Employing Our Regional Advantage to Educate for Global Realities

western connecticut state university president’s annual report for 2005–2006

b o a r d o f t r u s t e e s

Connecticut State University System

Lawrence D. McHugh, Chairperson MiddletownKarl J. Krapek, Vice Chairperson AvonTheresa J. Eberhard-Asch, Secretary DanburyChristopher L. Ambrosio SCSURichard J. Balducci New BritainJohn A. Doyle BarkhamstedFernando Franco WCSUElizabeth Gagne HartfordAngelo J. Messina FarmingtonJohn Motley BurlingtonL. David Panciera HartfordRonald J. Pugliese NaugatuckPeter Rosa CromwellAndrew Russo CCSUJohn R. Sholtis, Jr. MarlboroughBrian P. Sullivan ECSURev. John P. Sullivan New HavenGail H. Williams Danbury

Western Connecticut State University is anaffirmative action/equal opportunity educatorand employer, fully committed to the goal of providing equal opportunity and full participationin its educational programs, activities, andemployment without discrimination.

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“No one knows what the future holds.But I know who holds it. It is you.”

–– Sandra Day O’Connor

A May 2006 graduate proudly poses with his family.

for several years now, Western Connecticut State University’s advertising slogan has been “Stay Near,Go Far!” That slogan resonates because students receive a first-class education here while attending collegeclose to home. But it’s also a fact that our geographic location allows us to capitalize upon powerful regionaladvantages to educate for global realities.

Now more than ever, WestConn is a pathway to the world.The reasons for this are many. Consider our faculty, who are continually expanding their knowledge

and expertise to bring more to the classroom. Or our students, who flourish on our campus and also in our community, where they volunteer and do good work. Both take advantage of our location in Danbury, withits convenient access to the rich intellectual, economic and artistic resources of Fairfield, Litchfield andWestchester counties, and nearby New York City.

But there is even more to our story. In these pages you will read about how our professors, students andadministrators have traveled near and far. You will learn how they have brought their new ideas and experi-ences home to WestConn –– from Asia, from Europe, from Latin America, from the boroughs of New York,and from within the city limits of Danbury.

As we continue to stretch our physical and intellectual boundaries with state-of-the-art facilities like theScience Building, and new adventures like our partnership with Sias International University in China,WestConn’s students are developing the experience, entrepreneurship, maturity and confidence that willenable them to compete at any level, on any stage, in the global economy. That’s our commitment to themand to the State of Connecticut.

The philosopher Plato once observed, “The direction in which education starts a man will determine hisfuture life.”

Our journey leads us on an exciting path. Read about the directions the women and men of WestConnare taking in the pages that follow.

p r e s i d e n t ’ s m e s s ag e

Dr. James W. Schmotter

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Mastery

“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason, mastery demands all of a person.”

–– Albert Einstein

Peter Warny, a naturalist and ecologist, joined Assistant Professorof Biology Dr. Theodora Pinou and public school science educatorsat the Highstead Arboretum in Redding.

mastery involves the

command of our faculty over

their intellectual domains

and the manner in which

they share this mastery with

their students. Our hallmark

has long been, and is today,

the caring, personal relation-

ships that students have with

faculty. In the classroom,

laboratory, library, studio,

playing field and faculty

office, we change lives the

old-fashioned way — one

student at a time.

sharon guck knows she alone cannot winthe battle against substance abuse. So sheenlisted WestConn’s best student athletes tohelp wage a formidable campaign.

A $30,000 grant, awarded to Guck fromthe National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA), financed a multi-year “WinningChoices” project that seeks to educate studentathletes about the dangers of substance abuseand enlist them as partners in the cause. Maleand female athletes representing a wide rangeof WestConn sports programs have joinedother student leaders to plan an ambitiouscampaign to promote healthy lifestyle deci-sions. A core group of varsity players under-went training as peer educators to promotepositive behavior among first-year athletes.

“I’ve told the athletes, ‘People look up toyou whether or not you are ready for that role,so respond to it,’” Guck said. “They’re enthu-siastic and really genuine. No one has everasked them to help with a project like this. Ifyou give them the opportunity and the toolsand help them along a bit, you’ll be surprisedwhat they come up with.”

Guck has brought an infectious enthusi-asm to her role as coordinator of theWestConn substance abuse prevention program, known as Cultivating HealthyOpportunities in College Environments

(CHOICES). CHOICES’ mission is to pro-mote positive lifestyle choices, provide confi-dential assessments, facilitate counseling andtreatment referrals and involve the entire uni-versity community in prevention efforts.Since she arrived on campus in March 2004,Guck has addressed issues of substance abuseand healthy behavioral choices at classes,meetings and informal discussions with stu-dent, faculty, law enforcement and communitygroups. Training workshops organized by Guckprovide resident advisers in university housingwith critical information about substanceabuse and signs when intervention is required.

Her office has formed productive collabo-rations with faculty to integrate alcohol anddrug information into courses in nursing,social work, marketing, and health promotionand exercise sciences.

“We have filled a void on this campus,”Guck observed. “Previously a faculty memberwho became aware of a student in class with asubstance abuse problem was uncertain whereto turn for a referral or help. Now they have aresource and they’re using it.”

dr. karen daley, associate professor ofnursing, led a group of students on a four-day tripto the hospital at Ramstein Air Base in Germanyto observe military medicine in action.

Peer counselors educate their counterparts about responsible lifestyle choices.

Ramstein Air Base provided a unique learning venue for WestConn nursing students.

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(l–r): President James W. Schmotter, Deputy Speaker of the House Bob Godfrey,Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, State Sen. David Cappiello, Gov. M. Jodi Rell,Department of Public Works Project Manager Peter McCann, State Rep. JaniceGeigler and U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson at the Sept. 2005 ribboncutting for theScience Building.

They learned more than they couldhave imagined.

The 10 nursing students, along withDaley and assistant professor Joan Palladino,got to Germany partly through the work of aWestConn alumnus, Major ChristopherPaige, who graduated from the nursing program in 1993. Paige served in the WhiteHouse as a nurse to President Bill Clintonand now is serving at Ramstein as the training flight commander of the 86thaeromedical evacuation squadron.

The students went over as potential AirForce recruits, flying on military planes andstaying in military housing. When militarypersonnel are injured in Iraq, they are giveninitial treatment there and then flown toRamstein, where they get further treatmentand are prepared to be flown to the UnitedStates.

The student nurses worked in theintensive care, orthopedic and trauma units,set up equipment in airplanes and learnedvarious procedures, such as how blood isstored in a battlefield hospital.

And they found out that, in fact, thewar is changing how nurses do their jobs.

“They based their care on these brand-new protocols that no one knew about,”Daley said. “When this all ends, trauma and

The dichroic glass sculpture suspended above the lobby of the Science Building provides a glittering backdrop for special occasions and campus events.

burn treatment are going to be completelyenriched in terms of care. We know everywar changes nursing, but we didn’t knowhow this war was going to change it. Nowwe do.”

in september 2005, gov. m. jodi rell cameback to campus to christen the new ScienceBuilding, a gleaming 122,000-square-foot,three-story structure containing labs, class-rooms, lecture halls, an astronomy observa-tory, greenhouse and faculty offices thatushered in a new era for education and forenvironmental construction.

“The good news continues and it justkeeps on coming, and I see the pride. We’veboldly raised the bar,” Rell said.

The celebration brought some familiarfaces back to campus, including formerWestConn President Dr. James R. Roach,former Vice President for Finance andAdministration Richard Sullivan and for-mer Director of Planning and EngineeringTom Carlone. They were joined by a multi-tude of university, state, local andConnecticut State University System Officedignitaries, many of whom had attendedthe groundbreaking for the building twoyears earlier.

Rell summed up everyone’s sentiments

when she said, “It’s a great time for WCSU,and for me, it’s a personal-pride thing. Theworkmanship on this project tops them all.The nice thing for all of us is when youstrive for excellence, you get excellence.”

The new building was the first govern-ment facility in Connecticut to earnLeadership in Energy & EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) Certification, which signi-fies that it was built and operates to strictenergy-saving standards. During design andconstruction, the university followed a setof criteria to provide for energy efficienciesafter the building was occupied, and evenmandated recycling of construction debriswhile it was being built.

WestConn also earned LEED certifica-tion for Centennial Hall, the newest resi-dence hall on the Westside campus. LuigiMarcone, director of Environmental andFacilities Services, said the university willbuild future buildings to the specificationsof the LEED process without actually apply-ing for the certification because of the cost.

These were not the only green projectsat WestConn.

Marcone led work on a contract inwhich WestConn receives regular paymentsin return for agreeing to drastically reducepower consumption on campus during

an emergency.WestConn received ISO New

England’s 2005 Demand ResponseAchievement Award for the project.

Marcone also is part of a committeethat created the “WestConnserve” programto encourage daily energy savings with thehelp of the campus community. Conser-vation information was handed out to all incoming first-year students at the summer orientations, and the rest of thecampus will hear the message throughoutthe year.

when 21-year-old jonathan soares graduated from WestConn this year, he wasn’t worried about finding a job after commencement. He’s already the president of his own company, Q Products Inc.,which markets three flavors of gourmetBBQ sauce. What started out as a kitchenexperiment with his mother’s basic barbe-cue sauce recipe has resulted in a new prod-uct success story.

Of course, it takes more than being agood cook to mass produce, package, dis-tribute and market a product, and Soares isthe first to admit that breaking into thealready-saturated retail food industry is achallenge. That’s where his education at

Jonathan Soares, a 2006 graduate, with two flavors of his Q ProductsBBQ sauce, sold in grocery stores across the country.

Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Theodora Pinou instructs public school educators during a WestConn Institute of Science Teacher Research summerworkshop.10

WestConn came in. As a marketing major,Soares had the benefit of the years of expe-rience his professors had accumulated in thebusiness world.

