news@Wentworth - Wentworth Institute of Technology

news@Wentworth
www.wit.edu/enews
March 2010
IN THIS ISSUE:
Co-op in Arizona
Students Across Disciplines Work
Together and Learn New Design
Methods
Co-op in Arizona
Students Across Disciplines Work Together and
Learn New Design Methods
Spring into Service
Alternative Spring Break in
New Orleans
Community Co-op
Students Provide Service to
Community
Athletics
A Season for Success
Fifth Annual Women’s
Leadership Conference
Learning About Independence and
Communication
Faculty Profile: Lois Ascher
Landscaping Life
Wentworth students and staff at Arcosanti.
Scene Around
News and Newcomers
News@Wentworth is produced by
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Currently, 22 students in architecture, construction management, and civil
engineering technology are working and studying at Arcosanti, an urban
laboratory located in the Arizona desert as part of spring co-op. Arcosanti
is an experimental town that is designed around the concept of arcology
(architecture and ecology) which incorporates systems that work together,
including multi-purpose buildings; solar orientation for lighting, heating, and
cooling; and greenhouses.
Because of the complexity of the project, students across many disciplines
are able to participate and learn different aspects of the project. The students
are given the opportunity to be involved with construction projects, surveying,
greenhouse design and construction, retaining wall excavation, welding, and
more.
During their five-week stay at the site, students are participating in orientation,
seminars, and grounds and archives tours. They will also have meetings with
Italian architect Paolo Soleri who created Arcosanti and tour Taliesin West, a
home and structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Spring into Service
Title goes here
Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans
Spring Break. A time for rest and relaxation for
some, but for 26 students and two chaperones
it meant a week of service in New Orleans, La.
Volunteers returned to the previous Wentworth
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) project sites
and visited the Lower Ninth Ward where the
levee broke during Hurricane Katrina.
The group was divided among three different
locations and was involved with scraping,
priming, and painting houses along with tiling,
grouting, and ripping up flooring. The students
worked diligently to maximize their work efforts
and often exceeded their scheduled hours.
Because of their dedication, Wentworth gained
the reputation of being the hardest working
volunteer group that the service organization
had ever seen.
Campus News
The ASB participants gained valuable insight
into southern architecture and engineering.
They learned about shotgun houses, Caribbean
influenced color schemes, and “une maison de
trente,” which is French for “a house of thirty,”
meaning that there are 30 beams in the house’s
structure.
Wentworth volunteers in New Orleans for Alternative Spring Break.
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Community Co-op
Title goes here
Students Provide Service to Community
Student community design coordinators
from the Center for Community and
Learning Partnerships (CLP), Ian Bell,
BINT ’11, and Heather Richardson, BINT
’11, are working on a project to install
an elevator in the Twelfth Baptist Church
in Roxbury. The church is the center
of activity for many people’s lives. In
addition to Sunday services, it offers
various community programs including
an afterschool program and pre-school.
Throughout the years, the building
has undergone many construction
projects to expand and continue to
meet community needs, though it is still
without an elevator. As the sanctuary is
on the second floor, access is a problem
for an increasing number of members.
Left to right: Ian Bell, BINT ’11, and
Heather Richardson, BINT ’11.
Bell and Richardson are continuing the
work of previous community design coordinators. They have recorded the existing architectural
conditions and are developing drawings from their field measurements. By the end of the semester,
they will develop a set of construction documents that will be approximately 75 percent complete, so
that construction and elevator companies can bid on the project.
Campus News
Professional development classes and knowledge of software learned while attending Wentworth give
Bell and Richardson the qualifications and experience they need to provide the community with their
free professional services; a cost that might not otherwise be affordable to the church. The students’
interior design coursework in construction documents, material and furniture specifications, and
technical studies have provided the design coordinators with the learning experience they need to
complete this project.
Wentworth alumnus Eudad Gonzalez, BAET ’03, who works for Turner Construction Company, offered
professional advice throughout the project. He has helped the students to understand their role as
interior designers in the construction sequence.
Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury.
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Athletics
Title goes here
A Season for Success
Members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams
were recognized by The Commonwealth Coast Conference
(TCCC) for their outstanding seasons.
