ndnu magazine winter 2003

Notre Dame de Namur University MAGAZINE I Winter 2003V O L U M E 2 | N U M B E R 2

FPO

inside:How do you make excellentmore excellent? Build Centersof Excellence.

inside:How do you make excellentmore excellent? Build Centersof Excellence.

Creases, crosses, and clamps:Getting ready for lacrosse and a whole lot more from NDNU athletics.

Creases, crosses, and clamps:Getting ready for lacrosse and a whole lot more from NDNU athletics.

NDNU.magazine.V2 2/7/03 12:56 PM

PUBLISHERMark Lewis

MANAGING EDITORKaren Plesur

PROOFREADERAmy Shulman

CLASS NOTESDiane Giacchino

PRODUCTIONJeanene DenegriJeanne GomezWallace Press

Letter From the President .........2Centers of Excellence ...............3Development News ..................4Campus News ..........................5Feature: NDNU Athletics:

Onward & Upward .................8

Arts and Humanities...............10Alumni News ..........................11Student Life ............................12Class Notes.............................13Calendar of Events .................16

C O N T E N T SNDNU Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2

WELCOME TO ANOTHER

edition of the NDNUMagazine. How quicklytime passes! I wish tothank our faculty, staff,students, trustees, andalumni for making 2002such a successful year for NDNU.

We kicked off our Fall 2002 semester withour largest enrolling class

in NDNU history. This was due in great part to theefforts of our Admissions Office and AthleticsDepartment. Our athletic teams did extraordinarilywell, with men’s and women’s soccer and women’svolleyball, rounding out their season as Cal-PacConference champions or co-champions. All threeteams advanced to the NAIA Regional Playoffs. We are very proud to have nine NAIA Academic All-Americans as well!

We anticipate an even larger class for Fall 2003,which will include our inaugural year of men’slacrosse and men’s and women’s golf. We will alsoreinstate our men’s and women’s cross-country teams as well.

Several new faces were elected to our Board of Trustees this past semester. We are very fortunate to have Donald Langendorf, MarieBatton, Narsai David, Sister Donna Jurick,and Didi Fisher join us.

Once again, our Theatre Department andcommunity members proudly presented “AChristmas Carol” this December. They col-lected over four tons of food and almost 1200toys that were distributed to Bay Area chari-

ties. They also partnered with the Belmont RotaryClub for a special performance that raised over$20,000 to benefit the World Polio Eradication Fund.This production and its members are a shining exam-ple of what NDNU values – serving and caring forothers.

Wiegand Art Gallery will present “The Society of Six,” which will run from March 11 through April 19.

I am excited to tell you that we will be getting “In The Mood” for the President’s Gala on March 15.This year we will be honoring several members of the Board of Trustees who have served this institutionfor more than 20 years. It will be a black tie eveningfull of friends, fine dining, and entertainment. Wehope you will consider joining us. If you would like to receive an invitation, please contact [email protected].

Sincerely,

John B. OblakPresident, Notre Dame de Namur University

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

President Oblak and scholarship recipients at the Donors & Scholars spring reception.

G O I N G F O R T H E G O L D . . . A N D B L U E

2 NDNU I 2003

PHOTOS: NDNU PUBLIC INFORMATION Archives

Special thanks to all who contributed to this magazine.


NDNU’S Centers of Excellence: Taking the Curriculum to the Next LevelBackgroundAs part of the strategic plan of NDNU,approved in 1998, the faculty and staffbegan a comprehensive review of the mission of the University. The objectivewas to reaffirm the core values of the insti-tution and to revise the curriculum in allprograms to link explicitly to that mission.The result, ratified by the faculty in 2002,is a fresh, new undergraduate core curricu-lum, threaded throughout the traditionalundergraduate student’s four years ofstudy. The integrating principles of thecore are “the whole person,” “the collabor-ative community,” and “the just society.”These themes are reflected in the readingmaterials, co-curricular activities, classassignments, pedagogy, and assessment of the courses.

Next Stages in the CurricularTransformationThe next stage in the curricular transfor-mation involves linking NDNU’s missionto each of the University’s four schools.The linkage in each school is a distinctiveCenter of Excellence. Each Center is the“signature” or flagship for the school and is unique to the disciplines and programswithin each school. Yet there are commonorganizing principles behind the develop-ment of all four Centers. The Centers:� Are linked explicitly to the mission

of the University.� Are organized around themes that

are interdisciplinary and engage all programs/departments in the school.

� Are tied to issues significant to theregion and will seek partnerships withcorporations and associations to addressthese issues.

� Will include new curriculum/co-curricu-lum opportunities for internships andother community-based projects, facultyresearch, faculty/student collaborations,grant support, and other forms offundraising for the school.

School of Arts & Humanities: Center for Social JusticeInspired by an invitation from Sr. HelenPrejean to stage the collegiate premier ofthe play, “Dead Man Walking,” the Centerfor Social Justice will schedule at least onesocial justice play each year around whichsupporting programming such as courses,speaker series, community forums, musicand art performances, and liturgies will beoffered.

School of Business & Management:Center for Social CapitalSocial capital is an exploding area of business inquiry that examines the rolessocial relationships play in the operation of a business, both internally with its busi-ness partnership and clients, and external-ly in its relationship to its community. Theresearch literature on social capital is per-suasive in documenting how “doing good”in terms of nurturing social relations isprofitable to a company’s bottom line, or“doing well.”

Projects currently underway includecreating “best practices” case studies ofcorporations in Silicon Valley with strongcommitments to investing in social capital.The plans for the Center include using casestudies as text in the MBA and MPA pro-grams, forming a think tank for the studyand furtherance of social capital, anddeveloping community-based projects and internships with the best practicescorporations.

School of Education & Leadership:Center for Educational SuccessThe School of Education and Leadership is seeking a partnership with a junior high school in East Palo Alto. The projectanticipates working with an economicallychallenged group of students over severalyears with various enrichment programs(study skills, college-prep counseling,sports camps, concerts, etc.). The promise

from NDNU to anyone in the adoptedcohort who graduates from high schoolwith a B average or better is a full tuitionride to NDNU.

