Of Glory, Of Praise

              A dominating feature of the early 1990s was the initiation of a capital campaign entitled The Campaign for Saint Rose. Overseeing this enormous six and a half million dollar undertaking was the newly appointed vice president for development and alumni relations, Jeanne Kobuszewski. This native midwesterner came aboard in January 1990, bringing with her a zest for hard work, an infectious enthusiasm for success and an unrelenting commitment to achieving goals. She and the College believed firmly that success would lead the institution into the 21st century armed to face all challenges. Ably assisted by Mary Leonard Talbot '60, director of development, the campaign's goal was to ensure the educational viability of the institution for immediate needs and beyond.
Campaign forces were marshalled among administrators, faculty, staff and alumni. By 1991, nearly two hundred alumni were directly involved in some phase of the capital campaign. Division chair was Margaret Dugan Sandman '40 who supervised the alumni role in the campaign. There was also a Campaign Council of eighteen members co-chaired by Mervyn Alphonso '75 and Anne Dusten '54. The Alumni Special Gifts Committee was made up of area chairs includingjoan Nagle Dunham '82, Cecilia Schillaci Fano '50, Margaret Kavanaugh '60, Margaret Ahearn Oathout '67, Kelly Mansfiefd Waechter '84 and Ann Sullivan Wagner '55. Philomena Veneroso Smith '61 was in charge of the general phase of the campaign.
With the passage of about a year, The Campaign for Saint Rose was brought to alumni in all parts of the nation so that all graduates would have an opportunity to participate in this worthwhile endeavor. Yet, before any attempts were made to bring the solicitation process to alums, Dr. Louis C. Vaccaro, Vice President Jeanne Kobuszewski and others in the Development Office traveled far and wide, personalizing contacts with alumni from Maine to California. Dr. Vaccaro shared with them information about academic offerings, enrollment statistics, renovations completed and plans for future expansion, all of which were part of the vision of the College as it moved toward the year 2000. These meetings were designed to close the gap of years away from the Albany campus and engender a feeling of inclusion and warmth. Knowledge of events and happenings on campus created a renewed sense of college community. Thus, when the appeals for financial support did emerge, the rapport established with each and every alum made a difference. For many, there was a new feeling of having a vested interest in what the institution was and what it could become.
To achieve the vision of educational viability and excellence, the physical development of the College campus had to face further renovation, refurbishment and expansion. Once again, there was a pressing need for more bricks. The cycle was continuing to evolve. Central to the entire project was the creation of forty thousand square feet for instructional and support space. Already completed was the new music building on the Madison-Morris property. For approximately one and a half million dollars, this facility offered a performance area of thirty-six hundred square feet, boasted a state-of-the-art recording studio which was immediately recognized as one of the most advanced in the entire Capital Region, and faculty offices accommodating just about every possible need a music professor could hope for. Music majors were ecstatic.
By fall '92, the carriage house, also on the same property, was renovated to house Drama Director and Assistant Professor of Drama Ken Krauss' new theater replacing the diminutive and charming Twickenham Playhouse. Krauss had come to Saint Rose upon Maria Sz. Aronson's retirement, bringing a different style, but one which led to the same superlative results
The dream of The Campaign for Saint Rose is realized with the completion of many buildingprojects, most especially the Science Center pictured above. Alumni and benefactors from across the nation participated.
Below: Alums work for the success of the Campaign. In New jersey, the Special Gifts Committee reviewed plans for The Campaign for Saint Rose. Featured are (seated left to right): Shirley Morse '49, Genevieve Flynn 44, Josephine Schillaci Farinella '50, Anne Hollinger '59, (standingjrom left to right) Roanne Schmidt Angiello '66, Marilyn Hones, Vice President jor Development and Alumni Relations Jeanne Kobuszewski, Agostina Schillaci Giamartino '44, Elizabeth Sullivan '83 and Judy Best '67.