CONGRATS CLASS OF - Robert Morris University

6001 University BoulevardMoon Township, PA 15108-1189rmu.eduFoundationsR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E > S U M M E R 2 0 1 1CONGRATSCLASS OF2011For video andpictures fromcommencement, goto Foundations Onlinermu.edu/foundations.THE RESULTS ARE INYOU TELL US HOW WE RATEP. 20SEE HOW RMU STUDENTS ARE USINGPHOTOGRAPHY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPSP. 12

D E A R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S ,One of my early goals as president was to boost alumni communications, including thelaunch of a new magazine, Foundations. With all the demands on your time and attention,we wanted to create a magazine that grabs you with compelling articles and photos from themoment you pull it out of your mailbox.Judging from the response to our recent readership survey, we’ve succeeded. The surveywas designed by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and used by200 alumni publications around the country. While only 37 percent of readers nationwideclaim to read most or all of their alumni magazine, almost twice as many Foundationsreaders do — 68 percent.Something you saw in Foundations persuaded 41 percent of you to attend an event, and the sameportion to recommend RMU to a friend or relative — both higher than the national average. Butwe’re not quite hitting our targets when it comes to getting you to connect in other ways. Only 13percent of you have submitted an item to Class Notes, and only 25 percent have discussed anarticle you read with others or shared it online — both lower than national averages.So consider that survey the beginning of a conversation. We love Foundations, but like any print publication, it’sonly a one-way communications vehicle. We tell you stories we think are important. You read them. And that’swhere it has ended, until now.The five years we’ve been publishing Foundations have witnessed seismic shifts in how people communicate andhow organizations interact with their members. Facebook and Twitter have experienced explosive growth, andsmart phones have proliferated so that many people now regard them as a necessity. RMU has been at theforefront of this communications revolution. We were one of the first universities to use Twitter to communicateregularly with students and alumni. We were early users of Facebook to organize events and welcome newlyadmitted students to campus, and we jumped onto Foursquare to enhance the sense of place on campus.These outlets let you talk to us. In this issue of Foundations, we introduce a new one: the Foundations Facebookpage, at facebook.com/rmufoundations. You can respond to what you read in the magazine, share the RMUmemories those stories spark, and comment on what your fellow alumni say. Foundations on Facebook iswhere you can tell us your stories.This is just one way in which we are marrying print and digital communications. Another is eFoundations,the electronic edition of the magazine, distributed via email. With this issue, we are also introducingQR codes, which launch exclusive content such as stories, photos,or videos when scanned with a smart phone.Here’s how it works: Go to your phone’s app store and download afree QR scanner, such as QR Reader for iPhone or Barcode Scannerfor Android. Launch the app and scan the code that appears atright with your phone’s camera. The content will open on yourphone. I hope you find it informative, and that you’ll keep lettingus know what you think.Sincerely,G R E G O R Y G . D E L L ’ O M O , P H . D .P R E S I D E N TScAN THIS cODE WITHYOUR SMART PHONEFoundationssummer/11LOOk fOR YOUR REAL, UNEDITED SURvEYcOMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE MAGAzINE.DEPARTMENTS02 < CAMPUS REPORT> 08 COLONIALS ROUNDUP24 < UP CLOSE & PERSONAL< 26 CLASS NOTESCREDITSEDITORMark HouserCONTRIBUTORSValentine J. Brkich, Sybile Cherenfant,Sara Meier ‘11, Bill Modoono,Jonathan Potts M’11, Bonnie Pfister,Kevin Williams ‘11, Andrea ZanaglioART DIRECTOR/DESIGNERAmy JoyPHOTOGRAPHY/ILLUSTRATIONSFront Cover: iStockphotoBack Cover: Joe AppelOther Photos: iStockphoto, Joe Appel, JamesKnox, Jason Cohn, Kevin Cooke, Amy Joy,Mitch Kramer ‘08, Mark Houser, Shelley Lipton,J. Meric, Greg Wall, Michael Will ‘08PRINTINGRR Donnelley Hoechstetter PlantFOUNDATIONS ONLINEDouglas A. DerdaFoundations (ISSN 1934-5690) is published threetimes a year by the Office of Public Relationsand Marketing in conjunction with the Office ofInstitutional Advancement and mailed free ofcharge to alumni, donors, trustees, faculty, staffand friends of Robert Morris University. Theopinions expressed in the magazine do notnecessarily reflect the official policies ofRobert Morris University.Contributions to Class Notes and addresschanges may be sent to:Office of Alumni RelationsRobert Morris University6001 University BoulevardMoon Township, PA 15108-1189Phone: (412) 397-6464 Fax: (412) 397-2142E-mail: rmualum@rmu.eduIt is the policy of Robert Morris University to provideequal opportunity in all educational programs andactivities, admission of students and conditions ofemployment for all qualified individuals regardlessof race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, nationalorigin and/or sexual preference.“I’vE ONLY REcENTLY BEGUN TOREALLY READ IT. I READ THELAST ISSUE fROM cOvER TOcOvER. I LIkED IT.”“GOOD BREAkDOWN Of vARIOUSTOPIcS. I PIck AND cHOOSEWHIcH ONES INTEREST ME BUT ILIkE THE SELEcTION.”12Getting It Right . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Ever have to make a tough call? When Jeff Bergman ‘77does, people dissect his decision with slow motion video.Spreading Goodwill . . . . . . . . 18When you donate to Goodwill, you're helping 70,000people who rely on the organization. You're also helpingMichael Smith ‘79 to expand the charity's services.One Very Busy Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Sherry Hazuda ‘98 got her college diploma while working and raising four children.As Pittsburgh’s school board president, now she has 26,000 kids to worry about.The Results are In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22We asked, you answered. See the highlights from our readership survey.10 Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32The former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and the Republic of the Congo, RobinRenee Sanders D’10 now turns her focus to a nonprofit organization aiding Africa.

Changing Livesand WinningAwardsThe “Change A Life” advertisingcampaign has won several prestigiousawards, including:• A Gold Addy award for TVcommercials and a Silver Addy forwebsite, from the PittsburghAdvertising Federation.• Best of Show and a Gold EducationalAdvertising award for advertisingcampaign, and a Silver award forTV advertising, from HigherEducation Marketing Report.• A Golden Quill for most creativeonline storytelling, from the PressClub of Western Pennsylvania.• A Silver Cuppie Award for website,from the College and UniversityPublic Relations Association ofPennsylvania.The campaign, launched in September,was created by Wall-to-Wall Studiosin Pittsburgh in conjunction with theuniversity’s public relations andmarketing department. See thewebsite and TV commercialsat Foundations Online.> FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @RMU FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS> Taking the Pressure OffA team of RMU engineering students won first place in the Pennsylvaniaregional Energy Efficient Building Competition at the EngineeringSustainability conference in Pittsburgh in April. Eugene Werner, AllanPage, and Tom Teresi’s proposal for a turbine water pressure regulatorwon a $5,000 prize, and beat out teams from the University of Pittsburghand Carnegie Mellon University, who sponsored the conference. Thestudents were advised by Tony Kerzmann, Ph.D., assistant professorof mechanical engineering.> Benvenuti aPittsburgh4 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S > MEIERRMU’s downtown walking tourpodcasts, produced by university editorMark Houser and web/social mediadesigner Douglas Derda and recorded byinternational students in 10 languages, won a Silver Accolade Award atthe District II conference of the Council for Advancement and Support ofEducation in Baltimore and a Bronze Cuppie Award from the College andUniversity Public Relations Association of Pennsylvania. Download the freetour at Foundations Online and try it out — there’s one in English too.> The Magic TouchSara Meier ‘11 received the first Mentoring Magic Award, along withDiane Todd Bucci, Ph.D., associate professor of English, given by theauthors of Mentoring Magic: Picking the Card for Your Success. The book wasco-authored by Michele Hipsky, Ed.D., associate professor of education,and her former Ph.D. student, Claudia Armani-Bavaro D’07.> When DidHe Sleep?Matthew Feryus ‘11 wasawarded the university’s highestundergraduate honor, the Presidential TransformationalAward, at this spring’s commencement. The award is givenannually to a graduate who has been transformed by his orher experience at RMU and has also contributed to thetransformation of the university in a meaningful way.Feryus, the 2010-11 student government president and an RA,earned a perfect 4.0 in his demanding actuarial science majorand graduated summa cum laude. He received the prestigiousJohn Culver Wooddy Scholarship from the ActuarialFoundation, and last summer he was an actuarial intern atCoventry Health Care.Outside the classroom, Feryus volunteered with the SpecialOlympics, Little Sisters for the Poor, and WorldVision, and tookan alternative spring break in rural Virginia repairing housesfor the poor. He was also active with the Coalition for ChristianOutreach, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and theInternational Justice Mission.> Speaking of Changing LivesWhitney Pappas ‘11, a senior defender on the women’s ice hockey team, was oneof eight national finalists for the BNY Mellon Wealth Management HockeyHumanitarian Award. Pappas was recognized for her community service andvolunteering, including time with Holy Angels Orphanage, Make-A-WishFoundation, Skate for the Cure, and Project Bundle Up.> Be Our Guest!Be Our Guest!Film scholar Richard Grupenhoff wasthe university’s first visiting artist at theSnee-Reinhardt Charitable FoundationHouse for Media Arts.Grupenhoff,professoremeritus inradio, TV, andfilm at RowanUniversity inNew Jersey,presentedlectures andscreenings featuring the pioneeringcontributions of African Americanfilmmakers from 1915-1950. Grupenhoff’stwo-day visit in February coincided withBlack History Month.Artist Hasan Elahi stayed at thehouse for two days in March,lecturing on his “TrackingTransience” project. The webbasedself-tracking systemconstantly presents Elahi’slocation and other personal data,and grew out of the artist’s harrowingexperience as the subject of an FBIterrorism investigation in 2002. Aftersix months of interrogations and nineconsecutive polygraph tests, he wascleared of all suspicion.“I GAvE MY cOPY TO A LOcAL HIGHScHOOL BUSINESS TEAcHER.”recycle this magazineGive it to a neighbor who’s in high schooland help spread the word about RMU.5

