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

Pre-Schoolers Preview Life at St. John Fisher College Through “Pre-K @ College” Event

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 29, 2007—St. John Fisher College will look to the future—to the year 2021, to be exact—when it welcomes a group of potential students and their parents to campus on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Cleary Family Auditorium. “Pre-K @ College” provides an opportunity for pre-schoolers from the Rochester City School District and their parents to learn more about the potential for higher education at St. John Fisher College.

“Pre-K @ College offers us a chance to strengthen our collaboration with the Rochester City School District and get parents thinking about higher education at an early stage of their children’s development,” said Dr. Jim Wood, Associate Professor of Childhood Education, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education. “Participating parents will receive an introduction to the College. In addition, through our new collaboration with the Mayor’s Literacy Initiative, the Rochester Public Library System and Cornell Cooperative Extension, families will learn more about how the development of literacy- and health-conscious lifestyles, begun and sustained at home and in school, play a critical role in the road to college.”

The College expects 175 children and parents to participate in the event. The day’s schedule is as follows:

The Pre-K @ College program is made possible through the cooperation of: the Childhood Education Department of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education; the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs at Fisher; several Fisher student organizations; the Rochester City School District Early Childhood Department; the Children’s Institute; Nazareth College School of Education; Wilson Commencement Park; Rochester Public Library System; the Mayor’s Literacy Initiative; and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

For more information about Pre-K @ College, please contact Dr. Jim Wood at (585) 385-8478, or jwood@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College Holds Excellence in Management Award Dinner on November 1

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 26, 2007—The Bittner School of Business at St. John Fisher College will host a banquet to honor the alumni winners of the Excellence in Management Award and the new Dean’s Medal for Outstanding Service on Thursday, November 1 at 6 p.m. at the Genesee Valley Club. This year’s recipient of the Excellence in Management Award is Ronald E. Hermance, Jr. ’69, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson City Bancorp, the parent company of Hudson City Savings Bank.

The Excellence in Management Award recognizes alumni who demonstrate: outstanding leadership and managerial accomplishments in business, academic, or community settings; a proven track record of drive and insight which has led to significant accomplishments in the field of management; a record of community involvement; high moral character; and commitment to continued involvement with St. John Fisher College.

“Ron is an outstanding leader on Wall Street,” said Dr. Selim Ilter, Dean of the Ronald L. Bittner School of Business at St. John Fisher College. “It is impressive that he and his company continue to thrive in the current volatile real estate market. In addition, Ron has generously given back to Fisher whenever possible. He is also actively involved in his community. He most certainly deserves this award and we are proud to call him a Fisher alum.”

Hermance is a 1969 graduate of St. John Fisher College with a degree in political science. He joined Hudson City Savings Bank in 1988 as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and was duly elected to the Board of Directors. In 1997, he became the eleventh President in the Bank’s 139-year history and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in January 2002, and Chairman in January 2005.

In July 1999, Hermance spearheaded Hudson City Savings Bank’s reorganization from a mutual savings bank into a two-tiered holding company structure, where Hudson City Savings Bank became a subsidiary of Hudson City Bancorp. Under his leadership, Hudson City is #2 in stock market return among U.S. banks for a five-year period; is one of the New York area’s fastest-growing companies; and is the third largest savings bank in the nation. Consistently recognized as “The Most Efficient Bank in the United States,” its success has been acknowledged nationally by such publications as Forbes, BusinessWeek, and American Banker.

Once again, renowned local artist Nancy Gong has been commissioned to create the award, a striking glass sculpture. Hermance will receive the piece at the banquet on November 1.

This year, a new award will also be presented at the banquet. The Dean’s Medal for Outstanding Service was created by Dr. Ilter to honor the exemplary and sustained contributions of individuals in the service of the Bittner School of Business. Outstanding service to the School includes involvement in advisory boards, mentoring, fundraising, community relations, accreditation, and more.

The first recipient of the Dean’s Medal is Anthony Monaco, Esq. ’83, Chief Executive Officer of Rochester Colonial Manufacturing Corp. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Aquinas Institute and the Italian American Community Center, of which he is a past president. Monaco has served as an adjunct faculty member at St. John Fisher College and on the Management Programs’ Advisory Board.

The St. John Fisher College Excellence in Management Awards Dinner was established by the Bittner School of Business and the Management Programs Advisory Board. Tickets to the dinner are available to the public for $100. For more information about the awards, or for tickets, please contact Chris Sullivan, Director of Alumni Relations, at (585) 385-8001 or csullivan@sjfc.edu.

