Wyclef Jean - Western Connecticut State University

the
april/may 2010
gates
A publication for the WestConn community
Contributed Photo
By Sherri Hill
Wyclef Jean
to deliver address at
commencement
As the world’s attention turned recently to
Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake
there in January, one of the country’s native
sons has become a vocal advocate in support of
rebuilding his homeland. Wyclef Jean, multiplatinum recording artist and founder of the
charity Yéle Haiti, will be the keynote speaker
at Western Connecticut State University’s
undergraduate commencement on Sunday,
May 23.
WestConn President James W. Schmotter
said Jean’s talk should prove to be inspirational.
“We’re excited that Wyclef Jean has agreed
to speak at our undergraduate commencement
ceremonies in May,” Schmotter said. “His
artistic achievements and his long and
impressive record of humanitarian work
have recently been underscored by his role in
galvanizing the international response to the
terrible tragedy in his homeland. I know that
he will bring a message that will engage and
inspire our graduates and all in attendance.”
Born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Jean lived
in Haiti until the age of 13 when his family
moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. He later lived in
northern New Jersey. A singer-songwriter
who also plays guitar, piano and drums, Jean
began his music career as a member of The
Refugee Camp (The Fugees) with Lauryn
Hill and fellow Haitian immigrant Prakazrel
“Pras” Michel, his cousin. The Fugees released
“Blunted on Reality,” which peaked at No. 62
on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
chart in 1994, and “The Score,” which became
a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning
album in 1996. A Greatest Hits album was
released in 2003.
Jean launched his solo career in 1997 with
the release of “Wyclef Jean Presents the
Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars.” His
State Girl Scout CEO to keynote graduate commencement
operating businesses. Turner
also logged 10-year stints in
management positions at Aetna
Life & Casualty and Travelers
Insurance. She interrupted
her insurance career in the
mid-1980s to serve the City
of Hartford as director of
personnel and then as assistant
city manager.
A native of Boston, Mass.,
she is a graduate of Union
College in Schenectady, N.Y.,
and received her master’s degree
from Fairfield University. A poet, Turner
has published two books: “Perennial Secrets,
Poetry & Prose” (2003) and “Lost and Found,
Rhyming Verse Honoring African American
Heroes” (2006).
Complimentary valet parking will be available.
From the West: Take Exit 5 off I-84; turn right onto Main Street.
Travel approximately one half mile to White Street (fourth traffic
light). Turn left onto White Street, and travel to Fifth Avenue
(just past Courthouse, on left).
From the East: Take Exit 5 off I-84; turn right onto Main Street.
Travel approximately one half mile to White Street (fifth traffic
light). Turn left onto White Street, and travel to Fifth Avenue
(just past Courthouse, on left).
For more information, call (203) 837-8486.
Graduate Commencement
7 p.m., Friday, May 21
Feldman Arena, O’Neill Center
WCSU Westside campus
43 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury
Directions to the Midtown campus:
Contributed Photo
Lisa Allaby
Barbara Cirella
Helen Curtin
Gail Hill-Williams
Alice Hyman
Michelle James
Emanuela Lima
Rebecca Lollie
Jennifer Roy
Lee Manning-Vogelstein
Valarie Shultz-Wilson
Nancy K. Simpkins
Patricia Weiner
Dianne Yamin
Ginny Young
Thank You to our community volunteers
an appointment made by
Gov. M. Jodi Rell. During
her tenure as deputy
commissioner, Turner was
credited with re-energizing
the state’s economic
competitiveness and for
bringing affordable housing
to the forefront of the state’s
economic agenda.
Turner served as president/
CEO of BerkleyCare
Network and vice president
of W. R. Berkley Corporation
(WRBC) of Greenwich. In this dual
capacity she was responsible for growing
the occupational managed care business of
BerkleyCare and providing managed care
leadership to the WRBC property casualty
Undergraduate Commencement
10:30 a.m., Sunday, May 23
Westside Athletic Stadium
WCSU Westside campus
43 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury
get more online at wcsu.edu/commencement
24th Annual
University Gala
gala
featuring the Maria Schneider Orchestra
See page 7 for details
details
Jennifer Smith Turner is chief executive
officer of Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSC).
As the largest organization in the state serving
girls, GSC provides more than 65,000 girls
and adults with opportunities and experiences
that develop their potential and empower
them with self-confidence and leadership skills
to improve their lives and the world around
them.
Prior to taking the helm at GSC, Turner
was president/CEO of Smith & Associates
LLC, a company that assists organizations
in achieving their strategic and operational
potential by providing management
consulting, strategic planning and executive
coaching.
Turner is the former deputy commissioner
for the State of Connecticut’s Department
of Economic and Community Development,
albums that followed included “The Ecleftic:
2 Sides II a Book” in 2000, “Masquerade”
in 2002, “The Preacher’s Son” in 2003 and
“Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haiti” in
2004, which features many songs in his native
language of Haitian Creole.
During the past decade, Jean has produced
and written songs for several documentaries
and major motion pictures, including “The
Manchurian Candidate,” “Hotel Rwanda,”
“The Agronomist” and “Ghosts of Cite
Soleil,” as well as collaborative songwriting
and recording efforts with rap and R&B
artists including T.I., Lil’ Wayne, Niia, Akon,
will.i.am and Ludacris. In 2007, he released
“Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant.”
The EP “From the Hut, to the Projects, to the
Mansion” was released in 2009 with Jean using
the alias Toussaint St. Jean, his rap moniker.
An eponymous studio album is expected to be
released this year.
Jean established the Yéle Haiti Foundation
in 2005 after the devastation caused by
Hurricane Jeanne. The organization has
continued to provide assistance to Haitians in
the aftermath of the recent earthquake.
Western Connecticut State University Office of University Relations
181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
DANBURY, CT
PERMIT 40
around campus 2
It was standing-room only at the WCSU English Society’s “The Black Man
Cometh” lecture, held Feb. 24 in honor of Black History Month.
Presented by Associate Professor of English Dr. Don Gagnon, the lecture
was based on playwright Eugene O’Neill’s “The Iceman Cometh,” which
Gagnon wrote for an upcoming anthology. The play was written in 1939 and
performed initially on Broadway in 1946. During its time, it was considered
one of the most successful presentations of a serious, psychologically
developed black character.
“‘The Iceman Cometh’ is used to measure O’Neill’s vision of race in
America,” Gagnon said. “For a white writer to actually engage black issues on
a serious level was particularly noteworthy.”
O’Neill’s prior efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, Gagnon said, were
not always successful in creating a greater sensitivity and value to African
Americans. Through the creation of Joe Mott’s character, he said, O’Neill
overcame earlier challenges with an accurate portrayal of early American
experience. “O’Neill did overcome much of his racialist thinking,”
Gagnon said.
