Fall 09 UMass Dartmouth magazine

Fall 2009

A magazine for alumni & friends of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Preserving fragile habitats University scientists and students are fighting to save the coastline of Massachusetts

M E S S A G E F R O M

Jean F. MacCormack

T he reflex during difficult economic times is so often to retreat and wait out the storm. Here at UMass Dartmouth and throughout the region

we serve, we choose a different way as you will see on the following pages. Our faculty, alumni, and students choose to confront big challenges rather than shrink from them, confident that we have the talent, knowledge, and determination to accomplish our goals in a way that serves our region, Commonwealth, and nation. You can see the confidence in our cover story about Dr. Brian Howes and his team at the School of Marine Science and Technology, which is working with the state Department of Environmental Protection and area communities to protect and restore our that has been placed at risk by develop-ment. Dr. Howes’ expertise is now being sought by other coastal states and he is preparing graduates who will be spending their lives and careers protecting one of our most valuable economic and cultural resources for decades to come. You can see it in the Southern New England School of Law’s exemplary donation of $22 million in assets for the purpose of creating the UMass Dartmouth School of Law; in the opening of Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives, which is a resource for historians and genealogists from around the world; and and in the Kaput Center’s drive to revolutionize the way math is taught in early grades. You can see it in individual accomplishments such as Scott Tingle’s (College of Engineering, ’87) accep-tance into NASA astronaut school and Senior Marketing major Jeff Macchi’s success on the basketball court and baseball diamond for the Corsairs. These are big dreams built on big ideas and extraordinary perserverence. They represent the best of UMass Dartmouth.

Jean F. MacCormack, Chancellor

Stacy Latt Savage

Jim Coates

Richard Creighton

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U M a s s D a r t m o u t h M a g a z i n e | F a l l 2 0 0 9

Cover: Dr. Brian Howes and grad student Jennifer Benson at one of their research sites off John Reed Road in Westport. Photo by Jennifer White ’07.

Around the campanile

Astronaut alum, Scott Tingle ’87 2

CVPA prof.’s “visual music”exhibited at Smithsonian 4

Kaput Center partners with Brazil and Mexico 5

Student interns with US Treasury 6

Ocean Explorium opens topromotes science programs 7

Feature stories

Keeping a fragile balance 8

Homecoming 14

Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese- American Archives opening 16

Unity, one year after Obama election 18

The College of Nursing plans new doctorate 24

Hoops and hits for Jeff Macchi 26

Alumni news

Class Notes 27

Alum wins Fulbright in painting 30

Issues of UMass Dartmouth are produced for the 40,000 alumni,

9,500 students, 1,200 employees, and countless partners of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The information contained in this publi- cation is intended to engage readers in the work of UMass Dartmouth which is critical to the social and economic development of the region.

We welcome letters from our readers, and encourage your feedback. You can email your comments to publicaffairs @umassd.edu or mail them to Public Affairs, Rm 331A, Foster Administra-tion, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth ma 02747-2300.

Managing Editor

John T. Hoey ’00 (Boston)Assistant Chancellor for Public Affairs

Assistant Chancellor of Advancement

Michael Eatough ’09

Director of Alumni Relations

Mary Ellen DeFrias ’94

Designer

Rachel Cocroft

Contributing Writers

Lauren Daley, Jim Mullins, Natalie White

Photographers

D. Confar, Liz Friar ’12, Kyle Mooney ’12, andJennifer White ’07

Alumni Class Notes

Nancy J. Tooley ’99

Inspired by the Solcum’s River Reserve’s diverse and stunning landscape, curator and artist Stacey Latt Savage highlighted the relationship between art and nature in the The River Project: Sculpture at Slocum’s River Reserve. She and five other artists from the region, four of whom teach with Latt Savage at UMass Dartmouth, chose individual sites and worked in collaboration, visiting the reserve throughout the seasons.

The River Project will be on exhibit through March, 13, 2010. You can find more information about visiting the Slocum’s River Reserve at www.thetrustees.org.

Eric Lintala

Eric Lintala

UMass | D a r t m o u t h

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S cott D. Tingle’s career path could send him out of this world. NASA chose Tingle ’87, a U.S. Navy Commander and UMass Dartmouth mechanical engineering alumnus,

and eight others from a field of 3,500 for its 2009 astronaut candidate class. He began training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston in August.

Tingle, who grew up in Attleboro and Randolph and now resides in Hollywood, MD, is a test pilot and assistant program manager-Systems Engineering at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. “The excitement of being asked to join this incredible team was overwhelming,” Tingle said in an inter-view posted on NASA’s web site. “I planned an educational and training path focused on my interests which included science, engineering and flying, and then stuck to it.”

“Scotty was one of my favorite students,” said Dr. Ron

DiPippo, who had Tingle in his UMass Dartmouth engineer-ing classes and recalled his student’s energy and leadership skills. “He is full of life and enthusiasm, a hard-working guy with a terrific sense of humor and lofty ambitions. He was a great classmate to his colleagues and sparked a camaraderie in his class that survives to this day...His life’s dream has just come true.”

“This is a very talented and diverse group we’ve selected,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations at NASA headquarters. “They will join our cur-rent astronauts and play very important roles for NASA in the future. In addition to flying in space, astronauts par-ticipate in every aspect of human spaceflight, sharing their expertise with engineers and managers across the country.”

From the time he was four years old, Scott Tingle planned to be an astronaut

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Southern New England School of Law offers $22.6 million donation to UMass Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth may become host to the state’s first public law school. Saying it seeks to preserve its “historic mission” and its commitment to legal education excellence and diversity, Southern New England School of Law has offered to donate its assets to UMass Dartmouth to establish the state’s first public law school. The donation would allow the campus to establish a law pro-gram that does not require any state funding or resources from existing pro-grams. Under the terms of the possible donation, the University of Massachusetts would receive cash assets and the cam-pus of the 235-student Southern New England School of Law in Dartmouth—an estimated value of $22.6 million.

University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson thanked officials at Southern New England School of Law for making “a very generous offer” and said the University would launch a compre-hensive review process.

UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack described the donation offer as “extraordinarily generous,” noting: “We have a wonderful chance to expand higher education opportunity in Massachusetts by accepting this his-toric donation and building an innovative public law school that offers an excellent and affordable education for students.”

Establishing a law program requires the approval of the UMass Board of Trustees and the state Department of Higher Education, which are expected to consider the proposal over the next couple of months.

Excellence in Mentoring awarded to SMAST professor

Affectionately called a “national trea-sure” by his students, Dr. Steve Cadrin was honored for inspiring students and young professionals to follow careers in ocean and coastal policy and manage-ment. Director of the NOAA/UMass Cooperative Marine Education & Research Program at the School for Marine Science and Technology and chair

of the New England Fishery Manage-ment Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee, Cadrin received the inaugural Marc J. Hershman Excellence in Mentoring Award presented by the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative. The award is given to one who best exemplifies late Univer-sity of Washington Professor Marc Hershman’s legacy of “educating, train-ing, and inspiring.” “The Joint Initiative is proud to present this award to Dr. Steven Gaines and Dr. Steven Cadrin as they truly exemplify Professor Hershman’s leg-acy and are working enthusiastically to inspire future leaders in the field of ocean and coastal management and sci-ence,” said Admiral James Watkins (U.S. Navy, Ret.), co-chair of the Joint Initiative. Cadrin is advisor to more than a dozen graduate students and post-doctoral researchers at UMass Dartmouth, as well as mentor to other young professionals outside his home institution. He is a hands-on advisor and regularly joins his students aboard fishing and research ves-sels at the front lines of fisheries science. Cadrin’s colleagues remark that he goes above and beyond to support and

encourage not only the individuals who study or work with him, but also his peers of equal standing. As one col-league wrote, “It has been recognized that there exists a great need for more highly trained fisheries researchers in order to address the challenges we are facing in fisheries resource management. All on his own, Steve is making grea strides in closing the gap.”

SMAST scallop scholar captures international honor Recognized as one of the best up-and-coming marine scientists, SMAST doc-toral student Cate O’Keefe was honored at a world fisheries conference. “The University and our fishing partners should be proud of Cate and this out-standing achievement,. It reflects well on our program,” said Steve Cadrin, pro-fessor at the School of Marine Science and Technology. “It was well-deserved, and I heard many people who were overwhelmed with her excellent presen-tation. Winning the best presentation is remarkable for someone her age.” Out of nearly 400 papers presented,

Prof. Steve Cadrin (center), recently honored for inspiring students and young professionals in marine science, works on the dock with students of the School of Marine Science and Technology.


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O’Keefe’s was judged to be the best and given the Merit Award at the annual sci-ence conference of the world’s largest marine science and advisory body, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Attended by more than 650 marine scientists and students, the conference focused on the current and future status of the oceans. O’Keefe’s presentation, “From bust to boom: The success of industry collaboration in U.S. sea scallop research,” co-authored with her advisor, Prof. Kevin D. E. Stokesbury, garnered the award which gives formal recognition to the best research paper and poster and to the best up-and com-ing new scientist making a presenta-tion at the conference. O’Keefe studies living resource management in the Department of Fisheries Oceanography. She also serves on the Scallop Planning Development Team of the New England Fishery Management Council.

Professor’s "Visual Music" displayed at Smithsonian

College of Visual and Performing Arts Professor Harvey Goldman’s work was included in the Washington Project for the Arts fifth annual Experimental Media Series at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden of the Smithsonian Institution on October 15.

Professor Goldman’s work, entitled Sabinium, was among more than 150 entries from more than 15 countries and

throughout the United States. Of the 150 entries, 16 pieces, including Sabinium, were chosen for the Hirshhorn Museum showing. The group included works from Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.

“Sabinium is one of a series of pieces we are working on that addresses the issue of cultural conflict in various ways,” Goldman said. “The inspiration for this piece is the fantasy that cultural memory may reside in even the most quotidian of everyday phenomena, such as soap bubbles, where mythological battles and scenes are replayed constantly. Somewhere in the statistical noise of soap bubbles is the din of battle.”

Sabinium falls in the category known as, “Visual Music” which is less reliant on narrative elements and most often addresses issues of synesthesia, said Prof. Goldman, who worked with CVPA music composer Ken Ueno.

