magazine
A Legacy of
LEADERSHIP Positioning Alvernia for the Future
SPECIAL ISSUE celebrating Thomas F. Flynn
Winter 2019
INSIDE Reflections Helen Flynn Jerry Greiner Jim Boscov
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Engagement
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Alumni Students Community Faculty Campus Community Photo Essay Well Wishes
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Alumni Profiles Massimo Grande Conor Delaney
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On Campus Periscope Alumni Class Notes Alumni News
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DAN Z. JOHNSON
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A special edition of Alvernia Magazine After 14 years of transformational leadership, the extraordinary journey of Thomas F. Flynn as president of Alvernia University will end June 2019. During his tenure as the longest serving president in Alvernia’s history, guided by its inclusive Franciscan core values, the university became a comprehensive, regional university, now recognized as a national leader in community service and civic engagement. On the following pages, experience Flynn’s amazing journey through heartwarming reflections of family and friends, deeply-rooted engagement with university and community groups, photography and well wishes from former colleagues and students and profiles of successful alumni. Throughout his legacy of leadership, Flynn has positioned Alvernia very well for the future.
Reflections and a future full of promise Alvernia has historically been a special place of opportunity for first-generation students, working women and others with limited access to higher education.
Thomas F. Flynn, PhD President
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I am grateful my history professors at both Boston College and the University of Michigan cultivated in me an appreciation for the use of language and the ways cultures and organizations evolve over time. In Shakespeare’s immortal words, “the past is prologue,” especially for leaders like me who stand gratefully on the shoulders of their predecessors. Yet after almost two decades as a college president, I know too that universities must be alert to unforeseen possibilities that help realize unimagined dreams of a better future. Alvernia is fortunate that the heroic Franciscan Sisters, whom I described at my longago inauguration as those “bold and audacious women,” refused to be cowed by the formidable obstacles facing them in 1958 and during the college’s early decades. The transformation of their little college on top of Mt. Alvernia into a comprehensive, “Distinctive Franciscan University” is proof that even outlandish dreams can be realized. Alvernia has historically been a special place of opportunity for first-generation students, working women and others with limited access to higher education. Today Alvernia is also known for excellence as well as access. Our Reading Collegiate Scholars Program graduated 100% of its initial cohort of talented students. And alumnae (and alumni) of all ages are now leaders in their professions and in their local
communities, as evident in this year’s President’s Dinner awardees—Chief Andres Dominguez, Dr. Melissa Marcario, and Dr. Phil Fromuth. Alvernia has historically considered community service an essential part of our education. Community leaders have long valued our students’ volunteerism and generosity of spirit. Today, even as students alone contribute 40,000 hours of service annually, the Holleran Center, O’Pake Institute, Seniors College and Arts at Alvernia have become invaluable community resources. Our board of trustees attracts civic servant-leaders like this year’s Franciscan Awardees, Jim and Cindy Boscov. And the university is itself an essential “anchor institution” for Greater Reading. Alvernia has historically championed lifelong, values-based learning grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. Today, the university community has adopted a statement of “Commitment to Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression.” Our Search Program ensures all
first-year students confront and ponder “Enduring Questions” in multiple courses, and all graduate as well as undergraduate programs require at least one course in ethics. Students are inspired by a dedicated faculty to become “ethical leaders with moral courage.” Alvernia has historically responded to workplace needs by preparing future teachers, addiction counselors, police, nurses, accountants. Today, several doctoral programs also complement a range of specialized professional programs, especially in health care and the human services. Pass rates for our occupational therapists and nurses range annually between 90-100%, and 95% of our recent seniors were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Alvernia has historically welcomed people of all backgrounds and faiths. As our iconic Sr. Pacelli once said memorably at a faculty seminar: “If the Sisters wanted only to educate Catholics, we would never have settled in Berks County.” Today, Alvernia is an interfaith leader in our community, working in special partnership with leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities and hosting the inspirational Common Heart activities. After attending the moving memorial for Carl Herbein on our campus, one prominent community leader described Alvernia as “the spiritual home” for many in our community. I don’t tend to reflect nostalgically on bygone times. But I do enjoy crooning “Glory Days” with Springsteen (and, of course, howling with other Golden Wolves!). And the memorable moments are many . . . from the day we announced the approval of university status to the 2018 opening convocation where we welcomed a record freshman class; from the creation of the Holleran Center and O’Pake Institute to the appointment of our first Neag Professors; from championships in too many sports to mention to the glorious goal line stand in our inaugural football game; from the dedication of Pacelli and Zygmunta Halls to the ground breaking of the PLEX on a new East campus; from the honoring of almost a score of faculty book authors to the bestowal of the first Albert Boscov Award to the outstanding graduate of our Reading Collegiate Scholars Program. And perhaps most of all, from stimulating and fun Faculty Forums with treasured colleagues to lively dinners with inspirational students at Cedar Hill and in Holleran’s Pub.
Save the Dates Week of Celebration and Gratitude A week of celebratory events where Tom Flynn shares his gratitude for the community
April 24-26, 2019 Celebration of Our Founders Founders Day and Francis Factor Lecture “Pope Francis and the Inclusive Catholic University” Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, STD Wednesday, April 24, 4 p.m. McGlinn Conference Center
Celebration of Scholarship Faculty Achievement and Excellence Thursday, April 25 Symposium 4–5:30 p.m. Reception 5:30–7 p.m.
Celebration of Donors Cyril O’Donoghue & Blackie O’Connell Authentic Irish music directly from County Clare Thursday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. Francis Hall Theatre (To purchase tickets, email arts@alvernia.edu or call 610-796-8322.)
Celebration of Interfaith Dialogue Interfaith Prayer Service and Fellowship Friday, April 26, 3 p.m. Physical Education Center
As we enthusiastically welcome Presidentelect John Loyack to an academic community devoted to our Franciscan values and the pursuit of “knowledge joined with love,” let us anticipate a future for Alvernia full of promise and unimagined possibility. May the new administration, in partnership with faculty, trustees and the entire Alvernia community, continue to embody the legacy of our “bold and audacious” foundresses. Peace and all good,
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Helen Flynn stands outside Cedar Hill, Alvernia University’s presidential residence.
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Reflections
“What a long, strange trip it’s been!” By Helen Flynn
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om Flynn and I have known each other for over 40 years and have been married for 38. Tom is a big rock-and-roll fan, so it seems appropriate to quote the Grateful Dead: “What a long, strange trip it’s been!” Initially, we didn’t seem like a good fit. I was a small-town girl from South Dakota, brought up in a Norwegian-Lutheran culture, while Tom was a big city kid from Boston with a strong Irish-Catholic culture. Our first meeting was academic, not social. We were both teaching assistants at the University of Michigan when a particularly determined student ended up in both of our advanced writing courses in the same semester. I cold-called Tom and set up a meeting to discuss the student. We met at a local pizza joint, had an interesting Alvernia University Magazine
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Reflections conversation about our student and filed each other away for future reference. Fast forward to the end of the semester, when Tom casually asked if I’d like to have a drink. I accepted, and we ended up getting drinks, eating dinner and dancing in the rooftop lounge of the tallest building in Ann Arbor— seven whole stories. We discovered that each of us actually went to church (neither of us had met any other graduate student who did so), and Tom found out that I not only liked to drink scotch but could actually hold it too. Our relationship progressed rapidly after that, and a year later we were talking marriage. Luckily for me, Tom didn’t renege after learning that we would be married at a Lutheran church in South Dakota and that my family traditionally had the reception in the church basement with no alcohol or dancing. Compromises were struck, and we ended up marrying on July 12, 1980, with Tom’s uncle Joe, a Jesuit priest, presiding in my Lutheran church with the reception at a hotel with dancing and some beer and wine discreetly situated in an adjoining room. Our first home was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and like most newlyweds, we had some rough times. Right away, Tom’s lovely, youthful mother had her third recurrence of breast cancer and died two years later. As he was coping with his mother’s illness, Tom, who had taken his first job at Mount Saint Mary’s with an incomplete dissertation, was told by his advisors that he needed to rewrite most of it. He developed a massive writer’s block and struggled all
“A few years later we had our wonderful son, Daniel, and Tom was immediately a loving and involved father.” Anne Feczko and Daniel Flynn, daughter-in-law and son of Helen and Tom Alvernia University Magazine
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summer to make progress. I remember how painful that summer was, how much I admired Tom’s perseverance, and how much he valued my feedback and editing. It took another year, but he ended up with a fine dissertation and a triumphant defense. A few years later we had our wonderful son, Daniel, and Tom was immediately a loving and involved father. My job allowed me to work just three days a week, but on those days, I left the house at 5:30 a.m. So Tom was responsible for getting Daniel up, dressed, and fed and dropping him off at the babysitter’s. For a guy with no siblings or cousins who had seldom been around babies and young children, he did remarkably well! During this time, one of our significant differences emerged. Tom was a planner, while I preferred spontaneity
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and hated committing to plans more than a few days in advance. When our son’s activities and Tom’s increasingly demanding schedule as a dean intensified, I initially resisted his attempts to pin down some dates far in advance. But gradually, I saw the wisdom of his approach. Otherwise, we would not have had much of a family life nor would Tom have made it to nearly every activity in Daniel’s childhood. Tom has always been supportive of my career. When he accepted a job as provost at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, I went back to school to get a master’s in library science. Five years later when Tom became president of Millikin, I was working full-time, which I continued to do as director of Mifflin Community Library when he became president of Alvernia. I
Reflections have always appreciated Tom’s insistence that I not be a traditional college president’s spouse. This has allowed me to view the time I spend fulfilling my spouse’s role as a voluntary, pleasurable contribution to the university rather than an obligation. Coming to Alvernia has been a great blessing for both of us. I felt strongly that Tom needed to get back into Catholic higher education, where his passion lay. And the Alvernia and Reading communities—especially the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters—have been incredibly welcoming to us. After we had been in Reading for a year, we realized we felt more at home here than we had after 10 years in Decatur—and we had been happy in Decatur. Thus, deciding to stay in Reading after Tom’s presidency was easy. We’ll enjoy continuing to see the many friends we’ve made, and we’ll always cheer on the Golden Wolves! I’m tremendously proud of what Tom and the Alvernia community have accomplished during his presidency, with a special place in my heart for the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program. But I’m even prouder of Tom’s growth as a principled leader and a kind, considerate and compassionate person who makes deep, lifelong friendships. The Bernardine Sisters say that Tom has a Jesuit mind and a Franciscan heart. I can’t imagine a better combination.
“...and we’ll always cheer on the Golden Wolves!”
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Reflections Building relationships, a common theme in Flynn’s journey By Jerry Greiner
Tom Flynn and Jerry Greiner, interim provost, preside over the 2018 Commencement exercises at Santander Arena in Reading.