As with the other school centers, thisCenter involves all programs within theSchool of Education and Leadership aswell as links to co-curricular programs.The purpose of this center also affirms thecore principles of the University’s supportfor social justice, collaboration with com-munity partners, and educational access to underrepresented populations.

School of Sciences: Center for Science & SocietyThis Center plans projects and researchthat promote healthy lifestyles in the com-munity and that educate the communityregarding current health promotion and disease prevention. The goal of thecenter is to develop comprehensive andintegrated programs of community edu-cation to enhance physical, psychological,and spiritual well-being and to producefavorable changes in lifestyles.

The Center for Science and Society will utilize the disciplines of biomedicallife sciences, psychology, art therapy, soci-ology, computer science, history, and polit-ical science with a focus on multiculturaldiversity. The software tool known asGeographic Information Systems (GIS)will be used to help integrate these disci-plines around key community health andwell-being issues. GIS is a powerful tech-nology for integrating multi-disciplinedatabases to study complex economic,social, medical, and environmental issues.The intention is to use the research data todevelop curriculum and community-basedlearning projects that respond to the mul-tiple needs of the regional community.

One of the abiding constants of this University has been a strong commitment to the mission and to its link with the educational experiences of our students.The following article by NDNU Provost Dr. Lucille Sansing describes how our forthcoming Centers of Excellence will underscore this commitment andenhance and enrich the curriculum of each of the University’s four schools.

Dr. Lucille Sansing,Provost

C E N T E R S O F E X C E L L E N C E

2003 I NDNU 3


Lifelong Supporters Gordie and Carol Laughlin

GORDIE LAUGHLIN WAS ONE OF THE

first graduates of NDNU’s ArtTherapy Program, receiving his

master’s degree in 1981. Since his grad-uation, he and his wife Carol have been supportive of the University and the Art Therapy Program via scholarships.

Carol volunteered her time to work on NDNU fundraisers and theCrystal Ball with Dita Wilbur, Louise M.Davies, and former Alumni Director, MaryBosque. She also served on the planningcommittee for the 75th anniversary party,which celebrated 75 years of Notre Dame-sponsored education in Belmont.

Gordie and Carol traveled to Calcutta,India in 1993. They visited Mother Teresa’sMotherhouse and asked if they could seeher. They were able to meet Mother Teresaand saw her several times during their 17days in India. They also volunteered theirtime at the Sishu Bavan Orphanage.

The Laughlins became members ofNDNU’s Heritage Society when they set upa Living Trust, with Notre Dame de NamurUniversity the beneficiary of one milliondollars.

According to Gordie, “NDNU is a haven for youth, especially those who want a more personal experience. They

(the faculty/staff atNDNU) are interestedin you as a humanbeing, regardless of raceor creed. We supportthe University becausewe believe excellence in education must besupported.” He des-cribes NDNU as amultinational Univer-sity; one that gives students a wonderfulexperience.

Several new professionals have recentlyjoined the Development Office: BernadetteMellott is our newAssociate VicePresident forDevelopment andPublic Relations. Born and raised inSan Francisco, sheearned a BS inOrganizationalBehavior at the University of San Francisco,and her MPA here at NDNU. Prior to join-ing the Development Department, sheserved as Executive Director of thePeninsula Volunteers, Inc., which providessenior programs to South San MateoCounty.

Janiece BaconOblak is the newDirector of Constit-uent Relations. She is responsible forplanning and coor-dinating effective andpositive donor rela-tions programs. Prior

to joining the NDNU staff, she served asthe director of stewardship at Santa ClaraUniversity. Before moving to California inJune of 2000, she worked for 17 years atCornell University as an assistant dean ofadmissions and financial aid, and as anassistant to the vice president for develop-ment. She earned a BA in Speech at theUniversity of Maine, and her MA in Radio,TV, and Film at the University of Kansas.

Mark Lewis is our new Director of Public Relations.He has 27 years of experience inmarketing com-munications andpublic relations forsuch companies

as Bechtel Power Corporation, Bank ofAmerica, and Hitachi Data Systems. Hehas written for Sesame Street and wonawards for speeches and video scripts. He has a BA in English from the StateUniversity of New York at Albany, and anMA in Mass Communications from theUniversity of Denver.

Bernadette Mellott

Mark Lewis

Janiece Bacon Oblak

Carol and Gordon visit with Mother Teresa inCalcutta, India at the Missionaries of CharityMotherhouse.

Carol and Gordie Laughlin flanked by President and Mrs. Oblak at theHeritage Society's Merry Sherry party.

New Faces in Development

D E V E L O P M E N T N E W S

4 NDNU I 2003


School of Sciences biology professor NeilMarshall, has a sharplydefined view of his roleas a scientist. “I seeinvolvement with acad-emic endeavors, bothin a research and

teaching context, as a matter of pleasure,privilege, and responsibility. The pleasurederives from thinking and doing science, andimparting that knowledge and experience toothers. The privilege is being a part of a sys-tem of thought with a rich historical fabric ofpersonalities and events. The responsibilitylies in my duty to teach others. It is of greatconcern to me that the quality and diversityof a science curriculum be maintained. Thisideal extends to the community at large.

Practicing what he preaches, Dr. Marshallis on the Board of Directors of the SanGregorio Environmental Resource Center inwestern San Mateo County. The goal of theCenter is to monitor the biological, chemical,and physical water quality of San GregorioCreek, as well as to monitor water flow. Heconducts workshops dealing with all aspectsof water quality data collection. In workingwith the group, Dr. Marshall has organized

cooperative efforts among their volunteers,our NDNU students, and the United StatesGeological Survey.

