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What's New 2008 Press Releases

May

St. John Fisher College Celebrates 54th Commencement

PITTSFORD, N.Y., May 1, 2008—St. John Fisher College will graduate more than 750 undergraduate and nearly 300 graduate students at its 54th Commencement on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

Due to the large number of graduates, the ceremony, which includes both graduate and undergraduate students, will take place at the Blue Cross Arena, One War Memorial Drive, at 10:00 a.m.

Juan Williams, national political correspondent and author, will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the College and will be the commencement speaker. An additional honorary degree will be conferred upon José J. Coronas, General Partner, Trillium Group, and Chair of the St. John Fisher College Board of Trustees.

April

President Bain, Professor, and Alum Present “Making Cents of Planned Giving” for First Friday Lecture Series

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 30, 2008—Dr. Donald Bain, President of St. John Fisher College; Management Professor Edward Stendardi; and alumna Nadja Steve, Esq. ’86 will present “Making Cents of Planned Giving” on Friday, May 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.

Learning to navigate the highways and byways of sound financial planning can be beneficial to all, whatever one’s financial status may be. With careful planning, distributable assets will benefit loved ones, as well as leave a legacy with not-for-profit institutions and organizations meaningful to the individual.

In this last lecture of the academic year, Stendardi will discuss the current state of generational wealth transfers, and Steve will lend insight and expertise on the current vehicles available to maximize the benefit to the people and organizations most important to attendees. President Bain will close the morning with “Vision 2020”—his vision for the future of St. John Fisher College.

The First Friday Faculty Lecture Series takes place on the first Fridays of October through December during the fall semester and February through May 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 May 2 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

Fisher Professors to Present "Will Travel, Have Laptop: How to Protect Your Data While on the Road" on Wednesday, April 30

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 28, 2008—Dr. Scott Harrison, Associate Professor, and Dr. Nadine Hanebutte, Assistant Professor, both in the Department of Mathematical and Computing Sciences, will present "Will Travel, Have Laptop: How to Protect Your Data While on the Road" on Wednesday, April 30. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Golisano Gateway on the Fisher campus, and is free and open to the public.

As summer approaches and thoughts turn to travel, Dr. Harrison and Dr. Hanebutte will share a few tips that might make traveling with a laptop a little easier. From which access points to use, to making sure laptops make it home safely, they will discuss a number of tools and techniques that can help ensure a worry-free vacation.

Discussion topics include: Before You Travel; Computer Vaccination; Internet Cafe Etiquette; Laptops and Airports; What to Bring and What to Leave Home; Access Points 101; Wireless Communication; and What to Do if the Worst Happens.

For more information about the presentation, please contact Dr. Nadine Hanebutte at (585) 385-3816 or nhanebutte@sjfc.edu.

Executive MBA Student Named as 2008 William G. McGowan Scholar
at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 22, 2008—Amy Lok, a graduate student in the Executive MBA Program, has been named the 2008 William G. McGowan Scholar at St. John Fisher College. The prestigious scholarship will help offset the cost of Lok’s tuition in her final semester in the program.

This is the first year that Fisher has been selected by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund to be a McGowan Scholars Academic Institution. The McGowan Scholarship is awarded to outstanding business students. Scholars are evaluated on the basis of academic performance, grade point average, submitted essays, talent, leadership qualities, character, and community involvement. Winners are selected by a William G. McGowan Scholars Award Committee, which is comprised of Dr. Selim Ilter, Dean of the Bittner School of Business, and other Bittner faculty members.

Lok has maintained a 3.8 cumulative GPA in the One-Year MBA Program and, in addition, is heavily involved in the Rochester community. She serves as treasurer on the board for RochesterCares, an organization dedicated to inspiring and challenging all community members to participate in improving the community through volunteerism and civic engagement. As a board member, Lok has developed volunteer projects for Citicorp, Kayes Corp, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers to benefit several local non-profit organizations including Special Olympics, Hillside Children’s Center, Foodlink, Rochester Education Foundation, and the City of Rochester. She also donates her time to volunteer/fundraising work for Alternatives for Battered Women, University of Rochester Medical Center, and other community organizations. In her spare time, Lok is captain of a volleyball team.

Based in Chicago, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund is a philanthropic family foundation. It was founded in 1992 by William G. McGowan, founder and Chairman of MCI Communications Corporation. The McGowan Charitable Fund was established to realize—and to enlarge—the magnificent potentials that McGowan foresaw in the future of the young, as well as the rewarding promises of medical research. The fund also addresses the critical need to enhance the role of American business by providing scholastic assistance to promising students.

For more information about the William G. McGowan Scholarship at St. John Fisher College, please contact Maya Temperley, Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations, at (585) 899-3828 or mtemperley@sjfc.edu.

Earth Day Celebrated at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 15, 2008—Today, St. John Fisher College celebrated Earth Day by planting trees and mulching flower beds across campus. Students, faculty, and staff volunteered their time to complete these projects behind Kearney Hall, along Campus Center Quad, and outside of Ward and Haffey Halls, and the Wegmans School of Nursing.

The Earth Day activities were organized by Fisher's Recycling Committee.

For more information about recycling at St. John Fisher College, visit http://home.sjfc.edu/green/.

