Wagner College Friday, October 12, 2012 Staten Island, N.Y.

Celebrating President Guarasci

An interviewwith thepresidentPAGEs 2-3

A look backat a decadeof servicePAGEs 4-5

Praise fromstudentsand alums

PAGEs 6-7

e has invented the Wagner Plan, in-troduced programs for experiential

learning and civic engagement, created thePort Richmond Partnership and expandedthe Wagner College endowment.

He is Louis Richard Guarasci, the 18thpresident of Wagner College.

Elected unanimously by the Board of

Trustees on April 12, 2002, he officiallytook office seven weeks later.

Dr. Guarasci is a friendly face aroundcampus, chatting with students on theUnion Terrace, waiting in line for hissmoothie in the Hawk’s Nest, or just pass-ing by in the Main Dining Hall.

He greets everyone with a smile, and

some with a hug or a kiss on the cheek.This issue, a special edition of the Wag-

nerian student newspaper, pays tribute toWagner’s leader, scholar, mentor and friendwith anecdotes, photos and a timeline.

We hope this Wagnerian will serve as akeepsake marking this president’s decadeof service.

WagnerianThe

Raising awareness at Wagner College since 1934

Located across from Harbor View Hall, the anchor is a Wagner icon. In August, orientation coordinators Chris DeFilippi and Allie Dufford and a team ofpeer leaders painted a message to welcome the freshmen. President Guarasci paused at the anchor before welcoming the Class of 2016.

Photo by Lee Manchester

A slice of President

Guarasci’s life PAGE 8

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PAGE 2, The Wagnerian THE GUARAsCI  DECADE Oct. 12, 2012

What are the most challengingand rewarding parts of your job?

To me, the institution is about learn-ing. There is lot of youth to learning,and the youth have vitality andopenness…they give me a lot of in-spiration. The youth are interested ingetting somewhere in their lives.They don’t come here with a senseof entitlement. This experiencemeans something to them. Thebiggest challenge with students isgetting the institution to focus onstudents and learning. They keep theeye on the prize, and the prize islearning.

What do you enjoy most aboutworking with college students?

Students make the job worthwhile. Ienjoy problem solving. The differ-ence between my provost job and

the president’s job is that the provostjob is teaching a course with a veryexact syllabus [while] the presidentis doing the same job without anysyllabus at all because it just comesat you. You have to move within avariety of issues within an hour, fig-uring out what’s most important andless important. You’re…[like] a cabdriver because you need to entertainstrangers, take money and knowwhere you’re going.

What is your focus at Wagner?

Creating a set of educational experi-ences for students that are deep andbroad and help them become cos-mopolitans and worldwide thinkersand helping them become engagedcitizens. [You are] using educationto make your world better; that isthe whole purpose of education. Thegoal of all of it is that our students

become civic professionals whohave a series of publics that have tobe served.

What has been your biggest accomplishment at Wagner?

I’m very proud of the civic engage-ment and watching as students takeit as their own and organize all theEYH trips to Kenya and Bangladeshand expand the Wagner Plan to havebroader, deeper international experi-ences. [The] goal is to get to 300students abroad. [The study abroadprogram] went from 10 to 150. Theother goal is making them afford-able to students. Another thing is theenhancement of the campus. Build-ing Foundation, redoing Main Hall,getting more technology. I’m neversatisfied because I see all these littlethings that need to be fixed. I amhappy because we are creating agood living and educational experi-ence. Went from $4 million to $70million endowment; we use this forscholarships. [The school’s] reputa-tion has gone up in the [past] 10years. [The] incoming freshmanclass has an average of 90. Fifteenyears ago, it was quite different. Iam very proud of the faculty doing

the kind of work they do because itis a very involved plan.

What are your goals for Wagnerover the next 10 years?

The goal is to get a new, major, hightech academic building built. Weneed overall $40 million for thatbuilding across from FoundationHall. Classrooms are going toevolve into problem-solving set-tings. We’re going to use the class-room time to use the Internet toengage the issues, to research inclass, and solve and discuss theproblems; link what we’re learningto what other classes are learningglobally. Business communicationsSkyped with a class in Greece. Asthe world becomes truly flat, I cansee much more of linking classes to-gether … calling the building “TheCenter for Global Learning” andhave in it education, nursing, andbusiness, and maybe a few otherprograms in there. I want it [thebuilding] to be [like] your experi-ence in an Apple store or a Star-bucks with a lot of stations goingon, linking out-of-class learningwith in-class learning. It has to be abuilding that has lots of in-hall gath-

ering spots, whiteboards every-where, [and] computers everywhere,so you can wander. Two, I want tobe able to get the endowment to$100 million to make this an afford-able place. Tuitions are way toohigh, [as are] energy costs and tech-nology costs. We need to get readyfor tablets and project tablets ontoscreens and project screens ontotablets. The last thing is really kindof renovating and upscaling the oldbuildings. Nobody ever did preven-tative maintenance [for the oldbuildings]. We are moving into adifferent paradigm of learning.

