2020 Trocaire Trailbalzer Magazine

The magazine for alumni, students and supporters of Trocaire College 2020
WE ARE STRONG.
WE ARE RESILIENT.
WE ARE TROCAIRE.

THE MAGAZINE OF
TROCAIRE COLLEGE
Vol. 6, Issue No. 1
The Trocaire Trailblazer is for
alumni and friends of Trocaire
College, a private, career-oriented
Catholic institution that strives
to empower students toward
careers of achievement and lives
of purpose through our supportive
environment and hands-on
programs in healthcare, business,
hospitality and technology.
It is published once a year by
the Office of Communications.
For more information, email
communications@trocaire.edu
or call 716-827-4343
EDITOR
Kristy Holfoth
CONTRIBUTORS
Monica Stage
Jessica Wittman
2020-21
BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
What can be said about this year, when
everything continues to change
on an almost daily basis? From the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its inherent
dangers, worries and challenges to national
politics to societal justice issues, 2020 has been
a time of almost constant strain on our health,
our mental wellbeing and our communities.
However, if there is a silver lining to this
turmoil, it is this: never has the resilience of
Trocaire College students been more on display.
We—administration, faculty, staff and Board
members—are in awe of the courage shown by
these students as they continue pursuing their
education, day after uncertain day.
We also admire the tireless service of our more
than 11,000 alumni, many of whom have been
on the front lines of this pandemic, working to
safeguard the health of our society and keep
its day-to-day functions running. We tried to
express our gratitude during the first COVID
wave (see “Frontline Thank You”, page 10), but
let me say it again here: Thank you, sincerely, for
all you do. We’re proud to call you members of
the Trocaire family.
Though the learning environment has
drastically changed for our students these past
7 months, Trocaire’s commitment to quality,
hands-on education hasn’t wavered. Western
New York needs compassionate and highly
skilled healthcare, business and technology
professionals now more than ever. We’re
honored to continue the work of educating
them and readying them for the world of work,
whatever path they choose.
In these pages, you’ll find stories about the ways
Trocaire has adapted these past months and
members of our community who exemplify
the idea of preserving through adversity. We
hope you find the same sense of inspiration and
connection when reading them that we do.
Thank you to all who have supported our
students during this unprecedented time. All my
best to you and your families—stay well.
Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D.
Trocaire College President
Thomas H. Waring, Jr.
Chair
Lisa M. Kirisits, CPA
Vice Chair
Tracey A. Maw ’94
Corporate Secretary
William Barrett Wadsworth
Treasurer
Brian F. Attea, Esq.
Justin P. Azzarella
Sister Anne Curtis RSM
Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D.
Sarah E. Gilson
Richard P. Hershberger, Ph.D.
Teresa M. Majors, CPA
Sister Lisa Mary McCartney RSM, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Rubin, DMD
Sister Mary Ann Schimscheiner RSM, ’67
Robert Swann ’96
Alicia J. Thompson
Mark F. Wachowiak
Lisa M. Wheeler ’95
Sean Willett
2 trailblazer 2020

April 29, 2021
As the world changes around us in response to COVID-19, one thing remains constant: Trocaire’s mission
to provide high-quality, career-oriented education. Our students are determined to enter the workforce
and ready to contribute to our community’s well-being and safety.
Reimagined in a new format, the Spring Soirée will gather us together in spirit to celebrate the promise
of those students, and those who support their success. All proceeds will provide tuition assistance for
deserving Trocaire students.
In this new format, anyone, anywhere can participate in Spring Soirée and help support our mission.
We look forward to honoring our distinguished award recipients and celebrating Trocaire College with you
this spring!
Learn more at trocaire.edu/springsoiree
Honoring:
Trocaire College
President’s Award
Distinguished Alumni Award
Outstanding Student Award
Presented to a person, group, organization
or corporation whose partnership with
Trocaire College furthers the college’s mission,
vision and mercy values, and directly
or indirectly supports current and future
Trocaire College students and alumni.
Karen Chiantella Camacho ’96,
MBA, BSN, RN-BC, CPHIMS
Chair, Trocaire College Alumni Council
Clinical Product Escalation Manager,
PointClickCare
Amanda Gillespie ’20, Medical Assisting
2020 trailblazer 3

