“Our faculty and staff are the heart of what makes Quinnipiac such a special community. Tonight we have the opportunity to celebrate those who go above and beyond, recognizing not only their individual achievements but also the collective excellence they inspire across our community,” said Vice President of Human Resources Jennifer Cinque, MS ’18.

With this, she kicked off the 24th annual Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence Awards Dinner on Tuesday evening.

With more than 250 individual nominations, these honorees stood out among their peers as beacons of light at the university. Their names will forever be engraved on the recognition plaque displayed in the Arnold Bernhard Library.

“These awards recognize the highest achievements in faculty and staff excellence — the most prestigious faculty-staff honor we bestow at Quinnipiac,” President Marie Hardin said. “Our award recipients truly represent the best of us. They represent the extraordinary quality for this institution to which we should always aspire.”

As Provost Debra Liebowitz shared, there is a common belief that connects the six recipients and guides the impactful work they support.

“You’ve made a decision to come to higher education to share your talents and your expertise here in this industry because you care about trying to make a difference for students — to help them be the best version of themselves, to give them the skills, the knowledge, everything that they need in order to be the kind of agents in their own life who can go out and make a difference,” she said.

Rosa Nieves: Paying it Forward through Mentorship

Introduced by Beata Hlinka, editor-in-chief of the Probate Journal in the School of Law, Rosa Nieves ’06, MS ’12, is described as an empowering mentor who dedicates herself completely to the student experience.

“As assistant director for academic advising in the School of Communications, she is a constant source of guidance and mentorship for students navigating the pivotal transition into college life,” said Hlinka. “She finds great joy in helping them find their purpose.”

In nearly two decades of service to the Quinnipiac community, Nieves has taken on several roles outside of academic advising, including teaching a first-year seminar course, serving as the Bobcat Academy program adviser and supporting the School of Communications’ Living-Learning Community as a faculty affiliate. Nieves has championed students in finding their passion, and ultimately, transformed lives.

Nominated by her colleague, Danielle Reinhart, assistant dean of academic advising, she described as “a fierce advocate for Quinnipiac and its people, radiating good humor and unflappable confidence in meeting any challenge head-on.”

For Nieves, reflecting on 24 years at Quinnipiac seemed like a nearly impossible task to summarize in one speech.

When she first stepped on the Mount Carmel Campus as a 17-year-old, first generation college student in 2002, Nieves had yet to meet the incredible mentors who would invest in her success and inspire her to support future generations of students.

“Looking at my past and present, one of the greatest gifts Quinnipiac gave me was the people who helped shape my journey,” said Nieves.

Nieves gave particular credit to Jean Blue, former associate dean of the then College of Liberal Arts, Angela Bird, former administrative assistant to the dean of the School of Communications, and Danielle Reinhart, who ultimately guided her toward a career in academic advising.

Nieves also thanked a few special individuals who weren’t in the room that night.

“My Dad, Abuela and Mami: Thank you for teaching me to have integrity, to stay curious and to value the gift of education. Because of you, I learned how to advocate for myself, and now I have the privilege of teaching students how to advocate for themselves. I hope I continue to be the manifestation of your dreams come true,” she said.

Nieves reflected on the past with gratitude and looks toward the future with excitement.

“This recognition is incredibly meaningful because it’s a reflection of the people who invested in me,” she said. “I am deeply grateful, and I hope I can continue paying it forward to the students and community we serve every day. And don’t forget, you all have the power of changing someone’s life with one thought provoking question.”

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Linda Bedard: Combining Learning with Human Impact

Linda Bedard, clinical assistant professor of physical therapy, whose impact has traveled across and beyond the university, has spent more than 30 years at Quinnipiac.

Marion Sparago, assistant dean of operations for the School of Education, introduced Bedard as a dedicated educator who helps her students turn their academic success into human impact.

“Her students describe her as ‘the heart and soul of the doctorate of physical therapy program’ and a mentor who has an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel seen, valued and safe in moments of both growth and stress,” said Sparago.

Bedard helps to lead the EQUIP Rehabilitation pro-bono clinic on Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus, teaching physical therapy students important skills while providing free services to local communities with limited access to healthcare.

“When I look at our students, our leadership and the community members we serve, I am reminded of why I do this work,” said Bedard. “I love watching students take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in real-word settings, all while directly benefitting our community. Seeing how these programs touch hundreds of lives across our region shows just how far experiential learning can go and why it is vital to the overall learning process.”