Center for Civic Engagement gets grant to build largest student service network

UMass Dartmouth’s Center for Civic Engagement has won a $471,000 Learn and Serve America grant from the Corp-oration for National and Community Service.

The grant, one of 36 awarded around the country, will support a statewide UMass effort entitled “Building on the Promise: Strengthening Our University/

Community Ties,” which will engage 1,500 students from all five UMass cam-puses in community service projects that are embedded in their college courses.

It is anticipated that the UMass proj-ect will attract more than $1.4 million in federal funding over the next three years.

“With this grant, we will be able to introduce more students to service learning, a proven education method that promotes community service while enhancing students’ academic and civic skills,” said UMass President Jack M. Wilson. “Service learning helps students get involved in their communities at a young age, setting them on a path toward active citizenship as adults.”

UMass Dartmouth’s recently estab-lished School of Education, Public Policy, and Civic Engagement led the grant writ-ing effort and will administer the project. Sub-grants will engage the Amherst, Boston, Lowell, and Worcester campuses in the project, making this project the most far-reaching higher education-based community service effort ever undertaken in Massachusetts.

“Community engagement is part of UMass Dartmouth’s DNA so we are very excited to be leading this project and working with our colleagues throughout UMass to have a transformative impact on the lives of communities and citizens all across the Commonwealth,” said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack. Chancellor MacCormack

The Class of 2013 was welcomed to campus with Orientation, Move-In Day, and Convocation Ceremony.



The Kaput Center partners with university systems in Mexico and Brazil to expand innovative math research

In response to the growing concern of the nation’s competi-tiveness in the global economy, educators and researchers from across the country gathered for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education showcase event at the Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center in Fall River.

Led by the UMass Dartmouth Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education, event highlights included:

n Announcement of $2.2 million of National Science Foundation grants to the center to develop new strategies to teach high- level math elementary school students.

n Establishment of a new doctoral degree in mathematics education within the new STEM department at the university.

n Signing of partnership agreements with university systems in Mexico, Brazil and Cyprus to support student exchange programs and to internationalize research innova-tions developed at the Kaput STEM Center.

“It is imperative that we understand the opportunities that moving from a local to a global education offers us,” said Center Director Dr. Stephen Hegedus. “Our mission is focused

on long-term research and innovation programs to transform the way our children learn mathematics and science.”

Faculty at the Kaput STEM Center have received $6.5 million in grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences over the last 5 years.

New projects focus on the development and exploration of new technologies that allow students at very young ages to “touch and feel” complex mathematical and scientific ideas as well as beginning a new phase of research that focuses on documenting the benefits of algebra in the elementary grades.

The doctoral program, which began this fall, addresses the acute shortage of STEM education researchers. “Our doctoral program will offer innovative answers to our educa-tional needs by providing future mathematics educators with advanced research training to become leaders in the field of mathematics education,” said Dr. Ismael Ramirez-Soto, dean of the School of Education, Public Policy and Civic Engagement.

The Kaput Center for Research and and Innovation in STEM Education brought together an international group of educators at a recent event in Fall River.(l-r) Carlos Mijares Lopez (Tec de Monterrey, Mexico); Aldaiza Sposati (UNIBAN, Brazil); Stephen Hegedus, Kaput Center;Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack; Luis Moreno-Armella (CINVESTAV, Mexico); and UMass President Wilson


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is the co-chair of the Massachusetts Campus Compact, which works to engage higher education students, staff and faculty in community service, and recently moderated Governor Deval Patrick’s online civic engagement forum.

Dr. Matthew Roy, Director of UMass Dartmouth’s Center For Civic Engagement, said the project will be a model for uni-versities and colleges all across America.

“We are going to connect 1,500 UMass students and 20 community organizations with people and neighborhoods from the SouthCoast to the Merrimack Valley, and from Boston to Worcester to the Pioneer Valley,” Roy said.

The grant will support the expansion of activities such as:

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) where UMass business students assist low income community members with filing taxes. This past year, VITA saved New Bedford residents more than $1 million in earned income tax credits.

• The Workers Education Program, which is designed to educate citizens to compete for 21st century jobs and counts on help from UMass students acting as tutors.

• LEADS, a Commonwealth Corp program that teaches leadership to middle school children through community service projects. The program was piloted in the Fall River and New Bedford middle schools this past year. This grant allows for the expansion of that program to middle schools throughout the state.

Student caps UMD career with U.S. Treasury internship

Bryan O’Brien ’09 of Marshfield, was one of four students nationwide to earn the Washington Center Internship Scholarship presented by Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

Describing the honor as an “awesome opportunity,” O’Brien said his internship at the U.S. Department of Treasury broadened his horizons professionally and personally.

O’Brien worked as an employee and labor relations assistant during the summer before graduating from UMass Dartmouth in September. His job included managing employee and labor relations cases, conducting research, preparing and disseminating training materials, and assisting with special events organization.

During his time at Treasury, O’Brien’s innovative style stood out. He created an employee/labor relations newsletter that will serve as a template for a monthly human resources newsletter. O’Brien also worked with a fellow intern to organize a brown bag lunch with Treasury Chief of Staff Mark Patterson, an alumnus of the internship program himself.

Rhonda Coachman-Steward, director for Human Resources Operations for Departmental Offices said O’Brien was an “invaluable asset to the Department’s Employee and Labor Relations Program. His short time here will have a lasting and beneficial impact on the way this program functions.”

Calling his former student a “poster boy for UMass Dartmouth,” Associate Professor and Chairman of the Political Science Department Michael Baum described O’Brien as "very bright, personable and civic-minded.“

O’Brien, who is currently developing a fledgling consulting business in Japan, recruiting for the IT industry, said that his experience at UMass Dartmouth pre-pared him for the internship and life after

graduation by fostering not only his scholarly side but also his enterprising and entrepreneurial nature.

“UMass really helped me develop a variety of skills through my academic courses, on-campus work experiences, and extracurricular activities,” O’Brien said. “Additionally, I feel as if my experi-ences at the university have instilled in me a great deal of initiative.”

In addition to a double major in poli-tical science and economics and a minor in international business, O’Brien was a

The UMass Dartmouth Community Service van got a new look this summer when Director Deirdre Healey (front, second from right) ran a contest to design artwork for the van. Contest winner and graphic design major, Kevin DiMattia ’12 (front, right) not only designed the artwork, he applied it.

Bryan O’Brien with US Treasurer Rosie Rios



member of the Student Senate, helped underserved children in New Bedford, and volunteered for several service proj-ects while earning a 3.7 G.P.A.

O’Brien was chosen for the presti-gious internship program based on academic merit and public service. He received $4,500 to participate in the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. The Washington Center, founded in 1975, is the largest full-time internship program in the nation’s capital, serving more than 1,500 students yearly.

Engineering faculty win fellowships to study tissue and organ regeneration

Dr. Paul Calvert and Dr. Alex Fowler, both of the College of Engineering, received the Bell Fellowship sponsored by The Marine Biological Laboratory, the internationally recognized biomedical and environmental research and education center in Woods Hole. The fellowship supports scientists seeking to expand the possibilities for tissue and organ regen-eration and replacement.

Dr. Calvert, a professor in the Materials and Textiles Department, and Dr. Fowler, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, worked alongside some of the world’s leading cell biologists, physi-ologists, parasitologists, microbiologists, neurobiologists, developmental biolo-gists, and ecologists who convened at

the MBL this past summer.“Congratulations to Dr. Calvert,

Dr. Fowler, and their entire team at UMass Dartmouth on being awarded the Bell Fellowship,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

UMD helps launch Ocean Explorium and promotes science programs

First there was a vision. Then there was The Sphere. Now, after years of hard work and anticipation, the Ocean Explorium in New Bedford has gone “live” with the help of UMass Dartmouth faculty and students.

Nearly a decade in the making, the Ocean Explorium opened daily to the pub-lic this summer. A partnership between the New Bedford Oceanarium and UMass Dartmouth, the Explorium will also soon launch an astronomy-themed program with the help of a university grant.

The Explorium’s focal exhibit is the university’s Science on a Sphere 3-D technology, developed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the only one like it in New England.

“What a wonderful opportunity we have to bring ocean science alive to the people of this region. It is critical that we continue to provide these kinds of learn-ing opportunities for students of every age,” said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor

Jean F. MacCormack, who joined New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Lang lauded the official opening of the marine exhibits as a “great occasion for the city” and “the entire New Bedford area community.”

Saying the center hopes to “reach people of all ages, from pre-K to post-graduate,” Ocean Explorium Director Mark Smith said the center’s “mission is education, but we need to get people excited about science by capturing their imaginations, so they are eager to learn.”

Supporting that goal and the partner-ship between the Oceanarium and the university, the UMass President’s Creative Economy Initiatives Fund recently awarded UMass Dartmouth Physics Professor Grant O’Reilly a $39,000 grant for pro-grams at the Ocean Explorium.

O’Reilly’s project, titled “Weaving the Rainbow: Pathways to the Sciences,” includes a series of astronomy-themed events and lectures. Activities include observations of the sky and stars using the UMass Dartmouth Observatory. The Science on a Sphere display system at the Explorium will also be featured in O’Reilly’s project as well as series of talks presented by international researchers, UMass Dartmouth faculty, students and members of the local Astronomical Society of Southern New England.

For more updates on what’s happening visit: the UMD blog at campanile.blogs.umassd.edu/

Students in Professor Alma Davenport’s nature drawing class take advantage of the live aquarium exhibits as well as the Hubble Space Telescope exhibt at the Ocean Explorium in New Bedford. The Ocean Explorium offically opened this fall.

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By Natalie White

Keeping a fragile balance

For Dr. Brian L. Howes, it’s all about where the river

stirs the sea. “This is what it all comes down to:

If they tank, everything else tanks,” Howes said

bluntly, explaining why he has spent decades on

the water mucking around in the sediments with

benthic ocean communities and on land mixing it up

with equally sensitive creatures: politicians, taxpayers, town

officials, regulators, environmentalists, scientists and engineers and

others that impact that fragile and critical environment where river meets ocean.

