On Saturday, May 22, the sidewalk along the Marist riverfront popped with a blue, orange, purple, and yellow covering, each color taking up a roughly 20-foot strip of the carpet that stretched from the Marist Boathouse to the very end of the walkway.
On Saturday, May 22, the sidewalk along the Marist riverfront popped with a blue, orange, purple, and yellow covering, each color taking up a roughly 20-foot strip of the carpet that stretched from the Marist Boathouse to the very end of the walkway. The light posts were decorated with streamers matching the corresponding color on the ground. Folding chairs were set up six feet apart alongside the grass, facing the river. Marist students lined up inside the boathouse, flaunting the creations by their classmates, ready to walk the runway for the 35th annual Silver Needle Runway Show. “Open your eyes past the distorted lenses you have built,” a voice implored through the speakers placed behind the audience before the models began their strut. “Liberate your mind to the world beyond your perspective. Now, what will you see?”The producers of the SNR show had been asking themselves that question for roughly a year. Bringing the show back to an in-person spectacle took exhaustive planning. After SNR 34 had to transition to a completely online venture because of the pandemic, this year’s edition of the Marist Fashion Program’s annual show looked, unlike any show before it. It was outside. There was a virtual show in addition to the in-person one. It was an entirely student-produced show, save for the efforts of Faculty Director Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera. Several factors changed in the show’s production that made it happen. The most impactful change was the omittance of outside help. Due to a crunched budget and social distancing guidelines to follow, there was no outside production company or experienced professional model corps at the SNR team’s disposal, unlike in years past. The production team had to make do with the resources they had. Olivera-Silvera — who is a senior professional lecturer of fashion and the Fashion Program’s internship coordinator in addition to being the SNR faculty director — wants SNR to be a “laboratory of innovation” for his students. They had to make the laboratory look different this year, but still, the experimentation produced results that the team was proud of.The student production team for this 35th edition of SNR was formed shortly after the virtual 2020 show. They started meeting on Zoom to get to know each other before working more with the show during the school year. Creative Director Ariana Pittelli ’21 took the reins on the “aesthetic visual” — the color palette and story that created the theme they wanted to express. Production Directors Kennedi Hudnut ’21 and Elizabeth Knight ’21 organized three sub-teams: model, wardrobe, and logistics. All in all, more than 30 students came together to tackle the production aspect of the show.The 18 designers, all of whom were seniors, created their outfits with the theme SNR35: illusion in mind. “Our whole goal is to give a deeper message about how your perspective is similar and we all see the world differently, but we need to recognize that and try to undo some of the walls we’ve built,” Pittelli said. Since working around the coronavirus pandemic was the theme of last year’s show, they wanted to do something different while still providing a meaningful, relevant message. “We thought a lot about the societal issues going on, like Black Lives Matter, and all the prejudice in our world,” Pittelli said. “We wanted the show to be a chance to recognize that and give people the message of, ‘We need to undo this illusion.’ ” Designer Jenna Mitarotonda took inspiration from traditional Scottish clothing by incorporating plaid designs and shades of red and light brown into all her designs. Her collection featured skirt-like shapes with baggy sleeves and black boots. She started designing the collection in the fall. Sketching the idea is the first part, followed by draping — taking pieces of fabrics and applying them on a dress form — and then making the actual garments, some of which were scrapped or redone. “I would say this whole design process is trial and error because you learn from your mistakes, or sometimes mistakes are actually really successful,” Mitarotonda said.The trial-and-error nature of collection designing is the same across the board, but the actual steps are not. Designer Natalie Ford is not a fan of draping. Instead, she focused on pattern making, which she took a class in and developed a knack for. She found inspiration in grocery stores, an idea she had had since freshman year. Her collection featured two ensembles with bright colors reminiscent of candy and one dress depicting waffles, accessorized by a round handbag with a waffle design and golden-brown color. Chloe Goldstein’s collection took inspiration from Morocco, which she visited for a few days while studying abroad in Italy in the fall of 2019. She utilized her line of handmade macrame bags in her pieces. Her collection focused on sustainability. She omitted the use of non-natural fibers and toxic dyes and sourced everything from small vendors. It took more time, research, and connecting with small businesses to make her collection, but for her, it was well worth the effort to make it more eco-friendly. The models for the show were all students. Hailey Keenan, a sophomore majoring in fashion merchandising, was selected as a model for Jenna Mitarotonda’s collection. Her only experience modeling had been for a capping project last year. She sent an audition video and auditioned in person before being selected to model Mitarotonda’s collection. Keenan and two other models met with Mitarotonda a week before the show for fitting. Production Director Kennedi Hudnut said that the team working out the logistics themselves and having only fellow students at their disposal involved a big learning curve. They didn’t realize the entirety of the picture that went into logistics, which included obtaining fire inspections and permits. “Stuff like that, we never thought we’d have to do being in the fashion show production class,” she said prior to the show. “But I think it’s going to make us grow stronger as a class and it’s really a great thing to know that it’s all student-run, from top to bottom.” The SNR project served as a capping class for Fashion students but was open to students of any major within the School of Communication and the Arts. The expansion drew students with a wide array of skills. And the production crew needed to reach even further within the Marist community to make the show go. Pittelli said they tapped several departments to set up certain aspects of the show — Athletics for tents, IT for Wi-Fi hotspots, the Marist Media Center for live-streaming capabilities. She added that the sense of feeling rewarded is not due just to their hard work, but because they’re setting up the group of younger students to take the reins and continue to thrive. Along with the in-person show, the SNR team created virtual content. They streamed the show live on Vimeo, using multiple camera angles and shots A 12-minute YouTube video shows the models’ walks around the Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne estate, a mansion owned by Marist 20 minutes north of the main campus on the west side of the river. They also created a documentary and a 17-minute film titled What you’ll see. The story follows Eliza, a young woman, going through the motions of her life without trying to find much more.“The virtual show has a greater reach than you could ever have with an in-person show, so that’s really important,” Pittelli said. “We’re always thinking about the future of the class, the future of the Fashion Program, the future of the industry, and [we] try to instill that into our teams and give them the experience they need moving forward in the industry. So it only made sense to do this.”Olivera-Silvera said the pandemic forced the fashion industry into some introspection. He said that due to the high costs and the copious amounts and forms of waste— trash, electricity, energy— that fashion shows produce, the current system wasn’t sustainable. “The pandemic has brought to light the fact that the industry needed to change, and the virtual platforms have been an amazing vehicle to bring that change,” he said. “Going forward, I think the virtual show will always be something that Marist Fashion does,” Production Director Elizabeth Knight said.The SNR show has been a staple of Marist Fashion for decades. But now they’re looking to become more than that. Leaning heavier into digital content is just one of the ways they’re doing so. SNR started a newsletter called “Through the Needle”, a four-part publication that took readers behind the scenes of the show. They also launched “More Than Fashion: The SNR Podcast,” a five-episode series that discusses different aspects of fashion with a guest. SNR launched their own social media accounts rather than use those of the Fashion Program. “It’s all about creating buzz for us,” Pittelli said. “We’re trying to make SNR not just a school fashion show, but a brand.”The College already has a strong reputation as a school for the study of fashion. This past May, Forbes named Marist one of the “Best Colleges That Are Shaping the Future of Fashion.” Forbes lists only 10 programs worldwide, only four of which are in the United States.The efforts to further expand as a brand went down to the wire during the week of the show. Olivera-Silvera consulted three different weather apps to ensure the team would be ready for anything. They prepped for bad weather by placing umbrellas behind every seat, stashing some for the models, and putting a rain date in place. Luckily, it wasn’t needed, as the weather was cooperative enough for the show to go on.Everyone came together the night before the event for a dress rehearsal around 5:00. A tent on the side of the boathouse, out of the sight of visitors, served as their headquarters. Olivera-Silvera gave instructions about walking paths for the models and pitched in to help where it was needed as everyone prepared for a test run. Models changed into their outfits on the second floor of the boathouse, which was restricted to everyone but the models themselves and a few SNR staffers. The first floor had water bottles, snacks, wipes, cotton swabs, lint rollers, hair straighteners, cotton balls, and more. SNR staffers strung a banner across the opening of the boathouse to mark the start and end of the runway. Members of the SNR creative team manned the upstairs balcony, working with the video and sound side of the operation after the models were ready. The models started their walk in the tent and through the first floor of the boathouse. They began their first practice run around 6:30. Olivera-Silvera watched from the side, offering tips to models as they walked. A few practice runs later, the only thing left to do was put on the show the next day. Or actually, to put it on five times: to accommodate the large audience SNR always draws, they organized five shows debuting every half hour, beginning at noon and ending with their last show at 6:00.On the day of the event, the SNR team’s check-in station featured two big tents with other elements of the show and the Fashion Program to explore — merchandise tables for SNR and Mporium, a student-run boutique, a funhouse mirror painted with SNR colors, a table promoting the new student-run magazine Measure, and a separate tent showing a short film on a projector. John Bartlett, the director of the Fashion Program, spoke to the SNR production students before the show. “What you all have accomplished this year is Herculean.”He also addressed the audience at the start of the event. “Design students, you have simply moved me with your talent, your creativity, and your natural gifts — and also, your ability to lift each other up. You are all going to go very far in this industry and in life.”To see a video of SNR35, go to www.marist.edu/snr35. For related media, go to https://linktr.ee/silverneedlerunway
Dr. Kevin C. Weinman takes over as Marist’s fifth president.
