Former Soccer Players Inducted into the Alumni Hall of Achievement

Chancellor Sr. Kathleen Sullivan and President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien toasted the honorees before the ceremony.

Three former Dominican College soccer players were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Achievement on Sunday, April 29 during a ceremony in the Granito Center.听 The new inductees are:听 Donald Briggs Jr., 鈥�83, for Excellence; Michael Hagopian, 鈥�02, for Leadership; and Alice O鈥橦ara, 鈥�99, for Service. A photo of the three inductees will hang in the lobby of the Prusmack Center with other honorees.

Donald Briggs, Jr., 鈥�83, for Excellence

Former soccer and basketball player Donald Briggs said the person he is today has a lot to do with Dominican College.听 鈥淭he person who walked in the doors at Dominican College was not the same person who left four years later,鈥� he said. 听He credits the College with developing his business sense and teaching him to be an independent thinker.

Briggs has had a successful career in the credit union industry. He worked for more than 30 years with the NEA Federal Credit Union, which merged with Affinity FCU one year ago.听 Briggs is a Vice President of Administration.

Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P., 听Chancellor of External Affairs, said, 鈥淒on and his wife Sonja have contributed their time, their talent, and their treasure to serving the community and to serving Dominican College in countless ways鈥�

In addition to having served on a number of professional boards, Briggs volunteers as treasurer of the Cornwall Girls Basketball Youth League and a board member of the Cornwall United Soccer Club.听 Since 2008, he has been a member of the Dominican College President鈥檚 Advisory Council.

Briggs and his wife Sonja have three daughters.听 Their eldest, Renee, graduated from Dominican College in May and his daughter Erin is a junior at the College.

Michael Hagopian, 鈥�02, for Leadership

As a student at Dominican College, it was clear that Michael Hagopian was a leader.听 He was president of the Student Government Association, captain of the men鈥檚 soccer team, a member of the Aquin Players, a student ambassador and a recipient of the Founders Award. After Dominican College, he earned two master鈥檚 degrees — in education and educational leadership.

Hagopian is now an Assistant Principal in the Oradell Public School District in New Jersey. 听听Dr. AnnMarie DiSiena, Coordinator of the Communication Studies Program, was Hagopian鈥檚 former professor and said he was always a role model to others. 鈥淗e is making a difference today supporting students who struggle academically, socially, and emotionally by organizing interventions and being a support for the teachers, as well as the parents of the students,鈥� she said.

Hagopian said he was humbled and honored to be inducted into the Hall of Achievement. 鈥淚 share this award with all those who were my mentors, my supporters, my cheerleaders, my friends, and would like to recognize each of you today.鈥�

Among his volunteer activities, Hagopian serves as a board member of Loeb House, a nonprofit organization that provides housing for those with special needs.听 He is also on the executive board of the Dominican College Alumni Association and is a coach for the Orangetown Mighty Midgets Soccer Association.

Hagopian lives in Orangeburg, NY with his wife Amy and his young son.听

Alice Kivlehan O鈥橦ara, 鈥�99, for Service

At Dominican College, Alice Kivlehan O鈥橦ara studied psychology and was competitive on the soccer field 鈥� earning the Most Valuable Player award her senior year. She came to Dominican College as a transfer student, but has a strong allegiance to the College.

鈥淚 would really like to thank all the teachers and staff who made Dominican College what it is today,鈥� said O鈥橦ara. 鈥淚 received such a personal and individualized education at the College and that鈥檚 the reason why I am where I am today,鈥� she said.

After earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology at Dominican College, Alice earned a master鈥檚 degree in education technology and then began her teaching career.听 For the past 18 years she has worked at the Bardonia Elementary School in New York.听 Dr. Mike Kelly, her former professor and Director of the Graduate Programs in Education, said O鈥橦ara has grown in her expertise in general and special education at Bardonia Elementary.听 鈥淪he has touched the lives of hundreds of fifth grade students, who have had the privilege of experiencing her care for their academic, physical, social, and emotional needs as she prepares them for the next transition in their lives 鈥� middle school,鈥� he said.

O鈥� Hara has spearheaded a program at her school to promote health and fitness.听 On Move It Mondays students design a workout and give healthy-eating advice to younger students. The students also voluntarily agree to use recess to run laps and participate in workouts. O鈥橦ara practices what she preaches.听 She participates in numerous community triathlons and races for local charities and families in need.听 She also volunteers with various local youth recreational leagues.

Alice lives in Tappan, NY, with her five children.听 .

April 30, 2018

College President Receives Leadership Award

Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D., shown here with Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archibishop of New York, after she received the Our Lady of Rosary Leadership Award.