University team uses high-end science to address economic and environmental needs in the protection of the Massachusetts coastline.

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Lead scientist in the Massachusetts Estuaries Project and UMass Professor of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences, Dr. Brian Howes and his colleagues are pushing the cutting edge of pulling together estuarine science and

public policy to save the coastline of southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.

The enormous price tag of restoration can lead to public policy paralysis, but credible science combined with insightful leadership can help bring consensus, well-reasoned solutions, and bold action.

“When it comes to restoring our estuaries, billions of dollars are at stake so you need a strong coalition of decision-makers at every level that will believe in the science. In a big project like this, where so much is at stake, there are going to be times when friends and colleagues disagree about the details. If you have science that people can trust, we can move through the political issues and move forward to restoration,” said Howes.

Using highly customized data collection and detailed model-ing science, UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Science and

Technology (SMAST) is out front in the intensely complicated and high stakes war against nitrogen pollution. SMAST, working with the state in the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, is pushing the national frontiers in estuary restoration, attracting national attention as coastal communities grapple with their polluted waterways.

As the fresh and salt waters swirl together in the coastal estu-aries they create dynamic breeding grounds and nurseries for plants, birds, fish, shellfish, amphibians, insects, and other marine life. Some spend their whole lives here; others just stay for critical stages before heading out to populate deeper seas.

But the once productive estuaries of Cape Cod, the Islands and Buzzards Bay are faltering under the weight of increasingly more concentrated development along their shores.

As populations along the coast and its watershed areas grew more robust in the last century, particularly in the decades after World War II, the health of the estuaries drastically declined. Increased nutrients, in large part nitrogen from inadequate sewer and septic systems, have worked their way to the sensitive estuaries, upsetting the ecosystems by lowering water quality and feeding algal blooms that kill plants and marine life. Eel grass beds die out, and with them go scallops, blue crabs and other sea creatures. The fish and birds that rely on them suffer. Fish and shellfish kills become common, beaches are fouled, real estate values and the coast quality of life declines.

The work done over the last decades by SMAST has finally

University team uses high-end science to address economic and environmental needs in the protection of the Massachusetts coastline.

“If you have science that people can trust, we can move through the politics and move forward to restoration.”

—Dr. Brian Howes

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gathered enough solidity and validity to begin turning the tide for the nearly 100 beleaguered embayments comprising the shoreline of southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. With the help of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project these coastal communities are beginning to design workable and affordable strategies to bring back the ecological health of their estuaries.

So far, SMAST has analyzed about 40 estuaries and should complete analysis on another 40 in the next three years, Howes said. He estimated that from $2 billion to $3 billion will be spent in estuary restoration in the next few decades along the South Shore, throughout Cape Cod and the Islands and down through southeastern Massachusetts.

“We need to come to grips with this problem and it’s a tough one,” said Senator Robert O’Leary, D-Barnstable, an early and staunch supporter of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project. “We’re talking about hundreds of millions, even billions, in expenditures and we are looking to the science that Brian and SMAST are producing to help show the way. One of the solutions is sewers but it’s expensive and we don’t want to sewer everything, espe-cially in places where it doesn’t make any sense to do it.”

A partnership between SMAST and the Massachusetts

Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Estuaries Project started in 2001. In its time, Howes estimated that the $12 million project has saved towns and cities an estimated $300 million by helping officials set thresholds and figure out res-toration strategies that provide the most benefit to the estuaries.

“The work that they do is high quality and leading edge,” said Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative based in Barnstable. Before joining the collaborative a few years ago, Gottlieb worked for nearly two decades with the state Department of Environmental Protection and was also chief of the Office for Commonwealth Development.

Coastal communities are under the regulatory gun to come up with sewerage and water quality plans aimed at reduce nutri-ent overloading. Federal and state officials along with environ-mental groups are pushing for action.

But budget-conscious taxpayers are also holding officials to greater scrutiny when it comes to spending. They don’t want to spend more than they have to, and they want to be sure that the plan is going to work. This is where the Massachusetts Estuaries Project plays a key role, tailoring the science to each estuary in a way that isn’t being done elsewhere.

“What SMAST is doing is providing communities with site-

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planned projects

current projects

completed projects

Buzzard's Bay

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specific information so they can form their response plans to water quality issues. This is not your general cookie cutter science,” said Gottlieb. He cites West Falmouth Harbor as an example of how this individualized science provided practical guidance.

“SMAST was able to tell them how much sewering needed to be done to restore the harbor, and the result was a small tac-tical expansion plan of homes near the water,” rather than a much larger treatment plant upgrade, Gottlieb said. “This is a great example of how the university system can use applied sci-ence that has direct regulatory benefits and also helps cities and towns solve real-world problems.”

This is exactly what SMAST wants to be doing, Howes said, bringing the work of science to bear on real-world matters. “As Chancellor Jean MacCormack has said, we are a service univer-sity. We do research to help solve problems. We do it with K-12 education; we do it for fisheries, or for estuarine ecology. We are just a piece of that,” said Howes.

Lead hydrologist for the Massachusetts Estuaries Project and senior researcher at SMAST, Roland Samimy describes what SMAST is doing and what other restoration models do as “the difference between a Rolls-Royce and a Pinto.”

Others use generic models and generic threshold amounts to

create estuary restoration management plans. These “cookie cutter” plans fall short when it comes to determining nitrogen sources and predicting how the estuaries will respond to com-munity action such as upgrading treatment plants, flushing out embayments, creating filtering marshlands or connecting homes to sewers. So short, in fact, that they are often off target by fifty percent or more, Samimy said. He said the protocols used in MEP most often come within 10 percent of their targets.

Through individual estuary and watershed sampling, SMAST helps officials determine what nitrogen levels will allow the estuary to return to health, pinpoint the most damaging sources of nitrogen, and find the most focused ways of reducing nitrogen to healthy levels.

“What we’re doing has real-world implications. How accu-rately we can determine this means communities do not have to reduce more than necessary and we can show them how they might reduce in innovative ways so they don’t have to sewer more than is necessary,” said Samimy.

In the MEP it takes several years of intensive sampling and testing and modeling for an estuary to set a restoration thresh-old for nitrogen and map out a management plan, Howes said.

“We come up with what would be restorative for a particular

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The estuaries of Southeastern MassachusettsThe harbors and bays of Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay and the Islands provide habitat and breeding grounds for birds, shellfish, sea grasses and important commercial fisheries. High nutrient levels, caused mostly by rapid population growth, threaten the health of these ecosystems that form where rivers flow into the sea. The Massachusetts Estuaries Project, a partnership between the state and UMass Dartmouth’s School of Marine Science and Technology, is using high-end science to evaluate each embayment and determine what towns and cities must to do to restore coastal waters to health.

Upper Cape Cod

Outer Cape Cod

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Jennifer Benson is a big fan of

eel grass. Not only does she

appreciate the sweeping eel

grass meadows against the Cape

Cod skyline, but she understands

that they provide a natural filter

for pollutants.

So, when the UMass

Dartmouth School of Marine

Science and Technology graduate

student, who has been sampling

water with the Massachusetts

Estuaries Project, noticed that the

eel grass was dying due to nitro-

gen she began transplanting eel

grass shoots along the coast.

“I have transplants all over

Cape Cod and southeastern

Massachusetts,” she said.

Using light, water and sedi-

ment samples, Benson is measur-

ing levels of light, nitrogen and

oxygen at each of her eel grass

gardening plots trying to figure

out thresholds under which the

aquatic plant will thrive. She has

also outfitted each spot with light

meters to track how much light is

getting to the plants.

Basically when too much

nitrogen concentrates in one

area, phytoplankton levels build

up in the surface waters, creating

turbid waters that block sunlight

from getting to the eel grass

beds. When the phytoplankton

die, they drift to the bottom,

creating even more problems as

bacteria degrade the small algae

and consume massive amounts

of oxygen in the process. Larger

algae, called macro algae, also

get in the act, essentially bullying

the more delicate eel grass out of

what little light there is left.

“If you’re a benthic creature

like a crab then you can crawl

away, but the eel grass can’t

walk away. The eel grass just

dies,” said Benson. “We con-

centrated a lot on nitrogen and

its effects. It became clear that

too much nitrogen leads to

impairment and degradation,

and you see that. In so many

places, the eel grass is dead.”

In her work on eel grass

Benson hopes to gather informa-

tion that will aid communities with

their estuarine restoration efforts.

“How much light does eel grass

really need? How much nitrogen

is too much? How much dissolved

oxygen is right?” Benson said.

“We want to get closer to the

thresholds for eel grass surviv-

ability, the more accurate the

thresholds the more targeted the

solution and the lower the cost.”

She has plugged her under-

water transplants in at four

different kinds of habitats: areas

with healthy conditions, areas

with degraded conditions, areas

where eel grass grew before 1995

but not since, and areas where

eel grass grew before 1950 but

hasn’t been successful since.

Interestingly, Benson’s trans-

plants have not flourished in areas

where eel grass has not grown

since the 1950s. However, she has

had some success in areas where

eel grass has only been missing

since the 1990s.

One such place is in Chatham

Harbor, by Tern Island and the

newly formed breach. When she

transplanted eel grass there a

few years ago, Benson said, the

bottom was just coarse sand.

She put in her 50 shoots in a half

meter square spot, which have

now spread to become more than

100 plants and home to baby

lobsters and crabs, Benson said.

“This is consistent with our obser-

vations of improved water quality

due to the increased tidal flushing

from the breach.”

As communities move ahead

with estuary management and

restoration, Benson hopes her

work with eel grass with have

significant practical applications.

“How can we get eel grass

to grow again? Once we address

some of the water quality issues,

when a system is ready, what can

we do to get eel grass to grow?”

Benson wondered. She hopes to

answer some of those questions

with her research, and is already

formulating new questions in the

world of estuarine restoration:

“How can we speed up that pro-

cess? Instead of just waiting for

nature to send out its eel grass

seed. Can we go in and transplant

it and give it a head start?”

Bringing back Massachusetts’ meadows of eel grass

Dr. Brian Howes, lead scientist for the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, and graduate student Jennifer Benson monitor water quality in the waters off John Reed Road in Westport.