The Center has collaborated on workshopsand surveys with other organizations also inthe San Gregorio drainage area. The studiesand derived data will be useful when estab-lishing water use policy, water allocation forresidential and agricultural use, and assess-ment of pollution levels and sources. Thestudies will also help habitat remediation for such species as the San Francisco gartersnake, California red-legged frog, and Cohosalmon. Looking to the future, Dr. Marshallenvisions enhanced programs and joint studies involving courses in Natural Science, Business, Sociology, and PublicAdministration.

Attacking visual pollution is another pas-sion. He recently renewed NDNU’s permitwith the Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway pro-gram. For the past three years, his classesand other members of the University com-munity have picked up trash and plantedwildflower seeds along a northbound stretchof Highway 280 in San Carlos. The AlumniAssociation will be joining them this year.

Dr. Marshall will be introducing a newcourse in the spring. The course, GIS

(Geographical Information Systems) in PublicHealth, can be interpreted as an extension or adjunct tool in community service applica-tions. GIS technology links diverse databasesand displays derived information in a mapformat. Selected information of interest isthen part of the display. Every discipline usesor can use GIS. For instance, using censusdatabases with such information as age, sex,and socio-economic status (SES), GIS can beused for such diverse applications as locatinga fast-food or discount outlet, assessing theeffectiveness of health-care delivery systemsand infectious disease epidemiology, or link-ing SES with hazardous waste sites. This lat-ter application will constitute the core of thenew course. There is an obvious link betweenGIS, public health, community service, andsocial justice. As part of the social justicecomponent of his new course, he will pro-vide a unit dealing with SES and access tohealth care.

Notes Dr. Marshall, “Community service is one of the best expressions of patriotism;no flag waving, just a simple commitment to the betterment of the community, andsociety as a whole. In retrospect, the sum ofmy professional life is, directly or tangentially,community service.”

Dr. Neil Marshall

C A M P U S N E W S

2003 I NDNU 5

Katy Murphy Receives 2002 Margaret E. Addis Award

ATY MURPHY, DEAN OF ENROLLMENT,received the 2002 Margaret E. AddisAward from the National Associa-

tion for College Admission Counseling(NACAC). The award was presented at the 58th NACAC National Conference inSalt Lake City, Utah.

The Margaret E. Addis Award recog-nizes a person who has provided NACACwith unique and outstanding service. Theaward, established in 1973, was renamed in 1996 in recognition of Dr. Margaret E.Addis, a respected leader of NACAC whonever faltered in her commitment to ensur-

ing ethical admission practices for all stu-dents. Katy was selected to receive theaward based on her leadership and serviceto NACAC. In presenting the award,NACAC President Paul Pedersen said,“Katy Murphy encouraged a proactiveapproach to risk-taking and leadershipyears ago and the fruits of her insistencehave made NACAC stronger.”

Katy has served NACAC on both theregional and national levels for the past 16years. She served as founding chair of theOrange County National College Fair, chairand coordinator for the joint Western and

National ACAC California College Fairs,president of Western ACAC, and memberof the Los Angeles National College FairPlanning Committee. She chaired the LocalArrangements Committee for the 1992National Conference in Los Angeles andthe National College Fair AdvisoryCommittee, and coordinated the State and Regional President’s Council. She is co-chair of the Local ArrangementsCommittee for the 2003 NACAC NationalConference in Long Beach, California.

K


OR THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH

Janifer Stackhouse, you’ll understandthe void she has now left behind. After

19 years as professor, dean, and assistantvice president, Janifer Stackhouse retiredfrom NDNU last summer.With her dynamicdemeanor, intelligence,and delight in life, Janiferhas served the NDNUcommunity well.

Janifer first came toNotre Dame in 1983 asassistant to the academicvice president and wasappointed to the positionof Dean of AcademicAffairs and ChiefAcademic Officer in 1985.During her tenure asAcademic Dean, enroll-ment increased 62% by1994, 36% of our studentswere in programs that didn’t exist 10 years before, and freshmen reten-tion doubled from 25% to 50%. As WASCliaison, she led re-accreditation efforts over a 13-year period.

Janifer moved to the Development Officeas Assistant Vice President in 2000. Intypical Janifer fashion, she dove enthusi-astically into the task of marketing ourname change and creating a new visibility

campaign for the Univer-sity. Additionally, shetook on the task of writ-ing and processinggrants. As one facultymember puts it, “No mat-ter what role she assumedhere, she put her mind,heart, and soul into it.”

Retirement didn’t lastvery long for Janifer. Nowshe is President and CEOof her own consultingfirm, the GigglesworthGroup. Currently work-ing with GeoHazardsInternational, she is help-ing this non-profit orga-

nization raise funds to bring awareness and resources to developing nations facingnatural disasters. Predictably, JaniferStackhouse is again making a tremendousdifference.

F

Janifer Stackhouse Steps Down As Assistant Vice President for Development

C A M P U S N E W S

6 NDNU I 2003

The School of Educa-tion and Leadership is sponsoring visitingscholar Dr. Fred Luskin,who will talk about“forgiveness” onMarch 13.

The results of thelargest studies ever

conducted on forgiveness are shared in Dr. Luskin’s best-selling book, Forgive forGood. In his book Luskin states that by notforgiving we tend to develop stress, hold onto anger, and put our bodies under tremen-dous strain. He teaches us how to forgiveand let go of our anger. “Forgiveness is avery powerful quality,” Luskin says. “Andhere is the good news: it can be taught.”

The Visiting Scholar Program was estab-lished in 1980 to honor the late Chancellorof the University, Sister Catharine JulieCunningham, and brings distinguished visit-ing faculty to the campus. Dr. Fred Luskinhas a Ph.D. from Stanford in counseling and health psychology. He is director andco-founder of the Stanford UniversityForgiveness Project.

Fred Luskin

Denis Moreen Libraryof American PopularMusic Donated toNDNU

ENIS MOREEN BOUGHT HIS FIRST PIECE

of pop sheet music, “Serenade of the Bells,” at Lyon Healy Music,

Evanston, Illinois, in 1947. He’s been collecting music ever since.

