On April 2, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) awarded the University a bronze rating in its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, known as AASHE STARS. The system was created in 2006 as a way to measure and encourage sustainability in all aspects of higher education.  

The ratings are based on five areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership. There are 389 colleges and universities in the United States with AASHE STARS ratings, ranging from bronze to platinum.

Jasmine Petrov, a 2022 graduate of Fordham College at Lincoln Center who supervised the data collection for Fordham’s Office of Sustainability, said the rating was particularly valuable not only because it provides concrete evidence of the types of progress the University has made since it committed in 2007 to becoming a greener campus, but also because it highlights areas that may need improvement. That helps the University decide where to devote resources in the future.

“You need to understand what is operating well and what isn’t at this moment before you can create an actionable plan to improve on it,” she said.

Data Collected By Students

Students who interned with the Office of Sustainability were key to the project, as many collected the data that was submitted to AASHE. The data that was submitted earned 41.82 points in AASHE’s scoring system, earning Fordham the bronze rating. 

The University ranked highest in the area of engagement, thanks to initiatives such as the $50 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, which it secured to work with vulnerable communities in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A silver rating, which can be obtained with 45 points, is imminently reachable for Fordham, said Petrov. Some of the sustainability efforts just need to be better documented, she said, both in facilities and other areas.  

“When I was collecting the data, I had to speak not only with people who are in charge of facilities but also people who are in charge of the library about how open and accessible research is,” said Petrov, who is pursuing a master’s degree in healthy cities at International University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain.

“You may not think that’s sustainability, but to be sustainable, you have to have access to information that can advise you on that. Now we have this avenue to say, ‘these are the guidelines we should use to achieve this’.”

Against the odds, Pope Francis lived through Easter, and now we mourn him, comforted by the hope of the resurrection, knowing God has welcomed his faithful servant home. During his last weeks, he found the energy to go out several times, thanking the medical staff who nursed him, blessing inmates at a prison, and surprising visitors to St. Peter’s in his wheelchair, because he wanted to be with the faithful.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was always an outsider, from an immigrant family that escaped Mussolini’s fascism to immigrate to Argentina. He was the first pope from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, and the first Jesuit pope. He took the name of Francis of Assisi, the patron of the poor, and decided against living in the lavish Vatican palace. My favorite image is of him driving his own 1984 Renault around Rome.

During his twelve-year tenure, Francis embodied the Jesuit way of proceeding as he moved the Church in the direction of its people, loving the Church enough to improve it. With his trademark humility, he urged the global Church to become the dream of the Gospels, one in which a justice rooted in love prevails, one that listens to its people. He reminded us that we are “fratelli tutti”—brothers and sisters all. He begged us to love God’s creation and the Earth our home, to act quickly to change the dangerous trajectory of climate change. His voice was a clarion call to the world.

We at Fordham responded to his call. Our graduate students developed the Pope Francis Global Poverty Index, which they present annually, inspired by his call for us to make an impact on poverty and well-being. When he convened the three-year Synod on Synodality, a process of listening, dialogue, and discernment that included all the voices of the Church, Fordham sent a delegation of students to the Vatican. When Fordham hosted the Outreach Conference, he sent handwritten letters of support about the power of engagement. His emphasis on social justice, inclusion, and environmental stewardship leaves a lasting legacy—one that calls each of us to continue his work.

I was blessed to meet Pope Francis when I traveled to Rome with a group of Fordham trustees and faculty. Our board chair, Armando Nuñez, spoke to him in the Pope’s native Spanish and we presented him with a Fordham jersey. He smiled and blessed our great University.

As we mourn his passing, take some time today to read his profound writings and sit with his messages. Nothing can honor him more. Let us answer his call to care for the most vulnerable, to build bridges rather than barriers, and to live our faith with courage, mercy, and love.

With Prayers,

Tania Tetlow
President

As the 2024 film “Conclave” depicts, the death of a pope is a momentous event that triggers a series of carefully orchestrated rituals to ensure a smooth transition of papal authority. And according to Thomas Worcester, S.J., a papal expert and professor of history at Fordham who, like Pope Francis, is also a Jesuit priest, it’s anyone’s guess who will assume the papacy next. 

Here’s a primer on what happens after a pope dies and how the next pope will be chosen.
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect events and announcements of the past week.)

What happens when the pope dies? 

First, the pope’s death is confirmed by the cardinal chamberlain or camerlengo, in this case Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who becomes the acting administrator of the Vatican. Cardinal Farrell presided over the rite of the ascertainment of death and placement of Francis’ body in the coffin on Monday evening in the Chapel of the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis’ remains were brought to St. Peter’s Basilica in a simple wooden coffin on Wednesday morning; his body lies in state for public viewing. Cardinal Camerlengo Farrell will preside over the rite of the sealing of Pope Francis’ coffin on Friday night.

