Fifteen artists joined instructor Liz Haywood-Sullivan during the week of June 13-17 in a Plein Air Workshop sponsored by Studio Incamminati on CHC’s campus.
Haywood-Sullivan is a traditional representational artist who specializes in pastel landscapes. She led the group in exploring methods and techniques when using pastels to create representations of the natural landscapes as well as the lovely architecture on campus.
Studio Incamminati, School for Contemporary Realist Art, partners with CHC in a joint Art Studio program that offers students of both institutions the opportunity to combine a comprehensive liberal arts education with skills-based representational art training.
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Members of the CHC community joined in solidarity with the nation in mourning the tragedy that occurred June 12 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., through a candlelight vigil in the Rotunda on June 16.
“Loving God, you hear our cry amid the violence of the massacre in Orland, Florida — violence that is incomprehensible. You know suffering in all its immensity. Be with all who bear the wounds of this tragedy,” said Sister Roseann Quinn, D. Min, assistant to the president for mission and ministry, in her opening prayer. “May your kingdom come and your will be done in us all – and may our Chestnut Hill College community be agents of your healing and reconciling love — now and into the future.”
Following the prayer, candles were lit as the names of the 49 victims were read along with prayers for them and their families.
The vigil continued with intercessions for the wounded, all victims of terrorism and violence, first responders, family and friends, and everyone who was affected by the shooting. Following each intercession everyone responded with, “Goodness is stronger than evil.”
The vigil closed with a singing of the hymn, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi), after which Sister Roseann hugged everyone in the circle, spurring others to return the gesture with their co-workers.
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Ryan Murphy, director of service-learning, published an article in the magazine, Global Sisters Report, in June. Murphy is an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph and a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at Temple University where he is researching the experiences of American women religious in the years after Vatican II. His article can be read here.
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Neal Dhand, MFA, assistant professor of communication, had his new feature film, “Crooked & Narrow,” screened at the Brooklyn Film Festival in June. The international, competitive festival provides a public forum to advance interest in independent films and their production.
“I’m excited to premiere ‘Crooked & Narrow’ at the Brooklyn Film Festival and thrilled to be in such great company,” Dhand says. “Brooklyn is a fantastic launching pad for the movie as it heads out into the world. I’m really looking forward to seeing it in its proper, big-screen form, and also finally with an audience.”
Dhand is a writer, director and producer whose 2012 directorial debut, “Second-Story Man,” premiered at Cinequest 21 and was screened at festivals in Shanghai, Marbella and around the United States. He is currently in development on the sci-fi thrillers, “Zippers” and “The Lighthouse.” Dhand teaches screenwriting, directing and film history at CHC.
For more information about “Crooked & Narrow” visit https://www.facebook.com/CrookedNarrow/?fref=ts or http://www.brooklynfilmfestival.org/films/detail.asp?fid=1643.
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Dianne Krause ’03 SGS, instructional technology specialist for the Wissahickon School District, was one of 300 educators from around the country invited to a celebration at the White House in early May.
Krause taught in the SGS Instructional Technology program at CHC for several years after earning her IT Specialist Certification in 2010.
She was nominated for this honor by Robyn Hrivnatz, Microsoft’s senior manager of U.S. Education, who worked closely with Krause as part of the U.S. Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert program. Read more about Krause and her experiences in the Chestnut Hill Local.
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Patrick McCauley, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies, and Karen Wendling, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, attended Comic Con last month, where they promoted Harry Potter Weekend, the Harry Potter Academic Conference and the Quidditch tournament, the Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup — all coming during the weekend of October 21-22. Students and alums from the CHC Harry Potter Alliance and staff from Admissions helped out at the event that was attended by more than 81,000.
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Joe Garcia ’08 SGS, received the first Excellence in Male Leadership Award for eastern Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) during the Phillies game on June 16, after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Garcia earned his master’s degree in Administration of Human Services at CHC and is a captain on the Temple University police force, where he has worked for 28 years. His experiences, both personal and professional, in dealing with gender-based domestic violence have given him firsthand knowledge and insight into the minds of both abusers and those who have been abused.
The award was given to someone who has worked in and advocated for victims of domestic violence; he was nominated by the Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Garcia was honored for his lifelong commitment to ending gender violence and being the epitome of PCADV’s campaign to end such abuse.
Garcia also is a community activist who says that working with domestic violence has been a “lifelong process. My siblings and I witnessed this violence and are children of a survivor.” This experience led him to work with at-risk youth when he first started out as a Philadelphia police officer. “I worked with children from broken homes and their parents from similar situations as mine, which made it easier for me to relate to them.”
Garcia’s wife and daughter also are proud CHC alums. His wife, Diana M. Garcia earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1993 and her Principal Certification in 2008. His daughter, Christina, earned her master’s degree in Clinical & Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Therapy in 2014.
The Phillies organization has filmed public service announcements for PCADV, in which players and coaches say “No more” to domestic violence and sexual assaults. The PSAs are available at www.pasaysnomore.com and will air during pre-game broadcasts and on the scoreboard in
Citizens Bank Park during home games.
Garcia’s story was covered by NBC-10. See the clip here.