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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: The Power of Conflict

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:12:53 +0000

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: The Power of Conflict jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 09/15/2026 - 10:12 School of Social and Behavioral Sciences Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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The Power of Conflict

Equipping students to navigate complexity and lead with purpose.

Conflict is everywhere. It shows up in workplaces, classrooms, relationships and communities. The difference is not whether it exists, but how we respond to it.

As professional environments grow more complex, the ability to navigate conflict has become essential across industries. From healthcare and education to business and public service, success increasingly depends on communication, emotional intelligence and the ability to work through differences. At ��ϲ��, a new Conflict Studies minor is designed to meet that moment.

Developed within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the interdisciplinary minor brings together decades of coursework focused on conflict resolution, mediation and collaborative problem-solving. Open to students across all majors, it reflects
a growing recognition that these skills are not optional. They are foundational to how future professionals will lead, collaborate and make decisions.

“This minor grew out of conversations across the University about what students truly need to succeed,” said Dr. Cynthia Walley, interim dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “No matter the field, students are entering environments where they have to navigate complexity, work with different perspectives and communicate effectively. These are skills they will use immediately and throughout their lives.”

The program emphasizes real-world application. Students build highly transferable skills in negotiation, ethical decision-making and emotional intelligence. These skills strengthen leadership, professional judgment and the ability to work across teams. Learning is active and reflective, with opportunities to engage in real-life scenarios, guided discussions and practical exercises that mirror the challenges students will face beyond the classroom.

Its interdisciplinary design makes the minor especially powerful. While it naturally complements fields like criminal justice, psychology and legal studies, it is equally valuable for students in business, health and natural sciences, nursing and the liberal arts.

“Conflict shows up everywhere,” Walley said. “Whether students are working in teams, in clinical settings or in organizations, these skills translate across every environment.”

The minor also builds on a strong foundation already in place at ��ϲ��. More than 700 students have been trained as New York State community mediators, applying these skills in courts, schools, workplaces and communities. This reflects the University’s longstanding commitment to preparing thoughtful, ethical problem-solvers.

For Professor Dorothy Balancio, who has spent more than 25 years teaching Conflict Studies, the work is deeply personal. In 1994, her son Louis, then a ��ϲ�� junior, was killed in a case of mistaken identity.

“When I buried Louis, I felt like I had failed him,” she said. “I made a promise that I would spend the rest of my life teaching these skills to other people, particularly college students.”

That promise became a calling and now, a program that will reach students across the University. Balancio’s approach challenges students to look inward as much as outward. Through reflection and discussion, they examine their own experiences and learn how unmet needs, communication breakdowns and assumptions can shape conflict.

“People try to avoid conflict,” she said. “But it is one of the greatest opportunities for growth. When you understand it, you can respond differently. You can lead differently.” That shift from avoidance to understanding is at the heart of the minor.

As ��ϲ�� marks 75 years of expanding access and opportunity, the Conflict Studies minor
represents a forward-looking investment in what comes next. Graduates will be prepared not only for the workforce, but to navigate it with clarity, empathy and purpose.

Conflict is inevitable. Knowing what to do with it is what sets ��ϲ�� students apart.

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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Thinking Under Pressure

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:19:09 +0000

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Thinking Under Pressure jbailjr@mercy.edu Wed, 08/26/2026 - 10:19 School of Nursing Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Alumni

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On a sunny Tuesday in April, students in ��ϲ��’s School of Nursing participated in a routine clinical simulation designed to prepare them for the fast-moving, often unpredictable reality of patient care. Faculty and staff were on hand, including Marvin Sanon, director of Simulation Operations and Karen Koziol, director of Clinical Simulation, Westchester Campus, School of Nursing. But this time, there was an additional presence in the room — quietly listening in. Kabilah, an AI-powered platform designed to support nursing communication and clinical decision-making, had joined the exercise.

As healthcare evolves, so does the way future nurses are trained. At ��ϲ��, tools like Kabilah are helping strengthen clinical decision-making, giving students added support in moments when clear thinking can make all the difference.

Borne out of a desire to reduce errors during hospital shift changes and nursing handoffs, Kabilah was designed specifically for the realities of nursing workflows. In an environment where nurses are working longer hours and managing increasingly complex patient needs, even small gaps in communication can have serious consequences.

“Nurses are working way more hours these days — more shifts and doubles,” said Sanon. “We’re trying, as all hospitals are around the world, to become high-reliability organizations.” In healthcare, high-reliability organizations focus on reducing errors, improving communication and strengthening patient safety.

During the simulation, as one student delivered a patient report and another received it, the platform listened in the background, capturing the exchange in real time. Within moments, it generated a structured report, surfacing key details and prompting deeper analysis during the debrief.

Instead of simply recalling information, students were asked to interpret it — questioning, for example, whether a patient’s low blood pressure was tied to medication or medical history.

“This isn’t about replacing clinical judgment,” Sanon said. “It’s about supporting it — giving students another layer of awareness so they can make better decisions.”

“It takes our reports to the next level,” said Koziol, who brings more than 50 years of experience as a registered nurse. “Seeing the technology change and grow has been an amazing journey.”

A ��ϲ�� graduate, Koziol began her career at Nyack Hospital and went on to work in the neonatal ICU at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan before returning full-time to ��ϲ�� in 2010.

When the traditional Nursing program was created in 2015, she served as the inaugural simulation specialist. “In the early days, the simulation team was just me. Now, as the nursing program has grown to include traditional, accelerated and weekend accelerated BSN tracks at ��ϲ��’s School of Nursing, the simulation team has expanded across two campuses, employs several staff members and is overseen by Marvin Sanon.”

What started as a makeshift lab in ��ϲ�� Hall has since grown into a cornerstone of the School of Nursing’s approach to hands-on learning. Today, simulation labs allow students to experience high-stakes clinical scenarios — such as diabetic emergencies, postpartum hemorrhages and asthma attacks — that they may not encounter during traditional clinical rotations.

“We use simulation in a lot of different ways,” Koziol said. “It gives students the chance to practice, to make mistakes and to learn from them — without putting anyone at risk. And it builds confidence for when they step into the real world.”

For Koziol, the difference from her own training is profound. “When I was a nursing student, simulation didn’t exist,” she said. “We had to practice on real patients.” Now, that environment continues to evolve.

As simulation becomes more advanced, faculty are looking beyond what students do in a scenario to better understand how they think and communicate under pressure. That’s where Kabilah is beginning to play a role.

“In one of our scenarios, we had multiple students working together to manage a patient in crisis,” Sanon said. “Kabilah was listening the entire time — capturing everything.”

According to Sanon, the platform also revealed moments that might have been missed in real time. In one case, it identified a prolonged stretch — nearly 90 seconds — where no one was communicating, highlighting how easily critical time can slip by in high-pressure situations.

“It’s really analyzing everything,” Sanon said, giving faculty a much deeper understanding of how students perform under pressure. “We’ve been really impressed with it.”

For ��ϲ��’s faculty, that level of insight is key. The goal is not just to expose students to clinical scenarios, but to reinforce critical thinking in real time.

“It’s easy to read a textbook and think you’ve retained the information,” Sanon said. “It’s different when you’re in the room and everything is happening at once.”

For Koziol, embracing that evolution is essential. “It doesn’t replace nursing — it aids it,” she said. “There is nothing that compares to hands-on clinical experience, but this prepares students for what they’ll encounter. They’re already using this technology in hospitals across New York City, so it gives our students a real advantage.”

That mindset extends beyond AI. ��ϲ�� continues to invest in emerging tools, including virtual reality platforms like SimX, which will allow students to participate in immersive clinical simulations across campuses and even remotely — an approach that gained traction across the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our mission is to be on the forefront of technology,” Sanon said. It’s a mission rooted not just in innovation, but in impact. “Excellence at its best,” he added. “��ϲ�� cares about innovation. ��ϲ�� cares about leading the next generation.”

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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: From Classroom to Career

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:51:19 +0000

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: From Classroom to Career jbailjr@mercy.edu Fri, 08/21/2026 - 09:51 School of Education Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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From classroom...to career.

Building the Next Generation of Educators

Across the country, schools are facing a growing challenge: Fewer people are entering the teaching profession, and even fewer are staying.

“We are in the midst of a labor crisis in teacher education,” says Eric Martone, dean of ��ϲ��’s School of Education. “Fewer students are entering the field, fewer are completing their programs and new teachers are burning out at unprecedented rates. Recruiting and retaining educators is especially challenging.” At the same time, the path to becoming a teacher has become increasingly difficult. Many aspiring educators must balance coursework with outside jobs, often without access to meaningful, hands-on classroom experience. That gap between preparation and practice is exactly what ��ϲ�� is working to close.

At ��ϲ��, the focus is not only on educating future teachers, but on building a sustainable pipeline of prepared, supported educators who are ready to serve their communities from day one.

The Suzanne McGraw Scholars Program, launched this year, is a central part of that effort. Funded by a $9.3 million gift from the Suzanne McGraw Foundation, the largest philanthropic investment in ��ϲ��’s history, the program is designed to remove both financial and experiential barriers to entering the profession.

Each year, 25 students will receive full funding for their tuition and be placed in paid early childhood–level classrooms while completing their degree. By the time they graduate, they will have both a Bachelor of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities (Pre-K–Grade 12) and real-world experience.

“This extraordinary generosity represents an investment in our mission and a powerful validation of the impactful work being done here at ��ϲ��,” said Provost Dr. Kristin Curry Greenwood.

Scholars also have the opportunity to continue into an accelerated Master of Science in Early Childhood Education at no tuition cost, creating a seamless pathway from undergraduate study through advanced certification.

Importantly, the McGraw Scholars Program is not a standalone solution. It builds on a broader ecosystem of teacher preparation at ��ϲ��, including the Empire State Teacher Residency Program, a New York State–funded grant program that allows aspiring teachers to complete classroom residencies in priority districts while earning a stipend and hands-on experience.

