SNHU impact Magazine

Volume 7 | Summer 2015

In this Issue

Advancing Southern New Hampshire University

im pact

Sustaining the SNHU Experience

Adventures in Game Design

Profiles in Leadership

Service Learning

SNHUcan Career Advisory Network

Coming Soon: The Gustafson Center

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We’re redefining giving. Are you in?

I am thrilled to share with our readers that Southern New Hampshire University has launched a groundbreaking campaign to redefine giving. We are shifting our focus from dollars to engagement, to create a more vibrant SNHU experience for all.

Moving forward, the Office of Alumni Relations will be known as the Office of Alumni Engagement. Its purpose will be to invite you to participate in the SNHU success story in ways that make sense to you.

You will no longer receive telephone calls asking for money or mailings that are solely for solicitation. While many of you may wish to continue to support student scholarships (for which our students will remain grateful as ever), what we will ask for are things like the gift of your time through mentoring and career coaching, or job and internship leads for students across all programs. And we hope to keep you connected through alumni events and social media.

So far, the reactions to this shift have been overwhelmingly positive. One alumnus told me that although he has not been in a position to contribute financially to his alma mater, he has spent time with current undergraduate students as a mock interviewer, helping them prepare for their next big step after graduation. He said he loves seeing the students succeed, and he feels rewarded knowing that the value of his time is greater than the dollar amount he could give.

This issue of Impact highlights some of the creative ways our alumni are enriching the student experience, from creating a career development fund for students to pursue pre-professional opportunities, to hiring SNHU graduates, to hosting SNHU community gatherings across the country. One of my favorite stories showcases the students in the Professional Selling Association who won big at a competitive regional sales competition, thanks in large part to their alumni coaches. And I love that two young alumni joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors this year to help implement a mentoring program, which is now connecting students with alumni leaders and building valuable relationships.

The strength of any great university is a tale told by the engagement of its alumni. We hope you will be part of our story.

Letter from President

President: Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc

Managing Editor: Audrey Bourque

Contributors: Hattie Bernstein Don Brezinski Christina Cassella Rebecca Mahoney ’11 MFA Linnae Selinga

Graphic Design: Karen Mayeu

Photography: Jeremy Earl Mayhew

Printing: Talient Action Group

Proofreader: Susan Morgan

Impact is published by the

Office of Institutional Advancement Don Brezinski, Vice President

Changes of address may be sent to [email protected] or to the

Office of Institutional Advancement Southern New Hampshire University 2500 North River Road Manchester, NH 03106-1045

Visit us online at alumni.snhu.edu for more university news and information about upcoming events.

Join the conversation online with #SNHUimpact

/SNHUalumni

@SNHUalumni

bit.ly/SNHUcommunity

Bridging Past, Present, and Future: The Gustafson Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Cover image: Beth Prieto of the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center, Kristi Durette of Alumni Engagement, and Bethany Perkins of Admissions stand at the future site of the Gustafson Center.

Sustaining the SNHU Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Service at SNHU: Building Community & Expanding Horizons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Adventures in Game Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Good Things Cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Real-World Projects Give Rise to Business Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

SNHUcan Career Advisory Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

McLaughlin Career Development Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Alumni Profile – Daniel Simard

Supporting Leadership and Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Moving On Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Translating Educational Experience to Career Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Professional Selling Association Wins Big . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

An Appetite for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Engaging Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Congratulations to the Class of 2015! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

This is a special issue of Impact magazine. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for future issues, please let us know at [email protected].

im pactinsideAdvancing Southern New Hampshire University

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President Paul LeBlanc says that the primary goal of the Gustafson Center is to bridge a student’s first encounter at the university with the units that will prepare them for their life after college. “Since our conscious and strategic partnership of career services and alumni engagement, we’ve seen students build bonds with alumni that transcend the traditional definition of those roles.”

And with the university’s recent commitment to redefine giving – shifting emphasis from solely dollars raised to

include engagement built – the alumni population has been reinvigorated. Alumni from online and on campus programs alike are hiring SNHU interns and graduates, sharing their time and expertise through mentoring and career coaching, and offering advice to new graduates for relocation or post-college life.

The Gustafson Center will be located at the corner of North River Road and East Side Drive, across the street from what is now the main entrance. To complement

Southern New Hampshire University proudly announces the construction of a new center on campus that will reflect the

university’s priority of creating a lifecycle of success and engagement. The Gustafson Center, named for President Emeritus

Richard Gustafson, will house Undergraduate Admissions, the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center, and the Office

of Alumni Engagement.

Bridging Past, Present and Future: The Gustafson Center

the new building, the university is also planning to enhance the entrance to campus. Groundbreaking is set for December 2015, and construction is expected to be completed in about a year.

Vice President of Facilities Management Pat Whitney says the building design was inspired by the New England tradition, with plenty of open and collaborative spaces as a nod to the intermingled functions of the teams there. “At the heart of the building are two major areas: a reception area to welcome guests and prospective students, and a large meeting space that can be easily divided or opened.”

Don Brezinski, vice president of Institutional Advancement, oversees both the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center and Alumni Engagement. Brezinski says that the moment a prospective student begins to consider Southern New Hampshire University, he or she will understand the power of the SNHU network. “The Gustafson Center houses our triumvirate of student success, and the synergy between these departments is something we want all students to be able to access and leverage.”

President Emeritus Richard GustafsonDr. Richard A. Gustafson served as the institution’s fourth president, from 1987 until 2003. During his presidency, Dr. Gustafson was charged by the Board of Trustees with improving academic rigor and building financial strength through prudent management of limited resources. What he accomplished was so much more.

Dr. Gustafson focused on improving the quality of students’ educational experience after years of rapid enrollment growth and program proliferation. He listened to feedback from faculty, administration, staff, and students and took steps to create a more productive, engaged community with centralized locations and resources. He helped the institution revise its mission statement to define itself as an academic community with an entrepreneurial spirit that embraced both traditional and nontraditional learners around the world – tenets that still hold true today.