“cOLORfUL,USER fRIENDLY.”> Peggy Outon DayPeggy Outon, the executive director of RMU’s Bayer Center forNonprofit Management, was honored by Pittsburgh City Council, whichproclaimed March 22 “Peggy Outon Day” in recognition of her work instudying the role of women in nonprofit organizations and in coachingwomen to be leaders at nonprofits. In May the center launched “74%:Exploring the Lives of Women in Nonprofits,” a three-year research andcommunity awareness project that aims to narrow the wage gap anddevelop successful career models for women in nonprofits.> Farm to TableRichard Mills, Ph.D., associate professor of hospitalityand tourism, co-authored “How the Sustainable FoodMovement Has Created the New Farm to TableIndustry,” which was named a Best Paper at theAmerican Society of Business and Behavioral Sciencesconference in Las Vegas in February. Mills wrote thepaper with Stephanie Westfall ‘01 M’03, the generalmanager of the Courtyard by Marriott WashingtonMeadowlands.> Voci ItalianeMichael DiLauro, M.F.A., director of the Academic Media Center,received the Italian American Heritage Award from the Italian Clubat the University of Pittsburgh for his work bringing two studentsfrom L’Aquila to finish their degrees at RMU after their universitywas heavily damaged in an earthquake. He was also recognized fora new documentary he is creating about Italian Americans, and forhelping to create an RMU organization for students of Italian heritage.> Making Global VillagesLisa Nutt, M.B.A., associate director of the Center for GlobalEngagement, is part of a new initiative by NAFSA: Association ofInternational Educators aimed at promoting a global perspective. Asthe first cohort in the Connecting Our World Grassroots LeadershipProgram, Nutt and 10 others chosen from universities around thecountry will spend the next year developing and documentingmethods to increase support of international education. Nutthopes to create a “Connecting Communities Corps” comprisinginternational students, faculty and staff. These ambassadors willshare their cultural perspectives and experiences with the campuscommunity and with other local schools, colleges, and universities,and carry out community service projects.“I LIkE TO HEAR ABOUT STUDENT AND fAcULTY AccOMPLISHMENTS ANDExPERIENcES ALONG WITH AcTIvITIES HAPPENING AT THE UNIvERSITY.”> Arts & EntertainmentTim Hadfield, M.F.A., professor of media arts, isshowing eight of his paintings (left) at an AndyWarhol Museum exhibition this summer as partof “Mixed Signals: Artists Consider Masculinityin Sports.” Hadfield received a $1,000 grant fromthe Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council inconjunction with the exhibition, whichcontinues to August 17.Carolyn Loyola-Garcia, M.F.A., associate professorof media arts, starred in Quantam Theatre’s tangoopera “Maria de Buenos Aires” in March. She alsoreceived a $9,500 grant from the Andrew W. MellonFund of the Pittsburgh Foundation for a documentaryshe is producing about the history of flamenco inthe United States. The Heinz Endowments alsohas given Loyola-Garcia two grants tosupport the film.Hyla Willis, M.F.A., associate professor of mediaarts, presented “subRosa’s Bodies Unlimited: ADecade of Collective Feminist Art Practice” for EmoryUniversity’s Women’s Studies Research Seminar Series.> TO SEE VIDEOS AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, CHECK OUT FOUNDATIONS ONLINE (RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS).> Honors &AwardsKen LaSota, Ph.D., associateprofessor of mathematicsand science, was given theDistinguished Service Awardfrom the PennsylvaniaAssociation of Boroughs forhis performance as mayor ofHeidelberg, an office he has held since1997. LaSota also serves on many areacommissions and boards, includingthe South Hills Area Council ofGovernments, the Route 50 CorridorCommission, and the Greater ChartiersValley Long Term Recovery Team, whichhelped residents after severe flooding.Arif Sirinterlikci, Ph.D.,professor of engineering,was awarded $2,000 by theMaterial Handling EducationFoundation and Associationof Inspection and Mobility toattend an Ohio University summerinstitute on electronic identificationtechnologies. Also, the Society ofManufacturing Engineers has askedSirinterlikci to join their committeeto plan new journals. Read more aboutSirinterlikci on p. 25.> Author! Author!Jackie Klentzin, Ph.D., outreach andinformation literacy librarian, published“Collective Success: APhenomenologicalCase Study of OhioPublic Libraries” in theOctober issue of PublicLibrary Quarterly.6Addie Muti, assistant athletic director,co-authored Forward Falcons, a history ofwomen’s athletics at Bowling GreenState University, with Bowling Greenprofessor Janet Parks and archivistAnn Bowers.Dean Manna, Ph.D., university professor ofmarketing, and marketing professor GayleMarco, Ph.D., cowrote “Sustainable Markets:Case Study Of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.,Inc.,” which was accepted for presentationat the New Orleans International Business &Economics Conference and for publication inthe Journal of Business Case Studies. StudentsBrittany Lynn Khahil ‘11 and Sara Meier ‘11also were co-authors.Arif Sirinterlikci, Ph.D., co-authored “Design andManufacturing of Medical Devices with AntimicrobialTechnology,” published in the 2011 MedicalManufacturing Yearbook of the Society ofManufacturing Engineers. Biomedicalengineering students Samantha Pogel andJustin Wissinger also were co-authors.> To Infinityand BeyondYildrim Omurtag, Ph.D., interimhead of the engineering department,was invited to attend the NASAAcademy of Aerospace Quality Workshop in Cape Canaveral,Fla., and offered a $1,000 stipend by the organization to coverhis travel expenses.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 7