“Programs like the Empire State Teacher Residency succeed because they are built collaboratively,” Martone said. “Our role is to help address the structural challenges facing the teaching profession, including teacher shortages, the gap between coursework and classroom realities, and the need to support teachers long term.”

Together, these programs share a common approach: integrating learning with real classroom experience from the start. “One of the longstanding critiques of teacher preparation is that coursework and practice often occur in isolation,” Martone said. “This model addresses that directly.”

President Susan L. Parish emphasized that the impact extends far beyond the University. “Our region desperately needs qualified, passionate and committed childhood educators,” Parish said. “We also know that many talented young people who want to become teachers face real barriers, from financial pressures to limited access to experience. This program removes those barriers.”

Unlike traditional models, McGraw Scholars are embedded in classrooms as paid professionals while earning their degree. After graduation, they continue in their roles for an additional year, providing stability for both the graduates and the schools they serve. In an uncertain job market, that level of built-in opportunity is rare.

Glenn Goldberg of the Suzanne McGraw Foundation said ��ϲ�� stood out as the right partner to bring this vision to life. “A commitment to quality. A track record in education. A model already in place that could be expanded. The ability to attract committed students, many of whom are first-generation,” Goldberg said. “��ϲ�� checked every box.”

Over the next five years, the program is expected to produce 125 new early childhood–level educators, each entering the workforce with experience, support and a clear path forward. For ��ϲ��, the Suzanne McGraw Scholars Program represents more than a scholarship. It reflects a broader commitment to rethinking how teachers are prepared, supported and retained.

“This program is about more than degrees,” Parish said. “It is about creating opportunity, strengthening communities and preparing the next generation of educators to lead.”

As ��ϲ�� celebrates its 75th anniversary, that commitment continues to take shape in new and meaningful ways, ensuring that the future of education is not only imagined, but built.

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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: A New Way Forward

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:50:54 +0000

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: A New Way Forward jbailjr@mercy.edu Mon, 08/03/2026 - 11:50 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Alumni

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A New Way Forward

How ��ϲ��’s Quest is redefining general education.

Historically, the general education curriculum — made up of the introductory and foundational courses students take before fully entering their major — has been something that students simply endure. A checklist of courses, a sequence of disconnected topics, a necessary hurdle standing between first-years and the subjects they actually want to study. At least, that’s the model at most universities.

At ��ϲ��, though, faculty and administrators spent the last four years rethinking what general education could look like if it were designed around connection, flexibility and long-term student success from the very start.

“We took it right down to the studs,” says Dr. Robert Murray, associate dean for General Education at ��ϲ��. “It’s a holistically new launch. It’s not a reform of the old program. It’s a brand-new program.”

That program, called Quest (an acronym for Question, Understand, Explore, Strengthen, Thrive), replaces a traditional “checklist” model built on distribution requirements with a more flexible path designed to build career readiness, develop durable skills and prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

“Right now, gen ed is the thing that is in your way,” Murray says. “What I hope we discover is that ��ϲ��’s gen ed helps you get where you want to go.”

From obligation to purpose

For decades, general education has looked something like this: a series of required courses spread across disciplines like humanities, social sciences, math and natural sciences, with little connection to students’ majors and career goals. Students complete the requirements, but may not understand their purpose.

“We originally assessed students and faculty for what they understood about the gen ed curriculum,” says Dr. Dena Whipple, senior vice provost for Academic Affairs. “That became the impetus for how we would redesign it.”

What followed was a multiyear, institution-wide effort that reached nearly every corner of the university.

Faculty governance groups, curriculum committees, academic leadership teams and staff across advising, registration and student support all played a role in shaping how the new curriculum would function in practice. Faculty worked together to define learning outcomes, while departments aligned degree pathways around the new structure.

“It really takes the entire institution to move forward on a gen ed curriculum that’s innovative and good for students,” Whipple says. “This is not just one committee leading this.”

Choice, flexibility and student engagement

A defining feature of the new curriculum is the way students move through it. Instead of a rigid list of required courses, students complete learning outcomes through a wider range of course options tied to their interests and goals.

Students can now take courses that fulfill multiple requirements at once: building skills, exploring interests and even working toward minors.

“Double counting is actually very intentionally part of the design,” says Murray. With thoughtful and efficient course selection, “you can take multiple English courses, for example, and build them toward an English minor very easily now.”

This more customizable approach “allows for building micro-credentials, while staying on track and on time for graduation,” says Whipple. “And it’s also exciting for faculty because they have room to think in a more creative way about the curriculum.”

For faculty like Dr. Elise Arnold-Levene, associate professor of Spanish and program director for Modern Foreign Languages, that flexibility transforms how students engage. “Students may choose to enhance their writing skills through my advanced Spanish Reading and Composition course,” she says. “That course also counts toward the Creative Expression category and can be used toward a minor. The curriculum is both effective and efficient, and it gives students meaningful choices.”

Building skills across the curriculum

Quest is designed so that students develop and revisit key skills throughout their college experience instead of encountering them once in an isolated course. “If you teach something once, you’re not really teaching it at all,” says Murray.

That’s why writing, collaboration, critical thinking and communication are introduced early and reinforced across multiple classes and disciplines, giving students repeated opportunities to practice and improve.

The curriculum is also structured so that learning outcomes are measurable and consistent across courses. “With clear student learning outcomes attached to each course, we can measure student success in new ways,” Whipple says. “If there are courses where we see students are not finding success, faculty will have the right information to make adjustments and revise as needed.”

Starting strong: The First-Year Seminar

The First-Year Seminar, piloted last semester ahead of the full rollout of Quest, anchors the new curriculum. All incoming students take it in their first term, giving them a shared academic experience and a structured introduction to college.

The seminar introduces students to academic expectations, campus resources and one another. “Building community, collaboration and focused connections starts from the very first class,” Whipple says. “Not when they’re starting their major.”

“It’s very important for university students to get that extended orientation to make them feel a sense of belonging,” says Dr. Tharushi Perera, assistant professor of Chemistry. “One place we start with is how to write an email to your professor. And then we are slowly building everything from there. It’s like a full package.”

Fostering a sense of connection carries particular importance at ��ϲ��, where many students commute and many are also first-generation college students navigating unfamiliar systems and expectations.

“We want them to feel connected to the campus and connected to the university as a whole,” says Dr. Maureen MacLeod, associate dean of Student Success and First Year Experience and associate professor of History. “You need to find your people,” MacLeod says. “You need to know where you belong, not where we say we think you belong.”

Faculty is seeing that transformation firsthand. “Students do not naturally feel connected to other students or to their professors,” says Dr. Jackie Fisher, assistant professor of Psychology. “These are relationships that need to be carfully built. First-Year Seminar gives students those opportunities in a low-stakes environment.”

Through activities as simple as visiting campus offices or collaborating on projects, students begin to see themselves as part of a larger academic community. “You belong here,” Perera tells her students. “And it’s OK to ask for help.”

According to Murray, early data suggests that the approach is making a difference. “GPAs are up, and we have the highest retention and perseverance rate in ��ϲ��’s history right now.”

Long-term impact: Connecting coursework to careers

Quest is designed to connect general education directly to students’ academic paths and professional goals. Career development is integrated into the seminar sequence and reinforced across courses. “There’s a piece in every seminar that specifically relates to careers,” MacLeod says. “We want it to feel relatable.”

Students practice collaboration, develop communication skills and work through applied projects that reflect real-world expectations. “By the time they get to a job interview, they’ll have real experiences to talk about,” Murray says.

“There was a lot of thought and care that went into this,” MacLeod says. “I don’t know many places where this kind of intentionality goes into general education.”

For Whipple, that level of alignment supports a broader goal across the university. “Everything we’re doing is connected,” she says. “It’s all with a focus on helping students find success, not just while they’re here, but after they graduate.”

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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Doing It the Right Way

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:40:10 +0000

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Doing It the Right Way jbailjr@mercy.edu Fri, 07/17/2026 - 13:40 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Alumni

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Q: Congratulations on your retirement! What led you to decide that now was the right time?

Kilcullen: After 12 years here at ��ϲ��, I think we’ve built the program into something that’s prominent in the region. I’m still healthy and active, and I want to be able to enjoy this next chapter while I can.

I’ve been thinking about retirement for the last year or two. My daughter has her own business, Anact, a sustainable textile company. And after spending 48 years helping student-athletes and other young people, I thought maybe it’s time to spend some of that energy helping her run her business.

Q: Which brings us to your career at ��ϲ��. When you look back at the 12 years you spent here, what stands out the most?

Kilcullen: The interactions and relationships with our student-athletes. Watching them grow as young men and women and become successful in their chosen fields. Of course, seeing them succeed on the playing field is great, but the ability to talk with young people, advise them and support them is really meaningful.

Someone once told me: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” If there’s one thing that defines this department, it’s that we care. Our coaches and staff genuinely care about the student-athletes, and I think that has gone a long way toward our success.

Q: When you first arrived at ��ϲ��, what was your first impression? How would you compare the program then to what it is today?

Kilcullen: I was a college basketball coach for 31 years, so I understood what it was like to sit in the coach’s chair. I had also done about five years of administrative work at two schools combined, so I had experience looking at things from the administrator’s perspective.

Our philosophy centered on recruiting. If you recruit high-character individuals along with talented athletes, you give yourself a better chance at long-term success.

We didn’t want to sacrifice academics for athletic ability. We wanted good people. The coaches bought into that idea, and I think that’s a major reason we reached the level of success we’ve had regionally and, in some sports, nationally.

Q: It sounds like strong academic results and character are central to how you’ve shaped ��ϲ�� Athletics. How did you build that culture?

Kilcullen: Again, it comes down to our coaches and student-athletes buying into the priorities of the program. We have study hall rules and clear academic expectations. If student-athletes don’t meet their academic responsibilities, they can be held out of games.

