County Leaders Discuss Renewed Interest In Suburbs During Annual Forum

Rockland County Executive Ed Day at home participating in the County Executive Forum via Zoom.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day participated in the annual County Executive Forum via Zoom. He was joined by Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus.

About 200 business leaders and local residents participated in the Annual County Executive Forum on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 to hear the latest information from the County Executives from Westchester, Rockland, and Orange Counties.  The event, which was sponsored by the Palisades Institute, took place via Zoom.

The county leaders spoke about reopening businesses following the COVID-19 outbreak and the financial challenges  faced by local governments. However, all three leaders said that there is a silver lining to the tumultuous times — a renewed interest in moving to the suburbs.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “People want to be where there is less dense, intense population.  They want to be in places with a little more elbow room and they believe that will help them stay real healthy.”

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said with crisis comes opportunity, “We are hearing anecdotally that housing sales are a very hot market right now.”  Orange County Steven Neuhaus  agreed and said that there is also a boom in the real estate market in his county.

In addition, the County Executives predicted telecommuting will become more widespread in the future since many people have been working from home during stay-at-home restrictions, while continuing to be productive

The County Executive Forum is a long tradition of the Palisades Institute and has been held annually since 2005. The aim of the Palisades Institute of Dominican College is to assist leaders to advance their organizations by providing them with professional development and information to integrate the concepts of Leadership, Quality, and Ethics to achieve long-term success. In serving the business, not-for-profit and government community, the Palisades Institute of Dominican College also aims to serve Dominican College students by fostering their participation in these educational opportunities.

June 10, 2020

College President Addresses Racism in America

College President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D., sent the following letter to students, faculty, and staff on June 5, 2020:

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his hope-filled “I Have a Dream” speech.  In it he longed for the time when his children would “not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character”.  How appropriate to recall these words today as we mourn the unconscionable act of violence that took the life of George Floyd.

Racism in America has had a long and painful history.  It began over 400 years ago with the arrival of African slaves in 1619.  In the past few months we have witnessed a rise in brutality – the killing not only of George Floyd in Minnesota, but Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and so many others.  We cannot remain indifferent to the ongoing abuse of people of color in our country.

During the past 68 years, Dominican has been blessed to be a diverse College community, especially among our student body.  We are united in the belief that all people possess dignity and are worthy of respect.  Our mission statement calls us to be creators of an environment “characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community”.  We are encouraged to educate in a manner that fosters “reflective understanding and compassionate involvement”. Hence, we cannot remain silent when members of our human community are abused.  Rather, we must stand together in condemning that racism which harms the dignity of human life.  We support the right to protest while opposing those actions that abuse people and destroy property.

Dominican’s core values of community and service are particularly motivating at this time.  We embrace our diversity and renew our commitment to serve in ways that are ethical and just.  We cannot gather “face to face” at this time of the Covid19 separation but we can join in prayerful remembrance, honoring those who have been killed and those who remain marginalized.

May our efforts contribute to a more respectful and inclusive society.

June 5, 2020

Softball Coach Authors Suzi Softball Book for Young People

Head Softball Coach Joseph Burbridge has written a book called Suzi Softball to encourage young people to be more accepting of others.

Dominican College Head Softball Coach Joseph Burbridge has written a book, Suzi Softball, that he hopes will encourage young people to be more accepting of others.  The book follows the adventure of a young softball determined to make everyone feel included.  Suzi ultimately persuades neighbors – like Franny Football, Bobby Basketball, Vicky Volleyball and others – that they can be friends with people who are different.

“I really think it’s a simple way of saying, ‘Don’t leave anyone out and everyone just get along,’” said Burbridge.

Burbridge has more than 20 years of experience in the field of education.  Prior to coaching at Dominican College, he taught and coached students in elementary school and high school.  Burbridge will be donating $1 from the sale of each Suzi Softball book to the dirt 2 turf campaign, which will fund the construction of a new turf field on campus. For more information about Suzi Softball and to purchase the book, visit www.suzisoftball.com

May 27, 2020

Graduates Honored During Virtual Commencement

Alumnus Brandon Hasbrouck, ’08, delivered the Virtual Commencement Address on May 17, 2020, and received an honorary degree. Hasbrouck is an Assistant Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA.

The Dominican College Class of 2020 was honored during a Virtual Commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2020.  The  Commencement premiered on the Dominican College website and Facebook at 12 noon, with graduates, family, friends, administrators, and faculty remotely watching “together” as they reacted and commented on social media.