Looking at President Kevin C. Weinman’s calendar during his first months at Marist would make anyone’s head spin. On Oct. 4, Weinman took over the role of president from Dennis J. Murray, who led Marist for nearly 40 years. Since then, Weinman has taken part in more than 300 meetings to get to know students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and community members and attended dozens of athletic contests, theatre performances, concerts, and cultural celebrations. He holds open office hours to engage individually with students and hosts weekly lunches with faculty and staff to get to know them better and hear what is on their minds. He also welcomed alumni to Marist’s Homecoming and Reunion celebration on the campus green.“There is so much to experience each and every day and evening at Marist. I have really enjoyed crisscrossing campus to take it all in, meet so many people, and learn as much as I can — and as quickly as I can — about this amazing institution,” he said. He came to Marist from Amherst College, where he served as chief financial and administrative officer, and previously Dartmouth, where he was assistant vice president of finance. But he has no plans for Marist to imitate either institution. “Marist has a unique combination of values, strengths, and assets that no other college or university can match. My primary focus is to build upon the elements that make it distinct.”Education On and Off CampusHis own academic journey encompassed both the liberal arts paired with a career orientation. A first-generation college student, Weinman enrolled at Notre Dame thinking the point of college was to get an accounting degree and a job. Along the way he discovered a love for history and double-majored in accounting and history. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He then pursued an MA in history from the University of Colorado and a PhD in history from the University of New Hampshire. Outside of academe, Weinman indulged his passion for exploring, especially for traveling by back roads. By the age of 24 he had visited all 50 states, mostly in a beat-up Toyota 4Runner followed by a two-door Ford Escort once the 4Runner was pushed beyond its breaking point. There was one epic road trip in particular, a three-week camping tour of the West that, perhaps thanks to his budgeting skills, cost under $300 in total (“lots of Wonder bread,” he recalled). He also enjoys competitive outdoor sports and has completed seven marathons, nine half-Ironman triathlons, and 32 half-marathons. Calling himself a “compulsive counter,” he has maintained a spreadsheet since 2004 where he has logged every ride, swim, run, and even kayak paddles (“even though I know that those are supposed to be just for fun,” he quipped). He passed 50,000 total miles in 2021.After college and graduate school, he held a number of senior roles in finance and marketing at corporations before deciding to pursue a career in higher education. It was at Arthur Andersen in Charlotte, NC, that he met his wife, Beth, who worked there as well. She is a contract administrator and associate controller for an engineering research and development company in Amherst, MA. Their son, Alex, 20, is a college student at Colorado College, and their daughter, Brooke, 17, attends high school in Massachusetts. Once Brooke finishes high school, Kevin’s family will join him full-time in Poughkeepsie. For now, Kevin and Beth each feel like they can drive the Taconic with their eyes closed (“though we know that is a very bad idea,” Kevin reassures us) from the many weekend traverses in either direction between Poughkeepsie and Western Massachusetts for mini family reunions.Challenges and OpportunitiesWeinman has boundless enthusiasm for Marist’s future. “Marist has retained the very best of a liberal arts tradition while becoming a leader in pedagogical innovation,” he said, citing programs such as the doctorate in physical therapy and rapid growth across a variety of disciplines where Marist has unique strengths such as cybersecurity, fashion, and sports communication, giving students more exciting options for learning than ever before.But challenges lie ahead, he acknowledged. One obstacle Marist already faces is that the number of high school graduates is declining, especially in the Northeast. Competition is increasingly intense for talented students. Marist will need to continue to distinguish itself from other institutions by telling its story to prospective students around the globe, he said.“We will need to continuously innovate in and out of the classroom to provide our students with an outstanding experience and send them off to do incredible things in the world.”In his previous academic positions, Weinman saw up close the impact that philanthropy can make on an institution, which is why he and Beth, just two months after joining the Red Fox community, made a pledge to give $250,000 to the College. Their generous gift will support a number of priorities designed to improve the quality of a Marist education for all students and make it more accessible and equitable for talented students regardless of their financial situation.Beth and Kevin Weinman“In my short time here, it is already abundantly clear to me that Marist is thriving, yet has the potential to achieve even greater heights,” Weinman said. “One of the ways Marist can do so is to attract, enroll, and retain a diverse group of talented students and enable them to experience the full range of curricular and co-curricular offerings once they arrive, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our pledge is intended to be one small step towards helping all of our students to reach their full potential and get the most out of their Marist experience.”“Members of the Board are extremely pleased that Kevin and Beth have decided to provide not only their time and talents to making Marist the very best it can be, but also the generous contribution of their financial resources,” said Ross Mauri, chair of Marist’s Board of Trustees. “Their support is an early indication that they have a deep commitment to Marist College and have tremendous confidence in its future.”Their pledge will support five institutional priorities:• Expand the Dennis and Marilyn Murray Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to extremely talented students who might not otherwise attend Marist. The fund, now valued at over $3 million, was established in the Murrays’ honor in 2016. • Create the Presidential Internship Support Fund to assist students with financial need in securing internships in fields where such experiences are often unpaid and thus create barriers for students with financial need to pursue careers in these fields. • Create the Presidential Academic Travel Fund to enable students with financial need to enroll in courses that include a travel component. • Create the Presidential First Year Academic Support Fund to enhance the support that incoming students receive to assist in their successful transition to Marist. • Contribute to the Marist Fund. The fund, which raises over $1.3 million annually, is an important means by which Marist alumni, parents, and friends provide financial support to the College. With their pledge, the Weinmans are excited to begin a lifetime of giving to Marist. “Beth and I believe that an investment in Marist College is an excellent one. As president, I will do all I can to ensure that these and other sources of support will have the highest degree of impact on the College and its students,” Weinman said. Kevin and Beth invite Marist alumni, parents, and friends to consider supporting the College in ways and at amounts that are meaningful to them. “With the collective support of its community, Marist can achieve great things,” Weinman said, “and become the very best institution of higher education that it can be.”
Marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, this class is unique in every way.
The Mindset List, aka the “always/never” list, is a compilation of key points about incoming college students. Created at Beloit College in 1998 to reflect the world view of entering first year students—and to help faculty understand incoming classes—the list started with the members of the class of 2002, born in 1980. In 2019, the list moved to Marist, becoming the Marist Mindset List. The list is widely considered a cultural touchstone.Read more
Marist is grateful to alumni and foundations for their generous support
The Marist College community was delighted to welcome upperclassmen, transfers, and first-year students for the 2021–22 academic year. The campus is bustling once again as classes and activities are in full gear. From academics to athletics, the Marist College experience is made possible only because of the generosity of dedicated alumni, parents, trustees, and friends. We are pleased to share news of recent gifts to the College.Scholarships remain Marist’s most urgent fundraising priority, and alumni continue to step forward to help deserving students realize their dreams of a Marist education.Trustee Don Duet ’88 and his wife, Madoka, have expanded their exceptional support of scholarships for top technology students through the Duet Family Technology Scholarship program. The Duets’ recent pledge includes the creation of renewable term scholarships for an incoming freshman in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as the establishment of an endowed technology scholarship that will exist in perpetuity. Their support has significantly enhanced the College’s ability to attract, enroll, and retain some of the most sought-after future leaders in computer science and information systems and technology in the nation.Marist Trustee Rob Shanahan ’83 and his wife, Heather, recently made a generous gift to establish the Shanahan Family Endowed Scholarship. Beginning in the fall of 2022, this scholarship will be awarded to a freshman enrolled in the School of Management with strong leadership potential and demonstrated financial need. A business major during his years at Marist, Rob played on the Marist hockey team and went on to an accomplished career as a technology executive and entrepreneur, serving most recently as president and CEO of Lightower Fiber Networks.Joshua ’99 and Carolyn Matheus ’02 recently made a generous pledge to launch a new endowed scholarship, the second endowed scholarship that they have established at Marist.Dedicated alumni couple Joshua ’99 and Carolyn Matheus ’02 recently made a generous pledge to establish a new endowed scholarship that further supports the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The Joshua & Carolyn Matheus Diversity Scholarship will be awarded to entering freshmen pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM majors offered in the School of Computer Science and Mathematics and the School of Science. Preference for this renewable scholarship will be given to historically underrepresented students and first-generation college students. Josh and Carolyn have also made a special gift to activate the scholarship while the endowment is building, which has enabled an initial award to be granted to a deserving freshman who entered this fall. This is the second endowed scholarship that Josh, a managing director in the Technology Division at Goldman Sachs, and Carolyn, associate professor of information systems and director of Marist’s Honors Program, have established at Marist. The Joshua & Carolyn Matheus '99/'02 Endowed Scholarship was created in 2017 and supports women in STEM majors.Longtime Marist supporters Frank ’70 and Maureen Liantonio, founding members of the Marist Legacy Society, recently made a generous pledge to expand the Liantonio Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship. Originally established in 2015, the scholarship provides assistance to academically talented students majoring in business with demonstrated financial need. A member of the Class of 1970 50th Reunion Planning Committee, Frank also made a generous gift to support the Class of 1970 Scholarship. The Class of 1970 successfully established a new endowed scholarship in honor of its 50th Reunion, which will be held in the fall of 2022. Led by 50th Reunion Gift Co-Chairs Bill Leber and Ed Zujkowski, the Class of 1970 Scholarship surpassed the endowment threshold with more than $66,000 raised and welcomed its first scholarship recipient this year. In addition to Bill and Ed, the 50th Reunion Planning Committee members include Bill Dourdis, Larry Kazemier, Bro. John Klein, FMS, Frank Liantonio, Jim McGlumphy, Anthony Miserandino, Bro. Sean Sammon, FMS, Doug Stuart, Ed Walzer, Bob Krenn, Jack McGowan, and Vince Begley. The late Martin Gyves actively participated as a Committee member as well. The Committee’s ongoing engagement and outreach to classmates are contributing significantly to building enthusiasm for the Class of ’70’s landmark celebration.In celebration of its graduation from Marist 50 years ago, the Class of 1971 launched a scholarship drive to create an endowed fund to assist students with significant financial need. Co-Chaired by classmates Phil Glennon, Dr. Anne Berinato Matheus, Mike McNeely, Dr. Terry Mooney, and Dr. Steve Wysowski, the effort far surpassed its goal of raising $50,000 with over $102,000 committed to date. In addition to the co-chairs, Gift Committee members include Louis Emery, Tom Ferrara, Ed Fogarty, Joe Gebbia, Don Hinchey, Jack McDonnell, Terence Nash, Bill Rooney, and Bill Spenla. Their excellent work was complemented by the terrific outreach efforts of members of the 50th Reunion Planning Committee which, in addition to the co-chairs and Gift Committee members, include Jim Aridas, Bob Bergin, Paul Browne, Dean Gestal, Russ Jones, Brendan Mooney, John Murphy, Tony Parga, Patricia Picco, Joe Rubino, Jim Steinmeyer, Bill Thonack, Mark Tynan, and Bob Yurch. The first Class of 1971 Scholarship will be awarded in the fall of 2022 during the Class of 1971’s 50-Year Reunion. The Louis Greenspan Charitable Trust has made another significant commitment to the College to further build the endowment of the Louis Greenspan Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship has made a significant impact over the years, providing invaluable financial assistance to 39 deserving Marist students since it was first awarded in 2004. The longstanding support and advocacy of Greenspan Trustees Dan Curtin and Gary Koch has advanced a number of priority capital projects as well as this meaningful scholarship initiative over the years.Christopher Bricker ’91 and his wife, Jennifer, recently established a new endowed scholarship in memory of Jennifer’s father, Michael C. Holland.Christopher Bricker ’91 and his wife, Jennifer, recently established a new endowed scholarship in memory of Jennifer’s father, Michael C. Holland. Created to honor his extraordinary commitment to serving the public, the scholarship will be awarded to a first-year student who has shown a strong devotion to community service. Chris, who serves as head of Alliance Bernstein Arya Partners and a member of the board’s Operating Committee, cites his Marist experience as a key factor in his career success. As head of AB Arya Partners, he is responsible for the leadership, strategic direction, and overall results of the group. Chris and Jennifer are very excited that their daughter, Amanda, is a member of the Class of 2025.Dedicated Marist couple Elizabeth (“Beth”) Marshdoyle ’75 and James (“Jay”) A. Doyle ’75 are generously supporting the establishment of a new endowed scholarship in loving memory of their infant daughter.Dedicated Marist couple Elizabeth (“Beth”) Marshdoyle ’75 and James (“Jay”) A. Doyle ’75 are generously supporting the establishment of a new endowed scholarship in loving memory of their infant daughter. The Emily Marie Doyle Scholarship will be awarded to a first-year student majoring in science with demonstrated financial need. Preference will be given to environmental science majors, though consideration may also be given to students majoring in biology or chemistry. Beth, an executive at Apple, Inc., majored in environmental science at Marist and went on to earn a master’s degree from The Ohio State University and an EdD from Northeastern University. As one of 14 children, Beth greatly appreciated the scholarships she received at Marist. Jay, a political science major who also earned a master’s degree from The Ohio State University, is a senior project director at AECOM. A cross-country and track student-athlete at Marist, Jay values the important role that the Marist community has played in his life.The Lavelle Fund for the Blind has again made a meaningful gift to support scholarships for blind or visually impaired students at Marist in memory of beloved Trustee Bro. Jim Kearney, FMS ’53. Brother Jim served on the Lavelle Fund Board since its inception in 1999 and chaired the board’s Scholarship Committee. Marist is honored to offer these scholarships in memory of Brother Jim, who in the great tradition of the Marist Brothers dedicated his life to teaching and service.Marist also recognizes the continued generosity of the James J. McCann Charitable Trust. The trust recently provided a grant extending its invaluable support of scholarships for deserving traditional-age Marist students who live in Dutchess County and graduate from county high schools. This is the 53rd year the trust has supported this special program that has benefited innumerable local students who have gone on to complete their degrees at Marist.The James J. McCann Charitable Trust has also made possible landmark athletic facilities that continue to serve Marist and the entire Hudson River Valley community well. Over the years, support from the trust and its trustees — the late John “Jack” Gartland, Jr.; his late son, Mike Gartland; Mike’s son, Patrick Gartland; the late Richard Corbally; and Richard’s son, John Corbally — truly has been transformational.The premier annual fundraising event to benefit School of Management scholarships for seniors was the School of Management Advisory Board Golf Outing. This year’s outing at the Saint Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, honored one of the School’s most successful graduates: Marist Trustee and co-founder of Priceline.com Tim Brier ’69. Pictured with Tim, far right, are classmates Dan Mahoney, Bill Rowley, and Tim Keneally.The School of Management (SoM) Advisory Board, led by Chair Tim Keneally ’69, again raised meaningful support to provide scholarships for graduating seniors who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need. For the third consecutive year, the board will award six one-time scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each to deserving SoM students to help reduce the burden of their student loans. In addition, the board’s fundraising efforts this year include garnering support for an endowed scholarship that will help ensure that much-needed assistance continues to be available for SoM students for generations to come.The premier annual fundraising event to benefit this important scholarship initiative was the SoM Advisory Board Golf Outing. This year’s outing, held Sept. 27, 2021, at the Saint Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, honored one of the School’s most successful graduates: Marist Trustee and co-founder of Priceline.com Tim Brier ’69. The outing significantly surpassed its fundraising goal, securing more than $65,000 toward term and endowed scholarships. Special thanks go to dedicated Golf Committee members Michael Babic ’04, Tim Keneally ’69, Greg Garville ’74, Kevin Hogan ’02, Tom Murray ’02, Maureen Solero, and Kim Viggiano ’02 for their outstanding work leading this successful and impactful effort.
Seven Marist fashion students were recently announced as winners of the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), a nonprofit organization that awards more than $1 million each year in scholarships to some of the most talented fashion students in the country, helping these students succeed in all sectors of the industry.With seven student winners, Marist was ranked among the top three overall for scholarship recipients, reinforcing the College’s excellence in fashion education. Marist is proud to have 25 projects submitted, with six design winners and one merchandising winner among the 439 submissions from 55 institutions nationally. Students must create a 14- to 20-page submission including an executive summary, research, target market information, omnichannel launch plan, six-month financial plan, inspiration boards, various fashion boards, and sketches. “I am thrilled to see seven of our Marist Fashion students excel in such a competitive landscape,” said John Bartlett, director of the Fashion Program. “Two of our winners received the Virgil Abloh ‘Post-Modern’ Scholarships, a new partnership created by the late Mr. Abloh to celebrate the work of Black students." The students who received the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarships are individuals who excel academically and show promise in the industry; these students, along with all winners, receive $7,500 and individual mentoring. “The mission of the Virgil Abloh ‘Post-Modern’ Scholarship Fund is to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or African descent,” according to the FSF webpage.Recently named by Forbes magazine as one of the Best Colleges That are Shaping the Future of Fashion, Marist Fashion has a storied history in graduating students who have won FSF awards. This is a result of the dedicated faculty who act as mentors throughout the timeline of their projects. “This reiterates Marist Fashion being ranked one of the top 10 fashion schools by Forbes magazine and standing out amongst our competitors,” said Rebecca Brown, professional lecturer of fashion merchandising. The 2021 winners include: • Madi Breeman ’23 – Merchandising• Mark Bissell ’22 – Design/Product Development• Shannon Wines ’23 – Design/Product Development• Ashley Catalano – ’22 Design/Product Development• Camille McHenry ’22 – Design/Product Development – Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” • Taliyah Coles ’22 – Design/Product Development – Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern”• Madeline McCarthy ’22 – Design/Product DevelopmentFSF Scholarship winners receive numerous networking opportunities including career fairs, mentorship, masterclasses, and more. “I am very proud of our students and our faculty mentors who support them. I believe these honors speak to the value of a fashion program within a liberal arts institution,” said Jacqueline Reich, dean of the School of Communication and the Arts.
In keeping with the traditions of great American and European universities, Marist’s gates are an important part of campus and an iconic symbol of the institution.
In keeping with the traditions of great American and European universities, Marist’s gates are an important part of campus and an iconic symbol of the institution. Celebrating the history of the College and the surrounding Hudson River Valley, these three distinctive gates provide entrance to the western half of the Marist campus from Route 9. During colonial times, Route 9 was known as the Albany Post Road and later the King’s Road; it ran north from New York City to Albany and remains a well-traveled thoroughfare today. The College’s campus gates were designed by Kevin M. Smith, a partner in the world-renowned firm of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA). The gates’ design and materials – grey stone, red brick, and limestone – reflect Marist’s unique architectural palette, which is derived from the Greystone, Kieran Gate House, and St. Peter’s buildings. These 150-year-old structures are original to the Bech estate on which Marist is built, and they serve as architectural inspiration for more modern campus buildings. Together, Marist’s gates establish a presence for the College along Route 9 and help define the campus’s evolving architectural language.Smith and the RAMSA team coined a specific term to describe the architectural style they designed for Marist: “Hudson Valley Modern Gothic,” which pays homage to the region’s tradition of picturesque architecture, beginning in the 19th century, when the Hudson River developed into “America’s Rhine.” The idea of castle-like buildings seen from the river against the area’s stunning topography relates to the similar aesthetic underpinnings of the Hudson River School in painting, which was active during the same period. Hudson Valley Modern Gothic represents a cleaner look for the architecture, mostly without pitched roofs, that looks to the future while acknowledging the region’s history, and particularly the architecture of Greystone, with its rubble stone walls trimmed in red brick. This feature is common in parts of Europe, especially in eastern France and parts of Germany. Read more about the gates here.
In memory of alumni, friends, faculty, and staff of Marist that have passed away.
AlumniNorman E. Gagnon ’50Br. Eugene Trzecieski, FMS ’52The Rev. Owen J. Lafferty ’61Br. Bernard G. Matthews ’61Edward M. Wilcenski ’61George M. Conboy ’62Lloyd G. Smiley ’62John James McGalagly ’63John P. O'Donnell ’63Dennis F. Tierney Jr. ’63Anthony J. Causa ’65Edward T. Towsley ’65Br. John A. Allen, FMS ’66Br. Sumner Herrick, FMS ’66Nicholas J. Pulichene ’66Casper Barnett Swaney ’66Francis Michael Xavier Corliss ’67Gordon S. Foster ’67John J. Glynn ’67M. Kevin Bearese ’68Arthur J. Duane ’68Martin John Scanlan III ’68Mark A. Breckenridge ’69Charles H. Button ’69Frank W. Fredericks ’69John Kevin Gilhooly ’69Br. Donald Nugent, FMS ’69Frank P. Russo-Alesi ’69Francis G. Sainsbury ’69Dean A. Stewart ’69Dr. Carl Edward Cerniglia ’70Martin J. Gyves ’70John J. Hurley Jr. ’70William Iacobellis ’70Joseph P. Iamascia ’70William H. Laman ’70Dominick LoBosco ’70Thomas Paul Nocket ’70Kenneth C. Russell ’70Roberts T. Mallabar ’71Roy W. McLaren ’71John B. Rizzuto ’71James Anthony Seirmarco ’71Thomas A. Tucker ’71Arthur F. Haab ’72Bill C. Davis ’73Laurie Joseph (LJ) Cormier ’74Charles W. Correll Jr. ’74Elizabeth A. Mullen ’74Kevin F. Nash ’74Edwin C. Thompson Jr. ’74Geraldine J. Alessi ’75Jean Forrestal-Seloske ’75Janet A. Kanwit ’75MAEdward J. Mulvey ’75John Joseph Tracy Jr. ’75James L. Dziedzic ’76John Hughes, Jr. ’76Nancy Dervin ’77Charles V. Gormley ’77Francis E. King ’77Vincent R. Capozzi ’78Edward G. Matthews ’78Dean P. Mogan ’78Mark Joseph Bierbower ’79Kathleen Merrins-Johnson ’79MAEdward Vitus ’79David B. Wasilenko ’79Thomas R. Watson ’79Robert E. Davis ’80MBAJulie M. Quirindongo ’81Thomas J. Serkes ’81Eugene N. Feldman ’82Donald C. Miller ’82MBAWilliam C. Nolan ’82Edward V. Tucker ’82MPABruce H. Link ’83Frank N. Lorica ’83Zita A. Gabrik ’84 William David Brinnier IV ’85MAEmory John Butcher Jr. ’85Steven D. Eastwood ’85Elaine C. Midulla ’85Dwight L. Moody ’86MSChristin A. Rossi ’86James P. Fedoryk ’87SPC Jeffrey D. Moore ’87William E. Jones Jr. ’88Georgette L. Kurdt ’88Richard S. Martino ’88Kevin J. Gillespie ’89Jay John Duhamel ’90Terrence R. Kleissler ’90Joseph F. Purschke ’90Irene Bunin ’92Jeffrey L. Janota ’92Christopher J. Shea ’92Katie Turner ’92Matthew Antonecchia ’93Michael J. Gagliardi ’93Sgt. Brian E. Mohl ’93Jo Carol Smith, JD ’95Barbara D. Davis ’97Helen M. de Prado ’97Amity Currie ’98MAAlbert Sieh ’99/’20MSDavid M. Brandon ’00Katie A. Salerno ’00Lisa M. Whelan ’00MSScott William Donaldson ’01Susan M. Leader ’01Jessica L. Garbus Stefanowicz ’01Joseph V. Tomaszewski ’01Joshua R. Van ’02Susan Tully Tooker ’05Melissa Anne Gray ’08Jillian Elizabeth Price ’08Natalie M. Fouche ’11Nicole Marie Wiley ’14Kristofer David Ariola Bautista ’15/’20MSSpenser Steven Rose ’15 FriendsAtwood L. EdwardsGeorgieann R. ElmendorfJoan HrabanMary Ellen KondysarMarion M. KingDr. Richard J. McGovernTeresita PletcherPamela SmithAmbassador William vanden Heuvel Faculty & StaffKathy L. Butsko ’07/’09MAMary Ann HoffmannZhaokai Yan
Discover news and updates from your fellow alumni: Click here and use the dropdown menu to search by decade. Share your news with the Red Fox community! You can easily and securely update your information online by logging into Marist Connect with your Marist account and password at maristconnect.marist.edu. You can also email the Alumni Office at maristalumni@marist.edu or call (845) 575-3283.