Cartel to Perform Concert at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 10, 2008—Cartel, a band that sold nearly a quarter million copies of its debut album, Chroma, in 2006, will perform at St. John Fisher College on Thursday, April 17 at 8 p.m. in the Student Life Center. The concert is sponsored by Fisher’s student-run Spring Event Committee. The performance is open to all Fisher students, faculty, staff, and the general public. The doors will open at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices are $8 for Fisher undergraduate students; $12 for graduate students, faculty and staff; $18 for general admission; and $20 if purchased at the door on the night of the show. Tickets are available for purchase in the Office of Campus Life, located in the Campus Center, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.sjfc.musictoday.com.

Cartel’s highly anticipated, self-titled sophomore album is an exhilarating blend of sumptuous pop hooks and raw rock thrills with a depth and emotional range that broadens with each listen.  Crackling with the absorbed influences of the Beatles, Radiohead, Beach Boys, and Led Zeppelin, the album opens with an intoxicating leadoff track “The Best,” a beautifully spare and compelling song which sets the tone for the record.

With its debut album, Cartel received heavy radio and MTV airplay, including appearances on “TRL” and the network’s “Discover & Download” program. The album also garnered critical acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone, USA Today, and Alternative Press.

The members of Cartel all grew up in Conyers, Georgia, about 20 miles east of Atlanta, where they live now. The band has been playing together since 2000. After years of making demos and playing any hole-in-the-wall that would have them, the band self-released the Ransom EP in March 2004. A deal with the Militia Group followed and full-length debut Chroma was issued in 2005. The buzz surrounding the album led to a contract with Epic, who re-released Chroma in 2006.

For more information about the Cartel performance, please call St. John Fisher College at (585) 385-8005, or visit home.sjfc.edu/campuslife/springevent.html or www.cartelrocks.com.

Senator Joseph Robach Secures $2.25M to Support Concept of Law School at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 8, 2008—Late this afternoon, NYS Senator Joseph Robach, 56th Senate District, informed the College that he has secured support for the development of a School of Law at St. John Fisher College. The idea of a law school has been under consideration by the College’s administration for over a year. Senator Robach’s support will assist the College in further developing this concept.

St. John Fisher College looks forward to continuing discussions about the concept of a law school. Additional information will be released as details are available.

St. John Fisher College Students Observe National Alcohol Awareness Month With Crash Simulation

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 8, 2008—The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at St. John Fisher College today sponsored a simulation of a drunken driving accident. The purpose of the demonstration was to give viewers a powerful visual of a two-vehicle accident, involving alcohol, from the time of impact. The event was held in conjunction with National Alcohol Awareness Month.

Student volunteers acted as the "victims" and the Brighton Fire Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Pittsford Ambulance responded. Action Towing donated the totaled cars that were used in the simulation.

Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Lyon narrated the simulation, explaining what was happening as the scene unfolded behind him. The SAAC organized the simulation, hoping it would cause people to make better decisions regarding drinking and driving.

Alcohol Awareness Month has been sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence since 1987. It encourages local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. For more information about Alcohol Awareness Month, visit http://www.ncadd.org/programs/awareness/aamk2006new.html.

Three Inducted Into the Jack Palvino Communication/Journalism Hall of Fame at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 7, 2008—On Friday night, three successful Fisher alumni were inducted into the Jack Palvino Communication/Journalism Hall of Fame at St. John Fisher College. The honorees were: Ray Sullivan ’85, Executive Producer at News 10NBC; Lisa Murphy, who is an honorary alumna of Fisher, and currently works as Special Assistant for College Publications at Medaille College; and Michael Ginestre ’94, a social studies teacher at Falconer High School.

The Communication/Journalism Hall of Fame was created in 1999 and named for Jack Palvino, famous radio personality, station owner, College alumnus, trustee, and generous benefactor to the department and the students. The Hall of Fame recognizes those who, in the tradition of Palvino, support the academic mission of the department by counseling students, providing internships and real-world experiences, and lending their expertise and credibility to enrich the lives of those who follow in their footsteps.

Sullivan has been at News 10NBC for 22 years. He continues to be involved in the Fisher community. In the fall of 2005, he was asked by the Communication/Journalism Department to help start a program for student-produced broadcasts of Fisher football games. They started with radio broadcasts of a few home games, and two years later, they now do live, online broadcasts of home and away football games, and men’s and women’s basketball games.

Murphy has more than 25 years experience working in the print industry, holding various positions at numerous publications. She spent four years at Fisher working with the student newspaper, the Cardinal Courier. She currently works at Medaille College, where she helped students redesign the student newspaper, the Medaille Perspective. Both the Cardinal Courier and the Medaille Perspective have been recognized statewide and nationally for excellence.

Ginestre spent more than seven years managing accounts at marketing and public relations agencies such as Hutchins/Young & Rubicam, C.H.E.N Public Relations, and Buck & Pulleyn. He began teaching as an adjunct professor at St. John Fisher College in 2000, and was promoted to full-time faculty in September 2005. He earned a master’s degree in secondary education from Niagara University in 2004, and a master’s in educational administration in 2006. He is also a former Assistant Professor of Communication/Journalism at St. John Fisher College.

