August 2025

Friends,

As we move into the month of August, I am delighted to share that I had the opportunity to visit our Honors students last week as they completed their studies at Oxford University. Our students once again studied alongside peers from UC Berkeley, immersing themselves in the academic life of Oxford and exploring the surrounding English countryside and historic landmarks.

I am also pleased to report that it has been another very vibrant summer here at STAC with academic camps for lower school, middle school, and high school students … registration fairs, immersion programs, and welcome events for our entering freshman students … skills development programs, internships, and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) work experiences for our returning students … and alumni and donor events here in New York and abroad.

I was also delighted to meet with President Emerita Margaret Fitzpatrick, welcome Dr. William Mullaney, the new President of Rockland Community College, and visit our beloved “first First Lady” Romaine McNelis, the wife of our former President Don McNelis. We also welcomed our new Vice President, Finance and Treasurer Angie Crump, while onboarding our newly appointed Academic Deans, Dr. Meghan Mihal and Dr. Nydia Prishker, through a series of summer meetings with our Cabinet and Trustees.

Now, as we start the final month of the summer, our full attention turns to the “Spartan Journey” as we welcome the Class of 2029 and prepare for the return of our students on September 2. These wonderful students will be returning to new academic programs — including AI, Data Analytics, and Cyber Security Master’s Programs — newly renovated hi-flex classrooms, and the Grand Opening of the SKAE Astronomy Center!

So, please enjoy the final days of summer and come join us next month as we celebrate our students … and continue to “Ignite Their Future”!

Regards,

Students in the College's Honors Program under the leadership of Dr. Meghan DeWitt ignited their passions this summer through the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford. During the summer of their junior year, students are immersed in local culture, attend classes at The University of Oxford, visit libraries, and take many educational trips to museums, parks, gardens, and estates.

President Daly also met with alumni and supporters in London, hosted the Honors students for a special closing dinner, and was able to visit and spend an afternoon with Dr. Dewitt, our courageous leader of the program.

STAC Alumni and Friends came together "Out East" on Long Island to hear about exciting College updates from President Daly. Current students were also in attendance and connected with future Spartans to talk about their dreams and goals during their college journey, after graduation, and beyond. Special thank you to our Board Member, Ms. Nydia Gaffey, for hosting this wonderful event.

Our innovative STEM Exploration Summer Program at the end of July was a success! The one-week overnight learning experience immersed local high school students in STEM fields, igniting their passion to ask questions, uncover answers, imagine possibilities and learn about the world around them. President Ken Daly came to speak with students and presented on energy sustainability. Trenyce Scott '26 (featured below) assisted students in this year's program as a Counselor alongside fellow peers and expert professors in the School of STEM.

We are grateful for our generous sponsors Champlain Hudson Power Express, Transmission Developers Inc, Hydro Québec Energy Services, and Veolia for supporting this year’s program. Their partnership helps make this transformative experience possible!

Students were also able to meet and have lunch with members of the College's STEM Advisory Board.

Our Summer STEAM Camps for middle school students entering grades 5-9 was a blast! The series of STEAM Camps held this year covered eco-engineering and biomimicry, which allowed students to dive into the exciting world of sustainable architecture through fun challenges and team projects. Students learned about animals, plants, and natural systems to inspire sustainable innovations.

These STEAM Camps are made possible by the generous support of National Grid Ventures/Community Offshore Wind.

The campus has been buzzing with students of all ages! Our Summer Literacy Camp for grammar school students was well attended, and students covered a great deal of topics together with their teachers who are STAC students in the School of Education. A major theme this year was time travel! Towards the end of the camp, the young literacy students were able to showcase their projects to College students who are in STAC's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Spartan Student Transition and Academic Readiness (STAR) Summer Program.

The young campers were delighted to speak about projects that ranged in topics such as time travel, favorite authors and books, hobbies, geography, animals, and more. Visitors listened, asked questions, and interacted with the young students during the showcase. Great job to our current (and future!) Spartans!

Our Registration Fairs and Welcome BBQs for incoming students have been a huge success. Employees and this year's Orientation Leaders (wearing their STAC gold!) came together to assist students and families with registration, financial aid questions, and learning the ins and outs of campus life as they prepare for the Fall semester.

We look forward to our upcoming "Spartan Journey" Orientation at the end of the month as we welcome the Class of 2029!

The Admissions team hosted local accepted students and families for a Welcome Dinner at the Rockland Country Club! This event was a wonderful opportunity for our accepted students to connect with fellow peers from the region, ask questions, and learn more about the supportive community at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Special thank you to the evening's student speaker, Abigail Horgan '27, who attended with her mom and Spartan alum, Lisa Horgan ’96, ’03!

President Emeritus Don McNelis served the College for 21 years as President.

As we approach the one year anniversary of his passing, President Daly and First Lady Laurie Daly visited his wife Romaine McNelis at her home to check in and thank her for her service to the College.

The College community is delighted to welcome Angelique (Angie) Crump, CPA, as our new Vice President, Finance and Treasurer. Angie, a Certified Public Accountant, has a strong background in accounting, finance, systems, and controls. She is a graduate from Monroe College and has 23 years of related work experience.

Angie notes: “I am honored to join St. Thomas Aquinas College at such a pivotal and exciting time. I am energized by the momentum already underway, and I am proud to be part of shaping a sustainable future for an institution so deeply rooted in purpose, truth, and impact....one that empowers every student to thrive, lead, and succeed.”

Discover our diverse range of affordable graduate programs and certificates! Complete your degree online or on campus, full-time or part-time, so you can advance your career on your terms.

Our Master of Business Administration (MBA) program will expand this Fall 2025 semester with three new dynamic concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Business Analytics — also available as standalone Advanced Certificates.

St. Thomas Aquinas College is offering a scholarship of at least $10,000 for students who apply to our new online MBA programs by August 15, 2025.

We are also excited to share innovative facilities projects to be completed over the summer as we continue with investments in our academic programs and in classroom upgrades. We are proud to launch a new Technology Corridor modernization plan with two new classrooms fully funded by named donors:

Alden Hyflex Classroom

Ridgewood Savings Bank Data Analytics Lab

Together with the TV studio, Digital Imaging Lab, Bloomberg Lab, and Media Classroom, these spaces will begin to redefine the Spellman Technology Corridor as a contemporary space for leading edge instruction, research, and learning. 

Check out St. Thomas Aquinas College's feature stories! We are delighted and proud to introduce you to the following individuals:

Joy Gallagher

Assistant Director, Transfer Admissions

Trenyce Scott '26

Biochemistry Major

Ryan O'Gorman '04

Director of Retention and Student Success at Dominican University New York