The College’s bachelor’s degree program in professional studies, master’s degree in business, and MBA program were named “Best Online Programs” by U.S. News.
Three of Marist College’s online offerings were ranked in U.S. News’s “Best Online Programs” lists for 2021.The programs included are the bachelor’s degree program in professional studies; master’s degree in business (non-MBA); and master’s in business administration (MBA).An early adopter of online programming, Marist has long been a leader in distance learning. This wealth of experience benefited the College greatly when all courses pivoted to fully remote during the spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19. In fall 2020, the College had a successful in-person reopening with courses ready to switch to online if needed.“We appreciate the continued recognition from U.S. News for our online programs. The College is fully committed to innovation and the online format benefits a variety of students—including working adults—by delivering flexible, rigorous, and efficient programs that lead to career-enhancing degrees. The lifetime value of a college degree has been well-documented; it is imperative to offer higher education opportunities that are widely accessible,” said Sean P. Kaylor, vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communication.For the 2021 ”Best Online Programs” ranking, U.S. News assessed a record 1,641 online programs. The list measures overall academic quality; complete rankings are available at usnews.com.Marist prides itself on flexibility in its offerings to reach students of all backgrounds and life situations. Recognized program highlights include:Marist’s Online BA/BS Majors in Professional Studies and Management StudiesThe professional studies major is an integrative, accelerated bachelor's degree completion pathway that can be customized to draw upon previous college, service, and professional experience while learning new career-related skills. Multiple degree concentration options and accelerated eight-week courses, in both online and hybrid formats, allow adult students to tailor this option to meet their interests and career goals and finish on a schedule that suits their needs. For more information on Marist’s online BA/BS in professional studies, visit the School of Professional Programs website.The management studies major is designed for the adult learner who is motivated to advance their career. A compact yet comprehensive general management curriculum forms the heart of this accelerated bachelor’s degree completion program. It is designed to combine the insights of the Marist faculty with guidance from practicing professionals.Marist’s Online Business Graduate ProgramsMarist offers a 100 percent online master’s degree in public administration. The MPA program features distinct areas of concentration including ethical leadership, healthcare administration, public management, analytics, and nonprofit management. The MPA program is accredited by NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration), the recognized global accreditor for graduate programs in public policy, public affairs, public administration, and public and nonprofit management. In 2018, Marist launched a master’s in professional accountancy program.For more information about these offerings, visit the School of Management’s MPA and MS in professional accountancy siteMarist’s Online MBAMarist launched New York State's first AACSB-accredited 100 percent-online MBA program in 1998, one of the first such programs in the nation. AACSB is the premier business school accrediting body. Also known as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, it accredits fewer than five percent of business programs worldwide. The program was recently recognized by The Princeton Review as a Top 50 Online MBA Program.For more information on the Marist MBA program, visit the MBA program website.
Dr. Jacqueline Reich has been appointed dean of the School of Communication and the Arts, effective Monday, July 12. Reich has a robust background in higher education and brings a wealth of knowledge to Marist.
Dr. Jacqueline Reich has been named dean of the School of Communication and the Arts.Reich came to Marist from Fordham University, where she was professor of communication and media studies and recently finished a seven-year term as chair. She was also a member of the doctoral faculty at the University of Florence’s History of Art and Performance PhD program. As department chair, she oversaw the creation of four undergraduate majors and five new minors, an interdisciplinary program in new media and digital design, and a new master’s program in public media. Under her leadership, enrollments grew 40 percent in undergraduate and 50 percent in graduate programs. In addition, she supervised more than 60 full-time and part-time faculty. Prior to Fordham, Reich spent 18 years as an assistant and then associate professor of cinema and cultural studies at Stony Brook University. There she was responsible for the revision of three undergraduate majors and two minors, participated in the merger of two departments into one, and supervised a staff of nine in her role as faculty director of the Undergraduate College of Arts, Culture, and Humanities. During her career she has served on a number of university-wide committees. Reich is the author of two books and co-author of another, including The Maciste Films of Italian Silent Cinema (Indiana University Press, 2015), which won Best Book on Film and Media from the American Association of Italian Studies and was a finalist for the Best Book on Film for the Theatre Library Association. Other honors and awards include a visiting professorship at the University of Florence and a Howard Fellowship from the George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation at Brown University. She has an MA and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley and a BA from Dartmouth College. She divides her time between Yonkers and Garrison, NY, with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
Marist is once again recognized as a Top and Most Innovative institution in the Regional Universities–North category.
Marist was once again recognized as a Top 10 Regional University – North by U.S. News and World Report. In addition, the College was also named one of the Most Innovative Schools in the region (#2 overall) and highly ranked for its focus on undergraduate teaching (#7 overall). These last two rankings are based upon surveys of college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans who were asked to nominate schools making substantial innovative improvements in the higher education industry.“Over the last decade Marist has been very intentional in how we have built our academic programs, which combine very distinctive educational opportunities and high-impact global experiences with an intimate liberal arts approach that provides highly personalized attention from faculty,” said Thom Wermuth, vice president for academic affairs. “These are the very reasons why our students are very satisfied with their experience at Marist and are highly successful after graduation.” A few of these areas are highlighted below:Study abroad: Study abroad is one of many experiential learning opportunities that add value to the Marist experience for students. Ranked #3 in the United States for study abroad by Open Doors Report, Marist creates pathways for its students to grow by utilizing the world as a classroom. Marist offers two very unique full-year study abroad programs for first-year students in Florence, Italy, and Dublin, Ireland. Marist’s Florence branch campus was founded to be the international face of the College’s commitment to global education and serves as the hub for our study abroad program. Over 50 percent of all Marist students study abroad during their undergraduate experience.Real-world experience: Marist has created numerous Centers of Excellence at its main campus in New York that provide unique opportunities and combine in-classroom learning with real-world professional experiences. These centers include the Hudson River Valley Institute, the Marist Poll, the Marist/IBM Joint Study, the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership, and the Center for Sports Communication, among others. In addition, Marist has established significant partnerships with industry leaders including but not limited to the FDR Presidential Library & Museum, ESPN, and American Red Cross, to name a few. The College leverages these relationships to enhance the educational experience for our students. Approximately 85 percent of Marist students participate in at least one credit-bearing internship during their undergraduate experience. Accelerated degree programs: Marist currently offers six dual degrees which provide students with unique and affordable options to work toward their bachelor's and master's degrees simultaneously. Through these programs, students streamline their academic journey and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce. Dual degree programs offered at Marist include:• Accounting (BS)/Professional Accountancy (MS)• Communication (BA)/Integrated Marketing Communication (MA)• Computer Science (BS/MS)• Information Systems (BS/MS)• Teaching (BA/MA)• Psychology (BA)/Educational Psychology (MA)Marist’s first-rate educational experience is validated by its students. Ninety-five percent of students are satisfied with their college experience, highlighted by a strong first-year retention rate of 88 percent. Marist’s graduation rate is among the highest in the country at 85 percent, and following graduation, its five-year rolling average indicates that 97 percent of students are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months.
Fourteen earn degrees from Marist’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, the College’s first doctorates.
