SU M M E R 2020
MAGAZINE
Alvernia Takes It Downtown O’Pake powers CollegeTowne
SUMME R 2020
MAGAZINE
COVER STORY 4
O’Pake powers CollegeTowne
FEATURES 10 14 20 24
Overcoming COVID-19
26
Making a mark
Granting a new direction
4
Feeding the mission Mission and Ministry virtually serves campus community
PROFILES 30
Advancing the model
32
Uncovering passion for teaching
34
Fading Autism
14
ON CAMPUS 36
Presidential Hope Fund established
38 40
Alvernia secures $2.3 million grant
30
Media Suite receives upgrades
DAN Z. JOHNSON
42 Periscope 44 Alumni News & Notes
34
Modernizing and sustaining Alvernia’s future as a comprehensive regional university Recently, the Chronicle of Higher Education published one of many articles focusing on a series of closings of small to midsize colleges and universities across the country. The headline simply read, “Will your college close?” The national narratives on higher education
“The value of a college education is not in the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.” — Albert Einstein
have been mixed with what seems like a never-ending cycle of college closures and failures as well as factors leading to the closings. The impacts and further uncertainty of COVID-19, which may lead to permanent societal changes, are likely to accelerate the issues that plague higher education. That leaves us to ask the question, how does a regional university respond to this narrative in an uncertain environment?
Alvernia’s approach to modernization of the regional university Last Fall, Alvernia University began in earnest to change this narrative, leading the way with an innovative and sustainable approach to the higher education model to support our new strategic plan. Guided by the goal of sustaining its Bernardine Franciscan Sisters’ heritage of serving the underserved in Reading and beyond, Alvernia, with a new presidential administration, partnered with committed faculty and staff to move us boldly into a new era with a five-pillared strategic plan—Alvernia Advantage. The guiding momentum
2 Alvernia University Magazine
behind this plan is to become a stronger, enhanced, comprehensive regional university. We believe colleges and universities that survive and thrive, like Alvernia, will do so by embracing education that puts students and outcomes at the center, strategically aligning human and financial resources to student needs and institutional goals, sustaining the liberal arts core, and making bold and innovative moves toward modernizing higher education for the 21st century. That is why the foundation of the Alvernia Advantage is built with the student experience in mind. By focusing on a student-centered model, we put the university’s primary focus on the student to gain positive outcomes—from enrollment and retention to graduation, career success, and a lifelong pursuit of learning and transformation able to adapt in a changing world. This student-centered model emphasizes students’ interests and needs, as well as market demands, and aligns university resources to drive development of academic programs, student support services, activities and ultimately outcomes.
Since 1958, Alvernia University has grown from a small college founded by the Bernardine Sisters with a few students to a comprehensive regional university, supported by a strong Franciscan identity and a values-driven foundation. The Alvernia Advantage strategic plan supported by our new model for comprehensive regional universities strives to continue that growth in the face of a higher education marketplace that is contracting and consolidating. In this competitive environment, colleges and universities cannot survive, when more than 80%-90% of their revenue is derived from student tuition, without being student-centric in their programs and use of resources. Nor can they survive by continuing programs that are no longer in demand or cannot be adapted to students’ interests or the ever-changing world in which we live. To address this problem, Alvernia will launch new programs that are in high demand, such as engineering, new health sciences and esports, and renew and expand others such as business, communications and nursing. Likewise, Alvernia will review and consider the elimination of other programs that are no longer market-driven. The student-centered, entrepreneurial model and continuous realignment will ensure Alvernia’s success moving forward. The model and approach will also allow for investing in new and existing programs to better meet students’ needs and will ensure we have the resources to implement these initiatives effectively.
Reading CollegeTowne Another approach to modernizing the regional university will be through the Reading CollegeTowne initiative. Reading CollegeTowne embodies the studentcentered, entrepreneurial direction for the university and will create the kind of experiential learning that students want, need and deserve. CollegeTowne also helps Alvernia fulfill its Franciscan mission by returning to downtown, where our Bernardine Sisters first started their ministry in Reading. The addition of 401 Penn Street demonstrates our innovative approach to growth by utilizing this low-cost hub to grow and
refresh programs that support our goals of improving the student experience, attracting new students from new markets and increasing resources through new revenues. CollegeTowne gives Alvernia a new vehicle to establish key partnerships with businesses, organizations, and other colleges and universities to build programs that respond to the market and drive economic development throughout Berks County and the region.
Combining the elements of the compass, Tau, open book and arch, the new academic mark reflects our roots in service to the underserved, commitment to excellence in knowledge, and leadership in new ideas and programs. The mark also serves as a reminder of our strong Catholic tradition and founding mission of the Bernardine Sisters of a strong education and service to all. We are so much more than the “A” in our name.
While advancing our strategic plan, Reading CollegeTowne will also reenergize economic development in downtown Reading. Establishing a physical presence for Alvernia downtown, building new and expanded programs, and launching a student-centered business incubator will help guide and support local businesses. And Alvernia students will be central to the transformation of Penn Street in Reading.
Continuing Alvernia’s progress over the next decade requires the university to adopt this new model, putting students first in everything while working with new partners and in novel and innovative ways to grow. While Alvernia has always made students a priority, the university will now do so with every decision it makes. Alvernia’s mission and students are the centerpieces of this innovative approach. Through the Alvernia Advantage, Reading CollegeTowne and our new academic mark, we begin this studentcentered journey in higher education.
Pivotal to Reading CollegeTowne is the newly rebranded O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Strengthening experiential learning opportunities for students generating economic development in Reading and integrating Alvernia’s mission have helped coin a new phrase and tagline for Reading CollegeTowne: Powered by O’Pake. Alvernia has a long history of community engagement for which it is nationally recognized. Whether through the established Reading Collegiate Scholars and College Readiness programs, the South Reading Youth Initiative, Oakbrook community programs, or after-school projects at Millmont and Tyson-Schoener elementary schools, Alvernia has a track record of identifying and meeting the needs of its community. Expanding into downtown Reading through our Reading CollegeTowne initiative is a natural progression of that mission.
Movement toward this new model is already paying dividends, as we are on pace for a record freshman class this fall. Join us as we boldly move forward at the crossroads of history, change and innovation. The next chapter for Alvernia as a 21st century regional university is one of exciting promise and a bright future, with endless possibilities for growth and expansion, while still honoring our mission to serve the underserved and building upon our strong liberal arts foundation.
Stay safe, John R. Loyack President
A new mark for a new direction As we begin our journey to redefine the modern comprehensive regional university, we wanted to create a symbol that marks this new direction. In March, we launched a new academic mark that supports the narrative of our great institution.
Alvernia University Magazine
3
O’Pake powers CollegeTowne F E AT U R E |
By Richard Bader
O
ne of the things that made John R. Loyack attractive to Alvernia when the university was searching for the right person to take over as its seventh president was his vision of revitalizing Reading by transforming it into a vibrant college town. The idea made a lot of sense. Alvernia had been ratcheting up its presence in the city for years, and Reading, which for too long had been more likely to show up
4 Alvernia University Magazine
| F E AT U R E
Alvernia University Magazine
5
F E A T U R E | O’Pake powers CollegeTowne
O’Pake Institute Chief Operating Officer Dr. Rodney Ridley (right) speaks with officials at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) headquarters and shares thoughts (next page) with GRCA’s Director of Communications Leah Fassnacht and Alvernia juniors Aaron Ayala ’21 and Anastasia Tomko ’21 as they walk through downtown Reading.
on struggling-city lists than on up-and-coming lists, was poised to rebound. Now, nearly a year after Loyack took over as Alvernia’s president, Reading CollegeTowne is in full swing. Alvernia’s new president has some difficulty coming up with a simple description of the project. “CollegeTowne is probably the most complex, multifaceted initiative you could take on at a college,” he said. The project’s overarching goal is to reenergize economic development in downtown Reading and to do so in ways that advance the university’s mission. It calls for establishing a physical presence for Alvernia
6 Alvernia University Magazine
downtown, launching a new academic program in engineering that will be based in Reading, revitalizing the business major and other academic programs while giving them a downtown home, and creating a student-centered business incubator to provide guidance and support to new businesses as they work to get up and running. Alvernia’s physical presence in Reading comes through the purchase of 401 Penn Street, the fivestory, 260,000-square-foot former CNA Insurance building in the city’s center. Renovating and moving into an existing building—as opposed to undertaking new construction—reduces costs while significantly accelerating the project timeline.
O’Pake powers CollegeTowne | F E A T U R E
Alvernia took possession of the building in July, and if renovations go smoothly, it could be open for business sometime during the 2021-2022 academic year. Acquiring 401 Penn Street is just one of several steps the university has taken to help the CollegeTowne project achieve liftoff. The O’Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership, and Public Service has been restructured and renamed the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Reading CollegeTowne is at the top of O’Pake Institute’s
“CollegeTowne is probably the most complex, multifaceted initiative you could take on at a college. The project’s overarching goal is to reenergize economic development in downtown Reading and to do so in ways that advance the university’s mission.” — John R. Loyack
priority list. “Powered by O’Pake” has become a CollegeTowne slogan. Parts of the O’Pake Institute’s former portfolio have been woven into the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement, which is now being led by executive director Rudy Ruth. Another significant development has been the hiring of Dr. Rodney Ridley to lead the new O’Pake Institute and to help launch the CollegeTowne project. The project plays to
Alvernia University Magazine
7
F E AT U R E |
O’Pake powers CollegeTowne
President Loyack shares a moment with Pennsylvania State Senator Judy Schwank and chairman of the board of trustees Michael Fromm at the CollegeTowne announcement in December 2019.
Ridley’s strengths. He comes to Alvernia after five and a half years as head of Wilkes University’s Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. At Wilkes, he led a student-run business incubator that helped spark new business development in Wilkes-Barre, an arrangement that has a lot in common with the business incubator he will work to develop at Alvernia. Ridley also has a background that leaves him well prepared to start an engineering program at Alvernia. He holds 27 patents, is an intellectual-property expert, has been a professor of engineering, helped redevelop the engineering programs at Wilkes, and has been active in a range of engineering-related projects in the private sector. “It became clear that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ridley said of his new Alvernia job. As he moves into that job, Reading CollegeTowne will be the O’Pake Institute’s No. 1 priority. Though Alvernia won’t move into its new downtown home until sometime in 2021 at the earliest, Ridley said the student-run business incubator could get up and running more or less immediately. “Most businesses need help, especially with the devastating effects COVID-19 has placed on small businesses,” he said, and then listing a range of challenges that new business face—how to structure a new corporation, for example, or how to build a website or how to create a company logo. These are challenges that a student incubator team is well-suited to solve. “The first thing I’m going to do is find the elite students who will form this team,” Ridley said.