13


W hile SMAST works to restore

estuaries to the healthy levels

of the past, the university has

launched a $3 million endowment cam-

paign aimed at continuing coastal protec-

tion into the future.

The endowment fund would create

the Center for Estuarine Evaluation and

Restoration which would provide stable,

ongoing support for the critical work of

the UMass School for Marine Science and

Technology. The center will support fac-

ulty and students in their education and

research into innovative approaches to

coastal restoration. The center will also be

a resource for up-to-date science, research,

and innovations for citizens and officials in

local and other coastal communities.

“This is critical if we are to steward

these precious environmental

resources for the use and enjoyment

of future generations,” said Dr. Howes,

SMAST’s scientific leader to the

Massachusetts Estuaries Program,

a partnership of SMAST and the state

Department of Environmental Protection.

A contribution of $3 million will

endow a fund designed to provide long-

term financial stability for the Center for

Estuarine Evaluation and Restoration,

including a naming opportunity to the

donor recognizing this commitment and

financial investment. At the discretion of

the dean of SMAST in conjunction with

the advice of the center director, income

from the endowment will be used to pro-

vide broad support for faculty, students,

and program alike.

“Using our scientific expertise to

serve the people and communities of

the Commonwealth is central to our mis-

sion as a university, so we are pleased

to make this bold commitment to pro-

tecting and preserving our most fragile

natural resources,” said Chancellor Jean F.

MacCormack.

For more information on the endowment,

contact Michael Eatough in the Office of

Institutional Advancement at meatough@

umassd.edu or 508.999.8311.

system, and then the municipalities and engineers can shift into implementation mode,” said Samimy. But SMAST’s usefulness doesn’t end there. As towns try to figure out the next steps, SMAST’s knowledge of their estuaries and how they work becomes even more valuable. For instance, it may seem logical to make a town upgrade its sewerage treatment plant and con-nect every home to town sewers, but what SMAST is finding is that towns can actually achieve their goals of restoration using softer solutions or by sewering only sections of towns that make a difference in nitrogen loading.

New Bedford Harbor is another example of how SMAST’s science made a practical and positive difference. In the 1990s, as New Bedford worked to comply with the Clean Water Act of 1987 and complete construction of its secondary treatment wastewater facility, where to put the main discharge pipe became a hot button and big ticket issue.

“Intuitively you might think it would be better to discharge off-shore. But it turned out that our analysis showed that not to be the case,” said Howes. Analysis showed that siting the outfall further offshore in Buzzards Bay would not help the nutrients disperse any better and would provide no benefit to the estuaries.

“That’s $70 million saved by science,” said Howes whose work with volunteer monitoring programs over the last 22 years has extended to nearly every estuary in the region. His work with the Buzzards Bay Coalition in the last 17 years has helped marshal hundreds of trained volunteers to monitor water qual-ity from Woods Hole to Westport, allowing scientists access to high quality, extensive and detailed ecological data.

Although the New Bedford work was done before the Massachusetts Estuaries Project began, it was the precursor to MEP, using estuary-specific science to show how the harbor would respond to the nitrogen load if an outfall pipe were off-

shore or stayed inshore, said Howes.“What we’re able to do is give answers to the ‘what if,’

scenarios,” Howes said.Last year, the state Division of Marine Fisheries opened more

than 1,000 acres in outer New Bedford Harbor to shellfishing, beds in areas of Buzzards Bay that had been closed for more than 40 years.

Brian Dudley DEP, municipal liaison to the MEP, said SMAST “provides the scientific basis for good planning.” It helps quantify the problem, trace it back to its roots and select the best solutions. “Then we’re able to take and translate that information into developing the total maximum daily loads allowed under the Clean Water Act. This allows us to assist towns with their wastewater and nutrient management pro-grams,” Dudley said.

SMAST is quickly gaining a reputation in this emerging field of science in estuary restoration.

Recently Howes and Samimy were asked to work with the state of Florida and bring SMAST’s know-how to bear on ben-thic flux of nutrients off the estuarine sediments in the St. Lucie River estuaries. This has grown into a formal alliance with the Applied Research Center at Florida International University on estuary restoration science, which Samimy is coordinating.

“This is a unique partnership of public universities focused on solving coastal issues,” Samimy said.

Howes praised local and state leadership and cooperation for allowing science to drive public policy and move restoration work ahead. “There is near universal agreement that our coast-line is one of our most valuable economic and cultural resources,” Howes said. “We just can’t afford to lose it.”

Natalie White is a freelance writer

Endowing the Center for Estuarine Evaluation and Restoration

14


15

U M a s s D a r t m o u t h M a g a z i n e | F a l l 2 0 0 9U M a s s D a r t m o u t h M a g a z i n e | F a l l 2 0 0 9

U M A S S D A R T M O U T H

This year, Homecoming combined with Family

and Friends Weekend as a signature event

for the university. Alumni, family members

and students gathered at the traditional Home-

coming competitions and a new “Top Slice” pizza

tasting event on Friday night. On Saturday there

were lectures, performers, the crowning of King

Gaudreau and Queen Laura Cabucio, and the big

football game against Plymouth State.

Over 500 people came home to our campus

to remember the past, learn about our present,

and make plans for the future. We look forward

to seeing those of you we missed at next year’s

event on September 24-26!

16


The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives Opening

Housing the largest Portuguese-American collection of historical documents in the nation, the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives opened in September

at UMass Dartmouth’s Claire T. Carney Library.Documenting the experience of Portuguese immigrants and

their descendents in the United States, the archives are named for the pioneer Portuguese-language radio and newspaper personality, Affonso Gil Mendes Ferreira, whose daughter Otilia Ferreira is the archives’ lead benefactor.

UMass Dartmouth, located in a region with one of the largest Portuguese-American communities in the country, is a fitting home for the archives.

“The Portuguese-American community has been central to

the economic, social and cultural development of our region, Commonwealth, and world,” said Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack.

“This new archive will be a place where past and current contribu-tions of this population are studied so that they are fully under-stood and appreciated.”

National in scope, the Archives house papers of Portuguese-Americans distinguished in the arts, politics, business, law, enter-tainment and literature. Its holdings include books, photographs, genealogical records, newspapers, and other documents. The Archives also features collected works such as newspaper edtions, the literary papers of immigrant author Alfred Lewis, the Ferreira- Mendes Radio Recordings and the American-Portuguese Genealogical and Historical Society Collection.

17


The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives Opening

Ribbon cutting ceremony on previous page included (l-r): Claire T. Carney ’73, Ambassador João de Vallara, Representative Tony Cabral ’78, Justina Ferreira ’87, Otilia Ferreira ’87, Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack, Representative John Quinn ’85, Representative Stephen Canessa, Paulo Cunha Alves, Consul Géneral of Portugal.

(left) Case displays memorabilia of Affonso Gil Mendes Ferreira.

Enjoying the event above are: (l-r) Professor Andrea Klimt, Professor Michael Baum, Kevin Costa, and Kimberly daCosta Holton.

(left) Pedro Bicudo, Director of Azorean Public Television addresses the gathering.

(far left) Ambassador João de Vallara, Justina Ferreira ’87, and Otilia Ferreira ’87 listen to the Chancellor.

18


By Lauren Daley

T he Frederick Douglas Unity House was opened 14 years ago to provide the rising number of African-American and Cape Verdean students a

sanctuary...and it succeeded. Countless alumni credit the center as a critical support structure during their develop-ment as citizens and professionals.

But today, one year after Barack Obama became the first African-American president, the unity in Unity House is taking on a new definition.

“When I got to the university in 2007, there was a sense

Following the election of the

nation’s first African-American

president, there was great hope

for a renewed sense of unity across

the land. How is the Frederick

Douglas Unity House responding

to the challenge and opportunity?

One year after Obama’s election—Unity House focuses on multiculturalism

19


One year after Obama’s election—Unity House focuses on multiculturalism

Whether it’s a jazz ensemble performance,an introduction to ethnic foods, or one of the many cultural and academic events scheduled throughout the year, Unity House Director Keith Wilder and Associate Director Renée Pocknet-Lopes (previous page) seek to offer programs that will appeal to everyone.

20


that Unity House was only for blacks. As the university evolves—and the national scene is changing with Barack Obama becoming president—the goal is to have the house become more multi-cul-tural,” said Keith Wilder, director of Unity House and Assistant Dean of Students at UMass Dartmouth.

“Obama is a progressive thinker when it comes to race. We at Unity House want to match the progressive nature of the new administration. We’re shadowing what we see Obama doing,” Wilder said.

“Black students will always be part of the main mission of what we do in Unity House, but now we want to include students of all races. So I was asked to come in and change the image of Unity House, both physically and philosophically,” Wilder said.

As for physical changes, Wilder and a crew repainted the whole house, tore down partitions, installed a computer lab and printers, a sound system, big-screen plasma TV and comfy furniture, and built a stage for university programs.

As for philosophical changes?Wilder and staff are urging every campus group, club and

student of every ethnicity to use Unity House for their own functions, and to attend the house’s regular programming, such as tutoring and study nights, banquets, dance lessons, panel discussions, movie nights, and cultural forums.

“Since I’ve been there, we’ve added at least 100 different programs run by different campus groups,” Wilder said.

For example, the Chinese Student Association used it for its end-of-the-year banquet in 2009. Some 200 Chinese com-munity members joined together for a potluck dinner at Unity House. And in April 2008, Unity House hosted a Jewish Seder, with food supplied by the New Bedford chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women.

“We want the underlying theme of every program to be about human connectedness,” said Renée Lopes-Pocknett, associate director of Unity House since 2005.

Lopes-Pocknett works one-on-one with many students at Unity House, whether that’s counseling them, helping them with homework or financial aid forms, or just chatting with them throughout the day.

“Unity House was founded on the principle of being a multicultural institution,” she said. “We continue to help our students understand their commonalities, whether they’re Haitian or Cape Verdean, Nigerian or African-American, Chinese or Cambodian, West-Indian, Venezuelan or Dominican, Wampanoag or Italian.”

Lopes-Pocknett has seen a huge increase in the diversification of students at Unity House in the past five years. “I’ve seen mas-sive changes,” she said.

