Alvernia University Magazine Winter 2021

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MAGAZINE

Engineering Change

New programs ignite innovation in Reading

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MAGAZINE

COVER STORY 4

Engineering change

FEATURES 8 12 14

Creating a dialogue

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Fall 2020 photo essay

Seniors embody lifelong learning

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Going global

PROFILES 20 22

Finding the sweet spot

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Counseling the next generation

26 28

Groundbreaking the draw

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Holleran Center news

Changing course

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Innovating trauma response

O’Pake Institute news

ON CAMPUS 32

Alvernia breaks ground on CollegeTowne renovations

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DoubleTree partners with Alvernia as nearly 550 students arrive on campus

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Turkey Drive goes downtown

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Periscope Alumni news & notes

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To improve is to change…

Throughout my career, I have led measured change to ensure longterm success. If living through COVID-19 has taught us anything as people, it is how to change and adapt. We’ve been forced to embrace new ways to educate ourselves and others, utilize new forms of communication and create innovative ways of doing business. Many

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

— Winston Churchill

of us have come to realize that time spent together, even if through a screen, is crucial to a happy and healthy life.

We, as an institution, are also changing. Thanks to a new, innovative and engaging student recruitment process, we welcomed our largest incoming freshman class this fall, including a record number of international students, for an on-campus experience that, while feeling different, still had all the hallmarks of the Alvernia experience. Classes were held socially distanced and outdoors in tents, our tradition of service continued through the Holleran Center and plenty of new student activities went outdoor and virtual. Through it all, the Alvernia University community adapted to this new environment and completed a highly successful in-person semester.

Midsize colleges and universities across the nation continue to face unprecedented challenges in a changing higher education landscape. Many of these challenges preceded the pandemic and have forced institutions to accelerate implementing new plans and strategies.

Alvernia has answered the call and was well ahead of that curve. Precise change has enabled us to continue our movement toward redefining Alvernia as a modern comprehensive regional university. With our new Alvernia Advantage strategic plan, which

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aligns university resources and student needs to drive institutional goals, we’re not only addressing the needs of modernizing the institution but overcoming the numerous challenges COVID-19 has presented. Excellent work by so many from the university community and our trusted partners sets Alvernia on a path of prosperity unprecedented in our history. This will afford many more students from all backgrounds the opportunity to experience the Alvernia Advantage and the experiential education that is at the center of our student-centric strategic plan.

In late December, we received the exciting news that Alvernia and our strategic enabler, the Reading CollegeTowne project, were awarded a $4 million Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant, the largest grant or gift in the university’s history. This capped a six-month drive that allowed us to raise $6 million in grants and corporate sponsorships to get the project moving. We celebrated this historical gift and thanked the numerous legislators who made it possible with a “wall breaking” ceremony at 401 Penn St. Beginning the $20 million renovation project cements Alvernia’s footprint in downtown Reading for generations to come. Scheduled to open in August, CollegeTowne will be the home of several academic programs, including the three new engineering programs; an arena for the new

,

e-sports program; housing for students looking for an urban experience; the student-powered business incubator; a Starbucks and much more.

CollegeTowne has become a strategic enabler that will shape the future of our university, downtown Reading, Berks County and all of Southeastern Pennsylvania for decades to come.

The Reading CollegeTowne initiative is just one of the bold and innovative initiatives aimed to modernize the university and improve and expand the student experience. We are working with faculty in developing a new college structure for our academic programs, exploring new academic programs that fill employment gaps in the region, launching a Justice, Equity and Inclusion Council, hiring coaches and recruiting student-athletes for three new varsity sports. We are also exploring markets for new satellite campuses; reimagining the Seniors College to more fully integrate its members into the life of the university; and, as you’ll read through the stories of Andrea Potylycki ’21, Luke Fagley ’22 and Dr. Kimberly Stoudt, we continue to support our students, faculty and staff as they engineer change in their communities.

In short, COVID-19 has not deterred us from finding new and innovative ways to serve the underserved in our communities. We continue to leverage our precious resources to move our institution forward and protect the educational mission entrusted to us by our beloved Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. We invite, and quite frankly need, our entire Alumni family to join us in this journey.

WINTER 2021

PRESIDENT John R. Loyack

Since our university has such a rich tradition of educating high-quality health care professionals, I’d be remiss if I didn’t end my message by thanking our alumni working on the front lines during this pandemic. You make us so very proud in your tireless efforts, and you embody all of the core values we hold so dear here at Alvernia.

Kristopher M. Nolt Director of Communications

God bless and stay safe,

Lynn N. Gano Director of Creative Services

EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

John R. Loyack President

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Claire Curry Kristin Boyd Edwards Sidney Goodman ’21 Lini S. Kadaba Kristopher M. Nolt Susan Shelly

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Theo Anderson Susan Angstadt Dan Z. Johnson Alvernia Magazine is published by Alvernia University twice per year, in summer and winter, to share news and information about the institution with alumni, friends and the community. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the university. Please share your feedback, as we work to continuously enhance the publication: news@alvernia.edu.

Alvernia Magazine is a publication of Alvernia University. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

ON THE COVER From left: Leah Kemper ’21, Dr. Rodney Ridley, Joern Tinnemeyer and Brett Berger ’22 work with engineering equipment in an Alvernia lab.

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ENGINEERING CHANGE

F E AT U R E |

By Claire Curry

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Engineering change | F E A T U R E

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lvernia's Reading CollegeTowne strategy, launched in 2019 to advance the university and play a part in Reading’s economic revitalization efforts by fusing academia with commerce, is building solid traction. In addition to the purchase and $20 million renovation of 401 Penn St., the site of Alvernia's new downtown campus, several new programs are making it possible for students to gain marketable skills,

the process of business entity formation and trademarking.

Another team worked with a pre-revenue client to implement a digital marketing campaign. Fellows on the O'Pake Institute's Intellectual Property Committee use cutting-edge IP software to create IP portfolios for clients in the business incubator.

“The O'Pake Institute is addressing the multiple needs of emerging businesses by creating a whole ecosystem to

Alvernia President John R. Loyack announces the addition of three engineering programs at a press conference at Alvernia’s new downtown Reading location.

build professional networks and have a strong hand in breathing support them, while enhancing our students' learning,” said magic back into a city that many have grown up loving.

Alvernia Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald.

“The students gain tangible skills and the businesses benefit from receiving services they wouldn't otherwise be able to Student Fellows lift pay for. The O'Pake Institute puts all the different pieces local businesses together for success, whether it's a new business, a business Through the O'Pake Institute for Economic Development & trying to grow or a business trying to navigate through the Entrepreneurship, more than 20 student fellows are engaged in COVID-19 environment.” real-world problem-solving on projects that have already started fueling local businesses.

Electrical, Industrial and Currently, O'Pake fellows are working with more than 50 Mechanical Engineering companies on a variety of projects ranging from social media Alvernia's new engineering program will likewise provide campaigns to developing licensing agreements to creating students with hands-on training in electrical, mechanical and industry playbooks. One team assisted a client through industrial engineering, leading to offering Reading's robust Alvernia students Leah Kemper ’21 (left) and Brett Berger ’22 manufacturing industry a steady stream of new talent. (right) explore lab equipment with EnerSys Senior Vice President and Global CTO Joern Tinnemeyer (center).

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Engineering change

The programs weave a strong core curriculum with hands-on experiential learning in state-of-the-art, working labs— experiences made possible through partnerships with local manufacturing corporations, energy suppliers and engineering firms. These partners will likewise benefit from working directly with students whom they may eventually recruit into their workforces.

“Students will be able to engage with industry leaders early in their academic journey,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s mutually beneficial because local companies can recruit the students who love Berks County and want to stay here, and it makes for a smooth pathway for employers to have a direct connection to our university and access to this talent.”

Alvernia’s downtown campus at the newly purchased building at 401 Penn St. will house the O’Pake Institute as well as engineering, business and communications programs and provide additional student housing. Renovation of the 260,000-sq.-ft. building is underway, with the first phase to be completed by August 2021.

The engineering curricula will follow standards set by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and will be the same for all engineering students—electrical, mechanical and industrial—through the sophomore year.

“What’s exciting is that all students will have training in all three disciplines so they can see what interests them and then select the discipline that really appeals to them,” said Rodney

Ridley, associate provost and vice president and chief operating officer of the O'Pake Institute. Ridley, who holds a doctorate in engineering science and a master’s in electrical engineering from Penn State University, as well as a bachelor’s in physics from Lincoln University, helped lead the formation of the engineering programs.

Engineering students will also have opportunities to conduct applied research with faculty and other students through the O'Pake Institute, “where business ideas can be brought to commercialization,” explained Ridley.

Brian Czaus, a freshman who is currently working as an engineering fellow at the Institute, plans to enroll in the new engineering program next year. “I like working with my hands and solving problems with my mind,” he said, adding that he is looking forward to pursuing the interest he developed in engineering as a high school sophomore.

Long term, the university will look to expand the engineering programs to consider master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, bioengineering/biomedical engineering, civil engineering and chemical engineering, as well as concentrations, certifications and minors in areas such as computer engineering, cybersecurity, AI & VR and robotics.

Fitzgerald said it makes sense to “look for synergies between Alvernia’s academic programs,” and particularly, to explore interdisciplinary opportunities at the intersection of health care and engineering.

Dr. Rodney Ridley (middle) shares updates about Alvernia’s engineering programs and Reading CollegeTowne with Berks County Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach (left) and City of Reading Mayor Eddie Moran (right).

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Engineering change

| F E AT U R E

Dr. Rodney Ridley (left) shares thoughts on Alvernia’s engineering programs with EnerSys Senior Vice President and Global CTO Joern Tinnemeyer (right).

Meeting the region’s demand for qualified engineers The engineering programs are Alvernia’s answer to the manufacturing industry’s call for qualified engineers in the greater Reading area.

“We formed an Engineering Advisory Board and conducted outside studies, and it became clear that there is a strong demand for these programs that also align perfectly with Alvernia’s Reading CollegeTowne Strategy,” said Ridley.

Several organizations are partnering with Alvernia to deliver this new educational model. Among them is EnerSys, an international leader in stored energy for industrial applications.

Headquartered in Reading, EnerSys has offices worldwide, customers in 100 countries and a workforce of 11,000.

Senior Vice President and Global CTO Joern Tinnemeyer said the partnership couldn’t be more timely because of the increasing demands for smarter energy source devices, wireless charging and highly customized energy systems.

“This requires significantly more engineering than we’ve ever had before,” he said. “Having this relationship with Alvernia allows us to develop a curriculum around what we need and to provide training on the new systems we’re developing. When

students graduate, they will be ready to go. They will have skills that are future proof and higher-paying job opportunities, and we will have a [steady] channel of talent coming in.”

Brentwood Industries, a leading provider of engineered plastic headquartered in Reading, and another partner in the new engineering programs, will also open its doors to students for hands-on learning experiences.

