Christina Royal ‘94/’03M made headlines when she was named the first female president of Holyoke Community College last year. Dedicated to improving the world around her, she’s known as an innovator, challenge seeker, and problem solver by those around her.
Her early career included IT project management in the educational corporate sector, running training accounts, and working for a startup to outsource college IT certification programs. From there, she worked at Marist to build the first online program for undergraduates, earned a master’s degree in psychology, headed the eLearning and Innovation Division at Cuyahoga Community College, and became provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Inver Hills Community College.
In January 2017, Dr. Royal became president of Holyoke Community College. “Nobody actually gets to where they are by themselves”, she said reflecting on her journey to college president. “At this year’s commencement I asked my students, ‘Whose shoulders did you stand on to get here?’ Because everybody leverages support from a variety of people and resources and that’s important to acknowledge.”
Graduating from Marist with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a minor in psychology, and later with a graduate degree in educational psychology, Christina was the first in her family to receive a college degree, something she refers to as a “positive but overwhelming experience”.
As a first generation college student at Marist, she often sought mentoring from her professors, academically and non-academically. “I talked to a lot of faculty who were instrumental in helping me figure out college and my own potential,” she says. They helped her navigate course load and expectations, gave advice, and showed her the value of networking. Speaking of her professors, she said, “I remember thinking oh, wow, they’re willing to help with writing a recommendation letter, they’re willing to talk about job prospects and what the world looks like after college, even grad school. That’s where I really started to feel the sense of community and understand what was possible for my life and future.”
Christina joined both the Math Club and the Chess Club during her sophomore year, and also became a Resident Assistant; during her senior year she became an Assistant Resident Director. She was excited for the opportunity to focus on programming, engage other students, and to build up the excitement and energy on campus.
Looking back, Dr. Royal is thankful for her liberal arts education. “My world opened up when I had the chance to take classes in areas I hadn’t really been exposed to before. It ignited an appreciation for the learner in me—I would actually be a student for the rest of my life if I could. I love learning, and my experience at Marist activated that.”
She continued, “I’ve learned how to apply that learner’s strength in different capacities in my life, including as president, because you’re constantly in a position of listening and learning, thinking differently, asking thought-provoking questions, and exploring new and creative possibilities to present and future problems.”
When asked what’s next, Christina is nothing but ambitious. “I want to tackle the big audacious goal of how we can eradicate some of the persistent deep issues affecting my community and transform the city of Holyoke,” she said, specifically referencing a struggling economy, food insecurity, and homelessness as some of the biggest challenges. “If we can figure it out for a city like Holyoke, we can figure it out for the nation.”
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Tom and Mary Ward Hall was dedicated May 4 on the Marist College campus. The event was historic, as it marked the first naming of a building for an alumnus through philanthropy. Tom Ward ’69 and his wife Mary Walker provided a leadership gift for the North Campus Housing Complex, the largest capital project in the College’s history. Ward Hall is the first of four residence halls in the complex.
Ward was a business administration major at Marist, and he credits Professor Jack Kelly and the Economics101 course for spurring his interest in business. Now retired, Tom and Mary are still actively involved in many philanthropic causes and have remained close to Marist. Ward is currently treasurer of Marist’s Board of Trustees and previously served as a member of the Fashion Program Advisory Board, including service as its chair. In 2017, Marist presented him with the Dr. Linus Richard Foy ’50 Outstanding Alumnus Award for his distinguished service to his profession and to the College.
“We have achieved some success and are grateful for what Marist College provided—from the strong bond created as a member of the Class of 1969 to a quality education. We felt it important to contribute to the next generation of students and, at the same time, help to increase the value of a Marist degree,” said Ward.
After attending the Graduate School of Business at Drexel University, Tom entered a corporate training program at J.P Stevens, a large textile manufacturer. Ward spent 31 years at the company which later became WestPoint Stevens, Inc., and was elevated to president and COO. Later, he served as Chairman of Thomas Ward Associates, LLC, consulting with the Coles Group, one of Australia’s largest retailers. He went on to join Maidenform Inc. as president and CEO, and retired as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Maidenform Brands in 2009.