For more information regarding the Jack Palvino Communication/Journalism Hall of Fame, contact Dr. Lauren Vicker, Chair of the Communication/Journalism Department, at (585) 385-8205 or lvicker@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College Dedicates the William A. Fay Building

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 4, 2008—St. John Fisher College today dedicated the William A. Fay Building. The building was made possible by a gift from the late Julie Fay, given in memory of her father. The new two-story building is nearly 5,000 square feet and is located between Pioch and Basil Halls.

“The College is pleased to be able to help Ms. Julie Fay fulfill her dream of preserving the memory of her father,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President of St. John Fisher College. “How delighted we are to memorialize him with this fine building, which will stand as a monument to the many contributions William Fay made to the Rochester community and the broadcasting profession. In addition, the William Fay papers will be a valuable part of the College’s Radio Museum Hall of Fame.”

Dr. Bain was joined at the ceremony by the Fay family, Dr. Lauren Vicker, Chair of the Communication Department, and other members of the Fisher community.

William A. Fay began his career in radio in the early 1920s as an announcer and performer at WGY, a station in Schenectady, N.Y. He went on to work at WMAK in Buffalo, and then to WHAM in Rochester, where he was appointed General Manager in 1929. Fay continued to work in radio, and by 1955 he had been elected President and General Manager of WHAM, and Director of the Stromberg-Carlson Broadcasting Corporation.

Fay also worked with the latest broadcasting technology at the time: television. Already an NBC radio affiliate, WHAM became an NBC-TV affiliate. WHAM-TV pioneered color television in Rochester, making its first color telecast in 1952. Under his leadership, WHAM won several awards for excellence and public service, and Fay himself received many awards. WHAM-TV eventually became WROC-TV, of which Fay was appointed General Manager in 1956. In 1957, he left broadcasting, and in 1958 purchased City Blue Print Company.

In addition to his work in broadcasting, Fay can be remembered for his commitment to the Rochester community. He helped organize an emergency civil defense alert system and created the first local citizens’ advisory council for the WHAM stations. He was also heavily involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Auto Club, Advertising Council, and the Salvation Army, among others. Fay died at the age of 72, after dedicating most of his life to work and service in and for the Rochester community.

For more information about the William A. Fay Building or the Communication/Journalism Department, contact Dr. Vicker at (585) 385-8205 or lvicker@sjfc.edu.

Dr. Carolyn Vacca Presents “No Ordinary Women: Remarkable Women of Monroe County” for First Friday Lecture Series

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 1, 2008—Dr. Carolyn Vacca, Assistant Professor of History at St. John Fisher College, will present “No Ordinary Women: Remarkable Women of Monroe County” on Friday, April 4, 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.

There are women in the history of Monroe County who worked to create stronger, better communities for all of us. They may have lived lives of historical anonymity, but not of unimportance. Some women challenged society’s gender or racial restrictions.  Others helped fellow citizens expand horizons through education, and enhanced the political and cultural vitality of Monroe County through voluminous volunteer efforts. Dr. Vacca will discuss these women, all of whom may have led ordinary lives, but were no ordinary women.

Dr. Vacca has been the Monroe County Historian since 1995 and has taught at Fisher for seven years. She received her bachelor’s degree in history from Syracuse University, a master’s in library science from SUNY Geneseo, a master’s degree in history from SUNY Brockport, and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Rochester.

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 April 4 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

March

St. John Fisher College and RAMA Present “Fun is Good: How to Create an Empowering and Creative Workplace”

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 27, 2008—St. John Fisher College and the Rochester Chapter of the American Marketing Association (RAMA) will host speaker Mike Veeck for “Fun is Good: How to Create an Empowering and Creative Workplace” on Friday, April 4. Veeck is the owner of six minor league baseball teams, and the son of famous baseball businessman Bill Veeck.

In his book, Fun is Good: How to Create Joy and Passion in Your Workplace and Career, Veeck gives practical tips for business owners. His presentation focuses on providing the same type of advice.

“It’s a business book, but baseball fans hopefully will enjoy it because they will understand the stories,” said Veeck. “You can take it and apply it to any business. It’s about having fun and treating people with respect.”

Veeck’s visit to Rochester begins with a luncheon seminar at noon at the Monroe Golf Club. The luncheon is $45 for RAMA members, $60 for non-members, and $32 for students. All attendees will receive a copy of Veeck’s book at no extra charge. Veeck will be available to sign them at the end of the luncheon. To register for the event, visit www.ama-rochester.org.

Afterward, Veeck will go to the Fisher campus to talk with the College community. Veeck’s presentation is part of the St. John Fisher College Sport Studies Department Speakers Bureau.

For more information about Mike Veeck, visit www.funisgood.net. For questions about the event, please contact Scott Bryson, Director of Practicum and Internships in the Sports Studies Department at Fisher, at (585) 385-7376 or sbryson@sjfc.edu.

Wegmans School of Nursing Presents Wilmot Lectures

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 24, 2008—The Wegmans School of Nursing at St. John Fisher College will present its annual Wilmot Lectures on Wednesday, April 2, and Thursday, April 3. This year’s special guest speakers are: Dr. Charles Curran, a Southern Methodist University professor and controversial Catholic theologian; and Dr. Maura Ryan, Associate Professor of Theology and Associate Provost at the University of Notre Dame. The events are free and open to the public.

Dr. Curran will present “An Historical Perspective on Bio-Ethics” on Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Cleary Family Auditorium on the Fisher campus.