“Not only will Alvernia’s strategy produce more engineers, it will connect students and faculty with our R&D facilities and staff to provide a great educational experience,” said President and CEO Peter Rye. Other organizations serving as industry partners in the engineering programs include UGI Utilities, East Penn Manufacturing, Custom Processing Services, SSM, Carpenter and Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, among others.

In addition to informing curricula and providing state-of-theart facilities for hands-on learning, these business leaders will serve as adjunct professors and student mentors.

Ridley views the Reading CollegeTowne initiative—including the O’Pake Institute, the new engineering programs, the business partnerships and Alvernia’s new downtown campus— as “a catalyst for change in Reading, Berks County and the greater southeastern Pennsylvania region.”

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Creating a

Dialogue

By Kristin Boyd Edwards

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Creating a dialogue | F E A T U R E

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lvernia’s Head Football Coach Ralph Clark cried as the news of George Floyd flooded his television screen and social media feeds in May 2020. The father of three sons sat stunned, then speechless, as the loop of videos and commentary played. “It could’ve been me,” he said. “This time felt different. It hurt my heart. And I thought, ‘How do I explain this to my 4-year-old son?’”

In the hours that followed, his phone notifications filled with messages from players, and his thoughts turned to the locker room and how he would talk to the team. “It was a hard conversation to have but necessary,” he said, adding that Alvernia graduate and Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli ’00 participated in one of the brutally honest discussions. “We respected everyone’s point of view and we listened, even if we didn’t agree.”

It was a start, he said, but now is when the real work begins. “Alvernia is a great place with great people and great opportunities, but we have to get honest about who we are and who we want to be and the true diversity we want to see here so we can make progress,” said Clark, co-chair of the university’s newly formed Justice, Equity and Inclusion ( JEI) Council.

The JEI Council, the Black Student Union and the faculty Social Justice and Advocacy Group are among the campus organizations leading this vital work, which comes as minority student enrollment continues to increase at Alvernia, thanks in part to academic initiatives such as the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program and the creation of the football program.

In fact, the Class of 2024 is the largest and most diverse freshman class in the university’s history. Given the changing demographics and access to 24-7 technology, campus leaders say it’s no surprise the deaths of Mr. Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery (as well as other national incidents that occurred this year) reverberated here and spurred many students and staff members to ask, “What can we do?”

The JEI Council has been an incredible sounding board, said co-chair Stephanie Gonzalez, campus minister in residence, and she is excited to see how members’ ideas and experiences can ultimately impact campus culture and shape diversity efforts.

This fall, the council conducted a faculty and staff climate survey and plans to conduct a student climate survey in the spring to get a better understanding about how stakeholders truly feel. That research, she said, will allow the council, composed of students and staff, to begin creating an equity

“Alvernia is a great place with great people and great opportunities, but we have to get honest about who we are and who we want to be and the true diversity we want to see here so we can make progress.”

— Ralph Clark

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F E A T U R E | Creating a dialogue

“We need to make people of color feel comfortable on campus and create an organization that would have longevity. Having those difficult conversations and making students aware of other people’s cultures, that’s what’s going to make the difference.”

— Micah Yarbray

and inclusion framework for the university and establish intentional, measurable goals that will impact generations of Golden Wolves to come.

“I’m proud the narrative is shifting, but we’re just starting to scratch the surface,” said Julianne Wallace, vice president of mission & ministry, who leads the JEI Council and is spearheading the equity work on campus. “Creating equitable spaces includes looking at policies and budgets, developing resources that advance diversity and inclusion, being intentionally inclusive in alumni publications and marketing materials, providing listening opportunities and reviewing what our freshman orientation and employee onboarding process looks like. It will take time, but that’s how we will challenge ourselves and how Alvernia is going to change.”

Sophomore Micah Yarbray, who is majoring in criminal justice and psychology, founded the new Black Student Union (BSU) this summer so she could be the change she wants to see in this pivotal moment. “It was time,” she said.

An inclusive group open to all students, the BSU has quickly become a powerful campus resource by participating in JEI

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Council and connecting with students and staff through Zoom events. Topics have included mental health, cultural appropriation and microaggressions in the professional workplace. “We need to make people of color feel comfortable on campus and create an organization that would have longevity. Having those difficult conversations and making students aware of other people’s cultures, that’s what’s going to make the difference,” said Yarbray, a member of the track-andfield and women’s basketball teams. “We want to grow, share and learn.”

Cynthia Corbin, chair of the faculty Social Justice and Advocacy Group and a member of the JEI Council, agrees.

Education and advocacy, she said, will be key to addressing justice and inclusion issues at both the university and its affiliate campuses. “The George Floyd situation literally had my phone ringing off the hook,” she said. “The pot boiled over because everyone was sitting at home during the pandemic and watching him die on TV. There was an outpouring of concern and shock from faculty members.”

Creating a dialogue

| F E AT U R E

JEI Council co-chair Stephanie Gonzalez, campus minister in residence, shares that the JEI Council has been an incredible sounding board.

The group rallied and held faculty workshops about diversity and equity this summer, as well as partnering with the JEI Council to design the staff climate survey. Much like Clark, Corbin said this time feels different— and the campus seems ripe for change. “There is now a willingness to listen and to do something,” she said. “I’m encouraged, but we have to stay informed and stay involved and speak up. It’s up to all of us to make sure we are moving the needle and making progress at Alvernia.”

“I’m encouraged, but we have to stay informed and stay involved and speak up. It’s up to all of us to make sure we are moving the needle and making progress at Alvernia.”

— Cynthia Corbin

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Seniors embody

lifelong

learning

By Susan Shelly

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Seniors embody lifelong learning | F E A T U R E

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lvernia’s Seniors College is officially on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but university officials assure the hundreds of seniors who participate that the College will be back— and better than ever.

“The Seniors College is an Alvernia treasure that we fully intend to continue,” said Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald, senior vice president and provost. “This program has always been considered essential to the university, and that remains the case.”

Founded more than two decades ago, the Seniors College perfectly exemplifies the university’s core values, said Thomas C. Minick ’98, M’10, vice president for Institutional Advancement.

“Community engagement and lifelong learning are essential to our mission, and the Seniors College is a model of both,” Minick said. “There’s no question that it fits well within our university.”

One of the great strengths of the Seniors College, open to anyone 55 or older, is that it brings together undergraduate students and seniors, both in the classroom and in other settings. Seniors often attend sporting events, loyally cheering on Alvernia teams. When the College was in session, it wasn’t unusual to see its members in the campus dining hall, sharing tables with students. Seniors were invited to plays, lectures and other campus activities, and were happy to attend.

Fitzgerald hopes to create even more opportunities for linking seniors with students, looking for seniors to become more fully immersed in university programs and activities.

She envisions having members of the Seniors College join students on short-term study abroad programs— For example, pairing an occupational therapy student with a retired occupational therapist during a service trip to the Dominican Republic. She also imagines getting seniors involved with the university’s recently formed student-powered business incubator, designed to provide experiential learning opportunities for students of all disciplines.

With three new engineering programs set to begin in fall 2021, Fitzgerald hopes to pair students with experienced or retired engineers who can provide guidance and direction.

“As we grow our engineering program, we’re going to need mentors,” she said. “I’m looking forward to all these types of ventures and other possibilities that we haven’t even thought of yet.”

“This program has always been considered essential to the university, and that remains the case.”

—Glynis Fitzgerald

While classes covering a wide range of topics selected by a Seniors College curriculum committee are at the heart of the program, the College is about much more than what occurs in the classroom.

“It’s a big part of our social lives for a lot of us,” explained Cindy Davenport, a longtime and active member of the Seniors College. “It’s provided me with a network of friends and acquaintances I would not have had otherwise.”

COVID-19 has interrupted some out-of-classroom activities, but others continue. The book club that used to meet once a month in person has transitioned to a virtual format since the pandemic emerged. The “lunch bunch” that met in the dining hall on Tuesdays before going upstairs for class is on hold, but a group now meets every Wednesday on Zoom for an hour-plus discussion on various topics.

Davenport facilitates the Wednesday group and said it has been well received.

“People are happy for some intelligent conversation and discussion, and they want to stay involved and maintain contact,” she said. “It’s been very popular.”

University officials are keenly aware of the importance of the Seniors College for both educational and social opportunities for members. They understand that, with more than 700 members enrolled in the program in 2019, it is something community members desire and value. And that, said Minick, is why they are consulting with members of the College, working hard to establish a class curriculum and looking at creative ways to provide additional interaction between students and seniors.

“I’ve been a champion of this program for a long time and fully understand its value to seniors, students and the university in general,” Minick said. “We want everyone to know we are definitely looking at enhancing the program, not contracting it.”

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F E AT U R E |

Going Global

by Lini S. Kadaba

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Going global | F E A T U R E

“We want to be part of the community. We want the community to know that Muslims are not like what you see on television.”

— Hajear Alshaheen

I

n November, Alvernia celebrated International Education Week. Students played the carrom, a tabletop game popular in the Middle East, in the quad. Meanwhile, the dining hall featured a Middle Eastern feast of spicy cauliflower soup, macaron béchamel, the Egyptian street food koshari and za’atarspiced pizza.

The special events welcomed and celebrated Alvernia’s new, booming international student population from the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia. This year (2020-21), the university marks its largest class in its 62-year history at 522 undergraduates, said Mary-Alice Ozechoski, vice president for enrollment management and student experience. That includes a record 25 international freshmen and 12 transfer students—all from Saudi Arabia. Another dozen Saudi students are expected to join in the spring semester, she said. In the past, Ozechoski noted, the number of international undergraduates numbered only in the single digits.

“Part of the work that we need to do in higher education is expose students to a global society,” she said. “One of the ways to do that is to try to infuse the campus with more students from outside the United States.”

Under President John R. Loyack’s leadership, the university has actively pursued international students to bolster

enrollment, live the Franciscan values of humility, collegiality and peacemaking, and promote its interfaith mission, Ozechoski said. “One way to be a peacemaker,” she added, “is to understand the experience of another person and have empathy for it.”

Why start with Saudi Arabia? Ozechoski said that both she and Loyack have connections from previous jobs with the agents who facilitate foreign students’ travel to and study

LEFT: Hajear Alshaheen ’24 listens intently during fall orientation.

RIGHT: Alvernia’s international students are given campus tours as they arrive on campus for the first time.

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Going global

Nursing faculty member Deborah Greenawald (far right) welcomes Alvernia’s new international students (from left) Kawthar Almonayan ’24, Fatimah Alqattan ’24, Welayah Almaskeen ’24 and Hakimah Al-Haddad ’24 with a COVID-19 friendly elbow bump during orientation.

at U.S. colleges. Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Ministry also offers scholarships for those pursuing certain majors, including nursing, a historically strong program at Alvernia.

