Graduate Schools

Accountancy Class Secretary — Kim Talianko;

ktalianko@alumni.nd.edu

 

Architecture

The Architecture program at ND has been listed as No. 4 in the 2020 Best Colleges for Architecture by the Niche organization. The popular and unique organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Pittsburgh annually provides a ranking and review of schools, colleges, cities, neighborhoods and companies across the U.S. For college programs, the “rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Dept. of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. Thorough weighted factors considered include academics, value of education (based on statistics such as average loan amount, alumni earnings, etc.), professors’ grade (based on number of awards won by faculty, student-faculty ratio. etc.), campus grade (incorporates food and housing), diversity, student life (i.e. safety, diversity, athletics, etc.), student surveys on overall experience, and local area grade (i.e. median rent, local crime rates, access to amenities, and safety). Kudos to the current ND architectural student leaders, both grad students, who will graduate in 2021: VP Eric Kerke and Patrick Vercio, president of the Students for Classical Architecture, for coming up with a “An Esquisse Competition,” a two-hour live drawing event. It’s an official school-level program that will be known as The Notre Dame School of Architecture’s Grand Prix de Notre Dame and will take place in the fall and spring. It is like we old timers’ Beaux Arts 12-hour sketch problems. As planned, the previously secret design problem was picked up by entrants at 10 a.m. on a Saturday and turned in at 12:30 p.m. after the allotted time. The entries remained anonymous and had to be drawn only by hand on 11-by-14-inch watercolor paper provided. No references, books or internet research were allowed, and the sketch presentation had to be in monochrome media, i.e. charcoal, graphite, ink. The initial competition was juried via Zoom by Prof. Richard Economakis, director of ND’s graduate studies for the Architecture and Urbanism Programs and faculty advisor to the club, adjunct professor Marianne Cusato ’97, ’17 and Whitley E. Esteban ’12, managing director at Roman and Williams, Buildings and Interiors, NY. Our prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of the following: Nancy, the widow of James J. Nagy ’53 of Orlando FL. Jim spent most of his career with the Tishman Construction Co. and eventually became the president of Tishman’s Orlando office. Jim was construction manager for Disney’s EPCOT Center Theme Park where he managed the concept and design work and oversaw the construction of the 305-acre complex. He later led the development of the award-winning Swan and Dolphin Hotels at Walt Disney World Resort. During retirement, Jim contributed to the community as a member of the Diocese of Orlando’s building committee and was integral to the development of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, at the Disney World Resorts. That notice and information were sent to me by his classmate Joseph W. McManus ’53 of Boca Raton FL. Joe reminded me again that the Class of ’53 was the first five-year program class that also marked the transition from Prof. Francis Kervick to Prof. Frank Montana, who was chairman from 1950 to 1972. Notice of the passing of Herbert G. Kern Jr. ’54 of Erie PA this summer was sent to me by Ben Willis ’10, AIA, Philadelphia who is with Union Studios Architecture and Community Design office there. Gary V. Zimmerman ’57, ’58Arch FAIA of Oconomowoc WI notified me that our classmate Frank L. Neubek Jr. of Naples FL passed away in August. — Orlando T. Maione FAIA, FACHA, NCARB; 27 Bucknell Lane, Stony Brook NY 11790-2521; 631-246-5660; fax 631-751-7598; omaione@optonline.net

 

Biological Sciences 

It was a pleasure catching up with Nathan T. Evans ’16PhD. After a postdoc at Florida International U in Miami studying the influence of fishes on phosphorus cycling in the Everglades, Nathan works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a fish biologist and the station lead for the Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Wilmington Substation in Illinois. Nathan obtained his undergraduate degree at Christopher Newport U in Virginia and received his MS at Oklahoma State U before completing his doctorate under the supervision of former department chair, Prof. Gary Lamberti. Working as a USFWS fish biologist, Nathan leads a team focused on the monitoring and detection of non-native Asian carps in the Illinois Waterway, with the goal of preventing the species from invading the Great Lakes. Other department news is that Galla College Prof. Jason Rohr, former assistant chairperson, took over the duties of chair on July 1 following in the footsteps of Morris Pollard Prof. Crislyn D’Sousa-Shorey, the past chair. Jason, who works at the interface of ecology and public health, came to Notre Dame in 2019 from the U of South Florida where his academic career progressed after earning degrees at Binghamton U, formerly State U of New York -Binghamton. Gary Lamberti is completing his slow move east from the West Coast, where he obtained his degrees, to Notre Dame, and now to the East on leave to the NSF as program director for macrosystems biology at National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)-Enabled Science. The NSF is permitting Gary to maintain his lab at Notre Dame. — Joan Smith Carter ’71MS and Philip B. Carter ’67, ’71PhD; 12916 Barsanlaw Drive, Raleigh NC 27613-6400; res. 919-848-2192; phil@ncsu.edu 

 