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hirty years ago, then a “baby dean” at Hamline University, I attended an American Association of Colleges and Universities’ session on new approaches to integrating general education throughout the undergraduate curriculum. Tom Flynn led that session and went on to become a nationally known figure in this movement. I rarely seek out presenters at meetings, but his compelling arguments aligned enough with my views that I approached and engaged him in a discussion. He invited me to dinner. Thus began an acquaintance that morphed over time—through professional experiences—into a deep friendship, filled with mutual respect and admiration. When I think back on it, ours is an unlikely friendship. We couldn’t be more different: he from Boston, I from a small, mid-west dairy farm. His entire extended family numbered six, mine much more than six dozen. Tom is the consummate sports fan, and I eschew sports unless they relate to my family or my Alvernia University Magazine
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Greiner and Flynn share views during the First Year Seminar reception featuring author Jamie Ford. The featured book was “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.”
university. I love to cook and build buildings, Tom boils water and is useless with tools or technology. But we share two enormous passions—pursuing excellence in higher education leadership and cherishing our families above all else. These two shared passions—coupled with our ability to be vulnerable and share raw feelings with each other—forged the framework of our friendship and the foundation for formal and mostly informal mutual consultation over these many years. Tom’s move to provost at Millikin coincided with my increasing leadership roles at Hamline, so our interactions increased in frequency and depth. His leadership in reimagining enrollment management approaches to increase dramatically the number and diversity of students and faculty, upgrading athletic programs and facilities and launching a new division of student life and academic development—all created much fodder for our discussions. I was thrilled when Tom was selected from within as
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Millikin’s president and was inspired by his thoughtprovoking pre-inauguration conference (a precursor to a similar set of activities when inaugurated at Alvernia). Tom thrived as president. He launched an ambitious comprehensive campaign with a goal of $75 million that was soon raised to $125 million, due to strong early success. The successful campaign financed four major building projects and endowments for student research, service learning, global studies and faculty development. It was during his presidency at Millikin that Tom honed skills on best practices in board governance, skills that he not only has used extensively at Alvernia, but also as a major player on the national scene as a consultant to other universities and higher education associations. Following his successful presidency at Millikin, Tom spent three years working as a senior advisor to the Council of Independent Colleges and as a senior consultant to presidents and boards on a variety of topics,
Reflections
Francis Hall in 2005 when Flynn first arrived at Alvernia
Francis Hall today
especially best practices in university governance. During these years, it became clear to Tom that he missed the presidency and that he wanted to find a place where his Catholic faith could be central to his daily work. I recall his initial enthusiasm about Alvernia, a place neither of us knew. How fortunate for Alvernia (and for Tom!) that he was selected as president. I remember my first visit to campus with Tom in 2005. We had already discussed the many challenges he would
face with programs, people and finances. But when I saw the campus with the parking lot in the middle and the grounds looking a bit shabby, I remarked that he really had his work cut out for him! But Tom only saw opportunity and imagined what might be. He put together a good strategic planning team and set to work on putting “flesh” on the good “bones” that he saw. Whereas others downplayed the Franciscan and Catholic heritage, Tom elevated it and emphasized ethics and leadership as Alvernia University Magazine
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Flynn and Greiner review work of faculty during the book authors presentation and reception in November.
central to Alvernia’s future. Whereas others saw Reading and Berks County as disadvantages, Tom drooled at the opportunities for community engagement and service learning. And step by step, year by year, Tom has led the transformation of Alvernia from a sleepy local college to a thriving comprehensive regional university. Having a good group of faculty and administrators and a supportive board have been instrumental to Tom’s success and Alvernia’s transformation. And as with any effective CEO, Tom has been fortunate to attract a terrific senior team. “Tom’s multifaceted leadership has been transformative for Alvernia and for all who have had the privilege to learn, teach and otherwise strive in his company. I am humbly proud of and deeply grateful for our professional and personal association,” said Joseph Cicala, retired vice president for university life. Doug Smith, vice president for administration and finance, credits Tom’s “excellent work with the Sisters and the board as major factors that led to the strong
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Franciscan identity and the steady, fast-paced development of new programs and facilities that have helped us not just survive but thrive in a difficult competitive environment.” John McCloskey, vice president for enrollment management and university life, has assumed continually expanded responsibilities under Tom’s mentorship. “I am so grateful for the many opportunities Tom has given me to lead,” he said, “but I am even more grateful for his careful nurturing and guiding of my growth and development as a leader.” Tom’s success as a leader can be traced to the very high standards that he has for himself and the people who work for him. “Tom is the most ‘exacting’ boss I have ever worked for. Every detail needs to be correct,” remarked Anthony DeMarco, vice president for institutional advancement. “Working for Tom Flynn has made me a better professional, a more strategic and organized executive and a more reflective, contemplative individual.” Another factor in Tom’s success is his incredible ability
Reflections
The 2018 graduation recognized more than 600 graduates.
to nurture relationships that led to his service on countless local and national boards, making Alvernia known to so many. Vice President for Marketing and Communications Deidra Hill said “In a very short time, I’ve learned a great deal from Tom about leadership and the importance of building relationships with people on and off campus. These relationships have served Alvernia well in increasing its reach and visibility beyond Berks County.” But the relationships have been about so much more than visibility. Tom’s relationships have brought people together to see a common vision and make dreams come true. Tom and I have together relished successes and weathered setbacks during the past three decades. We have relied on our relationship for support and encouragement. It has been an honor and privilege to culminate my career working alongside my best male friend. I’m so glad he invited me to dinner 30 years ago. Jerry Greiner
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Reflections
Developing the board as a national model of governance By Jim Boscov
Jim Boscov stands with Flynn during the 2011 Commencement. He was chair of the board of trustees when Flynn was hired as president in 2005.
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n June 5, 2005, Tom Flynn arrived on the campus of Alvernia College to succeed Larry Mazzeno as president of this rather small and relatively unknown Franciscan institution. Fourteen years later, the change is astounding. Not only is Alvernia now a distinctive comprehensive university, but also nationally known for its board development. From the beginning, I believe Tom had a vision of where he wanted to take Alvernia. Most importantly, Tom had the people skills and management style to get there and take everyone with him. He was the new president; I was the new chairman of the board of trustees. He was incredibly well prepared for the job. This was his second presidency having served as provost and then as president of Millikin University in Illinois for nine years. Most recently, he had served as senior advisor for Alvernia University Magazine
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National experts hail Alvernia’s board governance President Flynn is widely recognized for his knowledge of higher education governance and his passion for ensuring that the board governance of Alvernia University reflects best practice. Working closely with his board chairs, he has made sure that both the art and science of governance inform the board’s work, with the result that Alvernia University is among the best governed private institutions in the country. Susan Whealler Johnston, PhD, president and CEO, National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
I join the Alvernia community in bidding Tom Flynn a fond farewell after an exceptionally productive 14-year term as president. From my governance perspective, I especially commend Tom— together with excellent board chairs and smart, dedicated board members—on developing policy and practice that has ensured institutional decision-making of the most strategic, effective and consequential kind. AGB has recently risked identifying the essential components of good governance: a judicious and intentional blending of
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right people, right focus and right relationship knit together by purposeful discernment. Though this level of performance is sought by many boards, it is attained by only a few … a few among which I would proudly include Tom Flynn, Jim Boscov and the Alvernia board. Truly, they are to be counted as “exemplars of good governance.” Tom Longin, senior consultant, Association of Governing Boards
In today’s volatile and rapidly changing higher education environment, the role of the university governing board has become critical to the future of the institution. The Alvernia board, as I know from personal experience, serves as a model. The appropriate board and committee structures are in place. But more important, there is a vital board culture of trust, transparency, inclusiveness, engagement and shared decision making. It is indicative of thoughtful presidential and board leadership, and no doubt reflective as well of Alvernia values and culture. Doug Orr, PhD, president emeritus of Warren Wilson College; senior fellow, Association of Governing Boards
Reflections
“Perhaps the best example of bringing everyone together was the strategic planning process that Tom launched in his second year at Alvernia.” — Jim Boscov Trustee Emeritus
the Council of Independent Colleges where he worked with nearly 100 presidents and trustees on matters of governance and institutional strategy. By comparison, I’m just glad I was smart enough to smile and look like I knew what I was doing. There were two elements of Tom’s management style that stand out and, in my mind, enabled so much of the progress and change that’s happened during his tenure. He understood the importance of building consensus, and he had the ability to address each constituency in a way that mattered to them. When Tom arrived on campus, I’m sure he had a good idea of what he wanted to accomplish in a variety of areas. Like any smart leader entering an organization, he spent much of his early time listening—understanding who everyone was, what they wanted and where they thought Alvernia should be heading. Rather than unilaterally announce his plans and agendas, he recognized the need to bring everyone along with a unified vision. To do that, he invited professionals in a few specific areas of expertise to visit the campus, meet with all of the interested parties and deliver a recommendation to the board of trustees or other members of the college family. We engaged well-respected consultants in enrollment management, development and campus master planning. While Tom may have known from the beginning what needed to be done, bringing in recognized experts put the emphasis on what needed to be done and not on what the new president wanted. As a result, plans were made, the work was done and everyone supported the changes. Perhaps the best example of bringing everyone together was the strategic planning process that Tom launched in his second year at Alvernia. Rather than head the process himself, he appointed two well-respected members of the campus community to lead the effort. In the process they met with each and every segment of the college community—students, staff, faculty, trustees, friends of the college and more. Everyone had a vested interest in supporting and executing the final result. Everyone was a winner, but Alvernia benefited the most. Once plans for the future were established, and with everyone on board, Tom recognized that it was time to launch a major capital campaign. With professional and collaborative processes in place, the campaign succeeded Alvernia University Magazine
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Alvernia board chairs who served during Flynn era
Jim Boscov, CEO, Boscov’s Trustee Emeritus
Kathleen D. Herbein Trustee Emerita
Kevin St. Cyr Founder/Consultant, SCF LLC Consultants Senior Vice President, Murphy McCormack Capital Advisors
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Joanne M. Judge, Stevens & Lee Trustee Emerita
Michael Fromm CEO, Fromm Electric Supply
Reflections in raising over $32 million, a record amount and a resounding success. As the leader of a very diverse community, Tom recognized that not every element of the community has the same needs or interests. Some leaders broadcast their same unaltered message regardless of the audience they’re addressing because that’s their message. Tom has the special gift of delivering the right message to each particular audience; he tells them what’s important to them. Speaking specifically and with relevance to an audience also invites dialogue, and two-way communication is essential in every community especially one with such vastly different constituencies. Tom tells me I was a leader during the time I served as board chairman. I believe we accomplished a lot in these first few years of his presidency, but my recollection is that I held onto his coat tails to keep from being left behind. But I also know that I benefitted from exposure to his leadership style which has helped me in my role in business today.
Current Board Chairman Michael Fromm along with Flynn presents Boscov with the 2018 Franciscan Award. Alvernia University Magazine
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Bernardine Franciscan Sisters
ENGAGEMENT
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and Flynn enjoy close relationship By Susan Shelly
Sisters Florence, Madonna and Jacinta pose with Tom Flynn during dedication of Founders Village, the newest residence halls on campus.
It’s not unusual for Alvernia University President Tom Flynn to attend a service in the Motherhouse Chapel or to walk over to the McGlinn Conference & Spirituality Center for a meeting with some of the Bernardine Sisters. When the sisters
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“We will miss the way he includes everyone and his personal relationship with the sisters. We will miss him just for the person that he is.” — Sister Madonna Marie Harvath
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celebrated the start of their 125th anniversary year in October, Flynn sent a bouquet of roses and a handwritten card congratulating them. That accessibility, thoughtfulness and a deep sense of friendship between the president and the sisters are just some of the qualities that will be dearly missed when Flynn steps down in June after 14 years of leadership that transformed the university. “Among his gifts is the gift of inclusion,” said Sister Marilisa da Silva, congregational minister of the Bernardine Sisters who also serves on the university board of trustees. “He has the ability to bring everyone together and he builds community.” She noted that Flynn has greatly increased Alvernia’s visibility and reputation nationally, while maintaining an active role in the greater Berks County community. He has been instrumental in implementing partnerships and relationships that bring others onto Alvernia’s campus, while also increasing the sending of students, faculty and staff into the community and the world.
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters “He’s very faithful to the teachings of the Church,” da Silva said. “He’s expanded international mission by students and faculty members by supporting alternative breaks, while also focusing on mission that occurs right here in Reading.” While Flynn’s leadership since 2005 is undisputed, he has not served Alvernia in a vacuum. Based in mission since their founding, the Bernardine Sisters have been central to the president’s work since the day he arrived on campus, said Sister Roberta McKelvie, who serves as Franciscan Scholar in Residence and former assistant to the president for mission integration and education. McKelvie worked with Flynn and others to establish a Sponsorship Covenant, a formal statement defining the bond and interworkings between the congregation of sisters and the university. “From the day he got here, he made it a point to attend to the relationship between the president, the board and the congregation,” McKelvie said. “There was never any doubt that
ENGAGEMENT
“Tom has ensured that this Franciscan thread is woven through campus activities, policies and orientations.” — Sister Shaun Kathleen Wilson
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“He uses the gifts that God gave him and is highly regarded, but he wears that so well, with grace and humility.” — Sister Rosemary Stets
the relationship was important to him.” Also vitally important is Flynn’s commitment to Alvernia’s deeply Franciscan vision and mission statement, based on the ideal of “knowledge joined with love.” “He lives it, and breathes it, and he educates toward the mission,” explained Sister Danielle Marie Kubelsky, secretary of the board of trustees. “Everything he does is rooted in the mission.” Sister Madonna Marie Harvath, congregational councilor of the Bernardine Sisters and a member of the board of trustees, said Flynn is commited to carrying on the Franciscan values on which the university is based. “The university was started by the Bernardine Sisters and he always mentions the fact that he’s building on the shoulders of that,” Harvath said. “He’s not only very much aware of how the university is today, but how its values will continue into the future.” The president’s commitment to Franciscan values may have been nurtured by the sisters
Sister Roberta speaks at the dedication of the new Francis Hall entrance while Flynn looks on.