STELLARPERFORMANCESGOLFFinishing 1-under-par after threerounds, C.G. Mercatoris won theNEC Championship in Orlando,Fla., by two strokes in April.He shot a 71, 70, and 74 on thepar-72 international course atChampionsGate Golf Club,with 14 birdies. The Colonialsplaced second in the men’steam tournament.The women’s teamplaced third at the NECChampionship in Orlandofor the second year.Elizabeth Wenger wastied for the lead after tworounds, but finished third.ICE HOCKEYBoth men’s and women’s teamscapped winning seasons witha playoff appearance, whereboth came up short againstin-state rival Mercyhurst.Led by Third Team All-Americanand Atlantic Hockey AssociationDefenseman of the Year DennyUrban, whose 1.14 pointsper game was second inthe nation for a defensive player,the men’s team cracked the Top20 rankings for the first time thisseason, climbing as high as No. 18.For the women, CollegeHockey America Rookie ofthe Year and All-CHASecond Team selectionThea Imbrognonotched 28 points herfirst season, tied forthe team lead.“MORE MEN’SHOckEY.”COLONIALS ROUNDUP“ISOFTBALLCraig Coleman, M.D., became thefirst coach in any RMU sport to win 500games as the Colonials finished theregular season atop the conference at15-5. Allie Patton, whose .382 seasonbatting average was fourth inthe NEC, scored a gamewinner andfinished 6-of-11 in the championships,including going 4-for-4 in a final lossto Quinnipiac, and was namedboth All-NEC First Team andAll-Tournament. Annie Dubovecbecame the third athlete in RobertMorris history, and the first female,to be named First Team AcademicAll-America, with a 3.92 average as anapplied math major and a .338 careerbatting average.VOLLEYBALLAfter posting a strong 13-3conference record, the team beatsix-time champions Long Islandin the NEC playoffs before falling toNo. 1 seed Sacred Heart in the finals.Hannah Veith led the league with1.22 blocks per game and wassecond in hitting percentagewith .347, earningAll-NEC FirstTeam honors.LACROSSEBoth the men’s and women’s teamsmade the playoffs in the spring.And both saw standout performances,not just in the NEC, but in allof NCAA Division I.The men’s team was the highestscoring in the country for the secondstraight year, with a 13.8 goals pergame average. Trevor Moore was thetop scorer in the country, and his 50goals were enough to earn NEC Playerof the Year honors for the second time.Katy Phillips was voted NEC Coach ofthe Year for the women. Three playersmade All-NEC First Team, includingColleen O’Donnell, who caused moreturnovers (54) than any other NCAAD-I player, and also led her team ingoals, points, and ground balls.LIkE TO kEEP UP WITHTHE SPORTS TEAMS.”BASKETBALLWith the help of NEC Rookie ofthe Year Artemis Spanou, whose9.6 rebound average topped theconference, the women’s team finished12-6 in the NEC and made the playoffsfor the sixth time in seven years. TheColonials lost to Monmouth 65-62 inthe semifinal round.First-year coach Andrew Toole tookhis young men’s team — with onlyone senior on the roster — to its thirdconsecutive NEC Championship.The Colonials lost a nailbiter to hostLong Island 85-82 in the first overtimechampionship in the conference’s30-year history.SOCCERBoth women’s goalkeeper AyanaDavis (6.72) and men’s goalkeeperToba Bolaji (5.00) led the NEC insaves per game.FIELD HOCKEYCatherine Myrick ranked 4th inNCAA D-I with 9 defensive saves.TRACK & FIELDAfter winning the 5k race andcoming within a split second ofwinning the 3k race, freshman MerelVan Steenbergen was named MostOutstanding Rookie at the NECIndoor Championship in February.She also finished second in the 10k atthe outdoor championship, and secondin the 5k cross country championship.Steve Mitchell won gold in thehammer throw and silver in theshot put at the NEC OutdoorChampionship in April, earningthe title Most Outstanding FieldPerformer. The men’s team placedsecond overall, and seven membersearned All-NEC honors. Mitchell alsowon a silver medal for the weightthrow in the indoor championship.8 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 9

“fOcUS ON STUDENTSMAkING cHANGE.”WALKPAUSECLICKCLICKCLICKEvery Tuesday afternoon, half a dozen RMUstudents and their professor drive to ManchesterCraftsmen’s Guild in the city to help Pittsburgh highschool students learn the art of photojournalism.Members of the university’s chapter of the Society forCollegiate Journalists, the students were inspired tovolunteer at the after-school program by its founder,Bill Strickland, who spoke on campus last year.“It’s one thing to be in a classroom and talk aboutconnecting with a community, which is at its heartwhat journalism is,” says Andrea Frantz, Ph.D., thestudents’ advisor. “It’s another thing completely tohave students go into a community and connect withit on a real level, and that’s what’s happening here.”Germaine Watkins welcomes the help from his RMUteaching assistants. He has taught photography at theprogram for 15 years, and took classes there himselfas a high school student. Following Strickland’sphilosophy, the class is about more than learningwhat aperture setting to use on a Pentax SLR.Visit Foundations Online to see an exhibit of photos bythe Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild students. The photoexhibit also is on display in the university library.“My students are all inner-city students. For them tobroaden their scope and look outside themselves, ithelps them to be able to see other people who aredoing things very similar to themselves, who areactually going to college and thinking about life afterhigh school,” Watkins says. “It helps give them anactual goal to achieve.”Turn the page to read the stories of three RMUstudent volunteers at the Manchester Craftsmen’sGuild photojournalism program.13

“WE WERE BEGINNING TO FORGE FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THOSE PHOTOS”ANDREA, KEVIN, AND SYBILELEARNING TO FOCUSWhen I read Make The Impossible Possible, Bill Strickland’s book*about how he created Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and howit has grown, I was glad to find someone who took a differentapproach in helping to solve the issue ofpoverty in urban areas.In most charitable organizations, such asthe ones in my native country, Haiti,volunteers do not connect with children inthe personal way Strickland’s organizationdoes. The high school I attended in New Jerseyhad some at-risk students, but it seemed that even when theteachers tried to help them, they did not believe in them. If Iwere in these kids’ position, I would certainly want to betreated like I deserved to succeed in life. So I was thrilled tojoin Dr. Frantz and the other students mentoring kids atManchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and I got to see what makesthe unique program so successful.Strickland always talks about using beautiful buildings as away to help the people in them feel better about themselves.I was impressed with how clean, well-maintained, anddecorated the place actually was. The tools and equipmentwere new. For the photography class, students each weregiven a flash drive and a camera to use during class. They hadMac laptops available, with advanced photo-editing software.However, what really caught my attention was the wayteachers and staff treated the students. The way the instructorspoke to them showed respect and trust, not pity. He didnot remind them of their situation at home, but was onlyconcerned with what they planned on doing in the future. Theinstructor’s concern seemed more about helping the studentscreate a portfolio for college than helping them stay out oftrouble. They were allowed to borrow the cameras so theycould take pictures outside of class time if they wanted to. Itfelt like the instructor saw them not as at-risk children, but asstudents preparing for their future. He showed that he had noother expectation for them than that they succeed in life.Getting to know this program inspired me learn more aboutManchester Craftsmen’s Guild. Now I am writing my honorsthesis on how it could expand to other countries.“I LIkE READING ABOUT WHAT’S cURRENTLY GOING ONAT RMU, WHIcH REMINDS ME Of MY TIME THERE.”SYBILECHERENFANTThe first day my classmates and I went to mentor the highschool students at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, I was aninternal mess. My nerves weren’t just heated, they wereshort-circuiting.First, I hadn’t pondered how removed from high school I was.It may have been only four years, but these kids had Facebook,and we’d had Xanga. These kids had iPads, and we’d had onePC at home that didn’t even have wireless Internet. “Uh, oh,”I thought. “I’m a dinosaur to these kids.”Second, I felt like I was going into this from another planet.My classmates and I would be working primarily withstudents from city schools, an environment in which I hadnever been. I went to high school about an hour away fromManchester, in an area recently converted from a cornfield to aneighborhood of cookie-cutter McMansions. “I can handle thecity,” I thought to myself. “But how do I mentor students if wecan’t relate to each other?”After months of gearing up, the day finally came to meet thestudents. We all introduced ourselves, and I thought, nothingbad yet. We watched the instructors give the students a crashcourse on how to work the camera. Whew! Nothing badhappened then either! And I began to realize that I hadnothing to fear from these high school students. They weren’tthere to somehow make a 21-year-old feel ancient. They werededicated, invested, hard-working studentswho came to Manchester to learn.And just like that, my days of shortcircuitingnerves were over.KEVINWILLIAMS ‘11The second week, while we waited foreveryone to get there, our instructors hadthe students play around with Photo Booth, a program thatlets you take pictures of yourself and change the colors andcomposition to make yourself look funny. I was bouncing allover the room, helping the students figure out the programand taking pictures with them. We were beginning to forgefriendships through those photos, with their literally ear-to-eargrins and elongated noses looking as if they had been suckedinto a black hole.I never had time after that to be nervous with those students.We were all too busy having fun. And I figured out that peoplecan learn from each other no matter where they’re from, thecolor of their skin, or what kinds of technology they had whenthey were in high school.Before attending my first session with these students, I wasmore clueless than some of them about photography. Theypicked it up far more quickly than I did. I was amazed bytheir ability to seek out unique angles and capture the beautyof simple objects. I was looking through a whole new set ofeyes, as theirs lit up with inspiration.Most of our classes were indoors, but on a few occasions wewent out into the city. It was then that the students reallyopened up and tried something new. The day they went toStation Square for a trip on the “T,” I think, was when theyunleashed their full potential.The assignment was to visuallydocument life in the city,implementing techniques theyhad learned for capturing objects inmotion. Walk. Pause. Click. Click.Click. Just like that, the students confinedthe active city around them in one single shot.ANDREAZANAGLIOAs we slowly made our way down Carson Street, they tooktheir approach to photography in a new direction. Onewalked along with her camera aimed at the cracks andgrooves in the sidewalk, telling the story of the people whowalk there every day. Another student pointed his toward thesky, at a plane that was casting its shadow upon us. Up,down, and all around, they found art waiting to beencapsulated. Of course, every frozen frame wasn’t amasterpiece worth a thousand words. Some were merelyblurs, but as they say, you have to learn from your mistakes.When we reached the platform, the students continued tosnap away despite the odd looks strangers cast at them. I wasdelighted to see that other people’s negative attitudes did notdisrupt the students’ creative process, and that they hadconfidence and pride in their work.Before long, the trolley came rumbling in like a roller coasterafter its final hill, and the students got on board. We wavedgoodbye, but our bids of farewell were not returned. Instead,every last student was pointing a camera out the window,ready to document the next cityscape that lay ahead.14SEEING WITH A NEW EYE“MORE cONTENT DEvELOPEDBY STUDENTS OR ALUMNI.”*When Strickland spoke at RMU last year, real estate developer Michael Zamagias purchased hundreds of copies of Strickland’s book to be given outto faculty, staff, and students who attended the talk. Zamagias’s daughter Olivia is a current student, and his son Noah previously attended RMU.

