From Corporations and Communication to the Classroom

7/25/2019

Faculty members at the University of Mount Saint Vincent are frequently recognized for their scholarly work in and outside the classroom—and, more importantly, they’re also recognized for their commitment to enriching the lives of every student. By inviting students to participate in academic research, sharing their passion for learning in the classroom, and mentoring them on future career paths, Mount faculty continually inspire a dedicated community of learners.

Meet Frank Manzi and Michelle Scollo, two exceptional faculty members recently featured in Limitless for their leadership and engagement in supporting student success.

In the two years Frank Manzi has taught as an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Mount, he has left a lasting impression on his students. Recipient of the 2019 Teacher of the Year award, Professor Manzi is committed to helping students excel both inside and beyond the classroom.

“I was shocked to have received such an honor—it felt great to know that students relate to my stories and work as an accountant,” he said with a smile. “And I really enjoy teaching. There’s nothing better than being able to share where I came from and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

Professor Manzi began his career at the College as an adjunct professor before accepting an offer to teach full-time. Outside his role at the Mount, Professor Manzi works as a consultant and financial advisor for several corporations. He believes it is critical to stay connected with the corporate world in order to bring his experience into the classroom.

“It’s important for your students to listen to you, but you have to remember to listen to them too,” he said.

He credits his love for teaching to his laid-back and easy-going rapport with students. A teacher, advisor, and mentor, Professor Manzi embodies the mission of the College through his commitment to helping each of his advisees find their passions and excel down whatever career path they choose.

Associate Professor of Communication Michelle Scollo is also committed to fostering the potential of lifelong learners in her classroom—tailoring her teaching and mentoring to each individual student’s strengths, weaknesses, needs, and interests.

Throughout her eight-year tenure at the Mount, Dr. Scollo has taught content in the communication field, but has also helped students develop a set of skills—based in the liberal arts—to support them throughout their future careers. Dr. Scollo believes that one of the most rewarding parts about teaching is watching students put the material they learn in the classroom into practice at their various internships.

“Our proximity to Manhattan enables outstanding internship opportunities in a variety of fields,” said Dr. Scollo. “With advising and support for internships within the major, as well as the College’s Oxley Center for Academic Advisement and Career Education, students often take full advantage of the limitless opportunities available throughout their undergraduate careers.”

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Scollo has been busy working on scholarship and research in the fields of cultural discourse analysis and the ethnography of communication. She served as the co-editor of a recently published book, Engaging and Transforming Global Communication through Cultural Discourse Analysis: A Tribute to Donal Carbaugh, and hosted an international conference of communication scholars at the College in June 2017.

Most recently, Dr. Scollo collaborated with a Mount colleague in the psychology department, Dr. Katherine Alexander, and two Mount alumnae, Jaclyn Hahn ’18 and Nicole Quaranto ’18, to develop a mixed-methods research study on the cultural discourse analysis of introvert and extrovert terms. Dr. Scollo and her team presented their research in November 2018 at the National Communication Association Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

And throughout both Professor Manzi’s and Dr. Scollo’s work is a deep commitment to the Mount’s mission of educating the whole person, empowering students in terms of their ability to learn, to achieve their academic and professional goals, and to do anything they set their mind to.

Learn more about the exceptional achievements of our students, alumnae/i, and faculty.

About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.