Founders’ Week Makes Albertus Magnus College 95^th Anniversary Official

“95 and Thriving” is Week-long Series of Events

There’s so much to celebrate for the 95^th Anniversary – both virtually and in-person – the Fearless Falcons at Albertus Magnus College can’t fit it all into one day.  That’s why the annual Founders’ Day has been extended to an entire week:  Monday, September 21 through Friday, September 25, concluding with the presentation of the VERITAS Awards, given to an individual or group whose dedication complements and supports the College’s mission.

Albertus first opened its doors on September 24, 1925.  This year’s theme is “95 and Thriving.”  As a Catholic College whose mission is deeply rooted in the Dominican tradition, the Four Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service are driving forces at Albertus.

Due to Coronavirus restrictions, all of the events will be livestreamed or pre-recorded and active on www.Albertus.edu/founders-day at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.  For those participating in the in-person events, masks, social distancing, and a signed consent form for contact tracing is required.

Monday, September 21

Opening Presentation:  “Alive @ 95” with Sr. Susan Olson, O.P., Dominican Sisters of Peace, Associate Professor of Music, University of Texas at Austin; Visual Art Show:  “Resiliency and Adaptation” by Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling Faculty and Students.

Tuesday, September 22:  The Pillar of Study

Disputatio:  A Dominican methodology to explore differing ideas through listening and dialogue:  “That All Lives Matter Should Not Replace Black Lives Matter” and “The US Should Pay Reparations to the Descendants of Enslaved People.”

Wednesday, September 23: The Pillar of Prayer

Centering Prayer and Mindfulness Prayer.

Thursday, September 24:  The Pillar of Service

11:00 a.m.:  Harvest and Cleanup of the Community Garden (790 Prospect Street, behind Siena Hall); Food Collection for St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen and Food Bank.

Friday, September 25:  The Pillar of Community

1:00 p.m.:  Judging of Class Adirondack Chairs; Class Kickball Competition and Ice Cream Truck.

3:00 p.m.:  Presentation of the VERITAS Awards, presented to those who meet the following criteria:  Gives service to the College and the community; promotes the pursuit of truth (VERITAS); exemplifies the Dominican values of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service; values holistic education; witness to a life of integrity based on Judeo-Christian tradition; and embraces principles of social justice in promoting common good.

About the recipients:
Albert De Fabio (posthumously)
Al De Fabio taught at Albertus Magnus College from 1976-2003 and served as chair of the performing arts portion of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts while also teaching.  He was renowned at the College for his leadership, direction, and management of Act2 Theatre beginning in 1988 until its closing.  Dr. De Fabio wrote this about his work with the theatre, “I believe the critical acclaim and growing audience that Act2 Theatre has been fortunate to receive over the past five years (1998 – 2003), bringing over 3,000 attendees to the campus per year is testimony that I have remained professionally competent.”
  
De Fabio received his Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Drama from Sacred Heart University in 1968 and a Master of Arts with a concentration in Drama from Fairfield University in 1971. Among his many affiliations were Off-Off Broadway, and the Greater New Haven Arts Council. 
 
Ronald S. Waite (posthumously)
Ronald S. Waite served as tenured Associate Professor of Communications and Chair of the Department of Communications since 1975.  His areas of teaching focused on promotional communications, film/video studies and production, media writing, mass media theory/history, and speech communications. At Albertus, Dr. Waite was chair of the faculty assembly numerous times and served on multiple committees.  He also served as the varsity tennis coach (1994-2006) and led the women’s tennis team to the first post-season tournament for any of the College’s athletic teams. 
 
Waite earned his B.A. degree in Sociology from Fairfield University, his M.A. in Communications from Fairfield University, and a Certificate in Advanced Study in Art (film and video) from Wesleyan University.
 
Patricia A Yeaman
Dr. Patricia A. Yeaman, who retired from the College in June 2020, taught at Albertus Magnus College since 1980 as an assistant, associate, and full professor and was chair of the Department of Sociology since 1992. Professor Yeaman taught a wide variety of courses including Introduction to Sociology, Minorities and Diversity, Introduction to Women’s Studies, Research Methods, Social Work:  History and Practice, Contemporary Social Problems, Urban Sociology, Sociology of Communications, Sociology of Religion, and Social Work:  Populations and Policies.  Among the honors she received are the Bree Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching at Albertus Magnus College and the Sear’s Award for Excellence in College Teaching.
 
Yeaman received a B.A, in Sociology from Emmanuel College, a M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Fordham University, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.

Please note:  The planned Class of 2020 Commencement Exercises that had been scheduled for Sunday, September 27 have been postponed.  President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D., announced, "In postponing our May ceremony to September, our collective hope was that the pandemic conditions would ease to the point where our traditional ceremony would be advisable and feasible.  Unfortunately, in looking out a month ahead to September, the evidence just does not suggest we will be able to host anything close to a normal Albertus Magnus College ceremony.  However, with a spirit of optimism and in honor of our milestone anniversary year, we now will plan to host a ‘dual’ commencement ceremony for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 on our planned 2021 date, Sunday, May 16."