History

Rev. Steve Avella ’85PhD, a professor of history at Marquette U, won the 2020 Haggerty Award for Research Excellence. Steve is a previous recipient of the University Teaching Excellence Award. He is the only faculty member to win both awards. He gives credit to the wonderful Rev. Thomas Blantz, CSC, ’57, ’63BA, (’68PhD from Columbia), the immortal Prof. Robert Kerby, the indomitable Rev. O’Connell, the pathbreaking Prof. Jay P. Dolan, and Steve’s master and forever friend, Phil Gleason ’60PhD. Bill Kostlevy sends the sad news of the passing of Nate Yoder ’14PhD after a long battle with Parkinson’s and mantle cell lymphoma. Nate was professor emeritus and university archivist at Eastern Mennonite U. He is survived by his wife, Miriam (Mim), three children and five grandchildren. Nate and Mim’s son, Paul Yoder, is a professor of education at Eastern Michigan U. I would be happy to send a link to the obituary to anyone who asks. The love Nate’s students had for him is inspiring. E. Brian Graham ’66BA writes about Dr. M.A. Fitzsimons. The professor was his “mentor, confidant and guide,” and Brian looks to hear from more Fitzsimons followers. Brian did not pursue a PhD, to his mentor’s dismay, but spent 35 years in the Texas legislature. Betty (BJ) Brother officially retired but remains very active. She has an article on Arthur W. Upfield and forensic science in a forthcoming issue of Clue. BJ is working on the pop culture roots of the alt-right. She is also a new great-aunt to Jordan Patrick (ND hopeful Class of ’42). Geoffrey Huys ’76MA sends greetings to Tom Spencer, Michale Poder, Peter Lombardo and Father Blantz. He lives in Milwaukee and spent most of his professional career in healthcare marketing and communications. His last gig was senior director of internal communications for Ascension Wisconsin. Geoffrey writes, “history, and especially the training I received at ND, has served me well.” In retirement, he spends his time at Ikea and visiting family in Seattle. Gregory J. W. Urwin ’84PhD writes, “COVID-19 has claimed one of the most luminous minds to pass through ND’s grad program in history: John Murin, professor emeritus at Princeton. He was one of his generation’s leading authorities in colonial America.” Before earning his PhD at Yale, John received an MA from ND, studying under “the legendary John Smelser.” Our most faithful correspondent, David Fahey ’64PhD, is engaged in the “tedious work” of compiling the bibliography for his book on temperance societies in Late Victorian and Edwardian England. John Rossi ’60MA recalls Professors Fitzsimons and Shanahan. “Both were great and kind professors.’’ John retired from LaSalle U in 2018 after 56 years, which seems to be the record for professors at that institution. He keeps busy writing and publishing in Commonweal, a cover essay on George Orwell in Modern Age, and pieces in American Conservative and realclearhistory.com. Run to your local bookstore because Father Thomas Blantz’s 700-plus opus is on the shelves. The University of Notre Dame: A History is the definitive account of ND’s rise from a primitive grade school in the wilderness to an acclaimed 21st-century research university. Throughout, he stresses the strong connections between the university and its alumni. That is us. Please send updates. — Mary Linehan ’91PhD; maryline113@yahoo.com

 

Mathematics Class Secretary — Patti Strauch;

255 Hurley Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556; bus 574-631-7083; strauch.1@nd.edu

 

Master of Nonprofit Administration

2020 has been a challenging year for all. Many of you met my incredible father and remember that he never missed a home football game and loved attending the Mendoza tailgates. In August, my father, John J. Quinn Jr. ’57, passed away surrounded by love. My uncle, Rev. Gavin Quinn, said, “He loved you into life and now you have loved him into God.” We were so blessed to be with him while so many are not able to be with their sick and dying loved ones during these challenging times. While we say goodbye to some, we welcome a new member of the MNA family. Congratulations to Julie Poulos Sims ’09 and her husband, Christopher, on the birth of their baby girl, Elena, on July 31 in Los Angeles. She is their first child, and they are over the moon. We also congratulate Michael T. Benson ’11 who was named Coastal Carolina U’s next president. He will begin serving as the university’s third president on January 2. 2021. Mike is a veteran of higher education administration who served as the 13th president of Eastern Kentucky U from August 2013 to January 2020 and was named president emeritus of EKU in December 2019. While at EKU, he held an appointment as professor of government. He is currently a visiting professor in the Department of History of Science and Technology at Johns Hopkins. H. Delan Stevens, vice chairman of Coastal Carolina’s board of trustees and chairman of the board’s presidential search committee, said in a news release: “We are excited to welcome Dr. Benson, and as a board, we firmly believe his leadership talents and experiences are an excellent match for Coastal Carolina University and the advancement of this dynamic institution.” We continue to send positive thoughts and prayers for our alumni. You are encouraged to submit your news for upcoming Class Notes. You may email me at the address below. — Betsy Quinn ’12; 2110 Brummel St., Evanston IL 60202; 847-733-0557; betsyquinn@alumni.nd.edu

 

Political Science Class Secretary — Charlie Kenney;

455 W. Lindsey, Room 205, Norman OK 73019; 405-325-3735; ckenney@ou.edu

 

Graduate Degrees

Rev. Edward Foley OFM Cap. ’85MA, ’87PhD, theology, secured a major grant from the Templeton Foundation, of $220,000 for a project on preaching and the sciences. A Capuchin priest, Edward Foley is not a scientist by education or training. But he is possessed of a natural curiosity about the world and a dedication to preaching in a way that is interesting and accessible. That’s why he spends roughly 10 hours preparing each Sunday homily, and why he subscribes to a number of e-newsletters from institutions such as the Smithsonian, which give him plenty of material to help his listeners put the scriptures in the context of the modern world. “The goal is getting homilists to take this seriously week after week,” Foley said. “There are few groups more imaginative than scientists wondering what’s at the bottom of the ocean or how many insects there are in the world.” The grant is an outgrowth of an earlier project funded by the Templeton Foundation that aimed to give men studying for the priesthood a solid background in science after a survey found that only eight percent of seminarians studied science. Part of the problem, Foley said, is that many priests simply are not exposed to science enough to feel confident including scientific topics in their homilies. — Marvin J. LaHood ’58 MA, ’62 PhD, English; 93 Parkhaven Drive, Amherst NY 14226; 716-691-4648; mlahood@roadrunner.com