The Funeral Mass for Pope Francis will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. After the Mass, the pope’s body will be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will be buried. The final resting place is a break with tradition; the basilica is a place where Pope Francis often when to pray in front of an icon of Mary. It claims to have pieces of the crib where Jesus lay in Bethlehem.

When is the next pope chosen? 

The church will observe nine days of mourning, with the first day being the day of the funeral Mass, the Vatican said. Within three to four weeks after the pope’s death, the dean of the College of Cardinals will summon the cardinals from around the world for the conclave to elect Francis’ successor. 

According to Father Worcester, only cardinals under 80 are permitted to vote, a measure put in place by Pope Paul VI in 1970 to increase the odds of a more forward-looking candidate emerging. 

Father Worcester said cardinals over 80 do take part in informal discussions in the lead-up to the conclave, however. During this time, they may discuss issues within the church, or simply get to know each other. 

“There’s a kind of politicking that goes on. We like to think of it piously, as the Holy Spirit moving them, and I don’t deny that—but there’s also some politicking,” Father Worcester said. 

Where is the papal conclave held? 

The Church of Cardinals convenes in the Sistine Chapel, which hosted its first papal conclave in 1492. Sitting beneath Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment, the cardinals cast silent, secret ballots—up to four a day—until they reach a two-thirds majority. 

How long does the conclave take? 

The longest papal election took place in the 13th century and lasted nearly three years, but modern papal conclaves are much shorter than that. According to Father Worcester, a few days is more likely. “Anything over four days would really be a shocker because it would mean the cardinals cannot agree,” he said.

Who will be the next pope? 

It’s unclear who the cardinals will select. Father Worcester says that someone like Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state who visited Fordham last year, may be a contender, given his high office and talent for diplomacy. But he also notes that the church has been moving away from Italian popes in recent decades. 

One thing we’re unlikely to see in the near future, Father Worcester said, is another Jesuit in the role. He also does not expect the cardinal electors to choose a hardline conservative, given that most of the cardinals appointed by Francis are progressives or moderates. 

What does the smoke mean? 

After each vote, the ballots are burned and a cloud of smoke rises from a chimney for the watchful eyes of the faithful gathered below. Black smoke signals that the cardinals have not reached a decision, while white smoke means the pope has been chosen. 

When the white smoke emerges it sets in motion a rush of excitement, said Father Worcester, who was in St. Peter’s Square for John Paul I’s election in 1978. 

“Over the next hour, the square filled completely with people. It was evening, the lights came up across the facade, the bells rang, and eventually [the pope]came out on the balcony,” he recalled. “It was an energizing moment.” 

“During his 12-year tenure, Francis embodied the Jesuit way of proceeding as he moved the Church in the direction of its people, loving the Church enough to improve it. With his trademark humility, he urged the global Church to become the dream of the Gospels, one in which a justice rooted in love prevails, one that listens to its people. He reminded us that we are ‘fratelli tutti‘—brothers and sisters all,” said Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham.

“As we mourn his passing, take some time today to read his profound writings and sit with his messages. Nothing can honor him more,” President Tetlow said. “Let us answer his call to care for the most vulnerable, to build bridges rather than barriers, and to live our faith with courage, mercy, and love.”

Armando Nuñez, chair of the Fordham University Board of Trustees, said “the long-lasting impact of the first Jesuit pope on Fordham and all Jesuit institutions is profound.”

“Fordham joins the world in mourning his passing,” he said, “and pauses to give gratitude for his life of simplicity and encouragement to love God, our common home, and one another.”

‘Who Am I to Judge?’

It signaled change to the world when the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., was elected pope on March 13, 2013, soon after Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy. Francis became not only the first pope from the Society of Jesus but also the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern hemisphere, and the first from outside Europe since the eighth century.

He chose to be called Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, known for his devotion to the poor, and he set a tone of openness and conciliation on social issues and human sexuality, even as he held fast to Church doctrines. In 2013 he famously responded “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay people serving as priests, and he elevated women to senior roles in the Vatican.

He evinced humility throughout his papacy: While celebrating Holy Thursday Mass at a prison in Rome last year, he washed and kissed the feet of 12 women inmates—moving them to tears, reportedly—even though he was confined to a wheelchair at the time.

This year he also appeared in a wheelchair to bless the crowds gathered at St. Peter’s Square on April 20, Easter Sunday, just one day before he died.

Doubling Down on Ignatian Discernment

Francis’ influence was felt in many corners of the University, either through his message or his initiatives. The pope “really gave us the impetus to … double down on our employment of Ignatian discernment” and promote listening, engagement, and dialogue among all members of the Fordham community, said John Cecero, S.J., vice president for mission integration and ministry at Fordham.

