January 2008 - Niagara University

Faculty & Staff Newsletter
Vol. 41 No. 5 Jan. 2008
On Campus
is published monthly during
the academic year by the
Office of Communications
and Public Relations
P.O. Box 2039
Niagara University, N.Y.
14109-2039
Editorial team/writers:
Linus Ormsby, APR, ’88
Director
Office of Communications
and Public Relations
Lisa McMahon
Associate Director
for Publications
Jason Mollica
Assistant Director of
Communications and
Public Relations
Photography:
Jason Mollica
Linus Ormsby
If you have information
on upcoming campus events
or story ideas for the
On Campus newsletter
and/or for press releases
and other publicity,
please send them to
news@niagara.edu
On Campus
NU awarded
$475,000 in grants
Niagara University’s College of Hospitality and
Tourism Management has received two grants
totaling nearly $475,000 to strengthen programs
that provide students with practical industry
experience and other learning opportunities.
A $225,000 grant received from The Statler
Foundation was matched by a grant from The
Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation that will
provide an additional $248,876 over a threeyear
period. The funds will facilitate
international expansion of the college’s studentlearning
and placement opportunities and
industry training programs. A new staff position
of director of experiential opportunities will also
be created.
See HOSPITALITY, continued on page 3
NU selects first group to participate in
Vincentian Mission Institute
The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., NU
president, has announced the first cohort of
participants in the Vincentian Mission Institute:
Leadership in Higher Education.
The institute is a partnership with sister
Vincentian universities, DePaul and St. John’s,
whose purpose is to develop successive
generations of lay leaders to support the Catholic
and Vincentian identity of the institutions.
Participating in the intensive three-year
continuing education program are: Mary
Borgognoni, associate vice president for academic
affairs, operations and outreach; Dr. Peggy
Choong, associate professor of commerce; David
Ederer, coordinator of facility planning and
engineering; Michael Konopski, dean of
enrollment management; Adrienne Leibowitz,
The grants awarded to the College of Hospitality and Tourism
Management by the Statler and Curtis L. Carlson Family
foundations will expand the college’s ability to offer programs
like the Como work-abroad program. Pictured in this 2005
photo are Amanda Marsh (left) and Michelle McLaughlin,
two students who participated in the Como program, with Dr.
Gary Praetzel, dean of the college (second from left), and Jean-
Marc Droulers, president and CEO of the Villa d’Este, one of
the participating hotels.
director of sponsored programs and research; Al
Oddo, professor of accounting; Dr. Bonnie Rose,
executive vice president and vice president for
academic affairs; Monica Saltarelli, campus
minister; and Dr. David Taylor, associate professor
of criminal justice, faculty adviser to Border
Community SERVICE, and coordinator of
ReNU Niagara COPC.
The program will address the distinctive nature
of Catholic and Vincentian higher education,
with a strong emphasis on Vincentian history,
spirituality, and service.
The institute’s planning committee will evaluate
the program as participants advance through it.
These evaluations will help to determine when
the next cohort will begin.

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On
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NU Notes
Dr. Brian Bennett, chair and
associate professor in the department
of religious studies, presented a
paper as part of the “Knowledge,
Creativity and Transformations of
Society” section of an interdisciplinary
conference discussing
globalization, language and identity,
held in Vienna on Dec. 6-9. Dr.
Bennet’s paper, “Scripting Identity
in Post-Soviet Russia,” analyzed the
use of religious scripts in Russian
ultranationalist and neo-Nazi
newspapers.
Dr. Peggy Choong, associate
professor of marketing, and Dr.
Daniel Tompkins, associate professor
of finance, have published an article,
“Advertising Strategy and Returns on
Advertising: A Market Value
Approach,” in The Business Review
Cambridge Journal. The article
discusses the use of event study
methodology to evaluate the returns
on advertising in major event
television programs such as the Super
Bowl, the Academy Awards and final
episodes of favorite television programs.
The findings provide information for
marketing managers who are
increasingly held accountable on
providing evidence of returns to their
management decisions.