Dr. Curran received his doctorate in sacred theology with a specialization in moral theology at Academia Alfonsiana in Rome, Italy. He is a Roman Catholic priest who has taught at several universities throughout the United States, including Catholic University, Cornell University, the University of Southern California, and Auburn University.

Dr. Curran’s primary teaching specialties and research interests are fundamental moral theology, social ethics, the role of the Church as a moral and political actor in society, and Catholic moral theology. He is the author of several books, including Catholic Social Teaching 1891-Present: A Historical, Theological, and Ethical Analysis (2002), and Moral Theology at the End of the Century (1999).

Dr. Ryan will present her lecture, “Issues in Global Health: Opting for the Poor in the Age of AIDS,” on Thursday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m., also in Cleary Family Auditorium.

Dr. Ryan earned her doctorate degree from Yale University in 1993. Her primary interests are in the areas of bioethics and health policy, feminist ethics, and fundamental moral theology. She co-edited a book on global stewardship with Todd Whitmore in 1997, and her Ethics and Economics of Assisted Reproduction: The Cost of Longing was published by Georgetown Press in 2001. She is on the Board of Directors for the Society of Christian Ethics and the editorial boards of the Religious Studies Review and Ethics and Behavior.

The Wilmot Lectures are made possible by the Wilmot Lecture/Award Fund, which serves to support an annual workshop on topics such as ethics and gerontology. In the past, Fisher has welcomed Wilmot speakers on topics such as healthcare for the homeless, and the impact of healthcare reform on the nursing practice and job satisfaction.

For more information about the Wilmot Lectures, please contact Carolyn Martin at (585) 385-8468 or e-mail cmartin@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College Dedicates Classroom in Honor of Leadership Gift Received from Victor Salerno ‘66

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 20, 2008—St. John Fisher College recently dedicated a classroom in the Wegmans School of Nursing in honor of Victor and Eileen Salerno, to recognize their $125,000 gift to the College. Vic Salerno, CEO of O’Connell Electric Company, is a Fisher alumnus from the Class of 1966 and was named a trustee of the College in December 2007.

The classroom, named the Victor and Eileen Salerno Lecture Hall, has 100 seats and is located on the first floor of the new Wegmans School of Nursing building, which was opened in August 2007.

Salerno has kept active in the campus community as 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.

Salerno joined O’Connell Electric in 1971. The company 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.

Dr. Arlette Miller Smith is Honored with 2008 Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Achievement Award

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 18, 2008—Dr. Arlette Miller Smith, Dean of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs at St. John Fisher College, was recently named a 2008 recipient of the prestigious Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Achievement Award.

The award recognizes New York women who selflessly dedicate themselves to improving the quality of life available to the poor, the powerless, and the persecuted. Dr. Miller Smith accepted the award at the Seventh Annual Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Achievement Awards Jubilee in Albany, N.Y.

The Harriet Tubman March 10 Coalition played an integral part in getting the signatures needed for the New York State Legislature to establish March 10 as an official state holiday in honor of Harriet Tubman. Tubman died on March 10, 1913. This holiday commemorates Tubman’s work as an abolitionist and suffragist, and her rescue missions along the Underground Railroad. It is the first holiday to be celebrated during the month of March, which is also Women’s History Month. The Coalition also established the Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Awards Jubilee, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation whose sole mission is to establish the tradition of holding an annual event on the Saturday closest to March 10.

Dr. Miller Smith came to Fisher in 1997 with a dual appointment as an Assistant Professor of English and Associate Dean for Diversity Programs. In 2002, she was named Dean of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to: assisting in the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented groups; developing programs to address the needs of students from different backgrounds and identities; participating in curriculum development in the areas of diversity and multiculturalism; and fostering initiatives that promote civility, understanding, and a respectful campus environment.

Dr. Miller Smith serves on several local boards and community initiatives including BOA Editions, the Urban League of Rochester; the former Bi-Racial Community Partners Program (currently known as the Mosaic Partnership Program); the Commission on Race and Ethnicity; and was a member of the New York-Penn Regional Red Cross Blood Services Board.

She is also the founder and executive director of AKOMA, Rochester’s African American Women’s Gospel Choir.

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education Sponsors Youth Tennis Clinic at Rochester Open

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 7, 2008—For the second year, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education at St. John Fisher College joined with Camp Good Days and Special Times to sponsor a Youth Tennis Clinic as part of the Rochester Open Celebrity Pro-Am Tennis Tournament & Celebration, which benefits the Women’s Oncology Program at Camp Good Days.

The event took place on Friday, February 29, at Midtown Athletic Club. Special guests at the clinic were world class tennis professionals Katrina Adams, Tom Gullikson, and Johan Kriek.

More than 150 children from the Rochester City School District attended the clinic and received lessons from the pros about different tennis strokes and strategies. After the clinic, the students were treated to pizza and soda, and were given the opportunity to mingle with the professionals, collecting autographs and posing for photographs. In addition, Dr. Julius Gregg Adams, Acting Dean, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. School of Education at St. John Fisher College, and Katrina Adams spoke to the students about the importance of education. Each student was given a tennis racquet to keep, which was donated in part by Wilson Sporting Goods, and a backpack from the School of Education that contained information about the School of Education and St. John Fisher College.