He also noted the importance of two encyclicals from Francis: Fratelli Tutti, in 2020, focused on inclusion and our common humanity, and for Fordham, drove home the importance of “educating in community” and embracing the neighborhoods beyond campus, Father Cecero said.

And Laudato Si’, in 2015, focusing on environmental justice, prompted the creation of Fordham’s council to carry out the seven-year effort toward greater sustainability that Francis called on all Catholic universities to pursue, he said.

“Those are three really significant ways in which he as a Jesuit and he as who he was, and the values that he stood for, really influenced who we are,” Father Cecero said.

In Sync with Fordham

Pope Francis “was Jesuit through and through,” said David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture, who covered the Vatican as a journalist earlier in his career. The issues that the pope emphasized—like addressing climate change and welcoming migrants—“are so much in sync with what Fordham does and what Fordham is,” he said.

Under Francis’ leadership, the Church’s periodic synods, formerly limited to bishops, “have been astonishing in their openness and in their universality,” with attendance by lay people, nuns, and students—including delegations of Fordham students who attended two of them, he said. “He wanted to make them real listening sessions, real dialogues with everyone in the Church.” 

“In many ways, he was taking the entire Church on an Ignatian retreat, and it was about looking at ourselves, discerning the right way forward, so this global 1.3 billion-member Church has kind of been on this journey together,” he said.

A Passion for Education

Francis’ passion for education shined through at the World Congress of Catholic Education, hosted by Fordham in 2019. Giving a video address to a culminating session held at the United Nations, Francis “challenged educators to create a more just and humane world through transformative education,” said Gerald Cattaro, Ed.D., education professor and executive director of Fordham’s Center for Catholic School Leadership and Faith-Based Education.

Pope Francis conveyed that “true education must go beyond textbooks; it must touch the heart, engage the hands, and sharpen the mind,” Cattaro said. For Francis, he said, “education was not just about what we learn but how we live it, shaping individuals committed to service, justice, and the common good.”

A Focus on Poverty

Students in the International Political Economy and Development program established the Pope Francis Global Poverty Index after hearing him speak in 2015 at the United Nations, said the head of the program, Henry Schwalbenberg, Ph.D. Speaking about the need to address global poverty, Francis went beyond material needs to emphasize the dignity and humanity of the poor, inspiring the students.

Students present the report every year at the U.N. on the World Day of the Poor, established by Francis in 2017, said Schwalbenberg, who has traveled to Rome to personally present the findings to the pope. “I always tell him this is the work of the students,” he said, and during his most recent visit, the pope’s response was more animated and happy than usual—“maybe he got a kick out of how bad my Spanish was,” Schwalbenberg joked.

But the Vatican’s follow-up communications make the message clear: “They’re so appreciative of the students continuing the work of the pope in this area of trying to combat global poverty.”

During his visits, Schwalbenberg said, he saw that enthusiasm for Francis was running just as strong as when he assumed the papacy—even as he switched from walking into the room to using a wheelchair.

“The room just erupted” when Francis entered, he said. “It always erupted. And when he left, the room erupted again.”

Nuñez, Fordham’s board chairman, recalled meeting Francis as part of a delegation of trustees and others who traveled to Rome last year “to embrace our Ignatian mission and identity.” 

“We spoke in Spanish, and I had the honor of introducing our Argentinian pope to President Tetlow and the Fordham delegation,” he said. “Although our encounter with Papa Francesco at the Vatican was brief…meeting the Holy Father is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Describing her reaction to the award, Rosado Philippi said she was overwhelmed. “It’s really indescribable, the feeling,” said Rosado Philippi, who is aiming for a career in mental health services.

“It was so important to me” to apply for the award, she said, “because it aims to create future leaders of public service, and that’s exactly what I want to be.”

Rosado Philippi received the news directly from Fordham’s president, Tania Tetlow, who was a Truman Scholar herself. “You make Fordham so proud,” Tetlow said in a Zoom call with Rosado Philippi, who is spending this semester in Spain with the Fordham in Granada program. 

A Vision for Impact

Rosado Philippi plans to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology and go into practice in her native Puerto Rico. She hopes to eventually move into government and enhance mental health services there, guided by a policy proposal she submitted as part of her Truman application. 

“Her drive and passion for this goal were inspiring,” said Marisa Iglesias, associate director of Fordham’s Office of Fellowship Advising, which supported Rosado Philippi in her application. 

“Laura’s vision really has potential for major impact, and that is the sign of a Truman Scholar.”

Iglesias and others in the fellowships office were proud and excited to learn of the award. “We may have jumped up and down a little bit,” she said.

