WI N TE R 2 0 2 2
MAGAZINE
Pathway for expansion
Four-college model enhances student experience
WI N T ER 2 02 2
MAGAZINE
COVER STORY 4
Pathway for expansion
FEATURES 8
Learning and serving through COVID-19
12 16
Let us commence
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CollegeTowne photo essay
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Funding the future
PROFILES 22 24
Providing a second chance
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Three's company
28 30
Branding empathy
32 33
Holleran Center news
Finding purpose
12
Aiding Alvernia
O'Pake Institute news
ON CAMPUS 35
Alvernia selects downtown Pottsville location
37
Literacy program rewards Reading youth with new bikes
38
Women's Council tabs Turner as award recipient
40 43
Periscope Alumni news & notes
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It takes a village… When reflecting on the immense progress we've made in implementing our five-year Alvernia Advantage strategic plan over the past two years, several things come to mind as the recipe for our early success.
“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” — Henry Ford
During the holiday season, I look forward to cooking my favorite traditional Polish holiday dish, sauerkraut pierogis. To make proper Polish sauerkraut pierogis, the four main ingredients you'll need are dough, onions, carrots and, of course, the star ingredient, sauerkraut. And I think the recipe for our early success, in many ways, is just like the pierogi recipe. The dough, like our mission, is what holds us all together. Our Franciscan values guided the development of our strategy and have provided us with a clear direction during our early implementation. And like the dough as it is being filled, our mission to serve the underrepresented expands through the swift and values-focused development of academic, arts and other community programming. As we contemplate our core values, our centrally shared dedication to service continues to provide us with the trust and goodwill of our greater Reading and Berks County community. The years of serving our community and meeting its most pressing needs have quickly opened doors, provided a common ground for starting conversations and brought so many from the community together to work toward our common goal of sparking the renaissance of downtown Reading. The stories of our students, faculty and staff serving those in
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our community and the life-changing moments it provides each of them can bring tears to our eyes as if we were chopping the onion. As carrots provide a brain boost, it's the foundation of forming great thinkers through our rigorous liberal arts education that has propelled Alvernia to produce creative solutions in an ever-changing higher education landscape. Our advancement toward establishing Alvernia as a comprehensive regional university directly results from our community's ability to deliver innovative approaches to complex problems. The timeless liberal arts tradition instilled in our students permeates through the contemporary strategies prepared and offered by our experienced faculty, skilled staff and the many industry leaders who have partnered with us through our board of trustees, innovation committees and advisory councils. And while we are on the topic of partners, that brings us to our star ingredient. Our many and ever-expanding list of partners, like the sauerkraut, is the star ingredient to our early success. Our strategic plan, driven by the CollegeTowne initiative, is dependent on partnerships, and our list of partners is as vast as they are varied in nature. From how BCTV found a new home on
Penn Street and is providing our students with experiential learning opportunities, to how innovation partners like East Penn Manufacturing are helping shape the future of engineering in Berks County, throughout this issue you'll read about the stories of those partnerships and their transformational power. As I shared at our ribbon-cutting ceremony in September, the greatest early success of CollegeTowne is not buildings, programs or redevelopment, it is that it has all of us working together on those things. That's where our true success lies, and the best part is, we are just getting started! We invite our entire extended community to partner with us as we move forward with our new approach to higher education, and schedule some time to visit YOUR new home on Penn Street. Like any time we make pierogis for the holidays, it takes a village to make them best. God bless and stay safe, John R. Loyack President
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F E AT U R E |
Pathway for expansion Four-college model enhances student experience By Claire Curry
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Pathway for expansion | F E A T U R E
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lvernia University has been evolving since its earliest beginnings as a small liberal arts college for the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. In recent years, under the leadership of President John R. Loyack, the university has been growing at an accelerated pace. The Reading CollegeTowne initiative is fusing academia with business and breathing new life into the city. The O'Pake Institute, Alvernia's business incubator and think tank, and the new engineering program have broadened the university's offerings with industryinformed curricula, field experiences and direct pathways to rewarding careers. This summer, Alvernia's administration and faculty announced another critical step in the university's journey toward the future: its restructuring from two colleges and graduate programs to a four-college model.
Department groupings under each of the four college pillars also make it possible for students to explore multiple career paths. “Students don't all come into college knowing exactly what they want to do,” Fitzgerald said. “We have a lot of firstgeneration college students who know they want to be in the health profession, but what happens if they get exposed to athletic training, or other different paths? They'll be able to explore. This allows us to help them find the pathway that meets their needs, and ultimately, their happiness.”
A Collaborative, Team Effort Alvernia's new model is the result of a rigorous, yearlong process and thoughtful discussions between the administration, chairs and faculty. During their deliberations, all of the pros
“The critical thinking students develop in the classroom combined with the array of practical experiences they gain through internships in Berks County and the region work together to prepare them for becoming change agents and leaders when they graduate.” — Elizabeth Matteo, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
According to Provost Glynis Fitzgerald, Ph.D., the plan will bring departments, campuses, faculty and students together to foster inter-departmental dialogue, enhance scholarship and forge partnerships that deepen the university's ties within the Reading community and beyond. “We wanted to enhance the sense of community among the members of the same department and have that engagement where everyone in the department, across campuses, across graduate and undergraduate [programs] — all are part of the same thing,” said Fitzgerald.
and cons were considered, sometimes in Zoom meetings with more than 100 individuals attending. Former Faculty Council President and Associate Professor of Business Mary Ellen Wells, J.D., oversaw the undertaking, saying it was “extremely collaborative.” “We came together and completed an academic structure in one year,” she said. “It's a credit to the administration for putting parameters in place and being willing to be flexible.” Landing on four colleges, she explained, was based on “a synergy of disciplines” that made the most sense. Alvernia University Magazine
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F E A T U R E | Pathway for expansion
The new College of Business, Communication and Leadership, which also includes the MBA and Mater’s and Ph.D. in Leadership programs, will be housed in the heart of Reading at Alvernia's downtown campus at 401 Penn Street, in the very same building as BCTV, La Mega Radio, Community First Fund and the Mother Veronica Resource Center. Longtime Alvernia business and leadership faculty member Dr. Travis Berger will lead the College. The College of Health Sciences, representing the university's long history of health care education, is home to Alvernia's nationally recognized Nursing program, as well as Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and a new Physician's Assistant program. Fitzgerald said changes on the horizon include alterations to the health care curricula and new, state-of-the-art space. In addition, Thomas E. Beeman, Ph.D., longtime president and CEO of Lancaster General Health (LGH) and chief operating officer of University of Pennsylvania Health System, was named interim dean of the College of Health Sciences.
and Social Work programs. Dean Elizabeth Matteo, Ph.D., believes that the inclusion of the humanities will help students discern their calling and also equip them to think critically about “enduring questions of humanity” that will be essential not only in their careers, but throughout their lives. “Students who pursue majors in CHESS are hopefully interested in understanding and questioning broader systems, institutions and organizations,” she said. “By examining enduring human questions, not only will students begin to define their values, beliefs and passions, they will gain vital life skills that enrich their personal and emotional lives.” This departmental grouping will also open new doors for experiential training opportunities, such as classroom simulation, field placements and internships, to improve the behavioral health workforce. “The critical thinking students develop in the classroom combined with the array of practical experiences they gain through internships in Berks County and the region work together to prepare them for becoming change agents and leaders when they graduate,” Matteo said.
Exploring Enduring Questions
Putting the “A” in STEAM
Alvernia's College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS) brings together the Humanities, Addictions and Mental Health, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice
Another key outcome of the new academic structure is the inclusion of the arts with sciences, creating Alvernia's new College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and
“What we need to do is to see where we can intersect with engineering, technology and the sciences in a way that we can be more creative in finding answers and solutions, and asking better questions.” — Nathan Thomas, Ph.D., professor of theater and chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts
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Pathway for expansion | F E A T U R E
“We wanted to enhance the sense of community among the members of the same department and have that engagement where everyone in the department, across campuses, across graduate and undergraduate [programs] — all are part of the same thing”. — Glynis
Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Provost
Mathematics (STEAM), headed by Interim Dean Rodney Ridley, Ph.D. The consensus is that the intersection of disciplines will result in greater innovation among students in all of these disciplines. “Engineers, by definition, are creators, and innovation in art has a lot to do with creative expression,” Ridley said. Nathan Thomas, Ph.D., professor of theater and chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, agreed, adding that in light of all of the critical challenges facing the world today, the need for creative thinkers is greater than ever before. “Think about the mountains and mountains of trash that we produce in our modern culture every single day,” he said. “Think about materials. It is artistic in terms of how we package things so that they look attractive and they jump off the shelf into your basket, but then how do we deal with the waste? What we need to do is to see where we can intersect with engineering, technology and the sciences in a way that we can be more creative in finding answers and solutions, and asking better questions.” With engineering partners like East Penn Manufacturing and Enersys already being tapped to develop projects for engineering students starting in the spring 2022 semester, both Thomas and Ridley look forward to the limitless possibilities to cultivate interprofessional projects—in areas like sports gaming, digital media, virtual reality, motion capture performance and
more—as well as the opportunities to raise up the community in new and exciting ways. “There's a very vibrant art scene in this region,” Ridley said, noting the rich cultural diversity not only in downtown Reading but in its surrounding communities. To that end, the college is exploring partnerships with local organizations, such as the Reading Film Festival, Reading Arts Collective, Berks Arts Council, Reading Musical Foundation and Goggleworks, an interactive arts education center and studio with more than 35 artists in residence working in an array of different media. Levi Landis, its president and executive director, said that the STEAM concept is “brilliant” and looks forward to the ways that a partnership between Goggleworks and Alvernia can drive positive change in Reading. “We're determined to make sure that arts can not only help change our perspectives and our narratives about the city, but that it can be a vehicle for social change,” he said, emphasizing that the students themselves will be the change makers. “They get to be the leaders. I think they can really lead the charge for what we're going to see in terms of thinking about equity—how we serve the people in the city in terms of wealth—but also in terms of design and beauty. I'm filled with hope and this kind of move for the university is one that supports and gives life to that hope.” Alvernia University Magazine
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Learning and serving through COVID-19
F E AT U R E |
By Lini S. Kadaba
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Learning and serving through COVID-19 | F E A T U R E
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he challenges of COVID-19 this last year threatened to upend a hallmark of an Alvernia University education— experiential learning. But a combination of creativity and tenacity on the part of university leaders and its students ultimately led to many rich, even eye-opening opportunities. “I think students had transformational experiences because of the times, … a global pandemic,” said Alvernia's Director of Career Development Megan Adukaitis, who helped students
find alternative internships. “It was a true real-world experience.” Many students also continued to volunteer, meeting the greater need. “Service is the backbone of who we are at Alvernia,” said Alyssa Slade '14 MA'16, assistant director for Alvernia's Holleran Center for Community & Global Engagement. “Participating in meaningful service experiences helps to develop conscious servant leaders, and our students stepped up.”