She and Wilder formed a multicultural student board; implemented “Difficult Dialogues,” a program that focuses on inclusion; and started Monthly Awareness Recognition Activities, where they recognize a different group each month such as Native American Month, Hispanic Heritage Month,

and Women’s History Month.They’re also planning a Multicultural

Youth Symposium for 2010, with the goal of inviting area high school juniors and seniors to stay on campus for a two-day symposium, ending with a banquet din-ner where they hope to offer scholarships to Umass Dartmouth, Wilder said.

Unity House had great success attract-ing multicultural students with two pro-grams last year that it plans to run again in 2010.

The first is “Lessons in Leadership,” an aggressive approach to create leadership opportunity for UMass Dartmouth students who might not otherwise get involved in student activities. Targeting non-traditional students, such as married students, older people returning to school, and the dis-abled, Unity House had 19 students go through a 9-week course on developmental leadership last year.

Another huge hit that will be back this year was Saturday Night Mike, during which students can express themselves with poetry, music or other talent on the Unity House stage.

And as usual, Unity House will host local educators, authors, activists, musicians, poets, and other artisans “to encourage students to view the world around them from a variety of lenses,” Lopes-Pocknett said.

“Like President Obama, we aim to present an open minded-ness to difference, and display a willingness to learn from others and to listen to others,” she said.

The Frederick Douglass Unity House Facebook page has 114 members of various ethnic backgrounds. The page reads:

“Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist, women’s suffragist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer—Frederick Douglass Unity House is a tribute to the man and his

Alexandre Chery (left) and Francis Chavula take a study break between classes.

“It’s a wonderful experience

to have a place here on

campus where you know

students will be integrated

and not separated.”

— Alexandre Chery, class of 2011, finance

21


he Frederick Douglass Unity House seeks to expose and educate UMass Dartmouth’s students, staff and faculty to a global perspective. To do this, Director Keith Wilder has what he calls “SSS” —Surface, Significant and Signature— programs.

SUrfACE PrOgrAMS In these types of programs, participants are invited to come together at The Unity House to explore diversity in a social atmosphere. These programs include:

• Stop the Hate, awareness campaign

• Open houses

• Food, fun and student support events

• Cultural displays

SIgNIfICANT PrOgrAMS These programs are characterized by relationship building and include:

• One-on-one counseling

• Advising

• Career presentations

• Cultural student organizations support

• Leadership opportunities

• Work-Study

• Tutoring

• Academic collaborations

• Community outreach events

• 3rd-Eye events

• Guest speakers

• UMD Public Safety jam sessions: awareness /relationship building

SIgNATUrE EVENTSThese programs seek to create opportunities for participants to explore complex issues in a safe and structured environment. These programs encourage self introspection and seek to introduce students to the world of ideas and leadership:

• Lessons in Leadership programs

• Learning to Listen

• Service learning

• Social justice forums

• Religion and ethics news weekly

Programs at Unity House

Renée Pocknett-Lopes, assistant director, often counsels students in her Unity House office. (below) Students take advantage of the Unity House computer lab.

22


beliefs. Make yourself at home, come back often.”The Facebook group describes Unity House as “a place to

enjoy the company of friends, learn about other cultures, (and) be exposed to different viewpoints… Here a student can study, enjoy music, have coffee, play chess, relax, meet people, check out books, gain insights, foster personal development and feel cared about.”

Stephanie Mireku, a UMass Dartmouth junior of Ghanaian descent, has been involved in Unity House programs since her freshman year.

“Their events encourage diversity and cultural exchange on campus and offer new perspectives to the campus community,” said Mireku, 20, an English major and Spanish minor.

“It was established on the premises of unity and integrity, values that Frederick Douglass embodied; hopefully it will con-tinue this legacy for years to come,” she said.

Alexandre Chery, a junior of Haitian decent majoring in Finance, said he’s “truly grateful for Unity House.”

“I vistited Unity House when I toured the campus in high school, and it had a major influence in my decision of attending UMass Dartmouth,” said Chery, 20.

“Unity House, as well as Mr. Wilder and Renee Pocknett-Lopes, are very welcoming and a great help. Unity House has estab-lished me as an individual and aided me for the past three years. Programs they have established, such as ‘Lessons in Leadership,’ were able to assist me in my leadership roles here on campus,” said Chery, vice president of the Sigma Phi Rho Fraternity.

“At Unity House, I was able to learn more about my Haitian heritage,” he said. “Unity House stresses the importance of accepting and exposing different cultures and backgrounds here on campus.

“Unfortunately, I came from a high school where a large population of the student body segregated themselves, and it’s amazing to see that’s not the case at Unity House,” Chery said.

“It’s a wonderful experience to have a place here on campus where you know students will be integrated and not separated.”

Lauren Daley is a freelance writer

(above) Students learn leadership skills in a “Lessons in Leadership” forum sponsored Unity House. Speakers often include faculty such as (l-r) John Fobanjong, Anne Kirschmann, and Mark Santow pictured here.

23

U M a s s D a r t m o u t h F a l l 2 0 0 9

Job, family and go back to school? Sure, it’s a balancing act.

World Class. Within Reach.

There’s no tr ick to gett ing a degree. I t ’s hard work, espe-

cial ly i f you’re holding down a job and have a family. Who

has the t ime? For that you need a level headed approach

that makes taking classes convenient—and affordable.

That’s what you’ l l f ind with the Graduate Studies program

and Professional and Continuing Education courses at

UMass Dartmouth.

Choose from a wide range of subjects in business, f ine

arts, engineering, nursing, marine sciences, and educa-

t ion. Or focus on one of our more than 25 graduate degree

and cert i f icate programs l ike our Charlton Col lege MBA,

Master of Arts in Teaching, Init ia l Teacher Licensure,

Master of Arts in Psychology —Applied Behavior Analysis

Option, Master of Publ ic Pol icy, and PhD programs in

areas l ike Biomedical Engineering and Bio-Tech.

Best of all, UMass Dartmouth offers a great balance of top

quality education at a price that won’t upset your equilibrium.

Learn more about the Graduate Studies or Professional and

Continuing Education program at UMass Dartmouth by visiting

umassd.edu. See how we’re putting world class education

within reach.

24


The College of Nursing plans new doctorate program

One of the biggest problems in American health care right now is the critical nursing shortage, particularly, the shortage of nursing educators.

The College of Nursing at UMass Dartmouth expects to play a leadership role in addressing this problem by continuing to build its graduate programs.

The college welcomed its first PhD candi-dates in 2008 and now is planning a new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program that will replace the master’s degree for Advanced Practice Nurses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and other nursing organizations have proposed that by 2015 the DNP is the minimum requirement to take the certifying examinations as advanced practice nurses, said College of Nursing Dean James A. Fain, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, FAAN. The change comes in order to meet the increasingly complex de-mands in primary care to manage sicker and frailer patients in their homes and ambulatory or office practices. The school is anticipating opening the DNP program in 2011-12, Fain said.

Gail Russell, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, director of the graduate program at the College of Nursing at UMD called the new DNP program “a significant challenge to be more innovative and creative in the way we deliver high quality education that meets the needs of our students and our colleagues in the health care community.”

The PhD program is already a success in just its second year with eight matriculated students and 12 applicants for

the spring. The enrollment target is six to eight students per year. The program was designed to prepare nurses to make the transition to university teaching and research. According to Dr. Russell, “Our PhD program addresses the critical shortage of nursing faculty. It prepares the next generation of nurse educa-tors to teach and conduct research with a special focus on inno-vation in caring for people living with chronic illness.”

Established in 1969, UMD’s College of Nursing today enrolls more than 650 students in BS, RN-to-BS, RN Refresher, MS, and PhD programs of study. It employs 30 full-time faculty members and some 40 part-time faculty members.

Dean Fain’s goals for the coming years are to build a new simulation lab, expand online learning, and continue to strengthen relationships with hospitals in the region.

“There is a current nursing shortage, and in response, hospitals will have to work towards increased recruitment and reten-tion in nursing by improving work environ-ments, increasing job satisfaction, and

drawing new nurses into the field,” Fain said. “We are trying to collaborate and build bridges across campus and beyond,” Fain said. “Partnering with hospitals throughout the region will benefit nurses at the hospitals, along with our faculty and students.”

“To me, nursing is one of the most optimistic of sciences,” Fain said. “All that we do is based on the assumption that human car-ing makes a difference in the health of individuals and societies. The impact that nursing makes on the health of individuals and societies is great. The potential that nursing has to improve health care is even greater.”

For more information, visit www.umassd.edu/nursing/

By Lauren Daley

“The impact that nursing

makes on the health of

individuals and societies

is great. The potential that

nursing has to improve

health care is even greater.”

—James Fain, dean

Responding to national nursing needs and trends, the College of Nursing offers innovative programs to prepare students for the challenges of health care. Michelle MaMahon (left), an assistant nursing professor at Curry College, is among the first class of PhD nursing candidates. Like Michelle, sophomore nurs-ing students (l-r) Jared Louw and Patrick Ferguson, two of a growing number of men in the program, have chosen a career that offers expanded opportunities.

25


George Henry Aulson IV ’08 was one frightened 11 year old when he had to have his appendix removed as a child. His team of nurses and doctors took away not

only the offending organ but also his fear, leaving him with a wish to help ease the pain of others.

“As a child, knowing I was going to be cut open, that was pretty scary. But my stress and anxiety were relieved by the great nurses and doctors I had. So much so, that it encouraged me to want to do the same for others,” said Aulson ’08, now 23.

One of a growing number of male nurses graduating from the UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing, Aulson, CPN, RN, followed his childhood wish through nursing school and today is a pediatric nurse at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore, MD.

“My mom was a nurse, and we’d always watch “ER” growing up. But since my operation at age 11, I knew nursing was what I was meant to do,” Aulson said.

The Peabody native said UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing helped him reach his goal well prepared and with a solid foundation to face the real-world issues of nursing.

“We go through hard things all the time—but I was so involved at UMD that it prepared me for everything from con-flict resolution to working with pregnant teens,” Aulson said.

“On my pediatric rotations, we went to rehab centers; we went to schools; we got a well-rounded education.”