Pivoting in a Pandemic
In mid-March, Trocaire College, along
with the rest of the country, was
rocked by the spread of the COVID-19
Coronavirus in the United States.
So far, thanks to the adaptability,
diligence and personal integrity of
staff, faculty and students, we’ve
avoided scenarios and infection rates
that would force us to revert back to
an entirely remote operation. Here’s
a brief timeline of how the college’s
response has played out, and what lies
ahead:
March 13: Trocaire announced that
the remainder of the Spring 2020
semester’s coursework would be
delivered to students remotely. Faculty
and staff attended college-wide
meetings regarding the new set-up,
with the expectation that employees
would be able to continue to report to
campus during this time.
March 21: As the situation evolved
rapidly, New York State Governor
Andrew Cuomo ordered that all nonessential
businesses statewide must
close in-office personnel functions
and temporarily banned all nonessential
gatherings. Accordingly,
Trocaire shifted its entire operation to
a remote setting.
May 24: Trocaire announced that all
summer academic sessions would be
delivered remotely.
June 15: Administration returned to
campus buildings. Staff followed, at
50% capacity, several weeks later.
July 2: Trocaire communicated with
students the decision to deliver
Fall 2020 courses in a combination
of in-person and remote learning
that promotes physical distancing.
Lecture courses were offered in
an online format, while hands-on
courses such as science labs (and
clinical experiences where possible)
were offered on campus or at their
appropriate site. The college also
made the decision to end all oncampus
classes on Nov. 21, with all
coursework going remote prior to the
Thanksgiving break. Support services
such as tutoring and academic
advising were offered both in person
and online.
Aug. 27: The college released the
Trocaire Trust community pledge,
which asked all members of the
extended Trocaire family to promise
to make responsible choices and to
follow health and safety protocols.
To date, more than 740 people have
signed.
Oct. 5: Trocaire announced that Spring
2021 semester courses will continue
to be delivered in a combination of
in-person and remote learning that
promotes physical distancing.
Staying Healthy
on Campus
50% Staff Capacity: Though all offices
are staffed and open to students during
regular business hours, only 50% of the
staff of each department is on campus
on any given day. The remaining staff
members work remotely, to help
facilitate physical distancing and
provide flexibility in service delivery.
Mandatory Masks: All individuals
on campus must wear masks/facial
coverings in all shared spaces—
including classrooms and hallways—
and practice physical distancing
whenever possible.
Health Screenings: Employees and
visitors must fill out a health screening
form each day they are on campus, and
students are required to fill them out
periodically. In addition, employees
must maintain contact tracing logs.
Physical Improvements: The college
has invested in numerous physical
improvements to increase safety. These
include additional hand-sanitizing
stations, disinfecting supplies, signage
designating one-way traffic patterns
and occupancy limits to maintain
safe distancing, and the installation of
touch-less water fountains.
Sign the Trocaire Trust
community pledge at
my.trocaire.edu/trocaire-pledge.
Trocaire Receives Federal Pandemic Relief
CARES Act: 50% of Trocaire’s CARES Act funds went
directly students in the form of $450 payments to
lessen the financial impact of moving to a remote
learning experience. The remaining 50% was used to
strengthen the college’s digital capabilities and cover
costs incurred during the first few months of the
pandemic.
Payroll Protection Program: Trocaire received $2.3
Million in PPP funding, allowing the college to avoid
all employee layoffs and furloughs. Additionally, some
funds were used to create a break-even 2020-2021
budget, which includes nearly $90,000 to enhance our
digital instruction and support services capacities.
These funds also helped the college to hold 2020-2021
tuition to last year’s level.
4 trailblazer 2020

COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Appeal
Extending Mercy in a Time of Need
For many of Trocaire’s non-traditional
students, life was a challenge even
before COVID-19. Balancing the cost of
tuition and managing a household was
hard enough, but due to the pandemic
and the resulting societal shifts, many
part-time jobs have been displaced, and
children learning from home are vying
for the shared device that connects the
entire household to the outside world.
Traditionally, Trocaire launches a
fundraising effort each spring for
its annual appeal. However, our
fundraising for tuition assistance took
on an even greater sense of urgency in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We launched the COVID-19 Emergency
Assistance Appeal and reached out
to our extended Trocaire community
for support in an effort to meet the
increasing needs of our students and
their families.
We received over $20,000 in
donations in just six weeks from
Trocaire faculty and staff, trustees,
alumni and other friends of the
college. The outpouring of generosity
represents a fundamental pillar of
Trocaire’s values: mercy.
Every gift made during the emergency
appeal went directly to support
students with increased financial aid as
well as other urgent needs, so that they
could stay on track to graduate with the
skills our community needs to rebound
from this crisis.
Trocaire students are fiercely
determined to join the front lines as
professionals in healthcare, business
and technology. They’re future nurses,
surgical technologists and medical
assistants, cybersecurity experts and
data analysts: all essential to our
community’s well-being and safety.
Funds from the emergency appeal
help these students stay the course to
success.
We anticipate a continued increase in
need for tuition assistance as students
continue to face financial hardship
from lost jobs, increased childcare and
other pandemic-related challenges.
Thank you to our Trocaire community
for supporting students during a time
of great uncertainty. Our students
thank you, too.
CMHE Leads with Mercy
Staying Connected, Remotely
The COVID-19 crisis, with its resulting social distancing
regulations, mandated closings and remote work and
studying, led to an increased awareness at Trocaire of the
lack of educational technologies available to many of our
students. Toward the beginning of the pandemic, students
came forward daily about their needs for computers and
internet access, and faculty and staff reported a significant
number of students dependent on campus computer labs,
WiFi and printing to complete their course work.
In response to this critical need, Trocaire received a $16,000
grant from the Conference for Mercy Higher Education
(CHME) to be used for student computers, internet access
and learning technology. The college has created a laptop
loan program, and facilitates temporary WiFi hot spot access
or internet hook ups so that students can continue on the
track to graduation.
These technological limitations equate to a melting away
of educational equity; under current circumstances, many
students’ academic progress is a reflection of their degree
of privilege, not their willingness to work hard to succeed
academically. With these funds from CMHE, the college is
working to change that reality.
Pandemic Emergency Aid
Trocaire’s Sister Sally Walz, RSM Student Emergency Fund
(SEF) was developed to support student success by helping
address unforeseen financial situations that may prevent a
student from completing their studies. Those situations have
occurred at a much higher rate due to COVID-19.
Thankfully, Trocaire received a $10,000 gift from the CMHE
to be allocated to the SEF, to help with one-time costs related
to medical care, safety needs and assistance with food, utility
bills and other essential household expenses. It also received
an outpouring of support from the Trocaire community.
The SEF was named in 2017 in memory Sister Sally Walz RSM,
a former vice president for Academic Affairs and a member
of the Trocaire Board of Trustees. Sister Sally was greatly
admired for her untiring commitment to Trocaire College and
to it’s students, especially those in need.
2020 trailblazer 5