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Bernardine Franciscan Sisters who taught him in grade school at Mt. Alvernia Academy in Boston and strengthened by the Franciscan pilgrimage to Assisi in which he and his wife, Helen, participated in 2007, observed Sister Shaun Kathleen Wilson, also a member of the board of trustees. The Assisi trip was a gift to the Flynns from the congregation of sisters. In whatever manner Flynn achieved what Wilson calls a “Franciscan heart,” he has put it to good use by implementing it into many aspects of campus life. “Tom has ensured that this Franciscan thread is woven through campus activities, policies and orientations,” Wilson said. While insisting that the university look outward as part of its overall mission and vision, Flynn also has been attentive to what was happening on campus, said Sister Rosemary Stets. “He realized when he arrived here that the residential experience could be improved,” she said.
ENGAGEMENT
“He’s expanded international mission by students and faculty members by supporting alternative breaks, while also focusing on mission that occurs right here in Reading.” — Sister Marilisa da Silva
Helen Flynn speaks with Sr. Shaun at the faculty book authors celebration in November. Alvernia University Magazine
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“From the day he got here, he made it a point to attend to the relationship between the president, the board and the congregation.” — Sister Roberta McKelvie
To that end, the athletic program was expanded, along with student housing and programming and the campus ministry program. “He worked to develop a culture on campus,” Stets said. While Flynn’s departure will reverberate campuswide, it may be most deeply felt by the Bernardine Sisters. “I will miss his sense of humility,” Stets said. “He uses the gifts that God gave him and is highly regarded, but he wears that so well, with grace and humility.” In addition to providing faithful leadership to Alvernia University for 14 years, Flynn has provided friendship to the Bernardine Sisters. “He really is a friend, and we will miss that,” Harvath said. “We will miss the way he includes everyone and his personal relationship with the sisters. We will miss him just for the person that he is.”
Flynn joins others to congratulate John Hutta ’11 who was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Allentown in 2018. From left to right: Flynn, Mary Ellen Symanski, Sister Joanne, Father Hutta, Sister Jacinta, Deborah Geiger ’83, Sister Maureen and Sister Restitute
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Bernardine Franciscan Sisters
ENGAGEMENT
“He lives it, and breathes it, and he educates toward the mission.” “Everything he does is rooted in the mission.” — Sister Danielle Marie Kubelsky
The Bernardine Sisters celebrated the start of their 125th Anniversary in October.
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Alumni
ENGAGEMENT
Alumni share impact of Flynn engagement By Lini S. Kadaba
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ven in a crowded room, President Tom Flynn has a way of connecting one on one, making that person feel like the center of attention. It’s his superpower, said board of trustees member Jeannie Savage ’88, and she’s not alone in thinking that. “He’ll turn that laser focus on you, and suddenly, you feel like the most important and interesting person in the room,” said Savage, 52, a former English schoolteacher and longtime volunteer who recently moved from Berks County to Hawaii. As Flynn, 66, prepares to step down in June as Alvernia’s longest-serving president after an impressive 14-year run, he will be sorely missed. One of the foremost reasons, no doubt, will be his superpower—that uncanny ability to engage with alumni. “He really makes you feel better than you are,” said Savage, who joined the board in 2015. By then a stay-at-home mom, she said she was a tad intimidated at first by her
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Alumni
ENGAGEMENT
fellow trustees, men and women who were CEOs or prominent in the business community. Flynn, however, assuaged her doubts, making clear that Savage had just as much to contribute, including the perspective of an alumna. That turned out to be especially valuable as the board in 2017 considered a significant change: adopting the Golden Wolves as the new school mascot. “Everybody in the room looked at me,” she said. “‘You are an alum. How are you going to feel about it?’” (Turns out, Savage was a strong supporter of replacing the Crusaders, a position she had advocated for as an education and English major at Alvernia.) “He elicits better ideas and questions from you,” she said. “There’s a real teacher in Tom Flynn.” Steve Keiser ’80, a residential real estate investor, was already on the board of trustees when Flynn took — Meggan Kerber ’96 ’01 the helm in 2005, and the 61-yearold Cumru Township resident remembers his energy. “I thought this would wane in about a year,” said the social studies major who is a former vice president of the Alumni Association. “It never did. I don’t know how he keeps up that pace.” Keiser also recalls Flynn’s sharp mind. “I had met him one time,” he said. “He remembered my name, my partner’s name, what we did. I’m always amazed at how much he retains.” And keen management style. “He’s able to assess the person’s abilities and limitations and maximize the abilities that person has,” he said. For Meggan Kerber ’96, ’01, executive director of the nonprofit Berks Arts Council and chair of Alvernia’s Alumni Council, one of Flynn’s real strengths is the way he has fostered closer ties between alumni and the university. “He really has played an integral role,” said the 44-yearold Cumru Township resident who majored in psychology and later returned to Alvernia to earn an MBA. “He has made a concerted effort to go out and meet alumni, listen to alumni and learn from alumni.” His engagement also has extended to the Reading community. By all accounts, Flynn gets credit for raising the profile of the university through the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement and visionary
“He has made a concerted effort to go
out and meet alumni, listen to alumni and learn from alumni.”
Flynn joins Alumni Council President Meggan Kerber, ’96, ’01, and the Golden Wolves mascot.
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The Golden Class joins Flynn for a photo session just before the 2017 Commencement.
Meggan Kerber conducts Alumni Council meeting in November.
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partnerships such as the one with Leadership Berks, a program housed within the O’Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Public Service. “He’s done a tremendous amount of community engagement,” Kerber said, “bringing the name of Alvernia to a much more prominent level, so when you meet someone and say Alvernia, they’re not saying ‘Who?’” They actually know who the university is. … He has taken Alvernia to new heights in his tenure through his leadership and his willingness to connect our communities internally and externally closer to the university.” Fifty-eight-year-old John D. Wanner ’82 saw that same leadership on display while he served on the board of trustees for a decade, the last three years as vice chair. According to the political science major, Flynn welcomed the trustees’ opinions and thoroughly studied issues before coming to a decision. “Tom is an amazing manager and perfectly suited to be president,” said the founder and president of the lobbying firm Wanner Associates who lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “He is very charismatic, an excellent
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During a Q & A session, Flynn chats with alumni at Homecoming and Family Weekend.
communicator. He would often say, ‘After a few years, university presidents end up with the board they deserve.’” Flynn envisioned a master plan of growth for Alvernia from day one. “I think it really has come to pass, that and more,” Wanner said. “Tom is the perfect guy at a perfect time.” For former longtime trustee Bob McCormick ’82, one of Flynn’s most effective ways of leading and engaging the community is his trademark mission moments—a quote or anecdote offered at the start of an event that ties into the school’s Franciscan values. “It gives you a moment of pause as to why you are there,” said McCormick, 57, the managing partner of Murphy McCormick Capital Advisers in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and an accounting major. In fact, the adjunct professor of corporate finance and economics in Alvernia’s MBA program starts his own classes with a mission moment. “Tom has really instilled that,” McCormick said. Steven Koons ’05 got his first impression of Flynn while
working as a student in the president’s office. It was a crucial year, when Alvernia was transitioning to its sixth president. “I was able to have a very forthright and honest relationship with him,” said Koons, 36, who studied management and accounting and now is a partner at the public accounting firm Cotton & Company in Alexandria, Virginia. “He was someone willing to engage students in dialogue and include that as part of the decision.” A few years ago, Koons, who lives in Washington, D.C., was invited by Flynn to join the first President’s Advisory Council. “He takes people’s advice seriously,” he said. “He listens to people carefully.” Flynn also makes the small efforts to maintain personal relationships. When Koons’ grandmother died, for example, Flynn sent a Mass card. “How he knew that she passed away, I have no idea,” he said. “For me, I’m happy for him in his decision to retire,” Koons said. “But he’ll be missed. He has been truly for me a connection to the university.”
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Students
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Student leaders remember most memorable Flynn moments By Lini S. Kadaba
Mark “Louie” Lacek ’15 explains Christian symbol during a religious art show in the Miller Gallery.
W
hen Alvernia University President Tom Flynn steps down in June, he will leave behind a plethora of significant accomplishments, including guiding the school from a small, local college to a regional university, establishing two endowed centers and most recently, adopting football and the Golden Wolves mascot. But for many students and recent graduates, perhaps this transformational leader’s most enduring legacy is found in the many small ways he has managed to engage the community. Often, Flynn’s success is as simple as saying hello to students by name. He also is known for the dinners he hosts at his home for student leaders. And for the time he makes to chat with visiting alums. And for the handwritten notes he sends to recognize life milestones. “Those little interactions are really important,” said Kaitlin Didinger ’20, a 21-year-old nursing major from Boyertown, Alvernia University Magazine
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Pennsylvania. “It makes Alvernia feel more like home, and it makes it an easy place to call home. I think it’s a big part of his legacy.” Here, student leaders and young alumni share their most memorable moments with Alvernia’s longest-serving leader.
Kaitlin Didinger ’20
Didinger, who is vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Alvernia, remembers well one of her first encounters with Flynn. She was an Orientation Weekend Leader (OWL) during her sophomore year, and as she directed students to activities, she walked by the President’s Office in Francis Hall. He stopped to ask about Didinger’s group and how it was going. More recently, Flynn saw Didinger as she left class. “Good morning, Kaitlin,” he said. She still is awed that “the president knows me by name,” she said. “That’s a big deal. I think he just genuinely cares how students are doing.”
[\ The first time Chloe Gletow ’20 met Flynn, she was nervous. After all, she was a freshman attending a luncheon for scholarship recipients, and he was president of the university. Turns out, she had no reason for the jitters. “He’s so friendly,” said Gletow, 21, the president of SGA and an occupational therapy major from Flemington, New Jersey. “You talk to him, you automatically connect. When he is talking to you, he focuses on you, what you’re up to.” She has engaged with him at Pizza with the President sessions held in the cafeteria, Alternative Breaks Dinner and university committees. In her leadership role, Gletow has attended board of trustee meetings as a student representative. “President Flynn has asked for my opinion or what SGA is doing,” she said, tangible proof that he “cares about students and student life.”
[\ Chloe Gletow ’20
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What could the Baby Boomer Flynn have in common with Millenial alumni? Similar music tastes in this case, it turns out. Mark “Louie” Lacek ’15, a criminal justice major, also sang in an a capella group he helped start while at Alvernia. “Dr. and Mrs. Flynn love music,” said Lacek, 25, a Reading police officer who lives in Berks County. “They invited us to a couple of events. It gave us support.”
Students
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At one concert, the group sang an arrangement of “Oh Danny Boy,” that classic Irish tune. Flynn, of course, has Irish roots. “He is fond of Irish folk music, which I am also quite a fan of,” Lacek said. “Here I am, 18 years old, and I am talking to him about similar tastes in music. It just added to the personability of him. It wasn’t that we had a conversation once and he knew my name. He knew me. You know with him that he saw you.”
[\
Mark “Louie” Lacek ’15
Erin Sheehan ’15 will never forget the SGA recognition program her senior year. As someone who was super active in the organization, rising to president, she got her share of kudos. But what was truly memorable happened afterward. Flynn pulled her parents aside, she said. “He had a great conversation about me with them,” said Sheehan, 25, of
Flynn engages in conversation with students at the Miller Gallery.
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Christiansburg, Virginia, who studied healthcare science at Alvernia and now works as an assistant director of admissions at Radford University in Virginia. He reassured them over that common parental concern: how a child will fare in the real world, Sheehan said. “It made them feel a lot better,” she said. Since graduation, Sheehan has maintained her connection to Alvernia, in large part because of Flynn. While traveling for work in the Reading area, she stopped by campus. “With a day’s notice, he was able to get me in to chat for a few moments,” she said. “I have a place to go back to for sure.”