Community engagement has also been important. Our teams regularly participate in events like the Holiday Hustle, Ferry Festa, Toys for Tots drives and Thanksgiving food drives. Women’s lacrosse, for example, volunteers weekly at Abbott House, and we’ve also introduced programs like Morgan’s Message, which raises awareness around student-athlete mental health.

Q: ��ϲ�� Athletics has seen significant success during your tenure. Are there any moments or seasons that stand out as especially meaningful?

Kilcullen: A few come to mind.

In 2017, we hosted an NCAA quarterfinal in women’s soccer. The hill was packed with over 1,000 fans, and the game went to penalty kicks. Our senior goalkeeper hadn’t played in several games, but she was sent in for the shootout. She made the final save by tipping the ball with her fingertip, sending us to the Final Four. It was incredible.

In 2019, both our men’s and women’s lacrosse teams won conference championships on the same day at New York Tech. The women beat LIU Post for the first time, and the men scored the game-winner with 14 seconds left. Seeing both teams celebrating together on the field was so so special.

In 2022, our men’s lacrosse team won a double-overtime NCAA semifinal to advance to the national championship game. And this past fall, our volleyball team hosted and won the ECC tournament at home for the first time in program history. These were all huge moments for the program. They stand out for me the most.

Q: What do you think makes ��ϲ�� Athletics distinctive compared to other Division II programs?

Kilcullen: We’re a very tight group.

Over time, we’ve seen teams supporting other teams more and more. Coaches attend each other’s games, and student-athletes follow the success of other programs.

For example, when our women’s soccer team was traveling for the NCAA tournament, they watched the volleyball championship game together online and celebrated when the team won. Everybody talks about family, but I think we really do have that kind of support system here.

Q: When people look back on your time at ��ϲ�� years from now, what do you hope sticks with them most?

Kilcullen: That we did things the right way. We accomplished a lot with limited resources. I hope people feel proud of the department and how we’ve represented the university.

Q: What excites you about the future of ��ϲ�� Athletics?

Kilcullen: There is a more dedicated approach now to supporting athletics with resources. Overall, the future looks bright. We already have three teams in the NCAA tournament this year out of six programs.

Volleyball reached the regional finals. Women’s soccer had a young team and made the second round. Women’s basketball has a strong returning group. Many teams have talented young players returning, so there is a lot to be optimistic about.

Q: If you had to describe your time at ��ϲ�� in one word, what would it be?

Kilcullen: Rewarding, because of the relationships. To me, life has always been about the relationships. I believe our ability to relate to each other here in the department has been strong. So seeing young people grow and interact with each other has been incredibly rewarding.

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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Moments That Matter

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:46:19 +0000

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Moments That Matter jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 07/14/2026 - 14:46 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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Moments That Matter

As mercy celebrates 75 years, students share the experiences, relationships and memories that make them feel part of the university’s story.

Abb Murez

Major: Computer Science
“One thing that makes me feel connected to ��ϲ��’s history is that the campus has gone through so many significant changes ... always seeing how new buildings come up and how things change, and then we get to use these new spaces to create new experiences within the campus!”

Shy’anne Kush

Major: Social Work
“My aunts graduated from ��ϲ��, then my parents got their master’s here and my mom [works] here. So, I’ve had a close relationship with ��ϲ�� most of my life. I’ve seen a lot of ��ϲ��’s history come to life. That’s really special to me because it feels like I grew up here.”

Sara Otero

Major: Behavioral Science Education/Early Childhood
“I feel most connected to history whenever I attend a sports game because you can see the pride and passion for our Mavericks at every game you go to. You just know it’s something that’s been shared from past years.”

Nyseem Unique Williams

Major: Cybersecurity (B.S./M.S.)
“One moment that made me feel connected to ��ϲ��’s history was joining the Student Government Association. I act as voice for the student community on the Manhattan Campus, and it makes me feel like I’m actively contributing to ��ϲ��’s history.”

Lenin Rodriguez

Major: Business Administration/Finance
“Last semester, I had the opportunity to speak with the Board of Trustees and President Parish. This experience allowed me to meet and learn from the individuals who continue to carry the university’s mission and legacy forward.”

Ryanna Lopez

Major: Nursing
“I feel like a moment that ties me to the 75 years would be ��ϲ�� going from ��ϲ�� College to ��ϲ��. It makes me feel like I’m seeing my school just expand more and more.”

Muhammad Ahsan

Major: Computer Science
“Carrying all my belongings across subways, Metro-North, and then up those hills on my first day was tough, but it made me feel like I was truly becoming part of something bigger.”

Alyssa Richard

Major: Behavioral Science & Early Childhood Education
“It’s the people who make ��ϲ�� such an unforgettable experience. It’s the people who make ��ϲ�� something that will be remembered for the next 75 years!”

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Maverick Magazine: 75th Anniversary Issue

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:17:59 +0000

Maverick Magazine: 75th Anniversary Issue jbailjr@mercy.edu Wed, 07/08/2026 - 12:17 ��ϲ�� News Maverick Magazine

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Maverick Magazine: 75th Anniversary Issue

Our latest issue of Maverick Magazine, a special edition closing out our 75th anniversary year, captures who we are and where we’re headed.

Read it now!

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ��ϲ�� Class Notes

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:17:27 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ��ϲ�� Class Notes jbailjr@mercy.edu Wed, 08/27/2025 - 11:17 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Alumni

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��ϲ�� Class Notes

May 2024–December 2024

Our Mavericks marking milestones.

��ϲ�� Class Notes is a way to stay connected. We would love to share your recent news, life events and accomplishments. Tell us about them, and we will include it in the next issue. Email: alumni@mercy.edu with your class note.

1960s

Linda Bianchini Uzelac

Linda Bianchini Uzelac ’69 has released her second album, titled “Piano Classics,” now available on all streaming platforms. The album features 39 classical piano pieces, including her signature concert piece, Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” She is currently arranging and scoring four-part vocal harmonies with piano accompaniments for choral Christmas performances. These will complement her popular and widely performed arrangement of “Silent Night.”

Anne Marie Leone ’69

Anne Marie Leone

Anne Marie Leone ’69 debuted her photo exhibit “Along the Hudson Line” at the Ossining Public Library in Ossining, N.Y., on September 5, 2024.

2000s

Constance Barnes

Constance Barnes, M.S. ’01, Ed.D. PMP, successfully defended her dissertation at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education in April 2024. Barnes earned her Doctor of Education in Administration & Policy with a major in Urban Education. She also graduated from the CORO Leadership NY Fellowship this past spring and continues to serve as director for the CUNY ASAP|ACE National Replication Collaborative.

Angelo Hunt

Angelo Hunt, II ’05, has successfully managed two homeless shelters and permanent supportive housing programs since graduating from ��ϲ��. He is currently the director of Social Services for The Fortune Society, overseeing multiple congregate housing units funded by the Department of Homeless Services, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, HUD Supportive Housing Program and New York Supportive Housing Program.

Camele Barrett

Camele Barrett ’06, M.B.A. ’09, a prominent consultant and founder of Edge Consultant, has been recognized for inclusion in “Marquis Who’s Who,” a prestigious directory profiling individuals of prominence in their respective fields. Beyond her transformative career, Clarke-Barrett is also pursuing a doctoral degree.

2010s

Chris Sapienza

Chris Sapienza, M.S. ’10, received a Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School on June 27, 2024. The certificate was presented by Professor Jen Lerner and Vice Admiral Herman Shelanski.

2020s

Sofia Huyhua

Sofia Huyhua ’20 works as a patient care technician in the ICU Burn Care Unit at Westchester Medical Center Health Network. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in occupational therapy at ��ϲ��.

Mohamed Gueye

Mohamed Gueye ’22 recently completed his master’s degree in software engineering from Grand Canyon University. He works at Fidelity Investments, where he was promoted to mid-level software engineer.

Dennis Dias

Dennis Dias ’23, a New York City special education teacher, was named the 2024 Peace Teacher for New York State by the United States Institute of Peace.

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: In Memoriam

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:51:46 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: In Memoriam jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 08/26/2025 - 15:51 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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In Memoriam

Sister Theresa Kane (1936–2024)

Sr. Theresa Kane, of the Sisters of ��ϲ��, passed away on August 22, 2024. Sr. Kane served in a variety of regional and national leadership positions with the Sisters of ��ϲ�� — including oversight of ��ϲ�� College (now ��ϲ��) as a Board of Trustees member (1966–70) — before becoming president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Later, she served as campus minister for Our Lady of Victory Academy — in what is today Victory Hall at ��ϲ�� — and, from 1992 until 1995, as administrator of the Sisters of ��ϲ�� Dobbs Ferry motherhouse — in what is today, ��ϲ�� Hall.

In her role as LCWR president, Sr. Kane greeted Pope John Paul II during his 1979 visit to Washington, D.C. In her historically groundbreaking message to the pope, Sr. Kane urged him to consider opening to women all ministries of the church – which meant allowing women to serve as priests. As ��ϲ�� Professor Emerita Ann Grow (Philosophy), a longtime friend and colleague said many years later of Sr. Kane, “You don’t see her as a warrior type but she’s a warrior for her beliefs. She wanted women to be able to step forward and to be received in the church on an equal basis.”

Starting in 1995, Sr. Kane taught courses at ��ϲ�� as an adjunct faculty member. In 1999, she joined the full-time faculty of the then-Social and Behavioral Sciences Division as well as the then-Civic and Cultural Studies Division. She served in that capacity until 2017, after which — though officially retired — she continued to teach internship and capstone courses through 2019.

Throughout her long and varied career, Sr. Kane sought to promote women’s rights and the betterment of humanity around the world and in the New York area. She served as founding member of the Intercommunity Center for Justice and Peace, US representative to the Union of International Superiors General, board member and president of the Washington Office on Latin America, founding member and first vice president of the board of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church, and board member of the National Catholic Reporter. Locally, she served on the Board of Directors of two social service centers in the Bronx, the ��ϲ�� Center of Mott Haven and the Thorpe Residence in the South Bronx. For her efforts, she was recognized as winner of the 1999 National Catholic Leadership Award from Call to Action.