“My teachers at WestConn have beenexecutives and vice presidents at majorcompanies,” Soares said. “They’ve given methe advice and guidance I’ve needed, andit’s clear they really care. They put in 100percent, and the one-on-one interaction Igot made a big difference.”

He’s applied what he’s learned to every-thing from the design of his products’ labelsto positioning his product to fill a niche ––gourmet sauce with a homemade taste forconsumers too busy to start from scratch.He created a Web site to market himselfand his products, and invested the $10,000necessary to start up the business.

While he was a full-time WestConnstudent, loan officer for Superior Mortgage,and marketing consultant to restaurants andother small businesses, Soares could befound shaking hands and doling out samplesat food retailers all over New England.

At a barbecue sauce competition inKansas City, Soares’ sauces came in 20th ina field of 160 contestants. Today, Jonathan’sQ can be found in more than 1,000 stores,including Stop & Shop, Stew Leonard’s,

Big Y, Caraluzzi’s Food Markets, Geissler’s,Hannaford, Dierbergs and Fairway.

a great teacher in high school inspiredDr. Theodora Pinou, assistant professor of biology, to become a scientist. Now Pinouhas developed a project to ensure that morestudents will have the same opportunity.

Armed with a $125,000 grant from theConnecticut Department of Education,Pinou has founded the WestConn Instituteof Science Teacher Research (WISTR),which brought 20 public school educatorsand five WestConn students into the labs ofuniversity science professors to learn fieldresearch firsthand.

Pinou said the teachers who attended asummer workshop would bring new enthusi-asm and knowledge to their students.

“Let’s face it,” Pinou said. “We aren’tgoing to excite the students unless weexcite the conduit –– the teachers.”

She added: “I am sick and tired of hear-ing people say, ‘If you’re not going to be adoctor or go to graduate school, you can bea teacher.’ This is offering a trustee scholar-ship to students who want to dedicatethemselves to teaching science.”

Assistant Chemistry Professor Dr.Jennifer Frederick, Associate Physics

A team of alumni judges determined the award winners at the second annualWestConn Research Day.

Professor Dr. James Boyle, Assistant BiologyProfessor Dr. Ruth Gyure, Assistant BiologyProfessor Dr. Edwin Wong, and Pinoutrained educators from Danbury, Norwalkand New Haven public schools. The teach-ers will work as research assistants, so the professors will benefit from the extra help,and the teachers learn what it is like to dopure science.

Participants earn credits toward a mas-ter’s degree, and learning assessment will besupported by the education faculty from theSchool of Professional Studies. Professor ofEducation Dr. Marcia Delcourt and herassociates will assess the project to see howwell teachers learned.

When the project is done, the partici-pants will have covered 14 of the 24 sciencecontent standards the state requires to betaught in middle and high schools. And theteachers will leave “with new experiments,new analytical techniques and new skills,”Pinou said.

“They can speak from experienceinstead of just read about it,” Pinou said.“Reading allows you to form an opinion.Experiencing it is collecting data, it’s living it.”

westconn faculty members have alwaysknown the university’s excellence in class-room instruction goes hand in hand withserious and often inspired student researchat both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

But as the university prepared to celebrate the second annual WestConnResearch Day (WRD) exhibition of stu-dent-initiated studies in more than a dozenacademic disciplines, the event’s organizersconceded the quality and breadth of studentresearch took them by surprise.

WRD 2006 featured 68 projects withstudents presenting their research studies inposter exhibits and seminars. All studentsparticipating in Research Day submitted

their studies in advance to their facultyresearch advisers for endorsement, and fac-ulty members in turn submitted approvedstudies to the WRD committee for finalreview. Disciplines represented includedchemistry, accounting, music, psychology,biology, astronomy and nursing. Researchwas presented on such diverse subjects asexercising stock options, how coloring anddrawing affect memory and the use of robot-ics to ensure medication safety at a hospital.

“It’s something that WestConn doeswell, but not enough people know about it,”said Associate Professor of Psychology Dr.Robin Flanagan. “The quality of our studentresearch is another thing that makes thisuniversity special.”

“You might say

I live, eat and

breathe soccer.”

Joe Mingachos,

WestConn Women’s Soccer Coach

three westconn softball players werehonored when the National FastpitchCoaches Association announced its 2006Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region teams. Junior first baseman MegCirigliano and first-year designated playerLoren Angiolillo were named to the SecondTeam and sophomore third baseman StaceyDiMaggio was honored on the Third Team.

The men’s soccer team captured the LittleEast Conference Tournament title andappeared in the NCAA Division II NationalTournament. WestConn junior forward BradFidler shared the Little East ConferenceOffensive Player of the Year award andWestConn’s Peter Schachter was namedCoach of the Year.

The women’s soccer team also enjoyed abig year. The team finished second in theLittle East Conference and returned to theNCAA Tournament, advancing to the secondround. Senior forward Nicole Corbin wasnamed to the Third Team by the NationalSoccer Coaches Association.

several administrators and faculty traveled to China in July to lay the ground-work for at least one marketing project eachsemester during the 2006-07 academic year.The Practicum in Global Business

A bus manufacturing facility in China’s Henan province was one of the sites visited by a WestConn contingent led byPresident James W. Schmotter in July.12

Elementary, secondary, health and music education students passed both thePraxis I and II exams at a 100 percent rate. For the third year in a row, theBachelor of Science in Nursing graduates received a 100 percent passing rateon the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Hundreds of college students throughout the Northeast joined a two-daydebate competition at WestConn to determine qualifiers for the CrossExamination Debate Association east regionals and the National DebateTournament. WestConn’s Roger Sherman Debate Society has won competi-tions against such schools as Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Boston Collegeand the United States Military Academy.

Justice and Law Administration Professor Dr. Michael Foley presented thepaper “Police Perjury and Public Policy Implications” at the Oxford RoundTable on Criminal Law and Justice.

Assistant Professor of Justice and Law Administration Dr. George Kain present-ed a paper about “Learning In and Out of the Classroom: A Model for theStudy of Theoretical and Practical Applications of Service-Learning in HigherEducation” at the CSU Faculty Research Conference, Central ConnecticutState University.

Management Information Systems Professor Dr. Gregory Jin wrote“Information Technology Professionals’ Perceived Organizational Values andManagerial Ethics: An Empirical Study” (with Professor of Marketing Dr.Ronald Drozdenko and Assistant Professor of Management Dr. RichardBassett), which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Ethics.

Associate Professor of Nursing Eileen “Pat” Geraci was honored at the StateCapitol as a nominee for Connecticut Nurse of the Year.

in brief...

Environments, one of the President’sInitiatives Fund projects, will lead to coursesoffered concurrently at WestConn and SiasInternational University in Henan, China’smost populous province.

Future teams will include students fromboth universities who will use video confer-encing, e-mail and other means of communi-cation to collaborate on completion of assign-ments. Faculty members from the AncellSchool of Business also will seek ways todevelop and incorporate team-teaching strate-gies with business department faculty at Sias.

The project builds upon the partnershipforged in the spring 2006 semester to teamSias business students with WestConn stu-dents in the marketing department’s capstonecourse, Marketing Management 490: Analysis,Planning and Implementation. Under theguidance of Assistant Professor of MarketingDr. Karen Koza, instructor for Marketing 490,WestConn students overcame logistical andtechnical problems in communications, anddifferences in educational philosophy to workwith their Sias counterparts to create market-ing plans for a Chinese bus company consider-ing a foray into the U.S. marketplace.

President James W. Schmotter led theChina trip, accompanied by Ancell School ofBusiness Dean Dr. Allen Morton, Enrollment

Management Officer William Hawkins, andKoza. Other WestConn faculty who are par-ticipating in the Global Practicum Projectinclude Professor of Marketing Dr. RonaldDrozdenko; Donna Coelho, coordinator ofcommunity relations for the Center forBusiness Research; Professor of ManagementDr. Fred Maidment; Professor of Justice andLaw Administration Dr. Charles Mullaney;and Xiaomei Gong, research librarian in theRobert S. Young Library.

s

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“Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties.” –– Gail Sheehy

CreativityAssociate Professor of Art Marjorie Portnow takes students to thescenic Westside campus to impart her expertise in landscape techniques.

creativity is not only

necessary to prepare our

students for the challenges of

the 21st century, but also is

an area in which we have

special competence. Perhaps

as much as any disciplines

here, our programs in the

arts take advantage of the

talent present in Fairfield,

Litchfield and Westchester

counties and nearby in New

York City. But creativity

means more than just the

arts. Because of our size,

collegiality and history, we

have unique opportunities

to be creative in the

development of interdisci-

plinary programs of power

and relevance.

a new school was welcomed on campusthis year.

The School of Visual and PerformingArts brings together the art, music and the-atre arts departments to allow the universityto better promote and grow the art disciplines.

The new school, led by founding DeanDr. Carol Hawkes, establishes WestConn asthe premier center for cultural, intellectualand artistic excellence, both in the region andwithin the CSU system.

“This is much more than a beginning. Itis the culmination of a century of buildingexcellence and distinctiveness in the arts,”Hawkes said.

The school will benefit from its locationin Fairfield County, home of many artists andfriends of the arts, as well as its proximity tothe artistic and cultural centers of New YorkCity and Litchfield County. The facultyalready counts among its members leadingprofessionals in the arts who offer WestConnstudents a world-class educational experience.Although it will be 2011 before The Visualand Performing Arts Instructional Center willopen on the Westside campus, a unique com-ponent of the school already is in hand.

The WCSU Foundation purchased theonly organ still in existence in this areaplayed by Charles Ives, the music genius who

was a Danbury native.Historical accounts indicate Ives played

and composed some of his first works as ayoung man on the organ at the SecondCongregational Church in the 1890s.

