FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY AT THE CORE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Presitigious Fellowships awarded ............1

Innovations in cancer research ................2

New Senior Vice President spends time in the classroom ..................2

CT Professor of the Year ...........................3

Gifts & grants ...........................................3

A year of celebration:

The R&J Project .............................4 & 5

Latin America ......................................6

Communities in Action ........................7

Students receive study abroad scholarships .................................8

Shakespeare LIVE! ...................................8

Brainy Outreach .......................................9

The Science Institute ...............................9

NBC Page – Meg Hallissy ’10 ..................10

Fairfield hosts Fulbright TA from Russia .......................................10

Board of Advisor Members .....................11

CAS Board of Advisor events ..................11

Message from the Dean .........................12

Tom Gallo: a man for others ....................12

www.fairfield.edu/cas

Spring 2010

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E C O L L E G E O F A R T S & S C I E N C E S

Prestigious Fellowships awarded

Drs. Ron Davidson and Joy Gordon received highly competitive fellowships

from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to write books. Dr. Davidson also received an American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellowship. These Fellowships support advanced research meant for humanities scholars and general audiences.

Susan LaFrance, director of sponsored programs said, “Being selected for an NEH Fellowship is extremely prestigious as they are exceptionally competitive and quite difficult to receive.” Noël Appel, director of foundation relations explained, “The ACLS Fellowship received by Dr. Davidson is an important achievement for Fairfield and the first of its kind. There were 1,136 eligible applications of which 57 awards were made this year.”

Dr. Davidson, professor of religious studies, noted that the process for developing a good grant proposal was vital to his success. “I attended workshops for both the NEH and ACLS grants at Connecticut College, and there received feedback from one of the NEH officers, who was extremely helpful.”

Dr. Davidson received $50,400 from NEH, and $53,132 from ACLS for his next book entitled Imperial Buddhas, Tantric Origins: the Emperor Arising from the Buddha’s Turban. This book will investigate the origins of Buddhist tantrism in seventh to eighth-century CE India. By examining dozens of primary Buddhist documents in Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan, Dr. Davidson will write about the earliest tantric Buddhist system: “The Emperor Arising from the Buddha’s Turban.”

Dr. Gordon, professor of philosophy, also received a fellowship of $50,400 for her book A Peaceful, Silent, Deadly Remedy: The Ethics of Economic Sanctions, which will provide an analysis of ethical issues related to economic sanctions. Dr. Gordon said, “I’m delighted to have this opportunity to complete a book on ethical aspects of economic sanctions. As we’ve seen in Iraq, they can have a devastating impact on the population, yet they continue to be a critical tool of U.S. foreign policy.” Dr. Gordon recently published her first book Invisible War: The United States and the Iraq Sanctions printed by Harvard University Press.

AT THE CORE

Dr. Ron Davidson

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Dr. Joy Gordon

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Spring 2010

Genzyme Corporation’s state-of-the-art research facility in Waltham, Mass. was the perfect site for a “Faculty on the Road” presentation in October.

Hosted by Dr. Edmund J. Sybertz ’72, Senior Vice President – Scientific Affairs, Genzyme Corporation & College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisor member, and Dr. Robbin Crabtree, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, this ses-sion explored how Fairfield University is making a difference in cancer research. This program is part of the life long learn-ing theme implemented by Alumni Chapters across the coun-try for alumni, parents, and friends of the University.

Dr. Shelley Phelan (center), associate professor of biol-ogy, and Dr. Min Xu, assistant professor of physics (second

from right) discussed the findings of their research projects, both of which were funded by the National Institutes of Health. Current Fairfield students Katie Sullivan ’11, and Bianca DeAngelo ’12 (pictured), were part of the panel and impressed the audience with the breadth of complex research that Fairfield students are engaging with today.

“I think it is really important for alumni and students to get a chance to connect in events that are focused on academ-ic activities at the University,” said Dr. Sybertz. “Such events provide alumni with a chance to see what is happening at the University and provide students with a supportive forum in which to present their research.”

Dr. Xu said, “Alumni seemed to be engaged and they were impressed and proud of the progress made by the College in faculty research and the achievement demonstrated by our young student researchers. The response from our alumni and their parents was overwhelmingly warm and encouraging. Some alumni also expressed their desire to assist us in cancer research carried out on campus. Everyone is looking forward to the next such event.”