[\
Erin Sheehan ’15
Emily Berret ’11
As a double major in political science and history at Alvernia, Emily Berret ’11 observed up close Flynn’s leadership style—one built on personal connections. “That’s the leadership style I want to follow,” said the Washington, D.C., resident and director of operations for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Everyone knows who Dr. Flynn is, and Dr. Flynn knows who everyone is,” said Berret, 29, the daughter of Beth Berret, an associate professor of business at the university. “That’s what really creates that sense of identity at Alvernia. When you come to Alvernia, you’re not just a number. You’re a face. “I watch politicians all the time,” she continued. “I really feel like he has that political knack, that ability to connect with everyone, no matter your history or background.” Berret said Flynn has always encouraged her and other students to take the opportunities afforded at Alvernia and “create your own opportunities, create your own career, create your own path.” Berret followed that advice, taking advantage of the Washington Center Program and landing an internship at the Obama White House. She returns regularly to campus, speaking to students and serving on the Presidential Advisory Committee. “Dr. Flynn fosters a sense of community,” Berret said. “It’s part of the reason you want to come back and help out.”
[\ Alex Roché ’15 credits his relationship with Flynn for his choice of career in sustainable and affordable food access. “He was guiding us to be better learners, guiding us to be better people, and like he says, to do well and do good,” said the 25-year-old who is a project associate with the Food Trust
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Students of Philadelphia and works and lives in Reading. Before that, he worked with Alvernia’s Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement through Americorps VISTA. Like so many, Flynn knew Roché’s name after meeting him freshman year. But the biochemistry and forensics major does not consider that first interaction the most significant. “It’s the second,” he said, “because he remembers everything you said in the first interaction. He remembers your name. Then he asks you how your Chemistry 101 course is going, and then about choir and band. He shows genuine concern for you. Even more important, Roché adds, “the fact he cares about me, makes me care about others. Alvernia is there to build ethical leaders with moral courage.”
[\ When Melissa Masone Ulmer ’09 got married, Flynn sent a card of congratulations, one she keeps to this day, and an Alvernia baseball hat for her husband, noting he might “need some gear.” When her son was born earlier in 2018, Flynn sent an Alvernia onesie for him. “He’s seen me grow up,” said Ulmer, 31, assistant director of marketing and student programs at Rowan University who lives in Pitman, New Jersey, and double
ENGAGEMENT
majored in political science and communications in college. “He has this really genuine way of making each of his interactions seem unique and special. He gets to know you as a person.” As a student who wrote for The Alvernian, the college’s newspaper, she interviewed Flynn as part of the inauguration coverage. “I got to spend some good time with him,” she said. “He has a welcoming, warm demeanor. I find him so endearing.” After graduation, Ulmer moved to the Washington, D.C., area to pursue a master’s in strategic communication at George Mason University, and helped found Alvernia’s D.C. alumni chapter. Flynn often had dinner with alums whenever he visited the area—visits that were like reconnecting with a “long lost friend,” she said. That type of engagement, she said, keeps alumni tied to Alvernia. “For a lot of us young alumni, the institution has gone through so many changes and growth,” said Ulmer, who’s involved with the Alumni Association. “But when you have something that stays consistent, it allows you to hold on to that little piece of comfort. “And for a lot of people,” Ulmer said, “Dr. Flynn has been that little piece of comfort.”
Members of the inaugural Reading Collegiate Scholars cohort, left to right, include Karina Polanco, Syanashailyn Ortega, Cassandra Noray, Nathan Marquez, Melisa Rivera, Yeny Romero and Margaret Mejia. The Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, a signature program under Flynn’s tenure, provides students access to excellence in education, engagement and service. Alvernia University Magazine
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Community
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Reading Reflects Reading leaders highlight Flynn’s community engagement By Richard Bader
At the end of June, Tom Flynn will step down after 14 years as president of Alvernia University, completing the longest tenure of any Alvernia president. His impact has been far-reaching, extending beyond the Alvernia campus and spreading widely throughout Reading and Berks County. Here, several community leaders recall what he has meant to them and to the region. Alvernia has long been a bridge that connects the community of Reading, Pennsylvania. Alvernia University Magazine
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Khalid Mumin
Superintendent of the Reading School District
Khalid Mumin
Khalid Mumin met Tom Flynn when Mumin was interviewing to become superintendent of the Reading School District, a position he has held since 2014. They have collaborated on several projects, including the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, which covers full tuition at Alvernia for top high-school graduates from a school district where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. “Tom is golden. For me personally, he’s a confidant because he’s been around and understands the landscape here in Reading. I’m able to speak with him about anything. “He gets it. What the ‘it’ is, is he gets it that his job is all about students being able to achieve success upon graduation. He was one of the first partners in my ear pledging his support for the Reading School District. It’s all about ensuring that they have access to success, so they can put their fingerprints in the sand of this thing we call society. “There’s no smoke and mirrors with Tom. He’s not one to gloat in the limelight and pound his chest. He is just a great man, all the way around—a dignified, humble, down-toearth person. I trust him, and he’s my friend.”
Ginny Hand
Retired former director, Alvernia’s Holleran Center for Community Engagement; former chief of staff for Reading Mayor Tom McMahon
Ginny Hand
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A couple of years ago, Ginny and her husband, Terry, were driving home after a trip to Baltimore to see the Army-Navy football game. Army won, after 14 straight years of losses, and Terry, a West Point grad, was thrilled. On the drive home, Ginny got an email from Tom Flynn, telling her to tell Terry how happy he was for him. “It’s just the thoughtfulness of doing that,” Ginny says. “That kind of thoughtfulness permeates Tom’s life.” “I was on the inauguration committee for Tom Flynn. I was there to represent the community. He wanted to have community be there at his inauguration. I think that’s a telling thing right there—that there was outreach immediately. “Tom truly opened up Alvernia’s front door to the community. There were children in the 6th grade who had
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no idea what a college was. He would bring them on campus. They would meet someone from the Reading Symphony. Or a soccer player. Or go trick-or-treating in the dormitory. Those kinds of things happened under Tom’s watch. “The campus is just sparkling, and you can feel that sparkle with the people. He brought hope that education is within people’s reach.”
Peter Barbey
President and CEO, Reading Eagle Company
Peter Barbey
As president and CEO of the Reading Eagle Company, Peter Barbey heads up a news operation whose origin story starts in the last years of the 18th century. The Reading Eagle’s roots in the community, in other words, run deep, as does Barbey’s appreciation for what Tom Flynn has meant to it. “Tom is guided by a personal philosophy that’s built around the Franciscan ethic, and that informs him and has caused him to steer Alvernia in a very specific way. It’s not just about educating young people, but also about integrating Alvernia into the community. The extra dimension he added was leaning in to the community, listening to the community, and seeing the opportunities in the community. “A lot of Tom’s success is based on his personality and his ability to use it to get a good result. That in and of itself is a tough act to follow. It’s not a template kind of job description. He has built Alvernia not just into a modern university, but also as an element in the community where it resides.”
Tammy White
President, United Way of Berks County
Tammy White
After nearly 30 years with the United Way of Berks County—including the last nine as president—Tammy White understands the value of strong leadership in addressing the challenges the region faces. “Tom Flynn has always been one of those leaders you could count on,” she says. “When you meet Tom, you don’t forget him. He has this great presence. He has this great voice. When he talks, you can’t help but listen because he has such command. “Tom has embraced the community and recognized that Alvernia had a role—and I would even say a calling—to support the community. I think he always looked at how Alvernia could be a strong community citizen. Nothing is too big or too little for Alvernia to consider. Tom looks
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at challenges from the perspective of, what can Alvernia do to make this better? He’s a collaborator. He wants to understand how Alvernia can add value. “Tom has been a visionary. He has brought that vision to life. And he brings the community along with that vision. He will be missed.”
Mike Ehlerman
Chairman, Berks County Convention Center Authority
Mike Ehlerman
Mike Ehlerman is the retired president of Reading-based Yuasa Battery and is the current chairman of the Berks County Convention Center Authority. Ehlerman is a past board chair of Alvernia, and he and his wife are generous donors. “I always had a soft spot for the college,” he says. “Tom has always spent a great deal of his time with the outside community. I think that community engagement has had a lot to do with the general success and acceptance of Alvernia University today. “Tom’s a hard worker. He’s dedicated. He is very strong in favor of the Franciscan values. He has a mind that’s always searching, looking for a way to grow and to do things better. And he gives of his time very profusely. When you find someone who has fire in his gut and is doing everything he can to grow an institution, you look up to him and you try to support him. “He’s just a dynamo. You don’t find many people who have the intellect and desire that this man has.”
Mary Agnew
Senior vice president and chief nursing officer, Tower Health
Mary Agnew
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Mary Agnew met Tom Flynn about six years ago, when she started working at Reading Hospital and Tom was on the board of directors. She found him to be welcoming, supportive, and passionate in his concern for people. “We clicked immediately,” she says, “because he is at heart a nurse.” Alvernia’s three nursing programs—at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels—help meet the demand for quality nurses. “Tom is a great big bear of a man. Incredibly welcoming. So eloquent. A very deep thinker. He’s a kindred spirit and a true friend of nursing. He understands our profession and has
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been a shameless promoter. And he has lived his whole life as someone who has championed social justice. He has lived the values of Alvernia University every day. “Tom just really had a vision. He saw what Alvernia could be. He breathed life into it. He crystallized it. He brought it to the forefront of everyone’s attention. Alvernia has become an anchor institution under Tom’s direction and guidance and tender loving care.”
Doug Tieman
President and CEO, Caron Treatment Centers
Doug Tieman
Alvernia has a strong relationship with Caron Treatment Centers, which help those seeking to overcome drug and alcohol addictions. Undergraduate and graduate programs prepare students for careers with Caron (and other addictiontreatment organizations), and the university’s Collegiate Recovery House supports Alvernia students in recovery. “Tom is effective at asking questions and uncovering needs,” says Doug Tieman, Caron’s president and CEO. “That’s a real gift.” “Tom’s ability to intuitively know the right thing to do has resonated with all of those who are part of the greater Alvernia family. That’s really a remarkable gift. He has excelled not only at running Alvernia, but at using Alvernia as a catalyst and vehicle for meeting other community needs. “We asked him to be on our board of trustees because he brought global thinking, he was terrific at understanding nonprofits, and he was terrific at understanding strategic planning and vision. He is warm, friendly, caring, thoughtful. He’s a great guy. He’s a superb leader. These are going to be big shoes to fill.”
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Faculty
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Fostering intellectual growth and academic success By Ernest Beck
President Flynn worked with faculty to create the Salon Series, which he hosted at Cedar Hill, the presidential home, at least three times per year.
A
fter a faculty council meeting in May 2012, Tom Flynn joined a group of professors for a drink at Trooper Thorns Irish pub, a common meeting place in Reading for the Alvernia community. Soon the talk turned to how the university might better showcase and share the wide range of faculty research and scholarship that often remains under the radar. Flynn quickly picked up on the idea, and in collaboration with several professors there that evening, including Kevin Donnelly and Janae Sholtz, he introduced regular get-togethers called the Salon Series where faculty members used the opportunity to talk about their work. Over the years, the Salon Series became a welcoming and open environment for discussion and dialogue, especially among younger professors. It also became an enduring example of Flynn’s “clear commitment to faculty excellence and scholarship,” Donnelly, an associate professor of history, said. In interviews with faculty about Flynn’s tenure, an image emerges of an accessible, Alvernia University Magazine
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Flynn and faculty listen to presentation during the Salon Series at Cedar Hill.
“Flynn’s grand vision and leadership and personality have been able to move this school forward more than ever before.” —Richard Law Professor of English
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engaged and hands-on leader dedicated to enhancing faculty excellence and intellectual growth as a way to drive the university’s upward trajectory from a littleknown college to a comprehensive, regional university. Besides the Salon Series, which took place several times each semester at the president’s residence, Flynn also would host receptions for faculty who had recently published books. By honoring and celebrating faculty achievements, Donnelly said, the president showed that he “really cared about faculty being leaders in their fields.” For Sholtz, an associate professor of philosophy and coordinator of Women’s Gender Studies, another example of Flynn’s commitment to faculty excellence is his unstinting support for and expansion of Neag Professorships to both junior and senior faculty. Sponsored by Alvernia benefactors Carole and Ray Neag, these twoyear honorary designations provide funding and courserelease time for professors to pursue special projects and interests that they would not otherwise be able to do. Sholtz, who was a junior Neag professor from 2014 to 2016, said the scholarship afforded her the time to publish a book that advanced her career. “Those two years of extra funding helped catapult my work to a different professional level,” Sholtz recalled. “Flynn recognized
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Associate Professor of Philosophy Bongrae Seok shares his work with Flynn during the Faculty Book Authors reception in Francis Hall.