“Frankenstein Lives!” at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 23, 2007—Just in time for Halloween, St. John Fisher College will host “Frankenstein Lives! The Continuing Relevance of Mary Shelley’s Novel,” on Tuesday, October 30 from 12:30 to 9:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Health Humanities Committee of St. John Fisher College, the event is a multidisciplinary examination of Frankenstein relative to contemporary medical ethical issues. The event takes place in Cleary Family Auditorium on the Fisher campus and is free and open to the public.

Written almost 200 years ago, Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus is a story of a man obsessed with creating artificial life. Yet some basic themes of Mary Shelley’s novel eerily echo today’s discussions on fetal tissue research, artificial intelligence, life-extension, and human cloning. The “Frankenstein Lives!” event will present differing interpretations of the bioethical dimensions raised by the novel. There will also be panel discussions with medical doctors, philosophers, literary critics, and film scholars, as well as student presentations and screenings of films based upon the novel.

The full schedule is as follows:

Lavery Library has a special display of Frankenstein editions and memorabilia, which is up throughout the week of the event.
Funding for this event has been provided by the School of Arts and Sciences at St. John Fisher College, and the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, please contact Dr. Tim Madigan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, at (585) 415-5925 or tmadigan@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College Holds Ceremony to Dedicate LeChase Common

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 17, 2007—St. John Fisher College dedicated the new LeChase Common during a ceremony this morning. The courtyard, located at the center of campus, was made possible by a gift from LeChase Construction Services, LLC.

The LeChase Common consists of a circular walkway—constructed of concrete with brick paver accents—that connects the entrances of buildings located along the perimeter of the area. These buildings include: Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Skalny Science Center, Golisano Academic Gateway, Basil Hall, Pioch Hall, Wegmans School of Nursing, Ward/Haffey Halls, the Campus Center, and Lavery Library. The enhancements include new lighting and landscaping as well.

“The addition of LeChase Common is a beautiful way to complete the construction and renovations that have recently taken place in this area of our campus,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President, St. John Fisher College. “Students, faculty, and staff now have a picturesque space, right in the heart of campus, to enjoy being outdoors.”

R. Wayne LeChase is Chairman and Managing Partner of LeChase Construction Services, LLC. LeChase has been an active member of Fisher’s Board of Trustees since 1991. He served as Search Committee Chair in 1995 and Chair of the Board from 1996-98. In 2004, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the College.

LeChase Construction Services, LLC has been involved with many of the most recent construction projects on the St. John Fisher College campus.

St. John Fisher College Presents Wayne White, Middle East Expert and Scholar, on October 25

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 16, 2007—St. John Fisher College will present its annual “The Road Less Traveled” event when it welcomes Wayne White, a Middle East expert and scholar, to campus for a lecture that will explore the situation in the Middle East and the prospects for peace in the region. White will give the Reverend Joseph A. Trovato lecture, “Iran and Iraq: Serious Challenges and Difficult Choices,” on Thursday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Basil 135. The event is free and open to the public.

Hosted by the Religious Studies Department, the Peace and Social Justice Studies Program, and the Department of Communication/Journalism, the evening will honor Father Joseph A. Trovato, C.S.B., for his many years of service to the College. Father Trovato was the founder and long-time Director of Campus Ministry at Fisher.

White is an adjunct scholar at Washington’s Middle East Institute and a policy expert with the Washington-based Middle East Policy Council. A native of the Philadelphia area, White received a master’s degree in Middle East History from Penn State University in 1973. He was made a Penn State Alumni Fellow in 2004. White is a five-time recipient of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award (1991, 1993, 1997, 2004, and 2005), and a three-time recipient of the Department’s Meritorious Honor Award (1980, 1982, and 1990). In 1986, he was named the first “Analyst of the Year” by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in 2005 received the Secretary’s Career Achievement Award from Secretary of State Colin Powell.

White also received the National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction for service during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; a 2004 citation from the National Intelligence Council (NIC) for his outstanding contributions relating to Iraq; a special NIC award for contributions to the overall National Intelligence Mission in 2005; and was a 2002 National Intelligence Fellow.

On Friday, October 26, White will make a short presentation, “The Middle East in Crisis,” and participate in an informal lunch discussion with area high school students and members of the Rochester community. The lunch is at 11:30 a.m. in the Midlevel of the Golisano Gateway on the Fisher campus. Reservations are required, and must be made by Friday, October 19.