Thanks to Dr. Gustafson’s vision and guidance, academic quality became a top priority, campus grew tremendously, and distance learning (the precursor to the College of Online and Continuing Education) was introduced. The institution was approved for university status and changed its name from New Hampshire College to Southern New Hampshire University.

Dr. Gustafson deepened the commitment to innovation that is still our longstanding hallmark and the goal of student success, which is our proudest tradition. The Gustafson Center will represent the sense of community and the strength of network he worked so tirelessly to foster at Southern New Hampshire University.

Bridging Past, Present and Future: The Gustafson Center

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1932 1965 19961944 1969 1971

New Hampshire School of Accounting & Secretarial Science is founded as a business school where students focused on the theory underlying the methodology of accounting.

Off-campus learning centers are established in Portsmouth and Manchester, NH, and Bedford, MA, the first locations in an expansive map of continuing education centers.

The Distance Education program is launched with 100% Internet-based courses – SNHU Online is born.

The school is approved to train veterans under the G.I. Bill and Vocational Rehabilitation Act.

The institution changes its name to New Hampshire College.

The school moves from downtown Manchester to a 300-acre campus on the Merrimack River.

Southern New Hampshire University was founded in 1932 as New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science.

The tiny, privately funded and run school was created to train bookkeepers in both the theory and method of accounting.

Students mastered practical, marketable skills. They could begin their studies on any Monday, attend at night if necessary,

and pay tuition in installments.

Sustaining the SNHU Experience

SNHU Through the Years

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For the past 80 years, accessibility and affordability have remained the cornerstones of our mission, even while this institution has emerged as a national leader in education innovation. With a focus on connecting students to the highest quality education in ways that matter to them, SNHU has a long history of serving adult and nontraditional learners and military service members, as well as some of the best and brightest traditional age college students.

Today, the University College (UC) is empowering young adult learners to find personal and professional success through a coming-of-age experience. The College of Online and Continuing Education (COCE) is leading the expansion of access to affordable, high quality education for nontraditional learners. And College for America (CfA) is trailblazing pathways to higher education for working adult learners

through an affordable model that measures success in competencies mastered rather than credit hours earned. All three programs are experiencing record enrollments, graduation rates, and job placement success.

Our future is bright indeed. With the increase in student enrollment and success, we are poised to double our alumni population within the next decade. Our graduates have less debt than the national average and are better prepared to meet the challenges of their jobs. Our vibrant alumni community enriches current students’ education through the exchange of bright ideas and invaluable advice. We continue to innovate and grow and inspire SNHU students to change the world.

To join the Southern New Hampshire University community in building an ever-more vibrant SNHU experience for students and alumni, visit alumni.snhu.edu/engage.

201420011999 2013

Campus sees a wave of expansion in the form of the Academic Center (2009), Dining Center (2010), Robert A. Freese Student Center reconstruction (2012), Tuckerman Hall residence hall (2013), Learning Commons (2014), Gustafson Center (2016), expansion of athletic facilities, and additional green space.

The school is approved for university status and changes its name to Southern New Hampshire University.

The first doctoral programs are launched in International Business and Community Economic Development.

College for America is founded as a division of SNHU focused entirely on nontraditional learners, using a highly flexible, self-paced, competency-based learning model to build essential personal and professional skills rather than credit hours or grades.

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Alternative BreakIn 2004, the first Alternative Break (AB) project saw nine SNHU students visit Harrisburg, PA with Habitat for Humanity. Ten years on, the AB Program has a busy annual itinerary coordinating immersive service experiences for students who are looking for something more rewarding than the typical spring break trip. About 35 students serve each year in two domestic trips and one international project, focusing on concerns ranging from environmental issues to disaster relief.

An AB trip is a life-changing experience for students, says Center for Community Engaged Learning Director Elizabeth Richards. “Students prepare for weeks before leaving campus, exploring the root causes of the social problems they will face and attempting to understand the political and cultural landscape they are entering. They are exposed to different parts of the world and challenged

to explore some big questions about privilege and power.”Throughout each trip, students have time to engage in daily reflection sessions to process their experiences and think about what they can do in their lives to make sustaining change.

This year marked a first for the AB Program when students had the option to earn academic credit during a two-week trip to the Dominican Republic over winter break. Student-volunteers taught English in impoverished village schools in this experiential learning opportunity.

According to Richards, AB trips have taken SNHU students all over the world: “SNHU students were in Louisiana in the months after Hurricane Katrina helping with clean-up. We’ve been to Costa Rica to protect sea turtle hatchlings from predators. We went to West Virginia to learn about rural poverty and how the coal mining industry and mountaintop removal impacts the local

Building Community & Expanding HorizonsThis year marks the 10th anniversary of the service office at SNHU. As the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL)

celebrates a decade of building community and expanding students’ horizons, we asked faculty, staff, and students to

reflect on the impact their work has had on the university and the greater community.

Service at SNHU:

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economy, and to South Africa to refinish a safe house for young survivors of domestic and sexual violence.”

Richards’ hope for this and all AB projects is that students will mature from volunteers to active citizens of the world.

In addition to the service acts involved in an Alterative Break, CCEL has begun partnering with the SNHU Alumni Engagement team to create networking mixers where students can meet with local alumni. Executive Director of Alumni Engagement, Kristi Durette says the goal of these events is to broaden and strengthen the SNHU community. “We’re layering in the opportunity for alumni and students to connect on common ground. Sometimes that’s through the value of networking around a common major or industry, and sometimes it’s on a personal level, sharing stories around a common interest such as service or college experience.”

Service LearningThe Service Learning program has similarly flourished over the last ten years, a fact that provides insight to the educational and community values of SNHU students, faculty, and staff.

As supported by CCEL, Service Learning involves students in thoughtfully organized service activities that address community needs and complement students’ academic studies. Curricula combine education and service, and include class time for reflection and critical thinking. By extending the classroom into the community, students are embedded in experiential learning opportunities and develop a stronger sense of social responsibility and citizenship.