GETTINGIT RIGhTThe play took place more than a quartercentury ago, in a stadium that no longerexists, in a league that not many peopleremember, in a game that no one has reasonto recall. And yet, Jeff Bergman ‘77 canrecall it, moment for moment.A football referee for more than four decades,including 21 years in the NFL, Bergmanhas seen enough plays to last him severallifetimes. But this one still comes back to him.The venue was the former Giants Stadium, the teams werefrom the failed venture known as the United States FootballLeague, and the players have long since retired. But inBergman’s mind he can still see the quarterback roll out, hecan see the ball being caught over the shoulder by the runningback, and he can see the defensive back driving the receiverout of bounds.“I’m extremely visual. If you’re not real visual, you’re notgoing to be in this game very long. Me, I can see a play thattakes place in six seconds as a series of 8-by-10 glossies,”explains Bergman.The NFL line judge, entrepreneur, and consultant is therecipient of Robert Morris University’s 2010 AlumniHeritage Award, the university’s most prestigioushonor for those whose achievements bring honorto themselves and their alma mater.That he chooses to recall this play has to do with itssignificance not to the teams or players involved, but rather tohim. He got the call wrong, and he heard about it. First fromhis supervisor. And then, when he returned home later thatday, from his father, Jerry, himself a NFL refereefor 30 years.“I had a lot of feedback,” Bergman says. “I had an unfairadvantage.”From the sixth grade on, Bergman remembers watchingMonday Night Football with his father, who taught him tofocus on the parts of the game most viewers don’t notice. Helearned how to spot holding, how to recognize which way theplay was going before the ball was snapped, and how to shifthis focus from moment to moment. An advantage, yes, he says.But a talented referee needs something more.“What separates a good referee from a great referee is seeingthe call, recognizing it, and being able to make that call in thefourth quarter. You have to be totally oblivious to the gamesituation, to the teams and players involved. You have to havethe intestinal fortitude to make that call when the game is onthe line,” he says.There was a time in his life when Bergman wasn’t quite asdecisive, at least not concerning his own future. He grew upon the North Side, graduated from North Catholic and wasattending the University of Pittsburgh when he realized thatsitting in a large lecture hall studying subjects he did not feelconnected to was not where he wanted to be.So he dropped out and got a job, but that proved equallyfrustrating. Bergman knew he wanted to go into business,and be more than just part of a work crew. It was about thattime that he had the good fortune, to, as he puts it, “runinto Robert Morris.”He immediately liked the fact that he was learning aboutbusiness from people who actually ran businesses, so thatthose lessons were directly applicable to the real world.Suddenly, an underachieving student was making thedean’s list.“I learned that you have to have the ability to adjust and cope,”Bergman says. “Nothing in business is going to be exactly likethey teach it in the book. You have to have the ability to adjustto the situation and cope. In officiating it’s the same —sometimes you have to adjust to make the right call.”Throughout his business career, he has adjusted to theincreasing demands of mixing business and family with a“part-time” job that requires a flexible schedule and, in the fall,a minimum of four days a week traveling, going to meetings,and studying film. That Bergman managedall that while also developing, running,and eventually selling a Wexfordbasedcompany, Shared MedicalTherapies Inc., is a testament tohis time-management skills.Now a private investor and consultantto approximately 20 differentcompanies, Bergman is also a realestate developer in the Wexfordand Cranberry area. He has noplans to quit hisfall job either.Bergmanstill lovesthe gameand relishesbeing in thestadium.“There’s nothing like it. WhenI hear that crowd cheering,I think they’re cheering for me.”WRITTEN BY BILL MODOONOPHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY JEFF BERGMAN“fEATURE MORE DIvERSEcAREERS fROM ALUMNI.”1 6 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S>> See a video about Bergman at Foundations Online.

“I LIkE LEARNING HOW RMU ALUMNI ARE MAkINGAN IMPAcT IN THE REGION AND WORLD.”SPREADINGGOODWILLWhen Michael Smith ‘79 wasn’t studying accounting, oneof his favorite activities was intramural team handball inthe John Jay gymnasium. “I liked it because it was a teamsport,” says Smith, who played for Delta Tau Delta.“It was fast-paced and very competitive. I rememberwe won the intramural championship one year —in fact, I think I still have the newsletter article.”Today Smith heads a different kind of team as CEO of Goodwillof Southwestern Pennsylvania. The organization serves 17counties, and with more than 1,000 employees, isone of the largest Goodwill chapters in thenation. The nonprofit agency providesemployment education andworkforce developmentprograms for peoplewith physical andmental disabilitiesand other specialneeds. Revenuesfrom the company’sretail thrift storeshelp to support itsprograms.“By giving people education, training,support, and, most importantly, the opportunityto work, Goodwill gives people the dignity andrespect that comes with employment,” saysSmith, who has been with Goodwill for 22 years.“The programs and services we provideare needed now more than ever.”The chapter operates 27 stores in Pennsylvania andWest Virginia. It is in a growth phase, recently moving itsworkforce development center and administrative offices toLawrenceville from the South Side, opening two new storesin Gibsonia and Natrona Heights, and planning three morein the North Hills, Lawrenceville, and Robinson Township.The stores bring in annual revenues of over $20 million,Smith says. “The more profit we can generate, the morepeople we can serve. As a result, each year we are able toserve at least 70,000 people with special needs and find jobsfor about 1,500.”Smith serves on Goodwill’s board of directors with twoothers with university ties: Gary Claus ’74, chairman ofthe RMU Board of Trustees, and Sidney Zonn, universityvice president and general counsel. Claus just finished atwo-year term as Goodwill's chairman in March, andZonn is secretary.“Goodwill is an incredibly effective organization,” Claussays. “It’s one of Pittsburgh’s best-kept secrets. Theywere doing ‘green’ before ‘green’ was cool. They’ve beenrecycling old clothes and housewares for over 100 yearsnow, and to use that to make someone else’s life betterhas a far-reaching effect.”“I sincerely believe in the mission of Goodwill,” says Zonn.“What is distinctive to me about Goodwill is not only thelargely self-sufficient nature of the organization, but thesupportive environment to train clients to be active,productive, and gainfully employed members of thecommunity.”“They are two of my most active and committed boardmembers," Smith says of Claus and Zonn, "and if I need theirassistance, all I have to do is ask. Both bring a great businesssense but, more importantly, keep the mission at heart.”Smith, a Pittsburgh native, worked his way through collegeand was hired immediately after graduation for a fieldaccounting position with a construction company. “Theeducation I received and the whole Robert Morris experienceprepared me well for my career and life in general,” he says.“Even back then, the Robert Morris name was well respectedby employers, as it is today.”The university’s 2002 Alumni of the Year, Smith is proudto say his son, Michael Anthony Smith, just finished hisfreshman year at RMU as an actuarial science major. Both heand his son were impressed by RMU’s elite designation bythe Society of Actuaries as a Center of Actuarial Excellence,of which there are fewer than 20 in the United States. “I thinkMichael also liked the fact that I was an RMU grad,” Smithadds. His daughter, Sarah, a high school freshman, alreadyhas her sights on Robert Morris too, he says.Smith is a champion of education, and he recommends thatstudents take advantage of every opportunity that comestheir way. “If you’re thinking of going on for your master’sdegree,” he says, “don’t wait until you’re 47 like I did, whenyou’re working full time and helping raise a family. Do itwhile you’re younger and have more time and energy. Takeyour education very seriously and work hard, but havesome fun along the way.”WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICHPHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL WILL ‘081 8 • W W W. R M U . E D UR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 1 9