Dr. William Cliff, associate professor
of biology, was invited to give a
seminar presentation on Dec. 3,
entitled “Why Case-Based Learning
in Medical Education?” at Rush
Medical College in Chicago.
Adrienne Leibowitz, director of
sponsored programs and research,
was elected in December to a threeyear
term on the board of directors
for Malawi Children’s Village, the
organization she worked with during
the summer of 2007 through the
Vincentian Poverty Award. A story
on her experience is featured in the
fall 2007 issue of the Eagle, Niagara
University’s alumni magazine.
Sister Judith A. Merkle, SNDdeN,
professor of religious studies,
participated in the expert seminar on
Catholic Social Thought during a biannual
international conference of
theologians and economists sponsored
by the Centre of Catholic Social
Thought at the Catholic University of
Louvain, Belgium. The seminar topic
was “40 Years after Populorum
Progressio (the church’s encyclical on
international development).” Participants
discussed changes in models of
development since 1967, when the
encyclical was written, and open doors
to development today. Dr. Merkle was
part of several roundtable discussions
and chaired a session of the meeting.
Dr. Stefanie Wichhart, assistant
professor of history, presented a paper
entitled “British Policy Towards
Kurdish Nationalism and Separatism
in Iraq and Iran, 1941-1946” at a
conference on “Secession as an
International Phenomenon” held in
Charleston, S.C., in December. It was
sponsored by the Association for
Research on Ethnicity and
Nationalism in the Americas and the
University of South Carolina.
Correction: In the December
2007 edition of On Campus, the
year of Dr. Everett Ockerman’s
start at NU was listed as 1953.
He began teaching at Niagara in
1946 and became a full professor
and chair of the department of
economics and commerce in
1953. We apologize for the
confusion.
Hulsman
named to
advancement
post at NU
J. Patrick Hulsman has been
appointed associate vice president for
institutional advancement at Niagara
University. He will be primarily
responsible for assisting the
university in its $80 million capital
campaign, “The Promise of Niagara
... the next 150 years.”
Patrick, who has more than 30 years
of experience in the health care and
advancement fields, most recently
was the associate executive director
for institutional advancement for
Trocaire College in Buffalo.
A graduate of the State University
College at Buffalo, he is a member
of the American College of Healthcare
Executives, the Association for
Fundraising Executives, and the
Society for Technical Communication.
He and his wife, Anne, reside in
Snyder. They have two sons.

HOSPITALITY, continued from page 1
“The grants will allow the college to strengthen the source of its success,
namely, its focus on practical industry applications,” said Dr. Gary D.
Praetzel, dean of the college.
The Statler grant will provide the funding to develop, offer and receive
distance-learning courses in consort with leading hospitality programs in
Europe and South America. At the same time, it will expand the college’s
ability to provide its industry training programs to different parts of the
world. The Carlson grant will support the staffing needed to develop and
monitor the expanded programming.
“These international partnerships will expand Niagara students’ knowledge
and cultural understanding and add to the college’s national and international
reputation, creating even more industry linkages,” Praetzel said.
The college currently has partnership agreements with the Catholic University
of Milan and the University of Insubria in Italy; the International University
of Applied Sciences in Bad Honnef, Germany; and the Universidad San
Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru. The grants will support existing partnership
programs and facilitate additional ones at all institutions.
The college’s relationships with the hospitality and tourism industry provide
students with internships, placement and training opportunities with major
hoteliers, including The Leading Hotels of the World. Students gain other
practical learning experiences by attending major conferences, serving on student
consulting teams that analyze and report on individual property or corporate
projects, exposure to industry experts and participation in workshops on industry
topics, and attendance at career days. These various practical-application
programs will also benefit from the grant funds, Praetzel said.
NU FRIENDS, FAMILY GATHER AT ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY — Dr. Sam
Pappalardo, retired NU professor, and the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara University
president, share a laugh at the annual Christmas party, held on Dec. 18 in Clet Hall Dining
Commons. The event was attended by more than 200 former and current NU employees.
