“This shift represents an investment in our marketing and communication efforts,” Tetlow said. “That work raises Fordham’s profile, connects with our alumni and donors, and most of all, increases our enrollment. Investment in this area will pay dividends across the University.”

For decades, the University’s marketing and communications team has been a department within Development and University Relations, a division that encompasses about 120 professionals who work in fundraising, event planning, and alumni engagement, in addition to marketing and communications. The latter represents nearly a quarter of the division, but it is responsible for a wide range of enterprises, including advertising and marketing, communications and media relations, photography and video, social media, and website management. 

With the creation of a new vice president role, Tetlow has now placed University Marketing and Communications directly in her cabinet, where she can address the team’s needs. The division will be led by Lehmann, formerly the associate vice president for marketing, who has led the University’s marketing operations since 2017. She will serve as the interim vice president while the University conducts a national search led by Lerzan Aksoy, Ph.D., dean of the Gabelli School of Business and a professor of marketing. In the coming months, the search committee will ask for input from the University community.  

“I am excited to assume this role and thankful to the president for her confidence in our team,” Lehmann said. “We’ve very eager to tell Fordham’s story on a national and international stage.”

Though the marketing and communications functions are equally crucial, said Tetlow, the search for a permanent vice president will focus on someone with more experience in marketing, since this position will have a more direct impact on Fordham’s finances. Lehmann’s counterpart in University Marketing and Communications, Bob Howe, will remain in his current position as associate vice president for communications and special advisor to the president. 

Budget-wise, this position will replace the vice presidency for Lincoln Center. (Frank Simio, the previous vice president for Lincoln Center, plans on retiring on June 30.) 

Tetlow said the new shift will help to enhance Fordham’s reputation, both locally and around the world.

“The remarkable team in Marketing and Communications will continue to grow Fordham’s profile, engage our alumni, and most of all, help us to recruit our best and brightest students,” Tetlow wrote in a Feb. 17 email to the University community. “My hope is this new focus will lift and support their work.” 

“Faith & Hope has created opportunities for students of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to come to Fordham, earn a world-class education, and seek employment,” said Susan Conley Salice, FCRH ’82, one of three campaign co-chairs and a first-generation college graduate herself. “These scholarships open doors to students who may not otherwise be able to attend, and give them the opportunity to transform their lives.”

The campaign raised $175,311,288 from April 2014 to June 2019, surpassing its original goal of $175 million. Donations funded existing scholarship funds and 197 new scholarship funds for students—including Fulbright scholars, community leaders, and first-generation college students.

“Scholarships are at the heart of Fordham’s mission, and are central to the Jesuit notion of service to the human family,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. “Scholarships transform individual lives, of course, but in democratizing education and knowledge, they also help create a more just world and a more equitable society. I am deeply heartened that so many of our generous alumni and friends agree, and I am forever grateful for their openhearted and openhanded support.”

Breaking Records Across the University

The Faith & Hope campaign achieved historic results for Fordham. The 2017 fiscal year was the most successful single year of fundraising in the University’s history, at $75.8 million. This year, the University’s Development and University Relations (DAUR) division was recognized with a 2019 Educational Fundraising Award for sustained excellence in fundraising programs over the past three years, putting Fordham’s advancement effort among the top 90 colleges and universities in the nation.

At the 2019 Fordham Founder’s Dinner, nearly $2.6 million was raised for Faith & Hope—specifically the Founder’s Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. It was the second-highest amount in the event’s 18-year history, with 100% participation from the Board of Trustees and the President’s Council. During the years of the campaign, the annual event raised nearly $12 million to support Founder’s scholars.

Nearly a million dollars was raised on Fordham’s third annual Giving Day last March—the most successful Giving Day to date. More than 3,000 participants—alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of Fordham—raised $933,689 in 1,841 minutes. Most of the donations, which ranged from $1 to $100,000, came from the U.S., but some came from as far as Australia and the Philippines.

