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Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
“History is not merely
 what was and is now covered
  with dust, tended with care,
perhaps, but nothing more than
 a relic, a leftover. No. History,
  properly known, is a key to
  understanding the present,
       and a blue-print for
            the future.”
        Rev. Daniel C. Nusbaum, Ph.D.
               December 7, 1982
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
Mount
                                                                                      Magazine
           Dear                                                                       Fall
                                                                                      2018
           Alumni,                                                                    PRESIDENT

           Parents
                                                                                      Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D.
                                                                                      VP UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
                                                                                      Robert Brennan, C’85

           & Friends,                                                                 VP ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT,
                                                                                      MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
                                                                                      Jack J. Chielli
                                                                                      MANAGING EDITOR
                                                                                      Donna Klinger
           Above my office desk hang photographs of some of the great men
           and women who have visited or studied at the Mount. I occasionally         EDITOR
                                                                                      Nicole Patterson
           gaze at the images of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Babe Ruth, President
           Dwight D. Eisenhower and Blessed Stanley Rother, S’63, and pray that       COPY EDITOR
                                                                                      Joe Paciella, C’03, MBA’11
           today’s students are as inspired as I am by the two saints, a martyr,
           two United States presidents and numerous professional athletes            WRITERS
                                                                                      Donna Klinger
           who have trod our beautiful campus, and that they leave the Mount
                                                                                      Joe Paciella, C’03, MBA’11
           prepared to lead purpose-driven lives.                                     Nicole Patterson
           As the story of the Mount’s history and the alumni highlighted in          ALUMNI NEWS TEAM
           this issue illustrate, the Mount’s faculty, staff and administrators are   Kim Johnson, MBA’18
           invested in finding and nurturing the excellence in every student.         Kevin Kalis, C’99
                                                                                      Emily Myers, C’13, MBA’15
           Jay Phillips, C'05, MT'08, our track and field and cross country head
           coach, shares that every interaction with his professors provided          CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
           awareness and understanding. Jay is giving back by teaching                Jamie Bissett, C'03
                                                                                      Maranda Buckley
           student-athletes the life-changing rewards of focus, courage,              Karlie Herbert
           resilience, teamwork and faith. The result: The 2018 men’s outdoor         Mike Miville of MM Visuals
           track and field team won its first Northeast Conference track & field
                                                                                      DESIGN
           title in 21 years and the women’s team placed third.                       Laura C. Moyer
           We are committed to helping our students find the best version             SPECIAL THANKS
           of themselves. The success stories that will become the next 200           Jessica J. Whitmore, C'16
           years of our history are being written today, and the early results        PRINTING
           are encouraging. The Mount recently was ranked as the top college          HBP, Inc.
           for employment in Maryland, according to Zippia, a career guidance         STAY CONNECTED
           organization. Our career center and the entire Mount community are         Mount Magazine
           working to provide enhanced career-guidance support as we help             Mount St. Mary’s University
                                                                                      16300 Old Emmitsburg Road
           students prepare to lead and serve others, as their predecessors have
                                                                                      Emmitsburg, MD 21727
           over the past 210 years.                                                   301-447-5366
           I encourage you to turn to the President’s                                 themagazine@msmary.edu
                                                                                      www.msmary.edu/magazine
           Report on pages 33-44 to learn more about
           this exciting moment in our history as we                                  Change of address? Email
                                                                                      advancementservices@msmary.edu
           stand poised for growth that will help
           shape our county, state and country.
                                                                                      The Office of University Marketing and
                                                                                      Communications publishes Mount Magazine two
                                                                                      times a year for alumni, parents and friends of
                                                                                      Mount St. Mary’s University. Opinions expressed
                                                                                      in this magazine are those of the author and do not
                                                                                      specifically represent opinions of the magazine
                                                                                      staff or the university. Reader responses and alumni
                                                                                      contributions are welcome. The Mount reserves the
           TIMOTHY E. TRAINOR, PH.D.                                                  right to refuse or revise comments or contributions
                                                                                      for style and length.
           President

4   MOUNT MAGAZINE FALL 2018
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
Cover Story
                                                          Koki Adasi, C'04
                                                     Senior Vice President
                                                     Compass Real Estate
                                                                   page 30

Contents
Features                              Mount
                                      Magazine
11
     IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS

                                      Departments
     A Brief History of the Mount

15
     MOUNT MEMORIES

                                      06
     Looking Back Through the Years        MOUNT
                                           NEWS

17
     MOUNT MAKERS

                                      46
     Alumni Who Make Us Mount Proud        ALUMNI
                                           NEWS

Special Section                       48
                                           REUNION
                                           RECAP

33                                    50
     PRESIDENT’S REPORT                    CLASS
     2018                                  NOTES

                                                    FALL 2018 MOUNT MAGAZINE   5
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
Mount News

                                                                                                               Photo by: Mason Lipford, C'20
                                     “OUR GOAL EVERY YEAR IS GOING               attitude and familiarity with not only our
                                      TO BE TO COMPETE FOR AN NEC                region but the university and its culture
                                      CHAMPIONSHIP…To do that, we’re             as well,” said the Mount’s Director of
                                      going to need everybody in this room       Athletic Development Kevin Robinson Jr.,
                                      and everybody in this community,”          MAT'06. “We’re excited to see how Coach
                                      said Dan Engelstad during a press          Engelstad’s enthusiasm will energize our
                                      conference introducing him as the          fans and continue the tradition of making
                                      22nd head coach in the storied history     Knott Arena a tough place for opponents
                                      of Mount St. Mary’s men’s basketball.      to play.”
                                     “We’re going to need the alumni. We’re
                                                                                 Since arriving in Emmitsburg, Engelstad
                                      going to need everybody to rally
                                                                                 has been getting to know his team and
                                      around this…because we’re going to
                                                                                 recruiting future Mountaineers. He has also
                                      do something special.”
                                                                                 hired new assistant coaches Xavier Joyner
                                     If the name sounds familiar, that’s         and Matt Miller as well as elevated Will
                                     because it is. As an assistant coach        Holland to associate head coach and Mike
                                     on Milan Brown’s staff from 2007-10,        Wolf to director of basketball operations.
                                     Engelstad helped coach the Mount
                                                                                 Engelstad’s coaching abilities will, however,
                                     to its first ever NCAA Division I
                                                                                 be tested early on. While the Mount is only
                                     Tournament win in 2008. A native of
                                                                                 two seasons removed from its most recent
                                     Bethesda, Maryland, he now returns to
                                                                                 NEC title and NCAA Tournament victory,
                                     Knott Arena with the goal of building
                                                                                 no one from that roster remains after the
                                     on the success and legacy of former
                                                                                 graduations of Northeast Conference
                                     coaches Jim Phelan, Brown and, most
                                                                                 Player of the Year Junior Robinson, C’18,
             “We’re going to need    recently, Jamion Christian, C’04.
                                                                                 Northeast Conference Defensive Player
        everybody to rally around    “We are thrilled to have Coach Engelstad    of the Year Chris Wray, C’18, and Greg
        this…because we’re going      return to our Mount community and          Alexander, C’18.
         to do something special.”    are looking forward to the bright future
                                                                                 Despite the lack of experience, he’s
                                      of our men’s basketball program,” said
                                                                                 optimistic about the team that will take the
                                      Mount St. Mary’s University Director
                                                                                 floor this season. “We’re excited about this
                                      of Athletics Lynne Robinson, C'79,

