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Greetings from Mercyhurst University -
For those of you who are out of town, you might be wondering how our infamous Erie weather is treating us. Just last week, trick or treaters did not need to worry about hats and winter coats, we had weather in the 60s, and no snow in site ... yet! As always, when we do get our first snow, we will be sure to share photos on social media - somehow, in the best and worst of weather, Mercyhurst's campus still looks so beautiful!
With the onset of November, it's easy to place focus on our blessings and what we are thankful for in our lives. I know for many of us, our Mercyhurst experience and our education are top of that list. In this season of thankfulness, I encourage you to think of your time at Mercyhurst - and reflect on those blessings that have entered your life thanks to our Alma Mater!
Carpe Diem,
Lindsay Frank '12
Director of Alumni Engagement
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Pregame Rally for Men's Soccer Game
Saturday, Nov. 12
4:30-6 p.m. at the Roost
6 p.m. Game at Saxon Stadium
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Athletic Training Alumni and Student Networking Night
Tuesday, Nov. 15
7 p.m. on Zoom
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Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, Dec. 10
9:30 a.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room
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Mercyhurst vs. Gannon Pregame Reception
Saturday, Jan. 21
5 p.m. at the Roost + Mercyhurst Athletic Center
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Baseball 50th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, Jan 28
1 p.m. at Mercyhurst University
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Advancement expands depth of high-performing team | |
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When Sam McCrimmon joined Mercyhurst University as vice president for advancement in June, he came with a time-honored code: you are only as effective as your team.
And so, much as he was happy with the talented staff he inherited, he opted to go bigger and broaden his department’s skill sets and expertise.
In October, he brought on Debbie Morton, executive communications officer and director of public relations, who will augment the communication initiatives of the team and highlight more alumni contributions through her role as editor of Mercyhurst Magazine. Through the news media, she will continue to showcase faculty, staff, and students while bringing external attention to university initiatives, particularly by cultivating experts from its niche programs.
Although public relations and advancement are often on the same university team, the career services and advancement offices have traditionally been separate—until recently. Knowing that producing positive career outcomes can have a significant effect on alumni giving, McCrimmon sought to integrate career services into the advancement realm, just recently adding Heather Balas, director of career services, and Frank Rizzone, employer relations specialist.
By combining career services and advancement, Mercyhurst is creating a community of students, alumni, and employers that facilitates meaningful connections, encourages relationship building, and provides comprehensive career development.
The new team members join Lindsay Frank, director, alumni engagement; Meaghan Hubert, director, donor relations; Ric Giles, gift officer; Amy Danzer, director, grant relations; Emily Williams, director, advancement services and prospect research; Dominic Fucci, coordinator, annual giving; and Cynthia Procopio, coordinator, advancement and mission.
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Hundreds of alumni and friends returned HOME to Mercyhurst to celebrate Homecoming Weekend at Mercyhurst a few weeks ago. Relive the weekend by viewing the full photo album here. | |
Intel looks forward to vibrant future | |
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The Intelligence Studies program at Mercyhurst showed its formidable array of leaders, innovators, and dedicated supporters during its 30-year anniversary celebration at Homecoming ’22.
From Suki Fuller ’05, one of the most influential leaders in UK Tech who traveled from her home in London for the occasion, to Intel’s Marshall Scholar Tim Krysiek ’05, who came from Boston where he is managing director at Equinor Ventures, successful alumni returned en masse for the occasion.
It was a big moment for Lindy Smart ’11. With only four months on the job as executive director of the Intelligence Studies Department, she pulled out all the stops to produce a legendary reunion that saw the return of former faculty Dawn Wozneak, Shelly Fryen, Dave Grabelski, Bill Welch, Art Mills, Michael Lammbrau, and Linda Bremmer.
The headlining event of the weekend was when Intel’s pioneering leaders Bob Heibel and Jim Breckenridge took the stage of Walker Recital Hall and talked about the rise of Mercyhurst’s program through the decades: from being the first of its kind in academia to serving as the impetus for what is now 100 such programs in colleges and universities across the United States. They were joined by Smart, who as a product of the program she now leads and a competitive intelligence expert in her own right, will take the program into what promises to be a vibrant future.
Smart said she is grateful to have Breckenridge, who is provost of the U.S. Army War College, as one of the university’s newest trustees and as an adviser for the Intel program. “Dr. Breckenridge is an invaluable asset to the Intelligence Studies program and we will benefit from his expertise,” Smart said. “Dr. Breckenridge developed the strategies that led to the tremendous growth of the program throughout the 2000s-2010s. I look forward to continuing to partner with him to gain insight into the tactics of his successful tenure and seek feedback to strengthen our strategic vision for the program moving forward.”
PHOTO: Jim Breckenridge, Lindy Smart, and Bob Heibel
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Intel’s Suki Fuller receives belated
Distinguished Alumni Award
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Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies alumna Suki Fuller received the long-overdue Distinguished Alumni Award she earned in 2019, during Homecoming Weekend 2022.