 “We were pleased to partner once again with the Rochester City School District and Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard to make this program available to area students,” said Dr. Adams. “The tennis clinic provided the opportunity for city youth to gain valuable exposure to the sport of tennis, while, at the same time, benefitting a very worthy cause.”

Fulbright Scholar’s Photographs from Vietnam in Lavery Library at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 5, 2008—Lavery Library’s latest exhibit, “Mark Rice: Photographs from Vietnam,” is on display through March 31 at St. John Fisher College. Dr. Rice is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of American Studies at the College. Featured in the Lower Level Gallery, the exhibit is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features photographs taken last year by Dr. Rice while in Vietnam on a Fulbright Scholarship. While living there with his family, he photographed his surroundings in various Vietnamese cities.

Beginning in February 2007, Dr. Rice spent five months in Vietnam to help develop an American studies program at Can Tho University. He assisted the college in the design and implementation of its American studies curriculum, taught courses on American literature, society, and culture, and worked with graduate students on their master’s theses.

Dr. Rice has exhibited his work in Honolulu and Rochester, and will have a piece in the upcoming show, “Street Photography,” at the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colo.

In addition to taking photographs, Dr. Rice writes and lectures about photography. He co-authored the book Photography From 1839 to Today: George Eastman House, Rochester, N.Y. (1999), and is the author of Through the Lens of the City: NEA Photography Surveys of the 1970s (2005).

In celebration of the exhibit, a reception will be held on Friday, March 7 at 10:30 a.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 “Mark Rice: Photographs from Vietnam,” please contact Nancy Greco, Reference Librarian and Head of Circulation, at (585) 385-8139 or ngreco@sjfc.edu.

Fisher’s Mental Health Counseling Program Receives Eight Years of Accreditation from the CACREP

PITTSFORD, N.Y., March 4, 2008—The Mental Health Counseling program at St. John Fisher College was recently awarded a full eight years of accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program becomes only the seventh CACREP-accredited program in New York State.

“Receiving a full eight years of accreditation is a significant achievement for us,” said Dr. Signe Kastberg, Director of the Mental Health Counseling Program, St. John Fisher College. “Our program is only in its fourth year of operation. Most new programs receive only two years of accreditation, if at all. Attaining eight years—the most that can be received—really speaks to the high quality of our program.”

CACREP accreditation provides recognition that the content and quality of the education offered by the accredited program has been evaluated extensively and meets standards set by and for the profession.

To become accredited, the Mental Health Counseling faculty was required to complete an accreditation process that included a lengthy self-study, which was more than 500 pages. The process, coordinated by Kristin Barnes, Assistant Professor, began in fall 2006 and was submitted in March 2007. A preliminary CACREP-selected team of counselor educators from other states reviewed the document, and then a site visit team traveled to the Fisher campus.

The Mental Health Counseling Program at St. John Fisher College educates students to provide therapeutic mental health interventions in the community. The program focuses upon counseling areas such as professional identity, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, helping relationships, career development, group work, assessment, research, program evaluation, and evidence-based intervention skills used in mental health counseling. The master’s degree program in mental health counseling provides students the opportunity to learn through a variety of teaching methodologies, including class discussions, role-playing, small group work, case-study analyses, and classroom simulations. Students also have the opportunity to apply this knowledge in supervised clinical settings. The master’s program at St. John Fisher College is approved by the state of New York for the education component of licensure as a mental health counselor.

For more information about the Mental Health Counseling Program, please contact Dr. Kastberg at (585) 385-7222 or skastberg@sjfc.edu.

February

Dr. David Sanders Presents “‘Or Does it Explode?’: Langston Hughes, Poet of Protest” for First Friday Lecture Series

PITTSFORD, N.Y., February 29, 2008—Dr. David Sanders, Professor of English at St. John Fisher College, will present “‘Or Does it Explode?’: Langston Hughes, Poet of Protest” on Friday, March 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.

Langston Hughes was one of America’s great poets. An African-American whose ancestors included slaves and free blacks who fought for abolition, Hughes grew up in Kansas and traveled to Africa and Europe before settling in Harlem. He sought an audience among his own people and became a voice heard by all of America. As James Baldwin, an African-American writer of the next generation, said: “He showed me what was in front of my eyes, but he made me see it.”

Sanders’ lecture will feature readings of Hughes’s poems, with commentary. Participation of the audience will be invited.

Dr. Sanders has taught English, American, and Biblical literature at Fisher for 22 years. He is past president of the Robert Frost Society and has published works on a number of modern writers.

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 March 7 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

26th Annual Dance for Love at St. John Fisher College Raises $32,777 for Camp Good Days and Special Times

PITTSFORD, N.Y., February 14, 2008—Last weekend, more than 500 dancers and 70 volunteers exchanged sleep for 24 hours of dancing for a good cause. The 26th annual Teddi Dance for Love at St. John Fisher College raised $32,777 for Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Throughout the past 26 years, St. John Fisher College has raised more than $600,000 for Camp Good Days and Special Times, an organization for children and their families who are touched by cancer and other life challenges. The proceeds from the Teddi Dance for Love help to grant the last wishes of these sick children and offer them a chance to enjoy a trip to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and other places in Orlando, Fl.