          Dan
                                                                                 group,” said Engelstad. “They’re young and
                                      MBA'83. “In addition to his success
                                                                                 talented and can’t wait to get in front of
                                      on the court, Dan has a proven track
                                                                                 the fans in Knott Arena. They’re hungry
                                      record of supporting his student-

     Engelstad
                                                                                 and looking forward to many years of
                                      athletes academically.”
                                                                                 growing together.”
                                     In 2013, Engelstad took over Division
                                     III Southern Vermont, inheriting a

         Leads Mount                 team coming off a 1-24 season. In five
                                     years, he compiled a 104-34 record,

        Basketball Into              winning two New England Collegiate
                                     Conference (NECC) championships,                   Cheer us on!
             New Era                 while earning three NECC Coach of the
                                     Year awards.
                                                                                           Visit mountathletics.com
                                                                                           for game schedules and
                                     “The Mount is extremely fortunate to                  to grab your tickets!
                                      have found a coach with such a positive

6   MOUNT NEWS FALL 2018
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
Thanks to the
                                                                                         Mount Community,
                                                                Men’s Soccer
                                                          Returns to Division I

IN FRONT OF THE L ARGEST CROWD ever to attend a match                 sons have an opportunity to play soccer for all four years at
at Waldron Family Stadium, the Mount St. Mary’s University            the Mount before they graduated in 2015, I’m excited to see
men’s soccer team took the field at home on August 24 for             my youngest have that experience. This is possible because
the first time in six years. While Bucknell won the sold-out          of President Trainor’s leadership and understanding of the
contest 2-0, it was an important next step in the return              importance of the team. He worked with us in this process and
of the Mount’s program.                                               is the main reason Mount men’s soccer is back,” de Aragao said.
“The men’s soccer program has a proud 60-plus year history            The program is important not just because of wins, losses,
at the Mount, so its return to Division I is something our            goals or saves. It’s a way to help young adults learn how to work
community is very excited about,” said Mount St. Mary’s               together and understand what it takes to support those around
University Director of Athletics Lynne Robinson, C'79, MBA'83.        them. “Our college soccer program taught me the benefits
“It’s great for the university, our fans and most importantly, for    of being part of a team, being held accountable and taking
our current and former soccer team members.”                          unsolicited advice,” explained Link. “The men I played with
                                                                      pushed me both physically and mentally and even today I get
One of those former student-athletes who played a large role
                                                                      inspired by what they’ve achieved off the field. It is important
in helping the program come back was Jeff Link, C’99. “Over
the past few years our team of alumni rejected the status quo         to me that younger generations have the same opportunities.”
and focused on one common goal: relaunch our men's soccer             Giving future generations this type of opportunity is one reason
program with the strength to capture an NEC Championship,”            Peter Hobbs, MBA’15, decided to get involved in the program’s
said Link.                                                            revitalization. Hobbs is not your traditional undergraduate
Bringing the program back was a giant undertaking—                    student-athlete. In fact, he had no previous relationship to
                                                                      Mount sports before he became a part-time student in the
something that wasn’t possible without the work of many
                                                                      Mount’s MBA program.
in the Mount community. “The amount of alumni support
is something we've never seen before,” said the Mount’s               “As a student, I started attending home basketball games on
Director of Athletic Development Kevin Robinson Jr., MAT'06.          the weekends. Something I took notice of and respected about
“Reinstating the team was a collaborative effort of alumni,           the Mount is its commitment to cultivating student-athletes and
parents, coaches and fans. They’re energetic and enthusiastic,        sports tradition,” said Hobbs. “I saw that and wanted to see and
and really have gotten behind coach Bryan Cunningham.”                experience more of it. More importantly, I wanted to share those
                                                                      experiences and watch that tradition become an inspiration to
Ernani de Aragao, the parent of two 2015 graduates and a
                                                                      my 12-year-old son.”
freshman who is on the team, agrees. “Coach Cunningham had
an excellent recruiting campaign, which included 15 quality           Hobbs’ son plays FC premier soccer in York, Pennsylvania.
freshmen who will form the base of future success. He’s doing         “He loves the beautiful game. For that reason, I had a wish to
things the right way and we’re very fortunate to have him.”           see men's soccer begin again at the Mount. For my family, the
“From day one this was about honoring the hard work of                return of men's soccer at the Mount is providential,” said Hobbs.
all the alumni and friends of soccer who worked tirelessly            While it remains to be seen who Cunningham will recruit for the
to bring this program back,” said head men's soccer coach             program in future years, he does believe in his current roster.
Bryan Cunningham. “Now we turn our focus to laying a new              “We have brought in a group of players who we think can help
foundation for this program to be relevant for years to come.         us compete immediately. There are a lot of moving parts to deal
We want our players to understand the history of Mount                with, but we feel confident in our process,” said Cunningham.
soccer, and now help shape its future.”                               “We will take one moment at a time and look to improve daily.”
For de Aragao, the return of men’s soccer to Division I is a little
bittersweet. “While I would have loved to see my two oldest

                                                                                                                FALL 2018 MOUNT NEWS      7
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
Mass Celebration
    in St. Mary’s Chapel

      National
      Shrine Grotto
      Turns 60                                                                 Stations of the Cross,
                                                                               Good Friday

       SIXTY YEARS AGO, the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady            Throughout her history, the National Shrine Grotto has been
       of Lourdes opened its doors to the public. More than 400,000       home to men, women and children of all walks of life. Rich, poor,
       people visit the holy shrine annually and seek comfort, healing    saints and sinners have crossed its threshold. Remembering
       and conversion. Some pilgrims come because of their faith,         this holy heritage, the National Shrine Grotto keeps alive the
       while others come out of curiosity. Many seek spiritual and        tradition of Msgr. Hugh Phillips, the great restorer of this sacred
       physical healing for themselves or loved ones. No matter their     space, who laid out a plan for its future during his 43-year
       diverse reasons, almost all who come find their hearts and souls   tenure as chaplain.
       strengthened through prayer, the sacraments and the sacred
                                                                          Many remember the National Shrine Grotto as largely
       silence of the hallowed National Shrine Grotto.
                                                                          unchanged since the time of Phillips. Faithful to his hope for
       Pilgrims hail from nearly every part of the globe. On any given    the National Shrine, expansion and renovation are necessary
       day the guestbook is filled with visitors from North and South     to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims brought here
       America, Asia and Europe. Pilgrims hear about the National         by the Blessed Mother who stands proudly in gold atop the
       Shrine Grotto from friends and relatives. The number of visitors   iconic Campanile. The National Shrine Grotto will proceed into
       continues to grow as more and more people spread the devotion      the next 60 years, carrying gladly the tradition of the past and
       to Our Lady that is cultivated on Mary’s Mountain.                 looking forward to a bright future with hope.

       JOIN US IN MARCH!

       Plan your pilgrimage
           Reserve your space to visit the Holy Land in March 2019. Contact Dawn Walsh at 301-447-5606 or walsh@msmary.edu.
           Visit nsgrotto.org/europe-pilgrimages.html for more information.