Rakan Zubayd, 20, a nursing freshman from Najran in the southwest part of the country, said he is following in the footsteps of his mother, who was a nurse. “She inspired me,” he said.

So far, Zubayd said he has enjoyed his time at Alvernia, especially the weather and natural surroundings. “When I

came here, I felt homesick,” he added. “When I saw Miss Sibel and some of the instructors and professors, I felt, oh my gosh, American. They make a class like we’re the same. I am really, really so grateful.”

Hajear Alshaheen, 28, from Al Khobar on the Arabian Gulf, worked in health care before deciding to continue her studies in the United States. The nursing freshman said she chose Alvernia for its accredited program and smaller class sizes that has allowed her “to shine very fast.” Recently, Alshaheen filed

“Part of the work that we need to do in higher education is expose students to a global society.”

— Mary-Alice Ozechoski

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Going global

| F E AT U R E

Ahdab Abdulmohsen Aljohani ’24 (left) and Hajear Alshaheen ’24 (right) enjoy a cold treat.

Asst. Dir. of Academic Support Services Carla Mannix (right) and Director of International Students Sibel Ahi Ph.D. ’15 (middle) walk Malik Slshamrani ’24 through Alvernia’s digital systems.

paperwork to start a chapter of the Saudi Student Association, which will host cultural and religious events.

“We want to be part of the community,” she said. “We want the community to know that Muslims are not like what you see on television.”

Alshaheen has become an “older sister” to many of the younger Saudi students, said Sibel Ahi ’15 Ph.D., director of international student recruitment, who recently hired Alshaheen as a student worker to help guide the new students.

“She’s leading the students in the right direction,” Ahi said.

She also “is giving us the inside information so we can get the problems and try to help them.”

Alvernia also has hired an English as a Second Language specialist, offered multicultural training to student tutors at the Academic Success Center and launched virtual tours of Alvernia’s campus in Arabic (as well as Mandarin and Spanish).

The Saudi students “are very happy with their program and really happy to be here,” said Ahi, and added that they serve as the best ambassadors for recruitment.

Said Ozechoski, “We want to make sure students are successful here, not just academically but socially.”

The university has partnered with the Islamic Center of Reading, and recently, Saudi students, along with Office of Mission & Ministry staff, visited for Friday prayers. Alvernia also has a campus interfaith prayer room that includes prayer rugs.

Looking ahead, the university wants to expand its international population to other countries, Ozechoski said, starting with India and students interested in Alvernia’s new programs in electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering.

China, too, will be a target.

“That’s how we’re going to do it,” Ozechoski said, “chip away a little at a time, one country at a time.” The goal is for international students to comprise 10-15% of undergraduate enrollment—a critical mass, she said that will foster interaction between American and international students.

“Five years from now,” Ozechoski said, “it’s going to look different on campus in the best possible way.”

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#StayWithThePack a COVID-friendly return to campus

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PROFILE |

FINDING THE

SWEET SPOT

By Claire Curry

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Finding the sweet spot

T

wo months after he graduated from Alvernia University with a bachelor’s degree in business, Steve Bentz ’83 accepted a job offer and moved with his new wife to Ohio to work in sales for the Hershey Pasta Group, a division of The Hershey Company.

At the time, Bentz could never have imagined that for the next nearly four decades, he would work his way up in the world-famous chocolate corporation to his current post as global director of the World Travel Retail Division. In this role, which he’s held for 10 years, the longest of 12 positions on his Hershey resume, Bentz has traveled to 60 countries and developed a thriving business that targets the international duty-free market.

“This job has captivated me,” he said. “I’m enjoying it so much. I’ve been blessed to have this opportunity to build a business and create partnerships and friendships all over the world.” Some of his favorite destinations have included Singapore, Dubai, London and Langkawi, an island off Malaysia.

“Be open to possibilities” Over the years, Bentz sold household pasta brands like Ronzoni and San Giorgio to grocery stores, ingredients to restaurants and chocolate bars to military bases. Looking back on his own career, he said that he’d advise today’s college graduates to always “be open to possibilities.”

“I was not a great student in high school,” Bentz said jokingly.

“But I got along with people and I was open to possibilities. If a new role came up, even if it was a lateral move, I’d take the job that would lead to more opportunities.”

| PROFILE

years ago. “It brings me as much joy as it gives them hope,” he explained. “Simple things like shooting hoops, having game nights or celebrating the holidays give these young men some sense of normalcy.”

Last year, Bentz spread some Hershey cheer at his alma mater when the company and the Bernadine Sisters were simultaneously celebrating their 125th anniversaries. He and his wife, Judy, brought candy bars, anniversary cakes from Hershey Chocolate World and a live Hershey’s Kiss character to a visit with the sisters at the retirement and long-term care facilities.

“It was a blast, and the appreciation they expressed was priceless,” he recalled. “I’ve been blessed to have a long career at The Hershey Company, and feel that it’s a privilege and an obligation to give back where and when I can.”

Bentz and his wife grew up in the Reading area and raised their three now-adult daughters—Amy, Darcie and Courtney— in nearby Elizabethtown. Their family’s deep roots in the area and Bentz’s connection to his alma mater make it exciting for him to participate on Alvernia’s President’s Advisory Council and to see the Reading CollegeTowne plan unfold.

“While growing up in West Reading during the 1960s and 1970s, crossing the bridge to Penn Street was a big event during the holidays or to celebrate special occasions,” he said nostalgically, adding that his grandfather was an executive chef at the Crystal Restaurant for 30 years. “We had many special memories there. It would be great to see the area thrive again. I think the Reading CollegeTowne plan can be the cornerstone to a return to prosperity for downtown Reading.”

“Doing well by doing good” Bentz has found it rewarding to work for an organization that has a reputation for philanthropy and giving back to the community. “I’m always reminded of the principle of ‘doing well by doing good,’ which is attributed to Mr. Hershey,” he said. “He established the company based on philanthropic principles and was a pioneer in corporate social responsibility long before it became fashionable.”

By volunteering in Project Fellowship with the students at the Milton Hershey School, Bentz and his colleagues carry Bentz (far right) at a trade show event in Singapore. forward the spirit of giving that Mr. Hershey cultivated all those Alvernia University Magazine

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PROFILE |

Changing Course

By Susan Shelly

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Changing course

J

unior Bernard’s journey since graduating in December 2014 has not been a straight path. And yet Bernard, 32, who grew up in poverty in Haiti, believes God is at work in his life and has placed him exactly where he should be.

“My life hasn’t been exactly like I envisioned it,” Bernard said during a recent interview. “But I am seeing how God’s master plan for my life is unfolding.”

Following graduation, during which Bernard, a communications major, delivered an inspiring commencement speech that remains one of the most watched videos on Alvernia’s YouTube channel, he took a job at Penske Truck Leasing in Reading and was firmly on track for a management position. Nearly two years after starting, however, he faced a life-altering decision.

When he learned that his hometown of Jeremie, a coastal city on the tip of Haiti’s southern peninsula, had been ravaged by Hurricane Matthew on Oct. 4, 2016, Bernard was torn between keeping his job and returning home to help.

“I knew I had to decide, and I chose to go help my family and others rebuild after that catastrophic event,” he recalled. “I was very touched because when I said I was leaving Penske, the top executive who gave me the job was so supportive of my decision he donated thousands toward my Haiti relief efforts.”

Those donations, other financial resources and many hours of hard work enabled Bernard to help rebuild homes, provide food for hungry residents and get children back to school.

Upon returning to the United States in 2017 and settling in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bernard was moved to establish Haiti’s Heartbeat, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to provide education and job opportunities for Haitians.

“That humbling experience I had in Haiti led me to launch the nonprofit,” Bernard said. “And since then, my team and I have been able to remove more than 1.5 million pounds of trash, create 250 jobs to help families get back on their feet and fund education for more than 150 students there.”

While working to start the nonprofit, Bernard also became concerned with another issue— the plight of some immigrants and African Americans struggling to start up small businesses or other entrepreneurial enterprises in the United States and abroad. A lack of technical resources makes that difficult, he noted, and many potential entrepreneurs were frustrated and facing economic hardship.

| PROFILE

While working at a Rent-A-Center store, Bernard began consulting with aspiring entrepreneurs to help advance their business dreams.

“My desire to help aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners led me to spend countless hours learning Internet marketing, website building and other tech-related skills,” he said.

Three years later, Bernard’s desire to help others, coupled with his willingness to learn new skills, has led him to yet another enterprise: starting his own company.

He is on the verge of launching Belsouri.com, an Internet company created to provide curated business insight, news and resources to help minorities start and run strong businesses capable of building generational wealth.

“Looking back, I realized my focus and desire to help others learn technology and build businesses over these past few years was so I could put it all to use for a greater purpose,” Bernard said. “I believe through Belsouri.com, God will use me to touch millions of lives.”

The name of the site, Belsouri, is Haitian for “beautiful smile.” With a tagline of “Insights, News & Sources to Build Black Wealth,” its purpose is two fold. The site will lift up and tell the stories of Black entrepreneurs, individuals and small business owners. It also will feature businesses and products and convey news and opinion.

“One day, when you think of anything positive about the minority community, I want you to think of Belsouri,” Bernard said.

He believes the site also will generate money through advertising to support Haiti’s Heartbeat.

“I want to make enough money from Belsouri to fund my nonprofit, because I think the two go together,” he said. “I was fundraising on my own for Haiti’s Heartbeat, but I realized it would be a better use of my time to launch the website, make it successful and then approach people who may be willing to support us.”

Bernard is anticipating a bright and eventful future, poised to continue to help others as he moves forward himself.

“I’ve learned a lot between the time I graduated from Alvernia and now,” he said. “At this stage in my life, I have never felt so empowered and ready to tackle what lies ahead. God willing, 2021 is going to be the biggest year of my life.”

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Counseling

PROFILE |

the next generation

By Susan Shelly

24 Alvernia University Magazine

Counseling the next generation | P R O F I L E

P

hiladelphia is home to dozens of colleges, making internships in certain areas difficult to find. Those opportunities can be even more elusive for adult students who work full-time jobs and juggle family responsibilities with their educational obligations— a situation typical of many students at Alvernia’s Philadelphia Center.

LaTonya McCurry, who earned a Master of Arts in Community Counseling in 2013 and has since opened LaTonya McCurry Counseling Services, LLC, is making it easier for some students by making internships available within her practice.

According to McCurry, the benefits of providing internships in her Jenkintown practice are twofold. They fulfill the experiential learning opportunities students need to graduate while also providing proper training for future clinicians who will serve those in their communities.

“To me, it’s a win-win situation,” McCurry said. “Philadelphia is a college town with a lot of students competing for these internships. So, if I can provide opportunities for Alvernia students, that’s a good thing. But it’s also an investment in the future of a profession that needs qualified, capable clinicians to identify and serve the needs of the community. I am happy to train people who want to address those needs.”

