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Class Notes for February 2018

Beginning this month, Saint Rose is happy to reinstate Class Notes for alumni. If you have any items to share, please email Irene Kim at kimi@strose.edu.

2000s and beyond

Brian Xavier Willis ’15, who graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice, Behavior, and Law, is attending the police academy in Atlanta, Georgia, and expects to finish in a few weeks. “When I’m mandated, I’ll be a sworn police officer in the state of Georgia,” he says. “Eventually, I want to work in the FBI, and I hope to be there by the age of 30 (fingers crossed).”

1990s

Joanne L. DeTore ’90 was named Undergraduate Program Coordinator for Interdisciplinary Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she is an associate professor of humanities and communication.

1980s

Thomas Kerner ’82, after recently retiring from teaching, has been invited to present on teaching non-native speakers of English to teachers’ organizations in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Massachusetts.

1960s

Ellen Keegan ’68 established Books for Troops in 1998 after retiring from teaching. The organization has since grown to receive donations from all over the country, and sends books to troops all over the world and at 20 Veterans Affairs hospitals throughout the United States. Find more information at: booksfortroopscp.webs.com

Kathleen Bragle ’69 reports that her spouse, George W. Bragle, former chair of the Education department at Saint Rose, passed away on June 20, 2017, after a short illness. He taught at Saint Rose for nearly a decade.

1950s

Anne Tower ’58 passed away peacefully on September 27, 2017, in Cohoes. She graduated from Saint Rose with a BS in Nursing and worked as a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital, as a community health nurse supervisor at Eddy Visiting Nurses Association, and as a nursing supervisor at Adept Health Care, all in Troy, before retiring. She was an early advocate for and caregiver to people living with HIV/AIDS and those with Alzheimer’s disease.

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Students, Donors Gather at Rose of Lima

On February 8, the annual Rose of Lima dinner was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Albany. Donors, students, and other members of the Saint Rose community were in attendance to celebrate those who contribute to the College, offering critical financial support to students.

Check out photos from the night in this gallery.

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Saint Rose Alumni in the News: February 2018

Alumni from a range of class years made news over the past month – becoming heads of their schools or districts, commenting on their house-hunting procedures, even innovating with hairstyles! Read about their accomplishments here.

Brian Dunn ’99, G’15, who served as Troy Middle School principal and Troy High School assistant principal, was appointed superintendent of Middleburgh Central School District. He will start on March 1 and replaces Michelle Weaver, who stepped down in August (Ray Colucciello has been serving as interim superintendent). “Brian’s going to do a great job,” said Colucciello. “He’s an enthusiastic, outstanding educator.” As principal of Troy Middle School, Dunn helped the school be restored as a school in “good standing” by the New York State Department of Education, and was named Principal of the Year in 2015 by the Capital Area School Development Association. He was mentioned in “MCS welcomes new superintendent” in the Times Journal on January 31, 2018.

Josh Whipple ’98 has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of the Mohonasen Central School District. The announcement, “Mohonasen lifer going in Hall of Fame,” appeared in The Daily Gazette on January 25, 2018. Whipple, who has taught social studies at Draper Middle School for more than a decade, coached Mohonasen’s junior varsity football team to three consecutive Super Bowls in 2005, 2006, and 2007, winning in 2006 and 2007.

Judith Enck ’81 shared her thoughts on local, statewide, and national environmental issues with The Alt on January 15, 2018; the transcript appeared in “Judith Enck warns that Trump has handicapped the EPA” on January 17. A former regional administrator for the EPA, Enck recently traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands to assess and address the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Kevin Kendall G’07 was featured in the Watertown Times on January 21, 2018, in “Ogdensburg’s Kevin Kendall sole finalist for school superintendent post.” Officials with the St. Lawrence-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services announced that Kendall is the only finalist named to replace retiring Ogdensburg School Superintendent Timothy J. Vernsey. Although Vernsey does not formally step down until January 1, 2019, the Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education wanted his replacement available to work with him in the meantime, the Watertown Times reported. Kendall, who began his career as a secondary mathematics teacher in the district in 1999, has served many leadership roles, including secondary principal for grades 7 through 8, secondary assistant principal for grades 9 through 12, and his current post of assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and technology for the district.

Jordan Glindmyer ’09 was spotlighted in the Albany Business Review in “Schenectady hairstylist built a brand and business on ‘mermaid hair’” (subscription required) on January 18, 2018. The owner of Pinup Jordan’s Mermaid Lounge beauty salon in Scotia, Glindmyer specializes in rainbow-hued hair dyeing.