The addition of the refurbished instru-ment will distinguish the new center as theonly concert hall in the western part of thestate with an organ, making it a centerpiecefor WestConn’s already flourishing organ program.

a troupe of 20 westconn theatre artsstudents became the toast of Guayaquil thisspring following their performance in Ecuadorof a contemporary musical adaptation of theShakespearean play “Twelfth Night,” part of acollaborative theater project supported by the President’s Initiatives Fund program,Guayaquil’s Teatro de Arte and otherEcuadoran sponsors.

WestConn Theatre Arts Chairman FrankHerbert and Associate Chairman Sal Trapaniorganized the eight-day visit to Ecuador’s mostpopulous city in late April to present a seriesof technical and performance workshops atthe Teatro de Arte and schools in the sur-rounding community. The visit was capped bythe WestConn student troupe’s staging of“Twelfth Night: The 1960s San Francisco

Rachel Cuffe and Colleen DiTarando, members of WCSU Off Broadway,a troupe of theatre arts students, staged three performances in New YorkCity of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “The Heidi Chronicles.”

Psychedelic Musical,” which drew an enthusi-astic reception at the Teatro de Arte.

Herbert noted the WestConn group left alasting mark on the Ecuadoran arts scene. Inaddition to the Teatro de Arte performancebefore an audience of 800, the workshops ledby WestConn faculty and students reachedout to as many as 1,500 students from elemen-tary school to university level, and a galareception sponsored by the U.S. consulatebrought the WestConn guests together withleading arts, business and political figures inGuayaquil.

“From my perspective, it was a win-winsituation,” Herbert said. “Our students hadthe opportunity to experience another culture,to perform to a full and appreciative house.We had never presented a theater productionto a non-English-speaking audience before,and we thought it would be a terrific opportunity to do so. We received a standingovation.”

rolandas kiaulevicius earned a master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree with a concen-tration in illustration in May. Even beforegraduation, though, he signed his first bookdeal.

Kiaulevicius was one of 15 winners in apublishing company’s competition for college

students from across the country.The book is based on a story about zoo

animals who paint designs on their own bodies because there was nothing else to useas a canvas in their cages.

Red Cygnet Press is a new publishingcompany set up to work exclusively with talented college students.

The young Lithuanian, who lives inBranford with his wife, hopes publication ofthe story will be the first step in a long careerof book illustration.

“I have many ideas,” Kiaulevicius said.“Twenty-four hours in the day is not enoughfor me.”

Professor of Art Abe Echevarria agreedwith that assessment.

“Rolandas is a super-talented student,”Echevarria said. “He works very fast and he isjust an energy source that won’t quit.”

visionary. a pioneer. thought-provoking.The guru of the information age. A techno-prophet. The father of computer-aided systems engineering. These are just some ofthe ways best-selling author James Martin hasbeen described.

Martin shared his technologicallyinspired insight into our future as thePresident’s Lecture Series speaker in Ives

Rolandas Kiaulevicius, a 2006 graduate and illustrator, was one of thestudent artists featured in the M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition at Prince StreetGallery in New York. An anonymous donor paid for the opening reception. M.F.A. student Granoff Kaye is also pictured.16

Futurist James Martin

Concert Hall.Martin is best known for his 1977

Pulitzer Prize-nominated book “The WiredSociety: A Challenge for Tomorrow,” whichpredicted with startling accuracy the arrival ofthe Internet.

Martin is chairman of WatchIT.com, anInternet-based education company; founderand chairman emeritus of Headstrong, aworldwide consulting group; founder andchairman of World Education Corps, volun-teers for the 21st century; and founder of themultidisciplinary 21st Century School atOxford University, whose mission is to “sup-port research on the ideas, methods, policiesand practices that address some of the world’smost pressing problems over this century,including some that we can only just seebeginning to exist.”

Martin’s key message is that the latestgeneration –– youth who are now in collegeand high school –– must make the right deci-sions so that civilization can survive.

“It’s not just global warming,” Martinsaid. “We’re wrecking the character of theplanet. I’ve heard it said that the probabilityof humans living until the end of the 21stcentury is about 50-50. We’ve got to managethe planet so that it survives.”

But Martin was optimistic: “We’ve got

the money and the technology to make thingsabsolutely glorious.’’

valery cunningham’s last will and testament signed in Southbury in 1958 contained an interesting provision: Once thenamed beneficiary was deceased, the remain-der of the trust established in the will was tobe used “for the creation of musical scholar-ships for deserving students of music who arewilling to devote their talents to the teachingand furtherance of musical education.”

WestConn was a logical choice for themoney. Recently, the State of ConnecticutProbate Court in Southbury approved thetrustee’s request and WestConn receivednearly $125,000 for music scholarships fromCunningham’s estate.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for theuniversity and music department,” said Dr. G.Koryoe Anim-Wright, vice president forInstitutional Advancement. “It’s certainly nosecret that we have one of the best music pro-grams locally and regionally. To have this val-idated with Cunningham’s gift means a greatdeal not only to the university, but to musicstudents who stand to benefit from Cunningham’sgenerosity for many years to come.”

WestConn’s music and music education students are supported by severalgenerous benefactors.

18

nearly a half-dozen world music eventstook place between January and April 2006,thanks to The World at Our Doorstep: ASeries of World Music, Dance and CulturalEvents series supported by the President’sInitiatives Fund. As many as five more areplanned between September 2006 and May 2007.

Proposed by former Executive Assistantto the President for Multicultural AffairsBarbara Barnwell, Director of DiversityPrograms Daryle Dennis and Judith CookTucker, director of the Connecticut FolklifeProject, the series seeks to “reflect, and drawupon the ethnic diversity of the college andthe community that surrounds it.”

The project has brought artists from Peru,Uganda, Puerto Rico and Scotland, among others.

“One of the most satisfying outcomes ofthis series has been the outpouring of supportfrom each highlighted ethnic group,” CookTucker said. “They have been issued a heart-felt ‘invitation to the party’ and are attendingthe events in strong numbers. Hand in handwith their participation is that of the generalpublic, which has embraced each perform-ance, filling the venues to capacity. Manyaudience members have expressed delight injoining the celebration of the cultures foundin our community. In particular, they have

been excited to be part of a culturally mixedaudience, and have been grateful to comeonto campus for the events that firmly estab-lish WestConn as a true ‘People’sUniversity’.”

pulitzer prize-winning author frankMcCourt’s keynote talk provided the exclama-tion point to a story of impressive achieve-ments during the statewide conference for student and community writers held on a Mayweekend on the WestConn Midtown campus.

Professor of English Dr. John Briggs, anorganizer of the writers’ conference and sponsor of the President’s Initiatives Fund proposal, said the group workshops, panel discussions and readings, capped by McCourt’slecture, drew a robust registration of morethan 120 college and high school studentsfrom across the state.

Participants in this year’s workshopsreceived critiques of their work from some 45published writers, including faculty membersfrom the four CSU campuses. A second day ofworkshops featured prize-winning authors PeteDuval and Daniel Asa Rose, Vivian Shipleyand screenwriter Hassan Ildari. Briggs creditedthe success of this year’s conference to thestrong participation of faculty members fromWestConn and other CSU institutions.

Donald Heller, the Hurdy-Gurdy Man, performed during International EducationWeek in November.

WestConn’s Master of Fine Arts(M.F.A.) in Professional Writingprogram –– the only low-residencyM.F.A. writing program in thecountry –– kicked off its inauguralyear with 21 students fromConnecticut and nine other states.Gay Talese was the featured authorfor the Summer Literary Festival.

The fourth Arts and SciencesLecture Series featured presenta-tion and discussion of the film“Declining by Degrees” on the current state of higher education.WestConn was one of eightschools in the country to holdopen discussions about the film.

WestConn’s faculty fromEducation, Music, Science, WorldLanguages and Mathematicsworked with the Danbury SchoolDistrict to write a global world cur-riculum for the InternationalAcademy, a kindergarten throughfifth grade magnet school onWestConn’s campus. The academywill serve as a laboratory school fordoctoral students in the Ed.D. pro-gram in Instructional Leadership,and as a professional developmentsite for WestConn’s elementaryeducation/Spanish majors.

in brief...

ss

“Writers tend to see themselves, and areseen, as working in their garrets in a solitaryexercise,” Briggs noted. “That certainly hap-pens, but in other respects it’s also about col-laboration, gathering information, just know-ing other people are going through the samekind of agonies you’re going through. Whatwe hoped to do at many different levels was tofoster a sense of community among writers inConnecticut among students, faculty and pro-fessional writers.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt spoke at the Writers’ Conference in May.

Theresa Rangel, a 2006 graduate, teaches her class at the magnet school.

20

“We should acknowledge differences, we should greet differences, until difference makes no difference anymore.” –– Dr. Adela Allen

Diversity(l–r): Dan DeMelo, Sidrah Wahidy, Adam Ayala, HuyenNguyen, Manish Kantawala and Joseph Kocovic teamed up to formUnited Diversified Consulting in their Finance 490 class.

The exposure to — and

better yet, the valuing of —

human diversity enhances

learning. Living in Danbury,

Connecticut, with all of our

tapestry of different people,

we experience this every day.

We can take better advan-

tage of this tapestry by

deepening our community

partnerships, by continuing

to increase the diversity of

the people who work and

study here, and by reaching

further afield to bring more

representatives of other

world cultures to our

academic community.

nine westconn students visited bangladeshduring the January 2006 intersession withAdjunct Professor of Anthropology JeanHatcherson to study the cross-cultural aspects ofhealth care in a country that is torn by diseaseand crisis.

The students began their trip with a visit tothe Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where asurgical team helped patients with burn injuriesand cleft lips.

