Spring always brings the sound of music to campus — so get ready to listen to the final academic year performances presented by the music program in the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. There will be five performances in total by the University’s music ensembles, each offering a different musical experience for the listener. Each of these concerts iso open to the public, as well as the Salve community.

Tickets for concerts with an admission price are $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors, military and non-Salve students; and free to the Salve students with ID.

For more information on any of the performances, call the music program at 401.341.2297.

Orchestra Concert
7 p.m. on Friday, April 26

The Orchestra Concert at Casino Theatre will feature music from Schubert, Strauss, Vaughan-Williams Elgar. The Suite for Viola and Orchestra by Vaughan-Williams will feature Brianna Boreen, Salve Alum, on Viola.

Tickets will be available online and at the door.

Band Concert
7 p.m. on Friday, May 3

Salve Regina’s Newport Community Band and Jazz Ensemble at Casino Theatre will feature the music with an American theme, including American Overture by Joseph Willcox Jenkins and Mesa Dances by Gavin Lendt. The concert will include performances by the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo.

Tickets will be available online and at the door.

For more information, call the music program at 401.341.2297.

A Cappella Concert
3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4

The A Cappella Concert at the Casino Theatre will feature music from Pitches with Attitude, Mixtapes, A Cappella Arrangements and Medleys.

Admission is free.

Spring Choral Concert
3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5

The annual Spring Choral Concert at Ochre Court will feature the University Chorus and Madrigals Chorus, and the a cappella group Pitches with Attitude and Mixtapes.

Tickets will be available online and at the door.

Jazz Summit
6 p.m. on Monday, May 6

The Jazz Summit at The Parlor on Broadway in Newport will feature music by the Salve Jazz Ensemble and Combo, A Cappella groups, and student solo performances.

Admission is free.

Fifteen dance majors will present new works at the Casino Theatre in “Come Rain or Come Shine,” directed by Lindsay Guarino, associate professor of dance and chair of the Department of Music, Theater and Dance, with co-direction by Julia Paulo ’25. Faculty member Carlos R.A. Jones offered mentorship to the student artists through their artistic processes.  Performances will be on Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 pm at the Casino Theater.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for military and seniors, $8 for Salve Regina faculty and staff, and free for Salve Regina students. To purchase tickets, go here.

“Come Rain or Come Shine” celebrates spring, a time when the energy shifts on campus. A year of learning and growth is on full display, and it’s also bittersweet as everyone savors the final moments with the senior class before they move on. This moment is especially important for this senior class, who weathered the uncertainty of COVID-19 with grace and optimism.

Salve Dancers at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, March 2024.

Choreographers presenting work in the performances on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. are as follows: Livia Armstrong ’25, Aleah Begg ’25, Ashley Blake ’26, Morgan Dubay ’24, Trinity Leite ’25, Anna Mangino ’26, Julia Paulo ’25, Mackenzie Robichaud ’24, Jala Settles ’25, and Taylor Steeves ’25, Natalia Taborga ‘24.

Performances on Friday 7:30 at p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. follow a different program, with choreography by the following artists: Livia Armstrong ’25, Ashley Blake ’26, Morgan Dubay ’24, Sara Green ’25, Trinity Leite ’25, Elisabeth Muller ’26, Julia Paulo ’25, Hannah Rezendes ’25, Jala Settles ’25, Ava Siconolfi ’24, Taylor Steeves ’25, Natalia Taborga ‘24.

Paulo ’25 stepped into the role of co-director due to an injury that’s kept her from dancing since early February.

“As a dancer and choreographer, I have never been on the production side of a performance,” said Paulo. “This experience has been very eye-opening, as I was unaware of how much work actually goes into directing a show….working with Lindsay on directing this show has taught me so much and has opened up another possible career avenue for me.”  Paulo will also premier a new piece titled “Rift.”

Photo from a past show.

The concept for “My Treasure,” choreographed by Dubay ’24, came after studying at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD) in Calgary, Alberta, last summer. She heard the song “Sunday” by To Be Continued Brass Band during class and was inspired.

“This trip was so pivotal for me, and I still often think about how vital it was during my undergraduate studies,” said Dubay ’24. “Every time I would play it, not only was I reminded of the time spent in Calgary, but I would see bright colors, feel the warmth from the sun, and was overwhelmed with jazz and joy. This piece is a snapshot of that point in time for me, a time when I surrendered to jazz and trusted the journey. Salve Dance is my treasure, truly.”

Ironically, Settles ’25 also found her music inspiration at DJD during a study abroad this past March. She feels that music is the most important part of her choreographic process and draws inspiration from her dancers.