Fordham is one of 49 colleges and universities nationwide to have a Truman Scholarship recipient this year, out of 288 that nominated students. This is the University’s second Truman award award in three years. The scholarship has “one of the more challenging applications,” in light of the vision and multiyear plan for making an impact that it requires students to provide, Iglesias said. 

Fighting the Stigma

Rosado Philippi is pursuing a double major in psychology and anthropology at Fordham College at Rose Hill, with a minor in American Catholic studies. She became interested in psychology during her childhood in Puerto Rico, in part because of the distress she witnessed after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island in 2017—as well as the cultural barriers to seeking mental health support.

“The island has been through so much, people have been through so much,” she said. “You would see a lot of people kind of struggling and just … disregarding any issues they had just because they just didn’t want to admit something. There’s this big stigmatization around mental health, and it always didn’t really sit right with me.”

Life-Changing Scholarships

This is the second time a scholarship has changed Rosado Philippi’s life. She received the full-tuition Fordham Scholarship to attend the University, which she called “the best decision I ever made” because of the friendships and opportunities she has found.  

She found many avenues for pursuing her interest in mental health: As an intern in Fordham’s Counseling and Psychological Services office, she developed an online hub that, when it goes live, will connect students with all sorts of wellness activities, from art therapy to yoga and more.

She also volunteered with a Bronx civic organization for women, Grupo De Mujeres Latinas, and co-founded the University’s Puerto Rican Student Association, among other extracurriculars.

‘I Already Won’

Applying for the Truman Scholarship was meaningful because of how it required her to reflect on her purpose and talk with people who helped her refine her goals. At the time, she felt that “I already won” because of that, regardless of whether she received the scholarship, she said.

Iglesias said Rosado Philippi is at the start of a highly promising career. “Her policy proposal has real vision and real potential for change, and she’s just getting started.”

Ninety-four percent of undergraduates in the Class of 2024 were employed, enrolled in continuing education, or doing volunteer or military service six months after earning their degrees, according to Fordham’s Office of Institutional Research, which compiles this information each year. The “landed rate,” as it’s called, rose five percentage points from 2023, an increase largely driven by a jump in the arts and sciences rate—from 85% to 93% year over year. 

Tracking Graduate Success

Fordham’s commitment to its students continues after commencement; the University’s Career Center follows up with recent arts and sciences graduates, sending surveys, checking in on their plans, and offering help to those who need it. The Gabelli School’s Personal and Professional Development Center follows up with recent Gabelli School graduates, and works with students on career readiness extensively throughout their undergraduate years.

94% of 2024 graduates found jobs and meaningful opportunities within six months of earning their degrees.

According to Career Center Director Annette McLaughlin, the University was able to track down 87% of the 2,115 students who graduated in 2024—an exceptionally high “knowledge rate.” In 2023, the average knowledge rate for American universities was about 55%. 

“ The Career Center and Gabelli’s Personal and Professional Development Center take it very seriously to get as close as possible to knowing where every single student ends up,” said McLaughlin. “We’re proactively reaching out to find out who’s still seeking and why, as well as how we can help them get over the finish line.”

Helping Students Become Career-Ready

As for the eight-point jump in the arts and sciences landed rate, McLaughlin attributes it to a number of efforts that have been rolling out for several years, including partnerships with arts and sciences faculty to bring Career Center staff into their classrooms; working with student “career ambassadors” to connect the student body with Career Center resources; bringing students and alumni together for mentorship; and a one-credit career exploration course that helps students become career-ready. 

According to McLaughlin, even the most highly engaged students can need some help making the shift from college to career. 

“ Many students who do very well academically may not have focused on, ‘What next?’” she said. “We create opportunities for them to catch up.”

Health Careers and Med School

About 8% of 2024 arts and sciences graduates, or 56 alumni, entered the health care field, an industry that’s projected to grow much faster than average over the next decade. Many of these students landed job titles like medical scribe, research assistant, or lab technician, which are often a step before medical school, McLaughlin said.  

This was the case for 2024 graduate Sophie Epstein, who studied neuroscience and sociology at Fordham and is now a clinical research assistant at Mount Sinai. She says her well-rounded undergraduate education prepared her for her job, as well as for her successful medical school application. 

“ Sociology exposed me to the structural factors that might affect how someone interacts with the health care system differently than what I see in a textbook,” Epstein said. “It was a great way to prepare to address those differences so I can best treat everyone as a doctor.” 

Blending Research with Clinical Work

At Mount Sinai, Epstein is researching how different socioeconomic factors—like race, income, insurance status, or zip code—impact patients’ recoveries after surgery for a brain tumor. She’ll be starting medical school at Stony Brook in the fall, pursuing both her M.D. and a Ph.D. 

