Each year, Alumni Association Awards are presented to individuals who have proven to be successful leaders in their profession or community, or who have demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to Drexel.
The award recipients’ accomplishments are many. But what drives them to work as hard as they do? Read on to learn a little bit about each of our 2011 Alumni Association Award winners, and find out what motivates and inspires them on a daily basis.
John C. Monsul, Retail Management ’53
Special Distinction Award Recipient
In 1990, while still working full-time in business, John created, produced and continues to host a half-hour “talk/variety” program entitled “Communicating Today“, on Channel 10, a local Northern Virginia television station. After 20 years, it recently aired its 600th show.
“I divide the past 50 years into two parts—my professional working years, and for the past year, my retirement. During the working years, my motivation and inspiration came from doing the very best job that my Drexel education, talent and experience enabled me to do. I was determined to be successful and, working for some of the finest companies in America, I was! Twenty years before I retired, I started producing a television program called “Communicating Today” and now continue that into retirement. By featuring deserving guests and organizations on my show, I’m proud to be able to perform a worthy community service. To be able to accomplish this for over 20 years is my inspiration and motivation on a daily basis.”
Walter J. Stevens, PhD Chemistry ’67
Service to Profession Award Recipient
Dr. Stevens accepted a position at the Department of Energy in 2000, where he soon became Director of the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, which provides the largest source of funding for physical sciences research in the United States. He retired in 2006 and now enjoys golf, gardening, woodworking and reading.
“During my career, I was very fortunate to work for the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a research scientist, and the Department of Energy as the director of one of the Nation’s largest sources of research funding in chemistry. My inspiration came from the excitement of basic research and my desire to make significant and lasting contributions to chemistry.”
Michele Palos-Samsi, PA-C, Physician Assistant Program ’97
Service to Community Award Recipient
In 1999, Michelle and co-founder Sheila Davis, D.O. opened St. Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic, a non-profit family practice clinic in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood, that serves the uninsured. With the belief that poverty does not reduce humanity, they care for the physical, psychological, and spiritual health of those marginalized from the healthcare system.
Walter A. Staniszewski, Business Administration ’03
Young Alumni Achievement Award Recipient
Walter works for the Defense Contract Management Agency and is assigned to the Naval Special Emphasis Program which includes the contract administration, engineering, production, and supply at the Naval Nuclear Principal Suppliers. His position is to ensure quality product and assurance for our nation’s carriers and submarines.
“My daily inspiration is the war fighters that I support with products and services so they can focus on their tasks of ensuring our daily freedoms. This in turn motivates me to professionally do my best by using my knowledge and experiences to continue to have a fruitful and successful career.”
Ranjan Dash, MBA ’06, PhD Materials Science and Engineering ’06
Alumni Entrepreneur Award Recipient
Ranjan is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Y-Carbon, Inc. His interest lies in technology development and commercialization of tunable nanoporous carbon technology. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering making him the first student at Drexel to simultaneously pursue a Ph.D. and MBA.
Michael J. Hagan, Information Systems ’03
Alumni Entrepreneur Award Recipient
Michael is the “Chief Rockstar” (a.k.a. C.O.O.) of SCVNGR, the mobile gaming company funded by Google Ventures, which was recently valued at more than $100M. SCVNGR is building the game layer on top of the globe and invites institutions both large and small to build it with them.
“I am inspired knowing that when my company successfully has its IPO (initial public offering), that I will be able to donate a building to Drexel and name it “Rockstar Hall”. Wouldn’t you love to take classes there? Real inspiration comes from a chemical reaction that occurs when you combine the carbon dioxide exhaled by incredibly smart people surrounding you with a really big idea. Real motivation is working toward goals which one-year ago were impossible and accomplishing them. It’s awesome knowing there are no actual rules to the game you’re playing and having the freedom to be creative everyday!”
Hugh A. Chairnoff, PhD Business Administration ’61
Golden Dragon Society Award Recipient
Retired for 15 years, Hugh is a founder and managing partner of SevenOaks Capital Associates, a commercial finance company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He currently serves on the Board of Greater Philadelphia Hillel, the parent organization of Drexel Hillel, and is a member of the Advisory Committees of Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business and the Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology.