‘This is Where I’m Meant to Be’
Nursing Grad Finds Passion and Purpose in Neuroscience
Syntyia Taylor ’11, MSN, ANP-BC, is a
nurse practitioner in Mercy Hospital’s
Neuroscience department, with years of
experience in her specialty, leadership
within her field and confidence that she’s
exactly where she wants to be professionally.
But back in 2009, life looked much different:
she was a single mom, working fulltime as
a certified nursing assistant to support
her family. When her son Dawan started
preschool at age 3, she thought—why not
me too?
She visited Trocaire in August of that year
with the idea of getting more information
and instead came home as an enrolled
Nursing student, with a full class schedule
that started the next week. She told her
grandmother, her boss, her son: “I’m gonna
make this work.”
“I felt like I made this promise to so many
people that I had to keep it,” Syntyia said.
“And enrolling at Trocaire ended up being
the best day of my life. It gave me hope
and got me back where I needed to be.”
College Days
For the next two years, Syntyia took classes
during the day, then worked 3-11 p.m. at
Syntyia at her Trocaire College graduation with
her late grandmother, Theresa. “Everyone needs a
support system, and she was mine.”
An NP’s Advice to Nursing Students
On choosing a specialty: “Wait until you go through clinicals. You’ll learn what
really sparks your passion, and it might not be what you think.”
On continuing education: “It’s OK to get that 2-year degree and start working as
a nurse and get actual experience. Then keep going if you want to. After that first
degree, I was making a nurse’s salary and working in a hospital setting while I got
my advanced degrees part-time. Plus, my hands-on work experience prepared me
for the higher-level nursing even more than straight academics.”
On where their Trocaire degrees can take them: “The sky is the limit. I’m exactly
where I want to be, in the field I want to be in. It may have taken me a little longer
to get here than someone else but who cares about that?”
6 trailblazer 2020
her job as a CNA. She brought her
books and flashcards with her to
work, to study on breaks, and wrote
her papers in the early morning
hours following her shifts.
“I wouldn’t recommend it, but it
was just something I had to do,”
she said. “When you’re passionate
about something, you’ll sacrifice a
lot.”
Syntyia went on to graduate in
December 2011 and gave a speech
at her pinning ceremony. She
said Trocaire was her best college
experience- but it wasn’t her first.
She was in her sophomore year at
a large university in Buffalo when
she got pregnant with her son and
had to drop out. The lecture courses
of 200 students and little support
was a huge culture shock for the
Lackawanna High School graduate.
“Trocaire was my second chance for
me to get back into college and really prove
not only to everyone else, but also to myself,
that I belonged there,” she said. “I knew that
once someone gave me that opportunity to
go back to school, I was going to take it and I
was going to be very serious about it.”
Finding Her Calling
Syntyia began her career as a float nurse at
Catholic Health’s Sisters of Charity Hospital,
and she found her passion during a severalday
assignment in the Intensive Care Unit
(ICU). Many of the most critical patients
there had neurological issues, and she
found herself fascinated by the complexity
of their care and recovery.
“I just love the brain and neurology,” she
said. “It’s not the same from patient to
patient. Two people can have a stroke in
the same area of the brain, but it can affect
them differently. It’s very interesting to see
how unique we are as humans, and the
Syntyia Taylor ’11, MSN, ANP-BC
diversity we have when it comes to our
brains, the way they learn and rehabilitate.”
Syntyia went on to get her Bachelor’s of
Science in Nursing and her Master’s of
Science in Nursing at Daemen College
over the next 7 years, passing her Nurse
Practitioner (NP) board exams in 2018. She
spent 250 clinical hours at Mercy’s Neuro
ICU, furthering her expertise and interest
in the specialty. Despite her advanced role,
she makes sure to interact with Trocaire
Nursing students whenever they’re on her
floor for clinicals.
“I tell them, ‘I was at Trocaire too—I
was right where you’re at.’ They’re very
passionate, and they want to learn.”
Giving Back
Syntyia is a member of several professional
organizations, but the one closest to her
heart is Black Nurses Rock. The local Buffalo
chapter provides mentoring and education
for young people considering a career in
nursing, raises funds for local causes and
conducts free screenings and health checks.
“It’s part of the community, and it gives
back to the community,” she said of the
BNR Buffalo chapter.
She’s also in the process of creating her
own mentoring company to help high
school girls of color in the Lackawanna
neighborhood she grew up in. She works
with students to help connect them with
professionals in their field of interest.
“They know the direction they want to go
in—they just don’t know how to go about it,”
she explained. “Since I’ve been so blessed, I
feel like I have to give back and try and help
others find their passion, too.”