Dr. Donald Bain, President of St. John Fisher College, and Gary Mervis, Founder of Camp Good Days and Special Times, served as the opening and closing guest speakers.

This year also marked the 9th annual Dance for Love hair donation to the Locks for Love Foundation. At the dance, 370 inches of hair were collected to donate to Locks for Love. Additional inches were donated during the weeks leading up to the Dance for Love, bringing the total to 1,200 inches of hair donated from St. John Fisher College this year. Volunteers must have at least 10 inches of hair to donate to the organization, which makes wigs for children going through chemotherapy.

The dance has a special connection to St. John Fisher College. Gary Mervis, the founder of Camp Good Days and Special Times, is a volunteer football coach at the College. His daughter, Elizabeth “Teddi” Mervis, died of childhood cancer in February 1982. That year, Lou Buttino, a former professor at St. John Fisher College and close friend of Gary Mervis, organized a group of students to plan a 24-hour dance marathon to benefit the Teddi Project.

For more information, please contact the Teddi Committee at (585) 385-7307 or teddi@sjfc.edu, or visit the website at http://home.sjfc.edu/teddi.

St. John Fisher College Receives President’s Honor Roll Award for Distinguished Community Service

PITTSFORD, N.Y., February 13, 2008—St. John Fisher College has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll With Distinction for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. Overall, only 127 colleges and universities were named as Honor Roll With Distinction members.

Launched in 2006 by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award are chosen based on a series of factors including scope and innovativeness of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the extensive community service performed by our students, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Donald Bain, President, St. John Fisher College. “Our commitment to service embodies the spirit of community and caring that has been the hallmark of the Fisher experience for decades.”

St. John Fisher College was recognized for a number of its 2006-2007 community service programs, including: Helping Hands for Homecoming, an event in which Fisher volunteers painted a house for a disabled elderly woman, and sorted and stocked shelves at FoodLink; a New Orleans Spring Break trip, when 56 volunteers partnered with Catholic Charities of New Orleans to spend several days assisting in the ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief effort; the Teddi Dance for Love, an annual 24-hour dance marathon to raise money for Camp Good Days and Special Times; and the Day of Celebration, an all-day, campus-wide festival that showcases holiday celebrations from various races, cultures, ethnicities, and traditions.

The Honor Roll is jointly sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, through its Learn and Serve America program, and the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps, and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

For more information about community service at St. John Fisher College, please contact Sally Vaughan, Director of Community Service, at (585) 385-8196 or svaughan@sjfc.edu.

Xerox President Ursula Burns to Speak at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., February 6, 2008—The Management Club and the Bittner School of Business at St. John Fisher College will welcome Ursula Burns, President and Chief Operating Officer of Xerox Corporation, on Tuesday, February 12. Burns will present “Lessons of Leadership: Bold Bets and Back to Basics,” in which she will briefly share the Xerox story, as well as discuss her views on leadership, how she overcame adversity, and how she applies lessons of leadership to everything she does.

The presentation will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Cleary Family Auditorium on the Fisher campus.

At Xerox, Burns is responsible for global research, engineering, marketing, and manufacturing of Xerox technology, supplies, and related services. She also oversees the company’s IT organization, corporate strategy, human resources, marketing operations, and global accounts.

Xerox is the global leader in document management solutions with $17 billion in annual revenues. The company currently has the broadest portfolio of document management systems and software in its industry and in its history. That progress is due in large part to Burns’ work as she drove a technology strategy that launched more than 100 products in the last three years.

Burns worked her way upward after starting at Xerox as an intern more than 27 years ago. She was named President of Xerox Corporation, and elected a member of the Xerox Board of Directors in April 2007. She joined Xerox in 1980 as a mechanical engineering summer intern and has since held several positions in engineering including product development and planning.

Burns holds a bachelor’s degree from Polytechnic Institute of New York, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. She serves on professional and community boards, including American Express Corp., Boston Scientific Corp., Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), National Association of Manufacturers, and the University of Rochester.

For more information regarding Burns’ visit at St. John Fisher College, please contact Dr. Selim Ilter, Dean of the Bittner School of Business, at (585) 385-8082 or silter@sjfc.edu.

St. John Fisher College to Offer Statistics Major in Fall 2008

PITTSFORD, N.Y., February 4, 2008—Beginning in the fall, St. John Fisher College will offer its students a major in statistics. The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Mathematical and Computing Sciences, and the Department of Psychology. The major will include courses on the mathematical foundations of statistics and on statistical methods used to solve problems in the social and behavioral sciences and professions.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in statistics will be able to work in the medical research field or healthcare industry, governmental or non-profit agencies, or the survey research/consulting industry.

“Few other undergraduate statistics majors, certainly none in Western New York, combine courses in mathematical statistics with courses on the statistical methods used in the behavioral sciences,” said Dr. Bruce Blaine, Director of the Statistics Program. “The major grew out of a shared conviction that statistics majors have the education and skills that are useful to organizations—such as the ability to analyze data, design and administer good surveys and measures, steer organizational research, and interpret and communicate complex statistical results to laypeople to help them make decisions.”

The College will also require that statistics majors complete field experiences with “community partner” organizations in which they apply statistical principles and methods in real-world contexts. Currently, some of the community partner organizations include the Rochester City School District, Preferred Care Behavioral Health, and the RIT Office of Institutional Research.