Kim Mayo ’20 recently participated in an internship in which McCurry served as a teacher and mentor. The experience, said Mayo, was invaluable.

“My internship provided me with the essential knowledge, skills, attitude and values to become a successful therapist,” she said. “LaTonya took her time to explain things step by step to make sure I understood the entire process. Cases were analyzed after each session, and all my questions, comments and concerns were addressed. She was not only my supervisor. She was a teacher and role model who exemplifies professionalism and a strong desire to help clients who are experiencing behavioral challenges.”

Rudolph Jones, who expects to graduate with a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling degree in August, is thankful to McCurry for giving him a chance to intern. The internship, he explained, is the culmination of a 40-year journey to a counseling degree.

“It’s been a long road since I graduated from high school in 1980, but I never stopped trying,” Jones said. “I’ve been to community college, then earned a bachelor’s degree. I’ve always LEFT: McCurry ’13 (left) and Jones ’21 (right) share thoughts at Alvernia’s Philadelphia Center.

“LaTonya is sensitive to that, and being able to watch her and work with her has taught me a lot about providing care to people of color within the community. I’ve been blessed to be under her mentorship.”

— Rudolph Jones

worked two or three jobs, and I make sure I get to my sons’ sporting events and spend time with my wife. But ever since I left high school, I dreamed of someday being a counselor. And now it looks like I will be.”

Learning under McCurry’s tutelage has enabled him to understand the vital role community counselors play in a city like Philadelphia.

“There are a lot of people here who need a counselor who understands them and their circumstances,” Jones said.

“LaTonya is sensitive to that, and being able to watch her and work with her has taught me a lot about providing care to people of color within the community. I’ve been blessed to be under her mentorship.”

Dana Baker, Alvernia’s executive director for regional campuses, said the value of McCurry taking on Philadelphia Center students as interns is extremely helpful, as those students learn from someone who embodies the values of the program in which they are enrolled.

“It’s so beneficial because LaTonya is an alum and very familiar with the Alvernia University curriculum and philosophies,” Baker said. “She understands what’s at the heart of the program.”

While McCurry is mentoring Philadelphia Center students through internships, she is also active in the center’s alumni group, which meets several times a year, participates in community service events and provides textbook scholarships and other student services.

“We try to be a resource for current students and provide a network for them,” McCurry explained. “Members of that group have all come through different programs, but we join together to be a voice for students.”

That sentiment, Baker said, is not surprising.

“A lot of the members of that group had a transformational experience as students here,” she said. “And the Alvernia University Philadelphia Center is all about giving back.”

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PROFILE |

THE DRAW

By Kristin Boyd Edwards

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Groundbreaking the draw | P R O F I L E

“We got to prove something new that no one has ever done before.”

— Andrea Potylycki ’21

A

s a spring altered by COVID-19 folded into summer, senior Andrea Potylycki and junior Luke Fagley moved in sync, steadily applying the game theories they learned during Dr. Matt Prudente’s mathematics courses to crack the code in their ambitious Student Undergraduate Research Fellows (S.U.R.F.) project— Two-Player Graph Pebbling.

Prudente hand-picked the math majors for the collaborative project. The pair knew expectations were high, as their research would build upon studies previously conducted by other researchers, including Prudente’s doctoral dissertation from 2015. If they succeeded, they could make a name for themselves in the math world. If not, it was back to the drawing board.

So even while limited by pandemic restrictions, they spent much of their summer days conducting solo research and tag-teaming via Facetime on their iPhones to discuss how the graphs they implemented impacted algorithms, and, ultimately, the outcome of the pebbling game.

The chesslike game features two players, a Mover and a Defender. The Mover uses pebbling moves, while the Defender uses pebbling moves to ensure that a specified vertex (or space) remains pebble free. Unlike Chess, the two-player pebbling game always yields a winner, eliminating the possibility of a draw. For this to occur, each player must take their turn and, if Mover pebbles from u to v, then the Defender cannot pebble from v to u in the same round.

Their goal was to determine all of the ways a player could win the game.

“Game theory applications is a popular field of study in mathematics with wide interests, whether it be chess, sports or games of chance,” said Prudente. “For this project, we answered some conjectures that previous discussions and papers have spurred.”

The research was exhilarating and, at times, frustrating, especially when Potylycki and Fagley said they were exhausted or found their ideas weren’t clicking. “Sometimes I was nervous

because we wanted to figure this out,” says Fagley, a member of the university’s golf team who jokes he would often think of potential scenarios in between swings. “This research was always on my mind.”

Throughout the summer, they made progress and grew more confident until they reached their goal. “That’s when it helped the most to have someone working with you on it,” Potylycki said. “We would write up proofs, which solidify what you’re doing is correct and acceptable in the math community.”

Despite their success, the pair continues to play it cool, Potylycki said with a laugh, but admit they’re excited about the next steps. Potylycki will present the groundbreaking pebbling research at the 2021 Joint Mathematics Conference, the country’s largest mathematics conference. The research is also being prepared for submission to an academic journal for possible publication. Overall, the project “showed them how modern mathematics research is completed,” Dr. Prudente added.

The duo have continued their work together, recently becoming O’Pake Institute Fellows. They are utilizing their skillsets in mathematics and business to help Southeastern Pennsylvania entrepreneurs and businesses solve various problems. “It’s a really great way to help businesses, but we are also getting our foot in the door,” Fagley said. “We’re networking and gaining experience.”

Moving forward, Fagley, a business minor, is determining his honors thesis topic and would like to one day become the head pro at a golf course. Potylycki, a researcher at heart, is considering grad school opportunities and would like to pursue her Ph.D. eventually.

“I’m thankful for all of the experiences that Alvernia gave me,” Potylycki said. “It was really fun to work with Luke and produce original research. That’s not something I thought I would be able to do as an undergrad. We got to prove something new that no one has ever done before.”

Luke Fagley ’22 (left) and Andrea Potylycki ’21 (right) showcase their S.U.R.F. project with Assistant Professor of Mathematics Matt Prudente, Ph.D. (center).

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PROFILE |

Innovating trauma response

By Sidney Goodman ’21

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Innovating trauma response | P R O F I L E

S

evere trauma is the fourth leading cause of death overall and the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 1 and 44. When an unexpected and chaotic turn of events at school, at home or out in nature leaves those around you bleeding and in need of lifesaving help, would you know how to respond to save a life? Most would answer no.

Alvernia Assistant Professor of Athletic Training Dr. Kimberly Stoudt is looking to change that answer.

As a nationally certified athletic trainer and emergency medical technician (EMT), Stoudt is an expert in responding to life-threatening situations. Her passion for her profession has taken her from working on the U.S. Army Surgeon General’s initiatives to serving on medical teams at the United States Olympic Training Centers and Olympic Winter Games, and everything in between.

In addition to her role as a faculty member at Alvernia, Stoudt researches, develops and assesses educational tools and curricula for the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), located within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).

In her role, she develops a trauma training program for secondary school students. With trauma-related incidents as the leading cause of death for this group, there is a great need for trauma response education. With that in mind, the NCDMPH and American Red Cross recently partnered to develop the First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) education program. Stoudt was charged with leading the curriculum development for one of the nation’s first educational programs that teaches high-school-aged students how to treat injuries in traumatic situations.

FAST teaches how to stop uncontrolled bleeding, communicate with emergency services and position injured people, among many other key steps that need to be taken in the first few minutes after a life-threatening injury.

Development of the curriculum meant extensive collaboration, research and communication with physicians, EMTs and Red Cross personnel. Stoudt also enlisted high school teachers to help to make sure the program would adhere to high-school aged-students’ psychological development and educational levels in health and science.

“The input from the high school teachers was so valuable as they shared their insights into what would and wouldn’t work for this age group,” said Stoudt. “Their feedback also helped

us determine how graphic to make the program to meet the training needs of the average high-school-age student.”

With an initial release date of spring 2021, the program’s implementation has been delayed because of the global pandemic. However, the program was developed to be delivered traditionally, online and in a hybrid model, which fits well as high schools worldwide turn to online and hybrid education models during COVID-19.

“Seeing students genuinely interested and capable of performing these skills made the program come to life. We’ve shown that a short program can teach hundreds of people to deliver lifesaving care.”

— Dr. Kimberly Stoudt

Before the pandemic, some bleeding control skill instruction was piloted with over 250 students from 39 states at a Health Occupation Student Association conference in Orlando in June 2019, as well as with 600 students at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, who spent time learning how to use a tourniquet and the proper way to apply direct pressure to a wound.

“Seeing students genuinely interested and capable of performing these skills made the program come to life,” said Stoudt. “We’ve shown that a short program can teach hundreds of people to deliver lifesaving care.”

When the program launches, schools across the nation will be able to deliver training at no cost, thanks to the FAST program securing a highly competitive Department of Homeland Security Grant. Even though the program is designed for high school students, people of all ages can benefit, which led Stoudt to incorporate portions of the FAST program into her classes at Alvernia.

“We are hoping that this program becomes a standard in schools,” she said, “and receiving proper training will make dealing with emergencies less scary for teenagers and help them feel more prepared to help. I’m grateful to be able to bring the latest knowledge and information from my affiliation with USU and the FAST program into the labs and classrooms at Alvernia to benefit our students.”

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Holleran Center News Enhancing service opportunities during COVID-19 In many ways, service to others is more important now than ever as organizations navigate these trying times and rely on others’ generosity. Community service continues to be an integral part of students’ learning experiences, contributing to their intellectual, social and spiritual growth.

This fall, the Holleran Center hosted Service Saturdays that engaged over half of the freshman class in COVID-19friendly service. These opportunities ranged from virtual to physically distanced in-person service projects. Students tutored individuals at the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, assembled furniture with Habitat for Humanity, participated in outdoor cleanups with Reading Public Works and Blue Marsh Lake, and even gardened right in the university’s own Bog Turtle Creek Farm. The days introduced the class to Alvernia’s Franciscan mission of service and helped over 15 community partners complete a variety of service projects.

Students are encouraged to continue to serve in a variety of areas throughout their time at Alvernia. This year, the Holleran Center launched the Franciscan Servant Leader Certification to recognize students who do just that. Graduates are able to become certified for choosing to serve at least 100 hours in projects that contribute to our local, regional and even global communities.

Bog Turtle finds new home, begins oncampus composting program This fall, the Bog Turtle Creek Farm officially relocated to the EcoHouse at 712 High Boulevard in Kenhorst. The new farm location will enable the Bog Turtlers, the team of student leaders who manage the sustainable agriculture project, to engage the campus and neighboring community in educational programs and its Alvernia Supported Agriculture (ASA) program of weekly fresh produce shares.

The Bog Turtlers partnered with Aladdin, Alvernia’s dining services provider, to begin a campuswide food composting program. Aladdin created a station in the dining hall where students’ food scraps are deposited for use as compost at the

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farm. This program will help boost the growth of more than 30 varieties of produce grown on the farm, some of which will be planted in the new hoop house built by the Bog Turtlers and an Alvernia alumnus. The hoop house extends the growing season and allows the team to provide healthy and affordable produce throughout much of the year.