“My new work ‘Get Buck’ highlights the inner joy that people share through movement in connection to each other,” she said.

Salve Regina’s annual John E. McGinty Lecture in History will be taking place on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the Bazarsky Lecture Hall in O’Hare Academic Building. The lecture is free and open to the Salve Regina community, as well as the general public. To register, go here.

Entitled “War and History: The Overlooked Global Significance of the Lands of Ukraine,” the lecture will be given by Timothy Snyder, an award-winning, globally renowned historian who specializes in central and eastern European history.

Snyder will delve into the complex historical narrative surrounding the lands and people of Ukraine — spanning from prehistory to the present day. Going beyond the surface, Snyder will explore the multifaceted motivations for conflict and the intricate role that Ukraine has played in global history. Vladimir Putin’s utilization of historical myth to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be examined, shedding light on alternative perspectives and deeper insights into the region’s historical significance.

In addition to giving this year’s McGinty Lecture, Snyder will also receive the 2024 Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square. Launched in 2013, the Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square is an award given each year to a storyteller whose work contributes to public understanding on important issues. Snyder’s profound contributions to public discourse through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling render him an exemplary recipient of the award. Renowned for his insightful analysis of historical events and their contemporary implications, Snyder has skillfully illuminated complex narratives – offering invaluable perspectives on the intersections of politics, society and human rights. His commitment to fostering understanding and global perspectives through his body of work aligns seamlessly with the mission of the University, making him a deserving honoree whose work inspires critical reflection and meaningful dialogue in the public sphere.

Snyder (right) with Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine.

Snyder boasts a remarkable array of scholarly works, including six award-winning books that have been translated into over 30 languages. His acclaimed work, “Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin,” has garnered international recognition, receiving 12 prestigious awards, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities and the Leipzig Award for European Understanding. Similarly, his subsequent publication, “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning,” has been recognized with awards from esteemed organizations such as the Dutch Auschwitz Committee and the Association of Jewish Veterans of Poland.

Snyder has also contributed to the discourse on historical ideas and contemporary politics through several publications, with his latest book “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” marking a significant addition to his distinguished body of work.

Snyder received his bachelor’s degree in European history and political science from Brown University in 1991. He then became a British Marshall Scholar at the University of Oxford, where he received his doctorate in 1997.

He has held fellowships at the National Center for Scientific Research (Centre Nationale des Recherches Scientifiques) in Paris, France; the Harvard University’s Olin Institute for Strategic Studies; served as an academy scholar at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs; and has held multiple fellowships at the Institute for Human Sciences (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen) in Vienna, Austria.

Currently, Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University – teaching courses and seminars in modern eastern European political history.

To register, go here.

Renowned author, scholar and policy analyst Susan Eisenhower will present Salve Regina’s Commencement address and receive an honorary degree as a member of the Class of 2024 at the University’s 74th Commencement on Sunday, May 19. Her most recent book, “How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower’s Biggest Decisions,” has received critical acclaim nationally and internationally, highlighting the qualities of successful leadership demonstrated by her grandfather, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The University will also award honorary degrees to James T. Brett, Christine Kavanagh, RSM, and Gloria Purvis. The Commencement ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on Salve’s campus in a tent on the oceanside lawn of McAuley Hall.

Susan Eisenhower

Eisenhower is a prolific author and well-known for her work as a policy analyst focusing on national security and strategic issues. “How Ike Led” examines the visionary strategy and principled decision-making of a leader who faced momentous decisions. Dedicating the book to the “rising generations across the country,” the author emphasizes the importance of leadership in today’s global landscape, a theme that resonates with Salve’s mercy-educated future leaders.

Eisenhower’s work has appeared in newspapers such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as in the National Academy of Sciences’ Issues in Science and Technology and the Naval Institute’s Proceedings. She has provided analysis for a range of media outlets and programs, including CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and the BBC. She has also appeared on programs such as “PBS Newshour” with Jim Lehrer, “Hardball” with Chris Mathews, “Nightline” with Ted Koppel and more. In addition, Eisenhower has been interviewed for several documentaries, with D-Day being the focus of her most recent projects.

In 1986, Eisenhower founded The Eisenhower Group, Inc., a Washington, D.C., based consulting company that provides strategic counsel on business development, public affairs and communications projects. She is Chairman Emeritus at the Eisenhower Institute and currently holds a year-long seminar on strategy for competitively selected students through the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. She has been a Fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, as well as a Distinguished Fellow at the Nixon Center (now called the Center for the National Interest).