During the height of the pandemic[2020], volunteer EMT Joseph Zoppi '21 was paged almost daily to help the stretched-thin emergency medical services in his hometown of Parsippany, N.J., often abruptly leaving his classes on Zoom to respond to calls, most related to COVID-19. “When I hear them go ‘second request' and no one is available, I feel obligated to do something about it,” said the 21-year-old nursing major who recently started as an ICU nurse at the Clara Maass[CQ] Medical Center in Belleville, N.J. In April, 2021, Zoppi won the Holleran Center Outstanding Service Award for more than 2,000 hours of service during college—most as a volunteer EMT and nearly half from what he called “life-altering” work on the COVID19 front lines as a junior.
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F E A T U R E | Learning and serving through COVID-19
When occupational therapy students struggled to find clinical fieldwork during the pandemic, telehealth technology helped them partner with the Respire Haiti clinic. “It became apparent to students when observing the occupational therapists and patients via telehealth the number of barriers that patients in Haiti must overcome and the impact on health outcomes,” said Alvernia Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Gregory Chown, who led the effort to collaborate with Faculté des Sciences de Réhabilitation de Léogâne in Haiti along with Selena Ehlert, Alvernia's occupational therapy clinical fieldwork coordinator. Students observed patients at the clinic, learned to fabricate positioning equipment from wood, buckets and other basic materials and engaged in the assessment of a child with cerebral palsy. The profound experience led OT students to raise more than $1,600 for Respire Haiti.
In the fall of 2020, criminal justice major Alexus Perez '21 of Reading struggled to find an internship, striking out with police departments and store security details because of COVID19 restrictions. Ultimately, Alvernia helped him land at the nonprofit YMCA's Camp Joy, a transitional housing program for men involved with the Berks County criminal justice system and recovering from substance use disorder. Perez, 23, observed case managers and client meetings and wrote reports on house meetings, gaining insights into the personal struggles that can lead to criminal activities. That will serve him well as he pursues police work, he said. Before, “I saw someone as a criminal for what they did,” Perez said. “At Camp Joy, I saw someone as struggling and needing a lot of help. It gave me a different perspective.”
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Learning and serving through COVID-19 | F E A T U R E
Kyra Connolly '24 is a busy volunteer, recognized by the Holleran Center for more than 100 hours of service two academic years in a row. When the pandemic hit after her freshman alternative spring break, during which she helped those experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C., the OT major in the five-year master's program only redoubled her commitment. “I felt there was more necessity to volunteer,” said Connolly, 20, of Marlton, N J. “It was such a hard time for everyone. Nothing was normal.” In her sophomore year, her volunteer work included data entry for COVID-19 vaccination clinics and connecting with senior citizens in the Foster Grandparent Program via Zoom. She accumulated another 100 hours of service and then some, and again won the Holleran Center's service award.
When the pandemic unfolded, Hope Andrews '22, an early childhood and special education double major, didn't expect to continue interacting with schoolkids through the Reading Youth Initiative (RYI), where she was an after-school tutor. But, she said, the example the Holleran Center set, adapting and helping students continue to serve, inspired her. “I wanted to be that person for the students we tutored and the families we were able to reach in the community,” said the 21-year-old from Pleasant Valley, N.Y. Andrews not only virtually tutored students, learning Google Classrooms, but helped pilot an Alvernia Check and Connect after-school program for middle schoolers that introduced students to college and careers via the RYI's new partnership with Southern Middle School. “I'm so proud of what we were able to do,” she said, “and the perseverance we were able to have.”
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F E AT U R E |
Let us
commence By Susan Shelly
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Let us commence | F E A T U R E
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fter more than a year of canceled occasions and virtual events, the Alvernia community, family and friends gathered for commencement celebrations on Saturday, May 15, at First Energy Stadium in Reading. Members of the Class of 2020 received their diplomas at a morning ceremony, while those graduating in 2021 attended an afternoon gathering. More than 650 students participated in the events. The ceremonies were the culmination of countless hours of planning, changing plans and changing them again. According to those who attended, however, the work and long delay paid off. “I will say, sometimes things are worth the wait,” said John R. Loyack, who presided over his first commencement as Alvernia's
president. “I've been to a lot of graduations, but this one was very, very special. Having both groups together and celebrating on a beautiful Saturday was really wonderful.” Abby Swatchick, associate dean of students and director of student activities, co-chaired the commencement planning committee, which worked for more than a year to get an event in place. Despite all the challenges, she said she would do it again. “It was a great, celebratory event and definitely a labor of love,” Swatchick said. “There was such a great vibe that day. You could feel the energy and elation and excitement from everyone.” Several people who participated in one of the commencement ceremonies shared their thoughts regarding the day.
“It was a great, celebratory event and definitely a labor of love. There was such a great vibe that day. You could feel the energy and elation and excitement from everyone.” — Abby Swatchick, associate dean of students and director of student activities
Students from the Alvernia classes of 2020 and 2021 gather with friends and classmates to celebrate their graduation.
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F E A T U R E | Let us commence
Deacon DeLucca and Gabrielle DeLucca share a moment outside First Energy Stadium.
Deacon Dr. Daniel DeLucca and his granddaughter, Gabrielle DeLucca '21 Buckley addresses her fellow graduates from the Class of 2020.
Briana Buckley '20 Briana Buckley was the speaker for her class, having waited a full year to address her peers. She still remembers the disappointment of learning the 2020 commencement had been postponed. “I was so happy to have been chosen as speaker but devastated to learn we wouldn't be having the ceremony,” Briana said. “I was so grateful to everyone who made sure my class was included in this year's events.” Her speech conveyed the message that Alvernia teaches more than academics. “I talked about all the life lessons we were given,” she said, “and how those Alvernia lessons of helping and serving transformed us and made us better people.”
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Deacon Dr. Daniel DeLucca, who served as president of Alvernia from 1990 until 1997, was thrilled to witness the graduation of his granddaughter, Gabrielle DeLucca. “It was a proud and very moving experience to watch her graduate from Alvernia,” he said. “It was a joyous accomplishment.” Gabrielle, a healthcare science graduate who will return to Alvernia to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy, said having her grandfather at commencement made the day more special: “Alvernia is a big part of me and it's a part of him, too. I'm grateful we share that connection because it makes us especially close.”
Let us commence | F E A T U R E
Kathleen Herbein stands as she receives her honorary degree.
Kathleen Herbein '95 Adrienne Rone stops for a photo with President Loyack on her journey across the stage.
Adrienne Rone '21 Adrienne Rone '21 promised her mother she would finish college shortly before losing her to a brain tumor in July 2020. “Before she passed, I told her I'd find a way to finish school,” said Adrienne, 46, who earned a degree in addictions and mental health treatment. “I needed to keep that promise.” She did so with help from Dana Baker, Alvernia's executive director for regional campuses, who located funding for Adrienne to finish her last semester at Alvernia's Philadelphia Campus. “My mother would have been so proud to see me sitting on the stage with the president of the university and then getting my college diploma,” said Adrienne, who led the tassel turning during her commencement ceremony. “I could feel her smiling down on me that day.”
When Kathleen Herbein earned a degree from Alvernia in 1995, she never expected she would be the recipient of a second degree—this one honorary—26 years later. “It was an absolutely breathtaking and thrilling experience,” said Kathleen, who received the honorary degree during the Class of 2021 graduation ceremony. “It wasn't anything I ever expected or anticipated.” A trustee emerita and former chair of Alvernia's board, Kathleen and her late husband, Carl, have enjoyed a long association with the University. “Carl and I shared an extreme value of education,” Kathleen said. “That's what I think made this such a thrilling experience for me.”
“I've been to a lot of graduations, but this one was very, very special. Having both groups together and celebrating on a beautiful Saturday was really wonderful.” — John R. Loyack, president
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FUNDING
THE FUTURE By Marlene Lang, Ph.D.
Funding the future
| F E AT U R E
The student entrepreneurs (top left picture from left: Cecilia Roling, Samantha Burns, Antonia Trupio and Sarah Rothenberger) showcase the theory behind their invention.
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our Alvernia University occupational therapy majors are transforming an idea into a patented product and a business. They will be the first to tell you that their invention would likely not have moved beyond the idea stage without the O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Particularly for them, the O'Pake Institute's technology transfer process was key in incubating an excellent idea toward a patented product. Samantha Burns, Antonia Trupio, Cecilia Roling and Sarah Rothenberger are the O'Pake Institute's first student entrepreneurs to enter the technology transfer process. Their
invention began as a class project and was molded by their faculty advisor and now partner, Dr. Greg Chown. Because their product has entered the patent process, few details could be revealed, but the young entrepreneurs did speak enthusiastically about how the O'Pake Institute set them up for success. A hands-on problem evoked the product idea, said Rothenberger. “I remember thinking, I wish my patients had something to tell them when they're not following their treatment accurately,” she said. According to Burns, the team concurred that the problem needed a solution. Alvernia University Magazine
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F E A T U R E | Funding the future
The student entrepreneurs discuss next steps toward securing funding for their new venture.
Rothenberger said Chown's advice at that stage was invaluable. “He had so much experience in the field, so we were able to trust him to give us a good opinion,” Rothenberger said. Chown brought the team to Dr. Ridley and, after hearing their pitch, he determined they potentially had a great idea. Ridley then assigned the group to Student and Client Services at O'Pake, explained Ashley Abbey, graduate assistant for student and client services. Abbey pointed out that O'Pake is “adamant that we provide experiential learning to complement what students learn in the classroom.” Chown said his initial role was to act as an advisor, and he's continued working with the team on the clinical application of their idea in rehab and recovery. “Now that the project is further along, and they've formed their company, my role is that of consultant,” he explained. Another big step forward came from Dr. Rodney Ridley, COO of O'Pake Institute. Roling explained that Ridley suggested their product could serve athletes, who are always pushing to get back in the game when injured.