“Mott sidesteps O’Neill’s earlier stereotypes,” Gagnon said. “The character
was less of a ‘metaphor on legs’; he was an equal representation of a social
organism.”
The play takes place in a barroom where a group of down-and-outs drink
and reminisce and talk about their hopes and dreams for the future –
otherwise known as their “pipedreams.” Their lives are measured by
what cannot be accomplished and Mott shares in that equally with
the other characters. Gagnon pointed out that what makes the
play stand out in its portrayal of a black man is that Mott was
not made a victim of trying to obtain “whiteness.” Mott is “just
one of the guys,” Gagnon said.
“What binds the characters at the same level is the inevitable
failure to control their conscious minds,” Gagnon said. “The
characters all speak the same language regardless of ethnicity
with their own inflections.” This is, according to Gagnon,
O’Neill’s democratizing gesture.
English Society lecture celebrates
Black History Month
the gates is published bimonthly
(September - December & February - May)
by the Office of University Relations at
Western Connecticut State University.
Western Connecticut State University
Managing Editor
Dr. James W. Schmotter
Paul Steinmetz
Editors
Associate Editor
Sherri Hill
Robin DeMerell
Robert Taylor
Photography
Layout & Design
Peggy Stewart
By Robin DeMerell
Jason Davis
Send comments/suggestions to [email protected].
181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810 • (203) 837-9000 or toll free (877) 837-WCSU
Administration & Management
President
Interim V.P. for Institutional Advancement
Dr. Fredric C. Wheeler
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Linda K. Rinker
Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of University Relations Staff
Paul Steinmetz
Director
(203) 837-8771
[email protected]
Sherri Hill
Associate Director
(203) 837-8774
[email protected]
Robert Taylor
University Assistant
(203) 837-8826
[email protected]
Robin DeMerell
University Assistant
(203) 837-3278
[email protected]
To request additional copies, please call Cathy Cote at (203) 837-8486.
Dr. Walter B. Bernstein
Lorraine Capobianco, Chief Information Officer
Carolyn Lanier, Int. Dir., Multicultural Affairs & Affirmative Action
Dr. Lynne Clark, Dean, School of Professional Studies
Dr. Ellen Durnin, Dean, Graduate Studies & External Programs
Dr. Allen Morton, Dean, Ancell School of Business
William P. Hawkins, Enrollment Management Officer
Charles Spiridon, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Dr. Walter Cramer, Dean, Student Affairs
Dr. Carol Hawkes, Dean, School of Visual & Performing Arts
Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad, Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
Western Connecticut State University is an affirmative action/equal
opportunity educator and employer, fully committed to the goal of
providing equal opportunity and full participation in its educational
programs, activities and employment without discrimination.
By Robin DeMerell
When Ashley Hyde, a 2009 WestConn
graduate, traveled to Jamaica last year as
part of a university mission, she saw a place
where she knew she could make a change.
During the trip, sponsored by the
Humanitarian Travel Club, Hyde took
park in assisting with medical aid, tutoring
students and helping deportees reintegrate
into society. “That trip really spurred my
interest there. There are an increasing
number of Jamaicans being deported from
the United States,” Hyde said. “They are
sent back after being here for decades with
no support. Housing and employment are a
problem. And there is a huge cultural issue,
a stigma, with being a deportee. No one in
the community wants to help them.”
That interest in helping people abroad
earned Hyde a Fulbright scholarship. In
September, she will move to Jamaica for
a year to conduct research on alternative
methods of integration for deportees. At the
end of the year after her study is completed,
she will earn a Master of Science in public
health or international relations from the
University of West Indies, which will advise
and oversee her project.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of
State, the Fulbright program is the largest
United States international exchange
program offering opportunities for
students, scholars, and professionals to
undertake international graduate study,
advanced research, university teaching,
and teaching in elementary and secondary
schools worldwide.
The 22-year-old Southbury resident
learned about the Fulbright last year from
WCSU Associate Professor of Political
Science Dr. Chris Kukk, who suggested to
students in his International Institutions
course that they apply for the scholarship.
Hyde has a Bachelor of Science in
anthropology with a minor in international
studies. As an undergraduate, she received
WestConn steps up Haitian relief efforts
By Lisa Mancini
When the WestConn community learned of the earthquake that
decimated a large area of Haiti, a committee was formed to provide
financial aid through a series of fundraising events. “WCSU Hearts Haiti”
hopes to raise $50,000 to donate to Yéle Haiti, a foundation started by
multi-platinum recording artist and Haitian native Wyclef Jean. Jean will
be this year’s undergraduate commencement speaker.
A number of fundraising opportunities have been employed since the
campaign was launched. Thus far, more than $4,380 has been raised.
The first step was the creation of a Facebook page in late January.
Already, more than 560 individuals are fans.
Beginning in February, bracelets displaying Haiti’s national colors were
sold for a suggested donation of $1 in various locations on the Midtown
and Westside campuses. More than 1,000 have been sold.
On March 3, WestConn faculty and staff members each donated $5 to
wear blue jeans to work. The day was such a complete success that it will be
repeated in April and May.
That same week, the Newman Club, WestConn’s Catholic Campus
Ministry, held a bake sale in Warner Hall. The proceeds of all of the club’s
bake sales during the spring semester will go to the Haiti campaign.
On March 7, a class of Zumba, a cross between exercise and Latin
dance, was led by Brittany Guertin in the Berkshire Hall gymnasium.
Associate Professor of Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences Dr. Robyn
Housemann, the organizer of the event, reported that $200 was gained for
the fund.
On March 31, “WCSU Hearts Haiti” hosted a luncheon featuring
Haitian delicacies in Alumni Hall. More than $6 of the $15 that was
charged per person was contributed to the campaign.
Each of the residence halls has supported the fundraising efforts, too.
Grasso, Fairfield and Litchfield Hall students participated in a Wii bowling
tournament to benefit the campaign and Centennial Hall will host a
clothing drive.
On April 21, the Manhattan String Quartet is scheduled to perform a
benefit concert in Alumni Hall. The suggested contribution of $20 will be
donated toward “WCSU Hearts Haiti.”
A silent art auction is on the planning board for May, as well.
For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/president/haiti.asp.
3
WestConn grad awarded Fulbright
an award for Academic Excellence in
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and an
Associate Honors Degree.
“The classes that Ashley took – from her
initial major in biology to core courses in
anthropology and courses in international
relations – gave her a very well-rounded
approach to this issue,” Kukk said. “She
was given that opportunity at WestConn.
Through her academic background here,
she was able to develop a research project
that was likely one of the best proposals
Fulbright received.”
As part of her research, Hyde will speak
with deportees about their experiences, why
they were deported and the problems they
encountered. By collecting this information,
she hopes not only to help them secure
housing and employment, but hopes to
open doors to the community and garner
the support the deportees need to succeed
in their native land.