“This event is also an example of how Fairfield alumni can stay engaged,” said Dr. Crabtree. “Dr. Sybertz often attends the Sigma Xi poster session where students present their scientific research each year, has hosted summer interns at his company, spoke on a career panel for students in the sciences, and serves on the College of Arts & Sciences Board of Advisors.”

Innovations in cancer research

Dean Crabtree (far left) and Dr. Ted Sybertz (far right) with faculty and student researchers.

AT THE CORE: The College of Arts and Sciences

New Senior Vice President spends time in the classroom

Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J. didn’t waste any time before jumping into Fairfield University’s community. Named as the

new Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in February of 2009, he began his duties in July of that same year.

In addition to his workload in the Academic Administrative office, Fr. Fitzgerald also taught “The Church” in the Religious Studies Department. Dr. Nancy Dallavalle, Chair and associate professor of religious studies said, “We are delighted to offer our students this oppor-

tunity to study Catholic thought on the Church with someone who has international scholarly credentials. Seeing the commitment of senior administrators to the teaching mission of the school – to the life of the mind – is a lesson that goes far beyond the classroom.”

Fr. Fitzgerald’s background includes an impressive array of academic credentials, inter-national experience, collaboration, and teaching. After graduating from Santa Clara University he entered the Society of Jesus at the Jesuit Novitiate in California before going to Germany

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Dr. Laura Nash, director of the music program who has worked to bring music to inner city

classrooms, was the 2009 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Connecticut Professor of the Year. The honor was announced in November in Washington, D.C.

The foundation honored Dr. Nash for her innovative Music for an Urban District

program. In 2003, she created the program with a $670,000 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

“As a scholar demonstrating integration of teaching excellence, intellectual contributions, broad service and leadership, and commit-ment to Fairfield’s educational mission,” says Dean Robbin Crabtree, “Dr. Nash exemplifies the values of the Carnegie Foundation, and its Professor of the Year Award.”

The program brings Fairfield faculty to mentor Bridgeport teach-ers and provides year-round professional development and equipment. Among the many success stories to emerge is a popular African drum circle comprised of Bridgeport teachers who represented Connecticut at a national showcase in Washington, D.C.

The work is timely, Dr. Nash said, because “current research shows a robust relationship between literacy and language development and learning in music and in drama.”

CT Professor of the Year

Dr. Laura Nash

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to study philosophy and received a Ph. B (B.A.) in Philosophy from the Jesuit-run Hochschule fr Philosophie in Munich. Following with degrees from the Weston School of Theology, and the University of Paris – La Sorbonne, Fr. Fitzgerald joined the department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara in 1997.

Fr. Fitzgerald noted, “I love to teach, and during my five years of administrative work at Santa Clara University, I always taught at least one section per year. I accepted Dr. Dallavalle’s invitation for the following reason: I wanted to get to know a random sample of stu-dents. They do indeed present a cross section of Fairfield. They are generally quite bright, hard working, curious, and they even laugh at my jokes – sometimes.”

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Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J.

Funding of $298,601 was received from the U.S. Army

Medical Research and Material Command for a project to

develop a novel optical imaging modality for the detection,

diagnosis, and prognosis of prostate cancer. Dr. Min Xu

(Physics) is the project director.

A grant of $75,000 was received from Research Corporation

for a two-year project to engage undergraduate students in a

study exploring the use of light to noninvasively detect differ-

ences between normal and breast cancer cells. Drs. Shelley

Phelan (Biology) and Min Xu co-direct the project.

The Connecticut Writing Project (CWP) received $47,500 from

the CT State Department of Education; $46,000 from the

U.S. Department of Education through the National Writing

Project, plus an additional $5,000 grant to support work with

emerging technologies. Finally, People’s Bank granted $5,000

to support teachers from low-income schools in the CWP’s

annual Invitational Summer institute. Faye Gage serves as

Director of CWP-Fairfield. The Associate Directors are Dr.

Betsy Bowen (English); Andrew Neidich (Briggs Academy,

Norwalk); and Lynn Winslow.

College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisor, Harry

Rissetto’65 has provided support to the Academic Division in

the amount of $50,000 for a Jesuit Recruitment and Retention

Fund. These funds will be overseen by Paul Fitzgerald, S.J.,

senior vice president of academic affairs.

Dr. Ellen Umansky (Religious Studies) received a $50,000

grant from the Schnurmacher Foundation for the Carl and

Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies.