To make a reservation for the lunch, or for more information about “The Road Less Traveled,” contact Linda MacCammon at (585) 385-8363 or lmaccammon@sjfc.edu.

Fisher Student Founds “Jessi’s House” to Assist Families Living with Cancer

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 5, 2007—First Generation Scholars at St. John Fisher College are accustomed to completing countless hours of community service throughout their time at Fisher. Jessica Dunlap, a senior nursing student and First Generation Scholar, is taking her commitment to service even further. Jessica and her family recently co-founded Jessi’s House, a non-profit organization that hopes to ease the burden for families dealing with cancer.

Cancer is a hardship that hits all too close to home for the Dunlap family. When Jessica was 3 years old, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system. After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant, Jessica is proud to say she is a cancer survivor of 18 years. Now, she wants to give back by helping other families facing the disease.

Jessica and her family are working to make Jessi’s House a respite home for those who are touched by cancer by providing financial and emotional support. Currently, they are raising money in order to purchase a home, ideally near the waterfront of Lake Ontario, to make Jessi’s House a reality. A location by the lake would allow the natural surroundings and nearby parks to offer the families a sense of peace and serenity. Jessi’s House will also organize activities to help ease the emotional and physical challenges associated with cancer.

“With Jessi’s House, we hope to help those who need it most,” said Jessica. “We want to show these families that there are people out there who understand what they are experiencing. When you have that support—whether it’s from family members, friends, or strangers—it gives you that extra bit of strength you need to get through the tough times.”

On Sunday, October 7, Jessi’s House will hold its 1st Annual Walk the Water fundraiser at Lakeshore Boulevard and Kings Highway in Irondequoit. The walk will start there and proceed through Durand Eastman Park to Culver Road, past Seabreeze Park, and end at Bill Gray’s Restaurant. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing a home to house the organization.

For more information about Jessi’s House and the 1st Annual Walk the Water event, please visit www.jessishouse.com.

“First Decade of Women” Celebrated at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 3, 2007—At Homecoming/Reunion Weekend on October 5-6, St. John Fisher College will recognize the “First Decade of Women” to attend and graduate from the College—women who paved the way for Fisher’s female students of the future.

From its inception in 1948, Fisher was an all-men’s private, independent college of arts and sciences. But in January 1971, the Board of Trustees decided that Fisher would become a co-educational college. That fall, the College welcomed 65 female commuters, who were the first women to attend Fisher full time. Since then, St. John Fisher College has steadily transformed into the institution it is today. Thirty-six years later, the student body is 58 percent female and 42 percent male.

“The First Decade of Women Celebration provides us with an opportunity to look back at a significant time in the history of the College, and reflect on how it led us to where we are today,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President, St. John Fisher College. “The first women at Fisher challenged convention and broke barriers, which ultimately paved the way for the generations that followed. It is these women whom we wish to thank for their positive impact on the College.”

On Friday, October 5, Fisher will host a First Decade of Women Night of Networking event that will allow alumnae and current students to meet and connect with each other. Guest panelists at the event include: The Honorable Gail Donofrio ’81, Justice, Monroe County Family Court; Marilyn Ciraolo ’76, Marketing Manager, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.; Ann E. Chase, Esq. ’77, Assistant District Attorney, Monroe County; Jacqueline Peterson ’76, Vice President of Student Affairs, Holy Cross College; Sharon Napier ’81, CEO, Partners & Napier; and Tamisha Smith ’02, Corporate Special Projects Manager, Excellus. The Night of Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. in Cleary Family Auditorium on the Fisher campus.

A brunch celebrating the First Decade of Women graduates will be held on Saturday, October 6 at 11 a.m., also in Cleary Family Auditorium. The event will honor the women of the Classes 1972-1982. Dr. Bain and his wife, Meg, will attend to welcome and thank the graduates for all they have done. The alumnae will also have an opportunity to tour the campus to see first-hand the changes that have taken place since their time at Fisher.

David White to Present “The Methods of Sherlock Holmes” for First Friday Lecture Series at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 3, 2007—David White, Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. John Fisher College, will present “The Methods of Sherlock Holmes” on Friday, October 5, as part of the College’s First Friday Faculty Lecture Series. The event begins at 10 a.m. in Basil 135 on the Fisher campus, and is free and open to the public.

