The Big Ticket - Robert Morris University

Foundations
ROBERT
MORRIS
UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE
>
FALL
2010
The
Big Ticket
ANDY TOOLE TAKES
THE COACH’S
REINS COURTSIDE
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ON THE ROAD
p. 32
p. 22
ALSO IN
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Actuarial Science
Risky Business p. 16
FALL/ 10
Foundations
DEPARTMENTS
DDEEAARR AAL LUUMMNNI I AANNDD F FRRI IEENNDDSS, ,
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experiencingtremendous
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approximately 900 new freshmen this fall — breaking last year’s record of 720. An astounding1,500
1,500students
students
are
asking
to
live
on
campus
—
about
200
more
than
we
can
fit
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halls.
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are asking to live on campus — about 200 more than we can fit in our residence halls. We have reservedspace
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andthe
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andeastern
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forour
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media arts programs, which currently utilize the downtown building. Already we have a new media arts
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abouton
onpage
page20.
20.
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andfamily.
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it
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mater nonetheless. Just like it will always be yours.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
GGRREEGGOORRYY GG. . DDEEL LL L’ O
’ OMMOO, , PPHH. D
. D. .
PPRREESSI IDDEENNTT
FALL SPORTS
PREVIEW
02 < CAMPUS REPORT
> 26 CLASS NOTE S
33 < UPCOMING E VENTS
8
CREDITS
EDITOR
Mark Houser
The House that Robert Built . .12
CONTRIBUTORS
Valentine J. Brkich, Robert Isenberg
Johnathan Potts, Bonnie Pfister
Before the White House, George Washington lived in
Robert Morris's Philadelphia mansion. A museum opening
this fall also will focus on the slaves who lived there.
ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER
Amy Joy
PHOTOGRAPHY/ILLUSTRATIONS
Front Cover: Michael Williams ‘08
Donor Report Cover: Terry Clark
Other Photos: American Antiquarian Society,
iStockphoto, Joe Appel, Valentine J. Brkich,
Glenn Brooks, Jason Cohen, Kevin Cooke,
Ferris Crane, Art Dickenson, Aubrey Divito ‘08,
Edward Fox Photography, Mitch Kramer ‘08,
Paul Lorie, Shelley Lipton, Michael Williams ‘08
Risky Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Low stress, high pay – some say actuaries have the best job
of all. As a recognized Center of Actuarial Excellence, RMU
has one of the best degree programs in America.
Giving the Gift
of Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PRINTING
RR Donnelley Hoechstetter Plant
Mark Mishler '82 rose from modest origins to become a
corporate president and CEO. Thanks to two new scholarships
named after his parents, more students can follow in his footsteps.
Foundations (ISSN 1934-5690) is published three
times a year by the Office of Public Relations
and Marketing in conjunction with the Office of
Institutional Advancement and mailed free of
charge to alumni, donors, trustees, faculty, staff
and friends of Robert Morris University. The
opinions expressed in the magazine do not
necessarily reflect the official policies of
Robert Morris University.
Contributions to Class Notes and address
changes may be sent to:
Office of Alumni Relations
Robert Morris University
6001 University Boulevard
Moon Township, PA 15108-1189
Phone: (412) 397-2586
Fax: (412) 397-2142
E-mail: [email protected]
It is the policy of Robert Morris University to provide
equal opportunity in all educational programs and
activities, admission of students and conditions of
employment for all qualified individuals regardless
of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, national
origin and/or sexual preference.
Design Gets its Due . . . . . . . . 20
The new Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation House for
Media Arts brings the campus a singular space for design
work and display, and an apartment for visiting artists.
22
32
> A Promise Made,
A Promise Kept
Thanks to a $600,000 state grant, RMU has opened the Veterans Education
and Training Service Center, which provides enrollment and academic advising
as well as other transition services to students who are military veterans. The
VETS Center is located in the newly renovated Jefferson Center.
Last year, RMU became one of the first private universities in the nation to
announce that service members who qualify for educational benefits under
the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill would be able to earn their degree free of charge at
the university. Approximately 175 veterans have enrolled at RMU under
the G.I. Bill.
“Not only did we promise to enroll veterans, but we pledged to provide
them with the support and services they need to transition to campus life
and, in many cases, to their post-military careers. With the dedication of
the Veterans Education and Training Service Center, we make good on that
pledge,” said RMU President Greg Dell’Omo, Ph.D.
The state grant came to RMU thanks to the efforts of Pennsylvania
Lt. Gov Joe Scarnati, state Sen. John Pippy, and state Rep. Mark Mustio.
Pippy and Mustio spoke at the opening of the VETS Center in June.
"There are over 400,000 veterans in Western Pennsylvania, most of them
returning from active duty," Pippy said. "Thousands of young men and
women are coming home to benefits as a result of the G.I. Bill. This will
provide the opportunity for them to further their degrees."
> And the Winner Is
Three RMU-TV television shows were recently honored by the 31st Annual Telly Awards.
“Colonial SportsCenter,” a sports highlight show produced by students Josh Elsass, Ed Albert, and
Chris Baginski; “RMU-Live,” a campus newscast produced by Baginski and Albert; and “Campus
Stories,” an in-depth interview talk show produced by Clark Cairns ‘10, each received a Bronze People’s
Telly Award. The Telly Awards honor outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and
programs; the finest video and film productions; and Web commercials, videos, and films.
2 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
> BAG DESIGN
BY ALYSSA KOBYLSKI
> Yeah, We Do Art Too
Fifteen students in the media arts program were honored for their
submissions to the Graphic Arts Association’s annual "Neographics –
The Power of Print Communications" contest. The winners, who
competed against others in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey,
were all students in RMU’s Introduction to Graphic Design and
Graphic Design Studio II classes taught by Ferris Crane, M.F.A.,
associate professor.
Alyssa Kobylski and Neil Shaffer won Best of Category:
Student. Justin Lotz, Tyler Donovan, Andrew Mortimer,
Beau Pappaterra, Jocelyn Wilson, Adam Lombardi, Debra
Ostrander, Kari Crusan, Cassie Weinzierl, Ashley Slifko,
Nicol Sabol, Anthony McElhinney, and Jeanine Sandora
received Franklin Awards of Excellence.
> Extra! Extra!
A team of three RMU students won the Pittsburgh region’s first
foundation-sponsored journalism competition. The contest was
funded and coordinated by The Heinz Endowments as part of
its sponsorship of the annual Women’s Health & the Environment
Conference. The conference had more than 2,000 attendees in
March at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
> SEE THIS MAGAZINE AND EXTRA FEATURES AT WWW.RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS
CAMPUS REPORT
> RMU Students
Nab Engineering
Scholarships...
Again
Manufacturing engineering students
Brendan Mathers, a junior, and Nikki
Rodgers, a senior, have received
scholarships from the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers Education
Foundation. Mathers received a $2,500
scholarship and Rodgers
received $2,000.
Since 2007, six RMU
students have received
scholarships from this
nationally competitive
program, and some,
including Mathers, have
received more than one.
In addition, Chris Chavez, a
junior majoring in mechanical
engineering, has received a 2-year, $10,000
scholarship from the National Action
Council for Minorities in Engineering.
In the contest, three-person teams from six local universities each
had to produce a range of media reports, including a
written news story, a two-minute video report, and
digital photography. Communication majors Aimee
Morgan, Maria Satira, and Kevin Williams were
each awarded an Apple iPad, the first-place prize.
“The judges noted in particular the students'
news sense as the lone group that found a great
human interest story from a cancer survivor, and the fact
that they located—and took a picture of —a cancer support center
she referenced in her interview,” said Andrea Frantz, Ph.D., associate
professor of communication.
recycle this magazine
Give it to a neighbor who’s in high school
and help spread the word about RMU.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3
RMU's chapter of the American
Marketing Association was
recognized as one of the Most
Outstanding Collegiate Chapters for
the 2009-10 academic year at the AMA’s
32nd Annual International Collegiate
Conference this spring in New Orleans.
The AMA, which supports the practice,
teaching, and study of marketing
worldwide, presented RMU’s chapter
with awards for Outstanding Small
School, Outstanding Chapter
Planning, Outstanding Professional
Development, and Outstanding
Community Service. Together, these
honors enabled RMU to be recognized as
one of the Most Outstanding Small School
Chapters and put it on the AMA’s list of
Top 20 Collegiate Chapters.
“The recognitions achieved at the
conference demonstrate the outstanding
leadership qualities of our students,” said
Jill Maher, Ph.D., professor of marketing
and advisor to RMU’s AMA chapter.
“They are a perfect representation of the
caliber of students here in the School of
Business at RMU.”
> By the Book
The Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education has extended
the accreditation for RMU's
nursing degree programs.
Accreditation for the bachelor's
and master's nursing programs
was extended until 2020, and the
accreditation for the doctor of nursing
practice program was extended until 2015.
Each program met all the commission's
accreditation standards.
4 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
> FOLLOW US ON TWITTER #RMUNEWS FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS
> It Doesn’t
Get Any Better
than “Best”
> There He
Goes Again
Lee Folk, who graduated in May with
a bachelor’s degree in nursing, won this
year's Presidential Transformational
Award, the university’s highest
undergraduate honor.
The award is given annually to a
graduating student who has been
transformed by his or her experience at
RMU and has also contributed to the
transformation of the university in a
meaningful way. Folk traveled twice to
Nicaragua with the nursing program,
and his stunning photography and
stirring dispatches from that nation
brought to life RMU's work to improve
the lives of poor families there.