Kelley Hobbs, Assistant Director of CCEL, says that 13 different courses on the Manchester campus had Service Learning components in the Spring 2015 semester, including sociology, science, accounting, and English.

“Students are often hesitant to jump into a Service Learning experience, especially when it’s part of an unexpected course like science or accounting. It pushes them beyond their comfort zone. It may be the first time that they’re the minority in a room – the only white person, the only English language speaker.”

Hobbs says that projects are selected to cover a wide variety of disciplines and engage students with different strengths. For example, accounting students implemented a bookkeeping system for a local organization that lacked the resources and expertise to efficiently track their finances. In another class, students tutored immigrants

and refugees in survival English and citizenship classes.

Professor Jim Duffy is a champion of Service Learning at SNHU. Duffy joined the faculty as a lecturer of sociology in 2003, after retiring from a 30-year career in public education. “In my first Service Learning experience at SNHU back in 2004, we threw the textbook out the window and let the world come alive in our classroom.”

That first experience inspired Duffy’s commitment to incorporate Service Learning into all his classes. He works with many organizations, including English for New Americans and Bring It, a program that brings soccer, dance, homework, art, and nursing career exploration to Manchester students in grades 4-12.

Duffy feels incredibly lucky to do the work he does. “Our problems are a bit smaller in the presence of refugees who have made choices we can’t even imagine. Could we have endured what they have? Could we be as kind as they are on the other side of that?”

Morgan Doucet ’18, a freshman in Duffy’s sociology course last fall, agrees that her experience at Bring It was profoundly moving. “I have a greater appreciation for the world around me. Whenever I talk about my first semester of college, I always talk about volunteering because it changed my life forever.”

And that is exactly the response Duffy hopes his students experience. “We are creating citizens of the world through Service Learning. My students are wonderfully aware of the rest of the world. Their lives will be different because of this experience.”

1. SNHU students work with language learners at English for New Americans in Manchester, NH.

2. CCEL t-shirts proudly declare their mission.

3. Alternative Break at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in Woodstock, NY.

4. Alumni and students come together during an Alternative Break trip in Washington, DC.

5. An SNHU student helps a new English student during a Service Learning project.

6. English for New Americans students and SNHU students post together.

Opposite: Professor Chris Matthews takes a selfie with students on Alternative Break in South Africa.

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Today, Bacon Man is a soon-to-be-released platform game so well designed that it raised more than $20,000 through Kickstarter in just one month, drawing sponsorship from ardent supporters across the country, including SNHU professors and fellow gamers as well as a sizeable contribution from Denny’s Restaurants. “We just fell in love with the idea. It was so ridiculous, totally bizarre, and really fun,” says Laurenza, 24. “We ended up saying, ‘All right, let’s go for it.’”

Bacon Man is a 3-D side-scrolling platform game with an “extremely, extremely goofy concept,” says Laurenza. It’s the story of Bacon Man’s quest to win back his place as rightful heir to the meat throne after Old King Roast Beef is murdered. (The game’s first challenge? Help Bacon Man escape the freezer.)

But make no mistake — it’s a serious undertaking, with professional music and

high-caliber art and design. “We try to put as much time and energy into making it as polished and professional as we can,” Laurenza says. The game, which will be playable for Mac and PC and possibly other devices in the future, is aimed at teens — it’s a bit too meaty for

kids, he says.

When he’s not working on perfecting Bacon Man, Laurenza is putting his degree in game design and development to good use. He’s the

managing director of the indie game design company Skymap Games, which he co-

founded with fellow SNHU alumni Ryan Lefebvre ’13, Jonathan Vazquez ’13, and Angelos Dardagiannopoulos ’13.

Laurenza also teaches aspiring game designers as an adjunct in

SNHU’s game design program — a job he loves. “It keeps my perspective

fresh and shows me new ways to solve problems,” he says. “It’s fascinating to

see how students will create their own solutions, and I bring that back into

my own work. It’s inspiring.”

As an undergraduate,

A few years ago, Neal Laurenza ’12 was hanging out on campus with a group of his fellow SNHU game design majors, chowing

cafeteria food and brainstorming ideas for a new video game they could design together. “Let’s make a food game,”

someone joked. The group laughed, but the idea stuck — and Bacon Man was born.

Adventures in Game Design

By Rebecca Mahoney ’11 MFA

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Laurenza says he valued the real-world experience of his professors the most, particularly the hands-on lessons from his mentor in SNHU’s game design program, Professor Ed Brillant. Today, Laurenza uses that same strategy with his own students, basing much of their coursework around the types of challenges he encountered while doing design contract work after he graduated. In one course, Laurenza has teams of students working on the creation of a game throughout the entire semester; in another, students are developing a new game every two weeks. “Neal has been an amazing addition to our program. Aside from the connections Neal brings to our school, he also sets an amazing example of what any student in our program can achieve if they work hard,” says Brillant.

Though he’s only a few years older than his students, he’s earned a reputation as an experienced, insightful teacher who goes above and beyond to help his students succeed. “The thing that I like the most about Neal’s classes is how much real world experience he tries to give us. No class I’ve ever taken has prepared me so well for the job I hope to get with my major,” says sophomore Jeremy Moore, who adds that he appreciates how Laurenza makes time for his students outside the classroom: “He has offered me endless support in my personal projects, going as far as to help me plan how to market and launch my games.”

Senior Patrick Ryan says he’s inspired by the way Laurenza connects his students with contacts in the game design industry, inviting guest speakers to talk to his classes in person and over Skype. “He has also provided us with an immense network of people within the industry,” Ryan says.

In his free time, Laurenza is working on a new project — establishing a co-working space in Manchester, so game designers and developers can share the same workspace and feed off of each other’s creative energies. He’s also in the early stages of designing a new game.

For now, however, he’s concentrating on perfecting Bacon Man — he’s aiming to launch by the end of this year — and focusing on his students. No matter what the future brings, he says he hopes to teach at least one class per semester at SNHU, giving back to the program that helped launch his career. “SNHU has the most dedicated students I’ve seen in any game design program,” he says. “That’s really special to see, and it’s really great to be a part of it.”