8 Alvernia University Magazine
Meanwhile, downtown organizations, such as the Berks County Community Foundation and the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, are eager to provide interim space for CollegeTowne meetings or other activities. “We are able to provide them with physical space before they ever get to where 401 Penn Street is ready for them,” said Pamela Shupp, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Chamber Alliance. The project is being launched in partnership with the Chamber Alliance, the Berks County Community Foundation and Reading Area Community College. “This is a real, wonderful collaboration,” Shupp said. “It really marries together well.” Several factors are critical if economic redevelopment is to succeed. One is location, and Kevin Murphy, president of the Berks County Community Foundation, thinks Reading’s—90 minutes from Philadelphia, two hours from New York City—is perfect. “Reading is what you would dream about if you were a city planner,” he said. Another critical factor, Murphy said, is the presence of anchor institutions that invest in their communities. He points to the significance of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore or to the roles that the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University have played in Philadelphia. Alvernia, he said, is poised to make a similar kind of impact. “Alvernia has turned its face to the city,” he said. “This is going to bring round-the-clock life and vitality to downtown. We couldn’t be more excited.” Five years from now, if CollegeTowne is successful,
O’Pake powers CollegeTowne | F E A T U R E
Rendering of the first-floor entrance of 401 Penn Street
“Alvernia has turned its face to the city. This is going to bring round-the-clock life and vitality to downtown. We couldn’t be more excited.” — Kevin Murphy, president of the Berks County Community Foundation
Loyack envisions new program offerings, an expanded student experience and Alvernia’s first engineering graduates out in the workforce. He sees new partnerships with city institutions, new businesses that have been helped by the university’s incubator planting roots in Reading, and Alvernia students living in and becoming engaged with downtown. But between now and then, he
sees much work that needs to be completed. “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a planet to build a college town,” Loyack said. “We seem to have that planet’s worth of support, and that’s what makes Reading the place to do this.”
Alvernia University Magazine
9
Overcoming
F E AT U R E |
Alvernia assists community, each other, during crisis By Susan Shelly
T
he Alvernia University community has never been one to retreat from a challenge, even one as overwhelming as COVID-19. Staying true to the university’s core values of collegiality, contemplation, peacemaking, service and humility, students, faculty and staff put aside their disappointment regarding the closure of campus and disruption of the academic year and stepped up to help others. They made and served soup to hospital workers, located unused personal protective equipment and donated it to first responders, and put together activity booklets for elementary-age children and mailed them to students’ homes. They also found ways to stay connected, enabling them to check in on friends, keep in touch and, in some cases, just have some fun. It is important to note these are just some of the stories of triumph. Countless other tales from faculty, staff, students and alumni go untold as the community humbly goes
If you know Alvernia community members serving the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, please email news@alvernia.edu.
10 Alvernia University Magazine
about its work, not working for attention or admiration but merely doing what Alvernia does best: serve.
Student-faculty game night has surprising result With just eight faculty members and 84 students, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) department at Alvernia University is a tight-knit group. So when the university shut down due to COVID-19 and everyone scattered, faculty members and students looked for ways to stay in touch. At the suggestion of a colleague, Dr. Staci Silar, assistant professor of physical therapy, invited students and their professors to come together to play Pictionary on Zoom, a videoconferencing service. “We found a Pictionary word generator online and figured out how to use the Zoom whiteboard, and we were all set,” Silar said. “Everybody seemed to enjoy it, so we started a weekly game night.” Silar sent pictures of game night to Kristopher Nolt, director of communications, who posted them on social media. To Nolt’s surprise, he got a comment on one of the posts from Robert Angel, who invented Pictionary in 1985. Nolt found an email address for Angel and contacted him, not knowing if he’d hear anything back. “You never quite know who is behind the keyboard on social media, so the comment was exciting, but I was cautiously optimistic,” Nolt said. “But after a response to
COVID-19
| F E AT U R E
my message via email, I knew we had a great opportunity for some fun for our students and faculty.” Angel, who recently wrote a book about the origins of Pictionary, volunteered to join the Alvernia group for a game. Nolt quickly accepted the offer. “So we ended up playing with the guy who created the game, and I was even on his team,” said Victoria Pepenelli, a senior DPT student. “I mean, who gets to do that?” The game was so successful, Silar said that Angel is using it as a model for reaching out to other groups of players. Nolt credited students and faculty members for working to keep spirits up during a difficult period. “None of this would have happened if we hadn’t been looking for ways to employ technology in a positive way,” he said.
DPT students and faculty members have continued the weekly game nights, relishing the companionship and fun that they bring. “It’s a hard time, and we’ve had to miss a lot,” said Maria Petrongolo, a DPT senior. “It’s good to be lighthearted and just able to enjoy ourselves for an hour on game night.”
Pictionary inventor Rob Angel joins DPT students for virtual game night.
DPT student Sydney Gunderson plays Zoom Pictionary with Angel and her classmates from her bedroom. Alvernia University Magazine
11
F E A T U R E | Overcoming COVID-19
Protecting and serving COVID-19 first responders With inventory to feed 850 students and Alvernia University’s campus cleared of students due to COVID-19 concerns, Aladdin Service Director Matthew Lykens knew he had a challenge on his hands. “We’d had normal food deliveries through the middle of March, and then the campus closed,” Lykens said. “So we had food to feed a whole lot of students who were no longer there.” Lykens consulted with his head chef, Hector Ruiz, and they came up with a plan. They froze what they could and then started making soup. “We made 275 pints of soup and delivered it to health care workers at Reading Hospital,” Lykens said. Then, with plenty of food remaining and determined not to waste it, they cooked and contributed meals to four or five other community organizations working to feed those in need. “We know there is need in our community,” Lykens said. “If we’re able to help fill that need, that’s the right thing for us to do.” While food service employees were cooking and delivering meals, Kevin Burns was rounding up personal protective equipment (PPE) to share with local health care workers. “The administration felt that if we had equipment we wouldn’t be using, we should get it to those who need it,” explained Burns, director of laboratory services and safety.
Reading Hospital staff pose with soup delivered by Alvernia in April.
12 Alvernia University Magazine
Procuring items from the nursing and science departments, Burns was able to deliver surgical gowns, disposable gowns and thousands of gloves to workers at Reading Hospital. He also responded to a request from the Berks County Coroner’s Office to supply safety goggles. “We use the goggles for lab courses, but with no students on campus, they were just sitting there,” Burns said. “We were able to get 19 pairs to the coroner’s office, which means every employee now has a designated pair of goggles for their personal use.” Personnel from community outreach and health care organizations that received donations expressed gratitude. “The generous soup donation provided a warm and comforting meal to many of our team members,” said Rachael When, director of nutrition services at Reading Hospital. “We appreciate the generosity and support of the team at Alvernia University.” Food delivered to Reading’s New Journey Community Outreach was acknowledged as well. “Thank you Alvernia University for the beautiful fresh vegetables and bread that you delivered today,” a post on the soup kitchen’s Facebook page stated. “They will be given out at our food pantry on Wednesday.” According to Karolina Dreher, Alvernia’s dean of students and director of residence life, the university’s giving is reflective of its values. “Service is one of our core values, and it happens naturally,” Dreher said. “Our first instinct was to share our resources with the front line, so Matt and his team made soup for Reading Hospital, and Kevin gathered up PPE for
| F E AT U R E
workers. It’s just a natural instinct to continue to serve the community and stay true to our core values.”
Alvernia students, staff determined to continue SRYI after-school program Alvernia University students had been sent home due to COVID-19 concerns, and classes in the Reading School District were put on hold. Those factors should have signaled an end to the South Reading Youth Initiative (SRYI), an after-school program administered by the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement that helps first and second graders at two city schools. Alvernia students, staff and faculty, however, were determined that the program would continue. “We know the need within our community doesn’t end,” said Laura Cordero, who manages the initiative. “So we started brainstorming about what we could do.” Within a week of the Reading School District suspending classes, Alvernia students had compiled an 80-page activity booklet for SRYI participants. The booklets, along with pencils, crayons and other school supplies, were mailed to the homes of 100 students who participate in the afterschool program. The booklets were so well received that school principals requested more of them. The Holleran Center responded by donating an additional 400 copies. “We’re happy the booklets are so helpful,” said Dr. Rudy Ruth, executive director of the Holleran Center. “The South Reading Youth Initiative is an important program that benefits both Alvernia students and the elementary students that it assists.” Anna Shoemaker, the mother of 5-year-old Lakyn Shoemaker, a first grader at Millmont Elementary School, said the arrival of the activity booklet was like Christmas for her daughter. “She was so happy and excited to get it and couldn’t wait to get started on the activities,” Shoemaker said. “It’s keeping her busy and interested in school.” More than 50 Alvernia students in service-learning classes, along with other student volunteers, contributed activities focusing on cognitive, physical and socialemotional learning. According to Dr. Ana Ruiz, who teaches life span development, psychology and sustainability, her students went above and beyond to help. “My students really stepped up,” Ruiz said. “They’ve gone way beyond what I asked them to do.”
SRYI Coordinator Laura Cordero prepares activity booklets.
