- (Note - This press release has been modified to reflect the departure of a fourth finalist for the presidency). Three finalists have been named for Fitchburg State University’s next president. The candidates, selected in a nationwide search, will visit the university campus in the coming weeks to meet with campus constituencies including open forums with the general public. The university’s Board of Trustees will vote on the next presidential appointment and submit the name to the state Department of Higher Education for final approval. The next president will succeed Dr. Richard S. Lapidus, Fitchburg State’s 11th president, who has led the institution since 2015. The finalists will each spend two days on campus meeting with students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as open sessions for external constituents. The finalists, in order of their scheduled campus visits, are: Dr. Karim Ismaili, Executive Vice President and Provost at Bridgewater State University. The public forum for Dr. Ismaili will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 11 in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall. Dr. Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at the University of Connecticut-Hartford. The public forum for Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez will be at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall. Dr. Donna Souder Hodge, Vice President of Operations & Advancement at Colorado State University, Pueblo. The public forum for Dr. Souder Hodge will be at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall. The national search was led by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees earlier this year, chaired by Trustee Eric A. Gregoire, himself a 2011 graduate of the university. The search committee included representation from the campus and community and worked with executive search firm WittKieffer to identify candidates for the post. “The opportunity to lead Fitchburg State generated substantial interest and today I'm proud to report the recommended finalists each embody the characteristics required of our next president,” Gregoire said. “These accomplished academic leaders come from diverse backgrounds and impressive experiences that distinguish themselves and with an understanding of our special role as a regional comprehensive university prepared to lead Fitchburg State to a dynamic and bright future. There are substantial opportunities and significant challenges the next president will contend with but they will be forging ahead with a campus and broader community energized by the opportunity to work together ensuring Fitchburg State will flourish for the benefit of our students present and future.” Additional information on the search may be found at fitchburgstate.edu/presidential-search.
- University to dedicate biotechnology labFitchburg State University will cut the ribbon on its new biotechnology research laboratory and host a panel discussion on the present and future of the life sciences in Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 10. The biology and chemistry laboratory investments were made possible by a $750,000 grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The event will include poster presentations by undergraduate students who have engaged in research sponsored by the Moderna Charitable Foundation. The day’s programs will conclude with a MassBioEd networking event for undergraduate students and industry professionals. The programs will be held in the university's Antonucci Science Complex at 333 North St. The events start with a ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 3:15 p.m. and the career fair at 4 p.m. “We are excited to celebrate the opening of this new laboratory space and to share the research performed by our undergraduate students,” said University President Richard S. Lapidus. “These life-changing opportunities and resources were made possible by generous support from our partners, and we are thrilled to show them the impact of their gifts.” The grant-funded laboratory equipment will serve all biology and chemistry students, as it will be incorporated into all aspects of the curriculum, from introductory core classes to upper-level electives and independent research. The modernized equipment will give faculty the ability to train students in some of the most sought-after biotechnology skills. Students will also be better prepared for workplace experiences, including internships. In addition, the grant will also serve students taking the newly formed data analytics minor, allowing Fitchburg State to develop new coursework to diversify its offerings and attract more students to this growing field. The research grant, facilitated by the university’s Biology and Chemistry Department, targets traditionally underserved populations to engage students in mentorship and high-impact practices as an undergraduate research community. The program is designed to help students navigate a post-COVID higher education landscape by increasing the retention and graduation rates of traditionally underserved populations. Receiving a stipend and academic credit, the student research fellows will work 10 hours per week, receiving one-on-one mentorship and instruction on cutting-edge techniques in their fields of interest. Participating students are paired with faculty mentors to conduct credit-bearing research. The students in the program are paid for all aspects of their work, including performing experiments in the lab, analyzing data, preparing for weekly presentations, and career development activities. At the end of the Spring 2024 semester, the 12 students in the inaugural cohort will present their work at the university’s annual Undergraduate Conference for Research and Creative Practice on April 18, as well as a statewide research conference.
- Tasting event will explore cultural exchange of food between Italy and U.S.Renowned author Fred Plotkin will guide a tasting tour of the scambio - the exchange of food between Italy and America - at Fitchburg State University’s Center for Italian Culture dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 in Hammond Hall. The program is presented as part of the center’s yearlong series Nuovo Mondo, exploring a century of migrations to and from Italy. Plotkin, co-author of Rick Steves' Italy for Food Lovers, will discuss how American corn made its way into Italian polenta and how a popular sandwich on the streets of Palermo turned into a classic of New Orleans. Guests will savor enduring mealtime customs and wine pairings as they learn about the cross-cultural influences of food. Plotkin has long been a Fitchburg State favorite, appearing in person and online to curate and lead appetizing and entertaining tasting tours of Italian regions and traditions. Plotkin will be remote for this event, but will be guiding the discussion and tasting in real-time. Tickets for Scambio are $55, inclusive of paired wine, and may be purchased online. Additional wine and beer will be available for purchase at the event on April 12.