Today Denis’s library includes morethan 4500 individual pieces of sheet musicplus complete scores and selections fromover 200 Broadway and Hollywood musi-cals. Denis donated his entire sheet musiccollection to NDNU’s Musical Theatredepartment, in gratitude for 30 years ofsupport by students, faculty, and staff. Hewas Chair of the Fine and Performing ArtsDivision at NDNU and retired in April2000 after 29 years at the University.

D

SISTER CATHARINE JULIE CUNNINGHAM SCHOLAR

“Shadows Crockett,” 1993, oil on canvas, 48” x 60”, by Terry St. John, NDNU ProfessorEmeritus, was donated by Paul Andrieu and Barret Willson. The painting is an important giftto the University‘s permanent art collection and will be hung in President Oblak‘s office.

Art Collection Addition


Blueprint for the Future

S HIRLEY LINDEN MORRISON IS THE 2002 recipient of the Living Torch Award.This award is presented annually to

someone who has served the University in dedication, leadership, and longevity.Shirley is the first layperson receiving thisoutstanding award.

Shirley has been a senior lecturer inNDNU’s English department for 36 years.She holds an M.A. from the University of Washington in English and a B.S. inNursing Science from NorthwesternUniversity. Shirley has a proven and longrecord of fundraising for the Englishdepartment and is currently working onbuilding an endowment for a new scholar-

ship fund, The Shirley L. Morrison Schol-arship Fund. This scholarship will assist anew student in Arts and Humanities whodemonstrates academic excellence andfinancial need. She has already raised over$12,000 for the fund.

Shirley says, “It has been a rich andrewarding experience, both a joy and privi-lege, to observe the growth of my studentsand their success as alums.”

In addition to teaching and fundraising,Shirley is an accomplished author with along list of publications, including a book,The Pearl and the Princess: A Tale of Twins, and ispresently co-authoring a new book withher husband.

Living Torch Award Recipient, Shirley Linden Morrison

T HE CITY OF BELMONT PLANNING

Commission approved Phase IA of the implementation of the Univer-

sity’s Campus Master Plan in April 2002.Phase IA projects include the constructionof a new 200-bed, 41,300 square foot resi-dence hall, a new campus center, landscap-ing enhancements around the two new

buildings, expanded parking along CampusWay, and new parking near the entrance ofthe campus.

Parking improvements are scheduled tobegin in May 2003 and end in August 2003.Construction of the new residence hall isscheduled to begin in July 2003 and end inJuly 2004.

A construction schedule for the new cam-pus center has not yet been established.

The University has retained architectsGensler, project managers DRB Associates,and general contractors Nibbi Brothers toassist with the design and construction ofthe Phase IA projects. All of these firms arelocal Bay Area companies.

Shirley Linden Morrison, 2002 recipient of theLiving Torch Award.

C A M P U S N E W S

2003 I NDNU 7

Rendering of planned Residence Hall; view from south east.


Fall Sports RecapWe can unequivocally say that we had a tremendous season for women’s soccer,men’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. Allthree teams won their respective CaliforniaPacific Conference Championships andadvanced to the NAIA Regional Playoffs.

Women’s Soccer � Finished the year with an overall record

of 16-4-2 � Was Cal Pac Champion� Finished the year ranked 19th in the

country

Men’s Soccer� Finished the year with an overall record

of 12-10-1� Was Cal Pac Co-Champion� Advanced to the NAIA Regional Playoffs

Women’s Volleyball� Finished the year with an overall record

of 30-7

� Was Cal Pac Champion with a 15-0 overallrecord in league play

� 30 wins is a school record for number ofwins in a season

� Advanced to the NAIA Regional Playoffs

Off the FieldNDNU established a Student AthleteAdvisory Committee composed of two student-athletes for each of the current six athletic teams. The Committee meetsmonthly to give feedback to the Director ofAthletics on the overall student–athlete expe-rience. One of the issues currently under con-sideration is a new, more relevant name forNDNU athletic teams.

Toward that end, the Argonaut mascotwas removed from the center circle of theGleason Gymnasium floor and replaced withthe NDNU logo. The color scheme was alsobrought in line with the proper NDNU goldand blue.

Both the men’s and women’s locker roomsin Gleason Gymnasium were renovated to

provide a fresh and spacious newhome for NDNU athletic teams.Each locker room now has 32open wood lockers, is newly car-peted, and has video monitors forthe teams to review film.

We also launched a new ath-letics website, reached a workingagreement with Notre DameHigh School to share existingathletic fields into the next sev-eral years, and placed a hugeemphasis on the training needsof our student-athletes. As Head Athletic Trainer, PhysicalEducation Coordinator, andAssistant Director of Athletics,Josh Doody is responsible forgeneral training needs, rehabili-tation, and strength training. In addition, we were fortunate to attract Courtnie Steeves as an Athletic Trainer to work primarily with our women’s programs.

THLETIC DIRECTOR,

DOUG LOCKER

BRINGS SOME SOLID CREDENTIALS

– AS WELL AS CONSIDERABLE

VISION, STRATEGY, AND CLARITY –

TO NDNU’S SPORTING LIFE.

FOLLOWING IS HIS

REPORT ON THE

“STATE OF THE UNION”

OF THE NDNU ATHLETIC

DEPARTMENT.

ANDNU Athletics


UR ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM WILL BE EXPANDED, MORE

than doubling the training capacity for our growingathletic population. Staff office space will be relocated

and expanded in the loft, thereby providing a more professionallook to highlight our programs.

To promote pride in our athletes’ accomplishments, thisspring we will begin holding a formal All Sports AwardsBanquet to select and honor all of our team award winners fromthe year. In addition,we will name a maleand female athleteof the year, male andfemale newcomer ofthe year, and recog-nize the male and female scholar-athletes of the year.

We will alsoform an AthleticBooster Club tosupport all of ourathletic programs. The club will spon-sor an annual golf fundraiser, special alumni events, and news-letters to keep alumni, parents, and other friends informed ofour athletic progress throughout the year. In addition, NDNUwill initiate a Hall of Fame to honor our top athletes, coaches,and supporters.