“She will take full advantage of this
opportunity academically, professionally
and personally,” said Kukk. “Ashley is very
culturally sensitive and that will help her
to find options that will fit their cultural
way of living. She’s the type of person who,
when obstacles are put in her path, she
figures a way around them immediately.”
Senior wins regional theatre award
WestConn has sold more than 1,000 bracelets to raise funds for Haitian relief.
Photo: Kyle Juron
Photo: WCSU Art Department
WestConn senior Adam Schofield-Bodt, an honors student
in the theatre arts department, has been chosen as a regional
award winner by the Kennedy Center American College
Theatre Festival.
Schofield-Bodt, who is from Stratford, was chosen as
winner for sound design in Region 1, which includes all of
New England and eastern New York. His design was for the
WCSU production of “City of Angels” directed by Associate
Professor of Theatre Arts Pam McDaniel. In April, he will go
to Washington, D.C., to compete for the national award.
Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the KCACTF is a
national theatre program involving 18,000 college students
and working to improve the quality of college theatre.
4
WCSU launches weather
program to area middle schools
Meteorology student Tim Pandajis mentors middle school students in the university’s Weather
Center as part of the Building a Bridge to Improve Student Success program.
By Lisa Mancini
Building on the success of its high school-to-college
transition program, WestConn has launched a
meteorology Bridge Program for students from Rogers
Park and Broadview middle schools in Danbury and
Bethel Middle School.
WestConn’s Building a Bridge to Improve Student
Success program began in 2004 and involved WestConn
professors and Danbury and Bethel high school teachers
who sought to decrease the number of high school
students entering remedial math and English courses
in their first year at WestConn. The program was
successful: By its fifth year, there was a 33.1 percent
decrease in WestConn freshmen who required remedial
courses. In 2009, WestConn decided to expand the
program to middle school students in Bethel and
Danbury to jump-start college preparation.
During the current semester on Wednesday and
Thursday afternoons, 14 middle school students,
recommended by their teachers, are sampling what
it’s like to have a career in meteorology. They learn
about weather from their WestConn meteorology
student mentors and incorporate the information in a
PowerPoint presentation, which will aid in the design of
their own weather broadcasts from WestConn’s Weather
Center. The broadcasts will be shown on Bethel’s
community television channel.
Not every child in the program sees a future in
meteorology. Program supervisor and Assistant Director
of the Weather Center Gary Lessor recognizes that.
“Even if they should decide that a meteorology career is
not for them, this mentoring program may inspire them
to go into the teaching field.” The middle school students
will give the teaching field a test drive by showing their
peers the knowledge they have acquired through the
program.
In addition to the middle school students, the Bridge
Program benefits the mentors as well. “Basically, it’s a
win-win for college and middle school kids,” Lessor said.
Assistant Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Dr.
Abbey Zink, coordinator of the Bridge Program, said
Lessor’s enthusiasm for the program is one reason she
expects it to succeed. “He has a real passion for weather
and working with young people. He’s a great guy, and
he’s doing incredible work,” she said.
For more information, call Zink at (203) 837-8839.
Contributed Photo
Lewis to play Mozart
premiere in Vienna
By Robin DeMerell
part.
Lewis was in Vienna at a music conference with the
Manhattan String Quartet in January and he visited with
Melkus at his home. Melkus showed Lewis the piece
and explained its history. Then the famed violinist asked
Lewis to perform in the premiere.
“He said to me, ‘I’ve been thinking about this and
you’re the one to perform this,’ Lewis recalled. “My jaw
just dropped. Here he is looking at me, an American,
and asking me to play this. I was taken aback.” Melkus
said Lewis was perfect to play the piece because of
his Viennese style, which he developed while at the
Manhattan School of Music.
Lewis said the concerto is unique in that it includes the
cello, but otherwise he described the concerto as being on
a par with other Mozart concertos.
“I love it,” Lewis said. “It’s a fresh, new discovery. It’s
appealing, lyrical, exciting.”
The premier of “Sinfonie Concertante” will be May 6
at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna as part of a
music and art series.
Kukk brings environmental experience
to global stage in unique U.S.-China collaboration
By Robert Taylor
Dr. Chris Kukk has found that his experience
in exploring the public policy implications of
environmental issues has provided a natural
introduction to opening doors and dialogue with
academics and policy makers around the globe, from
Vietnam to Estonia. But he never expected that he
would soon find a place at the table in a pioneering
international project that offers a model for future
collaboration between the United States and China on
water policy and other global environmental challenges.
Kukk, associate professor of political science,
has been selected as one of 12 young American
professionals from academic, business, government
and water resource institutions as Water Here and
There International Fellows (WH&T IF). They will
join 12 Chinese participants with similar professional
experience to collaborate in research exchanges on
water-related resource issues relevant to both countries.
The program, cosponsored by the Association for
International Practical Training (AIPT) and the
International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE),
receives funding from the U.S. State Department
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“It’s great to see that two of the most important
countries in the world, politically and economically,
have set up a second rail of diplomacy for dialogue and
cooperation on such an important issue,” Kukk said.
“We tackle environmental issues through water
resource management in both countries,” he said. “Since
we are the two leading protagonists in global forums
on the environment, we need to develop ideas and
proposals together to address these issues cooperatively.”
In his notification letter to Kukk, AIPT Vice
President Dan Ewert said the WH&T IF program
aims to promote Sino-American dialogue on global
environmental issues
involving water resources.
“These two important
world players have the
human and financial
resources to effect
important change, and
people in both nations need
to learn to work together
to continue to forge
productive relationships
that yield positive results,”
Ewert wrote. The selection
criteria targeted “emerging young leaders” drawn from
diverse professional backgrounds, with the goal of
providing experience and building networks for future
international collaborations, he added.
Kukk has been named to a team of six program
fellows — including three American and three Chinese
participants — assigned to study and discuss strategies
to balance economic activity with preservation of a
healthy environment. This “virtual” exercise using
Internet communication tools to develop joint research
and policy recommendations has laid the groundwork
for the subsequent exchange of three-week visits by
Chinese participants to the U.S. in March and April,
and by American participants to China during June.
These tours will include seminars, lectures, team
exercises and field trips to gain first-hand knowledge
about major water resource sites at geographically
diverse locations in each country. The visit to China
will conclude with a two-day workshop bringing
together all participants in the program to discuss
their experiences and discuss ways to continue and
promote future Sino-American collaboration on water
management issues.
Kukk wrote his doctoral dissertation on the theme
of water scarcity and investigated water privatization
in Vietnam as part of the 2007 WestConn “Red
River Project” research trip sponsored by the WCSU
President’s Initiatives Fund. He currently teaches
an undergraduate course on “Environmental Issues
in International Relations” and has participated in
community forums and policy studies related to the
ecology and management of Candlewood Lake. He
applied to the WH&T IF program after receiving
notification of the opportunity from WCSU
International Services Coordinator Melissa Gluckmann.