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Ridley lives the culture of entrepreneurship he aims to bring to Alvernia. The former engineering professor holds 27 U.S. patents. In 2017 he was named Pennsylvania Acceleration Educator of the Year. “Student entrepreneurs at Alvernia benefit from a wide range of services and expertise we possess internally, but more importantly, it is the network we've created in the community that wields the true power of the incubation process,” said Ridley. “From engineering partners like East Penn Manufacturing that can advise on prototype creation, to the members of our funding network like Visions FCU, Riverfront FCU and Community First Fund that can provide access to early-stage funding, our student entrepreneurs are supported every step of the way.” Trupio said O'Pake stepped in with training as the team progressed in developing their product into a business. She and the others acknowledged they lacked certain knowledge sets. Tech Transfer addressed that. “At a certain point, we realized we were in over our heads in the business world,” said Rothenberger. “It was a lot more complicated than we thought.”
Funding the future | F E A T U R E
The O'Pake team (clockwise from top left: Ashley Abbey, Michelle Conway and Rodney Ridley) and faculty advisory Dr. Greg Chown advise the entrepreneurs on the technology transfer process and the funding needed to create a prototype and address start-up costs.
Tech transfer is a focus at O'Pake because people who've successfully developed and patented inventions, like Ridley, know that having an idea isn't enough, no matter how earthmoving. Technology transfer is rooted in the realization that universities must nurture discoveries into marketable products and services—it doesn't just happen. As part of the experience, the team of occupational therapists received training in finance and “health informatics,” learning terms that were all new to them, Burns explained. “Working with O'Pake has enabled us to transform a classroom project into a business and a future career that none of us expected,” Trupio said. She added, “I cannot wait to see what is in store for our team next.”
Roling expressed the same excitement: “Working with the O'Pake Institute on making a real product that can help our clients is a blessing. I cannot wait to see what else we will achieve with the O'Pake team.” Now, O'Pake has helped the group prepare to impress investors and the local business community as they look to secure funding for prototype development and the legal fees associated with the business's start-up. The end of the journey will come when the product is out there. “When it's on the market when we go to work, and we use our product, that will be our ultimate ‘done,'” said Rothenberger.
“Student entrepreneurs at Alvernia benefit from a wide range of services and expertise we possess internally, but more importantly, it is the network we've created in the community that wields the true power of the incubation process.” — Dr. Rodney Ridley, COO of the O'Pake Institute
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2020
Alvernia finalizes purchase of 401 Penn Street
O'Pake Institute joins Ben Franklin Technology Partners Incubator Network
Design and build team selected for CollegeTowne renovations
Alvernia launches three engineering programs
Wyomissing Foundation bestows $300K grant for CollegeTowne
CollegeTowne project secures record-breaking $4 million RACP grant
Pepsi, Customers Bank, RKL, LLP and Visions Federal Credit Union sponsor CollegeTowne
2021
Alvernia breaks ground on $20 million renovation
Alvernia expands student dining options to downtown Reading restaurants
BCTV Community First Fund, La Mega Radio move to 401
Alvernia celebrates official opening of 401 Penn Street
Loyack shares plans for second phase of CollegeTowne renovations
Starbucks opens at 401 Penn Street
Alvernia secures $1 million RACP grant for CollegeTowne
PROFILE |
Providing a second chance By Claire Curry
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Providing a second chance
| PROFILE
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hroughout her 32-year career with the Michigan ways. For 15 years, she led her own nonprofit, Sisters United, Department of Corrections, Denise Smith Allen, which empowered future leaders by offering scholarships Ph.D. '79, met many people from all walks of for students entering civic service occupations; one recipient life who shared one thing in common: they needed a second went on to become an attorney. She also co-hosted the local chance. Allen realized early on that building trust was the television program “In My Opinion,” which addressed critical first critical step toward helping offenders succeed at making community issues. A past president of the Flint Housing positive life changes. Community, Allen sat on Flint's Human Relations Commission “Once you see that they understand that you're really with and Citywide Advisory boards. them, the light goes on and things start happening,” said Allen. Originally from Queens, N.Y., Allen left Pennsylvania “I would tell them, I don't work for General Motors. I'm not after graduating from Alvernia to pursue a master's in public on the line. If you have an issue and you need to talk about administration from the University of Michigan-Flint while something, I'm going to take the time.” raising her two young sons. In 2017, she completed her For more than three decades, Allen inspired several hundreds doctorate in public policy and administration and graduated of probationers to see their potential and celebrated alongside many as they achieved important milestones— overcoming addiction, graduating from college and “It was a very interesting journey to landing new jobs. After one woman became the learn so much about the various director of the same program she attended to combat alcoholism, Allen shared her “before-and-after” traumas that occurred and trying to help pictures—the “before” was a mug shot—with other probationers move past that in terms of probationers to show them that they too could change making better decisions for themselves.” direction and shape the future. Allen, who earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Alvernia University, devoted the last 11 years magna cum laude from Walden University. Her dissertation, of her career to working only with female offenders, a decision that surprised many of her colleagues. “When I said I was going “Keeping the Children: Nonviolent Women Offenders in Two Michigan Residential Programs,” is studied as part of a to do this specialized caseload of 100 women, people said: ‘I'd community programming course for women in Saginaw, Mich. rather supervise 300 men.’ It was a very interesting journey to Allen's commitment to community service was honored learn so much about the various traumas that occurred and with the Liberty Bell Award from the Genesee County Bar trying to help probationers move past that in terms of making Association and special recognition from the Town of better decisions for themselves,” she said. Flint, Mich. Today, as an adjunct professor at National Louis University Giving back and helping others is her life mission and the in Chicago, Allen shares her insights and the knowledge foundation for Allen's long and successful career in corrections, she's cultivated with future generations of criminal justice a field that is notorious for causing professional “burnout.” practitioners. She also supports nonprofit organizations “I work out, I have my faith, I have a supportive husband and in improving the lives of justice-involved men and women strong family,” Allen said. “My sons are grown, and they have through the consultancy she established in 2017, Allen their own families now, so I'm connected and I'm good. I feel Consulting & Research LLC. Her experience working with blessed in my reputation in the community because I've done female offenders is invaluable to organizations that also work a lot. I've established multiple layers of relationships and those with this fastest-growing segment of the justice-involved things are very important to me. Your reputation and your population. name are all you have when it's all said and done.” In addition to her professional contributions, Allen has been dedicated to serving the people of Michigan in many other
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PROFILE |
Finding
Purpose By Lini S. Kadaba
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Finding purpose
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or the last decade, Katelyn Fischer '10 MSN'21 has worked as a nurse, most of the time in a neurological intensive care unit. But when it came time for the capstone project required for her nursing master's degree at Alvernia University, Fischer took on a real-world challenge that broadened her horizons and helped a community clinic better serve its patients. “I've never done anything with community health,” said the 34-year-old who lives in Palmyra, Pa., and has worked at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for seven years, most recently in radiology. “I stuck my neck out and let myself be vulnerable for a minute…. I'll be able to look at healthcare in a different light after knowing a little bit of both sides.” Over her last semester, Fischer created from scratch a quality improvement (QI) plan for the nonprofit Western Berks Free Medical Clinic housed at St. Daniel's Lutheran
| PROFILE
that it could improve in three areas: tracking of patient clinical data, patient education and assessment of patient satisfaction. “She had a number of really good ideas,” said Stacie Dreibelbis, the clinic's administrative director. “Her plan will identify problems early and ensure that patients receive the quality healthcare we have for them as a goal.” “We have a small board, and they're burdened with a lot,” she added. “Having her has been a huge help for the clinic. I don't know if we would have gotten as far as fast.” Fischer created a four-question survey, in both English and Spanish, to gauge patient satisfaction. Her recommendations included the availability of preprinted educational materials for diabetes and hypertension, conditions common among the clinic's patients, and monthly chart audits to monitor lab work and medications. Since July, Fischer has volunteered to help with chart audits and educate clinic staff on the plan.