LIFE“I LIkE THE SEcTIONS ABOUT ALUMNI AND HOWRMU HELPED THEM GET TO WHERE THEY ARE.”WORKONE One VERY Very Busy BUSY Woman WOMAN182 0SCHOOLBOARDMEETINGSVOLUNTEERFRIENDSSCHOOLEVENTSHOMEPARENTSTUDENTCHORESHOMEWORKSherry Hazuda ‘98 knows all all about thedifficulties of of juggling work, family, andeducation. She earned her college degreewhile working full-time and raising fourchildren as as a single mom.Always Always active active with with youth-oriented volunteer volunteer work work in in herneighborhood her neighborhood of Beechview, of Beechview, Hazuda Hazuda ratcheted ratcheted up hercommitment up her commitment by joining by the joining board the of board the Pittsburgh of the PublicSchoolsPittsburghin 2007.Public Schools in 2007.In December Hazuda was elected president. In that role, shemust In December help to set Hazuda the agenda was elected for a 26,000-student president. In district that role,grappling she must with help dwindling to set the agenda enrollment, for a 26,000-student curriculum changes, districtand grappling budget with constraints. dwindling Compassionate enrollment, and curriculum well-reasoned changes,school and budget board constraints. leadership is Compassionate important, she and says, well-reasonedbut little cantouch school the board role of leadership parental is involvement important, in she helping says, but a child little cansucceed touch the in school role of and parental in life. involvement in helping a childsucceed in school and in life."We’re competing with so much, technology-wise, and somany“We’reparentscompetingworkwithoutsideso much,the home,"technology-wise,Hazuda says.and"It’ssohardtomanymakeparentstime toworksit downoutsideandthereadhome,”with yourHazudakid,says.to make“It’ssurethey’rehard todoingmaketheirtimehomework,to sit downthatandthey’reread withgettingyourupkid,andtogettingmake sureto schoolthey’reondoingtime. Ortheirevenhomework,enforcingthatbedtimesthey’re–gettinghowmuchup andcangettinga tiredtochildschoollearn?on time. Or even enforcing bedtimes— how much can a tired child learn?“It’s hard. I get it; it’s really hard. But when we becomeparents,“It’s hard.weIhaveget it.toIt’sacceptreallythehard.responsibilityBut whenthatwe becomeour role inlifeparents,is nowwetohavehelp ourto acceptkids learnthe responsibilityand grow. Sometimesthat our roleyouinthink you’re too tired to argue. But you have to do it anyway.”life is now to help our kids learn and grow. Sometimes youthink you’re too tired to argue. But you have to do it anyway.”That is something Hazuda experienced in her own life. Afterhigh school she took a few community college classes, but putThat is something Hazuda experienced in her own life. Afterit aside in order to be stay-at-home parent. Her four childrenhigh school she took a few community college classes, but putwere still small when her marriage broke up in the early 1980s.it aside in order to be a stay-at-home parent. Her four childrenWith her steno skills and a friend’s recommendation, Hazudawere still small when her marriage broke up in the early 1980s.found a job at the phone company.With her steno skills and a friend’s recommendation, Hazudafound a job at the phone company.After a few years, she began looking for a college program thatwould allow her to go to school on weekends. She opted forAfter a few years, she began looking for a college program thatRMU, earning a bachelor of science degree in businesswould allow her to go to school on weekends. She opted foradministration. "Because most of us were older students, weRMU, earning a bachelor of science degree in businessreally came prepared,” she says. "We did our homework andadministration. “Because most of us were older students, wewe wanted to learn. The size of the class was small enoughreally came prepared,” she says. “We did our homework andthat it allowed you to develop a support base. And boy, dowe wanted to learn. The size of the class was small enoughyou need it.”that it allowed you to develop a support base. And boy, doyou need it.”In those years, most free time was spent studying, often sideby-sidewith her four children. “We sat at the dining roomIn those years, most free time was spent studying, often sideby-sidewith her four children. “We sat at the diningtable together with our books,” she recalls. “There were manyroomnights when we’d all be doing our homework together."Though table together there was with little our time books,” for relaxation, she recalls. Hazuda “There relied were many on awide nights circle when of friends we’d all – from be doing classes, our PTA, homework and other together.”community Though there volunteer was little groups time – for to relaxation, help achieve Hazuda a work-life reliedbalance. on a wide Debby circle Lesniak, of friends a fellow — from volunteer classes, with PTA, Hazuda and other at theBeechview community Athletic volunteer Association, groups — said to her help friend achieve would a work-life oftencall balance. and offer Debby to help Lesniak, with yard a fellow work volunteer so that the with two Hazuda could at thehave Beechview some time Athletic to chat. Association, "She’d help said me her weed; friend she would helped often mebuild call and a wall," offer Lesniak to help says. with "Sherry yard work really so is that a testimony the two could to thewayhavethatsomewomentimesupportto chat. “She’deach other."help me weed; she helped mebuild a wall,” Lesniak says. “Sherry really is a testimony to theHazudaway thatworkedwomenforsupport18 yearseachat theother.”phone company, then tooka buyout and moved on to an administrative job at theUniversityHazuda workedof Pittsburghfor 18Medicalyears atCenter,the phonewherecompany,she worksthen tookfroma buyout6 a.m.andto 2:30movedp.m.ontotoaccommodatean administrativeher schooljob atboardtheschedule.UniversitySheofremainsPittsburghactiveMedicalwith Beechview’sCenter, whereHolysheTrinityworksLutheranfrom 6 a.m.Church,to 2:30andp.m.servesto accommodateas lay worshipherleaderschoolforboardtheSouthwesternschedule. ShePennsylvaniaremains activeSynodwithofBeechview’sthe EvangelicalHolyLutheranTrinityChurch of America. Hazuda enjoys being in the classroom soLutheran Church, and serves as lay worship leader for themuch that she began pursuing a master’s degree inSouthwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelicaldivinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary a few yearsLutheran Church of America. Hazuda enjoys being in theago; she studied for two years before the demands on herclassroom so much that she began pursuing a master’stime made it too difficult to continue.degree in divinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary afew years ago; she studied for two years before theThe school board involves 15 or more hours of meetingsdemands on her time made it too difficult to continue.and preparatory reading each week, but also a raft ofinvitations to school plays, sporting events and concerts.The school board involves 15 or more hours of meetings“I try to go to as many things as I can,” Hazudaand preparatory reading each week, but also a raftsays.of invitations to school plays, sporting events“I like talking to people. It a way toand concerts. “I try to go to as manylearn about the concerns that arethings as I can,” Hazuda says. “Iout there that I wouldn’t have alike talking to people. It a wayWRITTEN BYway to know about otherwise.”to learn about the concerns thatBONNIE PFISTERare out there that I wouldn’tPHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BYPITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLShave a way to know aboutWRITTEN BY BONNIE PFISTERotherwise.”ILLUSTRATION BY XXXXXXXX192 1

Our readers, along with readers of 200other alumni publications across the country,recently took an online survey about theirmagazine. The survey, offered by the Council forAdvancement and Support of Education,provides the first chance to comparehow Foundations stacks up againstother alumni magazines.More than 300 of you took the survey,and we’re pretty happy with what we learned. Asyou can see on this page, our readers are morelikely to read Foundations cover to cover andmore confident they’re getting the straight story.Like most readers, you said your favorite articlesare about what your fellow alumni are up to now.You also enjoy reading about campus growth andsports, and we’ll keep supplying that.Besides the compliments, you also suggestedareas for improvement, and we take yoursuggestions seriously. Starting with “more ClassNotes” — we’ve squeezed in a bunch more thisissue. The more you send us, the more we’ll print.Our goal, as always, is to makeFoundations your favorite magazine.2 2 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S“THIS SURvEY TO GAIN INSIGHT fROM THE READERS IS A GOOD THING.I LIkE THE fAcT YOU ARE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIvE TO THE READERS.”>> TO SEE THE fULL SURvEY RESULTS, GO TO fOUNDATIONS ONLINE2 3