Bedard thanked several individuals for their support, including Trenton Honda, dean of the School of Health Sciences and professor of biomedical studies and physician assistant studies; Ken Kosior, associate dean of clinical education and partnerships and associate professor of physical therapy; Sam Bzdyra, superintendent of buildings and grounds; Heather Pastir, director of marketing and communications for the School of Health Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Nursing; and John Pettit, associate director of public relations.

“Tonight, I am surrounded by a profoundly talented team of colleagues and students who represent the absolute best of Quinnipiac,” said Bedard. “Any wise individual knows that success is never achieved alone, it happens when a collaborative team shares their expertise to excel together. This award really represents a whole group honing their craft to achieve excellence.”

Bedard also recognized her family, including her husband, David, and her daughters, Michaela and Sophia, for their continuous support.

“Through all of the experiential learning opportunities we provide through EQUIP Rehabilitation, this family team has provided endless love, support and patience. Your endless commitment to me has not gone unnoticed, and I love you all very much."

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Kevin MacDougall: Fostering Kindness in a Special Place

“For 19 years, Kevin MacDougall has helped keep Quinnipiac connected and running smoothly,” said Sylvia Jones, a member of the Graduate Student Advisory Board.

As associate director of telephony, cabling infrastructure and administrative services, MacDougall has become one of the most reliable and positive leaders at Quinnipiac. 

From coordinating the installation of the university’s mail locker system, contributing to the development of the new South Quad buildings and going above and beyond to support the university community, MacDougall is always committed to finding solutions and willing to lend a helping hand.

“Kevin believes being a good colleague means more than simply doing a job. It means communicating, collaborating and being an active part of the university community,” said Jones.

As MacDougall stepped up to the podium, he shared his gratitude for the those he has met at Quinnipiac.

“Quinnipiac is a special place, and what makes it special are the people,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with colleagues who are incredibly talented, dedicated and committed to making this university the best it can be. To be recognized among so many outstanding members of the Quinnipiac community is a tremendous honor.”

MacDougall credits part of his success to the incredible teams he has worked with behind the scenes to improve the student experience.

“Thank you as well to the university for making it a priority to recognize staff,” he said. “So much of what we do happens quietly, but it adds up to something that matters for our students and for each other. I’m proud of be part of that.”

MacDougall specifically thanked his family for their unwavering support, including his wife, Joan, who is the associate dean of admissions and financial aid at the Quinnipiac School of Law.

“Joan, thank you for always being there for me and supporting me,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner, at work or at home. To my children, Liam and Kendall, thank you both for keeping me grounded and for being the best part of my day. I’m proud of you both, and I hope you know that working hard and being kind to people really does pay off. Today’s proof.”

MacDougall said he will take away so much more from the ceremony than the honor itself.

“Receiving this award is certainly something I’ll remember, but what I’ll appreciate most of what it represents: the relations we build, the people we help and the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than ourselves,” he said.

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Priscilla Fonseca: Building Spaces for Passion

Forever shaped by the kind actions of a high school calculus teacher, Priscilla Fonseca, professor and chair of civil engineering, strives to demonstrate the same kindness to her students at Quinnipiac’s School of Computing & Engineering.

Recounted by Lynn Byers, professor of mechanical engineering, Fonseca shared the enduring gesture of her high school teacher that opened her eyes to the impact of an educator.

“I had a schedule conflict with band, so I couldn’t take calculus. When I told him, he offered up his conference hour to give me a single-person class of calculus,” she said. “Looking back now, I realize how kind and general that was.”

Byers continued to share what makes Fonseca stand out, including her success in guiding students to an impressive first-place finish in the Student Steel Bridge Competition at the American Society of Civil Engineers Northeast Regional Symposium two years in a row.

“I have seen Priscilla teach classes up close,” said Byers. “She is a superb teacher whose courses are consistently characterized by innovative instructional design, a strong orientation toward professional practice and just the right balance of enthusiasm and humor. Her classes are engaging, rigorous and thoughtfully structured to help students connect theory to real-world civil engineering applications.”

Fonseca’s love for teaching and interacting with students is one of the most fulfilling parts of her role at Quinnipiac.

“I get to interact with my students, and I get to be in a better mood as the day goes on in the classroom,” she said. “I’m with students who are curious people. They have a variety of interesting lives. They make me laugh, and so I was really appreciative of that.”

Fonseca shapes a supportive environment in her classroom that aims to cultivate this same feeling in her students.