Sr. Kane epitomized the spirit of transformational education at ��ϲ�� through her commitment to empowering students and to the value of mutuality in teaching and learning. Colleagues in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences remember her as supportive to all and quick to check in with junior faculty in particular. In 1999, she was honored as recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award at the Bronx Campus as judged by students; in 2005, she received the Outstanding Teaching Award as judged by her faculty colleagues; and in 2015 she received a Lifetime Achievement award from ��ϲ��. A scholarship in her name — the “Sr. Theresa Kane, RSM, Agent of Change Scholarship” — has been established for a student who has completed any undergraduate degree in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and has shown outstanding work.

Hon. Dominic R. Massaro, H.D. ’75, ’95 (1939–2024)

Honorable Dominic R. Massaro, H.D. ’75, ’95, a prominent judge and former member of ��ϲ��’s Board of Trustees, passed away on December 18, 2024. Justice Massaro served on the Board of Trustees from 1977–1980, 1983–1992 and 1993– 1995. He also received two honorary degrees from ��ϲ��; a Doctor of Laws in 1975 and a Doctor of Letters in 1995.

Born and raised in the Bronx, he dedicated his career to public service. He was appointed as Justice of the New York State Supreme Court in 1987 and prior to that, Massaro served seven years as a New York City, then New York State Human Rights Commissioner. On the Federal level, he also served as a member of the New York Appeals Board of the Selective Service System from 1969 to 1976.

A trustee and member of many Bronx institutions, Justice Massaro was a recipient of Bronx County’s “Distinguished Community Service Award.” He served as president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and of the Gramercy Boys’ Club of New York, was board chairman of the Bronx County Civic Association and served on local boards of the Police Athletic League, Boy Scouts of America, Red Cross, Cancer Care, Council on the Arts, Council for Environmental Quality and the YMCA, among others.

Justice Massaro was also a well-regarded member of the Italian American community. He served as chair of the Board of Governors of the Verrazzano Institute, dedicated to the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about Italian and other Mediterranean cultural traditions. It was established at ��ϲ��’s Westchester Campus. He worked closely with former ��ϲ�� President Donald Grunewald to acquire and name the estate now known as Verrazzano Hall. He also served as chair of the Board of Overseers of the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum and was past president of the Italian-American ESCA (Educational, Social, Civil, American-Italian) Club of New York Youth Auxiliary and of both the Italian-American Center for Urban Affairs and the Italian-American Coalition of the City of New York. His professional and civic accomplishments won him numerous awards and citations. He was knighted five times, including the highest decoration, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by the President of the Republic of Italy in 1969 and by Pope Paul VI in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1973.

Alumni & Friends

College of New Rochelle

Ethel Madden Bonneville SAS ’41
The Honorable Clara Louise Malone Gould SAS ’48
Rosamond Mole Malgieri SAS ’49
M. Joan Fraser Gately SAS ’50
Nancy Collins McKenna SAS ’51
Margaret Reynolds Charles SAS ’51
Maureen Costello Durkin SAS ’52
Caroline Pagnucco Meskers SAS ’52
Patricia Walsh Berntson SAS ’52
Anne Marie Weiler SAS ’52
Harriette Gillem Robinet SAS ’53
Ethelmarie Walsh Hunter SAS ’53
Claire Waterbury Philips SAS ’54
Mary Doyle Eglin SAS ’56
Margaret McCreery Kane SAS ’56
Donna Walsh Milne SAS ’56
Margaret Houlihan Lynch SAS ’57
Rev. Mary Ann DeMetsenaere Taylor SAS ’58
Carol Hopkins DeRuggiero SAS ’58
Barbara Mackinnon Kuttner SAS ’58
Gloria Canal Doino SAS ’60
Sr. Patricia Couture, OSU SAS ’60
Claire Monaghan SAS ’60
Eleanor Shea Buckley SAS ’60
Janet Maroney Connolly ’61
Helen Dunn Cunney SAS ’62
Carol Gill Clifford SAS ’62
Linda Gorman Lapointe SAS ’62
Susan Herald Clarke SAS ’62
Elizabeth Riggio Whelan SAS ’62
Teresita Dwyer O’Leary SAS ’63
Anita Gay Winkler SAS ’63
Elaine Donovan Blair SAS ’64, GS ’92
Sr. Bridget Haase, OSU SAS ’65
Patricia Rice Devereaux SAS ’65
Kathleen Sloggatt SAS ’65
Sr. Sheila Campbell, OSU SAS ’68
Eileen Clavin O’Connor SAS ’69

Barbara Farrell Dingee SAS ’69
Patricia Phelan SAS ’69
Cathleen Donovan Myatt SAS ’70
Nancy Sarrantonio Alfonso SAS ’70, GS ’75
Donna Demarest SAS ’71
Mary Ann Zeender Donovan SAS ’71
Mary O’Mara SAS ’73
Ann Marie O’Neill Geraghty SAS ’73
Annette Wiley Robidoux SAS ’74
Gina Tapogna Broadbent SAS ’75
Audrey Chatzky GS ’77
Beverly Voltz Mittelstadt GS ’82
Alice Stephens SNR ’85
Marilyn Maynard GS ’86
Julia Landau GS ’88
Michelle Malcolm SN ’92
Dorothy Wade SNR ’94
Jeanne Fritz SNR ’96
Robert Saul SNR ’99
Thomas Donohue, CNR Friend
Elizabeth LeVaca, CNR Friend

��ϲ��

Catherine Graf Celtruda ’67
Maryann DeCesare Gangi ’68
Angela Vitale Houlihan ’69
Verne Urbano ’75
Charlene Healey Klapwald ’81
Paul Schirizzo ’83
Paul Gebhardt ’86
Daniel Raftery ’87
Frances Twiss ’89
Laura Barnwell ’90
Richard Cunningham ’93
Ana Bonilla ’97
Melba John Riley ’97
John Turowski ’07
Gabriel Harvey ’17

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: CNR Class Notes

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:49:50 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: CNR Class Notes jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 08/26/2025 - 11:49 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Alumni

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CNR Class Notes

July 2024–December 2024

Our alumni achievements.

CNR Class Notes is a way to stay connected. We would love to share your recent news, life events and accomplishments. Tell us about them, and we will include it in the next issue. Email: cnralumni@mercy.edu with your class note.

1960s & 1970s

Maria Dolores Lolita Delgado-Fansler

“Bamboo Whispers: poetry of the Mangyan (Philippine Indigenous People)” by Maria Dolores Lolita Delgado-Fansler SAS ’67 won the 2018 National Book Award as Best Translated Book, and the Golden Book Award for Art and Humanities. Additionally, Delgado-Fansler founded The Association of Foundations in the Philippines, which is now 52 years old. She hopes to introduce West Virginia’s History Alive! program in the Philippines in 2025.

Mary Pepe

On October 28, 2024, the Legacy Theatre in Branford, Conn., announced that Mary Pepe CNR SAS ’71 joined its Board of Trustees. With many years of experience in business and a strong background in community service, Pepe brings valuable expertise to this role. She currently serves as the director of Human Resources for the Town of Greenwich.

1980s & 1990s

Barbara Chirinos

On October 24, 2025, LaTanya Richardson Jackson introduced Barbara Chirinos CNR SAS ’83 as Spelman College’s Inaugural Artistic Director of the LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center and the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts, in Atlanta, Ga. (Photo by Tim Richardson).

Dr. Darcel Reyes

Dr. Darcel Reyes SN ’96 has been named an American Academy of Nursing (AAN) 2024 Fellow for her contributions to nursing education, research and practice. Reyes is a nurse practitioner and is also an associate professor at Lehman College.

Meredith Snow

Registered and board certified, as well as licensed as a creative arts therapist, Meredith Snow, M.S., ATR-BC, LCAT, SAS ’97, obtained a position at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford this spring as a pediatric art therapist. She works with cardiac transplant patients, pre- and posttreatment on the Creative Arts and Child Life team at Stanford Health in Palo Alto, Calif. Snow also provides eco-art therapy through her private practice, Island Art Therapy, where she integrates ecological approaches to art therapy after having received a California naturalist certificate last autumn through UC Naturalist program at Point Reyes National Seashore.

2000s & 2010s

Tracey Weeden

In August 2024, Tracey Weeden, B.S.W., M.S.W., LCSW, LICSW, QS, CNR SAS ’02 was appointed as vice president and chief behavioral officer for NeighborHealth. In this role, Weeden will leverage her experience and leadership to support the overall mission of addressing behavioral health needs of patients and improving health outcomes within the communities served by NeighborHealth. Weeden is dually licensed in Massachusetts and Florida.

Liliana Santizo

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Liliana Santizo CNR SNR ’12, launched Florece.Life in September 2024 to empower individuals and organizations to thrive. Her company specializes in leadership development and People Operations, using psychology-based strategies to help organizations build resilience, tackle complex challenges and drive lasting, meaningful impact.

Franchesca Sterling

Franchesca Sterling CNR SAS ’13 successfully achieved a milestone by completing an intensive program in international politics at the esteemed Bucerius Summer School in Global Governance in Hamburg, Germany on August 26, 2024. Sterling was one of 55 young professionals selected from a pool of approximately 300 applicants representing 32 countries to explore international relations with some of the world’s top global thinkers. She completed her M.B.A. at American University’s Kogod Business School in 2020 in Washington, DC. Presently, Sterling serves as an advisor to Secretary General Luis Almagro of the Organization of American States and previously worked at Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, LLP in Washington, D.C.

Christine Biskup Columna

Christine Biskup Columna CNR SAS ’13 GS ’14 has taught for 10 years as a general and special education teacher in the South Bronx and White Plains school districts, where she has obtained tenure at both locations. Columna also received her Doctor of Education from St. John’s University, focusing on literacy and administration and published her dissertation on Social Emotional Learning: Narrative Growth. In her spare time, she is an 8th grade confirmation teacher and active volunteer with HOPE Community Soup Kitchen in New Rochelle, N.Y.