Dominican College President Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien, O.P., Ph.D., received the Our Lady of Rosary Leadership Award at the Inaugural Catholic School Breakfast on April 30, 2018. St. Thomas Aquinas College President Dr. Margaret Mary Fitpatrick, S.C., Ed.D., also received the award.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, was a special guest at the event and said it was 鈥減rovidential鈥� that two Sisters were being honored. 鈥淩emember what Pope Francis said in St. Patrick鈥檚 Cathedral when he visited three years ago: 鈥榃here would the Catholic Church of the United States be without the Sisters?鈥欌��

星空传媒 450 representatives of Rockland Catholic schools attended the breakfast, which raised money to provide scholarships for students attending Catholic schools.

April 30, 2018

Honors Night Showcases Best Students

Front row, left to right: Michelle Migliaccio, Victoria Szabo, Christine Ditzel, and Alexa Trembone. Back row, left to right: Jennifer Heller, Tarik Stowe, and Eric Rizzo.

The best and brightest students at Dominican College were showcased on Thursday, April 26, during the Honors Night celebration. 听AnnMarie DelliPizzi, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology and Honors Program Director,听 spoke at the ceremony before a total of eight juniors and seniors in the program presented their honors projects.

鈥淭he projects that will be presented here tonight, summed up in a 10-minute presentation, represent countless hours of hard work and dedication, not only by the students, but also by their faculty mentors,鈥� said DelliPizzi.听 鈥淓ducation is so important to these students, that they have utilized whatever 鈥渟pare鈥� time they had to complete these projects, while simultaneously completing the demanding requirements of their own majors.听 Getting to this point is difficult, but these students have persevered and we are proud.鈥�

The honors students who presented their projects were: Christine Ditzel, Victoria Szabo, Emily Lazarus, Eric Rizzo, Tarik Stowe, Michelle Migliaccio, Jennifer Heller, and Alexa Trembone,

DelliPizzi said Honors Night is a celebration of these students who have strived for the best and understand the meaning of excellence.听 The students were presented with a gold cord to wear on graduation day to signify that they successfully completed the requirements of the honors program.

April 27, 2018

Seniors Present Their Research Projects

Kraigen Rasalla was one of the presenters at the Senior Scholars’ Presentations. His project was entitled “Social Media’s Influence on Professional Sports Branding.”

Seniors in our Liberal Arts program presented their research projects on Thursday, April 26, in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall.听 The students explained the results of their capstone projects to fellow students, faculty, and administrators.听 Dr. Mark Meachem, Director of the Arts & Sciences Division,听 said the students have been working on these projects throughout the year.

鈥淪tudents had the opportunity to go through the entire process of a research project 鈥� from developing the idea and a method, to then implementing it, dealing with the results, and finally being able to understand and explain the results, 鈥� he said.

星空传媒 30 liberal arts research projects were on display听 — with some students working together on a topic.听 Dr. Meachem said the projects help prepare students for a career or graduate level work

In the classical sense, Artes Liberales refers to the essential education focused on general skills (artes) that every free person (liberales) needed to know in order to contribute meaningfully to their community and society.听 The liberal arts, in modern times and at Dominican College,听includes a study focused on the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences.

April 26, 2018

Students Celebrate Earth Week

During a ceremony in her honor, Dr. Kathleen Hinge — the 2018 Friend of the Earth Honoree — helped plant a tree outside the Granito Center.

Students and faculty participated in a week of activities leading up to Earth Day on Sunday, April 22.听 One of the highlights of the week was the planting of a tree in honor of Physics and Mathematics Professor Dr. Kathleen Conlon Hinge.听 Dr. Hinge received the 2018 Friend of the Earth Award.

Chancellor of External Affairs Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P., said Professor Hinge was chosen to receive the award because of her accomplishments as Science Department Coordinator. 鈥淪he has introduced new courses and a minor in Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability,鈥� said Sr. Kathleen. 鈥� She also arranged for a visit to campus by a renowned environmentalist and Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow who spoke to many classes and groups on 鈥淭he Last Chance for the Earth:听 Why Scientists and Citizens Must Act Now.鈥�

Some of the other Earth Week activities included a campus seed planting, a sustainable cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Aarti Sequeira, a campus cleanup, and participation in the United Way Spring Day of Caring.

 

April 19, 2018

CEO of JAG Physical Therapy Named College’s 2018 Person of the Year

John Gallucci, Jr. is the first alumnus to be named as a Dominican College Person of the Year.

