Stepping Up: Rosalie Sinagra, Mary Pappert School of Music

You can usually find Rosalie Sinagra smiling and greeting students, staff and faculty behind her desk in the Mary Pappert School of Music, where she serves as assistant to Dean David Allen Wehr. During the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Rosalie has gone above and beyond while working remotely to serve music students.

Rosalie is an active member of the music school’s Student Wellness Committee, a group of music staff members that helps Duquesne students in need of assistance Throughout the pandemic, Rosalie (with assistance from the Dean Wehr) has coordinated meals from The Incline for University music students—many of whom are international students—unable to return home.

“Rosalie is always one of the first to think about helping our students in need,” said Wehr. “Not only does Rosalie bring to her daily work a vast wealth of institutional knowledge from her decades on the Bluff, she most importantly exemplifies the Duquesne mission in always serving God by serving students.”

Additionally, Rosalie’s concern for the students’ emotional health and well-being also inspired her to start Music for Hope, through which Contemporary Music Media and Jazz Chair Tom Kikta created a weekly online forum in which students, staff and faculty could come together to share live musical experiences.

During each of the six Music for Hope performances, music technology students shared videos and recordings of original compositions. Performance majors played live on Zoom, which allowed for musical collaborations across departments and disciplines.

“In 1624 during the plague in Palermo, Italy, St. Rosalie was instrumental in the curing of that town,” said Kikta. “We have our own St. Rosalie now who came up with the Music for Hope to have our community come together to soothe and heal us in this trying time.”

Thank you, Rosalie, for your care of and service to our School of Music students!

Stepping Up

We’re recognizing individual Duquesne employees who are going above and beyond in their job duties (beyond transitioning to online services) to serve our students, our campus and local community during these uncertain times. To submit an individual for nomination, email Emily Stock at stocke@duq.edu.