Summer Camp programs will be launched in the summer of 2004. Each of our coaches willhold camps for local youth to provide collegiateinstruction to young athletes, raise the aware-ness of our excellence in athletics, and providefundraising opportunities for each of our programs.

Finally, proposals are being made to add anew major in Physical Education which willmeet the needs of students looking for a career in this profession as future teachers and coaches.

As you can see, the stage has been set for a vibrant anddynamic athletic program to complement the excellence of the academic side of the University.

Spring 2003 & Beyond

O

WITH THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL BE ADDING FIVE NEW

ATHLETIC TEAMS INCLUDING MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GOLF, MEN’S

AND WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY, AND MEN’S LACROSSE. ALL OF

THESE SPORTS WILL BEGIN PLAY IN THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR. IN

THE 2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL ADD BASEBALL, AND IN

2005-2006 WOMEN’S LACROSSE WILL BRING OUR TOTAL SPORTS

OFFERINGS TO 13.

2003 I NDNU 9


WHO DECIDES WHO GETS punished and what the punishment shouldbe? These are just two of the issues that are sure to be hotly debated in a series oflectures tentatively titled Dead Man Walkingand Other Paths to Justice. It is to be presented

by a group of faculty, including campusminister Robert Mallon, and will beoffered during the Spring Semester of 2003.

The lectures were inspired by SisterHelen Prejean who visited NDNU lastMarch. Sister Helen is the author of the

best seller Dead ManWalking. She spoke toseveral hundred peoplefrom the campus andBay Area community at the NDNU Theatreand detailed her experi-ences with prisoners on death row.

Sister Helen begancorresponding with aLouisiana death rowinmate in 1982, butnever believed shewould see a humanbeing put to death. Shebecame the spiritualadvisor for PatrickSonnier, the convictedkiller of two teenagersin Louisiana. SisterHelen said she mightnever have become a“social justice nun”without inspirationfrom Sister MariaAugusta Neil, a Sisterof Notre Dame deNamur.

At a 1980 conferenceSister Helen heardSister Neil speak anddecided to dedicate herlife to helping the poor.So her spiritual journeybegan, two years before

the execution of Patrick Sonnier. Sonnierwas the subject of Dead Man Walking, whichwas made into a movie of the same namestarring Susan Sarandon as Sister Prejean,and an opera premiered by the San Fran-cisco Opera Company in October of 2000.

The NDNU audience listened intentlyto her thoughts on the justice system andthe inequities in education between therich and poor communities in the UnitedStates. “Privileged people often do notrealize the advantages they have and thatmakes it easy to blame people who turn to crime as a way out,” says Sister Helen.

Sister Helen disagrees with the idea that the death penalty is a deterrent forpeople who commit violent crimes. “Peoplewho commit murder do not think aboutwhat they are doing and the possible reper-cussions of their actions. They certainlydon’t take the time to weigh out rationallythe pros and cons of their decisions.”

Sister Helen serves as the chairwoman of The Moratorium Campaign, a non-profitorganization calling for the immediate endof the death penalty. She also foundedSurvive, a support group for families ofmurder victims.

A regional theatre production of DeadMan Walking is in development with actor-director Tim Robbins. Sister Helen hasinvited NDNU to produce the collegiatepremiere of the play. Provost LucilleSansing is working on a grant proposal in conjunction with Sister Helen, to sup-port the theatre production and to build a curriculum around issues of the moratorium.

Sister Helen PrejeanI N S P I R E S

WHAT IS JUST ICE?

WHO DECIDES WHO GETS PUNISHED AND WHAT THE PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE?

10 NDNU I 2003

A R T S & H U M A N I T I E S


OW DID CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL

Sergeant Steve Muders work full-time, finish his bachelor’s degree,

support a family, and still have time tohelp build a new soccer field for disadvan-taged kids in Menlo Park? And how didIntensive Human Services student SueNystrom-Walsh find time to raise over$40,000 for her daughter’s elementaryschool right before she graduated? TheseNDNU Intensive Human Services stu-dents, and many others like them, takethe idea of giving back to their commu-nity very seriously.

In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy it isclear that this type of workforce is dedi-cated to serving the needs of others,whether they are employed in policedepartments, hospitals, counseling agen-cies, or Human Resources departments.NDNU students are already employed inone area of Human Services, and they con-tinue to learn and relate to other HumanServices clients and organizations. Forexample, Collette Drane-Hoffman, pastExecutive Director at the Elipse AIDScounseling and prevention program,developed a successful one-day workshopfor women on dressing for success in a jobinterview. Her participants were recentlyreleased from jail. Other Human Resource

Managers and students, likeGene Reynolds and CharleneHardee, hosted mock employ-ment assessment workshopsfor at-risk students seekingsummer employment.

Students such as MarilynFlowers-Wacks, ConwayRobinson, and KjerstinShireman have contributedendless time and energy towrite grants and recruit oldervolunteers for the Center forElderly Suicide Prevention &Grief Related Services in SanFrancisco. Critical-care nurse,Susan Hanford, secured grant money for a special piece of equipment for visually-impaired students at NDNU.

Under the direction of departmentchair Dr. Deb Cash, the NDNU IntensiveHuman Services bachelor of sciencedegree program has been graduatinguniquely talented students since 1990.There are always at least a hundred work-ing students on-campus in the evening.Nurses or police officers running intoclass with cell phones and coffee in handis a common sight.

Senior projects are as varied as the students. Gardens have been planted at

senior citizen centers and elementaryschools. Captain Mike Guglielmoni and Lt. Mike Newell of the South San Fran-cisco Police Department, were able tofund three new electric wheelchairs for a Community Gatepath Center. Finally,alum Steve Wilcox, vice president atLink-Allen Financial Corporation, had the reviewing panel of NDNU faculty andcommunity members tearing up when hebrought in pictures of older adults in aconvalescent home matched with pen-pals from a nearby elementary school. All of these community experiences havesignificantly shaped both the HumanServices students and the community.

