Alumni Class Notes

Jon Lanzaro-Fisher '19 has already worked for the NSA and run for Congress. His drive to serve others has now led him to join the MAA board.

After years of writing plays and short stories, Judy Kiehart (Page) '96 decided to write perhaps her most important work yet. Her memoir, Calico Lane, was published this year and follows Kiehart's journey to finding and celebrating her truest self.

Meg Maher Rowe '77 MS, RD, LDN, FADA, FAND was named a Medallion Award winner after dedicating her professional life to improving the wellbeing of others.

Members of the Class of 1971 made a donation to the Pacer Pantry.

Joan Wright ’64 is a leader in every aspect of her life. As a young black woman in the 1960s, Wright found herself mustering a resiliency many around her hadn’t needed to.

Capitol Hill and Marywood University seem like very different places to most people. However, even in the bustling metropolis of Washington, D.C., Rachel Looker ’18 finds her Marywood roots ever-present.

To his numerous accomplishments, the Marywood Alumni Association is pleased to add its own recognition, by presenting Stanley J. Kania III, Ph.D. ’11, ’14, ’19 with the 2021 Recent Alumni Award for Professional Achievement.

Adding to these accomplishments, with grateful appreciation for all he has done to lead by example and embrace inclusivity, the Marywood Alumni Association is pleased to recognize Jeffrey R. Kovaleski ’98 with the 2021 Alumni Achievement Award.

For her abiding and longstanding dedication to her alma mater and its core values, the Marywood Alumni Association is pleased to recognize Ann Boland-Chase ’79 with the 2021 Sister M. Denis Donegan Award for Long Term Service to Marywood.

For her considerable commitment to service in the community, along with her exemplary professional record of excellence and empowerment, framed always by her deep faith and her respect for others, the Marywood Alumni Association is pleased to recognize Patricia A. Lawler ’71 with the 2021 Golden Marywoodian Award for the Class of 1971.

For her considerable commitment to service in the community, along with her exemplary professional record of excellence and empowerment, framed always by her deep faith and her respect for others, the Marywood Alumni Association is pleased to recognize Michele Abbott McDade ’70 with the 2021 Golden Marywoodian Award for the Class of 1970.

With proud acknowledgment of, and grateful appreciation for, her distinctive leadership, service, and numerous professional and personal accomplishments, which embody the core values of Marywood University, the Marywood Alumni Association is pleased to recognize Muriel Scherr Cagney ’69 with the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Kimberly Szabo ’17 serves as an inspiration in more ways than one. As a hospice music therapist, she provides comfort to those in need; as a Miss Pennsylvania USA contestant, she’s inspiring women to reach for the stars.

Alexis Palys ’21 held several leadership positions during her time at Marywood. Now as a recent graduate, in her new role, she’s using that drive to propel herself and her work to new heights.

To know Brien McChesney’s faith is to know him.

McChesney, a member of the Marywood University Class of 2021, finds himself in a situation that can provoke a plethora of emotions. You’ve graduated college- now what?

After completing her terminal degree from Marywood, Jean Dahlgren ‘01 left equipped to face challenges she never expected. The Masters with the Masters program, created for working professionals who wish to gain their MFA, helped Dahlgren push her limits and prepare for an unanticipated career path.

Colleen Bennett’s '88 mission is to provide free music therapy to as many children afflicted with serious disease as possible.

The interesting thing, though, is that Bennett doesn’t view it as a job at all

Jigarkumar Patel '11 overcame obstacles to make an impact in his community.

Jenny Gonzalez '19 is fighting for equitable education and supporting local immigrant populations through Marywood's STARS program and beyond.

Amy Grocki Dastgheer '10 and '17 recently married Asim Dastgheer with a socially distant reception following.

Jeremy Wescott '12 has co-founded an app that will solve an everyday problem for many.

Morgann Hadduck '16 and Ian Stout '15 were married on September 25, 2020.

Mary Philipp '80 named 2020 Alumni Achievement Award recipient

Cathy Gerard '70 named 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award co-recipient

Diana D'Achille '14 named 2020 Recent Alumni Award of Excellence for Professional Achievement recipient

Michael Maritato '11 & '14 named 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award co-recipient

As President Scott will work closely with the Office of Alumni Engagement. He encourages Marywood alumni to “visit www.marywood.edu/connect to obtain alumni resources, sign up to volunteer, register for Alumni Association events, update your contact information and much more. We want to hear from you and support you!”

“Tommy” as he is called by his friends and family, is a financial planning major at Marywood. He is a very involved leader on campus serving as a Resident Assistant, Director for Youth Ministry, Co-Chair for Kidstuff, Director of College Athlete for A Day, Service Chair of Phi Mu Delta Fraternity, and the incoming President of the Student Alumni Association (SAA).