For more information about the statistics major at St. John Fisher College, please contact Dr. Blaine at (585) 899-3808 or bblaine@sjfc.edu.

January

St. John Fisher College to Hold 26th Annual Dance for Love to Benefit Camp Good Days and Special Times

PITTSFORD, N.Y., January 31, 2008—The 26th annual Teddi Dance for Love at St. John Fisher College will take place on Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9 in the Student Life Center on the Fisher campus. The 24-hour dance marathon raises money to support the Teddi Project at Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Throughout the past 25 years, the dance has raised more than $500,000 for Camp Good Days and Special Times, an organization for children and their families who are touched by cancer and other life challenges. The proceeds from the Teddi Dance for Love help to grant the last wishes of these sick children and offer them a chance to enjoy a trip to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and other places in Orlando, Fl.

The dance has a special connection to St. John Fisher College. Gary Mervis, the founder of Camp Good Days and Special Times, is a volunteer football coach at the College. His daughter, Elizabeth “Teddi” Mervis, died of childhood cancer in February 1982. That year, Lou Buttino, a former professor at St. John Fisher College and close friend of Gary Mervis, organized a group of students to plan a 24-hour dance marathon to benefit the Teddi Project.

The Dance for Love began with only a few dozen dancers. This year, there are already 300 dancers and volunteers registered to participate in the event. The majority of the dancers are Fisher students and alumni, but some are from neighboring colleges or the surrounding community.

This year will also mark the 9th annual Dance for Love hair donation to the Locks for Love Foundation. Members of the Fisher community have volunteered to donate 10 inches of their hair to the organization, which makes wigs for children going through chemotherapy. The hair will be cut by local salon professionals on Saturday, February 9 between 9 a.m. and noon. Anyone is welcome to take part in this donation, and should contact the Dance for Love committee for additional information.

At any time throughout the year, the Teddi Committee will accept recyclable can and bottle donations through the EZ Bottle & Can Return at 1259 Fairport Road in Fairport. Patrons can drop off cans and bottles for recycling and indicate that they are for the Teddi Dance for Love. The $0.05 rebate for each can will then be donated to Teddi. The Teddi Committee has raised more than $100 with this program, which was established in November 2007. For questions regarding the can and bottle return, call EZ Bottle & Can Return at (585) 377-9140 or visit the website at www.ezreturn.org.  

Highlights of the Teddi Dance for Love schedule are as follows:

For more information, please contact the Teddi Committee at (585) 385-7307 or teddi@sjfc.edu, or visit the website at http://home.sjfc.edu/teddi.

Dr. Tim Madigan Presents “Dr. Jekyll and the Body Snatchers: Teaching Medical Humanities” for First Friday Lecture Series

PITTSFORD, N.Y., January 29, 2008—Dr. Tim Madigan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at St. John Fisher College, will present “Dr. Jekyll and the Body Snatchers: Teaching Medical Humanities” on Friday, February 1, 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.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is one of the most influential popular writers of all time. Two of his most famous works, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and The Body Snatchers, show how literature—and the films based upon them—can help us address medical ethics issues today. Stevenson, whose own life was cut short due to chronic health problems, dealt with such themes as the duality of human nature, the role of physicians in society, the need for openness in research, the uses and abuses of human cadavers, and the desire to use pharmaceuticals to improve the human condition. Dr. Madigan will discuss these topics and how they remain current and controversial today.

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 February 1 event, please contact Tiffany Carnevale at (585) 385-8354 or tcarnevale@sjfc.edu.

Martinez and Snyder Named as 2007-2008 Recipients of Excellus Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship

PITTSFORD, N.Y., January 23, 2008—Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield recently announced the 2007-2008 recipients of the Excellus Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship at St. John Fisher College. Juniors Nathalia Martinez and John Snyder were awarded $500 scholarships in recognition of their involvement in Fisher clubs and organizations whose programs reflect a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice.

Martinez is a Rochester native and a 2005 graduate of the School of the Arts (SOTA). As a First Generation Scholar, she is pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in Spanish. On the Fisher campus, she is affiliated with a number of student organizations, academic programs, and offices, including Gospel Choir, Latino Student Union, the Political Science Club, and the Office of Residential Life.

Snyder, who is a Buffalo native, is pursuing a dual degree in adolescent education and English. He is the Co-Founder of Students With a Vision (SWAV), a student organization that is dedicated to promoting and providing community service and outreach at the College and in the Rochester community. Snyder is also the 2007-2008 Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA). As a Service Scholar, John has spent nearly 800 hours volunteering in the community throughout his years at Fisher.

Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield began its Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship program at St. John Fisher College during the 2005-2006 academic year. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to two Fisher students—one to a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior male, and the other to a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior female. Excellus Diversity Scholars serve as student co-chairs for Fisher’s Day of Celebration Planning Committee or for another designated campus-wide initiative.

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

President Bain Reappointed to Three-Year Term as Member of the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commissions

PITTSFORD, N.Y., January 21, 2008—Dr. Donald Bain, President of St. John Fisher College, has been reappointed to serve a three-year term as a member of the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commissions, a statewide network of screening panels to review the qualifications of judicial election candidates. The independent commissions are thought to represent one of the best methods for improving the current judicial elective system.

President Bain is one of only 15 individuals selected to serve in the Seventh Judicial District, which includes Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates Counties.

