Mount in the Media

2008

Accelerated nursing excellence – The Mount's accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program was featured in a page one story in the Los Angeles Daily News on the increasing popularity of such rigorous "fast-track" programs. The Mount was the first college in California to develop an accelerated program to help meet the intense need for more nurses. (October)

Rockefeller teaching stars – National Public Radio's KPCC FM covered the Mount's honors from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) of New York for the College's "exceptional" participation in the RBF 2008 Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color. The Mount counts more recipients of the fellowships than any other institution in the nation. Fellowship recipients receive an award to attend graduate school and commit to teaching in needy public schools for three years. (August)

Exceptional work in nursing – MSMC nursing alumna Mary Smith '78 was profiled in a special section of Advance for Nurses, "The Essence of Nursing," for her groundbreaking work establishing clinics to serve homeless populations in Venice, Calif. (August) 

Civic-minded nursing – Hernani Ledesma Jr. '06 '08M, a staff nurse in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, was featured in the story, "Civic Minded: Serving Campers with Disabilities," about his work with disabled adults at Re-Creation Summer Camp in ADVANCE for Nurses. (June)

Doheny Mansion in the news – The historic home on the College's downtown Doheny Campus was featured in the Larchmont Chronicle. (July)

New art walk, parking pavilion – The College received coverage in the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen for the new Ken Skinner Parking Pavilion and the Adams Art Walk. The art walk features two sculptures: Mother & Child by artist Julie MacDonald and Balance Beam by artist Michael Zapponi. It connects the parking pavilion to the center of the College’s downtown Doheny Campus. (June)

Honoring MSMC's president – The Tidings newspaper featured MSMC President Jacqueline Powers Doud's recent honorary degree awarded by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. (May)

Outstanding graduates – The Tidings newspaper featured the Mount's Commencement 2008, highlighting the College's more than 500 graduates, as well as Carondelet Medal recipient Bishop Sylvester Ryan and commencement speaker Anita L. DeFrantz. (May)

Expertise in technology and communication – The Miami Herald newspaper quoted sociology professor Pam Haldeman in a story examining whether technology improves communication within families. The story also appeared on websites including Red Orbit. (May)

Film and social justice – The Tidings Catholic newspaper featured the College's newly-invigorated film and social justice program. "Using a camera is the ultimate way to reach people today," says program Director Pam Haldeman. "It's not a pencil or a pen anymore. But this is a way to teach them how to write. They have to write a good story in order to project it up on the screen. So it brings all of those traditional skills into something they can relate to." (May)
 
National recognition for future teachers – Two future teachers studying at Mount St. Mary's College garnered media attention for being awarded national fellowships through the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) to attend graduate school and teach in public schools. Karina Contreras and Lourdes Perez were among 25 college juniors across the country to earn the RBF 2008 Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color. The honors bring the College's total number of Rockefeller fellows to 30 since the program began — more than any other participating college or university nationwide. The students received coverage in the Los Angeles Daily News, the San Fernando Valley Sun, The Tidings, the Los Angeles Watts Times, and the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen. (May/June)  
 
Catholic higher education – The Los Angeles Times quoted MSMC President Jacqueline Powers Doud in an A-section story about Pope Benedict XVI meeting with presidents of Catholic colleges. Doud and her peers nationwide met with the Pope in April. (April) 

Leader in chamber music – The Da Camera Society's Chamber Music in Historic Sites concert series was on display in a recent KUSC 91.5 newsletter profiling the series' new General Director Kelly Garrison. The profile discusses the 35-year history of the music series and highlights the Mount's Doheny Mansion, the setting of many historic sites programs. (March/April)

Empowering women – The Los Angeles Times and Westside Today featured MSMC's Clothesline Project empowering women to stand up against violence in photos and editorial stories. (March)

Support for Nursing Programs – Numerous news organizations ran stories about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger awarding $84,000 to Mount St. Mary’s College for its nurse training programs. The funds come through a multimillion-dollar effort to increase California’s health care workforce. Mount St. Mary’s is using the funds to hire an additional full-time nursing faculty member. (February)

Tracking church affiliation in America – Father Guillermo Garcia, professor of systematic theology at Mount St. Mary's College, is quoted as an expert in a front-page Los Angeles Times story about a February Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life study showing that Americans are switching religious affiliation in greater numbers. Garcia also was interviewed on National Public Radio's Talk of the City program about the study. (February)

Returning to the Mount - Rosanne Curtis '79, new dean of the College's nursing programs, was profiled in the Los Angeles Daily News, her hometown newspaper. Also, several nursing publications including Nurseweek and Advance for Nurses covered the her return to MSMC. A registered nurse, Curtis is a past senior project manager at Kaiser Permanente. She also is a fellow in the California Health Care Foundation Leadership Program. She began as MSMC's nursing dean Jan. 7. (February)

Passion for social justice – Francesca de la Rosa '96 was profiled in The Tidings newspaper for her work as coordinator of housing in Los Angeles for the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH). De la Rosa promotes the building and preserving of affordable housing, and says she gained a commitment to social justice during her education at Mount St. Mary's. Her mission in her job is "to bring together the growing number of constituents and communities that found themselves severely impacted by Los Angeles' shrinking affordable rental housing market." (January)