Three years ago, 14 young adults began their studies toward Marist College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, the College’s first doctoral program. In December 2020, they completed their journey. This past spring, prior to returning to campus for their commencement in May, several of the graduates looked back fondly on how Marist’s DPT program has launched their young careers. Established in the Allied Health Building across Route 9 from Marist’s main campus, the program is designed to prepare students for the National Physical Therapy Examination and for successful careers as doctors of physical therapy. Inaugural DPT graduates credit Claudia Fenderson, PT, EdD, the program’s director, for selling them on the brand-new program. “I had a lot of faith in Dr. Fenderson’s reputation because she had been a program director at a different college for a number of years,” said graduate Katherine Whitman.A hugely impactful part of the program was its faculty, always available to help students with anything and offer experience from varied backgrounds. Students stay with the same cohort throughout the program, and all of their courses are taught by the program faculty, who get to know the students extremely well. In addition to traditional lectures, students and faculty engage in hands-on experiences in multiple lab courses. Additionally, students have a faculty advisor who assists them during their three-year tenure. “The close interaction between faculty and students allows for support of the students academically, professionally, and emotionally,” said Fenderson. Having such a small cohort allowed the students more access to professors, and they took advantage of it. The faculty also brought in professionals from the area to speak with students and sometimes provide guidance in the lab. The program uses a variety of labs to provide students experience with the same equipment they will use in the field. It also incorporates volunteer work into its 115-credit curriculum. The mix of lab and volunteer service work provided a well-rounded pathway to becoming a physical therapist. Yara Adely was a big fan of the service-hours requirement because “it really put you in the community, advocating for all your future clientele in a sense…It just makes you feel like you’re making a difference.” The program provided several ways to accrue those hours. Adely mentioned fundraising walks for Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease and filling backpacks with school supplies for kids in the area. Madison Ward was one of four students to be selected for a medical mission trip to Ecuador in February of 2020. The week-long trip placed the students in hospitals to provide physical therapy services, mostly to children. The method of establishing professional clinical rotations was beneficial, too. Students are required to have four full-time clinical rotations, each of which features working in the field in a different way. At Marist, Whitman explained, students integrated their clinical work with their classroom instruction, whereas other programs have all clinical work at the end of their programs. Students were also able to choose their clinical sites themselves. The only requirement was that they had to work in at least one hospital setting and one outpatient setting. “Some schools choose your rotations for you and I’m so glad Marist lets you participate in the process,” Whitman said. Spending so much time as a cohort allowed students to form close relationships. Going through the same stressful classes and studying together created a unique and tight bond. They still keep in touch with one another and will all attend a wedding for one of their DPT classmates this summer. “I think that’s what helped us get through, too. We had the support of each other,” Ward said. The students weren’t shy about offering their input, Fenderson said, which was valuable in shaping the program. “The first cohort understood that their feedback was valued and necessary as it was used to inform the decision-making process about many areas of the program including the curriculum, teaching methodology, and the need for additional resources. When they engaged in full-time clinical experiences, the students provided information regarding their perceptions of strengths of the program and areas needing improvement. This input all factored into the success of the program.”In 2020 the program was granted accreditation for five years by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Five-year accreditation is the maximum period granted to a new DPT program.Some of the highlights of the past three years, said Fenderson, was observing the students “as they advanced to becoming such amazing, caring professionals, seeing their dedication to service of the local and global communities, watching their passion for helping patients evolve and flourish, and of course, developing close connections with these remarkable graduates.” Having 100 percent of the students pass the National Physical Therapy Exam was also a high point, she added.Although the cohort had almost completed the program when the coronavirus hit, the pandemic did have some implications for their studies. Clinical rotations were thrown off-kilter and students had to finish most of their classes online, which is extremely difficult for a profession and course of study that’s so hands-on. “The clinical experience is an invaluable part of the curriculum. The purpose of clinicals are not only for students to demonstrate the skills they have learned, but to continue their education in ways we can not simulate in the classroom. Students return after each rotation more confident in their skills and better able to absorb the new material they are taught. As a clinician and an educator, this is very exciting to observe,” shared Julie Fineman, PT, EdD, the program’s Director of Clinical Education. The pandemic also affected the job market. Ward said that jobs she was eyeing in the Hudson Valley began offering only part-time or per-diem work or reduced work time and/or salaries. Still, opportunities were out there. Whitman is a physical therapist at Moriarty Physical Therapy in nearby Lagrangeville, NY. Adely works in the outpatient department of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, NY, where she worked per diem as a DPT student. Ward is a physical therapist at Professional Physical Therapy on Long Island, NY, and works part-time for Healthie as a marketing associate.Fenderson is proud of the inaugural class. “Witnessing their graduation marks the end of their three-year journey,” she said. “It is a milestone for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program but also one for Marist, as this is its first doctoral offering. For the DPT Program, this is the culmination of a six-year journey the spans the demonstration of the need for the program, building support from the community, gaining state approval, recruiting faculty, staff, and students, and finally gaining full national accreditation. This moment is the result of the unwavering dedication and commitment of the faculty and so many at the College. “We were fortunate to have accepted and graduated an extremely talented cohort of students who are making important contributions to our profession and enriching the lives of their patients.”Being the first group of students to take on the program, as well as the first to earn doctoral degrees from Marist, is something the graduates hang their hats on, especially because everyone in the original cohort made it all the way through. “It really makes my heart happy,” Adely said, “knowing that we were able to shape the program to what it is today.”
Two incoming Marist students have been selected to receive the newly established Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI) Scholarship at Marist College.
Two incoming Marist students have been selected to receive the newly established Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI) Scholarship at Marist College. The scholarship is awarded to students from GLI’s vast national network of affiliated schools who demonstrate exceptional achievement in the study of history.This unique and impactful collaboration between Marist College and GLI was cultivated and primarily funded by a family with longstanding commitments to both institutions. Trustee Genine McCormick ’88 and her husband, Michael ’88, made a very generous pledge to help establish this scholarship initiative in collaboration with GLI. About the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American HistoryFounded in 1994 by noted philanthropists Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, GLI is widely recognized as one of the leading institutions in America dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. The institute has an archive of more than 75,000 historical documents and provides educators, students, and the public with direct access to these unique primary resources. GLI also has an impressive network of more than 29,000 affiliated high schools around the country, and their programming reaches nearly five million students each year. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations.The McCormick Family Foundation – Gilder Lehrman Institute Scholarship Program will be the cornerstone of an exciting partnership developing between Marist and GLI. The McCormicks’ support, combined with that of other donors, will provide meaningful term scholarships for 12 deserving students recognized as top high school history students by GLI’s recently launched National Academy of American History and Civics (NAAHC); NAAHC represents GLI’s highest-achieving, most accomplished students. Eight scholarships will be reserved for students with significant financial need, and the remaining four scholarships will be awarded exclusively based on academic merit. While recognized for their achievement in the study of history, scholarship recipients will not be required to major in history at Marist. The McCormicks’ gift also includes a generous allocation to establish a special society to more formally connect scholarship recipients through meetings, programming in conjunction with GLI and Marist, and an annual dinner. The society will add another important dimension to this distinctive program. Michael and Genine have had an immeasurable impact at Marist through their exceptional philanthropy and thoughtful leadership over many years. This signature program is yet another example of their dedication to students and unwavering commitment to advancing the College’s mission. Impressive Inaugural RecipientsThe inaugural recipients hail from New York and have impressive academic and extracurricular achievements:• Elisabet Guerrero Hernandez, from Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, NY, completed a research project with the Museum of Natural History and served as an intern at Fordham University’s History Makers program. Guerrero Hernandez is secretary of the Women’s Alliance Club and a member of her high school’s bowling varsity team. She is very interested in a career in adolescence education and aspires to be a history teacher.• Harumi Kameda, from Hyde Leadership Charter School, NY, is second in her class and is looking to find her niche at Marist. Kameda is the co-captain of her high school debate team, member of the National Honor Society, involved in Environmental Club, and plays saxophone in the pep band. She hopes to study pre-law and has an interest in history and environmental science.Through this partnership, Marist GLI scholars will make trips to the GLI office in New York City to access GLI’s extensive archives and participate in special programming and internship opportunities. For students with financial need, the scholarship will grow during their time at Marist, providing for increases in award amounts to eliminate the impact of annual tuition increases as well as matching funds for the money they earn through part-time employment.GLI students also will have the opportunity to participate in Marist’s highly ranked Summer Pre-College Program, which is also available to all students at GLI partner schools around the country. In addition, GLI students can take advantage of other special events and activities both on and off campus and avail themselves of the rich historic resources of the Hudson River Valley.A Strategic PartnershipThe collaboration with GLI is a complement to Marist’s deep work in the field of history. The College’s Hudson River Valley Institute studies and interprets regional history, hosts lectures every semester, and publishes a peer-reviewed journal, the Hudson River Valley Review. Numerous students intern with HRVI each year, learning valuable research skills.The College’s partnership with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum makes it one of only six colleges and universities nationwide affiliated with a presidential library. Marist also hosts the Library’s digital archives.Among the first to join the McCormicks in generously supporting the scholarship initiative are Kimberly ’02 and Frank ’00 Viggiano, Jill ’02 and Mark ’00 Viggiano, Lisa and Scott Sweeney ’04, and Marist Trustee Pat Lavelle ’73. Eight scholarships remain to be sponsored in the program.Realizing the vision for this exciting new initiative will require the support of other generous Marist donors, and alumni, parents, and friends are invited to consider sponsoring and naming individual term scholarships offered within this innovative pilot. To learn more about this special opportunity, please contact Chris DelGiorno, vice president for college advancement, at chris.delgiorno@marist.edu or by phone at (845) 575-3412.
Tom Coyne, CEO and founder of Coyne PR, was recognized by the PRNEWS Platinum Awards.
Tom Coyne ’91, CEO and founder of Coyne PR, has been recognized as CEO of the Year by the PRNEWS Platinum Awards. The awards were celebrated in New York on Oct. 12.“As CEO of the company he started 30 years ago, Thomas Coyne was instrumental in steering his agency to more than 30 new business victories this past year,” noted the PRNews Platinum Awards web page. “During the pandemic, he did not furlough a single employee, and he has added more than 80 professionals in the past year. Tom made it the agency’s goal to become an industry pay-leader in the New York market by increasing execution-level salaries by 23 percent and promoting more than 50 percent of the agency. This past year, the agency donated over $1 million in time and financial support.” In addition, Coyne PR won in the External Publications Category for its work with Express Scripts Pharmacy.
The College celebrates its past and charts a course for its future as Kevin Weinman is installed as Marist’s fifth president.
