Strengthening Alumni Connections
This past winter and spring, Mercy held receptions for Mercy and College of New Rochelle (CNR) alumni in Connecticut and California. The gatherings offered alumni a chance to reconnect, meet President Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., network and learn about exciting new developments at Mercy. From sharing memories of their college years to discussing ways to give back to Mercy, these events deepened the integration of the Mercy and CNR alumni communities, enhancing their connection to the University while fostering valuable connections for all attendees. They encapsulated the spirit of camaraderie and community that characterize Mercy and CNR alumni.
From the eastern shores of Connecticut to the sun-kissed beaches of Malibu, meet some of the attendees:
Connecticut
Connecticut Area Alumni Reception, hosted by Therese FitzMaurice, CNR SAS ’83, was held on Jan. 20, 2024.
Darryl Bullock ’73 (retired) and Melissa Petrie-Bullock, M.S. ’02
(principal for academics and technology at Mercy High School in Middletown, Conn.): they met at Mercy.
Q: How did your experience at Mercy influence you in your career trajectory?
Melissa: It allowed me to work on my administration degree while also working full time. I was exposed to and learned from professionals practicing in the field who were able to share practical and real experiences. With the strong foundation gained at Mercy, I had the tools I needed to be successful in my various administrative roles.
Darryl: I was provided an opportunity to learn about a variety of things such as student evaluations, teaching, working with regional accrediting groups and serving in membership at regional and national planning and research groups.
Q: Why do you think it is important to remain connected with Mercy and give back to the college community?
Melissa: I am proud of the advancements I have seen at Mercy while maintaining its core values and mission to a diverse student body. Mercy has been a continual presence in our lives, helped us to develop our professional skills and has continued to catapult its students into the futures that they dare to dream for themselves. Giving back to Mercy
is an important way to remain a part of that mission and ensure that it continues.
Darryl: I went to Mercy and saw how I grew, and I think that I am now watching the University grow, and as I’m able to assist, be it financially or in some other way, then I want to do so.
Therese FitzMaurice, CNR SAS ’83: attorney running her own law firm.
Q: How did your experience at CNR influence you in your career trajectory?
Therese: My CNR education prepared me for my career as an attorney by instilling in me the need to be thoughtful, inquisitive and creative, while always
remembering the importance of character and the spirit of giving.
Q: Why do you think it is important to remain connected with CNR/Mercy and give back to the college community?
Therese: Even though the CNR of the past is no longer as we exactly remember, the CNR/Mercy of the future fosters the same core values. As someone who benefited from a CNR education, I think it is important to ensure through continued involvement with the new CNR/Mercy that the same will be passed on to generations to come.
California
California Area Alumni Reception, hosted by Terry Davis, CNR SAS ’73, in Malibu was held on March 9, 2024.
Richard Burke, M.B.A. ’13: HR business partner at TikTok.
Q: How did your experience at Mercy influence you in your career trajectory?
Richard: Completing my M.B.A. at Mercy was a very impactful experience.
Initially struggling to find my path, I found a sense of direction from the graduate business courses at Mercy. Having a core understanding of each main business function, along with an understanding of how each function strategically works together, gave me a leg up in terms of my ability to consider how day-to-day business decisions in my specific function (HR) might influence or impact the rest of the company. These insights have been a differentiator for me in the corporate world and have given me the confidence to make bold recommendations to the businesses I support as their HR business partner.
Q: Why do you think it is important to remain connected with Mercy and give back to the college community?
Richard: Mercy University does a great job supporting those that might need just a little extra guidance to achieve their full potential. That’s the support
I felt as an M.B.A. student, learning
from faculty that consisted of full-time tenured professors as well as senior business professionals, many of whom chose to teach at Mercy because they also saw the hidden potential in Mercy students. It’s why I think it’s important to remain connected and give back to the next generation of students.
Mary Crescenzo, CNR: arts strategist/practitioner, author and public speaker on arts engagement for persons living with dementia.
Q: How did your experience at CNR influence you in your career trajectory?
Mary: In the mid 1970s I was one of the first graduate students at CNR to study art therapy. The profound influence
of my CNR studies later contributed to my pioneering work in developing comprehensive methods of arts engagement through all the arts and my subsequent “Care Through the Arts”
program for those living with dementia and their caregivers.
Q: Why do you think it is important to remain connected with CNR/Mercy and give back to the college community?
Mary: To remain connected with this community is a way to share perspectives, continue to learn from each other, offer suggestions and find ways to communicate the mission of this institution within our individual communities
where we live and work around the world. Giving back takes many forms, whether through sustained connection or financially.
Jennie Vega ’98: senior paralegal for the Walt Disney Company.
Q: How did your experience at Mercy influence you in your career trajectory?
Jennie: The degree I earned opened up new avenues for me in my career. I went from handling administrative tasks to drafting, negotiating and finalizing contracts in the entertainment industry.
Q: Why do you think it is important to remain connected with Mercy and give back to the college community?
Jennie: It’s imperative to stay connected with Mercy University in order to motivate the next generation to achieve similar goals. I look forward to connecting with Mercy students and providing them with a roadmap to success!