“She stepped out of her comfort zone and stepped up. Compared to the typical MSN capstone, she's having a Rothenberger, lasting impact.” — Cindy an assistant professor of nursing and Fischer's capstone adviser Church in Robesonia, Pa. Though she has completed her degree in the leadership and health administration track, she continues to volunteer at the clinic, helping to implement the recommendations. “She hadn't led a QI project before, and this was a different setting,” said Cindy Rothenberger, an assistant professor of nursing and Fischer's capstone adviser. “She stepped out of her comfort zone and stepped up. Compared to the typical MSN capstone, she's having a lasting impact.” Capstones usually focus on pulling together the knowledge and skills students have acquired into one demonstration project, but rarely involve implementation, according to Rothenberger, adding that Fischer's success could serve as a model of community partnering for a capstone. Fischer visited the clinic several times to audit patient charts for gaps in care and researched best practices and standards, both in the United States and internationally. She said she found that the clinic, founded in 2002 and run primarily by volunteers, was offering solid care to its uninsured clients, but
“I've never seen Kate quite invigorated by an opportunity like she was here,” said her mother, Angela Fair MSN'13, of Reading, a nursing professional development practitioner for Reading Hospital who was part of Alvernia's first master's in nursing entering class [2009]. “She was jazzed about the whole thing.” For her part, Fischer said her mother helped her juggle fulltime work, school and motherhood—she has two young boys, and her husband works a second job—by babysitting during evening classes and serving as a sounding board for nursing practices. In fact, Fischer said she pursued graduate studies at Alvernia in good part because of her mother's experiences with the program. The university's focus on service, she added, also helped her step up to the challenges. “Because of the mission of Alvernia,” said Fischer, who aspires to a hospital administration role, “we're centered on putting ourselves out there to help better the world. You know your purpose is not solely to get an education and get a job and go through life, through the motions. You have a bigger purpose.” Alvernia University Magazine
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Three's Company By Susan Shelly
Three's company | P R O F I L E
“Alvernia helped me to believe I'll be able to achieve good things and make the changes I want to see in the world.” — David
T
he Saint Ignatius Award, established by Col. Deborah Q. Geiger '83, is presented annually to a graduating student veteran who exemplifies selfless service, leadership, compassion, strong moral courage and commitment to excellence. According to Bret Krotee, the Veterans Center coordinator at Alvernia University, David Ruppert '21 was an apt recipient of the 2021 award. “David exemplifies those qualities more than any student I've met here,” Krotee said. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Ruppert faced some challenges while transitioning from his military career to university life. “College sometimes doesn't come naturally to veterans,” he reflected. “We all think we're too old and that school is behind us.” While getting used to classes and campus life, Ruppert drew on his military experience and applied the lessons he'd learned from challenges faced while in service. In time, he found a community at Alvernia, supported by fellow veterans, faculty, staff members and others. “The Alvernia community is very understanding and helpful, and the Veterans Center was a great source of support,” Ruppert said. “It made it very easy to ease into the campus.” Ruppert initially enrolled in Alvernia's Criminal Justice program but soon realized his interests and curiosity exceeded the confines of one major. “I asked myself why I should limit my experience to just one degree when I had chances to explore other majors, too,” Ruppert said. His need to expand his horizons mirrored his military experience, where he started as a supply clerk and, with support from superiors, worked his way up to corporal and led a security convoy. Just as he did while in the Marines, once Ruppert had found his footing at Alvernia, he reached out
Ruppert '21
to support and inspire others. He championed the Veterans Center, encouraging other veterans to take advantage of services and supports it offered and mentoring younger veterans. He remembered counseling a female veteran who was experiencing relationship problems and on the verge of dropping out of school. “I assured her the Alvernia community cares about veterans and told her about the resources we had for her,” Ruppert said. “I was able to help her see the light at the end of the tunnel, and she stayed and finished her education.” Ruppert's inclination to help others comes naturally and allows him to return the kindness and support he's gotten from others. He credits accommodating faculty members who made time to help him individually, as well as Dr. Joseph Cicala, Alvernia's former vice president for university life and dean of students. “He took me on a tour of campus, and we talked about my service,” Ruppert recalled. “He's pretty much the one who sold me on Alvernia.” Krotee also serves as an advocate for Ruppert and other veterans, exemplifying Alvernia's commitment to its designation as a Yellow Ribbon School and Military Friendly university. “You could see how much he cared about us vets,” Ruppert said. “If there were any problems, he'd take care of them.” On commencement day in May 2021, Ruppert graduated magna cum laude with degrees in criminal justice, finance and business management. He also was awarded a minor in history. After completing an internship during his senior year with Tompkins Financial, parent company of Tompkins VIST Bank, Ruppert was kept on in a temporary position and later accepted a full-time job in Tompkins's fraud department. “I'd say this right here is an Alvernia success story,” he said. “I started as an intern and ended up with a full-time job. Alvernia helped me to believe I'll be able to achieve good things and make the changes I want to see in the world.” Alvernia University Magazine
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PROFILE |
By Susan Shelly
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Branding empathy | P R O F I L E
T
yzhir Morris, a fourth-year student majoring in early of the AUtism shirts. Ty said to me that he ordered the shirts childhood education and special education, comes into and decals and made them in his room. Then he told me to his senior year with two goals: obtain his degree and look in the bag again, and that's when I found a card. Inside the continue his work as a student entrepreneur. card was a handwritten note telling me that Ty wanted to do Rather than pursuing large profits for personal gain, Morris something special for UP. He sold the shirts as a fundraiser and founded his own apparel line, BeTrue Apparel, and has been raised $1,000 for UP. I was blown away.” donating profits to local nonprofit organizations while Morris has attended games for Schaeffer's son's special needs spreading the message of empathy and authenticity to baseball league and continually expresses an interest in helping. the community. “He is a great student, and he truly cares about others,” said Through the university's Black Student Union (BSU), Schaeffer. “He is a go-getter with an entrepreneurial spirit, and I Morris was given an opportunity to showcase his skills as an am thankful that I get to be a part of his life and watch him do entrepreneur and small business owner. “The BSU facilitated a great things.” pop-up shop that was my first real opportunity to interact with Morris is also a member of the university's football team. His people and explain what I'm trying to build as well as what my former coach, Ralph Clark, met Morris in the summer of 2017 brand is about,” said Morris. “From that pop-up shop, I received at a football prospect camp. He knew from the start that Morris recommendations and feedback that helped my brand grow into would make a great team player. “He's able to communicate what it is today, and I hope with his teammates “He is a great student, and he truly cares about to continue to watch it about schemes on expand.” the field, as well as others. He is a go-getter with an entrepreneurial Morris has always academics and spirit, and I am thankful that I get to be a part of his prided himself on everyday life,” said being empathetic toward Clark. “He between life and watch him do great things.” other people's situations. coaches and players. Then, —Luci Schaeffer, M.Ed., instructor of education and coordinator for special education programs at Alvernia He has made sure to contribute he's unselfish also. In all, he's whatever he could to make played every position in our defensive backfield at a high level someone else's life more tranquil and problem-free. “I decided and done so willingly. You couldn't ask for a better team player.” to do something nice for a local nonprofit and sell sweatshirts Morris believes the most rewarding aspects of his educational and donate the proceeds to them. As I made my first order of journey thus far involve his fieldwork opportunities and sweatshirts, I saw how fast they sold out and how many people volunteering experiences. “Seeing the impact that something were interested in supporting my passion for helping. I was able that may seem small to me makes on someone else is what to double my goal of what I wanted to donate to the nonprofit. makes it all worth it for me,” he explained. “Knowing that From there, I was inspired to create my own brand that served I'm able to help one person or my services are appreciated by the same purpose of giving back to different groups and one person is enough for me to continue to attempt to help local initiatives.” hundreds of people.” One nonprofit that Morris supports is Unending Promise His long-term goal is to be a school principal as well as a (UP), an autism social group in Berks County led by Luci coach. Short-term, Morris plans on getting a job in special Schaeffer, M.Ed., instructor of education and coordinator of education at the high school level while coaching football and special education programs at Alvernia. She first met Morris in growing the BeTrue brand. the fall of 2018, when he attended a class she taught. “I would encourage young people always to remember “As school started in fall 2020, I noticed several people that you never know someone's situation, and you won't ever around campus wearing shirts with the word AUtism on them,” understand how influential a small gesture can be for someone Schaeffer said. “I wondered about their origin. About a month in a struggling situation,” he said. “Rather than judging into the semester, Ty presented me with a gift bag with Buzz someone and potentially viewing them as lesser, ask yourself Lightyear on the outside. He said he got the bag for my son, what you can do to help this person achieve a life that you wish Adam, who has autism and loves Toy Story. Inside, I found one for yourself.” Alvernia University Magazine
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PROFILE |
Aiding Alvernia
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Aiding Alvernia | P R O F I L E
W
hile many lessons have been learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, one in particular stands out for Dr. Claire Murphy, Alvernia's director of health and wellness. “We had no idea how innovative we could be,” she said. “We learned to adapt, and then adapt some more. We stayed nimble and flexible, and I think that's why we did so well. It wasn't easy, but we have a great team in place to direct efforts to keep our students, faculty and staff safe.” Murphy herself has been at the center of that team, according to those who work with her. Karolina Dreher, dean of students, said Murphy has exhibited “strategic vision,” connecting with health organizations and making sure the university followed all recommended guidelines, while also working locally to procure equipment and tests and figure out the logistics of campus testing sites. “Claire was our liaison and kept us advised on all medical aspects, but she and Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management Kevin Burns worked tirelessly to get us the supplies and testing we needed,” Dreher said. “Claire and Kevin are relentless in their efforts to keep us all safe.” Recalling the earliest days of the pandemic, Murphy remembers feeling concerned. “We started hearing about a novel coronavirus in February and it was alarming, even though we'd gotten reports in the past about viruses like MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome),” she said. “It seemed like no one had any answers, which as a physician was very disconcerting. We didn't know how it was making people sick or why some people were so much sicker than others.” When the virus reached New York state, Murphy assumed it would make its way to Pennsylvania. “We knew it was just a matter of time,” she said. “It wasn't if, it was when.” By the time students were sent home in March 2020, the university's Pandemic Response Team, a group of university leaders tasked with keeping the university safe and healthy, was up and running. When students returned for the fall semester, dozens of measures were in place to keep them safe. Cleaning equipment and routines were upgraded; food service provided grab-and-go meals; dorm rooms and common areas were reconfigured to reduce density; masks were required for
everyone; and all students, staff and faculty were expected to answer questions each morning on an app designed to detect and track cases. Infected students were isolated, and those who had been exposed were placed in quarantine. The work was difficult because guidelines kept changing, but people were generally cooperative, and the team met daily to stay up to speed. Alvernia made the commitment to be a vaccinated campus by the beginning of the fall 2021 semester— a huge step in helping campus life return to normal. “We have a vaccine requirement because that is our only path to normalcy,” Murphy said. Kiara Gregoris, assistant director of health services, is confident that whatever happens, Alvernia will be well protected. “I'm confident that under Claire's leadership, the pandemic response team will continue working to keep up with pertinent information and make sure all guidelines are followed,” Gregoris said. “Claire is passionate about keeping the entire Alvernia community safe and healthy.”
Dr. Claire Murphy (middle) shares a laugh with Health and Wellness staff members Joanne Slater, RN (left), Assistant Director of Health and Wellness Kiara Gregoris (immediate right), and Iesha Scarpino, CRNP (far right).
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Holleran Center News Developing a service mindset The Holleran Center strives to encourage a service mindset in all students, starting when students first arrive on campus their freshman year. This semester, every student had the opportunity to participate in a Service Saturday event through the SEARCH (first-year seminar) class curriculum. The days of service immersed students in the university's Franciscan mission of service to others through a servant leadership approach. First-year students met identified community needs alongside their instructors and our many local partners. Each event included a reflection component that encouraged students to contemplate how service impacts those whom the university serves as well as their own growth. Service at Alvernia is not just something we do, it is who we are.
Strengthening community engagement through strategic partnerships The Holleran Center endeavors to create strategic partnerships that come to life through Alvernia's CollegeTowne community-centric focus of service. In keeping with this focus on community, Alvernia embraces the charge to deliver on our “One Alvernia” approach with partnerships and opportunities at all three of the campus locations. Building upon the growing list of community partners, The Holleran Center supports the regional community through projects and initiatives that develop with our colleagues. Partnerships allow for real-world experiences that connect skills learned in the classroom to project-based experiences, which is of great value for students and the partner organizations.
of its OT students, Abby Leonard and Kristen Straube. With support from the Bog Turtlers, Abby and Kristen facilitated agricultural programs for children and their mothers through a local nonprofit, Hannah's Hope. • Grant Funding: The Holleran Center's Sustainability team was awarded a $70,000 Department of Agriculture grant in partnership with Coexist Build and Lunaria Farm. Two of the Bog Turtlers, Ethan LaVerdure and Alex Kabrich, will undertake a complete life cycle assessment of industrial hemp by collecting data from seed to structure. This will also include building a temporary structure made from hemp-based materials at the EcoHouse and tracking the structure's performance, efficiency and indoor air quality. • Penn Street Market: The Bog Turtlers have an expanded role at Reading's Penn Street Market, where they assisted the market staff and vendors while also managing the Berks Agriculture Resource Network (BARN) table filled with local products for sale. • YMCA: The Bog Turtlers facilitated a sustainable agriculture program for youth at area YMCAs, which came about from a great connection that they made during their participation in the Camel Arts Festival. • Outdoor Classroom: As the Bog Turtlers continue to connect with our community, they will also be able to host education programs at the EcoHouse in the new outdoor learning space that was completed at the end of the summer.