> Sing It Proud
Robert Morris University has a new melody for its alma mater,
and we bet you know the tune.
Penned in 1857 as "Annie Lisle," the melody of RMU's new song was first
adopted by Cornell University students as “Far Above Cayuga's Waters.”
It's now sung at many universities, including Syracuse, Vanderbilt,
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, and Indiana.
> Global
Perspective
“Our goal was to create an alma mater that everyone could sing,” said
RMU band director Elizabeth Heath Charles, who also updated the lyrics
by Joellen Sharp. “School spirit is at an all-time high, and I look forward to
future university ceremonies where everyone will be singing ‘Hail to Thee,
Dear Robert Morris.’”
Over the summer His Excellency
Le Cong Phung, ambassador
to the United States from
VIDEO CONTEST>> Go to Foundations Online to hear the new RMU alma
mater. Then create your own and send a link to [email protected]. It
can be a mashup remix, or you performing it, solo or with your friends.
Prizes and fame await the best entries!
> Engineering Solutions
Engineering students in a manufacturing operations course
collaborated with Microsonic Inc., one of the country’s leading
manufacturers of custom ear molds for hearing aids, on a
project to reduce the company's production time and
save money. The students developed a prototype
design for a 50-tine tubing carousel to simplify and
accelerate the production of the ear mold tubes.
Students also advised Microsonic
on other modifications to its
production and packaging
processes, greatly
reducing the company's
production time.
Vietnam, paid a visit
to RMU to discuss
> A Thank You Note
educational opportunities
and partnerships for
After watching their daughter, Brianne McLaughlin, compete in the Winter
Olympics, the nursing major’s parents got another big surprise. A fundraiser
organized by Clearview Federal Credit Union sent them a check for $3,330
to help defray their travel costs.
Pittsburgh-area universities
and Vietnamese colleges
and universities.
Phung met with several RMU
Many RMU faculty, staff, students, and friends donated to Clearview’s
McLaughlin travel fund. In a note to the university, Brianne’s mom, Susan,
wrote: "Thank you for always supporting Brianne and being her biggest
fans. She has been in good hands since she made the decision five
years ago to become a Colonial.”
leaders including Provost David Jamison,
J.D.; Ida Mansourian, executive director
of international programs; and Jay
Carson, vice president for institutional
advancement. Also in attendance at the
July meeting were other Vietnamese
officials as well as representatives from
> > ARE YOU A FRIEND OF ROBERT?
Name: Robert Morris
Email: [email protected]
the University of Pittsburgh, Washington
& Jefferson College, and the Community
College of Allegheny County. The visit
was coordinated by the organization
GlobalPittsburgh.
5
> For Service
Above & Beyond
“LEONARD’S PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE
RMU Provost David Jamison, J.D., was one of only 25 chief
academic officers nationwide selected to participate in a seminar
on "Leadership for the 21st Century for Chief Academic Officers”
in July in Annapolis, Md. This highly competitive leadership
development program is offered by the Council of Independent
Colleges, a national association of more than 600 independent
liberal arts colleges and universities, and the American Academic
Leadership Institute, which provides leadership identification
and development programs for higher education.
> Milwaukee’s Best (Book)
The Milwaukee County Historical Society named a book by
John McCarthy, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, the
best book-length contribution to Milwaukee historiography
in 2009. McCarthy’s Making Milwaukee Mightier: Planning and
the Politics of Growth, 1910-1960 was published by Northern
Illinois University Press.
> SEE THIS MAGAZINE AND EXTRA FEATURES AT WWW.RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS
> Leading the Way
Heather Pinson, Ph.D., a assistant professor of
communication, has written her first book, The Jazz Image:
Seeing Music through Herman Leonard's Photography.
Leonard, 86, took some of the most iconic photos of jazz's
golden age during the 1940s and 1950s, and has been a
photographer of celebrities ranging from Frank Sinatra
and Marlon Brando to Bono and Bill Clinton.
Pinson writes that Leonard’s photographs of jazz legends
such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis are
so ingrained in our consciousness that those pictures
are what we think about when we think about jazz. She
describes Leonard as a groundbreaking photographer
who humanized his subjects at a time when they were
struggling offstage for equality and civil liberty.
“Leonard’s photographs have become as necessary
in the definition of jazz as the music itself,” writes Pinson.
The Jazz Image was published the University Press
of Mississippi.
Pinson knows a thing or two about music. After
training as a classical violinist at Samford University in
Birmingham, Ala., she studied jazz and music history at
Louisiana State University. She earned a doctorate in
interdisciplinary arts at Ohio University.
> Simply Outstanding
The Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society for Materials
honored Priya Manohar, Ph.D., a assistant professor of
engineering, as an Outstanding Member for 2009-10. The
award recognizes exceptional service over and above the
normal expected participation and assistance to the chapter.
> Under New Management
Len Asimow, Ph.D.,
professor of mathematics
and actuarial science,
has been named
head of the
department of
mathematics.
RMU has named Maria V. Kalevitch,
Ph.D., the dean of its School of Engineering,
Mathematics and Science. Kalevitch has been
the interim dean of the school since last year,
when she replaced Winston Erevelles.
Kalevitch, a professor of science, has
been on the RMU faculty since 2002.
> KALEVITCH
6
Andrea Frantz, Ph.D., associate professor
of communication, has been named head
of the department of communication.
Robert Skovira, Ph.D., university professor
of computer and information systems, has
been named head of the department of
computer and information systems.
BECOME AS NECESSARY IN THE DEFINITION OF JAZZ AS THE MUSIC ITSELF.”
> Portrait of the Artist
At this year’s graduate commencement
ceremony, RMU recognized the service of
two long-time professors who retired and
joined the ranks of the university’s
emeritus faculty.
Jon A. Shank, Ed.D.,
professor of education,
retired after 44 years of
service to RMU. He served
as chair of the secretarial and
office administration departments
from 1971 to 1977, acting dean of business
programs in 1977, dean of the former
School of Communication Arts and
Sciences from 1977 to 1991, then dean
of the former School of Applied Sciences
and Education from 1991 to 1998. Shank
earned his Ed.D. and M.Ed. from the
University of Pittsburgh and his B.S.
from the University of Cincinnati, all
in business education.
Seth Finn, Ph.D., professor of
communication, retired after
15 years at RMU. Known
for constantly refining and
extending his course syllabi,
he converted one into a textbook,
Broadcast Writing as a Liberal Art. As
Faculty Federation executive vice
president from 2001 to 2005 and president
from 2006 to 2009, Finn was instrumental
in negotiating two bargaining agreements
on behalf of his colleagues while
maintaining a constructive and open
dialogue with the president and provost.
Finn earned his Ph.D. in communication
theory and research and M.A. in
broadcasting and film from Stanford
University, and his B.A. magna cum
laude from Brown University.
> Like a Good Neighbor
Ann Jabro, Ph.D., university professor of communication, received a Communitas Award
from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals for excellence
in community service. Jabro was nominated for the award by the Rev. Sam Jampetro,
director of the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation. Jabro has taught
undergraduate and graduate courses centering on community renewal, civic marketing
and emergency communications in Coraopolis.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 7
THE
BIGG
AME
COLONIAL STARS
BASKETBALL
FOOTBALL
New coach Andy Toole’s two-time NEC champs,
with dazzling guard Karon Abraham, will be facing
some hungry opponents this year, especially Mount St.
Mary’s and Quinnipiac. The Colonials have their sights
set high, after almost knocking off Villanova in overtime
in the first round of March Madness.
Robert Morris closed out the 2009 season
with a five-game winning streak. Can they
keep improving under legendary coach
Joe Walton? In the balance for the
first time: a chance for an automatic
NCAA FCS playoff bid.
SOCCER
DOUBLE HE
ADER
THE BIG GAME:
NOV. 19 VS. DUQUESNE
THE BIG GAME:
OCT. 30 VS. DUQUESNE
An early crosstown rivalry matchup that could set
the tone for the Colonials’ season. RMU will look to
snap a three‐game losing streak against the Dukes
after Abraham almost catapulted Robert Morris
to a come‐from‐behind win last season.
This looks to be a showdown between two
explosive running backs. Myles Russ eclipsed
1,000 yards rushing for the second straight
season in 2009, while the Dukes’ Larry
McCoy rushed for eight touchdowns.
WOMEN VS.
SAINT FRANCIS (PA)
SUN., SEPT. 26 , NOON
MEN VS. CANISIUS
SUN., SEPT. 26 , 2:30 P.M.
ALEX DIMICHELE
109 tackles
SWISH
ROWING
HEAD OF THE
OHIO REGATTA
SAT., OCT. 9,
ALL DAY AT THE POINT
DEE-FENSE
The Colonials had the NEC’s stingiest
defense in average yards allowed per game.
RMU HOCKEY
SHOWCASE
SUN., OCT. 17
CONSOL ENERGY
CENTER
VS. LONG ISLAND
SAT., OCT. 23 , 1 P.M.
FOOTBALL
DUQUESNE
SAT., OCT. 30, NOON
VS.
BASKETBALL
MEN VS. DUQUESNE
FRI., NOV. 19, 7 P.M.
8
The Colonials had the highest of shooting
accuracy against NEC opponents.
YPG
276.3
HOCKEY
VOLLEYBALL
46.3
%
> RUSS
2. BRYANT
3. C. CONN. STATE
LEAGUE AVERAGE
WOMEN’S
SOCCER
Robert Morris tied a single-season
school record for victories in 2009
and will climb the ladder in
the Northeast Conference.