What is the greatest gift you havereceived from Wagner?

I’ve been a very blessed person andI’ve had a lot of support from seniorstaff and faculty; they have givenme that gift. The honor is just work-ing here and being part of a commu-nity that’s so focused. I’ve beenblessed with a tremendous amountof support.

Describe yourself as a college stu-dent. What were you involved in?

I was a juvenile delinquent as a high

A president’s viewPhoto by Anna Mulé

Editor’s note: Five Wagnerian staffers — Bryan Grandison,Alyssa Brown, Danielle Lucchese, Amanda Hastings and Caroline Mauduy — interviewed President Guarasci on Sept. 18 for this special issue. It was a wide-ranging conversation in his fourth-floor Union office. Here are someexcerpts from that interview.

President Guarascilooks over the EastRiver from Brooklyn,where his father, Louis,swam as a child.

Oct. 12, 2012 THE GUARAsCI DECADE The Wagnerian, PAGE 3

school student. I hated schooling,absolutely hated authority, but Iloved the feeling of learning anddiscovering. [There was] no senseof freedom of expression. When Igot to college, I was ready to go. Iwas a commuter at Fordham Uni-versity. I lived in Brooklyn, so therewas a three-hour commute, so I didall my studying on the train. When Igot to college, I fell in love withlearning. I was an economics major,philosophy minor; I loved literature,couldn’t get enough of history. I hadthe freedom of the city. I spent allmy weekends in Manhattan: muse-ums, plays, movies, cafes. This cityis such a great place to learn andgrow. I was the vice president of afraternity. My biggest contributionwas to take everybody’s money incards. I went to Indiana Universityfor a master’s and Ph.D. [They hada] very active and big student gov-ernment there. The budget then was$400,000 for student government …40,000 students, three bus lines oncampus. I was the chief justice ofstudent court. We were very activein setting up [the] daycare centerand working co-ops.

How do you handle stress andwhat do you do in your sparetime?

I’m a big reader. I read six papers aday [including] the Financial Times,the New York Times, the Staten Is-land Advance, the Wall Street Jour-nal, the San Francisco Chronicleand the Daily News to see what oth-ers are thinking. I love music. I loveopera and I love jazz and I like westcoast or cool jazz, like Miles Davisand Jeff Baker. Those are de-stressers for me. To increase mystress I watch the N.Y. Jets playfootball and N.Y. Mets play base-ball. I lock myself in the room, likeWolfman. Carin and I watch a lot oftheater in Manhattan and we love tocook. I love cooking. When I was aprofessor and my wife was a princi-pal, and our kids were little, everysat night I’d make pizza. I love Chi-nese food and I would cook and eatChinese food for three weeksstraight. Cooking is a way I destress.I like literature as opposed to junk. Itend to read Irish feminist Ann En-right.

What is number one on yourbucket list?

I don’t have a bucket list — I shouldprobably get one, shouldn’t I? I al-ways wanted to go to spring trainingin Florida. Baseball was big when Iwas a kid. A few years ago, my son,who lives in Milwaukee said, ‘Let’sfly to West Palm Beach, and watchspring training.’ [During this trip]his luggage was sent to Delhi, Indiaso he didn’t have any clothes andhe, like his mother, loves to shopand has to try every piece on. I’vetalked to my family about going toAlaska … and then I think we’vetalked a lot about renting a house fora full week in Tuscany, and having awonderful time. The book I’m writ-ing is now on my stress list.

Describe your perfect day.

Perfect day? I had a perfect daySunday. We went to the Boathouseon 72nd Street in Central Park. Wehad a perfect dinner and a long walkin Central Park and saw about fourdifferent free concerts. We saw a

man playing Bach on the violin. Itwas a delightful day. The epitome ofplaces to be is the River Café inBrooklyn, next to the BrooklynBridge. It looks right back at theNew York skyline on the water. Youcan almost touch the skyline. I takepeople I care most about to theRiver Café and have a wonderfulconversation. Good food, goodfriends, good conversation.

