CALDWELL UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT MATTHEW WHELAN
President Matthew Whelan, Ed.D., with two former presidents of Caldwell—the seventh president, Sister Patrice Werner, Ph.D., O.P., and the eighth president, Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D., O.P.A.
President Matthew Whelan, Ed.D., with two former presidents of Caldwell—the seventh president, Sister Patrice Werner, Ph.D., O.P., and the eighth president, Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D., O.P.A.
President Whelan with some of the Caldwell University international students who processed in their cultural attire. L to R: Shanid Shrestha, Yaman Thapa and Prasanni Shrestha.
Sarah Whelan, Dr. and Mrs. Whelan’s oldest daughter, surprises her father with a beautiful rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel.” Seated next to Dr. Whelan, L-R, are Brian J. Aloia, Esq., vice chair of the Board of Trustees, and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.
Carlos Pomares ’93, vice president of the Essex County Board of Commissioners, spoke of his treasured time as a CU student and offered greetings from the Essex board.
Student Raul Gonzalez
reads at the inauguration
Mass.
Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, D.D., of the Newark Archdiocese prays with Dr. Whelan.
Dr. Whelan with Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell and Bishop Cruz.
Marie Mullaney, Ph.D., professor of history, spoke on “The History and Evolution of Catholic Women’s Colleges.” She is pictured with President Whelan and Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Ubertaccio, Ph.D.
Dr. (R) and Mrs. Whelan (middle), members of the campus community and alumni volunteered at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
Artist Anne Goffin Smith and President Whelan at the opening
reception for “Open Spaces: Recent Work of Anne Goffin Smith” in the University’s Mueller Art Gallery.
Guests gather to celebrate the inauguration and the opening of “Open Spaces: Recent Work of Anne Goffin Smith.”
The University community celebrated the inauguration of its ninth president, Matthew Whelan, Ed.D., on Oct. 22. With the theme of “One Mission, Infinite Possibilities,” the special event honored the Sisters of St. Dominic and the legacy entrusted to Dr. Whelan, the University’s first lay male president.
An inauguration Mass was celebrated by Bishop Manuel Cruz of the Archdiocese of Newark with concelebrants Msgr. Robert Emery, Father Jim Manos, Father Andrew Njoku, Father Tom Dente and Father Bob Stagg.
Inauguration week featured activities including an art exhibition, faculty concert, community service, a student cultural showcase, Reunion 2021 and lectures on “The History and Evolution of Catholic Women’s Colleges” by Marie Mullaney, Ph.D., professor of history, and “The Future of Catholic Universities and the Role of Liberal Arts in Higher Education Today,” moderated by James Flynn, Ph.D., chair of the Caldwell University Theology and Philosophy Department, with panelists Msgr. Richard M. Liddy, professor emeritus, Seton Hall University; Dr. Lauren Pristas ’69, Caldwell professor emerita of theology, and David Armstrong, J.D., president of St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Greetings Were Given from Various Community Leaders
“The Sisters of Saint Dominic join you, Dr. Whelan, in this exciting ministry of educating women and men and in upholding the University’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Community and Excellence as you carry forward the rich heritage that has been entrusted to you. May God grant you the grace and courage to lead faithfully and fearlessly.”
—Sister Luella Ramm ’74, O.P., Prioress, Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell
“Dr. Whelan, your presidency will be marked by the lessons you inspire. May they be rooted in our core values. May they strengthen our community and may they continue to change the lives of students for years to come.”
— Linda Luciano ‘78, Ed.D., M.B.A., Chair of the Caldwell Board of Trustees
“… Mr. President, you inherit some pretty formidable reins. I know you will work your hardest. I know that you will follow in the excellent footsteps of Sister Vivien and Sister Patrice and Nancy Blattner, and you are here making history as the first lay male president in this capacity. And we’ve come a long way, but we still have a lot to do.”
—Carlos Pomares ’93, Vice President, Essex County Board of Commissioners
“… I am just amazed at the growth and the expansion that has happened here, the new facilities and the new programs … we’re in an age of technology, and many of our students are going to pursue careers in science and technology and engineering and math, but I think the major responsibility Dr. Whelan will continue to have is giving a full-rounded liberal arts education to the students who pass through these doors.”
—Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver
“Caldwell University won the prize. Caldwell University actually won the prize. I always believed that some lucky university was going to get Matt as their president and you are that lucky university.”
—David Armstrong, J.D., President, St. Thomas University
Others who provided greetings were:
Sister Donna Ciangio ’71, O.P., D.Min., chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark; Fran DePalma-Iozzi, councilwoman for the Borough of Caldwell; Steve Reynolds, Esq., president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey; Elaine Zabriskie ’73, president of the Alumni Board; Benjamin Lammers, president of the Faculty Council and professor of history; Andrei St. Felix ’13, director of EOF, representing the Caldwell staff, and Samantha Guerra ’22, student government president. Samantha Ashton ’22, a psychology and English major, read her original poem “To Be a Caldwell Cougar.”
