Donna DeSiena
Alumni Relations
“I remember first meeting
Donna DeSiena when
I interviewed for the
Assistant Director of
Alumni Relations
position. Everything
about her was positive,
and filled with kindness
and light. In the 16 years
that followed that day, I would come to learn
many things about her, including how she will
probably not enjoy reading this because she
hates being the center of attention. Her humble
nature is on par with any Franciscan, as are
her deeds. When Donna wasn’t keeping Dennis
McDermott and I sane, or serving as the soul
of our office, she volunteered with her church,
or spent her evenings visiting a sick loved one.
In her 17 years at the College, she did far more
than she ever took credit for, and poured her
heart and soul into every project in which
she played a part (and she was a part of them
all). Seeing her smile every morning was the
highlight of my day, and my life is far richer for
having her in it.”
—Vanessa De Almeida ’00
Peter Gomori
Management & Information Technology
“From the first moment
I set foot in St. Francis
College as a new
Assistant Professor in
the Management
Department in 1999
until now, there has been
a constant presence
dedicated to high quality
teaching, service to the College and service
to the Community—Dr. Peter Gomori. Pete’s
initial guidance as I designed my first classes
in Finance and Management were crucial
to my teaching effectiveness. His insights,
advice and direction on how the College works
proved invaluable. He loved sharing his
Hungarian culture with Eastern European
students, moderating clubs and helping to
organize cultural events. Pete continues
to keep in touch with many of his former
students, even visiting them in their home
countries. Throughout the years he has been
at St. Francis, there is one phrase that sums
up Pete’s underlying philosophy: Be Better.
He always wanted the students to be better,
the College to be better, the faculty to be
better and himself to be better. He’s been a
colleague, mentor, and, most importantly,
a friend. And while his retirement reduces
his physical presence at St. Francis College,
the influence he has had on it over the past
34 years will continue long into the future.”
—John Dilyard
an innumerable amount of students and
alumni. “Lynne, I cannot thank you enough
for all your guidance, support and most of all,
friendship.”
—Lauren Bertolotti ’08
Geoffrey Horlick
Director, Masters Program in Accounting
Since coming to
St. Francis College
38 years ago Professor
Geoffrey Horlick has
had an important hand
in the success of
thousands of St. Francis
College Accounting
students. As Chair of
the Department of Accounting & Business
Law and later as Program Director of the
MS Program in Accounting, his rigorous
standards and mentorship have instilled a
high level of skill and proficiency that puts
St. Francis College accountants on par with
those from the best schools in the country.
Under Dr. Horlicks’s leadership, the College
began a five-year combined Bachelor’s and
Master’s Degree Program in Accounting
as well as a two year Master’s Degree Program.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Horlick is a
member of the American Accounting
Association, American Institute of CPAs and
New York State Society of CPAs. He has
published in Business Horizons and The
Federal Accountant and served as Author
and Editor of the Kaplan CPA Review Course
for ten years. In addition he has consulted for
Citicorp, Coopers & Lybrand, Theatre Now,
Ensemble Studio Theatre, Hughes/Moss
Casting, and Sherwood Ltd. Dr. Horlick
currently serves as a Board Member and
Treasurer of the Adoptive Parents’ Committee
and has participated as a panelist at the
organization’s annual conference.
Lynne Jackson
Chair, Communication Arts
After 31 years of teaching
at St. Francis College,
Dr. Lynne Jackson retired
in December 2017.
She served as professor
and chair for the past
nine years for the
Communication Arts
Department. Under her
leadership, the department blossomed with
high student enrollment, as well as new faculty
members and staff. She is the recipient of
numerous awards, such as the Distinguished
Professor award, The Franciscan Spirit award,
and she is inducted into the Duns Scotus
Honor Society. Dr. Jackson has mentored
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | SUMMER 2018, VOLUME 81, NUMBER 2
Sofiya Kagan
Senior Circulation Clerk
For nearly three decades
Sofiya Kagan’s managed
the circulation desk at the
SFC Library, overseeing
the checking out and
intake of library materials,
and supervising the
student workers on duty.
Ms. Kagan was the face
of the Library—the first person one saw upon
entering and the last upon leaving. She was
always firm when discussing library fines and
other offenses, yet skillful and polite when
helping patrons with printing, finding the right
call numbers, directing them to reference
librarians, and much, much more. She made
an invaluable contribution to the college and
will be sorely missed.
—Mona Wasserman
Dennis McDermott ’74
Alumni Relations
“Many things have been
said and written about
Dennis McDermott,
whether it be his career,
his college days or his
love for St. Francis.
Some call him Big D.,
Mr. St. Francis, or even
Big Man on Campus,
and although his role as Director of Alumni
Relations lasted 17 years, his relationship
with the College began decades before.
He and his wife Cathy are living embodiments
of