Several students submitted their activity projects in English and Spanish, intended to help parents. “Their enthusiasm and desire to help has just been amazing,” Ruiz said. Anne Balter, a first-year occupational therapy major who is a student in Ruiz’s life span development class, contributed three activities to the booklet. “I included a kind of I-spy in nature coloring page, a tutorial to help kids draw a ‘Toy Story’ character and an act-it-out activity,” Balter explained. “I believe those types of activities can help to de-stress children and to ground them.” Meaghan Klaburner, a sophomore, focused on activities relating to sustainability. “By creating small and fun activities that relate to sustainability, we can give kids a message that doesn’t come across as being boring or unimportant,” Klaburner said. “I’m proud to be able to encourage the youth in the right direction for all of our futures.” Dr. Erin Way, who also teaches life span development, said students are continuing to submit activities, which will be compiled into booklets to be used for summer programs. “We can’t be sure what those programs will look like this year, but we’ll make sure we have resources available,” Way said. Sr. Monique Eloizard, a psychology major who submitted activities for the booklet, said she has witnessed the benefits of the SRYI program and is happy to be able to help sustain it. “I am not from Reading, but I have friends who grew up there and have benefited from these sorts of programs,” said Eloizard, a sophomore. “I’ve seen the impact that it’s made in their lives, so I know that whatever it is we do, no matter how small, it will bear fruit.” Alvernia University Magazine
13
F E A T U R E | Granting a new direction
Granting a new direction By Claire Curry
N
icholas Sturm ’18 has served on the front lines of countless emergencies— as a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic and a registered nurse. The ability to work under pressure and rescue others facing lifethreatening situations is truly his calling. It’s also what inspired him to pursue a career in the health care field. “One of my aspirations is to become a flight nurse with Life Lion,” he said, referring to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Critical Care Transport Unit. Joining the hospital’s staff as a registered nurse last fall put him one step closer toward that
Nursing student Elizabeth Ali ’20 demonstrates on the pregnancy simulator in the nursing simulation lab.
14 Alvernia University Magazine
Granting a new direction | F E A T U R E
Alvernia University Magazine
15
F E A T U R E | Granting a new direction
“The central goal of these scholarships is to support a diverse student body to move through and graduate from our baccalaureate nursing program and provide professional nursing care in medically underserved communities.” — Karen Thacker, professor of nursing and dean of professional programs
goal. Before accepting that job offer, he worked at Reading Hospital, a position he was offered right after completing his nursing degree at Alvernia. Sturm credits his education for setting him up for success along with a scholarship that helped make it possible by covering half of his tuition, taking the pressure off at an extremely challenging time. “My family had a lot of health issues, and I had to help out at home and also work full time through college,” Sturm explains. “The grant was wonderful and came at a time of great need. I was able to cut some hours back [at work] and focus more on school. I am very grateful and blessed to have had that opportunity.” Sturm is one of 46 nursing students at Alvernia who have received tuition scholarships through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, an
elite award given to a select group of institutions. The $550,000 grant, which the university began receiving in 2016, is renewable for four years. Ultimately, it will provide more than $2 million in scholarship funding to disadvantaged nursing students at Alvernia. “The central goal of these scholarships is to support a diverse student body to move through and graduate from our baccalaureate nursing program and provide professional nursing care in medically underserved communities,” said Karen Thacker, Ph.D., RN, CNE, professor of nursing at Alvernia and dean of professional programs. “By targeting recruitment of disadvantaged students and elevating academic initiatives and supports to ensure their success, this project will ultimately pave the way for the future of health care and bridge obvious gaps both in minority education and community health.”
“Working with the patients gives you a whole new level of understanding, patience and respect … a new level of love for people.” — Sarah Tirado ’20
16 Alvernia University Magazine
Granting a new direction | F E A T U R E
Professor of nursing Robyne Eisenhauer (center) works with Allison Decker ’22 in the nursing simulation lab.
Simply put, the grant enables scholarship recipients to get a quality education so they can, in turn, deliver quality health care to those in the community who need it most. Academic and environmental disadvantages, as well as financial need, are among the criteria that determine a student’s eligibility. “Nursing education is expensive,” said Deborah Greenawald, associate professor and nursing department chair. “There are costs above and beyond tuition, such as books, uniforms and various equipment, and the curriculum is a full-time job. It is challenging for nursing students to work while they are going to college. I’m very pleased that Alvernia has been able to secure these grants.” HRSA scholarships were a welcome relief for fraternal
twins Sarah and Marie Tirado ’20, whose nursing education meant double the tuition bill. The sisters’ scholarships not only made their nursing studies possible but also allowed them to live on campus. “Having a college experience was important to us,” said Sarah. “Being able to live on campus helps tremendously because we have a quiet place away from home to focus.” In addition to the many benefits of residential campus life, Sarah and Marie say they have each benefited from other supports and resources offered through the nursing program, including mentoring and tutoring. “Our instructors are excited to teach us,” Sarah said. “They want to see you succeed.” Marie agrees: “They want us to be well rounded and provide a lot of areas
Alvernia University Magazine
17
F E A T U R E | Granting a new direction
Nursing student Ettieanna Britt ’20 (front) hangs an IV in the nursing simulation lab as sophomores (from left) Sara Wallace ’22, Rebekah Machamer ’22 and Allison Decker ’22 check on the simulated patient.
for us to get experience, not just hospitals. We got to see nursing from different perspectives.” Not only did the sisters study together, but they also worked together in the same psychiatric hospital as behavioral health technicians. After graduation, they plan to work in the Reading area and possibly continue in psychiatric nursing. “Working with the patients gives you a whole new level of understanding, patience and respect … a new level of love for people,” Sarah said. Carly Yarosz ’20 decided to pursue a career in nursing a few years after she had already earned an associate degree in international studies at a community college in New York. “I was very interested in nongovernmental organization work and did research on sustainability in
18 Alvernia University Magazine
marginalized communities,” she explains. “I’ve also always been interested in health care, and my mom is a nurse.” Nursing was a perfect way to combine her interests into a rewarding career. A commuter student, Yarosz juggled a demanding academic schedule while working as a health care aide at an assisted living facility before she learned about and applied for the HRSA scholarship. “I had a hard time with school-work balance,” she said. “I wasn’t a strong student in high school and need the extra time and tutoring. The scholarship allowed me to concentrate on my studies in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to because I would have been working more.” Because the scholarship requires that students maintain
Granting a new direction | F E A T U R E
“There are costs above and beyond tuition, such as books, uniforms and various equipment, and the curriculum is a fulltime job. It is challenging for nursing students to work while they are going to college. I’m very pleased that Alvernia has been able to secure these grants.” — Deborah Greenawald, nursing department chairperson
high academic standards, Yarosz said that it helped her build confidence in her capabilities. “It gave me constant encouragement,” she said. “I felt like I deserved to be here. As long as I had that grant, I knew I was in the right place.” In addition to learning in the classroom, Yarosz has gained skills and experience from several clinical rotations at Reading Hospital, Haven Behavioral Hospital and other local health care institutions. She was also able to participate in a two-week transcultural nursing experience in Ireland, a highlight of her college years that she
said would not have been possible without the HRSA scholarship. Yarosz is looking forward to beginning her career following graduation and has applied to a few residencies. She said that receiving the scholarship was an unexpected honor that opened the door to so many new opportunities. “I’m still in awe. Having the scholarship has taken a huge burden off my shoulders, and I am so grateful for it. Miracles really do happen!”
“The grant was wonderful and came at a time of great need. I was able to cut some hours back [at work] and focus more on school. I am very grateful and blessed to have had that opportunity.” — Nicholas Sturm ’18
Alvernia University Magazine
19
F E AT U R E |
20 Alvernia University Magazine
| F E AT U R E
by Lini S. Kadaba
f you had to choose between your next couple of meals and class textbooks, which would you choose? Some Alvernia University students are making that heart-rending decision—and often ending up hungry. “It should never be food,” said Sue Guay, an assistant professor of English and communications at Alvernia who has had students in her classes struggle with that dilemma. Clare’s Cupboard, a new Mission and Ministry initiative that started in the fall of 2019, is the institution’s latest
Student Maria Checchia ’20 (left) and Graduate Assistant Reid Hoff ’19 (right) help run Clare’s Cupboard in the Office of Mission and Ministry in Campus Commons. Alvernia University Magazine
21
F E A T U R E | Feeding the Mission
“Over time, the demand for additional food supplies for students has exploded. The demand outgrew Angels in the Attic’s ability to serve all the students in need.” Sharon Blair, founder of Angels in the Attic, recognized the need for Clare’s Cupboard after increases of food insecurity on campus.
response to food insecurity, meaning students have inconsistent access to enough food for a healthy life. The serious challenge among college students is more common than many realize, not only at this university but also on campuses around the country. According to a 2019 report by Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, about 45% of the 86,000 students who responded to a survey said they faced food insecurity in the previous 30 days. It also found that 17% of respondents were homeless during the last year. “Access to food should be a universal right,” said Julianne Wallace, Alvernia’s vice president for mission and ministry. Clare’s Cupboard was “born of our mission. Yes, many campuses are doing that. But what makes it special for us is that it’s embedded in our mission.” Each Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., students can fill a grocery bag—purposely sans logo to ensure privacy—with goods from the tucked-away cupboard in the Office of Mission and Ministry in Campus Commons. Inside a 4-foot-wide closet, four shelves
17% of respondents
were homeless during the last year.
22 Alvernia University Magazine
are stocked with cans of soup, cereal, protein bars, microwavable meals, popcorn, pancake mix, pasta, juices and more. The cupboard also ran a grab-and-go service last semester in Bernardine Hall, offering snacks and water to evening class students. Since September, Clare’s Cupboard has been used about 60 times and the grab-and-go 75 times, according to Reid Hoff ’19, an MBA graduate assistant from Shillington, Pennsylvania, who oversees day-to-day operations. “More and more pantries are popping up because food insecurity is a big need,” he said. “We wanted to make sure students don’t have to worry about that.” Donations and fundraisers support the pantry. Assistant Professor of communication and English Sue Guay’s Interpersonal Communication class organized a servicelearning project for the pantry that solicited visitors over Homecoming Weekend and raised $575 in just four hours. The 23 students, she said, “felt a small band of people can make a difference.” The generosity, Hoff adds, “was a great surprise.”
45% of the 86,000
students who responded to a survey said they faced food insecurity in the previous 30 days.
Feeding the Mission
| F E AT U R E
“We’re trying to provide a service for all of our students wherever they are in their journey.” Julianne Wallace, vice president for Mission and Ministry, helped establish Clare’s Cupboard.