Taking the Idea of Giving Back Seriously

H

NDNU students weeding and gardening at local elementary school.

S T U D E N T L I F E

Continue Your NDNU Experience . . . Or Share It With Someone!

NDNU’s Graduate Programs offer the same quality of teaching in classes offered on ourUniversity campus in Belmont.

Consider continuing your education here…or share it with a friend. Attach your business card to the application and we’ll waive the application fee. Call us for an appointment to come to campus to learn more…and receive notification of upcoming Graduate Information Forums.

Master’s Degrees: Art Therapy, Marital and Family Therapy, Counseling Psychology, Gerontology, English, Music,Education, Teaching, Special Education, Educational Technology, Administration, Business Administration, PublicAdministration, Electronic Business Management, Management

Credentials: Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Special Education, Administrative Services

Certificates: Art Therapy, Brief Therapy, Business Management, Chemical Dependency, Gerontology, Educational Technology, Reading, Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program

www.ndnu.edu (800) 263-0545

2003 I NDNU 11


A L U M N I N E W S

UR ALUMNI

have enjoyedsome wonder-

ful events this year,beginning with a trip to Ashland,Oregon in Augustfor the ShakespeareFestival to see“Macbeth” and “As

You Like It.” During the Wine CountryTour in September, Gina Gallo treated the alumni to lunch at her winery, and inOctober and November, we enjoyed theFaculty/Alumni Reunion and the LittleWomen’s Tea. All of these popular eventsare annual alumni programs.

Last winter, we held a fun evening thatlaunched another annual event. This pastFebruary 14, Valentine’s Day, the AlumniAssociation sponsored a “Graduates of theHeart” dinner in Ralston Hall Mansion.The evening began with a champagne andhors d'oeuvres reception for the largecrowd. In the ballroom, candlelit tablesset the mood, with live music playing in

the background. Members of the NDNUMusic Department entertained the guestswith romantic songs and music. The cele-bration wasfilled with the “magicand music”that makesValentine’sDay so spe-cial and wascapped witha surprisegift at theend of theevening.

We’d liketo hear fromyou! Our Alumni Office is located on the first floor of Ralston Hall, Room 102.Call 650-508-3551, e-mail [email protected], or visit our website atwww.ndnu.edu/alumni for more infor-mation about any of these programs. Yourideas and suggestions for future programsare always welcome.

O

Little Women‘s Tea

Class of 1962The Class Reunion GiftMembers of the NDNU class of 1962 have become the latest group of

alumni to establish the Class Reunion Gift Program for the University.

With hopes that this will become an ongoing tradition, the class of

1962 has already raised $4,020 toward the Mary P. Bosque Alumni

& Donors Scholarship Fund to financially assist students in need.

Special thanks to co-chair Mary Chapman ‘62 and the class of

1962 donors who have made this possible. It‘s still not too late to

donate and make a difference.

Class Gift ProgramThe Class Gift of 2003 is under way and moving forward. The

program started last year with a gift of an NDNU flag and American

flag as well as a plaque, which now hangs in St. Mary‘s Hall next to

the switchboard.

Continuing this tradition, the class gift of 2003 has raised nearly

$300 to purchase a new bench for the University. It will be presented

at the commencement ceremony on May 4, 2003. Send your contri-

bution and designate it for the class gift!

12 NDNU I 2003

Good Times Ahead

Volunteers working at the AlumniAssociation’s Community Service Projectat the San Francisco Food Bank. Thetasks our volunteers participated inincluded helping with food donations,stocking pantry shelves, labeling cans,cleaning produce, packing food boxes,and other food sorting projects. The San Francisco Food Bank works to endhunger in San Francisco. This year theywill distribute over 13 million pounds offood that will go to low income familiesand individuals.

Faculty Alumnireception


2003 I NDNU 13

C L A S S N OT E S

NDNU Alumni AssociationBoard of Directors

PresidentFrank Besnyi, BS ‘90, MBA ‘95

Vice PresidentLinda Wertz, BS ‘82

SecretaryKaren Blanchard Stevens, BA ‘91, MA, ‘97

Alexander Agopovich, BS ‘92, MA ‘01

Therese Kehl, BA ‘98

Steve Kinney, BA ‘98, MA ‘02

Laura E. Ritter, BA ‘94, MCP, ‘98

Mike Sing, BS ‘98

Carla Repetto Webster, BA ‘70, Cred., MA ‘73

If you are interested in becoming amember of the Board, call Sr. RoseanneMurphy at (650) 508-3551.

HIS COMING APRIL, THE ALUMNI

Association is sponsoring a produc-tion of “Late Nite Catechism,” a

hilarious comedy act written by VickiQuade and Maripat Donovan which per-formed to rave reviews in San Franciscolast year. The production was held overdue to its popularity. “Late NiteCatechism” has had positive reviewswherever it has been performed. It willplay April 26 at Notre Dame UniversityTheatre beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are on sale in the Alumni Office for $35 each.A limited number of tickets for a DessertReception in Taube Center at 6:30 pm,followed by VIP seating for the perfor-mance will be available for an additional$15. The proceeds will benefit the TheatreArts Department’s Scholarship program.For those of us who attended Catholicelementary schools, it is a walk downmemory lane with love and laughter atwhat we experienced there. Bring yourfriends; we guarantee you will have agood time.

N JUNE 29, ALUMNI FROM SISTERS

of Notre Dame-sponsored collegesand universities and their guests

will gather at Trinity College for “NotreDame Week in Washington, D.C.” Alumnifrom Liverpool Hope University College,Liverpool, England; Seishin University in Okayama, Japan; Emmanuel College in Boston; and Trinity College in Wash-ington will gather for a week of lecturesand visits to major sites in the nation’scapitol. On July 4, the group will have afree day to enjoy the many celebrationstaking place throughout the city. The costis quite reasonable and promises to be agreat success.