- Fitchburg State earns Military Friendly designation for 2024-25Fitchburg State University announced that it has earned the 2024-2025 Military Friendly® School designation. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. The rankings measure institutions’ ability to meet thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students, and specifically for student veterans. Fitchburg State has been designated a Military Friendly® institution every year since 2015. “We are proud of our ongoing designation as a Military Friendly institution,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “The designation reflects our continuing commitment to students who are pursuing academic degrees after serving our country. We are honored to engage in this work, and appreciate the valuable experiences these students contribute to our campus environment.” More than 150 student veterans are enrolled at Fitchburg State this semester. For more information about the university’s student veteran programs, visit fitchburgstate.edu/veterans. About Military Friendly ® Schools The Military Friendly ® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. About Fitchburg State University Fitchburg State University public institution located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, dedicated to integrating high-quality professional programs with strong liberal arts and sciences studies. Founded in 1894, the university has more than 30 undergraduate programs and 22 master’s programs.
- Nuovo Mondo series continues with screening and discussion with filmmakerThe Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State University will continue its 2023-2024 programming series, Nuovo Mondo: A Century of Immigration from and to Italy, with a series of film screenings that focus on recent immigration to Italy from diverse perspectives. Admission to the screenings, all of which will be held in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall, is free and open to the public. The events will also include a virtual workshop in April for those interested in applying for Italian citizenship. The film series continues at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 with Maka (2023), which tells the story of Geneviève Makaping's life in Italy and perilous migration journey. The Cameroonian-Italian anthropologist and writer is the first black woman to serve as the editor of a newspaper in Italy. Inspired by Makaping's book Reversing the Gaze, the film offers a poignant reflection on displacement, identity, and belonging. Filmmaker Simone Brioni Following the screening, Associate Professor Kevin McCarthy of the Communications Media Department will facilitate a virtual question and answer session with the film’s writer, Simone Brioni. The center will also host a virtual workshop on applying for Italian citizenship at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16. Information on signing up for the forum, presented by the Vermont Italian Cultural Association, will be posted to the CIC’s programming page at fitchburgstate.edu/nuovo-mondo.
- Former Bruin Shawn Thornton to speak on April 8Shawn Thornton, the former Boston Bruin who played on two Stanley Cup-winning National Hockey League teams, will speak about his life during an appearance at Fitchburg State University on Monday, April 8. Thornton, currently a senior vice president with the Florida Panthers, will present "Fighting My Way to the Top" at 7 p.m. Monday, April 8 at Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission to the talk is free and open to the public. The discussion will be moderated by Fitchburg State students Toivo Kramer, Samuel Rennick and Trenton Skaggs, all of whom are student ambassadors for the university’s School of Business and Technology as well as members of the Fitchburg State Falcons ice hockey team. Thornton played professional hockey for 20 years, concluding his playing career as a member of the Panthers on April 8, 2017. A two-time Stanley Cup champion (2007, 2011), the native of Oshawa, Ontario, appeared in 705 NHL games with the Panthers (2014-15 to 2016-17), Boston Bruins (2007-08 to 2013-14), Anaheim Ducks (2006-07) and Chicago Blackhawks (2002-03 to 2005-06) recording 102 points (42-60-102). During his playing career with the Panthers, Thornton became the only player in professional hockey history to begin his career after expansion and play in over 700 NHL games and 600 American Hockey League games. He is the only player this century to record 10 fights, score 10 goals and win the Stanley Cup in the same season. He founded the Shawn Thornton Foundation in 2013 and serves as its president and director. The Shawn Thornton Foundation is dedicated to helping find cures for diseases close to his heart, specifically Parkinson's and cancer. Through his foundation, Thornton holds an annual “Pucks and Punches for Parkinson's” golf event and does charitable work throughout Boston and South Florida. Thornton joined the Florida Panthers executive staff on June 1, 2017, after playing three seasons with the club over his 20-year professional hockey career. His memoir, “Fighting My Way to the Top,” was published in 2021. The talk on April 8 is sponsored by Fitchburg State’s Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Office of Student Affairs, and the School of Business and Technology.