UP CLOSE AND PERSONALSTUDENT PROFILEFACULTY PROFILENicole & Dana SpellmanNicole and Dana Spellman ‘11 have been interested in the medical field sincehigh school. “One day I came home and told Dana I wanted to be a nurse,”Nicole says. “She replied, ‘No way! That’s what I want to do!’”The Wexford twins, who both graduated magna cum laude from the School ofNursing and Health Sciences in May, will stay together after college. Both havejobs at Allegheny General Hospital, Nicole in the surgical intensive care unit andDana in the progressive coronary care unit.The twins have gone above their role as nursing students to reach out to thecommunity. As members of the varsity rowing team, they helped organize a“March for Juvenile Diabetes” event to raise funds for a cure. They tutoredcollege nursing students and elementary students at an after-school program.The Spellmans went to Nicaragua twice with an RMU program that provideshealth services at a clinic in a poor barrio. On their second visit, the sisters alsobrought 300 pairs of eyeglasses, and were trained to administer eye exams, fitpatients for eye glasses, and teach the Nicaraguans at the clinics how to giveeye exams.Katrina Pyo, assistant professor of nursing and a mentor and teacher toDana and Nicole, says they are friendly, good-hearted students who havehad an impact on the nursing department. “They take great initiative byconstantly helping their patients and are accommodating when they tutortheir peers,” Pyo says.WRITTEN BYSARA MEIER ‘11PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BYNICOLE & DANA SPELLMAN“IT’S GOOD TO SEE WHAT cURRENTSTUDENTS ARE DOING.”“MORE ARTIcLES ON THE PROfESSORS.THEY ARE WHAT IS IMPORTANT AT RMU.”What do a radio-controlled eyeball and a robotic wolf’s head have in common? For ArifSirinterlikci, Ph.D., they’re examples of engaged, hands-on learning. The professor ofengineering and co-head of the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science’s Researchand Outreach Center spends much of his time teaching elementary and secondary schoolstudents about robotics and animatronics, often with the help of such unusual contraptions.In the last six years, Sirinterlikci, a native of Turkey, has led teams of Moon Area SchoolDistrict students to several competitions for mechanical toys, robots, and other designchallenges. Students from the high school meet weekly at RMU’s engineering laboratoriesto create their own robots.“Each program is different,” he says. “Students might do simple workshops relating toscience and engineering, they might learn how make perfume by mixing different materials,or they might spend time learning how to make a toy. It’s all hands-on learning.”Of course, outreach is just one part of his job. Sirinterlikcispends most of his time developing closerelationships with his students at RMU.This January, Sirinterlikci helpedorganize the university’s 5thAnnual Science Bowl, andin February he worked withthe Pittsburgh Society ofProfessional Engineers tocohost the Allegheny CountyMathCounts competition.“He truly cares about our students,and there is nothing he wouldnot do for them,” says Maria V.Kalevitch, Ph.D., the school’s dean.“When someone is sincere, studentsrespond to that.”WRITTEN BYVALENTINE J. BRKICHPHOTOGRAPHY BYMARK HOUSER & MICHAEL WILL ‘08Arif Sirinterlikcirmu.edu/foundations25

CLASS NOTESCLASS NOTES>TIM O’REILLY ‘78 wasappointed vice president,controller, for the U.S. PostalService, becoming thegovernment agency’s topaccounting officer. He hasbeen with the postal servicefor more than 36 years, andlives in Germantown, Md.1970sRICHARD BARCELONA ‘71 washonored for his service on theMonongahela Valley Hospitalboard of directors by having acommunity room at the hospital’sconference center named afterhim. He is president of BaileyEngineering in Canonsburg.Richard and his wife, Carol, havetwo children. They live inCharleroi.HELEN GOODMAN ‘74 was hiredas conference director for theMarcellus Shale Coalition, anindustry group based inCanonsburg. She is the founderof Event Resources, a conferenceand event management firmwhere she worked for 20 years.Helen resides in Pittsburgh.RICHARD HARSHMAN ‘78 has beennamed chairman and CEO ofAllegheny Technologies, thePittsburgh specialty metalsproducer. Harshman has beenwith the company for 32 yearsand had been named presidentof the company last year. He alsospoke to this year’s graduatingclass at commencement. Youcan see Richard’s speech atFoundations Online. He and hiswife, Scheryl, live in UpperSt. Clair.TOM DEMIANCZYK ‘79 was electedto the board of directors for theSpina Bifida Association ofWestern Pennsylvania HousingInc., where he will also serve asboard secretary. Tom is a memberof Bradwood Woods boroughcouncil.1980sL. THOMAS MARCHLEN M’80 andJUDITH B. MARCHLEN M’87 areproud to report that theirdaughter AMY E. MARCHLEN, agraduate student in RMU’shuman resource managementprogram, began working for HayGroup Inc. in Philadelphia. Tom isa senior tax attorney with Alcoa.He and Judy reside in Pittsburgh.VINCENT SETNAR ‘80 is on theboard and executive committee ofthe Pittsburgh Airport AreaChamber of Commerce. He isexecutive vice president ofClearview Federal Credit Unionand lives in Moon Township.JOSEPH T. SENKO M’83 wasnamed “Slovak-American of theYear” by the Slovak Embassy inWashington, D.C. Senko, wholives in Pittsburgh, is an honoraryconsul of Slovakia, chairman ofthe national group Friends ofSlovakia, and executive director ofthe Western Pennsylvania SlovakCultural Association.DIANE M. PEARSON ‘85 of LegendFinancial Advisors was selectedby Medical Economics magazine asone of the “Best FinancialAdvisors for Doctors” in thecountry. Diane lives in Pittsburgh.ERIK SOCKMAN ‘89 is the financialcontroller at Southbend, a makerof commercial ovens and stoves insuburban Raleigh, N.C. Erik andhis wife, Carol, live in Apex, N.C.,with their daughters, Victoriaand Rachel.1990sBETH DOMINOWSKI BEECH ‘91 isa claims adjustor for HighmarkBlue Cross Blue Shield, whereshe has been employed almost20 years. Beth and her husband,Don, live in West Mifflin withtheir son, Alex, 11, and twin girlsErin and Jenna, 8.DAWN YUHAS PATBERG ‘92 hasjoined SAE International, anautomotive engineeringprofessional organization, asa marketing specialist. She livesin Pittsburgh with her daughter,Grace.CINDY KOMARINSKI ‘96received the 2010-2011Outstanding Teaching Awardfrom Westmoreland CountyCommunity College. Cindyis an associate professor ofculinary arts and hospitalityat the community college.She lives in Farmington, Pa.>“IT REMINDS ME THATI’M GETTING OLD.”“DOESN’T DO MUcH IN REvIEWING THEWORkS AND AcTIvITIES Of GRADUATES.”2 6 • W W W. R M U . E D URMU NIGHTAT PNC PARKSATURDAY, JULY 9Pirates vs. Cubs, plus fireworks and a concert by .38 Special!Free RMU tailgate party with hot dogs, burgers, and pop.Reserve your spot at: rmu.edu/rmunight or (412) 397-6464We have aWINNER!Two readers who sent theirnew email addresses tofoundations@rmu.edueach won an iPod Touch.You’re not going to believe howwe gave them their prizes...See the video atFoundations Online.“SOME ARTIcLESARE DRY AND DULL.”WE ASkED fOR YOURHONEST OPINIONS,AND YOU GAvETHEM. TO PROvE WEWEREN’T jUSTBLOWING SMOkE,HERE ARE SOME OfYOUR MOSTSIzzLING cRITIqUESOf fOUNDATIONS.THANkS AGAINfOR ALL YOURRESPONSES.WE PROMISE TOUSE THEM TO MAkEfOUNDATIONSBETTER.“fORMAT GETS A LITTLEBUSY AT TIMES.”“TOO MUcH cOvERAGEOf THE PRESIDENT.”“THE BRAGGY ALUMNI NEWSTHAT IS A BUNcH Of cRAP.”“HEAvY cOvERAGE OfSPORTS. THE NEWSPAPERALREADY DOES THIS.”“TOO MUcH Of WHO IS WHERENOW AND LIfE AcTIvITY STUff.”R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 7