8     MOUNT NEWS FALL 2018
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
Partnerships Bring Computational
Science Research Professorship
and Facility to Frederick
A COMBINATION OF SUPPORT from state government                     In addition, the recently signed Memorandum of
and a local research powerhouse is allowing the Mount to           Understanding between FNL and the Mount will solidify their
establish an Endowed Professorship in Computational Science        partnership by developing a student internship program at
and Mathematics that will integrate faculty, undergraduate         FNL; a summer research experience for science, math and
and graduate research and result in the highly skilled             computational science faculty members at the laboratory;
computational scientists that Maryland needs.                      teacher-in-training opportunities for postdoctoral trainees and
The university has received $1 million through the Maryland        other scientists at the laboratory; and a 20 percent reduction in
Department of Commerce's Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative           tuition for FNL employees on adult undergraduate and graduate
and raised an equal amount in matching funds to institute the      degree and certificate programs housed and supported at the
professorship. The grant will also establish a collaborative       Frederick campus.
technology workspace on the Mount’s Frederick campus to            “This partnership opens significant doors to Mount students
support student and faculty research; fund three                   and faculty, while also creating teaching and learning
undergraduate research fellowships annually; and provide           opportunities for employees of the FNL,” said Jennifer L.
for online laboratory access for student and faculty research.     Staiger, Ph.D., associate provost, graduate, professional and
                                                                   continuing education, who is based at the Frederick campus
“We envision this program will grow to become a center
                                                                   and was instrumental in the formation of the FNL alliance.
of innovation and excellence that connects the university,
employers, researchers and local communities, yielding the         The Maryland General Assembly created the Maryland
sophisticated computational scientists Frederick County and        E-Nnovation Initiative during the 2014 legislative session to
the state of Maryland need for sustained growth and                spur basic and applied research in scientific and technical
innovation,” said Mount St. Mary’s University President            fields at colleges and universities.
Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D.
Through an expanded and formalized relationship with
Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., the current prime contractor
that operates the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer
Research, the university and the Frederick National
Laboratory (FNL) will work together to identify a researcher
with expertise in such areas as bioinformatics, data science
analytics and cybersecurity to receive a dual appointment at
the Mount and the national laboratory. This professor will teach
undergraduate and/or graduate courses at the university and
work up to two days a week and/or summers at FNL.

                                                                                                             FALL 2018 MOUNT NEWS      9
Koki Adasi The Key - Mount St. Mary's University
BESSIE ANDREW is always ready with a warm cookie and a
                                                                kindhearted greeting for students, faculty and staff who approach
                                                                the dessert counter in Patriot Hall. When the Mount recently
                                                                celebrated Bessie’s 55 years of service, social media posts about her
                                                                remarkable achievement revealed the depth of love for this woman
                                                                whom some view as a surrogate grandmother. Among the 1,000 or
                                                                so “likes” on both Facebook and Instagram were dozens of notes of
                                                                congratulations and gratitude from alumni and current students.
                                                                Patrick Plastow, C’11, remembers that Bessie saved a special
                                                                cinnamon roll for him every morning for four years. Paulette
                                                                Anders, C’92, MBA’98, recalls that Bessie always handed out
                                                                awesome cookies and Rice Krispie treats. Mark Gatzke, C’16, calls
                                                                her “the most kind and caring person at the Mount.”
                                                                Bessie began working at the Mount during her senior year in high
                                                                school as Coad Science Hall was under construction and nearly
                                                                a decade before women were admitted. She has performed many
                                                                tasks through the years, including working in the priests’ kitchen
                                                                for 37 years, and currently is a baker for ARAMARK, the Mount’s
                                                                food service provider. “People love and remember Bessie because
                                                                she is genuine and sincere,” said Director of Dining Services
                                                                Howard Williams. “Her dedication to our students and the Mount
             Everybody                                          community is exceptional.”

          Loves Bessie:                                         Bessie originally planned to stay for a year and then study to
                                                                become a nurse. She loved the Mount community and never left,

        Celebrating 55                                          deciding to dispense hugs instead of medical care. She has no
                                                                plans to retire “as long as my feet cooperate.”

       Years of Service                                         Bessie’s heartfelt message to the Mount community as she marks
                                                                this work anniversary is both simple and powerful: “Love you all.”

     A Fisher Is
                                               were the seminary’s rector, Rev. Msgr.       from the parishes he served attended
                                               Andrew Baker, S.T.D., seminary student       the liturgy to personally witness his

     Called to Serve
                                               Danny Baxter, S'21, newly ordained Rev.      ordination as bishop.
                                               Kevin Fields, S'18, and Rev. Mr. Joseph      As a seminarian, Fisher served in the

     as Bishop
                                               Salser, S'18.                                Air Force chaplaincy program at bases
                                               In preparing to read the papal mandate       in North Carolina and Washington
                                               appointing Fisher as auxiliary bishop        state and ministered at St. Ann Parish
     BISHOP MICHAEL W. FISHER, S'90,           of Washington, Archbishop Christophe         in Washington. He also ministered and
     auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese      Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United       taught parish religious education at
     of Washington, eyed at least one          States, played on the new bishop’s last      several pastoral posts in Hagerstown,
     old friend among the celebrants           name, noting that “things have not           Maryland, as well as volunteered at
     as he was ordained to the Order of        changed since the time of Jesus. Jesus       a correctional facility and a center
     Bishop June 29 during a Mass at the       keeps calling fishers.”                      for people with mental disabilities.
     Basilica of the National Shrine of the                                                 That work, he said, “gives you a new
     Immaculate Conception attended by         In his letter, Pope Francis stated that
                                                                                            perspective, a compassionate attitude
     about 1,000 family and friends of the     Fisher is “endowed with outstanding
                                               qualities of mind and heart” and             to help people.”
     1990 graduate of Mount St. Mary’s
     Seminary. Bishop Barry C. Knestout,       encouraged him to “make use of charity,
     S’89, the bishop of Richmond, served      the dean of all virtues that never fails.”
                                                                                             Catholic Standard photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann

     as a principal co-ordaining bishop at     “This is a very precious moment for
     the Mass. Knestout and Fisher are         me to be ordained a bishop in Mary’s
     the 51st and 52nd episcopal alumni        house,” Fisher said. “I beg Our Lady’s
     of the seminary.                          continued prayers and I ask Our Lady
                                               of Guadalupe to grant me a heart with a
     Fisher noted that he and Knestout
                                               zeal for souls.”
     “have been friends since the
     seminary, as a matter of fact he was      If the devotion of his parishioners is any
     the first seminarian I ever met.” Other   indication, Fisher already possesses
     Mounties there to support Fisher          a zeal for souls. Busloads of people

10   MOUNT NEWS FALL 2018
Feature Story
Campus in
the 1930s

            In Their
            Footsteps
            By Donna Klinger

            SETTLE INTO ONE OF THE COMFORTABLE CHAIRS IN THE CATHOLIC STUDIES ROOM
            on the second floor of Phillips Library with books from the Archives that trace Mount St.
            Mary’s University’s illustrious 210-year history perched on your lap. As you peruse the
            historic records, let your mind see flashing images and hear the voices of the towering
            greats, including two saints, a martyr, two United States presidents and a founder,
            who have walked and left their indelible mark on this bucolic campus.

