Regional college and university roundup

As the fall semester passes the half-way point, colleges and universities across the region are active with a wide variety of new programs and achievements. Here is what can be found impacting the local schools of higher education.

Bard College

Author Zain Khalid has received the Bard Fiction Prize for his first novel, “Brother Alive,” published in 2022 by Grove Press.

The Bard Fiction Prize is awarded to a promising emerging writer who is an American citizen aged 39 years or younger at the time of application. In addition to a $30,000 cash award, the winner receives an appointment as writer in residence at Bard College for one semester, without the expectation that he or she teach traditional courses.

Khalid’s residency at Bard College is slated for the fall 2024 semester, during which time he will continue his writing and meet informally with students. Khalid will give a public reading at Bard during his residency.

“I’m honored and grateful to be the recipient of the 2024 Bard Fiction Prize,” said Khalid. “I’ve long admired the prize’s previous winners, luminaries, really, and am stunned to be joining their ranks. To work on my novel alongside Bard’s brilliant literary community is a truly awesome endowment.”

College of Mount Saint Vincent

The College of Mount Saint Vincent has announced the launch of Seton College, a new two-year college on its campus.

Seton College was created in partnership with the Come to Believe Network, a nonprofit that assists higher education institutions in developing and launching two-year programs that provide pathways for underserved students to receive four-year degrees. The first cohort of 100 students at Seton College will enroll in Fall 2024 and will be offered four pathways toward an Associate of Arts degree: liberal arts, medical, business, and social sciences.

The launch of the new school comes as the college prepares to transition into the University of Mount Saint Vincent in early 2024.

“The landscape of higher education is evidently changing,” said Dr. Susan R. Burns, the college’s president. “Since the start of the pandemic, particularly, families across the country have been questioning the value of a four-year degree and have instead shown higher levels of support for students interested in pursuing a two-year degree. With that in mind, we are proud to open Seton College and further demonstrate how the Mount is continuing to listen to the signs of the times and preparing all students to become leaders in their chosen fields and communities.”

CT State Community College

CT State Community College has received a $1 million Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) grant award from the National Science Foundation to benefit three of its campuses in southern Connecticut.

CT State Housatonic in Bridgeport will lead the “STEMConnect Bridge to the Baccalaureate (B2B)” project, designed to support and help increase the number of underrepresented students who complete associate degrees and continue on to four-year programs in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). During the three-year grant, students will have opportunities to participate in faculty mentor meetings, events, conferences, research opportunities, tour four-year college campuses, and meet academic requirements for the program. They will also learn about STEM articulation agreements that provide seamless transfer options.

Students and prospective students who attend CT State Gateway in New Haven, Housatonic or Norwalk and are majoring in computer science, engineering, physics, biology, math or chemistry, or who have an interest in STEM fields, are welcome to apply for the program. The three campuses in total have 7,764 underrepresented students and are among a larger population collegewide of approximately 17,030 Black, Hispanic and Indigenous students.

“Harnessing the diverse talents of underrepresented populations and communities is essential to addressing complex global challenges such as health care disparities, environmental issues, and cybersecurity threats,” said CT State President Dr. John Maduko. “Embracing inclusivity in STEM ensures that every voice and talent helps drive the innovation that is vital for our collective future and a more equitable and resilient world.”

Dominican University New York

Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, president of Dominican University New York, announced that she will be retiring.

“It has been a distinct privilege to serve as the president of this remarkable institution for 35 years,” she said in an email to faculty, staff and students. “Serving as president of Dominican University has never been a job for me; it has been a mission and a calling. I will forever hold the University, its students, faculty, staff, and alumni in my heart.”

O’Brien has not set a definite date for her departure, in order to give the board of trustees proper time to search for a new president and ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.

O’Brien began her educational career in the Bronx, where she was raised, teaching mathematics at St. Benedict’s School and St. Pius High School before becoming the principal of St. Luke’s School in the South Bronx. In 1977, she was called upon to assist her mentor and former teacher, Sr. Natalie Casey, who was president of what was then Dominican College, her alma mater. She later served as acting college president for one year and was elected to serve as college president in 1979, and remained in that position until 1987 when she left to lead the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt for six years. In 1997, she was chosen to serve again as the college’s president – the college was renamed Dominican University New York in May 2022.

Goodwin University

Goodwin University hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 25 for the Harrison Steans Advanced Manufacturing Center, which recently opened on University of Bridgeport’s campus.

The center, which part of Goodwin’s Early College Advanced Manufacturing Pathway, began hosting its first cohort of welding students, taught by Goodwin University faculty, in September.

“With the cutting of this ribbon, we usher in a new era of possibilities and opportunities,” said
Dr. Cliff Thermer, dean of Goodwin’s School of Business, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing. “This center is more than just machines and processes; it’s about inspiring excellence in all that we do. It is a testament to our dedication to investing in the future.”