Goalie Jessica Olin is back after
setting a school record with seven
shutouts her freshman season.
THE BIG GAME:
SEPT. 26 DOUBLEHEADER
Miss the World Cup already? Bring
your enthusiasm to this doubleheader
on soccer alumni weekend.
> ABRAHAM
2. FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 44.8
3. QUINNIPIAC
44.5
LEAGUE AVERAGE
42.6
287.4
298.1
330.3
MEN’S
SOCCER
RMU wants to improve on
its middle-of-the-pack standing
last year. Senior midfielder
Neil Shaffer leads a young
group looking to get back into
championship contention.
> OLIN
Free cookout between games.
First 50 fans get a Colonials
soccer scarf.
VOLLEYBALL
The Colonials are one of the league’s
strongest teams, with All-NEC First
Teamer Amanda Graham back for
another run. But can new coach Dale
Starr get them past six-time champs
Long Island?
> JOIN THE NEW ATHLETIC BOOSTERS – CALL (412) 397-4484
We pick some of the big
games this season. And we
give you the inside skinny.
So while you’re cheering for
the Colonials, you also can
show off your sports smarts
to your friends and family
in the stands. Make an
afternoon of it!
MYLES RUSS
5.0 yds./carry
KARON ABRAHAM
13.6 ppg
GARY WALLACE
38.6% for 3-pointers
AYANA DAVIS
9 goals, 9 assists
JESSICA OLIN
.795 save %
TOBA BOLAJI
0.91 goals against avg
NEIL SHAFFER
20 shots on goal, 7 points
ALYSSA BENNET
8.57 assists/set
CORINNE MOSER
3.39 digs/game
STATS, SCHEDULES
AND MORE AT
RMUCOLONIALS.COM.
ROWING
> GRAHAM
THE BIG GAME:
OCT. 23 VS. LONG ISLAND
Robert Morris and Long Island have combined for the last 11 NEC
Tournament titles, and the Colonials will look to secure home‐court
advantage in the 2010 NEC Tournament in an effort to dethrone the
defending champions.
THE BIG GAME:
OCT. 9 HEAD OF THE OHIO REGATTA
The Head of the Ohio draws hundreds to the Point each
autumn. Before the chill sets in, make a weekend visit to
the riverfront and cheer on the Colonials. With six returning
seniors, they’re a strong contender for gold in both the
4+ and 8+ open events.
9
> VISIT FOUNDATIONS ONLINE TO SEE
For a petite woman, business major
Sereen Askari packs a frightening
punch—and her reverse roundhouse
kick is pretty special too.
The sophomore from Moon Township
is one of the most talented karate
athletes in the country. The firstdegree black belt took first place
in July at the national junior
championships in Greenville, S.C.,
in the lightweight class (under 60
kg./132 lbs.) for females ages 18-20.
That earned Askari a place on
the U.S. junior team for the Junior
Pan-American Championships in
Montreal in August.
It wasn’t the first international
tournament for Askari, who hopes
one day to compete in the Olympics.
If she does, she will have to wait
until 2020; karate is recognized
and sanctioned by the International
Olympic Committee, but lost to golf
and rugby in a close vote last year
to decide what new sports to add
in 2016.
HOW SEREEN DID AT THE PAN-AMERICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.
LICKING
HER CHOPS
Askari has been competing since
she was seven. She trains at the
Pennsylvania Shotokan Karate Club,
the Sewickley dojo of U.S. team coach
Dustin Baldis, who studied sport
management at RMU. Her mom is
a Colonial too—Kelly Askari is
majoring in organizational studies.
WRITTEN BY MARK HOUSER
PHOTO BY SHELLEY LIPTON
1 0 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 1 1
The ouse that Robert Built
T
most unmercifully, both in the Public Prints,
private conversations, and even in the streets;
and yesterday I was nearly engaged in a
serious quarrel with one of them,” he
wrote. “However, I don’t mind all they
can do, and if I carry the point, I will,
like a good Christian, forgive them all.”
his fall, President
Barack Obama is
expected to dedicate
the new President’s
House memorial in
Philadelphia, which was briefly the
nation’s capital and home to President
George Washington. The nation’s first
president lived there in a house given
to him by his friend, Robert Morris –
a house where both men kept slaves.
That America’s first black president will
dedicate a museum to this particular piece
of U.S. history is an irony not lost on the
project’s champions, who have been dogged by
controversy in their 10-year effort to open a memorial to
the old executive mansion. It’s the story of a nation that
continues to come to terms with slavery. For RMU, it’s a
reminder of our own part in helping America keep its
promise of equal opportunity for all.
*****
He risked his fortune and his life to support the American
Revolution. He offered his own ships to fight British frigates,
and personally made sure the men who crossed the Delaware
with Washington had food, blankets, and bonuses. He signed
the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation,
and the Constitution.
12
*
rmu.edu/foundations
He did carry the point. And in a gesture
of magnanimity, Morris offered his own
Market Street mansion to his old
friend and frequent houseguest, George
Washington. The president was delighted.
“It is, I believe, the best single house in
the city,” wrote Washington.
Still, Robert Morris’s sterling record as a patriot was of little
interest to New Yorkers in 1790. In Manhattan, the Financier
of the Revolution was Public Enemy No. 1.
Why? As they saw it, Morris stole their capital. The wealthy
merchant who became one of Pennsylvania’s first senators
brokered a deal to move the new government out of
New York City to Philadelphia. There it would remain
for 10 years, until workers built a new federal seat on
the Potomac.
Enraged New Yorkers savaged Morris. In one political cartoon,
the devil uses prostitutes to lure him away to Philadelphia:
“Come along Bobby, here’s the girls.” In another, Morris
blindly steers the ship of state towards doom in the shoals
as another devil calls, “This way, Bobby.” A third cartoon
shows a thinly disguised moneygrubber calling himself
“Robert Coffer,” clutching a bag of coins and tugging
reluctant congressmen out of New York by their noses.
Morris lamented the vitriol in a letter to his wife that summer.
“They lay all the blame of this measure on me, and abuse me
*****
In 2000, crews excavating at Independence National Historical
Park for an expansion of the Liberty Bell pavilion discovered
the foundations of the old house, which had long ago been
razed. But along with the old architectural remains, a new and
uncomfortable truth was unearthed, one that has launched a
ferocious debate about the purposes of history and memorial.
Scholars soon confirmed that also living in the mansion with
Washington and the First Lady were nine slaves. What’s more,
personal letters show the man who “could not tell a lie”
actively conspired with a key aide to deceive his slaves,
making sure they stayed unaware of Pennsylvania’s gradual
abolition law, which freed any non-Pennsylvanian’s slave who
Robert Morris University Foundations
*
13
lived within the commonwealth for more than six consecutive
months. Washington went so far as to rotate his slaves
periodically back to his Virginia estate at Mount Vernon
to dodge the rule.
America’s first president was hardly the only Founding Father
who benefited from human bondage. Chattel slavery was the
law at the time; those who lived in the Philadelphia house
before Washington also kept slaves, Morris included. But now,
the ghosts of Washington’s slaves were at the threshold of the
Liberty Bell, one of the nation’s most powerful symbols of
freedom. Many found it hard to bear “that in the City of
Brotherly Love, the center of the abolition movement of this
period, in the home of the first president, that freedom and
slavery should be joined at the hip,” says UCLA history
professor Gary Nash, an expert on the colonial era.
A group of mostly black Philadelphians called the Avenging
The Ancestors Coalition demanded that a new museum at the
site be devoted not to the familiar story of Washington, but to
that of his slaves, as well as the other Africans and their
descendants who inhabited early Philadelphia, both slave and
free. The National Park Service agreed, promising to give the
coalition and other concerned citizens a say in how the site
would be presented.
Slowly, the project has proceeded. Workers are almost finished
with the new museum next to Independence Hall. The
symbolic partial reconstruction follows the footprint of the
old house, and will document with text and video
reenactments the lives of Washington’s slaves.
Doris Devine Fanelli, chief of cultural resources management
for the National Park Service, has worked at the Independence
Hall complex for 31 years. To her, the often tempestuous
President’s House project is an excellent example of civic
engagement. “I have said that any museum, if they ever
woke up and found hundreds of people on their doorstep
demanding to come in, they’d be delighted,” she says.
Not everyone agrees. Rob Morris, a software designer from
suburban Philadelphia and a distant descendant of the house’s
former owner, is furious that his ancestor has been swept aside
in the retelling. “Everybody knows George Washington’s story,
and there isn’t a kid in America who hasn’t heard about
slavery,” he says. “But this is the only place to tell Morris’s
story, and what is Morris’s story? It is how free market
capitalism saved the American Revolution.”
Charles Blockson, a local expert on early African American
history who has donated an impressive collection of artifacts to
Temple University, is equally furious. He vehemently opposes
rebuilding what he calls a “house of bondage.” “There should
be a memorial for those enslaved Africans. Just tell the story,
and let it go.”
At the center of the public maelstrom is Rosalyn McPherson.
The city’s appointed manager for the President’s House project,
McPherson brings what is probably the perfect resume to the
job: She started out as a junior high school history teacher, then
became a textbook editor, went on to Time Warner to develop
a popular history series and later adapted the material for
classrooms, then became senior vice president of the Franklin
Institute, Philadelphia’s venerable science museum.