NU year, NU
activities
A new year brings plenty of great
activities to the Niagara University
campus. Here are three to look
forward to in the coming months,
with thanks to the Campus
Programming Board:
MISA Ball — Feb. 9 at the
Conference Center Niagara Falls.
ALS Relay for Life — March 28-29.
Stomp Out Stigma/5K Run-Walk
— April 27.
Keep reading future issues of On
Campus for more great NU events.
Niagara University welcomes the
following individuals who recently
joined our community: Chris Smith
and Ben Heckethorn, media relations
interns in the athletics department.
Alumni of
Distinction
Nominations for the 2008 class
of Niagara Legacy — Alumni of
Distinction are now being
accepted. You can obtain a
nomination form on the Eagle’s
Nest at www.niagaraalumni.com
or by calling Amy at the alumni
office at ext. 8787. All
nominations must be received by
March 31, 2008.
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Preferred Merchant
Program:
Niagara Falls
diner added
Kensinger’s Diner, located at 2301
Hyde Park Blvd., has been added to
Niagara University’s preferred
merchant program. All NU students,
faculty, and staff will receive a 10
percent discount when showing
their ID card. Owned by Ryan
Kensinger, the diner specializes in
homestyle cooking with homemade
soups, burgers, cut French fries,
breakfasts, and a fish fry. It’s comfort
food done right! For hours and more
information, call 716-297-0300.
For the entire list of NU’s preferred
merchants, visit the Web site at
www.niagara.edu/pmp/.
Sports Section
IT’S KIDS PLAY AT NU — The Niagara University
women’s basketball team hosted the Jacksonville University
Dolphins as part of Kids Day on Dec. 19. The event allowed
1,800 third through sixth graders from the Niagara Falls
City School District to take in a game at the special start
time of 11 a.m. The children, who saw the Dolphins swim
away with a 63-59 win, received a special program and
Niagara athletics merchandise during the game.
The last time NU held Kids Day, during the 2004-05
season, the Purple Eagles attracted 1,225 children.
Employee of the Month:
Christine McDermott
Christine McDermott, NU’s senior associate director
of admissions, has been named employee of the month
for December 2007. A Long Island native, Cris has
been with the university since July 1975, when she
was named associate director of communications in
the admissions office. Cris is a 1974 NU graduate
and received her master’s degree from Niagara in 1979.
Among Cris’ duties are the preparation and publication of the admissions
office’s promotional literature. “The amount of coordination and detail
involved is significant, and she has been able to juggle these responsibilities
amidst her other recruitment duties,” said her supervisor, Harry Gong,
director of admissions.
Another nomination mentioned that Cris goes above and beyond her duties
with her contributions to admissions literature. “During the times when
we are developing new literature, she spends extra time checking and
rechecking data to ensure accuracy and suitable content,” it said.
In another nomination, Cris was called, “pleasant, outgoing, caring and
committed to her job and the students of Niagara University.” It added that
she is always willing to lend a hand, whether it’s covering an extra interview
or answering a question that draws upon her knowledge of NU.
Purple Eagles notch landmark
win vs. St. John’s hoops
Behind an aggressive offensive attack and a changing defensive strategy, the
Niagara men’s basketball outlasted St. John’s inside Carnesecca Arena on
Dec. 15, 77-73. The victory marked the first time in 44 years that a Niagara
team defeated St. John’s inside Carnesecca Arena (formerly Alumni Hall).
The Purple Eagles outscored the Red Storm 18-9 in the final five minutes
and went to the free throw line a season high 46 times en route to the fourpoint
win.
“It is a special rivalry between two Vincentian schools meeting for the 98th
time,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. “This is not just another win for us.”
The Purple Eagle defense forced 18 turnovers while committing just seven
in the win.
Senior Charron Fisher, the nation’s leading scorer, poured in 30 points and
pulled in 14 rebounds. Fisher took 12 of the 46 free throw attempts, just
four less than the Red Storm attempted all game.