This dual track will allow Epstein to train as a doctor while also building on her research skills, a passion she developed during her time at Fordham in the chemistry lab of  professor Nick Sawyer, Ph.D. Epstein is interested in researching drugs so she can not only provide care, but also discover treatments.  

“ If I want to be a neurologist and treat patients with Alzheimer’s, I want to also be looking for a drug that treats Alzheimer’s,” Epstein said. “It feels like the perfect way to do the most I can for patients.”

The National Gardening Association has plenty of great tips for aspiring gardeners, but we also know Fordham has some amazing weed warriors and green gurus willing to share advice on how to make this season a fruitful one. 

Preparing Beds for Flowers

As Fordham’s assistant gardener, Jason Cruz oversees the planting of 200 to 300 hydrangeas, pansies, geraniums, and sunpatiens around the Rose Hill campus. High-profile areas like the space around Cunniffe House need to look their absolute best for Easter, so the past few weeks have been all about prepping soil beds. 

To prepare the beds for the day the flowers arrive from the nursery, Cruz uses a few tricks gardeners can try at home: He mixes in soy conditioner every two years, and this time of year, he also mixes in Coast of Maine’s Dark Harbor mulch. For him, it’s both an aesthetic and a practical choice.

“We’ll plant the plants, and then we’ll throw a top dressing of the mulch, so you have this really nice dark background with all these vibrant colors.”

Planting with Pollinators in Mind

Chomri Khayi, who was hired last year as the first land manager of the Calder Center, Fordham’s biological field station in Armonk, New York, has been focused on a large pollinator garden behind Calder Hall. Her advice? For the sake of bees and other pollinators, don’t clear the ground too early.

“Everyone’s tempted to clean up everything and have this aesthetically pleasing space, but it would be wiser to minimize that cleaning as much as possible or even delay it,” she said.

She said to wait until mid to late April, when temperatures consistently stay above freezing, to clear away things like dead leaves that are carpeting the ground.

“There are beneficial insects that rely on that ground cover for protection.”

Serena Feldman, a Fordham ecology master’s student who previously worked as a land steward at the Nature Center at Greenburgh in Scarsdale, New York, recommended planting native plants when possible. Black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, and mountain mints are great choices, because they’re beneficial to insects and birds that are key to the local ecosystem.

“Ask yourself if you’ve ever seen a bee land on a petunia or a butterfly sit on a begonia. It just doesn’t happen because those plants weren’t bred to be valuable for pollinators in general,” she said.

Building Raised Beds 

When he moved to Patterson, New York, last year, Justin Pool grew mini pumpkins, green beans, and peppers in raised beds. Pool, a senior lecturer of biological sciences and faculty director of STEM strategic initiatives, learned from that experience not to underestimate the cost of the soil you will need to fill a bed properly. He also had some advice on materials.

“For a raised bed, plain cardboard on the bottom makes for great weed control and is biodegradable, with no nasty plastic to deal with,” he said. 

“Just make sure all the tape has been removed, lay it on the ground, and add your garden soil on top of it.”

Potted Plants for City Living 

Annika Hinze, an associate professor of political science and director of Fordham’s Urban Studies Program, relies on pots to plant outside her house in the Bronx neighborhood of Riverdale.

“Two years ago, I discovered that Stew Leonard’s sells bags of pollinator seeds for around five bucks. I found them to be super potent, and the first week of April is the perfect time to start them,” she said. 

“I also have a rhododendron, which is about to bloom. It makes the prettiest pink blossoms, and my mom, who passed away in 2021, helped me buy it. I like to think she’s saying hello every time it blooms.”

Caring for Indoor Plants

And if you live in an apartment, indoor plants also react to the changes in temperature and light that the spring brings. Khayi tends to 16 plants in her Manhattan apartment, including a very large monstera deliciosa.

“With the heat on during the winter, they tend to dry out a lot,” she said.

“So around late March, I start to feed them a little Miracle Grow every two weeks just to increase or to help them come out of the dormant phase.”

Adrian Kochanowicz is also paying special attention to his indoor plants. 

In August, Kochanowicz joined Fordham’s Office of Military and Veterans’ Service, and he brought three plants to his Lincoln Center office: a calathea medallion; a philodendron hederaceum; and a Aglaonema Siam Aurora, also known as a Red Chinese Evergreen. 

They get no light from the sun (he uses a grow light), but they still react to the change of the seasons, so he’s also started to fertilize them every two weeks. His advice is to water less, as it’s very easy to overdo it.