Service-learning provides service and experience for students The Holleran Center oversaw the development of seven service-learning classes during the fall. With classes ranging from communication and business to education and physical therapy, the students served 20 community partners, including the Reading Housing Authority, Berks Catholic High School, Millmont and Tyson-Schoener elementary after-school programs, and nine businesses located in the City of Reading’s 18th Ward.

Dr. Kathleen Nevel’s Business Operations Management students worked on a project for nonprofit Recycle the World by assessing ways to spread the word about plastics recycling to their key markets. Lucinda Schaeffer’s Introduction to Exceptionalities in Children and Youth class helped Millmont and Tyson-Schoener elementary schools design educational materials. Students in Dr. Jodi Radosh’s Social Media Marketing paired up to develop awareness campaigns that utilized compelling creative social media content for nine businesses in the 18th Ward Business Alliance, including Dream & Co. Beauty Salon, Elite Eyecare, Berks Nature and One Dollar Wise.

O’Pake Institute News O’Pake Fellows Program completes first year

O’Pake Power Program provides marketdriven industry training

Officially launched in January 2020, the O’Pake Fellows Program provides elite undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on, distinctive experiential learning opportunities.

Students of high academic standing from diverse majors and backgrounds had a chance to work directly with entrepreneurs, small-business owners and regional partners.

Students were assigned a professional mentor in their field of study to enhance professional growth, expand their network and receive an additional perspective on potential career paths, In the program’s first year, the Fellows have worked on projects with over 50 regional businesses, which they can highlight on their professional resumes.

Both undergraduate and graduate students in the O’Pake Fellows Program receive over 20 hours of market-driven industry training. This extensive training, known as the O’Pake Power Program, was designed to expose students to the intricacies of entrepreneurship and small business. All O’Pake Fellows are trained in business planning, the creative process, feasibility analysis, social media marketing, intellectual property, project management, leadership and mindfulness.

The training prepares students to rise as leaders in the local marketplace as they embark on their career paths postgraduation while providing incubator clients with a team of trained students equipped to perform high-quality services.

The training is delivered by members of the O’Pake staff and mentors from the Institute’s professional service provider network. Peter Christian, a retired Crayola executive, recently trained the team of over 20 students on the importance of project management.

“As the students are working on projects for organizations that impact the bottom line, it is important that the students receive training in the skill sets required to deliver quality work,” said Don Schalk, the O’Pake Institute’s director of business and corporate development. “The training also prepares them to be workforce ready when they graduate, in addition to having valuable work experience as a result of the program.”

First business incubator client sees success TEM Care Behavioral Health, LLC was the O’Pake Institute’s first business incubator client.

As a Reading native and established entrepreneur, TEM President and CEO Nicholas Johnson welcomed the institute to the city with open arms. Johnson agreed to give the O’Pake team a shot and engage in services.

“I appreciate the collaborative effort while working with the O’Pake team,” said Johnson. “They get back to you in a timely manner, first seeking to understand and then providing feedback that leads to a win-win outcome. The open and honest two-way dialogue is second to none.”

TEM Care Behavioral Health, LLC focuses on supporting the quality of life of those living with autism and intellectual disabilities.

The Fellows team has already assisted Johnson with an updated human resources manual, enhanced the employee intake process and documented billing procedures. Presently, the Institute manages TEM Care’s monthly social media posting plan.

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O N CA M P US LOCAL LEADERS JOIN ALVERNIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Two new members were appointed to the Alvernia University board of trustees. The new trustees are John Gallen, owner and president of Ethosource and Wyatt Seating, and Khalid N. Mumin, Ed.D., superintendent of the Reading School District.

Gallen has led his companies from small start-ups to thriving businesses that also serve their community. He has been recognized by the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance as a two-time Entrepreneur of the Year and has earned several awards for his community service from many different organizations.

For the last 24 years Mumin has served in various capacities as a teacher, dean of students, principal and central administrator.

His continued transformational leadership recently earned him the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators’ 2021 Superintendent of the Year Award.

For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news

Alvernia breaks ground on CollegeTowne renovations Alvernia University broke ground on a $20 million renovation and retrofitting project at its new downtown Reading location at 401 Penn St. in January 2021. The university also announced the addition of a Starbucks franchise to the corner of Fourth and Penn streets that will be managed by the institution’s food service provider, Aladdin Food Services.

“We are here today to break ground on a historic renovation project that will benefit our students, faculty and staff members, local businesses and entrepreneurs, and bring about a new era for the City of Reading reminiscent of the city’s storied and vibrant past,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack. “This type of progress is nearly unimaginable and can only be attributed to the unique partnerships and friends working together to bring Reading CollegeTowne to life.”

The university also announced a $4 million grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant to renovate 401

Penn St. The grant award is the largest in the university’s 62-year history.

“Congratulations to President Loyack and the entire Alvernia team for all that you have done to make this happen,” said Pennsylvania State Senator Judy Schwank. “Thank you for having this vision and understanding how important this will be for our city.”

Alvernia students living and learning in the city will have new entertainment, professional development and volunteering opportunities.

“As students, we look forward to being a part of a new era for Reading, and we are truly grateful for the opportunity Alvernia and the City of Reading are affording us to play an important role in its transformation,” said Alvernia University Student Government Association President Corinne Hambleton ’21. “It is truly a unique experience that will benefit us as students with service, academic and living opportunities for years to come.”

Khalid N. Mumin, Ed.D.

John Gallen

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From left: Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, AU SGA President Corinne Hambleton ’21, AU President John R. Loyack, AU board of trustees Chairman Mike Fromm, State Senator Judy Schwank, Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera and Reading City Council Vice President Lucine Sihelnik MAL ’13

For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news

Reading CollegeTowne welcomes corporate partnerships Alvernia has welcomed three new corporate sponsorships this year in conjunction with the university’s CollegeTowne Initiative.

Pepsi, Customers Bank and RKL LLP have joined the initiative and are eager to support local entrepreneurs.

Pepsi became the exclusive beverage supplier for Alvernia in January 2019 and has pledged to provide financial support and mentors for the O’Pake Institute. The Pepsi mentors will work directly with students and new businesses in sales and food service, providing real-world experience and counsel for the students from a leading international company. Furthermore, Pepsi will fund an internship opportunity for an Alvernia student, who will develop and lead a marketing campaign on campus in addition to expanded opportunities through the O’Pake Institute. The expanded partnership will also provide additional financial support to Alvernia students, who will cater business development services to the new start-ups.

Alvernia and Customers Bank will expand their longstanding relationship to boost entrepreneurship and stimulate downtown

Reading’s redevelopment through the Reading College- Towne initiative. The expanded partnership includes Customers Bank becoming a sponsor of the University’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship in addition to supporting experiential learning opportunities for Alvernia students through the institute’s newly established business incubator and student fellows program.

Local entrepreneurs and students will benefit from the business valuation expertise of a professional services leader as part of an expanded partnership between Alvernia and RKL, LLP. RKL will provide business valuation services to regional companies, and firm Partner and Alvernia Trustee Paula K. Barrett will provide Alvernia students with valuable, real-world insights as the 2020-21 Executive-in-Residence.

RKL, which boasts the region’s largest team of credentialed valuation specialists, will measure the economic value of the companies fostered in the O’Pake Institute’s business incubator with an emphasis on thorough analysis, accuracy and objectivity.

O N CA M P US ALVERNIA’S O’PAKE INSTITUTE JOINS BEN FRANKLIN TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS INCUBATOR NETWORK Alvernia University and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFT NEP) have collaborated to provide incubator support and potential funding to support innovative projects developed by local entrepreneurs and industry partners through the university’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship.

BTF NEP will explore investment opportunities in defined projects and will provide their network of innovative expert resources to local businesses via O’Pake’s business incubator and Alvernia faculty and students.

LIGHTING PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS Alvernia has partnered with Albireo Energy, Global Energy (GES) and Engie to develop on-campus efficiency projects that will permanently reduce annual campus energy usage by over 18%. In the first phase alone, this is equivalent to the same carbon reduction as 3.3 million miles driven by an average passenger car or nearly 1.5 million pounds of coal burned every year.

The first of these projects addresses lighting inefficiencies on campus. GES replaced Alvernia’s nearly 8,500 light fixtures with energy-efficient LED fixtures that will set an appropriate tone, provide illumination and allow for more control.

Not only will these projects make Alvernia more self-sustaining, but they will also reduce the effects of the university on the surrounding environment, taking steps in the right direction to keep the community beautiful.

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O N CA M P US OT STUDENTS PLACE FIRST IN AOTA STUDENT CONCLAVE KNOWLEDGE BOWL A group of Alvernia University fifth-year occupational therapy students won the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Virtual Student Conclave Knowledge Bowl.

The AOTA Student Knowledge Bowl is a trivia-based game consisting of practice questions that could appear on the occupational therapy board exam. Teams received points for giving the correct answer the fastest.

The Alvernia students received a plaque, a discount off their board exams and exam prep materials, and a guaranteed spot for Alvernia University to compete in the 2021 Knowledge Bowl.

“We were excited about our win and very proud to represent Alvernia University and the occupational therapy department,” said team member Emily LeVan ’21. “The conference was also a success to gain knowledge useful for our future occupational therapy careers.”

ALVERNIA ADDS THREE VARSITY SPORTS Alvernia will add three new varsity sports to its athletics program. These additions will bring the school’s varsity sports total to 30. E-sports will begin in the 2021-22 school year, and women’s wrestling and men’s ice hockey will be added in the 202223 school year.

E-sports will join the National Association of Collegiate E-sports (NACE). Men’s ice hockey will be an NCAA Division III team and will join the Alvernia’s women’s ice Hockey program in the MAC; it has applied to also join the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC). Women’s wrestling will also be NCAA Division III. Alvernia joins Delaware Valley as the only two schools in the MAC to sponsor women’s wrestling.

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For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news

DoubleTree partners with Alvernia as nearly 550 students arrive on campus Nearly 550 new students arrived at Alvernia this fall, most belonging to the historic class of 2024, which is the largest and one of the most diverse and academically strong classes in university history.

To accommodate the incoming class, while continuing with the university’s de-densification efforts to reopen the Reading campus, Alvernia and DoubleTree by Hilton Reading partnered to expand student housing into downtown Reading.

Thirty upper-level residential students moved into the DoubleTree in late August. Students staying at the DoubleTree were provided shuttle service to and from campus, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and 24-hour security, as well as dedicated study rooms and meal spaces. Students also cleaned laundry on-site, utilized the fitness facilities, ordered room service and utilized the gift shop for grab-and-go items.