The ASIANetwork/Henry Luce Foundation has funded

$31,000 to the Asian Studies Program to hire a postdoctoral

teaching fellow to teach courses in historical and contempo-

rary aspects of Japan. Dr. Manyul Im (Philosophy) directs

the project.

Fairfield University received a grant of $25,000 from Bank of

America for its BASE Camp-Broadening Access to Science

Education program. Dr. Shelley Phelan is the project director.

The F.M. Kirby Foundation has renewed funding of $25,000

for the Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project. Dr. Judy

Primavera (Psychology) is the project director.

Gifts & Grants

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Spring 2010AT THE CORE: The College of Arts and Sciences

A year of celebrationAs part of Fairfield University’s plan to integrate the plethora of artistic, cultural, and academic events on campus, three areas of focus were chosen for the 2009-2010 academic year: The Romeo and Juliet Project (R&J); Latin America: Images, Dialogue, and Action; and Communities in Action. The next few pages show some of the many events celebrated on campus.

The R&J Project: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet The Department of Visual and

Performing Arts presented an

exploration of Shakespeare’s

Romeo and Juliet sponsored by

the CAS Board of Advisors and

the Humanities Institute in the

College of Arts and Sciences.

This yearlong exploration pre-

sented lectures, workshops,

special exhibitions, and other

projects based on the themes of

Romeo and Juliet.

R&J Poster image: Contributed

Guest director Barbra Berlovitz and

costume designer Sonya Berlovitz, both

founders of the award-winning Theatre

de la Jeune Lune, led the culminat-

ing Theatre Fairfield performances. Dr.

Martha LoMonaco, professor of theatre,

directed the R&J Project and Kerry

Davies ’11 was the project intern.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Drs. Robert Epstein, Lynn Porter, Richard Regan, Liz

Haas, and Pat Behere (podium) lecture about the role

of women in Shakespeare’s plays.

Photo by Bob WInkler

Curt Tofteland (above), Artistic Director of Shakespeare

Behind Bars, the only Shakespeare company operat-

ing inside a medium-security male prison. The primary

goal is for each inmate to address complex emotional

issues through theatre, encouraging the development

of both personal and interpersonal life skills. The docu-

mentary film on his company was screened at Fairfield

followed by a Q&A.

Photo by Bob WInkler

“What attracted the CAS Board of Advisors to the R&J

project was that it provided students from across

disciplines the opportunity to participate in a relevant

and engaging theatrical project. Visiting artists Sonya

and Barbra Berlovitz have been a wonderful creative

presence on campus and produced a valuable cultural

experience that the students will carry with them well

beyond their time at Fairfield.” – Mickey Murray, CAS

Board of Advisors


Studio art students went to the Center for Contemporary Printmaking

to work on special R&J banners that were hung around the University.


Romeo & Juliet play rehearsal. Barbra Berlovitz, Director,

shows the actors in the fight scene how to move.

“I never envisioned that there was so much to be learned

from and so many possible interpretations of Romeo and

Juliet. The University’s production was riveting, a mind

expanding experience. Thanks for the privilege of partici-

pating in the R&J Project.” – Diane Allison ’75, CAS Board

of Advisors


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Spring 2010

In October Junot Díaz, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning

author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, deliv-

ered a lecture and spoke to both undergraduate and

graduate students in mini-workshops.

Photo by BK Angeletti

The “Crash” exhibition featured a collaborative mural

Matos created with a select group of Bridgeport Central

High School students.


John “Crash” Matos (l), a world-famous graffiti artist,

presented his work at the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery.


Through a series of events revolving around Latin America, Fairfield University sought to promote scholarly and artistic enquiries into factors affecting integration between the U.S. and that region by showcasing the university’s own curricular, and research-related initiatives in connection with different Latin American countries. Dr. Gisela Gil-Egui, associate professor of communication, was the director of this project.

Social justice and diversity constitute the two underlying values of Fairfield University’s Strategic Plan. The goal of this project was to build upon the incredible work already being done on campus to advance the university’s mission for social justice. Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka, associate professor of politics, was the director of this series of events.

At the Newyorican Artistic

Movement students and

fellow artists gathered

to celebrate the works

of visual artist Adal

Maldonado, and legend-

ary Newyorican poets

Tato Laviera, Papoleto

Melendez, and Mariposa.


