Having graduated from Marist, when Patty returned as a faculty member, it felt like coming home. She strives to create the same supportive, engaging environment that her own professors cultivated for her. 

Stunning scenery, distinctive experiences

Like many Red Foxes, Patty was initially drawn to campus by its beautiful location on the Hudson River. However, it was the mentorship she received from the Marist faculty that truly shaped her journey as a Red Fox.

• Paying it back: "They saw my potential, encouraged my growth, and helped me discover opportunities that guided me down my path," she said. "Becoming a Marist faculty member allows me to contribute to the community that had profoundly shaped my life."

Supporting the Whole Student

As First Year Seminar director, Patty feels privileged to help students navigate their transition to university life.

• Patty can relate: "I am frequently reminded of my own adjustment period, where despite strong academic preparation, the social transition from living with a supportive family to being on my own was challenging," she said. 
• Genuine caring: This personal experience informs her understanding of students' need for support beyond academics.

Hitting the books, connecting the dots

In her courses from First Year Seminar to Capping, she's discovered that the most rewarding moments often come from unexpected places, with constant surprises from students' new perspectives and insights.

• "When they bring theories from their psychology courses to our discussions of Edgar Allan Poe, for instance, or make connections between Mary Shelley and contemporary cultural issues, I find myself learning alongside them," she said.
• "These moments of shared discovery make the classroom a place of ongoing growth for the students and for me," she added.

Assumptions are for challenging

Her approach to the Gothic genre contradicts preconceptions about who can engage with it and what it means to study it. In fact, Patty doesn't watch horror movies or enjoy scary things. 

• Power in critical thinking: Those skeptical about the value of Gothic material soon realize it is so much more than entertainment. It's a powerful vehicle for examining social issues and exploring complex themes that might otherwise be difficult to discuss.
• Cue the breakthrough moments: When students apply the course materials to their own lives and world around them, they feel empowered and confident in their knowledge.

Mentorship that evolves

As a scholar and teacher, Patty has found the supportive faculty community at Marist crucial to her own growth in the past decade.  Now she pays it forward.

• Encouraged exploration: Patty facilitates opportunities to showcase students creative and scholarly accomplishments, just as her professors did for her. She's encouraged many students in the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, to present at conferences and get their writing published in literary and academic journals. 
• Why it matters: "In a world where technology and career requirements are constantly shifting, I focus on helping students develop the critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills they'll need for whatever path they choose. Beyond that, I want them to discover their own unexpected passions and connections, just as I did in my trajectory from Marist student to professor."

Patty’s story comes full circle

For Patty, returning to Marist's riverfront campus has been more than fortunate, it’s symbolic in more than one way:

• "The Hudson River offers more than just a beautiful backdrop for our campus, though; it is a source of inspiration, reflection, and renewal," Patty said. "The river appears as an important historical and geographical symbol in a lot of literary works, like those by Washington Irving."
• "Sometimes, when I’m walking between my classes, I look at the river, and it reminds me of where I started and how far I've come. The campus has changed so much since I was a student, but the Hudson River—much like the Marist spirit—remains."

 

 

Inspired to do More

In our "Inspired to Do More" series students, faculty, staff, and alumni share their unique Marist journeys. In Marist's "and, not or" spirit, these members of our community have embraced diverse opportunities, excelling in academics, activities, leadership, and service. Each story highlights how Marist's values inspire them to pursue excellence, connect with others, and make a meaningful impact.