CLASS NOTESCLASS NOTES“NOT ENOUGH PIcTURESIN cLASS NOTES.”“MORE cLASSNOTES.”GEORGE DUNBAR ‘93 M’00 wasTechnologies Inc. in March. She2011-12pittsbURghspeakeRsseRiesRon cheRnowMichelle RheeValeRie plaMe wilson &aMb. Joe wilsonMichael pollanazaR nafisistanley McchRystaltoM bRokawelected representative for the 56thstate house district inWestmoreland County, defeatingthe 13-year incumbent. Georgeand his wife, Sandy, have fourdaughters: Stephanie, Erin,Alexandra, and Samantha, andlive in Jeannette.BILL MCGAFFICK ‘93 was promotedto vice president at BNY Mellon,where he is unit manager forclient accounting and reportingservices. Bill and his wife, Lisa,live in Pittsburgh with theirchildren, Amber, 9, and Ryan, 4.MATT PLAUTZ M’95 was hired asMarcellus Shale client servicesmanager in the Canonsburg officeof UniversalPegasus International,a Texas-based gas pipeline firm.He resides in CranberryTownship.MARY BETH MOORE ‘96 wasnamed vice president of humanresources at Alleghenyhas been with the specialty metalscompany for 20 years. Mary Bethlives in Canonsburg.TRACI CONLON ‘97 is vicepresident and regional managerfor First Commonwealth FinancialCorp., where she oversees 11offices north of Pittsburgh.Previously she was a marketingand business consultant in thefinance, health care, andinformation technologyindustries. Traci lives inSewickley.JAMES M. FLYNN JR. M’97 waselected assistant treasurer forthe board of trustees of theCommunity College of AlleghenyCounty. James is AlleghenyCounty manager, making him thechief administrative officer forAllegheny County ExecutiveDan Onorato.HEATHER SCHAFER CORDELL ‘98 ismedia director for Pittsburgh-based Big Picture MediaSolutions, managing strategicplanning and media buying forclients. Heather lives isPittsburgh.GARTH ERICSON ‘98 and KatieCrum were married in November.Garth is the director of parksand recreation for ManchesterTownship near York, Pa., wherethe couple resides.LUCAS BROWN ‘99 and SARAHVIJLEE BROWN M’03 were marriedin October. They both work forBNY Mellon, Lucas as asupervisor in the accountingdepartment and Sarah as aclient service officer. After2000sJERYL SCHREINER D’02 wasnamed president of NewboldTechnologies Inc., an informationtechnologies firm. She has ledlarge IT divisions at Weirton Steel,MetalSite, and ScrapSite, andcreated two corporations, IdeaFoundry and WillowRock Inc., toassist startup companies. Jeryllives in Negley, Ohio.BOBBIE JO BELUS ‘03 is thecoordinator for the Colonialsfootball office. Previously she wasassistant director of developmentfor athletics at DuquesneUniversity. Bobbie Jo lives inMoon Township.> ALUMNI TOUR,C’EST MAGNIFIQUEA visit to the dramatic seaside citadel of Mont-Saint-Michelcapped a week of sightseeing and culinary delights during the2011 Alumni Tour of France last month. The group, withPresident GREG DELL’OMO (third from left), also visited OmahaBeach in Normandy, Monet’s garden in Giverny, and naturally,Paris in the springtime.>> MORE PICS AT FOUNDATIONS ONLINE.PATTI DICKINSONMCCLELLAN ‘01 and herhusband Christopher are theproud parents of Abigail.born on June 27, 2010. Pattiis a logistics analyst withWesco Distribution. TheMcClellans reside inZelienople.>JOHN LOCKE ‘03 M’06and EMILY KOSLOFF LOCKE‘04 are the proud parents ofColin Robert, born March 14.John is director of studentactivities and leadershipdevelopment at RMU.The Lockes live in MoonTownship.>special RMU alUMni offeRSingle-event tickets starting at $70/pairLimited number available.Reservations and inquiries at (412) 397-6464or rmualum@rmu.edu.pittsbURgh speakeRs seRies.oRgANASTASIA GRESE M’99joined Horovitz, Rudoy &Roteman as a tax manager.Stacie has 13 years of taxpreparation experiencewith tax compliance andconsulting. She residesin Pittsburgh.>>HEIDI BUSHKO M’01 waschosen for a 2010 Up &Comers Award by the TampaBay Business Journal.She works with BushkoInsurance Group and livesin Safety Harbor, Fla.honeymooning in Hawaii, thecouple lives in McKees Rocks.MICHELE SCHMIDT ‘99 joinedTriad Strategies, a lobbying andcommunications firm in the statecapital, as a senior governmentrelations associate. She previouslyworked for the university’s officeof institutional advancement. Shehas relocated to Harrisburg.Class Notes would love to hear from you.TRISH HOOPER M’03 has beenhired as chief executive officer ofthe Sewickley Valley YMCA.Trishis the former chief operatingofficer of Trib Total Media. Shelives in Pittsburgh.MICHAEL KING ‘03 is a senior fieldengineer with Raytheon. Heresides in Yigo, Guam.DANA LYNN CAMMER ‘05 marriedDavid Keith DiCello in August.Dana is a database marketingcoordinator for the PittsburghPenguins. They reside inPittsburgh.PHIL MCNEAL ‘06 was named the2010 recipient of the Holy Family(cont.)Email us at rmualum@rmu.edu.> SUMMERNETWORKINGCome to an alumninetworking luncheon nearyou this summer. Good foodand talk for just $5!Cranberry – July 13Monroeville – July 20Southpointe – July 27Robinson – August 10Details atrmu.edu/alumni/events2 8 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N SR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 9

“GIvES ME A SENSE Of PRIDE IN THE INSTITUTION THAT I ATTENDEDAND I OfTEN SHARE THINGS I READ IN fOUNDATIONS WITH OTHERS.”CLASS NOTESCLASS NOTES>DAVID ZALEWSKI ‘06 and Colleen Dugan were married lastJune. Joining the couple were David’s three brothers, DON ‘04,D.J. ‘11, and DOUG ‘12. David is a senior retirement associatewith Buck Consultants in Pittsburgh. The couple lives in theNorth Hills.Institute’s Courage House Award.The institute gives the annualaward to an alumnus who hasshown extraordinary courage inovercoming personal and careerchallenges. Phil is a fiscalaccounts technician with the VAPittsburgh Healthcare System. Helives in Pittsburgh.TODD PRICHARD ‘06 joined theMarketSearch Advertising agencyin Raleigh as a regional accountexecutive. He will manage 11Subway restaurant markets acrossthe Southeast. Todd and his wife,Katy, live in Apex, N.C.VERONICA SEEVERS THOMAS ‘05has been hired as an assistantprofessor of marketing at TowsonUniversity in Baltimore afterearning her Ph.D. from KentState. Her husband, JAREDTHOMAS ‘07, is a stockbrokerwith Scottrade.AMY SCHNARRENBERGER M’06 isdirector of individual giving forthe Pittsburgh Public Theater. Sheis also owner of PulpBlossomCrafts. Amy lives in Pittsburgh.ANDREA TASKER ‘08 is anaccount manager for ENEXDI, adocument services company insuburban Washington. She livesin Arlington, Va.KRISTINA LIPPERT ‘09 and theother members of her team, theBoston-area “Esprit de Corps”skaters, won the gold medal atthe 2011 U.S. SynchronizedSkating Championships. Kristina,a former member of RMU’ssynchronized skating team,currently lives in Massachusetts.2010sBOBBY FREESE ‘10 is a box officeassistant with the Bowie Baysox,a minor league AA baseball clubaffiliated with the BaltimoreOrioles. He lives in Burke, Va.KATE MEARS ‘10 is employedwith Alpern Rosenthal in theaccounting and auditingdepartment. She lives inPittsburgh.THEODORE MITCH ‘10 is a financialprofessional at AXA Advisors.He resides in Butler.JORDON SEALOCK ‘10 recentlysigned a rookie contract withthe Calgary Roughnecks of theNational Lacrosse League. Jordon,a native of Alberta, Canada, is aformer captain of the Colonialsmen’s lacrosse team.SIMONE SOUTHWELL M’11 isaccount executive with theWNBA’s New York Liberty.She lives in New York City.In MemoriamBILL HODGE, former men’s andwomen’s head track and fieldand cross country coach, diedon November 5. Bill coached theColonials from 1995 to 1999 andwas inducted into the RMUAthletic Hall of Fame in October.ROBERT J. HARTMAN ‘66 ofNewark, Del., died on October4 at the age of 69. He had worked25 years for the DuPont Co.and started his own consultingfirm in 1991.JOSEPH IRVIN ‘70 of Bellwood,Pa., died on March 12 at the ageof 63. He was employed as acredit manager at Martin Oil Co.RICHARD ERBEL ‘73 of Baldwindied September 17 at the ageof 60.VAUGHN ROBERT JOHNSON ‘93of Washington, Pa., died January5 at the age of 56. He was a partowner of Washington RotatingControl Heads Inc. for 34 years.MICHELE “MIKKI” BRYANT ‘00of Coraopolis died on March 7at the age of 55.Get InvolvedHelp plan your reunIon partyClasses of ‘06 & ‘01, ‘96 & ‘91,‘86 & ‘81, ‘76 & ‘71, ‘66 & ‘61Want to make sure your reunion atHomecoming is all it can be?Come to the Alumni Association Council meeting at Sewall Centerat 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 18. Ideas welcome! Call the Alumni Officeif you're coming, and we'll save you a plate for dinner. (412) 397-6464> BOWLING REUNIONFormer members of the bowling team came to a Februarytournament at Paradise Island Bowl in honor of 35-year bowlingcoach ROCCO CONIGLIO ‘71.>> FOR MORE PICTURES,CHECK OUT “RMUBOWLING TEAM ALUMNI”ON FACEBOOK.now it’s easieRthan eVeR tochange a life.RMU.eDU/giVe onlineYour donation in any amountwill help an RMU student find success.By giving online, you can choose the beneficiary.Select from more than 100 RMU scholarships, studentfunds, departments, programs, and sports teams.Call Jen crawford at (412) 397-5452 if you need helpfinding a fund or would like to create a new one.> > Stay connected! Follow, friend, watch RMU.3 0 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N SR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 1