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ��ϲ�� Faculty Publications

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:43:07 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ��ϲ�� Faculty Publications jbailjr@mercy.edu Mon, 08/25/2025 - 09:43 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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��ϲ�� Faculty Publications

June 2024–DECEMBER 2024

School of Business

Zach Williams and Heather Apollonio, M.B.A. ’23

Associate professor, Business and Director, Advancement Services and Prospect Management

Zach Williams (associate professor, Business) and Heather Apollonio, M.B.A. ’23 (director, Advancement Services and Prospect Management), “The Causation Dilemma in ESG Research”, Green Finance, 6 (2024) 2, 265-286. doi:10.3934/GF.2024011.

School of Education

JungKang Miller

Professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies

JungKang Miller (professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies) & Mi-Hyun Chung (professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies), “A Narrative Biographical Study of Faculty Collaboration in E-Portfolio Development”, International Journal of Teacher Education and Professional Development (IJTEPD), 6 (2023) 1, 1-11. doi:10.4018/IJTEPD.320520

Wendy K. Mages

Professor, Early Childhood and Childhood Education

Wendy K. Mages (professor, Early Childhood and Childhood Education), “At the Stroke of Midnight on the Set of Swan Lake.” Bright Flash Literary Review (2024). brightflash1000.com/2024/11/03/ at-the-stroke-of-midnight-on-the-set-ofswan- lake.

School of Health and Natural Sciences

Astrid E. Mel and Nannette Hyland

Associate Professor, Exercise Science and Professor, Physical Therapy

Astrid E. Mel (associate professor, Exercise Science) and Nannette Hyland (professor, Physical Therapy), “Live Stronger, Move Better: Assessing An Indoor Cycling Protocol In Reducing Parkinson’s Symptoms: 2719”, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 56 (2024) 10S, 991-992. doi:10.1249/01. mss.0001061276.27644.512.

Francine M. Seruya

Professor, Occupational Therapy

Patricia Laverdure & Francine M. Seruya (professor, Occupational Therapy), Theory in School-Based Occupational Therapy Practice: A Practical Application. Routledge (2024).

School of Liberal Arts

Caitlin Wiesner

Assistant professor, History

Caitlin Wiesner (assistant professor, History), “The War on Crime and the War on Rape: The LEAA and Philadelphia WOAR, 1974-1984”, Modern American History. 7 (2024) 1, 24-45. doi:10.1017/ mah.2023.65.

Tianyu Wang and Zhixiong Chen

Assistant professor, Computer Science and Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science

Tianyu Wang (assistant professor, Computer Science) and Zhixiong Chen (professor, Mathematics and Computer Science), “Analyzing Code Text Strings for Code Evaluation.” 2023 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (2023), 5619-5628.

Marc Palmieri

Assistant Professor, Communication

Marc Palmieri (assistant professor, Communication), William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a 90 Minute Adaptation. Theatrical Rights Worldwide (2024).

Libraries

Moddie Breland

Director and Associate Professor, Libraries

Moddie Breland (director and associate professor, Libraries), Karen Venturella & Steven Shapiro, “Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic (Are we Prepared for the Next Pandemic)”, Library Leadership & Management, 37 (2023) 2. doi:10.5860/llm.v37i2.7557

School of Nursing

Terrence Calistro, Kimberly Rapoza and Kathleen Kenney-Riley

��ϲ�� BS and MS Graduate, Associate Professor, Psychology and Professor, Nursing

Zanab Mian, Terrence Calistro (��ϲ�� BS and MS graduate), Kimberly Rapoza (associate professor, Psychology), Anne Eberhard, Kathleen Kenney-Riley (professor, Nursing), and Joyce S. Hui-Yuen, “Discordant Perception of Disease Activity Between Providers and Adolescents with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Cohort Study.” The Journal of Pediatrics, (2024), doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114216.

Veronica C. Pasha

Assistant Professor, Nursing

Veronica C. Pasha (assistant professor, Nursing), Lauren Gerchow, Audrey Lyndon, Maya Clark- Cutaia, and Fay Wright, “Understanding Food Insecurity as a Determinant of Health in Pregnancy Within the United States: An Integrative Review.” Health Equity, 8 (2024)1, 206-225. doi:10.1089/ heq.2023.0116

School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Jeong Kim

Associate Professor, Criminal Justice

Hyoungah Park and Jeong Kim (associate professor, Criminal Justice), Introduction to Criminology. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company (2024).

Serah Shani

Associate Professor, Behavioral Science

Serah Shani (associate professor, Behavioral Science), “Accumulated Funds of Knowledge Among Privileged Maasai: An Emphasis on Virtues and Morals In Parenting Practices”, Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 55 (2024) 4, 185-204. doi:10.1111/aeq.12485

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Marybeth Gerrity

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:29:49 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Marybeth Gerrity jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 08/19/2025 - 16:29 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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“I was there when the first ultrasound showed three beating hearts,” said Marybeth Gerrity CNR SAS ’74, Ph.D., M.B.A., H.C.L.D. “We were dumbfounded because it was a time when we were lucky to get pregnancies at all.”

Gerrity is a reproductive biologist who produced the first successful triplet test-tube babies in the United States in 1983. During her career, she has established, built out and led several successful assisted reproductive technology programs across the country and helped shape the regulatory framework that governs the field.

“Today, there are no IVF [in vitro fertilization] triplets, and we’re even working to lower the incidence of twins due to the poorer obstetric outcomes for multiples,” she explained. “But in 1983, we couldn’t bank on implanting just one embryo because we didn’t know which embryo would continue its development to result in a baby. Thankfully, the parents were thrilled with their triplets.”

Gerrity credits a course at the College of New Rochelle (CNR) for introducing her to the field. All biology majors were required to take a course in embryology, which was taught by biology chair Dr. Robert Reggio. “Bob Reggio will always have a special place in my heart,” Gerrity said. “He was a very inspiring teacher, and he sparked my interest in embryology. He taught me how to think.”

CNR provided an unparalleled education for women studying science. “We enjoyed a superb science education at the College because we were in such small classes,” Gerrity said. “We were able to do hands-on research and work under incredible mentors. In that all-women environment, we felt that there was nothing we couldn’t do.”

Fifty years after her graduation, Gerrity is still very connected to the alumni community. “STEM education wasn’t common for women back then, so my fellow biology majors at the College of Rochelle were already doing something quite different,” she explained. “When we got out into the world, we were used to being on the front lines, making change and pulling other women along with us. That mindset is what has served me best in my career. And that’s why I stay connected and returned for my 50th reunion at ��ϲ�� this year.”

After graduating from CNR, Gerrity earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in pharmacology from New York Medical College and later a master’s in business administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Initially, she worked in contraceptive research, which is where most funding was focused in the 1970s. However, that began to shift once the world’s first test-tube baby was born in the United Kingdom in 1978. Gerrity pivoted into reproductive technology and accepted a position at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she and her team experienced early success. Her career took off from there. “It was very much the serendipity of having a certain skill set and being alert to how you can use that skill set even when the landscape is shifting,” she explained.

Gerrity loved that her work produced meaningful, tangible results. “I realized early in my training that I didn’t want to do science for science’s sake only,” she said. “I wanted to do something that made a difference. I still get this unbelievable feeling when a patient sends me a Christmas card with a picture of their child or brings that baby into the office. I realize that I watched that egg get fertilized and monitored that embryo’s development. Now look at this unbelievable outcome! I made a real difference in these people’s lives.”

Over the past 40 years, reproductive technology has changed remarkably. New drugs and procedures make egg retrieval more productive and less invasive. Embryologists can support embryos longer in the lab, maximizing the chance that they will implant and continue to develop. And IVF success rates are much higher. Gerrity has seen changes in the types of patients who seek treatment, which now include cancer patients and same-sex couples. She also says that societal stigma about IVF has diminished. The latest changes in the field involve the implications of restrictive abortion laws in some states.

As she looks back on her long career in this fascinating field, Gerrity is open about her accomplishments but very humble — a quality she also credits to her time at CNR: “One thing we learned at the College is that it’s not about being a big shot. You put your head down, and you do your work the best that you can. If you’re lucky, you get to look up and say, ‘How can I be of service?’”

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Nursing is a Family Affair

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 19:56:26 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Nursing is a Family Affair jbailjr@mercy.edu Mon, 08/18/2025 - 15:56 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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In the Pervaiz family, nursing is a bit of a family business. This matriarch and faculty member along with her three children have earned an impressive 11 ��ϲ�� degrees so far. Thanks to ��ϲ��’s variety of exceptional nursing programs, they are living their dreams of helping others.

“I’m so grateful for how ��ϲ�� has helped my family,” said Sonia Pervaiz ’03, M.S.N. ’08, P.M.C. ’11, M.B.A. ’16, D.N.P., adjunct assistant professor in nursing. “My kids are all nurses, and they’re all working. ��ϲ�� made that happen.”

Sonia was always drawn toward nursing, especially caring for the elderly. After earning her associate degree from the Cochran School of Nursing in Yonkers, she was accepted into ��ϲ��’s R.N.-B.S. completion program to pursue her bachelor’s degree.

She felt very supported throughout her time at ��ϲ��. “Professors would always take extra time to make sure I understood the content, and the staff helped me navigate financial aid,” Sonia explained. “I felt like they truly cared about my academic growth and my success.”

After graduation, she worked as a nurse in a community hospital in the Bronx. As her career progressed, she returned to ��ϲ�� to earn a master’s degree in nursing education, a postmaster’s certificate in nursing administration and a master’s degree in business administration.

Along the way, she began teaching nursing at local colleges. Eventually, she took a full-time teaching position at the College of New Rochelle (CNR) and then joined ��ϲ�� as an assistant professor in 2019 when CNR closed its doors. This year, she moved into an adjunct assistant professor role. “I feel such passion for educating new nurses and growing this beautiful profession,” she said. “I love helping my students move to the next level.”