Calling his educa-tion and experience at UMass Dartmouth

“amazing,” Aulson said he took full advantage of the university’s oppor-tunities in and out of class. He was an active member of the Student Nurses Club, an assis-tant resident director, the graduate treasurer of the Grand Lodge, a brother of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, a mem-ber of the swim team, captain of the swimming and diving team, and a peer health educator.

“My involvement at UMD prepared me to work with the real world and the real world of nursing. It prepared me to work with people of different sexual orientations, ethnicities, abili-ties, religions, and race,” Aulson said. “I also learned many skills such as conflict resolution, motivational interviewing,

and being able to work in a group, which is extremely impor-tant in the real world—especially as a nurse.”

College of Nursing Dean James A. Fain, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, FAAN, said Aulson “exemplified a nurse” and remembers him as a motivated student.

“George passed his pediatric nurse certification exam, CPN, in one year, where most people take two or three,” Fain said.

Both Fain and Aulson said the old stereotypes of male doc-tors and female nurses are fading.

“Male nurses are becoming more popular,” said Fain. “Males make up 12 percent of our nursing program. It used to hover around 8 percent.”

Aulson said he has noticed more men are interested in nursing and are choosing it as a career.

“It’s becoming more accepted, and even preferred,” he said. “I really encourage male nurses to pursue pediatrics because, while there are many male doctors, there are few male figures involved in the (bedside) care of a child.”

While Aulson knew early on that he wanted to be a nurse, he discovered his interest in pediatrics while studying at UMass Dartmouth.

“It wasn’t until my pediatric clinical at St. Luke’s Hospital (in New Bedford) when a little four-year-old girl with pneu-monia thanked me for taking care of her, that I knew I really

wanted to help chil-dren become better. I will never forget that little ‘thank you’ and I always think about it when I am having a bad day,” he said.

Aulson said he loves being a pediatric nurse. While the job can be tough, the rewards are great. He knows he has chosen the right field when a child calls him a hero, when parents thank him for taking care of their child or when a patient smiles

at one of his jokes, forgetting fear for a moment.“I may have trouble pronouncing some diagnosis, recalling

the exact acronym, doing an overhead page, giving a report without laughing about the way I said something,” Aulson said.

“But I’m good at making a patient or family member smile.”

Lauren Daley is a freelance writer.

George Aulson, a serious former nursing student, knows his pediatric patients and families appreciate it when he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Bringing smiles to young patients ’08 alum’s “amazing” UMD experience prepared him for Johns Hopkins


Alu

mn

i n

ew

s26

W hen Jeff Macchi was deciding on a college, playing two sports was very important.

A two-sport star at Franklin High School, Macchi was recruited by several schools. An NCAA Division II school was offering a partial scholarship for baseball, but basketball was probably out of the question. A few other Division III schools were in the mix as well, but when it was time to make a decision, UMass Dartmouth was the choice.

“It was during basketball season when I started looking at schools, so basketball was important,” said Macchi, a senior marketing major. “But my brother Joe played baseball at UMass Dartmouth, so I realized I could play two sports there.”

For as long as he can remember, Macchi and his four brothers and sisters had been playing as many sports as possible.

Except for a brief stint of organized football, Macchi settled on baseball and basketball in high school. He twice earned Hockomock League Most Valuable Player honors in basketball and was a star player in both sports. With talent like that, it wasn’t surprising that college coaches came calling, including Brian Baptiste, head men’s basketball coach.

“(Assistant Coach) Len Desautels first saw Jeff play and he told me the kid was a great player,” said Baptiste. “So I went

to see him play the first time and thought he was OK. I saw him play a few more times and after a while I realized he was fantastic. I took me a few visits to really appreciate what he can do. He is a great athlete.”

In his first season with the Corsair basketball team, Baptiste used Macchi off the bench, quickly realizing he had a gem. Macchi moved into the starting line up as a sophomore and has remained there ever since. Last year, Macchi was one of the keys to UMass Dartmouth’s 27-4 season which led to a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament’s Sweet 16. Macchi averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 2.1 assists per game and was named to the Little East Conference All-Defensive Team.

When the Corsairs were knocked out of the NCAA tournament last March by DeSales, 67-59, it was only the beginning of a 48-hour sports odyssey for Macchi. While his baseball teammates (including brother Joe, a graduate student and assistant baseball coach) were already on a plane to Florida for the opening of baseball season, Macchi returned to campus. He quickly traded in his basketball gear for baseball equipment and hopped on a flight to Florida.

Less than 48 hours after playing

in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basket-ball Tournament, Macchi was in the starting lineup for UMass Dartmouth for its third game of the new baseball season. An 0-5 performance against Westfield State wasn’t the start Macchi was looking for but it didn’t take him long to adjust. A pair of hits and three runs batted in the next day was the beginning of a great baseball season.

“Halfway through my second game I started to feel comfortable,” said Macchi. “I hadn’t swung a bat in weeks. It was hard enough to get into the weight room in between basketball and baseball practice never mind practice any baseball. But it was a trade off I was willing to make.”

Once he found his swing, Macchi got up to speed quickly, hitting .375 in 36 games including a pair of home runs and 31 RBI. He also went 13-14 in stolen bases and did not have an error in center field.

When the college baseball season was over in May, it didn’t take long for Macchi to climb up the competition ladder, signing a contract to play for the New Bedford Bay Sox in the prestigious New England Collegiate Baseball League. Facing some of the top collegiate baseball players from around the country was a challenge, especially facing top-notch pitching every night. But Macchi’s talents kept him in the batting order and led to a successful season for the Bay Sox.

“Playing two sports is an accom-plishment most people don’t get to do,” said Macchi. “When I tell people about my college experience I make sure to mention that UMass Dartmouth gave me that chance.”

Jim Mullins is the Administrative Assistant/Promotion & Public Information

Hoops and hits: two sports brought Jeff Macchi to UMD

27C l a s s N o t e s

Class Notes We want to hear from you—send us your news—www.umassd.edu/alumni/or Alumni Association, 285 Old Westport Rd., N. Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300

’50s Dr. Albin “Al” Turbak ’51, textile chemistry, Atlanta,

published an article on “How and Why Americans Have Lost Half of Their Retirement Savings,” in the Sandy Springs Neighbor newspaper.

Frederick McDonald ’55, textile engineering, Fall River, served the Alumni Association board of directors since 1996 and completed his fourth term in June 2009. McDonald continues his service to UMass Dartmouth as a member and the vice president of the UMD Retirement Association which is made up of retired faculty, staff, and alumni pioneer society members.

Bernard Forcier ’59, civil engi-neering, Export, PA, completed twenty years of teaching railroad track and roadway fundamentals, inspection, and maintenance for the US Army Corps of Engineers and taught an eight-day course attended by civil service personnel, army reservists, and contractors from stateside bases, Alaska, Germany, and Korea.

’60s Fellow members of the class of 1960: In 2010, we will

be celebrating our 50th reunion! Please contact your committee chair Donald G. Wood ’60 at 508.675.0680 or 508.678.2811 ext. 2302 or e-mail him at [email protected] if you would like to be on the planning committee. Contact him with your celebration ideas for this wonderful milestone or just say “hello!”

William Leger ’61, mechanical engineering, Marlborough, CT, retired from Combustion Engineering/Westinghouse Nuclear Power business in 2001. Bill was re-hired by

Westinghouse as a consultant four months later. He notes the nuclear business is quite busy —

“no bailouts here”—and recom-mends new graduates apply.

Donald Plant ’61, mathematics, Middleboro, notes ‘the times they are changing.’ Even in the depressed economy and retired with a fixed income, he chal-lenges all alumni to match his $50 monthly pledge to UMass Dartmouth and “to give others the chance you had!”

James Brownell ’62, textile technology, Sun City Center, FL,has been enjoying retirement for 14 years now and staying extremely active with golf, swimming, traveling, community and church activities.

William A. Fontes ’64, manage-ment, E. Falmouth, a former CFO, has retired to Cape Cod to enjoy leisure time with family and friends.

Carolyn M. Beaulieu Rye ’65, accounting, Hampton, NH. Forty-four years ago Carolyn married Walter Beaulieu, a former Portsmouth High School teacher and coach. They have three adult children: Brian, Aaron, and Bridgette. Beaulieu has three grandchildren in North Carolina with a fourth born last December in Great Britain. She is self-employed in Rye, NH having worked with Ciborowski Associates for more than thirty-five years, maintaining their accounts and representing their holdings in the Seacoast of NH, Concord, NH, and Massachusetts. Her hobbies include reading, photography, and painting, as well as walking, biking, canoeing, and tennis. She is on the board of directors of The Learning Skills Academy, a private, nonprofit school, providing services for children with learning disabilities from NH, MA, and ME.

50th YEAr rEUNIONCLASS OF 1960

❄ holiday gifts ❅Star Store Gallery open Mon–Fri, 9-5

715 Purchase Street, New Bedford



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Russell Jackson ’68, business administration, Southport, ME, retired from Graybar Electric after 37 years, finishing his career as district purchasing manager in Boston. He has moved from Massachusetts to Maine near Boothbay Harbor.

Robert Machado ’68, math-ematics, Tustin, CA, has been nominated for Tustin Man of the Year. Robert heads a committee putting on ‘Broadway in the Park’ in Tustin.

Deacon Robert Snigger ’68, textile technology, Temple, TX, executive director of St. Vincent DePaul of Greater Temple, reports expanding ministry to assist the needs of immigrants through collaboration with Catholic Charities of the diocese. Bob has been reassigned to St. Mary Catholic Church where he will serve as permanent deacon.

’70s Roger Dugal ’70, history, Somerset, has retired from

teaching at Diman Regional Vocational High School in Fall River. Roger serves as the president of the Southern New England School of Law Alumni Association.

Robert Lavery ’70, painting/2D studies, Barnstable, retired art teacher at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, is active in the art scene on Cape Cod. This past summer Tex taught a work-shop at the Falmouth Art Guild and exhibited his artwork at the Yarmouth Art Center for the Arts.