Learning through real-world experience at Bog Turtle Creek Farm Bog Turtle Creek Farm (BTCF) engaged in some exciting initiatives during the summer that centered around community engagement and educational outreach. • Academic Connection: BTCF and Alvernia's Occupational Therapy (OT) Department partnered to offer an emerging practice fieldwork experience for two
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Students participate in a Service Saturday event at the Opportunity House.
O'Pake Institute News Technology transfer at a small, private university
fellows and staff, will be fully moved in at 401 Penn St. in January 2022.
Small, private universities like Alvernia typically lack the resources and inherent need from start-ups in their surrounding community to launch a technology transfer office. However, the spike in economic development and entrepreneurship that has resulted from the beginning stages of the CollegeTowne initiative has facilitated those resources, and businesses have developed a need. To fill that need, the O'Pake Institute focuses on assisting companies and entrepreneurs in intellectual property training, feasibility analyses, management, valuation and commercialization. These services aim to bridge the gap between the academic and commercial aspects of developing a product and act as a catalyst in the commercialization process. O'Pake works with clients to ensure that they are making the proper advancements regarding patents, trademarks or copyright. With that, O'Pake also helps with prototyping and product development.
O'Pake graduate fellow launches podcast
Student-powered business incubator fills office spaces at CollegeTowne
The first-ever Alvernia University podcast, The Energy in the Room, powered by O'Pake, launched this fall. The Energy in the Room podcast will feature guests who live, work and play in Reading, as well as other community leaders from Berks County and beyond involved in the CollegeTowne strategy. It will demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit in the area by touching on the authentic stories regarding who each guest is, how long they have been in Berks County, why they have chosen it as their home and place of work, what they are passionate about and how they came to have such passion. The goal is for listeners to gain insight on the business landscape in the area, and learn about the unique and intricate stories of each of the individuals who make up the mosaic that is Berks County. The podcast is hosted by Sarah Matarella, Master of Arts in organizational leadership student and graduate assistant of communications at O'Pake.
At the start of the fall semester, seven office spaces were designated to O'Pake's business incubator tenants at 401 Penn Street Business owners filled those spaces before the official ribbon cutting. This has brought local businesses downtown and has also led to monthly educational and best practice programming held at CollegeTowne for all of the incubator tenants and clients of O'Pake. Various partners, sponsors, community leaders and other businesses owners will present at many of these events to share their experiences and knowledge to facilitate entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, O'Pake's goal is to provide as many connections and services as possible to the local businesses in the community while providing students with experiential learning opportunities to work directly with the businesses. Many of the tenants have already moved in and, along with the O'Pake Alvernia University Magazine
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O N CA M P US ALVERNIA LOCKS IN LOYACK The Alvernia University Board of trustees extended university president John R. Loyack's contract through 2027. After becoming the university's seventh president in July 2019, Loyack has led a successful effort to restructure the university, develop and implement a five-year, student-centric strategic plan and attract the largest classes in Alvernia's history. President Loyack's vision for the university's Reading CollegeTowne initiative has led the way in the expansion of the university in center-city Reading to create new academic programs and student living opportunities while also creating new community programming, expanding experiential learning for students and sparking economic redevelopment and new business creation in the city.
READING YOUTH INITIATIVE EXPANDS TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS Alvernia University expanded the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement's Reading Youth Initiative (RYI) to support educational enrichment activities in the areas of STEM and arts and culture for middle-school students in the Reading School District, starting in the 2021-22 academic year. Through this expansion, RYI will now offer afterschool programs to students from kindergarten through graduation. The new programming will combine Alvernia faculty, staff and students with local community organizations to provide advanced experiential learning opportunities that will enhance the regular school curriculum. This programming includes field trips, experiments, discovery activities and job shadowing with local partners such as the Reading Science Center, Barrio Alegria, Reading Public Museum and the O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship's student-powered entrepreneurial lab. The funding for the program comes from Customers Bank, which gifted the university an additional $150,000 in 2021 through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.
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For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Alvernia welcomes new trustees Alvernia welcomed many new trustees in 2021. The new trustees are John M. Arnold, chairperson, CEO and owner of PPC Lubricants, Inc.; Kevin DeAcosta '00, president and CEO of The Highlands at Wyomissing; Barry Schlouch, president of Schlouch, Inc.; Lucine Sihelnik MAL '13, former City of Reading councilwoman; and Ryan Smith '93, founder and president of Inperium, Inc. Alvernia also welcomed former Caron Treatment Centers President and CEO Doug Tieman to its Community Engagement and Philanthropy Committee. Arnold leads the Jonestown, Pa. based PPC Lubricants, Inc., the nation's fourth-largest distributor and largest privately held distributor of commercial, industrial and automotive lubricants, edible greases for the food industry, oil and gas drilling fluids, chemicals and diesel exhaust fluid. For the last 21 years, DeAcosta has held several positions with The Highlands, being promoted in 2013 to his current position as president and CEO, where he plans, directs and manages all operations and serves the board in developing the strategic vision for the organization. Before coming to The Highlands, DeAcosta served 10 years in the banking and public accounting industries. Schlouch leads the Berks County-based construction site preparation specialists at Schlouch, Inc., which he and his wife, Deb,
founded in 1983. Starting from the confines of their basement, the Schlouchs have grown their business to over 285 employees with 300 pieces of equipment. Schlouch was ranked the #1 Best Place to Work in Pennsylvania for large companies. Sihelnik recently completed the final year of a four-year term as elected councilwoman for District 1 and vice president of City Council in the City of Reading. She is also the founder of Gayatri Wellness, which promotes sustainable living practices of social, economic and environmental well-being for all community members of Berks County, and is the co-owner of the Great American Creamery ice cream shop in downtown Reading. Smith founded Inperium, a Reading-based nonprofit network governance organization that provide person-centric mental health, intellectual disability, co-occurring disorders services, health-related supports and other related services, in 2016. Before retirement in 2021, Tieman served as the president and CEO of Caron Treatment Centers since 1995. Under his guidance, Caron took leadership roles in sponsoring research in addiction treatments and outcomes, advocating for ethics and standards, participating in national conferences on addiction and recovery, and growing its revenue tenfold, making it one of the largest nonprofit residential addiction treatment centers in the nation.
Barry Schlouch
Doug Tieman
John Arnold
Kevin DeAcosta '00
Ryan Smith '93
Lucine Sihelnik M'13
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Alvernia selects downtown Pottsville location Alvernia expands by returning to downtown Pottsville after entering into a letter of intent agreement for a location on Progress Avenue as the genesis for the Pottsville CollegeTowne strategy. The site is the former Giant grocery store, located at 500 Progress Ave. Alvernia serves as a strategic enabler in the Pottsville CollegeTowne model, including engagement, a student-centered entrepreneurial lab, academic programming and buildings that will enhance the student experience for current and incoming students. “We are working with our outstanding faculty to provide innovative learning spaces throughout the building,” said Alvernia University Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. “The projects we pursue today will allow us to provide an unparalleled experience for the next generation of Alvernia students in the greater Schuylkill County region.” The O'Pake Institute will partner Schuylkill Campus students with regional entrepreneurs, small-business owners, faculty researchers and industry leaders to enhance economic development in the region.
“We look forward to partnering with those from the Pottsville Area Development Corporation and Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, among others, to help our students and the Pottsville community thrive,” said Dr. Rodney Ridley, Alvernia University vice president, interim dean of STEAM and chief operating officer of the O'Pake Institute. Alvernia is uniquely positioned and prepared to lead the Pottsville CollegeTowne initiative and plans to enlist other organizations and businesses, such as the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Development Court, to partner together to breathe new life and vitality into downtown Pottsville. “Alvernia picked Pottsville, and we couldn't be happier that they did,” said Pottsville Area Development Corporation Executive Director Savas Logothetides. “How appropriate that we hold today's announcement on Progress Avenue, because Alvernia picked Pottsville because of our progress, leadership and their shared vision for our community.”
O N CA M P US LOCAL HEALTH LOGISTICS FIRM PARTNERS FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Alvernia partnered with TRIOSE, Inc. to provide experiential learning opportunities for the university's students. The university also named President Ira Tauber as the O'Pake Institute's executive in residence for the 2021-22 academic year. Tauber, along with other TRIOSE executives, will conduct classroom lectures, hold interactive lunch-and-learn sessions and expose students to on-site opportunities to showcase practical application of job requirements and skill sets. The dynamic program, now in its seventh year, allows students to gain valuable insight into real-world experiences directly from regional industry executives.
LOCAL LEADERS EARN PRESTIGIOUS HONORS Alvernia bestowed five of its prestigious awards on alumni and community leaders with ties to downtown Reading at its annual President's Dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading. Sweet Street Desserts accepted the CollegeTowne Award (formerly Pro Urbe Award) for its significant community service and contributions to a higher standard of living for the Reading community. Longtime Berks County residents and local servant leaders Gary and Karen Rightmire earned the university's coveted Franciscan Award. Timothy J. Daley '79, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Berks County, was honored with the distinguished alumni award. Nadine Blair '83, an alumna and longtime Alvernia volunteer, received the Ellen Frei Gruber Award. The university also named its second class of Four Under Forty winners: Conor Delaney '07, Kate Ecke '11, Kyle Levengood '08 and Brandi Burns '14.
Director of the Schuylkill Campus Cynthia Mensch (right) welcomes the Alvernia mascot and others who gathered for the press conference announcing the Pottsville CollegeTowne strategy.
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O N CA M P US LITERARY ARTS JOURNAL EARNS THIRD CONSECUTIVE INTERNATIONAL HONOR International English honor society Sigma Tau Delta recognized Alvernia students for their work on Zephyrus, the university's literary arts journal, in the Outstanding Literary Arts Journal contest for the third consecutive year, awarding the publication third place for the 2020 issue. The 2018 and 2019 editions of the publication both received second place. Zephyrus is a student-run publication composed of unique art, poetry, short stories, photographs and videos from across the Alvernia student body. The Zephyrus board encouraged their peers to submit original creative works that express the theme of “Home,” and worked tirelessly through the difficult circumstances of the pandemic to produce the award- winning edition. Alvernia's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta received a $300 prize for placing third out of over 900 chapters across the globe.
ALVERNIA'S ATHLETIC DIRECTORS HONORED Alvernia Director of Athletics Bill Stiles was named the 2021 recipient of the MAC's Lou Sorrentino award, which is presented to a MAC athletics administrator who has a sustained and influential role in conference and national affairs, and embodies the NCAA Division III philosophy. In addition, Associate Director of Athletics and head field hockey coach Laura Gingrich was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Berks County Chapter for her Hall of Fame coaching and administration career.