Chandler Oliphant ’12, the

organizer of “Posing for

Peace” decided to hold a

fashion show where stu-

dents would display items

of clothing that displayed

peace signs and discuss

what this common symbol

means to them. “There

was a wonderful turnout,

and that made all of the

hard work, time, and effort

that was put into the

event BEYOND worth it!”

said Oliphant.

Photo by Bob Winkler

Latin America: Images, Dialogue, and Action Communities in Action: A Year of Activism

Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, authors of

Grassroots: A Field Guide for Feminist Activism visited

campus to discuss their book and lead the University

in workshops designed to help create safe spaces to

discuss activism on campus. Shawne Lomauro ’11

organized this event.


At the culminating summit “Dare to Act, Act to

Change” Dr. Renee White (l) and Rev. Gerry Blasczcak,

S.J. (r) presented the keynote lecture while through-

out the day students presented a variety of projects

dealing with activism.


The Dirty Laundry Project invited the campus com-

munity to engage with social taboos that people

often choose to ignore or feel uncomfortable talking

about. Students were invited to create their own

piece of ‘Dirty Laundry.’ Students Mary McGrath ’10

and Jennifer Martin ’10 led the project.

Photo by Bob Winkler

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The Science Institute

Spring 2010

Whether students are out in the field observing how tourism affects Magellanic penguins in Argentina, or in a lab study-

ing the synthesis of Tri-Functionalized Guanines, the hands-on experience Fairfield faculty can offer to stu-dents is invaluable.

To continue to offer these opportunities Fairfield has created the Science Institute, an endowed fund in the College of Arts and Sciences that supports activities in science and mathematics. Funding will cover a wide variety of projects, including innovative teaching, cur-riculum development, equipment purchases, lectures, and grants for research.

“The Science Institute will support the early research of junior faculty providing them with essen-tial resources to make progress toward publications,” said Dean Robbin Crabtree. “This investment plays a significant role as the faculty members begin to pursue external grants from government, foundation, and cor-porate sources,” added Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J., senior vice president for academic affairs. “The Science Institute also will be one source of matching funds needed for highly competitive grants, which require institutional commitment of additional resources.”

The fund will seed the work of early-career schol-ars or new avenues of research for seasoned scholars. The biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer sci-ence, physics, and psychology departments have 45 doctorally-prepared faculty members; nearly all have active research programs, many of which involve stu-dents. For instance, students took part in 95 research projects in 2008-2009, 62 of which resulted in a pub-lished paper or conference attendance.

The Colleges of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors and other alumni, parents, and friends have been providing leadership in support of this new endowment. Board members Larry ’87 and Victoria ’88 Hicks recently donated a gift of $50,000 to the endowment, with additional support through the gen-erosity of Dan Quirk, P’12 whose $100,000 gift is supporting the Institute as well.


Students receive study abroad scholarships

Three Fairfield students received World Affairs Forum scholarships to study abroad in the 2009-2010 aca-demic year. This year, Fairfield’s students had the

distinction of receiving all of the scholarships that the Forum offered.

The World Affairs Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to expand-ing understanding of global affairs and America’s role in the world. The forum is an affiliate of the World Affairs Councils of America and developed this program to encourage deserving students interested in pursuing an international career to study abroad.

Stephen Bottari, a sophomore, was awarded $3,000 to study in Managua, Nicaragua at the Universidad Centro Americana. A communication major with a Latin American and Caribbean studies minor, Bottari took part in the University’s Duran, Ecuador Service and Immersion Program. In addition to a full immersion experi-ence, Bottari also did service work during the semester.

Junior Thomas Russo won a scholarship for $1,000 to study development and globalization in Khon Kaen, Thailand, which related to his major in international studies. He exam-ined on a global level the effects of environmental growth in

developing countries and the result-ing impacts on social justice and human rights issues.

Gretta Schwamb, a junior, received a scholarship for $1,000 to study at the University of Melbourne, Australia from July to November 2009 and in Germany at the Baden-Wurttemberg Exchange program from January to August 2010.

With majors in international studies and economics, Schwamb will learn about the open economy of Australia along with its connection to the Asian economy. While in Germany she will study the new monetary system being inte-grated in the European Union.

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(l-r) Stephen Bottari, Gretta Schwamb, and Thomas Russo.

Seventh-grader Gabbi Torres took the human brain in her surgical gloved-hands and winced.