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She’s the corporate chef and marketing manager for

Great NH Restaurants — a locally owned, independent

restaurant chain known for its popular eateries, T-Bones,

Cactus Jack’s, and the Copper Door. When she’s not

working, she’s with her family, including her two daughters,

ages 3 and 5.

But you could also say that her life has revolved around Southern New Hampshire University. Barreira holds three degrees from SNHU — an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership — as well as a Master’s certificate in Marketing.

“I knew I wanted to cook, but I also knew I wanted to have kids and a family. I wanted to set myself up so that I could have it all at some point, and SNHU helped make that happen,” says Barreira, 31.

As the daughter of parents who loved to cook and host gatherings for their extended Italian-Portuguese family, Barreira grew up associating good food with great memories. “I knew that if we were cooking, we were going to have fun,” she says.

The culinary program at SNHU was a natural fit. She liked that it wasn’t far from home, and that she could complete her Associate’s and roll right into the Hospitality program to earn a Bachelor’s. “I looked at several other institutions, but I loved that SNHU made that business degree so attainable. Everyone else just focused on the two-year Culinary Arts program and that was it,” she says.

She was struck by the real-world experience of her professors and how relevant the coursework was to her career goals. “What I loved was that all the chefs I worked with, not just those in my culinary program, but also in my Bachelor’s and Master’s classes, had spent many, many years in the actual industry. There was a very real feel about what it would be like to be in this industry,” she says.

Today, Barreira puts her education to use doing everything from menu planning and recipe testing to designing how those menus look, including writing descriptions of the food. Her culinary point of view is about creating clean and simple food, focusing on great ingredients without overly complicating dishes — an approach that has earned her several awards, including being named Best Manchester Chef in 2011 and 2012.

She’s particularly interested in the marketing aspect of the business. “The fun part is creating the food, but there’s a whole business behind the scenes, and that’s really challenging and interesting too,” she says, adding that she may go on to earn her doctorate in marketing someday — at SNHU, of course.

Good Things Cooking By Rebecca Mahoney ’11 MFA

For Nicole Barreira, life has always revolved around two things:

food and family.

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Matthew Mahler ’14 was determined to be the first in his

family to earn a college degree. He is motivated and open-

minded, and he jumped on the opportunity to participate in

a unique degree program when his employer, Panera Bread,

offered it by partnering with College for America.

As an independent-minded individual, Mahler initially worried about the program’s team-based projects because he preferred learning on his own. But after working on his first team project, he realized that he enjoyed collaborating with other students. “The group interaction increased my motivation and even deepened my learning,” he shared. Inspired by his experience, Mahler started regularly posting in the CfA Learning Community, an online social site for CfA students, to respond to his peers’ questions and concerns. He now enjoys supporting students as much as learning on his own.

Mahler is a go-getter, so he set an aggressive learning pace for himself. He stayed on track with a well-planned study routine, but when his work schedule changed to third shift three months into the program, his plan was interrupted. So he adjusted: he quickly developed a new routine and was back on track within a month. In just seven months, Mahler completed more than 50 real-world, business-applicable projects and mastered 120 competencies to earn an Associate of Arts in General Studies with a concentration in Business.

With his newly demonstrated competencies, Panera Bread asked Mahler, a sanitation lead, to accept a role as an interim project manager to improve a supply chain process. “Now I know how to obtain information, determine the quality of data, and create a way to manage and then communicate that information,” said Mahler of the critical skills that helped him make Panera’s ordering processes more efficient and accurate.

He explained, “To improve the quality of information we were working with, I started tracking daily ingredients usage with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. I used this

information to be more precise in ordering our weekly ingredients. I also changed the ordering procedure to include writing out our needs by email instead of fax. This eliminated lost or unreadable faxes and also created a record of our weekly orders.”

Mahler’s recently refined capabilities also helped him to more effectively communicate with his associates in production. He explained that with the data, “I could see when there was an over-scaling of ingredients, so I would have tangible data to show the mixers while coaching them.” Over-scaling translated into wasted dollars, and the data, combined with his communication skills, helped him effectively articulate that to the mixers.

By better managing information and clearly communicating with his production team and suppliers, Mahler helped improve factory efficiency and was promoted to a supervisory position.

Real-World Projects Give Rise to Business Results

By Linnae Selinga

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“ I was just hoping to connect with someone who could help me find an internship. But my mentor puts in so much more than that. She’s reviewed my résumé, helped me make my own business cards, and encouraged me to promote my art as well as pursue career goals. It’s been life-changing.”

~ Chelsea Gilmart, Class of 2017

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From across schools and programs and backgrounds, Southern New Hampshire University students are calling for more ways to engage with alumni and employers for strategic career planning.

In response, the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center and the Office of Alumni Engagement piloted a mentoring program in the spring 2015 semester. The initial launch of the SNHU Career Advisory Network (SNHUcan) matched University College (UC) students in the Signature Leadership Program with mentors by major and career interest. The mentors are primarily alumni, with a mix of employers, staff, faculty members, and friends of the university rounding out the diverse volunteers.

To complement the in-person mentoring program, the university is rolling out a self-service, online platform where students and mentors have access to a directory with options for engagement ranging from one-off opportunities such as an informational interview, to longer-term mentoring relationships.

Associate Director of Career Development JoAnna Luiso and Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement Sara Telfer worked together to create the pilot program, taking into consideration the needs of UC students, as well as the different motivations and interests of mentors.

Telfer says the time was right to begin offering opportunities for more formalized mentoring relationships. “The university has committed to a goal of providing pre-professional and internship experiences for every single UC student. At the same time, we’ve invested in staffing and resources in both the Career Development and Alumni Engagement offices, and we’re ready to respond to the call from students, faculty, and alumni.”

