In May, I traveled to Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria for the Board meeting and 25th commencement ceremony of the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), where I have served as a trustee since 2016, and where I was recently elected as Board Chair. This new role is an awesome responsibility, given AUBG’s mission to foster democracy, and the continuing support the institution receives from the United States government. Modeled on the best traditions of American higher education, AUBG was the first liberal arts undergraduate institution in Eastern Europe.

So how does this relate to Saint Rose? Our strategic plan prioritizes global connectedness as one of five goals, which means that we embrace national and international diversity and promote intercultural learning and global perspectives. Because this is such an important part of higher education in the 21st century, some of my work as president has focused on building global connections. For example, I hosted a delegation of higher education leaders from China, that later led to a memorandum of understanding with several Chinese institutions. I also visited the African Leadership Academy in South Africa, and we have welcomed several of their graduates as Saint Rose students. Last week, I met on campus with potential new partners from Vietnam.

Global connectedness also means reconnecting and maintaining relationships with international alumni. In this newsletter, you will read about Jesus Valbuena Garcia ’93, a successful Madrid-based professional communicator, who I first visited in Spain in 2014, and who now serves on our International Program Leadership Council. Last month, I met with Julian Lipinski ’18, who came to Saint Rose from Australia to learn about his new career in finance.

As I said a few days ago when I spoke at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Summit in Boston, promoting global connectedness as president means demonstrating my commitment through action. That is why I work on global partnerships that will enrich the educational experiences of our students. That is why I engage with international alumni. That is also why, when called upon to assume a leadership role at AUBG, I agreed to serve.

Thank you for your commitment to Saint Rose. No matter where you are from or where life has taken you, we appreciate your efforts to help us build meaningful relationships around the globe.

Best Wishes,

Carolyn

The College of Saint Rose has been selected to host the 2020 International Leadership Association (ILA) Women and Leadership Conference. The 5th annual conference, which will be held June 7 through 10 in 2020, will bring women and men from across the country and around the world to Saint Rose in the 100th year of women’s suffrage in the United States. It will also occur as the College celebrates its own centennial.

Lisa Haley Thomson, chief of staff in the President’s Office at Saint Rose, and Joanne Barnes, a past chair of the ILA Women and Leadership Affinity Group and dean of the graduate school and professor of leadership studies at Indiana Wesleyan University, will serve as co-chairs of the conference.

“I am thrilled that Saint Rose will be hosting the 2020 ILA Women and Leadership Conference,” said President Carolyn J. Stefanco, who also serves on the ILA board of directors and chairs the association’s fundraising committee. “It is especially exciting that ILA members and partners from around the globe will have the opportunity to network, grow, and learn from one another in our new Women’s Leadership Institute, which opens this fall and will serve as one of the venues at the conference.”

Read more about the news here.

It’s hard to imagine a time when Dennis McDonald was not at Saint Rose. He has worked at the College since 1985, serving as vice president for student affairs since 1995. He has not only helped countless students navigate college life, but also made his mark on policies with significant impact on the campus community.

McDonald earned his bachelor’s degree in religious studies in 1977 and master’s degree in college student personnel in 1991 – both from Saint Rose.

A high-profile but understated administrator, he has had a direct and enduring impact on scores of students. He has shared his vocal talent as a choir member and been involved in many community organizations, including Equinox, Inc. and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

McDonald retired from the College in June to focus on his ministry and spend time with his family, play golf, and travel. Look for details soon on a celebration of McDonald’s career during HOME.COMING & Family Weekend. (We’ll honor retired Director of Athletics and Recreation Cathy Cummings Haker, too.)

Dr. Drey Martone, an associate professor of teacher education, had a new role at the 2019 commencement ceremony: graduate.

Martone pursued an Advanced Certificate in Special Education, grades 1 to 6, while teaching her full course load and balancing other academic responsibilities. The pursuit of the certificate, and the student teaching that came along with it, was to better grasp how to support elementary school students with diagnosed and undiagnosed challenges.

“I enjoy teaching, and I enjoy research very much,” said Martone, who has a doctorate in education and more than 20 years of teaching under her belt, along with an extensive vitae of fieldwork, published papers, and conference presentations. “But my goal is to get my Saint Rose students and myself as close as possible to where the actual learning happens. I want to infuse my teaching with what I learn from elementary students.”

Read more about Dr. Martone here.