Kukk welcomed the opportunity during the June tour
to see China’s water resources on location, noting that
it is rare for an American to gain first-hand access to
Chinese water facilities that are believed to be among
the most technologically advanced in the world.
Viewed against the backdrop of recent US-Chinese
conflict over policy responses to global warming and
other environmental issues, China’s willingness to
engage the United States in an informal dialogue on
water management represents a promising, if cautious,
step toward cooperation, he said. The Chinese regime’s
carefully balanced tolerance of limited freedoms while
suppressing popular resistance and dissent seeks to
advance the nation’s economic development without
undermining its communist political system, he added.
Similar concerns in China and the U.S. about the
impact of economic development, climate change,
urban growth, agriculture and pollution on present and
future water resources underscore the urgent need for
international cooperation on these issues, Kukk said.
“It’s exciting to be part of this dialogue and to know
you can have an impact,” he said. “I feel like a kid in a
candy store — I get a chance for my voice to be heard
by the leaders of another country! It will be so much
fun, but it is also a great responsibility. That’s very
humbling.”
5
(l-r): Professor of Music Eric Lewis
and Eduard Melkus
As a violinist with the Manhattan String Quartet,
Professor of Music Eric Lewis has performed some
of the world’s most treasured classical compositions
on countless stages throughout the United States and
Europe. At this point in his career, there probably isn’t
much he hasn’t seen or done when it comes to playing
the violin.
So when he was offered the opportunity to perform the
premiere of a newly discovered composition by Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart, Lewis didn’t hesitate to accept the
honor.
Several years ago Mozart’s “Sinfonie Concertante” was
discovered by one of Vienna’s most celebrated violinists.
When Eduard Melkus unearthed the piece in the archives
at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, it was
incomplete so he immediately went to work to finish
it for the world to hear. Melkus, who owned Mozart’s
violin and donated it to the museum, restructured the
piece and then had it published. He also has written
several journal articles on the discovery.
“Sinfonie Concertante” will be performed for the first
time this spring in Vienna and Lewis will play the violin
alumni & development 6
WestConn honors Danbury CPA firm at annual luncheon
Fiorita, Kornhaas & Co. receive Community Service Award at March 19 event
By Robert Taylor
The Danbury accounting firm Fiorita, Kornhaas and Co.
P.C. was recognized for exemplary professional and public
service at the 29th annual WestConn Society luncheon on
Friday, March 19.
Joseph A. Fiorita Jr. and Robert J. Kornhaas Jr.,
certified public accountants and principal partners of
the firm, accepted the WCSU Foundation Community
Service Award at the luncheon in the Grand Ballroom
of the Westside Campus Center. The luncheon, hosted
by the WCSU Foundation, also featured introductory
remarks by WestConn President James W. Schmotter
and a keynote talk by Ancell School of Business Dean Dr.
Allen Morton on “The Role of Financial Literacy in a
Well-Rounded College Education.”
Founded in 1973, Fiorita, Kornhaas and Co. provides
a diverse range of financial services ranging from tax
preparation, business accounting and audits to personal
financial, retirement and estate planning, corporate
mergers and acquisitions, and litigation support. As one
of the leading CPA practices in the Danbury area, the
firm has provided career opportunities and internships
over the years, helping WestConn students to gain
experience and build skills in the accounting profession.
Fiorita, Kornhaas and Co. is a member of the WCSU
Trustees’ Club and the WestConn Society, and sponsors
a scholarship awarded annually to a WestConn student
majoring in accounting. The firm’s partners, Fiorita and
Kornhaas, participate in local and regional professional
organizations, corporate boards, and activities supporting
the university and the WCSU Foundation.
“Fiorita, Kornhaas and Company has long been one
of the most respected professional services firms in
the Danbury area,” Schmotter observed. “Through its
professionalism, partnerships and philanthropy, it has
made a difference — for our community, and especially
for WestConn.”
A Danbury native and graduate of
Mount St. Mary’s College, Fiorita has
practiced public accounting for 39
years, initially at Arthur Andersen and
Company and since 1973 at his own
Danbury-based firm. His specializations
include personal and corporate taxation,
mergers and acquisitions, and family,
estate and succession planning. He is
To see a gallery of images from
a member of the Connecticut Society
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
of Certified Public Accountants
(CSPCA) and the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA). He serves as a corporator
(l-r): Dean of the Ancell School of Business Dr. Allen Morton, Robert J.
Kornhaas Jr., President James W. Schmotter, Joseph A. Fiorita Jr., CSUS
for Newtown Savings Bank and as a
Trustee Ronald Pugliese and WCSU Foundation Vice Chairman Gerard Robilotti
director of Brookfield-based Photronics
Inc., as well as on advisory boards for a
Danbury with their three children.
number of closely held companies and
The WestConn Society represents the oldest
charitable organizations. A member of the WestConn
continuous giving program sponsored by the WCSU
Society, Fiorita previously served on the boards of several
Foundation, and it provides an important source of
banks and as a member of the City of Danbury Parking
private donations to support innovative academic
Authority. He and his wife Sally reside in Danbury and
programs, outreach opportunities and enrichment
have two children and six grandchildren.
initiatives. The goal of the WestConn Society is to
Kornhaas is a Danbury native and holds an accounting
sustain a critical margin of excellence to enhance students’
degree from the University of Connecticut, returning
learning experience and invest in faculty and curriculum
after his 1978 graduation to join the accounting firm
development.
founded by Fiorita. Over his 32-year career, Kornhaas
A minimum donation to the WCSU Foundation
has done extensive work on audits and reviews for closely
of $250 qualifies the donor for annual membership in
held businesses and nonprofit organizations, as well as
the WestConn Society and attendance at the annual
providing a wide range of personal financial services
including advice on income tax and estate planning issues. luncheon.
He is a member of the CSPCA and AICPA, a corporator
For more information, contact David Halek in the Office of
for Savings Bank of Danbury, and a former member of
Institutional Advancement at [email protected].
the board of directors of the Charles Ives Center for the
Arts. He also is active in St. Joseph Church as a member
of the parish council. He and his wife Kathy reside in
Paying it forward: Danbury CPA opens door to accounting careers
Tony Cirone took the first steps at WestConn toward
building a successful practice as a Certified Public
Accountant, and today he pays forward that debt by
sharing his professional experience and passion for
accounting with a new generation of students.
“I was a student who had to put myself through
school,” recalled Cirone in an interview at the
Danbury office of Equale & Cirone LLP. “Many of
the WestConn students we bring in here are in the
same boat. I’ve been where they’re at, balancing the
requirements of getting their education while working
their way through school.
“WestConn did a great job in opening our eyes to the
various opportunities in the field,” he observed. “What
I am trying to do now is to give the students who come
here the same opportunities that I got.”
