Quinnipiac Magazine

Featured Articles

Carolyn and John Torello stand in front of the Old Bishop Farm sign in Cheshire, CT

A son’s life strengthens the Torello family’s bond with Quinnipiac

John Torello walked to the altar at St. Bridget of Sweden Church in Cheshire to eulogize his son, Michael Torello, who died July 30 at age 15 after a lifelong illness.

Alumni Accomplishments

Illustration that depicts the plight of Haitian asylum seekers on the U.S. border

Silenced at the border

As a child, Quinnipiac law student Djess Jacques loved to climb his grandmother’s mango tree. From his perch, he could see over the cement wall into the neighbor’s yard where he and his friends would play soccer and hide ‘n’ seek.

Student Experience

A group stands shoulder to shoulder and smiles

Real-world applications inspire QU entrepreneurs in national competition

As butterflies spun circles in the pit of her stomach, Meghan Crocetto ’24, MBA ’25, stood before a three-judge panel to pitch her dancing invention. Her idea was one of many they’d hear before the day was out.

Unique Learning Opportunities

Illustration of bullying faces emerging from mobile device

Break the chain: Professor uncovers surprising link in cyberbullying cycle

We live in an era when school-age bullies are no longer confined to the playground. With online social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YikYak and Instagram, the simple tap of a finger can broadcast an unkind word or threatening message to an unseen populace, breaching the safety of even the most secure homes. It’s a channel that simultaneously emboldens the bully and amplifies the pain of the bullied.

A Quinnipiac Education

In this Issue

Smiling alumni pose for a selfie in front of a wall with Quinnipiac colors and images

Alumni Accomplishments

First-ever Bobcat Weekend showcases community, QU spirit

Mark and Mindy Plostock ’71 embody the promise that a Quinnipiac education is for a lifetime. This fall, they joined more than 3,000 alumni, students and their families to celebrate Quinnipiac’s enduring community spirit at the first-ever Bobcat Weekend.

Ambition Unleashed

National campaign celebrates Quinnipiac’s stories

For nearly a century, Quinnipiac University has changed lives and brought students together to grow as enlightened graduates, citizens and leaders. Together, they’ve drafted a legacy of success, passion and innovation that continues to this day.

Judy Olian and Jeffrey Flaks pose for a photo after the press conference

Unique Learning Opportunities

Quinnipiac announces pioneering partnership with Hartford HealthCare

Hartford HealthCare and Quinnipiac University announced a transformative university-wide academic partnership that will build the healthcare workforce of tomorrow and will grow student pipelines across a wide range of professions to address long-term talent needs for the state of Connecticut and beyond.

Students at work work on their mechatronic creation in an engineering lab

Market-Driven Knowledge

A new name to better reflect new growth and new direction

To reflect the growth of the computing industry, Quinnipiac’s School of Engineering was recently renamed the School of Computing and Engineering.

Headshots of Mike Hopkins and Anne Sweeney

The Way Forward

As digital subscribers increase, so does the need for content that reflects them

While COVID-19 has certainly impacted the consumption of TV shows around the world, it’s also required digital entertainment companies to work even harder to reflect diverse audiences and to tell their stories.

Award recipients smile as a group during the ceremony reception

Celebrating Success

University celebrates teaching, service to students

The Quinnipiac community came together to celebrate the extraordinary efforts, innovation and exemplary efforts of our faculty and staff at the 19th annual Center for Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students Awards.

Sports

Tori Isaacson wears her USA fencing clothes and stands by her wheelchair holding fencing equipment

Ambition Unleashed

OTD candidate emerges as a top parafencer

Winter 2022

Victoria Isaacson, OTD ’23, is way too busy leading their life as a competitive fencer, fencing coach and doctor of occupational therapy student to give much thought to the genetic condition that has impacted their life since high school.

Mckenna Haz wears her commencement robe outside in a field of flowers

Ambition Unleashed

Rugby alumna grows eco-focused clothing company

Winter 2022

For Mckenna Haz ’21, the ocean is life. Having grown up on Vancouver Island on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, the entrepreneur has transformed her dreams of a world free from plastic pollution into a quickly growing business — with multiple international clients.

Two people escort a person walking with headphones

Unique Learning Opportunities

New technology tested at Quinnipiac helps blind athletes run independently

Winter 2022

Jim McCollum was astonished, even excited. As a runner who is blind, McCollum ran along a taped line at Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus and followed it almost perfectly. For one-tenth of a mile, he ran in the chilly fall air without being tethered to a support runner.

Class Notes

Class Notes: Winter 2022

Catch up with your fellow alumni and check out career updates, announcements, births, weddings and other milestones.

Alumni

Stacy Lynch outside the New York State Capitol building

Alumni Accomplishments

In her father’s footsteps

As Stacy Lynch, JD ’02, settled into her new role as chief of staff for New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin last fall, she was keenly aware that a primary election in June will determine how long she keeps that position.

David Pohorence smiles outside on a sunny day

Alumni Accomplishments

Finding purpose, passion and drive

David Pohorence ’94 grew up believing he could be anything he wanted to be. His parents instilled a belief system in him and his six brothers and sisters that hard work, family and faith are a solid foundation for a good future.

Carolyn Colley, JD '13, poses with her family after graduation

Alumni Accomplishments

Law alumna draws on personal loss to help prevent veteran suicide

After the devastating loss of her brothers, Carolyn Colley, JD '13, devoted her career to working with veterans to access the mental health benefits they need. Like her brothers, Colley is a veteran who served her country in the U.S. Air Force.

About the Magazine

Brian Koonz

Editor

Andrea McCaffrey

Associate Editor

Autumn Driscoll

Photographer

Vol. 31, No. 1

Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Daryl Richard

Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications

James Ryan ’02

Editor

Brian Koonz, MS ’20

Associate Editor

Andrea McCaffrey

Staff Photographer

Autumn Driscoll

Contributors

Stephanie Busillo; Jamie DeLoma ’06, MS ’11; Steven Justo, MBA ’20; Brendan O’Sullivan ’21, MS ’22; Leah Overbaugh; Cheryl Riello ’79; Susan Salomoni; Lisa Scrofani, MS ’13; Jessica Simms ’21, MS ’22; Christine Smith, MS ’19; Tad Sterling; Janet Waldman, MS ’09

Photographers and Videographers

Samuel DeFusco ’23, MS ’24; Danielle DiMauro ’21, MA ’22; Sofia Lomax ’24; Peter Gallay ’06, MS ’11; Lauren Geary; Dan Passapera ’23; Justin Schussler ’10, MS ’15; Crandall Yopp Jr. ’21

Quinnipiac Magazine is published by Quinnipiac’s Office of Marketing and Communications for alumni, parents and friends of the university.

Quinnipiac University admits students of any race, color, creed, gender, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, and disability status to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Quinnipiac University does not discriminate in these areas in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

To contact us, email magazine@qu.edu

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