manhattan college's inauguration program

The Inauguration of

Brennan O’Donnell,Ph.D.Nineteenth President of Manhattan College

Manhattan College was founded more than 150 years ago by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The first Brothers to arrive in the United States came from France in 1848. These young Frenchmen, four in all, established St. Vincent’s Academy on Canal Street in New York City and later moved to Manhattanville, a tiny hamlet located in the then-rural, upper section of Manhattan Island. Occupying a plot of ground east of Broadway and north of 131st street, the new school opened on May 5, 1853 and was renamed the Academy of the Holy Infancy. In 1861, it became known as Manhattan Academy. By the time the Academy was chartered as Manhattan College in 1863, 45 students were enrolled and pursued courses.

The need for a more serene atmosphere in the face of a growing New York City populace motivated the Brothers to relocate the College’s campus to its present 22-acre site in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. This move was completed in 1923.

The College underwent a major paradigm shift by becoming coeducational in the early 1970s, and women now make up nearly half of the student body. In response to an increased demand for on-campus housing, twin residence halls Horan and East Hill have been constructed in the past two decades. With a four-year guarantee of resident housing, 80 percent of the student body chooses to live on or near campus while the rest commutes.

Always striving to give students a top-notch experience and education, the recently renovated main library serves as a technology center for the entire Manhattan College community. The Mary Alice and Tom O’Malley Library is home to a number of new features and services, including more than 100 computer workstations, a round-the-clock Internet Café, a media center equipped with teleconferencing capabilities, and several group study rooms scattered throughout the five-story layout.

In fall 2008, Manhattan launched its “next-generation” communication department in the school of arts and opened new state-of-the-art television, radio and multimedia facilities in Leo Hall.

The College has grown to include the diversity of five undergraduate schools — arts, business, education, engineering and science — as well as a graduate division. Full-time undergraduate enrollment is approximately 3,000 students in more than 40 major fields of study. Including graduate students, total enrollment is 3,500 and represents nearly 40 states and 60 countries.

All three of Manhattan’s professional schools — business, education and engineering — are nationally accredited, and the College is just one of 276 institutions with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and one of a few American colleges to have chapters in all five of these distinguished national honor societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi.

MANHATTAN COLLEGE HISTORY

The Work is Yours: Work, Career & Vocation in Lasallian Education

Dr. Brennan O’Donnell is the 19th president of Manhattan College, having assumed the responsibilities of the position July 1, 2009.

Dr. O’Donnell comes to Manhattan from Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham University’s oldest and largest school. As dean of Fordham College, he was the chief academic officer of a College of Arts and Sciences enrolling about 3,200 students under a faculty of more than 200.

Before coming to New York, Dr. O’Donnell spent 17 years at Loyola College in Maryland (now Loyola University Maryland), where he served as a professor of English and, from 1999-2004, as director of the university-wide Honors Program. An active scholar, his teaching and research interests focus mainly upon poetry, especially of the British Romantic period, and on religion and literature, particularly contemporary American Catholic writers. He has authored two books on the poetry of William Wordsworth and co-edited The Work of Andre Dubus, a collection of essays published as a double issue of Religion and the Arts. In addition, Dr. O’Donnell has published articles, essays and reviews in some of the leading journals in his field. At Manhattan, he will continue to hold a faculty appointment, as he had at Fordham and Loyola, as professor of English.

As the first president of the College not to be a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Dr. O’Donnell is treading new ground at Manhattan College. He has experience in such transitions, however, as he was also the first layperson to serve as dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill. His publications and lectures demonstrate a keen engagement in issues of faith and education, specifically Catholic higher education. From 1994–2000, he served as editor of the national magazine Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, and he was a member of the National Seminar on Jesuit Higher Education from 1993–2000. In addition, he has served as a board member for the Lilly Fellows Program and for Collegium, a consortium of Catholic universities that strives to strengthen faculty understanding of and participation in the mission of Catholic higher education.

A native of Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley, Dr. O’Donnell earned his B.A. with highest distinction and Honors in English at The Pennsylvania State University in 1981, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in English and American Literature and Language. He is the recipient of numerous fellowships, grants, awards and honors. Dr. O’Donnell is married to Angela O’Donnell (formerly Alaimo), a poet and writer who teaches at Fordham, where she serves as associate director of the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies. The couple has three sons: Charles (a graduate of Saint John’s University, Minnesota, and a teacher in the St. Paul, Minnesota, public schools), Patrick (a 2009 graduate of Columbia University, currently pursuing graduate studies in philosophy in Leuven, Belgium), and Will (a senior English major at Fordham).

Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D.


The Inauguration of Brennan O’Donnell,Ph.D. Nineteenth President of Manhattan College 3

Grand Marshal and Mace Bearer

The School of Arts and School of Science Banners

College and University Presidents and Delegates

The School of Engineering and School of Education Banners

The Deans of the Schools

Faculty

The School of Business Banner

Vice Presidents

Platform Party Executive Vice President and Provost Board of Trustees Honored Guests Chairman of the Board of Trustees President

Order of Procession


Grand Marshal and Mace BearerBr. Robert Berger, F.S.C., Ph.D.,Vice President for Student Life

Delegates MarshalKaren Nicholson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education and Chair of the Lasallian Education Committee

Faculty MarshalsThe Deans of the Schools

Manhattan College Pipers

Air Force ROTC Color Guard, Manhattan College Contingent

Student Athlete Banner Bearers Andrew Gabriel ’11, School of Arts Men’s Basketball Julia Lavelle ’11, School of Arts Women’s Lacrosse Seid Mujanovic ’11, School of Business Men’s Track and Field Michelle Pacheco ’10, School of Education Women’s Basketball Thomas Romano ’11, School of Business Golf

Student Banner Escorts Marlisse Cepeda ’10, School of Arts Jose Chavarry ’12, School of Arts Anthony Fiore ’10, School of Business Sophia Hirakis ’11, School of Science Jasmine Humphrey ’10, School of Business Brian Klotz ’10, School of Science Thomas Matarazzo ’10, School of Engineering Amy Rowe ’11, School of Education Jeffrey Sidoti ’11, School of Education Kimberly Valentine ’10, School of Engineering

Musical Prelude and Processional March from Joshua by George F. HandelPrelude from Te Deum by Marc Antoine CharpentierManhattan College Orchestra and Jasper Band

Welcome Weldon Jackson, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Provost

The National Anthem

Invocation Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Theology, Fordham University

Presentation of Greetings The Archdiocese of New York The Most Reverend Gerald T. Walsh, D.D., Rector and President, St. Joseph’s Seminary

The City of New York Raymond W. Kelly ’63, Police Commissioner, City of New York

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Stephen J. Sweeny ’71 (M.A.), ’76 (M.A.), Ph.D., President, College of New Rochelle and Secretary, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities

Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities Laura L. Anglin, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities

Learned Societies Marlene Gottlieb, Ph.D., President, Upsilon of New York Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Manhattan College and Chair, Modern Foreign Languages

Lilly Fellows Program Joseph Creech, Ph.D., Acting Director, Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts

Lasallian Educational Community Br. Michael McGinniss, F.S.C., Ph.D., President, La Salle University and Trustee, Manhattan College

Musical Interlude Choose Something Like a Star from Frostiana by Randall Thompson; text by Robert Frost Manhattan College Singers

Order of Ceremonies


Choose Something Like a StarO Star (the fairest one in sight),We grant your loftiness the rightTo some obscurity of cloud –It will not do to say of night,Since dark is what brings out your light.Some mystery becomes the proud.But to be wholly taciturnIn your reserve is not allowed.

Say something to us we can learnBy heart and when alone repeat.Say something! And it says “I burn.”But say with what degree of heat.Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.Use language we can comprehend.Tell us what elements you blend.It gives us strangely little aid,But does tell something in the end.

And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,Not even stooping from its sphere,It asks a little of us here.It asks of us a certain height,So when at times the mob is swayedTo carry praise or blame too far,We may choose something like a starTo stay our minds on and be staid.


The Arch & the Star: Reflections on Lasallian Education Jane Kelley Rodeheffer, Ph.D., Brother J. Lane Professor of Humanities, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Presentation of Greetings on behalf of the Manhattan College CommunityBrothers of the Christian SchoolsBr. Timothy Murphy, F.S.C., Director, Christian Brothers Community, Manhattan College

Faculty Katherine Weld, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Chair, Council for Faculty Affairs, Manhattan College

Administration & StaffGrace Cabrera, Office Manager, School of Education

Students: Daniel Johnson ’10, School of Arts, Student Body President Dana Medica ’10, Master’s Degree Student, School of Education

The Alumni SocietyWilliam Harkins ’67, President, Manhattan College Alumni Society

Installation of the President Thomas D. O’Malley ’63, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Manhattan College

Presentation of Presidential Regalia Br. Thomas J. Scanlan, F.S.C., Ph.D., President Emeritus, Manhattan College

Entrusting of the Charter and the Sponsorship Covenant Thomas O’Malley and Br. Dennis Malloy, F.S.C., Ph.D., Visitor, District of Eastern North America, and Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, Manhattan College

Presentation of the Presidential Medallion Thomas O’Malley and Br. Dennis Malloy

Inaugural Address Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., President, Manhattan College

Benediction Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, D.D., Ph.D., Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C.

