elmsnews

MARCH 2024

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend last Friday's Town Hall, in which members of the President's Cabinet and I provided an overview of key activities in the major organizational units on campus. For those who were not able to attend, the recording is included in this newsletter. Once again, I would like to thank the Staff Council for their efforts to coordinate this semester's Town Hall.

Given the extensive updates at the Town Hall, I will keep my message in this issue of the Newsletter brief. The thought that I want to share with you is that our collective resilience fills me with gratitude.

At the Town Hall, I shared some of the external and internal challenges that our community faces. In the midst of it all, Elms faculty and staff continue to demonstrate our collective resilience as we remain steadfast in the mission of helping our students to improve their lives and contribute to the lives of their dear neighbor. The senior class is already counting down to Commencement. Thus, in a few weeks, we will witness with pomp and circumstance the most tangible manifestation of our collective efforts- day in and day out, despite all challenges- to help the class of 2024 achieve their dreams and aspirations.

March 19th marked the official first day of spring and this weekend we will celebrate Easter. Spring brings a sense of renewal and Easter, for the Catholic church, is a celebration of resurrection and rebirth.

In this season of renewal and rebirth, I can't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for all your genuine focus on helping our students. Gratitude for your flexibility and collaborative efforts in embracing new opportunities and facing old challenges. Gratitude for the kind word, the door kept open, the discrete email of support. Gratitude for all the work done across this campus without fanfare. Gratitude for our collective determination to look to the future with realism, optimism, and purpose.

I am thankful to be a part of this community, and I am grateful that you choose to be a part of this inclusive community. In an ever-changing environment , we will continue to embrace change, together, without compromising principle.

In this season of renewal and rebirth, let me conclude by wishing you a joyful and restful Easter break and a happy Passover!

Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA

President

City of Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade 2024

FUTURE ELMSNEWS

Submission pieces can be shared with the following department contacts:

Academic Affairs - Deb Methe

Admissions - Michelle Proulx

Athletics - Sean Milbier

Finance - Nicki Goncalves

HR - Cheryl Smith

Marketing - Codi Alberti

Student Affairs - Anna Stabile

Institutional Advancement - Lynn Korza

The deadline for submissions is the third Friday of each month.

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS

Agape Latte April 4
Rev. Hugh Crean Lecture April 4
CEUE Book Signing April 5
Spring Open House April 6
Sexual Assault Awareness

Month Tabling April 8

Chamber After 5 Event April 11
Coffee Q & A-

Hosted by the D'Amour Center April 12

Lavender Graduation April 19
Donor Scholar Brunch April 21
Honors Convocation April 21
Experiential Learning Showcase April 26
Accepted Students Day April 27
E.L.M.S. Awards April 28

Check the Master Calendar for exact locations of each event.

MARCH 22 TOWN HALL

For those who were unable to attend the Town Hall on March 22 you can find the recording here. Advance the video to 45 minutes; 30 seconds

ATHLETICS

You can find all athletic team schedules at ecblazers.com and stay informed by following our athletic department Instagram @elmsblazers

ELMS COLLEGE BUSINESS CLUB 5K

The Elms College Business Club is hosting its first annual 5K Event! In conjunction with the Athletics Department and Division of Business, the Elms College Business Club 5K will play host to runners of all ages and abilities and will double as a fundraiser event for a great cause. There will be raffles and giveaways for participants! This year, proceeds and donations will be given to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to further support their research and treatment needs. Sign up now!

Event Date: April 20, 2024

Event Time: 9:30 AM (Runners) / 10:30 AM (Walkers)

Registration: 9 AM (Runners) / 10 AM (Walkers)

Event Location: Elms College, Maguire Center

COUNSELING CENTER

On Wednesday March 13th students were encouraged to stop by the Campus Center between 11-2 to discuss addiction (facts, fables and fallacies) with our Wellness Educator James and team of Peer Wellness Educators.

The Counseling Center also hosted Ms. Harper Hanratty the therapy dog! Students, faculty and staff were encouraged to stop by the Campus Center to spend some time with Harper, relieve some stress, and pick up some psychoeducational resources.

On Wednesday March 27th members of the campus community were encouraged to stop by the Campus Center between 11-2 to "shine a light on gaslighting" with our Wellness Educator James and team of Peer Wellness Educators. Students, faculty and staff were taught how to recognize the signs of gaslighting and develop techniques on how to effectively defend oneself against gaslighting.

