President's Notes XIII.14 | March 14, 2024

In honor of Women's History Month, the Serving Thy Dear Neighbor Club is hosting a donation drive to collect items for St. Mary's Center for Women and Children in Dorchester, an organization that supports women with housing, job preparation, and education; many of whom struggle with homelessness, substance use, and domestic abuse. New and unused items are welcome through March 23 by placing in donation boxes outside the dining hall, Center for Ministry and Service, and in the lower student center. Then on March 26, the Club is hosting "Care Packages and Ice Cream" to assemble the items and handwritten cards for the mothers.

Following spring break last week, we were excited to welcome back 45 members of our community who chose to spend their break serving and accompanying our dear neighbors around the world as part of the Center for Ministry and Service’s Service Immersion Program. Below is a short recap of the three groups who traveled, and I am looking forward to hearing stories from their transformative experiences at the annual Regalos fundraising event Tuesday, March 19. Tickets are available now and all proceeds support this impactful program.

One group traveled to the Dominican Republic to Hogar Immanuel, a residence for abandoned children with special needs run by Mustard Seed Communities.

Group members included Bridgette Bowyer ’24, Kayla Busby ’25, Jalen Chappelle ’24, Katherine Cubias ’25, Leasly Diaz Beltre ’27, Jennifer Dimitrov ’25, Jaymz Lipinski ’24, Ruby Martinez ’25, Ulises Orellana ’25, Soraya Paul ’27, Madelyn Robertson ‘26, graduate students Elle Lewis’24, and Mariama Sanneh ’25, and AVP for Mission and Ministry Dan Leahy.

A second group traveled to Jamaica to Blessed Assurance, another residence for children with special needs run by Mustard Seed Communities (MSC).

Group members pictured here with Father Gregory Ramkisson who founded MSC: Kristin Barrett ’24, Isha Bhagat ’25, Julia Dennis ’27, graduate student Brianna Duffy ’24, Noy Geffen ’26, Isabella George ’27, Zahraa Hasan ’27, Katrina Kizito ’26, Anna Grace Kolodny ’25, Macie Mannone ’26, Rachelle Manzi ’25, Vera Rivard ’26, Johana Teleau ’25, and Carol Ssekanjako ’25. This group was accompanied by staff members Courtney Mulligan, Ludmila Neves, and Lunisse Antoine.

Members of the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, co-sponsored by the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Humanities, traveled to Atlanta, Georgia; and Montogomery, Selma, and Birmingham, Alabama. During this powerful educational experience, the group was immersed in the challenges and heroism of the Civil Rights Movement of the past, present and future.

Group members: Shannon Cunniff ’27, Stacie Gomes-Akmal ’26, Christina Jean-Charles ’24, Brigid Morrow ’27, Graduate Student Brendon Peace ’26, Ambar Rodriguez ’26, Irene Santos Marroquin ’24, and Salena Thongsouvanh ’27. The group was guided by graduate interns Shane Philip ’24 and Donyae Strickland ’25, and Professors Ababa Abiem and Becky DesRoches.

The Dental Center in Waltham is hosting a Give Kids A Smile Day on Saturday April 6 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dental Hygiene students will provide free cleanings, oral exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants for children ages 2-17. Please spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested. Call 781.768.7250 or email GKAS@regiscollege.edu for more information and to schedule an appointment.

Congrats to Jacquelyn MacDonald, ABA program director, for being invited to be the keynote speaker at the BABAT Social in April, the largest community of behavior analysts in the state.

Leslie Mandel, professor of public health, was also invited to present at the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health annual meeting in Washington, D.C. next week. Leslie will speak on the Pedagogy and Assessment in a Scholarly Ecosystem panel about her experiences with assessment for bachelors level programs in public health.

Priscilla Boerger, chair of education and EdD program director, published a book review of "The ROI of LOL: How Laughter Breaks Down Walls, Drives Compelling Storytelling, and Creates a Healthy Workplace" in the March 2024 issue of School Administrator magazine.

Oliver Rick, sports management program director, recently published a co-authored chapter in Mountain Biking, Culture and Society titled "Downhill MTB, digital media, and DIY urbanism: riding with Red Bull." In addition, at the Eastern Sociological Society annual meeting held in Washington, D.C. in March, Oliver presented two co-authored papers, "Vinicius Jr. and Racism in La Liga: Contemporary soccer media dynamics and navigating racial legacies from Spanish conservatism to Brazilian post-racial imaginaries" and "Climate Change and the Neoliberal Psychopolitics of McMindfulness Podcasts."