“Our partnership with the DoubleTree not only helps with de-densification efforts but also affords resident students the first chance to experience downtown Reading as the Reading CollegeTowne initiative continues to evolve,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack. “With DoubleTree Reading continually recognized as the top-ranked hotel in the chain for guest services, we know our students are in good hands.”

These students hail from 19 states across the country, including as far west as Colorado, Nevada and North Dakota, and along the East Coast in Florida, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The university also welcomed over 40 international students, its largest cohort to date.

Of the new class, 32% are students of color and 37% are scholar-athletes. The new class boasts an average SAT of 1042 and a 3.4 GPA, with much higher requirements for top programs in health care sciences.

For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news

Prospective students treated to Drive-in Open House To give prospective students a chance to experience Alvernia’s campus while still following social distancing protocols, the undergraduate admissions office hosted two drive-in open houses during the fall. The events were held like 1950s-themed drive-in movies, complete with a big-screen presentation about admissions and financial aid and even vintage-style commercials to bring that retro feel to the evening. Meals were provided by local food trucks and delivered right to attendees’ vehicles, and President

Loyack and Provost Fitzgerald even made a special appearance in 1950s-themed costumes.

While the open house’s main goal was to provide admissions information and aid high school students with any questions and concerns they might have, it was also intended to be a night of fun for all during ongoing pandemic conditions. Each student received a goodie bag with Alvernia gear and was given a warm welcome by admissions counselors and current students.

O N CA M P US ALVERNIA RECOGNIZED WITH THREE “COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION” AWARDS Alvernia University has been recognized as a College of Distinction (COD) for its commitment to engaged, experiential education. The Colleges of Distinction program recognizes institutions for their commitment to student success and satisfaction.

In addition, Alvernia was noted as a Catholic College of Distinction and a Pennsylvania College of Distinction.

Alvernia was given honors for its business, education and nursing programs. The university was also acknowledged for its dedication to career development, equity and inclusion, and military support.

Colleges of Distinction evaluates institutions based on their commitment to engaging students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. COD staff conducts research and interviews with institutions about their freshman experience and retention efforts, alongside general education programs, career development, student satisfaction and more.

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT AWARDS ALVERNIA SECOND CONSECUTIVE TOP 100 RANKING For the second consecutive year, Alvernia is ranked in the top 100 colleges and universities in the country. According to U.S. News & World Report, the university is among the 2021 Best Regional Universities in the North. Of over 1,500 colleges and universities in the Northeast region, U.S. News ranks only 176, and Alvernia is at 96 in the top tier.

Since being ranked by US News & World Report during the past decade, Alvernia has moved into the top tier and continues to climb the rankings.

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O N CA M P US DPT PROGRAM BEGINS TELEHEALTH INITIATIVE Alvernia’s doctorate of physical therapy (DPT) and nursing programs have partnered with the Reading Housing Authority (RHA) to create an inter-professional health care program for RHA residents. The program will utilize telehealth to provide screenings for those who cannot access in-person clinics.

The program was initially going to be an in-person wellness screen to ensure that residents are safe in their homes and with their medication, but with the lockdown, that was no longer a possibility. To conquer this setback, the DPT program established partnerships with the nursing and occupational therapy programs to establish the telehealth aspect.

Technology for this program was generously donated by Alvernia trustee John Weidenhammer, who gifted 10 laptops to the RHA so residents could have access to the program.

ALVERNIA INTRODUCES DUAL-ENROLLMENT NURSING PARTNERSHIP Alvernia University and Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing at Lehigh Valley Health Network introduced a dual-enrollment nursing program for local students. By taking classes at the university’s Schuylkill Center, students will be simultaneously enrolled in the Lehigh Valley Hospital Schuylkill School of Nursing and Alvernia’s Associate of Science program.

The program will provide a seamless career mobility pathway while providing graduates with the credentials to sit for the professional nursing licensure exam, NCLEX, upon completion. Students enrolled in the program will be eligible to complete Alvernia University’s RN-BSN program by enrolling in an additional 34 credits that can be completed entirely online or through a blended model at the Schuylkill Center. The partnership begins with the incoming class in 2021.

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For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news

Remembering Marybeth DeMeo, Richard Law and Kelly McCloskey Last year, Alvernia lost three beloved members of its community. Associate Professors Marybeth DeMeo and Richard Law and former women’s lacrosse coach Kelly McCloskey left an indelible mark on their colleagues and generations of Alvernia graduates.

DeMeo spent nearly 40 years as a champion of the liberal arts and as the chairperson of the English and communications department. She volunteered to teach Alvernia Seniors College courses since the organization was founded in 1998, and in the spring of 2018, DeMeo was presented with the Saint Bonaventure Award in Teaching for her longstanding Seniors College commitment.

During her speech, she reflected on her career and time at Alvernia. “I have been blessed. What I love to do (my avocation) is what I do for my living (my vocation).”

Law spent over 60 years as a professor of English, including 30 years at Kutztown University and the last 28 years as an associate professor of English at Alvernia. During his time at Kutztown, he earned several awards for distinguished

Marybeth DeMeo

Richard Law

teaching. His excellence is something he carried with him to his time with the Alvernia community. He was described by many as dapper and a true gentleman.

“Alvernia gave me a second chance at my career,” said Law. “I had retired from a state institution when my enthusiasm for teaching was beginning to wane, but Alvernia reenergized my career.”

McCloskey joined the Alvernia staff in 2006 as the operations manager and women’s lacrosse coach, a post she held for 13 years. She guided Alvernia to a school-record 12 wins in 2010 and 2012, and her 2012 team won an ECAC title.

“Kelly carved out her own chapter of the McCloskey legacy at Alvernia,” said Alvernia Director of Athletics Bill Stiles. “She brought positivity and fun to every aspect of her life and those that she touched. Among many other things, Kelly was a great mom, colleague, coach, mentor and friend.”

Kelly McCloskey

For more news, visit alvernia.edu/news

O N CA M P US

Saying farewell to Sr. Roberta

STUDENT GIFTS MURAL TO READING SCIENCE CENTER

The community gathered via Zoom for a farewell toast to longtime Alvernia mission leader Sister Roberta McKelvie, OSF, who stepped away from her duties during the summer of 2020.

Throughout her time at Alvernia, McKelvie has been a guiding hand for those with a passion for service and ministry. She always encouraged people not to linger on doors that had been closed but to look forward to the ones that would be opened. Her impact on Alvernia will not easily be forgotten.

“Alvernia has been in my blood for 50 years,” said Sr. Roberta during the toast. “I may be officially retiring, but I will always be willing to do some education, some praying, some talking. I love you all.”

Alvernia student Josaphine Basile ’22 spent over 100 hours completing a mural for the new Reading Science Center, which opened in October 2020. The mural spans three eight-by-four-foot canvases and will be on permanent display in the building’s entryway.

While she was given directions for the subject matter, the mural’s specifics were entirely up to Basile. As someone who has been deeply involved in art for a large portion of her life, she was excited to express her creativity and give back to the community.

Basile has shown her dedication to community service through several other art projects made for different organizations.

She redesigned the sign for Bog Turtle Creek Farm and is currently working on a mural for the farm.

Turkey Drive goes downtown Alvernia’s longtime tradition continued this year at a new location, Alvernia’s downtown Reading facility at 401 Penn St. This year, there were new challenges, as volunteers had to ensure that safety protocols were followed and that participants had access to masks and hand sanitizer.

Still, the university was able to provide over 600 turkeys and other food items to those families who have relied on this service for the past 30 years.

While the Kennedy House has long served as the home location for the Turkey Drive, a larger and outdoor location was needed to meet the growing need and meet COVID-19 protocols. Moving to 401 Penn was a signal to the community that Alvernia is not just there to grow its campus but to give back to the surrounding community.

GOING #INTOTHEARCHIVES Alvernia University Athletics is headed back #IntoTheArchives. Throughout winter break and into February, Athletics shared short video clips of moments past from the VHS archives on its Facebook and Twitter feeds, encouraging Alvernia alumni, families and friends to participate in the conversation by sharing pictures and videos that they may have from games past.

The earliest footage extends back to 1997, and while 75-80% of the archived videos are basketball, Athletics will make sure to share at least one clip from every sport it can find during this trip down memory lane.

Check out @VernAthletics on Twitter and Facebook.com/AlverniaAthletics for a trip down memory lane.

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Peris c op e

Alvernia’s faculty making a difference

Theresa Adams, Ph.D. ’12, RN Professor Emerita of Nursing Vera Brancato, Ed.N., MSN, RN, CNE Professor of Nursing, RN to BSN Program Coordinator, MSN Program Coordinator Mary Ann Durant, MSN, RN Instructor of Nursing Adams, Brancato and Durant co-presented “Utilizing Lay Health Advisors as an Effective Strategy to Decrease the Incidence of Cervical Cancer among Hispanic/Latina Populations” at the Transcultural Nursing Society’s virtual Annual international Convention in 2020.

Selena Ehlert, MS, OTR/L OTR/L Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, SOTA Faculty Advisor Ehlert has dedicated time and energy to keeping students active in the community through SOTA, Alvernia’s Student Occupational Therapy Association.

In 2020, she coordinated a partnership with Audible for Autism, donations to the Hope Rescue Mission and a panel discussion about black therapists and their experiences titled “Alvernia SOTA: Black Therapists Matter.”

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Gregory Chown, OTD, BHSc (OT), BA, CPAM Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Graduate Academic Coordinator Chown and his OT students worked with e-NABLE, a global community dedicated to providing affordable prosthetics, to supply families with prosthetic hands created as class assignments. These prosthetics have been donated to those who cannot afford the needed equipment to function with an amputation.

Neil H. Penny, Ed.D., MS, OTR/L Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

Thomas Bierowski, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English

Penny has been invited to join the editorial board for the peer-reviewed journal Annals of International Occupational Therapy, which is dedicated to worldwide research on the clinical practice of occupational therapy.

Bierowski published a novella-length cycle of seven stories called Butus & Verny during the summer of 2020. He has previously published a critical volume titled Kerouac in Ecstasy, a short story, “Red Power Ranger & the Fruit Bat,” and several additional stories and essays.

Alison Foura, MSOT Instructor of Occupational Therapy Foura had entry-level MSOT students complete a class assignment that allowed them to participate in the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) Occupational Narratives Database project.

Thanks to her guidance and her students’ hard work, many of these assignments are now posted on the WFOT website.

Robyne Eisenhauer ’88, MSN, RN Professional Specialist Maureen Spires Nursing Academic Clinical Coordinator Eisenhauer has coordinated many interprofessional education (IPE) activities for occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing and social work students. These activities have been translated into a virtual experience during the pandemic so students could continue to benefit from these programs. These programs include an interprofessional simulation between nursing, physical therapy and social work students, as well as an interprofessional telehealth project that Eisenhauer and Spires manage.

