Providence College Podcast

Friar Foundations, a summer bridge program for incoming students, enters its sixth year this July. The program’s first and only director, Kaitlyn O’Malley, associate director of academic services, says she is gratified to “watch the journey, watch the development” of up to 25 students each summer. In this episode, she joins graduate assistant Tyre Richards ’19, a former participant and two-year mentor in Friar Foundations, in discussing the educational, social, and personal rewards of a unique program that galvanizes the student participants and the College community.

Yards are important social and recreational gathering places for families and friends. Chris Lambton ’99 understands that better than most people. The professional landscaper, media personality, and lifestyle expert craves working in and transforming yards, bringing smiles to property owners throughout Cape Cod. A star with his wife, Peyton, on HGTV’s Going Yard and a host of two DIY Networks shows, Lambton discusses the joys of reality show and “real life” landscaping, creating sustainable yards, and advice he gives to people eager to revamp their property.

Sister Larraine Lauter, O.S.U. ’19Hon. has a lot to celebrate this year. She was honored at PC’s Commencement for work with her Kentucky-based organization, Water With Blessings, which has distributed more than 96,000 water filters to hundreds of thousands of families in 47 countries. In this episode, Sister Larraine discusses the organization’s successes in the fight to rid Haiti of cholera and other achievements of her 40 years as an Ursuline sister.

Dan Devine ’04, staff writer for The Ringer, is long on analysis and opinion and short on sleep as the NBA finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors unfold. Devine, who has covered the NBA for a decade, joined us on the podcast as the 2018-19 season was starting.

His rich, powerful voice has elevated the concert sounds of opera companies and symphonies from all over the United States. He’s sung at Tanglewood and at Boston’s Symphony Hall. He’s as comfortable singing masterpieces from Mozart and Beethoven as he is vocalizing contemporary compositions like Brother Nat. And oftentimes, he’s singing in a foreign language. The passion for singing only grows deeper and more fulfilling with every score for tenor and opera singer Neal Ferreira ’02. His appreciation for the gift of singing and performing and for the people and life experiences that have shaped his career resonates in this edition of the Providence College Podcast.

Providence College awarded degrees to the Class of 2019 on Sunday, May 19 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in downtown Providence. The commencement ceremony capped a series of weekend events, and we are pleased today to present some of the highlights. 1:00 We begin at Saturday’s Academic Awards Ceremony, where Professor Ted Andrews provided greetings from the faculty. A 2001 PC graduate, Professor Andrews is an associate professor in the Department of History and Classics. He was recently announced as the 2019 winner of the Joseph R. Accinno Teaching Award, an honor accorded each year to the faculty member who best exhibits excellence in teaching, passion and enthusiasm for learning, and genuine concern for students’ academic and personal growth. 11:07 Professor Andrews was followed by graduating senior Paul Lafond, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Earning the highest academic rank in the Class of 2019, Paul achieved a perfect 4.0, majoring in quantitative economics and minoring in math. This coming fall, h

In this podcast, we talk with Marta Martínez ’79, the founder and executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts. An oral historian and nonprofit leader who has chronicled the stories of Latinos who settled in Rhode Island, Martínez will receive an honorary degree at Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2019. The Texas native shared her memories of her undergraduate days and of helping young people, including PC students, become historians in their communities.

Like the proverbial curtain, the reputation of the College’s theatre program is rising. PC students are annually winning awards and being recognized at the regional and national levels of the prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival competitions. Nearly three-dozen students are studying theatre as majors or minors, and dozens more are involved in acting and myriad behind-the-scenes roles in mainstage productions. In this episode, James “Jimmy” Calitri, associate professor of theatre and director of theatre, dance, and film, and one of his students, actor Dan Jameson ’21, discuss recent success in the ACTF, the unique opportunities theatre provides for students, and the passionate, close-knit culture of the program.

Jim Crowley, who just completed his third season as the Friars’ women’s basketball coach, is not about to get caught looking. “As a coach, you can never be satisfied,” says Crowley, who led PC to its best season in nine years — one featuring 19 victories and a trip to the round of 16 in the WNIT. Listen in as Crowley talks about the character and growth of the 2018-19 team, his expectations for a team that returns 10 student-athletes next season, recruiting Division I talent, and his coaching style.

Marine biologist Dr. Jack Costello spent most of his 30th year at PC studying ctenophores, also known as comb jellies, on a research trip to American Samoa and Bermuda. On this podcast, he discussed his research on gelatinous organisms such as jellyfish, research life at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., and the changes he and his family have made to limit their impact on the oceans.