Dan Neville, MS, is director of the Trocaire Technology Institute and associate dean of Trocaire’s CyberSecurity, Data Analytics and Healthcare Informatics programs.
“Tech careers are so much more accessible than many people think they are, and positions can be found in nearly every industry, from healthcare to banking. These
courses help pave the way to that new start many are looking for right now.”
Trocaire Recognized for Providing IT Education During Pandemic
Back in April 2020, as the initial COVID-19
lockdown continued into its second month
and unemployment rates soared, Trocaire
College announced the launch of a free,
online IT Career Exploration course in
partnership with the United Way of Buffalo
& Erie County and Tech Buffalo.
The month-long, instructor-led course—
offered with either a May or July start
date—was based on the CompTIA IT
Fundamentals+ certification and designed
to dispel that misconception that an
IT career is out of reach for the average
person. It included an opportunity to earn
an industry-recognized certification upon
completion.
Organizers originally hoped to register two
groups of 15 students for the course, but
by the end of the week had received 250
applications. In the end, it was delivered to
five cohorts of 20 students each.
“I believe the incredible interest we saw
showed the value of the Career Exploration
course during a time of great upheaval,
when many people were trying to make
a fresh start and transition to a new
career,” said Dan Neville, director of the
Trocaire Technology Institute. “There’s a
misconception out there that you have to
be a math and computer science wizard
to work in IT, but what you really need is a
willingness to learn and customer service
orientation.”
In August, CompTIA presented Trocaire
CompTIA: the nonprofit association
for the global technology industry.
It offers technical education and
certifications in skills including IT
support, networking, cybersecurity
and cloud computing.
with an Innovation Award, which recognizes
partners for their response to the pandemic
and their commitment to continue to train
to CompTIA courses and certification
as they prepared students for IT careers.
Trocaire was the only academic recipient
in North America, selected from over 4000
academic partners globally.
“The critical role filled by technology
professionals during the pandemic has
been acknowledged by many, and rightly
so,” Joe Padin, CompTIA vice president
for business development, said when the
award was announced. “For many IT pros,
the knowledge and skills they employ
today were sparked and nurtured under
the tutelage of teachers, instructors and
trainers. CompTIA is pleased to present this
award to the Trocaire College team for their
contributions to help individuals realize
their career aspirations.”
With the help of community partners,
Trocaire has since developed additional
IT programs for those wishing for an even
more in-depth certification experience:
Career Jump Start (10 weeks) and Career
Reboot (36 weeks). At the end of the most
recent 10-week course, four out of the 7
participants were hired in IT jobs within
one week.
In addition, the college was awarded
several major grants in response to the
Career Exploration course’s success,
including $674,000 through Empire State
Development’s Workforce Development
Challenge, which will be used to expand
the Career Reboot program, creating a
model for serving diverse populations and
employer needs with a sustainable IT and
cybersecurity talent pipeline.
Certifications earned in any of the courses
can lead to a credit equivalent for those
who choose to pursue one of Trocaire’s
technology degree programs.
“The IT sector is thriving in Western New
York, even considering the pandemic,”
Neville said. “Trocaire is proud to play a part
in educating these tech professionals and
getting them back to work or upskilled for
a better position during such a challenging
time.”
Looking for more
Information?
Visit Trocaire.edu/IT
2020 trailblazer 7

Spotlight On: Dr. Linda Kerwin
Dr. Linda Kerwin is known within the
Western New York healthcare industry as
a fierce advocate for her students and the
surgical technology profession.
As dean of Trocaire’s Allied Health and
Professions and director of the Surgical
Technology (ST) program, she guides the
curriculum for numerous programs, leads
a team of dozens of clinical instructors,
faculty and staff, and has overseen the
instruction of hundreds of students.
Professionals she has personally taught,
encouraged and assisted on their journeys
can be found in nearly every operating
room in Erie and Niagara counties.
Where did it all start? With a gig as
an LPN instructor in 2001.
Finding a Niche in the OR
Linda graduated with her nursing
degree in 1987 and went directly
to work. Besides a brief stint as a
school nurse when her daughter
was young, she always worked
in hospital settings, eventually
finding her niche in the operating
room (OR).
“Even in nursing, I found my
calling in surgery,” she said.
She was working at Trocaire as an
adjunct instructor in Nursing in
2005, but her expertise in surgery
led her to being asked to lead
Trocaire’s ST program following
the sudden passing of the program
director.
Although she already had almost
two decades of nursing experience
and two master’s degrees (one in
nursing and one in curriculum
and instruction), the accrediting
board of the ST program required
her to have an Associate of Applied
Science in Surgical Technology as
well. So Linda went back to school
in the very program she was going
to be leading, achieving the degree
and becoming a Trocaire graduate herself
in 2007.
“Some people think that getting an AAS
degree after all that higher education
would be like an RN going back to school
to be a nursing assistant,” she said. “But
even after working in the OR for 10 years, I
learned so much.”
She wasn’t done yet, either—she obtained
her Doctorate of Education in curriculum,
instruction and assessment in 2012,
and was named a dean at Trocaire in
2013. In this position, Linda oversees the
Medical Imaging, Medical Assisting and
Massage Therapy programs, as well as new
programs in management and technology.
She also continues her more hands-on
work as director of the ST program.
Taylor Swan ’17, CST, BS, graduated from
the ST program and now works as an
adjunct instructor herself. She said Linda
is only a phone call away for any member
of her team.
“Dr. Kerwin walks alongside of her
employees and helps train us in any way
necessary,” she said. “She not only helps
build us as employees, but she is the
Linda Kerwin ’07, Ed.D., CST, MSN, RN
foundation of our Surgical Technology
family.”
Fighting for Others
A decades-long passion for Linda has
been working with the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society of WNY, in particular
the recruitment of bone marrow and
umbilical cord blood donors. To date,
the National Marrow Donor Program has
accrued thousands of donors based on her
recruitment work.
As finding a non-familial bone marrow
match is “like winning the lottery,” Linda
said, adding as many potential donors to
the registry (www.nmdp.org) is vital to give
a fighting chance to patients in need of a
transplant.
That intense urge to give back comes
from a deeply personal place. At age 26,
just 4 months after giving birth to her
daughter, Linda was diagnosed with acute
lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer
located in the bone marrow. A routine
blood test revealed the diagnosis and
luckily, the cancer was still in a very early
stage. Linda remains cancer-free more
than 30 years later and believes the
patient experience has transformed
her view of healthcare education.
“I was so blessed then, and I am so
blessed every single day,” she said.
“I will never look at a patient the
same way again, having been on
that side of the bed.”
Fighting for the Students
The part of her job that keeps her
coming back to Trocaire year after
year, said Linda, is the students.
“It’s the satisfaction of intervening
in a positive way in a student’s life,”
she said. “A good student can come
in many packages, and sometimes
they need to someone to walk
alongside them and mentor them
and help them adjust whatever is
holding them back—academics,
attitude, whatever it may be.
Watching them then go on and
achieve amazing careers is the thing
I love most in my career.”
One of those students helped was
Christina Butcher ’18, CST, who now
works as a surgical technologist at
Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.
She said Linda goes to bat for her
students, such as implementing
more clinical training time and
extra help with various surgeryrelated
topics, and making a point
to come into classes to personally teach
real-life scenarios that she experienced in
the healthcare field.
“Dr. Kerwin was a bright light in my life
when I felt there was no right career path
for me. She encouraged me, pushed me
to be my best and led me and the rest of
my classmates with such pride,” Christina
said. “There is no doubt in my mind that
I am succeeding in my career in the ways
that I am strictly due to Dr. Kerwin and the
Surgical Technology program at Trocaire.”
8 trailblazer 2020

