“What can stop you if a global pandemic could not?”

To our alumni and friends,

“What can stop you if a global pandemic could not?” commencement speaker John R. McConnell asked the Neumann University class of 2022. McConnell, founder and president emeritus of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, was asking a rhetorical question and did not expect an answer. But he got one.

“Nothing!” shouted one of the graduates, a response that elicited thunderous applause from the 2,000 people in the audience.

The exchange captured the resilience of our students, who persevered and succeeded despite the challenges of a historic health crisis. The moment was one highlight of an exciting day as Neumann University awarded doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees to 364 students at two ceremonies in the Mirenda Center on Saturday, May 14.

This issue of Accent chronicles those Commencement Exercises as well as other university achievements during the spring semester. Our men’s basketball team won the Atlantic East Conference championship. Players Jalen Vaughns and Tony James took home Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Jim Rullo was named AEC Coach of the Year.

A related story about the benefits of Division III athletics recognizes the legacy of Coach Len Schuler, who worked on campus for 38 years and passed away in February. Coach Schuler influenced thousands of students, and his compassionate approach will be missed.

This edition also explains a creative and critically important collaboration between Athletics and our Counseling Center for Wellness. The partnership includes Wellness Wednesdays, when members of the university’s counseling staff mix and mingle with team members to make students aware that counseling is available on campus and give students a point of contact with the Counseling Center.

Friends and alumni can learn more about these events and university plans for the future by joining me for friendly conversation as I travel up and down the East Coast this summer and fall. Dates and locations for this initiative, called On the Road with NU, are available at www.neumann.edu/ontheroad. Events will be added throughout the summer, so visit often to find a location near you.

Dr. Chris Everett Domes

President