W10 QUESTIONST H“I ENjOY ARTIcLES ABOUTALUMNI SUccESS STORIES.”ROBIN RENEE SANDERSSAVE THE DATE!Graduate students LOOKING LOOKING BACK ON BACK YOUR ON CHILDHOOD, YOUR CHILDHOOD, WHAT DID WHAT YOU DID WANT YOU TO WANT BE WHEN TO BE YOU WHEN GREW YOUearning master's degrees UP? GREW Anything UP? Anything that I have that become I have today become or that today I have or that done I have today done is atodayand Graduate doctorates students last month reflection is a reflection of the of commitment the commitment to public to public service service my parents my parents taught taught me as me agot earning an opportunity master’s to degrees broaden kid as a growing kid growing up in up a military in a military family. family. I learned I learned to respect to respect other other people people andtheir and global doctorates perspective, last month thanks got to a their and cultures their cultures as a part as a of part living of living abroad abroad with my with family. my family. The best part ofcommencement an opportunity address to broaden from their one of anyone’s life is what they can contribute to society to help the nexttheir global own, perspective, ROBIN RENEE thanks SANDERS to aD.SC. ’10. generation, WHAT ADVICE and WOULD my YOU time GIVE in the TO TODAY’S U.S. diplomatic STUDENTS? corps Live your has allowed passion me andtocommencement address from one of do choose this, particularly a career that in will Africa. let you do that. I never saw my job as work,The their career own, diplomat ROBIN RENEE and SANDERS former D‘10.but rather as my passion.ambassador to both Nigeria and the Republic WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO TODAY’S STUDENTS? Live your passion andof The the career Congo diplomat is currently and on former loan ambassadorfrom the choose WHAT DO a career YOU LIKE that TO will DO IN let YOUR you FREE do that. TIME? I I never am avid saw about my job sports as work, and I likeU.S. to both State Nigeria Department, and the working Republic as of the the but to not rather only as watch my passion. sporting events, but I also try to keep active myselfCongo international is currently relations loan advisor from and the U.S. State(squash, golf, dance, etc.). In fact the U.S. Embassy Congo-BrazzavilleDepartment, communication working and outreach as the international director for WHAT soccer DO club YOU is LIKE named TO DO after IN YOUR me; FREE the TIME? team I is am called avid “Les about Sanders.” sports and I likerelations Africare, advisor a nonprofit and communication organization that and to not only watch sporting events, but I also try to keep active myselfoutreach focuses director on the issues for Africare, of food a security, nonprofit (squash, WHAT WOULD golf, PEOPLE dance, BE etc.). SURPRISED In fact the TO KNOW U.S. Embassy ABOUT YOU? Congo-BrazzavilleThat I love certainorganization agriculture, that health, focuses education, the issues and women’s of food soccer cartoons, club particularly is named after the me; old and the team new creative is called ones "Les that Sanders." have a messagesecurity, empowerment agriculture, on health, the continent. education, andas part of the show. I really like “Kim Possible,” “The Wild Thornberries,”women’s empowerment on the continent.WHAT and “American WOULD PEOPLE Dragon,” BE SURPRISED and some TO KNOW of the ABOUT olders YOU? ones That like I love “Tom certain & Jerry.”We asked Sanders to share some of her globalcartoons, I also love particularly the arts and the almost old and any new cultural creative activity. ones that have a messageperspective We asked Sanders, with readers. a new member of theas part of the show. I really like “Kim Possible,” “The Wild Thornberries,”RMU Board of Trustees, to share some ofand WHAT “American TYPE OF MUSIC Dragon,” DO YOU and LISTEN some TO? of Jazz the mostly. olders One ones of like my “Tom favorite & Jerry.” artistsWHAT her global DID YOU perspective ENJOY MOST with ABOUT readers. WORKING IN AFRICA? I today also love is Asha, the arts a fantastic and almost Nigerian any cultural singer. The activity. other is a cultural artist,I was proud to serve the American people inChief Nike Okundaye. In all my travels and in my fascination with theseveral WHAT DID African YOU ENJOY countries MOST ABOUT as a diplomat, WORKING as IN AFRICA? I WHAT arts, TYPE she is OF one MUSIC of the DO YOU most LISTEN profound TO? Jazz and mostly. talented One artists of my I have favorite ever artists met.believe I was that proud Africa to serve is so the important American to the people United in today is Asha, a fantastic Nigerian singer. The other is a cultural artist,States several and African to the American countries people. as a diplomat, as I believe Chief HAS ANYONE Nike Okundaye. EVER HAD A POSITIVE, In all my LIFE-CHANGING travels and in EFFECT my fascination ON YOU? Lots with of thethat Africa is so important to the United States and to arts, people…and she is one I of always the most thank profound them for and coming talented into artists my life, I have including ever met.WHAT the DID American YOU DO YOUR people. DOCTORAL THESIS ON AT RMU? HowPresident Dell’Omo and Dr. Fred Kohun, who encouraged me to graduatevarious artifacts and cultural signs and symbols are used to communicate HAS and ANYONE also get EVER my HAD doctorate A POSITIVE, at RMU. LIFE-CHANGING In general, EFFECT though, ON YOU? I give Lots all ofaccoladespolitical WHAT DID and YOU social DO YOUR issues DOCTORAL about THESIS a particular ON AT RMU? culture. How various artifacts and people…and to my parents, I always as they thank have them always for been coming my biggest into my fans life, and includingcultural signs and symbols are used to communicate political and social President supporters Dell’Omo along with and my Dr. two Fred sisters Kohun, and who my encouraged aunt. me toHOW issues HAS about YOUR a RMU particular EDUCATION culture. BENEFITTED YOU? I came to Africare as itsgraduate and also get my doctorate at RMU. In general, though, Iinternational relations advisor, but given my extensive academicgive For all me, accolades life is about to my concentric parents, circles, as they instead have always of just been oneexperience HOW HAS YOUR in communications RMU EDUCATION BENEFITTED and information YOU? I came systems, to Africare they have as itsaskedmy circle. biggest And fans I have and been supporters fortunate along enough with to my have two many sistersme international to also serve relations as their advisor, communication but given and my outreach extensive director. academic I could not and circles my of aunt. really good friends that have allhave experience done that in communications without the benefit and of information the doctorate systems, from RMU. they have askedcontributed to my life in some way, as Ime to also serve as their communication and outreach director. I could not For hope me, that life I is have about done concentric in theirs. circles, instead of just oneI have HEAR done YOU SPEAK that without FRENCH, AS the WELL benefit AS SOME of the SPANISH, doctorate PORTUGUESE, from RMU. AND ARABIC. circle. And I have been fortunate enough to have manyHow did you come to be multi-lingual? I studied these languages as part circlesWRITTENofBYreallyVALENTINEgood friendsJ. BRKICHthat have all contributed to myof I HEAR my training YOU SPEAK as FRENCH, a diplomat. AS WELL AS SOME SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, AND ARABIC. life in some way, as I hope that I have done in theirs.PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE APPELHOW DID YOU COME TO BE MULTI-LINGUAL? I studied these languages aspart of my training as a diplomat.WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH32ILLUSTRATION iSTOCK PHOTOSEE HER COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AT FOUNDATIONS ONLINE.vHOMECOMING 2011SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8FIRST NIGHT GAME AT THE JOE!You can sleep in this year, and still make it to all the food and fun with your fellow alumson Tailgate Alley. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. as the NEC defending champion Colonials take onthe St. Francis Red Flash. Check back at rmu.edu/alumni for more details later.alumniNEWSNAME __________________________________________________________________ YEAR OF GRADUATION __________________PREVIOUS/ MAIDEN NAME ______________________________________________________________________________________ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________________________________HOME PHONE __________________________________________ WORK PHONE __________________________________________EMAIL ADDRESS________________________________________________________________________________________________PROFESSION/POSITION __________________________________________________________________________________________EMPLOYER ____________________________________________________________________________________________________SPOUSE’S NAME (AND CLASS YEAR IF RMU ALUM) __________________________________________________________________CHILDREN’S NAMES AND AGES __________________________________________________________________________________YOUR NEWS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MAIL THIS COMPLETED FORM TO: Office of Alumni Relations, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard,Moon Township, PA 15108-1189. Or email your news to rmualum@rmu.edu or fax it to (412) 397-2142.