                                                                                                        FALL 2018 MOUNT NEWS   11
On an unseasonably warm day in                     U.S. President William Henry Harrison and a
                                               October 1808, the 44-year-old Rev. John            funeral march for the Marquis de Lafayette.
                                               DuBois removed his coat, rolled up his             The Mount quickly earned a reputation as a
                                               sleeves and labored with his parishioners          producer of bishops. Among early graduates
                                               and members of the community to lay the            of the seminary were John McCloskey, the
                                               foundations of what would become Mount St.         first American cardinal; John Hughes, first
                                               Mary's University. Rather than building next       archbishop of New York; John Purcell, first
                                               to Saint Mary on the Hill, the church that         archbishop of Cincinnati; William Quarter,
                                               he had erected in the verdant grotto on the        first bishop of Chicago; George Carroll, first
                                               mountain to serve a burgeoning Catholic            bishop of Covington, Kentucky; Richard
                                               population, DuBois, a refugee from the             Whelan, first bishop of Wheeling, West
                                               French revolution and a circuit-riding priest,
     Rev. John DuBois                                                                             Virginia; and Francis Gartland, first bishop
                                               located the school on the expansive plateau
                                                                                                  of Savannah. Today, Mount St. Mary’s
                                               at the base of the hill. The campus continues
                                                                                                  Seminary claims 52 episcopal alumni.
                                               to be protected by Mary's Mountain from
                                               the north and west winds and to bask in            Early student life revolved around academics
                                Rev. Simon
                               Gabriel Bruté   brilliant sunshine, dappled by the shadows         and religious development, with few student
                                               from the broad belt of trees encircling the        organizations. The early college limited
                                               area. DuBois, the school’s first president, and    recreation for students to Wednesday and
                                               his small cadre of faculty, which included         Saturday afternoons and condoned walking
                                               the Right Rev. Simon Gabriel Bruté as of           the grounds only. Six professors taught a
                                               1812, offered a full and rigorous high school      core curriculum that took seven years to
                                               and college curriculum to both potential           complete and offered no specialization.
                                               clerics and local boys.
                                               Bruté, known as the “Angel of the Mount,”          A NOBLE TREE
                                               served as teacher and pastor, as well
                                               as spiritual director to the future saint,         President John McCaffrey opened the
                                               Elizabeth Ann Seton. Church officials              Jubilee Celebration in 1858 by reflecting on
                                  The Class    worldwide sought Bruté’s counsel for he was        the college’s growth: “The seed they planted
                                    of 1880    not only lauded for his unselfishness and          then—the seedling, which they nursed and
                                               spirituality, but also his immense erudition.      watered with their sweat and tears—is now
                                               He loved nature, declaring that the “Hills         indeed a noble tree, whose fruits are known,
                                               (of Mount St. Mary’s) shall be girded about        and not unhonored, throughout the world.”
                                               with joy.” On Sunday afternoons, Mother            Four years later, war came to the college
                                               Seton, seated on her own special rock,             as the Mount community heard the sounds
                                               taught Christian Doctrine to the children of       of the Battle of South Mountain. Within a
                                               the Mountain Parish before they all drank          year troops passed through the Mount on
                                               from a neighboring spring and rambled at           their way to Gettysburg. As the war raged
                                               the picturesque grotto. DuBois and Bruté           on, many students from the South left the
                                               eventually left their beloved mountain             college to join the Confederate Army. At
                                               home to become bishops of New York                 least one Confederate soldier haunts the
                                               and Vincennes, Indiana, but not before             Mount, according to the ghost stories told
                                               establishing the Mount as a university that        by the late Rev. Daniel C. Nusbaum, Ph.D.,
                                      Babe
                                      Ruth     taught the men who served selflessly to            a long-time and well-loved professor and
                                               shape the nation and the Church.                   college historian. The soldier, killed at
                                               Students during this time included Dr.             Gettysburg, was buried face down in an old
                                               William Whelan, who served as surgeon              well, preventing him from seeing the star
                                               general of the U.S. Navy during the                that he and his beloved had agreed to gaze at
                                               Civil War, and renowned artist John La             each night as they thought about each other.
                                               Farge. Students were taught by nationally          The spirit reportedly taps Mounties on the
                                               renowned faculty. Early professors included        shoulder, begging them to “turn me over.”
                                               the Rev. Charles Constantine Pise, who is still    The Mount’s sturdy and noble tree continued
                                               the only Catholic priest to serve as chaplain      to bear fruit in the 1900s. The crack of Babe
                                               of the U.S. Senate; George Henry Miles, a          Ruth’s mighty bat resounded on Echo Field
                                               nationally renowned poet and dramatist; and        on two occasions. Tradition holds that he
                                               Henry Dielman, a notable composer who was          was discovered in a game between his
                                               the first person in the United States to receive   team from a Baltimore industrial school
                                               a doctorate in music. Among Dielman's many         and the Mount. While the roar of the crowd
                                               achievements are the inauguration march for        no longer blows the roof off Memorial

12   FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
Gym, most memorably in 1962 when legendary men’s
                                                      basketball coach Jim Phelan led the Mount to its first
                                                      NCAA Division II Championship, the whoosh of the
                                                      ball cutting through the net can still be heard during
                                                      the men’s basketball team practices in the converted
                                                      war surplus steel hangar. For more than 60 years,
                                                      Memorial Gym has stood as a reminder of the 17 alumni
                                                      who died in World War I and the 28, including three
                                                      chaplains, who were killed in World War II. At least 727
                                                      Mountaineers joined the armed forces during World War
                                                      II, 48 of them as chaplains.
                                                      The buzz of aircraft became a familiar sound during
                                                      World War II when the college combatted declining
                                                      enrollment by initiating a CAA-War Training Service
                                                      School for flying specialists. A Navy V-12 deck officers’
                                                      school was established, bringing nearly 400 men to the
                                                      empty classrooms, overseen by Rev. Carl J. Fives, who
                                                      served the Mount for more than 60 years as a student,
                                                      seminarian, faculty member and administrator. In honor
 Senator                                 President    of its service to the armed forces training programs, the
  Robert                                  Dwight D.   college received a 3-inch/50-caliber anti-aircraft gun
Kennedy                                Eisenhower     from the USS Detroit—a ship credited with one downed
                                                      and one assisted downed aircraft during the battle at
                                                      Pearl Harbor. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, each
                                                      graduating class painted the gun in its own colors and
                                                      with its own slogans as part of its departing ritual.