Dominican College and its Board of Trustees have named John Gallucci, Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT, President and CEO of , as Dominican College鈥檚 2018 Person of the Year.听 Gallucci will be honored at the 46th Annual Grand Reception on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 3 p.m. at the Palisadium in Cliffside Park, N.J.

鈥淲e are so proud to announce that for the first time ever we will be honoring an alumnus as the College鈥檚 Person of the Year,鈥� said Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien, O.P., Ph.D., President of the College. 鈥淛ohn was chosen for his outstanding professional leadership, his community involvement, and his philanthropic works.鈥�

In addition to his work at JAG Physical Therapy, Gallucci sits as the Chair of the New Jersey Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and is the medical consultant for Major League Soccer (MLS).听 听Prior to opening JAG Physical Therapy in 2005, Gallucci served as the Program Director of Barnabas Health鈥檚 Sports Medicine Institute. He is the former Head Athletic Trainer of the New York Red Bulls MLS team and is a sports medicine consultant for professional athletes in the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB. He has also worked in the athletic departments of Columbia University, New York University and Long Island University, and has been a clinical instructor at Dominican College, Columbia University, Seton Hall University, and Rutgers University.

As a popular motivational speaker and business coach, Gallucci has presented for a wide variety of companies and media outlets, including ESPN, Fox 5, PIX11, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and UPS.

Always looking to give back to the local community, Gallucci has been active in a number of philanthropic endeavors. He has taken on a leading role in fundraisers for the Valerie Fund, the Arthritis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In addition, he supports more than 100 high schools, college programs and athletic clubs throughout the Tri-State Area.

Gallucci was a 2017 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Award Winner and has been featured as one of the 鈥�20 People to Watch in Health鈥� by 201 Magazine. He released his first book, 鈥淪occer Injury Prevention and Treatment鈥� in May 2014. His second book, 鈥淧lay Ball: Don鈥檛 Let Injuries Sideline You This Season鈥� is set to release on May 1, 2018.

Gallucci received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science from the College of Staten Island and a master鈥檚 degree in athletic training from Long Island University. He completed his education at Dominican College by earning a master鈥檚 degree in physical therapy in 2004 and a doctorate in physical therapy in 2007.

Tickets to the Grand Reception honoring Gallucci can be purchased听听 听For additional information, please contact Mary Lichtman at 845-848-7406 or mary.lichtman@duny.edu.

 

March 28, 2018

ESPN Correspondent To Deliver Commencement Address

ESPN National Correspondent Tom Rinaldi will deliver Dominican College’s Commencement Address.

Tom Rinaldi, National Correspondent for ESPN, will deliver the Commencement Address at Dominican College鈥檚 64thCommencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains and will receive an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.听 Rinaldi has won twelve national Sports Emmy Awards and six national Edward R. Murrow Awards. 听His 2016 book, 鈥淭he Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy鈥� was on the New York Times Best Sellers list and chronicles the story of the 9-11 hero and Nyack High School graduate Welles Remy Crowther.

Others who will be honored at the Commencement Exercises include:

  • Judith Kydon, M.A., M.Ed., President and CEO of St. Dominic鈥檚 Family Services, will receive an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humanities.
  • Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe, will be awarded the Veritas Medal for his service to the community.
  • Wendy St. Felix, 鈥�17, DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Montefiore School Health Program at P.S. 85 in the Bronx, will receive the 2018 Outstanding Alumna Award.

A total of 572 students will graduate — 123 with doctoral degrees, 100 with master鈥檚 degrees,听 and 349 with bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

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March 26, 2018

Annual Career Fair is Open to the Public

星空传媒 40 businesses and organizations will be represented at the Dominican College Career Fair on April 11, 2018.

星空传媒 40 businesses and organizations interested in hiring will be at Dominican College on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 for the annual Dominican College Career Fair. The event is open to the public.听 Don鈥檛 miss this opportunity to meet company recruiters, apply for jobs and internships, and polish your networking skills. 听Attendees will also be able to have their photo taken to use on their LinkedIn profile.听 The event will take place in the Hennessy Center, 495 Western Highway, Blauvelt, NY from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Businesses participating in the Career Fair include Liberty Coca-Cola, New York Life, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and Crystal Run Healthcare.听 Insurance agencies, health agencies, not-for-profit organizations, law enforcement, government agencies, and the military will all be represented at the event. 听Visit: 听to view a listing of companies that will be in attendance.听 Businesses interested in recruiting at the event can also register at that site.听 For additional information, please call 845-848-4032/4033.

March 22, 2018

Visiting Fellow Urges Students to Speak Out 星空传媒 Climate Change

Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow Dr. Robert K. Musil delivered a lecture entitled “Last Chance for the Environment? Why Scientists and Citizens Must Act” on March, 19, 2018 in the Fury Lecture Hall.