Hilda L. Norton '63 recently authored a book titled "A Stroke of Love Memories of Our Journey," which chronicles her husband, Rex's stroke and their spiritual journey that led to his regaining the ability to speak and walk 

Mrs. Eileen Dickson Lenahan '40 sadly passed away at the age of 101 in December.

Sister Dorothy Ann Haney '62 has sadly passed away after many years of service to Marywood.

How Women Won the Vote Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Their Big Idea by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Ph.D. '79 will be published in May in the 100th anniversary year of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Sister M. St. Anthony Radzikowski, IHM '39 passed away January 24th following a lifetime of service to Marywood and the surrounding community.

Barbara Borrell '63 will be attending and speaking at a medical conference at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The conference was postponed due to the novel coronavirus. They are hoping to reschedule for later this year.

Kathleen O’Gorman, Ph.D. '73 was among several volunteers who visited a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing and detention center, documenting the conditions they found and raising awareness of what they saw.

Susan Kapun was named one of the Top 10 Food Service Directors in the nation.

M. Parfitt has displayed her works in several gallery shows during 2019.

Alumni Dustin D'Angelo '16 and Elizabeth Gallagher D'Angelo '16 announce their marriage.

Colleen Alyce Davis Polanin '09 and her husband announce the birth of their daughter Riley Rose.

Captain Timothy J. Wilson '99 was named Commanding Officer of the 123rd Precinct with the New York City Police Department.

Sally '05 & Anthony '03 Medina announce the birth of their twins, Vivienne and Robert.

Joyce Zakierski Simmons '70 was honored for 25 years of service as Music Minister/Organist at Our Lady of the Lake Parish.

Kevin Phillips '12 became the second student to graduate from Michigan Tech with a PhD in Integrative Physiology.

Dorothy Grill '07 was elected to the NEPA Youth Shelter's Board of Directors.

Cherie Fruehan has published her first novel, "The Suicide of Sophie Rae."

Patti Lu Montella Donahue earned a PhD in Sports Management.

Hilda Faust Mathieu '57 was inducted into the National Security Agency (NSA) Hall of Honor on November 28th, 2018.

Mary Sheridan Bilbao '08 and her husband welcomed their first child, Ellie Ruth Bilbao.

Mackenzie Goodwin '15 and Andrew Lutz '16 were married on July 7, 2018.

Dr. Lucas Malishchak was named the Director of the Psychology Office for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Alumni artist Martiann Parfitt ’83, who displays her professional work as M. Parfitt, exhibited 200 small collages at Axis Gallery in Sacramento, California, in 2017.

Katie McElhenney ’00 recently published a young adult novel, The Things They’ve Taken, with a story that features a mix of the supernatural, fantasy, mythology, adventure, and humor. 

Sister Annmarie Sanders, IHM ’82, Director of Communications for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), edited and contributed a chapter to this book, which details what was learned by LCWR during a six-year crisis (2009-2015).

The Hugging Army: An Experience in Connection is the first published book authored by Vanessa L. White Fernandes ’84, who has been a social worker for more than 30 years, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the fields of social work and counseling.

The Addictions Recovery Devotional Workbook, authored by James E. Phelan ’94, provides practical applications each week in a way that can enhance readers’ lives through the Bible. 

The Persian Always Meows Twice is the first book in a new series of mysteries by Eileen Watkins ’72 featuring a cat groomer/boarder who also turns amateur sleuth. Professional cat grooming isn’t all fluff.

Steven S. Walker, M.F.A. ’07 won an Award of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America Salon show.

Jennifer Esken '99 earned "Best in Show" honors from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation's 2018 "Through The Seasons" Photo Contest.

Luz Cabrales, M.A. '09, premieres her first feature film in Scranton.

George Downey IV '11 earned a chance to try out for the Philadelphia Wings, a professional lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

Leslie Haines '08 showcases a series of her collages in her book, "Animal Abecedary: A One-of-a-Kind Alphabet Book."

Lori Sokolowsky, RN, BSN, MSN has been promoted to the Director of Nursing Education at Fortis Institute School of Practical Nursing, Scranton, PA.

Kristen Spronz ’15 celebrates more than two years as Brand Manager of the YMCA of the Rockies - a position that has taken her all over the world.

Jenny Rose welcomed the arrival of a baby girl, Jessica Olivia Yasinskas

Stanley J. Kania III was awarded the 2018 NAGAP Graduate Student Grant.

Kelly Ann Tomko earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine.

Celestine Favinger has been recognized in Toastmasters.