One of the campaign’s biggest accomplishments was the creation of the Maurice and Carolyn Cunniffe Presidential Scholars Program—one of the most selective merit scholarships available to Fordham students. Three years ago, the scholarship program was established through a $20 million gift from Maurice J. (Mo) Cunniffe, FCRH ’54, and Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe, Ph.D., UGE ’62, GSAS ’65, ’71. Over the next decade, it will fund a Fordham education—tuition, living expenses, internship, research, and study abroad opportunities—for dozens of talented students.

“Each year, Mo and I spend time with these students who are young stars with bright futures,” said Carolyn Cunniffe, a Faith & Hope co-chair. “We hope that they will contribute back to society far more than Mo and I can.”

Campaign co-chair Darlene Luccio Jordan, FCRH ’89, said Faith & Hope supported Fordham’s core values and identity.

“This campaign really went to the central mission of Fordham, which is our commitment to higher education and educating first-generation students, and keeping Fordham accessible, regardless of a student’s ability to pay,” she said.

Student Impact 

At the heart of the campaign were Fordham students and the donors who helped fuel their future.

In interviews and speeches spanning the past several years, students have described how a Fordham scholarship has changed their lives.

They talked about how a Fordham education helped shape their career paths. For some students, the University’s Jesuit values strengthened their Catholic faith, while others from different faiths said they felt welcome in the University community. Students also praised Fordham’s core curriculum, which encouraged them to connect with their neighbors in the Bronx. And they spoke about how Fordham helped them understand who they are and what legacy they want to leave behind.

Caroline Koenig, the daughter of seventh-generation French bakers, knew that attending Fordham would be a challenge. In high school, she experienced an injury that dashed her hopes of winning a college track scholarship. Fordham initially gave her a generous financial aid package, but it wasn’t enough. She was taking extra classes to graduate early and considering a commute from Connecticut to save money—that is, until she was awarded the Peter and Carol Howe Endowed Scholarship. It helped her land a summer internship at KPMG and identify her passion for forensic accounting.

“My parents taught me the value of hard work and holding onto your dreams. Because of them and because of Fordham, now I can follow my own,” Koenig said.

The campaign also made a college education possible for Fordham students who, in the face of overwhelming student debt, found it difficult to continue their education.

One of them is Muhammad El Shatanofy, the son of immigrant parents who dreamed of becoming a doctor. Throughout his time in Fordham’s neuroscience program, he wondered how he could pay for his undergraduate education without incurring debt. After all, he’d soon be paying for four years’ worth of medical school.

When he found out he was awarded the Founder’s Scholarship, which would pay for almost all his outstanding tuition costs, he was thrilled.

“It really has given me that extra motivation, so that now I just want to accomplish so much,” said El Shatanofy, who went on to mentor 12 high school students from disadvantaged high schools and volunteer at Mt. Sinai Hospital. “I have this drive to make other people happy that they invested in my education and my future.”

For many students, scholarships have left an emotional impact on their lives.

“There’s just no words I can give to express how thankful my family and I are. It takes a big load off our shoulders, and … I’m just so thankful because I wouldn’t be able to go to Fordham without you and apply to grad school,” Jeannie-Fay Veloso, GABELLI ’17, tells her scholarship donor, Robert D. Daleo, GABELLI ’72, in a campaign video. Seconds later, the two alumni embrace in tears.

What It Means to Give 

Faith & Hope’s scholarships were made possible through donations both big and small.

Among the campaign’s biggest donors, in addition to the co-chairs and their spouses, were Brian W. and Kathleen H. MacLean, both FCRH ’75; Susheel Kirpalani, LAW ’94; William J. Loschert, GABELLI ’61; Alice Lehman Murphy, the McKeon Family Foundation; Grace A. Dorney-Koppel, UGE ’60, and Ted Koppel; and Alex and Jean Trebek.