“Flynn recognized an opportunity for the university to improve its stature and prestige by investing in its faculty and supporting their scholarship, and that has changed our profile as a university.” — Janae Sholtz Associate professor of Philosophy
an opportunity for the university to improve its stature and prestige by investing in its faculty and supporting their scholarship, and that has changed our profile as a university.” Flynn also strived to engage both faculty and students in critical campus initiatives. In spring 2018, for example, when many universities around the country were embroiled in contentious debates over free speech, the president created a task force on civil dialogue with faculty and student representatives. The goal was to stimulate discussion on how to balance freedom of speech and thought while upholding moral standards. “As president of a Franciscan university, he took a stand and showed moral courage, leading by example to promote this discussion among faculty and students,” said Sholtz, who came to Alvernia almost a decade ago. That led to the publication in August 2018 of the university’s “Statement of Commitment on Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression,” a set of guiding principles on respecting diverse points of view and promoting an open exchange of ideas while rejecting speech that espouses hate, harm or bigotry. Mary Ellen Symanski, an associate professor of nursing, said this type of collaboration was a hallmark Alvernia University Magazine
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“He listened, sought common ground and came up with common principles and values.” —Mary Ellen Symanski Associate professor of nursing
of Flynn’s presidency. “He would call people in and seek input on any matter of controversy and share what was happening,” Symanski said. “He listened, sought common ground and came up with common principles and values.” Dolores Bertoti, a professor of physical therapy, biology and healthcare science, credits Flynn with significantly growing the range and diversification of accredited academic programs and elevating them to include more masters and doctoral programs. For physical therapy students, another benefit will be Alvernia’s initiative to build the Recreation, Wellness and Health Sciences Complex—known as the Flynn PLEX, an ambitious 100,000 square foot facility expected to open in summer 2019. Under Flynn, “the environment on campus was dynamic,” Bertoti pointed out. “It always felt like the art of the possible was achievable.” Attaining university status was one of those accomplishments. Spencer S. Stober, a professor of biology who was on the search committee that selected Flynn, said this was only possible with the full and active participation of the faculty. As a university, Alvernia’s faculty teach at both undergraduate and graduate levels and students learn
Faculty showcases published works during a reception that featured 18 authors.
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Faculty
“It always felt like the art of the possible was achievable.” —Dolores Bertoti Professor of physical therapy
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in close proximity to one another, creating what Stober calls “a climate of academic rigor.” Another milestone was the establishment of the O’Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Public Service, which focuses on promoting ethical leadership and public service. The institute became a bridge to local organizations, along with broader student engagement and a commitment to community service. “These are the kinds of seeds Tom has planted so the university becomes not only regionally and nationally known, but also more involved in the broader community,” Stober said. “He has taken Alvernia to the next level.” Looking back on the entirety of Flynn’s tenure, Richard Law, a professor of English at Alvernia since 1992, sees the president’s handprint just about everywhere on campus – in new degree programs and learning centers, infrastructure and buildings, and in the idealism he instilled in faculty and students to always aim higher in their academic pursuits. “Flynn’s grand vision and leadership and personality have been able to move this school forward more than ever before.”
Faculty joins Flynn during recessional at the 2015 Honors Convocation. Alvernia University Magazine
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Campus Community
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Creating an inclusive, diverse interfaith community By Susan Shelly
I
Nearly 200 children at the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters’ school in San Domingo, Dominican Republic, show off new school uniforms purchased with funds raised by Alvernia students who traveled there during Alternative Break in 2018.
n a society where division is starkly apparent, Alvernia University emerged during President Tom Flynn’s tenure as a national model for creating an inclusive community. Racial diversity among students and staff has noticeably increased. Interfaith activities are held regularly on campus, and students, staff and faculty can participate in a weekly interfaith circle or join an interfaith hike retreat. The board of trustees includes members of various faiths and is staunchly commited to fostering interfaith work and activities. Student participation in study abroad and alternative break programs has increased significantly. Two endowed centers, the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement and the O’Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Public Service were founded and have grown since Flynn’s 2006 inauguration. The centers, which jointly sponsor the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, actively promote the university’s mission and Franciscan values. Alvernia University Magazine
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During an interfaith pilgrimage to Israel in October, Michael Fromm, Alvernia board of trustees chairman, Susan Fromm, Helen Flynn, Tom Flynn, Cathy Elmarzouky and Elsayed Elmarzouky gather in front of Masada National Park.
To better reflect those values and mission, a 22-member task force representing all aspects of the campus community recently chose a new Franciscan nickname for the university – the Golden Wolves. And, in August, the university released a Statement of Commitment to Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression, outlining guiding principles to serve as an ongoing guide regarding the importance of respect, open dialogue and free exchange of ideas. While these initiatives and endeavors included the efforts of many, much of the credit is directly attributed to Flynn, who will step down in June after 14 years as university president.
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Campus Community
Interfaith pilgrims gather for breakfast in Israel.
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“Dr. Flynn has been a healing force in our community through his deep desire to see diverse groups of people grow in relationship with one another,” said Michael Kaucher, executive director of the Reading Berks Council of Churches. “He has done this by creating space for people to meet and interact without sacrificing the core beliefs of each individual.” Rabbi Brian Michelson of Reform Congregation Oheb Shalom and Elsayed Elmarzouky, president of the Islamic Center of Reading, have participated in “A Common Heart,” an interfaith event held at Alvernia that includes members of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, for the 10 years it has been offered. The program, originally initiated by Father Philip F. Rodgers and members of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Robeson Township, has been an important community event since its start, explained Elmarzouky, who also serves as a member of the Alvernia board of trustees. “Many people come every year for interfaith discussion and fellowship,” Elmarzouky said. “Dr. Flynn was very quick to offer the venue and space to accommodate the program.” Flynn’s commitment to bringing people of varying faiths together is unshakeable, said Michelson. “From the moment Dr. Flynn arrived, he reached out to the Jewish community,” Michelson said. “And he also included the Muslim community. He’s been a force in saying that we should work together.”
Dr. Flynn’s been very supportive in moving us toward a more inclusive environment.” —Wanda Copeland Director of Multicultural Initiatives Flynn, Michelson and Elmarzouky were recently among a group participating in an interfaith pilgrimage to Israel, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks. Federation President William D. Franklin said Flynn’s participation in the trip is just one of the ways he demonstrates leadership through his actions. “He leads by actions, not just by words,” Franklin said. “He believes it is always important to consider perspectives that are different from your own.” Alvernia University Magazine
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Alvernia University Statement of Commitment–August 2018 As a “Distinctive Franciscan University in the Catholic and liberal arts traditions,” Alvernia welcomes all who seek to promote the common good, while both respecting our differences and yet celebrating what unites us as members of a democratic society and a global community. As a Catholic university, Alvernia values the education of the whole person and the formation of one’s character within the framework of Christian values and Catholic Social Thought; As a Franciscan university, Alvernia celebrates the ideal of a caring, inclusive, interfaith community built around “right relationships” in which we are “brother and sister” to all; As a university founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, Alvernia is especially dedicated to “serving the underserved” and to fostering dialogue on issues of justice in contemporary society; As a university committed to the ideals of liberal arts education, Alvernia promotes the open exchange of ideas and diverse perspectives in an academic community in which all individuals are respected and valued; And as a university with faculty, staff, and students devoted to our core values and the Franciscan ideal of “knowledge joined with love,” Alvernia champions charity and civility in all that we do. (The quoted phrases come either from the Alvernia Vision and Mission Statements or from documents of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.) Accordingly, we espouse the following “Guiding Principles” to frame the expression of views by members of the Alvernia University community and all guests: We believe our inclusive Franciscan core values provide a positive framework for speech and dialogue, both in substance and style, though we are open to perspectives that may run counter to these values, if expressed responsibly and respectfully; We believe in allowing broad latitude for speakers and speech, confident our Franciscan culture will contextualize and mitigate much that could be offensive or contrary to our stated values; We also agree that, given our values, and because we assert the dignity of each person and any group of people, we will not tolerate speech that espouses hate, harm, or bigotry or that provokes violence, even if such speech is constitutionally protected; We recognize that the experience of feeling threatened or harmed varies among individuals, so sensitivity should be shown by all; We respect and support the right and expression of peaceful protest as long as it does not prevent an event from proceeding or infringes unduly on the rights of others; We think it essential that, when guest speakers are invited, Alvernia faculty and staff have a professional responsibility to frame the occasion in a way that respects both the speaker and the audience; We recognize that the opinions of any speaker are not intended to represent any institutional position.
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Campus Community
ENGAGEMENT
“From the moment Dr.Flynn arrived, he reached out to the Jewish community,” —Rabbi Brian Michelson
While Flynn’s interfaith work involving the Reading/ Berks community is notable, his efforts to promote inclusivity and diversity have also profoundly affected the Alvernia community. Julianne Wallace, assistant to the president for mission and director of campus ministry, said Flynn has led by example to bring those on campus together. “I think Dr. Flynn approaches his entire life in a way that seeks to find common ground,” Wallace said. “And, he’s set that example for all of us by encouraging us to find our common ground together.” Under Flynn’s leadership and with input from the board of trustees, the university hired an interfaith chaplain and established interfaith prayer space. Michael Fromm, chairman of the board of trustees, and his wife, Susan, established the Fromm Interfaith Award to promote interfaith work among students. “Dr. Flynn makes it clear that interfaith is a priority for him, and others follow that belief,” Wallace said. According to Wanda Copeland, Alvernia’s director of multicultural engagement, Flynn’s commitment to inclusivity is seen throughout campus. As racial diversity among students and staff has increased, so has the flow of ideas generated by that diversity. “People of different races and backgrounds bring
different ideas and experiences to the table,” explained Copeland. “That creates diversity of thought, which allows us all to broaden our perspectives. Dr. Flynn’s been very supportive in moving us toward a more inclusive environment.” Dr. Beth K. Roth, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and special assistant to the president for inclusive excellence, worked closely with Flynn to help craft the Commitment to Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression. Flynn, according to Roth, is an outspoken proponent of civil discourse and intends for the commitment statement to provide a framework for teaching students and others how to respectfully consider viewpoints that are different from their own, while also empowering them to express their own values and opinions. “In past years, higher education has come under scrutiny for how it handles sensitive situations,” Roth said. “I think Dr. Flynn wanted to be sure Alvernia had these policies in place so we’d have a plan for that.” In short, Elmarzouky said, Flynn’s legacy will be one of welcome and inclusion. “He changed Alvernia’s image to that of an inclusive Catholic university that welcomes anyone and everyone who’s willing to be part of its inclusiveness,” Elmarzouky said. “It’s truly a welcoming place of education and community.”
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Recent events during the final Flynn year
Thanking alumni and friends at Homecoming and Family Weekend during the 5th Quarter celebration that followed the Golden Wolves football game
Greeting Jamie Ford, author of debut novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and featured speaker of the First Year Seminar/Literary Festival
Joining board of trustees, faculty and staff and student leaders during the Flynn PLEX groundbreaking ceremony on the East campus in May
Engaging guests during the 2018 Holiday Party that he and Helen host annually on the campus
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Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Alvernia’s Holleran Center in collaboration with Connecticut College’s Holleran Center in the McGlinn Center on campus
Photo Essay
ENGAGEMENT
Signing of final beam during topping off ceremony for the Flynn PLEX
Congratulating freshman Dion Thorpe during Golden Wolves inaugural football game
Talking with parents and first-time students during Move-in Day
Hosting Reading High School Forum on Alvernia campus
Talking with students volunteering at Reading High School during Service Day 2018
Officially welcoming the Class of 2022, the largest, most diverse and academically strongest in university history, during Opening Convocation in the Physical Education Center Alvernia University Magazine
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Well Wishes
ENGAGEMENT
Former colleagues and students share well wishes Former colleagues at Millikin
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om Flynn uncannily recognizes an individual’s interests and abilities before their “owner” does. In my case, he took a professor content with classroom life and challenged her to consider broader contexts: higher education both institutionally and nationally. For his mentoring and the professional opportunities afforded me, I am ever thankful. Linda Schinke-Llano, PhD, Professor Emerita of Language and Literature, Distinguished University Professor, Millikin University
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om Flynn: indefatigable and kindhearted. His industry has always pushed those around him to work better. Even greater though is his compassion; it bears witness to his commitment to a higher good. Those of us who have had the privilege of working with Tom Flynn will always see him as a fine and honorable man. Robert E. Vicars, DML, Professor of French Emeritus, Millikin University
Former colleagues at Mount Saint Mary’s
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t a loss for words, leaning on Dylan! Oh, Mama, could this really be the end? How does it feel? All those people that you mention, I know them, they are quite lame, I had to re-arrange their faces and give them all another name ... Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now. I wish, I wish, I wish in vain that we could sit simply in that room once again. Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat, I’d give it all gladly, if our lives could be like that. Strike another match, go start anew ... May God bless and keep you always, may your wishes all come true, may you always do for others, and let others do for you. May you build a ladder to the sky and climb on every rung, and may you stay forever young! Bill Portier John Graham, Tim Cahill and Tim Bahr are former rugby teammates and former students of Tom Flynn when he taught at Mount St. Mary’s. Here, they gathered recently during a rugby alumni event at the Mount in October.