What’s your favorite place onStaten Island for friends andfamily?

One is … Joe and Pat’s [pizzeria].The best place for food, for a fulldinner experience, is Bocelli’s onHylan Boulevard. My favorite placeto buy food is Pasticceria Bruno onForest Avenue. I grew up in an Ital-ian family where Sunday dinnerswere sacred … lots of different per-sonalities around the table, somecrazy, some loving. You get used todealing with a lot of personalities.

What’s your favorite food?

Pizza. It’s the most popular food inthe world; it’s a universal food andmy all-time favorite food. We couldgo for an hour and a half on the foodthing.

What was your most embarrass-ing moment in college?

I was taking summer courses atFordham’s downtown campus and Iwas trying to take calculus and Iwould get a nice hero sandwichafter working hard all day. I’d grabthis sandwich, jump on the subway,get off in Lower Manhattan, and goto my class. I got to be friends withone teacher. I said to him, “What’syour regular job?” and he said,“This is my regular job.” I thoughtbecause he was teaching at night, hehad another job … I felt bad formaking him feel so small.

Who is your role model?

Oscar Hammerstein. Google himand read the words to any numberof his songs. “Carousel” deals withdomestic violence; he understoodwhat it meant to live in a democracyand a democratic culture. It wasabout diversity and inclusion andcelebration. He knew how to live,and he knew how to die. I have hisbiography next to my bed.

How do you get to know students?

When I’m here, I tend to wanderinto the dining hall or Hawk’s Nest,and my usual question is, “Whatthree things do you like about Wag-ner, and what three would you wantto change?” I get a lot of my bestideas from students. People say“hello” to each other on campus,and people who come here areshocked by that. We really workedhard creating a culture on campus ofcommunity. Good places are abouthaving a good vision on what youwant, having good food, and havinggood humor.

What’s your favorite meal in thedining hall?

Taco Tuesdays. It comes and goes.They addict you, and then they cutyou off. I wanted to bring proteinsmoothies into the Hawk’s Nest,using Greek yogurt so you can eatthese delicious smoothies with pro-

tein, yogurt, no fat, no sugar. I’m nottoo keen on their pizza; they’reworking on it. Finally got theDunkin’ Donuts downstairs, and gotthe Starbucks to a point where I candeal with it.

What are your favorite sports atWagner?

I love the basketball games, becauseso many people come to them andyou have a small place with a lot ofnoise. I love professional footballand it’s getting harder and harder towatch. I used to love to go to a base-ball game, but now every profes-sional sports event thinks they haveto blare music in between plays andI hate it. I used to love meeting newpeople at the games. I don’t enjoyprofessional sports as much as Iused to.

Where do you and Mrs. Guarascilike to vacation?

Right outside of San Francisco,called Cavallo Point [resort]. Youhave to go there. The Sundaybrunch is informal, but elegant.

What does your daily schedulelook like?

My schedule is on note cards:meeting with two professors whogot a grant ... meeting students ...student town hall meeting. Issuescome along the way. Some days areeven longer, running well into theevening. Last night I taught a classfrom 6 to 9. I don’t have oneevening free from now to Thanks-giving. I get energy from other people.

President Guarasci explains how he uses index cards toget through a busy day.

Pages by Samantha Knoerzer and Audriana Mekula

Michael Manzulli receives from President Guarasci the pair of golden scissors that wereused during the Foundation Hall ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 19, 2010.

The president and ex-NBA star Darryl Dawkins attend“Madness Before Midnight” in October 2011.

Photo by the Staten Island Advance

Photo by Bryan Grandison

The Wagnerian staff interviews President Guarasci in his Union office on Sept. 18.

Photo by Staten Island Advance

Photo by Bryan Grandison

Decade of special moments2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

PAGE 4, The Wagnerian THE GUARAsCI  DECADE Oct. 12, 2012

The Board of Trusteesunanimously electsRichard Guarasci asWagner’s 18th presi-dent on April 25. Heserved as provost andvice president for academic affairs forfive years before the appointment.

FRONT-PAGE NEWs: The Wagnerian features an articleon the college’s new president in an April 2002 issue.

sPECIAL MOMENT: Carin Guarasci places the presiden-tial seal around her husband’s neck during his 2003 inau-guration ceremony as trustee Robert O’Brien and the latechaplain Lyle Guttu participate.

CALL HIM DR. TRUMP:The world-famous business-man receives an honorarydoctorate in 2004.

PROUD: Donald Trump displays his degree after theceremony.

