Holy Cross faculty and staff enjoyed the opportunity to travel, expand horizons, and enhance professional skills this summer.
Linda Ruszkowski attended the Conference for Mission and Formation sponsored by the Holy Cross Institute at Saint Edward’s University in Austin, TX. There were representatives from the schools across the country that are sponsored by the Congregation of the Holy Cross. She says, “It was a wonderful experience to see how the charism of Holy Cross is alive and well across the country and the globe. It was great to share how the Sisters have played such an integral role in this charism. I was once again inspired by Blessed Basil Moreau's work Christian Education and how applicable it is to today.”
Dave Geiser attended the Project Lead the Way teacher training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in July in preparation for the new Holy Cross course Introduction to Engineering Design.
Liz Creamer was a Bender fellow at the Bearing Witness Institute in July sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Anti-Defamation League. There were 25 Catholic educators from all over the country. The institute focused on anti-semitism, the holocaust and how it all relates to contemporary issues globally and locally including bullying prevention. Guest speakers included a Holocaust survivor and the Ambassador of Switzerland. The program included several field trips including the Holocaust Museum, a synagogue, the USCCP headquarters and the embassies of Israel and Switzerland. Ms. Creamer says, “it was life changing especially in how we look at the world around us.” She plans to incorporate what she learned from the experience in several ways at Holy Cross.
Alison Westfall traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, with the Global Volunteers program where she taught English for two weeks to young adults. She says, “volunteering provides a structure and allows me to experience a place in a more personal way.”
Deirdre Garahan had a whirlwind five weeks from the beginning of July to the beginning of August, visiting 17 US states and Ireland. Ms. Garahan’s students will remember her appreciation of windmills. During her journey, she saw windmill farms in both the US and Ireland
Rachel Mullervy taught Greek and Roman Mythology at the University of Maryland, College Park in addition to the Public Speaking course at Holy Cross. She also began a master’s in Teacher Leadership, her second master’s degree, through Mount Holyoke College. Ms. Mullervy also teaches at Maryland and take classes during the school year.
Donna Reese taught a master dance classes in Virginia Beach for dancers aged eight to 18 at levels beginners through advanced. She also enjoyed several trips over the summer.
Rusty McCrady traveled to Oslo and the fjords of Norway, then to the Shetland Islands and Scotland, including Edinburgh and Inverness. In his work with Johns Hopkins University, he supervised an intern (student teacher) at Katherine Thomas School.
Barbara Dobbs spent a week grading AP Statistics Exams for the College Board in Kansas City. She also conducted three College Board workshops in Maryland, Alabama and Georgia for new and experienced AP Statistics teachers.
Anna Dettbarn attended training in an IB history course and an Advanced Placement US Government course.
Amy Schmidt Stowe traveled to the American School Counselor Association annual conference in downtown Denver, CO. Over 3400 counselors from around the world had at least 50 program options from which to choose each day in addition to keynote speakers such as NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, Stanford University researcher Carol Dweck, Ph.D., and former professor-turned-entrepreneur Calvin Mackie, Ph.D.
Margaret Mackinnon attended The Frost Place poetry conference in New Hampshire, which included driving to Robert Frost's house for a reading every evening.
Erik Teter and Emily Anderson were married over the summer. They traveled to Rome for their honeymoon for the Scavi Tour, where they saw the bones of St. Peter, visited St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum and attended an audience and received a special blessing from Pope Francis. They also traveled to Paris where they visited the Louvre, attended Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral and went to the famous Lock Bridge (Pont de Arts). They finished their trip in Lourdes. Mrs. Teter says, “It was fabulous and full of Jesus and art (perfect for our positions here at Holy Cross).”