Eisenhower serves on a number of charitable and corporate advisory boards. She has served as a member of three blue ribbon commissions for the Department of Energy and is currently a member of MIT’s Energy Initiative Advisory Board and former co-chairman of NEAC, the Secretary of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Board. In 1998, she was appointed to the National Academy of Sciences Standing Committee on International Security and Arms Control, where she served for eight years. After serving on the NASA Advisory Council, she became a member of the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force.

James T. Brett

Brett was appointed President and CEO of The New England Council, the nation’s oldest regional business association, in 1996. Under his leadership, The New England Council has become the region’s premier business advocacy and networking association; revenues have grown significantly, membership has increased significantly, and the organization has expanded its programming to offer an extraordinary number of events annually throughout New England and in Washington, D.C.

The Council is widely respected by business leaders and policymakers alike for its non-partisan,consensus-based approach to policy advocacy. In recent years, Brett has led the Council’s federal advocacy on a wide range of critical economic issues — including energy, financial services, healthcare, education and workforce development, technology, transportation, trade, and more.

Prior to joining the Council, Brett served for 15 years as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. As a state representative, his legislative priorities included providing tax relief for key Massachusetts industries, creating high-wage jobs, developing and retaining a skilled workforce, and fostering an overall business climate that supports economic growth and prosperity for all residents.

Brett has also been a lifelong champion for people with disabilities. He has served as the chair of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) since May 2022 and previously served on PCPID under President George W. Bush and as chair under President Barack Obama. In 2016, Congress appointed him to the National Council on Disability where he served as vice chair.

He is chair of the Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disability and chair of the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission. In 2013, the University of Massachusetts Boston established the James T. Brett Chair in Disability and Workforce Development, the nation’s only endowed chair in disability and workforce development.

Christine Kavanagh, RSM

Sister Christine currently serves as president of the corporation for ReFocus, Inc., a Providence, Rhode Island, nonprofit human service agency comprised of 12 group homes, 50 supportive living sites, 46 shared living sites and three community centers. Sister Christine joined ReFocus in 1972 and for more than five decades has tirelessly worked as an advocate for individuals with differing abilities. As a longstanding executive director, she has been referred to as “the backbone, heart and soul” of the organization.

Under her tenure, the ReFocus community has grown considerably but remains committed to the core principles set by the agency’s founders.

“Families and caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities know the power of love,” said Sister Christine in a message shared on the ReFocus website. “It creates an environment where loved ones with disabilities feel safe and freer to be who they are: unique individuals who, like all of us, thrive on love.

“When ReFocus opened its first group home in 1972 during the ‘era of de-institutionalization,’ our founders believed that this family-like environment best served the needs of folks who were suddenly being integrated into the broader community,” she continued. “Love them. Build a trusting environment. Challenge them to do their best. Those were the three simple ‘house rules.’ I started working as a student-volunteer at the agency that year, and I’m proud to say that as a multimillion-dollar agency with 230 employees and a wide array of programs and services, love, trust and challenge is still the core philosophy that guides ReFocus today.”

Sister Christine also represents the Sisters of Mercy as a member of Salve Regina’s board of trustees. Joining the board in 2006, she has served as chair of the mission committee as well as on the student affairs and finance committees, ensuring that the enduring vision of the University’s founders is carried forward through the institution’s mercy-inspired educational experience.

Gloria Purvis

Purvis is an author, Catholic commentator, host and activist who has spoken and written extensively on social justice issues. She is the executive producer of the Gloria Purvis Podcast, which centers on the opinions, stories and experiences of individuals who have been marginalized in the Catholic Church and in society. Providing space for conversations that focus on faith, race and creating inclusive communities, her podcast is described as “fostering a culture of charitable dialogue around the most complex and contentious issues in the Catholic Church today.”

Earlier in her career, Purvis worked in the mortgage industry for more than a decade before moving to risk management at a major financial services company. She ultimately left her successful career in finance and since then has become a prominent voice in the Catholic community, serving as a consultant for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Religious Liberty.

In 2022, Purvis was one of five representatives from America Media who had the opportunity to interview Pope Francis at his residence at Santa Marta at the Vatican. They discussed a range of topics including polarization in the U.S. church and racism. She has also appeared in various media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, “PBS Newshour,” NPR, FOX News, Newsweek, and Catholic Answers Live.
Purvis is the Inaugural Pastoral Fellow at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and holds honorary doctorates in Humane Letters from the University of Portland in Oregon and Saint Martin’s University in Washington State.