Cirone’s personal experience in working for four
years at the firm of Danbury accountant Bob Corey
while pursuing studies in the Ancell School of Business
to earn his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1988
made him a firm believer in the benefits of maintaining
a longstanding internship and
co-op program relationship with
WestConn. That relationship began
when he became owner in 1992 of a
small Danbury accounting firm and
has continued to grow since he and
fellow CPA Joseph Equale joined
forces in 1999 to establish their
present partnership.
Cirone’s firm works closely
with WCSU Career Development
Center (CDC) Director Maureen
Casey Gernert and Cooperative
Education Director Dr. Anthony Ciarleglio to recruit
WestConn students for internship and co-op positions.
About six years ago, Equale & Cirone introduced an
annual recruitment program in coordination with
the CDC to schedule visits to the WestConn campus
each fall to interview student applicants for full-time
employment after graduation. Finalists are invited back
for a second round of interviews at the firm’s office, and
all candidates receive feedback from
Equale & Cirone offering guidance
to strengthen their resumes and
interview skills.
It is no coincidence that some
of the firm’s most successful new
hires have previously interned there,
he noted. “You have to have the
foundation first, and then you build
from there,” he said.
The Equale & Cirone
internship program begins
building a professional foundation
by introducing students to the fundamentals of
bookkeeping, payroll and tax preparation, and business
accounting, as well as database management and other
support services for the firm. With these fundamentals
in place, interns move on to more challenging
accounting tasks such as preparation and analysis of
business and individual tax returns and financial
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
For more information, to purchase tickets or to learn about
sponsorship opportunities, call (203) 837-8279.
the twenty-fourth annual university gala
featuring the Maria Schneider Orchestra
Photo: MariaSchneider.com
On Saturday, May 1, WestConn will “jazz” up its annual gala
by ditching the tuxes and evening gowns for some fresh air
and inspired music. Grammy Award-winning jazz composer
and artist Maria Schneider will headline the university’s
24th annual gala, which will be held in a festival tent on the
grounds of the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in
Danbury.
Abandoning the traditional sit-down dinner in favor
of al fresco hors d’oeuvres and jazz will serve to showcase
WestConn’s status as the state university for the arts. Timing
the fundraising gala to coincide with the annual Jazz Festival
will allow music lovers and university supporters to come
together to enjoy a festive evening that will support student
scholarships and honor two local philanthropic organizations:
The Hord Foundation and the Latino Scholarship Fund. The
gala is open to the public and tickets for the event are $200
per person ($150 for faculty, staff and their guests).
The gala will feature a private performance with Schneider
conducting the WCSU Jazz Orchestra under the tent, as well
as preferred seating for Schneider’s concert with her band
in Ives Concert Hall as part of the Jazz Festival. Channel
3 Eyewitness News anchor Kevin Hogan will emcee the
evening’s events.
Schneider, who studied at the University of Minnesota, the
University of Miami and the Eastman School of Music, was
one of the first artists to use ArtistShare, a fan-funded Internet
platform, to produce an album. Her 2004 effort, “Concert in
the Garden,” was the first Grammy Award-winning recording
sold solely via the Internet. The Jazz Journalists Association
named “Concert in the Garden” Jazz Album of the Year. The
organization also named Schneider Composer of the Year and
Arranger of the Year, and honored her group with the award
for Large Jazz Ensemble of the Year.
Schneider studied under Bob Brookmeyer and Gil Evans,
working on various projects with Evans, including the films
“The Color of Money” and “Absolute Beginners.” Her
discography includes: “Evanescence” (1994), “Coming About”
(1995), “Live At The Jazz Standard — Days Of Wine And
Roses” (2000), “Allegresse” (2000), “Concert in the Garden”
(2004) and “Sky Blue” (2007).
7 alumni & development
a
l
a
g
campus briefs 8
mediamentions
WestConn exhibits collected works
An exhibition of works from WestConn’s collection was displayed from Feb. 24 through
March 16 at the Higgins Hall Gallery in Higgins Hall
The works were assembled from various collections on the Midtown campus, most
notably the Truman Warner Anthropological Collection from the archives at the Haas
Library. This unique collection consists primarily of ceremonial masks and hand-carved
musical instruments from Africa, Asia and New Guinea. During his travels in the 1960s
through the 1980s, Warner collected many of the pieces for use in his anthropology
classes.
Other selections in this exhibition included a diverse group of paintings dating from the
early 20th century to the present, along with a collection of 20th century prints. Various
methods of etching, woodblock, silkscreen and lithography by artists such as Robert
Natkin, Leonard Baskin and Will Barnett were represented.
AlphaGenix donates stem cell kit to WCSU
Ask and you shall receive. That is exactly what happened when
Dr. Frank Dye, professor of biological and environmental sciences,
broadcast a request to seven commercial companies for a
stem cell kit to use for his Cell Biology class. Dr. Stephen Hall,
president of life-science company AlphaGenix, responded to the
request.
Because of budget limitations, it would not have been possible
to purchase a stem cell kit for Dye’s Cell Biology class. Dye
admitted, “I really could not afford the supplies out of my course
budget.” Typically, stem cell kits range from $800 to $1,000,
so the AlphaGenix donation of a stem cell kit for free is worth
celebrating.
Of his donation of rat and neural stem cells, Hall stated, “I try
to always take time to offer resources to universities for further
education.” As an adjunct professor of biomedical sciences at the University of South
Dakota, Hall understood financial restrictions. “For one vial of stem cells we [AlphaGenix]
charge about $500, which is a million stem cells. Supplies are pretty expensive, too, and
you have to order more media [for proper maintenance]. I provided Frank with more
media,” Hall said.
In late February Hall shipped three vials of stem cells on dry ice to Dye. Stem cells
will continue to grow indefinitely if you take care of them properly,” Hall said. Because of
AlphaGenix’s generosity, Dye’s Cell Biology students will have the opportunity to explore
stem cells for years to come.
Women’s Center of Greater Danbury brings
new program to campus
The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury has had a strong presence on campus over the
past few years, assisting with students in crisis. Recently the Center brought a new program
to campus that focused on the male role in ending relationship violence starting in midMarch through May.
“One Man Up” was designed for students to openly discuss and learn about issues of
sexuality, relationships and masculinity. The goal was to empower men on campus who
do not condone violence to speak up and be heard. The program engaged students by
learning to successfully challenge acceptance of relationship violence and give them an
opportunity to take collective leadership.
“I think this is an exciting, new initiative,” said Sharon Guck, WCSU coordinator of
Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse Prevention Services. “Research shows that men on
a college campus can play a pivotal role in changing the attitudes of other young men
regarding violence in relationships. In my experience, opening up a dialogue with these
young men can be the first step in raising awareness, changing attitudes and ultimately
their behaviors.”
Both men and women participate in the 90-minute session comprised of group
discussion and activities and held Wednesday evenings on the Midtown campus.