And as a black woman who remembers seeing segregated
drinking fountains when her family visited relatives in
Louisiana, McPherson admits the project has had “a deep
personal effect on me.” She says she is eager to see busloads
of visiting schoolchildren discover the stories of Hercules and
Oney Judge, two presidential slaves who escaped to freedom
during Washington’s term in office.
“Our history usually has portrayed African Americans in a
passive role, with others doing the emancipating. This exhibit
tells the story of the role we played in securing our own
freedom,” McPherson says.
Nash, who is one of the project’s chief historians, said
Americans should not fear the new museum will wrongly
sully Washington’s reputation or rob him of his rightful
place in history.
several of his land speculation deals went bust. Washington
eventually had to visit his former host in debtor’s prison.
“My take is that it’s only in a mature democracy that you
can look history squarely in the face like this,” he says. “I
don’t think we’re kicking Washington out of the pantheon or
knocking him off his pedestal. We are saying he was human,
he was a man of the age, that he had warts, figuratively
speaking. But there’s still plenty of glory to be passed out
to Washington, Jefferson, and the other slaveholding
Founding Fathers. They accomplished a great deal.”
But even if he is generally unknown to the public, Morris is
still recognized by historians as a quintessential figure in the
republic’s formation. Morris occupies a prominent place in
the most celebrated paintings of America’s founding,
including the dome of the Capitol rotunda. His statue stands
in Philadelphia at the Second Bank of America, a few blocks
from his old house.
Fanelli says she is sure the President’s House will lead
Americans to a better understanding of their history. During
excavations, the park service set up public bleachers where
day after day, people came to watch. “This is really exciting,”
Fanelli explains. “They comment to each other, and pretty
soon a dialog ensues between people who may have never
known each other before. It’s very productive for harmony
in our society.”
*****
Despite all the attention garnered by the rebuilding of the
President’s House, the man who did the most to get it in
Philadelphia in the first place seems destined to linger in
relative obscurity. Many people no doubt know Robert
Morris’s name best through RMU, which has no real
connection to Morris; Richard Khuen, president of the
university when it was known as the Pittsburgh School of
Accountancy, selected Morris’ name in 1935 because of the
founder’s role in financing the American Revolution.
Partly it is Morris’s own bad luck. He eventually sold
the house to pay for an enormous marble mansion in
Philadelphia. It was a boondoggle almost from the start;
Morris quarreled with the architect, Pierre L’Enfant, who was
splitting his time between his client’s massive project and the
new federal city, which he famously designed. The huge
mansion, mocked as “Morris’s Folly,” was never finished. He
later lost it, along with nearly everything else he owned, after
That is far more than anyone remembers about Hero. Mostly
there is just a notice in a Philadelphia newspaper from 1777.
It is written by a concerned owner who, in the chaos as he
and his neighbors prepare to flee the city in the face of the
advancing British, has discovered that a valuable piece of his
property has gone missing. In that ad, Morris describes his
runaway slave: “Plays well on the violin, whistles remarkably
well, and has an excellent ear for music.”
Rex Crawley, Ph.D., chairman of the Robert Morris University
Council on Institutional Equity and assistant dean of the
School of Communications and Information Systems, says it
pains him to think his ancestors were treated as less than fully
human by the university's namesake. Crawley is the force
behind the Black Male Leadership Development Institute,
which each summer brings dozens of black high school
students to campus, where they learn leadership skills and
the value of higher education.
“Robert Morris is not my hero. Hero is my hero,” Crawley
says of the escaped slave. “When I close my eyes and envision
Robert Morris’s house as a place of bondage, and then think of
the RMU campus and the BMLDI as a place of empowerment,
there’s that juxtaposition of history, and an ultimate good.
Robert Morris probably never could have imagined that his
legacy would include the education and empowerment of
African Americans."
WRITTEN BY MARK HOUSER
ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
1767,
1775,
Workers build the
biggest house in
Philadelphia for Mary
Lawrence Masters, the
wealthy widow of a
former mayor.
New owner Richard
Penn, grandson of
William Penn,
entertains Second
Continental Congress
delegates in the parlor.
*
rmu.edu/foundations
14
1777,
Redcoats occupy
Philadelphia; British
General William Howe
makes the house his
headquarters.
1779,
Major General
Benedict Arnold,
now using the house
for his headquarters,
begins secretly
writing to the
British.
1782,
Robert Morris moves
in. As superintendent
of finance, he raises
funds needed to win
the Revolutionary
War.
1790,
Morris offers the
house to George
Washington for his
executive mansion, as
Philadelphia becomes
the nation’s capital.
1797,
President John
Adams is the first
resident of the house
who chooses not to
own slaves.
1800,
The Adamses move
to Washington, D.C.,
and the house is
converted into
a hotel.
1832,
The building is
torn down and
replaced with
stores.
>Go to Foundations Online to see more on the President’s House memorial
*
15
When you tell someone you’re an actuary, there’s a good
chance you’ll be met with a blank stare. Just ask Katie
Dobbs ’02, an actuary at Cherion Inc. in Chicago.
“I always get a confused look from people outside of the
profession,” she says.
But with an average starting salary of around $50,000 and
glowing ratings by both Jobs Rated Almanac and The Wall
Street Journal, both of which call it the number one job
to have, based on job security, outlook, level of stress,
and compensation, actuary is a term people are becoming
more and more familiar with.
Robert Morris University has one of the fastest growing and
most respected actuarial science programs in the country. The
program began in 2001 with just two students; last fall, 38
freshmen enrolled. Recently, it received national recognition
when RMU was designated as a Center of Actuarial Excellence
by the Society of Actuaries, an honor shared by only 11 other
universities in the United States, among them Temple, St.
John’s, and Michigan.
“We are extremely pleased and honored,” says Leonard A.
Asimow, Ph.D., professor of actuarial science and mathematics
and the founding director of RMU’s actuarial science program.
“When we first started recruitment in 2001, we had no idea that
our efforts would culminate in so prestigious an award in just
nine years. It means a great deal to us going forward. Not only
is this an affirmation of the hard work of many people, but it
will provide a foundation for our future growth and
development.”
16 • rmu.edu/foundations
Risky Business
Actuaries are experts on risk. Most work in the insurance
industry, where they help design health and retirement benefit
plans by determining premiums and profit margins, and
making recommendations based upon their calculations. For
example, they may create an actuarial table to determine life
expectancies for a group of people over a period of time, based
on current mortality rates. Many also work for human resource
consulting firms; however, since most companies deal with
some kind of risk, the job opportunities for actuaries in all
industries – particularly health care – is steadily growing.
the university’s dormant actuarial science concentration. In the
spring of 2001, he recruited Dobbs and Jill Gifford ’02 from
Maryville as his first students in RMU’s program, and Asimow
followed shortly thereafter.
Together, Maxwell and Asimow designed RMU’s actuarial
program to have a strong mathematical foundation, with an
emphasis on business and communications skills, and a focus
on preparing students for their professional exams.
Several leading national actuarial employers call Pittsburgh
home, including Towers Watson, Mercer, Buck Consultants,
UPMC, and Highmark. And in the actuarial industry, regionally
and beyond, RMU’s graduates are highly sought after.
Dobbs works primarily as a consultant, assessing the risks that
her clients’ pension plans are sensitive to, monitoring the future
outlook of the plans, and making sure they meet all of the
legislative requirements. She credits RMU’s well-rounded
curriculum with helping her find success so soon after
graduation. “Some schools focus on just the mathematics
behind actuarial science,” she says. “But, the actuarial
profession is also built on business and communication skills,
which RMU supports as well.”
“RMU’s candidates are more prepared for the business world,”
says Sarniak. “Our job is really half math, half business. RMU’s
students have a strong foundation in business, and because of
the internships that are available to them, they get that valuable
practical experience, too.” Each year, over the past five years,
Highmark has hired at least one RMU graduate for a full-time
position, and they always try to get one or two interns as well.
“Actuarial students not only need a strong mathematical
aptitude but in general, they need to have very good problem
solving skills,” says David G. Hudak, Ph.D., associate
professor and the program’s current director. “Our program,
tied together with the general curriculum, provides RMU’s
actuarial students with a great opportunity to develop these
critical skills.”
Asimow came to RMU from Maryville University in St. Louis,
where, as director of the actuarial science program he first met
Mark M. Maxwell, Ph.D., a mathematics professor. Maxwell
migrated to RMU in 2000 and immediately began to revitalize
The program also offers students many opportunities for paid
internships, which usually result in job offers at graduation.
"Without a doubt, my experience and what I learned there
allowed me to hit the ground running right out of school," says
“Health care is getting more and more complex and risky,” says
Bill Sarniak, a senior markets actuary and vice president at
Highmark in Pittsburgh. “That’s where actuaries thrive.”
Ian Laverty ‘06, an actuary at Western & Southern Life in
Cincinnati. "From graduation, I was ahead of most of my
entry-level peers at my company.”
Allison Freeman ’08 is an actuary at Erie Insurance, where she
did an internship in the summer of 2006. She says RMU’s
annual Actuarial Career Day was a major selling point for her.
“It helps students get internships and interview experience
early in their college careers,” she says. This year’s event is
October 1, in Sewall Center, and as many as 20 local and
national employers are expected to attend.
Jessica Kachur ’07, is a perfect example of how RMU’s
program is built to help its students succeed. The university
recruited her in high school because of her strong math skills.
“It really intrigued me,” she says. “I always wanted to be in the
math field, but I didn’t necessarily want to be a teacher. This
just seemed like the right fit.”