Alumnus Brandon Hasbrouck, ’08, Assistant Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, VA, delivered an impassioned Commencement Address to the graduates.  He challenged the graduates to “do justice” in whatever career path they choose. “A kind of justice that smashes hierarchies, privileges, and entitlement.  A kind of justice that requires courage – courage demonstrated by you throughout your time here at Dominican College – that even when you take a loss, and you will, you get up every single time and persist,” he said. “There is no path to justice that is only comfortable and convenient.  We will not achieve or create justice until we’re willing to sometimes position ourselves in uncomfortable places and be a witness.  Justice is hard work.  It is unending work.  It is our life’s work.  You are all ready!”

Dominican College awarded Hasbrouck with the honorary degree of Doctor of Law, in recognition of his accomplishments in the practice of law and of his dedication to criminal justice reform.

More than 560 students received degrees during the Virtual Commencement – 101 doctorate degrees,  130 master’s degrees, 328 bachelor’s degrees and four associate’s degrees.  The Commencement was held virtually because of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent stay-at-home orders.  Dominican College will be holding in-person graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 on campus, when it is safe to do so.

You can watch the entire Dominican College 2020 Virtual Commencement here.

May 17, 2020

Nursing Students Help on Front Lines in Battle Against COVID-19

Joshua Guzman, a senior nursing student, is working as a Patient Care Assistant at the Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, NJ.

Senior nursing student Joshua Guzman is one of the many Dominican College students who are on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19.  Joshua is a Patient Care Assistant at the Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, NJ, where he has worked since November 2018.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Joshua has taken on extra shifts and rotated between two COVID-19 floors, the Intensive Care Unit, the Critical Care Unit, and the Emergency Room.  He pointed out that nurses who have been on the job for 20 or 30 years have never seen anything like this pandemic, and he is experiencing it with them. “I definitely feel very blessed that I am able to help out,” he said. “Besides the fact that it’s obviously an experience that’s unfortunate, it’s definitely one that is going to be useful in my career.”

In addition to helping the nurses provide patient care, Joshua has also been assisting families in communicating with COVID-19 patients though face-time.  He said the use of technology is comforting to family members who are unable to visit patients, but who long to see and communicate with their loved ones.

April 28, 2020

Biology Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Research Grant

Biology Professor Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., has been awarded a $166,042 research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Biology Professor Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The two-year, $166,042 grant (award #1950018) will enable her to take a year-long sabbatical to work at the Bioinformatics Lab at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst.  Connors said she will be working with world-renowned computational biologist Li-jun Ma, Ph.D.

“I will be spending next year’s sabbatical with her and her research team to understand how to analyze genomic data with different sequencing technologies,” said Connors.  “I will synthesize that work such that when I come back to Dominican College I can utilize that technology with our students and our undergraduate researchers.”

In addition to furthering her research of microbial communities in Hudson River Valley freshwater streams, Connors said the grant will fund new equipment for Dominican College’s laboratories and provide stipends for two undergraduate research students at the College.  The grant from NSF’s Division of Environmental Biology is awarded to scientists who have accrued meaningful data about environmental issues and challenges faced in the U.S., but who need financial support to synthesize their work.

April 24, 2020

Clinton Named Coach of the Year by Met Basketball Writers Association

Joseph S. Clinton has been named the All-Met Division II Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year for the third time.

Dominican College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joseph S. Clinton has been named the All-Met Division II Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year by the Met Basketball Writers Association.

During the 2019-2020 season, the Chargers captured the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) North Division regular season title.  Clinton then guided his team to a second straight conference playoff championship and a second consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament.  The NCAA cancelled the regional tournament in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Clinton said he considers the Coach of the Year award “a team award” and he credits his coaching staff with doing a great job.   “The assistant coaches and players were awesome.  They put in a lot of hard work and it paid off for us.  We were disappointed they had to cancel the regional because this was a team that had the potential to get to the Elite Eight,” he said.  “I am really going to miss this senior class.  They won a lot of games in their careers and won two championships.”

This is the third time that Clinton has been named All-Met Division II Coach of the Year.  Clinton, who also serves as Director of Athletics, has 29 seasons and 857 games as the head men’s basketball coach.

 

April 21, 2020

Philosophy Professor Kevin Hermberg Awarded Lenssen Prize

Philosophy Professor Kevin Hermberg, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2020 Lenssen Prize by the American Association of Philosophy Teachers (AAPT).