Members of the independent commissions were named by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, the Presiding Justices, the New York State Bar Association, and local bar associations. The commission members selected represent both the legal profession and the general public, and are community members within the districts they serve.

The commission in each judicial district evaluates local candidates for elective judicial office to ensure they possess the qualities necessary for effective judicial performance. Assessments of candidates are based on critical judicial values, specifically: professional ability; character, independence, and integrity; reputation for fairness and lack of bias; and temperament, including courtesy and patience.

A complete list of appointees to the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commissions can be found online at www.nycourts.gov/press/jeqc-members.shtml.

Martin Luther King, Jr. to be Celebrated at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., January 17, 2008—St. John Fisher College will host its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, January 21. The theme of this year’s event is “Unfinished Business: Fulfilling the Promise of the Beloved Community.”

The program focuses on Dr. King and the six steps for non-violent social change, which are based on Dr. King’s campaigns and teachings which emphasize love in action. The event is free and open to the public.

The keynote speaker is Rev. Kaaren S. Anderson, Co-Pastor of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, a job she shares with her husband, Scott Tayler. Anderson began her career as an art educator following graduation from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her experience in a retirement center and as an artist led her to pursue a master’s degree from New York University. A Unitarian Universalist since childhood, Anderson became interested in combining the arts and worship. As a result, she graduated from Union Theological Seminary and subsequently served in a variety of ministerial positions. Anderson and her husband moved to Rochester in 2004 to become Parish Ministers of the First Unitarian Church.

The celebration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cleary Family Auditorium in Kearney Hall on Fisher’s campus. Special musical guests are the Church of Love Faith Center (COLFC), and the St. John Fisher College Community Gospel Choir. Soloists are Javonte Adams, Brenden Hobbs, and Cheryl Martin-Smith.

Since on-campus parking for visitors is limited, the Park & Ride lot on Fairport Road (Route 31F) near the 490 interchange is available for overflow parking. There will be shuttle service between the Park & Ride lot and Kearney Hall. The program will be interpreted for the hearing impaired and the facility is wheelchair-accessible.

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

White Coat Ceremony Marks Initiation into Program, “Rite of Passage” for Pharmacy Students at St. John Fisher College

PITTSFORD, N.Y., January 7, 2008—The Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College held a white coat ceremony yesterday to officially mark the entrance of the Class of 2011 into the profession. In this “rite of passage,” each student received a white coat symbolizing their successful admission into the School of Pharmacy.

“The white coat ceremony is a special tradition for new pharmacy students,” said Dr. Scott Swigart, Dean of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy. “They have successfully completed their first semester of pharmacy study, and they can look forward to future success within the program and the profession."

Susan Ksiazek, Chair of the New York State Board of Pharmacy, served as the keynote speaker. Dominic Crisafulli, President of the Pharmacy Society of Rochester (PSR) led the students in the recitation of the Pharmacist’s Oath.

The pharmacy students who received white coats are: Christine Albert of Fairport; Jason Arpag of Rochester; Bryan Baker of Fairport; Jonathan Blackman of Pittsford; Benjamin Blakely of Spencerport; Ashley Blincoe of Kirkville; Gregory Buteau of Middletown; Wesley Butler of Sussex, N.J.; Stefania Carrano of Henrietta; Brittany Christa of Rochester; Nicole Christina of Auburn; Devin Cook of Rochester; Susan Daratt of Cato; Lisa Deckman of Pittsford; Edward Derck of Rochester; Tuong Diep of Rochester; Kathryn Dorward of Trumansburg; Celine Duong of Huntington Beach, Calif.; Kerry-Ann Fuller of Fort Lauderdale, Fl.; Rosemary Garbowski of Macedon; Tyler Humphries of Horseheads; ChunYip Hung of Brooklyn; Erin Jannetta of Rochester; Devang Jariwala of Concord, Ontario; Christopher Jones of Churchville; Justin Jopson of Rochester; Melissa Kaltenbach of Brockport; Madoussou Kane of West Palm Beach, Fl.; Gretchen Kelly of Fairport; Tara Krueger of Buffalo; Karry Laboski of Rochester; and Jennifer Leonard of Esperance.

Also Christine Ling of Tuckahe; YaYin Liou of Plainsboro, N.J.; Richard Lonski of Rochester; Nicole Lupiani of Rochester; Alexander Manou of Rochester; Joshua Marcello of Rochester; Lucas Miller of Holley; Nicholas Mills of Madrid, N.Y.; Paula Monahan of Webster; Scott Morrissey of Newark Valley; Richard Mufford of Lyndonville; Alexander Novotny of Williamsville; Michael O’Connor of Rochester; Erin Ottley of Auburn; Krutika Patel of Bartlett, Ill.; Jordan Pugliese of Fairport; Joshua Rice of Brewerton; Todd Schoen of Hilton; Tracey Schultz of Naples; Soultana Strembenis of Churchville; Jennifer Stutz of Buffalo; Kimberly Swigart of Victor; Jacqueline Thomas of New City; Uyen Tran of Rochester; Amanda Way of Erie, Pa.; Caitlin White of Owego; Matt Woloszyn of Rochester; Annie Zakian of Paramus, N.J.; and John Zervas of Toronto.

2007 Press Releases