Mary Walker is a graduate of the University of Maryland, and she earned an MBA from George Washington University with a concentration in finance and marketing. She managed oil transportation on a worldwide basis at Exxon International and later moved to AT&T, managing product development.
Although there are other named buildings on the Marist campus, Ward Hall is the first to be named for an alumnus as the result of a gift. “Ward Hall opens a new chapter for Marist,” noted Chris DelGiorno '88, Vice President for College Advancement. “Many of the buildings constructed at Marist over the past 20 years celebrate the exceptional support of noteworthy business and civic leaders in the Hudson Valley such as Robert Dyson, Ellen Hancock, Lowell Thomas, James J. McCann, and James Cannavino. Tom and Mary's generous gift signifies the beginning of an exciting new era of alumni philanthropy with important implications for Marist's future.”
Connor Dalton ’12 is in his second year at Villanova’s Charles Widger School of Law. Kaitlin Bond ’16 is in her second year at Brooklyn Law School. The two Marist graduates met this spring when they competed in the William B. Bryant-Luke Charles Moore Moot Court Competition at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Seventeen schools participated in the mock trials. After two preliminary rounds and three knock-out rounds, both Kaitlin’s and Connor’s teams made it to the final round of competition. In the end, judges determined that Brooklyn Law School outscored Villanova. Kaitlin was also awarded “Best Oralist” in the competition.
Participants in the mock trial are given their topics in December and have one month to research and submit a brief with no coaching. They then receive feedback and have one month to prepare an oral argument for both sides of the issue. On the day of the competition, a coin flip determines whether they are prosecutor or defendant. Much as an appellate argument occurs in the Supreme Court of the United States, each individual presents an argument in 15 minute blocks, all the while being peppered by piercing questions from the bench.
The competition is designed to help students prepare for real-world litigation scenarios. It takes place in a real court room with professional international trade court judges. “At least you can (make mistakes) and learn before you have a real client,” said Kaitlin.
Connor’s topic was whether a local religiously rooted baker could be forced to make a custom-made cake for a transgender celebration in violation of the baker's First Amendment rights to free speech and free religious exercise. Kaitlin was assigned a case determining whether transgender students at public high schools may use the bathroom of the gender they identify with rather than the bathroom of their biological gender (in accordance with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment).
Kaitlin was selected to represent Brooklyn Law School after competing in advocacy camp during her first year. Following her success in this year’s competition, she’s been invited to compete on the National Appellate Team, along with three other students. This summer she plans to split her time between working on contracts in a corporate transactional department and working with a litigation department.
Looking back at Marist she said, “I couldn’t speak more highly of the Marist paralegal program. It really made a difference.”
Connor joined Villanova’s Appellate Advocacy team last year, and after attending a summer program between his first and second year, was one of 10 students selected to represent the school in competition. He plans to compete again next year in both the fall and spring. This summer he’ll be working in Delaware for a defender’s office where he’ll focus on trial advocacy. After graduating, he hopes to pursue a career in criminal defense.
Reflecting on his time at Marist, Connor, a history major, credits Professor David Woolner for inspiring his interest in law, especially classes on Franklin D. Roosevelt and constitutional issues in the 1930s and 1040s. “Having a knowledge of the history of that era really helped”, he said.
Brooke Marie DiPalma and Alec James Lee earned this year’s Alumni Leadership Award. Each year, Marist alumni currently working at the college are asked to nominate students for this award. The award is given to one male and one female student who exemplify the true spirit of Marist College, have made a significant contribution to the Marist community, and show promise as a loyal and supportive member of the Alumni Association.
Brooke, founder of the “P.S. I Love You” campaign, has made it her goal to spread awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. The campaign is now a weeklong series of events at Marist and has spread to more than 140 schools in the tri-state area. Graduating with a degree in public relations, she hopes to become an on-air television reporter or a producer.