Since receiving her degree in 2005, Fuller has been a competitive intelligence adviser in the automotive, advertising, pharmaceutical, technology, and defense industries, working across the United Kingdom, China, the Middle East, and U.S. Read the full story here.
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Alumni, friends, and prospective students joined us on campus prior to Halloween for a haunted campus tour - the tour ended in Christ the King Chapel where guests were able to take a look at the infamous haunted ring! | |
President Kathy Getz recently met with some local alumni for Coffee and Conversation in the Catherine Walker Reading Room at Mercyhurst! | |
The Senior Class Gift Committee presented to the selection committee and announce their class gift, the Magnolia: Bloom with Grace Scholarship. Just as the Magnolia Tree is rooted at Mercyhurst and blooms with grace annually, our students are rooted here in our education, and will bloom and blossom into future Mercyhurst alumni, who will leave our gates, and change the world for the better. This scholarship is symbolic of our growth and will annually support Mercyhurst students in tuition aid. | |
Mercyhurst Student Government offers $10 off MUber rides to get out the student vote | |
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Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) launched an inventive way of getting out the student vote yesterday: $10 discounts on Uber rides to polling locations.
Between the program’s start spring semester last year (Feb. 1-May 15) and then this fall (Aug. 24 to Nov. 11), MUber has provided 1,324 discounted rides to students.
Read the full story here.
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Mercyhurst Men's Soccer continues to add on to their already historic season as they defeat Bloomsburg in the PSAC Finals on the way to the first PSAC Championship since 2016 season. The Lakers got the better of the Huskies on their own turf thanks to an early goal in the 1-0 win.
Join us on Saturday at home for the next game. Register here.
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And, Happenings Beyond the Hurst | |
Hagen History Center counts three Hurst grads among staff
“The Fabulous Mercyhurst Three of the Hagen History Center”—three Mercyhurst alumni who studied Public History & Museum Studies at the university and are now working together at the Erie center.
KayAnn Warner '11 is a processing archivist at the center, where she has been employed approximately two years. Adam Macrino '22 was hired last winter after two summers of interning and volunteering, and most recently, Anna Foll '18 was hired in like capacity to Macrino; both are guest services coordinators.
Read more.
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Lauren Ganger '21, a Musicology PhD student at Eastman School of Music, recently treated listeners to a concert of cello and piano at George Eastman’s living room. | |
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Stephanie (Caluori) Loveless '10, and Emily Whitaker '06 were hired by Buffalo Rehab Group in October of 2021. They were both last-minute candidates for a single marketing position, and, were both hired! Stephanie is Director of Growth & Strategy, while Emily is Director of Digital & Content Marketing. | |
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Maggie Switzer '18 seized the day with a completed through-hike of the Appalachian Trail! | |
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Mark your calendar for #iGiveCatholic! Support Mercyhurst this #GivingTuesday, Nov. 29! Your #iGiveCatholic gift allows Mercyhurst University to remain consistent with our Catholic identity and Mercy Mission, while educating diverse students in a culture that allows faith and reason to flourish together | |
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Mercyhurst alumni can benefit from several great opportunities - check out the list below to learn more!
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Connect with Lakers near and far!
Alumni Chapters are available all over the country and are continuing to gather and form. Take a look at the full list to the right for an Alumni Chapter in your area.
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We need your help with the Alumni Chapters - interested in volunteering as a Chapter representative? Please email Lindsay Frank '12.
Each Chapter will have a few alumni who will serve as the Chapter representatives!
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To submit a Class Note, please visit mercyhurst.edu/alumni/class-notes to have your news featured here and in the next Mercyhurst Magazine!
Career News
Daniel Marks '93 was named CEO of EBE, a manufacturer and remanufacturer of electrical and, electro-mechanical locomotive parts and components. He has more than two decades of experience in the OEM and aftermarket rail and transit markets, primarily in business strategy, operations, sales and marketing leadership roles.
Nicole Nelson '09 was announced as Vice President of Carrier Operations by Bold Penguin, the leading digital quote and bind insurance platform. Bold Penguin is leading the charge to make, commercial insurance work better for all parties.
Births
Ryan Bartizal '13 and wife Jenna welcomed their second child, Mason Francis, on Sept. 14, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. Mason joins big, brother Evan Ryan.
Courtney (Hartline) Puskar '15 and her husband Jon welcomed their son, John Thomas (J.T.) Puskar on Aug. 8, 2022.
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Marriages and Engagements
Andrea Lankester '14 married
Gui Alves '12 on Sept. 30, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The wedding party included Emily Ferguson '14, Kelly, Krieger '14 and Timothy Martin '12.
Andrea and Gui currently live in Mansfield, Ohio where Andrea works as a physician assistant in cardiothoracic surgery for OhioHealth and Gui works as an executive assistant at Third Street Family Health Services.
Alumni Deaths
Michael Borland '07
David Evan Quiggle '04
Joan (Clancy) Clingingsmith '56
Condolences
Lisa Manendo '78 on the death of her mother, Thelma Manendo
To the family and friends of Raymond Sullivan, former adjunct faculty member
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