PROGREss: The president leads a groundbreaking ceremony for Foundation Hall in 2008. At right is Staten Island Deputy Borough President Ed Burke ‘80.

ACCOLADEs: Former President Clinton recognizes Presi-dent Guarasci and the Port Richmond Partnership at theClinton Global Initiatives University program in 2009.

HIsTORIC: The president,staff and trustees ring the2010 closing bell at the NewYork Stock Exchange.

PREsIDENTIAL: Bill Clintonwith the Guarasci family andCongressman MichaelMcMahon in 2010.Photos courtesy of Lee Manchester

Richard Guarasci becomes Wagner’spresident at an inaugu-ration ceremony onApril 12 in the SpiroSports Center. He delivers his inauguraladdress to a crowd ofabout 500 people, andis congratulated bymany.

Uber-entrepreneurDonald Trump is thekeynote speaker at thecommencement ceremony on May 21.He receieves an honorary doctorate and tells graduates:“Always give 100 percent effort. Be disiplined. Study and learn.”

The president acceptsthe Theodore M.Hesburgh Award onFeb. 14 from theAmerican Council onEducation in recogni-tion of the WagnerPlan’s First-Year Program.

President Guarasci welcomes formerNATO supreme commander and former presidentialcandidate GeneralWesley Clark as commencementspeaker.

define Guarasci presidency2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Oct. 12, 2012 THE GUARAsCI DECADE The Wagnerian, PAGE 5

sTEADY sUPPORTERs: The Guarascis join Mike andMargaret Nicolais at Ellis Island in 2007.

RALLYING: The Guarascisspeak with Hillary Clintonduring a congressional campaign rally in 2008.

TRIBUTE: The Lyle GuttuMemorial Garden is dedi-cated in 2008.

BIG APPLE MOMENT: Mayor Michael Bloomberg receivesan honorary doctorate at the 2005 commencement.

GLOBETROTTER: President Guarasci visits Oslo, Norway,in the summer of 2011 to address a Council of Europe con-ference on civic engagement and the future of democracy.

INsPIRATIONAL: The Guarascis greet 2012 commence-ment speaker and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel.

FOURsOME: Richard A.Grasso, Donald Crooks,Kenneth Langone and Pres-ident Guarasci at Langone’sspeech in 2012.

sAFE AND sOUND: Thepresident oversees a cam-pus evacuation as HurricaneIrene strikes in August 2011.

Project Hospitalityrecognizes the Guaras-cis with the Les Traut-mann Memorial Awardfor Outstanding Contri-bution to the People ofStaten Island at the Har-vest Home Dinner onSept. 24. Other hon-orees are MayorBloomberg and BishopPatrick Ahern.

The president visitsRochester, N.Y.,Wagner’s historichome, to dedicate aFounders Tree at the house of one of the college’s two co-founders and lay a wreath on the graveof George Wagner.

On March 18, thepresident and commu-nity leaders officiallysign the Port Rich-mond Partnership. Theprogram has since ex-panded to become aunique part of Wagnerand its experientiallearning program.

The Guarascis host areception and presen-tation on April 22 attheir Grymes Hillhome for SI350, theyear-long commemo-ration of the 350th anniversary of the European settlementof Staten Island.

The president’s op-edessay, “Aid to CollegeStudents Benefits UsAll,” is published onAug. 25 in the AlbanyTimes Union, thedaily newspaper ofNew York’s state capital.

Reported by Alexandria Greco, Emily Rekstis and Alyssa Ahern

PAGE 6, The Wagnerian THE GUARAsCI  DECADE Oct. 12, 2012

Students express their “Dr. Guarasci is a true asset to Wagner College because he analyzes this institution from all perspectives including students, alumni,faculty, staff, and, most of all, the community. This year is my fourth year being a part of the Student Government Association (SGA), where I have witnessed Dr. Guarasci's consistent support toward studentsuggestions and concerns. On behalf of SGA, I would like to congratulateDr. Guarasci for 10 incredible years as president and wish him the best of luck in his future here at Wagner College.”

Gregory J. Balaes, sGA President

Kevin Ferreira stands on PresidentGuarasci’s left during a ceremony at

Gracie Mansion in July 2012. 

“Dr. Guarasci has a deep commitment toWagner and the community that can be felt by everyone. He has been an importantmentor to me, exemplifying what leader.As someone who is passionate about de-veloping democratic and inclusive spaces,Dr. Guarasci has been an important mentorto me. He is much more than a president,he is a person who is committed to a visionof Wagner, to a vision of education, and to a vision of community that holds promiseand opportunity for everyone.”