During her time at Marist, Brooke also completed four internships and was named a head coach for the Marist Poll. She studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and served as the vice president of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.
Alec has made it his mission over the past four years to promote community and environmental awareness. As a result of his Honors thesis, he played an integral role in the creation of the Marist community gardens on campus.
While at Marist, Alec first served as an ally trainer and later because the student chair for the Diversity Council’s LBGTQ subcommittee. In 2016, he presented research at the 70th Annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference and in 2017 was named a Goldwater Scholar. Graduating with a degree in Environmental Science, he hopes to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in environmental design and engineering.
Marist College conferred 1,630 bachelors and master’s degrees to graduating students on Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, 2018. Friday’s ceremony included a record 440 adult and graduate students and Saturday’s 72nd traditional undergraduate commencement ceremony honored 1,190 students on the Campus Green overlooking the Hudson River.
Saturday’s commencement speaker was Leonard Schleifer, chief executive of the Tarrytown-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Other speakers included U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY. Senator Schumer approached the audience and said, “It’s a little wet outside, so I have a class gift: Here’s my long speech,” before ripping up the pages in his hands. “Congratulations to the Class of 2018. You are the greatest.”
Amanda Sayegh, class valedictorian, also addressed her classmates. A biomedical science major, she reflected on memorable moments from the last year, including capturing the perfect pictures for Instagram and enjoying the “Marist Beach” (aka the Campus Green.) Looking ahead, she said, “The pages of our next chapter are waiting for us to fill in. Here at Marist, we have been given the tools to write it—the skills to learn, the aptitude to succeed, and the creativity and ability to make a difference in our world. Undoubtedly, there will be numerous different version of those chapters and it is up to us to turn the books of our lives into bestsellers.”
Friday evening’s ceremony for adult undergraduate and master’s students included a keynote address from Kevin MacLellan ‘89, chairman, Global Distribution and International, NBCUniversal. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, his family expected him to follow in their footsteps and work at the local phone company – but he had different aspirations. They thought he was crazy when he told them he’d acquired a job as a freelance production assistant working on music videos. Since then, he has mastered his skills at HBO, Sony Pictures Television International, and now at NBCUniversal.
Kevin has served as a member and conference chair of the Royal Television Society, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is a founder and board member of the Soho Recovery Centre in London and created the Donald and Virginia MacLellan International Scholarship Fund at Marist. Because of his career achievements and commitment to Marist, Kevin is the 2018 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Medal.
In 2005, when Marist began hosting a separate commencement ceremony for master’s and adult students on Friday evening, officials instituted a tradition of bestowing a Distinguished Alumni Medal on an alumnus/a keynote speaker who exemplifies the College’s ideals: excellence in education, a sense of community, and a commitment to service. Recipients thus far have been:
Hired in early April, John Dunne is the 12th coach in Marist Men’s Basketball history.
"We're extremely excited to welcome John and his family to the Hudson River Valley," Tim Murray, Marist College Director of Athletics, said. "With over a decade of experience as a head coach, he has a proven ability to build teams and develop student-athletes. His teams are always tough, hard-working and competitive in the MAAC, and we look forward to Coach Dunne instilling that culture in our basketball program."
For the past 12 years, John has served as head coach at Saint Peter's University. He guided the Peacocks to the 2011 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship, and 2017 CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) championship. From 2012-13, he served as chair of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. He also served a three-year term (2013-16) on the NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee, and has been a member of the MAAC Men's Basketball Committee for the past seven seasons.
"This is a great opportunity for myself and my family," John said. "We're excited to join the Marist and Hudson River Valley communities. Having been in the MAAC for the past 12 years, I've been impressed by the tremendous support this program has received. We're excited for what this job has the potential to become."
Marist students Andrew Best ’18 and Laura Gardner ’18 have each been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA), the latest in a long line of students from the College to receive this prestigious fellowship. Andrew, a psychology and special education major will teach English in Malaysia while Laura, a Spanish and adolescent education major, will teach English in Spain.
