The Marist Mindset List, composed by a trio of Marist faculty, list focuses on a variety of academic disciplines where incoming students are making an impact, and its primary purpose is to give students, their faculty, and even their parents a sense of common ground to spark meaningful conversations, both in and out of the classroom.
The Class of 2026 has arrived, and this year’s group of incoming students has hit the ground running in hopes of being at the back end of the COVID-19 pandemic. This group comes to college having lived much of their high school years with disruptions and due to COVID-19 are looking for a sense of “normal.” This experience has been impactful to this new group of students, who like any incoming class, has a unique take on cultural references and interests.Each year, the Marist Mindset List is crafted as a “cultural compass” exploring the triumphs and challenges for incoming college students. Also known as the “always/never” list, the Marist Mindset List digs into topics spanning public health in addition to political, computer, and environmental sciences as well as fashion and diversity, and equity and inclusion. The list features 10 items in all, which include additional reading in the form of links to sources and, in some cases, living examples of items. Much of the Class of 2026 was born in 2004, so cultural references were entered with that in mind.The list is compiled each year by the Marist Mindset team of Tommy Zurhellen, associate professor of English; Dr. Vanessa Lynn, assistant professor of criminal justice; and Joyce Yu-Jean Lee, assistant professor of art and digital media.“The Marist Mindset List for the Class of 2026 is particularly interesting to me, because we’re seeing how incoming students react to the gradual end of the pandemic that has already affected their academic paths in so many ways,” said Zurhellen. “COVID may be waning, but COVID fatigue is still very much a factor in the choices our students make. This year’s list certainly reflects that unique trend.”“While every Marist Mindset List has explored what touches and impacts an incoming class, this year we also see how many of the phenomena listed impact so many of us,” said Lynn, Marist Mindset Faculty Fellow. “I'm excited about that, because the list can be truly intergenerational.”The annual Mindset List was created at Beloit College in Wisconsin to reflect the world view of entering first year students—and to help faculty understand incoming classes. In 2019, the list moved to Marist, becoming the Marist Mindset List. Under the direction of Zurhellen, who is a Beloit alumnus, the list has become a collaborative effort each year with Marist faculty and students from different disciplines with diverse backgrounds.The 2022 Marist Mindset List for the Class of 2026Sports CommunicationThe Class of 2026 has always known LeBron James as the most recognizable sports icon on the planet. LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003 and in 2004, the year many of the Class of 2026 were born, his jersey topped the best-seller list for the first time; in 2022, James’s jersey still tops the list.Political ScienceFor incoming students, Hillary Clinton has always had a more significant role in American politics than Bill Clinton. Although older Americans may think of Hillary Clinton as primarily First Lady from the 1990s, incoming students born in 2004 only know her as a United States senator, secretary of state, and contemporary presidential candidate.Computer ScienceCreated in 2004, Facebook has been active for the entire lives of the Class of 2026. Although Facebook is only 19 years old, many incoming students already see the social media platform as outdated, preferring newer platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.EthicsIncoming students are the first generation in 50 years who must include their own reproductive rights as part of their overall college decision. The recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will affect so many decisions for young women, who currently make up 59 percent of college students in America.Global StudiesThe Class of 2026 will be the first since the “Duck and Cover” generation of the Cold War to live with the real possibility of world war and global conflict. The Russian invasion of Ukraine echoes the experiences of growing up during the Cold War, but today’s digital technology makes the images of war much more visceral.Environmental ScienceThe debate on climate change is over. Incoming students are now the first generation faced with the omnipresent reality to actually effect change to combat global warming. Greta Thunberg has set the stage for youth activism; now, incoming students are part of a new generation increasingly demanding legal reforms to improve future generations’ lives. Diversity, Equity, and InclusionThe Class of 2026 is the first cohort in recent memory for whom knowledge about a diverse country and world is actually regressing. Thirty-five states have recently introduced and/or passed legislation to either ban or censor teaching about race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and American history in schools.Public HealthIncoming students are still recovering from the mental health impact of COVID and COVID fatigue. Mental health has been an issue for some time, but the Class of 2026 is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic on their mental health.EducationThe Class of 2026 is the first to realistically see the possibility of canceling or reducing student debt. The Biden administration has publicly announced its determination to tackle the rise of crippling student debt. Will they get results?FashionIncoming students are aware of fashion sustainability, but nevertheless social media and influencer culture draw them to cheaper and faster options from online retailers. Students have a better understanding of sustainability than previous generations, but their consumer choices do not reflect a strong commitment to protecting the environment.See a full breakdown of this year’s Marist Mindset List for the Class of 2026 here.