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For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Another record class arrives at Alvernia Over 500 new students arrived on the campus of Alvernia University this fall, many of them among the Alvernia University Class of 2025. This marks the second straight year Alvernia has eclipsed the mark of 500 new students. “As we continue to modernize our approach to higher education as a regional comprehensive university, we are happy to expand our mission by serving one of our largest incoming classes and a growing and more diverse student body,” said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. This incoming class includes new first-year and transfer students, with 69% from Pennsylvania and over 21% hailing from the greater midAtlantic region. A new focus on international recruitment has also brought students from Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Ireland and Saudi Arabia. The academically strong class boasts an average GPA of 3.5 and SAT score of over 1080, with 10% of students serving as members of the National Honor Society. The new students are not strangers to the university's Franciscan-based community service model. Over 10% participated in student government, including 13 class officers, and over 25%
documented community service and volunteerism, including fundraiser organizers. Of the new class, 32% are students of color, 37% are scholar athletes, 21% identify as firstgeneration college students and 64% have elected to live on campus. The class also welcomes a generation of firsts, including the university's first women's wrestling and Esports athletes and first engineering students. Here are some other interesting facts about the Class of 2025: • 16 students who have family members who attended Alvernia • Over 10% of students were in band, orchestra, dance, chorus or theatre • Two volunteer firefighters • One set of twins • One Gold Award Girl Scout • One race car driver • One junior roller-derby Olympian • One small-business owner • One YouTuber with 15,000 followers
For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news
Women's Council tabs Turner as award recipient For her award-winning career as a speaker, author, trainer and executive leadership coach and service as a role model for women, Alvernia University adjunct professor Adrean Turner, MBA, MAM, PCC, received the Alvernia University Women's Council's Bernardine Legacy Award. Turner was presented with the award at a ceremony in spring 2021. “I am honored to be recognized to inspire other women to realize that regardless of roadblocks or challenges you face in life, you can reach your goals with God, all while serving others,” said Turner. Turner, who has been an Alvernia adjunct graduate professor for economics, entrepreneurship, marketing and leadership since 2014, is the CEO of Turner Coaching, Training and Consulting, LLC, where she teaches organizations how to work, lead, develop talent and succeed in a diverse, virtual, global culture. Her book, “F.I.T. for Success: Fearless. Inspired. Transformed for
Success,” has charted on Amazon's bestseller list for work/life balance in business and has been accepted to the Library of Congress in the social sciences section. She is also a senior fellow with the Social Enterprise Institute USA and a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). The former associate director of global marketing communication for Merck is the third recipient of the award. Women2Women founder Karen Marsdale earned the award in 2019 and The Honorable Linda Ludgate '77 earned the inaugural award in 2018. The Alvernia University Women's Council fosters the personal and professional development of Alvernia women at all life stages, strengthens their connection to the university and each other, and educates and inspires them to pursue and grow in leadership roles both in their chosen profession and in the greater community.
O N CA M P US NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOW CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH COMMUNITY Alvernia University grad student Kirsy Rosario '20 earned national recognition for her local and global service endeavors by being named a 2021 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. Rosario, a Reading Collegiate Scholar who graduated in 2020, returned to Alvernia for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years as a graduate assistant in The Holleran Center while pursuing an MBA. In that role, Rosario has been the driving force behind a new volunteer management system that has proven crucial for connecting student volunteers to community projects. She is the ninth student in university history to be named a Newman Civic Fellow. The students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities locally, nationally and internationally.
ALVERNIA EARNS TOP 100 RANKING AMONG BEST REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES
Turner shares her Alvernia experience:
For the third consecutive year, Alvernia University is ranked in the top 100 colleges and universities in the country. According to U.S. News & World Report, the university is among the 2022 Best Regional Universities in the North. Of the more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the Northeast region, U.S. News ranks only 176, and Alvernia is at 97 in the top tier. The university also received nods in U.S. News & World Report's first-ever national undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) rankings, landing in the top 500 programs nationwide, and earned a top 25 rankings in the North for its undergraduate education programs.
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Peris c op e
Alvernia’s faculty making a difference
Elizabeth Bentz '95, OTD, OTR/L, SIPT, RYT Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Travis Berger '05, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Business and Leadership
Bentz, department chair of Occupational Therapy and Alvernia alumna, recently won reelection to the Shillington Borough Council. She has been serving in local government as a Borough Council member for 11 years. Bentz will continue to serve the community for another four-year term. This year she is the vice-chairperson of the Administration, Law, and Finance and Police and Personnel Committees, in addition to serving as the chairperson of the Recreation Committee.
Berger, was inducted into the Distinguished Alumni/ Academic Hall of Fame at Wilson School District in 2020. He is also now serving as a peer group facilitator for the Berks Family Business Alliance of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, a program that is a leading resource in Berks County serving familyowned and-operated businesses of all sizes.
Nathan Thomas, Ph.D. Professor of Theatre Thomas presented “Rhythms of language, character changes, and episodes” at The Makings of the Actor: Rhythm in Acting and Performance Conference, an online international conference in late March 2021.
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John Gieringer '81, MA Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Shijun Tang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Gieringer (right) coauthored a series of calculus textbooks with Michael Dougherty of Southwestern Oklahoma State University that was published by Cognella Publishers. The first book, First Semester Calculus for Students of Mathematics and Related Disciplines, is in its second edition. He has just completed the next book in the sequence, Second Semester Calculus for Students of Mathematics and Related Disciplines, made available for the fall 2021 semester.
Tang had two research papers, “The Information and Complexity Analysis of COVID-19 RNA Sequence” and “Classification of Heart Rate Variability based on Restricted Boltzmann Machines,” that were accepted to be published in the corresponding proceedings: Transactions on Computational Science & Computational Intelligence.
Adhurim Xhemajli, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor of Theology He also co-directed “Will Power”—a live and streamed performance of actors and dancers based on the work of William Shakespeare produced by Alvernia Theatre and the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
Xhemajli recently published his book The Supernatural and the Circuit Riders: The Rise of Early American Methodism (Wipf and Stock Publishers). The nature of the book is both historical and
theological. It explains the significance of the Holy Spirit in the lives and ministries of the forerunners of the Second Great Awakening: Methodist circuit rider revivalists.
Ohenewaa White, MSW Instructor of Social Work White co-presented a virtual workshop, “Inter-Professional Debriefing: Preparing Undergraduate Students to Process and Learn from a Simulation,” at The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors BPD Virtual Conference. She also recently led social work students in a special project focusing on police brutality and mental health. She was selected to serve as a board representative for the American Public Health Association's Committee on Health Equity and Social Justice, and Caucus Collaborative. She recently applied for a grant with Scribe Video Center to co-direct a documentary about precious places in Philadelphia. She hopes to document the history and impact of an independently operated African-centered independent school from 1973 to 1985.
Peris c op e
Alvernia’s faculty making a difference
Alicia Sprow, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Leadership & Healthcare Science Greg Chown, OTD, BHSc (OT), BA, CPAM Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Dr. Chown and Dr. Sprow were named co-directors of real-world learning by the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement. Chown develops opportunities for students majoring in the university's various health science and related programs while Sprow works with all other areas of study at the university. Chown has blended his years of experience leading service-learning classes for the university's occupational therapy department with new ideas gathered from others across campus to ensure that Alvernia makes a difference locally, nationally and internationally. Sprow, who has also served the university as a co-director of the First Year Program and the sustainability initiatives director, looks to broaden the depth of real-world learning experience for more students and faculty at Alvernia.
Christina J. Steffy, MLIS, MA Library Director Steffy contributed to an article with her co-author David Runyon that was published in New Review of Academic Librarianship. The case study explores the digital shift and is from her time at the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, before her appointment at Alvernia. The lessons explored in the article apply to all types of libraries and propose things that should be considered for all colleges and universities.
Jayme Ober, OTD, OTR/L, MSCS, CNMI Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Ober has been invited to join the editorial board for the Journal of Acute Care OT as an associate editor. She will be reviewing research and supporting knowledge translation regarding acute care evidence and occupational therapy topics.
Malgorzata Zuber, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
James E. Siburt '19, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Sociology and Theology
Zuber is an active volunteer at The Cook Foundation, LLC, a nonprofit organization committed to creating and maintaining meaningful life for adults with profound autism and other cognitive learning disabilities. The organization offers educational programs, community support, donations, consulting and person-centered planning. She also wrote a book titled Understanding Green Card Marriage Fraud, which explores personal accounts of participation in green card marriage fraud by legal and illegal immigrants, U.S. citizens and marriage fraud brokers.
Siburt presented a paper and spoke in a roundtable discussion on “The Future of Tolkien Studies” during the Tolkien Studies sessions at the national meeting of the Popular Culture Association in April 2021. He wrote and submitted a chapter for a two-volume book on Theology and Tolkien being published through Lexington Books, an imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. Siburt is under contract with the same company to write a book based on his spring 2022 English and Theology course, Theology and Science Fiction.
Bongrae Seok, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy Seok created an edited volume of Naturalism, Human Flourishing, and Asian Philosophy: Owen Flanagan and Beyond with chapters on human flourishing, Buddhism, and Confucianism. He wrote an article for the Journal of Philosophy of Emotion titled “The Emotional Mind and The Moral Mind.” He also presented at several conferences, including the Geoaesthetics Conference (Aesthetics at the Time of the Pandemic) at Towson University in March 2021. His presentation was titled “Music and the Pandemic: Positive Experience of Sad Music.”
Alvernia University Magazine
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Alvernia's state-of-the-art Virtual Dissection Lab featuring four Anatomage tables helps students learn with the aid of a virtual cadaver. Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Recktenwald, Ph.D., demonstrates.
Alumni
Class Notes Attention Alumni: • Married? • New job? • Addition to the family?
Pa., and has won many “Reader's Choice” awards including Best Fine Dining, Best Cocktails and Best Brunch.
Share the news by emailing alumni@alvernia.edu.
Eric Turman '97 M.Ed.'03 was named superintendent of Harrisburg School District. Christopher Neidert '99 MBA'05 was named Penn State Health's first fully dedicated corporate director of security in January 2021.
1970s Susan (Wade) Green '76 was appointed chairperson of the board of trustees for Northern Children's Services in June 2021 and has been involved with the organization for six years.
Raymond Melcher Jr. '78 was named to the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Community Development and Finance Company. Melcher was also recognized by VR Mergers and Acquisitions as the ninth highest affiliate sales performer worldwide for 2020. Dominic Murgido '79 had his book, “Miss Your Forever: Reflections After the Death of a Spouse” published in December 2020.