The inauguration of President Kevin Weinman as Marist College’s fifth president last September was a day of excitement and pride, as the Marist community and representatives across higher education came together to celebrate an institution rich in history and well-positioned to thrive in the years ahead.Thousands of individuals gathered on the Campus Green on Sept. 23 on a picturesque autumn day, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community leaders, and friends of the College. Delegates from 51 other colleges and universities across the country also made the trip to Poughkeepsie, including representatives from Amherst, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of New Hampshire, Notre Dame, and Columbia. Many of the delegates had not visited Marist before and expressed how struck they were by the College’s beautiful campus, state-of-the-art facilities, and deep sense of community.Kevin Weinman onstage during the ceremony, prior to removing the robes associated with his earned degree and donning the Marist College presidential gown.A focal point of President Weinman’s remarks highlighted one of Marist’s most distinctive qualities: the blend of a liberal arts education and preprofessional training that is at the heart of a Marist education and is key to solving society’s most pressing problems. “As you know, there is much debate about the continuing value of the liberal arts compared to a form of education that focuses on professional training. I don’t understand this. In fact, I see no debate here at all,” he said. “The debate between the relative merits of a liberal arts education versus professional education presumes that we must choose one or the other. We don’t. Not only can they co-exist, they are mutually reinforcing. This is especially true at Marist College. Here, we aspire to and, not or.”This unique combination is what has prepared generations of Marist graduates for success and is a big part of what attracted Weinman to the College, in addition to its very student-centric culture. “You are why I am here,” he said, addressing the students directly. “You inspire me each and every day. It will be my never-ending mission to help you get the most out of your Marist experience.”Marist Student Government Association President Gabriel Borbon ’23 spoke on behalf of the student body, praising Weinman’s strong commitment to engaging with students from the moment he joined Marist as president on Oct. 4, 2021.“Dr. Weinman’s first meeting on his very first day was with the student government. That fact alone should tell you a lot about how much he values the students at Marist,” Borbon said. “In one short year, he has shown that he is dedicated to helping students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives. I think the Marist community can rest assured that the future of Marist College is bright and that there are even better days to come.”Dr. Carolyn “Biddy” Martin, president emerita at Amherst College, who was president of Amherst while Weinman served as Amherst’s chief financial and administrative officer, delivered the keynote address.“Kevin’s forms of expertise are so wide-ranging, certainly in finance, in computation and data-driven analysis, but he combines those with an appreciation of the imaginative arts, and the rigorous reading and analytic methods of the humanities. That is what students, and the rest of the world, need. All of that," Martin said. "In addition to his other qualities, you will find Kevin’s steadiness and his positive outlook make him an ideal person to lead. Kevin is truly a connector of fields, professions, opportunities, and people. What we see here today is evidence of that.”A ceremony that celebrated the College’s history, academic mission, and rich traditions was balanced with fun, lighthearted moments and even a bit of humor. In a video, Word on the River student host Joe Tuosto ’23 challenged Weinman to taste-test a popular student sandwich mashup from the North End café: putting a chicken sandwich on top of a grilled cheese. Weinman’s verdict after his first bite: “That is everything I’d imagine it would be.” In her keynote, Martin told a few tales on her former colleague. On the subject of Marist’s campus in Florence, Italy, she said, “I noted with interest that your new president hadn’t been here a year before he decided he needed to visit that [campus].”During the ceremony, Weinman’s son, Alex, recalled the day his father introduced him to the game of golf. “While he tried to teach me lessons about stance, grip, and follow-through, the most important lesson I learned for being on the golf course with him is this: stand far behind my dad when he’s swinging a golf club. No one is safe when Kevin Weinman takes a swing.”Weinman’s daughter, Brooke, and his wife, Beth, also played key roles in the ceremony. Brooke performed River Flows in You by Yiruma on the piano, and Beth shared reflections about her husband.“I have known Kevin for over 28 years now. Throughout this time, he has always worked hard and dedicated himself to making the lives of those around him better, but I have never seen him so excited about an opportunity to make a difference as he is here at Marist,” Beth Weinman said. “Marist, you are getting someone who does not do anything halfway, who tries to be everywhere all the time, and who cares deeply for everyone he’s around.”In acknowledging President Emeritus Dennis Murray, President Weinman noted it is Murray’s “vision and leadership for nearly 40 years that transformed Marist into the remarkable college it is today.” As a result, the institution is well positioned for continued growth and success. “Even as we celebrate the Marist here today, I am already looking ahead to our centennial in 2029,” said Weinman. “My dream includes both an epic celebration of the conclusion of a remarkable first century and a launchpad for an even more amazing second century.”He identified two key areas that will drive Marist forward into its next 100 years: innovate, and innovate relentlessly, and make Marist’s form of education available and accessible to any student who has the talent and drive to succeed here. He invited not only current students, faculty, and staff to help advance this ambitious vision, but also alumni who have been core to getting Marist to where it is today.Weinman touted past achievements of the Marist community that have made innovation part of the school’s DNA, such as its 34-year partnership with IBM, world-renowned Fashion Program, thriving branch campus in Florence, Italy, and nationally recognized online programs. “As we are innovating and improving, we are also opening our campus to an ever more diverse and talented group of students,” he added. “We must continue to focus on making a Marist education accessible to every student who can succeed here. Every student must feel a sense of belonging … I won’t rest until we achieve this important goal.”These bold priorities, coupled with a new strategic plan, which is expected to be completed in May 2023, will give alumni, students, faculty, staff, and parents countless opportunities and different ways to engage to help shape and contribute to the Marist of the future.Weinman concluded his address by noting that the Hudson River represents Marist’s values, community, and aspirations. “It supports incredible biodiversity and contributes to the vibrancy of life in the region. In this way the river mirrors the human diversity and richness of Marist College. I tell Marist students all the time … their lives are going to be complicated. Like this stunning river, the crosscurrents they face will be relentless and unpredictable. Their Marist education equips them to succeed no matter what comes their way.” The inauguration ceremony was the culmination of two days of activities that showcased the best of the Marist community. It included an open house at the Steel Plant Studios featuring the work of faculty, students, and alumni from the Art Department and Fashion Program; installations of student and alumni research and creative activity; an academic symposium showcasing Marist faculty and “snap talks” where select faculty presented research. After the inauguration, all were welcome at a reception on the Champagnat Green.To see inauguration events, including video of the full ceremony and the entire slate of campus activities, visit https://www.marist.edu/inauguration.
Marist 100 is a plan developed at an exciting time in the College’s history. We approach our centennial in 2029 from a position of incredible strength, reflecting upon and celebrating Marist’s remarkable growth and development over its first 100 years; reaffirming our commitment to the ongoing relevance and distinctiveness of our mission, values, and model of higher education; and thinking boldly about the years that lie ahead.Our Strategic Plan will help make a Marist education accessible to a broader range of talented students and will help us carry out our ambitious vision of improving the world through education.Read More
Marist’s School of Management welcomes Dr. Will Lamb as dean.
Following a national search, Marist College appointed Dr. Will Lamb as dean of the School of Management. Lamb brings a wide variety of experience to Marist, most recently serving as dean of graduate and adult learner recruitment at EAB Global, where he helped colleges and universities improve the strength of their academic programs and grow their enrollments. He previously served as dean of the LaPenta School of Business at Iona College, the Murata Dean of the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, and associate dean for graduate programs at Ohio University.
“Dr. Lamb comes to Marist and to the School of Management at an exciting and pivotal time,” said Dr. Kevin Weinman, Marist president. “With growing undergraduate enrollment in the school, several renowned graduate programs, and a transformational renovation and expansion of the home of School of Management, the Dyson Center, now underway, the School is poised for an incredible future. I was immensely impressed with Will’s vision, strategic thinking, and excellence as an operational leader, and I have great confidence that Will can take the School to new heights.”
“My experience at EAB has provided a unique opportunity to learn about the market for higher education, and to work with people at nearly every type of school and in all regions of the country,” said Lamb. “This position at Marist College offers an opportunity to work in a student-centered, liberal arts environment at a moment in the College’s development that presents significant opportunities for the School’s future growth and direction.”
Lamb has extensive experience working as both faculty and dean at several institutions with highly regarded business schools. During his leadership of Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, he oversaw the faculty’s revision of the business curriculum and made significant enhancements to the MBA, MS in public accounting, and MS in finance programs. He also oversaw the development of Iona’s online MBA program.
At Babson, he was responsible for the oversight and administration of the College’s four MBA programs, MS in accounting, and MS in management—programs that served more than 1,000 graduate students annually. While there, he led the development of two new programs: the MS in finance and the MS in business analytics.
While at Ohio, Lamb moved through the ranks from assistant professor to director of the MBA program, chair of management systems, and associate dean for graduate programs. Prior to Ohio University, he served as assistant professor of management at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS.
“The School of Management at Marist is renowned for its graduate and undergraduate programs,” said Lamb. “With this tremendous foundation already in place and the coming expansion and transformation of the Dyson Center, our students will have world-class resources at their fingertips to grow and succeed in their future endeavors.”
He has a PhD from Virginia Tech and a BA and an MEd from the University of Virginia.
Marist is grateful to alumni, parents, and friends for their support and dedication
The following generous contributions honor our donors’ commitment to education and ensure they are forever associated with the College’s mission and success.
SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are essential in higher education, providing critical financial support and recognizing academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
Trustee Dirk McMahon ’82 and his wife Wendy have made an additional generous gift in support of the Dirk and Wendy McMahon Endowed Scholarship for incoming freshmen majoring
in business administration at Marist College with demonstrated financial need and strong
leadership potential.
A generous gift from Bayly Ledes and the Ledes Foundation recently established the John G. Ledes Endowed Scholarship. This new scholarship recognizes the extraordinary legacy of John G. Ledes in the beauty publishing and fragrance industries. It will be awarded to a rising junior with financial need and a demonstrated interest in the beauty industry, including publishing, design, marketing, merchandising, or fragrances.
Maureen Sorbo Logan ’78 and Mark Logan have made an additional gift to the Mark and Maureen (Sorbo ’78) Logan Scholarship, which supports Mid-Hudson Valley students with significant financial need majoring in STEM, accounting, or finance. This scholarship is awarded to students
of high character with leadership potential and proven academic ability, with preference given to graduates of Poughkeepsie High School and other Dutchess County high schools.
NAMING COMMITMENTS
Marist College has recently received several generous pledge commitments supporting key areas of the institution, highlighting the importance and impact of naming commitments on campus development and growth.
Dyson Center Renovation and Expansion
Set to open this summer, the renovated and expanded Dyson Center has attracted significant support. Members of the Class of 1968 have made a generous pledge to name the Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean Suite in honor of their 55th reunion. Additionally, Pike Construction’s pledge to name the Rooftop Terrace will enhance the new space, while a gift from the Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation to name a classroom will directly impact students and faculty.
Track and Turf Field Support
The Track and Field fundraising effort began with a $1 million lead commitment from Marist Trustee Tim Tenney, established as a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge to catalyze momentum and encourage further donations. To date, the College has received $421,483 in additional gifts and pledges from 267 donors, including generous pledges from Trustee C. James Taylor, Jay Doyle ’75 to name the Record Board, and Jamie McGurk ’97 to name the Plaza in the enhanced athletic space.
“Naming commitments are vital gifts to Marist because they provide essential financial support for the institution’s growth and development while also creating lasting legacies that inspire future generations,” said Vice President for Advancement Chris DelGiorno ’88.
To explore the wide range of naming opportunities at the College, please contact Chris at chris.delgiorno@marist.edu.
An Inside Look at Marist's First-Ever Day of Giving
On March 20, 2024, the Marist Community united with a unique sense of purpose — one that could reimagine the meaning of giving back for Red Foxes everywhere.
Months of planning and anticipation led to Marist’s first-ever Day of Giving, when the community set out to embrace contemporary philanthropy through online giving with a clear charge: Secure 1,000 donors in 24 hours.