“People [of Bangladesh] were very happy tosee us interested in their life,” Hatcherson said.“It’s meaningful to educate students and lay thegroundwork of other cultures. The socialexchange of being giving and generous will helpdispel cultural misperceptions. Students shouldknow what’s going on around the world. I wantto bring my students beyond the text and allowthem to explore the health care and genderissues.”

weekends on the westconn campus aren’twhat they used to be. Classrooms that oncestood idle waiting for Monday now resonatewith the sounds of chalk on the blackboard, rep-etition of phonetic phrases, ethnic music, dancemoves, Tae Kwon Do and more. Listen closely,and it quickly becomes evident that the voicesdon’t belong to college students — they belongto children. Listen again, and you’ll realizethey’re speaking Chinese.

From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdaysduring the school year, WestConn is home tothe Huaxia Chinese School. More than 70 stu-dents, ranging in age from 4 to 15, come fromall over Connecticut and adjacent New Yorktowns to learn to speak and write Mandarin, thepredominant dialect in China, and participatein the practice of Chinese culture.

The school exists because of the dedicationand hard work of volunteers, several of whomare WestConn employees, and the willingness ofthe university’s leadership to give the group ahome. The school may eventually be able tooffer classes to older children, adults and allmembers of the community who express aninterest in Chinese language and culture.

long before immigration became anational hot-button issue, it was a heated topicof discussion right here in Danbury. Social Workstudents held two seminars on campus in recog-nition of that fact. At one event, members ofDanbury’s immigrant community were invited toshare their perspectives. Another featured cityand state officials, including ConnecticutAttorney General Richard Blumenthal, to dis-cuss community and legal issues presented bythe local immigrant population.

In December, representatives from theHispanic Center of Greater Danbury and the Brazilian Community Council of

WestConn anthropology students observed a medical team at DhakaMedical College Hospital in Bangladesh.

WestConn hosts the Huaxia Chinese School during the school year.

22

Connecticut were joined by Senior AdjunctProfessor of Social Sciences Jack Sikora for a frank discussion about the history of immi-grants in Danbury and the more current environment, which had resulted in a war ofwords played out in the local newspaper and a sizable community demonstration march.

At the April forum, Blumenthal gave hissupport to continued immigration into thecountry, while local housing and emergencyofficials, and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton,discussed what they are doing to respond tozoning, safety and political issues.

Director of Diversity Programs DaryleDennis attended both forums and said it isnaive to believe a divisive issue like immigra-tion somehow will resolve itself.

“We need to challenge ourselves to educate the community,” Dennis said. “Weneed to keep this discussion going.”

a smithsonian affiliates exhibitiondepicting daily life in six Vietnamese commu-nities, a concert by renowned musician PhamDuc Thanh, and an academic conferenceexploring the controversial history betweenVietnam and America were among the high-lights of “Vietnam Week” in late Novemberand early December. Sponsored by the Officeof the President, Office of Grant Programs,

history department and WCSU InternationalCenter, the free events brought hundreds tothe Midtown campus to discuss, reflect andsimply listen.

Assistant Professor of History and Non-Western Cultures Dr. Wynn Wilcox organizedthe series, saying he wanted to give studentsin his senior seminar about Vietnam and theWest another learning opportunity. Theevents also provided glimpses into Vietnameseculture for western Connecticut’s largeVietnamese population, as well as others whowanted to learn more about the country andits people.

“The Smithsonian exhibit is interestingbecause people aren’t aware of the ethnic andreligious diversity of Vietnamese culture; thereare more than 40 different ethnic minoritiesin Vietnam and this exhibit shows that diver-sity well,” Wilcox said. “Monochord playerPham Duc Thanh provided a rare opportunityfor people to hear a live Vietnamese musicalperformance at WestConn and learn abouttraditional Vietnamese instruments. And theacademic conference challenged the partici-pants to consider the historical interpretationsof the Vietnam War.”

The “Mekong Lifeways: The Stories ofSix Communities” exhibition was presentedin collaboration with the Smithsonian

A student studies the Vietnam Week exhibit on loan from theSmithsonian Institution Affiliations Program.

Institution Affiliations Program, the VietnamMuseum of Ethnology, and the SmithsonianCenter for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.WestConn is a Smithsonian AffiliateInstitution.

thanks to a new partnership betweenWestConn and Ridgefield Crossings, a seniorliving community with independent and assist-ed-living style apartments, area residents canexpand their knowledge about a variety of topics in classes taught by WestConn professors,in Ridgefield, for free.

Interested in local history? How about theater or music? Want to learn about anotherreligion or find out what lives in the crevices ofthe stone walls that surround your yard? ThenRidgefield Crossings University (RCU) is theplace to be for monthly seminars on these and awide variety of topics.

RCU is the result of a proposal by 86-year-old Ridgefield Crossings resident and former dean of the WestConn Ancell School ofBusiness (ASB) Dr. Albert Stewart. Stewarttaught business and marketing courses atWestConn for many years after his retirementfrom Union Carbide; he also served two stints asinterim ASB dean. A resident of RidgefieldCrossings for about a year, Stewart chairs theresident council and proposed the creation of a

“That’s what this

partnership provides:

we continue to get an

education from the experts,

and the WestConn

professors have an

opportunity to share

their knowledge with the

community.”

Dr. Albert Stewart

Former dean, Ancell School of Business(l–r): Professor of Theatre Arts Sal Trapani, Kayla Kuzbel, AdjunctInstructor Jay Stollman, Matt Grills and Lauren Ferrara performed atRidgefield Crossings’ third anniversary party.

continuing education series in the community.According to Ridgefield Crossings

Director of Community Relations Sara Bilik,other resident council members embraced theidea wholeheartedly, so she and Stewart calledWestConn. Bilik described the residents atRidgefield Crossings as highly educated anddeeply committed to ongoing learning. Shesaid the idea that WestConn would share itsprofessors and students with the seniors livingthere was an instant hit. It also made perfectsense to invite the rest of the community tobenefit from the partnership.

“We see this as a unique opportunity forseniors and others who live in the area toenjoy topical seminars given by WestConn’soutstanding academic faculty,” Bilik said.“Ridgefield Crossings and WestConn plan tocontinue this partnership, ensuring that theseterrific lectures remain available –– at no cost–– to our neighbors of all ages.”

to the members of united diversifiedConsulting, their differences were not remark-able at first glance.

True, they quickly realized they all camefrom different backgrounds, but these studentsin Professor Bruce Collins’ finance class were accustomed to working within a diversepopulation.

It was only when they started getting toknow each other that they understood some-thing unique was going on.

“We noticed the other groups were all onenationality,” said Joseph Kocovic. “Then ourgroup came together and we all spoke differentlanguages.”

The students were part of Collins’ Finance490 class, in which all the financial learning–– topics like currency options, hedging, for-eign operations –– from previous semesters istested in numerous group presentations.

All the members of United Diversifiedwere either immigrants or the children ofimmigrants who fluently speak the language oftheir heritage as well as English.

They included Huyen Nguyen, of Vietnamand Danbury; Manish Kantawala, India andDanbury; Dan DeMello, Portugal and Carmel,N.Y.; Joseph Kocovic, Serbia/Montenegro andValhalla, N.Y.; Sidrah Wahidy, Pakistan andBrookfield; and Adam Ayala, Puerto Rico andDanbury. All of them are finance majors whograduated in May.

Business schools generally push studentsto work together in groups, rather than indi-vidually, and Wahidy said in the case ofUnited Diversified Consulting, understandingthat the whole was greater than the parts wasan important part of the lesson.

“We had different backgrounds and differ-ent religions, too,” Wahidy said. “And differ-ent personalities. The accidental formation ofsuch a diverse group happens in places likeWestConn. WestConn is where people of vari-ous backgrounds and differences can cometogether to sail toward the journey for a betterfuture.”

“on a scale of one-to-10, i was hoping for a seven –– and we got a 12,” said FriarMike Lasky of WestConn’s Newman Center,describing how things went when he and VicePresident for Student Affairs Dr. WalterBernstein took nine WestConn students toNew York City in March to learn firsthandabout human rights issues.

The five-day New York trip, a President’sInitiatives Fund program, was the result of acollaboration between WestConn andFranciscans International, a non-governmentalorganization that “works on behalf of the poorfor peace, justice and the care of creation atthe United Nations in New York andGeneva.” Timed to coincide withInternational Women’s Day on March 8, thetrip offered participating students the opportu-nity to learn about women’s issues in the con-text of a larger global reality, Lasky said.

The group toured the United Nations and

24

received a briefing at the U.S. Mission to theU.N. They attended discussions about interna-tional women’s issues, heard about humanrights issues from Franciscan missionaries,enjoyed a performance of the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical “The ColorPurple” and made a pilgrimage to CentralPark’s Bethesda Fountain –– the first majorcommissioned work of art in New York Citycreated by a female artist, Emma Stebbins, in1868.

The students also served lunch at theHoly Apostles Soup Kitchen –– one of thelargest in the world –– and rolled up theirsleeves at a youth program at the Henry StreetSettlement, a social services, arts and healthcare resource on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

“One student was blown away by what shewitnessed at the soup kitchen,” Bernstein said.“She never realized people live this way andbeing made aware of this was helpful to her.That’s what is so powerful about experientialeducation in real-world settings.”

Lasky agreed.

“It really opened the students’ eyes to theplight of the poor in ways they had not imag-ined,” Lasky said. “Educating the whole personincludes a spiritual dimension and these stu-dents came away with an understanding of thefundamental dignity of the human person.”

dr. speros vryonis jr., an expert onByzantine and Hellenic history, delivered thefirst talk in a new lecture series funded by agrant from the foundation of Brookfield indus-trialist and philanthropist Constantine “Deno”Macricostas and his wife, Marie.

Vryonis connected the past to the presentas he described the events chronicled in hislatest book, “The Mechanism of Catastrophe:The Turkish Pogrom of September 6-7, 1955,and the Destruction of the Greek Communityof Istanbul.” The text details how the Turkishgovernment ordered and led the destruction ofGreek businesses, homes and churches, a ram-page that effectively drove the Greek commu-nity from Turkey and included the circumci-sion of adult Greek men, particularly priests.