A note from Nicole-

Thank you all SO MUCH for showing up to support these events! The outpour of support has been beyond anything we ever expected and for that we are incredibly grateful. We have one more formal program scheduled for April focusing on Imposter Syndrome. Otherwise we will be "calling all green thumbs" sometime toward the end of April to help us beautify the outdoor mindfulness/meditation space in the backyard of the Health/Counseling Centers by planting some perennials. Please keep an eye out for those details.

Lastly, if you missed an event don't fret! We are working on turning the handouts from all of the events into a year in review wellness book! We are aiming to have this book assembled and ready for distribution by Friday April 26th. More details to come!

DIVERISTY & INCLUSION

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

CAMPUS MINISTRY

We Come To Tell Our Story

On February 20, Campus Ministry hosted an interfaith panel and lunch with students entitled "We Come To Tell Our Story." Students responded to prompts and shared their faith stories and the role that their faith plays in their lives. All present agreed it was a moving and inspiring event!

Many thanks to our amazing student participants Joy Harris, Nia Major, DeAngela Fobbs, Kiyana Aldin, Cecilia Sanchez, and Isamar Perez!

SSJ Irish Gala

On Sunday, February 26, students volunteered at the annual Irish Gala at the Castle of Knights sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Thank you, students, for your gracious presence in helping out our founders in their fundraising event!

Spring Break Mission Trips

From February 29-March 8, students and chaperones participated in the Alternative Spring Break trips to El Paso, Texas, and Mandeville, Jamaica. A bonus for the trip was being able to meet up in Texas with Sr. Deirdre Griffin, former Director of International Programs, and Sr. Maureen Kervick in Jamaica, former Dean of Students and Director of Campus Ministry! Partnering with the Encuentro Project in El Paso and the Diocese of Mandeville in Jamaica, each trip opened the eyes of participants to the beauty of our dear neighbors in Texas and Jamaica and the challenges faced by many. Each year, the trips prove to be a transformative experience for all involved.

Remembering our Founders

On Tuesday, March 12, students and staff took time to write over 40 notes of appreciation to Sisters of St. Joseph residing in the healthcare facility in Framingham, MA. The Elms Community wished to send St. Joseph Day greetings to our sisters across the state!

Dear Neighbor

On Monday, March 18, Elms College hosted the play "Dear Neighbor," written by Sr. Jane Morrissey. With approximately 250 people in attendance, the play highlighted the stories of five women who helped shape the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph. We are so very grateful to our playwright, Sr. Jane Morrissey, and her editor, Pam Robbins, class of '66, for inviting us into this history and playing the part of Sr. Mary Dooley. Huge kudos to Elizabeth Gourde, class of 2023, for directing the play! And many thanks to Elms students and faculty, Malina Woodbury, '26, Isamar Perez, '26, Olivia LeBlanc, '26, and faculty member Dr. Jasmine Hall, for portraying Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the years. Austin Porter, friend of the college, served as the narrator.

Much assistance was also provided by Tiffani Ashline, Director of Student Accommodations and Support Services, Teresa Kuta Reske, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Director of the DNP Program, Curtis Maloney and Dan Kennedy of Media Services, and Stephen Walsh, Assistant Professor of Data Science.

St. Joseph Day Celebration

On Wednesday, March 20, Campus Ministry hosted local SSJs for Mass and lunch. We are so grateful for our founders and the impact they continue to have on our college community!

HUMAN RESOURCES

Elms College Employment Opportunities as of March 25, 2024

Applications are now being accepted for the positions listed below. Anyone interested in making a formal application should go to the Employment page on the Elms College website for a detailed job description and how to apply: www.elms.edu/employment

Open Positions

Administrative Assistant to the Social Sciences Division

Director of Financial Aid

Accounts Payable Coordinator

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Admissions Director of Operations and Marketing

Administrative Coordinator in CEUE

Director of Marketing

Assistant Professor of Finance

Slate CRM Administrator

Financial Aid Counselor

Public Safety Officer

Asst. Professor of Psychology

Gift Processor (PT)

Communications & Public Relations Manager, Marketing

Among the procedures which may be used to select personnel to fill vacant positions are a review of work experiences, qualifications, degrees/licensures/certifications, and employment interviews. This listing pertains to all current staff and faculty job vacancies at the College.

