Alvernia Magazine: Winter 2025 by Alvernia University

Alvernia

MAGAZINE

Shining a light

High Five CollegeTowne Initiative celebrates fifth anniversary. page 10

Educating the Educators

Total Experience Learning® partners with Alvernia. page 18 page 20

Soldiering On Former Army Captain creates his comeback

Surrounded with support FEATURES

High five Room for growth

Educating the educators

PROFILES

Soldiering on Making an assist

Versatile with verse Fund offers glimmers of Hope to students

ON CAMPUS

New Apprenticeship to Degree Program extends Alvernia’s education innovation

Historian Gretchen Sorin discusses “Driving While Black” book at lecture

Alvernia, Visions Federal Credit Union team for financial literacy education

WINTER/SPRING

PRESIDENT

Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

MANAGING EDITOR

Kristopher Nolt

EDITOR

Jon Fassnacht

ART DIRECTOR

Lynn N. Gano

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Claire Curry

Kristin Eck

Jon Fassnacht

Lini S. Kadaba

Sarah Matarella

Nikki M. Murry

Susan Shelly

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Susan Angstadt

Dan Z. Johnson

Stephen Johnson

Sarah Matarella

Hailey Rohrer

Alvernia Magazine is published by Alvernia University 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.

Officers of the Board

Chair

Gregory J. Shemanski

Owner/President Customs Processing Services, Inc.

Vice Chair

Michael Duff

Senior Vice President Penske Truck Leasing

President

Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. Alvernia University President

Secretary

John McCloskey Jr. ’94 M’01, DBA

Alvernia University Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer

University Counsel Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn

Members of the Board

John M. Arnold, Jr. Chairman, CEO & Owner PPC Lubricants, Inc.

Charles Barbera, MBA ’01, MD President and CEO Reading Hospital

Paula Barrett, CPA Partner Retired Reinsel Kuntz Lesher

Michael J. Caron, GTS Retired, Welco

Kevin P. DeAcosta, ’00 President & CEO

The Highlands of Wyomissing

Richard Allen Ehst Customers Bank Retired President and CEO

Michael Fromm President & CEO Fromm Electric Supply Corp.

John H. Gallen, Jr. Owner & President EthoSource and Wyatt Seating

Jane McBride Gates, Ph.D. Retired Provost and SVP for Academic and Student Affairs Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

Patricia C. Giles Foundation President Wyomissing Foundation, Inc.

Sr. Madonna Marie Harvath Bernardine Franciscan Sisters

Ellen Huyett, Esq. Attorney Retired Community Volunteer

Steven M. Koons, CPA PMP ’05 Partner and Federal Service Line Leader Sikich, LLP

Ginger Kunkel President Tompkins Community Bank Pennsylvania Market

Daniel Langdon Retired CEO East Penn Manufacturing

Sr. Sandra Lyons ‘69 Assistant Congregational Minister Bernardine Franciscan Sisters

Rachel Ann Maher, DMD ’94 Pediatric Dentist Dentistry for Children

Sr. David Ann Niski, OSF ’66 Executive Director Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation

David W. Patti Director of Communications & Marketing Customers Bank

Karen Piraino Principal Mirador Talent Consulting

Sr. John Ann Proach ‘74 Congregational Minister Bernardine Franciscan Sisters

Jeffrey R. Rush President, Commercial Markets Fulton Bank

Peter Rye Chief Strategy Officer Brentwood Industries, Inc.

Jeanne L. Savage ’88 Community Volunteer

Barry L. Schlouch Owner, President Schlouch Incorporated

Lucine E. Sihelnik ’13 President and CEO Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Sr. Mary Sninsky Director of the Bernardine Franciscan Associates Bernardine Franciscan Sisters

Douglas Tieman Retired - President and CEO Caron Treatment Centers

Sr. Mary Joseph Tirpak Bernardine Franciscan Sisters

Micheal Tobash Owner Tobash Insurance Agencies Former member of PA House of Representatives

David Turner Regional Manager, External Affairs Met-Ed FirstEnergy Co.