(l–r): Friar Mike Lasky of the Newman Center and students MelissaReid, Veronica Swain and Sharon Mascarenhas visited the UnitedNations in March.

Dr. Speros Vryonis Jr.

26

Vryonis pointed out that the Turkish gov-ernment’s treatment of its Greek citizens andother groups reverberates today. He said thatas Turkey tries to gain entry into the EuropeanUnion, the process is forcing change in theTurkish constitution and the governmentalstructure to reflect Western mores.

“The treatment of Turkish minoritiesremains on center stage,” Vryonis said.

The Macricostas gift of $1.1 million tothe university was to establish the lectureseries, an Endowed Chair in Hellenic Studies,a scholarship for students who recently immi-grated to the United States and a businessaward for regional entrepreneurs.

catherine crier made a lasting impressionas WestConn’s 2006 commencement speaker.

The host of “Catherine Crier Live” urgedgraduates to become active members ofAmerican democracy. She also criticizedPresident Bush’s actions in the “War onTerror,” which brought boos and catcalls fromsome graduates and their families.

But Crier continued, concluding: “I amgoing to add my voice to the many other com-mencement speakers who call upon you totake up the torch, to confront the many chal-lenges of our time and to make the world abetter place. But I must say to you that these

are not platitudes, they are mandates. You cantry to remain safe by ignoring the warningsigns. You can join the ‘system’ and hope toget yours before things tumble out of control.Or you can use your knowledge to wield thepower of a free people to protect and defendthis great democracy and the rule of law.Choose wisely, because our future is literally inyour hands.”

documenting the immigrant experience inthe Greater Danbury area over the past century is the primary focus of The Challengesof Global Community: Immigration,Assimilation and Diversity, an oral historyproject supported by the President’s InitiativesFund.

Professor of History and Non-WesternCultures Dr. Burton Peretti, one of the leadfaculty coordinators for the project, said initialproject meetings have focused on planningspecific course assignments during the 2006-07 academic year dedicated to recording oralhistories of immigrants and their descendantsin the Greater Danbury region. The goal ofthese assignments, already confirmed for fourclasses in the fall semester, will be to train stu-dents in oral history technique and methodol-ogy, and to begin the collection of immigrantinterviews that will become the basis for cre-

Catherine Crier delivered the 2006 Commencement Address.

ation of a Western Connecticut oral historyarchive.

Peretti noted the project team also isexploring alternative technologies to deter-mine the most effective choice for recording,transcribing and storing oral histories. An oralhistory Web page designed by WestConnlibrarians Jenny Innes and Veronica Kenausiswill facilitate Internet access during fieldresearch, and Adjunct Professor of HistoryShannon Doherty attended a conference inJuly on use of digital technology in oral histo-ry collection to gather useful information forfuture recordings.

WestConn faculty and student partici-pants in the project met with area historicalsociety and immigrant community representa-tives this summer to organize for collection oforal histories over the coming year.Coordinated class assignments to documentthe immigrant experience in the region inturn will enable the university “to establish anonline oral history repository by June 2007,”Peretti said. A conference to be convened atthe conclusion of the project will provide anopportunity for “participants and the wideruniversity community to share the sum of theproject’s accomplishments,” he added.

In addition to Peretti, faculty coordina-tors of the immigration project include

Associate Professor of History Dr. Marcy Mayand Professor of Sociology Dr. StevenWard.

Management professors Dr. Stanley Bazan, Dr. EugeneBuccini and Dr. Frederick Tesch offered managementdevelopment training for Boehringer Ingelheim andCendant Mobility. Justice and Law AdministrationProfessor Dr. George Kain coordinated a developmentseminar for the Connecticut Police Commissioners.Professors Tesch and Buccini conducted a workshop forthe executive directors of Danbury area nonprofits.

Nine students completed the Master of HealthAdministration program presented by WestConn atNorwalk Hospital. The university and hospital areactively recruiting for a second cohort.

WestConn is one of only 12 institutions in the countryto offer an Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership, and thesecond cohort of students –– made up of local educa-tors –– began the four-year program to prepare themselves to “influence, create, and lead system-widechange.”

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)is a national honors organization open to first-year stu-dents and sophomores. The new WestConn chapter,with more than 200 members, provides volunteers atthe homeless shelter in Danbury, and also sponsorsfood, office supply and book drives. In addition, members interact with high school and middle schoolstudents, helping them learn just how important it isto obtain a college education.

in brief...

s

(l–r): John R. Moore and Robert J. Bepko, members of the Master of HealthAdministration Norwalk Hospital cohort, developed a pharmacy robot to decreasedispensing errors.

28

“To improve the golden moment of opportunity,

and catch the good that is within reach, is the great art of life.” –– Samuel Johnson

OpportunityArt student Adam Schmidt, the recipient of a scholarship from theWilliam B. Connor estate.

opportunity manifests

itself in several ways at

WestConn. We must

continue to be true to our

roots as an institution that

emphasizes the importance

of affording access — for

first-generation college

attendees, for the sons and

daughters of recent immi-

grants, and for career

changers trapped in today’s

turbulent economy. The

second manifestation of

opportunity is the ability we

have, in our unique region,

to develop innovative part-

nerships that benefit our

students, the university and

the community.

the university ball honored roy andGinny Young, who have supported WestConnfor more than 20 years. Their work for theuniversity began with funding for the RobertYoung Library at the Ancell School ofBusiness and continued with Roy Young serv-ing as president of the Corporate CollegeCouncil and chairman of the WCSUFoundation Board. The Youngs created theYoung Family Theatre ScholarshipEndowment in 2000. In a fitting honor to theYoungs, the ball was the most successful ever,with more than 200 university supportersattending.

West Redding resident IsabelleFarrington, a longtime WestConn benefactor,was the event’s honorary chair. Co-chairswere Ron and Janice Pugliese, of Naugatuck,familiar faces year after year at the annualfund-raising events the university has hosted.Pugliese is a 1974 WestConn graduate. Healso is a member of the Connecticut StateUniversity (CSU) System Board of Trusteeswhere, among other responsibilities, he chairsthe system-wide development committee.

for more than a decade, the generosity of one family has been helping WestConn artstudents continue their studies. Now the lega-cy of William B. Connor, his daughter, Jane(Sippi) Henderson, and his granddaughter,

Anne Sippi, will help many more talented artstudents pursue their dreams.

A bequest from the Connor estatebrought more than $700,000 to WestConn forannual scholarships “to students in the artdepartment to enable them to continue theirstudies in art in either the continental UnitedStates or abroad for a period not to exceedtwo years.”

In 1962, Connor established trust fundsfor Henderson and Sippi, with the remainingproceeds to go to WestConn after thewomen’s deaths.

After Anne Sippi died in May 1994, theuniversity received about $40,000 and estab-lished the W.B. Connor Trust for Anne SippiAward. Henderson died in December 2005,and WestConn received the remaining$700,000 from her trust early this year.

Art Professor Abe Echevarria was chair ofthe art department when the universityreceived the first funding and began providingthe scholarships.

“It’s an enormous benefit to our art stu-dents,” Echevarria said. “We try to vary theaward to benefit students pursuing the different areas of our program, which includephotography, illustration, studio arts andgraphic design.”

Isabelle Farrington was the 2006 University Ball honorary chair.

30

as the early reports of the devastationcaused by Hurricane Katrina in the GulfCoast started to appear on 24-hour newschannels and Internet news bulletins,WestConn faculty, students and staff tooknote. Individual acts of concern sparked col-laborative efforts, and soon faculty and stu-dents were working together toward a com-mon goal: to make a difference in the lives ofthose affected by the deadly storm.

As the aftermath of the hurricane becameclear, more than a dozen phone calls and e-mails came in from Connecticut residentsenrolled at Gulf Coast colleges like TulaneUniversity, Louisiana State University andNew Orleans University — and accommodat-ing these displaced students became a priority.

Many students had fled Louisiana withouttranscripts, test scores, or anything to provetheir academic status — but our Registrar’sOffice helped them find the classes they need-ed in the subjects they wanted to pursue. OurShipping and Receiving area became a stagingground for the collection of donated reliefitems such as bottled water, batteries, blankets, tarps, tents, phone-cards, and non-perishable foods. And the university thentransported the donations to the appropriatestate distribution centers.

During spring break, a small band of

seven WestConn students and two adviserstraveled to hurricane-ravaged Mississippi.They knew they would do good work. Whatthey didn’t know was that the experiencewould affect them so deeply they wouldimmediately make plans to head back to continue their work.

“No PowerPoint presentation or photo-graphs or sensitivity sessions could prepare usfor what we saw,” said Friar Mike Lasky, chaplain at the university’s Catholic campusministry also known as the Newman Center.

The Newman Center crew cleared debrisfrom lots, tore down damaged roofs, put upwallboard and painted. They also helped inother ways.

“You do the physical work but a lot is justvisiting with people and hearing their stories,”Lasky said. “People would stop us on the streetto thank us.”

friends of westconn gathered in theantique surroundings of the former library inOld Main to inaugurate a brand-new effortthat would add another facet to the universi-ty’s fundraising.

President James W. Schmotter and DavidNurnberger of the WCSU Foundation intro-duced the President’s Club, a new opportunityto contribute to the university in exchange for

(l–r): Stephanie O’Brien, Chris Merkle, Jody McCauley with some of the canned goods collected by students inducted into the WestConn chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

“It’s all right to have

anxiety, because that

drives you to do

your best.”

David Neeleman

JetBlue CEO

privileges that include an annual invitation toan exclusive donor event and special invita-tions to VIP receptions.