“Eww,” she said, passing it to class-mate Andrew LaFleur. “This is hard and weird and gross.”

“It feels like gum!” he said, hold-ing it out from his body.

Gross or gummy as it may be, being able to examine a human brain is not something your typical seventh-grader gets to do, said Molly Thimons, their science teacher at St. Ann School in Bridgeport. And it’s only one of the unique science-related activities students from St. Ann and Black Rock School are able to do thanks to an innovative, service-learning component in Dr. Shannon Harding’s psychobiology course. A $2,440 grant from Connecticut Campus Compact helped Dr. Harding create this program, which brings middle schoolers to campus for a day of experimentation and provides $800 worth of equipment and microscopes to each school.

The partnership also offers Dr. Harding’s students a chance to teach. “They say you never fully understand something until you have to teach it,” said Dr. Harding, who recently received the 2010 College of Arts and Sciences Award for Distinguished Teaching. She will bring her students to the Bridgeport schools this year to help the kids study brain slices with their new microscopes.

Aidan Quinn ’11 plans a career in research and cognitive neurosci-ence, but he said he enjoyed giving back to the community by working with the children. “This group is amazing, too,” he said. “They’re unbe-lievably interested and very quick and engaged.”

Earlier in the day, the students helped with rat mazes. Katie Hassett ’11 placed a rat in a large enclosure on the ground, strewn with Froot Loops. While the rat gobbled up the cereal at the edges of the box, it wouldn’t venture into the center, where it might be exposed to danger. “See?” Hassett said. “For this experiment, we saw that food is just not enough of a motivator to make the rat go out there.”

Brainy OutreachBy Meredith Guinness

Students from St. Ann School observe a rat in a maze.

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Students in Drs. Robert Epstein and Shannon Kelley’s English classes got a special chance to experience one of William Shakespeare’s classics as it was meant to be

seen: Live.

The professors acquired a $2,385 grant from the Humanities Institute of the College of Arts and Sciences to take their students on a trip to Brooklyn, N.Y. to see the Bard’s work performed by a professional group of actors.

The grant covered transportation for 50 students from two classes, “British Literature” and “Introduction to Literature” to Brooklyn’s Academy of Music (BAM). Tony and Academy Award winning director, Sam Mendes, directed the Bridge Project at the BAM, which featured both British and American actors. The Academy was showing The Tempest, which culminated the students’ reading in their classes.

The trip was part of Fairfield’s R&J project, a yearlong celebration of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Dr. Epstein said the trip was important because students could see and under-stand Shakespeare’s plays as living art. “Based on their writ-ten responses and class comments after the performance, the students seemed to find the play very interesting and enter-taining, and it certainly seems to have enhanced the literary experience for most of them,” he said.

“I thought that the production was great and it was very helpful to see it performed,” Stefanie Minuto ’12 said. “It is interesting to connect what you imagine the setting and char-acters to be like when you read and then see it performed live. I would definitely see another play performed after hav-ing read a book in class,” she concluded.

Shakespeare LIVE!By Courtney Kern ’12

5112 www.fairfield.edu/cas10

The College of Arts and Sciences Welcomes New Board of Advisor Members

Joellin graduated from Fairfield University in 1974 with a B.A. in English. She received an MBA from Cornell University in 1977 and joined Accenture Ltd (then Arthur Andersen Consulting) in 1977 and worked happily there for 30 years until her retirement in 2007.

Joellin traveled continuously for business and lived for periods of time in Tokyo, London, and San Francisco (while always wanting

to return to New York!). Joellin is single, the oldest of nine children and aunt to 17 wonderful nieces and nephews. Of those in university, none have gone to Fairfield yet, but 13 remain in the wings.

Joellin currently resides in Miami and New York. She still enjoys travel (for leisure), opera, and is attempting to improve her Brooklyn accented French and Italian.

Larry is a 1987 history graduate of Fairfield University and is the President and CEO of NeuroTherm (r), a private equity backed medical device company that specializes in products for the treatment of chronic pain. With offices now in the greater Boston, London, and Amsterdam markets, Larry has led a small business through rapid ex-pansion and growth.

Prior to joining NeuroTherm in 2006, he was President and CEO of the Urology Division of Gyrus ACMI, a U.K. based PLC. He also serves on the Board of Arteriocyte Medical Systems, a leader in platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapies.