Alma Mater

The Recessional Hornpipe from Water Music Suite by George F. HandelManhattan College Orchestra and Jasper Band

Order of Ceremonies (continued)



Jane Kelley Rodeheffer


Jane Kelley Rodeheffer is professor of philosophy at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She holds degrees from Boston College, Harvard and Vanderbilt, where she completed her Ph.D. in philosophy in 1989. Rodeheffer has published a range of articles in philosophy and literature, and she is the co-editor of two collections of essays, Core Texts in Conversation and The Work of Andre Dubus. At Saint Mary’s University, she has served as founding director of both the university-wide Lasallian Core Traditions Program and the Lasallian Great Books Honors Program.

Her awards include the Brother J. Robert Lane Chair in Humanities and the Brother Charles Severin Award for Excellence in Teaching. Rodeheffer has held several leadership positions in the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts, a national consortium of church-related colleges and universities. She is currently serving a three-year term as senior faculty mentor in the newly established Lilly Fellows Program for graduate students.

The essential features of the academic costume worn at American college exercises originate in the garb of the Middle Ages. The oldest universities of northern Europe developed from church schools; both faculty and students were regarded as part of the clergy. The monastic dress of the day was worn by all participants in university life.

The head covering evolved from the skullcap worn by the clergy. In the universities, this skullcap developed a pointed top that evolved into a tassel. The bonnet with tassel worn by degree holders in European universities has been replaced in the United States by the mortarboard; the medieval tassel has been retained.

The hood was a head covering that, like the monks’ cowl, dropped on to the shoulders. At first, it was worn by faculty and students. In the early 16th century, it was restricted to graduates and became the mark of a degree holder. Today, each college has a distinctive colored hood lining by which its graduates may be recognized in academic procession.

The contemporary gown may have been borrowed from the habit of the Benedictine monks. In the Middle Ages, undergraduates, bachelors and masters could be distinguished by the simplicity or elaborateness of their gowns. The masters’ gowns were often furred, a custom surviving today in the ornamentation on the doctoral gown.

The wide velvet borders on the front of the doctoral gown and the velvet bars on the sleeves are colored according to the scholarly field of the wearer as follows:

Accountancy and Business Administration, drab

Arts, Letters and Humanities, white

Education, light blue

Engineering, orange

Fine Arts, brown

Law, purple

Library Science, lemon

Philosophy, dark blue

Physical Education, sage green

Public Administration, peacock blue

Science, golden yellow

Theology, scarlet

Academic Heraldry




The Manhattan College presidential medallion will be conferred during the installation of Manhattan’s nineteenth president, Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D. Its design combines institutional

and religious symbols and dates that represent the College’s history.

In the center medallion, the feature piece, is the seal of the College. Adapted from the seal of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, this symbol was bestowed upon the Brothers by

the General Chapter in 1751. The shining star is positioned on the shield with the inscription “Signum Fidei,” Latin for “sign of faith.” The words “Manhattan College New York” encircle the seal of the Christian Brothers and were added at the time of the institution’s founding in 1853.

The scrollwork adorning the perimeter of the seal mirrors the fleur-de-lis design above the star.

The chain has six circular engraved discs, three on each side, that represent the five schools of the College with their founding dates, and one that honors the founder

of the Christian Brothers, Saint John Baptist de La Salle. Topping off these discs are two embossed cupolas, one on each side. These symbolize the

main cupola that rests high on top of the Georgian-style Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers. It has come to be known as the

defining symbol of the College, a familiar beacon towering over the Riverdale campus and its surroundings.

Inscribed on its reverse side with the name of Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D.,

the medallion was designed by the College and crafted by Medallic Art Company Ltd.

