Saint Michael's This Week
July 28, 2023
Scholarship meets technology for studio Hamilton screening
History scholarship, cutting-edge technology, and impromptu creative flexibility among faculty and staff merged for a well-received educational and entertaining summer event in the College’s new Media Creation Studio Wednesday afternoon. A mid-day July 26 screening of the movie Hamilton featured interesting introductory historical context from both a professor and her summer research student, Emma Anderson ’25 (top photo left foreground), along with an explanation from Studio Director Patrick Bohan (who also took these photos) about the studio’s vast capabilities that allow students and beyond to optimally experience media with a just-installed Dolby Atmos Digital Sound System and super-high resolution big-screen visuals. Alexandra Garrett, early American specialist of the Saint Michael’s history faculty, also presented before the screening (photo above).
Read full story on Hamilton screening>>
SAINT MICHAEL'S NEWS
Overcoming obstacles often significant aspect of research experience
Students conducting summer research with Saint Michael’s faculty members described challenges and achievements from their projects during a July 27 lunch in the Dion Family Student Roy Room. Jeffrey Trumbower, vice president for academic affairs, launched the Thursday program (top right photo) at about 12:30 p.m. after everybody had enjoyed a Sodexo-provided meal and one another’s company. Dean Gretchen Galbraith was among the guests. Trumbower reminded researchers of his expectation that they present their work in some formal venue, whether at next year’s spring Academic Symposium or a national or regional professional meeting. The lower right photo shows two science students, Jack Macdonald and Jack Conroy, describing their project on insulin resistance. Below, Anna Juarez describes her findings about incorporating wastewater pre-treatment methods into Vermont breweries to possibly improve their effluent water quality. (photos by Lauren Read)
Read full story on summer research lunch>>
St. Mike's makes Money Best Colleges list for 'quality, affordability and student outcomes'
Saint Michael’s College has been recognized as one of Money magazine’s 2023 Best Colleges. According to publicity from the magazine, Money’s latest Best Colleges rating “offers a practical analysis of more than 700 four-year colleges that made the list this year. We start with all of the four-year public and private nonprofit colleges in the country, a group that totals more than 2,400, and score data in three main buckets: quality, affordability and student outcomes."
Read more about Money 2023 Best Colleges list>>
New survey: Vermont best state to live
Good news from a USA Today report this week: “How does life in your state compare to the rest of America? CNBC released its rankings of the best and worst states to live in the United States last week. Its rankings come from the network's yearly research on the best states for business in 2023. One of the 10 criteria for the list is Life, Health & Inclusion, from which CNBC determines the best and worst states to live …. Vermont won the acclaimed spot of the best place to live. Residents are statistically more stress-free and healthy. With the beautiful Green Mountains, Vermont offers the best air quality in the United States. The state provides the most accessible childcare, broad anti-discrimination protections and easy access to voting. CNBC allots 350 possible points to each state, measuring categories such as per capita crime rates, environmental quality, health care and worker protections. The research also examines anti-discrimination laws, voting rights and access to childcare."
Read full story on Vermont being best place to live>>
Spring/Summer issue of College magazine now out
The Spring/Summer 2023 magazine is here! In this issue of the Saint Michael’s College Magazine, we examine the idea of ethics and educating and creating ethical leaders. Leaders come in many shapes and sizes, and as the magazine's editor/chief writer Susan Salter-Reynolds puts it in her lead article: “Traditional notions of leadership are changing. Colleges and universities often serve as the crucibles in which society’s time-honored precepts are challenged. New theories are born, old ones jettisoned. New models, betters suited to current contexts and cultures, are forged. Today in the wider world beyond campus, the cry for better, more ethical leaders echoes – perhaps louder than ever before.” The issue explores how Saint Michael’s is producing such leaders. Print copies of this latest magazine issue went out in the U.S. mail last Friday and should either have arrived at alumni homes by now, or will be arriving soon.
Media seek McCabe expertise on flooding
Since the last issue two weeks ago that featured faculty biologist and Natural Area chief steward Declan McCabe explaining important realities about recent major flooding in Vermont in a story and video, area media outlets have continued to seek Declan’s expertise. Here’s the introduction from the website of WCAX Channel 3, the Burlington-area CBS affiliate, about a conversation Declan had Tuesday with WCAX news anchor Darren Perron: "Vermont has now faced two so-called 100-year floods in a little over a decade, so it’s clear climate change is impacting the state’s built environment. But how is the natural environment evolving? Saint Michael’s College Professor Declan McCabe studies the school’s 365-acre Natural Area floodplain, including after being flooded last week. Darren Perron spoke with McCabe about what he saw and what it means for other areas around the state -- and the world."