While studying at RMU, Kachur had a paid internship with
Mercer Inc., a human resources consulting firm in Pittsburgh.
Mercer hired her following graduation, and today she’s an
associate, calculating liabilities for pension plans and
determining employer contributions. It’s challenging work, but
she says she’s well prepared to meet that challenge. “You have
to have a lot of personal determination and commitment,
especially when it comes to the exams. But RMU makes sure
you know what to expect and how to succeed.”
WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL WILLIAMS ‘08, ART DICKENSON & PAUL LOREI
R o b e r t M o r r i s U n i v e r s i t y F O U N D AT I O N S • 1 7
THE
Giving gift Opportunity
Growing up, Mark Mishler ‘82
was convinced he’d have the
opportunity to go to college.
He just wasn’t sure how.
Coming from what he refers to as a “humble background,”
Mishler’s parents had to work hard to support their five
children in their home in Johnstown. His father, who dropped
out of high school at 16 and later joined the army, eventually
earned his G.E.D. and worked for the postal service. His
mother, whom Mishler considers the bedrock of the family,
emigrated from Japan in 1951 and worked in a factory
stitching shoes. But Mishler never let obstacles stand in the
way of his dreams. “I knew I could do whatever I wanted in
life,” he says, “and I wanted to go to college.”
Today, he serves as president and chief operating officer of
The Warranty Group, the world’s largest provider of extended
warranty programs. And he says he owes much of his success
to Robert Morris University. “This institution,” he says, “if I
wouldn’t have come here… I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
In the summer of 1996, Mishler was serving as a civil engineer
in the National Guard for a combat engineer battalion when
he went to Guatemala to help build roads and schools. It was
a life-changing situation for him. “We were building schools
with running water and electricity and giving those people
hope so their children could get an education,” he says. “We
went in and we carved roads out of mountains.”
WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDWARD FOX PHOTOGRAPHY
& GLENN BROOKES
Soon Mishler was recruited to be controller of a small
insurance company in upstate New York that was traded on
the New York Stock Exchange. He took on every position he
could, trying to learn as much as possible, and in 1997, at the
age of 38, Mishler achieved his goal of becoming a CFO. Not
one to stay satisfied for long, Mishler then reset his goals and
began his quest to be the president of a company. He joined
The Warranty Group in Chicago in 2002, confident he’d
achieve this new goal. “When I walked into that organization,
I just looked around and said, ‘I can be the president of this
company some day.'” Two years later, he realized that dream.
Through all of his success, Mishler has always held RMU dear
to his heart. “What drove me for the rest of my career were
the basic building blocks I received here at Robert Morris
University,” he says. Now Mishler and his wife, Gina, are
giving other RMU students the chance to go to college
through two $5,000 scholarships named for his parents.
The Kenneth Mishler and Tokiko Mishler scholarships,
both established in 2009, are eligible to qualifying
students from Mishler’s hometown of Johnstown.
>> Visit Foundations online to see Mishler’s speech at the RMU Scholarship Luncheon.
18 • rmu.edu/FOUNDATIONS
The first Kenneth Mishler Scholarship went to
Matt Varga, a member of the National Society
of Collegiate Scholars, the Association of Future
Accountants, the honors and cooperative programs,
and the rugby club team. The Tokiko Mishler
Scholarship went to Marie George, also a member
of the National Honor Society of Collegiate Scholars,
Student Nurses of Pennsylvania, and the cross-country
and track and field teams. “I was more impressed with
these two individuals than I am with some of the
individuals who have walked through the hallways
of my own offices,” says Mishler.
Marie George ‘12
After graduating with an accounting degree, Mishler took a
job with an insurance company in Rockwood, Pa., working
his way up from the accounts receivable department. His goal
was to one day become the chief financial officer of a public
company. “I felt that the only way to do that was to take on
every opportunity that came down the road, and even ask for
opportunity, because sometimes you’re just not going to have
it handed to you; you have to reach out and grab it. And
that’s just what I did.”
Matt Varga ‘11
Mishler joined the army after high school, graduating in the
top 5 percent of his basic training class and first in his
advanced individual training course. With help from the
military and financial aid, he enrolled at Cambria-Rowe
Business College in Johnstown in 1978, where he earned an
associate’s degree in insurance accounting and finance. He
soon realized that a two-year degree just wasn’t going to be
enough. He chose RMU because of its business program’s
strong reputation.
OF
Design
gets
its
Due
At a university once devoted solely to business
studies, in a leafy little ravine named for a bygone
era, stands an ultra-modern space for the newest of the arts.
Completed in June, the Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation
House for Media Arts gives Robert Morris University a
singular space for design — the visual arts that inform our
everyday lives. Part of Colonial Village, which includes the
Melvin D. Teetz Alumni House and Rooney Visiting Scholar
House, the new building features a gallery and workspace for
students, faculty, and visiting artists, as well as a sophisticated
video screening room.
Jon Radermacher, M.F.A., head of the media arts department
in the School of Communications and Information Systems,
says he hopes the house will help to build an arts culture on
campus that will touch more than just the 175 undergraduates
in his department. “Media arts is split in half, with TV/video
and photography in Moon, and graphic design and Web
design downtown,” Radermacher says. “The media arts
house will not only be a space for artists to give master
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The 20-seat ground floor screening room offers a high
definition 65-inch screen and is available for any media arts
class that needs it. Radermacher says he plans to schedule
video game nights on the big screen to attract students from
the nearby dorms to the house. “Lots of people are into
gaming, but this will give us a chance to talk about the
concepts behind the games,” Radermacher says. “Seeing
beyond the surface and trying to understand what’s going
on behind the scenes — that is what art is all about.”
Construction was made possible by a $200,000 grant from the
Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation. Foundation board
member Christina Heasley-Treadwell ’91 is an independent
communications professional who works in video production,
Web design, marketing, and advertising. About eight years
ago she began to reconnect with her alma mater. “RMU was
applying for a grant at the foundation when I was asked to
come out to the campus and take a look at how things have
changed and were going to change over a 10-year period,”
Heasley-Treadwell says. “In listening to the professors speak
about their work and the students’ needs, and knowing about
the Colonial Village, I thought it would be nice if the
communications school could have its own building.”
Heasley-Treadwell stresses that she abstained from voting
when her board weighed RMU’s proposal against others.
“We as a foundation would like to see the entire student
body have more opportunities to experience the arts,”
she adds.
“This enhances the campus’s ability to provide a place for
focused advance studies in the media arts. It heightens the
visibility and the accessibility of the arts on campus,” says
Provost David Jamison, J.D., the former dean of the School
of Communications and Information Systems.
And not just the physical accessibility, notes Radermacher. “I
think for some people the arts are seen as something extra,
not essential,” he says. “But the truth is, almost everything
around us is touched by art: our clothes, our appliances.
Because of this house, we now have opportunities to present
that reality in ways that we didn’t before.”
WRITTEN BY BONNIE PFISTER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH, AUBREY DIVITO ‘08,
& MITCH KRAMER ‘08
2 0 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 1
Center Stage
When robert MorriS UniverSity Won
aCColadeS in the Kennedy Center’S
College theater feStival thiS year, it
probably SUrpriSed a lot of people.
bUt not pittSbUrgh City paper draMa
CritiC robert iSenberg.
The Colonial Theatre, which brings its show on the road to
major venues in Pittsburgh this year, has come a long way
from its start as a shoestring operation set in an old barn on
campus. But even then the productions were lively and drew
decent crowds. The show-space enjoyed 30 years of dramas,
comedies, and musicals. “People saw the theater as a
destination,” says John Locke ’03, director of student activities
and a stage veteran himself.
It was a good run, but then the barn burned down, the
company’s director retired to Florida without a replacement,
and while Locke and the drama club struggled to keep the
spark alive in then-new Massey Hall’s 225-seat theater, the
spotlights had dimmed considerably.
Enter Ken Gargaro, Ph.D. In 2003, Gargaro directed a
production of “Godspell” for the Colonial Theatre. His
budget was small and relied on the raw talent of interested
undergrads. But Gargaro had a hit on his hands. “It was
an overwhelming success,” he says. The house was packed,
the student performers were enthusiastic, and the university
decided to invest.
2 2 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
Within two years, Gargaro and his colleague, Barbara BurgessLefebvre, M.F.A., were full-time faculty producing a fourshow season. In the theater industry, musicals are by far the
biggest challenge to produce because of the sheer number of
people involved. Elaborate costumes and set design tend
to rack up expenses and required manpower. And yet, since
2005, Gargaro has spearheaded four shows per academic
year, most of which are musicals.
The university curriculum has expanded rapidly, and boasts a
full roster of 15 classes, from Intro to Theater to Fundamentals
of Acting, Stage Combat, Jazz Dance, and Acting for the
Camera. At the moment, theater is offered as a concentration
in a communication major. But the concentration has become a
magnet; Fall 2010 classes are already booked solid, and about a
dozen students are currently declared, triple the numbers from
three years ago, Gargaro says.
“It’s amazing,” says Locke, who has collaborated with Gargaro
in the past as a production manager. “It’s exponential. This
season really has been our biggest accomplishment.”
Gargaro’s presence at RMU has also forged a collaborative
relationship between the university and Pittsburgh Musical
Theater. This past summer eight RMU students interned for
PMT. Unlike many internships, which consist of filing and
opening mail, the RMU interns train in singing and tap dance.