“We talk a lot about building foundations and structures that can withstand stress, but I learned that the most important structures that we built aren’t made of concrete — they are spaces we create for each other like those 50 minutes in a classroom where can just be present with each other and learning together,” she said. “I hope we all leave here tonight committed to building more of these supportive spaces in our daily lives.”

In addition to thanking the board of directors for the Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence and her colleagues in the School of Computing & Engineering, Fonseca shared her gratitude for her family.

“Thank you to my husband, Scott, and my daughter, Agnes, for supporting me when I’m going to work a lot,” she said.

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John Jacobi: Paving the Way for What Matters Most

Lieutenant of Training and Professional Standards John Jacobi, MS ’20, served as a Connecticut State Police trooper prior to arriving at Quinnipiac in 2018. 
As shared by Monique Drucker, vice president and dean of students, Jacobi recalled why he decided to continue his journey at Quinnipiac.

“I had a lot of really good job offers when I retired from the state police, but Quinnipiac become a real home for me,” he said. “There’s a lot of really, really good people who work in this department.”

Jacobi was nominated by his colleague, Public Safety Officer Heather Bundock, who specifically recognized Jacobi’s work in redesigning the move-in process for families.

“Perhaps the most tangible example of John’s brilliance is the transformation of move-in day,” Drucker said, citing Bundock’s nomination. “Three years ago, families faced some wait times, looping through multiple staging lots and social media was filled with parental comments.”

Not only did his work improve the experience for incoming students, but it also reclaimed one of the most important days for parents and families.

“Acting as the orchestrator for move-in 2024, John utilized traffic mapping to identify bottlenecks and completely redesigned the staging process,” Drucker added from Bundock’s nomination. “By fixing the logistics, John gave those parents the most precious gift possible — more time to spend with their students before saying goodbye.”

Jacobi thanked his family for their support as he navigated his professional career aspirations.

“I am deeply grateful to my family. Your unwavering belief in my profession dreams and your constant support is the foundation on which every milestone I’ve achieved is built,” he said.

As he looks toward the future, Jacobi is excited to continue making positive change across the university.

“As I move forward, I carry with me the responsibility that comes with this honor. I feel inspired to continue striving, not just for personal milestones, but to contribute meaningfully to our community and to uphold the lacy of excellence that this institution represents,” he said.” I am incredibly proud to be part of this extraordinary university.”

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Julia Fullick-Jagiela: Engaging Students in Real-World Learning Opportunities

Introduced by her colleague Jill Koehler, associate dean for career development, Julia Fullick-Jagiela has “spent her career helping students recognize that behind every business decision are people, relationships and consequences.”

Fullick-Jagiela, professor and chair of management, joined Quinnipiac in 2013, where she has found ways to engage students in real-world learning experiences. 

“Her goal extends beyond helping students master course material,” said Koehler. “She wants them to become thoughtful leaders who understand who their actions affect others. For Julia, that philosophy starts with seeing the potential in every student. As she puts it, ‘It’s not just about teaching content; it’s about developing the whole learner. I see each student as a leader. They are leaders right now.’”

Fullick-Jagiela also played a key role in creating Quinnipiac’s first cross-school major in sport and entertainment management, combining coursework from the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and School of Communications. 

Fullick-Jagiela thanked her nominators, colleagues, students, friends and family as she stepped up to the podium. 

When she learned about her recognition with the Center for Staff and Faculty Excellence award, Fullick-Jagiela immediately recalled those who supported her.

“Beyond shock, my first thought wasn’t about an accomplishment,” she said. “It was about people. Because teaching is, and always has been, about people. I’ve spent my career studying workplaces, leadership and organizations. The question that guides my teaching is much simpler: Does this center the care of people?”

These same values shape the way that Fullick-Jagiela interacts with her students.

“My goal is not only to help students acquire knowledge, but to help them develop the confidence, self-awareness and sense of purpose needed to make a positive difference in the lives of others — to see themselves as part of, and responsible for, our community,” she said. “My hope is that they leave our classrooms not only as stronger thinkers, but as people who understand that their words, decisions and actions have consequences for real human beings.”

In the final remarks for the evening, Fullick-Jagiela shared an important message with the audience.

“Teaching is an act of hope,” she said. “We invest in our students in the chance that together we create a future that is more caring, more equitable and more people centered. There are people in our lives who are light bearers. They keep the light going, even when it grows dim. This community is full of light bearers, and I am grateful to learn and work alongside you every day.”

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