For many years, White has used Sherlock Holmes material in his logic courses. The interpretive methods used in the courses will be reflected in White’s lecture.

After completing his undergraduate course work at Colgate University and his graduate work at Cornell University, White taught philosophy for two years at the University of Lagos before coming to St. John Fisher College. White has spoken about Sherlock Holmes to groups such as the Popular Culture Association, taught a Sherlock Holmes course at Writers & Books, and published an article on Sherlock Holmes’ use of deduction in Clipboard, a magazine edited by Mike McCarthy, Director of Safety & Security at Fisher.

The First Friday Faculty Lecture Series takes place on the first Fridays of October through December during the fall semester and February through April in the spring semester. The lectures are designed for individuals who are interested in hearing learned perspectives on a variety of current topics from members of the St. John Fisher College faculty.

Prior to the presentation, lecture attendees are welcome to attend mass and enjoy breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Midlevel of the Golisano Gateway. Parking is available in Lots A and B off of the main entrance to the College at East Ave./Fairport Road. Follow the signs through Skalny Science Building into the Golisano Gateway.

For more information about the lecture series or to register for the October 5 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College Dedicates the Wegmans School of Nursing

PITTSFORD, N.Y., October 2, 2007—St. John Fisher College today dedicated the College’s newest academic building, the Wegmans School of Nursing, which officially opened for classes on September 4 with the largest undergraduate nursing class ever. The School was made possible by an $8 million gift—the largest gift in Fisher’s history—from the late Robert B. Wegman.

St. John Fisher College has supported a Department of Nursing for more than 16 years. Interest in Fisher’s nursing program has grown in recent years. From 2003-2005, applications for admission to the undergraduate nursing program more than doubled, and enrollment in the program has increased by 66 percent. The Wegmans School of Nursing was established to allow the College to expand its nursing program to accommodate this growth and to help address the critical nursing shortages facing the profession.

The creation of the Wegmans School of Nursing presented the College with the opportunity to fold the Mental Health Counseling graduate program into the School as well. The new Mental Health Counseling facilities are state-of-the-art and will effectively enhance the academic experience of those graduate students.

The 41,000 square-foot building is located near the center of campus, between Pioch Hall and Ward Hall. It contains classrooms, teaching laboratories, computer labs, offices for faculty and administration, and the Wellness Center, the College’s combined medical and mental health center.

“Through the generosity of the Wegman family, we have been able to address critical health care needs—first, with the creation of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, and now with the completion of the Wegmans School of Nursing,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President of St. John Fisher College.

Dr. Bain and members of the Wegman family were joined at the dedication by José J. Coronas, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner, Dean of the Wegmans School of Nursing; senior administration officials of the College; and many other members of the faculty, staff, trustees, and friends of St. John Fisher College.

The nursing program at St. John Fisher College is fully accredited by the New York State Education Department and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. For more information about the nursing program at Fisher, visit the website at http://home.sjfc.edu/nursing.

September

New Coffeehouse and Renovated FishBowl Open for Students at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., September 27, 2007—To help get through the early mornings and late nights so typical in college, students at St. John Fisher College now have a new place to turn. On September 10, the campus opened the doors to the Cardinal Café, a new coffeehouse, as well as a renovated FishBowl, a casual dining facility intended to give students a place to stop for a quick bite to eat. Both the Cardinal Café and the FishBowl are located in Michaelhouse on the Fisher campus.

Throughout the first two weeks of classes, the Student Government Association (SGA) held a contest to name the coffeehouse. Class officers narrowed down the entries to six finalists and asked students to vote for their favorites. “Cardinal Café” was announced as the winner on Tuesday, September 18.

“Since 1997, students have actively sought a coffeehouse on campus,” said Jackie Morrison, President, 2007-2008 Student Government Association. “With the opening of the Cardinal Café, students now have a place to go. The Café provides a relaxing, yet sophisticated coffeehouse atmosphere that many students will appreciate. It is a place on campus where students can meet at night, and get a late-night beverage or snack. Most importantly, it adds another space on campus that students can call their own.”

The Cardinal Café is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Students can enjoy a variety of coffee flavors and styles, frozen coffee drinks, as well as a variety of desserts and a daily assortment of freshly baked goods, such as muffins, scones, fruit turnovers, and breakfast breads. Free WiFi access is available, providing students with the ability to use their laptops in the space.

The FishBowl is open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students can choose from a menu of grilled items, deli sandwiches, salads, and more.

