Providence College Podcast

Relive the moments that made commencement weekend unforgettable for the Providence College Class of 2026. This special episode features highlights from the 108th Commencement Exercises, including speeches, reflections, blessings, behind-the-scenes moments, and heartfelt messages from graduating Friars thanking the family, friends, professors, and mentors who helped them along the way.   From “Go F...

As we kick off Women’s History Month, Susan Esper ’91, ’19P, ’22P joins host Bridget E. Anthony ’22, ’23G for a conversation about leadership, service, and the path that brought her back to Friartown as chair of the Board of Trustees.  In this episode, Esper reflects on her experience as a student, the mentors who shaped her, and the professional journey that unfolded after graduation. She shares...

In this podcast, relive the celebrations of Commencement Weekend for the Providence College Class of 2025. This episode features recordings of remarks from speakers including Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. '78, '82G , the college’s president (29:22); commencement speakers Judge Frank Caprio '58, '08Hon. (42:17); and Michael A. Cox '97SCE, '25Hon. , Boston's police commissioner (00:41). Also hear fro...

Ever wonder what admission counselors do? It’s not one thing , it’s everything they can to help high school students who are interested in applying to Providence College. As PC approaches its popular Fall Open House on October 5, Matt Maurano ’06, M.Ed. ’16 and Sarah Burke from the office of admissions share their insights about the application process, navigating deadlines, keeping up with FAFSA,...

In this podcast, relive the celebrations of Commencement Weekend for the Providence College Class of 2024 with a selection of remarks and addresses. Speakers include Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. , the college’s president; baccalaureate commencement speaker Arthur C. Brooks, Ph. D. '24Hon. , an author and expert on happiness; and Wanda S. Ingram, Ed. D. ’75, '24Hon. , who retired in 2023 as senior...

Providence College Dean of Admission Owen Bligh ’10, ’14G pulls back the curtain on the extensive process of recruiting and enrolling students – a virtually year-round enterprise that reached an important milestone this week when PC issued Class of 2028 admission decisions to regular-admission applicants. In this interview, Dean Bligh shares insights about the attributes that PC looks for in prosp...

During Women's History Month, we revisit our conversation with Wanda Ingram, Ed. D. '75, who will receive an honorary degree at Providence College’s 106th Commencement Exercises in May. Ingram, who retired in 2023 after three decades as academic advisor and undergraduate dean at the college, discusses her experience as a member of Providence College's inaugural class of women — and as one of the f...

What does test-optional mean for the application review process? How are families navigating financial aid this year? Where should you really make dinner reservations when you visit campus? As students receive notifications of their early admission to Providence College, Assistant Dean of Admission Elizabeth Ward '15 and Senior Admission Counselor Michael Splann '19 share answers to these question...

Friar basketball icon Ernie DiGregorio ’73 discusses his life in basketball and Star with a Broken Heart, the paperback reprint of his 2020 memoir. The stories from that book come to life in his own words during this conversation, with a focus on the book’s primary theme — the relationship among DiGregorio, teammate Marvin Barnes ’74, and Coach Dave Gavitt ’89Hon. As the surviving member of that g...

The start of the semester is a time to reflect on the question: What is this all about? What are we up to at Providence College and in higher education in general? What do we seek and why? Renowned social critic Andrew Delbanco, keynote speaker at this year’s Academic Convocation, joined the Providence College Podcast to discuss these and other questions. Andrew Delbanco, Ph. D., is Alexander Hami...

Sometimes, faculty research mirrors the headlines. Robert Hasson III, assistant professor of social work, studies immigration and mental health. On this episode of the podcast, he reflected on recent visits to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, including a research trip to evaluate services provided to unaccompanied children. He was joined by his research assistants, Bianca LaBella ’23 and Clara Oli...

With International Surfing Day on June 17, it's the perfect time to learn more about Keep It a Secret, a documentary produced and directed by Sean Duggan '93. The film explores the birth of surfing in Ireland against the backdrop of the Troubles, the decades-long period of conflict along religious lines. Duggan shares the inspiration for the film as a longtime surfer and how he balanced the film p...