Andrew is looking forward to traveling to Malaysia in January 2019 to teach English, and he is well suited for the challenge. During summer breaks, he has worked as a teacher and residential counselor for emotionally challenged youth, as a teaching assistant working with children with learning disabilities, and as a camp counselor with the Montclair YMCA. At Marist, he was a member of the men’s crew team from 2014 to 2016, and he belongs to both Teachers of Tomorrow and the Delta Alpha Pi honor society. Andrew has extensive international experience; born in London, he has traveled to countries including Australia, New Zealand, Tanzania, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
“I’ve never been to Asia, and I know Malaysia needs a lot of support, so I’m really excited to go and help,” said Andrew. He added, “The idea of applying for a Fulbright can be intimidating, but I felt like it was another mountain I could climb.” After graduation and before his Fulbright begins, Andrew will spend this summer honing his teaching methods at a therapeutic camp.
Laura Gardner, a member of the Marist College Band, Kappa Delta Pi (the education honor society), Sigma Delta Pi (the Spanish honor society), and the College’s Emerging Leaders Program, will travel to Spain this fall to begin her ETA. She too is no stranger to international travel, having spent the fall of 2016 in Madrid, where she cemented her interest in teaching English as a second language (ESL). She noted, “I had basically never left New York, so I enjoyed my year in Madrid to the fullest. Studying abroad is not just about the language – it’s also the culture, the people, the food.” After returning to Marist from her semester abroad, Laura taught ESL to first- and second-graders in Red Hook, New York through the CultureConnect program. She has gained additional experience working with youth through an after-school program in Chappaqua, New York and as a tutor with the non-profit R.E.A.L. Skills Network in Poughkeepsie.
While Laura admits to being “shocked” when she learned she had won a Fulbright, she looks forward to reconnecting with the friends she made in Spain in 2016 and embracing the unknown. “I’m usually someone who likes to have a plan, but I’m learning to let go. It’s a little scary but also exciting.” After returning from her Fulbright year, she plans to attend graduate school and teach ESL as a career.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international education exchange program. In recent years, Marist has had tremendous success with this nationally competitive award, with 24 students receiving the Fulbright in the last 15 years.
President David Yellen noted, “We’re proud that Marist students continue to successfully compete for our nation’s most competitive fellowships. This record of success is the result of our students’ hard work, as well as the excellent preparation they receive at Marist, including the mentorship of our dedicated faculty.”
In March, 5,000 college students from all over the world descended on New York City for a seminal experience: the National Model United Nations Conference. Fifteen Marist students were among them. Each Marist representative took Marist’s Model UN course, offered each spring by the Department of Political Science and taught by Assistant Professor of Political Science Juris Pupcenoks.
This year, the Marist team was assigned Lithuania, and they hit the ground running in January, learning everything possible about the country: its history, foreign policy, and culture. At the conference, Marist students were on nine different committees, acting out real roles. They were well-prepared and in the end the Marist team won its first Honorable Mention Delegation Award. Giovanni Gonzalez ’18 took the class two years ago and served as a teacher’s assistant this year. “Model UN gives you a relatively real insight into how diplomacy works: how good and giving it can be, but also how frustrating it can be,” he said. “It brings theory into practice”.
Daniella Sesto ’20, a political science major, applied for the course because she wanted a challenge. She was assigned to the international telecommunication committee, which is comprised of 48 countries. “For me, learning to write in such a different, specific way was a key experience. The UN has its own language,” said Daniella. “I became much more concise, and my writing and speaking skills were strengthened. I’d recommend this course to anyone. It was intense and a 100 percent unique experience.”
Juris’ energy and enthusiasm for the course is evident; as a college student, he participated in Model UN and sees it as an enormous skill-building opportunity for students. “Writing, public speaking, working with all kinds of people—this course and the conference offer a chance to improve these critical skills.”