Giving days are often marked by online campaigns, social media pushes, and campus-wide events, all aimed at rallying the community in a concentrated effort to raise funds within a 24-hour period.
Marist committed to embracing this trend, marking a significant shift in its approach to fundraising – and displaying just how strong the community is by exceeding all goals and predictions as gifts were made, stories were shared, and events were celebrated.
“The success of the College’s Day of Giving is a testament to the unwavering spirit and generosity of Red Foxes everywhere – who not only surpassed the College’s goals, but also redefined what it means to come together as a community,” said Vice President for College Advancement, Chris DelGiorno ’88.
Themed “Red Foxes Rise Together,” the level of participation and donations truly shattered expectations, with the initial goal of 1,000 donors being surpassed before 10 a.m. The day concluded with Marist’s momentum on full display – totaling nearly 2,900 donors and raising more than $560,000.
Gifts at work
All Day of Giving gifts were directed to specific areas of the College that donors wished to support, including various athletic appeals, the Track and Turf Field, Presidential Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience, the Parents Fund, and the Senior Class Legacy. Donors could also give directly to the Marist Fund.
“There are so many things that would benefit from further support,” said Associate Vice President for Development, Mike Byerley. “Philanthropy is an important way to provide added value for our students and their families, opening doors for our Red Foxes.”
From helping students access a Marist education to academic experiences and study abroad, internships and community service, gifts of all sizes play a valuable role in awarding opportunities to Marist students. “Support from the Marist community has allowed me to excel in my studies and make long-lasting meaningful friendships,” said current student Chelsea Venters ’25. “I have been able to experience how wonderful Marist is through access to scholarships funded by alumni. Other students and I can be here because of this generosity. The support does not go unnoticed.”
Giving and Gratitude
The overwhelming success of the 24-hour fundraiser can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of the many alumni, students, parents, staff, and friends of the College who were eager and enthusiastic to show their generosity and love for Marist.
“Marist holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I grew into the person I am today, and where I’ve built and continue to build some of the most meaningful relationships of my life.”
-Christopher Price ’02
“Watching our boys thrive as Red Foxes has been one of the greatest joys of our lives,” said chair of the Parents Council, Jackie Faherty. “We are so excited to contribute to a community that we have come to know and love and to hopefully encourage others to be a part of all that is so special about Marist College.”
-Jackie Faherty P’24/P’26, Parents Council Chair
“Donor support helped me to stay and finish my degree at the College. Without Marist’s generous financial aid packages, I would have had to move back home at the end of my first year. Marist has become a second home to me, and leaving was not something I was prepared to do. Thanks to Marist donors, I will be able to walk the stage on the green next year!”
-Miguel Rojas ’25
Read more about the Day of Giving via Inside Marist.
Generosity and community have always been at the heart of Marist’s identity. This legacy, which has endured for nearly a century, has recently gained extraordinary momentum as alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the College have stepped forward with unprecedented enthusiasm to provide philanthropic support for various elements of Marist’s mission and vision.
Marist is at an inflection point in its evolution, with philanthropy acting as a powerful accelerator.
Although Marist is a relatively young institution – with more than 60% of its 51,000 alumni having graduated in the last 25 years – the collective force of its community coming together to enhance the educational experience of current and future students has tremendous impact. Nowhere is this more evident than Marist’s inaugural Day of Giving, covered in greater detail in this issue of Marist Magazine. On this day, generations of alumni participated in record numbers, giving back to ensure that future Red Foxes benefit from similar life-changing academic, professional, and recreational opportunities.
While their individual motivations for giving are unique, donors are united by a belief in Marist’s promise, and a desire to invest in its future.
Also in this issue are several recent gifts and pledges supporting impactful programs, scholarships, or initiatives that advance one or more pillars of Marist 100: Academic Vibrancy, Student Centrality, and Expansive Community.
In each case, donors have been inspired by the College’s ambitious vision of improving the world through education and have stepped forward to fund an element of that vision that resonates with them.
Whether supporting scholarships designed to make a Marist education more affordable, promoting equity and access across the academic experience, assisting students in developing financial-literacy skills, naming space in a premier academic building, or helping to develop signature recreational facilities, each gift is a vote of confidence in Marist, and an investment in its future.
Marist Launches Brick Initiative to Support New Track and Turf Field Project
Ready to turn your memories into milestones? Be a part of Marist's new brick initiative, a unique opportunity for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members to leave a legacy on campus while supporting the Track and Turf Field project.
The campaign aims to raise funds for the development of a state-of-the-art track and turf field, enhancing the college's athletic infrastructure and providing a top-tier training environment for student-athletes.
Participants can purchase personalized bricks that will be used to create a walking path at the new track facility. All funds will directly contribute to the construction and maintenance of the enhanced athletic space.
Two inscription options are available:
Small Personalized Brick: $500
Large Personalized Square Paver: $1,000
Each brick and paver will be engraved with an individualized message, allowing donors to commemorate their time at Marist, honor a loved one or faculty mentor, and show support for the College's future. Buy your brick and view inscription guidelines at this link.
Vice President for College Advancement Chris DelGiorno expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "This first-of-its-kind initiative at Marist is a wonderful way for alumni, parents, and friends to demonstrate their support for our student-athletes and the wider campus community. Donor support will play an invaluable role in bringing this exciting project to fruition and personalized bricks will serve as a powerful symbol of Marist’s community spirit for generations to come.”
Generous gift from longtime Marist supporter W. Jason Hancock
A generous $1 million gift from longtime Marist supporter W. Jason Hancock will enable a wide range of financial literacy initiatives to equip students with important skills to help them become savvy money managers and build brighter financial futures.
Mike Willis, the newly appointed head football coach at Marist College, is gearing up for his first official season leading a Division I team this fall, determined to take the Marist football program to new heights and eager to showcase the school's dedicated student-athletes with the world.
"For me, when considering this role, it became less about why Marist and more about why not Marist," said Willis. "Marist is a tremendous school that does an unbelievable job of blending a liberal arts education with educational experiences and opportunities that are going to set students up for success, not just for a great four years for the but for the next 40 years of their lives.”
The New Jersey native joins Marist after nine seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton University, his alma mater. His hire follows the Nov. 29, 2023, retirement of Jim Parady, who led the Marist program for 32 years and had been the longest-tenured active head coach in Division I football.
A former offensive lineman, Willis admits he was drawn to the new position because of the unique qualities of the College’s mission, emphasizing Marist's commitment to providing a well-rounded education and a full DI athletic experience.
"Coach Willis's emphasis on success on and off the field makes him an excellent addition to the Marist community," said Marist President Kevin Weinman. "He joins Marist at an exciting time as our new strategic plan infuses athletics throughout many of its priorities and the College is positioned for a major leap forward. I am convinced Marist's football program will reach new heights under his leadership, building upon all that Coach Parady, his staff, and our student-athletes have accomplished."
When asked about his coaching philosophy, Willis emphasizes the importance of recruiting and developing the best student-athlete while creating a strong and cohesive team. He aims to build a program that the Marist community can be proud of.
"We want to recruit and retain the best student-athletes in the country and develop them to reach their full potential on and off the field," Willis said. "When people watch us play, I hope they'll see a football team that is fast, physical, and together in everything that they do."
Willis was Princeton's offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. During that time, the Tigers went 22-8 overall with a 15-6 record in Ivy League play while Willis coached 23 All-Ivy League players. In 2021, Princeton won the Ivy League championship, went 9-1 overall, set a program record with 10 First Team Ivy League selections, and led the Ancient Eight in scoring at 33.4 points per game.
As Willis embarks on this new chapter and looks ahead toward the upcoming football season, he is eager to make his mark on the program. His passion for football and dedication to his players is evident.
Willis shared, "My time at Marist has been exceptionally rewarding. The student-athletes, faculty, administrators, and Marist community have made me, and my family, feel at home. I am so energized by everyone's investment and excitement. I wake up every day thrilled to be the head football coach at Marist!"
Q&A - Marist Magazine chats with Kevin and Beth Weinman about the Fund for Equity
In April, Kevin and Beth Weinman announced a second gift pledge to the Presidential Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience (the “Equity Fund”). This $500,000 pledge augments the founding gift of $250,000 they made in December 2021. Since then, over 300 students with demonstrated financial need have received grants allowing them to enroll in “travel courses” or take unpaid internships vital for career preparation. The Weinmans’ gifts, alongside hundreds of others from Marist trustees, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends, as well as future gifts to the Fund will help ensure support remains available to Marist students.
Q: What inspires you to give to Marist?
K & B: Everyone in the Marist community – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents – has inspired us from our very first day. We believe deeply in this College – its achievements to date, and its promise for the future. Gifts to Marist have tremendous impact on the student experience. Marist has long been an institution on the rise – a College worth supporting – and the ambitious vision outlined in Marist 100 charts a path to even greater heights. We are honored to be here and to join so many others in providing financial support to help Marist reach its fullest potential.
Q: Why the Equity Fund?
K: Because I’ve seen that the Equity Fund works! Students often tell me how enriching and rewarding their internships are in their career preparation. Also, I recently returned from drop-ins to three travel courses, one in Athens and two in London, and was blown away by the rich learning environment. Student and faculty enthusiasm was off the charts!
Also, the Equity Fund hits upon all three pillars of Marist 100. Travel courses and internships speak to “academic vibrancy” by giving students immersive learning opportunities and faculty the opportunity to design innovative curricula, to “student centrality” by directing 100% of these resources to support an outstanding student experience, and to “expansive community,” both by bringing Marist to the world and the world to Marist and by attracting immensely talented faculty and students from all backgrounds to the Marist community.
Spring 2024 Attachment Course: Shakespeare in London
B: As someone who was fortunate to travel extensively throughout the former Soviet Union and Europe before and during college, I find Marist’s travel courses, which provide life-changing experiential learning opportunities, intriguing. These experiences opened my eyes to people and cultures beyond our own. I also know from our son Alex’s experience that some students prefer a short immersive international visit rather than semester or year-long study abroad, and these courses allow several hundred Marist students to do just that, every year.
Spring 2024 Attachment Course: Democracy in Greece
Q: What would you say to others who are considering their own forms of support to Marist?
K & B: As they consider a gift to Marist, we encourage alumni, parents, and friends to think about what inspires them most about a Marist education and what would bring them the most satisfaction from a supporting gift. For us, it’s the Equity Fund, and, of course, we invite others to support the Equity Fund as well. But we understand others might prefer to support any number of other Marist 100 priorities. In any instance, a gift of any size makes a difference. It shows confidence in Marist and its mission and makes a huge difference for our students. We invite everyone to consider joining us in supporting Marist College, in ways and at amounts meaningful to them.