Watch Declan interview with WCAX anchor>>
Scientists gather, confer on disease ecology, pathogens
Thirty Vermont scientists gathered on campus on Monday, July 24, for a day-long conference organized by Dagan Loisel of the Saint Michael’s College biology faculty (presenting in top right photo by Pat Bohan). Attendees engaged with 13 scientific presentations on topics related to disease ecology, human and animal health, and detection and surveillance of pathogens. Presenters from Saint Michael’s included Dayna Mieles ’24 (seen presenting in top left image and photo at right by Lauren Read), a summer research student in the lab of faculty biologist Nicole Podnecky. Loisel, gesturing to Dayna in the photo at right, said the presentations focused on research into tick density and population dynamics, Lyme disease bacteria geographic variation, diversity of freshwater snail parasites, surveillance of SARS CoV-2 in Vermont wildlife, rodents as reservoirs of viruses, viral and fungal diseases of amphibians, antibiotic resistance in bacteria, current next-generation sequencing technologies, and viral surveillance in college students.
Read full story on science conference>>
African francophones enrich campus while visiting through Aug. 1
In collaboration with the Vermont Council on World Affairs, Saint Michael's College is hosting, from July 19-August 1, a group of francophone individuals from multiple different countries in Africa. The group is part of the U.S. Department of State’s Pan-African Youth Leadership Program. They will be in the U.S. for intensive leadership training and development. The Center for Global Engagement organized an informal welcome gathering with the group that took place midday on Thursday, July 20 in the Vermont Room of Alliot Hall. The group is accompanied by professional translators, so no knowledge of French is needed to participate in welcoming these international guests to campus. Last Thursday's welcome event was followed by lunch in Alliot at noon, with an open invitation for students, staff, and faculty to join in cross-cultural exchange. The photo at right shows the group after lunch in Alliot at the start of a campus tour, led (in French) by Carson O’Neil ’23, a recent graduate who double-majored in French and public health with minors in business administration, global health and health equity. Carson now works in the College’s Institutional Advancement office as Stewardship & Donor Relations Officer. The top photos show one of the visit's chief organizers, Peter Vantine of the College's French faculty, welcoming the group in the Vermont Room, while the tour photo at right shows political science/international relations Professor Jeffrey Ayres, director of the Center for Global Engagement (center facing camera), and Carson (with back largely to camera in black t-shirt, foreground right), preparing to give a campus tour that same day. Vantine said the group includes 17 high schoolers or first-year college students and four adult mentors from Madagascar, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire.
Saint Michael's Playhouse wraps up season with a warm-hearted comedy
Here from the Saint Michael’s Playhouse website is a summary of this 2023 summer season’s final of three shows, Over the River and Through the Woods, which runs evenings at 8 p.m., July 26-29 and August 1-5, with matinees at 2 p.m. on July 29 and August 5: “On the New Jersey side of the Hudson River live both sets of Nick Cristano’s grandparents. Nick, a single, Italian-American marketing executive living in Manhattan, routinely visits his four grandparents in Hoboken every Sunday for family dinner since his parents retired and moved to Florida. As their only close relative, Nick’s grandparents inundate him with family tradition and lots of food. When Nick announces he is being promoted and moving to Seattle, his grandparents are devastated and quickly concoct a series of hilarious schemes to keep Nick from leaving, including introducing him to the woman of his dreams.”
Terri Selby now Director of Development
Terri Selby returned to the Saint Michael’s Institutional Advancement Office as the Director of Development effective July 17. Terri had returned to the College as a Senior Philanthropic Advisor in April after an 8-year stint at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York where she worked as the Executive Director of Major and Planned Gifts and helped lead a team of fundraisers to surpass the University’s $225 million campaign goal in 2022. Prior to her time at St. Lawrence, Terri worked in various positions in the Saint Michael's Institutional Advancement Office, most recently as the Senior Director of Major Gifts. In this new role, Terri will be tasked with leading campaign strategy, revitalizing a parent fundraising program that she began years earlier, and working with colleagues on enhancing the planned giving program. “Having Terri return to Saint Michael’s is vital to our fundraising success,” said Angie Armour ’99 M’09, executive director of Institutional Advancement. “She is a highly skilled and experienced fundraiser who possesses deep institutional knowledge and truly understands and appreciates the ethos of this place. I’m so grateful to her for coming back to SMC to lead our fundraising efforts.”
Greg Davis heading Student Financial Services
Gregory J. Davis started work on July 20 as Executive Director of Student Financial Services. Greg previously worked at Champlain College (2011 – 2023), Dartmouth College (2005 – 2011), and College of Saint Rose (1999 – 2005). He lives in North Hero up in the Champlain Islands, and previously was a resident of South Burlington.