Dr. Sal Menzo, superintendent of Goodwin University Magnet Schools, added, “I am excited about the many opportunities Goodwin University’s manufacturing center at the University of Bridgeport will offer for students in Bridgeport and surrounding communities. “From manufacturing and robotics to welding, the center will extend valuable learning experiences for students to gain skills that will increase their potential for post-high school success. This center is significant in our continued mission to engage with high school students and keep them focused on achieving their future aspirations.”

Marist College

The Halal Shack has become the latest addition to Marist’s on-campus dining options, opening on Oct. 4 in the North End’s McCormick Hall.

Inspired by New York City street food, The Halal Shack features a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine with an American twist. All offerings adhere to the cultural requirements of Halal food, and the menu includes rice bowls, salad bowls, and pitas, as well as takes on the traditional dishes like the fries bowl and Naanarito (Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fillings and toppings wrapped in Naan bread, burrito style).

“Students, faculty and staff will enjoy fresh, scratch-made recipes with authentic flavor profiles,“ said Jamal Rasoully, founder and CEO of The Halal Shack. “Every effort is made to ensure that everything coming off the line is accurate, Halal compliant and delicious.”

“We heard from the surveys last spring that students were looking for more diverse food options on campus,” said Matt McMahon, associate dean of operations and facilities. “As part of the vision to introduce new dining concepts that provide distinctive experiences, promote student well-being, and contribute to a sense of belonging, The Halal Shack is an important enhancement to the dining program.”

Post University

Post University has announced a sponsorship with the Police Activity League (PAL) of Waterbury for its co-ed basketball program.

Proceeds from the $38,000 sponsorship will help expand the program and underwrite games and tournaments. Local youth practice and play in the Frederick W. Blasius Recreation Center and various school gymnasiums in Waterbury, and Post will provide t-shirts for participants.

“Post University is committed to serving as socially responsible community advocates,” said Post University CEO & President John L. Hopkins. “Our hope is to provide our young individuals with the fundamental life skills and educational opportunities that will position them for a life of success.”

“By teaming up with Post University, we’re not only merging our resources and expertise but also forging connections that nurture positive community relationships, all while creating a pathway to college for the future leaders of our community,” said Waterbury PAL President and Waterbury Police Department Police Department Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo.

Rockland Community College

Rockland Community College (RCC) has announced a strategic partnership with Veolia focused on supporting the school’s science majors.

Veolia focuses on providing water, waste and energy management solutions. The company has provided a $25,000 grant to establish the Veolia Scholars Awards, a program that will award 10 RCC science students with $2,500 scholarship funds.

“We are very excited about this new partnership with Rockland Community College,” said Chris Graziano, vice president and general manager of Veolia’s municipal water operation in New York. “Providing scholarships for students is one of the many ways we demonstrate our role as an active and concerned corporate citizen and a world leader in the environmental services industry.”

“With the Veolia Scholars Award, half of an entire year of RCC’s tuition can be covered,” said Dr. Melanie Rie, RCC’s dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. “This substantially reduces many of our students’ financial constraints, ensuring their educational journey remains uninterrupted. We extend our deepest gratitude to Veolia for embarking on this game-changing collaboration with us.”

Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University’s master of public health (MPH) program has partnered with the Fairfield CARES Community Coalition to raise awareness of substance misuse and mental health issues among youth and young adults.

In this partnership, The MPH students will create social media posts and marketing material to help the coalition spread its message of prevention. The Fairfield CARES Community Coalition seeks to unite residents, educators and leaders from throughout the area to promote healthy, responsible choices through prevention and education.

All MPH students must take a health communication course, which focuses on public health messaging that is evidence-based and widely accessible. Students enrolled in the course will use what they’ve learned to create posts for the Instagram account @fairfield_cares and the Facebook account FairfieldCARES. The student-generated messages will be shared three days a week following specific themes: mental health Mondays, substance use prevention Wednesdays and positive youth development Fridays; students will also will generate special posts for certain events and observances, such as suicide prevention month.

“The coalition has got a lot to cover, and that is hard for one person to do,” said Cathy Hazlett, Fairfield CARES Community Coalition program director. “I am responsible for most of the communications, but I am not experienced in social media. So, that is where I rely on the help of younger people to create graphics and post them on our Instagram and Facebook accounts.”

Southern Connecticut State University

Rebecca Dimyan, an adjunct English professor at Southern Connecticut State University who teaches professional writing and first-year composition classes, has recently published two award-winning books.

“Waiting for Beirut,” published by Woodhall Press, began as Dimyan’s master’s thesis and took 11 years to completed. The novel takes place in 1950s Lebanon and Danbury, and the novel’s protagonist is a first-generation American who drops out of college to help the family’s business. Complicating matters is the man’s ill-timed realization of his sexuality – he falls in love with a man while on his honeymoon with his wife.

“Chronic, A Memoir,” published by Running Wild Press, details Dimyan’s experiences with endometriosis and her holistic healing journey. Written over a three-year period, the book began as a series of articles for an online publication regarding her illness and the difficulties with getting proper treatment.

Both books have received 2023 Firebird Book Awards, with “Chronic: A Memoir” winning the Alternative Medicine category and “Waiting for Beirut” receiving its honors in the Fiction category.