Speaking to a gathering of about 70 sup-porters, Schmotter listed some of the dramaticchanges on campus in the past several years:The quadrangle that replaced a parking lot onthe Midtown campus, state-of-the-art facilitieslike the new Science Building that havetaken the place of antiquated classrooms andlibraries, and one of the best Division III athletic facilities in the Northeast sitting onwhat used to be farmland on the Westsidecampus.

“Our task now is to fashion our paththrough the next stage of our journey,”Schmotter said. “But to achieve our full promise, we cannot rely solely on tuition revenues and the state. We need to makestrategic decisions, and we need to be efficientand effective in our operations. And we’llneed continuing investment from supporterslike those of you who have gathered today. Ifwe do all of that, we can create some veryspecial experiences for students and achievethe vision of being a ‘Public Private.’”

jetblue founder and chief executiveofficer David Neeleman paused in mid-sen-tence after revealing he had dropped out of

college, glanced up at his WestConn audienceand added quickly with a grin, “Don’t you dothat!”

Neeleman, in a talk sponsored by theAncell School of Business as part of theschool’s fall lecture series, profiled the maver-ick New York-based airline’s trajectory of success since its 1999 launch.

Neeleman recalled how as a college student he once felt like “everything hadalready been invented and there was nothingnew I could do.” That was before Bill Gates,Michael Dell and other leaders of the com-puter revolution changed the face of globalbusiness and society, and proved the worldawaits an entrepreneur who distinguisheshimself from the pack.

“It’s all right to have anxiety, becausethat drives you to do your best,” Neelemansaid. “But don’t worry about finding opportu-nities, because there are plenty out there. I’vecome to realize that business by and large isvery mediocre –– and this is good news foryou!”

westconn continues to expand its wireless network access to students, faculty,and staff with high-speed data connections inmany locations on the Westside and Midtowncampuses that are frequented by students and

(l–r): Students Tony Napoleone and Chris Hennessy watch asProfessor of Justice and Law Administration Dr. Chuck Mullaneymakes his contribution to the AmeriCares donation station at theWestside Athletic Complex during a Colonials game.

32

faculty. Locations include the Haas Library,Young Library, Student Center, Warner Halland the Science Building. Select “hot spots”in and outside of other campus buildings arebeing added and indicated by “hot spot” signs.New locations will be added based on studentand faculty input. Wireless also is being incor-porated into new construction projects suchas the Westside Campus Center.

it has long been true that the majorityof all the music teachers in Connecticut gettheir degrees at WestConn –– but there is agreat need for more. Music teachers are indemand and positions are often difficult to fillbecause of a shortage in the field.

So the presidents of WestConn andNaugatuck Valley Community College(NVCC) signed an agreement that will makelife easier for students who want to teachmusic. It allows community college studentsto transfer their credits from NVCC toWestConn in the music education program.WestConn and NVCC are the only publicschools in Connecticut with such an arrange-ment.

“It’s a model of what we should be doing.That’s why it’s so exciting,” said PresidentJames W. Schmotter.

Such partnerships often benefit nontradi-

tional students returning to the classroomafter a stint in the workforce, or students whomust work many hours while attendingschool.

“The transfer agreement will provide aseamless transition for NVCC’s music stu-dents into WestConn’s music education program,” said Dr. Lynne Clark, dean of theSchool of Professional Studies.

The agreement is similar to other com-pacts, such as the articulation agreementsigned with Goodwin College in EastHartford that allows Goodwin graduates totransfer to WestConn with ease.

Dr. Barbara Piscopo, chair of WestConn’snursing department, determined thatGoodwin’s associate degree in nursing curricu-lum was a close match to WestConn’s require-ments for the first two years in its bachelor’sin nursing program, paving the way forGoodwin students interested in pursuing anRN-BS degree in nursing at WestConn.

At the same time, Clark reviewedGoodwin’s associate in science degree curricu-la in business studies, computer systems tech-nology, and allied health and human services–– and determined there might also be thepotential for a smooth transition for Goodwinstudents interested in pursuing other bachelordegrees at WestConn.

(front row, l–r): NVCC President Dr. Richard L. Sanders, President James W. Schmotter (back row, l–r): NVCC Chairof the Department of Arts Dr. Elena Rusnak, NVCC Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Pat Bouffard, Dean of the School ofProfessional Studies Dr. Lynne Clark and Chair of the Music Department Dr. Dan Goble at the signing ceremony.

“This is such a good thing for nursingbecause it will allow students to go on to gettheir bachelor’s degree,” said AssociateProfessor of Nursing and Coordinator of theRN-BSN Program Dr. Colleen Delaney.“Currently, two-thirds of nurses are associatedegree or diploma nurses, so there’s a realshortage of B.S.-prepared nurses and conse-quently a shortage of advanced-degree nurses for much-needed faculty positions.Agreements like this will help change that.”

new york times environmental reporterAndrew Revkin brought his decades-longjournalistic search for sustainable-develop-ment strategies in a fragile ecosystem toWestConn as part of the “Science at Night”lecture series sponsored by the School of Artsand Sciences.

Revkin has reported and photographedstories ranging from the destruction of theAmazon rainforest to the impact of globalwarming on the polar environment.

“It’s only when you step back that youcan see the imprint on climate,” Revkin toldan audience of about 120. “We have to cometo grips with this problem. Sociologists saythat you can’t impose worry on people, that itmust come from within. We have to find a

way to convince people that global warmingmust be acted upon promptly.”

more than 1,500 students, parents andeducators from 300 Connecticut Associationof Schools institutions gathered in theWilliam O’Neill Athletic and ConvocationCenter on Oct. 3 to hear former President BillClinton, a special U.N. envoy for tsunamirelief, personally thank them for their efforts.The students raised about $300,000, whichwas matched by the international relief organ-ization Brother’s Brother Foundation to builda model school for 1,500 in Sri Lanka.

Clinton offered plenty of praise when hetook the stage before the audience thatincluded some 500 WestConn students, facul-ty and staff, telling the youngsters they’veimproved the lives of the people they’re notlikely to ever meet.

“I promise you, you changed their lives,and their lives will be more like yours nowbecause of what you did,” he said. “You gavethem a chance to be part of the future youwant for yourself.

“I hope you’ll look for opportunities to domore of the same in the future,” Clintonadded, mentioning the need for aid to the vic-tims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “It willmake all the difference in the world.”

“I hope you look for

opportunities to do

more of the same in the

future ... it will make

all the difference in the

world.”

President Bill Clinton

New York Times reporter Andrew Revkin

34

The Connecticut Department of HigherEducation unanimously approved a bache-lor of science in health promotion studies,with options in wellness management andcommunity health, in the department ofhealth promotion and exercise sciences.

The mathematics department offered a first-year seminar for the first time for new students. Taught by Drs. Ed Sandifer andSam Lightwood, 13 students in the fall andseven in the spring met the faculty, learnedabout their research and presented theirown work with the assistance of faculty.

A collaboration with Danbury High Schooloffered a 24-credit certificate program to 17teachers in the field of American history.

The Center for Financial Forensics andInformation Security completed its first fullyear of operation and formed various sub-committees to help fulfill its mission toserve as an educational resource center forcommunity organizations, teaching faculty,students and professionals in financial fraudand identification prevention, valuationand economic loss issues, information secu-rity, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, economicterrorism identification and prevention, and prosecution of fraud and terrorism perpetrators.

in brief...

two new buildings will benefit studentsin the coming year:

A $17 million, 49,000-square-foot campuscenter on the Westside campus will open in2007 to provide a dining area and cafeteria,meeting rooms, offices, lounges and a largemulti-purpose room with exercise equipment.

Also, in fall 2006, a four-story, 800-cargarage was completed on the corner of FifthAvenue and Osborne Street. The $12.5 mil-lion project, reserved for student drivers, willrelieve parking congestion on the Midtowncampus.

(above): The Westside Campus Center

(left): The student parking garage

New FacesClockwise from top left:

Betsy McDonough, Presidential Assistant, Office of the President

Dr. Linda K. Rinker, Provost/Vice President for Academic AffairsDr. G. Koryoe Anim-Wright, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

(l–r): Philanthropist Constantine “Deno” Macricostas and Dr. Guy Rogers, theMacricostas Chair in Hellenic and Greek Studies. A gift from Macricostas and hiswife, Marie, resulted in the creation of the endowed chair.

36

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” –– Winston Churchill

Major DonorsFaculty and students from WCSU’s theatre arts department celebrate at the 2006 University Ball honoring Roy (standing, fifth from right) and Ginny (third from left) Young.

Legacy SocietyRichard E. DavisJames W. Schmotter &

Daphne A. JamesonGail Hill-Williams ’87

BequestsEstate of William B. Connor Estate of C. Valery Cunningham Estate of John A. Johnston

Distinguished Benefactor($100,000 plus)

Isabelle T. Farrington ’43 ••Constantine & Marie Macricostas

Sustaining Benefactor($25,000 – $99,999)

Sodexho Inc. & AffiliatesAlbert StewartThe News-TimesUnion Savings BankRoy & Ginny Young

Trustees’ Club($10,000 – $24,999)

AnonymousBarnes & Noble College

Booksellers Inc.Branson Ultrasonics CorporationAnthony & Roberta Caraluzzi ••Fiorita Kornhaas & Van HoutenErland HagmanJohnson Controls FoundationKonover Construction CorporationMario MesiNewtown Savings BankPinney, Payne P.C.Praxair Foundation Inc.Donald & Patricia Weeden •

Chancellor’s Club($5,000 - $9,999)

Gail Andersen ’91Raymond Boa

Boston Foundation Connecticut Student Loan

Foundation Thomas ’69 & Lois Crucitti ’71 ••Ethan Allen Inc. Powers Industries Anthony Rizzo •Savings Bank of Danbury

President’s Club($1,000 - $4,999)

Ability Beyond Disability Marc & Jan AldrichMaribeth Amyot •G. Koryoe Anim-Wright •Richard & Deborah Arconti •Richard Asch & Theresa