We held a special dedication in our Young School of Nursing lab recently to honor Judy Murray '66. Several members of Judy’s family (pictured here) as well as friends, classmates, and a few current nursing students gathered to honor Judy’s legacy and celebrate the impact of this special gift, which resulted in a new birthing bed, an infant warmer, and additional IV pumps for the maternity lab in College Hall—much-needed additions that will allow our nursing students in all different programs to get the hands-on, practical experience they need right here on our campus.

We had 901 nursing graduates in 2023, bringing the total number of Regis nursing alumni to more than 10,000! Special gifts like this from alumni and donors are critical to our success, and a plaque to honor Judy now hangs in the lab where the next generation of nursing students will benefit for years to come.

In addition to Women's History Month and Heritage Week next week, we are more than half way through the Lenten season. May you all have a blessed and reflective Lent!

We learned of the passing of a beloved Regis sister this week. Please remember in your prayers Sister Helen Sullivan, CSJ. Sister Helen served as Regis' Assistant Dean of Students from 1978 to 1984. May she rest in peace. The arrangements are as follows.

Tuesday, March 19 | 8:45 a.m.

All are welcome to a reception at Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston Motherhouse

637 Cambridge Street, Brighton, MA

9:15-10 a.m.

Wake in Holy Family Chapel at CSJ Motherhouse

10 a.m.

Funeral Liturgy

Next week we will also celebrate Certified Nurses Day™, an annual day of recognition for and by healthcare leaders dedicated to nursing professionalism, excellence, recognition, and service. Every March 19, employers, certification boards, education facilities, and healthcare providers celebrate and publicly acknowledge nurses who earn and maintain the highest credentials in their specialty. Certified Nurses Day™ honors nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty.

Congratulations to these Young School of Nursing Faculty who are certified nurses.

• Professor Kathleen Bombino, Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse, RN-BC
• Dr. Celeste Baldwin, CNS, Global Academy of Holistic Nursing
• Dr. Traci Bramlett, FNP-C
• Professor Lawana Brown, WHNP-BC
• Dr. Kim Chapman, FNP-BC
• Dr. Mary Lou Cullen, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Certified Nurse Educator, Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
• Dr. Karen Cummins, FNP-BC
• Dr. Jennifer DiBenedetto, FNP-C
• Dr. Mary Kate Falkenstrom, Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
• Dr. Lisa Fardy, PHCNS-BC
• Professor Monique Fincannon, PMHNP-BC
• Dr. Helen Fox-McCloy, CPNP
• Dr. Yelena Geiler, FNP-C
• Professor Michelle Gibson, PMHNP-BC, Certified Addiction Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice
• Dr. Brooke Hamilton, CPNP-PC
• Professor Lesly Harris, FNP-C
• Professor Megan Hawk, PMHNP-BC
• Dr. Sharon Higgins, NP-C, Wound Care Certified, Orthopedics Certified
• Professor Amber Hunziker, FNP
• Dr. Deborah Jean-Baptiste, AGPCNP-BC, Certified Nurse Educator
• Dr. Sheryl Kelleher, NP-C
• Dr. Rachel Koransky-Matson, FNP-C, Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Management, Advanced Certified Telemedicine/Telehealth Professional
• Dr. Lisa Krikorian, APRN-BC, FNP, WHNP
• Dr. Angela Kulesza, FNP-C, Certified Nurse Educator
• Dr. Jessica Landry, FNP-BC
• Dr. Julia Martyn, PMHNP-BC
• Professor Kathleen Michel, FNP
• Professor Nicole Miele, PMHNP-BC
• Dr. Amanda Murgenovich, AGNP-C, Wound Care Certified
• Dr. Mary Beth Newkirk, FNP-C, Certified Nurse Educator
• Dr. James Papesca, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
• Dr. Michele Pedulla, CPNP-PC, Certified Nurse Educator
• Dr. Kathleen Pender-Phaneuf, Certified Nurse Educator, Faith Community Nurse
• Professor Emily Rumble, Certified Nurse Educator
• Dr. Susan Sawyer, CPNP
• Dr. Chrystina Soloperto, CPNP
• Dr. Terrence Taylor, ACNP-BC, Fundamental Critical Care Support, American Academy of HIV Medicine
• Professor Erin Waldron, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
• Professor Kim Wilkinson, Certified Nurse Educator