He and his wife, Megan Spiezio-Davis, have a grown son, Jacob, who is a rising junior at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. They also have two dogs: Gandalf (Siberian Husky) and Tobby (Alaskan Malamute). As hobbies and interests, Greg lists “picking up pet hair, reading (King, Clancy, Le Carre, LOTR), Star Wars, and history (specifically Civil War). Greg said his interest in working at Saint Michael’s arose from “the conversations and connections I made during my interview process, [which] left an impression of a community that was welcoming and open to new ideas. To the College he hopes and intends to bring “enhancements to processes and policies within the Student Financial Services Office, Enrollment Management Divisions and throughout campus where my input can be beneficial, that will ultimately benefit our students and the community at large.”
Seven Days reviewer loves Ellis' Ghost Hymns
Chris Farnsworth, music editor for Seven Days, the Burlington-area weekly newspaper and website, in a recent issue praised Ghost Hymns, the newest CD release from Saint Michael’s Professor of Fine Arts/Music William Ellis. From that review: "From Leopold Mozart and his tyke Wolfgang to Bob and Jakob Dylan, it's not exactly rare to see kids follow their parents into the family business.… Enter William Lee Ellis. The Tennessee-born singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist comes from a strong musical tradition: His father is North Carolina bluegrass legend Tony Ellis, who played banjo with Bill "the father of bluegrass" Monroe. With that sort of pedigree, it's not surprising that Ellis the younger makes music infused with the ancient DNA of American songwriting. But Ellis, who has a PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of Memphis and is an associate professor of music and chair of the fine arts department at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, is no rote research act. His fourth LP on Yellow Dog Records, Ghost Hymns, is a showcase of Ellis' synthesis of American roots music. From Delta blues to Appalachian folk to Southern gospel to bluegrass, Ellis takes a slow, hot, summer-paced tour through the bones of the songwriting tradition.”
Read full review of latest CD from Professor Ellis>>
Sebastiaan Gorissen joins faculty of College's Digital Media & Communications Department
Sebastiaan Gorissen starts work at Saint Michael’s College on August 1 as Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Communications. Prior to his arrival at Saint Michael’s, Sebastiaan worked at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota. Before that, he earned his doctorate at the University of Utah, and studied at the University of New Mexico and the University of Amsterdam. He was born and raised in the Netherlands. “In my free time, I enjoy watching films, reading, writing, playing music, painting, and endlessly rummaging through musky vintage boutiques and dusty antique stores,” says Sebastiaan. “As a faculty member, I look forward to working with colleagues across the campus who value critical education, and I aim to continue developing my critical pedagogical praxis through building sustainable community-based courses. As an instructor with an international perspective, I intimately understand the ways in which the implicit and explicit norms, references, and shorthand pervading the culture of American academia construct an ivory tower whose perceived impenetrability is relentlessly intimidating. As a first-generation student, I have experienced the challenges of navigating higher education, driving my desire to demystify college education for my students. I am eager to develop and teach classes that reflect current events, hone marketable skills, and meet students ‘where they are.’”
Peter Harrigan '83 makes Barbie movie a special occasion
Peter Harrigan ’83 of the Saint Michael’s Fine Arts/Theatre faculty has long been known for his impressive collection of Barbie dolls and the dioramas he creates using them. Naturally, therefore, Peter was excited to attend the popular new Barbie movie when it came to area theaters recently, and he posted on social media last Friday about how he made it a special occasion: “What a blast seeing #barbiethemovie tonight with Stan Baker and Eva Sollberger @stuckinvermont from #sevendaysvt ! The movie is funny, splashy, campy, subversive, and poignant! I had been feeling a bit of #fomo because many friends saw the movie in large cities with a lot more hoopla. But we made our own fun by bringing a little diorama (which other patrons photographed), giving the theater employees heart-shaped glasses, and cheering on a fabulous #pink crew in attendance. A great night!”
Watch Stuck in Vermont episode featuring Peter>>
Chamber Festival makes warm impact on campus
As in past years when they have graced the Saint Michael's College campus, the talented young musicians of the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival have been sharing their transcendent gifts at Sunday Mass in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel two recent Sundays. Quartets (violins, viola, cello) of some of the top young players in the country joined with Jerome Monachino's regular Liturgical Ensemble Sunday, July 9, and four different musicians at the July 16 Sunday liturgy. These images show members of the July 16 quartet interacting with Monachino, with the principal celebrant Fr. David Theroux, S.S.E.; the lower shot at right shows the large congregation as Monachino listens and meditates in the foreground with members of his regular Ensemble nearby. The musicians are Keeley Brooks, Winthrop, WA;, Jeremy Jefferson, Atlanta, GA; Sophia Smith, Wichita, KS; and Shai Wexler, Larchmont, NY. The Festival musicians and staff were a most welcome addition to campus, where they arrived June 25 and stayed through July 23 after offering many performances beyond these Mass appearances. (photos by Mark Tarnacki)
Beloved campus legend Anne-Marie Leggett celebrates 90th birthday
Anne-Marie Leggett, who is believed to have said the words "Saint Michael's College" more than any other person during her 50 years working as the College's primary switchboard operator, was recently spotted celebrating her 90th birthday at Shore Acres Inn in North Hero. Anne-Marie said it was going to be more than a week-long celebration as family and friends all planned outings for this well-known and beloved fixture on campus through many decades -- she also worked in the mailroom, filled in for food service at special events and dispatched for Saint Michael's Fire and Rescue. Anne-Marie also still can be found each Sunday in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel for the 11 a.m. Mass.