Other students have been cast in big-budget PMT shows,
performing at the illustrious Byham Theater in downtown
Pittsburgh.
In January, RMU’s performance of “Rent” wowed audiences at
the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s MidAtlantic regionals, held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The Colonial Theatre production was one
of eight finalists picked to perform at the competition, out of
55 universities that entered. “We were definitely the largest
production,” Gargaro says. “And we were clearly identified
as a very talented group of individuals, especially in a school
that is not particularly noted for this kind of activity. People
know who we are now.”
This was no accident. In Pittsburgh, “Gargaro” is practically a
synonym of “theater education.” He is the founding director of
Pittsburgh Musical Theater, a nonprofit acting company and
training program in the city’s West End. A legion of teenage
students has trained in voice and dance with PMT’s staff, and
many have gone on to perform for Broadway, Disney, cruise
lines, TV, and film.
What began as an experiment has turned into a campus
phenomenon. In due time, Gargaro hopes the university
will support a full-fledged B.A. in theater arts. Meanwhile,
Colonial Theatre has about 50 active members working in
every capacity of live performance — as actors, technicians,
stage managers, and house volunteers. They represent a wide
range of majors, from nursing to education. “It’s an all-campus
activity,” Gargaro says. “We’re building a real theater
department.”
WRITTEN BY ROBERT ISENBERG
PHOTOGRAPHY BY iSTOCKPHOTO
rMU on toUr
to a
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S
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i
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Co
oU!
y
r
a
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n
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the
RMU's acclaimed players are bringing
their shows to the city this season. Be
sure to catch a performance!
For tickets and more information,
call (412) 397-5454.
the 25th annUal
pUtnaM CoUnty Spelling bee
Sept. 22-26
Little Victorian Theater
327 S. Main St., West End
A musical comedy where audience
members compete against some very
quirky contestants.
phantoM of the opera
October 21-23
Byham Theater
101 Sixth St., Downtown
The No. 1 Broadway blockbuster,
with its sumptuous score and
haunting tale of obsession.
SeUSSiCal
March 24-April 3
Byham Theater
101 Sixth St., Downtown
Lots of laughs, terrific tunes,
and characters you've known
since childhood.
the CrUCible
April 6-10
New Hazlett Theater
115 Federal St., North Side
Arthur Miller's masterpiece,
with the Salem witch trials as
modern political metaphor.
23
a video crew on location in washington, d.c., shoots Footage For rMu's new "change a liFe" proMotional caMpaign, launching this Fall.
24 • rmu.ed
u/Founda
tions
CLASS NOTES
>
ETHEL SAVAGE WOOSTER ’56 and
her husband, Dean, reside in
Palm Coast, Fla. They have three
sons; Dean, Dan, and Charles.
Ethel retired after teaching in the
McKeesport Area School District
for 24 years.
Retirement has been
especially busy for J. PERRY
HAUPT ’55 and his wife,
Joyce. The couple have
spent nearly two decades
as Christian missionaries,
mostly in the former Soviet
republic of Belarus.
1960s
MICHAEL FARRELL ’63, CEO of
Somerset Hospital, received the
Distinguished Citizen Award
from the Penn’s Wood Council
Boy Scouts of America in April.
Mike has been with Somerset
Hospital since 1966. He lives
in Berlin, Pa.
The Haupts, of Bellwood,
Pa., have distributed
thousands of Bibles and
helped to found several
churches in Belarus. They
also supply medicine and
GERALD TIDD ’68 has been
appointed to senior vice president
of sales for MidCap Business
Credit. Gerald and his wife, Joan,
reside in Strongsville, Ohio, and
have two sons, Kevin and Jeff.
international journal. Tom is a
senior tax attorney with Alcoa.
He and his wife, JUDY
BREEDLOVE MARCHLEN M’87,
are proud to announce their
daughter, Amy, graduated from
John Carroll University this
spring. The Marchlens live in
Pittsburgh.
JOHN J. POILLUCCI ’81 and his
wife, Priscilla, celebrated their
25th anniversary on June 15. John
works in radiology informatics
for West Penn Allegheny Health
Systems. John and Priscilla have a
daughter, Gwendolyn, and reside
in Pittsburgh.
DANA E. AUDO ’82 is the
Pennsylvania private banking
regional manager for Huntington
National Bank. He was formerly
with National City Bank. Dana
lives in Hampton Township with
his family.
LISA MASSIRONI FAULKNER ’82
is client services manager with
DiNuzzo Investment Advisors.
She and her husband, Ron, live
in New Brighton and have two
children, Ashley and Grant.
strategic accounts and global
sales at Interstate Hotels &
Resorts. He previously served as
the global director of worldwide
sales. Sean resides in Moon
Township.
GREG CONDIO ‘83 is a senior
solutions consultant for J.B.
Kreider Company, Inc. He
previously was the vice president
and part owner of Duquesne
Litho. Greg and his wife, DIANA
NAYLOR CONDIO ’83, live in
Collier Township with their two
children.
SCOTT BYERS ’87, CEO and
president of Diversified
Information Technologies in
Scranton, serves on the Corporate
Leadership Advisory Council of
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Scott lives in Roaring Brook
Township, Pa.
JOSEPH T. SENKO M’83 was
named treasurer of the Brother’s
Brother Foundation, a Pittsburgh
charity that delivers medicine and
textbooks to poor countries. He is
with the accounting firm of
McKeever, Varga & Senko and
resides in Pittsburgh.
vitamins to children and
orphans, especially those
harmed by the persistent
effects of the 1986 Chernobyl
disaster, which released a
radioactive cloud over the
region and has been linked
to increased rates of thyroid
1970s
Haupts’ work is at
www.missionbelarus.com.
1980s
L. THOMAS MARCHLEN M’80
wrote an article on U.S. corporate
income tax policy published in
the March issue of Intertax, an
< JOHN “JACK” KNEE ’58 is
featured in a promotion for
the Community Hospice of
> MEETING THE AMBASSADOR
The 2010 ALUMNI TOUR in Ireland featured many memorable
moments, from the cliffs of Moher to the night life of Dublin.
Topping the list had to be a private visit to Phoenix Park, the
residence of U.S. Ambassador Dan Rooney and his wife,
PATRICIA ROONEY, a university trustee and loyal friend.
Northeast Florida, where he
has volunteered for 19 years.
He is a retired CPA and lives
in Ponte Vedra, Fla.
2 6 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
STEPHEN TAMBOLAS '85
has become vice president of
supply chain and facilities
for the four-hospital
Conemaugh Health System
in Johnstown. Previously
Stephen was president of
SSCM5 Inc., a consulting
firm specializing in health
care supply chain
optimization.
EMANUEL ROMANIAS ’83 is the
founder and owner of Kangaroo
Alley Cigars, which is the only
premium cigar brand based in
Pittsburgh.
LARRY E. BITTNER ’84 is a
commercial lender with S&T
Bank in Wexford. He formerly
was vice president of business
banking and commercial lending
for Huntington National Bank.
Larry resides in Beaver.
PATRICIA CROUSE ’76 is a member
of the sales and marketing team
for Brown’s Graphic Solutions and
Garden Spot Ribbons & Awards.
She lives in Mount Joy, Pa.
cancer and other illnesses.
More information on the
>
1950s
CLASS NOTES
Go to Foundations Online to see more photos from the group’s
Emerald Isle tour. And keep watching this space to find out
about the 2011 Alumni Tour.
KATHI JOBKAR ’84 M’99 gave a
speech about the “Secrets of Great
Leaders” to more than 100 RMU
alumnae and friends at the
Women of RMU luncheon in
April in downtown Pittsburgh.
Kathi is the manager of strategic
sourcing for Allegheny
Technologies Inc. She resides in
Scott Township.
SEAN MCCURDY ’86 was
promoted to vice president for
> GOLDEN GRADS
SHIRLEY LAZORCHAK M’87,
associate professor of marketing
at California University of
Pennsylvania, received the Hugh
G. Wales Award for outstanding
faculty advisor from the
American Marketing Association.
She resides in Canonsburg.
RMU honored the following alumni at the undergraduate
commencement in May: Front row from left: KATHRYN STOFFEL
CARRIER ’53, THERESA STEZOSKI CORSO ’46, WANDA PREVITALI
MAGONE ’43. Back row from left: THOMAS E. SAMUELS ’49,
KENNETH L. MENKE ’49, ROBERT J. SHANNON ‘52.
MURRAY COHN ’88 was promoted
to vice president of team ticket
sales for the National Basketball
Association. He previously was
the NBA’s senior director of team
ticket sales. Murray serves on the
advisory board for the RMU
sports management program. He
and his wife, Betsy, live in Winter
Garden, Fla., with their sons,
Matthew and Michael.
Now Available to RMU Alumni...
JIM BALLWEG ’89 is the senior
director of corporate
sponsorships for the Carolina
Hurricanes of the National
Hockey League. He formerly was
vice president of sales with the
San Diego Padres and also has
held positions with the Houston
Astros and the triple-A Nashville
Sounds.
THOMAS K. SKELTON ’89 is CEO of
Foundation Radiology Group, a
RMU Pittsburgh Speakers Series
Individual
Lecture Tickets!
This year for the first time, alumni who can’t attend all
seven lectures at Heinz Hall can purchase pairs of tickets for
individual speakers. As always, alumni still get the best deal
on season tickets to our great lineup of speakers.
This year’s season will feature Thomas Friedman, of The
New York Times, Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert,
Karl Rove vs. Howard Dean and more!