27 Years Later, Severely Injured Siena College Football Player Thanks Fisher Community for Its Support

PITTSFORD, N.Y., September 25, 2007—Twenty-seven years after an accident that changed his life forever, Frank Bice returned to Rochester and St. John Fisher College. During a football game versus Fisher in 1980, Bice was playing at safety for Siena College when he tackled a Fisher player to the ground—and never got up.

Bice had sustained a severe spinal cord injury that resulted in his becoming a quadriplegic. He stayed in Rochester for three months, undergoing treatment for his injury. While he was in the hospital, Bice had frequent visits from members of the Fisher community. Thus, on Tuesday, September 25, he visited the campus once again to thank St. John Fisher College for providing him with the support he needed during a challenging time.

“Mr. Bice’s ability to overcome adversity is an inspiration to us all,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President, St. John Fisher College. “I was a professor here at that time, and I remember Mr. Bice’s incredible courage and determination. It is no surprise that the people here embraced Mr. Bice and treated him as one of our own. His experience with the College and the support he received during his eight months of treatment really speak to the character of the Fisher community, and Rochester as a whole.”

Bice attended the 4:10 p.m. Fisher football practice in Growney Stadium, where he told his story to more than 100 players and coaches. The visit also gave Bice the opportunity to reconnect with Bob Bayer, who was Coach of the Fisher Cardinals at the time of Bice's injury, and Father Joseph Trovato, C.S.B., a long-time member of the Fisher community, who visited him in the hospital throughout his rehabilitation.

While in Rochester, he also visited Strong Memorial Hospital to meet with the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation staff and tour the facility at which he spent many days and hours during his treatment.

Today, Bice considers himself “the luckiest person to live.” He currently resides on Long Island, where he works full-time as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, serves as a motivation speaker, and is a deacon with the Catholic Church.

Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College Receives Candidate Accreditation Status from ACPE

PITTSFORD, N.Y., September 19, 2007—The Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College was recently awarded candidate status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This achievement marks the start of the second step toward full accreditation for the School’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.

“Attaining candidate status is a significant milestone on the road to full accreditation,” said Dr. Scott Swigart, Dean of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy. “The hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff, coupled with the support from Fisher and the community, has helped us make remarkable progress in our first year.”

The ACPE accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and selected non-U.S. sites. For a Doctor of Pharmacy program offered by a new college or school of pharmacy, ACPE accreditation generally involves three steps: precandidate status, candidate status, and full accreditation.

Precandidate status is awarded to a new program of a college or school of pharmacy that has not yet enrolled students in the professional program, and authorizes the college or school to admit its first class. To achieve candidate status, a Doctor of Pharmacy program must have students enrolled, but not yet had a graduating class. Full accreditation is awarded to a program that has met all ACPE standards for accreditation and has graduated its first class. The ACPE will consider the Wegmans School of Pharmacy for full accreditation following the graduation of students from the program in 2010.

St. John Fisher College Included Among “America’s Best Colleges” in U.S. News & World Report

PITTSFORD, N.Y., September 11, 2007—U.S. News & World Report has named St. John Fisher College as one of America’s Best Colleges 2008. Fisher was recognized in the Best Universities—Master’s category in the North Region. Schools in this category provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s programs. Fisher is among a select group of schools chosen for this recognition.

In the past decade, St. John Fisher College has emerged as one of the most vibrant colleges in upstate New York. Many factors have combined to create change, including the continuing development of new programs and academic initiatives, special events that have increased Fisher’s public profile and generated new interest in the College, and an increase in philanthropic support that has allowed Fisher to continue to expand its physical plant and develop state-of-the-art facilities.

“This designation is encouraging in that it affirms the value of a Fisher education,” said Dr. Donald E. Bain, President of the College. “Without exception, the Fisher community is focused on improving the learning environment for our students. This focus has led to increased enrollment, improved retention and graduation rates, and the unprecedented success of our graduates. Students truly are our most precious responsibility, and all members of the Fisher community are fully committed to their academic, social, and professional success.”

Over the last several years, the College has established five schools that collectively house the thirty undergraduate, eleven graduate, and two doctoral programs. The School of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the five schools and contains the core liberal arts programs, which are central to the Fisher experience. The Ronald L. Bittner School of Business has received the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, an honor afforded to less than 500 institutions worldwide. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education has recently earned accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE accreditation is the process by which a professional education unit is recognized as meeting national standards.