NU student authors
third book
Niagara University junior Anthony Cirilla has
recently authored another novel titled, “Mercy of
the Sword Saint.” The book is the third in a series
based around the character Phasmatis Batara
Kaerasti.
Cirilla, who was profiled in the March 2006 edition
of On Campus (www.niagara.edu/pr/
march2006oncampus.htm), has authored two other books, “Origin of the
Sword Saint” and “Quest for the Sword Saint.”
The book is available for purchase from PublishAmerica.com, and will be
officially released Jan. 21. After that date, it will also be available from retailers
such as BarnesandNoble.com and Borders.com online.
C A R E E R
DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE HOSTS
CANADIAN
T E A C H E R
CAREER FAIR —
Recruiters from 31
Ontario school boards
and teacher employment
organizations
were on the Niagara
University campus
Dec. 4 for the annual
Canadian Teacher
Career Fair. The event
was held in collaboration with the career centers at Canisius, Daemen, D’Youville, and Medaille
colleges. Approximately 500 Canadian students from teacher education programs at NU and
the other sponsoring colleges attended the event.
Community
education
accepting
registrations
for spring ’08
Niagara University’s Office of
Continuing and Community
Education is accepting registrations
for a semester of credit-free courses
that are offered both in class and
online. Classes include instruction in
playing guitar, dancing, sign
language, cake decorating, text
messaging, and making money from
eBay. There are also classes that
enable students to obtain a Microsoft
Office certificate.
In addition, credit classes are offered
after 4 p.m. in a variety of subjects
that go toward completing a degree.
These classes may be taken either as
graduate or undergraduate courses,
with the permission of the
department chair or appropriate
college dean.
To register, contact the Office of
Continuing and Community
Education at 716-286-8181.
Additional information can be found
at www.niagara.edu/cce.
COLLECTING TOYS FOR TOTS — For
the second consecutive year, the Niagara
University student chapter of the Club
Managers Association of America held its Toys
for Tots collection drive in conjunction with
the New York state chapter of CMAA. Pictured
from left to right are chapter members Laura
Stevenson, Lauren Kenney, Bethany Wood,
Amy Beardsley, and James Mason, with Dr.
William Frye, chapter moderator.
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DISCUSSING EDUCATION — Dr.
Milton D. Cox, director of the Center for the
Enhancement of Learning and Teaching at
Miami University of Ohio, gave the keynote
speech at NU’s Committee on College Teaching
and Learning’s seventh annual regional
conference, Jan. 10-11. Dr. Cox’s speech focused
on involving community in teaching and
learning. This year’s conference focused on
faculty learning communities, and showcased
various facets of active, integrative learning,
exploring practical ways that faculty and
academic leaders can build integrative
opportunities into their courses.
GARDS WILL “BOBBLE” ON FEB. 2
— Former Purple Eagles’ goaltender Greg
Gardner will be the latest to be honored with
a bobblehead when the department of athletics
hands out the collectible to the first 500 fans
on Feb. 2. The Purple Eagles will host St.
Lawrence at Dwyer Arena at 7:05 p.m. that
evening. Gardner, now a Purple Eagles
assistant coach, backstopped the team from
1996-2000.
NU announces appointment
of two new directors
Niagara University has announced the appointment of new directors for its
offices of Career Development and Human Resources.
Thomas A. Hodick, an NU alumnus and adjunct
professor, has been named director of career
development, and Robert E. Pfeil, a human resources
professional with experience in the corporate world and
academia, has been appointed director of human
resources.
Hodick was formerly career development manager and
senior consultant for E. K. Ward & Associates, where
Thomas A. Hodick he managed corporate outplacement centers for the
West Seneca human resources consulting company. For the last 13 years, he
has served as an adjunct professor of history at Niagara, where he obtained
both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. He also holds a graduate
certificate of specialization in human resources management from the
University at Buffalo. Hodick and his wife, Connie, reside on Grand Island.