Follow us!
wcsu.edu/newsevents
NURTURING A ‘CREATIVE
CORRIDOR’ (HARTFORD
COURANT, CHICAGO
TRIBUNE)
As Connecticut confronts a
challenging economic future,
it’s imperative that we identify
comparative advantages
to gain a competitive edge
over other states and
regions. Manufacturing and
services will continue to play
a role, but the nurturing
of enterprises focusing
on the arts and creativity
may promise an even
higher return on the state’s
investment. Connecticut is
especially well positioned to
make the development of an
economy based on the arts
and other creative enterprises
such a comparative
advantage. … Danbury
and Western’s experience
demonstrates how Richard
Florida’s creative class can
be nurtured in Connecticut.
We have an opportunity to
develop such an environment
statewide. Recently the
higher education and
employment advancement
committee of the General
Assembly introduced a bill
to create a task force to
study how the state might
proceed in advancing the
development of a creative
economy in Connecticut.
I applaud that effort to
advance this promising notion
and encourage others to lend
it their support. (Op Ed by
President Schmotter)
MIND GAMES AS TOUGH
AS OLYMPIC GAMES (CNN.
COM)
Annoyed by a French
competitor’s bragging, U.S.
Olympic swimmer Don
Schollander stalked him
into the men’s bathroom,
then planted himself inches
behind his rival — at the
A sampling of local media stories that
mention WestConn. All appeared in The
News-Times unless otherwise noted.
urinal. Within earshot of
his competitors, seven-time
gold medalist Mark Spitz
reportedly once complained
to his coach that he felt tight
when he wasn’t hurting at all.
Famously mustachioed, the
American swimmer said his
facial hair helped wick water,
enabling him to swim faster.
Soon after, the Russians grew
mustaches. …”Trash talking
is the least subtle, often least
effective way to assert your
presence on any field,” said
Shane Murphy, the head of
the U.S. Olympic Committee’s
Sport Psychology Department
from 1987 to 1994. He
has worked with athletes
of all levels for 25 years,
teaching them breathing and
meditation techniques that
keep them calm and remain
“in the zone.” Most of the
time, he said, a competitor
will psych himself out.
“When I begin working
with an athlete, I want to
know what their fears are,
what is going to make them
hesitate,” he said. “We’ll start
out with me saying, ‘Let’s
think of something that might
go wrong.’”
WHEN DISASTER HITS,
PETS TAKE A HIT
When a non-poisonous snake
sinks its teeth into you, it
may be reluctant to let go.
That is, of course, why you
should have a bucket of ice
nearby — or at least a faucet
with cold running water —
when you handle snakes.
“Just stick its head in cold
water,” said Theodora Pinou,
a herpetologist who has
been bitten several times
in her life. “The cold water
will make it slow down, and
you can get it to release
its bite.” Granted, this is not
advice most people need.
But a group of volunteers
listened carefully to Pinou,
a professor of biology and
environmental science at
Western Connecticut State
University, when she spoke
at the town Recreation Center
here last month. Someday,
they may need to rescue
a pet snake or two — not
to mention turtles, toads or
iguanas. The more they can
learn from an expert like
Pinou, the better.
WESTCONN’S MELISSA
TEEL ONE OF 40
FINALISTS FOR D-III
ALL-AMERICA TEAM
(HARTFORD EXAMINER.
COM)
WestConn’s Melissa Teel
is among the final 40
candidates for the 2010
NCAA Division III Coaches’
All-America Team as voted on
by the Women’s Basketball
Coaches’ Association
(WBCA). Teel, a junior
center from Hamden, is
coming off her finest season
in a Colonials’ uniform.
She averaged 13.9 points,
14.6 rebounds and broke
several school records with
141 blocked shots. Her 4.9
block-per-game average
leads the nation in Division
III. Teel connected on 170of-269 attempts from the
field for an incredible 63.2
shooting percentage. In
addition, Teel’s teammate,
senior forward Katie Moffo
of Southington, has been
selected to play in the
NEWBA Senior All-Star
Classic to be played at
Western New England College
in Springfield on March
27. The Colonials recently
finished their season with a
23-6 record after advancing
to the second round of the
NCAA Championships.
Cirone (cont’d.)
statement preparation.
In a challenging employment market
where smaller accounting firms like his have
seen a marked increase in job inquiries,
Cirone emphasized the importance of
gaining on-the-job accounting experience
through internship and co-op positions
before graduation as a means for applicants
to stand out in a competitive application
pool. At the same time, he views the firm’s
successful collaboration with WestConn
and the CDC as an effective vehicle for
Equale & Cirone to develop and recruit
future full-time employees — both for new
hires immediately after graduation and for
prospective hires among graduates who may
choose to return to the area after working
for a large national or regional firm.
“Students today need to be flexible in
taking advantage of the opportunities
currently available, and persistent in
pursuing those opportunities,” he observed.
He encouraged WestConn undergraduates
to use the resume, interviewing and
employment resources offered by the CDC
as a means to gain the skills needed for a
successful job search.
WestConn’s 2010 Barnard Award winners
Twelve outstanding college seniors who attend the Connecticut State University
System are honored with Barnard Awards each year. To be considered for a
Barnard Award, a student must have at least a 3.75 GPA.
By Paul Steinmetz
James Fraguela, of Brookfield, is a Legal Studies major in the Division of
Justice and Law Administration. He holds a 3.84 GPA and has been named
to the Dean’s List in Fall 2008, Spring 2009 and Fall 2009. He is a member of
the WCSU Justice and Law Club and interned at the New Fairfield/Sherman
Probate Court from January to May 2009. The 39-year-old received a Bachelor
of Arts in Liberal Studies from Purchase College
in 2005 and plans to enroll in law school.
Fraguela hopes to become an advocate for the less
privileged upon obtaining his law degree.
Photo: Kyle Juron
It was fitting that Mark
Gegeny was recognized as
the WCSU Employee of the
Semester at a ceremony in the
Westside Campus Center, the
realm from which he serves
countless customers.
Gegeny, operations manager
for the Student and Campus centers, has many official
duties, including running the university box office,
supervising 25 student workers, ensuring the Campus
Center coffee house, The Daily Grind, is operating
smoothly and, most important to many people, reserving
rooms in the Student Center and Campus Center and
setting them up for events.
Fred Cratty, director of Employee Relations, oversees
the Employee of the Semester program.
“I had good reasons for Mark receiving this award,”
Cratty joked. “I knew the room would be set up correctly.”
Gegeny’s dedication to detail, devotion to students
and great attitude were mentioned often during the
testimonial before he accepted his award.
“I’m one of those who one time I’ll book a room two
weeks in advance, the next time it’ll be two hours,” said
Daryle Dennis, assistant dean of Student Affairs. “Mark
always gets the job done.”