Named after Saint Clare, who served the poor and fed the hungry, the cupboard spun off from Angels in the Attic, a 2013 need-based program funded by Alvernia faculty and staff for students unable to afford essential living items. Besides clothing, bedding and school supplies, it also offered food—but the food demand became too arduous for Sharon Blair, academic operations manager, who conceived the donation-based program and volunteers to run it. “Over time, the demand for additional food supplies for students has exploded,” said Blair. “The demand outgrew Angels in the Attic’s ability to serve all the students in need.”At the same time, Wallace wanted to offer more direct services to students. Clare’s Cupboard was formed, and unlike Angels in the Attic, it has no financial threshold to partake of its bounty. “We’re trying to provide a service for all of our students,” Wallace said, “wherever they are in their journey.” According to Hoff, most users struggle to feed themselves. As an undergraduate studying sport management, he said he knew classmates in such dire straits. But the pantry— and especially the grab-and-go—also attracts students who like the convenience, Hoff notes. Over winter break, for example, many athletes remained at Alvernia. Food services, however, did not operate. Clare’s Cupboard proved the perfect supplement, with its snacks and other sustenance. Ditto at the end of the semester, when students might run out of meal swipes. As Wallace looks ahead, she envisions the expansion of Clare’s Cupboard to include a larger space for
nonperishables, a freezer to hold frozen items and fresh vegetables from the Bog Turtle Creek Farm. “This is part of who we are,” she said. “We’re going to respond to the needs of our students and ensure they have dignity.”
Alvernia’s Interpersonal Communication class organized a service-learning project for the pantry that solicited visitors over Homecoming Weekend and raised $575 in just four hours.
Alvernia University Magazine
23
F E AT U R E |
Mission and Ministry
virtually serves campus community By Lini S. Kadaba
A
s chair of the nursing department at Alvernia University, Deborah Greenawald’s days are busy— and no more so than now amid coronavirus concerns that have shuttered campus. “Working remotely has been extremely intense,” she said, noting her long 10-hour workdays glued to the computer. But come noon on most Mondays and Wednesdays, Greenawald gets a reprieve. That’s when the Office of Mission and Ministry offers its new, 10- to 30-minute Midday Prayer via Zoom. “Although it doesn’t allow me to step away from the computer,” she said, “it does make me discipline myself to take a brain break and ‘be still’ in the middle of so much stress. Our gatherings are safe places to be vulnerable and share some of the deeper feelings of anger, fear and grief.” The ecumenical, at times interfaith, program for university members is just one of several spiritual supports Mission and Ministry has launched to hold tight the Alvernia community during these difficult times, said Vice President, Julianne Wallace. “This is a moment for our Franciscan identity to guide us through the uncertainty,” she said, noting that St. Francis lived at the time of the leprosy pandemic. “He believed in serving with those who were sick, not for those who were sick.”
24 Alvernia University Magazine
Mission and Ministry also has supplemented its Mission Monday newsletter with a special edition, a widely distributed video reflection on YouTube. “People have really been enjoying hearing from different faculty, staff and students,” Wallace said. Early on, Mission and Ministry’s Hammock Ministry offered the students still on campus a chance to talk with a campus minister while relaxing outdoors in hammocks, placed the appropriate social distance apart, of course. Clare’s Cupboard, the university’s new food pantry, also has continued to operate, for now as a 24/7 grab-and-go based out of Veronica Hall. As the pandemic has progressed and restrictions widened, more programs have gone virtual. The regular Interfaith Coffee Hour transitioned to Zoom but, Wallace noted, “didn’t translate” and wasn’t repeated. The school’s popular Agape Latte event, however, was a hit. In April, a staff member shared via Zoom her spiritual background with students. Meanwhile, finals week saw a virtual “blessing of the brain.” The coronavirus pushed Mission and Ministry’s twohour senior retreat, a new tradition planned for this school year, online as well. After an opening prayer, graduating students left the Zoom room to pursue five activities individually that reflected on their time at Alvernia, and then they rejoined for a moment of faith sharing.
Mission and Ministry virtually serves campus community
| F E AT U R E
“The seniors have had so many other moments and opportunities taken away from them,” Wallace said. “This is something we could do.” Arguably, these spirituality-centered opportunities are more important than ever. “I really feel we can view these times of prayer, these retreats and these blessings as a time to be with our community,” said Wallace, echoing St. Francis, “to serve in mercy with all those who are suffering.” Clockwise from left: Mission and Ministry shares a reflection during a Midday Prayer session; Campus Minister Stephanie Gonzalez doodles during a Hammock Ministry session; senior leadership, staff and students share a joyful moment during a Zoom session.
Alvernia University Magazine
25
F E AT U R E |
Icing the pipeline
26 Alvernia University Magazine
mark
Making a A
n academic mark is the primary moniker of a college or university, uniquely reflecting its history, mission and values. For 21st century higher education institutions, the academic mark must not just be the visual representation of the brand, but must also reflect the strategic direction of the university-and Alvernia has a new strategic direction. With Alvernia shifting focus to refreshing and establishing new academic programs and expanding Alvernia’s footprint in downtown Reading through the Reading CollegeTowne strategy, the university sought a fresh look that reflected Alvernia’s new student-centric approach. Something the decade-old Alvernia “A” just couldn’t do. “The time has come to boldly highlight the specific elements that serve as the foundation for making Alvernia one of the top comprehensive regional universities in the country and a uniquely positioned leader in higher education,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack.
| F E AT U R E
While many institutions would seek third-party marketing and design agencies for such a comprehensive project, Alvernia drew upon the internal experience, talent and dedication of its faculty, senior leadership and staff to develop a mark that is authentically Alvernia. “Through a project that started about a year ago, led by a faculty committee and involving more than 100 people, we unveil a new identity embraced by our committee, trustees and founding sisters,” said Loyack. The dynamic team of faculty, senior leadership and staff from the Marketing and Communications and Mission and Ministry divisions created not only a strong new visual representation but also a comprehensive narrative that supports the mark. One of those leaders was Janae Sholtz, associate professor of philosophy. “The mark reaffirms our long-standing commitment to helping students develop their innate talents, discover their passions and lead successful lives with deep meaning and purpose through four unique design elements,” said
“The time has come to boldly highlight the specific elements that serve as the foundation for making Alvernia one of the top comprehensive regional universities in the country and a uniquely positioned leader in higher education.” — John R. Loyack Alvernia University Magazine
27
F E AT U R E |
“The mark reaffirms our long-standing commitment to helping students develop their innate talents, discover their passions and lead successful lives with deep meaning and purpose through four unique design elements.” — Janae Sholtz
Sholtz. “But what is truly special about this process and the mark is the narrative that accompanies the mark.” Those four design elements, the compass, tau, open book and arch, each have significance in the history and future of Alvernia. To finalize the design and narrative, critical input also was received from students, the Bernardine Sisters and alumni, with the final mark approved by the board of trustees in March. “A collaborative project like this wouldn’t be complete without the input of our students and alumni,” said Lynn N. Gano, director of creative services. “It was heartwarming to see Franciscan collegiality by so many throughout the entire process. This is what makes Alvernia unique and what makes our mark so distinctively us.” The mark was unveiled to the campus community March 12 during a ceremony in the Francis Hall atrium, where university officials explained the new mark and the process through which it was created. The group of faculty, staff and students in attendance received T-shirts with the first physical use of the mark. Transition to the new academic mark started immediately in high-profile areas, such as campus signage, the website, email signatures, billboards and digital media. The “A” and all of its complements officially moved to Alvernia’s history annals March 12, but the new academic mark’s shield subtly gives homage to the A. Additionally, there are a few places on the campus where the A lives on as historical markers, particularly where permanently etched.
28 Alvernia University Magazine
“The A has a special place in the history of our university,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. “The A will live on in various etchings across campus for future generations of Alvernians to appreciate.” Equipped with the new mark, Alvernia is primed to showcase its mission and identity to a new generation of students and share with them a new simple message from President Loyack. “We are more than the A in our name.” Ian Richardson ’23 (left) and Dillon Hicks ’21 (right) receive the first merchandise with the new mark.
Making a Mark
| F E AT U R E
Anatomy of the mark The compass represents SEARCH, Alvernia’s pursuit of the liberal arts tradition of rigorous, open inquiry into the enduring questions that shape the human experience.
The arch highlights Francis Hall, the historic founding building of the university. It reminds us that through the practice of humility, we are here to seek our purpose and place in the world.
The open book signifies knowledge and learning, the foundation of Alvernia’s mission, freely shared, open-ended and a lifelong pursuit.
The tau represents a transformational education for our students that includes solidarity through service and moral and ethical leadership, as well as a spirit of inclusivity that welcomes all.
ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC MARK: MISSION, KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION The Alvernia University academic mark is designed to reflect the university’s Franciscan roots with its commitment to knowledge, excellence and service to the underserved and its motivation to be a leader of new ideas and programs. The mark references the strong tradition of a Catholic liberal arts education and supports the mission of the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis with a commitment to the Franciscan intellectual tradition, Gospel-centered values and service to others in the local and global community.
discover their passions and lead successful lives with deep meaning and purpose. All these elements create the mark and together shape its visual meaning, just as we shape our students through the Alvernia Advantage to transform them into ethical leaders with moral courage.