The university recently began an earnest reexamination of alumni engagement, with an increased emphasis on the value of a donation of time, expertise, networking, and experience. Luiso says the mentoring program allows mentors to give of their time in impactful, often very

personal ways. And, students respond to guidance from alumni who have lived the experience of a certain major, job search, or career path. “We’re seeing students really connect with alumni. There’s an inherent trust because they have the commonality of school. Students hear me when I give them career advice, but don’t always listen. But their relationships with alumni really resonate.”

Telfer says that the Signature Leadership Program covers a wide range of majors and interest areas, and had a programmatic structure that easily accommodated an additional layer for mentoring. Alumni volunteers had well defined opportunities to engage with their student partners, with ample flexibility for a wide range of schedules and commitments.

Many of the pairs went above and beyond those baseline parameters, developing deeply involved partnerships. Lisa Saunders ’07, Senior Demand Market Manager at Blackbaud, Inc., explains that she and her mentee sophomore Chelsea Gilmartin, connected immediately and dove right into strategizing career moves. “In our first meeting, we chatted about her goals and what I could do for her. She left that day with a homework assignment to create her own business cards and a flyer to promote her work.” Saunders says she helped Gilmartin refine her work over the semester, pieces of collateral that will help her stand out in a competitive job market.

SNHU has a well established history of incorporating experiential learning and real-world skills into its academic programs. From its humble beginnings in a handful of upper-story classrooms on Hanover Street, the institution was built on the idea of turning out job-ready graduates. In today’s economic climate, perhaps now more than ever, students are calling on the alumni base to lend their expertise and offer their guidance.Ryan Comstock ’12G and Rachael Comstock ’10G were proud to join the first group of SNHUcan mentors.

SNHUcanCareer Advisory Network

By Audrey Bourque

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They first brought the idea of a mentoring program to the Alumni Engagement team nearly two years ago, and they both joined the SNHU Alumni Board of Directors in 2014 to help grow their vision where mentoring is integrated with curricula and the opportunity is available for any alumnus who wants to make a difference in the lives of students.

Rachael ’s experience with mentoring began after she completed her undergraduate degree at Merrimack College, when she began volunteering in the brand new mentoring program there. “I worked at a public accounting firm just five minutes from the school, and we recruited there a lot. To me, it made sense to invest my time in some of the current students — it worked to all our mutual benefits.”

When Ryan was an undergraduate student, also at Merrimack College, he started an internship at an investment firm in Concord, where two senior members of the team took him under their wings. “In my line of work, we call them ‘Old Turkeys.’ These two taught me everything they knew, from the time of my internship through the next seven years as I worked as an employee there. I owe them more than I could ever repay. And I would love to be someone else’s Old Turkey and help them the way I was given a hand.”

Now, both of the Comstocks have graduate degrees from SNHU, and both want to give back to the community and the school. Mentoring SNHU students was a logical next step in their lifecycle with the university. In the past semester, they helped their mentees explore ways to make their résumés stand out. They strategized on the best ways to get involved on campus and how to build marketable skills at meaningful jobs.

Telfer says that the high-touch model of the initial launch provided plenty of opportunity for constructive feedback from both mentors and students. “We want our mentors to feel engaged, important, and included throughout this process, so they are getting the professional development and experience they want. And at the same time, we’re making sure that students — who are coming to the program from all different stages in their career development preparation — are fully engaged and making the most out of this incredibly valuable opportunity.”

In the fall 2015 semester, the 1:1 intensive program will expand to include one additional group as well as the Signature Leadership Program. The Professional Selling Association and Women’s Leadership Ambition have expressed enthusiastic interest in partnering with SNHUcan to benefit their members. In addition, Luiso says the online platform will be in full swing to

accommodate SNHU-303 classes. “The 303 curriculum is designed to prepare students for life in the real world, and we’ve incorporated a number of networking and professional development exercises. By tapping into the SNHUcan directory online, students will have access to a diverse set of alumni leaders for things like informational interviews, résumé reviews, job shadows, and more.”

The beauty of the online directory lies in its flexibility. Telfer says SNHUcan will work with mentors who come from all different factions of the SNHU community: employers, faculty members, parents, online students. “We plan to keep growing well past this pilot. The SNHUcan network has the potential to strengthen our entire community, from the UC student looking for career guidance to the online student looking for a greater sense of community. If someone has a willingness to assist in career progression, we want to hear from them.”

Rachael Comstock emphasizes that mentors do not need any particular credential to make an impact on a student. “It’s important to remember that you can help any student no matter where you come from or what you do. I encourage everyone to sign up and get involved in any way you can, and you’ll make it happen.”

“ Having Ryan as my mentor has opened up the doors to a lot of opportunities. He is tutoring me on the work that he does at his job. With Ryan’s help I am sure that I will I get an internship soon, and a great job after college as well.”

~Devon McMaster, Class of 2017

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Brian ’88 and Linda ’89 McLaughlin believe that a good education is the fundamental tool for success. Their experience at SNHU was steeped in practical skills brought to the classroom by professors actively involved in the workforce. To ensure generations to come will benefit from that same measure of experiential learning, the McLaughlins created an endowed fund that will support students pursuing career development activities.

Beth Prieto, Executive Director of the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center at SNHU, says that fund will provide the means to take students off campus to connect with alumni and employers through activities like tours of different organizations and job shadows.

The McLaughlins hope the fund will help create pathways for students from their fantastic SNHU education to a career that is rewarding and fulfilling.

Brian says that in addition to being the place where he and Linda met, the school and the education they received are what allowed them to begin their careers and find success in their lives, both personally and professionally. “We are so grateful for the opportunities that our SNHU education has afforded us. It is important to us to be able to share this experience and to encourage and assist others in doing the same.”

To contribute to the McLaughlin Career Development Fund, please contact [email protected].

What do you have lined up after graduation?In my last semester, I worked part time as a Client Manager at Granite Group Benefits LLC, owned by SNHU alumni Brian and Linda McLaughlin. After graduation, I moved into a full time position as a Benefits Consultant.