Clerkin serves as the director of climate resilience research and innovation at the International Rescue Committee, an organization that delivers humanitarian aid to people in acute political and economic crises across the globe. Her experiences with JVC, and later with Fordham’s Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development (IPED), helped solidify her interest in humanitarian work, and ultimately her passion for supporting agricultural communities grappling with the effects of climate change. 

A Finance Major Turned Jesuit Volunteer 

Clerkin graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2010—a couple of years into the Great Recession—with a degree in finance. Rather than entering the dismal job market, she chose to join JVC. She served as a caseworker at a homeless shelter in Hartford, Connecticut, helping people apply for food stamps and housing. It was a “wet shelter,” meaning they didn’t turn away people with criminal histories or active addictions. 

Though she realized direct service work wasn’t for her, the experience was transformative for Clerkin. “It was a big year of growth for me. I learned  a lot of lessons in radical compassion and empathy for populations that often get dismissed and ignored,” she said. 

Fordham’s IPED Program: A Natural Next Step

Next, Clerkin entered the IPED program at Fordham, a natural choice considering her father, grandfather, and uncle all attended the University. 

In keeping with the Jesuit tradition of being “men and women for others,” Fordham has a close connection with JVC: 304 Fordham undergraduates have volunteered with JVC since 1977, and at least one Fordham alum has volunteered every year since, including four who are currently volunteering, the group said. Another 15 students who earned their undergraduate degrees at other universities also joined JVC after earning a graduate degree from Fordham’s IPED program.

A Clinton Foundation Internship

While in IPED, Clerkin was most interested in clean energy programs. But during her first job after graduate school with the Clinton Foundation, she worked on an agricultural project with a small team in Rwanda, Malawi, and Tanzania and “fell in love” with agriculture. 

Even then, Clerkin was hearing from local farmers about shifting weather patterns and changes in crops. “Farmers, especially in countries that are bearing a higher burden of the climate crisis, are the canaries in the mine shaft,” she said. “ The bad part about that analogy is that the canary dies.” 

Building Global Climate Resilience

Clerkin has since turned that experience into a calling. As director of climate resilience at the International Rescue Committee, she helps farmers find strategies to adapt to climate change. One of her current projects in Syria helps farmers test and develop wheat seed varieties that are more drought and heat resistant, which could help mitigate the region’s ongoing famines. 

“ Climate resilience is integral to food systems, especially in rural communities where agriculture is the backbone of the economy,” she said.  “We’re committed to building resilience in these protracted crisis settings that are also bearing the highest burden of the climate crisis.” 

Manhattan’s Glasshouse venue was buzzing with pride on Monday evening as 800 Fordham donors, alumni, and scholars gathered for the Fordham Founder’s Dinner. They had much to celebrate: The dinner raised more than $2.5 million for the Fordham Founder’s Undergraduate Scholarship Fund and commemorated the successful conclusion of the University’s fundraising campaign, Cura Personalis | For Every Fordham Student.

“This night is so much fun. We toast each other, we celebrate Fordham, we pray together and we laugh,” said University President Tania Tetlow. Fordham gives students the skills they need to matter to the world, she said, shouting out the alumni in the room as “proof” that it works. “So for all of you who came tonight, thank you.”

The annual Founder’s Dinner recognizes an exceptional group of students, the Fordham Founder’s Scholars, as well as the generous donors who make their studies possible. Three benefactors—Henry S. Miller, FCRH ’68, PAR; Cathy E. Minehan; and David M. Tanen, LAW ’96—were presented with the Fordham Founder’s Award in honor of their personal accomplishments and unwavering support of the University.

A Night of Celebration and Gratitude

His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, who received an honorary doctorate from the University in 2012 and a Founder’s Award in 2016, delivered the evening’s invocation. Next, Alexa Carmona, FCRH ’26, sang the national anthem, while members of the joint service Color Guard of Fordham’s Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC posted the colors.

“Fordham is proud of its 177-year military legacy,” the announcer said, noting that the University “is home to more than 500 military-connected students, including veterans, veteran dependents, and future leaders in our ROTC programs.”

Armando Nuñez, GABELLI ’82, chair of Fordham’s Board of Trustees, then gave a brief introduction.

“We have so much to celebrate tonight,” said Nuñez. He noted that Fordham had surpassed its fundraising goals for the Cura Personalis campaign, which concluded in the fall, raising over $370 million to enhance the student experience, increase financial aid, and more. “We are so incredibly proud of our talented students and so appreciative of our generous donors,” Nuñez said. 

Watch Nuñez’s full speech.

Speaking on behalf of the 48 Founder’s Scholars, Yves Andradas, FCLC ’25, expressed gratitude for the donors to the scholarship fund for opening the doors to a Fordham education for students like him.