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hen the English Department voted to offer Tom Flynn a teaching contract at Mount Saint Mary’s College in the late 1970s, I didn’t realize that this hire would be the start of a major transformation of the Mount faculty. In the 1980s, we created a new core curriculum that garnered national attention and helped attract Alvernia University Magazine
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outstanding new faculty across all departments. Dr. Flynn was the key figure in this transformation. Though now retired from teaching, I shall always be grateful to him for his dynamic leadership here. Robert Ducharme, PhD, Professor Emeritus, English Department, Mount St. Mary’s University
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irst and more most, so much good work; so much love, laughter, and learning. And now a new chapter or maybe a new book.
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one, finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. —Sirach 6: 14-15 Sue Helder Goliber PhD, University Professor Emerita, Mount St. Mary’s University
T Bill Craft
he best way to reap the full harvest of any excellence is to encourage all one’s kindred and associates to enjoy it too. Cicero, De Amicitia
I knew Tom Flynn had a gift for friendship from the moment he invited me up to his and Helen’s apartment off Middle Street in Gettysburg and offered me a NatBo. I was a candidate in English for an opening at the college where we would serve together for nearly 20 years. But I soon discovered that Flynn’s friendships extended beyond the personal: he gathered around him—by force of character, by imagination, by courage—a group of friends who would transform learning at that college and deepen its faith identity. Along the way, it changed our own lives. Blessings on you, Thomas, and on Helen and Daniel. The very best friends are those who together love something beyond themselves. Bill Craft, president, Concordia College
Former students from Mount St. Mary’s
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took President Flynn’s Modern Catholic Writers course when he served as the Academic Dean of Mount Saint Mary’s College. Though the class was an English elective for seniors, he still chose the 8 a.m. time slot. Nevertheless, he filled every seat. This is what happens when a gifted, dedicated, generous teacher resides in the frame of a hard-hearted administrator. The former won out, every time. Congratulations! John W. Cominsky, principal, Trinity High School, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
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John W. Cominsky
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y fondest memory of Dr. Flynn was during my senior year with graduation not far away. I went to visit him in his office as I often did. He had been my advisor all four years and at the time was a dean. When I arrived he wasn’t in. So, feeling a little bold (after all, graduation was in sight!) I took a seat in his chair and put my feet up on his desk. This was pretty uncharacteristic of my somewhat timid personality and I really wasn’t sure how he would react. Fortunately, when he walked in the door, he looked at me and burst out laughing! It’s still a great memory of mine. (Best wishes Dr. Flynn, you are a great mentor and friend.) Elizabeth Santos, Class of 1989, Mount St. Mary’s University
Well Wishes
ENGAGEMENT
D
r. Flynn is one of those remarkable teachers who can hold you spellbound by his passion for literature. I first met him in his course “Idea of America,” and now Gatsby, with his “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life,” and Tom Flynn are inextricably linked in my mind. Lorrie Weidenbruch
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e met Tom when even he was young. Before that time, we’d never seen nothin’ like the Mighty Flynn. Academics aside, he took time to know us and invite us into his family life. He remains the model of Dylanesque cool, a friend and the best teacher we ever had. Dean Hedley, Class of 1985, Mount St. Mary’s University Kevin Vaughan, Class of 1986, Mount St. Mary’s University
T Mount St. Mary’s University campus
om was a very beloved, special kind of teacher at a special time at Mount Saint Mary’s. He put up with a roguish band of rugby players in his class and challenged us to be actual students and he really opened my eyes to the value of a liberal arts education. At a time when the predominant major at the Mount was business or accounting, he was leading the charge to ensure his students’ college experience had a foundation in liberal arts, a foundation that has carried me through my professional career and personal life. I owe an awful lot to Tom Flynn and Mt. St. Mary’s. Tim Bahr, Class of 1984, Mount St. Mary’s University
Former students from Alvernia
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hen I think of Dr. Flynn, I do not just see the president of Alvernia University. I see a friend. He encouraged me to not only follow my dreams but also move away from home, branch out to share my talents and knowledge with the world, instead of just Berks County. I am forever grateful for this life advice as I have taken it and moved to the D.C. area after graduation. Dr. Flynn is an incredible president and person. Claire Sutliff, MS OTR/L, Alvernia University ‘18
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t will be a very sad day in June 2019 when the heart and soul of Alvernia University, President Flynn, exits for the final time. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe what he’s meant to the transformation of the “Vern” in his fourteen-year tenure. There are thousands of students like myself that he has influenced. I was lucky enough to develop a very special bond and friendship with President Flynn. Our greetings always start and end with a hug. I like many students have used President Flynn as a role model. My desire to emulate his character drives me everyday. His legacy will be everlasting. Thank you President Flynn. You had one hell of a run. Until next time…. Brian Nerney, Avernia University, ‘12
Brian Nerney
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Profile
Alumni
“Being with family meant enjoying a great meal.�
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Alumni Profile
Food & Family: a recipe for success By Claire Curry
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mong Massimo Grande’s most treasured memories of his childhood are the many summers he and his siblings spent in Italy with his grandparents and extended family. Perhaps most vivid of all are his recollections of the brick oven his grandfather built in his backyard and the sumptuous family feasts that made ordinary days seem like holidays in Calabria. “Being with family meant enjoying a great meal,” he said. Food and family traditions have taken center stage throughout Grande’s life in Reading, where he was born and raised, and where his parents, Alby and Lina, have been running G.N.A. Ristorante on Penn Avenue since the mid-1970s. “I would work there in high school and college, on the weekends and whenever I didn’t have class,” explained the Alvernia alumnus who majored in business and graduated in 2007. In college, Grande said he had a lot of mixed thoughts about his future career, but that working in the family restaurant got him “hooked. I liked the fact that you’re talking with different people every day,”
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Profile
Alumni
“So it is really fun, over a decade later, to be a patron of Nonno Alby’s, a successful business owned by an alum, and a Flynn family favorite, bringing the best of Italy to West Reading.” — Tom Flynn
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he said, and giving them memorable dining experiences. Grande’s family roots, his grandfather’s brick oven and his appreciation for the way a great meal brings people together gave him and his sister Tina the concept for the brand identity of Nonno Alby’s Handcrafted Wood Oven Pizza, the restaurant they launched together in 2014 and nicknamed for their dad, now a “nonno,” Italian for grandfather. “We wanted to incorporate pizza in a new dining experience so we decided to go artisan style,” said the entrepreneur who runs the restaurant with his wife Trisha, sister Tina and brother-in-law Raffaele Cirandine. “It’s a style of pizza that is popular in the bigger cities, like New York and Los Angeles. We felt West Reading would support the concept.” So Nonno Alby’s officially became the neighborhood’s first wood-oven Neapolitan restaurant four years ago. It has since become a popular eatery known for its gourmetstyle dishes—personal pizzas, burgers and wood-oven-
Alumni Profile fired wings—that incorporate high-quality ingredients like fresh mozzarella made on site, prosciutto, sopressata and imported olives and cheeses. Grande said their concept took a little time to catch on because the community was accustomed to typical pizzeria menus—pizza slices, hoagies and cheese steaks. Nonno Alby’s fare has created buzz on social media and around Berks County, and has also earned several awards, including “best pizza” by Best of the Berks and the Reading Eagle and recognition in Pizza Today, the industry magazine. “It’s been phenomenal,” Grande said about the restaurant’s success, noting that a number of regular patrons are Alvernia faculty and students. “I still see my professors,” he said. “Dr. Flynn comes in on the weekends and fills me in on things that are happening on campus. It’s always a nice treat to see him and many of my professors.” Among these Alvernia patrons is Business Professor Travis Berger, who recruited Grande to the university when he was the men’s soccer coach. “Mass was one of a special group of guys on Alvernia’s very successful men’s soccer team,” said Alvernia President Tom Flynn. “They were among the first student-athletes I met, and I recall traveling to support them in the playoffs. So it is really fun, over a decade later, to be a patron of Nonno Alby’s, a successful business owned by an alum, and a Flynn family favorite, bringing the best of Italy to West Reading.” Grande remembers his soccer team as a close-knit group that successfully made it to their first-ever conference championship as seniors. Today, soccer remains an important part of his life as he trains athletes at his alma mater, Wilson High School, where he serves as head coach of men’s soccer. He also enjoys spending quality time with his family’s youngest generation—his daughters, Guiliana, 4, and Gemma, 11 months, and his sister’s children, nieces Sofia and Arianna. He credits Alvernia for its personal approach to education and warm culture. “That’s one thing I always loved,” he said. “You weren’t just another student. Everyone knows one another and everyone has a name. My whole life has been about family and that’s what Alvernia is to me.”
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Profile
Alumni
“We want to be the champions for middle-class American investors and the advisors who serve them.”
—Conor Delaney CEO, Good Life Advisors
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Alumni Profile
A journey toward the good life By Claire Curry
“Conor is one of our most impressive young alumni. He is a creative and savvy entrepreneur who epitomizes the Franciscan call to ‘do well and do good.’” — Tom Flynn
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ust a few days after celebrating his high school graduation, Conor Delaney’s life took a sharp and unexpected turn: his father passed away suddenly at age 52, leaving behind a wife and three college-bound children. At the time, Delaney ’07 couldn’t have foreseen the many ways in which this tragedy would redirect his future—from choosing the college where he met his wife Liz to pursuing a career as a financial advisor to building an organization that today has offices in 42 states and manages $4 billion in assets. “You don’t get bigger opportunities than what we’ve been blessed with,” Conor said. “But it’s all come out of a tragedy. It’s not about whether people are going to have adversity, it’s about what you do with that.” Liz Delaney ’07 remembers meeting Conor during their freshman year at Alvernia when the two were talking on their phones with their moms
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Profile
Alumni
“It’s not about whether people are going to have adversity, it’s about what you do with that.” — Conor Delaney
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in Clare Hall. They became fast friends, quickly realizing how much they shared in common. Both were born and raised in New Jersey and both are dedicated athletes—she played soccer and lacrosse and he played basketball and ice hockey. They also come from similar backgrounds. “Our parents were blue-collar workers,” Conor said. “Liz and I worked hard to get through school and through life, and we’ve taken care of each other from the time we were 18.” Conor’s parents—teachers who were married for 32 years—were loving and hardworking, but always struggled to make ends meet. After losing his dad, Conor had to grow up quickly and handle his family’s financial affairs, one of the reasons his advisor at Alvernia, Associate Professor of Business Scott Ballantyne, suggested that he consider a career in financial services. Conor took his advice and landed a job in the field during the summer after his freshman year. For the next three years, he juggled work, night classes and hockey practice, and obtained his securities registrations and insurance licenses. He also started dating the girl he said “brings sunshine” into his life. Recruited to Alvernia to play soccer, Liz majored in education and math, and later taught at a local preschool and
Alumni Profile charter school. The couple settled down in Reading and has welcomed three children—Blake, 6, Rhys, 4, and Elena, 2. Since 2012, Conor has served as CEO of Good Life Advisors, a company he formed with his trusted colleague and friend Courtnie Nein. Its mission is to meet the needs of the working class—people like Conor’s parents, who he says could have achieved greater stability with sound financial planning advice. “We want to be the champions for middle-class American investors and the advisors who serve them,” Conor said. “We created a model that puts service first.” In fall 2018, Good Life Advisors opened its new headquarters in Reading, near Alvernia’s campus. The renovated 30,000-square-foot building includes office space, a community center, a fitness center and an organic café. The organization is deeply rooted in its local community, employing several Alvernia alumni and training student interns. Neighborhood nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity, United Way and local church groups are invited to use the community center for free and, for affordable prices, local residents can work out in the fitness center and enjoy healthy fare at the café. “Conor is one of our most impressive young alumni. He is a creative and savvy entrepreneur who epitomizes the Franciscan call to ‘do well and do good,’” said Alvernia
President Tom Flynn. Conor attributes his approach to work, parenting and life in general to what he learned from his first role model. “As a teacher, my dad touched so many lives. He had a community that respected him and he was always there for me.” Not only do Conor and Liz share the same values and work ethic, they are equally committed to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, and have been running marathons together around the world. “We’re going to finish out the Abbott World Marathon Majors that end in Berlin in October,” said Liz, referring to the series’ six marathons, also held in Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago and New York. While Liz manages their household and home-schools the children, Conor spends a good deal of his work weeks traveling around the country to meet with advisors, run training programs and implement new strategies and technologies for the company. He and Liz are also exploring some new side business ventures. Conor credits his wife—who he may never have met had he not attended Alvernia— for being his inspiration. “God’s got a weird way of setting things up. You suffer a gigantic loss, but then in walks the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, and it saves you.”