David Mello ’70, management, Austin, TX, married to Diane P. Mello, works for AT&T as a purchasing agent. David sends greetings to all his Delta Kappa Phi Brothers–Gator, Ned, Gins– and he invites them to look him up when in Texas.

Donald Brody ’71, management, Bridgman, MI, retired after 37 years with Hubbell, Inc. where he was the vice president of sales for the electrical products group. Don spends his winters in Florida and his summers in Michigan bicycling and hiking. He sends greetings to all his fraternity brothers from “DK.” He can be reached at [email protected].

John Arrington ’73, political science, Bristol, CT, has retired as the senior vice president of human resources at Barnes Group Inc. after 11 years. John also worked as the vice president of human resources for both US West Communications and elec-trical distribution and control at General Electric.

Thomas Duval ’73, management, Hingham, completed 32 years of working in higher education at Boston University. He wishes to "thank Dean Howard, Dean Carreiro and Richard Waring for encouraging and supporting my career. Go UMD Basketball!"

Brian Ferguson ’73, English, Swansea, Thomas D’Arruda ’72, English, Somerset, work together as antique dealers in business in Providence. Ferguson & D’Arruda manage five antiques shows: Little Compton Antiques Show in RI, Golden Ball Tavern Show in Weston, MA, Antiques Al Fresco in Darien, CT, Mount Hope Farm’s Garden and Antiques Fair in Bristol, RI, as well as the East Hampton Antiques Show in East Hampton, NY.

Barry Fisher ’73, electrical engineering, Charlton, and his wife celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a trip to Vancouver, BC. They have three grandchildren: Traves, Keith and Lily.

John Gushue ’73, civil engineer-ing, E. Freetown, has relocated his law office to New Bedford.

Ronald G. Reeves ’74, English, Seekonk, retired from his posi-tion as head of Reference Dept. at the Barrington, RI Public Library, after nearly 32 years.

Rodney Taylor ’75, marine biol-ogy, New Bedford, MS Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, PhD fisheries biology, University of Washington, Seattle, is the president and owner of Taylor Cultured Seafood, a Fairhaven-based shellfish farm company that raises beautiful bay scallops and oysters which are praised by well-known chefs. His company sells wholesale to various restau-rants throughout New England.

David Almeida ’76, management, New Bedford, works as the facili-ties manager for Lockheed Martin.

Donna Catalan ’76, marketing, Fall River, has been selling real estate for about 20 years and joined ReMax in October. She was named the agent of the week in August. Before selling real estate, she was a property manager for many large develop-ments in the city. She opened Lafayette Place and managed President Village, Hathaway Commons and the Hudner Building. In 1987, she worked for the Point Gloria condominium complex on the city’s waterfront.

Tom Donnelly ’76, biology, Changzhou, China, retired after 30 years of teaching in the USA and now teaches at the Changzhou Senior High School of Jiangsu Province, China. Tom has his profile on Classmates.com.

Phil Oliveira ’76, painting/2D, ’77 art history, Uxbridge, Guitars Will Travel is a UMD alumni guitar duo with three distinct styles and sets of music: acoustic quieter music, acoustic/electric blues, and rock/rockin’ blues electric. Find their music at myspace.com/guitarstravel and book them for your events.

Do you have enoughLife Insurance? Unsure of how muchyou need?

There’s a quick and easy wayto find out—from the privacyof your own computer. Visitwww.AlumniLife.org/CALC

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Gerald Delisle ’77, political science, Portsmouth, RI, follows politics and the news closely and works as the caretaker of the Julia Ward Howe House and farms the old Thurstan land.

Carol Redfern ’79, accounting, Somerset, was named the director of operations at Cornell-Dubilier Electronics in New Bedford.

’80s JoAnn Diverdi ’81, visual design, W. Boylston, published

her first book, The Cookies That Sonny Likes & Other Authentic Recipes of Delicious Homemade Italian Cookies. Once everyone I knew from SMU who remembers just how little I liked being in the kitchen can stop laughing; I en-courage them to visit my website, www.thecookiesthatsonnylikes.com. I’m happily living in central Massachusetts with my husband Stephen and my two beautiful children, Ariana and Matthew.

Herve Letourneau ’81, accounting, Wichita, KS, works as a shuttle driver for Hilton Hotel. He meets corporate jet pilots from all over the world. They come every six months to be recertified by the FAA so they can fly in U.S. airspace. Herve has met Alice Cooper and Harrison Ford.

Laura DaFonseca ’85, account-ing, Swansea, an accountant with Piccerelli, Gilstein & Co. in Providence, has been elected to serve on the UMD Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Antone Karam ’86,’87, computer science, MS electrical engineering, Tiverton, RI, wrote code for five years for Lotus. Tony started his own company, AGKSOFT, which sells back-office and accounting software for gas stations, coveni- ence stores, and similar businesses. Tony purchased an historic 1898 home which he has been reno-vating since 2006. He and his

wife Karen, and their two chil-dren, moved in in 2007. “When it’s all done and I retire,” he said,

“you’ll see me out in the garden.”

Robert Rocha Jr. ’87, biology, Acushnet, works as the science programs manager at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. He was elected president of the Massachusetts Marine Educators at the organization’s annual meeting. Prior to joining the program, Rocha taught science at Fairhaven High School and served as the education coordi-nator for Buzzard’s Bay.

Scott Tingle ’87, mechanical engineering, Hollywood, MD, was selected by NASA to begin astronaut training. He is a Commander in the US Navy, test pilot and assistant program manager-systems engineering at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River.(see story on page 2.)

’90s Andrew Guilbeault ’90, management, Dartmouth, was

appointed by BankFive as mortgage originator for the greater New Bedford area. He joined BankFive in 2002 and has over 17 years banking experience, most recently as vice president of marketing and business devel-opment. In addition to serving on the advisory board for the UMD Center for Marketing Research, he serves on a wide variety of community organizations.

Brian Zahn ’90, visual design/illustration, Chandler, AZ, a pro-fessional and certified life coach and motivational speaker, was a guest presenter during home-coming weekend. Brian appears on the MX Satellite Radio Show

“Broadminded Broads” from Washington DC, is the author of From the COACH’s Corner, and will be featured in an upcoming article in a newspaper in Arizona.


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“This painting was completed while attending an Artist Residency in April, 2010. The one month residency was in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. The painting was inspired through time in nearby Connemara, Ireland, an area on the west coast where the rugged beauty combines mountain ranges, seashore, and scattered lakes. The painting depicts the many layers of organic diversity, while the conflict between hazi-ness and clarity reflects my memory of passing through. These are overall themes that run through my artwork.” —Erin Treacy

Alum wins fulbright to study painting in Ireland

Erin M. Treacy, who received her Master’s in Fine Arts in painting from UMass Dartmouth in 2007, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student scholarship to Ireland in Painting and Printmaking.

Treacy, who now lives in New York, will complete her studio-based research project in painting on the west coast of Ireland. In recent years she has exhibited both nationally and internationally in group and solo exhibitions. She has taught studio and art history classes at the college level, as well as participated in numerous international artist symposiums.

“It is with great pride I accept my Fullbright scholarship to continue my endeavor in the art world,” she said, adding that her work will culminate with a solo exhibition in May.

Treacy is one of more that 1,500 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2009-2010 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. To learn more about Treacy and her work, visit www.erintreacy.com/.

DeathsMarch–October ’09

Stanley Koczera ’37

John Joseph Wilding, Sr. ’41

James St Germaine Swain School of Design

Christopher Limerick, Jr. ’50

Samuel Walder ’52

Edward V. Dailey ’54

Walter Bender ’56

Daniel J. McGrath ’57

Raymond C. Richardson, Jr. ’57

Richard O. Angus ’59

Donald J. Delano ’60

Robert E. Morris ’61

Stephen A. Vieira ’63

Bruce G. Violante ’65

Paul G. Snigier ’67

Thomas B. Cunniff ’68

John T. Furze, Jr. ’69

Eileen M. (Flynn) Corey ’71

Eugene R. Ouimette ‘71

Lillian M. Toole Dolan ’72

Jacqueline P. Grenier ’73

Daniel J. McGrath '74

Timothy James ‘75

Carl J. Golinski ‘76

Richard A. Perkins ’77

John A. “Chip” Pelletier ’81

Sheila Lyons ‘82

David J. Burke ’83

Loretta M. Roderick ’83

Theresa Barao ‘84

Alvin Costa ‘84

Patricia A. Ellis-Donahue ’07

Brian Joseph MacIsaac ’08

Faculty/Staff /Friends

of UMass Dartmouth

Prof. Celeste Sullivan, faculty

Dr. Joseph Deck, interim chancellor, dean, faculty

Prof. Sat Dev Khanna, faculty

Jessica White ’91, electrical engineering, Atlanta, GA, married to John Foster since 1996, uses her maiden name, and has three daughters: Claire, Helen, and Jane.

Gregory McCann ’92, accounting, Rehoboth, and his wife Elizabeth announce the birth of twin boys, Patrick Matthew and Zachary John, born on January 27, 2009, at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

Karen Chace ’93, English, E. Freetown, a teaching artist and professional storyteller, has been elected to serve on the UMD Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.

Kenneth Reardon ’93, management, Danvers, First Lieutenant with the Danvers Fire Department, was selected as a member of the Essex County Technical Rescue Team.

Jacob DeCola ’95, sculpture/3D studies, Greensboro, NC, works as the first head coach at Albion College for the Briton’s varsity men’s lacrosse program. Jacob was a top assistant coach at Guilford College in Greensboro North Carolina, and an assistant coach at UMass Dartmouth.

Marta Massi ’97, accounting, Dartmouth, retired from Heat Transfer Products. She works with her husband at their com-pany, Business Management Services, which provides book-keeping, accounting, payroll, and tax services, as well as translat-ing services in and from Italian, Spanish, and French.

Rev. Nathaniel Manderson ’99, human/social sciences, Ipswich, is traveling on his fifth mission trip to Haiti to work with Partners in Development.

’00s Liam D. Crowley ’01, English/English/Writing & com-

munications, a Navy seaman completed U.S. Navy basic training at recruit training command in Great Lakes, IL.