How is it working out?Both Brian and I took big risks in this hire. I’m the youngest employee he’s ever hired, and the only one with no direct experience in insurance or sales. I had to take all the examinations and go through the certification process while finishing my degree at the same time. And I took a risk to create a career from this position. I had other offers, but Granite Group Benefits is the kind of place I want to be, in a small business where I have a more personalized experience and a close-knit environment, and I can grow.

What resources did you use to help in your job search? People are my best resource. I went to every networking event I could and landed a great internship at BAE Systems through another 3Year Honors Program grad. In just three months there, I grew as an individual and as a leader, and I wanted other SNHU students to have access to that same experience. So I connected my supervisor with the Career Development team. A short time later, Brian contacted Career Development looking for a SNHU hire, and they immediately thought of me.

How do you plan to stay engaged with SNHU?I formed deep-rooted relationships with the professors in the 3Year Honors Program, and I know I’ll come back to help in their classrooms and provide my time however it’s needed. I also want to golf in the DeBlasi Cup at Homecoming!

The McLaughlin Career Development Fund

Daniel Simard | Class of 2015 | Business Administration, 3Year Honors Program | Hometown: Litchfield, NH

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What value does National Society for Leadership and Success bring to SNHU students?Shahla: There are hundreds of thousands of members of NSLS across the nation. These are leaders striving to make a better world through an expansive network and meaningful experiences. The induction process includes a series of speaker broadcasts, networking opportunities, and exercises to identify and tackle personal goals in leadership and growth. There’s immense value in our members connecting and going through a shared motivational experience.

Laura: We know that our students want to connect with each other in valuable ways, so we’re helping them continue networking and building relationships after the initial induction phase. We held an NSLS conference in March on the Manchester campus, and more than 100 students from all across the country attended. Our keynote speaker was alumnus and trustee Rob Freese ’89, who spoke about finding passion and purpose in your work. Other sessions included an exploration of management versus leadership, strategies to leverage your degree and experience to switch fields, and a discussion for women in leadership.

Daniel: For me, it’s been about networking and motivation. It’s been a valuable experience. All the people in my networking group have stayed connected in various ways, and we lean on each other.

What role does mentoring play in National Society for Leadership and Success, and why are these relationships important?Laura: That kind of mentoring connection wasn’t something I originally thought would play a big role. But we’re finding that students with experience in a particular area want to share with those who need guidance, simply because they’re all members of this society. The peer leaders really go above and beyond and help develop successful, enriching networking teams.

Daniel: Sometimes you need another person to have confidence in you. Sometimes you’re stuck and need to be pulled in the right direction. A good mentor can do that for you. Before joining NSLS, I lacked confidence in terms of my résumé. There are so many out there, and I didn’t know how to make mine stand out. One of my network members went out of her way to give me a great foundation, and my group helped me get everything all set. I applied for a job I never would have before, and now I’m a supervisor in an environmental services company.

Supporting Leadership and Success

Since the Fall 2014 semester, the College of Online and Continuing Education (COCE) has inducted more than 6,000

students into the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS), a prestigious leadership development program

designed to help members discover and achieve their goals. Through an experiential program and active networking,

SNHU students are connecting with like-minded, success-oriented classmates and supporting each other in personal,

professional, and academic growth.

SNHU alumnus and trustee Rob Freese ’89, owner of Globe Manufacturing Company, presents the keynote address at the NSLS conference on campus in March of 2015.

By Audrey Bourque

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Gary: Mentoring is the opportunity to learn from someone else’s experience. And if your mentor hasn’t gone through it, you still have a safe sounding board to come to a decision. A mentor should help you find an answer. They shouldn’t tell you what to do; they should empower you to figure it out.

Shahla: The most exciting thing about networking within this SNHU Chapter of NSLS is that members are connecting with others regardless of age, background, life experience. We naturally want to align ourselves with people who have similar schools of thought. But through NSLS, you have the capacity to align with those who are very different from you, which provides opportunities for growth and development. This is a supportive environment that will hold you accountable as you measure against your goals.

What advice would you give to aspiring leaders?Gary: Every company needs skilled workers — the people constantly getting things done, running your business nine-to-five. But we also need knowledge workers, those who are always looking for ways to run your business better. Don’t let your job get in the way of letting you get better. I’m constantly learning and trying to apply what I learn. Set smart goals, and go after them. Don’t think about leadership. Just do it. This is my mantra.

Daniel: Go for it! We’re all held back for so many reasons. But by taking that first step, by just starting something new, you never know what could come of it.

What does leadership mean to you?Gary: Leaders are people who are willing to do. People will follow you if you’re out there actually doing it. But you also have to be willing to follow, to be a listener. Be willing to step up and put your face in the blender.

Daniel: Leadership means building relationships and trust. It’s making sure your staff knows you’re there for them. It’s taking action — the right action — when others are not.

Shahla: Leadership is the capacity to dream the impossible, hold that vision, and motivate others toward that goal. That’s the key – it’s not just having your own goal, but being able to adapt and build toward a common goal. A leader moves the world forward.

Laura: A successful leader creates goals, positive and inclusive engagement, adds value to an organization, and listens, listens, listens — to customers, to peers, to research. A leader doesn’t have to have a certain title — she or he just needs to make a positive impact.

Gary AvilesClass of 2018 Major: B.S., Computer Information Technology

“Like everyone else, time is my biggest challenge. I wanted

to connect with fellow students in a rewarding way that’s worth lending my name and committing my time.”

Daniel WilliamsClass of 2017 Major: Business Administration with concentration in

Human Resources

“My networking group inspired me to apply for a job I never would have before, and now I’m a supervisor at my company.”

Shahla Akbari, NSLSChapter Support Manger

“We’re finding creative ways for student leaders to rise up and take on

community building roles within an online platform.”

Laura Corddry, SNHUSenior. Director, Student Success

“Leadership skills coupled with an education

— no matter what your major — will put you in the

forefront of your career field.”