1980s John Deegan's '80 granddaughter, Alexandra Rose Deegan, recently turned 3 years old.
Maureen (Burns) Challenger '87 M.Ed.'03, her husband, John, and her brother, Patrick, purchased The Crimson House in 2018. They recently unveiled their expanded dining and entertainment areas. The Crimson House is located at 118 North Centre Street in Pottsville,
Michael Carnes '96 completed his doctorate of education in addition to a Pennsylvania Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from Millersville and Shippensburg Universities in May 2021. His doctoral thesis was “A Phenomenological Investigation of High School Graduates' Experiences in a Career Pathways Model.”
1990s Lisa MeredithUnrath M.Ed.'92 was appointed executive director for The Reading Science Center.
Heidi Brenneman-Edwards '99 is the founder and president of Sisters' Hope Foundation, a 501c3 global organization supporting the rare disease adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP). Heidi's two sisters, both Alvernia graduates, passed away from ALSP along with her mom, aunt and uncle. Heidi's sister, Heather Brenneman Boyer '03, passed away on August 28, 2020 and her twin sister, Holly Brenneman '00, passed away on July 20, 2021.
Cherie (Kissinger) Powell '93 has been appointed president of Kissinger Associates, Inc. Annmarie (Sullivan) Dallao '95 and husband Albert Dallao have recently celebrated their fifth anniversary in business at ARCpoint Labs of Reading, Pa. They currently perform random drug testing for Alvernia University athletic programs. They are also involved with the Opioid Task Force of Berks County. ARCpoint Labs offers testing solutions for drugs and alcohol. Lori (Reedy) Hagy '95, senior vice president, financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in the Lancaster Wealth Management Office, has been named to Forbes Magazine's list of America's Top Women Wealth Advisors for 2021. She would like to continue to recognize that without the adult education program at Alvernia, she would never have had the opportunity to earn a degree in finance, thus leading to her career as a wealth advisor.
2000s Dr. Lucretia Brown M.Ed.'01, Ph.D'07 has been hired as the new Prince William County Schools' chief equity officer. Lynn (Moyer) Niedrowski '02 MBA'04 was appointed as the chief human resources officer at Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. Dr. Kelly McBride M.Ed.'03 has retired from university teaching and reentered the field of communications. She recently accepted the position of director of public relations at Emerald Vines Media, a boutique, Orlando-based marketing/PR agency specializing in representing Georgian (the country, Alvernia University Magazine
41
Alumni
Class Notes not the state) wines. She recently moved to Florida with her mother, and is enjoying the sun, golfing and beaches.
Lisa (Wright) Ashcroft '04 joins Girard Partners, a division of Univest Bank and Trust Co., as vice president and wealth trust adviser. Dr. Branville Bard, Jr. '05 has been selected as Johns Hopkins' new vice president for public safety. Dr. Rory D. Sellgren '05 graduated from the University of Leeds (UK) in December 2019 with a Ph.D. in medieval studies. He now teaches at Cumberland University in Tennessee. Steve Rowe, Jr. '05 was promoted to federal compliance program manager with Iron Mountain Government Solutions in January 2021.
Jennifer Jimenez '08 has been appointed to the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of Berks County and will be serving on the organization's Bird House Challenge Committee.
Claire (Bradley) Mooney MBA'10 has been appointed to the role of senior vice president and chief operations officer of Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center, which is set to open in fall 2022.
Chris Winters '08 was named American Red Cross 2021 Berks County Hero.
Emily Berret '11 has been named deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Elizabeth (Andrefski) Poston '09 and Tyler Poston welcomed son Judah James Poston into the world on March 29, 2021.
Maureen Plover '10 was named director of annual giving at Alvernia University in August 2021.
Alli Blair Snyder '11 MA'19 and husband Eric Snyder welcomed baby Rowan Blair Snyder after many years of loss. They can't wait to bring him to their home at Alvernia, where they met during freshman year in Veronica Hall.
Frederick Lahovski Jr. '06 has been promoted to police chief for the Girardville Police Department. Mike LaTorre '06 has been promoted to the head coach for boys basketball at Millville High School in New Jersey.
Jennifer (Zeminski) Wagenhoffer MS'09 and Karl Wagenhoffer III '04 MBA'11 welcomed their fourth child, Gemma Knight, on May 27, 2021.
Lindsey (Celmer) Miller '06 MA'17 was promoted to chief operations officer at Berks Community Health Center.
Charles Clauser MBA '12 retired in June 2020.
Jonathan Kukta MBA'07 has been appointed as Penn State Schuylkill's new director of business services.
2010s Brigid A. (Brennan) McFadden '07 retired from the County of Schuylkill in November 2019. Brigid was a child support enforcement officer and was employed with the county for 26 years.
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Justine (Fronheiser) Bauer '10 and husband, Brad Bauer, welcomed son Luke Bauer.
Kyle Schollenberger '12 married Alyssa Czap on Oct. 18, 2019.
Alumni
Class Notes Dan Kropf '12 and Megan Wendland welcomed a son, Maxwell, on Oct. 20, 2020.
Keely (Schlegel) Verna '13 and husband Gary Verna welcomed daughter Camilla Maria Verna in May 2021.
Deanna Dungee '13 was promoted to event manager at Cure Insurance Arena.
Brian Witkowski '13 married Shannon McGlynn '13 on April 23, 2021.
welcomed a baby boy named Easton Yoch on July 14, 2020. She also graduated from Gannon University in May 2021 with her post-occupational therapy Doctorate.
Tiffany (Brown) Waters '16 MA'18 was recently promoted from operations manager to chief administrative officer at Hands from the Heart, a Philadelphia-area nonprofit organization that provides home health care services to seniors, veterans and adults with physical disabilities. Steven Maenza '17 was sworn in as a police officer for the Lancaster Bureau of Police in December 2020. Mary Orr MS'17 is engaged to Aaron Mattern. Emily (Reed) Snisky '17 married Steve Snisky on Oct. 24, 2020.
Dustin Arnold '15 and Caitlyn Arnold welcomed baby Brooks Michael Arnold on July 13, 2020, at 5:09 AM—8 lb. 2 oz, 19 inches long and 15 days late. Elle Burkert MBA'15 secured a new position with The Motley Fool as a product operations manager. After just one year of being with the company, she was promoted to her new role as as a team lead, responsible for developing and maintaining service-agnostic platforms, content and tools, as well as ensuring that these resources are thoughtfully incorporated into the overall member experience.
Sami Schenck '18 and Zach White became engaged on July 27, 2020.
Kimberly Whelan '18 and James Colgan '16 are engaged to be married.
Michael Kopil '15 was sworn into the Phoenixville Police Department.
Daniel Frantz '13 and Kaitlin Ensulo MS '16 were married June 5, 2021. Karen Sponagle MSN '14 joined the Nursing faculty at Alvernia in August 2021. Mikey Andes, Jr. '15 became engaged to Nikole Koharcheck on Dec. 24, 2019.
Dr. Gabriella Messina '16 graduated from medical school and matched into OB/GYN residency.
Lorena (Kilmer) Lazarchick '19 received the LeadingAge Pennsylvania Fellows in Leadership certification as part of the class of 2020-21.
Dr. Tiffany (George) Yoch MS'15, Alumni Council member, and husband Christopher Yoch Alvernia University Magazine
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Alumni
Class Notes Ben Strausser '19 was sworn in as a police office for the Lancaster Bureau of Police in December 2020.
Andrew Simmons '20 and Amber Strohl '20 got engaged in October 2020.
In Memoriam
In memory of our deceased alumni who are gone but not forgotten.
1960s Sr. Miriam J. Remar, OSF '63 Barbara (Yerabek) Sichik '63
1970s
Kim (Clark) Thompson '19 MA'20 completed her master's degree in leadership in December 2020 with a 4.0 GPA. She married the love of her life, Conroy Thompson, on April 3, 2021.
Salvador Sepulveda Jr. Ph.D. '20 earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership at Alvernia. He is also a proud grandparent of newborn grandson Henry Kenneth. Luke Degenhart '21 is starting his graduate degree in chemistry at Villanova University in the fall of 2021.
2020s Stephanie Wolfgang '20 is now in the MACC program at Alvernia. She would like to thank Alvernia for creating an environment conducive to learning. She really appreciates the fact that Alvernia made sure the Class of 2020 had a graduation ceremony. Maggie Hansson '20 accepted a job at Ally Financial as a fraud support analyst in Fort Washington, Pa. She is very thankful for this opportunity and is excited to see where this will take her in life. “Thank you, Alvernia!”
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Marissa Cosgrove '21 recently became a staff accountant at Trout CPA.
Mary (Sutherland) Dublin '73 Sharon A. (Kitsock) Lonergan '73 Patricia (O'Kane) Bradley '74
1980s Wendy J. Schutz '80 Eileen McKeone '84 Annemarie Pavco '86 Sr. Martin Joseph Riordan '87 Richard L. Graver '88 Kathleen (Holsopple) Shaffer '89
1990s Georgene J. Posey '92 Diane O'Brien-Groff '93 Gary Siegrist '93 Vincent Bomba '94 Harold L. Musler '94 Nan (Gacura) Moyer '95 Rosemary Page '95 Regina (Kramer) Mateuszow '96 Audra (Schlegel) Cowsette '98 Janice (Knittle) Norwich '98
2000s Holly Brenneman '00 Renato Oliveros, Jr. ‘00 Rev. Roger Ulrich '00 George C. Mason '02 Shari Pissani '05 Kimberly (Purin) Cornelious '06 Shelley A. Stone '08
2010s Nate Morman '10 M'12 Maria Carannante '13 Sheila Colihan, RN'13 Karen Dautrich MBA'16 Albert Yackenchick Jr. '17 John P. Goerner MBA'19 Dania R. (Kenc) Lopez '19
| ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni NEWS A Message from Alumni Council Chair Kate Ecke '11 Hello my fellow alumni! My name is Kate Ecke, I am a 2011 social work graduate and I am proud to be in my first year as chair of your Alumni Council. I have a private practice (The Unconventional Therapist) providing therapy to adolescents and adults in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I have a new office in Reading, at Alvernia's CollegeTowne building, after working with the student-powered business Incubator within the O'Pake Institute. This has allowed me to offer internship experiences to current Alvernia students. Please consider getting involved with Alvernia by joining one of our Council Committees and volunteering your time to help current students. It is a terrific way to connect with current students and make new connections! Here are the three committees seeking alumni to contribute their experiences, passion for Alvernia and ideas: • Enrollment & Marketing—Work to help recruit the next generation of Alvernia graduates • Career Development—Help connect our students to mentoring, internship and job opportunities • Engagement & Philanthropy—Be a part of the planning for our on- and off-campus events and fundraising activities
Alumni survey provides valuable insights The Alvernia Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement thanks the nearly 800 alumni who participated in the recent alumni perceptions survey. This feedback is greatly valued in determining new ways and continuing the most popular ways of supporting and engaging with the Alvernia community. Those who participated in these surveys not only helped shape the plans for the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, but provided valuable insights for the university's senior leadership team to reinforce, modify and enhance the student experience for current students. The next issue of Alvernia Magazine will feature a much more in-depth summary of the findings, some of the immediate highlights. • 89% of alumni are likely to recommend Alvernia to others looking for a high-quality, values-based college education. • 86% of alumni feel that Alvernia did an excellent or good job of preparing them for their current careers. • 88% of alumni agree that Alvernia prepared them to excel by emphasizing experiential, real-world learning. • 61% of alumni have contributed to Alvernia philanthropically, with scholarship and support of academics as the top priorities. • The four areas alumni think Alvernia is known for: Academics
I look forward to connecting to many of you at events on one of our campuses, or other regional events off campus.