On the men’s team, Sam Herrick, BSM ’12, was named to
the first team, while seniors Matt Abbott, BCET ’10, and
Shane West, BCET ’10, were named to the second team.
Additionally, head coach Tom Devitt was was voted TCCC
Coach of the Year by his peers for the second time in four
seasons.
On the women’s team, Michelle Fauci, BSM ’10 was named
the league’s defensive player of the year and was named
Second Team All-TCCC. Junior Kirsten Vallone, BCET ’12,
was also a Second Team All-TCCC selection.
Richard Orr Photography
Campus News
The ice hockey team finished the regular season as
champions of the Eastern College Athletic Conference
(ECAC)-Northeast Hockey Conference. Sophomore forward
Skylur Jameson, BMET ’12, was named the ECAC Northeast
Player of the Year and was named First Team All-ECAC
Northeast. Jeff Olitch, BCET ’10, and Shaun Jameson, BSM
’13, also joined Skylur Jameson as First Team All-ECAC
Northeast selections.
BOSTON, Mass. – Amanda Rodgerson, who for the
Fifth Annual Women’s Leadership Conference
past three seasons has been the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Southern Maine
Community College, has been named to the same position at Wentworth Institute
Learning of Technology. About Independence Director of Athletics and Lee Communication
Conrad made the announcement. Rodgerson
replaces Carrie Crawford, who stepped down in May after guiding the Leopards to a
46-53 mark during her four seasons as head coach.
The Women’s Leadership Conference
brought together 40 female students
for a day-long event, which included
four workshop sessions, two keynote
speakers, and a community service
project.
The conference took place on March
20 and included sessions on art and
leadership, healthy communication,
relational aggression, and financial
independence and security.
Students made blankets for Project
Linus—a non-profit organization that
distributes blankets to seriously ill,
traumatized, or other children in
need—to be distributed in the greater
Boston area.
The conference featured keynote
presenters Erika Dietz, a motivational
speaker, and Robin Melavalin, director
of the Global Education Opportunities
Center for the Colleges of Fenway.
Skylur Jameson, BMET ’12.
Wentworth students making blankets
for non-profit organization Project Linus.
The conference was organized by a planning committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff who
had previously attended the conferences.
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Professor Lois Ascher, Humanities, Social
Sciences, and Management
Landscaping Life
Professor Lois Ascher, Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Management, began gardening
at an early age when her aunt would leave her in charge of her beautiful garden on Cape Cod. More
than a hobby, for Ascher it is a way of life. “When I moved into my new house there was only one tree
and the soil was in terrible condition,” says Ascher. Her goal was for there to be robins in her yard,
because that would mean that the soil was rich again. Now, 40 trees later, robins are a common sight.
“Things grow better when they belong there,” says Ascher, explaining that she often observes others
trying to cultivate exotic plants in soil where they will not thrive. She believes in planting things that
are suited for the particular type of soil and conditions, and enjoys watching them flourish.
As a professor, Ascher nurtures her students as she does her gardens. She likes to be experimental,
push them to do their best, bring out their strengths, but at the same time does not try and make
them conform to her or anyone else’s standards. “I feel that I am the translator,” says Ascher. “I need
to find a way to make subjects meaningful to my students, whether they are architecture students or
engineers.”
Faculty Profile
Another one of Ascher’s life pleasures that is revealed in her teaching is her love of construction. She
has enjoyed pulling her house apart and putting it back together and relishes in the opportunity to take
a wall down and see what is hiding behind it or simply building from scratch. “I love transformation,”
says Ascher. “That’s what I love about teaching. I am always able to develop new courses and explore
new topics.” She enjoys that her job not only accepts but also encourages her to be constantly
learning, changing, and meeting new challenges.
In addition to completely renovating her previous house in Marblehead, she and her husband—Frank
Rooney, former Wentworth professor—are building a house in New Hampshire. Ascher is excited to be
starting the project and is proud to have her son and daughter-in-law as the architects, as well as a
former student doing contracting work.
Ascher came to Wentworth as the first female professor on an all-male campus. From the time she
started, she has nurtured her students and the environment around her to become a place that
thrives and fosters diversity and individuality. She has not only transformed gardens and homes over
the years, but also the lives of countless students and members of the Wentworth community.