Peris c op e

Alvernia’s faculty making a difference

Theresa Adams, Ph.D. ’12, RN Professor Emerita of Nursing

Travis A. Berger, M ’95, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Business

Cynthia Rothenberger, DPN, RN, ACNS, BC Associate Professor of Nursing

During the pandemic, Adams has dedicated herself to community service. She has sewn over 4,000 face masks for the Reading Tower Health System and other local health care organizations.

Berger gave a presentation at the International Leadership Association’s 22nd Global Conference titled “Servant Leadership: A Leadership Theory or an Approach to Power?” in November 2020.

Rothenberger serves as a national board member of the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses (AMSN). This organization is dedicated to supporting nurses throughout their professional careers, from education to certification.

Rosemarie Chinni, Ph.D. Chair of Mathematics and Sciences, Professor of Forensic Science Shijun Tang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Computer Science Chinni, Tang and Julian Stetzler ’20 wrote a peer-reviewed publication titled “Plasma Temperature and Electron Density Determination Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in Earth’s and Mars’s Atmospheres” in August 2020.

Catherine Emenheiser, Ph.D., OTR/L Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

Tracey Scheirer, MSN, CMSRN, CNE, RN Instructor for Nursing

Patricia Schmehl, MSN, RN Professional Specialist of Nursing

Vera Brancato, Ed.N, MSN, RN, CNE Professor of Nursing, RN to BSN Program Coordinator, MSN Program Coordinator

Mary Ann Durant, MSN, RN Instructor of Nursing

Several members of Alvernia’s nursing faculty are actively involved in the National League for Nursing (NLN), which is dedicated to promoting excellence in nursing education, and the Pennsylvania affiliate organization (PLN). Scheirer is the chair of PLN Area II, and Brancato has been the PLN state president twice and currently serves on the board of directors. Schmehl currently serves on the PLN Nominating Committee and board of directors, and Durant also serves as a member of the board of directors.

Emenheiser was chosen to participate in the New Educator Mentoring Program, established by the Academic Education Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Only a limited number of mentors are selected per cycle.

Michael Kitsock, M.S. Adjunct Instructor of Latin and English Kitsock has served his community for the last 51 years as an active volunteer firefighter with the Seltzer Hose Company in Schuylkill County.

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Peris c op e

Alvernia’s faculty making a difference

Faculty SPOTLIGHT Janae Sholtz, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator of Women’s Gender Studies Bongrae Seok, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy Seok has given multiple conference presentations throughout the year, including one titled, “Empathy and Moral Foundation of Cultural Dialogue” at the sixth World Humanities Forum in November 2020, and another named “Sunzi’s Art and Ethics of War: Just War Theory and Intelligence Ethics,” presented at the APA Eastern Division Meeting in January 2020.

Seok has also completed four publications, including a book chapter titled “Autistic Moral Agency and Integrative Neuroethics” and the volume Naturalism, Human Flourishing, and Asian Philosophy: Owen Flanagan and Beyond. In addition to these accomplishments, Seok was awarded the Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching and was winner of the Charles Fu Essay Contest for “Confucian Moral Psychology and Neuroscience of Embodied Empathy” in 2019.

Tufan Tiglioglu, Ph.D. Department of Leadership Studies Chair, Ph.D. and MA in Leadership Programs Director Tiglioglu has served as the president of the Pennsylvania Economic Association since June 2019. He copresented “Creating a Safe Environment in Doctoral Research through Ethical Practices” with a few others at the International Leadership Association’s 22nd Annual Virtual Conference in November 2020, and was a co-author of “Does the Presidential Election Cycle on Markets exist in the 21st Century?” in 2019.

Sholtz was recently awarded a 2020 Fulbright Specialist Award, a prestigious and selective program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program allows a little over 400 U.S. academics to engage in two- to six-week consultancies at host institutions in over 157 countries across the globe and allows universities, cultural centers, non-governmental organizations and other institutions abroad to host a leading U.S. academic or professional to work on diverse, short-term collaborative projects.

“Being selected as a Fulbright Specialist is especially meaningful to me because I have spent the last six years developing philosophical relationships with various international, philosophical communities and will now be able to immerse myself more deeply with them to generate cross-cultural knowledge and a geographically rooted ethical awareness,” said Sholtz. “I know I will grow as a scholar and human being, and I hope to represent Alvernia with honor and grace.”

The global COVID-19 pandemic has put the program on pause. When the program resumes, Sholtz plans to travel to the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur to work with several scholars there on a project titled “Making Sense of the World: Postcolonialism, Posthumanism and the Environment.”

Recent Publications/Presentations: • Deleuze and the Schizoanalysis of Feminism: Alliances and Allies (London: Bloomsbury Press) (co-edited with Cheri L. Carr), 2019.

• “The Genetic Power of Paradox: From Dark Precursor to Quasi-Causality,” Difference and Repetition at 50! in Deleuze and Guattari Studies, April 2020.

• “Bataille and Deleuze’s Peculiar Askesis: Techniques of Transgression, Meditation, and Dramatisation,” in Deleuze and Guattari Studies, May 2020.

Raymond Melcher ’78, MBA Adjunct Instructor of Business Melcher has been appointed to the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Community Development and Finance Corp., as well as the Strategic Advisory Board for Berkshire Advisors, Inc.

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• In August 2020, Sholtz was an invited speaker for the international webinar titled Forgiveness Is Liberation, organized by Sri Vishnu Mohan Foundation, Chennai, India, giving a presentation titled “Thinking/Feeling: The Space of Forgiveness.”

• French and Italian Stoicisms: From Sartre to Agamben (London: Bloomsbury Press) (co-edited with Kurt Lampe) in September 2020.

• “Post-Covid Communities: Immanent Engagements and Intersectional Transversality,” Special Issue: Socio-Political Dimensions of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Keanean Journal of Arts, VII.1: 35-47, November 2020.

• In December 2020, Sholtz was the featured speaker for the Philosophy and Cosmology Series, Laurentian University and University of Sudbury Philosophy Departments and Laurentian University Physics Department, giving a presentation titled “Deleuze: Cosmic Artisanship, and Thinking Immanence.”

Alumni

Class Notes Attention Alumni: • Married?

• New job?

• Addition to the family?

batting average. He had 750 hits and 82 home runs. He was a member of four straight league championship teams with the Catasauqua Black Sox from 1997 to 2000 and was a four-time allleague outfielder.

Chileen Yeager ’05 M’16 was promoted to director, operational excellence at Penske Truck Leasing in April 2020.

Share your news! Contact us at alumni@alvernia.edu.

1970s Sr. Agnes Marie Winter ’73 celebrated her 50th jubilee as a Sister of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.

Sarah Shoemaker (Jones) ’07 and husband Adam Shoemaker adopted their daughter, Kennedi Grace Shoemaker, on Aug. 7, 2020.

1980s David C. Quinter ’80 was a distinguished honoree at the awards banquet of Fundraising Professionals in Reading. For over 35 years he has devoted his time and computer expertise in advancing the mission of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. Since 2005, David has served with the Sisters as a volunteer in mission and as an associate.

David Smith ’80 retired from Schuylkill Valley High School as Science Department chairperson and chemistry teacher in June 2019. He was a staff member for 39 years and chairperson for 30 years.

Eugene Berdanier ’86 retired as warden of the Schuylkill County Prison. He began his career at the prison 34 years ago as a corrections officer.

Kim (Herzog) Dobson ’87 received a master’s degree in nursing from Gwynedd Mercy University in 1997. She started working at Tower Health Reading Hospital in 1987 and served as a nursing professional development practitioner from 1991 until June 2020, when her position was eliminated due to COVID-19. In August, she began a position at Reading Area Community College as assistant professor of nursing in the ADN program. She is certified in nursing professional development and as a medical-surgical nurse.

1990s Cynthia Goelz (Cirulli) ’90 was appointed chief financial officer of Maricopa County in Dec. 2020.

Mark Washburn ’93 was inducted into the baseball Blue Mountain League Hall of Fame. He played for three different teams in a 25-year career in the Blue Mountain League and compiled a .354

Dr. Janene Holter ’93, Ph.D. ’18 has been selected as a full scholarship recipient for the University of San Diego’s Restorative Justice Leadership and Facilitation certificate program sponsored by the Restorative Justice Network of Catholic Campuses. This threecourse certificate program provides a comprehensive introduction to restorative justice facilitation and leadership through online coursework, a skill-building intensive and practicum experience.

Jodi Bukowski ’95 has been named a member of the 2020 Executive Council of New York Life, which recognizes the top 21% of New York Life’s elite field force of more than 12,000 licensed agents nationwide in sales achievements. This is her third consecutive year achieving this honor.

Christopher Winters ’08 was awarded the Community Champion Award for 2020 by The Camel Project. Winters is the president and CEO of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club of Reading and Berks County. The award is presented annually by The Camel Project to individuals, community youth organizations or companies to recognize, honor and celebrate those who have impacted students in the community in new and innovative ways.

Ralph Johnson ’95 joins Spotts, Stevens and McCoy as the vice president of water and wastewater engineering and operations.

2000s Dr. John Gallagher ’02 was recently featured on WFMZ 69 News, Berks edition, for a story on COVID-19’s impact on mental health.

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Alumni

Class Notes Elizabeth Andrefski ’09 married Tyler Poston on Nov. 23, 2019.

Judith Ann Bohler ’09 started the JB Foundation in 2017. The JB Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit foundation to provide assistance to vulnerable communities in the Dominican Republic.

Melanie Jackson (Kramer) ’12 married Kenneth Jackson on Sep. 7, 2019.

Sinead Commane ’13 was married Oct. 10, 2020, to the love of her life!

Cory (Marques) Mengel ’12 and Kevin Mengel ’13 welcomed Connor Kenneth Mengel into the world on May 7, 2020, at 8:32 a.m. Connor weighed 8 lb. 2 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Chris Ray ’13 and Danielle Kitchen ’13 got married in October 2020.

Chelsea Prosser ’14 and James DeMauro got engaged Jan. 19, 2020.

Zackeraya Elmarzouky ’14 and Noura Hassan were married on Nov. 1, 2020.

2010s Linda Marburger (Maslar) ’11 got a new job and was promoted to an assistant at Wyomissing Financial Cambridge Resource.

Barbara Zuppa ’11 has been named vice president, nursing operations, outcomes and analytics for Tower Health, effective June 22, 2020.

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Kaytlyn Degenhart ’13 has worked for a pharmaceutical company and two chemical testing laboratories in the Reading area since her graduation. After acquiring this experience, she was fortunate enough to apply and be hired by the Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, Colo., in December 2018. Since her hire, she has been sent to management seminars in Washington, D.C., and has been recognized for her advanced knowledge in testing protocols, software and lab experience.

Nicholas Potkovac ’14 and Alyssa Potkovac (Evans) ’14 were married on Aug. 30, 2019.

Alyssa (Wagner) Slade ’14 MAL ’16 and Sean Slade ’20 welcomed their baby boy, Caleb, into the world on July 17, 2020.