Philosophy Professor Kevin Hermberg, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2020 Lenssen Prize for co-authoring the best article on teaching philosophy published in 2018 or 2019.  The Lenssen Prize is awarded every other year by the American Association of Philosophy Teachers (AAPT).  Hermberg co-authored “Diversity is Not Enough: the Importance of Inclusive Pedagogy” which was published in the June 2019 issue of Teaching Philosophy.

“There have been significant efforts within philosophy in recent years to diversify, but the common focal points of that work – who is teaching, what is taught, who is taught – are not sufficient for the task; our pedagogies must be fully inclusive if we are to attain true diversity in the discipline,”  Hermberg said. “In the article, we advocate for five principles of inclusive pedagogy: fostering a growth mindset, examining inclusive conceptions of authority, promoting transparency, encouraging flexibility, and, finally, continually promoting self-reflection for both students and teachers.”

The idea to write the article began as Hermberg worked with his co-authors – Melissa Jacquart, Rebecca Scott, and Stephen Bloch-Shulman – to prepare to facilitate a series of workshops and found themselves focused on the differences between diversity and inclusivity.  The Lenssen Prize is scheduled to be presented at the AAPT’s biennial conference.

April 15, 2020

College Unveils Commencement Plans for the Class of 2020

College President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien has announced that the Class of 2020 will be taking part in graduation ceremonies on campus, when it is safe to do so.

“At that time, probably in early fall, the graduates will wear their caps and gowns and be recognized in the presence of friends and family.  Since we are unsure exactly when and how we will be able to gather in person, we decided to also hold a virtual Commencement on May 17, 2020,” said O’Brien in a letter to graduating students. “This virtual Commencement is in addition to – not in place of — the in-person exercises that will take place with students, faculty, administrators, and invited guests.”

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the subsequent social distancing guidelines, students have been studying online since spring break.  Under the circumstances, the College decided that holding both virtual and in-person celebrations is the best solution to commemorate the wonderful accomplishments of the Dominican College graduates.

April 14, 2020

College Donates Equipment to Protect Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak

Dominican College has donated desperately needed personal protective equipment for healthcare personnel to use during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Thomas Nowak, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs, said the College donated  N95 masks, basic procedural masks, gowns, and gloves.

“Dominican College absolutely wants to do whatever it can to help during this difficult time.  We are well known for our health programs – from nursing to occupational therapy to physical therapy,” said Nowak.  “That puts us in a unique situation.  Many faculty and graduate nursing students are certainly involved on the front lines and anything the College can do to help out, we will certainly do.”

The personal protective equipment was donated by the College Departments of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Athletic Training.  Equipment was sent to the Javits Center, as well as local ambulance corps.

March 23, 2020

College Unveils New Finish in 4 Program

Dominican College has unveiled a new Finish in 4 program that guarantees students will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years.  If a student follows the requirements of the program, but is not able to graduate in four years, the College will cover the cost of any remaining courses needed to complete a degree.

“The Finish in 4 Program reinforces Dominican College’s emphasis to provide a high standard of education with a focus on graduating on time,” said Joseph Ahlstrin, Director of Admissions. “Keeping students on track to pay for no more than four years of college will result in significant savings for the student and their family. Especially when the average student takes more than four years to complete their bachelor’s degree. The same individual attention students feel in the classroom will be reflected in this program through advisement.”

Incoming freshman will be eligible to join the program beginning in August 2020.  The program is voluntary and requires that students sign a Student Participation Agreement.  Students agree to actions and behaviors that will help them to graduate, and the College provides them with an academic advisor to keep students on track.  For additional information about Finish in 4, visit dc.edu/freshmen-admissions/finish-in-4/

 

 

February 14, 2020

Dominican College Earns Military Friendly® School Designation

Dominican College has earned the 2020-2021 Military Friendly® School designation.

“The College is proud to support veterans and active duty service members in their efforts to pursue their educational and career goals,” said Brian Fernandes, Vice President for Enrollment Management.  “In addition to veterans’ benefit programs, the College also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program to further its commitment to veterans. Members of these groups enroll in our bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.”

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year using public data, input from student veterans, and responses to the Military Friendly® Schools survey.

Military Friendly’s National Director Josh Rosen stated, “Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to colleges creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to invest in programs to provide educational outcomes that are better for the military community as a whole.”

Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

For more information about Dominican College’s veterans programs, visit: https://dccollege2021.wpengine.com/admissions/financial-aid-2/veterans/  The 2020-­2021 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

 

February 11, 2020