Many of them said they give back because they want to support the next generation of leaders and help families break out of the cycle of poverty through education. Some donors once stood in the same shoes as the students they now support.

“I came from a family where my father was a factory worker and my mother worked as a seamstress. I had two other brothers. So if I was going to do it, I was going to do it on my own—and my brother, too,” said Daleo, honorary campaign chair and chair of the Fordham Board of Trustees, who established a scholarship in his brother’s name. “We both went to Fordham. We both had scholarships, worked and paid our way. That scholarship helped me [and]  made the difference.”

Rosemary Santana Cooney, Ph.D., established a scholarship with her husband Patrick in recognition of her 42 years as a professor and associate dean at Fordham, her belief in generating a diverse student body, and her Puerto Rican heritage. Her scholarship will support minority students across Fordham.

“I was always aware that I was different—an outsider—because I tend to be dark, like my father. And I always worked extra hard because I figured as a woman and a minority, you had to work extra hard … I know, sympathetically, how hard these kids who try to make the transition are having to work. And I wanted to make sure that some of them were getting some help,” said Cooney.

For many donors, their Fordham experience gave them not only academic, social, and life skills—it showed them what they’re capable of.

“It’s taught me things about myself that I didn’t even know before,” said Sophie Scott, FCLC ’18, who studied journalism and now works as a production assistant at CNN. “Fordham literally showed me the world in a way I didn’t know possible, and a way I could fit into the world.”

Scott, echoing a sentiment shared by many donors, said she hopes to give that same experience to someone else.

“It literally brings me no greater joy than to think that someone else could be having that same experience—someone who, from a financial perspective, may not be able to,” said Scott, who serves as chair of the Young Alumni Philanthropy Committee at Fordham.

Faith & Hope marks the third of Fordham’s biggest campaigns since the early 1990s—a growing list of campaigns that are already transforming the world.

“It really is a win-win for both the donors and the students,” said Salice. “And ultimately, the world at large.”

Now that the University has successfully closed Faith & Hope, administrators and volunteers are planning for the launch of a new fundraising campaign that will be focused on enhancing the student experience and will include the construction of a new campus center at Rose Hill.

To read more success stories, visit the Faith & Hope campaign site.

Who he is: Director of Advancement Technologies and Business Analytics, Advancement Services

What he does: He is modernizing information systems and making business process improvements for  the Office of Development and University Relations.

How long at Fordham: Two years

When Rocco Pugliese’s family moved to the United States from Bari, Italy, he didn’t speak a word of English. His story, like that of so many New York City immigrants, is one of hard work and innovation.

“We moved here when I was 7-years-old and I was thrust into first grade,” he said. “I had to learn English through total immersion, and it was a struggle.”

The struggle paid off, however, with adaptation becoming a touchstone throughout his career, said Pugliese. From the moment the family settled in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, his encounters with unfamiliar environments spurred an interest in new places and people, and new opportunities. Over the course of his career, he has worked in the private, government, and nonprofit sectors, observing and learning along the way.

A product of New York City public education, he received his bachelor’s in business administration from Baruch College at the City University of New York. There he studied international marketing management at night while working for a shipping company by day. He delved into business theory in his classes, while gaining practical business knowledge on the job.

“I always had a full-time workload, so I had to be very deliberate about balancing work, studies, and my social life,” he said.

After spending several years acclimating to the corporate world, Pugliese began to navigate a way to “add value” to organizations by combining technological know-how with an understanding of how large organizations operated. And while he was educated in business management, his tech knowledge was self-taught.

“My dad bought me a PC with a 5¼ inch floppy and a green-screen DOS, so that’s what I grew up with,” he said. “I’m not necessarily a ‘tech head,’ but necessity is the mother of invention. Solving business problems using technology is a fun challenge.”