Individual speaker tickets are limited, and sold only in pairs
of two. Call the Alumni Office office at (412) 397-2586 and
identify yourself as an RMU alum.
Don’t miss the best season yet!
Call (412) 397-2586 now to reserve your tickets.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 7
CLASS NOTES
CLASS NOTES
diagnostic imaging provider in
Pittsburgh. He has more than 25
years of experience in health care,
most recently as president of
technology services for MED3000.
Tom also serves on the board of
visitors for the School of Nursing
and Health Sciences at RMU.
1990s
> ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EVENTS
A busy tailgate party with 125 alumni guests, followed by a
thrilling 12-6 Pirates win over the Astros, highlighted an
exciting summer for the Alumni Association.
The group also held a speed-networking event at Café Euro
in downtown Pittsburgh in August, and luncheons at
Wright’s Seafood Inn in Heidelberg and Mad Mex in
Cranberry. Much more is to come in the fall.
The Robert Morris University Alumni Association’s mission
is to engage alumni in the university community, to herald its
legacy, promote its progress, and lay a foundation for the
future, while advancing the well-being of its alumni. As a
partner, we will provide leadership and support to Robert
Morris University as we become one of America’s most
distinguished universities.
JACQUELINE A. TRAVISANO ’90
was appointed vice president for
business affairs and CFO for St.
John’s University in New York
City. She joined the institution last
year as associate vice president for
business affairs. Before that she
was vice president for finance and
operations at Carlow University
in Pittsburgh. Jackie resides in
North Babylon, N.Y.
MELINDA KLUTKA ROMBOLD ’91
was appointed vice president of
human resources for Ansaldo
STS USA, the Pittsburgh-based
unit of a rail systems control
manufacturer headquartered in
Genoa, Italy. She is a former vice
president of human resources for
Redzone Robotics.
PATRICIA MCGOUGHRAN ’95 is
director of business solutions
with Feld Entertainment, the
parent company of Disney On Ice
and Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus. Patty lives in
Burke, Va.
NICHOLAS P. MATT M’97 is senior
vice president with CB Richard
Ellis Group, leading the debt and
equity financing practice in
Pittsburgh. Nicholas resides in
North Huntingdon.
DIANE MCCLUNE M’97 is
operating director for the
Pittsburgh Business Group on
Health, a nonprofit coalition of
employers advocating for value
and quality in health care. She
formerly was the regional director
of marketing for the American
Heart Association, and also has
worked on the clinical side of
health care as a registered nurse.
Diane and her husband, Robert,
reside in Beaver.
HOPE MIELKE VACCARO ’97 is vice
president and recruiting manager
for PNC Financial Services. She
was formerly diversity
recruitment manager for the Bank
of New York Mellon. Hope and
her husband, David, reside in
South Park.
2000s
DANIEL ESMOND ’00 and his wife,
Tonya, are the proud parents of
Ryan Thomas, born last
September 14. Dan is the director
of operations and staff coach for
the AFC Lightning soccer club in
Atlanta. The Esmonds reside in
Senoia, Ga.
MATT HOFFMAN ‘00 and his father,
Stan Hoffman, were profiled in a
March article in Keystone Edge, a
weekly online magazine about
high-tech companies and
professionals in Pennsylvania. The
father-son duo are both software
designers – Matt at Concurrent
Technologies Corp. and Stan at
Babcock Lumber – and both are
presidents of their local chapters
of the Association of Technology
Professionals.
SHELLYN SCALERCIO SHOENTHAL
’00, director of community
relations and fundraising for the
Mars Home for Youth, was
named vice president and
sponsorship chair of the Public
Relations Society of America’s
Pittsburgh chapter. Shellyn and
her husband, DAN SHOENTHAL ’00
M’02, reside in Gibsonia.
SCOTT UMBERGER ’00 M’09
opened Umberger Performance in
Robinson Township with his
cousin R.J. Umberger, a center for
the Columbus Blue Jackets of the
NHL. Scott played football and
was on the track and field team
for the Colonials, and spent two
years as an assistant to RMU
strength and conditioning coach
Todd Hamer.
HEIDI FREEMAN LEWIS ’03 has
been named the Riley Scholar-inResidence in Feminist and Gender
Studies at Colorado College in
Colorado Springs. She plans to
complete her Ph.D. in American
(cont.)
< JOSIAH “JOE” WARD ’02 and
COURTNEY HAASE WARD ’02
are the proud parents of
Henley Rawn, born April 26.
The Wards are both secondary
school teachers. They reside in
West Chester, Ohio.
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
PRESENTS
JOIN THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COUNCIL AND HELP PLAN
FUTURE EVENTS. CALL (412) 397-2586 TO FIND OUT HOW.
Class Notes would love to hear from you.
2 8 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
KENNETH KEEFER ’93 and
>
>
Honor Them
With a Book.
BERNARD SAKMAR M’00
ANGELA SECRETI KEEFER ’97
and his wife, Manisha, are the
are the proud parents of
proud parents of Olivianna
Bella Angela, born Dec. 15.
Ria, born March 19. Bernie is
Kenneth is a clinical liaison
controller with DataTech
and Angela is an accountant.
Holdings. The Sakmars
They live in Canonsburg.
live in Charlotte, N.C.
REGISTRATION/SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE
MONDAY, SEPT. 13
For more information about registration and
sponsorship opportunities, contact the
RMU Alumni Relations Office at
(412) 397-2586 or [email protected].
The university library provides the information and
knowledge that will help form the intellect of future
generations. For your contribution to the Library Fund
of $20 or more, RMU will place a customized bookplate
in a new book in the collection to honor or memorialize
a special person or event of your choosing.
To order your bookplate, download a form at
www.rmu.edu/library.
E-mail us at [email protected].
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 9
CLASS NOTES
studies from Purdue University
next year. Heidi and her husband,
Antonio, have two children,
Antonio Jr. and Chase Renee,
and operate The Ten Spot
Barbershop in Lafayette, Ind.
PATRICK PIERSON ’04 joined
Florida Gulf Coast University as
sports information director in
June. He was formerly the sports
information director for St.
Bonaventure University, where
he worked for six years.
KIMBERLY KOSOVICH RUIZ M’05 is
a state and local tax consultant
with the SC&H Group in McLean,
Va. Kimberly and her husband,
Alonso, live in Alexandria, Va.
KRISTY TRAUTMANN M’05 was
promoted to executive director of
the FISA Foundation, where she
CLASS NOTES
had been a program officer. The
foundation supports nonprofit
organizations in southwestern
Pennsylvania that focus on
women, girls, and people with
disabilities. She resides in
Murrysville.
ANGELA KOKANOS LAGONIS ’06
received a master’s of arts
degree in journalism and mass
< RAYMOND “SMOKE” THOMAS ’00 M’03 and BRITTANY KREBS ’03
were married in Cancun in January. Joining the couple in Mexico were
FRED PARKER ’99, THEO OWUSU ’01 M’02 D’10, REGGIE CHAMBER ’02,
and TONY DERIGI ‘04. Raymond is a supervisor at Family Links in
communication from Point Park
University, where she works in
the admissions office. She lives
in Pittsburgh with her husband,
George.
MELISSA NEMENZ ’06 is an
account manager with Brunner.
She lives in Pittsburgh.
BENJAMIN T. PEGG ’06 is an
actuary with the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban
Development in Washington.
Ben was previously an actuarial
analyst for the Hartford Life
Insurance Company. He resides
in Arlington, Va.
Pittsburgh and is pursuing a doctorate of science in information
systems and communications at RMU. Brittany owns Krebs AgencyAllstate Insurance in Pittsburgh.
DEANNA GILKEY SCHMUCK M’06
is an instructor with the Bidwell
Training Center. She and Eric
RMU
HOCKEY
SHOWCASE
OCTOBER 15-17
Schmuck were married last year.
They reside in Monroeville.
ERIC WHITE ’06, staff sergeant
with the Army Reserve 458th
Engineer Battalion, won the
annual Best Warrior competition
at Camp Smith, N.Y., in April,
advancing to the U.S. Army
Reserve national competition. The
contest included physical fitness,
marksmanship, navigation, and a
written exam. Eric is a track and
field coach at Duquesne
University and resides in
Dormont.
LEA GUARINO ’06 and MEGAN
VENEZIE ’07 were listed among
“Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest” by the
western Pennsylvania chapter of
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The charity event selects the
“most eligible” single men and
women in the region, based on
their community service and
career success. Lea is business
development manager for Big
Day Entertainment and
owner/DJ of Guarino Group
Productions. Megan is a client
service analyst with Direct
Energy Business. The list also
included UPMC Passavant nurse
practitioner and part-time
nursing professor JENNIFER
KEELEY.
JAMES G. HOWARD ’07 is an
active duty 2nd lieutenant with
the U.S. Army. He lives in Sierra
Vista, Ariz.
KRISTINA IORIO ’08 is unit
marketing director for the Chickfil-A in Robinson. She lives in
McKees Rocks.
KILLEEN MARTINEZ ’09 attended
the American Massage Therapy
Association annual conference in
Orlando, Fla. She works for
7 p.m., Iron City Grille at the Holiday Inn.
SATURDAY
Reunion Years Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Sewall Center. Classes of
’65, ’70, ’75, ’80, ’85, ’90, ’95, ’00, & ’05.
Brunch is free; please call to reserve.
RMU vs. University of Albany
Noon. A last-second RMU field goal broke
Albany’s 12-game win streak last year.