The mark also reaffirms Alvernia’s long-standing commitment to helping students develop their innate talents,
Alvernia University Magazine
29
PROFILE |
Advancing the model A By Claire Curry
30 Alvernia University Magazine
fter Ryan Smith ’93 earned his degree in psychology at Alvernia, he took a job as a program specialist at a small health care nonprofit in Reading, where he provided support services to people with disabilities. By the time he turned 28, he was CEO of the firm, Supportive Solutions for Families, Inc. Over the next decade, he grew the company from $4.5 million in revenue to more than $65 million. Today, Smith oversees a $250 million enterprise with 20 companies and more than 4,000 employees spanning three states. He established Inperium in 2016 to make it possible for his agency and others like it to streamline expenses, grow sustainably and tap more funds to provide care to those who need it. Smith says that the difference it makes in the day-today lives of people struggling with disabilities is what inspires him. He recalls one case in which a mother was caring for a daughter who used a wheelchair and had limited verbal capabilities. Supportive Solutions provided an array of services that have enabled them to live at home as a family unit even as they’ve aged and have experienced changing needs. Another client with intellectual disabilities still receives assistance with home-based services, such as grocery shopping and transportation to medical appointments,
Advancing the model
but was able to move into his own apartment and live independently. “These success stories and many more like them are what make me and others in this field excited to wake up each day and make a difference,” said Smith. “While my work now isn’t as hands on, I am very well aware of hundreds of people that have been supported and still are today. No matter how high up the corporate ladder you climb, all the work that you are doing is essential to making someone’s life better.” The idea to establish Inperium came to him when he considered the next phase of growth for Supportive Concepts for Families and couldn’t find a solution that would preserve the company’s identity and enable it to remain fully intact. A traditional merger was out of the question because it would require sacrifices he didn’t want to make—layoffs and changes in policies, benefits and company culture. So he built his own business model, which offers affiliate firms pooled-economy savings for back-office supports, such as information technology, human resources
| PROFILE
Alvernia alumnus, Justin Hymon ’02, CEO/ chief diversity officer of Apis Management Services, a service group under the Inperium umbrella, was recruited and hired by Ryan Smith.
“No matter how high up the corporate ladder you climb, all the work that you are doing is essential to making someone’s life better.” — Ryan Smith ’93 administration and risk management. Supportive Concepts for Families was the first affiliate, and 19 other companies have since joined the network, which he described as a “constellation.” Now the president and CEO of Inperium, Smith says his career is a culmination of the opportunity he had to learn different aspects of the business by wearing many hats at a small startup and the education in psychology that he received at Alvernia. His arrival at the university was roundabout: Smith spent his freshman year at Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia and then returned to Pennsylvania and took classes at Albright College before he enrolled at Alvernia. He says his degree prepared him not only to enter the mental health care field, but also to succeed in business. “Studying psychology helps you learn to listen and hear feedback from people without judging,” he explained. “I rely heavily on that training and the education I had in
counseling psychology to perpetuate business.” Today, Smith maintains ties with his alma mater and even employs some Alvernia students and alumni, including Justin Hymon ’02, who is the CEO/chief diversity officer of Apis Management Services, a service group under the Inperium umbrella. Smith, his wife, Leslie, and their two sons live in Exeter and spend a good part of the year at the family’s second home in Charleston, South Carolina. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking with his dog, Cooper, and riding his motorcycle. While he looks forward to Inperium’s future growth, Smith appreciates the success he’s achieved so far. “I’m rewarded by all of the relationships that have been developed and fostered with clients and families,” he said, “and by expanding the sustainability of agencies serving people who are the most vulnerable in our country.”
Alvernia University Magazine
31
PROFILE |
Uncovering passion for teaching By Lini S. Kadaba
32 Alvernia University Magazine
Uncovering passion for teaching
A
lvernia University sophomore Antonio Rivera describes himself as analytical, saying it’s the key to his success. “I have a straight-line goal,” he said recently, “and ways to get to it no matter which way my life takes me.” At an age when most are still figuring out who they are and what they want to do with their lives, the 20-year-old honors student from West Lawn, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Reading, sees a clear path ahead. Alvernia, of course, is integral. Once Rivera graduates with a triple major in digital media marketing, communications and English, he said he plans to pursue a doctorate in literature—with eyes on a top-tier graduate program—and then teach 11th or 12th grade English in Brooklyn, New York, before jumping to a college professorship. “He is a go-getter,” said Jodi Radosh, Rivera’s adviser and a professor of communication who taught him in her social media marketing course. “He has wonderful goals.” As a high school student, Rivera applied for an internship at event planner LEO Design Gallery’s West Reading venue—and said he got the spot by parlaying skills he gained helping out his grandmother with her similar business. One of the events he worked was, as serendipity would have it, the wedding of a senior admissions counselor at Alvernia, who suggested Rivera check out the university. He did. “I fell in love with the school because of their family values,” he said. “Here, they care about my education.” Rivera was so taken that he changed course, forgoing plans to go to college in New York City, instead committing to Alvernia. Initially, Rivera wanted to major in marketing and accounting. “Honestly,” he said, “I just wanted to make money.” A study abroad trip to Spain during his freshman year changed his outlook. “I backpacked the entire border of the country,” he said. Along the way, Rivera said he met folks passionate about their work, regardless of the pay. “They loved what they were doing. Going to Spain opened my eyes. Doing something that you love is what matters, and money is just a plus.” Rivera decided he wanted to teach as a way to mentor
| PROFILE
“Alvernia has given me hope that there is a future for me. I am someone who can make a bigger impact.” — Antonio Rivera ’22 inner-city students “who are less fortunate than me,” he said, and inspire in them a love of reading and writing, like his own. His favorite author is young adult novelist Adam Silvera. For now, Rivera juggles classes and various jobs. In addition to serving as a resident assistant in Veronica Hall, he also designs the Mission Monday newsletter for the Office of Mission and Ministry. During the university’s COVID-19 transition to online, the work-study student continues to put out the Monday newsletter that includes an inspirational quote. In addition, he helps produce a supplemental video newsletter—the Mission Monday Special Edition—that includes a one- to two-minute reflection from faculty, staff or students. Weekends, he is the event manager for Artesano Gallery in Manayunk, a suburb of Philadelphia. “It is pretty amazing at how great he is with our events at his young age, but he has the experience and the training to back it up,” Talia Kassie, Artesano weddings and events coordinator and sales assistant, said, noting Rivera’s internship at LEO. “He started as a server with us and quickly rose to being a manager due to his determination, attention to detail and willingness to learn and grow in this industry.” Rivera also is treasurer of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and secretary for the Residence Hall Association, as well as a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary. As if that weren’t enough, Rivera is writing a young adult novel about secret obsessions, which he plans to submit as his honors thesis. “Alvernia has given me hope that there is a future for me,” Rivera said. “I am someone who can make a bigger impact.”
Alvernia University Magazine
33
PROFILE |
By Ernest Beck
34 Alvernia University Magazine
Fading Autism
W
hen Shannon Pierce first heard about the internship opportunity at a barbershop catering to children with autism spectrum disorder, she was curious—and also surprised. A student in the inaugural Master of Social Work program, Pierce had worked extensively with children as part of her undergraduate studies at Alvernia but was not aware of this unique initiative. “The idea was so intriguing, and I wanted to find out more,” Pierce recalls thinking before taking on the internship and becoming an integral part of the team at the Fading Autism Barbershop in Kutztown. John Lichtenwalner, an assistant professor of social work and director of the MSW program at Alvernia, says bringing Pierce together with Fading Autism was a natural outgrowth of the school’s approach to social work. Since Alvernia began accepting majors in the field in the 1970s, it has focused on mental health as a critical aspect of preparing students for practicing in the field. “Many people don’t realize the role social workers play in delivering mental health and behavioral health services,” Lichtenwalner says. “Placing student interns at Fading Autism not only helps children and parents cope with a difficult situation,” he adds, “but it also supports an emerging organization and the local community.” In many ways, this sentiment reflects the foundational ideas of Alvernia’s popular social work curriculum. Compassion and community service, and helping those marginalized from society, reflect the school’s Franciscan mission and values. Since its inception, the social work department has engaged in programs in Reading and throughout the greater Philadelphia region that address issues such as substance abuse and the ongoing opioid epidemic. Involvement in these programs allows students to tackle the “unmet needs of these communities,” Lichtenwalner explains. At the barbershop, Pierce assessed the level of discomfort children on the autism spectrum—who can have difficulties dealing with sensory experiences—might have when they hear the buzz of an electric clipper or the sound of scissors close to their heads. Some are nonverbal and therefore unable to easily express their anxieties related to getting a haircut. Pierce also assists parents in calming children who may be agitated in new social situations, as these experiences can be terrifying for those on the autism spectrum. Most challenging is trying to figure out what’s best
| PROFILE
for each client. Ranging in age from children to young adults, some clients might still have anxieties about being in a barbershop, or even just sitting in a barber’s chair. Pierce works with the founder of Fading Autism, Frankel Antoine, to make sure the children are at ease—distracting them with a television show, having them count numbers and taking frequent breaks—while a barber cuts their hair. The program started in 2015 and today serves around 100 families in Berks and Pike counties, offering free haircuts on Sundays when the shop is closed to the public. On the heels of Pierce being the first Alvernia student intern at Fading Autism, Lichtenwalner would like to continue to send students to the barbershop as the MSW program continues to expand and diversify its student internship sites, which primarily consists of drug and alcohol treatment centers, hospitals, hospices and mental health programs. In its first year, the MSW program enrolled 45 students at the main campus and Philadelphia Center and is hiring new faculty members. Fading Autism has been a valuable learning experience for Pierce, who grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and received dual degrees at Alvernia in 2019 in health care science and social work. She received her MSW in May and is considering continuing to work with autistic children. “It was difficult at times to see the children struggling at the barbershop,” she acknowledges. “But then you also see improvement. It’s rewarding to know that being there makes them and their families feel less alone.”
Fading Autism Owner Frankel Antoine (left) and Shannon Pierce ‘19 (right) outside of the Fading Autism Barbershop in Kutztown.
Alvernia University Magazine
35
ON CA M P U S ALVERNIA AWARDS $4,000 TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGETOWNE To aid new students in their educational pursuits and as an introduction to the new downtown Reading location, Alvernia University announced the CollegeTowne Scholars award for the fall 2020 semester. The CollegeTowne Scholars award, in addition to the university’s current scholarship offerings, offered the record crowd of over 200 students who attended Alvernia’s scholarship luncheon an additional $1,000 in financial aid per academic year. The scholarship is renewable for four years, for a total of $4,000, as long as the student remains in good academic standing. “Students attending our scholarship luncheon were greeted with a wonderful surprise as we prepare for the next stage of the Alvernia Advantage,” said Mary-Alice Ozechoski, vice president for enrollment management. “Ninety-nine percent of Alvernia students receive some form of financial aid, and the CollegeTowne Scholars award is one of many awards available through our Office of Student Financial Planning.”