Eberhard-Asch ’64 ••ATMI William & Kathie Beattie •Walter & Kimberley ’88 Bernstein Jose Boa ’76Boehringer Ingelheim Corp.Scott Brunjes ’85 ••Emile ’75 & Theresa ’00 Buzaid Douglas & Sharon Cheney William & Margaret Cibes Jr. Lorraine Capobianco ’77 •Kathleen Cherry ••Anthony W. Cirone, Jr. ’88 ••Brian Cleary ••Shawn Cochran Danbury Hospital Dennis Dawson James Roach & Denise Hogan Michael Driscoll •Ellen & Allen Durnin •Shirley Ferris ’86Alexander & Enid Fisher Ruth-Ann Flynn ’70Michael Friel Bruce ’82 & Susan ’84 Goldsen Greater Danbury Chamber of

Commerce Ann-Marlene Hagman

W. Jason ’81 & Ellen Hancock •William Hawkins •Gary ’78 & Cindy Hawley ••Ervie Hawley HSBC Jones, Damia, Kaufman, Borofsky

& DePaul LLCKPMG, LLP David & Debra ’84 Lajoie •Ann Laudadio •Allen & Roberta Morton •Lewis & Mary Ellen Mottley Fereydoun & Susie Nazem David ’72 & Nancy ’72 Nurnberger John Pavain Charles & Sheila Perrin Timothy Rahr •Robert & Mary Reby Anthony & Angela Reich ’92 •Bernard ’63 & Nancy Reidy Gerard & Martha Robilotti •Rose & Kiernan Charitable

FoundationMichael Ryer •Robert Schappert James W. Schmotter &

Daphne A. JamesonRalph & Mary ’94 Sergi •Marjorie Shafto-Jameson ’80 •Charles & Denise Spiridon •Edward Stephens •Richard & Elizabeth Sullivan ••Nabil Takla •Tek-Air The Hord Foundation The Ridgefield Foundation Henry & Susan ’85 TritterJack Tyransky •Robert & Linda Vaden-Goad •Mark & Laura Valenti ••Neil ’52 & Carolyn ’52 WagnerWilliam Walton WCSU Alumni Association WCSU Student Government

Association

Jay & Patricia ’86 Weiner •Harold C. & Barbara Wibling •Frederick W. Zarnowski •

Partner ($750 – $999) Lynne W. Clark F. Gordon ’90 & Kerilynn ’94

HallasFrank ’74 & Nancy Herbert Richard & Patricia Howard Peter Lyons Walter McCarroll ’61Albert Mead, Jr. ’67 •Joseph & Helen Sullivan •Nick & Joanne Vero Rebecca Woodward ’88

Patron ($500 - $749) Actis-Grande Ronan & Co LLC Adherent Technologies, LLC Helen Anne B & D Controlled Air Corp. Bozzuto’s Wholesale Food Walter CramerRonald Drozdenko ’74Clarke Dunham James & Christie Fountain Steven Giuliano L. Russell Hirshfield Richard ’99 & Tracy ’93 Horosky Richmond & Jeanne ’67 Hubbard •Ives Street Corporation Robert & Phyllis Kelleher, Sr. Susan Kelly ’05Margaret Leahey Ronald & Jo-Ann Lee Gary Lehman William Mayers Midwestern Connecticut Council

on Alcoholism Mark Neves Norbert E. Mitchell Co., Inc. Sheila O’Brien Onuska Alan Osheroff Steven & Veronica Passaro

Police CommissionersAssociation of CT, Inc.

Ronald ’74 & Janice Pugliese •Ellen Richard Edwin & Harriet ’61 RosenbergAlbert J. Salame Lewis & Barbara Schaffel Michael Snowball Richard ’89 & Giorgia StabileChip Stein Paul Steinmetz Joseph Tomaino ’70Stephen P. Veillette ’92Helen Wahlstrom ’55 •John Walsh Albertine Williams York International Agency, Inc.

Friend ($250 - $499)Jon ’60 & Claudia ’60 AndersonSamuel Asiedu Asante John & Kathleen Azzariti •Joseph Bailey ’61Nancy Barton ’95Lynne Beardsley •Thomas Beardsley Cheryl Beck ’70 Theodore J. Blum •Walter Boelke Esther Boriss Patricia Bowen •Todd Brewster Amy Butler Alice Carolan ’67Karen Casazza ’83 •Paul Cesca ’75Deborah Clifford Mitchell Cohen Frederic ’95 & Debra ’95 Cratty Thomas & Ellen Curran Lloyd Cutsumpas •Sharon Danosky Jason ’97 & Amy ’98 DavisGeorge Deshensky Thomas DiBlasi

Jane Didona •Leroy Diggs •Joseph Dimyan Wayne Engle ’54Simon & Jennifer Etzel Fairfield County Business Journal •Ed & Mary Figueroa Merry Fiorentini Robert Fornshell •Ronald Gauss ’63Leonard Genovese ’74Maureen Gernert •Laurel Giacolone John Gogliettino ’75 •William Goodman •James Guida Thomas & Barbara Hall Thomas Hensal •Alexandra Hall-Heron ’91Violeta Hannegan ’49Walter Hartsburg ’74John Hirschauer •Robert Hoburg •John W. Hoffer •Mark Horton Housatonic Industrial

Development Corp. Lynn Fusco Hughes •Thomas Iacavaci •Samuel Johnson ’94Roger & Doris ’06 KayeJames Kennedy •John Kline •Gary Kurz •Lawrence LangloisGary Lemme ’69 •Jay Lent •John Leopold Warren Levy •Edwin Lewis Jennifer Light ’99Joyce Ligi •Henry Long Norman Lubus ’55David & John Lucchesi

James Mackey ’61Carol Mansfield MacLenathen ’49Marcus Dairy Bar, Inc. John Martocci •Charles McCollam, Jr. •Mary Gertrude McCollam •Ralph McIntosh, Jr. •William McKee ’48C. Martin Medford III •Luke Mihaly •George Mulvaney •Thomas Murphy Jennifer Nash ’02Jane Nelsen Mark Nolan •Northeast UtilitiesAnthony Pajk •Joann Price ’73Richard Proctor •Patricia Rakauskas Donna Ramey •June Renzulli •George Rogers ’02Edward F. Ronan Jr. •Myra Ross ’52Noel C. Roy II •R.S.A. Corp. Scott & Nancy Sasso Michael J. Scagliarini Harold Schramm Kay Schreiber ’79 •Jonathan Seaman •Scott & Darleen ’73 SeneteWayne Shepperd •Mildred Siegel •John Sikora ’65James ’77 & Mary SilvestriRichard Steiner •Burton Stevens Peggy Stewart ’97Robert & Nancie Sturges Barbara Susnitzky ’59 •Lisa Tassone John Taylor •Rita C. Thal •

Charles Troccolo •Michael Vaughn ’01Melissa Wasik ’94Josiane Whitson ’93Lloyd & Gloria WillcoxCharles Wrinn •

Supporters ($100 – $249)Jeffrey Abbott ’76Michael Adams Rose Albert Shirley Alexander ’47Ruth Allen Joan Ancona ’56Herman Anderson ’55Richard Anderson ’73Barbara Anderson ’63Nancy Anderson ’86Mamle Anim Jean Antin ’79Ronald Arbitelle ’71Joseph Arconti ’73Eleanor Armstrong ’48Jeffrey Armstrong ’86Maureen Armstrong ’90Ellen Aronheim ’04Kerry Babbitt Robert Bailyn ’82Cheryl Bakewell ’85June Baldyga Ricardo Balmaseda Daniel Bandura David Barrett Andrew Bazos Christina Beaudoin ’91Morris ’65 & Carol ’64 BeersDavid Benson ’84David & Linda ’80 BertozziMichael Blake ’77Thomas & Barbara Blumenthal Andrew & Margaret Bochnar Phyllis Boger ’02Lois Boisits ’87Judith Bolduc ’78Joan Boughton ’89

The following pages represent our donors who contributed more than $100 or made in-kind donations during the 2005-2006 year. A complete listing of all donors may berequested by calling the Office of Institutional Advancement at (203) 837-8279. Thank you to all of our donors –– your support of the university is important to us.

• Denotes President’s Club Founding Member• Denotes WestConn Society Club Member

John & Judith Boyle Andrea Brandl ’77Carol Brawley ’53Robert Brayton ’55Christopher Broderick ’83Timothy B. Burr ’85Sean & Dinah Butterly Helen Buzaid ’83Paula Caldara ’85Ronald Campanaro ’71Robert Campbell Joseph Capone Frank & Paula Cappiello Mary Cappiello Darby Cardonsky David Carlson ’79Millicent Carroll ’45Louis & Lucille Ceruzzi John Chopourian Stephen Chwaliszewski ’81Vincent Cibbarelli ’53Dan & Diane Cirilli Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

of New EnglandMarie Cochran ’57Linda Cochrane ’87Elizabeth Comcowich ’54Computershare Connecticut Container Corp. Carol Conte ’02Patricia Conway ’55Joseph Cooney Walter A. Costello Maria Craye ’75James Crean Herbert Crocker ’57Virginia Crowley ’69Allan Darling ’64Richard DaSilva Richard David ’72Harriet Davis ’41Jennifer Dayton ’85Christopher Dellacamera Jennifer Dimyan George J. Dimyan, Sr. Elaine Dinto ’74C. Thomas Donahue ’62Adelino DosSantos ’84Joseph Dube ’63John Dutsar ’89

Frank Dye ’63Aileen Egan ’69Margaret Egan Joanne & Dennis Elpern Edward A. English Kenneth Erdmann ’84Steve & Yolanda Evans Louise Finch ’81Maija-Liisa Fink ’76Charles Fizer ’88Anne Flynn Dyana Fonda ’71Judith R. Foye ’93Milton Franco Chester ’68 & Patricia Gage ’71Joseph & Cheryl Galgano Susan Gankos ’83Herbert Garber ’49Patricia Gensicki ’85Kathleen Genuario ’56Linda Gerber Maureen Gianni-Deep Michael & Valerie GiarratanoJoseph Giordano Scott Gish Jeffrey ’86 & Barbara ’87

