Arcadia University Magazine

To the Arcadia University Community:

Since I began my role as interim president in July, I have seen the great loyalty of our alumni, the dedication of our faculty and staff members, and the commitment from our trustees to provide the necessary leadership to guide this University. These sentiments infuse a tremendous amount of optimism for a University, and I have no doubt that Dr. Ajay Nair, who in December was named the 22nd President of Arcadia University, is eager to join our passionate community.

As Board Chair Alison (Aaron) Madsen, Esq. ’85 noted, Dr. Nair is uniquely qualified to lead Arcadia. In addition, as a first-generation college student, accomplished scholar of race and ethnicity, and social justice practitioner, he embodies many of the qualities that we value at Arcadia. And values are often paramount for an organization’s—and an individual’s—success.

Many of these values are represented in the 40 extraordinary alumni you will read about in this issue. These individuals have accomplished great successes before the age of 40, in a wide variety of professions and industries. While they are but a microcosm of our dynamic alumni, they showcase the depth and breadth of the alumni of Beaver College and Arcadia University.

Being part of Arcadia has reaffirmed my optimism of a bright future for our students, our nation, and our global community. On behalf of my wife, Nan, I thank each of you for welcoming me into this University community, and for allowing me to be a part of your esteemed history.

Sincerely,

Hank Brown
Interim President

For David Jerez-Szathmary ’19, history, fashion, and social justice are inseparable. Affectionately known as “That 40s Kid” around campus, Jerez-Szathmary leapt to a full-40s wardrobe as a sophomore in high school, embracing vintage ensembles from a bygone era.

He gets most of the clothing from eBay, or from veterans and others from that era. He also is commissioned as an artist, with people sending him vintage clothing for artwork he does for them. Beyond epaulets and cardigans, Jerez-Szathmary believes this return to elegance should transcend fashion. Indeed, he holds a deep fondness for many of the decade’s cultural elements.

“I love the music from that era,” he said. “The style, the elegance, the artwork! The commercials from that era, the Norman Rockwell paintings—they actually made you want to go out and buy something. Now everything is so drab. The last time a car had style it had fins. You don’t see that anymore, and that’s a crying shame.”