(photo courtesy Vermont Press Association)
New York Review of Books takes Delanty poem
Greg Delanty of the Saint Michael’s English faculty, a widely published and acclaimed Irish poet, shared on social media this week that “the New York Review of Books has taken a poem. Also, lines of another and older poem of mine are used in a song within the just released movie titled Asteroid City with Tom Hanks and other well know actors. The acknowledgement in the credits at the end of the movie just say, as far as I’m told, since I haven’t seen the movie yet, ‘With Apologies to Greg Delanty.’ The poem that the line or lines were taken from is titled "The Alien,” a poem that was written to my son, Dan Delanty, who is now 22. I’m curious to see what and how it was used in the movie … You can find it in the poem section of my new website."
ALUMNI NEWS
Ashley DeLeon '23 lands media dream job
This week came impressive career news from Ashley DeLeon ’23, a recent Digital Media and Communications major who made the most of the College’s Media Creation Studio and leadership roles on the College newspaper The Defender to learn valuable skills while a student: “Excited to announce that I've joined the talented team at 'Ms Rachel's - Songs for Littles' platform as a Video Editor! It's an honor to be part of a platform that has reached nearly 5 million subscribers and accumulated almost 3 billion views with a mission to bring fruitful educational content to children. I'm looking forward to contributing to the creation of educational content that inspires, entertains, and empowers kids to keep learning. Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey.”
Ariel Wish '20 eyes dressage competition for Paralympics
Ariel Wish ’20, an English major, writer and former editor of the Saint Michael’s literary magazine Onion River Review while in college, also is a passionate equestrian who shared exciting news this week on social media: “I’ve recently come into the amazing opportunity to train at Equidae Stables, a high-level dressage barn known to send riders with physical disabilities to the Paralympics! My first lesson was both amazing and intimidating. FEI dressage horses are VERY different from the therapeutic horses I’m used to. I’m looking forward to getting to know this beautiful horse, Fleur-- relationship and understanding is the key to any successful horse/rider partnership, but is especially important for a para team! I’m so grateful to my sponsor, John, and to my barn family at Hopes, Dreams, and Horses for making this happen! Here’s to new adventures!”
McDonnell '10 takes SmartHop revenue post
From the industry website Inside Logistics about a 2010 Saint Michael’s graduate who lives in the greater Boston area: “Courteney McDonnell has joined freight booking and fleet management platform SmartHop as chief revenue officer. As an award-winning SaaS executive with more than a decade of experience, McDonnell served as the CRO and head of customer success for Measurabl, an ESG solution for real estate. Her experience also includes leading teams at Placester, Inc., a digital marketing real estate solution, as director of customer success. McDonnell also served as manager of customer success for Brainshark, a sales readiness software solution. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Saint Michael’s College.”
ATHLETICS NEWS
- Two Knight ice hockey women earn Student-Athlete-of-Year honors
- Swimming-diving Coach Hall unveils women rookies
- Coach introduces newcomers for swimming-diving men
- Swimmming-diving teams claim Scholar All-America honors
- 25 St. MIke's skiers earn All-Academic national accolades
- NBC5 spotlights budding coaching career for MacDonough '22
- Coach Bollhardt introduces women's basketball Class of 2027
- Championships, awards, inductions abound for alumni athletes
UPCOMING EVENTS
Event Calendar
View upcoming public events on the campus of Saint Michael's College.
Jobs at Saint Michael's College
Explore current opportunities at Saint Michael’s College for yourself or share with your network to help grow our community of talented, dedicated, and mission-driven colleagues. This week’s highlights include:
*Director of Finance
*Associate Director of Educational Technology
*Assistant Director of Admission and Athletic Recruitment
*Plumber
See all current opportunities on the SMC Career Portal
Saint Michael's This Week is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications and
written by Mark Tarnacki, Staff Writer, Marketing and Communications.
Visit Saint Michael's online at smcvt.edu