“Every donor in this room plays a significant role in making my dream … a reality. So on behalf of all the students who were graced enough to be named Founder’s Scholars, our gratitude stretches far and wide,” said Andradas, who is studying philosophy and theology. “If hearing it from me isn’t enough, let my immigrant Haitian parents tell you they are so grateful not to have a college tuition bill at their doorstep every semester.” 

Watch Andradas’ full speech.

Helping the Next One in Line 

While accepting his award, Henry Miller shared words of wisdom from country music star Tim McGraw. 

“When you get where you’re going, don’t forget to turn back around and help the next one in line,” said Miller, quoting from McGraw’s song “Humble and Kind.” 

It was an appropriate sentiment from Miller, who attended Fordham on scholarships and then went on to build an extraordinarily successful career in business. He has since served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees and given generously to the University to support the Jewish studies program, athletics, scholarships, and more. 

Miller went on to share heartfelt advice with the scholars and attendees that touched on six key principles: philanthropy, integrity, respect, hard work, talent, and sense of humor.

Watch Miller’s full speech.

Cathy Minehan, who made history as the first female president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, discussed her late husband, E. Gerald Corrigan, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and proud Fordham alumnus, benefactor, and trustee. 

“Jerry credited Fordham with preparing him for the economic and theoretical challenges he faced in his career, but way more importantly, for the strong public service thread of Fordham’s Jesuit education,” said Minehan. “I have been honored to continue Jerry’s legacy of generosity in supporting Fordham students.” 

Watch Minehan’s full speech.

David Tanen, a biotech entrepreneur whose generosity has greatly impacted the Fordham School of Law, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to contribute and urged others to follow suit. “I encourage everyone to uphold the values Fordham represents and support the community that has given us so much,” said Tanen, who has supported scholarships, professional programs, and more at the Law School.

Watch Tanen’s full speech.

Tetlow, addressing the Founder’s Scholars, echoed donors’ remarks and encouraged students to pay it forward when they can. 

“You have no idea how happy it makes us to do for you what others did for us. We hope that one day, years from now, you get a chance to invest in other young people and that, at that moment, you’ll remember this magical night,” said Tetlow. 

Watch Tetlow’s full speech.

Looking Toward the Future 

Founder’s Scholar Hiba Haloui, GABELLI ’25, one of the student emcees during the second half of the evening, offered a brief reflection on the close of the Cura Personalis campaign.

“The impact of this campaign and every Fordham donor was felt by every Fordham student,” Haloui said, before sharing that the Founder’s scholarship was the “cornerstone” of her journey from Morocco to New York.

Founder’s Scholar Noah Khalil, GABELLI ’25, introduced a video featuring student reflections in celebration of the close of the Cura Personalis campaign. He expressed gratitude to the evening’s donors.

“The Fordham Founder’s Scholarship is an immense blessing, not only for its financial support, but mainly for what it symbolizes,” said Khalil. “It’s a representation of your belief in our ability and potential to achieve more than we ever thought possible.”

In her closing remarks, President Tetlow sketched out a bright future for the University, made possible by the ongoing support of Fordham’s community. 

She highlighted the recent announcement of a $100 million donation from trustees emeriti and former Founder’s honorees Maurice and Carolyn Cunniffe—the largest gift in the University’s history—which will pave the way for a cutting-edge science facility and the expansion of STEM degree programs. 

Tetlow said Fordham will set itself apart by not only teaching technical skills, but by giving students the ethical foundation to wield emerging technologies like AI for the greater good. 

“For almost two centuries we’ve transformed lives as Ignatius taught us. And thanks to all of you, we will keep doing that for centuries to come,” said Tetlow. “The great philosopher Archimedes said, ‘Give me a fulcrum and I shall move the world.’ Fordham is that fulcrum and all of you have used it to move the world tonight.” 

The video below, shown at the dinner, was created to celebrate the close of the Cura Personalis campaign. It is a gift of thanks from our students to our donors:

When the City Stopped (Cornell University Press, 2025) tells the story of the pandemic through the voices of New Yorkers who were unable to flee the city or work from home. 

Author Robert Snyder, Ph.D., the Manhattan borough historian, collected narratives, interviews, and poems from groups such as Queens Library’s Queens Memory Project and Fordham’s Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project. Fordham’s interviews were conducted in 2020 by researchers affiliated with the Bronx African American History Project.

“The most compelling narratives that I put in the book, including the Fordham narratives, are about people who saved themselves, but then they went out, and they helped others,” said Snyder, who is also a professor emeritus at Rutgers University.

Focusing on essential workers, Snyder sought out stories from healthcare workers, grocery clerks, community activists, and transit workers.