With the start of the NBA Finals last week, we revisit our conversation with basketball legend Lenny Wilkens ’60, ’80Hon. A Hall of Fame player and coach, Wilkens shared stories from his NBA career, his time as a PC student-athlete, and his laudable community service work in his adopted hometown of Seattle. He also discussed his relationships with Providence College icons Joe Mullaney ’65Hon., ’98...

Lauren Jones ’05, the Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, discusses her pathway from PC to a leadership role in Gov. Maura Healey’s cabinet. Secretary Jones shares her insights related to the challenges and opportunities related to addressing workforce shortage challenges in the Commonwealth, and she offers advice for students considering careers in public service. Subscrib...

In this week’s podcast, we celebrate the Providence College Class of 2023 with a selection of remarks and addresses from a weekend series of events on May 19, 20, and 21. Speakers include Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. , the college’s president; baccalaureate commencement speaker Hill Harper '23Hon. , a humanitarian, actor, author, and philanthropist; and Sheila Harrity ’87, ’23Hon. , a Massachusett...

What’s the secret to happiness? Cognitive scientist and Yale professor Laurie Santos, Ph. D. ’21Hon. will tell you it’s no secret — it’s science. Two years after she first visited Providence College, as the Class of 2021 Commencement speaker and an honorary degree recipient, Santos returns to the PC Podcast to share what’s new in the world of well-being studies. She also talks about her favorite h...

Music technology and production major Hashim Hassan '23, who was born in New York but grew up in Qatar, began studying violin at the age of five. On the Providence College Podcast, Hassan discusses what inspired his love of the instrument, why he chose to attend Friartown, and his post-graduate ambitions. He also shares recordings from his senior violin recital as well as samples of some original...

Timothy P. Flanigan, M.D. '16Hon., '18G, the former chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School, presented this year's Fiondella Lecture. He shared stories from the front lines of the HIV, Ebola, and COVID health crises, describing how the humanities helped him through these challenging experiences. In 2016, Flanigan received an honorary degree f...

Brenda Chapman McGill, Ph. D. '75 shares stories about her experience as one of the first women — and very few women of color — to enroll at Providence College in 1971 as well as her return to the classroom for her doctorate in behavioral sciences, which she completed in 2016. She discussed the administrators that supported Black students when she was a student as well as interracial dating and he...

A conversation with basketball legend Lenny Wilkens ’60, ’80Hon. A Hall of Fame player and coach, Wilkens shared stories from his NBA career, his time as a PC student-athlete, and his laudable community service work in his adopted hometown of Seattle. He also discussed his relationships with Providence College icons Joe Mullaney ’65Hon., ’98Hon., Rev. Robert Morris, O.P. '46, and Joe Hassett '77,...

If you missed this year’s Anna E. Levoie Memorial Lecture, catch up on the Providence College Podcast. Hear Brianna Abbott ’17 and Mallary Tenore ’07 discuss science and health communication in the era of COVID-19. Abbott, who majored in chemistry and creative writing, is a health reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Tenore majored in English and Spanish at PC and teaches journalism at the Univer...

Sean Dufresne ’23 leads a group of students expanding sports play-by-play opportunities on WDOM radio. A psychology major who is among the first students in PC’s communication minor, Dufresne is working to follow in the footsteps of PC alums such as Doris Burke ’87, ’92G, ’05Hon., Sean McAdam '81, and Cayleigh Griffin '14, who have established successful careers in sports media. Subscribe to the P...

On this episode of the Providence College Podcast, Kelly Roosa Cohen '00 of Cohen Closing & Title describes the evolution of her business from its founding in 2015 to now, with five locations in southern New Hampshire and Maine. She also discusses challenges posed by the current housing market and shares advice for both new homebuyers as well as Friars considering careers in real estate themse...

2022 was a busy year for Abby Mansolillo '21, because she was crowned Miss Rhode Island in May and competed in the Miss America pageant in December — all while attending law school. We discuss what inspired her pageant pursuits, how she reflects on the pageant experience as a women's and gender studies major, and her ambition to become the second female attorney general of Rhode Island.  Subscribe...

Danika Bebe '23 , a former head dream coach for the Transitions Program, joins us on the Providence College Podcast to discuss how the pre-orientation program for multicultural and first-generation families helped her grow as both a participant and a student leader. Bebe, who grew up in Tiverton, Rhode Island, is a public and community service studies and global studies double major and business a...