Environmental leader and author Dr. Robert K. Musil, head of the Rachel Carson Council and former CEO of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Physicians for Social Responsibility, urged students to speak out about climate change during a March 19, 2018 speech in the Fury Lecture Hall.

During his lecture entitled, 鈥淟ast Chance for the Environment? Why Scientists and Citizens Must Act,鈥� Dr. Musil said the science behind climate change is undeniable and the students should speak up, march, lobby, and finally, un-elect those who will not pay attention.

鈥漊nless you all make it part of what you do 鈥� when you wake up, when you go to bed, and in 2018 鈥� things aren鈥檛 going to change in your lifetime, and they will get very bad,鈥� he said.听 鈥淭here will be more Superstorm Sandys.听 There will be more forest fires.听 There will be more destruction of coastal lands. It will be bad.鈥�

Dr. Musil is visiting Dominican College for several days and speaking with a variety of classes as part of the Council of Independent Colleges Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows Program. This program brings prominent artists, diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and other nonacademic professionals to campuses across the United States for substantive dialogue with students and faculty members.

 

 

March 20, 2018

English Professor Voted Most Spirited Faculty Member

English Professor Dr. Ellen Dolgin was named Most Spirited Faculty Member during Spirit Week.

Dr. Ellen Dolgin, Professor of English, was voted Most Spirited Faculty Member during Spirit Week at the College.听 The Spirit Awards were announced at a March 15th听 Pep Rally in the Hennessy Center.

Student Christine Ditzel 鈥�19 said Dr. Dolgin is kind, caring, and incredibly passionate about her work.听 鈥淒r. Dolgin deserves the honor of being named Most Spirited Faculty Member because her Charger Pride shines through in all she does for Dominican College students,” Ditzel said. “She truly embodies the mission and four pillars of the College by challenging our minds and celebrating our spirits.鈥�

Dr. Dolgin鈥檚 literature courses frequently feature the arts of the eras surrounding the readings, and she encourages her students to incorporate this multi-disciplinary vision into their oral presentations and written assignments.听 Her areas of research and conference presentations include modern drama, with particular emphasis on the early 20th century, and contemporary multicultural women writers across genres.

For more information about the English program at Dominican College, visit:

 

 

March 16, 2018

Free Biology Workshop Offered to Local High School Students

High School students who attend the workshop will work in the laboratory while learning about the biodiversity of our local environment.

Dominican College is offering a free biology workshop to high school students this spring called 鈥淎ntibiotic and Phage Discovery Workshop.鈥� The aim of the workshop is to educate participants on the biodiversity of the local watershed.

The workshop will be held on three Saturdays — April 28, May 5, and May 12 — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided.听 Any high school freshman through senior, who can make the commitment to attend all three days, is welcome to attend.听 There are 12 slots available.

鈥淏y offering this workshop to high school students, we are providing them with an opportunity to gain technical skills, and more importantly, contribute to the understanding of the biodiversity in their local environment,鈥� said Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Bernadette Connors.听 鈥淪tudents will be working on two projects, namely antibiotic discovery and viral diversity.听 It will be mentored by past participants of the workshop series, in addition to myself.鈥�

Interested participants should email Professor Connors at bernadette.connors@duny.edu听 for more details.

 

 

March 14, 2018

College to Celebrate 50 Years of Athletics

Joseph Gartner ’78 will be honored at the Athletics 50 Anniversary event on April 7, 2018, for his 42 years of service to the College.

Dominican College is celebrating the 50th听Anniversary of its athletic program on April 7, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Hennessy Center.听 Alumni, coaches, and friends of the College are invited to join in the celebration.听 At the event, Joseph Gartner, 鈥�78, will be honored for more than 40 years of service to the College as a statistician with the athletics department.听 In addition, the following six teams will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame:

  • 1983 Men鈥檚 Soccer Team
  • 1988 Baseball Team
  • 1995-96 Men鈥檚 Basketball Team
  • 1997-1998 Men鈥檚 Golf Team
  • 2007-08 Women鈥檚 Basketball Team
  • 2010 Softball

There will also be a Special Recognition for the 2003 Inaugural Men鈥檚 Lacrosse Team.

The event will be a wonderful opportunity for alumni to tour the newly expanded Hennessy Center, including the state-of-the art fitness room, and a new recruiting/ conference room. 听To register, visit: 听 The cost of the event is $50 per person.听 All proceeds will go toward a new turf field for the soccer and lacrosse teams.

 

March 12, 2018