Tales from a City Under Siege

Of the roughly 20 interviews conducted for the Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project, Snyder chose four, including Maribel Gonzalez, the owner of the South of France restaurant, and Ralph Rolle, a drummer and owner of Soul Food Snacks Cafe.

Another Fordham interview subject, Patricia Hernandez, described the stress of commuting from her home in East Tremont to John Jay College of Criminal Justice and to her job as a sales clerk at a T-Mobile in Kips Bay, where employees were deemed essential workers.

“I really didn’t have a choice but to go to work and get paid,” said Hernandez, who lived with her mother and sisters and had to help pay the bills. 

On the subway, she said she was “pretty much in fear the whole time.” 

“You’re really in an environment where you feel like you are surrounded by COVID.” 

Nichole Matos, another Bronx resident interviewed, lost her job at a Riverdale gym 24 Hour Fitness and was forced to quarantine after she was potentially exposed to COVID-19.

“You get tired of eating the same thing, watching the same things, reading the same things for class, and meeting for these virtual classes,” she said.

The Resilience of the Bronx

Veronica Quiroga, a 2020 graduate who conducted the interviews with Hernandez and Matos, was majoring in African and African American studies when the pandemic hit; she quickly shifted from conducting interviews for the Bronx African American History Project to the COVID-19 project. 

She’s proud of the attention the project brought to struggling businesses. She’s also grateful to the people who shared their stories.

“Nobody knows more than the people themselves what they go through during these times,” she said.

“The fact that people are willing to get on a public platform and be so vulnerable demonstrates not only the resilience of the people of the Bronx but also the potential that lies within them.”

Highlighting Disparities  

Carlos Rico, a 2021 Fordham graduate who was the lead coordinator for the oral history project, said that interviewing Bronx residents prepared him to think more deeply about the income and racial disparities that left so many Bronx residents exposed to the pandemic in ways that others were not.

It’s a skill he uses daily as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, a job he landed shortly after earning a law degree from Fordham Law School last year.

“I’m proud of the way that we were able to communicate with neighbors of the University and make that space so they could feel heard,” he said.

“Regina is an inspiring role model who will show our graduates what it looks like to live out our Jesuit values,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “Her remarkable talent, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to justice make her the ideal speaker for our commencement ceremony. We’re thrilled to honor her.” 

Road to Hollywood

Hall has appeared in numerous hit films, including The Best Man, Love and Basketball, the Scary Movie franchise, Girls Trip, The Hate U Give, Master, and will be in the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson movie, One Battle After Another.

But a Hollywood career wasn’t always her plan. Born in Washington D.C., Hall graduated from Fordham in 1992 with a degree in English. She was inspired to pursue acting after a personal tragedy—her father died unexpectedly of a stroke while she was in grad school studying journalism. 

“When you’re young, you don’t necessarily realize life’s brevity,” Hall told The LA Times. “It wasn’t like I didn’t want to do journalism. It was more like, you live once, life is short.”

Hall started taking acting classes and auditioning, and soon she was landing roles. 

Awards and Accolades 

Hall has appeared in many popular television series, including Ally McBeal; Law & Order: Los Angeles; Black-ish; Insecure; Nine Perfect Strangers; and Black Monday, which she co-produced. In 2022 she appeared in Peacock’s The Best Man: The Final Chapters, based on the popular Best Man film franchise. 

Hall is known for her versatility as an actress, standing out for both her comedic chops and dramatic range. BET called her performance in the megachurch dark comedy Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul a “masterclass in subtle comedy and emotional depth.” She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award for the performance. 

For her role in the 2018 dramedy Support the Girls, in which Hall plays the manager of a sports bar, she became the first Black woman to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She has also been honored with the Women’s Image Network Award for Best Supporting Actress, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and more. 

In 2022, Hall hosted the 94th Academy Awards with Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. It was the first time in history three women hosted the ceremony. 

Hall’s production company, Rh Negative, is currently developing projects on the scripted and unscripted sides of television as well as film.

Faith and Advocacy 

Throughout her life, Hall has maintained a strong connection with faith. She attended a Catholic high school before Fordham, and as an adult she’s drawn spiritual inspiration from Christianity along with Buddhism, Hinduism, and other faiths. 

“I’ve always had a relationship with God,” Hall told The Cut in 2022. “A deep and sometimes complex relationship with God has carried me through my difficult times.”

One such difficult time came in 2006 when her mother was diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disorder. Hall became an advocate for scleroderma research, and she now serves on the Board of Directors for the Scleroderma Research Foundation. 

Hall has also been involved with organizations including the American Red Cross, the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Smiles for Speech, Solutions Project, and Just Like My Child. 

“Regina’s dedication to advocacy embodies the principles we hold dear at Fordham,” said President Tetlow. “We can’t wait to welcome her back to campus.”