- Education programs receive national accreditationThe Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) has awarded full seven-year accreditation to the initial licensure programs in the Fitchburg State University School of Education. After reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review, the AAQEP Accreditation Commission issued the decision at its February 23 meeting along with the following rationale: The Commission evaluated the program’s evidence for each AAQEP standard and determined that all four standards are met. The program recruits and prepares candidates to work effectively as professional educators who can adapt to different contexts and continue to grow professionally. Fitchburg State University maintains program quality by analyzing evidence of its effectiveness and making revisions to benefit candidates. It works with stakeholders and partners to strengthen the P-20 education system by addressing local needs as part of preparation. “Congratulations to Fitchburg State and to all of the faculty, staff, and stakeholders who have achieved their goal of national accreditation by AAQEP,” said AAQEP President and CEO Mark LaCelle-Peterson. “The School of Education works closely with its partners to anticipate schools’ needs and to develop and diversify the teacher pipeline.” “We are proud of this acknowledgement of the rigorous standards to which we hold ourselves in service to all of our students, including those in the School of Education,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “Fitchburg State was founded in 1894 as a teacher-training institution, and this accreditation is another demonstration that we continue to evolve to respond to the changing needs of our students and the communities they will serve as educators.” “On behalf of the faculty and administrators in the School of Education, I am proud of this acknowledgement of our efforts, and the continued investment of time and resources into the highest standards for our students and future teachers,” said Dean of Education Nancy Murray. “This accreditation recognizes our efforts in our ability to work proactively with partners to address local needs, with a focus on early exposure by prospective candidates to support increasing accessibility and diversity in the teacher pipeline.” National accreditation assures the quality of professional preparation programs through a nongovernmental, nonregulatory process of self-study and peer review. This standards- and evidence-based process serves two broad aims: accountability and continuous improvement. The AAQEP model is also designed to honor local context and foster innovation and collaboration among institutions. AAQEP currently has members in 38 states and other jurisdictions with over 190 educator preparation providers participating in the accreditation system. About Fitchburg State University Fitchburg State University, a public institution located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, is dedicated to integrating high-quality professional programs with strong liberal arts and sciences studies. Founded in 1894, the university has more than 30 undergraduate programs and 22 master's degree programs, and 6,000 full and part-time students. About AAQEP Founded in 2017, AAQEP is a membership association and quality assurance agency that provides accreditation services and formative support to all types of educator preparation providers. The organization promotes excellent, effective, and innovative educator preparation that is committed to evidence-based improvement in a collaborative professional environment. AAQEP is nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Visit aaqep.org for more information
- Instrumental and choral ensembles perform Music Mega Mix on March 26The Music Mega-Mix, Fitchburg State University’s showcase of bite-sized performances by its Community Orchestra, Concert Band, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and Modern Band will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday March 26 in Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission is free and open to the public. The ensembles consist of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. The Community Orchestra is conducted by Professor Hildur Schilling. Associate Professor Jonathan Harvey conducts the Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, and the Concert Band and Modern Band are conducted by Assistant Professor Amy McGlothlin. Learn more about the university's music offerings at fitchburgstate.edu/music.