“Late Nite Catechism”

Mike Elkins, Director of Theatre Arts, discussesthe origin of the Shakespeare Festival with NDNUAlumni at the Annual Alumni trip to theShakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

TNotre Dame Week

O Our e-mail listis missing

an importantaddress...

Yours.

The NDNU Alumni Association

is developing an e-mail

communication program,

and the first step is building

our database. That’s why we

need your e-mail address.

To participate in our

e-mail communications

program, please fill out

this information form:

Name _____________________________

Phone ____________________________

E-mail ____________________________

Signature __________________________

and mail to:

NDNU Alumni Association

1500 Ralston Avenue

Belmont, CA 94002-1908

or E-mail your address to:

[email protected]

Alumni Association

(650) 508-3551

President Oblak and Sister Rosemarie Julieat a recent alumni event.


48 Margaret (Peggy) J. Baccelli,

BA English, and her husband Alcelebrated their 50th anniversaryin September. Their daughters gave them a wonderful party.

55Carole Arnberger Williams retired

from teaching high school his-tory to spend more time with her family, five grandchildren, and friends.

59 Marilee Costa Railton, BS CRED

Multi, retired after 20 years as an

R.N. at Saint Mary’s RegionalMedical Center – the last eightyears of which she served asChaplain for Saint Mary’s Hospiceof Northern Nevada. Her experi-ence there was exceptionallyrewarding.

60Mary Haggerty Elliott, BA French,

has seven grandchildren andworks for San Mateo County.

62 Beverly Bonalanza Ford, ’62 BA

English, ’65 CRED, is CityTreasurer of South San Francisco.She is very active in All Soulsparish.

64Mary M. Schroeder, BA History,

retired from teaching after 19 yearsin August.

65 Diane Braia Smith, BA, continues

on the board of a History andScience museum. She has eightgrandchildren.

Keep your fellow alums up-to-date! Send your news to the Alumni

Office, Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont,

CA 94002. Please include your name at graduation, your graduation

year, your degree, and your phone number. You can also help us keep

our records current by including your occupation and title, your work

and home street addresses, and your work and home e-mail addresses.

Give Us Your Class Notes

S SHE LOOKS BACK AT HOW SHE GOT WHERE SHE IS, CATHERINE

Raye-Wong cannot help but be thankful for the blessingof Notre Dame. A 1988 undergraduate with an Englishdegree and Sociology minor, her degrees have proven

to be very valuable in her life’s path.At the age of 15, Catherine dropped out of high school,

returning to finish a year later. That year, at age 16, she knew she wanted to be a lawyer.

Graduating high school at 17, Catherine entered secretarialschool to become a legal secretary. Before the program ended,an attorney called the school and asked if there was an availabletrainee. She started working for the attorney, who encouraged herto attend college. Starting night school at a local junior college, sheworked full-time during the day as a legal secretary.

After seven years of attending college part-time at night,Catherine was tired of the “forever” program. Knowing she wasnearly ready to transfer to a four-year school, a co-worker highlyrecommended then College of Notre Dame.

Dr. Mary Ellen Boyling called Catherine to see if she was inter-ested in attending the College. Catherine was quite impressed thata professor called her and offered to show her around. Her interac-tion with Dr. Boyling was so positive, she knew immediately thatCND was the place for her.

At CND, Catherine was encouraged, and strived to perform thebest she could. She was constantly rewarded by the staff, facultyand fellow students. She developed warm and supportive relation-ships, many of which continue today.

Following her graduation from CND, Catherine started lawschool at night. Working hard at San Francisco Law School, shegraduated four and one-half years later. She passed the bar examthe first time, and finally, after 14 years of higher education, shewas ready to start working.

Born and raisedin San MateoCounty, Catherineplanned to practicein trusts and estateslaw. For two yearsshe worked with herfirst boss, then wentto work for the SanMateo CountySuperior Court astheir ProbateResearch Attorney.She immenselyenjoyed working forthe judges for three years while she worked on her law master’s intaxation (LL.M.) at Golden Gate School of Law.

Shortly after the birth of her son and finishing the LL.M.,Catherine took a part-time job with an established trust lawyer inSan Carlos. Four months later he died unexpectedly and his familyasked her to take over his firm.

A certified specialist in trusts and estates law by the State Bar ofCalifornia, Catherine runs a law firm, Raye-Wong & Associates, indowntown San Carlos with three lawyers, four paralegals, and fiveother clerical staff.

Catherine’s close connection of the heart with Notre Damemade her what she is today. The support, the love, the scholar-ships, and encouragement she has received over the years fromCND, now NDNU, make her very thankful for the excellent educa-tion and foundation she found here.

ACatherine Raye-Wong

Journey to Success

C L A S S N OT E S

14 NDNU I 2003


67Kathy Larson Freitas, BA French,

lives in Washington State where she and her husband raised three kids. She spent 13 years as theAdministrative Assistant in the School of Nursing at theUniversity of Portland. She is now the receptionist at the M.J.Murdock Charitable Trust inVancouver, WA, a wonderful organization that awards grants to non-profits in the five PacificNorthwest states.

68Margaret Pobywajlo, BA English,

CRED, is doing her dissertationstudy on the cognitive developmentof undergraduate peer tutors.

80Charlotte M. Phillips, BS Behavioral

Sciences, is a retired R.N.

81Francis R. Moran, BS Economics,

is Chief Financial Officer for Foote,Cone and Belding-Asia Pacific. Hedoes marketing throughout Asia andtravels 75% of his time.

84 Julie Goeckel, BA Behavioral

Science, ’85 CRED/Multiple Subject,lives outside of Orlando, Fla. She isactively involved with her sonWilliam, 6, and daughter Emma, 4.

96Maria Lara, BA Latin American

Studies, has been selected to par-ticipate in the city of Phoenix’s 53rd annual Management InternProgram. She was chosen as one offour who competed with more than200 applicants across the country.