The Great Danes are sure to have revenge
on their minds.
3 0 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S
5th Quarter
Wind down after the game under
the alumni tent with live
music provided by Frank
Vieria & Metro Mix.
To make your
reservations, call
(412) 397-2586 or
rmu.edu/alumni.
GLENN SCHAEFER ’49 of
McMurray died March 30 at
the age of 85. He was a World
War II veteran and a retired CPA
and CFO of Hankison Corp. in
Canonsburg. He is survived
by his wife, MARIAN LAMBERT
SCHAEFER ’49, and three children.
DALE E. GOULD JR. M’10 received
the Meritorious Service Medal for
his 21 years as an Army reservist.
He retired as a major last year,
most recently having served as
executive officer of the 301st
Regional Support Group, based
in Butler. Dale is a computer
application coordinator for Eaton
Corp., and he lives in Cranberry
with his wife, Lorie, and their
sons, Zachary and Gavin.
In Memoriam
LINDA E. GENTILE ’42 of
Bridgeville died March 17 at
the age of 86. She was a
member of the Italian Sons
and Daughters for more than 40
years, serving as financial
secretary. Linda was a retired
ROBERT MOUL ’57 of Gibsonia
died April 30. Bob was a Korean
War veteran.
JAMES R. DRENNING ’68 of Apollo
died February 11 at the age of 62.
CHARLES “CHUCK” VAN RYN,
retired member of the marketing
faculty, died March 29 at the age
of 67. Chuck taught marketing for
many years at the university and
was well known for his sense of
humor and his rapport with his
students and his colleagues.
< ASHLEY HENNEMUTH ’10 has
accepted a full-time nursing
CONSOL ENERGY CENTER
position with UPMC
WOMEN VS
NORTHEASTERN, NOON
CLUB VS
PITT, 3 P.M.
MEN VS
AIR FORCE,
6 P.M.
Three games for one ticket—plus
see the new home of the Penguins!
FOR HOCKEY TICKETS,
CALL (800) 745-3000.
ADAM RAVENSTAHL ’07
won a special election in
May to fill the remainder
of former Pa. State Rep.
Don Walko's term in the
20th District. He also won
the Democratic primary
and will run for the next
full term in November.
Adam is a business analyst
with UPMC and resides in
Pittsburgh; his brother is
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
>
Homecoming Happy Hour
For only $5, get hot dogs, hamburgers,
pop, and a raffle ticket for the postgame
prize drawing. Register by Oct. 1.
Kids 12 and under eat free.
2010s
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 17
>
FRIDAY
bookkeeper for the former
Bridgeville Auto Sales.
Five lucky alums won RMU tailgate chairs for sending us
Class Notes updates with photo. Send your update to
[email protected] for a chance to win an RMU soccer scarf.
HOMECOMING WEEKEND ‘10
Alumni Tailgate & Picnic
Massage Therapy Professionals
in Pittsburgh.
Presbyterian in the neuro
LAURA GAWRYLA ’07 is a
communications coordinator
ICU department where
for Carlow University. She
she did her transitions for
lives in Pittsburgh.
her nursing studies.
< BILL MCKEOWN ’04 and RACHEL PACSI MCKEOWN ’05 are the
proud parents of Liam McKeown, born January 20. Rachel is
business development specialist at Clearview Federal Credit Union
in Moon Township, and Bill is a sales representative for Philips
Respironics in Murrysville. The family resides in Harmony
Township.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 1
i
T
h
w
l
b
Andy Toole, who turns 30 this month, is the
youngest head coach in NCAA Division I men's
basketball. Yet when it comes to basketball, this guy's been
around the block. Toole spent three seasons as Mike Rice’s top assistant, helping guide the Colonials to three straight
postseason appearances before taking the top job in May when Rice left for Rutgers.
The Red Bank, N.J., native was a four-year starter in Division I, first for Elon University and then the University of
Pennsylvania. The Quakers made the NCAA tournament both years he played. Toole was a three-point specialist,
sinking 212 in his career, and he was picked for the All-Ivy League and All-Big Five teams while at Penn.
HOW BIG DO
YOU THINK THE
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM CAN GET?
If the past three years are
any indication, there are few
limits to how high this
program can reach. I think the
next step is having a few sellouts at the Sewall Center this
season. Our players work extremely hard and play an
exciting style that deserves to be recognized with fan support.
YOU WERE AN ACCOMPLISHED BASKETBALL PLAYER. WHAT
OTHER SPORTS DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING? I have the golfing
bug. I really enjoy the challenge of getting better at the
game. I also like to play tennis, even though I
am not good at it.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING
TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN
TRANSITIONING FROM ASSISTANT
TO HEAD COACH? The biggest
transition is getting used to telling
people “no” more often.
Although, I think our players
will tell you I did a pretty
good job of doing that as
an assistant.
WHAT DID YOUR FAMILY SAY WHEN THEY FIRST HEARD THE BIG
NEWS? They were all very excited for me, and they all attended the
press conference. My father, who is a huge supporter, has called me
maybe 400 times a day since I have been hired. My family is pretty
good at keeping me humble and grounded, so when I go home I am
sure my mom will still tell me to take out the garbage.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? What free time?
When I do find a moment or two, I enjoy spending time with my
girlfriend, as well as my friends and family. And I'm a huge fan of
reality television.
Upcoming Events
the choice RMU confronted when we decided to put the Pittsburgh Center, the building we
owned at 600 Fifth Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh since 1959, up for sale. While the university
on to purchase the Oliver Kaufmann estate — which became the Moon campus — three years
Pittsburgh remained a focal point of the school for many more years. Downtown Pittsburgh had
>
SEPTEMBER
>
21 Basketball:
Meet the Colonials
Sewall Center, 8-11 p.m.
OCTOBER
18 Alumni Association
Council meeting
Sewall Center, 9:30 a.m.
5 RMU Career Expo
Sewall Center,
12:30-4:30 p.m.
21 Wendell Freeland
Tuskeegee Airman and
civil rights activist
Rogal Chapel, Noon
12 Sam Patti
Founder of La Prima Espresso
Italian culture in Pittsburgh
Rogal Chapel, Noon
22 Colonial Theatre
presents: The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee
Through Sept. 26
Little Victorian Theater,
West End
13 Pittsburgh Speakers
Series New York Times
columnist Thomas Friedman
Heinz Hall, 8 p.m.
3 Pittsburgh Speakers Series
Eat, Pray, Love author
Elizabeth Gilbert
Heinz Hall, 8 p.m.
15-17 Homecoming
10 Ida Mansourian
30 Colonial Golf Classic
TBA Women of RMU
luncheon, Downtown
Weekend. For a complete
list of events visit
rmu.edu/homecoming
17 Pittsburgh Speakers
Series Ben Carson,
neurosurgeon from inner-city
Detroit, Rogal Chapel, TBA
Heinz Hall, 8 p.m.
21 Colonial Theatre presents:
Phantom of the Opera
Through Oct. 23
Byham Theater, Downtown
>
19 Men's basketball
vs. Duquesne
Alumni reception
NOVEMBER
Exec. Dir. of RMU
International Programs
"From Iran to Pittsburgh"
Rogal Chapel, Noon
ON THE
ROAD
>
Stay tuned for info about
upcoming alumni get-togethers
in Washington, Philadelphia,
New York, Cleveland, Harrisburg,
and Erie. And we'll be at road
basketball games this fall vs.
Kent State, WVU, and Arizona.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on these and other upcoming events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (412) 397-2586 or [email protected].
IF YOU COULD PICK FIVE ALL-TIME PLAYERS FOR YOUR OWN DREAM
TEAM, WHO WOULD THEY BE? Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry
Bird, Tim Duncan, and Bill Russell. I would be a player/coach and
would accept the sixth man role.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW? Growing up my favorite
show was "Saved By the Bell." Today I think my favorite show is "The
Biggest Loser," again with that reality television.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN RED BANK, N.J.? Growing up in
Red Bank was really no different than growing up anywhere else. I
could ride my bike to the beach in the summer, which was great. But I
spent most of the time playing basketball or any other sport I could.
alumniNEWS
HOW IS YOUR COACHING STYLE
DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF MIKE
RICE? I am not sure I'll be able to
yell as much as Coach
Rice; he was gifted in
that regard. But I think
we share a lot of
commonalities in
the way we
believe the game
should be played.
ces that no longer match the institution’s mission. We need courage and wisdom to discern when
me to hold on and when it is time to let go.
NAME __________________________________________________________________ YEAR OF GRADUATION __________________
PREVIOUS/ MAIDEN NAME ______________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
CITY/STATE/ZIP ________________________________________________________________________________________________
HOME PHONE __________________________________________ WORK PHONE __________________________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________________________
PROFESSION/POSITION __________________________________________________________________________________________
EMPLOYER NAME ______________________________________________________________________________________________
BEING A FORMER POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR, DO YOU HAVE
ANY POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE? I do not. There
is enough politicking in being a basketball coach that I can
get my fill right where I am. I majored in political science
because I found it interesting, but I knew coaching
would be my career.
ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
CITY/STATE/ZIP ________________________________________________________________________________________________
SPOUSE’S NAME ______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHILDREN’S NAMES AND AGES __________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS ITEM __________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MAIL THIS COMPLETED FORM TO: Office of Alumni Relations, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard,
Moon Township, PA 15108-1189. Or, send your news via e-mail [email protected] or fax (412) 397-2142.
R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 3