Professor Lois Ascher.
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Scene Around
Civil engineering technology students preparing Wentworth’s canoe for the
annual American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe Competition.
Wentworth will compete against other regional colleges, racing on the
Charles River. The competition will take place April 9-11, with the canoe
races and viewing on Saturday, April 10, at the Northeastern boathouse at
1071 Soldiers Field Road in Allston.
Female students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered for the annual
Women@Wentworth event on March 19. After a cocktail reception where
attendees were able to network and discuss their experiences, there was a panel
discussion including President Zorica Pantić, moderated by Rose Conti, ABC ’09,
first vice president of the Wentworth Alumni Association.
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Scene Around
Carl Crupi, BCET ’12, making a biographical collage with Shirley, a resident
from NewBridge on the Charles, an independent living facility. Crupi was
joined by many other Wentworth students as a part of Assistant Professor
Elaine Slater’s Alzheimer’s project for her course on 19th Century Art in
Europe and America. Each resident is paired with a student for the entire
semester, creating a bonding experience and sharing through art.
125 middle school students participated in the statewide MATHCOUNTS
Competition which was hosted at Wentworth on March 6. The top four
winners and top female received a full-tuition scholarship to attend
Wentworth. Pictured (left to right): Dr. Russell Pinizzotto, vice president for
academic affairs and provost; Jonathon Tidor, first place; Zachary Polansky,
second place; Nihal Gowravaram, third place; Lucas Hicks, fourth place;
and Ying Gao, top-ranked female.
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Calendar of Events
Title goes here
April 7-10: Wentworth to host
Subtitle goes here
Associated Schools of Construction
(ASC) 46th Annual International
BOSTON, Mass. – Amanda Rodgerson, who for the past
three seasons has been the Head Women’s Basketball
Coach at Southern Maine Community College, has been
named to the same position at Wentworth Institute of
Technology. Director of Athletics Lee Conrad made the
announcement. Rodgerson replaces Carrie Crawford, who stepped down in May after
guiding the Leopards to a 46-53 mark during her four seasons as head coach.
Conference: Building a Global Vision at
the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel. Former
governor and 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis will
offer the keynote address.
“We are very excited about Amanda joining our staff,” said Conrad. “She has achieved
a lot in a short period of time as a head coach and has a solid knowledge of The Commonwealth
Coast Conference. This, combined with her energy and enthusiasm, made
her the perfect candidate for the job. I am confident that our women’s basketball
team will continue to develop into an upper echelon team at both the conference and
regional level.”
April 13: President’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Jack Blaisdell
presents Vision to Reality: the Engineering, Planning, and
Technology Behind the Creation of UPS Worldport, 4:00 p.m.,
A native of Bangor, Maine, and former standout in both basketball and soccer at
Hampden Academy, Rodgerson, arrived at SMCC in 2004 and inherited a struggling
program that featured just seven players during her rookie season. That squad would
capture the Maine Small College Conference title with a 10-13 record and lay the
foundation for a 2005-06 season that saw the Seawolves win a second consecutive
MSCC crown, as well as winning the Yankee Small College Conference championship.
With a 20-7 mark, SMCC competed in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association
Tournament and featured two USCAA All-Americans. Rodgerson was voted both
the YSCC and MSCC Coach of the year. This past season the Seawolves posted a
14-10 mark, were the YSCC runner-up, and qualified for the USCAA Tournament. She
leaves SMCC with a 44-30 record.
426 Beatty Hall.
Welcome New Employees!
Eric Knox, controller, Controller’s Office
Mark McIvor, technical support specialist, DTS
News and Newcomers
Toni Napoleon, technical support specialist, DTS
Mimi Phan, web and multimedia design specialist, DTS
Arlene Riendeau, co-op advisor, Career Center
Births
Jackie Haas, assistant director of Admissions, is proud to
announce the birth of her baby girl.
Roselyn Alana Haas was born on March 12.
Emma Smith Zbarsky, assistant professor, Applied Mathematics
and Sciences, is proud to announce the birth of her baby boy.
Daniel Zbarsky was born on March 15.
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