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On Campus President’s dinner highlights alumni, community leaders CUSTOMERS BANK AWARDS $250,000 TO ALVERNIA’S AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM Alvernia University has been awarded $250,000 annually from Customers Bank to support the South Reading Youth Initiative, an after-school enrichment program run by the university at Millmont and Tyson-Schoener Elementary Schools. Through the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement, Alvernia faculty, staff and students collaborate with the Reading School District to provide educational enrichment and literacy services to more than 100 elementary students every day. “We are deeply honored and grateful for the generous support from Customers Bank to fund this transformational, educational program,” said President Tom Flynn.
NATIONAL AWARD RECOGNIZES ALVERNIA’S FUNDRAISING PROGRAM The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) presented the 2018 Educational Fundraising Award for Overall Improvement to Alvernia for significant program growth among private comprehensive institutions with endowments under $72 million. One of only three universities in this category, Alvernia experienced growth in total support and large gifts, from $2,190,155 to $4,006,140, an increase of 83% over three years. Factors used in determining program growth include pattern of growth in total support, impact of the 12 largest gifts and overall breadth in program areas.
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Alvernia bestowed four prestigious awards on alumni and community leaders during the annual President’s Dinner in October. The 2018 Franciscan Award honorees are James and Cynthia Boscov (posthumously). Jim is chairman and CEO of Boscov’s department store, and Cindy was a longtime, faithful trustee. As members of Alvernia’s board of trustees, the Boscov family has been longtime supporters of the university. Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP, is the recipient of the Pro Urbe Award. Penske has supported the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program since 2016, and President and CEO Brian Hard accepted the award. Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to Andres M. Dominguez, Jr., ’82, Reading chief of police who served 28 years for the U.S. Secret Service protecting every president from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, and Dr. Melissa R. Marcario, ’18, a licensed psychologist with 20 years of clinical experience helping people, many of whom suffer from PTSD, live purposeful lives.
Dr. Philip J. Fromuth received the Ellen Frei Gruber Award. As Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Allentown, Fromuth is completing his 37th year in the Diocesan education system.
Melissa R. Marcario
East Penn’s Chris Pruitt is executive-in-residence Chris Pruitt, president and CEO of East Penn Manufacturing, is the 2018-2019 Executive-in-Residence, part of a dynamic program for business students to gain valuable insight into real-world experiences directly from regional corporate executives. Students also learn about the specific skills that business leaders are looking for in college graduates, various leadership styles and real-life business scenarios. In addition to lectures conducted by Pruitt that continue through the spring semester, students have access to and learn from other members of the East Penn C-suite, covering topics such as business communications, ethical leadership and mergers and acquisitions. East Penn Manufacturing is the largest employer in Berks County and a private, family-owned company operating the largest single-site, lead battery manufacturing facility in the world. In its fourth year, the Executive-in-Residence program exposes business students to regional executives and offers corporate leaders the opportunity to mentor Alvernia students. Past Executives-in-Residence have included Andrea Funk, former CEO of Cambridge-Lee; Scott Gruber, CEO of Tompkins VIST Bank; and Carl Anderson, general partner of Cannondale Partners LLP.
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
ALVERNIA ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT The Alvernia University Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed
Philip J. Fromuth
Andres M. Dominguez
John Loyack as the next president to advance the mission of the 60-yearold Franciscan Catholic institution. Loyack is currently executive vice president for business and administration at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. He will assume the presidency at Alvernia on July 1. Loyack will follow Tom Flynn who announced in May that he would step down in June 2019 after serving a 14-year tenure. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to Tom for his transformational leadership in guiding Alvernia from a little-known college to a nationally recognized compre-
Jim Boscov
Brian Hard
hensive university. Tom and John are working closely together to ensure a seamless leadership transition,”
Safe Berks presents Flynn with Vision of Peace Award President Flynn was honored in December by Safe Berks with the Vision for Peace Award at the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading. Attended by more than 400 guests, the annual Celebration of Peace event honors individuals and organizations within the community for setting high standards of engagement and making significant changes that improve lives and communities throughout Berks County. This is only the third time the award has been presented since 2006. Safe Berks provides a safe haven and ongoing support system for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through advocacy and education programs.
said Michael Fromm, chairman of the Alvernia Board of Trustees and CEO of Fromm Electric Supply. “John is a seasoned leader and strategic thinker with a proven track record of taking highly complex organizations to the next level,” said Fromm. “His unique blend of higher education and corporate experience makes him the right choice for Alvernia at this time,” he added. At King’s College, Loyack is known for his skills in team building, financial management, community engagement and an intense focus on student success. “I look forward to continuing the success and growth of Alvernia and ensuring that this institution is well positioned to deliver its transformational mission to students for generations to come,” said Loyack.
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SERVICE DAY USHERS IN NEW SCHOOL YEAR During Orientation Day, new and returning students along with faculty, staff and peer mentors strengthened relationships with the local community by
On Campus Alvernia welcomes largest, strongest class in history
conducting a series of day-long service projects at nearly every school in the Reading School District and the Berks County Parks Department. As many as 20-40 students assigned to each of 20 school locations and the Stonecliffe Recreation Area served the school district in multiple ways including helping teachers prepare classrooms for the upcoming year; gardening, weeding and mulching outside areas; cleaning up sidewalks and walkways; and painting murals and decorating walls. This marked the 10th anniversary that Alvernia students participated in the Orientation Day of Service, one of four days throughout the year when the university engages the community on multiple service projects. The other three are St. Francis Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Earth Day.
STUDENT GROUP WINS NATIONAL CHAPTER AWARD Lambda Sigma Society, a national honor society for second-year college students, named Alvernia’s student group 2018 Chapter of the Year. The
Golden Wolves win historic first game
award for outstanding chapter was presented to students during the society’s national leadership conference last fall in Pittsburgh. Alvernia’s student group also was unanimously presented with the highest honor for outstanding work during the past academic year. The Honor Chapter award is given for community service and overall functioning of the chapter. First-year students who have placed in at least the top 35 percent of the class academically and who have shown evidence of leadership during their first year are selected to participate in the chapter.
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More than 3,000 people attended the historic first game of the Alvernia Golden Wolves football team, which they won over the Gaulladet University Bison, 26-21, in the last few nail-biting seconds of the final quarter. Adding to the day’s revelry was the endless sea of maroon and gold on campus as students, alumni and faculty and staff along with family and friends donned the latest Golden Wolves gear. The campus was transformed into Golden Wolves country with a festive tailgating party, celebratory banners and large golden paw prints that lead across campus to the stadium.
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR LECTURE FEATURES AUTHOR JAMIE FORD All first-year students study a common reading focusing on issues of social justice, poverty, diversity or other topics related to the mission
More than 500 new students converged on campus last fall with most of them comprising the historic Class of 2022, which is larger, more diverse and an academically stronger group of students compared to 14 years ago. Of the new class, 37% are students of color and 45% are scholar athletes. The new class also boasts an average SAT of 1050 and 3.34 GPA, with much higher requirements for top programs in healthcare sciences. In 2005 when President Flynn first arrived on campus, the freshman class was at 278, with a modest academic profile and relatively little racial and geographical diversity. Today, with an expanded vision and renewed mission, Alvernia has experienced a more than 75% full-time undergraduate enrollment growth during his 14-year tenure. While most of the more than 500 new and transfer students in the class are from Pennsylvania, about 30% are from out of state (compared to 20% in 2005), including Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Florida.
of the university. This year’s lecture featured Jamie Ford, author of “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.” The First-Year Seminar promotes academic success, personal growth and community engagement by emphasizing the expectations and values of the academic community.
HOMECOMING WEEKEND OFFERS NEW TWIST Drawing hundreds from across the region, the 2018 Homecoming and Family Weekend was packed with many activities and events including the welcome addition of a Golden Wolves football game and pre-game tailgating party. The formerly known Autumn Blast was renamed the 5th Quarter where guests enjoyed food, beverages, music and connecting with alumni, parents and friends under a tent at Francis Hall following the football game. The fun-filled weekend also included popular events such as the Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and program, Q&A with President Flynn, Bingo Mania and the petting zoo.
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On Campus Longtime trustees remembered for fervent support
ALVERNIA COMMUNITY MOURNS COLLEAGUE PAUL WEST In October, the campus community lost a dear friend and colleague, Dr. Paul West, recently retired assistant professor of psychology. He joined
Cindy Boscov
Carl Herbein
the Alvernia community in 2006 and retired last September as a tenured professor. Committed to the success of the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program, West played a key role in helping the university earn accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) for both the Reading and Philadelphia campuses. “Dr. West was not only a treasured professor and colleague, but also
The Alvernia community was saddened by the loss of two dear trustees and longtime supporters—Cindy Boscov and Carl Herbein—but honored and pleased to have hosted their memorial services at the university. Carl was founder, president and CEO of Herbein + Company and a nationally respected expert in the dairy industry as well as a revered civic leader. Some of our top accounting alums work at Herbein + Company. Kathy, his wife of almost 50 years, is an Alvernia alumna
and trustee emerita who led our successful Values and Vision campaign. Cindy was a longtime, faithful Alvernia trustee and proud parent of Alvernia alumna, Rachel. She was devoted to the Franciscan Catholic mission and loved and respected for her intelligence, insight and wit. Along with her husband, Jim, and Jim’s mother, Shirley, she helped make possible Alvernia’s Boscov Scholars Program which sponsors the best and brightest in Berks County.
an excellent model of professional and ethical counseling practice. His dedication to the MACC program and Alvernia University was exceptional,” said Judy Warchal, professor of psychology and counseling. “He worked tirelessly to insure that the students in the MACC program were well prepared to meet the challenges of the counseling profession and serve the emotional needs of their communities,” she added.
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Committing to difficult dialogues and freedom of speech Feedback from Alvernia’s annual Mission Day in August helped the campus community to finalize a compelling and practical statement on civil dialogue and freedom of expression (see page 58). Rooted in the university’s mission and identity, the statement is the product of a large campus group convened by President Flynn last spring and now is officially posted on the university website.
Mission Day provides a framework for the dual commitment of the campus community to both open expression of perspectives on different (even “difficult”) ideas and the expectation that such dialogue, especially when disagreeable, is conducted with respect for all individuals and groups.
Periscope Alvernia’s faculty making a difference During the Faculty Book Authors forum in November, several faculty members were recognized for their scholarship and presented highlights from their work. Among those who recently have published books in the past year or will do so in the coming months are:
Gregory Chown, OTD, BHSc(OT), CPAM, BA Associate professor of occupational therapy and graduate academic coordinator Chown co-wrote an article with honors student Lucy Horn, titled “Simulating experiences: Using interprofessional lab simulation in occupational therapy,” which appeared in the national publication OT Practice, November 2017. Alvernia has pioneered the interprofessional education (IPE) model, incorporated into both curriculum and clinical preparation of nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and social work programs. IPE connects Alvernia students from varying programs and backgrounds to learn collaborative techniques with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of patient care. Through a simulation lab, occupational therapy students gain real-world experience while strengthening collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking skills. They also better understand the roles of other professional health care disciplines.