New at Trocaire:
Bachelor in Healthcare Management
Healthcare professionals looking to take their clinical
skills to the next level have a new option: the Bachelor
of Professional Studies in Healthcare Management at
Trocaire.
“This degree allows students to apply business and
management education to their existing 2-year allied
health degree,” explained Program Director Gary M.
Smith, Ed.D., who is also vice president, Innovation and
Workforce Development at Trocaire. “It gives them the
credentials to advance in their respective fields and move
up their career ladder.”
The BPS in Healthcare Management curriculum has
been designed with input from regional employers and
industry experts and includes courses in healthcare law
and compliance, management, leadership and strategic
planning. Coursework is taught in seven-week blocks
online, allowing students to take one or two courses
at a time while continuing to work. The degree can be
completed in as little as 18 months depending on transfer
credit.
The program also features an externship program for
students to gain real-world experience and network with
local healthcare leaders and professionals.
Want to learn more?
Call the Admissions Office at 716-827-2545.
The primary role of the surgical technologist, or “scrub tech,” as they’re
often called, is to prepare a sterile field and pass instruments to the surgeon
during surgical procedures. Under Kerwin’s leadership, Trocaire’s Surgical
Technology program has consistently seen licensing pass rates of 90-100
percent
WE
each semester.
MISS YOU!
Let’s reconnect
During these unprecedented and challenging times, the power of
connection has never been more relevant. We’d love the chance to
reconnect and keep you informed about Trocaire College news and
opportunities that matter most to you. The truth is, alumni and
friends like you are a big part of what makes Trocaire special. If you
haven’t done so lately, please visit trocaire.edu/update to update
your contact information today.
Thank you for taking a moment to keep our Trocaire community
connection strong.
PLEASE VISIT TROCAIRE.EDU/UPDATE AND UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO TODAY!
2020 trailblazer 9

Commencement
Commencement is where we celebrate our
students and the journey they have taken to
earn their degrees. While we weren’t able to cheer our grads on at an
in-person ceremony this past spring, we still came together for them
with a virtual celebration.
Grads were asked to send in a photo and a message of thanks
for their support systems, and Trocaire President Bassam Deeb,
Board of Trustees President Thomas Waring, Jr. and other
members of the extended Trocaire community shared messages
of encouragement, blessings and congratulations.
As we continue to keep members of our Trocaire family safe
and healthy by following guidelines from New York State and
other entities, our Fall 2020 graduates will also mark their
accomplishments with similar video celebrations and virtual
graduation celebration on Sunday, Dec. 20.
Help us cheer on our Fall 2020 grads by sending in your text, photo,
or video message of congrats to alumni@trocaire.edu by Dec. 10.
“I would like to offer my congratulations
to the class of 2020. Although this is
not the graduation you expected your
accomplishment is none the less rewarding.
So now that you have finished all your
degree requirements, go out and conquer the
world! Good Luck and God Bless you all!”
-Susan Domres ’82, RN
FRONTLINE THANK YOU: Frontline healthcare workers—including thousands of Trocaire College alumni—have been the heart of Western
New York’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic since it began in March. To publicly pay tribute to their heroic efforts and thank them for their
service, Trocaire utilized 11 billboards originally meant to advertise enrollment events. Located on roads and highways throughout Erie County,
the billboards were displayed for a week in early April.
10 trailblazer 2020

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY AND
SHARE THE TROCAIRE EXPERIENCE
Together with alumni and friends like you, Trocaire College supports students
who are determined to succeed, build careers of achievement and lives of
purpose. The Share Trocaire Fund provides Trocaire students with much-needed
tuition assistance so that they can stay on track to graduate with the skills our
community needs.
Won’t you help us Share Trocaire?
Tuition assistance is critical to our students. Your gift has an immediate impact
on the following areas:
•’Helps meet the needs of students who face increasing financial hardship due
to the COVID-19 pandemic
•’Enables students to successfully graduate and attain family-sustaining jobs in
thriving fields such as healthcare and technology
•’Ensures that a high-quality education is within reach for our diverse, careerdriven
students who face a sizeable tuition gap after all other aid is applied
•’Advances the community’s skilled workforce with caring professionals
committed to a better Buffalo
•’Empowers students with personal enrichment, dignity, and self-worth in the
spirit of the Sisters of Mercy
DONATE ONLINE
To make a gift online,
visit trocaire.edu and click on
“GIVE”
Or scan this
QR code right
from your
smartphone
and make your
donation today!
Otherwise please fill out the
enclosed envelope with your check
made payable to Trocaire College.
2020 trailblazer 11