When her oldest children were planning their college educations, ��ϲ�� was the obvious choice. Twins Ashbal Pervaiz, B.S. ’19, M.B.A. ’21, B.S.N. ’22, and Shubael Pervaiz, B.S. ’19, M.B.A. ’21, B.S.N. ’22, both earned their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2019, followed by a Master of Business Administration in 2021, and a second bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 2022. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing upon graduating from the M.B.A. program, they found it challenging to start their careers in business.

The pandemic gave Shubael a new perspective on his career path, and he convinced Ashbal that they should apply to ��ϲ��’s accelerated second degree in nursing program. “During the pandemic, my mom worked very hard as a nurse,” Shubael explained. “She would suit up in all the protective gear, work long days and nights, do everything to keep herself and her patients safe and then come home to care for our family. Nurses were celebrated as superheroes, and they truly were. My brother and I saw how important and rewarding the career could be.”

Of course, they wanted to return to ��ϲ��. “We never thought about going anywhere else,” Ashbal said.

The accelerated nursing program was everything they imagined and more. “The professors were always looking out for us,” said Shubael. Both he and Ashbal noted how hands-on and practical the program was. “I learned how to talk to patients and families,” said Ashbal. “Those are skills that I use in my work every day now.”

By the time the twins’ younger sister, Bethsheeba Pervaiz ’24, was applying to college, going to ��ϲ�� was a foregone conclusion. “My mom went there, and my brothers went there, so I didn’t even apply anywhere else,” she said. As a child, she had felt inspired by her mother’s stories about being a nurse, so she decided to major in nursing, too.

Bethsheeba particularly enjoyed the clinical lab simulations in which students work through different patient scenarios using mannequins. And she often finds herself thinking back on specific knowledge and skills she gained at ��ϲ��, such as the different ways that abnormal heart rhythms present in patients.

Now, all three siblings are working as nurses. Ashbal is a registered nurse case manager in hospice and palliative care. Shubael is a nurse working with an ear, nose and throat doctor. And Bethsheeba is a nurse in the emergency room at St John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers.

Importantly, they are all happy with their decisions to go into nursing. “Being a nurse has exceeded my expectations,” said Ashbal. “You’re really, really helping people. And that feels really good.”

Sonia could not be more pleased. “I have great trust in ��ϲ��,” she said. “I knew that my professors would help me thrive. And then they did the same for my children. I can’t thank ��ϲ�� enough.”

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Leading the Way

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:34:58 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Leading the Way jbailjr@mercy.edu Fri, 08/15/2025 - 14:34 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Alumni

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DaMia Harris-Madden, M.S. ’07, M.B.A. ’22, works to improve life for New York communities.

“I wake up every day feeling privileged and honored to work in state government,” said Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, M.S. ’07, M.B.A. ’22, commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) since May 2024. “I also feel massive responsibility.” Named a ��ϲ�� Alumni of Distinction honoree in 2024, she has spent more than 20 years working for community and government organizations serving youth and families.

As commissioner, Harris-Madden plays a pivotal role in shaping OCFS policy to achieve its mission of promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of New York children, families and communities. OCFS provides oversight and support to all local DSS and child welfare agencies, 18,000 childcare providers, domestic violence shelters and just about all programs relative to childcare and child welfare services, foster care, juvenile justice, youth development and the Commission for the Blind. “It’s a vast agency that touches the lives of residents at all ages — ‘from twinkle to wrinkle’,” she explained.

In her first nine months in the role, Harris-Madden has driven forward many OCFS priorities, which include afterschool programming, funding resources and opportunities for young people in the juvenile justice system, paving the way toward universal childcare and supporting the most vulnerable populations, including runaway, homeless and trafficked youth.

A lucky conversation brought Harris-Madden to study at ��ϲ�� and put her on a path to a career in government. She was working at Gap, Inc. in human resources at the time and planned to apply to law school. For some reason, she ended up at a ��ϲ�� open house and heard about the master’s degree in human resource management. “The next thing I know, I applied and got accepted!” she said. “That totally changed the trajectory for me.”

Her experience as a young mother completing her degree gives her a unique perspective on the necessity of Governor Kathy Hochul’s childcare initiatives. “I wrote my thesis on youth employment with my baby daughter on my lap, typing with one hand,” she laughed. “I know that lots of parents attend ��ϲ��, and I appreciate the governor’s initiatives promoting access to childcare so parents can further their education and realize their dreams.”

With a passion for helping people prepare for the workforce, Harris-Madden soon moved into the nonprofit world and then into government. After working as an assistant program director at the Urban League of Westchester County, she took a job with the City of Mount Vernon. She worked for the city for 14 years, serving in four mayoral cabinets, including executive director of the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau.

Next, Harris-Madden moved to the county level. She was one of the first leaders recruited to serve in then County Executive and now Congressman George Latimer’s Cabinet and served for six years as the executive director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau. In this role, she managed the financial and technical resources deployed to hundreds of programs supporting children, youth and families across Westchester County and established for the first time in 30 years, three new municipal Youth Bureaus, mental health in afterschool programs, and a number of violence prevention, STEAM initiatives, amongst other things.

When Harris-Madden returned to ��ϲ�� to pursue her M.B.A., she appreciated how applicable her courses — especially accounting and quantitative analysis — were to her day-to-day work. “It’s not easy to manage an organization that has vast fiscal responsibility and oversight,” she explained. “Even though I lead a large team, I still need to deeply understand budgets and financial documents. The M.B.A. program formalized that learning for me.”

Harris-Madden finds ways to stay connected to ��ϲ�� today. In October 2023, for example, the Westchester County Youth Bureau hosted its inaugural Youth MedTech Conference on ��ϲ��’s Westchester Campus. At the event, 250 middle and high school students explored high-growth industries that combine medicine and technology. This event continues today.

With a new federal administration, the political landscape is changing, but Harris-Madden is keeping her eye on doing good work for state residents. “We want New Yorkers to feel like they’ve received high-quality educations and can land good jobs here,” she said. She encourages ��ϲ�� students and alumni to consider careers in state and local government: “We need good people to join our team and help us do this important work for all New York residents.”

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Financial Freedom for All

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:46:00 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Financial Freedom for All jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 08/12/2025 - 13:46 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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T o help local residents achieve financial stability and well-being, ��ϲ�� has partnered with the City of Mount Vernon, Westchester County and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) to launch the Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). Officially inaugurated on December 3, 2024, the FEC offers free financial counseling and coaching to the Westchester community.

“This collaboration underscores our mission to not only empower our students but also advance the broader communities we serve,” said Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., president of ��ϲ��. “Combining ��ϲ��’s expertise with the center’s specialized services will equip families with the tools they need to confidently navigate their finances.”

��ϲ�� serves as the nonprofit provider managing the dayto- day operations of the FEC, where professionally trained counselors assist low- and moderate-income individuals and families in managing their finances. Services include helping clients pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products. The FEC’s mission is to ensure financial security is within reach for all residents, regardless of income level.

Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson- Howard emphasized the significance of this initiative in tackling economic inequalities and creating opportunities for the community. “By integrating financial counseling into our broader social services, we’re not just helping families get by — we’re helping them thrive,” she said. “This partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Westchester County and ��ϲ�� represents a major step forward in addressing economic disparities and creating a pathway to financial independence for the people of Mount Vernon.”

The FEC is located at 130 Mount Vernon Avenue, within the Westchester-Putnam One Stop Career Center, a key supporter of the initiative. This strategic location ensures that residents of Mount Vernon and the greater Westchester community have easy access to these invaluable services.

“This center ensures that every county resident has access to free, life-changing financial resources, empowering brighter futures for all – and is another example of the type of collaboration and opportunity that we must continue to pursue,” said former Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

The Financial Empowerment Center model was first piloted in New York City under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2008 and has since expanded across the country. The City of Mount Vernon is one of several dozen local governments working to launch or having already launched a local FEC initiative. To date, FECs have assisted over 180,000 clients, reducing individual debt by over $293 million, and increasing their families’ savings by close to $57 million. A key component of the FEC model is the integration of counseling into other social services, such as housing and foreclosure prevention, workforce development, prisoner reentry, benefits access and domestic violence services, among others. Research from the CFE Fund shows that this program works even for residents with very low incomes and other complex financial challenges.

“Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and the City of Mount Vernon are part of a growing national movement to bring free, high-quality financial counseling as a public service to their residents,” said Jonathan Mintz, president and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “We are proud to partner with Mayor Patterson-Howard to help residents work towards a stronger financial future.”

By providing essential financial guidance, the FEC aims to break cycles of economic hardship and pave the way for a more financially secure community.

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: All the World's a Stage

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:43:19 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: All the World's a Stage jbailjr@mercy.edu Fri, 08/08/2025 - 16:43 School of Nursing Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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All the World's a Stage

��ϲ�� students gain hands-on experience working and performing at local theater.

Thanks to a partnership between ��ϲ��’s School of Liberal Arts and the Irvington Theater, ��ϲ�� students can take advantage of internships, part-time jobs and performance opportunities at the local theater — contributing to the community in the process.

“This job gives me an ‘in’ in the arts,” said alumnus Eduardo Balbuena ’23 who works part-time at the theater. “It complements what I want to do career-wise, and I hope it’ll help me get there one day.” He plans to pursue a career in acting. He fell in love with the craft at ��ϲ�� while majoring in radio and television production.

Marc Palmieri, assistant professor in communications arts, spearheaded the partnership with Irvington Theater manager Greg Allen. The 432-seat Irvington Theater, which is located within Irvington’s Town Hall, opened in 1902 and now hosts local arts organizations and touring groups. “It’s the ideal community organization collaboration in every way,” Palmieri said. “The theater is up the street from ��ϲ��, and it’s such a beautiful place. The people there are so encouraging for the students. And it couldn’t be a better extension of my classes because students see all the elements of a theatrical production come together on a professional level, and they get to be a part of it.”