Alumni

Class Notes Samantha Barsuk ’15 married Joe McGlynn on Sept. 19, 2020.

Breanna Fresoli-Moore (Fresoli) MS ’17 married Kevin Moore on Aug. 22, 2020.

Eric Moran ’19 and Emma Slinkman were married in October 2020.

Katelyn Steinour (Pfeiffer) MS ’17 married Luke Steinour on Oct. 26, 2019.

Nicole Rickard (Wetzel) ’17 DNP ’20 and husband Andrew Rickard, welcomed their baby girl, Emily Ann Rickard into the world on July 31, 2020.

Kati Ehrgott ’16 and Tyler Hafer ’16 are engaged to be married.

2020s Sierra Angstadt ’20 got engaged to her high school sweetheart, Conrad Weiser, on Jan. 1, 2020.

Annie Jones (Walker) ’18 and Corbin Jones ’16 welcomed Brigid Mary Jones into the world on Nov. 2, 2020, weighing 7 lb. 11 oz. and measuring 19.8 inches.

Marissa Armolt ’20 got engaged to Mitchell Bear on July 19, 2020.

Matt Osgoodby ’16 and Lauren Maddox ’17 were married Oct. 10, 2020.

Mikey Brutto ’16 MBA’18 began as an adjunct professor of business in 2019. He will be teaching his third class at Alvernia in the spring 2021.

Courtney Dumais ’19 has been selected to be a U.S. Army occupational therapist. This is an extremely selective, multistage process, as there are only approximately 100 OTs in the entire U.S. Army.

Dumais joins the ranks of four other Alvernia OT alums: Maj. Ashley Welsh ’10, Capt. Erin Stone ’13, Capt. Chelsea Truax ’14, and 1st Lt. Abby Cannon ’18, bringing the Alvernia total to five out of 100.

Michael Zappone ’20 and Marissa Cosgrove ’21 got engaged in Washington, D.C., in July 2020.

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Alumni

Class Notes Mia Cotto (Weidner) ’20 married Miranda Elliot on Oct. 22, 2020.

Alexis Littlefield ’20 accepted a job as a second grade teacher in her hometown of Tampa, Fla., after graduating and beginning her career amid a pandemic. She teaches an extremely diverse class of 20 students whom she shares a love of learning with.

Kimberly Whelan ’20 has started a new career in her dream field of higher education as an apprenticeship development & coordination specialist with the County College of Morris. The college helped create a new program focused on helping the New Jersey population find careers in advanced manufacturing.

In Memoriam

In memory of our deceased alumni who are gone but not forgotten.

1960s Sr. Jean Marie Novicki ’62

1970s Anne Miriagos (Warren) ’70 Mary Louise Aims (Bachmach) ’73

1980s Sharon Miller (Horvath) ’86

1990s Christopher Andrews ’95 Alexandra (Gomez) Chitwood ’95 Constance Ruggiero ’99

events calendar packed with virtual events On the heels of a very successful Virtual Homecoming in October (over 150 attendees) and a wildly popular Virtual Bingo (110 attendees) in November, the Office of Alumni events during the course of the spring semester.

Here’s some of what Alvernians can look forward to:

• Monthly Bingo/Family Game nights • A cooking demonstration with Matt Lykens, Alvernia’s director of food services • Academic/major-based reunions and outreach • Athletics and community service-based reunions • Continued Campus Ministry Programming Weekly Mass Easter Celebrations Connections to the Bernardine Sisters

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• Regional Receptions Including Washington D.C., New York City and Florida • Educational Webinars Career Planning Financial Literacy • Crafting for adults and children For all the events and details on registering, please visit: Alvernia.edu/Alumni

2000s Jeffrey S. Caltagirone ’00 ’02 Kelly McCloskey (Heydt) M’02 Heather Boyer (Brenneman) ’03

2010s Melissa A. Sallade M’10

Alumni NEWS Alvernia hosts first-ever virtual homecoming Due to the pandemic, Alvernia hosted its first-ever virtual homecoming in October. The 13 events included virtual campus tours, an opening prayer session, a rosary session, athletic reunions, virtual trivia night and a Q&A session with President Loyack.

Carol Killian ’69 was among the attendees for the virtual campus tours and enjoyed the experience.

Alvernia hits record in Athletic Challenge The university hosted its most successful athletics-based fundraising challenge in October during the second annual Alvernia Athletic Challenge. A total of 621 donors raised $29,630 to fund resources for a safe return-to-play for Alvernia’s athletic teams following COVID-19 regulated shutdowns. The winners of each division (with the most donors) were women’s basketball, men’s wrestling and men’s soccer.

The teams earned an additional $1,000 for their efforts.

“I get back on campus about once a year, but there are places, like residence halls, that I’ve never seen before,” said Killian. “Not everyone can get back to see all the changes, and this is a good mechanism to keep the university fresh and personal in people’s minds.”

Dr. Patricia Savage ’71, a frontline healthcare worker, found serenity in the opening prayer session.

“Thank you for this wonderful evening prayer service,” said Savage. “It was just what I needed to center myself these days.”

During the week over 160 attendees, including alumni, current students, faculty, staff and family members from across the country, enjoyed the virtual activities.

Future virtual alumni events can be found at Alvernia.edu/Alumni.

Alumni virtual bingo is a bit hit Nothing quite says Alvernia like a game of bingo. At the suggestion of many who attended the virtual homecoming, Alvernia hosted a virtual bingo in November. The evening was hosted by Associate Director of Student Activities Nick Yando ’07 and lasted for about an hour.

“Bingo has long been an Alvernia favorite, and I was very excited to help my fellow alumni and their families have some fun playing the game they loved B-4,” said Yando.

Given how popular bingo is on campus for Alvernia students, it was no surprise to see 110 alumni from all over the country on the call.

“The Alvernia bingo night was great to have time away from family craziness and the pandemic and interact with fellow Alvernia alumni with bingo, laughs and fellowship,” said Jolene Stankiewicz ’12.

The winner of a $500 Amazon gift card was Diane Gassert (’06), who was the first person to cover all of her squares successfully.

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Alumni NEWS New scholarship honors beloved Philadelphia Center faculty member

Six alums elected to Alumni Council

In the fall, the Alvernia Philadelphia Center Alumni Council, in conjunction with the Office of Intuitional Advancement, established a scholarship in the memory of Bruce Cobb.

Cobb, a longtime faculty member at Alvernia’s Philadelphia Center and Community College of Philadelphia, passed away in 2014. Philadelphia Center students remember him fondly for taking a keen interest in their success and always encouraging them to do more and be more.

The Alvernia University Alumni Council welcomed six new members this year. Lisa Meredith-Unrath M.Ed. ’92, Chileen Yeager ’05 M’16, Danita Milton ’05, Staci Harvey (Troebliger) ’10, Danielle Gordon ’12 and Christopher Thomas ’18 will join the rest of the council. The council serves as a representative voice for the alumni body while providing overarching guidance and direction to the Alumni Association as well as advice when called upon by the university in matters relating to alumni.

Cobb’s former colleagues remembered him for his belief in the transformational power of education.

Alvernia adds virtual tour to website

“I was always impressed with how Bruce saw the world as a classroom and lessons as infinite,” said Anthony Driggers, Ed.D. “Perpetually, you found Mr. Cobb teaching, counseling, guiding, developing and elevating scholars. He educated scholars in the classroom, hallway, parking lot, cafe, tutorial center, library and bookstore. Wherever students found him, he gladly counseled, educated and guided them.”

When is the last time you were on campus? If it has been a while, you can now get a virtual tour of campus! See what campus looks like now and get descriptions of what is now offered to students with an amazing 360° view of campus as if you are actually walking through it. Join your own private guide as you are told all about what Alvernia has to offer and how each building is used today!

The Bruce J. Cobb Scholarship will be bestowed annually in memory of Professor Cobb to an Alvernia University Philadelphia Center student who displays the tenacity and courage to succeed against all odds, promotes and demonstrates ethical and moral leadership, and desires to serve the Alvernia Philadelphia Center.

Looking for a career change?

During these unprecedented times, you may be considering a career change. Alvernia is here to help with a few benefits for alumni:

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•

The Office of Career Development provides career assistance to alumni. The office can assist alumni in finding jobs, researching graduate schools, preparing for interviews and reviewing résumés and cover letters.

Email career.development@alvernia.edu or call 610-7902878 for more information.

•

A new career may need continuing education. Tuition discounts ranging from 20% to 25% are available to Alvernia alumni for a second undergraduate or graduate degree. Contact the School of Graduate and Adult Education at 610-796-5187 for further details.

Alvernia alums shared their stories and photos on how they are spending their time during COVID-19.

“I graduated in 2013 and received the Holleran Center Outstanding Service Award for being the graduating senior with the most completed service hours (I believe that was the first year for the award). I wanted to let you know how far the Alvernia legacy continues. I have lived in Chicago since graduating, and two weeks ago I spent a day building homes during the Women Build month with Habitat for Humanity on the far south side of Chicago.

Women Build brings women together to help female homebuyers overcome the gendered barriers to homeownership, both by fundraising to keep the housing affordable and by advancing the construction project, building alongside the future homeowner.

It reminded me of my Alternative Break trips, specifically to New Orleans and West Virginia, where we did home repair. I’m still inspired and motivated by those experiences. The picture shows me representing Alvernia, building a home in Chicago in 45° weather for a future woman homeowner!”

— Erin Solley ‘13

“In May, the high school I worked for in Meriden, Ct., hosted an online spirit week while we were on distance learning. This was for college day. I usually wear my Alvernia gear any time we have a college themed dress down so I can talk to kids about going to school out of state.”

— Katie Loubier ‘09

“Riding out the pandemic in sunny Phoenix.”

— Nadine Blair ’83

“I am an occupational therapist and the rehab director of an assisted living facility. Keeping the virus out of the building is hard but worth all the effort!”

— Brittney Barcus Skrabak ’14

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Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium

A

lvernia is home to a beautiful and consecrated Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium. Located just down the hill from historic Francis Hall, not far from the St. Joseph Villa, the tranquil location offers families a spiritual setting.

The Franciscan ethos of inclusivity welcomes family members of all denominations to be interred in the Alvernia Columbarium.

Recently, the Vatican approved cremation as an appropriate direction for families mourning the loss of a loved one. The Catholic Church strongly recommends that the resting place for these final ashes

48 Alvernia University Magazine

should be a sacred place, such as a columbarium — a consecrated area reserved for the interment of cremated remains.

The Alvernia Columbarium provides a limited number of economical and environmentally friendly niches to help family members eternally rest in peace.

Each niche can hold up to two urns. One-quarter of the 108 niches have already been reserved.

For more information, please contact the Department of Institutional Advancement at 610-796-8259.

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All in for Alvernia is back on

May 19-20, 2021.

36 hours to support our students through the Presidential Hope Fund.

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