Pugliese worked for startups at the height of the dot com era. There he developed digital tools specific to the companies’ needs. He said that he left the industry just as the market was becoming volatile and companies were beginning to go bust. It was then that he went to work in higher education, at Pace University’s World Trade Institute based in the World Trade Center. He was on his way to work the morning the towers were attacked.

“We relocated, but the institute just wasn’t the same,” he said. “The enrollment never came back, since most of our students were international tenants from the towers.”

Pugliese tried his hand in city government at the Department of Transportation before coming to Fordham.

“The attraction here is that people are very thoughtful about carrying out the mission,” he said.

At Fordham, he said he feels that people appreciate not just what he brings to the table, but the talent that his colleagues in Advancement Services bring as well. He noted that the team, which is part of the Office of Development and University Relations, records more than 20,000 gifts a year—anything from $10 to $10 million or more. Each gift represents a personal affirmation of support from valued alumni, friends, and students, so it’s more than just data, he said.

Nevertheless, Fordham’s vast community requires big data analytics to keep track of the thousands of transactions and interactions.

“Our senior management knows the questions they want answered, so that they can best serve all our constituents across the country and around the world, and fully understand the impact of their gifts and involvement with the University,” he said.

A naming ceremony will take place on April 20, 2016, at the nine-story Art Deco-style building at 45 Columbus Ave., across the street from Fordham Law School. Purchased last year from the College Board, the building provides space to 18 of the University’s departments, centers and offices.

Martino was a longtime Fordham supporter and an advisor to the University when it was expanding its presence in Manhattan. In addition to serving as a charter member of Fordham’s Board of Lay Trustees, he played a leadership role in fundraising for construction at the Rose Hill campus and for the redevelopment that created the campus at Lincoln Center.

“Joseph A. Martino served Fordham, and served it well in many capacities, including close collaboration with several former presidents of the University, especially Father Laurence McGinley,” said Joseph M. McShane, SJ, president of the Fordham. “As a valued counselor, as a member of the Lay Board of Trustees, on the executive council, and as a generous donor, he showed great integrity and wisdom. It is more than fitting that we honor Mr. Martino by naming for him our newest building, facing his beloved Lincoln Center campus.”

Martino attended Columbia University and graduated from Pace University in 1922. He worked for more than 50 years at National Lead Co. (now NL Industries), starting as an office boy in 1916 and retiring as board chairman in 1969, along the way helping to transform the company into an industry leader.

He also served as director for major corporations including the American Broadcasting Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp., and as vice chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In addition, Martino served as a trustee of Long Island’s North Shore Hospital and as a director at the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation, the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and the Commerce and Industry Association of New York.

Martino believed industry had a responsibility to support higher education. He got involved with Fordham in the 1950s when he helped Leon Lowenstein—a textile executive and also a lay trustee—acquire land for the Lincoln Center campus through Robert Moses, the powerful New York City planning official.

In 1956 Martino was picked to lead the executive council tasked with raising $11 million for constructing buildings at Rose Hill and developing the new campus in Midtown, for which Martino was a major benefactor.

Fordham awarded Martino an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1956, and the University’s graduate business school carried his name until last year, when University officials worked with the Martino family to transfer his name to a different facility at Lincoln Center that has now been ratified by our Board. In 1963 he received Fordham’s Insignis Medal, awarded for extraordinary distinction in the service of God and humanity; he also received honorary degrees from Pace and from the University of Notre Dame, where he was also a trustee.

At his memorial service in 1983, Martino was eulogized by James C. Finlay, SJ, then president of Fordham, who called him “a ‘big’ man in every way—physically strong, yet gentle, courageous, and wise.”

“Fordham was just one of several universities, hospitals, and social agencies that exist today or that serve God’s people more effectively today because Joe Martino contributed his time, his inexhaustible energy, and his treasure,” Father Finlay said.

Who she is

Office Manager/Budget Officer for Development and University Relations (DAUR). A 15-year veteran of Fordham, Biddle works behind the scenes to manage the inner operations of the 100-member DAUR team.