Alana Frieswick Kimball ’01, human/social sciences, and Jeffrey Kimball ’02, mechanical engineering, Concord, NH, proudly announce the birth of their baby girl, Caia Carollynn Kimball, born on April 10, 2009.



Frank Meranda Jr. ’01, sociology, Pleasant Hill, CA, successfully completed California highway patrol cadet training. Frank is assigned to duty at the East Los Angeles area office.

Sherry Vieira ’01, nursing, Fall River, works as a nurse at Women & Infants Hospital.

T. J. Brown ’02/03, humanities & social sciences, Framingham, was hired by Framingham State as their new head hockey coach. Brown spent the last two seasons as an assistant for the Rams. Brown enjoyed a successful playing career for the Corsairs, tallying 77 goals, 78 assists and 155 points. At the time of his graduation, he was the ECAC Northeast all-time leading scorer and was twice elected to the all-conference team.

Kelly Smith Dolan ’02, busi-ness management, Canton, has received an Esprit award from the International Special Events Society for her work with Aspect Medical Systems.

Angela Freitas ’02, business information systems, Woburn, works at Children’s Hospital and has been elected to serve on the UMD Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.

Dene’ Sarrette ’02, English, Monson, attends Bay Path College pursuing an MS in Communications & Information Management.

Mark Guzman ’03, English, Taunton, married Christine Cardoza on October 17, 2009.

Leigh Hubbard ’03, nursing, and William ‘Bill’ Galligan ’02, visual/graphic design, Providence, married on April 25, 2009 in Providence. Leigh works at Rhode Island Hospital as Surgical ICU step-down nurse. She notes that after being a travel nurse, it is nice to be near home, in one city, with just one nursing team.

Amy Morse ’03, political science, Washington, DC, worked for a time at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Amy is now based in DC and working as Communications and Policy Associate for the Committee for Economic Development while attending the University of Maryland’s MPP program. While at UMD she started the campus recy-cling program “UMD Recycles,” served as VP of the Amnesty International Chapter, was a member of Student Senate, and received the Chancellor’s Award for Civic Service. She also volun-teered with Mark Montigny’s re-election campaign, with Shannon O‘Brien’s gubernatorial race and after college, went to work for John Kerry for President.

Kimberly Witham ’03, MFA-visual design/photography, High Bridge, NJ, opened an exhibit at the New Bedford Art Museum enti-tled Witham’s "transcendence" which is an exquisite series of color photographs inspired by Victorian post mortem images taken of animal victims of early and accidental death. Speaking about her work, the New Jersey resident said: “As I photo-

graphed these animals and birds, I began to notice intricacies of which I was never aware. The creatures in these photographs are so common in suburbia that they often go unnoticed; they are considered neither beautiful nor precious.” In death, and through Witham’s extraordinary vision, these creatures romp and soar like dancers on a mythical astral plane. The exhibit will re-main on view through Jan., 2010.

Ryan Desrosiers ’04, political science, Brighton, an alumnus of Prof. Baum‘s summer abroad program in Lisbon along with Amy Morse ’03 and Carolina Marcalo ’04, economics, worked for about two years after gradu-ation at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, managing research grants and other research funds. Now he works as the Grant Proposal & Award Administrator at Boston College, in the College of Arts & Sciences. He enrolled in the MBA program at BC to explore other possibilities in non-profit management. He reports that this is pretty far from his old

Homecoming

Family Weekend

September, 2010

Plan to come home

on September 24-26


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law school aspirations, “but the UMD internship requirement was extremely valuable in showing me that a career in law was not for me!” Ryan proves the depart-ment’s motto, that a political sci-ence education prepares you for all sorts of career options.

Carolina Marcalo ’04, economics, New Bedford, came home from Lisbon to visit for Thanksgiving. She lives and works in Lisbon for the company that oversees the Multibanco and Visa/MC systems in Portugal. She met our Lisbon 2009 summer program students to share her experience as a UMD grad living and working in the EU.

Brett Simarrian ’04, sociology/criminal justice, Franklin, works as an associate probation officer at Wrentham District Court.

Jennifer Granger ’05, history, Brighton, works as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at Laselle College. She was elected to serve as a director on the UMD Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Ray ’05, textile design/fiber, Franklin, married Joshua Johnson in the spring of 2008 and welcomed their son that fall.

Joseph Poles ’06, marketing, Quincy, married Kate Kelly on August 17, 2008. Kate is an ele-mentary school teacher in Quincy and Joe works in Boston with his family at Economy Plumbing and Heating Supply Company.

George Barnes ’07, political science, Cambridge, works for Harvard University‘s Institute of Politics as their forum assistant. After graduation, he worked as a programs assistant at the Open Society Institute Haiti, where he supported the executive director and the arts and culture coordi-nator, responsible for planning and executing dozens of commu-nity events and festivals. He has extensive experience working with college students, student organizations and community organizations. While a student at UMD, Jeff spent a semester studying at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Jenny Duchesneau ’07, visual/graphic design, Temple, NH, is the art director at Signaltree Marketing and Advertising, in Keene NH. In 2007 she joined the firm as a graphic designer and has designed print, pack-aging and web projects for all of the agency’s clients.

Allison Randall ’07, artisanry/ceramics, Seekonk, was honored to learn that Hasbro, Inc. wanted to display her exotic sculptures at its second annual “Inspiration Expo: Arts & Sciences.” Randall was one of approximately 30 art-ists, inventors, and other creative types invited to the company's mammoth cafeteria and court-yard recently to inspire artists in Hasbro‘s design division.

Erin M. Treacy ’07, MFA-fine arts/painting, East Quogue, NY, received a US Student Fulbright Scholarship Award to Ireland in painting and printmaking. The Fulbright Program, America’s flagship international educational exchange program, is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational

and Cultural Affairs. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or pro-fessional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership poten-tial in their fields. (see story on page 30.)

Nancy Freeman ’08, MBA, Mashpee, works at the UMD School of Marine Science and Technology, was elected to serve as a director on the UMD Alumni Association Board.

Pablo A. Orejuela ’08, crime and justice, West Palm Beach, was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps after complet-ing Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA.

Ashley Cunningham ’09, English-writing, communication and rhetoric and political science, and Celina Ruiz ’09, English-writing communication, are both teaching English in S. Korea and loving it.

The UMass Dartmouth Alumni Association

Whether you are a graduate of Bradford Durfee Tech, New Bedford Tech, SMTI, SMU, Swain or any of the other predecessor institu-

tions, you are a member of the UMass Dartmouth family. As such we all share in the same mission. As a member of the UMass Dartmouth fam-ily, you are part of a powerful network of 40,000+ alums worldwide. By contributing $25 a year, you become an active member of the Alumni Association and are entitled to a wide variety of benefits.As an active member, you’ll enjoy:

> Annual subscription to UMass Dartmouth Magazine > Alumni Association Visa® Platinum Card> Voting and serving privileges on the Alumni Board of Directors > Recognition in the “Annual Giving Report” > 20% discount at Joseph A. Banks Clothier> Auto and home insurance discounts through Liberty Mutual > Hotel discounts> Free passes for Boston Museum of Science & Mugar Omni Theatre > Privileges at all libraries within the UMass system > 10% discount at the Campus Store on all clothing and gifts > Tripp Athletic Fitness Center membership discount> Car decal and ID card > Discount admission to varsity athletic games

> Volunteer and community service opportunities> Business networking and social gatheringsYour active membership will help our Alumni Association• Increase the number of scholarships for deserving students• Initiate more programs to assist alumni• Expand our career networking programs which are especially valuable to younger members• Develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships among the alumni, the faculty, the Dartmouth campus community, and the entire UMass system

Join us online umassd.edu/alumni

Endowing a Scholarship—A Lifelong Affair

When Richard Ward first came to UMass Dartmouth in

1975, then SMU, he began tackling the challenges of moving

the Charlton College of Business toward accreditation and

integrating the college into the region’s business community.

He did both, and throughout it all, he was supported by his wife Cecilia B. Ward.

Acknowledging that many students too need support and encouragement to face their challenges, Dr. Ward

has endowed the Cecilia B. Ward Scholarship Fund in memory of his wife who stood at his side throughout

his time at UMass Dartmouth, the last 15 years as the Dean of the Charlton College of Business.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to memorialize her work and commitment to the University than to endow

a scholarship,” said Dr. Ward, one of many retired faculty members who have continued to invest in student

education by endowing scholarships.

“I attended the Scholarship Donor Luncheon last April and it was really amazing to meet the student recipi-

ent. I certainly thought I’d be more interested in meeting the student than the opposite, but I was amazed by

the sincerity of my student recipient, and that of others, in meeting donors. There was a real comfort level

and a genuine interest in donors. It was a tremendous experience and I look forward to meeting more students

at next year’s luncheon,” says Dr. Ward.

If you are interested in joining Dr. Ward in endowing a scholarship at UMass Dartmouth, please call the Advancement Office at 508.999.8200.

“In two years, I’ve gone from a shy

and quiet student to a confident and

involved tour guide, peer tutor, and

campus organization leader. I’m

tremendously grateful that my hard

work and enthusiasm have been

recognized.” —Stephanie Mireku, Class of 2011

World Class. Within Reach.

College should be about seeking your fortune, not paying one.

Here’s the trouble with tuit ion at some col leges: you have to already be r ich

and successful to afford i t. In fact, unless you or your family is wi l l ing

to go deep in debt, a lot of schools are simply out of reach.

Fortunately, there’s a great choice—a university that offers a

qual i ty education at a cost wel l below many private schools.

(And actual ly, being surrounded by 600 acres of pine and maple

trees is pretty pr ivate.) I t 's UMass Dartmouth. A place where you

can get a world class education for less. And real ly, how much of

your education is what you put into i t, not what you pay for i t?

At UMass Dartmouth you can choose from more than 60 major

programs of study. Like marine science, nursing, l iberal arts, visual and performing

arts, education, business, or engineering. You can aspire. You can achieve. And,

you can afford.

Go to umassd.edu to arrange a tour, or to blog with university students and faculty.

See how we’re putt ing world class education within reach.

285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300

Non-profit Org.US Postage PaidNew Bedford, MA Permit Number 149

Fall 09 UMass Dartmouth magazine

Documents

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