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORTED TROCAIRE COLLEGE
BETWEEN JUNE 1, 2019 AND MAY 31, 2020
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
($25,000 or more Annually)
KeyBank and First Niagara Foundation
New York State Department of Education
New York State Department of Labor
Sisters of Mercy
United States Health Resources and Services
Administration
United Way of Buffalo & Erie County
TRUSTEE’S CIRCLE
($5,000 to $24,999 Annually)
College and University Professional Association for
Human Resources
Conference for Mercy Higher Education
David & Janet Desmon
Erie County Medical Center Corporation
Elderwood Administrative Services
Ellicott Development Company
James H. Cummings Foundation
Kaleida Health
KeyBank
Fred & Lisa Kirisits ŧ
Ellen Koessler
Elizabeth N. Kolber Ŧ
Vincent & Harriet Palisano Foundation
William J. Grant Trust
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Waring, Jr. ŧ
Become a
MASSAGE
THERAPIST
in just 10 months.
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
($1,000 - $4,999 Annually)
Amherst Security Professionals Inc.
Justin Azzarella ŧ
Andrea Brooks
Karen Chiantella Camacho ’96
Dianna Civello
ComDoc, A Xerox Company
Michael & Mary Beth Cucinotta
Drs. Bassam & Jodi Deeb
Mr. & Mrs. George Eberl Ŧ
Family Choice of WNY
John P. O’Rourke Trust
Five Star Bank
Sarah Gilson ŧ
Brian Gould
Hodgson Russ, LLP
Kathleen A. Hoffstetter ’71
Jack & Barbara Hudack ’81
Edward A. Johnson
Kirisits & Associates CPAS, PLLC
Dr. Richard T. Linn
Dr. Allyson M. Lowe
Teresa M. Majors ŧ
Jacqueline S. Matheny
Tracey A. Maw ’94 ŧ
Thomas J. Mitchell ’89
Dr. James Notaro Ŧ & Amber Slichta ’94
Note Advisors, LLC
John P. O’Rourke Trust
Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Penfold
Learn more at one of our events:
trocaire.edu/visit
12 trailblazer 2020

Janet E. Peters
Dr. Thomas J. Quatroche, Jr. Ŧ
Dr. Jeffrey Rubin ŧ
Kathleen Saunders
Rob Swann ’96 ŧ
Alicia J. Thompson ŧ
Trocaire Faculty Association
Mark Wachowiak ŧ
William Barrett Wadsworth ŧ
Sean Willett ŧ
Maureen Winnert Ŧ
FRIENDS OF TROCAIRE COLLEGE
($1 to $999 Annually)
Terry L. Adamczyk ’92
Dr. LaVonne E. Ansari
Mollie Ballaro
Barbara A. Bargmann
Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Trocaire College
Zenaida Barnum ’70
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph F. Basil, Jr.
Dr. Jennifer Blickwedehl
Michele Brancato
Paula Braun ’69
Dr. Amy Breski
Martha A. Bronstein ’86
Thomas J. Bubar ’75
John Burgess Ŧ
Constance Butler ’67
Gabriel & Marie Chouchani
Susan Clark ’88
Tiffany N. Cole ’09
Dr. Joseph Connelly *Ŧ
Kathleen Cosgrove-Drury ’74
Marjorie Coughlin ’82
David & Caroline Croen
Mrs. Marie Cullum ’85
Sister Mary Rose Curry ’75
Sherry Daly ’19
Sister Jeanne Thomas Danahy, RSM ’67 Ŧ
Kathleen Dennehy
Damian & Kadie Desbordes
Nancy Deubell ’77
Monica Joy Diasio ’78
Shanta Ninettee Diltz ’99
Richard A. DiVita, Sr. Ŧ
Kathleen Dolan ’74
Susan M. Domres ’82
Lindsey Dotson
Joan Dunbar ’77
Barbara Eggleston ’81
Maureen English
Patricia Eusanio ’70
Elaine Evanovich ’76
Joanne Farrell
Deborah Pope Finamore ’73
Phillip Fiorello
Jacob Fisher ’14
Rachel L. Flammer
Agnes Fleig ’71
Dr. Peter W. Forgach
Philomena M. Gallagher
Sonai Gayle
Tanner A. Gelatt
Mary C. Genzel
Angela Giancarlo
Robert Gioia
Carolyn Gorczyca
Therese Gorman
Kelly A. Govern
Robert Graeff ’96
Dr. Ellen Grant Ŧ
Ann Grosso ’74
Virginia Guenther ’81
Amy Habib
Helene M. Hamilton ’70
Anne Marie Harris ’81
Tina Hatchett ’16
Mary Rita Hayner ’79
Heathwood Assisted Living
Sister Mary Raymond Heckler RSM ’72
Jane Higgins ’69
Bridget L. Hodges
David & Kristy Holfoth
Jonathan Hudack
Noreen Hughes ’75
Dr. & Mrs. Paul B. Hurley, Jr. Ŧ
Cheryl Hynes ’15
Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant
Dr. Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah
Drs. William and Genevieve James
Dr. Ann-Marie John
2020 trailblazer 13