ALVERNIA RECEIVES SILVER SEAL FOR STUDENT VOTER ENGAGEMENT At the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards Ceremony held to recognize colleges and universities committed to increasing college student voting rates, Alvernia University received a silver seal for increasing the student voting rate by 16.8% to a 36.9% mark from the 2014 to the 2018 midterm elections. In addition, 75% of Alvernia students registered to vote in 2018 versus 63.9% in 2014. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation.
36 Alvernia University Magazine
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Presidential Hope Fund provides relief to students and families in need Alvernia University launched a financial support program, the Presidential Hope Fund, to assist students and families struggling to fund continued education during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that the impacts of COVID-19 go well beyond academic programming, and this time is difficult for everyone, but many of our Alvernia students and their families are suffering significant and unprecedented financial repercussions,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack. “In our Bernardine Franciscan tradition of serving those in need, we have created the Presidential Hope Fund to assist those students and their families.” Upon learning about the Presidential Hope Fund, the Class of 2020 announced that its senior class gift would be a contribution to this fund to help support the needs of their peers.
“We do not want the Class of 2020 to be remembered as the class that couldn’t finish out our last year but rather as the class that conquered adversity, helped each other and stayed true to Alvernia’s mission during these challenging times,” said Katelyn Dougherty ’20. “The Presidential Hope Fund will allow us to leave behind a legacy for years to come by serving fellow students in need and embodying our Franciscan values in ways a physical object cannot.”
Virtual grad farewell week honors Class of 2020 Alvernia University held a week of virtual celebratory events, Grad Farewell Week, to celebrate members of the Class of 2020. To replace senior week events canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, six days of events included a virtual retreat by the Office of Mission and Ministry, virtual bingo and a virtual cooking class, concluding with a Toast to the Class of 2020 where President John R. Loyack, Provost Glynis Fitzgerald and other faculty, staff, alumni and board members raised a glass to the graduating students. Students also took to the digital realm to submit messages of thanks and favorite stories and memories from their time at Alvernia. The stories were shared with
the community through social media. Faculty, staff, fellow students, parents and alumni also submitted photos, videos and notes of encouragement to the Class of 2020 through a specially curated Kudoboard website. Following the Grad Farewell Week, Alvernia held a virtual commencement celebration via social media on Saturday, May 16, the regularly scheduled day of commencement. The celebration included slideshow videos of all graduates and the launch of a graduation website as well as video messages from administration, faculty and staff members. The May 2020 Commencement has been rescheduled to December 13, 2020, at Santander Arena.
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Downtown Reading shines at President’s Dinner Alvernia University bestowed four of its prestigious awards on alumni and community leaders with ties to downtown Reading at its annual President’s Dinner. Honorees included DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, John P. Weidenhammer, and alumni Mary Kay Bernosky, Esq. M’03 and John D. Wanner ’82. “The Reading CollegeTowne theme woven into this evening’s festivities was a natural fit as Alvernia boasts tremendous ambassadors that provide service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to the Reading community,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack. “Our honorees represent the very best that Alvernia and the Reading community has to offer, and their efforts have laid an outstanding foundation for future generations of Berks County citizens.” The DoubleTree by Hilton Reading accepted the Pro Urbe Award for its significant community service and contributions to a higher standard of living for the downtown Reading community. Banquet Houseman Alonzo Cooper and President, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Craig Poole accepted the award on behalf of the DoubleTree.
A longtime Berks County resident and local businessman and community leader, Weidenhammer earned the Franciscan Award, given to a person who selflessly gives his or her time, talents and resources for the betterment of others and presented for exceptional service to Alvernia. Bernosky, former CEO of Safe Berks, was honored with the distinguished alumni award that recognizes a person who demonstrates valuable contributions to his or her profession, community and nation. Bernosky has been a longtime protector of Berks County victims of sexual assault and domestic violence through her visionary leadership of Safe Berks and participation with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. Wanner, an Alvernia trustee emeritus, received the Ellen Frei Gruber Award, given to an individual who has performed outstanding service to Alvernia, has exemplified continued commitment and support of the Alvernia University mission, and reflects the university’s core values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality.
ON CAMPUS ALVERNIA’S O’PAKE SECURES PARTNERSHIPS WITH LVAI AND SCORE Alvernia and Lehigh Valley Angel Investors (LVAI) united to develop a region-leading support operation for early-stage entrepreneurs as part of the university’s newly created and Readingbased business incubator housed in the university’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Key to the Alvernia-LVAI partnership will be the development of a financial services operation that will bring capital and knowledge to early-stage entrepreneurs in a unique delivery that includes new academic offerings for Alvernia students, as well as financing, investment and mentoring for rising entrepreneurs. The university also established a partnership with Berks Schuylkill SCORE. The partnership includes the founding of a Technology Transfer Office and an Office of Industry and Community Outreach as O’Pake Institute offerings. These two partnerships will allow Alvernia to become a leading source of education and mentoring for local small-business owners throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania region.
ALVERNIA SELECTS DESIGN AND BUILD TEAM Alvernia selected RLPS Architects and Warfel Construction as the design and build team for the remodeling and retrofitting of the newly acquired building at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading. The RLPS and Warfel team was selected because its proposal included the best overall design, most modular approach, best fit with the university and project vision, and best ability to valueengineer the project and utilize an iterative approach and because of its commitment to utilizing the Reading and Berks County supply chain to complete the project.
Alvernia University Magazine
37
ON CA M P U S KANE NAMED NEW AVP FOR HUMAN RESOURCES Leslie Kane was named Alvernia’s new associate vice president for human resources. Her appointment is part of the university’s continuation of aligning its senior leadership team to support a new strategic direction and completes the effort to bring the human resources function in-house. Before the new appointment, Kane served as an HR consultant in Philadelphia, designing workshops for individual growth, leadership and team experience. Before that, she served as the first vice president, HR director, learning and employee development, for First Niagara Financial Group, leading individual and enterprisewide learning initiatives for over 5,500 employees at multiple geographic locations. The university announced in July 2019 the realignment of its senior leadership team to support a new strategic direction, called the Alvernia Advantage, designed to support its special brand of experiential transformation of the individual and community.
PRESIDENT EMERITUS FLYNN EARNS COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP AWARD Alvernia University President Emeritus Dr. Thomas F. Flynn received the Credo Courageous Leadership Award and was honored during the Council for Independent Colleges Presidents Institute. “In our partnership with Tom and Alvernia, we were continually impressed by how Tom fostered a strategic and caring relationship with the leadership of the sisters, worked with his team to transform the campus into a residential student experience and thoughtfully planned for a smart executive transition,” said Tom Gavic, president and co-founder of Credo. Flynn earned emeritus status in June 2019 before ending his tenure as Alvernia’s president and is currently a part-time senior fellow for both the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the Association of Governing Boards.
38 Alvernia University Magazine
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Alvernia secures $2.3 million U.S. Department of Education grant Alvernia University received a $2.3 million Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Strengthening Institutions Program. The grant will enable Alvernia to strengthen student achievement, persistence and retention, particularly in the formative first two years of the baccalaureate programs. “This is a momentous achievement for Alvernia, and I am very proud of the effort and collaboration our team put into this process. We are thankful and excited to receive this highly competitive grant,” said President John R. Loyack. “The drafting and submission process required a high level of leadership and collaboration across campus, and we look forward to continuing that work as we head into the next five years of implementing our strategy.” The grant, which is distributed over five years, may be utilized in a variety
of ways, including development and improvement of academic programs, construction and renovation of instructional facilities, and faculty development. “This achievement would not have been possible without the contributions of so many who participated in the planning and submission process,” said Alvernia Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. “We are excited to utilize this grant to increase student engagement and career connections from the point of admission through every step along the way, creating a thruway to graduation and lifelong success.” The Federal Title III Strengthening Institutions Program helps eligible colleges and universities expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen academic quality and institutional management and fiscal stability.
New York Times columnist speaks with first-year students New York Times columnist and Yale professor David Brooks discussed the balance between personal values and the values of the community at the First-Year Seminar Lecture attended by over 400 Alvernia first-year students in addition to faculty, staff and community members. Brooks shared thoughts and examples from his own interpersonal experiences on the importance of others in the success of communities, the desires of the heart and soul, and the ways the darkest moments shape a person’s future. Alvernia students in the First-Year Seminar course read Brooks’ No. 1 New York Times bestseller “The Road to Character” as part of the course. Following the lecture, students had the
opportunity to ask Brooks questions. The First-Year Seminar Lecture is an annual event organized by the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement.
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Alvernia’s Reading after-school program receives $200K gift Alvernia University’s South Reading Youth Initiative was awarded $200,000 in annual funding from Customers Bank. The longtime after-school enrichment program managed by the university’s Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement pairs Alvernia faculty, staff and students with the Reading School District to provide educational enrichment and literacy services to more than 100 elementary students every day. “Customers Bank once again demonstrates its support of Alvernia and our Franciscan mission to serve the underserved in the City of Reading,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack. “The South Reading Youth Initiative continues to provide a pathway of success for both Reading elementary school students and their Alvernia mentors.” Designed to enhance the established school curriculum, the South Reading Youth Initiative offers elementary school students literacy training, homework assistance, academic enrichment activities and mentoring programs. The South Reading Youth Initiative also provides annual summer camps and a variety of
cultural activities, including museum visits, sporting events and educational field trips within the Greater Reading and Philadelphia areas. The program serves students from Millmont and Tyson-Schoener elementary schools and St. Peter School, where the program first launched. “One of the greatest challenges facing our bank is finding a diverse, talented and well-educated workforce,” said Richard Ehst, president and chief executive officer of Customers Bank. “That’s a challenge to businesses across Pennsylvania. Our investment in the South Reading Youth Initiative is an investment in ourselves, an investment in our future team members. Working with Alvernia, we are developing college students and young learners who someday soon can be leaders in our bank.” The continued funding from Customers Bank allows Alvernia to expand services to children during the school year and in the summer, add programs for upper elementary and middle school grades, and hire professional staff for ongoing support, thus increasing the scale and quality of the program.