Most recently, the College established the Wegmans School of Pharmacy and the Wegmans School of Nursing. The School of Pharmacy, which is housed in a new state-of-the-art facility, enrolled its first class of students in the fall 2006 semester. Fisher’s nursing programs, which include both bachelor’s and master’s level offerings, are accredited by the Committee on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). A new building to house the School of Nursing was recently constructed and opened its doors to students last week.

Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College Welcomes Eight New Faculty Members

PITTSFORD, N.Y., September 7, 2007—When the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College opened its doors in August for the 2007-2008 academic year, returning students noticed a few changes since they left in May. Not only has the School welcomed 65 new students, but eight faculty members have joined the School of Pharmacy throughout the summer months.

Asim Abu-Baker, Pharm.D., has been added as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. He comes to Fisher from Erie, Pa., where he served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy. Dr. Abu-Baker earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Albany College of Pharmacy in May 2003, and also completed an ambulatory care/endocrinology residency in June 2004.

Stephanie Brian, Pharm.D., also joined the School as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. She previously served as a Pharmacy Practice Resident at the VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo. Dr. Brian graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2006. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

Parag Budukh, Ph.D., was recently hired as Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He joins the Wegmans School of Pharmacy faculty after completing his Ph.D. in pharmaceutics at the University of Mississippi in 2006. Dr. Budukh also earned a master’s degree in pharmacognosy from the University of Pune, India, and holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Karnataka University in India.

The Wegmans School of Pharmacy also welcomed Lillian Kang, Pharm.D., as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. She comes to Fisher from James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y and Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, N.Y., where she was employed as a Pharmacy Practice Resident and Staff Pharmacist, respectively.  Dr. Kang earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemical pharmacology from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Jennifer Mathews, Ph.D., has been added as Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in pharmacology in June 2007 and a master’s degree in pharmacology in 2004, both from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Mathews also holds a master’s degree in biology from the University of Northern Colorado, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Potsdam. She has experience as a lecturer at the University of Northern Colorado, and also spent time as an adjunct faculty member at the State University of New York College at Cortland.

Judianne Slish, Pharm.D., recently joined the Wegmans School of Pharmacy as Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice. She previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and also works as a Staff Pharmacist at Wegmans Pharmacy. Dr. Slish earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at SUNY Buffalo in September 2000. She then completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at Strong Memorial Hospital in 2001, and an Infectious Disease Specialty Residency at St. Mary’s Hospital and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. in 2002.

Karl Williams, R.Ph., LL.M., J.D., M.S., has been hired as Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration. He comes to Fisher from Little Falls Hospital in Little Falls, N.Y., where he was employed as Director of Pharmacy. Williams is active in New York State government, volunteering for the New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists, for which he serves as Vice President for Government Affairs. He has more than 14 years of teaching experience, spending time as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy in Laramie, Wyo., and also at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy in Jamaica, N.Y.

Williams earned his Master of Law degree from Syracuse University, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Kentucky. He also holds a master’s degree in the toxicology training program at the University of Rochester, and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Fang Zhao, Ph.D., has been added as Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She joins the Wegmans School of Pharmacy faculty from Bausch & Lomb, where she served as R&D Manager in Global Product Development. She also worked as a formulation scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb for nine years. Dr. Zhao earned her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Kansas, and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the same university.

St. John Fisher College Welcomes Students Back to Campus

PITTSFORD, N.Y., September 5, 2007—Over the weekend, St. John Fisher College welcomed students back to campus for the 2007-2008 academic year. On Saturday, a new student class of 825 (550 freshmen and 275 transfer/readmit students) were on the Fisher campus for the beginning of New Student Orientation. The new freshman class is drawn from the largest applicant pool in the College's history.

New resident students spent much of the day moving into the dormitories and enjoying a picnic with their families. Among other orientation activities, all new students and their parents attended the Matriculation Ceremony, which marks the beginning of the students' academic endeavors at Fisher. During the ceremony, each student signed the Fisher Creed, which speaks to the basic values and aspirations of the students at Fisher.

Returning students moved back to campus on Labor Day, and fall classes began on Tuesday, September 4.

August

St. John Fisher College Appoints Linda Steinkirchner as Controller

PITTSFORD, N.Y., August 31, 2007—St. John Fisher College recently hired Linda Steinkirchner, CPA, MBA, as Controller. She is responsible for the leadership and management of the accounts payable, purchasing, payroll, and accounts receivable functions, as well as supervisory responsibility for the individuals who perform these functions.