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Jose Raposo had a biology degree and a job at Boston

Scientific, a large medical device company, when he made

an unusual decision: look for a position in a smaller company

and align his career goals with the growth of that business

— even if it meant taking a cut in pay and grade.

“I really liked the business and concept of production and operations,” Raposo says. “But it was difficult to stand out and progress in such a large company.”

He accepted a position at a lower level at Conformist Inc., a Bedford, Massachusetts, medical device company. Then one Sunday about a year later, while watching TV and mulling over his future, he saw an SNHU commercial that mentioned a graduate program in operations.

“I didn’t realize there was a specific degree, and I was so excited when I saw it,” Raposo says.

His plan was to take classes toward an MBA with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management with the hope of moving up the ladder at Conformist, Inc. But, it wasn’t easy for a biology graduate to switch into a business program.

“Economics was my first class, and it was challenging. But I forced myself,” he says. “It was week to week, class to class, and I got nothing lower than an ‘A.’”

Recently, with only a few more classes to complete, Raposo applied for a different position at his company, something he considered “a foot in the door.” But an interviewer offered him something bigger — a job as a buyer planner in supply chain management.

“My hope at the end was an opportunity for me to apply my degree,” says Raposo, who started his new job just before Thanksgiving. “Luckily, I did, and I’m not even done with school.”

Jose Raposo | MBA, concentration in Operations/Supply Chain Management | Anticipated Graduation: 2015 | Hometown: Quincy, MA

By Hattie Bernstein

Moving On Up

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By Hattie Bernstein

Mona Jalilzadeh is beginning her career as a technical

consultant at Autodesk, a design software and services

company ranked 70th on Forbes’ list of the 100 best

companies to work for in 2014.

It’s her dream job — and one she was ready for after completing her graduate courses in IT at SNHU, working for SNHU Career as a data specialist and studying software used by Autodesk on her own.

Communicating her skills and experiences could have been an obstacle. As a non-native English speaker, Jalilzadeh, an Iranian citizen educated at universities in Malaysia and Britain, sometimes would forget words or make grammatical mistakes. But she knew she’d get help at SNHU.

“You see everyone working hard to support students,” she says. “No matter who I’d contact, I’d get help.”

It made a difference. She received résumé help and coaching about job searching and interviewing.

“I took advantage of the career center’s guidance and applied to more than 200 jobs in a month,” Jalilzadeh says.

By the time she completed her degree in November, she had already secured the position at Autodesk and was confident in taking on her new role.

“This job is a great job because it can challenge me. I can see the advancement. It’s not just a job, it’s a career,” Jalilzadeh says.

Mona Jalilzadeh | MS in Information Technology, concentration in Database Design | Anticipated Graduation: 2015 | Hometown: Haverhill, MA

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At the 2014 New England Intercollegiate Sales Competition (NISC) in November, students in the SNHU Professional Selling

Association showcased their sales skills against top talent from 12 other universities. SNHU took home the championship trophy

for team performance, as well as the second and fourth place trophies in individual competition.

By Christina Cassella

Professional Selling Association Wins Big

In SNHU’s second year of competition, seven out of ten students placed in the quarterfinals; three went on to semifinals; and two made it to the final four in the competition. In the final round, Connor Morriseau ’16 took second place and Melissa Miller ’16 took fourth place.

NISC is designed to connect outstanding students pursuing sales careers with employers from some of the best sales organizations in the country. In this hands-on professional experience, students benefit from networking with industry leaders, individualized feedback and coaching, and a tournament-style sales competition.

SNHU marketing professor Micheline Anstey created a comprehensive training program to help students prepare by working with professionals from the sales field. Alumni Neil Donahue ’82, Jason Eriksen ’95, Ed Ithier ’87 ’93G, Jim Naro ’85G, and Chris Thompson ’01 volunteered to coach throughout the fall semester. In addition, recent alumnus and former NISC competitor Alex San Giovanni ’14 and current SNHU senior Mary Mogan ’15 played a major role as assistant coaches for the ten talented SNHU students who were selected to compete in the pool of nearly 100 contenders.

Naro is President of The Naro Group, a team of experts that helps sales and marketing organizations improve

performance and revenue generation. He says he initially got involved as an NISC coach simply to give back as an alumnus. But he was quickly impressed with the students’ high level of enthusiasm and excitement about competing. “I was impressed as to how well the students accepted feedback and improved their performance from one session to the next. It was a pleasure seeing them move along the learning curve from not knowing anything about a product to being able to execute an almost flawless sales call.”

Anstey says the efforts of the alumni coaches will continue to have ripple effects on the students. “Our success at NISC is largely attributed to the alumni coaches who spent countless, selfless hours preparing students for the sales competition. Not only did they help students to further develop their sales skills to win the championship, but — more importantly — they helped build the students’ confidence to successfully demonstrate their potential to recruiters at the event.”

Anstey is proud to report that many of those recruiters have been connecting with her students to request interviews for internship and professional sales positions. “This confirms the value of the investment students and their families are making in an education from SNHU.”

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Graduating seniors Haley Bonczar, Tony Richard, and Colin

York are leaving their mark on SNHU in a way that all students

will appreciate: they are part of the team that brought

Munchiez Food Truck to campus in the spring of 2015.

“Munchiez serves good food that students crave, at a time when other options aren’t open or available on campus,” explains York of the 10pm to 2am hours of operation, Thursdays through Saturdays. “We work with Dining Services to make sure we’re filling a gap, not creating competition in existing student services.”

In fact, over the course of three semesters, students in Sue Losapio’s Small Business Management class worked with numerous departments on campus, including dining services, the culinary program, public safety, facilities, Student Government Association, the Dean of the School of Business, and more. They conducted viability studies, surveyed the student body, and created cash flow analyses.

In time, they developed a business plan to purchase, retrofit, brand, and transport a food truck to campus that would operate in perpetuity, managed by students, for students. Richard says the team presented their plan to SNHU President Paul LeBlanc in the fall of 2014, after two prior failed attempts.