Elms College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment. It is the policy of Elms College to comply with applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity.

Welcome to new employees:

Michele Boucher - CE Travel Counselor Admissions

Dr. Andrea Hickson-Martin - Chair of Education

Elizabeth Howland - Admin Asst, Registrar

Best wishes to departing employees:

Casandra Feen - CE Travel Counselor- Admissions

Marjorie Kochanowicz - PT Gift Processor

William Russo-Appel - Communications & Public Relations Manager

ELMS IN THE NEWS:

February 16, 2024: BusinessWest published an article on the Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative that Elms College started in partnership with AIC, Bay Path University, Westfield State University, and the Springfield Public School system. Dr Dumay is quoted throughout the article.

February 16, 2024: The Highlands Current published an article that a student from Cold Spring, NY, made the fall 2023 Dean's List.

February 17, 2024: Masslive.com published an article with photos of Elizabeth Gourde '23, who was crowned the 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Colleen.

February 17, 2024: Hamlet Hub published a short article that a student from New Fairfield, CT, graduated in December.

February 18, 2024: Masslive.com published an article on higher education in western MA as part of their Outlook 2024 special section. Lukman Arsalan is quoted throughout the article. Story begins on page 20 of the PDF.

If you have a subscription to Masslive, here is a link to the article on Masslive.com: https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2024/02/outlook-2024-as-fewer-americans-pursue-college-schools-in-the-valley-get-creative-to-recruit-students.html

February 20, 2024: BusinessWest Daily blog published an article announcing that Elms is holding the 7th Annual Black Experience Summit on Feb. 23.

February 20, 2024: The Barre Montpelier Times Argus published a short article that a student from Barnet, VT, graduated in December.

February 23, 2024: Patch.com published a short article that a student from Granby, CT, graduated in December.

February 23, 2024: Patch.com published a short article that a student from Enfield, CT, graduated in December.

February 23, 2024: Patch.com published a short article that a student from Ellington, CT, and a student from Somers, CT, graduated in December.

February 24, 2024: Masslive.com published an article about Katherine Anderson ’01, MAT ’07, and her new novel "Murder at the Alma Mater" which is set at Elms College.

February 24, 2024: Reel to Real, a weekly TV show produced by the Diocese of Springfield, aired a story about the upcoming symposium titled "Mental Health Challenges in a Post-Covid World: A Pastoral Response." The symposium will take place at Elms on March 2 and is hosted by Elms College and the Diocese. The story begins at the 19-minute mark.

March 1, 2024: Chicopee Register published an article recapping the Black Experience Summit and including quotes from Dr. Dumay, Sr. Betsy Sullivan, and Kellie Carter Jackson. Story is on page 12.

March 5, 2024: Reminder Publications published an article on the St. Patrick Day Parade Colleens throughout the region. The article mentions Elizabeth Gourde '23, who was crowned the 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Colleen.

March 9, 2024: Reel to Real, a weekly TV show produced by the Diocese of Springfield, aired a story on the play "Dear Neighbor" written by Sr. Jane Morrissey and directed by Elizabeth Gourde '23, who was crowned the 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Colleen. The play will take place on Monday, March 18 at Elms. The story is the first segment of the show. Then at the 8:30-minute mark, there is a recap of the March 2 symposium titled "Mental Health Challenges in a Post-Covid World: A Pastoral Response," hosted by Elms College.

March 13, 2024: Masslive.com published a preview of the St. Patrick's Day parade and features Elizabeth Gourde '23, who was crowned the 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Colleen.

March 13, 2024: St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Springfield published a short article about the Rev. Hugh Crean lecture taking place at Elms on April 4. I posted this information on the Diocese's website for parishes to publish on their websites or in their weekly bulletins.

March 14, 2024: Daily Hampshire Gazette published a preview of the St. Patrick's Day parade and mentions Elizabeth Gourde '23, who was crowned the 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Colleen.

March 15, 2024: Chicopee Register published a short article that four students from Chicopee graduated in December. The story is on page 13.

https://www.turley.com/chicopeeregister/cr_archive/CHC031524.pdf

March 1, 2024: The Republican published an editorial that mentions Elms College and other local colleges as showing agility to attract new students. See image below.

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