Community Service
Sincerely,
Religious focus/mission
Growth/expansion
Kate Ecke '11
Alumni Referral Program helps enroll 30 new students In the fall of 2020, the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement launched an Alumni Referral program for new students enrolling at Alvernia for the upcoming semester. This gave alumni the opportunity to refer a potential student to (Alvernia University), and help that student earn a $1,000 scholarship. In the first year, Alvernia alumni submitted nearly 150 referrals for potential students from all over the county. Those referrals led to 60 students who applied for admission and were accepted and 30 students deciding to attend Alvernia. The university looks forward to continuing to grow this program, and welcomes all alumni to participate by offering referrals for family members, friends or students they teach or coach. More information on this program is available at Alvernia.edu/Alumni. Alvernia University Magazine
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ALUMNI NEWS |
Alumni NEWS Alvernia launches wedding banner program Based on the success of the first-ever Alvernia Sweethearts contest, the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement wanted to help Alvernia couples celebrate their nuptials. In the picture below are Zach '13 and Marlee (McNerney) '15 Zima, who were married on Saturday, June 5, 2021, surrounded by family and friends, and of course some of their fellow alumni—Kelli Fitzgerald '16, Travis Dorwart '13, Jennifer (Petrilla) Myers '15, Dan Myers '15, Hillary (Prozzillo) Gallagher '15, Jennifer Innamorato '15, Molly Pantone '15 and Taylor (Eichelberger) Newswanger '15. Those planning a wedding who are willing to share a photo of their big day with the alumni team can request a custom banner by emailing alumni@alvernia.edu.
Seniors Class Gift funds Clare’s Cupboard As many alumni may remember, each year the Office of Institutional Advancement works with the current senior class on a gift idea, something they can leave behind as a legacy on campus. The class works with the office on fundraising ideas to help make the gift as impactful as possible. To their credit, this year's class wanted to do something a little different, and not purchase a physical item. They wanted to raise money for Clare's Cupboard—Alvernia's on-campus resource available to students in need of assistance, ranging from food and toiletries to clothing and school supplies. Students at all of Alvernia's campuses have access to these resources. The Class of 2021 raised a total of more than $4,000 for the program and, as a thank you to the students who participated, President Loyack hosted a cookout at Cedar Hill Farm, just prior to commencement. A highlight of the evening was a dip in the pool and toweling off with their newly gifted custom Alvernia alumni beach towels.
Join the Zimas in requesting an Alvernia flag for your upcoming wedding or other celebration.
New Year, new career? With employment changes at an all-time high, the Office of Institutional Advancement invites all Alvernia alumni experiencing changes in their professional lives to share an update so they can update records and share the good news with the Alvernia community (if you'd like us to). The process of updating information is simple: just visit Alvernia.edu/Alumni and click on the Update Your Info link to inform the university about a new role, degree or house, additions to the family or anything else! President Loyack hosts the Class of 2021 at Cedar Hill for an afternoon cookout by the pool.
46 Alvernia University Magazine
| ALUMNI NEWS
Important Dates & Events Saturday, February 20, 2022 Alumni Night at the Reading Royals Saturday, May 7, 2022 The return of MargaritaVern Saturday, May 14, 2022 Commencement Saturday, August 6, 2022 Alumni Night at the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Thursday, August 18, 2022 New Student Move-In Day & Orientation Also, soon to be scheduled during March, April and May: Regional Alumni Receptions in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Florida. For a full list and up-to-date information on alumni events, please visit Alvernia.edu/Alumni
Sharing a Sister story The following is an excerpt from a story submitted by Lance Wilson '80 that details how Sister Mary Theodorette Zebrowski changed his life during his time at Alvernia. Alumni can share stories about how a Bernardine Franciscan Sister changed their lives by emailing alumni@alvernia. edu.
2021 All-In breaks participant record The Office of Institutional Advancement sends a heartfelt thank you to all those who donated during the 2021 All-In campaign. The 2021 campaign broke records for the most participants ever. Support of All-in benefits the Presidential Hope Fund and allows the university to help even more students as they face hardships and crises that may interfere with their ability to continue their Alvernia experience. The gifts truly make a difference in the lives of Alvernia students. Some highlights: • 556 donors (record) • 413 alumni donors (record) • 28 states—farthest: Alaska! • Total money raised: $190,000 Keep an eye on your mailbox this spring as Alvernia goes for another record-breaking campaign during All-In for Alvernia 2022, which will of course again include Virtual Alumni Bingo. as she explained to a frustrated student (usually me) that there was nothing they could do which could not be fixed. During my four years of classes with Sister Theodorette, I never once saw her get upset or frustrated with a student. Her sole desire was to always help students succeed—a noble goal for all teachers. Please visit Alvernia.edu for the full story.
Vincent Van Gogh said: “If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” I heard that voice telling me I could not paint until my first year at Alvernia in 1976. Fortunately, that negative self-talk was silenced by my good fortune of taking a painting class taught by Sister Mary Theodorette Zebrowski, who joined the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1934 and eventually became an assistant professor of Art, artist-in-residence and professor emeritus for the college. Why this criminal justice major selected an art class as an elective is still foggy to me. Whether providence or just plain luck, this obscure decision has had a remarkably positive influence on my life for almost 45 years now. This long overdue article is to thank Sister Theodorette for blessing me with a love of painting. I am also pleased to share some of my memories of classes with the good Sister and what painting has meant to me since graduating from Alvernia. I knew early in my first class with Sister Theodorette that I would be taking many more classes from her. A main reason I felt this way was her calm and relaxing teaching style. I can still hear the Sister's soothing voice Alvernia University Magazine
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WINTER 2022
ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Officers of the Board PRESIDENT John R. Loyack
EDITOR Kristopher M. Nolt Director of Communications
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Claire Curry
Chair
Michael Fromm Fromm Electric Supply Corp. President & CEO Vice Chair
Gregory J. Shemanski Custom Processing Services, Inc. President & Owner
President
Leslie Feldman
John R. Loyack Alvernia University President
Anne Heck
Secretary
Kristopher M. Nolt
John McCloskey Jr. '94 M'01, DBA Alvernia University Senior VP and Chief of Staff
Susan Shelly
University Counsel
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Members of the Board
Marlene Lang Lini S. Kadaba
Theo Anderson Susan Angstadt GradImages Rena Laverty Dan Z. Johnson
Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn John M. Arnold, Jr. PPC Lubricants, Inc. Chairman, CEO & Owner
Charles Barbera, MD M'01 Reading Hospital - Tower Health Vice President, Pre-Hospital & Un-Scheduled Care Paula Barrett, CPA Reinsel Kuntz Lesher, Partner Business Consulting Services Group
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: news@alvernia.edu.
David Beavens '88 Detroit Renewable Energy, LLC Operating Partner
Alvernia Magazine is a publication of Alvernia University. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.
Kevin DeAcosta, CEO '00 Highlands of Wyomissing President & CEO
Ann Borza Listrak Senior Director of Client Services Sister Marilisa da Silva, OSF Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Congregational Minister
Michael A. Duff Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP SVP, Government Relations & Chief Compliance Officer
Guido M. Pichini W.S.K. & Associates President & CEO
Elsayed Elmarzouky Heidelberg Family Restaurant Owner
Jeffrey Rush Fulton Bank President —Commercial Markets
John H. Gallen, Jr. Ethosource and Wyatt Seating Owner & President
Peter Rye Brentwood Industries, Inc. President
Pat Giles, Community Volunteer Wyomissing Foundation, Inc. Foundation Associate
Jeanne Savage '88 Community Volunteer
Sister Madonna Marie Harvath, OSF Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Director of Vocations Ellen Huyett, Esq. Attorney (Retired) Community Volunteer Sister Antoinette Keiser, OSF '71 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Computer Teacher/Food Service
Barry Schlouch Schlouch, Inc. President Lucine Sihelnik MAL '13 Founder Gayatri Wellness Ralph Simpson, Jr. Warfel Construction President and CEO Ryan Smith '93 Inperium, Inc. Founder and President
Steven M. Koons, CPA, PMP '05 Cotton & Co., LLP Managing Partner
Paul Trunk Berk-Tek, President (Retired) Nexans LAN Division North America, Vice President & General Manager
Daniel Langdon East Penn Manufacturing, Inc. Retired CEO
John Weidenhammer Weidenhammer Systems Corp. President
Rachel A. Maher, DMD '94 Dentistry for Children Pediatric Dentist
Sister Shaun Kathleen Wilson, OSF '69 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Director, McGlinn Conference Center
Khalid N. Mumin, Ed.D. Lower Merion School District Superintendent of Schools Stephen Najarian SN Companies Partner Sister David Ann Niski, '66 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation Executive Director
C. Thomas Work Stevens & Lee Shareholder
is back!
Save the Date!
Saturday, May 7, 2022 ■ 6-9 PM • Flynn Plex Join with friends and fellow alumni for Alvernia’s signature event, MargaritaVern! Welcome the classes of 2020, 2021 AND 2022 into the Alumni Family! Stay for the weekend to enjoy other campus events! Details to follow. Discounted hotel rates available; contact alumni@alvernia.edu for more details. Make sure all your information is up to date so you receive your official 2022 MaragritaVern invitation! Institutional Advancement • 400 St. Bernardine St. • www.alvernia.edu
Alvernia University 400 Saint Bernardine St. Reading, PA 19607
alvernia.edu
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