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| New Alumni Relations Director Welcomed | back to top | |
She has more than 20 years of experience working with academic and theatrical institutions, has organized numerous major alumni events, and in her free time, is an accomplished singer, actress, and director of musical theatre. Meet Michelle Rocheford Johnston, Southern’s new director of alumni relations. Johnston brings a wealth of experience to the position, from both the academic and business sectors. Most recently, she served as the marketing manager for two large engineering firms in the New Haven area. Previously, she held several increasingly responsible positions with academic and theatrical institutions, including director of annual giving at Sacred Heart University, director of institutional giving at the Long Wharf Theatre, and assistant/acting director of alumni relations at Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass. Johnston succeeds Patricia J. Rooney, who served as acting director of Southern’s Office of Alumni Relations for 18 months. |
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| Celebrating Excellence | back to top | |
Southern’s Alumni Association honored six members of the university community for their exceptional achievements at the 2007 Alumni Awards Banquet. The event was held on April 12 in the Grand Ballroom of the Michael J. Adanti Student Center. The Alumni Citation Awards, which recognizes alumni who have excelled in their fields, was presented to two graduates: Rich Schroeder, ’93, and Frances Vandermeer, ’88. • Rich Schroeder, ’93, who joined ESPN in 1998, has served as a producer at the company since August 2000. Among his responsibilities are producing shows for “ESPNews,” “ABC World News This Morning,” ESPN’s Internet sites, and the College Television Network, which is aired on campuses throughout the U.S. Schroeder also is a producer assistant for ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” and the highlight supervisor for all studio shows, including “Sportscenter” and “NFL Primetime.” He has received an Emmy Award for his work. Schroeder has worked in television, feature films, music videos, and commercials, including projects for 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista/Disney, Miramax, MGM, Nickelodeon, USA Network, Trimark Pictures, and Warnervision Entertainment.• Fellow Alumni Citation Award recipient, Frances D. Vandermeer, ’88, is the head volleyball coach and physical education instructor at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. She also serves as the assistant women’s golf coach. Named the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2006, Vandermeer was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the New Agenda: Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002.She has guided her teams to considerable success, including NESCAC Volleyball Championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, and the NCAA Volleyball Championship Elite Eight in 2002, 2003, and 2004. She has coached 13 All-American Award recipients. Among the highlights of the Award Banquet was the induction of four Southern graduates into Southern’s Alumni Sports Hall of Fame. • Inductee James Barber, ’64, M.S. ’79, is the director of student supportive services at Southern and has served as head coach of the Owls’ women’s track and field team for the past 22 seasons. In addition to his Southern coaching responsibilities, Barber is active with USA Track on the national and international levels. In 2002, he served as the head coach of the USA women’s team at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Cup competition in Madrid, Spain. In 1997, he guided the U.S. women to the team title in the World Indoor Championships in Paris. As a student, Barber served as captain of the Owls’ football team in 1963 and captain of the track and field team in 1964. A committed community activist, he is the founder of a youth track program in New Haven that has benefited thousands of area youths. Barber, the 2005 NE-10 women’s outdoor Coach of the Year, previously was an assistant coach with the men’s track team for 19 seasons. He received the Service Award from the U.S. Women’s Track Coaches Association and Southern Alumni Association’s Alumni Service Award.• The honorees also include Richard “Rick” Leddy, ’71, who was Southern’s associate director of athletics and director of sports information for 36 years. Leddy, who retired from the university on Jan. 31, 2007, is now the public relations director for the National Association of Basketball Coaches. (See related story on page 29.)• Associate Professor Emeritus of English Thomas McDermott was inducted posthumously for his contributions as the throwing coach for the Owls’ men’s track and field team. The student athletes excelled under McDermott’s leadership and guidance, although only two had trained in throwing events prior to attending Southern. During McDermott’s 20-year tenure at the university, the Owls won 10 Div. II national championships — nine in the hammer throw and one in the 35-pound weight throw. In addition, four of McDermott’s student athletes were named champions in the 35-pound weight event in the IC4A, a track and field and cross country association that includes 110 member schools. McDermott coached 32 All Americans at the NCAA Division II level. In addition, five of his athletes were named NCAA Div. I All Americans. (One athlete received the honor in two-consecutive years.)• Fellow inductee, Patricia Panichas, ’74, M.S. ’78, 6th yr. ’85, was head coach of the Owls’ gymnastics team for 28 seasons, guiding them to an impressive 239-79 won-lost record. Panichas retired in 2004, but remains a member of Southern’s exercise science faculty. Under her leadership, the Owls won nine Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships. She earned coach of the year honors in 2001 and 2002.Panichas has judged numerous international competitions, including the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic, the 2003 World Cup finals in Stuttgart, Germany, and the 1997, 1998, and 1999 American Cup. A National Junior Olympic all-around champion in 1968, Panichas was a member of the 1970 U.S. World University Games team in Italy. She placed third at the 1970 U.S. Gymnastics Federation championships on the balance beam. |
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| Sharing Southern Memories | back to top | |
For more than 21 years, university photographer, Joy Bush, M.S. ’98, has captured the spirit of Southern through her striking images. On Jan. 31, she retired from the position, leaving as her Southern legacy a visual record of the moments that marked the university’s last two decades.Bush’s work played an integral role in all aspects of the university’s public affairs programs. Beyond campus, her work has appeared in the Village Voice, The New York Times, Connecticut Review, and many other publications. She is represented in the permanent collections of the Cincinnati Museum of Art, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., the Yale Medical Group Art Place, and many private collections. Bush plans to focus on her successful freelance business. Her work may be viewed at www.joybushphotography.com. |
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| A Good Sport | back to top | |
For 36 years, Richard “Rick” Leddy, ’71, the associate director of athletics and sports information director at Southern, has been the Owl’s ultimate chronicler and cheerleader, sharing the latest news about Southern athletics with the media and the community. On Jan. 31, he retired from the position, having completed the second-longest tenure of any sports information director in New England. He leaves Southern to become the public relations director for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).In 2004, Leddy was the recipient of the Cliff Wells Appreciation Award for outstanding service to the NABC, where he has served as board secretary and media consultant since 1985. Leddy was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 and into Southern’s Athletic Hall of Fame in April. |
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| Catch Owls' Athletics on Screen | back to top | |
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| Calling all Owls! Remember and reconnect at Homecoming 2007 | back to top | |
SCSU vs. Stonehill College - Activities throughout the day. Game starts at 1 p.m. - On campus- A fun-packed celebration for - the entire family. - Alumni tent party with entertainment and refreshments.- The Owls’ Homecoming football game.- Parade of floats. - Children’s games and activities. - Reunion celebrations for classes ending with a “2” or “7.” And much, much more!
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