BONAVENTURE, ST.—The first shovel full of dirt in the construction of St. Bonaventure University’s new Henretta Communication Center was removed Saturday as part of the Jandri School’s 75th anniversary celebration.
The soon-to-be-added 6,200-square-foot addition to the Murphy Professional Building and home of the renowned Jandoli School of Communication is thanks in large part to a generous gift from 1983 alumna Deb Henretta and her husband, Sean Murray.
“We are about to start something very special here today,” Henretta told several hundred people gathered on the lawn in front of the Murphy Building before the groundbreaking ceremony. “In addition to the gift from our family, the many gifts from so many of you will allow us to build a bright future for Jandri School. It will move us forward, allow us to grow, It will help you adapt to a changing communication environment that will be more digital and faster-paced than ever before.”
The Henretta Communication Center will be the center of digital media innovation and experiential learning that will transform Jandri School. The state-of-the-art center will include a digital newsroom to bring together media across campus and create a collaborative, forward-looking facility, said Aaron Chimbel, dean of the school.
“This program has long been considered St. Bonaventure University’s masterpiece, but never before has there been a building specifically designed for innovation in journalism and communications education,” the dean said. . “The John J. Murphy Professional Building doesn’t claim to have top-of-the-line programs or innovative media education, and frankly, it doesn’t attract a lot of attention.”
Chimbel said it concluded on Saturday with the official opening of the capital project, which will be carried out in three phases. Thanks to Henretta and Murray’s gift and the support of many others, Phases 1 and 2 will become a reality. Construction on the Henretta Center is expected to begin this winter and be completed in 18 to 24 months.
“We are transforming this bland, basic building into a dynamic centerpiece for the campus and, most importantly, for the students and faculty of the Jandri School, bringing innovation and transformation in digital media,” the school said in a statement. We will focus on experiential learning,” the school said.
This additional facility includes a high-definition, flexible broadcast studio, podcast and audio studio, campus radio station, Bona Venture student newspaper, SBU-TV, the school’s hyperlocal news site, and a newsroom that will bring together future media ventures. It will be. Chimbel said this will foster cross-media innovation for the first time. An atrium, expanded First Amendment lounge, and student meeting space will make the center a gathering place for students, allowing for creativity and connection.
Dr. Jeff Gingerich said he knew three things about St. Bonaventure before applying to be the university’s next president about two years ago. It’s Franciscan tradition and values, renowned Division I basketball program, and renowned journalism school.
“When I came to campus for my final interview, I finally had the opportunity to tour the Murphy Building in the back, home to the famous Jandri School. I couldn’t have been more overwhelmed,” Gingerich said. spoke. “Our Jandoli facility, our student learning laboratory, needed to be better. Aaron knew it, and I knew it. Our previous directors and administration We knew that when we included it as a key pillar of our Boulder Bonaventure campaign back in 2017.”
For Deb Henlett and Sean Murray, donating to the project is as much about family as it is about charity. Henretta’s father, Elmer (’59), and brothers, Michael (’85) and Mark (’90), are also Bonaventure graduates. Deb and Sean met at St. Bonaventure while working there from 1980 to 1982.
Henretta and Murray recognized the 75 years of innovative education at the Jandri School and made significant contributions to improving the educational experience of Bonnie for generations to come.
“With this new phase, we will leap into the future and give our beloved Jandri School a new face with a beautiful new addition, but more than that, it will signal that we are not standing still.” Mr. Henretta said. “While we move forward in recognition of our powerful past, we also move competently and forcefully into the future.”