                                                      LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES
                                                      Highlights of the sesquicentennial celebrations in 1958
                                                      were visits from Senator Robert Kennedy and President
                                                      Dwight D. Eisenhower, who gave the commencement
                                                      address. “I personally think that the traditions of the
                                                      religiously oriented colleges become more and more
                                                      important,” Eisenhower said. “…the core of the struggle
                                                      between the free and the despotic world today is that
                                                      between a religious faith and an atheistic dictatorship.
                                                      If that is true, then I can see no limits to the possibilities
                                                      of this type of college, where faith in our God is put at
                                                      the very cornerstone of all that we hope to achieve—all
                                                      America, or any one of us individually.”
                                                      This consequential year also saw the naming of the
              Msgr. Hugh Phillips and the Blessed     National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes as a public
           Mother statue now atop the Campanile
                                                      oratory and national shrine, in the same year that Msgr.
                                                      Hugh Phillips was tapped as director and Grotto chaplain.
                                                      After overseeing the restoration of the shrine, Phillips
                                                      opened it to the public. He also added the Pangborn
                                         Class of
                                            1968      Memorial Campanile crowned with a 25-foot, gold-leafed
                                                      bronze figure of the Virgin Mary and other statuary
                                                      monuments throughout the grounds. In the early 1960s,
                                                      Blessed Stanley Rother, S’63, the first formally recognized
                                                      American-born martyr who refused to abandon his
                                                      faith community in Guatemala, despite death threats
                                                      and his eventual murder, helped to build the National
                                                      Shrine Grotto’s rock wall when he was a seminarian.
                                                      The Mount was “something very influential in [Rother's]
                                                      own spiritual life," said Rev. Ted Trinko, chaplain at the
                                                      National Shrine Grotto.

                                                                                           FALL 2018 FEATURE STORY     13
Saint Teresa of Calcutta

     The college expanded in the post-World War II era. Women were             “STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD”
     admitted to the Mount in 1972, and a women’s basketball team was
                                                                               The Mount achieved university status in 2004, which began a new
     established within two years. By the late 1970s, a women’s track team
                                                                               era of academic excellence that would usher in the university’s
     competed alongside the storied men’s team, with both sexes coached
                                                                               bicentennial in 2008.
     by the Mount’s remarkable track and field and men’s soccer coach
     Jim Deegan. Deegan coached for 50 years before retiring in 2006.          President Barack Obama came to campus in 2015 to speak at the
     He remains involved with the track and field program as a volunteer       National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. In addressing the
     and just completed his 62nd season with the team. Under Deegan’s          importance of service, he succinctly described the Mount’s charge to
     tutelage, Peter Rono, C'92, won the gold medal in the 1500 meter run      today’s students: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in
     at the 1988 Olympics as only a sophomore. Other notable alumni of         serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
     the 20th century are Rev. Edward Flanagan, C’06, MA’08, founder of        Much has changed over the last 210 years, but in the spirit of our
     Boys Town orphanage in Nebraska; Rory Bourke, C’64, a songwriter          founder, Rev. John DuBois, the Mount continues to graduate ethical
     in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame; Michael McCafferty, C’64 ,     servant leaders. As Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D., the Mount’s 26th
     an entrepreneur and “Father of CRM”; Dr. Bill Magee Jr., C’66, founder    president, stated in his inaugural address on October 23, 2017: “Our
     of Operation Smile; Fred Carter, C’69, a professional basketball          faculty and staff are motivated to help our students become the best
     player; Susan O’Malley, C’83, the first female president of an NBA        version of themselves and prepare them to lead lives of significance
     franchise, the Washington Wizards; and Paul Palmieri, C’92, founder       in service to God and others….We are poised to create the success
     of Millennial Media and managing partner of Grit Capital.                 stories that will become the next 200 years of our history.”
     When Saint Teresa of Calcutta blessed the Mount with her first of         The future of Mount St. Mary's University lies within the solid
     two visits in 1975 to spread her message of prayer and love for Jesus     foundations of its past. At the 2018 convocation ceremony to mark
     Christ, Archbishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, S’77,    the start of the 2018-19 academic year, Vice President for Student
     then a seminarian, observed: “Mother Teresa mostly talked about the       Life Bernard Franklin, Ph.D., predicted early greatness for at least
     vine and the branches. She told those of us who were preparing to         one of the students in Knott Arena. “I believe one of you will come
     become priests that we should be closely connected to Jesus–that          to your significance soon after you leave the Mount—and we will
     Jesus was the source of our charity, that Jesus would keep us faithful,   all be amazed at your extraordinary work to God and man,” he
     that Jesus would give us the ability to give of ourselves. Even as        exalted. A recent example is Nancy Abu-Bonsrah, C’12, who last
     callow seminarians, we sensed the wisdom of her holiness.”                year became the first African-American woman to earn a residency
     As the century closed, Rev. James T. Delaney, a faculty member            in neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
     in psychology and sociology, founded the criminal justice studies         Other alumni who are leading lives of significance, in both big and
     program. In 1999, Mount leaders opened a satellite campus in              small ways, are highlighted on pages 17-32. These extraordinary
     nearby Frederick. The Frederick campus, specializing in graduate          alumni are ambassadors for the university, evidence of how
     and adult undergraduate programs, has outgrown its space                  Mount St. Mary’s faculty, administrators and staff lift students up
     several times and continues to add programs to meet the needs of          academically, physically and spiritually, enabling them to
     Frederick County employers.                                               contribute to the betterment of society.

14   FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
Years of
MOUNT
MEMORIES

       “The liberal arts are
        entrepreneurship: students develop skills
        and accumulate a diverse body of knowledge
        that enable them to see the world holistically
        and create solutions to current and age-old problems.”
       PETER DORSEY, PH.D., DEAN, COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

       Peter Dorsey teaching writing during the first year
       the Mount’s Freshman Seminar program was fully implemented.
“That’s basketball in
      its purest, rawest
      form. That energy
      and emotion
      permeated the
      building and brought
      everyone together
      in a cohesive,
      festive atmosphere.
      It was unbelievable.
      Memorial Gym is
      Mount basketball.”
     KEVIN ROBINSON JR.,
     MAT'06, DIRECTOR
     OF ATHLETIC
     DEVELOPMENT

     Memorial Gym in the 1980s.

                      “The picture was taken in the physics lab
        of the science building, Coad 216, and I think I’m talking
       about some Mac computer-based physics lab activities.”
            DANNY G. MILES JR., PH.D., PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY

      A demonstration of computer-based physics lab activities, 1995-96 academic
         year. Trudy Conway, Ph.D., from the philosophy department (black sweater,
                 coffee cup), John Dropp, Ph.D., retired biologist (tie, brown cardigan),
            Michael Towle, Ph.D., from political science department (white pullover).
16    FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
FROM PAST TO PRESENT & BEYOND

       Mount                                 Featured in
                                             this section
      Makers                                 HEATH TARBERT, C'98
                                             Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
                                             U.S. Department of the Treasury

              Meet a New                     VRUNDA PATEL, C'16
                                             Technical Business Integrity Associate

               Generation                    Facebook

                                             HUNTER OLD ELK, C'16
              of Mounties                    Curatorial Assistant
                                             Plains Indian Museum at the Buffalo Bill
            Making History.                  Center of the West

                                             DIANE TOMB, C'86
                                             Executive Director
                                             National Rental Home Council

                                             JAY PHILLIPS, C'05, MT'08
                                             Head Coach: Cross Country, Track & Field
                                             Mount St. Mary’s University

                                             DEVEDA COLEY, C'93
                                             Principal
                                             Spring Ridge Elementary School in Frederick, Maryland

                                             RICHARD BOLTE JR., C'79
                                             Chairman & CEO
                                             BDP International, Inc.