Rowing Selected for IRA National Championships
Men’s rowing’s Varsity Eight boat was selected to compete in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships. It marked the first time since 2007 that the Red Foxes had a Varsity Eight compete at IRAs. Marist sent a Varsity Four to IRAs for the third straight year.
The IRAs lasted from June 1-3. Both the Varsity Eight and Varsity Four qualified for the D Final, but both finals were canceled on the final day due to inclement weather.
The Red Foxes’ Varsity Eight consisted of Ryan Lillis (coxswain), Raymond Mattingly (stroke), Joseph Kohn (7 seat), Matthew Blaszczyk (6 seat), Tadd Bindas (5 seat), Morgan Stippa (4 seat), Tom Roach (3 seat), Chris Lazich (2 seat), Dan Arrato (bow). The Varsity Four was represented by Ari Streeter (cowswain), Dmitrey Guenther (stroke), Christopher Rechen (3 seat), Tom Basso (2 seat), and Ryan Miller (bow).
Smith Steps Aside As Head Men’s Tennis Coach
After 21 seasons and 12 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships, Tim Smith announced he was stepping aside as the Red Foxes’ head men’s tennis coach on May 30.
Smith’s teams achieved a tremendous amount of success on the court and in the classroom. He won a total of 345 matches at Marist, and the men’s team posted a MAAC record of 142-11 in his tenure. Smith coached four MAAC Players of the Year and 79 selections to the conference’s All-Academic Team.
Wagner Leads NCAA In Draw Controls
Junior Hailey Wagner of the women’s lacrosse team led the NCAA in draw controls per game this season at 8.82 per game. Wagner holds the program’s single-game, single-season, and career records for draw controls.
Red Foxes Earn Academic Honors
Several student-athletes earned academic honors in the month of May:
Marist alumni frequently return to campus to share their work experiences with student members of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting and finance honor society. During the past year, Matt Lipshutz ’03, an Audit and Enterprise Risk Service Senior Manager at Deloitte, and Samantha Villacampa ’16, an FSI Senior Audit Assistant at Deloitte, discussed what working at a Big Four accounting firm entails.
They described their experiences on audit assignments and offered some pointers on preparing for an interview. Grant Thornton employee Laura Indriolo ’13/’14M gave students her perspective on working for the country’s fifth largest public accounting firm (and the external auditor of Marist College). Last spring, Board of Advisers member Michael Medley ’90 — a partner and national leader of the Ernst & Young International Tax Quantitative Services group — gave a presentation on taxes.
Alumni working in the finance industry have also been well represented. Kristen Forgue ’16 presented an overview of her time working at The Hartford insurance company. As part of a panel discussion, Michael Babic ’04 of Goldman Sachs and Andrew Senno ’06 of J.P. Morgan provided background information on their firms and offered tips on how students can best present themselves to potential employers in the finance area.
“These presentations demonstrate the commitment alumni have to Marist and to the students,” said J. Donald Warren, Jr., one of the faculty advisors for the accounting and finance honor society. “Hearing about alumni experiences in their respective careers is a valuable learning experience for students, who often do not have an in-depth knowledge of their chosen career.”
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend:
October 19 - 21: Celebrating all alumni, with special events for the classes of '68, '73, '78, '83, '88, '93, '98, '03, '08, and '13. Online Registration will be available soon. Click here for further information and schedule.
Belfast Classic Basketball Tournament:
Come and cheer on your Marist Red Foxes as they travel to Ireland in November 2018 to take part in the only European NCAA Hall of Fame Belfast Classic Tournament. Enjoy a trip of a lifetime to Belfast and Dublin and visit some of their most renowned landmarks and tourist destinations.
Come and cheer on your Marist Red Foxes as they travel to Ireland in November 2018 to take part in the only European NCAA Hall of Fame Belfast Classic Tournament.
Enjoy a trip of a lifetime to Belfast and Dublin, and visit some of their most renowned landmarks and tourist destinations.