A Note from the President

The campus recently hosted hundreds of students and their families during Family Weekend 2011. The weather could not have been more beautiful to walk around campus or catch one of the many athletic events. The Bonagany activities filled the streets of Allegany, N.Y., and a Sunday Mass celebrated the beginning of a prosperous 2011-2012 year for our students. During the weekend, I engaged with parents to discuss the formation of the St. Bonaventure Parents Advisory Council. I look forward to working with our parents and this committee as it develops over the next few years.

As I look to the future of St. Bonaventure University and the challenges facing higher education institutions - in particular, independent colleges and universities within the Northeastern United States - it is clear that there will be unprecedented changes to address. The institutions that manage these changes will need to be fiscally sound. The University's Five-Year Financial Forecast and Strategic Plan, created with cabinet members, represents a commitment by St. Bonaventure University to address these challenges.

In mentioning the strength of the University, our Board of Trustees is experiencing the enrichment of new members. We welcomed a wonderful cohort of eight members to begin their terms this September. Their names are noted below.

Included in the good news is the progress with the new School of Business building. We are four to five months ahead of schedule. The new facility will be opening its doors in fall 2013. Please visit our website at www.sbu.edu/bullishonbusiness and consider a “tweet”.

One of the most positive outcomes of the School of Business Campaign is the cadre of young alumni leaders becoming re-engaged. As I read the article on Nick Theodorakos, a 2001 finance major now working at thinkorswim by TD Ameritrade, I was reminded of how extraordinary our young alumni are. They are making a difference for St. Bonaventure University and our students on a daily basis. I want to thank Nick and all of you for your continued leadership and generosity through the Devereux Giving Society.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Devereux e-newsletter. Please consider “Begin with Bonaventure” and give this year to the 123rd Bonaventure Fund at www.sbu.edu/donate.

Pax et Bonum - Peace and Good to all!

Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D.
President of the University

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Julie Briggs Cunningham named director of annual giving programs

The Office of University Advancement is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Briggs Cunningham as director of annual giving programs.

Ms. Cunningham most recently served as executive director and chief professional officer of the Allegany County United Way, a position she held for more than 13 years. She successfully transitioned the company from a traditional fundraising model to a community impact business model. She mobilized a network of more than 100 volunteers and increased United Way campaign donations by 300 percent.

"Julie brings to St. Bonaventure vast expertise in the areas of fundraising, strategic planning and public relations," said Mary Driscoll, vice president of University Advancement. "She has hit the ground running and is a welcome addition to our staff."

An active volunteer in her community, Ms. Cunningham has been a board member of the Business and Education Community Coalition, vice president of the Literacy Volunteers of Allegany County, and a member of the Wellsville Central School Board of Education.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology/communications from Hiram College.

Ms. Cunningham resides in Wellsville, N.Y., with her husband and their two children. She can be reached by phone at (716) 375-2301 or by email at jcunning@sbu.edu.

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DID YOU KNOW?

The University welcomed new members to the National Alumni Association Board (NAAB):

Andrew Mantilia, '08
Senior Associate, KPMG LLP
New York City

Kate Torpey, '86
New York City

Marianne Glover, '75
Accounting Instructor, Daemen College
Buffalo, NY

Linda Cross, '71
Broker Support, W.H. Greene & Associates
Orchard Park, NY

Mary Quinn, '76
Office Clerk, Brockport Central School District
Brockport, NY

Art Roberts, '68
Independent Human Resources Professional
Rochester, NY

The University recently announced the appointment of five academic affairs administrators:

Peggy Yehl Burke, Ed.D., as associate provost and dean of the School of Graduate Studies;

Joseph E. Zimmer, Ph.D., as dean of the School of Education;

Carol M. Fischer, Ph.D., as associate dean of the School of Business;

Pauline Hoffman, Ph.D., as dean of the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication; and

Br. Basil J. Valente, O.F.M., as director of the Master's in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program.

The University also welcomed several new members to the Board of Trustees during the quarterly Board meeting in September:

Lana D. Benatovich of Buffalo, executive director of National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York

James Canty, '84, of Concord, Mass., a partner with Clough Capital Partners, L.P.

Kathleen A. Colucci, '77, of New Fairfield, Conn., vice president for finance of Integrated Operations at IBM Corporation

Rev. Thomas E. Conway, O.F.M., of Silver Springs, Md., a provincial councilor, director of Post-Novitiate Formation, and chair of the Finance Directorate for Holy Name Province, and the guardian at Holy Name College

Robert Crowley, '71, of Warren, Pa., retired senior vice president of marketing at Blair Corporation in Warren

Thomas Garvey, '74, of Summit, N.J., retired executive vice president with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank

William Purcell III of Nashville, Tenn., special adviser in the Office of the President at Harvard University and former director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government

James Stitt of Olean, CEO and president of CUTCO Corporation

In addition, Albert Horton, '66, of Louisville, Ky., and Vero Beach, Fla., joined the Board in March and began his first full term this month. Horton is chairman and CEO of Horton Fruit Company.

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SHARING OUR STORY focuses on the people, programs and places of St. Bonaventure University.

The Bonds of Bona's
For East Aurora, N.Y., native Nick Theodorakos, '01, the bonds with St. Bonaventure only grow stronger as the years go by.

From late nights working in the Rathskeller as an undergrad to a fast-paced career in the options and futures markets of Chicago, one constant in Nick Theodorakos's life has been a strong connection with St. Bonaventure.

A weekend getaway brought Theodorakos to Bona’s for the first time, but it was the personalized attention in the classroom that led him to enroll as a student.

“That drew me in,” Theodorakos said. “Most schools talk about the personal touch, but at Bonaventure it was 100 percent obvious. It really felt like they honestly cared.”

Read more>>

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2011 Holiday Valley Golf Outing: A Success

More than 70 members of the Devereux Giving Societies and Corporate Athletics Sponsors gathered for a day of golf and good food at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, N.Y., in August.

Honors on the greens included:

First Place - Thomas Frungillo, Terry Palmer, ’03, Craig Melvin and Steve Mest, ’91.
Second Place - Emily Sinsabaugh, John Markle, Tom Donahue, ‘76, and Dan Donner.
Closest to the Pin - Dan Donner, Hole 9
Longest Drive - Alex Peck, ‘06, and Barb Questa.

A barbeque and warm thanks from Sr. Margaret wrapped up the day.

Be certain to mark your calendar for next year's outing: Wednesday, August 8, 1 p.m. shotgun start at Holiday Valley.

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