ON CAMPUS ALVERNIA DPT STUDENTS EDUCATE READING CHILDREN First-year students in Alvernia’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program demonstrated the importance of movement and exercise to fourth grade students at Lauer’s Park Elementary School through an interactive program called Power in Motion. The Power in Motion program involves learning about planes of body motion along with various muscles throughout the body and how they interact in motion and activity. Alvernia students led the participants through several activities, including playing Simon Says and the development of a personalized three-dimensional dance. “I had no idea that physical therapists existed until I was in high school, so I hope this will entice today’s youth to pursue a career in physical therapy,” said Alvernia DPT student Samantha Marino. The partnership was established while Lauer’s Park was exploring new ways to introduce career opportunities to its students.
Alvernia University Magazine
39
ON CA M P U S ALVERNIA ACHIEVES MILITARY FRIENDLY DESIGNATION Alvernia University achieved Military Friendly® status for the eighth consecutive year and is one of only 625 institutions nationwide to receive the designation for meeting university benchmarks in areas such as student retention, graduation and job placement as well as for being in good standing with federal programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Armed Forces Tuition Assistance Funding. “We are proud to be recognized once again as Military Friendly,” said Bret Krotee, admissions counselor and coordinator of Alvernia’s Veterans Center. “It is vital that military students feel like an integral part of the campus community, so each year, we bolster our active military and veteran student initiatives, which leads to increased student and family engagement. We look forward to continuing to serve those who currently serve or who have served in the United States Armed Forces.” Last academic year, Alvernia organized military benefits for 64 students, which includes active military, veterans and their family members. Along with tuition assistance and various other benefits, military service members may apply for federal aid.
40 Alvernia University Magazine
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Media Suite receives upgrades On the ground floor of Bernardine Hall is a workspace dedicated to serving the Alvernia community with all things multimedia, and it recently received a significant upgrade—both structurally and technologically. These improvements include an overhaul of the video studio, and it now houses a pair of 4K video cameras connected to a video switcher, a new sound board, and green walls and flooring for full-body green-screen shots. The room was also expanded by 3 feet to allow for
flexible recording space. As part of the upgrade, the Media Suite also installed a sound-isolation audio recording booth for high-quality audio recordings and a self-service video recording room for quick, efficient recordings. The upgrades also include new technologies in the main space, highlighted by a new wide-format printer, a set of laptops and collaboration tables with monitors to foster an active learning environment.
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Students serve Reading in honor of MLK Nearly 200 students and faculty members from Alvernia University served 13 organizations throughout Berks County as part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. At the Olivet Boys & Girls Club, students partnered with children to prepare nearly a thousand packs of donated items that were distributed to homeless youth throughout the county. “What an inspirational and amazing day filled with Alvernia students, staff and alumni working side by side with Olivet Boys & Girls Club children and staff serving others and giving of themselves,” said Olivet Boys & Girls Club President and CEO Christopher M. Winters ‘08. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is part of a national initiative of community service
and is also one of four traditional Days of Service at Alvernia — through which students volunteer 40,000 hours annually.
ON CAMPUS ALVERNIA STUDENTS EARN INTERNATIONAL HONORS FOR LITERARY ARTS For the second consecutive year, Alvernia students earned honors from the international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, for their literary and artistic works in Zephyrus, the university’s literary arts journal. “I’m thrilled our students were recognized for their hard work,” said faculty adviser and Associate Professor of English Dr. Thomas Bierowski. “I didn’t expect us to be awarded once, let alone two years in a row. It sets the bar very high for this year, and I’m hoping that we can be recognized again.” Zephyrus is a student-run operation that includes soliciting submissions and editing and assembling the hard copy. The editorial board encouraged its peers to submit creative pieces that embodied the theme of the winning edition, “New Beginnings.” The submissions received included photographs, short stories, poems and various other unique artworks that illustrated this idea.
Wrestling program refurbishes PEC basement When Alvernia announced wrestling as its 28th varsity sport in April 2018, the athletic department sought a space for the program to call its own. With the opening of the Flynn PLEX in September 2019, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program migrated its lab and classroom space to its new space over the summer, leaving behind the space occupied in the basement of the Physical Education Center. The space was refurbished over the summer, including the addition of new practice mats, coats of fresh paint and a video review television. The new practice facility laid the foundation for a successful first year of competition, which saw two of the team’s wrestlers, Tonee Ellis and Palmer Rodenhaber, qualify for the NCAA National Championships. “We’ve been fortunate to have early success at the conference and regional levels,” said Head Coach Kriss Bellanca.
“The embrace by the Alvernia community, highlighted by our impressive new practice facility, as well as the greater Berks County wrestling community, ensures we will have the opportunity to continue our mission into next year and beyond.”
Alvernia University Magazine
41
Periscope
Alvernia’s faculty making a difference
Spencer Stober, PhD Professor of Biology Stober published “NatureCentered Leadership: Challenging the Rules of the Game,” in the International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability: Annual Review. He also presented “Nature-Centered Leadership: The Courage to Advocate for Nature” at the 21st Annual Conference of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada, and “Climate Change: Our Failed Relationship With Nature” at the Spirit on Tap, a theological discussion sponsored by the Reading Berks Conference of Churches.
Rosemarie Chinni, PhD Chair of Mathematics and Sciences Shijun Tang, PhD Associate Professor of Computer Science
Eric Recktenwald, PhD Assistant Professor of Biology
Chinni presented “Inorganic Gun Shot Residue Analysis Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) on Nasal Swipes” at the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS) Conference in November 2019 alongside Nick Laraia, Marianne Staretz and undergraduate student Margaret Duffy ‘20. Tang published two research papers in peer-reviewed international conference proceedings: “Patterns of Human Mobility” at the 15th International Conference on Data Science and “3D Surface Reconstruction of Trees using a Region-based Active Contour Model” at the 23rd International Conference on Image Processing, Computer Vision, & Pattern Recognition. Chinni, Tang and undergraduate students Amber Malloy ‘20 and Megan Olsson ‘20 presented “Pigment Analysis Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Digital Image Processing” at the NEAFS Conference in November 2019.
Recktenwald and Shoup published a research article, “Realworld and clinical trial efficacy of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder measured by survey and meta-analysis,” in the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders with assistance fromalongside Alvernia undergraduate biochemistry student Erich Miller ‘20.
Elizabeth Bentz, OTD, OTR/L, SIPT Adjunct Professor of Occupational Therapy Greg Chown, OTD, OTR/L Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Bentz and Chown presented on the topic of occupational therapy and technology to a group of 50 high school students and members of the Ben Franklin Technologies entrepreneurial initiatives in November 2019. Bentz covered pediatric services while Chown discussed the use of orthotic devices with adults.
42 Alvernia University Magazine
David Shoup, PhD Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Caroline Fitzpatrick, PhD Associate Professor of Communication
Alison Foura, MSOT Instructor of Occupational Therapy A group in Foura’s Occupational Therapy Advocacy course earned a $250 anonymous donation to provide healthy snacks to an after-school program after preparing a written grant proposal.
Ryan Lange, PhD Associate Professor of Communication
Danielle Saad, PhD Jodi Radosh, PhD Associate Professor of Associate Professor of Communication Communication Fitzpatrick, Lange, Radosh and Saad led a panel presentation titled “Real Versus Fake News in Pennsylvania Documentaries & News Coverage” at the Pennsylvania Communications Association Conference, which was held at Penn State University Berks Campus in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Periscope
Alvernia’s faculty making a difference
Eric Recktenwald, PhD Assistant Professor of Biology
Josh Hayes, PhD Assistant Professor of Philosophy Recktenwald and Hayes traveled with Albright College professors to Albright’s research facility in Costa Rica to establish a study abroad course, Biodiversity and Ethics of Ecotourism in Costa Rica, that was to be offered in May 2020 prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Robyne Eisenhauer, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE Professional Specialist
Tracy Scheirer, PhD, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CNE Instructor of Nursing
Eisenhauer received certification as a Healthcare Simulation Educator from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare last fall. This advanced credential involves passing a rigorous test, and she is the only faculty member on our campus to hold such a distinction. Her graduate research project was conducted at the Lebanon VA Medical Center and involved planning and implementation of a professional development program, using human patient simulators, for their nursing staff related to quality improvement with emergency and rapidresponse scenarios.
Scheirer was selected through a highly competitive, peer-reviewed process to conduct two presentations at the National League for Nursing Education Summit in Washington, D.C. This included a poster presentation, “Toolbox for Collaborative Testing in Nursing Education: The Essentials to Benefit Students and Instructor” and a podium presentation “An Interpretive Description of Moral Integrity and Duty for the Academic Nurse Educator.” Scheirer currently has an article in press with Nursing Education Perspectives titled “Course Design to Promote Transition to Nursing Education.”
Neil Penny, EdD, MS, OTR/L Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Penny reached a milestone of 10 years of community service by helping to run a Book Club with consumers and patients at Wernersville State Hospital.
Carol Schwanger, MM Associate Professor of Music Schwanger is a bassoonist with the Reading Pops Orchestra. The orchestra provided live music for the Berks Ballet presentation of “The Nutcracker” as well as other holiday concerts.
Jennifer Michalik, MM Associate Professor of Music Spencer Stober, PhD Professor of Biology Donna Yarri, PhD Professor of Theology Yarri and Stober wrote an article for Open Journal of Philosophy called “To Intervene or Not to Intervene? The Issue of the Liminal Feral Cat.”
Michalik is a member of the Wheatland Chorale. The chorale hosted internationally known composer Ola Gjeilo at one of its numerous Christmas concerts in 2019.
Alvernia University Magazine
43
Alumni
Class Notes Attention Alumni:
• Married? • New job? • Addition to the family?
Erin Ebersole ’99 was appointed as the associate vice president for the PIER office, which assists the campus community with maximizing resources at the College of Southern Maryland.
Daniel Waskiewicz ’08 was promoted to senior manager of Herbein + Company’s Tax Department.
Share your news! Contact us at alvernia.edu/alumni.
Margot Allen ’09 started a new role as the regional manager of learning and development for Seasons Hospice.
1970s Patricia Savage ’71, who serves as the president and CEO of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries, was recently named to the Pennsylvania Business Central’s Signature Top 100 People of 2020 list.
Kevin Burns ’06, director of laboratory services and safety at Alvernia, and his wife, Brandi Burns ’14, welcomed their daughter, Riley, Sept. 14, 2019.