Support the Presidential Equity Fund by making your gift today!
From Classroom Project to Public Opinion Powerhouse
With a history steeped in accuracy and endurance, the Marist Poll and its students have contributed to public discourse for decades, a trend that continues this election cycle – when Americans vote in a historically unique election, witnessing a rematch between the current president, Joe Biden, and his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump.
Known as a steadfast beacon of information, the Marist Poll is responsible for far more than just handling elections. As it continues to adapt and evolve to new challenges, the Poll remains dedicated to its student-centered approach, providing them with unparalleled learning opportunities and experiences.
Origins of the Poll
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO), home of the Marist Poll started as a classroom project in the original Fontaine Hall on campus and blossomed into an educational program that is unique to Marist.
“The project began with a handful of undergraduate students taking exit polls in Dutchess County,” said Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO), home of the Marist Poll. “But because of its accuracy and success, it quickly evolved into a New York State poll and nationally recognized source of public opinion.”
Miringoff founded the Institute in 1978. He is now in his 50th year at Marist and is a sought-after analyst by the media, providing his expertise on polls, elections, and the dynamics of American politics.
Over its 46-year history, thousands of Marist College students have participated in polling, workshops, courses and seminars, field trips, and internships. Today, Marist Poll is proud to have more than 400 students on its team each semester.
Election 2024: What’s at Stake
MIPO has always been on the cusp of experiential learning, and this election cycle is no different. To help students understand the unique nuances of public polls and the 2024 election, the Marist Poll team and Miringoff’s students spent this spring semester writing questions for a series of national Marist Polls.
“The 2024 Presidential Election is unprecedented,” said Miringoff. “Not only has it been decades since our country has had a presidential ‘re-do,’ but one of those candidates is a former president convicted of felonies, and the other is an incumbent with low approval ratings. Public opinion will be important in guiding public debate and helping illuminate shifts in the electorate.”
MIPO published 13 national polls, conducted with NPR and PBS News, and nine battleground state polls published this academic year. They focused on the 2024 presidential election, giving students inside the classroom and the Marist Poll Center a first-hand look at the dynamics of a presidential campaign.
For current student Ethan Solury ’26, poll results have aided his understanding of where Americans are right now. "Everything is all over the place so it’s hard to really know what to expect,” said the political science major. “But the polling data helps us to consider what questions voters still have and what is most important to them as we head toward election day.”
In such a hotly contested election year, emotions are running high, and public polls are center stage. According to Dr. Barbara Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll, students are learning about the science of measuring public opinion and the art of holding space for differing opinions.
“Our students have a great deal of respect for differing political views,” said Carvalho. “Here they can learn from each other and engage in open-minded discussions. The Poll helps them listen and analytically understand the opinions of their peers.”
As director, Carvalho is dedicated to this experience for students, ensuring that the Marist Poll is anchored in intellectual growth and innovation, excellence in education, and focused on community engagement and service.
While the Marist Poll's preparation for the 2024 election has played a lead role recently, she underscores it is just one example of how the Marist Poll embraces Marist College’s commitment to foster democratic participation and an informed citizenry.
“Thousands of Marist students have benefitted and will continue to benefit from the distinctive, hands-on learning opportunities offered through the Marist Poll,” she said. “This includes polling research, analysis, and communication. Students participate in seminars and internships with industry experts and have even attended historic election events.”
Unparalleled Access to American Democracy
This winter, 34 Marist students from a host of majors were given unparalleled access to American democracy during the Marist Poll’s quadrennial trip to New Hampshire for the presidential primaries. Their travel experience included political rallies, national media events, and exclusive question-and-answer sessions with some of the foremost names in political journalism such as Philip Bump, columnist for The Washington Post, Dana Bash, anchor and chief political correspondent for CNN, and Steve Thomma, Executive Director of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Students also went behind the scenes with national news outlets and attended live productions of NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker and MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki. Those anchors also answered students’ questions, as did NBC’s chief political analyst Chuck Todd.
“This trip takes us out of the classroom and puts us right in the middle of the presidential primary,” said Miringoff. “It provides students with a bird’s-eye view of retail politics at its finest – a unique educational experience.”
The Marist Poll’s New Hampshire primary trip has taken place each presidential election cycle since 2012. Two students participated in the first trip, and it has grown exponentially over time.
First-year student and survey assistant Christopher DeVizio ’27 sees trips like this as providing access that will pave the way for his future and career. “As a political science major, I’m getting a front row seat to a historical election process," he said. “Honestly, the opportunity to potentially work for the Marist Poll served as a deciding factor in my decision to attend Marist. I knew that the overall opportunity and the networking aspect could really help to propel my career into politics.”
Alumnus Brian Smith ’95 is living proof that DeVizio’s dreams can become reality. His decades-long career in healthcare has led him to serve as Executive Director of Alliance Development and Strategy Advocacy for Merck. He says the Poll played a huge role in his personal success.
“The Marist Poll was, and is, a recognizable name and gives students a leg up in any interview process or job search,” he said. “For me, it not only opened the door, but it also got me through the door. It’s an unmatched experience."
Embracing Evolution
While experiential learning has and always will play a role in preparing students for life after Marist, Mary Griffith, Associate Director of MIPO, says the field of polling is always changing. This requires the Marist Poll to constantly evolve its methodology in capturing opinion data and its approach to how it reaches different segments of the population.
“The computer and communications revolution has changed over the years, and we have as well,” said Griffith. “We have had to evolve our methods to reach people effectively, capture accurate opinion data, and communicate our poll results.”
The Marist Poll uses a rigorous, scientific-based, multi-frame approach in its survey methodology. It has expanded its projects to include the creation of GenNext, a survey of young Americans that is conceived and conducted by young Americans. The goal of this survey is to compare how the priorities of the nation’s future leaders compare with those currently at the helm.
"There are some existing surveys that focus on younger people, but we thought it would be much more insightful to give young people the chance to decide what topics and questions to ask their peers," said Jay DeDapper, MIPO’s Director of Strategy and Innovation, who led the initiative. With a clear dedication to student centrality, Marist Poll also launched a weekly podcast called, “Poll Hub," which is produced by the Institute’s talented group of student media assistants.
Recent graduate Athen Hollis ’24 began working on the Marist Poll podcast her sophomore year. She grew from researcher to producer, and her duties included researching segments, booking guests, and writing segments and social media posts.
“My combined experience has equipped me to tackle anything that involves social media and research,” she said. “These opportunities are unparalleled and will help me in whatever direction my career takes me.”
About the Marist Institute for Public Opinion
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion, home of the Marist Poll, is a survey research center on the Marist campus. The Marist Poll regularly measures public opinion at the local, state, and national level. Founded in 1978, the Institute was the first college-based research center to include undergraduates in conducting survey research. Today, Marist Poll is proud to have more than 400 students on its team each semester.
The success of the Marist Poll is recognized worldwide by journalists and academics. The Marist Poll has been rated number one for accuracy by Bloomberg Politics and has consistently received an “A” rating from ABC News’ FiveThirtyEight.
New members help Marist achieve its vision of improving the world through education
Marist College is excited to announce the addition of four distinguished individuals to its Board of Trustees. Formally elected during the Board’s December 9 annual meeting, these accomplished professionals come from diverse backgrounds and industries, bringing a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to helping Marist achieve its vision of improving the world through education.
“We are delighted to welcome these new members,” said Ross Mauri ’80/P’15, Chair of the Marist Board of Trustees. “Through their collective expertise and dedication to Marist they will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the College as we bring to life the many bold initiatives outlined in our new strategic plan, Marist 100.”
Added Marist President Kevin Weinman: “I am particularly excited about the variety of ways this distinguished group of new trustees has been involved with the College – as parents, alumni of both undergraduate and graduate programs, through athletics and many other elements of the Marist experience, as advisory board members, and as mentors to our students. I look forward to the many ways they will bring their extensive professional expertise into the board room, and to working with them to bring Marist to greater heights.”
Former student-athlete Sydney Coffey ’16 is not just a talented basketball player; she is a visionary entrepreneur who has carved out a unique space for herself in the world of fashion. As the founder of Morlé - meaning “more legs” - a clothing brand tailored exclusively for tall women, Coffey has seamlessly blended her passion for sports with her love for fashion, creating a unique brand that resonates with both female athletes and fashion enthusiasts.
“I turned my dreams into reality,” said Coffey. “With Morlé I want to revolutionize the fashion industry by advocating for tall women. Together we can reshape beauty standards and provide an unmatched experience of style and empowerment."
Growing up in Hopkins, Minnesota, Coffey was immersed in basketball from an early age. Her father, Richard Coffey, played in the NBA (National Basketball Association), setting the stage for Sydney’s athletic career. She excelled on the court, leading her high school team to three state championships, and earning a scholarship to play DI basketball at Marist College.
While at Marist, Coffey succeeded as a dedicated fashion merchandising major, balancing the demands of being a student-athlete while pursuing her love for fashion. She studied communications with a focus on fashion design, laying the groundwork for her future as an entrepreneur.
After college, Coffey took her athletic talents overseas to play professionally, where she continued to scout the intersection of sports and fashion, noticing a specific target market – tall women like her – that was not being explored. It was during these overseas adventures in 2020 that Morlé was officially born.
“I was traveling the world hearing the same stories over and over again from women my height and taller, stories about how difficult it is to find clothing we can feel good about,” said Coffey. “Now, Morlé creates a space for women to embrace their height and find a sense of community, too.”
Coffey and the brand have quickly gained traction, thanks to its innovative designs. Coffey’s visions further materialized this spring when Morlé debuted at the Women’s Final Four Tip-Off Fashion Show in Cleveland, Ohio. Dedicated to tall women and athletes, the event provided Coffey with a unique networking opportunity where she was surrounded by female athletes and spoke directly with the customers she hopes to serve.
“Having my first fashion show at the Final Four was incredibly meaningful,” she said. “I met so many women who didn’t know this type of fashion existed before that day. Now, they know Morlé is one of the brands that can provide them with the clothing they’re looking for.”
According to Marist Women’s Basketball Coach Erin Doughty ’06 ’08M, Coffey is redefining what it means to be a business owner in the world of fashion. “Her journey from student-athlete to successful entrepreneur is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in her potential,” said Doughty. “She saw a need in the fashion industry and decided to create a brand that focused on stylish clothing for tall women like herself. I am not surprised at all by the quick growth of her company, and I know it will continue to thrive under her leadership.”