This past fall, the innovative Marist Poll team accurately measured the winners in Senate and gubernatorial contests across the nation, thanks to new, scientific polling methodologies.
This fall, the Marist Poll team tracked public opinion in the most hotly contested Senate and gubernatorial races across the country, and the results were spot-on! The Marist Poll accurately measured the winners in each of the called U.S. Senate and gubernatorial contests polled this election cycle. The Marist Poll’s success this year is the result of the implementation of new, scientific polling methodologies aimed at addressing the broader challenges confronting the polling community.Always innovators in the field of survey research and academia, the Marist Poll rigorously tested these methodologies during the year prior to the 2022 midterms, and the effort proved fruitful. The Marist Poll looks forward to sharing the insights from its election polls with the broader survey community as well as the hundreds of student workers, interns, and researchers who are at the fore of the Marist Poll Survey Center every semester.With an eye on the key issues driving the electorate, the Marist Poll also tracked the 2022 midterm elections with its national polling partners, NPR and PBS NewsHour. The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll measured public opinion on President Joe Biden’s job performance, the economy, the labor force, and much more. In total, the Marist Poll conducted 12 public battleground state polls and 2 national surveys since Sept. 1, generating an estimated ad value equivalency of more than $300 million, according to the media monitoring service Meltwater.Also last fall, it was the Marist Poll’s distinguished pleasure to participate in the Office of College Advancement’s October event for the Washington, DC, alumni chapter. These two action-packed days began with an informal dinner with Marist President Kevin Weinman and distinguished political journalists with whom the Marist Poll has worked over the decades. The Marist Poll also hosted a luncheon where Marist Poll alumni had the chance to get to know President Weinman. The culmination of the trip was the broader gathering of Marist’s DC alumni chapter during which Dr. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, had the distinct honor of leading the discussion between Weinman and Marist’s best and brightest. From Marist students past to the present, undergraduates in Miringoff’s Political Communication and Politics course have, once again, experienced an insider’s view of the field. On-campus and virtual guest speakers this semester have included Congressman Jamie Raskin, author of Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy and who served as the lead impeachment manager in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump; Lisa Desjardins, PBS NewsHour correspondent; Steve Thomma, executive director of the White House Correspondents Association; David Lightman, chief congressional correspondent for McClatchy; and Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic.The Marist Poll would also like to take a moment to thank Marist alumni, staff, and friends of the College who contributed to the Marist Poll’s GiveCampus campaign. Those generous donations funded two student fellowship positions. The Marist Poll Summer Fellow for Distinguished Service in Media was awarded to Greta Stuckey ’23 who demonstrated outstanding journalistic integrity, exemplary writing and research skills, a passion for the media industry, and proven leadership ability. Sarah Knauss ’23 was named the Marist Poll Summer Fellow for Distinguished Service in Data Science which is awarded to a Marist College student who demonstrates exceptional analytical writing and research skills, exhibits a strong interest in the field of survey research and/or data analysis, and is a proven leader. For those who might have missed it, the Marist Poll, in conjunction with the Marist Center for Sports Communication, surveyed Americans about Title IX, 50 years after the passage of this groundbreaking legislation. To commemorate the anniversary of Title IX in June, the Marist Poll and the Marist Center for Sports Communication hosted a virtual panel featuring female luminaries in sports, broadcasting, and policy. Marist Poll Director of Data Science and Technology Stephanie Calvano ’04 moderated the panel which included Margaret Dunkle, architect of Title IX; Aditi Kinkhabwala, former national reporter for the NFL Network; Rebecca Lobo, WNBA and women’s college basketball analyst and reporter for ESPN and former WNBA All-Star; Jane McManus, executive director of Seton Hall’s Center for Sports Media; and Julianne Viani ’08, basketball analyst in sports broadcasting for ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NBC Sports, and YES Network, as well as other networks.
NYSAF will work with the College to lend professional expertise to its curricular programs as Marist students serve as interns and staff members.
New York Stage and Film at Marist College returns to Poughkeepsie July 14-August 6 for its 2023 Summer Season, which will feature a combination of emerging artists and Hollywood and Broadway headliners.
Best-selling author Jeff Kinney will address traditional undergraduates of the Class of 2023 at Marist’s commencement ceremony May 20 and adult undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students will be honored the night before with Jerome Pickett ’98 as their commencement speaker.
Best-selling author of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and cartoonist Jeff Kinney will address traditional undergraduates of the Class of 2023 at Marist College’s Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 20 on the Campus Green. Adult undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students will be honored the night before, with esteemed Class of 1998 Marist alumnus, Jerome Pickett, serving as Commencement speaker.
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.