In 2017, Palmieri and Allen met and started exploring how the School of Liberal Arts and the Irvington Theater could work together. After Palmieri helped resurrect the ��ϲ�� Theatre Club, Allen invited the group to perform at the theater in exchange for students volunteering as ushers at other performances. From there, the partnership yielded some internships and part-time paid positions at the theater for students and alumni. Currently, one student and two recent alumni work there.

Balbuena works in the box office and in the front of the house, which involves greeting patrons and keeping the stage managers updated about whether the audience is seated. “I was so nervous my first day,” he said. “I get nervous talking to people sometimes, so being face to face with strangers was nerve-wracking. But the theater staff helped me through the process and see that it wasn’t something to be afraid of.”

Joel Rivera ’26 — who is majoring in film and media — has worked as an usher since November. He greets patrons as they enter the theater, scans tickets, shows people to their seats and hands out programs. “I’ve had a great time working at the theater,” he said. “I like that I get to see people feeling happy as they go to live performances.” He hopes to pursue a career in acting or writing screenplays.

Allen believes it is important for art organizations to work with university students. “The arts are for everyone,” he said. “We want patrons to feel that when they walk through the door, and students need to feel that too. These jobs provide access. If students want to work in the arts one day, working in the box office or as an usher gets you in the door. They can learn so much in these roles.”

The partnership continues to evolve. While the theater was closed for extensive renovations from 2020 to 2024, ��ϲ�� hosted two years of the theater’s Arts Incubator Short Play Fest, in which playwrights submit unpublished, unproduced scripts for public reading. Students from the Theatre Club read a play along with the professionals. After the festival, a couple of local directors contacted Palmieri to ask for specific students’ contact information to offer them other performing opportunities. “It’s nice to see the community recognize how good our students are,” Palmieri said.

Peter West, Ph.D., dean of ��ϲ��’s School of Liberal Arts, sees how beneficial this partnership is for all parties. “The collaboration between ��ϲ�� and the Irvington Theater has resulted in such meaningful experiences for our students,” he said. “We hope the collaboration continues to grow in ways that enrich both institutions and the local community.”

The partnership also yields less tangible — but no less important — outcomes, such as exposing students to more of the arts. For example, working in the theater this year has inspired Balbuena to read more plays to refine his understanding of drama. Rivera is enjoying the shows he sees while ushering. “My favorite one so far was ‘Les Misérables,’” he said. “It was the first musical I’ve seen. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about all the singing, but it turns out that it was really, really good.”

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Leading in Justice

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:44:01 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Leading in Justice jbailjr@mercy.edu Fri, 08/08/2025 - 11:44 School of Nursing Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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Leading in Justice

��ϲ��’s new master’s program in criminal justice is not just an academic milestone — it’s a step toward a safer, more equitable society.

��ϲ�� has launched its first master’s degree program in criminal justice. Under the auspices of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SSBS), the new graduate program builds on the success of ��ϲ��’s criminal justice bachelor’s degree by offering advanced training and critical thinking skills essential for careers in the broad field of criminal justice.

Dr. Charles Lieberman, the program’s director, joined ��ϲ�� in 2021 to develop this interdisciplinary graduate program. Launched in fall 2024, the curriculum was designed to address increasing student demand and the growing need for diverse, well-trained professionals in criminal justice.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for police officers and detectives will grow 7% by 2030. ��ϲ��’s master’s degree can prepare graduates for a variety of careers, both in law enforcement and in a number of related fields.

“Although our program is ideal for police officers seeking career advancement, it’s important to note that the master’s degree provides a robust foundation for a variety of career paths,” said Stuart Sidle, Ph.D., SSBS dean. “Corporate security managers, justice policy advocates, individuals supporting victims of crime or formerly incarcerated persons — these are just a few of the many professionals who benefit from the critical thinking, ethical decision-making, research and strategic problem-solving skills that our program develops.”

The criminal justice faculty consists of current or former practitioners with decades of experience across adjacent areas of policing, corrections, federal agencies and the legal system. “We have veterans from the NYPD, the FBI, and even the Korean National Police Force,” said Lieberman. The faculty’s collective expertise provides students with an insider’s comprehensive understanding of the field.

While the benefits of a master’s degree include job security and higher earning potential as well as preparation for a wide variety of careers and doctoral studies, the realized value goes much deeper.

“Effective solutions to crime and criminal behavior require more than quick fixes based on emotional or political appeals. They demand approaches grounded in solid research and a refined understanding of underlying causes,” said Dean Sidle. “Society doesn’t lack solutions; it often lacks the ability to implement evidence-based strategies that address root causes effectively. Our program equips students with the skills to analyze data, apply research findings and make informed, empathetic decisions that lead to meaningful and lasting improvements to our justice systems and public safety.”

The timing felt right. “��ϲ��’s curriculum stands out for its small class sizes, and that enables students to build close mentoring relationships with faculty,” Lieberman said.

Some students come to the program having held jobs in corrections, the courts, the military or law enforcement, Lieberman observed. Students who had majored in the social sciences also began inquiring about the program, hoping to apply their earlier studies to adjacent areas of focus such as victims’ assistance, the families of incarcerated individuals or criminal justice reform.

The students now enrolled in the master’s program reflect ��ϲ��’s commitment to diversity, with the majority being from minority backgrounds and over half identifying as women. “Diversity improves organizations by reducing bias and broadening perspectives,” Lieberman said. This representation is especially critical in criminal justice professions, where varied viewpoints can improve decision-making and foster stronger community connections.

Sidle noted that “By preparing a diverse generation of leaders, our aim is to create more equitable representation in the communities where our graduates hope to serve.”

By combining academic rigor, practical experience and a commitment to equity, ��ϲ��’s criminal justice program may be paving the way to a safer, more equitable future. Looking ahead, Lieberman said he hopes to expand ��ϲ��’s criminal justice offerings, further enhancing the University’s mission to promote social mobility and community impact. Sidle added, “It’s never been more vital to begin shaping the next generation of leaders who can meet the complex challenges our society faces.”

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: From Page to Practice

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:39:51 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: From Page to Practice jbailjr@mercy.edu Tue, 07/29/2025 - 15:39 School of Health and Natural Sciences Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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For students pursuing a career in veterinary technology at ��ϲ��, mastering hands-on skills isn’t just a component of the program — it’s the foundation. A new edition of the coursebook “Assessing Essential Skills of Veterinary Technology Students” ensures students are fully prepared to meet industry standards and excel in the field.

Faculty from ��ϲ��’s Veterinary Technology Program played a pivotal role in shaping the fourth edition. Professors Lisa E. Schenkel, Amanda Colón, Sandra Lynn Bertholf ’97, M.S. ’18, Sabrina Timperman and retired faculty member Laurie J. Buell ’95 contributed their expertise to this comprehensive resource, which reviews the skills required by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA).

“What I really value about this book is it’s not just a checklist of skills,” said Dr. Colón. “It gives you a thought process and knowledge behind each skill, in addition to the hands-on techniques. It really puts a big focus on applying these skills in the clinical environment.”

��ϲ��’s Veterinary Technology Program is a standout choice for students passionate about animal healthcare. As one of the few programs nationwide offering a Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary technology, it combines rigorous academics with extensive clinical training. Students complete two full-semester externships and have opportunities to specialize in areas such as surgical nursing, exotic animal medicine and zoo animal care — preparing them for advanced roles in veterinary medicine. With a 98% Veterinary Technician National Exam pass rate for more than 20 years, the program consistently delivers exceptional results.

What sets ��ϲ��’s program apart are its unique opportunities, including externships at top practices, multi-specialty centers and zoos, as well as an articulation agreement with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. This agreement reserves two seats per enrollment period for qualified ��ϲ�� students, ensuring them a direct path to further their education in veterinary medicine at Ross University. Named one of the Top Ten Best Value Schools, ��ϲ��’s program ensures students are not only well-trained but also positioned for rewarding careers in this growing field.

Bertholf, a licensed veterinary technologist and associate program director, plays a unique role in the curriculum by teaching both the introductory course and the final capstone course. She describes her position as the “bookends” of the program, allowing her to guide students from their first steps to their final milestones. “It’s really amazing to see how far they’ve come and how much they’ve learned,” she said.

A graduate of the program herself, Bertholf said, “It’s exciting to come full circle and teach for the program. I like that I can relate to the students and share my own experiences to help them be successful.”

Colón echoed this sentiment, highlighting the program’s emphasis on real-world experiences. “What sets us apart is the clinical experiences we provide to students,” she said. “They encounter real-life patient situations. When our students graduate, they are ready to enter the field.”

These real-life patient scenarios, encountered during externships, are supported by the coursebook, which emphasizes the reasoning behind each procedure. “It really focuses on applying skills in the clinical environment,” said Colón. “It’s not just about how to do something — it’s about understanding the why. When you grasp the reasoning behind procedures, you’re better equipped to pivot and make adjustments if things don’t go as planned, ensuring patient safety. Our goal is to develop thoughtful, knowledgeable and professional veterinary technicians.”

Colón also emphasized the challenge of bridging classroom knowledge to real-world application. “Students can do quite well on a written exam, but making that bridge from didactic knowledge to a real-life patient in front of them? That’s the challenge,” she said. “Applying that knowledge in the clinical environment is one of the biggest challenges for students today.”

Bertholf agreed, highlighting the coursebook’s purpose. “The goal of this book is for students to apply knowledge to the patient in front of them,” she said. “We want the students to have a very detailed resource.”

This essential study guide is ideal for undergraduate students in AVMA CVTEA-accredited veterinary technology programs and serves as a valuable teaching tool for instructors. It is also a required textbook in ��ϲ��’s Veterinary Technology Program.

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Creating Community, Empowering Teachers

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:23:22 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Creating Community, Empowering Teachers jbailjr@mercy.edu Mon, 07/28/2025 - 14:23 School of Nursing Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News Center for STEM Education

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Creating Community, Empowering Teachers

��ϲ�� leads the way in spreading early STEM education.

