On Campus NAICU Taps Flynn Alvernia President Thomas F. Flynn was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Flynn will represent National Region III, which includes Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. Members of the NAICU Board of
Plans for Veterans Center Unveiled Beginning this September, military veterans
“The idea is to coordinate and centralize
Directors set the association’s agenda
and members of the armed forces enrolled at
campus efforts for all veterans, together with the
on federal higher education policy,
Alvernia will have a new destination on campus.
creation of a designated space,” said Joseph
A Veterans Center is slated to open this fall, pro-
Cicala, vice president of University Life and dean
financial administration. Flynn will
viding centralized support for Alvernia’s growing
of students. “We hope to continue identifying
serve a three-year term.
veteran student population. Plans for the center
best practices that will help our veterans do well
were announced at a ceremony in April attended
in college and acclimate to a civilian lifestyle.”
by a number of students who are currently serv-
Alvernia is a member of the Yellow Ribbon
actively encourage support of NAICU priorities and oversee the association’s
down on the farm A new program in sustainable agriculture has Alvernia students seeing green! Bog Turtle Creek Farm
ing or have served in the armed forces. The Veterans Center resulted from a university
Program and was named one of the top Military Friendly Schools in the country. The university
“innovation grant” awarded to staff members
is an increasingly popular choice for veterans,
Shanna Bossler, Jason Dietz and Claire Murphy.
having realized a 40 percent increase in student-
aged by students as a sustainable
Strongly supported by a number of faculty and
veteran enrollment since 2008. “In a few short
agriculture project. The garden is a
staff members who are themselves veterans, the
years, Alvernia has become a “Military-Friendly
student-led response to help address
effort was made possible by significant start-up
School” and an emerging national leader in the
funding from a trustee and proud veteran, Carl J.
education and support of veterans,” said Alvernia
Anderson, Jr., and his wife, Debbie.
President Thomas F. Flynn. “This is a genuinely
features a garden at the university’s Cumru-based Sports Park, man-
affordable healthy food options for low-income families. Produce grown at the garden will be sold at Reading’s Penn Street Farmer’s Market and purchased by Aladdin Food Management Services for use in the Student Center cafeteria.
Newman civic fellow named
The new center will employ a specially trained
mission-centered initiative, faithful to the Bernar-
staff familiar with the needs of those who have
dine Sisters’ historic commitment to serve those
served in the armed forces. They will provide
most in need of help and educational opportu-
training to faculty and resident advisors and work
nity…sons and daughters of coal mining families,
with student-veterans to develop counseling, as
working women returning to school, local cops
well as career development and financial plans.
and inner-city youth and now our veterans.”
Campus Compact has named Kevin Shainline, founding president of the student service honor society Alpha Phi Omega, a Newman Civic Fellow. The junior psychology and theology major with an impressive array of community activities, has served as a student leader for the Alternative Break program, participated in Interfaith Youth Core events, led mission trips with the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and contributed to the university-wide Days of Service. Through his involvement with the Holleran Center for Community Engagement, Shainline works primarily with the South Reading Youth Initiative where he is universally acknowledged as a student mentor and leader.
6 Alvernia University Magazine
On John Updike: The international John Updike Society Biennial Conference returns to Alvernia’s campus Oct. 2-5. Alvernia hosted the inaugural conference in 2010, attracting global media interest and attendees from around the world. In between academic sessions and receptions, scholars are expecting to tour Updike’s childhood home in Shillington and hear from keynote speaker and author/ illustrator Chip Kidd.