- Grants support augmented reality investments in nursing programKaleigh Visbaras Nursing students at Fitchburg State University will benefit from cutting edge technology and next-level simulations thanks to generous grants from the Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation and the George I. Alden Trust. The grants will fund wearable technology to let students and instructors utilize the latest augmented reality software as well as stipends for nursing and game design students to create and deploy new scenarios for nurses in training. (See more images from the simulation training on the Burg Blog.) “This really is cutting edge,” said Associate Professor Deborah Benes, chair of Fitchburg State’s Nursing Department. “We’re giving our students the opportunity to work with equipment they never would have seen before that’s being used in the workforce right now.” The Marieb Foundation was formed by Fitchburg State graduate Elaine (Nicpon) Marieb from the Class of 1984, a nurse turned textbook author. Her nursing-focused text on anatomy and physiology remains a key volume in the field, according to Professor Benes. With the grant funds, Fitchburg State has invested in technology from Gig XR, creators of a holographic healthcare training platform wherein students and faculty may interact with lifelike virtual patients in augmented reality. Wearing special headsets, the students can see and interact with virtual patients in the classroom or simulation lab, as well as analyze anatomy and physiology. “Elaine Marieb’s emphasis as an educator and author was innovation, she continually strived to improve the learning experience and to approach nursing education from a student’s perspective,” said Martin Wasmer, chair of the Marieb Foundation. Benes adds, “I think that’s what keeps her work so relevant. We have to keep growing and changing.” The George I. Alden Trust has also been a foundational partner in Fitchburg State’s commitment to ensure its nursing students graduate career-ready. The latest grant, supporting the investment in virtual and augmented reality technology, is the second such funding from the Alden Trust dedicated to excellence in nursing at Fitchburg State. The grants recognize the university’s regional role as a powerful driver of workforce development. A team from Gig XR recently came to campus to begin training students and staff on the technology and its potential. Nursing students Kaleigh Visbaras and Ryan Aker will be among those working with game design student James Livingstone to design simulations that will be used by future students. The students will be paid for their contributions through the Marieb Foundation grant. Visbaras, a senior from Somerset, said her first reaction upon trying out the headsets was envy. “I am so jealous of the nursing students who will be here next year, and beyond,” she said. “It will be so helpful for students. There are so many options that GigXR will help you explore.” Visbaras said she found the augmented reality interface very intuitive to use, and predicts her fellow students will quickly get accustomed to the technology and use it to accelerate their learning and understanding. “We all learn in different ways,” she said. “This will really help visual learners. In a scenario, when you figure out what’s wrong is the best feeling in the world. You’re thinking on the spot and using abilities you didn’t think you had. It’s like a mystery game, and this will be great for students just building that foundation.” Ryan Aker Aker, a senior from Templeton, agreed. “As a visual learner, this technology would have absolutely enhanced my learning as a student tenfold,” he said. “This technology has the potential to be great for students, and for patients.” Aker is a non-traditional student, who came to Fitchburg State after 10 years in the Army. He began his medical training in the military, and looks forward to completing his bachelor’s degree in nursing this semester. “It’s one of those careers where you can do so many different things, from critical care to mental health. And there are always job opportunities.” Visbaras and Aker are hopeful they can lend their insights to the creation of meaningful simulations and scenarios that students can experience using the Gig XR technology. James Livingstone attends an augmented reality training session. Livingstone hopes so, too. The Raynham native is spending his capstone internship embedded in the Nursing Department, where he will be working with Visbaras, Aker and others to create simulations using the Gig XR platform. “I’m used to working in teams with other game design students, where this will be more client-driven,” said Livingstone, who has worked during the early weeks of the semester helping to get his collaborators proficient in the tools they will be using. He is confident the interdisciplinary skills he is developing will be helpful when he is pursuing professional opportunities after graduation.
- Alumna Mary Cardona-Foster to compete on The Amazing RaceMary Cardona-Foster, a 2018 graduate of Fitchburg State University, will be among the competitors on the upcoming season of the globe-trotting, Emmy Award-winning reality series “The Amazing Race.” Cardona-Foster, a Waltham native who works as a marketing manager, is a longtime fan of reality TV. And “The Amazing Race” was her late mother’s favorite television show. “I applied on a whim, and got a casting call,” she said. With her father, Chris Foster, as her teammate, they went through a battery of psychological examinations, vaccinations, and other trials just to qualify to appear on the show. They were selected as alternates, but Cardona-Foster chose to look at the bright side. “I’m a positive person, so I thought, ‘That’s not a no.’” They were flown to Los Angeles and stood by for several nights, until they got the call that they were indeed being added to the season’s cast of competitors. Cardona-Foster is forbidden from discussing how she and her father fared on the show - viewers will have to tune in when the season premieres on March 13 - but was happy to say it was a meaningful experience. “Doing the show with my dad was very special,” she said. “He’s always been my biggest supporter.” Cardona-Foster returned to the Fitchburg State campus in February to start work with current students in the Communications Media Department. For Professor Randy Howe’s class on communicating project design, Cardona-Foster will be serving as the client for whom teams of undergraduate students will be preparing marketing materials and campaigns. Later this semester, she will pick the winning proposal. She said it was gratifying to be back on campus, where she honed the skills that she uses in her professional life every day. She majored in Communications Media with a concentration in professional communications and a minor in Spanish. As an undergraduate, Cardona-Foster also worked with the Athletics Department and was among 40 students selected from across the country to participate in the NCAA Convention Division III Student Immersion Program. “I loved Fitchburg State because I felt like a big fish in a small pond,” she said. “I appreciated the real-world experiences I had. Now, it’s nice to give back to the university with my knowledge and experience.” “The Amazing Race” kicks off Wednesday, March 13 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).
- Load more...