Steinkirchner comes to Fisher from the Center for Disability Rights & Regional Center for Independent Living, where she was the Director of Finance. Prior to that, she spent 15 years working in various accounting and finance positions, including Vice President for Finance and Operations, at Strong Museum.

Steinkirchner earned her MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2006. She completed her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 1986, and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 1991. She currently resides in Rochester.

St. John Fisher College Hosts “College Bound” Program to Prepare Area High School Students for College Admissions Process

PITTSFORD, N.Y., August 23, 2007—Twenty-one area high school students representing 10 school districts were “College Bound” at St. John Fisher College for an intensive five-day resident program of college guidance earlier this month. Sponsored in part by M&T Bank, the College Bound program is for academically qualified, low-income students who will be the first in their families to attend college. The intent of the program is to familiarize the students with the various aspects of the college admission and application process, and provide them with the knowledge and skills to successfully search for, apply to, and select a college.

“St. John Fisher College is pleased to partner with M&T Bank to assist students in their goal of pursuing a college education,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President of the College. “The College Bound program helps to ensure that qualified students have the information, support, and encouragement they need to successfully negotiate the college admission process.”

In addition to completing the five-day resident program this month, College Bound participants will attend bi-monthly follow-up workshops throughout the students’ senior year of high school. Throughout the course of the program, admissions counselors from St. John Fisher College will: help students discover their interests and explore potential career options; enable students to develop a consideration set of colleges and determine the aspects of a college that are most important to them; and offer information and help students understand the admissions application process, including completing an application, admissions interviews, and the college essay. Students will also be given the opportunity to experience other college campuses in the Rochester area, and will develop an action plan for their college admissions process.

“Each year, a number of college qualified students do not realize their goal of attending college because they are unfamiliar with the admission and financial aid application processes,” said Gerard Rooney, Vice President for Enrollment Management, St. John Fisher College. “This program recognizes the need to provide students with continuous support and assistance to complete the process successfully.”

College Bound is designed for students who are between their junior and senior years of high school. In order to be considered for the program, students must be nominated by a school official, and meet specific academic and financial criteria. Enrollment in the program is limited to 36 students annually.

For more information about the College Bound program, call the Office of Freshman Admissions at (585) 385-8064 or visit http://www.sjfc.edu/admissions/collegebound.

Wegmans School of Pharmacy Students Travel to El Salvador with Professor to Participate in Medical Mission Outreach Program

PITTSFORD, N.Y., August 7, 2007—Last week, four students and a faculty member from the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College returned from San Miguel, El Salvador, where they served in a week-long medical mission outreach program. The students—Adrienne Dahler, Alex DeLucenay, Elizabeth Duclos, and Elysa Lampell—will all enter their second year of pharmacy school in the fall.

The Wegmans School of Pharmacy volunteers, led by Dr. Christine Birnie, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Fisher, joined two other team members from Rochester and 38 others from around the United States for the mission, organized by Global Health Outreach, a program run by the Christian Medical and Dental Association.

In El Salvador, the team conducted a mobile medical camp, complete with general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, dentistry, health education, eye glass clinic, and pharmacy services. Volunteers treated more than 2,000 patients throughout the week. Team members from the School of Pharmacy acted as the pharmacy component for the medical team. Medicines, both donated and purchased, were assembled at Fisher prior to the trip in preparation for the clinic. Most of the medications were dispensed to the patients seen in the clinic, and the rest were kept in El Salvador for another medical mission outreach expected to take place in that area in March 2008.

“Participating in a mission like this is a tremendous opportunity for our students and faculty to experience another culture and see the health needs of people in other countries,” said Dr. Birnie. “The trip allowed the students to serve cross-culturally and use their pharmacy skills in an underserved population. Hopefully this will inspire our students to take time out of their everyday lives and help through participation in future mission projects.”

Some of the most common medical ailments the team treated in San Miguel were headache and general body pain, upper respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal discomfort, often associated with intestinal parasites. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, were also diagnosed and patients were advised to see a local practitioner for continued care.

For more information about the Wegmans School of Pharmacy and the medical mission outreach program, please contact Dr. Birnie at (585) 385-7202 or cbirnie@sjfc.edu.

Buffalo Bills Linebacker, Rochester Red Wings Pitcher Among Local Figures to Read to Children at St. John Fisher College