Philadelphia University 4201 Henry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19144-5497 215.951.2700 • www.PhilaU.edu PRESIDENT Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Patricia M. Baldridge M’15 VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS Jesse R. Shafer DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND ANNUAL GIVING Elona Lakuriqi STAFF EDITOR Stefanie Anderko CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Debbie Goldberg Veronica Montefusco DESIGNER Nicole Bonavitacola M’16 ALUMNI RELATIONS COORDINATORS Elona Lakuriqi Jenny Mejia Innovator Alumni Update is produced by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations in collaboration with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Feedback about this issue can be sent to Marketing and Public Relations, Re: Innovator Alumni Update, 4201 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144 or via email to Innovator@PhilaU.edu. In this issue: 2 • SPRING 2014 Dear PhilaU alumni: Welcome to our inaugural issue of Innovator: Alumni Update. Every good organization has to have a mission, right? At PhilaU, ours is pretty straightforward: Empower graduates to build meaningful careers and be leaders in their industries and communities. Oh, I forgot—enable them to make the world a better place while they’re at it, beginning freshman year. We wanted to launch a communiqué that focuses squarely on that mission. In other words, the inspiration for this new publication is you. Whether you graduated in 1949 or 2009 (or a few years before or after), you’re a testament to PhilaU’s signature approach to education, i.e., learning that is active, collaborative, transdisciplinary and intimately linked to industry—in other words, learning that’s like life. Today, we’ve branded that approach “Nexus Learning.” The name might be new, but the approach has been part of our institutional DNA since 1884, and it’s as effective as ever: In a recent survey of graduates, 96% were employed in their fields of choice or in graduate school. Whether it’s the metropolitan-flavored offerings for women by rising-star fashion designer Ann Yee ’04, or the professional wisdom John Thackrah ’53 gained through three decades with one of the world’s largest companies, you’ll see the power of a PhilaU education personified time and again in the pages that follow. We’ll also provide you with an update on some of the neat things your alma mater is up to, and how you can get involved. Speaking of getting involved, please know you have a standing invitation to visit campus. Take a tour; have lunch (on us) in the Common Thread or, best of all, pop in on a class or two. You’ll be prouder than ever to be a Ram. With appreciation, Jesse R. Shafer Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations P.S. Here’s a special “shout out” to Joe Lynch ’52; a thorough reading of this issue will make it clear why that’s in order! PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY INNOVATOR ALUMNI UPDATE // Jesse Shafer with Jeff Bruner ’73 at the All Alumni Gathering reception during Homecoming Weekend 2013 3 // What’s Now: Alumni Edition 6 // Q&A: Fran Shammo ’83 8 // Recent Events 9 // PhilaU Pinboard 10 // Alumni Profile: John Thackrah ‘53 11 // In Memoriam 12 // What’s Next We love staying in touch with our alumni! Feel free to reach out to us with any ideas, questions or concerns. Also, we are already in the process of collecting class notes and pictures for the next issue of Innovator. Please send letters, class notes and photographs to Alumni Relations, Attn: Elona Lakuriqi, 4201 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144 or online at www.PhilaU.edu/alumni.
Alumni Update Spring 2014
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