                                             CHRIS MCKENNA, C'17
                                             Intelligence Analyst
                                             KeyW Corporation

                                             DEANNA DINI, C'12
                                             Assistant Manager of Social Media
                                             Tarte Cosmetics

                                             REBECCA BURKE, M.D., PH.D., FAAP, C'05
                                             Clinical Post-Doctoral Fellow of Neonatal-Perinatal
                                        By   Medicine and Molecular and Human Genetics
                          Nicole Patterson   Baylor College of Medicine

                                             CHLOE CAIN, C'18
                                             Creative Entrepreneur
                                             Chloe Cain Creative

Tell us how you're                           PATRICK MASTRORILLI, C'18
                                             Cybersecurity Operator

   making history.                           MSA Security at the Port Authority of
                                             New York & New Jersey

                                             KOKI ADASI, C'04
 Email us at themagazine@msmary.edu
                                             Senior Vice President
                                             Compass Real Estate

                                                                                     FALL 2018 FEATURE STORY   17
What is a typical day like for you? What do you
                                                                             enjoy most about your work?
                                                                             I oversee a diverse portfolio of issues in the
                                                                             Treasury Department’s Office of International
                                                                             Affairs and therefore there’s no typical day!
                                                                             I really enjoy meeting with my counterparts
                                                                             from finance ministries and central banks
                                                                             around the world to discuss significant issues
                                                                             of mutual concern—including global growth,
                                                                             debt sustainability, investment levels, economic
                                                                             development and financial stability.

                                                                             What’s your favorite spot on campus?
                                                                             My favorite spot is the Terrace—the oldest part
                                                                             of the Mount where nearly every graduate has
                                                                             lived at some point or another during the last 210
                                                                             years. I was privileged to live there three out of
                                                                             my four years at the Mount and have many
                                                                             fond memories.

                                                                             How were you involved at the Mount?
                                                                             I served as a resident assistant and was the
                                                                             president of several student organizations,
                                                                             including Delta Mu Delta, the national honor
                                                                             society for business administration. These
                                                                             positions enabled me to work with and lead a

            The Mount taught me                                              diverse group of students from a variety
                                                                             of backgrounds.

          that our lives are largely                                         Who were some influential Mount professors

       the product of our choices,                                           or staff who made a lasting impression on you
                                                                             or your education?

           which must be aligned                                             Charles Beitz Jr., DPA, then chair of the
                                                                             business school, taught me many great lessons
       with our faith and values in                                          of personal and professional leadership. The
                                                                             late President George R. Houston Jr. stressed
           order for us to live lives                                        the importance of thinking big and honing my
                                                                             financial acumen. Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, C'74,
                    of significance.                                         provided an example of mission-centered living
                                                                             while exhibiting a stellar sense of humor in good
                                                                             times and bad.

                                                                             We thought you should know…
                                                                             As a student, Tarbert won the Bishop Edward P.

                                           Heath                             Allen Memorial Prize for the highest scholastic
                                                                             average after four years. He was awarded the
                                                                             Edward T. Hogan Memorial Prize for Pre-Law

                                        TARBERT                              Studies and the Msgr. Bernard J. Bradley
                                                                             Memorial Prizes for Accounting and Business
                                                                             Administration. Tarbert also won the Wall
                                                        CLASS OF 1998        Street Journal Student Leadership Award. As
                Studied: Accounting, International Business & Economics      an alumnus, he was recognized in 2010 with
                                                                             the Distinguished Young Alumni Award and in
                                      Assistant Secretary of the Treasury,
                                                                             2013 was inducted into the Academic Circle of
                                         U.S. Department of the Treasury
                                                                             Excellence Alumni Hall of Fame.

18   FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
personality in the correct way—and I appreciated all his advice.
                                                                   I’m extremely grateful to Assistant Professor Dr. Josey Chacko
                                                                   for helping me get my job at Amazon. He was wonderful and
                                                                   taught me a lot about business, case studies and how to show
                                                                   and use data effectively.

                                                                   How has the Mount inspired you to live significantly?
                                                                   The Mount taught me to think about others first. I learned to be

                            Vrunda                                 selfless instead of selfish, and I’ve noticed that in all the roles
                                                                   I’ve had, and the companies I’ve worked for, I work on teams
                                                                   that are integrated and tailored to the customer. Amazon was

                            PATEL                                  about customer obsession and making sure the end-users
                                                                   were excited and happy about their experience. Both Amazon
                                                                   and Facebook have billions of users, so it’s exciting to make
                                CLASS OF 2016                      their experience better—but it’s hard. You can’t think about the
      Studied: Business & Economics and Spanish                    decisions you make when you get on Facebook. You must think
                                                                   about billions of other people.
              Technical Business Integrity Associate
                                at Facebook, Seattle               The Mount’s emphasis on morality in making ethical business
                                                                   decisions was valuable. Every day I ask myself what’s right and
                                                                   wrong. It’s an awesome challenge and a heavy weight, but the
                                                                   Mount gave me a lot of tools to be able to discern the difference
                                                                   between good and bad—especially in a professional setting.
What is a typical day like for you?

                                                                     You should be thankful
Before I was at Facebook, I was at Amazon for two years in
corporate finance and program management. This is my first

                                                                     that the Mount teaches
role at Facebook, and I’m absolutely loving it. I wake up around
7:30 a.m. to get ready and watch the news. It’s important to

                                                                     you how to be a good
know what’s going to be talked about on our platform. When
I get to work, I put my stuff down at my desk. Facebook has an

                                                                     person. The Facebooks
open workspace; no one has offices—not even Mark Zuckerberg.
I usually go to the sixth floor cafeteria and get breakfast.

                                                                     of the world could use
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and snacks are free. I spend a
lot of time on data analysis to help our engineers and business

                                                                     more Mount graduates.
and sales teams understand our business—so we make correct
decisions to improve the user experience on Facebook.

What is a good user experience to you?
                                                                   What activities or clubs did you participate in during your
The best user experience is defined by each individual, but I      time at the Mount?
think it’s one where you get on Facebook and you get to (re)
                                                                   I was a student-worker in the Sports Information Office and
connect with someone and it puts a smile on your face. It’s
                                                                   spent many weekends and spring breaks in the ARCC or on the
anything that makes your day a little bit better—finding or
                                                                   fields working in the press boxes. The people I worked with
seeing some form of information that you wouldn’t have known
                                                                   were so much fun and have such positive energy—plus we got
unless you saw it on Facebook. It’s a seamless experience that
                                                                   the best seats in the house. I cherish those moments because
you don’t have to think about.
                                                                   they reminded me not to take life so seriously. I was in SGA
                                                                   all four years and was class vice president in 2012 and class
What does a technical business integrity associate do?             president from 2013-16. I was a freshman ambassador and
My team works on background research to understand what            senior year was a student representative for Mount Council.
proactive things Facebook can do to stop bad actors. We            Finally, I led the class ring design in my junior year and was
research what could be happening on our platform and find          part of the mascot committee to create Emmit S. Burg.
systematic ways to get rid of them so we can improve the
overall user experience for everybody.                             Do you have any advice to share with current students?
                                                                   When you step out into the professional world, it doesn’t matter
Who were some influential Mount professors or staff who            if you went to a school people may not have heard of before.
made a lasting impression on you or your education?                You should be thankful that the Mount teaches you how to be a
Clare Tauriello, the director of the Career Center, was my SGA     good person. The Facebooks of the world could use more Mount
advisor for the Class of 2016 and she was a mentor to me. Ken      graduates. Put your best foot forward and don’t let anyone bring
McVearry was good at pointing out how to use my strong             you down.