Lisa Brown G’88 has been chosen to head her school, according to the article “Saratoga Independent School names Lisa Brown as head” on January 17, 2018, in the Times Union’s Saratoga blog. Brown, interim head of the school since July 2017, had been at Doane Stuart School for more than two decades. She had started at Doane Stuart in 1993 as head of the lower and middle schools. In addition, she has taught preschool, elementary, and upper-school students.

Marissa Salzone ’12 provided her insights on Millennials’ house-hunting habits to the Times Union in “Millennials and Baby Boomers want these things in apartments” on January 14, 2018. Salzone, who is head of strategic marketing at GreyCastle Security in Troy, was among the interviewees who shared their thoughts on priorities – including walkable neighborhoods, affordability, and ease of maintenance – for younger apartment seekers.

Cynthia Doran ’81 was mentioned in “Notebook: Names fly as operatives await Assembly special elections” on January 5, 2018, in the Times Union. Doran, who represents the City of Troy at-large, was re-elected to the Rensselaer County Legislature in November 2017.

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Events at Saint Rose for February 2018

Whether you are looking to enjoy a thought-provoking art exhibit or great music, watch some exciting sports, consider graduate school, or network with prospective employers, it’s all happening this month at Saint Rose.

Through February 24:

  • Lisa Corinne Davis: Exhibit explores questions of identity, race, and society in “Turbulent Terrain,” Esther Massry Gallery, 1002 Madison Avenue, Albany. Free and open to the public. (Photo above by Joanna Eldredge Morrissey)

February 12-16:

Graduate School Week: Graduate Admissions will host a series of events about preparing for graduate school.

February 15:

  • Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work Open House: This event will focus on graduate programs in Social Work, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, School Psychology, Educational Psychology, and College Student Services Administration. 5 to 7 p.m., Carondelet Symposium, Lally School of Education, 1009 Madison Avenue, Albany

February 16:

  • “Putting Together a Competitive Graduate School Application” talk: Learn how to put together a strong application for graduate school and tips on how to compensate for low test scores and GPAs. Noon to 1 p.m., DeSales Hall, 919 Madison Avenue, Albany
  • Rose Record Label Gala: 8 p.m., Jack’s Place inside the Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media, 996 Madison Avenue, Albany. Hear performances from musicians on the label and check out the new vinyl cutting station. Free and open to the public.

February 17:

  • Women’s Basketball vs. Le Moyne: 1:30 p.m., Nolan Gymnasium
  • Men’s Basketball vs. Le Moyne: 3:30 p.m., Nolan Gymnasium
  • Saint Rose Camerata, featuring Schubert and Beethoven: 7:30 p.m., Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

February 18:

  • Capital District Choralfest: Featuring groups from Siena, Schenectady County Community College, University at Albany, and Saint Rose, this annual event began in 2000 thanks to the late David Griggs Janower, founder of Albany Pro Musica. 4 p.m. , Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

February 20:

  • Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Marc Cohn: TIME magazine called Cohn “one of the honest, emotional voices we need in this decade;” Bonnie Raitt declared, “Marc is one of the most soulful, talented artists I know.” Box office and lobby open at 7 p.m.; doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. $35. Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. This is the rescheduled date for the original October 14, 2017, concert date. Tickets already purchased will be honored at the new concert date.

February 21:

  • Saint Rose Symphonic Orchestra: 7:30 p.m., Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.

February 23:

  • Saint Rose Jazz Ensemble: 7:30 p.m., Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.

February 24:

  • Men’s Lacrosse vs. Mercyhurst: time TBD, Plumeri Sports Complex

February 25:

  • Saint Rose Wind Ensemble: 7:30 p.m., Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.

February 27:

  • Men’s Lacrosse vs. Mercy: 3 p.m., Plumeri Sports Complex
  • Saint Rose Masterworks Chorale & Friends, with the Albany High School Select Choir: 7:30 p.m., Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.

February 28:

  • Saint Rose Wind Ensemble with the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) Wind Ensemble: 7:30 p.m., Massry Center for the Arts, Picotte Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.
  • The Saint Rose Veteran Center will sponsor “A New Battle Plan: How Veterans Prepare for Life After the Military,” a program that addresses the challenges and successes local veterans often face as they transition to civilian life from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Times Union’s Hearst Media Center, 645 Albany-Shaker Road, Albany. The panel, which is free and open to the public, will feature Martin Dinan, director of veteran enrollment at Saint Rose, and Breanna Sisson, a U.S. Navy veteran and Saint Rose student. Register here.
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