Tammy Hammershoy, director of Alumni Relations,
said Gegeny never fails to work through the complex
requests he gets from her.
“The people who put on the events get the credit, and
we don’t often look to the people behind the scenes,”
Hammershoy said. “Some of the setups for my events can
be pretty intense, but with Mark, they always go well.”
Paul Simon, director of the Student and Campus centers,
hired Gegeny.
“Mark was treasurer of the Student Government
Association when I met him,” Simon said. “He was a little
nebbish, a little kid just sitting there doing his job.”
Gegeny progressed from a position as a graduate worker
in 2002 to his current responsibilities.
“As a supervisor, there is nobody better,” Simon said. “I
would never trade him away to anybody.”
University President James W. Schmotter noted that
Gegeny is often the first to open up a room reserved for
an event in the Midtown Student Center or Westside
Campus Center and proceed to ensure it is ready to
accept guests. Schmotter said that knowledge makes him
comfortable that the university will host the best event
possible.
“Mark is at the front door,” Schmotter said. “And
thanks to Mark, we always look great.”
After Gegeny accepted his Employee of the Semester
plaque, he thanked everyone in the audience including his
wife, Marie, who “keeps me in line.”
And he referred to the previous Employee of the
Semester ceremony, during which honoree Charles
Alexander, university judicial officer, was honored and
expressed great emotion about the recognition.
At the time, Gegeny said, standing in front of his
admirers, “I didn’t understand it. Now I do.”
David Strout, of New Milford, is a Professional Writing major in the School of
Arts and Sciences. He holds a 4.0 GPA. Strout was president and co-editor of
the campus literary publication “Black & White”; an instructor in the German
Studies Center; and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars,
the English Society and the university Honors Program. The recipient of
numerous scholarships and awards, Strout also received the WCSU President’s
Award. His goal after graduation is to travel and study abroad before pursuing
graduate school.
WestConn student gives “Alice in Wonderland” new lease on life
Recently released adaptation a huge success
By Robin DeMerell
When WestConn student Jamison Odone showed up
at Warner Hall on March 9 to sign copies of his recently
released book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” he
didn’t plan on selling out of books.
More than 30 people showed up to meet Odone
and purchase a copy of the book, the first in his
“Stickfiguratively Speaking” series from PublishingWorks
Inc.
“Literary nonsense turns to whimsical imagery with a
macabre twist in the pen-and-ink drawings of Jamison
Odone,” the publisher said. “Stick figures have never
emoted this much energy as each page brings a certain
curiosity to a new light in this deconstruction of Lewis
Carroll’s classic.”
In addition, Odone’s book has received rave reviews
from critics, including one from Publishers Weekly.
“Mixing text with stick figure illustrations, Odone
follows an Alice who is now somewhat pluckier than
in her original incarnation as she meets the iconic
Wonderland residents,” wrote Publishers Weekly. “What
is thankfully lost in the translation are the political
subtexts that made Carroll’s original work less like a
fairy tale and more like a story of caution. Alice is simply
a girl who outwits the bumbling and the bad rulers
of Wonderland. … Odone’s lighthearted take on the
characters is refreshing; it allows the story to breathe and
see itself in a new and magical way.”
The second book in the series, “The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow,” is due out in September.
Odone also is the author of “Honey Badgers” and
illustrator of “The Bedtime Train,” both children’s
books.
2010 grads go ‘green’ with recycled caps, gowns
This year’s graduating class just got a lot smarter. At
this year’s May commencements, WCSU graduates
will wear “green” caps and gowns made from 100
percent, post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
This new line of graduation wear, named
GreenWeaver, is manufactured by Oak Hall Cap &
Gown. The garments are made of fabric spun from
molten plastic pellets and it takes an average of 23
bottles to make each gown. Based on WCSU sales, this
will prevent approximately 17,000 plastic bottles from
ending up in a landfill. According to the manufacturer,
the gowns are soft and virtually indistinguishable from
the traditional polyester used to make graduation wear.
And what’s even smarter about purchasing the
new caps and gowns is that for each cap and gown
purchased, Oak Hall will make a contribution to a
campus environmental group.
9
Gegeny named
Employee of Semester
scene on campus 10
A
A. As part of Women’s History Month, WestConn presented “Mentoring Monologues.” Participants who honored
their women mentors included (l-r): Assistant Director of the Academic Advisement Center Lisa Peck, Professor
of Education and Educational Psychology Dr. Virginia King, Elizabeth Cotter, Carmine Coco DeYoung and
Professor of Education and Educational Psychology Dr. Darla Shaw.
B
B. On March 11, Enrique Morones, founder of Border Angels, a nonprofit volunteer organization aiming to stop
migrant deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border, discussed “Border Angels, Border Realities and Immigration
Today.” Morones, the recipient of Mexico’s 2009 National Human Rights Award, has been recognized as one of
the 100 most influential Latinos in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine.
C. Catherine Hardwicke, director of “Twilight,” met with communication students during the day and delivered a
public lecture at night about “Beyond the Script: How to Choose a Film Project” on March 11
D. Richard Varner, Aerospace Education Specialist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, held a training
session on Feb. 23 to help area teachers bring the science of the Hubble Space Telescope to their classrooms.
C
D
B. Freshman Elizabeth Dandeneau plays her flute during the music
department’s third annual James Furman Honors Recital. Accompanying Dandeneau is Andrew Gordon.
C. (l-r): Chelsea Pinero, as Lucienne, and Anna Giordano, as Raymonde, in the theatre arts department’s spring production, the farce
“A Flea in Her Ear.”
D. Members of the WCSU Colonials Women’s Basketball Team react
with elation as they clinch they Little East Conference title on their
home court. The Colonials went on to compete in the NCAA-Div. III
tournament, making it to the second round.
B
C
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
D
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
11 scene on campus
A. Students participating in Science Horizons descended upon
WestConn’s Midtown campus in February, with display boards
summarizing their research taking over the Berkshire Hall gymnasium and the Science Building Atrium.
A
Benefit Performance
coming up 12
Manhattan String Quartet
ut
Western Connectic
University
ecticut State
nn
Co
rn
e
st
We
Please join us for a benefit
appearance of the Manhattan String
Quartet to support the university’s
campaign.
Wednesday, April 21
7 p.m.
Alumni Hall
WCSU Midtown campus
te University
15th Annual
Story Musgrave
nnecticut Sta
Western Co
State University
Astronaut
“The Beauty of Nature —
The Art of Technology”
Suggested donation: $20
y1
April 29- Ma
For information, call (203) 837-8754
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Seating is limited.
Dr. Story Musgrave, who performed the
first spacewalks to repair the Hubble
Space Telescope, is one of NASA’s most
accomplished astronauts. He flew into
space six times, has earned seven graduate
degrees, ranging from math to literature,
and was a part-time trauma surgeon during
his 30-year astronaut career.