What she does

“My job has three parts. I’m responsible for the operation of the office including, but not limited to, the provision of keys, office/cubicle nameplates, ordering supplies, coordinating the set-up and installation of computer equipment, and networking with facilities to repair any problems that could affect the office. I’m also responsible for overseeing the departmental budget; bill payment; filing and record keeping; and troubleshooting vendor problems. Finally, I am involved in the hiring process, including processing the paperwork necessary to post positions, maintenance of job descriptions, and advertising. It’s a very interesting job—no two days are the same!”

Before DAUR

“I started at Marymount College in 1999 and worked there through 2002, when Fordham and Marymount consolidated. Then, in 2005, I got my job here in DAUR.

“At Marymount, I worked in the development office—first in gift processing and then in alumni relations. I got to know a number of alumnae. I also loved to work on Marymount reunions. It’s an event that you work on for months and months, and at the very end you get to see it all fall into place.”

And before that…

“I started my career at the New York Telephone Company, which later became Verizon. I began there when I was in high school, working part time as an operator, and stayed after graduating from college. I worked for a number of years as a demand and revenue forecaster. My job involved developing an aggregate forecast for the business market using econometric and time series analysis. I would compare my forecast with my counterparts’ forecasts. Their forecast would be developed by looking at construction activity and the other factors that influence demand on a local basis. We would compare our results, reconcile on a number, and, finally, come up with a forecast for the corporation.”

Keeping it in the Family

“I’m married to a wonderful man, Jim, and I have two beautiful daughters and two absolutely gorgeous grandchildren—Lauren, who is 3, and Connor, who is 9 months.

My daughter Jamie is a 2008 graduate of the Gabelli School of Business, and my nephew, brother-in-law, and cousin are also graduates of Fordham. So I have strong ties to the school.”

The Rosemary Biddle Award

In September, DAUR established the “Rosemary Biddle Award for DAUR Core Values Distinction” and bestowed upon Biddle the inaugural award. Created to honor Biddle as an exemplary employee, the annual award will recognize a member of DAUR who demonstrates an “unstinting dedication, a strong commitment to excellence, and a high level of professionalism while fostering compassion and care for others through their work.”

“When Roger Milici (vice president for DAUR) announced it, I was flabbergasted. Everyone has been so compassionate, especially helping me to care for my husband, who is a stroke and cancer survivor. I’ve been able to take Jim to doctors’ appointments and be with him during critical moments. I’ll be forever grateful to DAUR management for helping me balance what was going on in my life with my work, and to my peers, who have been very understanding.

“To be blessed with an award was just totally unexpected. I’ve been richly blessed by being part of the Fordham team.”

“It is a testament to Al Checcio’s leadership and fundraising success that he has been recruited by USC,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. “It likewise speaks to his management ability that Al has in place Roger Milici, an experienced and capable leader and fundraiser, to guide the department into the second half of the campaign.”

Milici, who has more than 17 years of experience in senior executive positions, was named associate vice president for development at Fordham in May 2009. Before coming to Fordham, he served as senior director of development and alumni relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, a post he held since June 2001. Since his arrival at Fordham, Milici has reinvigorated fundraising and volunteer engagement for distinguished fellowships and honors programs, and  reorganized school-based fundraising.

Under Checcio’s leadership, the University has raised more than $335.6 million toward its $500 million goal for Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham. The campaign was launched publicly in March 2009, and raised more than $59 million in the last year.

“Al Checcio set historic fundraising records at Fordham, and has helped recruit a truly world class team of campaign volunteers and professional staff,” Father McShane said. “Therefore, Al leaves Fordham well prepared to deliver on its promise to become the nation’s preeminent Catholic university.”

“It has been an honor to serve Fordham the past five years,” Checcio said. “I will always remain a part of the Fordham community, and have total confidence in the ability of the Development and University Relations staff. It is the best group of professionals I have ever worked with.”