“Now that I’m retired, I keep busy by managing a small business and volunteering. These activities have proved to be just as challenging as when I was a full-time professional. The tools we acquired in college and the knowledge we gained through continuing learning are still the foundations of our ability to contribute at any age. But the challenge of applying these tools re-shaped by our experience and wisdom, in an ever-changing world and always in the presence of uncertainty, is what inspires and motivates me to continue to find ways to improve my performance.”
Arthur P. Joblin, Physics ’61, PhD ’69
Golden Dragon Society Award Recipient
Art became a faculty member in Drexel’s Department of Physics in 1961. He also served as Drexel’s Dean of Students from 1975 to 1977 and then immediately served as Vice President for Student Affairs until 1989. From 1989 until 2003, he was the Executive Assistant to Drexel’s President. Art taught physics throughout his career and, upon his retirement in 2003, he was named Professor Emeritus.
“Now, in retirement, I serve on the Boards of several local-government, health-care and arts-oriented organizations. Yes, there is pleasure in the personal association with quality professionals and service-oriented citizens. But the truest satisfaction derives from the knowledge that, through these activities, I have found a channel to return to the community some measure of service, a way of saying “thank you” to all of those who have done “good things” for me throughout my life. I am indeed fortunate to have continuing late-life opportunities to serve others.”
Joseph E. Maenner, Esq., Mechanical Engineering ’86
Silver Dragon Society Award Recipient
Joe started his career as a patent attorney in 1998 at a patent boutique firm in Philadelphia. During his patent career, he has also worked as a patent attorney in general practice firms as well as in-house counsel to a high technology startup company before starting his own firm, Maenner and Associates, LLC, in February 2011. He presently serves on the Board of the College of Engineering Alumni Association, and is also patent counsel to the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department.
“Being a patent attorney, I have the unique opportunity to be the second or third person (after the inventors) to ever see a new invention. I never know what type of new and potentially game-changing gadget will cross my desk on any given day. Being able to obtain a patent for these inventions provides me with a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, particularly if the client is able to use the patent to his financial benefit.”
Patrick S. McGonigal, Finance ’86
Silver Dragon Society Award Recipient
In 2000, Pat and his partners founded iHealth Technologies, an Atlanta-based medical payment policy management company, where Pat served as Chief Financial Officer until 2009. Today, he serves as Senior VP of Finance; iHT processes more than $30 billion of medical claims each year, generating annual savings of nearly $700 million. In 2006, Pat established the Catherine R. McGonigal Tuition Fund, which has provided more than $840,000 in tuition assistance to students. And in March 2008, he established the Patrick S. McGonigal ’86 Scholarship Fund at Drexel, which annually provides a full one-year scholarship to a deserving graduate of his former high school, Father Judge.
“iHealth Technologies is in the business of removing waste from our healthcare system, working with our payor clients to eliminate unnecessary medical expense. As a co-founder and longtime employee of the company, I am motivated to succeed due to a business model that aligns the interests of our employees and shareholders with that of our clients, and with the U.S. healthcare system overall. Along the way, iHT creates good jobs for hardworking individuals and relieves some of the financial stress on our economy. Those outcomes are worthy of my best efforts every day.”
John R. Phillips, CFA, Chemical Engineering ’86, MS ’89
Silver Dragon Society Award Recipient
John provides consulting services including technical and financial analyses and support for renewable energy and energy conservation projects. He also provides consultation in the area of finance, risk management and new technology deployment within the energy industry. Prior to his consulting activities, John served as the Chief Investment Officer of Philadelphia Capital Management LLC. He is a member of the Drexel University Alumni Association Board of Governors and serves on the advisory board for the student-operated Dragon Fund.
“My professional motivation and inspiration comes from the opportunity to work with highly talented and skilled colleagues who come together to solve complex problems that help to meet important needs of society. In the process, the opportunity to continuously learn from others and to share my experience helps me build skills to improve my effectiveness and to maintain relevant skills for the future.”