As Holy Week begins, a podcast featuring two presentations from a recent four-part Lenten retreat for faculty and staff. Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80, PC’s president, first gives a talk on the subject of prayer. That is followed by a presentation by Rev. M. James Cuddy, O.P. ’98, vice president for mission and ministry, on almsgiving. The College’s Office of Mission and Ministry organized the retreat, presented on consecutive Tuesdays at the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies.

Wednesday, April 10 is Friars Give, Providence College’s annual day of giving. Sharing her insights is Cate Latz ’13, assistant director of prospect research and management in the Office of Institutional Advancement. One who has studied, taught, and worked at PC, Latz discusses the Friars Give initiative, giving by young alumni, and philanthropy in general. For more information about Friars Give, and to participate on Wednesday, visit http://friarsgive.org.

How does Providence College help students engage with learning through research, internships, and community service? Discover the Center for Engaged Learning with the center’s director, Dr. Jennifer L. Van Reet, associate professor of psychology, and assistant director Amy Goggin ’93 & ‘13G. They discuss the goals of PC’s Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship and Creativity, now in its 10th year, and how this year’s celebration will honor the legacy of Dr. Stephen J. Mecca ’64 & ’66G.

The Friars’ tradition-rich women’s ice hockey team is coming off a 24-win season, and the energy is palpable as we speak with first-year Head Coach Matt Kelly and goaltender Clare Minnerath ’20. Kelly calls out season highlights, reflects on his previous work with USA Hockey, and identifies the program’s ultimate goal: a national championship. Minnerath discusses the demands of being a Division I student-athlete and the support she has received at PC in battling cancer.

Our guest is Rev. Humbert Kilanowski, O.P., a member of the math and computer science faculty who is in his first year at Providence College. Father Humbert has assembled a team of ten students to work with him on a baseball statistics research project, which will form the basis of the group’s work in a research course, Sabermetrics: The Mathematical Analysis of Baseball, next fall. In this podcast, Father describes his research premise, which involves studying Cape Cod League data with an eye toward developing a modified algorithm for the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) statistic. With opening day looming, Father also shares the reasons for his lifelong interest in baseball and baseball statistics, along with his predictions for the upcoming major league season.

Megan (Miller) Oteri ’96 brings a decidedly creative approach to learning. The former special education, elementary education, and language arts teacher takes education to a light, hands-on, and fun level as the CEO and founder of Brick Scholars (https://www.brickscholars.com/lego-serious-play/). The mobile learning lab works with corporate and executive teams, organizations, business schools, and children in grades K-12 to inspire learning and to find solutions to specific needs. She uses LEGOS and other teaching tools to enhance understanding and problem solving, easily earning trust with her style and passion. Listen in as Oteri speaks about the multifaceted approaches to her work, the importance of creative learning, and her integration of art in teaching.

Our guest in this episode is Jill LaPoint, Providence College’s deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator. A member of the Friar athletics leadership team since 2000, LaPoint shares the story of her careering coaching and athletics administration, including the things that inspire her most about PC and Friar sports. She also provides insights into the administration of a Division I athletics program, and she discusses the impact of Title IX on sports, and on her life.

Being sensitive to and caring for her young patients is just as important as keeping their teeth and gums healthy, says pediatric dentist Brianna Muñoz, D.M.D. ’12. A 2016 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Muñoz was profoundly impacted by a service trip to Chile with dental school peers. Follow along as she speaks about that experience, the research she is conducting as the 2018-19 Samuel D. Harris Research and Policy Fellow, and how her exposure to the humanities at Providence College influenced her and her career path.

Live, from the basement of Joseph Hall….it’s WDOM, 91.3 FM. At least it was in the early 1980s, when Marty Moran ’83 and Tory Ryden ’86 were among a group of students playing music, providing news updates, and broadcasting hockey games. Like many of their contemporaries, Tory (a journalist and communications professional) and Marty (a professional voice-over artist) used those experiences, combined with their PC educational experiences, as the foundation for careers in communications. This podcast previews an Alumni and Family Weekend panel discussion, also featuring John Hennessy ’82, on the impact and legacy of WDOM, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m.

Thomas Zinzarella is a Providence College sophomore from Connecticut who is working hard to prepare for a career in sports media. In addition to broadcasting games on WDOM radio and the FOX Digital Network, he has landed a play-by-play job for the upcoming Cape Cod League baseball season. In this podcast, Zinzarella talks about his broadcasting role models, his extensive networking activities, and those PC faculty members who are helping him work toward achieving his goals.