Veronica Kane-Lockwood ’75
Leo Kelly, Jr. ’84
Linda Kerwin ’07
Dr. Robert Kieffer
Leigh King ’97
Patricia A. Laszewski ’80
Dr. Teresa Lawrence
Sarah Leuthe ’98
Nicholas Macaione ’14
Margaret Makowski-Greenky ’72
Steve Marks
Darcy Martinez ’69
Molly McGee Randisi ’72
Sharon McHenry ’69
Cynthia A. McMurtrie ’90
Jason Meder ’98
Richard J. Mileham
Judith Miller
Martin & Karen Miller
Elizabeth Miller Hawkins ’73
Patricia A. Miodonski ’84
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Moravec Ŧ
Michele Muckle ’87
Cynthia Munschauer
Crystal Murno
Dr. Nicholas Naples ’77
Daniel Neville
Judith Nolan Powell Ŧ
Mary O’Brien ’97
Vincenetta O’Donnell
Margaret O’Neill-Tighe
Margaret Overdorf
Dave Peck ’80
Paula Penepent ’78
Adam W. Perry
Mary K. Perschy
Anne Piorkowski
James Poulos
Jean C. Powers, Esq. Ŧ
Kathleen Powers Hahn ’70
Patricia Preston ’73
Mary M. Przepasniak
James Rivetti ’90
Dr. Nicole Rodriguez
Donald Roof ’94
Arthur A. Russ, Jr.
Dr. Christine Ryan
Susan Saltzman ’67
Pamela H. Say
Christine Schafer ’86
Lisa Schaffer
John & Patty Schiavone
Colleen A. Scoville ’84
Sabrina Shareef ’19
Barbara Shaw
Carol M. Shawcross ’69
G. Roman Shchurowsky
Deborah Shelvay
Dr. Gary Smith
Siobhan Smith Ŧ
Susan Smith ’78
Susan Sovinski
LeeAnn Speyer ’84
Monica L. Stage
Sheila Stanchak ’83
Colleen Steffen
Lorie D. Steinwald ’97
Debra Steriovski
Mary Pat Sullivan ’76
Rachel Suto McCormick ’85
Cheryl D. Swain
Rose Mary Swanson ’67
James & Jane Tebo ’70
Heather Thompson
Sister Mary Ellen Twist RSM ’64
Ann Van Pelt ’91
JoAnne Marie Viapiano ’76
Drs. Howard & Julie Wescott
Lisa Wheeler ’95 ŧ
Christine Whipkey ’10
Dr. Sally White
Carol A. Whitton ’71
Montique V. Williams
Sheila Williams ’73
Monica Wilson
Dorothy Worrall
Rosemary Yager ’76
Amy Zielinski
Key:
* Deceased
ŧ Current Trustee
Ŧ Trustee Emeritus/a
GIFTS IN KIND
AMC Theatres
Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Burchfield Penny Art Center
Christina Francis, owner of Avery & Harlow
Colvin Cleaners
Explore Buffalo
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff
Gates Circle Wine & Liquor
Irish Classical Theatre Company
JetBlue
Mulberry Italian Restaurant
MusicalFare Theater
Ristorante Lombardo
Russell’s Steaks, Chops & More
The Franklin Salon & Esthetics
The Roycroft Inn
14 trailblazer 2020

LIFETIME, PLANNED AND CONSECUTIVE GIVING
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
(Lifetime Giving Total of $100,000 or more)
Community Foundation for
Greater Buffalo
James H. Cummings Foundation
Dormitory Authority of the
State of New York
KeyBank and the First Niagara
Foundation
Ellen E. Koessler
Elizabeth N. Kolber Ŧ
The McGuire Group
New York State Education
Department
John R. Oishei Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Carl P. Paladino
Vincent & Harriet Palisano
Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Penfold
Russell J. Salvatore, Lh.D.
Sisters of Mercy
The Statler Foundation
United States Department of
Justice, Office on Violence
Against Women
United States Health Resources
and Services Administration
The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation
LOYALTY CIRCLE
(Consecutive Giving 5 years or more)
Amherst Security Professionals Inc.
Mollie Ballaro
Barbara Bargmann
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Basil, Jr.
Dr. Jennifer Blickwedehl
Paula Braun ’69
Thomas Bubar ’75
John Burgess Ŧ
Karen Chiantella Camacho ’96
Gabriel & Marie Chouchani
Susan Clark ’88
Kathleen Cosgrove-Drury ’74
Drs. Bassam & Jodi Deeb
Kathleen Dennehy
Damian & Kadie Desbordes
David & Janet Desmon
Monica Joy Diasio ’78
Lindsey Dotson
Joan Dunbar ’77
Barbara Eggleston ’81
Ellicott Development Company
Erie County Medical Center
Corporation
Deborah Finamore ’73
Dr. Peter W. Forgach
Philomena M. Gallagher
Mary Genzel
Angela Giancarlo
Carolyn Gorczyca
Amy Habib
Helene Hamilton ’70
Heathwood Assisted Living
Jane Higgins ’69
Kathleen A. Hoffstetter ’71
David & Kristy Holfoth
Jack & Barbara Hudack ’81
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Hurley, Jr. Ŧ
Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant
Edward A. Johnson
Kaleida Health
Dr. Linda Kerwin ’07
Dr. Robert Kieffer
Fred & Lisa Kirisits ŧ
Kirisits & Associates CPAS, PLLC
Ellen E. Koessler
Dr. Teresa Lawrence
Dr. Richard T. Linn
Margaret Makowski-Greenky ‘72
Jacqueline Matheny
Molly McGee Randisi ’72
Sharon McHenry ’69
Elizabeth Miller Hawkins ’73
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Moravec Ŧ
Dr. Nicholas Naples ’77
Dr. James Notaro Ŧ &
Amber Slichta ’94
Note Advisors, LLC
Vincent & Harriet Palisano
Foundation
David Peck ’80
Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Penfold
Mary Perschy
Janet E. Peters
Mary Przepasniak
Dr. Thomas Quatroche, Jr. Ŧ
Dr. Nicole Rodriguez
Donald Roof ’94
Susan Saltzman ’67
Pamela H. Say
Lisa Schaffer
Colleen Scoville ’84
G. Roman Shchurowsky
Deborah Shelvay
Sister of Mercy
Siobhan Smith Ŧ
Sheila Stanchak ’83
Lorie Steinwald ’97
Debra Steriovski
Rachel Suto McCormick ’85
Cheryl Swain
JoAnne Viapiano ’76
Vincent & Harriet
Palisano Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Waring, Jr. ŧ
Carol Whitton ’71
Maureen Winnert Ŧ
SISTER BARBARA
CIARICO LEGACY
SOCIETY
(Planned Giving)
Ellen Bowman
Thomas J. Bubar ’75
Dr. Joseph R. Connelly *Ŧ
Maureen English
Dr. & Mrs. Paul B. Hurley, Jr. Ŧ
Kathleen G. Kearns *
Hal P. Kingsley
Ellen E. Koessler
William F. Marx
Thomas J. Mitchell ’89
Gerald C. Saxe
Mary Alice Walz
Key:
* Deceased
ŧ Current Trustee
Ŧ Trustee Emeritus/a
2020 trailblazer 15