98Lynette C. Hernandez, BA Sociol-

ogy, has her name on the Wall of Tolerance sponsored by RosaParks, which is traveling around the United States. Only a select few are nominated to receive this honor.

Kathy Berkshire, MBA, was namedsales associate for Coldwell Bankerresidential brokerage in SanFrancisco.

BIRTHSJason Levine, ’96 BA English, ’97

CRED Multiple, and his wifeAmanda White Levine had a boy,Timothy Andrew, on February 10,2002.

MARRIAGESOscar Laguna, ‘98 BA Communi-

cations, and Amy Canillo, BA LatinAmerican Studies ’98, married onAugust 24, 2002.

Joy Arnold-Pieri, ’98, was recentlymarried.

FTER GRADUATING FROM CND IN 1975 WITH a Bachelor of Music degree in classical pianoperformance, Greg Armbruster hit the road aspart of a trio, performing at the MGM Grand

Hotel in Las Vegas and Harrah’s in South Lake Tahoe.Returning to the Bay Area, he received a master’s degree in composition and electronic music at San Jose State

University in 1980. Whilecontinuing to perform atlocal venues, Greg becamethe director of advertisingfor a start-up in SiliconValley, Sequential Circuits,Inc., manufacturer of theProphet synthesizers. In1983, he went to work forKeyboard magazine as anassistant editor. In 1985,he moved to Nashvillewhere he continued towrite for Keyboard. He started his own business

interfacing acoustic pianos in recording studios with synthe-sizers and computer music systems. He also continued hissolo piano performance career, first at the Maxwell HouseHotel, then at the Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel. It was during thisseven-year period in Nashville that he began producing,directing, and writing for community theater.

“The Business of Marriage,” written with lyricist JudyEron, premiered in 1989, followed by “Deadline” in 1992,which was written for the National Hospice Organizationand premiered at their national convention in Nashville.Subsequently, Greg moved to New York City to study musi-cal theater composition at the BMI Musical Theater WritersWorkshop, and in 1998, “The Fishkin Touch” premieredoff-Broadway at the 91st Street Playhouse. That same year,Greg won the international art song competition sponsoredby the National Association of Teachers of Singing with asong cycle for voice and piano, “Ainu Dreams.” Movingupstate to the Hudson River Valley, he became special assis-tant to the president at Bard College and began teachingsongwriting in the undergraduate program. In 2001, hebecame the Associate Director of Admissions for Bard.

Today, Greg continues to teach his SongwritingWorkshop, manages the Bard College Orchestra, and composes for voice and piano as well as other instrumentalensembles. His “Suite for Strings” premiered this past sum-mer by the Colorado String Quartet and he’s currentlyworking on an orchestral piece for the WoodstockChamber Orchestra.

Greg Armbruster ‘75

A Life in Tune

A

Greg with his grandfather, who madeit possible for him to go to college.

We’d like to include your business cards in a wall display outside

the Admissions reception area and in a coffee-table book in the

Admissions Office. We’re creating the wall to let our visitors

know “What You Can Do With a Degree from NDNU.”

Please send two cards to: Admissions Office, Notre Dame de

Namur University, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont, CA 94002.

Send Us Your Business Cards!

Alberta Brusati, wife of BoardMember Peter Brusati

Mary Luna, ’32

Mary Soto, ’40

Caroline McCarron, ’60

Karen Sandholdt, ’66

Frances Lemoyne, ’72

Suzette Thomas, ’73

John Shehadeh, ’75

Mary J. Finkle, ’79

Greg Patrick, ’93A memorial fund has beenestablished in his name.

Carol Braunshausen, ’99

In Memoriam

C L A S S N OT E S

2003 I NDNU 15


Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 44Belmont, CA

Events Calendar March-June 2003March11- 4/19 The Society of Six Exhibition

Wiegand Gallery

12 Smart Lunch Program featuring Sr. Roseanne Murphy on “Dynamicsof Adult Spirituality,” Taube Center,10:30 am

13 Fred Luskin Seminar “Forgive for Good,” 6 pm

15 President’s Gala

20 Distinguished Speakers Seriesfeaturing Cynthia Marshall, SVP, SBCPacific Bell, Ralston Hall, 7:30 pm,free

20 Creative Writers’ Series featuringTom Evans, Wiegand Art Gallery, 7:30 pm, free

23 Ralston Concert Series featuringSergey Podobedov, pianist, RalstonHall, 3 pm, $25/$12 for studentsand seniors

April4, 5, 10, “1940’s Radio Hour”11, 12 Theatre, 8 pm

6, “1940’s Radio Hour”13 Theatre, 2 pm

26 “Late Nite Catechism,” Theatre, 8 pm, $35/$50 VIP seating and pre-show dessert reception in Taube Center

27 Ralston Concert Series featuringErie Mills, soprano & Craig Bohmler,pianist, Ralston Hall, 3 pm, $25/$12for students and seniors

May4 Commencement

June29 – 7/5 Notre Dame Week inWashington, D.C.

Notre Dame de Namur University

1500 Ralston Avenue

Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Return service requested.

Events, times and dates subject to change. For a full listing of events, visit our web siteat www.ndnu.edu.

For information about alumni events, call (650) 508-3551. art events, call (650) 508-3595.music events, call (650) 508-3429.theatre events, call (650) 508-3456.

One of Ralston Hall’s large paintings is ona journey. The painting, which hangs atthe top of the first flight of stairs in themansion, was painted by Gilbert Munger,one of America’s great landscape paintersof the 19th Century. Munger completedthe nine foot “Minnehaha Falls” in 1868and William Ralston purchased the paint-ing in 1871. “Minnehaha Falls” will beon loan to the Tweed Museum of Art atthe University of Minnesota from Julythrough October.

Minnehahaon Loan


ndnu magazine winter 2003

Documents

ndnu athletics

ndnu values

c o n t e n t sndnu

board of trustees

centersof excellence

notre dame

namur university magazine

successful year