Musgrave dropped out of high school to
join the Marines as an aircraft electrician
and engine mechanic. He learned to fly in
the military and accumulated 18,000 hours
of flight time in more than 160 aircraft.
An accomplished parachutist, he has made
more than 800 free falls — including more
than 100 free-fall descents to study human
aerodynamics.
ra
Featuring
der OrcheQstuartet
Maria Schnei
vid Liebman
P r e s e n t i n g
t h e 1 3 t h
and
Cabaret
Da
ril 29, 7 p.m.
ll
Thursday, Ap
s Concert Ha
Faculty at Ive
WCSU Jazz
30, 7 p.m.
Friday, April
Orchestra
WCSU Jazz
Quartet
vid Liebman
with guest Da
to benefit
WCSU childcare
Musgrave’s historic work on the Hubble
restored perfect vision to the telescope,
which has led to discoveries about the age
of the universe, black holes and evidence
of planets outside our solar system.
y 1, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Ma
winner
Grammy award Orchestra
der
nei
Sch
ria
Ma
The mirror and fine guidance system for
the Hubble Space Telescope were built
in Danbury by Perkin-Elmer Corp., now
Goodrich ISR Systems.
s available at:
Ticket
ets
wcsu.edu/tick 9
49
or (203) 837-8
Western Con
necticut Sta
Thursday, April 22, 2010
7:30 p.m.
Ives Concert Hall, White Hall,
WCSU Midtown campus
181 White Street, Danbury, Conn.
For more information, please call
(203) 837-8486 or visit www.wcsu.edu/pls.
This event is free and open to the public.
This event is funded by the President’s Club.
WCSU will offer credit for this
program. Pre-registration is
required to earn CEUs. For
information, call (203) 837-8486.
te University
cert Hall,
pus, Ives Con
Conn.
Midtown cam
et, Danbury,
181 White Stre
White Hall,
Join us for our 13th Cabaret starring WCSU faculty, staff and students!
Westside Campus Center Ballroom, Westside campus, Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury, Conn.
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Come early and enjoy gourmet sandwiches, snacks and music.
Full cash bar offered throughout the evening.
Silent auction and raffle prizes!
Tickets: $15 for faculty, staff, alumni and guests
$5 for students with valid WestConn ID
First 100 WCSU student tickets free –– courtesy of SGA!
For pre-paid table reservations call Karen Walsh at (203) 837-8250.
Get tickets at the Info Desks at the Midtown Student Center or Westside Campus Center.
(203) 837-TIXX (8499)
For more information call Maureen Gernert –– (203) 837-8266
all major
s welcom
e!
accounting
american stud
ies
anthropology
art
astronomy
biochemistry
biology
biotechnology
chemistry
communication
computer scie
nce
earth and plan
etary sciences
ecology
economics
education
english
exploratory stud
ies
finance
health educatio
n
health promotio
n studies
history
t h u r s d a y,
may
13, 2010
2:30 p.m.
/ science
building
Clinical Project
Keynote Spe
aker:
Rosa T.
Manager at Cog Kyek ’06
State, Inc.
Wr d
WestConn
Research
Day
For more informa
tion, visit wcs
u.edu/wrd.
ns must be mad
e by April 22,
2010 at 5 p.m.
All submissio
justice and law
administration
management
management
information syst
ems
marketing
mathematics
media arts
medical technolo
gy
meteorology
music
music educatio
n
nursing
political science
psychology
social sciences
social work
sociology
spanish
theatre arts
writing
gala
uOarchleU
n
stra
n
a
r
h
e
t
d
r
i
e
u
n
h
-fo ria Sc
nor the
as we ho
2010
ay 1,
ay, M
Saturd
ip Fund
holarsh
tino Sc
d the La
tion an
unda
Hord Fo
1 White
0 p.m.
at 5:3
Street,
Danbur
ecticut
y, Conn
6 p.m.
ance at
perform
U
semble
ll, WCS
p.m.
Jazz En
30
White Ha
U
8:
CS
at
W
joy a
ert Hall
and en
s Conc
hneider
ert in Ive
aria Sc
nt
tra conc
Meet M
r the te
Orches
g.
m. unde
hneider
e evenin
9:30 p.
at
Maria Sc
t
hout th
er
ss
ic throug
s and de
nce mus
Cordial
and da
ils
ta
, cock
the-bite
nner-byEnjoy di
ction
Silent au
/
l
na
ll the
optio
kets, ca
Black tie
u/ball.
buy tic
wcsu.ed
s or to
or visit
rtunitie
po
98
op
82
p
7hi
onsors
(203) 83
sp
at
,
t
ils
en
t deta
vancem
For even
tional Ad
of Institu
Office
pus, 18
cam
Midtown
ala
ity G
nivers
n,
undatio
rsity Fo
our
ate Unive
attend
ticut St
e you to
Connec
estern
ially invit
W
rd
e
th
co
of
usic,
rectors
ent of M
ard of Di
Departm
The Bo
with the
eration
in coop
twefeantutrinyg the Ma
For the latest in WestConn news and event listings, visit
wcsu.edu/newsevents
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Westside Campus Center Ballroom
Showtime – 7:30 p.m.
Jazz orchestra and dancing at 9:30 p.m.
rformer,
ning pe
rmed
ard win
up perfo
my-aw
d her gro rsities,
e Gram
, she an
two-tim
ive
er is a
e years
d at un
fiv
ye
eid
r
hn
pla
Fo
.
s
ria Sc
a ha
1992
orchestr
nded in
uctor Ma
r
nd
fou
he
,
e
co
ion
a sh
er and
In addit
orchestr
places
Compos
Village.
for the
nduct in
eenwich
known
guest co
widely
es in Gr
e.
ions to
at Vision
, worldwid
commiss
regularly
concert
merous
and in
eived nu
rec
festivals
s
der the
er ha
ening, un
Schneid
alia.
ert
. That ev
d Austr
career,
s Conc
students
out her
into Ive
erica an
Through
SU music l be welcomed
South Am
s for WC
wil
Europe,
sse
ts
as
es
cla
ch
r
gu
,
su
ste
le. Later
ach ma
co
mb
l
se
wil
en
.
tra
eider
nt jazz
Orches
1, Schn
’s stude
hneider
On May
d WCSU
b site,
Maria Sc
er’s We
e will lea
by the
Schneid
tent, sh
rmance
to Maria
a perfo
d a link
Hall for
ation an
orm
inf
sorship
ls, spon
For detai
all.
su.edu/b
visit wc
Dates and times are subject to
change. Check our online events
calendar to ensure the event you
are interested in is still scheduled.
All events are free and open to the
public unless otherwise noted. For
more information about these and
other events, please call the Office
of University Relations at (203)
837-8486 or visit wcsu.edu.
Need directions? Please visit
wcsu.edu/directions.