Prior to joining Niagara University, Pfeil served for two
years as director of human resources at Niagara County
Community College. He has also held past positions in
corporate benefits and human resource management for
several Buffalo-area corporations. Pfeil holds a bachelor’s
degree in business administration/labor relations and a
master’s degree in industrial engineering from the
University at Buffalo. He is a member of the Employee
Relations Association of Western New York and the
Robert E. Pfeil
Society for Human Resource Management. Pfeil and
his wife, Carolyn, reside in Tonawanda. They are the parents of five children.
Clet Hall dining events
Clet Hall Dining Commons will hold a series of special dining events for
the remainder of January. On Jan. 18, there will be an all-day chili bar for
patrons. That’s just the warm-up for Movie Week, Jan. 21-25. A different
flick will be shown each evening, starting at 7:30 p.m.
If you ever wanted sing the Righteous Brothers, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’
Feeling,” or belt out Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,”
Jan. 24 would be the date; during dinner time, Clet
will host karaoke for patrons.
As the month comes to a close, the commons will
have ice cream topping day during lunch on Jan.
29 and sushi on Jan. 31.

NU’s hospitality center offers regional
information program
Niagara University’s Hospitality
Training and Research Center will
offer a two-track training program
from January through April for
persons employed by arts and
cultural organizations, tourist
attractions and the hotel industry in
Western New York.
The program, called “Impacting Arts
& Culture,” will provide training in
customer service and acquaint
participants with the region’s many
assets to allow them to better inform
and assist visitors.
The training program, which will be
held on the NU campus and in
Buffalo, will be offered on eight
different dates beginning Jan. 15.
The program is an extension of a
three-year study of cultural tourism
being conducted by the Hospitality
Training and Research Center under
a grant from the Oishei Foundation.
The customer-service aspect of the
training is designed to encourage
participants to become more
proactive in providing a better
experience for visitors and guests,
according to Dr. Deborah T. Curtis,
director of the Hospitality Training
and Research Center. The second
component of the training is
designed to familiarize hospitality
and tourism industry employees
with the region’s cultural assets.
“Our goal is to increase the knowledge
of local employees so that they can add
to the overall satisfaction experienced
by guests to the area,” Curtis said.
The dates, location and times when
the program will be offered are:
Tuesday, Jan. 15, Niagara University:
Customer Service, 9 a.m.–noon;
Cultural Concierge, 1–4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 23, Buffalo Visitors
Center, 617 Main St.: Cultural
Concierge, 9 a.m.–noon; Customer
Service, 1–4 p.m.
KIERNAN
CENTER
AWARDS
50-HOUR
CHALLENGERS
— John
Spanbauer,
director of
recreational and
intramural
sports at the
Kiernan Center
(center), congratulates
Bill
Baker, general
manager of hospitality
services, and Christina Potter, a junior at NU, for completing the 50-Hour Challenge.
The first 25 people who completed the challenge, a competition during which Kiernan Center
patrons track the hours they spend walking, running, cycling or swimming during a particular
semester, received a t-shirt. At the end of the semester, all participants’ names were included in a
random drawing for a grand prize of $50. This year’s grand-prize winner, who asked to remain
anonymous, has donated the award to the campus ministry office.
Monday, Feb. 11, Niagara University:
Cultural Concierge, 9 a.m.–noon;
Customer Service, 1–4 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 26, Buffalo Museum of
Science: Customer Service only,
1–4 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 28, Niagara University:
Customer Service, 9 a.m.–noon;
Cultural Concierge, 1–4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 12, Buffalo Visitors
Center: Customer Service, 9 a.m.–
noon; Cultural Concierge, 1–4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 18, Niagara
University: Cultural Concierge, 9 a.m.
to noon; Customer Service, 1-4 p.m.
Monday, April 7, Buffalo Visitors
Center: Cultural Concierge, 9 a.m.
–noon; Customer Service, 1–4 p.m.
Further information and registration
are available on the training center’s
Web site at www.niagara.edu/
hospitalitytraining.
BEYOND/IN WESTERN NEW YORK
— Artist A.J. Fries discusses his work with a
visitor at the opening of “Beyond/In Western
New York” at the Castellani Art Museum. The
CAM is one of 12 art museums and galleries
participating in the prestigious biennial
exhibition of contemporary art from western
and central New York, Ohio, and Canada.