Patrick Witmer, MPA Corporate Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications B. Braun

Let Us Shine Together

A guiding light offers warmth, direction and inspiration. At Alvernia, we embrace this truth — symbolically and through

action — as we illuminate pathways for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and the wider community. It was in this spirit that we introduced our luminary tradition during this fall’s new student orientation.

As the soft glow of hundreds of lights filled our Quad, we stood together in a powerful celebration of our shared mission and cherished values, looking ahead to the boundless possibilities for our students and our beloved university. This tradition, much like the stories featured in this issue, reminds us that light shines brightest when it is shared.

In this issue of Alvernia Magazine, you’ll discover how we are lighting the way forward for the university through strategic growth, innovative initiatives and a steadfast commitment to service. We highlight the launch of the SOLAR initiative, which is streamlining and strengthening our long-standing culture of care. Within this framework, the Hope Fund is providing critical support to students in need — four of whom share their inspiring journeys in this issue.

We also reflect on a major milestone: the fifth anniversary of the CollegeTowne Initiative. As CollegeTowne continues to position Alvernia as a leader in experiential learning and community engagement, its momentum shows no signs of slowing down. A key addition to the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne is Total Experience Learning®, which has partnered with the university to expand its award-winning

classroom management methodology to even more educators.

Beyond these transformative initiatives, we celebrate the remarkable individuals who embody our Franciscan values in meaningful ways. You’ll read about an alumnus dedicated to empowering youth; a former Army captain continuing his education as an adult student, aiming to launch a private counseling practice to aid those battling the same demons he overcame; and Alvernia’s director of grants, who recently earned national recognition for her poetry.

For those who haven’t visited campus recently, our feature on recent renovations showcases how revitalized spaces foster collaboration, connection, and student growth. As we look to the future, I invite each of you — students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends — to continue your good work as we illuminate the path for generations of Golden Wolves to come.

Together, we shine.

Sincerely,

Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. President

Travis

A. Berger, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business, Communication and Leadership, was among those who

Surrounded with support

By Claire Curry

A new luminary celebration greeting new students in the fall heralded the rollout of Alvernia’s SOLAR initiative, a campuswide culture of care network that illuminates a path for students’ success.

Alvernia kicked off 2024’s fall semester with its third-largest class experiencing a move-in day unlike any other in the university’s history.

Administrators, faculty, staff and alumni welcomed more than 500 incoming students with a new luminary tradition, a candlelight ceremony celebrating the universal theme of light – and the way it unifies the campus community.

“Across differences light unites us in our shared search for wisdom, hope and our own path,” said Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Each student received a special medallion commemorating the convocation, which included lighted luminaries lining pathways along the Quad.

“This will serve as a reminder that says, ‘I can do this. I’m going to get there,’” Fitzgerald explained, adding that those

welcomed incoming students with the new luminary tradition.

students will proudly wear their medals at Commencement signifying their accomplishments.

The theme of light represents the university’s culture of care, which aims to light the path for each student’s success.

A spotlight on student needs

Going to college is an exciting chapter in life – a time to grow, pursue dreams and become more independent. However, as students navigate their college years, they also face real-life challenges. Perhaps they miss their loved ones or have a tough time finding a friend group. Maybe they’re struggling financially, juggling classes and childcare, or dealing with an unexpected family crisis.

Every student’s situation is unique, and the Alvernia community recognizes how different circumstances can impact one’s academic pursuits and stand in the way of success. To that end, the university offers an array of support services and resources that fall under its SOLAR initiative. SOLAR (Support, Opportunity, Love, Access, and Resources) is a dedicated campuswide culture of care network aimed at meeting students’ academic needs along with their financial, emotional and personal needs.

Fitzgerald said. “We want them to know that there’s always someone there who’s going to support them through whatever they’re dealing with.”

Although the SOLAR initiative is relatively new, its core mission is anchored in Alvernia’s roots.