Tracy F. Scheirer, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CNE Instructor of nursing Scheirer is one of only four recipients of the 2018 National League for Nursing Jonas Scholars Program grant that was presented during NLN’s national summit in Chicago in October. The grant provides financial support for scholars’ research through the final year of doctoral study education. Nominated by the PhD Nursing Program at Widener University, Scheirer was selected from many nationwide candidates. For her doctoral dissertation, she conducted a qualitative study into the meaning of moral integrity for nurse educators in their role. Additionally, she gathered data on how nurse educators perceive their duties in their roles as nurse educators in higher education settings, as they have multiple identities as nurses and educators.
Josh Hayes, PhD, assistant professor of philosophy, Heidegger and the Islamicate World, Big Table Publishing, forthcoming (in process of publication) Rachael Hughes, adjunct professor, English and Communications, Us Girls: My Life Without a Uterus, Big Table Publishing, August 2018
Couplings, Deleuze and Guattari Studies, Edinburgh Press, November 2018 and Deleuze and the Schizoanalysis of Feminism, Bloomsbury Press, 2019 (in process of publication)
Faculty book authors who also showcased their work: Scott Ballantyne, EdD Associate professor of business Beth Berret, EdD Associate professor of business, coordinator of MBA Program, SHRM Student Chapter Advisor Dolores Bertoti, DPT Professor of physical therapy Kevin Donnelly, PhD Associate professor of history
Adrean Turner, Fearless. Inspired. Transformed: FIT for Success, Sound Wisdom, January 16, 2018
Ana Ruiz, PhD Professor of psychology
Diane Kraft, instructor of biology and clinical nutritionist, The A-Z Guide to Food As Medicine, 2nd ed., CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, February 2019 (in press)
Patricia Schmehl Professional specialist Bongrae Seok, PhD Associate professor of philosophy
Gerald Vigna, PhD, associate professor of theology, Religious Scholars as Public Intellectuals, Taylor and Francis, 2018
Janae Sholtz, PhD, associate professor of philosophy and coordinator of Women’s Gender Studies, Infinite Eros: Deleuze, Guattari, and Feminist
Jodi Radosh, PhD Associate professor and associate director of the Center for Community Engagement
Spencer S. Stober, EdD Professor of biology, Leadership Studies Judith Warchal, PhD Professor of psychology and counseling and licensed psychologist Christopher Wise, DPT Associate professor of physical therapy and department chair Donna Yarri, PhD Associate professor of theology
Alvernia University Magazine
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• Married? • New Job? • Addition to the family? Share your news! Contact us at: alumni@alvernia.edu
featured in the Reading Eagle on June 6, 2018, on women supporting each other in the workplace at the Women2Women luncheon where she was the keynote speaker.
and his wife Linda celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in September by traveling to Colorado and Wyoming.
the Lifestyle section of the Reading Eagle regarding a request to record a song penned by a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and two members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The song is titled “If the Truth Be Told”, by Mike Stoller.
and her husband George welcomed Miles George Ulmer into the world, April 18, 2018, 7:35 a.m. at nine pounds, six ounces and 22 inches long.
2000s
Deanna L. Reuben ’79 was featured in
Melissa Masone Ulmer ’09
Christy (Glass) Pisker M’10 is
a member of the Alumni Council and married John Pisker on July 21, 2018.
Christy (Glass) Pisker M’10 and John Pisker share loving smiles on their big day. Lauren A. Roberts ’11 married Kyle
Lucine E. Sihelnik M’13 had a baby
David P. McDowell ’16 was
Roberts on August 26, 2017.
boy named Orion Emmanuel Lahaniatis on February 23, 2018.
hired as a search engine optimization specialist for Liquid Interactive, a digital marketing agency.
Cory L. Mengel ’12
has accepted a new job as an emotional support teacher at South Middleton School District in Boiling Springs, Pa.
Nathan A. Bauer ’13 and wife Tracey
welcomed their first child, Brooks Andrew Bauer on October 17, 2018.
Nadine A. Blair ’83
was featured in the Morning Call about spotted lantern flies. Blair has been working on damage control to prevent what may destroy billions of dollars of Pennsylvania’s agricultural products.
Patrick L. Dolan ’13 and Nora Walsh ’14 were married on
January 26, 2018 on Alvernia’s campus. Brianna Kuhn ’15 and Zachary S. Wilson ’15 M ’16
were married September 14, 2018. Margaret P. Francescangeli ’16 and Justin P. Mains ’16 are engaged. Timothy Marks M ’16 was featured in
the cover story of the Reading Eagle’s Business Weekly on June 5, 2018. As senior director of emergency and observation services for Reading Hospital, Marks co-presented on “Men in Health Care” that addresses breaking the nursing occupation stereotype.
Maryemma (Gregory) Munoz ’05 was married on
August 4, 2018.
Baby Miles Ulmer, son of Melissa Masone Ulmer ’09, smiles brightly at five months.
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2010s
Terrence P. Williams ’08 M’10
1970s
Linda K. M. Ludgate ’77 was
1980s
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
AT T E N T I O N A L U M N I
Susan A. Moyer ’16 has been instru-
mental in overseeing the 5th annual Stomp Out Suicide event in Schuylkill County. Jennifer (Mack) Waters ’16 married
Shane Waters on November 11, 2017. The couple resides in Virginia. Ashley (Winters) Weida ’16 and J. Nicholas S. Weida ’16 married on July
21, 2018. Cameron P. Coons ’17 is an Alvernia
baseball alumnus who signed to play with the Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers of the United Shore Professional Baseball League.
In Memoriam
a medical moral theology course at Alvernia in 2014. The two were married on August 30, 2018.
In memory of our deceased alumni who are gone but not forgotten
Victoria Gowland ’18 is getting
1970s
married in April 2019.
Ann (Walker) Jones ’18 and Corbin Jones ’16 stroll hand in hand on their wedding day.
Calendar January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, contact the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement for more information
January 31 Washington, DC, Regional Alumni/Parent Farewell Tribute to Dr. Flynn
February 12 Rivalry Night—Women’s and Men’s Basketball Game, Alvernia Golden Wolves vs. Albright, Physical Education Center
February 23 Alumni Council Meeting, Upland Center, Room
Marianne Baker ’73 Victoria M. Calabretta ’73 Robert J. Sharr Sr. ’75 Lawrence G. Yadush ’78 Donald W. Smith Jr. ’78 Sylvia K. Kane ’78 Thomas B. Floriani ’78 Robert C. Renkert ’79
1980s Ruth M. Reed ’83 Darlene Pancerella ’84
1990s Sandra A. Scheetz ’90 Dorothy B. Sherman ’92 Marie E. Setley ’95 Michael S. Kissinger ’95 William J. Faust ’95 Lynn S. Adams ’96 Russell J. Palko ’97 Sara E. Martin ’98
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March 18 Berks Chapter Alumni/Parent Farewell Tribute to Dr. Flynn, Winedown Cafe
April 6 Earth Day of Service, Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement
April 13 Alumni Council Meeting, Upland Center, Room 227 April 12 Occupational Therapy Alumni Event May 2 Toast to the Class of 2019
2000s Matthew J. Cwalina ’00 Wendy D. Dullebawn ’00 William T. Miller ’02 Kathie L. Gilbert ’03 Bernie Viggiano ’05 Kristen M. Hoffman ’06 Shelly E. Johnson ’06 Vallery Johnson ’08 M’10
May 3-4 ALL IN Campaign May 4 MargaritaVern 2019, Physical Education Center
2010s
May 11 Baccalaureate & Commencement, celebrating the
Ramona O. Snook ’11 M’18 Megan A. Sheely ’18
Class of 2019 and the Class of 1969 50th Reunion
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Ann (Walker) Jones ’18 and Corbin Jones ’16 met in
For more information on upcoming events, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement at alumni@alvernia.edu
Alvernia University Magazine
81
Alumni
NEWS Show Your Alvernia Pride
Show your Alvernia pride with an Alvernia University license plate. Purchase one for yourself or as a gift. The license plates include Alvernia University across the bottom and the university logo to the left of the license plate number. The cost is $40 for a non-personalized plate or $144 for a personalized plate (cost of the plate plus the issuance fee). Complete a Pennsylvania Special Organization Plate application, then return it with your check for $40 or $144 made payable to Alvernia University. Send the completed application and payment to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, Alvernia University, 400 Saint Bernardine Street, Reading, PA 19607. For complete information, visit the alumni website: http://alumni. alvernia.edu/licenseplate.
Welcome to 360Alumni The next time you log onto the alumni website to find out what’s happening or to make a reservation for an upcoming event, you
Young
82 Alvernia University Magazine
will notice a new look. We have teamed up with 360Alumni, an engagement and networking platform used by higher education and nonprofit organizations. 360Alumni provides more opportunities to stay connected with Alvernia. We encourage you to visit the new site and start connecting.
Young Alumni Connect with Alvernia The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement offers special programming and opportunities for graduates of the last decade to tap into its extensive network and foster a lifelong connection with their alma mater. Alvernia’s Young Alumni Committee helps plan events that bring young alumni together and present opportunities to engage with current students. If you are interested in being part of this group or would like additional information, please contact Ryan Shannon, Ryan.shannon@alvernia.edu or 610-230-5707.
Alumni
Did You Know? In addition to attending regional gatherings, alumni athletic events, MargaritaVern and Homecoming & Family Weekend, there are a number of ways alumni can stay involved with Alvernia University. Alumni Council Want an inside look or more voice on Alvernia endeavors? The Alumni Council is the advisory, governing body of the university’s Alumni Association. Composed of 26 elected graduates of varying class years, occupations and life experiences, the council speaks for the alumni body and provides overarching guidance for the Alumni Association.
Recruitment Help us reach a new generation! Sharing your experience is the strongest recruiting tool we can ask of our alumni. Help us by writing letters to welcome incoming students or volunteer to staff a college fair near you.
Alvernia University Women’s Council Want to educate and inspire women to pursue or grow in leadership roles? Join this group of alumni, students, faculty and university friends to strengthen connections and foster personal and
professional development of Alvernia students and graduates. Contact Ashley Mikulsky for more information at ashley.mikulsky@alvernia.edu.
Alumni Committees Become more involved in our students’ transitions from college to career or in alumni-to-student engagement events like Homecoming through one of several alumni committees. View the full committee list online at alumni.alvernia.edu. Don’t live near campus? No problem. Participation on the committees is conducted by email, teleconference or, from time to time, on campus.
Save the Date for A SALUTE TO TOM FLYNN
A very special evening when we say
THANK YOU to President Tom Flynn for his transformative tenure as the leader of
Alvernia University The “Salute to Tom Flynn� will be held on
Thursday, May 30 at the Doubletree in downtown Reading. Official invitation and event details to follow in early 2019.
Alvernia Magazine is published by Alvernia University twice per year in summer and winter to share news and information about the institution with alumni, friends and the community. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the university. Please share your feedback as we work to continuously enhance the publication: 400 Saint Bernardine Street Reading, PA 19607 or magazine@alvernia.edu.
Alvernia Magazine is a publication of Alvernia University. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
President Thomas F. Flynn, PhD Vice President for Marketing and Communications Deidra Hill, EdD Director of Creative Services Lynn N. Gano Contributing Writers Richard Bader, Ernest Beck, Jim Boscov, Claire Curry, Helen Flynn, Tom Flynn, Jerry Greiner, Deidra Hill, Lini D. Kadaba, Julianne Nolan, Susan Shelly, Sarah Verneret Contributing Photographers Theo Anderson, Arlin Geyer, Cathy Elmarzouky, Dan Z. Johnson, Carey Manzolillo, Brian Michelson
Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium
A
lvernia will soon be home to a beautiful and consecrated Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium. Located just down the hill from historic Francis Hall, not far from the St. Joseph Villa, the tranquil location offers families a spiritual setting.
The Franciscan ethos of inclusivity welcomes family members of all denominations to be interred in the Alvernia Columbarium. Recently, the Vatican approved cremation as an appropriate direction for families mourning the loss of a loved one. The Catholic Church strongly recommends that the resting place for these final ashes should be a sacred place, such as a columbarium — a consecrated area reserved for the interment of cremated remains. The Alvernia Columbarium provides a limited number of economical and environmentally friendly niches to help family members eternally rest in peace. Each niche can hold up to two urns. One quarter of the 108 niches have already been reserved. For more information, please contact Marlene Schutz in the Department of Institutional Advancement at marlene.schutz@alvernia.edu or 610-796-8259.
Alvernia University 400 Saint Bernardine Street Reading, PA 19607
alvernia.edu
Celebrating the legacy of Alvernia President Thomas F. Flynn
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