                                                                                                             FALL 2018 FEATURE STORY     19
How has the Mount helped you live significantly?
                                                                         I reflect often on the four years I spent at the Mount as a time
                                                                         of both trial and triumph. It wouldn’t be fair to my mentors if
                                                                         I didn’t mention how much they lifted me up—far more than
                                                                         should have been asked of them. For that, I’ve made it my goal
                                                                         to mentor others in my personal and professional work.

                                                                         Who were some influential Mount professors or staff who
                                                                         made a lasting impression on you or your education?
                                                                         That is difficult to answer because many were invested in my
                                                                         academic and personal growth: President Thomas Powell,
                                                                         Chianti Blackmon, Ken McVearry, Joseph Enste, Dr. Michelle
                                                                         Patterson, Dana Larkin Sauers and Robert Brennan, C'85.

                              Hunter                                     How did your experiences at the Mount help you become the
                                                                         professional you are today?

                             OLD ELK
                                                                         I was a member of the Third Century and Native American
                                                                         Scholars Program through the Center for Student Diversity and
                                                                         an AMP student leader through the Office of Campus Activities.
                                             CLASS OF 2016               Each of those programs took on an experiential leadership model
                                            Studied: History             to strengthen students in skills such as verbal and nonverbal
                                                                         communication, programming, financial literacy and peer
               Curatorial Assistant, Plains Indian Museum                accountability. I’ve used individual skills from both programs to
                      at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West             serve tribal communities and work with Plains Indian Museum
                                          in Cody, Wyoming               collections through programming and scholarship.

                                                                           I reflect often on the
      What is a typical day like for you?                                  four years I spent at the
      My job consists of the stewardship and research of Plains
      Indian museum objects. In my position, I am fortunate to             Mount as a time of both
      work with pieces where I study and write about Indigenous
      collections for the use in exhibitions, publications,                trial and triumph.
      educational interpretations and social media.
                                                                         Making Us Mount Proud...
      What's your favorite part about your job?
                                                                         Old Elk uses museum engagement and social media to explore
      My favorite part of my job is being able to use platforms like     the complexities of historic and contemporary Indigenous
      social media and facilitating tribal visits to share collections   culture. She is especially inspired by the lives of Native
      with descendants of people who owned those objects. We             American women who lived and thrived on the Plains.
      house more than 10,000 collections from well over 150 tribes       Her life’s work is dedicated to their multifaceted legacies.
      and bands who lived in the Great Plains region (Central
      Canada-Texas). I am from the Crow and Yakama Nations,               She is the 2017 Western States Arts Federation: Emerging
      and we have several historic collections from both tribes so        Leaders of Color Fellow and has done collaborations with
      there is also a personal connection to my work. I think for my      NPR. Her work has been featured in the October 2018 issue
      communities, to indigenize scholarship will help reclaim our        of Cowboys and Indians Magazine for “Native Nations Now”
      narratives and impact the future of cultural sustainability.        exhibition and has upcoming projects with National Geographic
                                                                          Magazine and Filson Clothing Company. She is a collaborator,
                                                                          along with six Crow women, on a forthcoming Zine titled
      What's your favorite spot on campus?
                                                                         “Apsaalooke Radical” and plans to earn a master’s degree in the
      I was a Lower McGowan kid. Those in leadership programs             next three years.
      like AMP, CRUX, CSD and OSJ know how much time you
      spend there. I studied abroad in the Czech Republic and
      that experience, as well as political science coursework,
      shaped my global view of the world. I seriously encourage             Follow Hunter on Instagram @plainsindianmuseum.
      academic travel.

20   FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
Diane TOMB
CLASS OF 1986 | Studied: Political Science and History | Executive Director, National Rental Home Council

How were you involved at the Mount?
I played soccer, was a member of the college Republicans
and worked for a member of Parliament in London during
my study abroad program junior year. Those experiences
taught me skills I use today. As a student on work study, I
worked in the bookstore, gym, snack bar and the Rathskeller.
Those opportunities taught me the importance of being
organized and how to balance and manage multiple tasks.

Tell us about the first job you had after you graduated.
My first job out of college was at the White House
in the Office of the Vice President for then Vice President
George Herbert Walker Bush. I am convinced that having
the experience of living abroad and being a Mount graduate
greatly influenced why I was selected for the position.

What is a typical day like for you?
Most days are varied. I could be on Capitol Hill or a state
capitol meeting with elected officials and staff members
regarding issues that affect our members. I could be
recruiting new members, or I could be speaking or
participating on a panel at an industry event.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love how interesting and diverse my work is daily. I really
enjoy that I am still learning every day. Also, I am a policy
wonk, so I enjoy influencing public policy that benefits both
my members and the communities they serve.

How has the Mount helped you live significantly?

                                                                         I really enjoyed the
Personally, I value the friendships and relationships I
developed while I was a student. Professionally, being

                                                                         community that existed
surrounded by colleagues who had a strong faith and led
values-based lives had a significant influence on me and

                                                                         at the Mount. I always
the choices I made in my career. I also had the opportunity
to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Mount

                                                                         felt like I was a part of
where I observed the commitment of other trustees and the
significant impact their contributions made to the future of the

                                                                         something larger.
Mount and the students it now serves.

Making us Mount Proud...
An accomplished executive and entrepreneur who founded
a D.C.-based public affairs firm in 2003, Tomb served as
president and CEO of the National Association of Women
Business Owners where she represented members on public            Tomb has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University,
policy issues before Congress and at the White House from          currently serving as a commissioner on the Bipartisan Policy
2011-13. Prior to that, she served as assistant secretary          Center’s Commission on Political Reform. She is also a member
of public affairs at the Department of Housing and Urban           of the International Women’s Forum of Washington, D.C., serves
Development and in the White House in both the Ronald              on the board of directors of MakeRoom and the development
Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations.                       committee at Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C.

                                                                                                         FALL 2018 FEATURE STORY    21
Running
       THE RACE

      AFTER JAY PHILLIPS, C'05, MT'08, dedicated seven                    He recalls that every interaction with his professors provided
      years to studying at the Mount, culminating with a Master of        awareness and understanding. “They all liked what they did
      Arts in theology, he courageously questioned how to live out        and they poured themselves into their students, athletes and
      his purpose—spending many nights on the track under starry          colleagues,” Phillips recalls. Bill Collinge, Ph.D., taught him to
      skies looking inward and upward. He devoted early mornings          love theology. “I still love it and I’m a better person, husband,
      in prayer at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception where          father, friend and coach because of it.” Rev. Jim Donohue, Ph.D.,
      he often prayed alongside, proposed to and married his wife,        guided him in how to use theology to love others more and better.
      Dale Phillips, C'05. “By the time I had graduated, the Mount        David McCarthy, Ph.D., gave him the confidence that he could
      community put me into a particularly difficult dilemma,” he says.   be successful academically and professionally. John Larrivee,
      “The Mount had not only given me more than I deserved but also      Ph.D., instructed him on how to give life to his prayers. Indrani
      had given me more than I had the capacity to give back.”            Mitra, Ph.D., taught him intellectual patience. “I still find that
                                                                          tremendously helpful personally and professionally,” he notes.
      During his undergraduate days, Phillips majored in theology
                                                                          Phillips’ coaching mentor, Jim Stevenson, C’95, showed him what
      with an education emphasis and minored in philosophy and
                                                                          it means to sacrifice for your team. “When someone invests that
      Latin. He single-mindedly pursued excellence as an athlete
                                                                          much in you, it changes you—causes you to grow, to love and to
      who ran track and field, a gifted student in the honors program
                                                                          share that desire with others,” he explains.
      and a compassionate resident assistant.