Entrepreneur-in-Residence Craig Ahlquist ’80 led a team of experts in guiding students through their preparations. William Gillett, Dean of the School of Business, and MaryAnn Manoogian, Executive Director of the Center for Women’s Business Advancement, joined Ahlquist in the critiques leading up to the presentation, helping students hone their pitch.

“I think what finally sold President LeBlanc on this idea was when we tweaked the plan to really focus on student involvement. Munchiez is student-run, and will benefit students moving forward,” says Richard. The plan has options to use proceeds from sales to benefit scholarships or raise funds for student organizations.

Bonczar says it was a long process to bring the idea to life. “We learned a lot throughout this process. We made connections with people on and off campus. We dug into marketing, sales, finance, communications, crisis management. We built something from the ground up, and not every new grad can put that on their résumé.”

an Appetite

for SuccessBy Audrey Bourque

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1. International alumni panelists address current students on campus, March 2015.

2. Alumni, students, and staff participate in a service project with the Salvation Army Toy Shop, December 2014.

3. Alumni and staff volunteer at a mock interview session for an SNHU 303 class, March 2015.

4. Alumni employers meet with current students (and prospective hires!) at the Career Expo, October 2014.

5. Richard Groner ’14 and his wife drove four hours to cheer on the SNHU Men’s Basketball team in the NCAA D-II Elite Eight Tournament in Evansville, IN, March 2015.

6. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff meet for a SNHUcommunity mixer in New Orleans, January 2014.

7. Current online students network with alumni and faculty at a SNHUcommunity event in Boston, April 2015.

8. New grads Michele Haughton ’15 and Damani Barboza ’15 pose with Director of Diversity Initiatives Louisa Martin at Commencement, May 2015.

9. Panelists discuss student success at the See Yourself Succeed Bus Tour community event in Seattle, May 2015.

10. Stephen Van Beaver ’93G, Brian Coombes ’05G, and Neal Laurenza ’12 pose before an Entrepreneur Development Program panel, March 2015.

11. Alumni and Penmen fans gather at a local pub to watch the SNHU Men’s Basketball team in the NCAA D-II Elite Eight Tournament, March 2015.

12- 13. Alumni and current students come together for a community event on the See Yourself Success Bus Tour in Seattle, May 2015.

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Congratulations to the

Class of 2015!

We are proud to welcome you to the SNHU Alumni Association. You’re part of a community of more than 60,000 individuals, all connected by an SNHU diploma and a commitment to success. We hope to see you at Homecoming, October 16-18, 2015. Join alumni, current students, families, faculty, and staff in celebrating the SNHU community.

Southern New Hampshire University Alumni Association | [email protected] | 603.645.9799 | alumni.snhu.edu

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Kimon Zachos1930-2015

This past New Year’s Eve, SNHU lost a much cherished friend and benefactor. Kimon Zachos, one of our most dedicated and longest-serving Board members, passed away at the age of 84.

Kimon came to the Board of Trustees for what was then New Hampshire College when the institution was going through some uncertain times. In helping to guide the school’s growth into the strong and vibrant Southern New Hampshire University we know today, Kimon was in part savior, Trustee, advisor, friend and — along with his wife Anne — generous benefactor.

Kimon was a dedicated family man who was deeply committed to working on behalf of his community. In addition to the leadership he offered to SNHU for so many years, Kimon also served at various times as Chairman of the New Hampshire Charitable Trust, Trustee of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, President of the Board of the Currier Gallery of Art, and President of the Manchester YMCA.

According to President Paul LeBlanc, Kimon “was a true hero in SNHU’s history.” His legacy is one of committed leadership, dedication, and philanthropy. While the impact he left on SNHU will be everlasting, the presence of his friendship is truly missed.

Jacqueline Mara1927-2015

Dr. Jackie Mara, noted educator and past senior administrator at New Hampshire College (now SNHU), passed away on February 25, at the age of 87. A lifelong Manchester resident, Dr. Mara played a prominent role in the evolution of New Hampshire College over the course of nearly a quarter of a century.

Dr. Mara originally held various key roles at Mount St. Mary College, including assistant professor of business and economics, director of admissions, and academic dean. She came to NHC after the closure of Mount St. Mary in 1974. Through her retirement in 1998, she chaired the Department of Business Education and ultimately served as dean of the Graduate School of Business. Dr. Mara was also prominent in serving on many state commissions and accreditation teams evaluating other institutions of higher education.

Dr. Mara’s legacy is in the many graduates who have benefitted from her work as an educator and administrator.

In Mem

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Office of Institutional Advancement 2500 North River RoadManchester, NH 03106-1045

Address Service Requested

NONPROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMANCHESTER, NHPERMIT NO. 6025

I joined the Alumni Board because when I was a student, I was able to continue my education thanks to the support I received from alumni, staff, and faculty. Now, I want to enable current students to accomplish their goals by connecting with other individuals invested in this institution. - Sinziana Scoarta ’10, ’12G

Prior to graduating, I secured a position with a company that was invited on campus by the Career Development Center. Since then, I have been blessed to move up in my field. I feel I owe it to current students and to the school to give back anything that I can. - Neil Donahue ’82

I give to Athletics, because other alumni supported me back when I played. My coaches were wonderful roles models to me as a student-athlete, which helped me develop into the coach, teacher, and assistant principal that I have been in southern New Hampshire communities.

- Peter Perich ’72

I give back because I feel a connection to SNHU on so many levels. I will forever remember the professor who inspired me to embark on a career in marketing communications. It was beyond meaningful for me to plan my 20th Class Reunion and reconnect with so many of my cherished classmates and professors. - Stacey Megalaitis ’92

Gestures that we may see as small can have lasting impact on a student’s time at SNHU and

beyond. Presenting in a class, mentoring individual students, and supporting scholarship funds are some of the ways that I give.

- Jeff Penta ’05, ’08G, ’11G

Why I Give

alumni.snhu.edu/giving