President's Notes XIV.1 | August 22, 2024

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of visiting two dental hygiene students Ruthma Eugene ‘27 and Alyssa Espinal ‘27 who are working as program assistants for a non-profit that runs play spaces in shelters serving migrant children and families. Another student nursing major Dounethka Joseph ’26 also works for the organization, but at a different location. These students were selected because they are fluent in Haitian Creole and are able to help teach the children English and communicate with families. The students were so grateful for the opportunity which is funded by a friend of Regis, and are considering working with children in their fields. Dounethka said "Working with kids is honestly one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. They're so full of energy and curiosity. It can be challenging at times, but the joy of making a positive impact on their lives makes it all worth it.”

Earlier this summer, six students participated in a two-week summer program in Milan, Italy, hosted by our international partner Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and led by Professor Julia Lisella. Faculty interested in the Summer 2025 Cattolica Co-Teaching program can email Megan Gibbons.

For three weeks from July 7-26, we hosted 32 rising high school juniors and seniors for our Summer Scholars program. They lived on campus, met new friends, and took two college level courses for a total of six college credits. We heard great feedback, with one student saying, “What I learned about myself by participating in the summer program was that I am able to push myself more and adapt to situations easier. Taking the two college classes and living in a dorm setting has better prepared me for what life will be like when I am actually in college. I was also able to learn more about myself and others.”

For the second year, Regis hosted a cohort of high school students from New Heights Charter School of Brockton and Cardinal Spellman High School for the Lorraine’s Leaders early college summer program. Here is a group photo with me, Michael McCorvey, Marie Gabour, and Kim Rocco. Each of them, including Carol Woolston, were instrumental in coordinating, teaching, and advising these students.

DNP student Princess Francois presented her research project "Determining the Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention for Newly Licensed Nurses to Recognize and Respond to Bias and Microaggressions in the Workplace" at the University of Iowa's Evidence-Based Practice conference and at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital where she works during their Spring Nursing Summit. She also served as a keynote speaker.

Pride athletics administration and coaches have been busy welcoming new staff members, including Head Softball Coach Carolyn Biel, Head Cross Country/Track and Field Coach Ben Biello and assistant athletic trainers Sharon Millett and Ashley Wilson. In addition, we welcomed nine new graduate intern coaches: Luke Ayotte '23 (men's soccer), Conner Byrne (men's basketball), Angie Caldwell '22 (women's soccer), Patrick Colburn (men's lacrosse), Lily Daly (field hockey), Cara Hubster (swimming and diving), Wesley Hundley (track and field), Lauren Jennings (women's basketball), and Bella Tavares (women's lacrosse). Please join me in welcoming them to the Pride!

Congratulations to the following faculty and staff for recent achievements.

Nadia Raymond, director of global nursing, received the 2024 Karen Kirby Award from the Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL). This award recognizes nurses who exhibit exceptional leadership skills, innovation and creativity, advocacy for excellence in nursing practice and patient care, and mentorship of nurses and nurse leaders.

VP of Graduate and Professional Student Affairs and Enrollment Jonathan Small delivered a keynote presentation with a colleague for the Center of Teaching and Learning at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The presentation was attended by more than 30 university leaders and focused on best practices in online learning strategy and the current competitive online education market.

Deborah Jean-Baptiste, online graduate adult/geri NP program director, successfully passed the Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist (COHN-S) exam. The occupational health nurse brings a unique perspective to management and clinical roles, acting as an employee advocate while balancing the needs of the workplace. This is a prestigious achievement that tests for advance knowledge in clinical care, management, employee education, case management and safety.

At the end of June, Associate Provost for Institutional Assessment, Accreditation, and Research Kate Edney presented her paper "Back to the Future of Musicals: The Rhetoric around Jelly's Last Jam, Then (1992) and Now (2024)" at the Song, Stage, and Screen conference held at the New York Library for the Performing Arts. The paper examined how the different responses to the productions of Jelly’s Last Jam and its centering of the African American experience within American history were shaped by two very different moments in the history of the American musical, and the perceived progress in representing African Americans on the musical stage in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

Associate Professor Danqing Xiao's review on Alzheimer's Disease was published in the Exploration of Neuroscience journal after a lot of hard work stemming from her sabbatical.

Celeste Baldwin, assistant professor in the online graduate DNP program, Brandi Fruin, assistant professor of nursing, and a colleague had a publication accepted by the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing in the Communities titled "Promoting Self-Care for the Native Hawai’ian and Other Pacific Islanders to Promote Oncology Nurse Cultural Sensitivity and Humility."

The Young School of Nursing recently acquired of two Laerdal Medical high-fidelity manikins for the Clinical Resource and Simulation Center. These state-of-the-art manikins represent a significant investment in our nursing program, ensuring Regis students receive the best possible training. High-fidelity manikins can simulate a wide range of medical conditions students might not encounter during their clinical rotations, providing real-world clinical experience and enhancing their education. This exposure ensures that students are well-prepared for a variety of clinical situations. By repeatedly practicing skills and scenarios, students build their confidence and competence.

We had a lovely event yesterday at the Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich Port for the annual Cape Cod Luncheon with 100 alumni and friends. Guest speakers included Nadia Raymond, Thomas Genzale ‘25, and Grace Micklon ‘26. Thanks to the Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations team for organizing.