Victoria is a 1988 political science graduate of Fairfield University and is the Managing Partner of Drake Partners, LLC, a real estate investment and vacation rental business. She is also an active member of the Wellesley Women’s Service League in Wellesley, Mass. Victoria began work after gradu-ation with Carol Wright Sales in Stamford, Conn., and held a myriad of roles with progressive responsi-

bility before dedicating her time and focus on raising a family.

Victoria and her husband Larry met at Fairfield and married in 1990. They have three children: Ally, Sarah, and Bobby. After several years living in Westlake Village, Calif., they now reside in Wellesley, Mass., and spend summers and holidays in Conn.

The Hicks recently donated a gift of $50,000 to the CAS Science Institute Endowment which will directly fund faculty research and projects to strengthen the sciences in CAS.

Bob is Vice President of Pharmaceutical Research and Development at Glatt Air Techniques in Ramsey, N.J. where he is working on estab-lishing a generic drug products development and manufacturing division within that firm.

Bob graduated from Fairfield University in 1981 with a major in chemistry and a minor in math-ematics. Following undergradu-

ate work, Bob entered Seton Hall University and received his doctorate degree in 1985 in analytical/physical chemistry.

Bob currently resides with his wife of 27 years, Tricia Femia (also a Board member) in Kinnelon, N.J. and Mantoloking, N.J. They have three children, Robert Jr., Page, and Paul. His hobbies include boating, fishing, classical music, and cooking.


Spring 2010

Hailing from Omsk, one of Russia’s urban centers east of the Ural Mountains, Fulbright Teaching Assistant Elena Sergeeva was attracted to Fairfield

University for the same reason many locals are. The beach.

“I love the ocean,” says Sergeeva. “I have to travel 10,000 kilometers through Europe to Portugal to see the ocean. When I saw that Fairfield was on the shore, I was so happy!”

Sergeeva didn’t hesitate to dive into her new position as Fairfield’s first Russian and East European Studies (RES) Fulbright Teaching Assistant. In addition to teaching Oral Practice Sessions for the Russian language, she has been lead-ing the weekly Russian Hour gatherings where she shares cultural perspective on issues such as education, travel, pas-times, sports, cuisine, holidays, and more.

Dr. Marie-Agnés Sourieau, Chair of modern languages and literatures said, “Sergeeva’s role is an invaluable element of the University’s effort to embrace and promote cultural

diversity on campus and to educate students to become global citizens.”

During Sergeeva’s term at Fairfield, she is learning as much about her own culture as she is about the U.S. “I feel I am more Russian here than I am at home. You learn to recog-nize your culture only in comparison with another culture.”

Fairfield hosts Fulbright TA from RussiaBy Lisa Calderone


Joellin Comerford ’74

Dr. Robert A. Femia ’81

Victoria Hicks ’88

Larry Hicks ’87

Elena (l) paints traditional Matryoshka dolls with students.

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College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisor eventsMarch 22, 2010 - Harry Rissetto ’65, Board Member, Board of Advisors, hosted the Health Care Reform Alumni Chapter/School of Nursing event in Washington, D.C.

June 6, 2010 - Susan Alexander ’78, Chair, Board of Advisors, will host a brunch in Bridgehampton for alumni, parents, and friends celebrating the topic – Leading an Inspired Life–

understanding your options, following your heart: a conversa-tion on life’s transitions from a Jesuit perspective. Special guests will include Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., President, Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs, and Dr. Robbin Crabtree, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences.

Not many Fairfield seniors can say they have per-formed a rap to land their dream job. Meg Hallissy, a communication major, did just that in an inter-

view for NBC to land a unique internship as a Page for the well-known television network.

Featured on the hit television show 30 Rock with the char-acter of Kenneth Parcell, an NBC Page is called by NBC, “the best, most diverse talent.” The program lasts for a year and focuses on four areas in the company: guest relations, market-ing, public relations, and production. Hallissy said, “It’s the whole Jesuit ideals sort of thing; you are trained in all aspects of media and leave there with a very strong knowledge of everything media related; [it is] all encompassing.”

Along with 64 other candidates (out of 10,000) Hallissy was chosen after participating in a three-part interview process culminating in a two-minute panel presentation. In order to stand out and leave a lasting impression on the panel, Hallissy, who has experience singing as Fairfield’s Glee Club

President, decided to perform a rap to the tune of the theme song of the television show, Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Hallissy sang about being a “Fresh Page of New York.”