The Presidential Medallion

Brother Patrick Murphy

1863-1873

Brother Justin McMahon

1886-1890, 1894-1900

Brother A. Edward Saunders 1904-1907, 1912-1918

Brother Paulian Fanning

1873-1879

Brother Charles Foley

1900-1902

Brother B. Peter Tracy

1907-1909

Brother Anthony Byrnes

1879-1886, 1890-1894

Brother E. Jerome Daly

1902-1904, 1909-1912

Brother A. Jasper Scanlon

1918-1921

The Past Presidents of Manhattan College


Brother C. Thomas Fitzsimmons

1921-1927

Brother A. Victor Lally

1938-1944

Brother Gregory Nugent

1962-1975

Brother Cornelius Hession

1927-1932

Brother B. Thomas McGinty

1944-1953

Brother J. Stephen Sullivan

1975-1987

Brother A. Patrick McKenzie

1932-1938

Brother A. Philip Nelan

1953-1962

Brother Thomas J. Scanlan

1987-2009



Thomas D. O’Malley Chairman, Board of Trustees Manhattan College

John Banks III Vice President of Government Relations Consolidated Edison Company

William A. Bautz President WAB Consulting

Renato Berzolla Former President & CEO Multi Electric Company

Patrick G. Boyle Executive Vice President New York Life Investment Management

Br. Frank G. Byrne, F.S.C. President Christian Brothers Academy

Gerard Caccappolo Retired CEO Ebone

Joseph J. Carroll, Esq. Counsel Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Clare A. Cunniffe Regional Director, Financial Services Informatica Corp.

Neil P. DeFeo Chief Executive Officer The Sun Products Corporation

William N. DooleySenior Vice President, Financial Services American International Group

Cornelius J. HigginsCo-Chairman & Principal Engineer Applied Research Associates, Inc.

Helen C. Hollein Professor Emeritus, Chemical Engineering Manhattan College

Robert E. La Blanc President Robert E. La Blanc Associates, Inc.

John V. Magliano Chairman Emeritus Syska Hennessy Group

Br. Dennis Malloy, F.S.C. Provincial La Salle Provincialate

Br. William Mann, F.S.C. President St. Mary’s University of Minnesota

Rosanne Thomas Matzat, Esq. Partner, Bankruptcy Hahn Hessen, LLP

Br. Michael J. McGinniss, F.S.C. President La Salle University

John A. McMaster Consultant Volt Information Sciences

Peter M. Mulderry Director of Marketing/Client Services Highfields Capital Management

Robert J. Muller Jr. Chairman, President & CEO Panolam Industries

Eileen K. Murray Former President & Partner Duff Capital Advisors

Peter M. Musumeci Jr. Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Metro Bank

Manhattan College Board of Trustees


Weldon Jackson, Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Provost

Salwa Ammar, Ph.D. Dean of the School of Business

Br. Robert Berger, F.S.C., Ph.D. Vice President for Student Life

William Bisset Vice President for Enrollment Management

Edward Brown, Ph.D. Dean of the School of Science

Richard Emmerson, Ph.D. Dean of the School of Arts

Barbara Fabé Vice President for Human Resources

Colette Geary, Ph.D. Dean of Students

Robert Mahan Vice President for Facilities Management

Thomas Mauriello Vice President for College Advancement

William Merriman, Ph.D. Dean of the School of Education

Thomas Ryan Vice President for Finance

Tim Ward, Ph.D. Dean of the School of Engineering

John Wilcox, Ph.D. Vice President for Mission

Manhattan College Administration

Michael J. Paliotta Managing Director Credit Suisse First Boston

Michael J. Passarella Retired Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Kenneth Rathgeber Executive Vice President & CCO Fidelity Investments

Michael J. Regan Retired Vice Chair & CAO KPMG LLP

Joseph A. Ripp Retired President & COO Dendrite International

Anthony J. Scala Jr., P.E. President Lowy & Donnath, Inc.