On a cool evening last fall, fifth graders at Columbus Elementary School in New Rochelle, N.Y., made their first foray into architectural home design. As part of a STEM engineering challenge, the team of 10-year-olds applied creative problem-solving, budgeting and other skills toward the design and construction of tiny house models using household materials.

The activity was developed and facilitated by a cadre of K–8 teachers, with support from the ��ϲ�� Center for STEM Education (MCSE). At Columbus Elementary and other schools in the region, educators of children in grades K–8 are leading the way to ensure all students have access to rigorous STEM education.

MCSE co-directors Dr. Amanda Gunning and Dr. Meghan Marrero are a driving force behind the proliferation of the center’s flagship programs, which include the STEM Schools Network, the Wipro Science Education Fellowship (SEF), and the family-centered FLORES (Family Learning and Outreach for Research and Education in STEM). Thanks to their steady efforts over the past decade, ��ϲ�� has emerged as a leader in shaping early STEM education in the region.

In its 10 years as a member of Wipro SEF, MCSE has supported more than 90 science teacher fellows from five local school districts as they completed a science education fellowship. Many of these Fellows have recruited additional educators from their schools and other networks, alerting them to ��ϲ�� programs, building community and advocating for early STEM education.

“We’re focused on building community and connecting teachers to emerging educational resources,” said Gunning. “And we’re constantly growing. Our goal is to ensure all students, regardless of background, have access to integrated STEM learning.”

At their conference on STEM teacher leadership held last fall on ��ϲ��’s Westchester Campus, the MCSE invited area K–12 STEM educators to come together and learn from schools that are succeeding in early STEM education. Seven of these schools, including Columbus Elementary, were recognized as the first cohort of the ��ϲ�� STEM Schools Network, a consortium of distinguished schools that have demonstrated a commitment to STEM education and have leveraged MCSE’s wealth of programs and opportunities. Network schools have access to funds for teachers’ STEM initiatives and enjoy discounts on STEM conferences and other professional development programs.

“Through our many outreach programs, we are seeing real growth in our ability to build a knowledge-sharing community of STEM educators that not only empowers teachers but also helps communities,” said Marrero. “We commend our Network schools for their dedication to learning new practices, sharing technologies and spreading the word about ��ϲ��’s programs to other schools and districts.”

To date, Columbus Elementary has sent four teachers through the Westchester STEM Ambassadors program, another professional development project led by the MCSE. Many have reached out to other schools in the area, connecting with other K–8 teachers and sharing resources and support as more schools work to develop their own STEM activities for students.

Anny Vanegas, a National Science Foundation STEM Master Teacher Fellow, Wipro Reimagined Fellow, Westchester STEM Ambassador and a teacher at Columbus Elementary, acknowledged the support and enthusiasm STEM has received from her administrators and the district. “It’s gratifying to know our district leaders share our belief in the transformative power of science education, particularly for students with learning differences,” she said. “We’re seeing them — all students, in fact — starting to thrive in STEM subjects.”

Columbus regularly hosts evening workshops for families to help support their children’s science learning and bring science into their daily lives. The FLORES family-oriented, bilingual workshops are led by Columbus faculty who have completed a professional learning program at the MCSE.

“Columbus has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to STEM education by wholeheartedly tapping into the resources and opportunities we offer,” said Gunning. “We’re proud to be partners, along with the other members of the ��ϲ�� STEM Schools Network.”

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Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Talking a Good Game

jbailjr@mercy.edu — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Talking a Good Game jbailjr@mercy.edu Mon, 07/21/2025 - 09:45 Maverick Magazine ��ϲ�� News

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On a sunny day in September, Jackeline Gregorio ’25 watched the women’s soccer team win 3-1 in a game against Georgian Court University. After it ended, she conducted a short video interview with player Isabella Messina ’25 about defensive tactics and what the team learned from the game.

That interview became the first ��ϲ�� Sports Network (MSN) post on Instagram under the handle @mercysportsnetwork. Since then, the student-run MSN team has created dozens of posts that highlight ��ϲ��’s student-athletes, coaches and athletic successes. Posts are routinely getting thousands of views.

“These videos help ��ϲ�� by promoting the athletics department and student-athletes,” said Gregorio, who is in the ��ϲ�� Business Honors program. “They help ��ϲ�� coaches show prospective students that the opportunities at ��ϲ�� are endless. And they help MSN team members see if sports marketing is something they want to pursue. It’s a win-win on all sides.”

Gregorio was inspired to start MSN after attending the Conmebol Copa América semifinal over the summer. “Watching the game reignited my passion for sports,” she explained. “And it drove me to find a way to combine that passion with my love of storytelling and my business education.”

Upon returning to ��ϲ�� for the fall semester, she mentioned launching a student-run ��ϲ�� sports media group to Mark Chmiel, instructor in business. “She came to me with this great idea, and then she ran with it,” he said. “I gave her some guidance and connected her to leaders within ��ϲ��, including Vice President of Athletics Matt Kilcullen Jr., who fully supports this effort. One thing Jackeline and I have worked on is how to manage a team and get younger students involved, so MSN can live on after she graduates.”

Other ��ϲ�� leaders and staff rallied behind MSN as well. ��ϲ��’s Assistant Athletic Director of Communications, Kyle Goodhart ’12, worked with the students to make MSN interviews look more professional, and he and Gregorio are currently talking about the possibility of producing a podcast on ��ϲ�� athletics. ��ϲ�� President Susan Parish connected Gregorio with an executive at ESPN, which has turned into a series of networking opportunities. “That one connection led to several career chats for me to explore sports media and marketing,” Gregorio said. “I end each conversation by asking who I should speak with next, so each conversation leads to another one.”

Gregorio praises the Business Honors program for playing a significant role in her success. “The Business Honors program molded me to become ambitious and determined,” she said. “I’ve had amazing professors, including Mark Chmiel, who saw my potential and mentored me. His lessons and insights on the technical side of business helped me set and meet goals for our views and engagement on Instagram. Having a support system like that really pushed me to where I am today.”

MSN makes sure that at least a couple of team members attend every ��ϲ�� home game. They watch the game, write up interview questions and conduct one or more video interviews, aiming to share behind-the-scenes perspectives. Later, the MSN team edits each video and writes the caption before posting on Instagram.

The work is data-driven, and the team constantly experiments with new ideas. Gregorio watches professional sports networks to get new ideas for interviewing and video editing techniques. The MSN team examines Instagram’s performance data to determine which posts perform the best. One video got almost 5,000 views, and the team thinks it is because of the variety of hashtags Luis Mejia ’25 included in the caption. That result has made them more focused on editing and perfecting the captions.

Being involved with MSN has helped team members grow their skills in many areas. “Interviewing is so out of character for me because I’m not much of a talker,” said MSN team member Nikky Ramirez ’24. “But it’s my last semester here at ��ϲ��, so I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone. I’ve learned public speaking skills and gained confidence.” Francelis Ovalles ’25, another MSN team member, says that she has learned the value of teamwork and how to manage her time.

MSN is shaping students’ career plans. Both Nikky Ramirez ’24 and Esmeralda Perez ’25 report that their work with MSN has solidified their plans to pursue careers in marketing. “I found my niche throughout this experience with MSN,” said Perez.

Gregorio has also discovered her new career path. “I want to make a global impact,” she said. “And I think I can make that impact in storytelling for sports. MSN was the spark.”

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News

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: The Power of Conflict

The Power of Conflict

Equipping students to navigate complexity and lead with purpose.

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Thinking Under Pressure

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: From Classroom to Career

From classroom...to career.

Building the Next Generation of Educators

Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: A New Way Forward

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From obligation to purpose

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Maverick Magazine Summer 2026: Moments That Matter

Moments That Matter

Maverick Magazine: 75th Anniversary Issue

Maverick Magazine: 75th Anniversary Issue

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ���ϲ����� Class Notes

���ϲ����� Class Notes

Our Mavericks marking milestones.

1960s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Sister Theresa Kane (1936–2024)

Hon. Dominic R. Massaro, H.D. ’75, ’95 (1939–2024)

Alumni & Friends

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: CNR Class Notes

CNR Class Notes

Our alumni achievements.

1960s & 1970s

1980s & 1990s

2000s & 2010s

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ���ϲ����� Faculty Publications

���ϲ����� Faculty Publications

June 2024–DECEMBER 2024

School of Business

Zach Williams and Heather Apollonio, M.B.A. ’23

School of Education

JungKang Miller

Wendy K. Mages

School of Health and Natural Sciences

Astrid E. Mel and Nannette Hyland

Francine M. Seruya

School of Liberal Arts

Caitlin Wiesner

Tianyu Wang and Zhixiong Chen

Marc Palmieri

Libraries

Moddie Breland

School of Nursing

Terrence Calistro, Kimberly Rapoza and Kathleen Kenney-Riley

Veronica C. Pasha

School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Jeong Kim

Serah Shani

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Marybeth Gerrity

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Nursing is a Family Affair

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Leading the Way

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Financial Freedom for All

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: All the World's a Stage

All the World's a Stage

���ϲ����� students gain hands-on experience working and performing at local theater.

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Leading in Justice

Leading in Justice

���ϲ�����’s new master’s program in criminal justice is not just an academic milestone — it’s a step toward a safer, more equitable society.

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: From Page to Practice

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Creating Community, Empowering Teachers

Creating Community, Empowering Teachers

���ϲ����� leads the way in spreading early STEM education.

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: Talking a Good Game

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ��ϲ�� Class Notes

��ϲ�� Class Notes

Maverick Magazine Spring 2025: ��ϲ�� Faculty Publications

��ϲ�� Faculty Publications

��ϲ�� students gain hands-on experience working and performing at local theater.

��ϲ��’s new master’s program in criminal justice is not just an academic milestone — it’s a step toward a safer, more equitable society.

��ϲ�� leads the way in spreading early STEM education.