See the coming events page at the back of this
edition of On Campus for more exhibitions at
the CAM.
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Coming Events
Castellani Art Museum
Feb. 1 through June
30 — “Many Winters Ago,” Native American
Children’s Book Illustrations. This exhibition features
a selection of the leading Native American children’s book
illustrators from across the United States and Canada.
Bringing to life themes of cultural tradition, family life
and respect for nature, these award-winning artists reflect
bold and dynamic visual trends in today’s children’s book
illustrations. Through a myriad of colorful and richly
diverse artistic mediums, each artist provides a unique
approach to the illustrated story as well as a deep
commitment to community and contemporary art. The
opening reception, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 1, will
feature artist book signings, a performance by the Native
American Museum of Art Dancers and the Tuscarora
School Dancers, and music by the Mark Porter Band.
The event is alcohol free, and healthy refreshments will
be served. Admission is free.
Feb. 1 through April 20 — “Kurt Treeby: Fuzzy
Memories.” Treeby’s recent work, which explores the
idea of the visual experience and the concept of
widespread artistic appeal, is both a lush homage to art
history and a calculated salutation to kitschy
commercialized craft. His fiber works focus on iconic
imagery and the relationship between high and low art
forms. Treeby will be at the Castellani on March 7 for
First Friday from 5-9 p.m. The event will feature music
by Penelope, refreshments, cash bar, artist talk, art
activities for children, and great prizes. Free to museum
members/$5 for others.
Now through Feb. 17, 2008 — “Beyond/In Western
New York,” featuring new work by Jay Carrier, A.J. Fries
and Kurt Von Voetsch.
Now through Jan. 20, 2008 — “Dorothy Fitzgerald:
Take the Next Right onto Roller Coaster Road.” This
exhibition of new paintings by Buffalo artist Dorothy
Fitzgerald is part of the CAM’s TopSpin series sponsored
by Tops Markets. In these large-scale paintings,
Fitzgerald reflects on her experience of undergoing a
double hip replacement.
Museum hours: Tues.–Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays
1-5 p.m. To learn more about the Castellani Art
Museum’s classes, exhibitions and special events, call
286-8200 or visit www.niagara.edu/cam/. To view a
calendar of events, visit www.niagara.edu/cam/
calendar/calendar.html.
NU Theater
Jan. 25 through Feb.
3 — Short Play
Festival. NU senior theater students take on the challenge
of directing 10-minute plays. The repertoire is always
far-reaching, funny and a genuine test of their talents.
For NU Theater ticket information, call the box office at
286-8622.
Niagara University Athletics
Men’s Basketball
Jan. 18 at Canisius 7 p.m.
Jan. 21 at Marist 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 at St. Peter’s 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Fairfield 1 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
Jan. 18 at Canisius 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 at Siena 4 p.m.
Jan. 25 St. Peter’s 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 Manhattan 2 p.m.
Men’s Hockey
Feb. 8-9 Alabama-Huntsville 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 29, March 1 Robert Morris 7:05 p.m.
Women’s Hockey
Jan. 25-26 Ohio State 2 p.m.
Feb 2-3 Wayne State 2 p.m.
For information about the exciting athletic events held
on and off campus, visit www.purpleeagles.com.
Live Music Series
All shows are from 8-11 p.m. in the “Under the Taps”
Club, lower level Gallagher Center. Admission is $5 at
the door, but is free for Niagara faculty, staff and students.
Admission includes free pizza and wings. Shows are open
to the general public. For more information on the Live
Music Series, log onto www.niagara.edu/rtr.
Jan. 18 — Chronix, a three-piece cover band from the
WNY area playing a wide range of music from all genres
including classic, punk, Canadian, modern, metal and
progressive rock.
Feb. 1 — BeatleMagic, the most musically satisfying
Beatles tribute band on the scene today, returns to
Niagara University for their annual show.