Hallissy credits her academic advisor, Dr. David Gudelunas, for encouraging her to get involved in communication. Dr. Gudelunas said, “She was a great fit for the major because she is forward-thinking, intellectu-ally daring, and creative. Both in and out of the classroom Meg ‘gets it’ and is able to think about how to connect her theoretical and intellectual knowledge of communication and media to the real world application of media practice.”

Beginning her Page responsibilities just a couple of months after graduation in May, Hallissy will be focused on the fact that 65 percent of NBC pages become entry-level employees within the company. But, as graduation approach-es, Hallissy said, “I am very nostalgic and sad to leave Fairfield. I couldn’t have done it without everyone I’ve met here.”

NBC Page – Meg Hallissy ’10By Courtney Kern ’12

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At The Core is published twice a year by Fairfield University for alumni, students, parents, benefactors, and friends of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Fairfield University1073 North Benson Rd.

Bellarmine HallFairfield, CT 06824-5195

EDITORIAL BOARD

Dr. Robbin CrabtreeDean, College of Arts and Sciences

Carolyn ArnoldAt The Core Editor

Noël Appel ’80, M.A.’09College of Arts and Sciences

Advancement Liaison

Jean Santopatre, M.A.’09University Photojournalist

Ed Ross ’86, M.A.’89Senior Graphic Designer

Courtney Kern ’12Intern

Tess BrownMFA in Creative Writing

Graduate Assistant

Sara ColabellaM.A. in Communication

Graduate Assistant


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Message from the DeanDear alumni, colleagues, and friends,

AT THE CORE

When Tom Gallo, purchasing manager at Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, began pursuing his Master’s in Communication at Fairfield University he had

no idea that his final thesis subject (on domestic violence) would inspire him so much that he would eventually become a member of the board for the Center for Women and Families (CWF) and chair a special White Ribbon Campaign initiative.

“While doing research on domestic violence I found the CWF in Bridgeport. As I began to delve into the subject and find out why women remain in violent situations and the communication influences that kept them there, I interviewed members of staff and survivors of domestic violence at CWF.”

After listening to real stories of domestic violence, Gallo wanted to become more involved. “I learned that it’s not easy to leave an abusive relationship, and was inspired by the stories I heard and knew that it was something I wanted to investigate.” CWF invited him to volunteer in a variety of ways.

Eventually the CWF asked him to become a Board Member and Chairman for a White Ribbon Campaign called “Men as

Part of the Solution,” an ongoing project, which seeks to end vio-lence against women by engaging men in the process of personal, relational, and social change. In September of 2009 Gallo was hon-ored by the Center as an exemplary community leader.

“The main goal is to challenge everyone to speak out against domestic abuse,” Gallo said. “Anyone can sign a pledge, but it’s what you feel in your heart: that violence against women is unac-ceptable.” Dean Crabtree noted, “Tom’s community-based research and commitment to continued service illustrates well how our graduate programs are infused with the Jesuit ideals and ethics.”

Tom Gallo: a man for others

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Spring is a time when we see our work come to fruition – in the form of tenure and promotion decisions for our fine faculty, awards events for our graduating seniors, student capstones, and research.

This spring has been more vibrant than usual, as the “Year of Activism” culminated in a series of student-produced performances, events, and

experiential exhibits and the “R&J Project” brought visiting artists Barbra and Sonja Berlovitz to campus for the final phase of lectures, courses, productions, and exhibits related to their unique and contemporary interpretation of Romeo & Juliet. These are only a few examples of the ways the College at Fairfield University creates high-impact learning experiences for students and produces a campus culture characterized by enormous student and faculty engagement.

This edition of the College of Arts and Sciences newsletter explores these stories and others that demonstrate the ways the collaborations of students, faculty, staff, and alumni produce a last-ing and impactful education in the Jesuit tradition.

I would like to add a special note of appreciation to my College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors for their partnership in support of the College and steadfast interest in learning more about students and faculty activities. Their support of programming and of the endowments in the College are helping to realize our highest aspirations.

Robbin Crabtree, Ph.D. Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

J. Santopatre

(l-r) Deb Greenwood, CEO for CWF; Stephanie Stacy; Coleen Parker; Tom Gallo, M.A.’08; and Sarah Lubarsky attend a WRC event.

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY AT THE CORE

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