Kevin Ferreira, senior

THE WAGNERIANSpecial Edition

Alyssa BrownCo-Editor

Alexandria GrecoCo-Editor

Emily RekstisManaging Editor

Bryan GrandisonHead of Photography

Christina RossoCo-Copy Chief

Danielle LuccheseCo-Copy Chief

Stephanie HinkesOpinions Editor

Samantha KnoerzerEntertainment Editor

Audriana MekulaSports Editor

Prof. Claire ReganFaculty Adviser

Lee ManchesterDirector of Media Relations

“Out of all the institutions Ihave visited, I have neverseen a president who isso involved in campus-life. No matter if I see himwhile I am walking toclass or at an Admissionsevent, he always takes amoment to say ‘hello,’ dis-cuss classes, and eventhank me for what I do forthe college. Dr. Guarasciis an asset to this institu-tion. As I continue myyears at Wagner, I hopeto remain close with Dr.Guarasci. He has inspiredme to bring great changeto the campus community and he truly encouraged me to go above and beyond. Ican’t thank him enough for his kindness to me and his dedication to the institution.”

Chris DeFilippi, sGA senator

Chris DeFilippi with the Guarascis at the Peer Leader dessert reception in August.

Oct. 12, 2012 THE GUARAsCI DECADE The Wagnerian, PAGE 7

“President Guarasci has done a lotfor Wagner, especially financially. So I have a lot of respect for him. I have friends who go to schools whodon't have the slightest clue who theirpresident is. It is a unique experiencebeing able to talk with him and seehim on campus a lot.”

Neal Fessler, senior

“President Guarasci always says ‘hi’to me, and he always greets me byname. I had class with him — Dar-win, Marx and Freud — and I really enjoyed what he contributed to the

course. He’s very personable.”

Jamie Macchia, senior

“President Guarasci has always beena down-to-earth guy. He really takesan interest in what I do here on cam-pus and has always encouraged meto be a leader. I see him and his wifeas role models, and if there’s any timeI may need something or have a prob-lem, I know I could go to him.”

Josh Thompson, Grad student

“At the honors reception my freshmanyear, he and I talked about literature, like Hemingway and Russian writers, for roughly 20 minutes. It was great and made mefeel welcome at the college.”

Zachary Weinsteiger, Junior

“President Guarasci was my profes-sor for a government class my fresh-man year. Ever since then, he alwaysmakes sure to say ‘hello’ to me when-ever he sees me. It's cool how he al-ways remembers what activities I'm in at Wagner and never fails to ask mehow they are going. He makes mefeel like I'm not just a number.President Guarasci shows how muchhe genuinely cares about his studentsand wants to make sure they arehappy at Wagner. He really seems tolove his job and that positive energyreally makes students appreciate andlike him even more.”

Emily sayre, Junior

“President Guarasci is a great manand a wonderful leader. He always

makes me and my family feel athome here at Wagner. His kindness

and compassion inspires me to workhard and fills me with so much

Wagner pride. These are qualities ofa great leader and we are lucky to

have one in Dr. Guarasci.”

Amanda Hastings, Junior

“He just has a wonderful presence. I know from personal interactions

that he is simply a kind person. He isa well spoken and educated man

who has heart enough to contributeto small causes on campus.”

Emily stein, Class of 2012

Page by Misty Rosso and Stephanie Hinkes

“He is very friendly toward everyone. He always remembers

me and says ‘hi’ and asks how everything is. He is so

supportive of the theater and askshow any shows I'm in are going.”

Bronwyn Whittle, Junior

“Both President Guarasci and hiswife are very lovely individuals.

When I went to their house last year,I felt like I was welcomed

with open arms.”

Jeana shea, sophomore

admiration and praise

PAGE 8, The Wagnerian THE GUARAsCI DECADE Oct. 12, 2012

Page by Alyssa Brownand Bryan Grandison

Snapshots of a president

1. The Guarascis join alumnae for “Evita.”2. President Guarasci with Karen Luchow at Reunion 2007. 3. The president with his son,Patrick, at Super Bowl 2012. 4. The president athis favorite vacation spot, Cape Cod. 5. Supportfor the Seahawks at one of the president’s favoriteevents of the year, Homecoming. 6. Carin andRichard Guarasci circa 1964. 7. The Guarascis ona trip to London in March 2012. 8. The presidentwalks his daughter, Bridget, down the aisle at herwedding on May 24, 2011.

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