2000s John D. Glass ’01 wrote an essay, “Meteors, Miracles and Messages,” which will be published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Believe in Miracles.” Mary Kay Bernosky MBA ’03 joined the staff of York County Community Foundation as the vice president of development. She previously served 15 years as the CEO of Safe Berks.
1980s Kevin Rudy ’80 retired from Penn State Berks after 20 years of service as the university police deputy. John Furdyna ’83 was named program manager for Berks County Television. Dave Gallen ’87 was named president of Gallen Insurance Inc. Fred Henrich ’87 joined Bachman’s Roofing, Building & Remodeling as a corporate accountant.
1990s Sonya Naugle ’96 published her first book, “Whispers of God’s Love: Forty Days of HopeFilled Messages to Lift the Troubled Soul.”
44 Alvernia University Magazine
Ashley Schaeffer ’08 was hired as the senior vice president of project management at Good Life Companies.
2010s Megan Tomtishen ’10 was inducted into the Shenandoah Valley Athletic Hall of Fame. Kayla Kressler ’10 was promoted to chief operating officer at Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance. Janet Baker MBA ’11 was promoted to executive director of institutional effectiveness at Cedar Crest College.
LaTanya White-Springfield ’03 was inducted into the Pottstown High School Alumni Honor Roll. Stefanie Schwalm ’03 M ’05 was promoted to associate provost at West Chester University. Brandon Horan ’06 was hired as a marketing and business management instructor for the Schuylkill Technology Center. Kyle Levengood ’08 was promoted to accounting and auditing quality control partner at Herbein + Company Inc.
Kristy (Peat) Ferraro ’11 received the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accounts (PICPA) 2019 Young Leader Award. Ferraro is a manager with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP. Joel Jakubowski ’12 partnered TTC/Potter’s House and other organizations to hold an “Enabling vs. Support” seminar to provide advice on how to motivate a person dealing with addiction. Sean Hartman ’12 was named director of small group employment at Via of the Lehigh Valley.
Alumni
Class Notes Malenie Kramer ’12 married Kenneth Jackson Sept. 9, 2019. Kristen Cassidy ’12 and Patrick Watson ’13 were married June 22, 2019, after meeting and beginning to date in 2009 at Alvernia.
Laurie (Kercher) Grube MBA ’15 was hired as vice president regional market manager for Riverview Bank, where she will oversee eight Riverview Bank branches in Berk, Schuylkill and Lehigh counties. Joan Kern Ph.D. ’15 was appointed to the position of associate provost at Cedar Crest College, where her primary responsibilities include assessment, accreditation and compliance.
In Memoriam In memory of our deceased alumni who are gone but not forgotten.
1960s Ann Schwegler ’67
1970s
Sinead Commane ’13 graduated with her master’s in guidance and counseling from The College of New Rochelle and was named a regional program manager at Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers, a nonprofit organization that recruits, mentors and trains culturally diverse high school students through college and places them as effective teachers and leaders. Nick DiProfio ’14 and Alyssa DiProfio ’15 welcomed to the world their daughter, Maisie Lorraine DiProfio, on July 28, 2019.
Christine A. Schantz ’72 M. Colleen Birmingham ’72 Ellis Edmonds ’75 Russell Huyett ’75 Robert L. Bailey ’76 Claire Flemming ’77 David Howells ’77 Joann (Cecco) Kidron ’78 Raymond Peters ’78
1980s Katelyn Pfeiffer ’17 married Luke Steinour Oct. 26, 2019. Alicia Lesneski ’17 and Jeremiah Clinchoc ’17 were married Sept. 21, 2019. Brittany Crowley M’18 and Tyler Arnold ’17 were married June 1, 2019. Kaitlin Griel ’18 and Dylon Johnson were married March 23, 2019. Cooper Kutz ’19 was hired as a real estate coordinator for Good Life Companies, where he will assist the senior vice president with scouting of land acquisition, facilitating the advisers’ move and maintenance of more than 80 adviser offices. Heather Wanner ’19 and Seth Bellot ’17 became engaged in October 2019.
Olaf Bjornastall ’80 Stanislaw Kornecki ’80 Carol Hession ’86 Sharon (Horvath) Miller ’86
1990s Christine (Zabinski) Jenkins ’90 Valli (Roth) Trice ’91 Evelyn (Moyer) Haas ’92 William Roth ’95 Margaret (Molnar) Kakas ’96 Melanie Long ’96 Sandra (Shields) Ackerman ’98 Gregory Behney ’98
2000s Sue Hendrickson ’04 Corinne Dougherty ’07 Thomas Maurer ’10 Terrance Culbreath ’12 Eric Grant ’17 Jennifer Emerich ’19
Gina Ferrara ’15 and Brandon Bateman ’14 were married Aug. 3, 2019.
Alvernia University Magazine
45
Alumni NEWS Celebrating the Class of 1969 Reliving 50 years of memories, members of the Class of 1969 participated in a weekend of socializing and scheduled events to celebrate their 50th Class Reunion during Homecoming and Family Weekend. Classmates participated in an exclusive reflection retreat, which honored their jubilee year, followed by a personalized tour of campus. The afternoon consisted of Golden Wolves football, lunch in the President’s Box and a stop at the Campus Bookstore for Alvernia gear. A class dinner topped off Saturday evening, followed by Mass at the Chapel and brunch with the Bernardine Sisters on Sunday.
Philadelphia Center Welcomes President Loyack In November, alumni, students, faculty and staff welcomed and met President Loyack during a social at the Philadelphia Center. President Loyack shared his vision for Alvernia. Following the social, alumni participated in a Mission Day in which the conversation focused on “What is ours to do?”
46 Alvernia University Magazine
Alvernia Night at Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Alumni, families and friends enjoyed an evening at Coca-Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the triple-A farm team of the Philadelphia Phillies. President Loyack took to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on behalf of the university.
Criminal Justice welcomes back Dan Billings ’81 Criminal justice students had the opportunity to meet and network with alumni at the annual Criminal Justice Dinner in November. The Criminal Justice Department is fortunate to have two scholarship opportunities for students: the Larrie Thomas Scholarship and the Professor Edgar J. Hartung Emeritus Award. This year’s recipients were Rachel Smiley ’21 and Collin Miller ’21. The guest speaker for the evening was Dan Billings ’81, the director of security and chief sergeant-at-arms for the state of Pennsylvania. Billings spoke of the importance of developing oneself to be successful in the workplace.
Regional receptions welcome students of the Class of 2023 and their families During summer 2019 welcome receptions were held throughout the region to welcome the Class of 2023 students and their families to Alvernia. Alumni, current students and parents shared their memories and experiences as well as advice to calm the “first-year jitters.”
Alums welcome new students Alvernia alumni from across the nation helped welcome the incoming Alvernia Class of 2024 by traveling to students’ homes and placing “I’m Joining the Pack” yard signs in front lawns while practicing all appropriate social distancing guidelines. With the coronavirus ruining many high school seniors’ graduation celebrations, Alvernia decided to do something special for the incoming students. Over a week, the university organized routes throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and surprised incoming students with a parade that included Alvernia buses, lines of cars and, of course, a visit from the Golden Wolves mascot. The parades were met with such joy on social media that incoming students and their families from across the nation wanted to know how they could get their own Alvernia yard signs. The Alvernia Alumni community quickly organized, and soon alumni across the U.S. delivered yard signs to the students from their areas.
Alvernia University Magazine
47
Minick ’98 M’10, Hartzman ’06 begin new roles Two Alvernia alumni have new roles with the Institutional Advancement Office. After serving seven years as the associate vice president of advancement and 13 years at Alvernia, Thomas C. Minick ’98 M’10 was named vice president of institutional advancement on March 26. Minick will lead a newly restructured advancement team as the university sets goals and objectives for the upcoming CollegeTowne initiatives. Part of that new team will be longtime Alvernia Director of Admissions Dan Hartzman ’06, who will now serve as the university’s director of external engagement and will lead outreach efforts for the extended Alvernia community.
Thomas C. Minick ’98 M’10
Dan Hartzman ’06
How I started serving on the Alumni Council While looking for local Alvernia alumni events, I came across the Alumni Council webpage. I had recently completed a doctoral program in higher education and knew that these types of groups are essential to many colleges and universities. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give back to the university that afforded me so many opportunities throughout my time there. After applying, I met with the council president and alumni relations staff at the Alumni House. The conversation further confirmed
SUMMER 2020
PRESIDENT John R. Loyack
EDITOR Kristopher M. Nolt Director of Communications
ART DIRECTOR Lynn N. Gano Director of Creative Services
48 Alvernia University Magazine
my desire to reconnect with campus and how my professional experience could play an essential role in serving the university community. Serving as a member of the council over the past two years has allowed me to continue our long-standing tradition of service in a new way. I would encourage my fellow alumni to engage in a new form of service, reconnect with the Alvernia community and help shape future Alvernians by applying to become a member of the Alumni Council. Stefanie Schwalm, Ed.D., BA ’03 MBA ’05 Associate Provost for Accreditation and Assessment West Chester University
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Richard Bader Ernest Beck Claire Curry Lini S. Kadaba Kristopher M. Nolt Susan Shelly
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Theo Anderson Susan Angstadt Dan Z. Johnson
Alvernia Magazine is published by Alvernia University twice per year, in summer and winter, to share news and information about the institution with alumni, friends and the community. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the university. Please share your feedback, as we work to continuously enhance the publication: magazine@alvernia.edu. Alvernia Magazine is a publication of Alvernia University. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. ON THE COVER Architect’s rendering of 401 Penn Street.
THANK YOU! Over $200,000
This year, All In for Alvernia raised for the Presidential Hope Fund! Thank you for being part of this record-breaking year to help our students affected by COVID-19 and for helping us to bring back the pack.
800
students have requested funds to help them continue their Alvernia Over education and experience. From reliable internet to obtaining textbooks and affording tuition, the Presidential Hope Fund is helping all students and families during this difficult time. You can still make an impact on our students with a gift to the Presidential Hope Fund. To make your gift and learn more, please visit:
Alvernia.edu/HopeFund
Alvernia University 400 Saint Bernardine Street Reading, PA 19607
alvernia.edu
ALVERNIA RESPONDS TO COVID-19, p. 10
Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
Reading, PA Permit No. 311