GlaudeDaniel Goble Charles Gorman ’88Grace Grainger ’79Mark Graser ’73Sharon Green ’79Rosemary Greene ’69Kathryn Griffin Margaret Grimes Donald Groff Judith Grundvig ’99Gus Sclafani Corp. Kim Guy ’76Patrick Hackett ’87Marlene W. Hall Janet Hall ’81James Heron Carey Hewitt ’79Catherine Hickey-Williams Edward Hines Kristine Holm Caren Huff-Snook Mildred Hull Jane Hunt

Hunt Hill Farm Trust Staff Lawrence Huntley Bruce Ives Patricia Ivry Dante Jacavish Jan Maria Jagush ’75Emilia Jagush John Jakabauski ’81Norine Jalbert Herbert Janick Michael & Imogene ’68 JaykusDouglas Jeffrey ’57Theodore Johnson ’66Elizabeth Jones ’85Deborah Judd ’84Brendan Jugler ’73Paul Just ’69Elsie Kandrak ’59Muriel Kannengeiser Carla Kazanjian Katherine Keating ’67Thomas Kelly Kevin & Ellen Kilroy Nancy Kimble ’71Gloria Kinney ’50Delmore & Georgette Kinney Sandra Kissel ’77Kathleen Knox ’86Joseph Kocet ’76Sarah Koff ’04John Koster Carol Kovitch ’68Robert Krieger Ronald Kutz Mark Labadia ’80Robert Labbancz ’74Phyliss Lachance ’87Jeanne Lakatos ’05Judith Lee ’65Paula LeFebvre ’94Gail Lehman ’89William Lemak ’69Reale Lemieux ’60Gary Lemme ’69Allen Light Maija Liisa Fink Wayne & Yvonne ’00 LockeKatherine Loehr ’76Alice Loomis ’69Robert Lovell ’83

Michail Luttaiti Magaly Macaluso ’03Neil MacDonald E. Marie Mas ’75Susan Maskel Ellen Masterson ’62Kevin McCafferty Frank & Barbara McCloskey Richard F. McClurg Pamela McDaniel Charles & Susan McIntyre Janet McKay Lillian McKee ’04Cornelius McLaughlin Jr. Jennifer McMillen Annelie Mercum Robert Merrer Cailin Micari Eleanor Middleton ’61Fred Miller ’78Margaret Miller ’78Sandra Miller ’63Maria C. Mingachos Nancy Minowitz ’80Eileen Mitchell ’73Helen Mizer Paul Montalto ’69Ann Montgomery Kevin Morgan ’88Christin Morgatto David J. Mott Dayle Moulton ’71Charles Mullaney Edward Mulrenan ’75Margaret Murphy ’62John Murphy Robert Murphy ’62Mary Murphy ’56Glenn Nanavaty ’86Emma Nau ’30Paul ’64 & Elizabeth ’65 NavesPatricia Neary ’88Mary Jane Newkirk ’54Plonia Nixon Stephanie O’Brien ’06Alicia O’Brien ’83E.Thomas O’Hara ’60Dianne Olsen Karl Olson ’73Lorraine Orloski ’80

John Osborne ’67Joan Palladino Dawn Parker ’87James Pegolotti Paula Peluso Myra Peterson ’56Camille Petrecca ’69Edward & Susan Piatek Anthony Pires Mariann Pitner ’84Barbara Pokorak ’89Elizabeth Popiel Scott Porter ’88Premio Foods Inc Pryority Food Market Robert Pytel ’77Erin Quinlan ’69John ’67 & Erin ’69 QuinlanJody Rajcula John Read Gregory J. Repp Tammy A. Repp Tracy Repp Walter & Charlotte ’83 RestMark Riccio ’91Stephen Roberts Mirtha Robles Andrew Rodgers ’82Eric Roman Terri Rotella Christine Rotello ’66Lydia Rubio ’06Jack Rudner David C. Ruscoe Sheryl Sabato ’81Nicholas Sachlis ’01Andrew ’83 & Nan ’90 SalamonThyra Salonen ’40Louis Santore ’82Edward Sarath Carolyn Savitsky Barbara Scattolini ’84Jean Scavone Charles Schneider ’84Margaret Schneider ’59Nancy Schumann ’70Ilia Scriven ’86Christina Seale ’94Bruce Seide Ted Selken ’02

David Seltzer ’76John Setaro ’73Carolyn B. Settzo Katherine Sholtz Mary Siergiej ’48Robert Simonelli ’55Ruth Smith ’38Timothy Smith ’86Deborah A Smith ’77Alicia Snakard ’82D. Susanne Snearly ’90Carl Sporkmann Gene Stanley ’88Sylvia Starr Richard & Carol Steiner Charles Stewart ’74Mounira Stott ’04David Stout ’92Elizabeth Studer ’81Eileen Sudol ’72Hugh John Sullivan Debra Sullivan Jessica Taborda Emily Taillon ’55Barbara Talarico ’64Rafael Tejada ’06D.N. Thold Donald Thoren Michael ’87 & Jodi ’87 TobinMichael Tomkovitch ’80Karen Tomlinson ’69Sal Trapani Geoffrey Tremont ’89Leah Turner ’71Nancy Vaden-Kieran Mark & Laura Valenti Maria B. Valim Linda Van Buskirk Roberta Van Nostrand ’62Charles Waimon John E. Wallace Leslie Wallace ’84Mary Walton Jessica Ward Diana Waterbury ’84Waterbury Hospital Crisis Dept.John Watts Michael Whelan Joan Wiencek ’55Fritz Wieting ’51

Dwight Willman ’73Donald Wilson ’64James Wohlever Susan Wolf Carol Woodworth ’60Joseph Wrinn Cynthia Yerman ’73Kathleen M. Yomazzo Dante Zacavish ’60Alice Zapherson ’55Linda Zucca ’64

Gifts In-KindUniversity BallA Stitch in TimeAdam Broderick Spa & SalonRobert AlberettiAntiques II Ltd.Arthur Murray Dance StudioBeardsley ZooBodys In TuneBoston Billiard ClubBoston Museum of ScienceBrookfield Craft CenterBrookfield Family

ChiropracticBrooklyn Botanical GardenCandlewood MarketingChurch Hill ClassicsCiao! Café & Wine BarCourtyard by MarriottThomas ’69 & Lois ’74 CrucittiCrystal Rock Water CompanyConnecticut Student Loan

FoundationCuts Fitness for MenJack & Karen DaleyDanbury Tile SalesJason ’97 & Amy ’98 DavisJoseph DiGuiseppiDRC PublishingDriscoll’s FloristAbraham EchevarriaEthan Allen HotelF & M ElectricFairgrounds Wine & SpiritsFrito LayCatherine GaderowskiEugene GeotzGolf Quest

Hartford Civic CenterFrank ’74 & Nancy HerbertGail Hill-WilliamsHow Sweet It IsHunt Hill Farm TrustIves Concert ParkJ & R ToursJulia’s Cleaning ServiceTheodore & Nancy LaBonneJurg LanzreinLeslie’s Jewelry ConnectionMarriott Spring Hill SuitesBetty Ann MederiosMeeker’s HardwareMaryann Mekan-SilvestriNew Britain Rock CatsNew Milford Orthopedics

AssociatesPlonia NixonNorwalk Maritime AquariumNutmeg Discount LiquorsOMI by LiseOnsite InsightsJoann Paiva-BorduasLisa PeckPegasus InteriorsPepsi Bottling CompanyJoanne PeyserMiriam PhalenPhysician Health & Injury

CenterRapid ReproRenee ProtomastroReins DeliRicci’s SalonRing’s EndRizzuto’sHarold RosenbaumJames SchaefferScience Center of

ConnecticutScissorhands Hair SalonShelby Matthews InteriorsSodexo & AffiliatesStew Leonard’sMouirna StottSusan Geffen, IIDAThe Maids Home ServicesThe New York PopsTom’s Paint Center

Total MarineKaren TracyTwo Steps Downtown GrilleUnited States Tennis

AssociationRobert & Linda Vaden-GoadCathy VanariaWCSU Alumni AssociationWCSU Finance &

AdministrationWCSU Music DepartmentWCSU Nursing DepartmentWCSU University RelationsWhitehall Co. Jewelers of

WaterburyLinda Yetter-Hoyt

Annual Holiday WineTasting

AnonymousBethel Food MarketLa ZingaraMr SushiNutmeg LiquorsRenee ProtomastroThomas QuinnSodexho Campus Services

WCSU Alumni Association Golf Outing

Barnes & Noble CollegeBookstores

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of New England

Crystal Rock WaterFoxwoods Restaurant and

CasinoGolf DigestMary GreenHeritage Valley Country ClubHSBCIves Concert ParkLiberty MutualNewtown Savings BankRicci’s SalonStar Distributors

President’s Annual Report for 2005–2006Western Connecticut State University

Produced by the Office of University Relations at Western Connecticut State University

Copy Writers: Paul Steinmetz, interim director, University RelationsSherri Hill, assistant director, University Relations

Yvonne Johnson, assistant director, Public RelationsRobert Taylor, university assistant, University Relations

Constance Conway, university assistant, University Publications & DesignEditors: Paul Steinmetz, interim director, University Relations

Sherri Hill, assistant director, University RelationsIrene Sherlock, associate director, University Publications & Design

Robert Taylor, university assistant, University RelationsDesign & Layout: Jason P. Davis, director, University Publications & DesignPhotography: Peggy Stewart, campus photographer, University Publications & DesignPrinting: AM Lithography, Chicopee, MA

Office of the President 181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810