360 Choate Ave. | Buffalo, NY 14220
NON-PROFIT
ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
BUFFALO, NY
PERMIT #2435
• Alumni News and Notes
Sister Elaine Franz RSM, ’64, celebrated 60
years as a Sister of Mercy in 2020. She is also
a Trocaire Trustee Emeritus.
Sister Margaret Mary Gorman RSM, ’64,
celebrated 60 years as a Sister of Mercy in
2020. In addition to being honored with
Trocaire’s Distinguished Alumni Award in
2013, Sister also worked for many years at
the college in positions including dean of
students and director of mission and service
learning.
Sister Peggy Gorman RSM, ’64, celebrated
60 years as a Sister of Mercy in 2020. Sister
is also a Trocaire Trustee Emeritus and was
president of the Buffalo area of the NyPPaW
Sisters of Mercy community from 1998-
2000.
Sister Mary Ellen Twist RSM, ’64, celebrated
60 years as a Sister of Mercy in 2020.
Sister Mary Ann Schimscheiner RSM, ’67,
was elected to a three-year term on Trocaire’s
Board of Trustees in July 2020 and sits on
the Board Executive Committee. A Trocaire
Trustee Emeritus, Sister was the leader of the
Buffalo area of the NyPPaW Sisters of Mercy
community from 2008-2014 and chief
executive officer of Kenmore Mercy Hospital
from 1981-1999.
Sister Mary Eileen Steen RSM, ’67,
celebrated 60 years as a Sister of Mercy in
2020.
Sister Mary Elizabeth Griffin RSM, ’82,
celebrated 50 years as a Sister of Mercy in
2020.
Tracey A. Maw ’94, MSN, BSN, RN, accepted
a position as vice president, Assisted Living
Services at RCA Healthcare Management
in August 2020. Maw is also a member of
Trocaire’s Board of Trustees and serves as its
corporate secretary.
Rob Swann ’96, MHA, BSN, NEA-BC,
accepted the position of vice president of
operations and associate chief nursing officer
at St Luke’s Hospital, part of the Southcoast
Health System in Massachusetts. Swann, a
member of Trocaire’s Board of Trustees, was
formerly vice president and chief nursing
officer of DeGraff Medical Park and Millard
Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Buffalo.
Christine Michaels ’07, RN, was honored
with Mercy Hospital’s DAISY Award
in October 2020. The quarterly honor
recognizes extraordinary, compassionate
nurses who are nominated by patients and
their loved ones.
Dana Puerner ’11, RN, was promoted to
director of nursing at GreenField Health
& Rehabilitation Center in Lancaster in
December 2019.
Amy Schleer-Carter ’11, BSN, RN, WCC,
celebrated 20 years of employment with
McGuire Group in November 2019. She
is currently director of nursing at the
company’s Garden Gate Health Care Facility
in Cheektowaga.
Jamie Stasiak ’11, RT, received Business
First 2020 Excellence in Healthcare Award.
Jamie has been with Windsong Radiology
Group PC since graduating from Trocaire and
currently serves as the program coordinator
of Mobile Mammography.
Meagan Myers ’12, ’14, MSN, RN, WOCN,
took on a new role as a quality & patient
safety clinical nurse specialist within Catholic
Health in September 2020. Previously,
she was director of quality management at
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.
Jacob Fisher ’14, MS, RN, was named
director of Trocaire’s AAS Nursing (RN)
program in July 2020. Fisher has been a
presence at Trocaire for years as a mentor,
tutor, lab instructor and assistant professor.
He also worked for several years within
the Wyoming County Community Health
System.
Chelsea Bacchetti ’15, CST, was named
Scrub Tech of the Year at Kenmore Mercy
Hospital in September 2020.
Kellee Heaton ’16, BSN, RN, accepted a
nursing position in the Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit at Oishei Children’s Hospital
of Buffalo in September 2020. She was
previously employed as a maternity nurse at
United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
Jillian Agro ’19, RN, received the VA Western
New York Healthcare System’s “Own the
Moment” accolade in November 2019, in
recognition of the exemplary care she gave
a veteran while a student nurse earlier in the
year. The honor singles out employees who
“support a high-performing organization
focused on exceptional customer service,
rebuilding trust and fulfilling our commitment
to our nation’s veterans.” She received the
award alongside Trocaire clinical instructor
Edith Holt, MSH, RN.
Nicole Wiza ’20, graduate of the AAS
in Nursing program, received a $2,500
scholarship from the KeyBank New York
Community Trust, a charitable trust, in
November 2019. Current students Ashley
Dvorak, Nursing; and Leah Gordhamer,
Diagnostic Medical Sonography also received
scholarships.
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We want to hear from you! Connect with us on social media, and please send in news, photos, awards, achievements and other content to
communications@trocaire.edu. Select information will be featured in blogs, social media posts and other published works of the college.