22   FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
Tasked with how to live significantly, he had finally received the
answer: “I can give others a love greater than my own. I can strive
to give others the love of God. I can try to love my student-athletes,
my staff, my colleagues in the way that God loves them. So that’s
what I try to do.” As head coach of the Mount’s cross country and
track and field teams since 2015 and assistant coach from 2008
to 2014, he teaches students the life-changing rewards of focus,
courage, resilience, teamwork and faith.
The word Catholic means universal. “I love the challenge of
bringing such a diverse group together to strive for common goals,”
he says. With nearly 120 members, the track and field team is one
of the most diverse groups on campus. Teammates are invited to
live, love and work next to people who wouldn’t be in their natural
social circles. “Every difference they may see in a teammate has
the chance to be viewed from a common foundation, a humanizing

  I’ve seen the track mold
  young men and women
  into excellent young men                                               JUSTIN KIMBLE, C’20

  and women academically                                                 School Record – 60m Dash
                                                                         2x NEC Champion
  and athletically—it’s                                                  IC4A All-East
                                                                         2017 NEC Outdoor Rookie of the Year
  a training ground for                                                  2018 NEC Indoor Sprinter of the Year

  more than just running
  fast, jumping high and
  throwing far.
foundation. They laugh with each other, push each other and cry
with each other—succeed and fail with each other; in short, they
become real people to each other,” he says of his team members.
“The growth from these encounters can’t be underestimated.”
As a result of his time at the Mount, he teaches student-athletes to
learn from everyone they spend time with—to pay attention, listen
and keep taking steps toward their best selves. In 2018, the men’s
outdoor track and field team won its first Northeast Conference
(NEC) title in 21 years, and Phillips and his staff were voted by
colleagues as NEC Coaching Staff of the Year.
Throughout his career, as a runner and a coach, Phillips says the
track is a meaningful place on campus where he goes to find solace,
joy and motivation. “My fastest race was on that track, chasing
down two teammates I knew I’d never catch. I’ve cried there, I’ve
sweated there, I’ve collapsed there—it’s stained my clothes red.”
The Bible mentions many verses about running a race: to build
perseverance, to run and not grow weary, to receive an everlasting
crown and to win the prize of a higher calling.                          K AYL A BARNES, C’21
“I’ve walked the lanes with athletes and friends in great and
tough times. I’ve seen the track mold young men and women into           School Record – 200m Dash
excellent young men and women academically and athletically—it’s         3x NEC Champion
a training ground for more than just running fast, jumping high and      ECAC All-East
throwing far.”                                                           2018 Indoor and Outdoor NEC Rookie of the Year
                                                                         2018 USATF Junior National Qualifier
                                                                                                FALL 2018 FEATURE STORY   23
DeVeda COLEY
      CLASS OF 1993 | Studied: Elementary Education | Principal, Spring Ridge Elementary School in Frederick, Maryland

     What do you enjoy most about your work?                               Who was one influential Mount professor who made a positive
      I am blessed to have the opportunity to be an elementary             impact on you?
      school principal. I never take my role lightly. I do not see this    I am blessed to have had such a wonderful support system of
      as a job, but rather my career and God-inspired mission. I have      people who saw my potential and helped me believe I could truly
      had the great fortune to lead at North Frederick Elementary          be and do whatever I wanted. Dr. Judy R. Johnstone saw the
      School for the past eight years. I got to be the principal of some   potential in me and worked with me to finally, after changing my
      of the best children and to have led, and hopefully inspired,        major four times, decide that elementary education was the path
      some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable staff as well as           for me. In her office during my junior year, I told her I wanted
      worked alongside a supportive community. I love that every           to be a principal. She made sure I had an exceptional student
      day is different and challenging and that my decisions and           mentor, Becky Kerr, and strategically put me at a school with an
      actions make a difference in the lives of children.                  influential principal named Steve Martin who ended up being one
                                                                           of my strongest advocates. He supported me during the beginning
     What are you looking forward to next?                                 of my career as a teacher and principal. Johnstone shared her
                                                                           passion for literature and made sure we understood how much
      I look forward to my new assignment at Spring Ridge
                                                                           educators impact students’ lives; she believed in me from the start.
      Elementary School and heard that I will again have a supportive
      community, talented staff and great students. My goal is to be
      a transformational leader who makes all decisions in the best        What’s your favorite spot on campus?
      interest of the children. School administrators make hundreds        I used to love going to the RATT. For those who graduated after
      of daily decisions including personnel matters, appropriate use      1993, this was in the bottom of the student activity center and
      of budgets, student instruction and discipline, school safety,       was our mini night club. We would have a DJ and sometimes
      community outreach, professional development, and the list goes      invite outside acts to play. Derrick Claiborne, C’93, brought
      on. No one day for a principal is ever the same—which makes this     great entertainment—including an emerging comedian named
      career so exciting!                                                  Steve Harvey.

      How has the Mount helped you live significantly?                     What other memories stand out to you when you look back?
     Mount St. Mary’s had an exceptional education program. I              I met my best friend, Angel (Wrublik) Ranero, C’94, from playing
     was very prepared to be a teacher in Frederick County Public          softball. I participated in an awesome fashion show produced by
     Schools. I was offered an open contract in December of my senior      my talented friend Derrick Claiborne, C'93. From joking around
     year because of the great instruction I received. The liberal         and enjoying being a student with my "Mount Crew" that included
     arts classes opened my mind and helped me develop interests,          Tonya Jackson, C’93, Neil Becker, C’93, Sue McNamara, C’93,
     including art, that I would never have explored otherwise.            Dave Zehner, C’93, and Dr. Terri Bell, C’94, to learning to play
                                                                           piano and playing Chops on the same piano with the talented
                                                                           pianist and crew member Samuel Stone, C’93, I have so many
                                                                           great memories of the Mount. I also remember going to my first
                                                                           concert with other African-American Mount students (OSHA) and
                                                                           seeing Salt-N-Pepa and Kid ‘N Play.

                                                                           How else were you involved at the Mount?
                                                                           I played field hockey, which was replaced with lacrosse. I also
                                                                           played softball. Being a student-athlete requires commitment,
                                                                           time management, dedication and discipline. I use every one of
                                                                           these traits in my daily life.

                                                                           We thought you should know…
                                                                           In 2010, Coley was named a “Woman of Excellence”’ by the
                                                                           Frederick AKAs and made the “Top 40 Phenomenal Women”
                                                                           in Frederick. In 2015 she was inducted into the Mount’s Academic
                                                                           Circle of Excellence Alumni Hall of Fame. She’s currently an
                                                                           adjunct professor at the Mount. She's also in her third year of
                                                                           the inaugural doctoral cohort at Hood College.

24   FEATURE STORY FALL 2018
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