George Skau Professor Emeritus, History Bergen Community College

Br. Robert J. Smith, F.S.C. Vice President for Academic Affairs Bethlehem University

C. Edward Ward Jr. Retired Director of Marketing New York Stock Exchange



Co-ChairsVeronica Boland, Executive Assistant to the President Lydia Gray, Director of College Relations

Core Committee Thomas Mauriello, Vice President for College Advancement Ann Clohessy, Special Advisor to the President Patricia Gunn Doherty, Director of Special Events

Christian Brothers Community Br. Timothy Murphy, F.S.C., Director of the Christian Brothers Center

Board of Trustees Thomas O’Malley, Chairman Br. Dennis Malloy, F.S.C., Vice Chairman

Academic Affairs Weldon Jackson, Executive Vice President and Provost Maire Duchon, Director of the Libraries Karen Nicholson, Associate Professor of Education and Chair of the Lasallian Education Committee Amy Surak, Archivist

College Advancement Kristen Cuppek, Assistant Director of Publications Ellen Kiernan, Director of Alumni Relations

Enrollment Management William Bisset, Vice President for Enrollment Management Dana Dubiel, Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Facilities Management Robert Mahan, Vice President for Facilities Management Richard McKeown, Director of Physical Plant

Student Government Daniel Johnson ’10, Student Body President Jesse Velten ’11, Executive Vice President

Student Life Br. Robert Berger, F.S.C., Vice President for Student Life Br. Charles Barbush, F.S.C., Coordinator of the Mentor Program Robert Byrnes, Director of Athletics Lois Harr, Director of Campus Ministry and Social Action Fr. George Hill, Campus Minister William Mulligan, Coordinator of Performing Arts Elaine White, Director of Student Development

Special Thanks To: Athletics Computer Services Dean of Students Lasallian Education Committee Performing Arts Physical Plant Registrar Security Sodexo Food Services Sodexo Housekeeping Student Activities Student Ambassadors

Committee Support: Gail Conklin, Special Events Officer Amy Coppe, Development Writer Andrew Goodman, Director of Campus Events Victor Schneider, Assistant Director of Physical Plant Scott Silversten, Assistant Director of Communications Rose Spaziani, Publications Officer

Inauguration Planning Committee


Friday, October 23 Opening Mass and Reception 4 p.m., Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers Celebrant: Rev. Gerald Blaszczak, S.J. University Chaplain Fairfield University

Reception to follow, Dante’s Den, Thomas Hall Open to all

Student Inaugural Ball 7 p.m., Smith Auditorium Open to students, faculty, administrators and staff

Sunday, October 25 Alumni Mass and Brunch for Open House10 a.m., Mass, Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers Open to all

11 a.m., Alumni Brunch, Dante’s Den, Thomas Hall By invitation only

Open House 12 p.m., Draddy Gymnasium

Sunday Liturgy7:30 p.m., Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers Open to all

Monday, October 26 Campus Revue Performance Pizzazz: Pipers, Pep, Pop, Pirouettes, Pizza and the President 12–2 p.m., The Quadrangle Open to all

Dedication of Founders Bridge 3:30 p.m., Mary Alice and Tom O’Malley Library entrance bridge Open to all

Formal Opening Exhibition Dedicated to the Work of Br. Luke Salm, F.S.C., et al.4 p.m., Mary Alice and Tom O’Malley Library 4:30 p.m., Reception, Mary Alice and Tom O’Malley Library Open to all

Fall Honors ConvocationHonorary Degree Presentation John Neuhauser ’64, Ph.D. President, Saint Michael’s College

Convocation 7:30 p.m., Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers Reception to follow, Dante’s Den, Thomas Hall By invitation only

Tuesday, October 27 Lasallian Academic SymposiumKeynote Address Jane Kelley Rodeheffer, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy Brother J. Robert Lane Chair in Humanities Saint Mary’s University, Minnesota

1:30 p.m., Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers 2:30 p.m., Discussion Groups, Smith Auditorium 4:30 p.m., Reception, The Quadrangle Open to faculty, administrators and staff

Center for Career Development: Mentor Meet & Greet for Engineering and ScienceGuest Speaker: Peter McGroddy ’71, P.E. Senior Vice President, HDR Engineering Co. 6–8 p.m., Smith Auditorium By invitation only

Wednesday, October 28 Presidential Inauguration Celebration

Installation Ceremony1 p.m., Draddy Gymnasium

Reception3 p.m., The Quadrangle

Presentation and Display of Greetings Rotunda, Memorial Hall – all day

Inaugural Week Celebration: October 23-28, 2009



Hail to you our Alma Mater!

Of your fame we sing today,

And our hearts exult within us

As this tribute we do pay.

For we love your hilly campus

And Lasallian community.

We will always bring you honor

Now until eternity.

For we love your hilly campus

And Lasallian community.

We will bring Manhattan honor

Now until eternity.

Alma Mater

manhattan college's inauguration program

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