“What I love most about SOLAR is that it’s who we’ve always been,” Fitzgerald explained. “Our [Bernardine] Sisters have always provided this sense of love and support and access. It’s just part of the culture of the institution.”

The SOLAR initiative, she said, is a way to “define this work, put metrics to it,” and build on it with intention and focus.

Igniting student success

To develop targeted programming, it was essential to understand the evolving needs of Alvernia’s students. To that end, the university participated in nationwide surveys and studies, such as the Temple University Hope Center for Student Basic Needs Survey, which revealed that 45% of Alvernia students experienced some level of basic-need insecurity. These ranged from the need for food, housing and housing insecurity to mental health care, childcare and transportation.

“Our results were not very different than what’s true across the country,” said Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Mary-Alice Ozechoski, M.A. “About 30% of college students are food

“By organizing our efforts, we are innovating for the future of higher education, which includes more nontraditional students, increased financial need, and changes to mental and physical health needs.”

—Senior Vice President and Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D., ATC/LAT

insecure. About 9% of college students in any given year experience housing insecurity. We talked about what we were seeing on campus, and we started to really dig in.”

A deeper analysis of Alvernia students provided a springboard for intensive faculty and staff training on complex topics such as poverty, mental health and financial services as well as new programming, out of which emerged the foundations of SOLAR.

“We want our students to feel surrounded with support,”

Each student received a special medallion commemorating the convocation, which they will wear at Commencement.

“By organizing our efforts, we are innovating for the future of higher education, which includes more nontraditional students, increased financial need, and changes to mental and physical health needs,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D., ATC/ LAT. “Through SOLAR, we are developing a unique model for academic and student support that ensures students from any background, facing any unique life circumstances, have access to the opportunities they deserve.”

Plugging into the campus community

The SOLAR initiative is already shining bright at Alvernia.

• A student who needs professional attire for a job interview can now visit the Career Closet to choose items free of charge.

• Students dealing with mental health issues can meet with counseling professionals on campus through the newly formed partnership with Penn Medicine Healthworks that has expanded the capabilities of the Penn Medicine –Alvernia Medical and Counseling Center.

• For personalized academic support and skill development, students are welcomed at the Navigation Office for one-on-one guidance and workshops on topics such as time management and exam preparation. Peer tutoring, coaching, writing support and other services are available at the Academic Success Center.

• Alvernia’s Office of Student Financial Services assists students with setting up payment plans, searching for scholarships and grants, securing funding sources to meet their educational goals and much more.

• Located in the Bernardine Hall Commuter Lounge, the Financial Wellness Center, made possible through a partnership with Visions Federal Credit Union, aims to develop students’ financial literacy.

• The Hope Fund assists Alvernia students and families in financial need and allows the university to address student hardships.

Surrounded with support

Usage of SOLARassociated resources

709 (91.4%) students self-reported using a campus resource associated with the SOLAR initiative in one semester.* This includes:

640 undergraduate students

69 graduate students

209 student-athletes

256 Pell-eligible students

252 first-generation students

82.8% of students reported satisfaction with the quality and effectiveness of campus services.*

* Taken from the survey “Assessing Our Culture of Care,” fall 2024.

The Office of Student Financial Services helps students meet their educational goals and finance their education.

• The reach of Clare’s Cupboard – a resource that provides nonperishable food items, toiletries, housewares and school supplies – has expanded. There are locations in the Bornemann Building and Campus Commons, in the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, in Pottsville CollegeTowne, and in collaboration with Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Philadelphia. “We’ve developed a process where online students can get direct assistance through gift cards that we send to their homes. That’s part of the evolution of Clare’s Cupboard in the outreach to support all of our students,” said Darryl Mace, Ph.D., vice president of mission, diversity and inclusion. The expansion also includes pop-up mobile units with microwaves and quick snacks, and Clare’s Ambassadors, faculty and staff who have baskets of food in their offices.

A beacon of hope

Alvernia recently appointed the university’s first director of social services to head its Office of Social Services. In addition to serving as a case manager and point person, Melissa Terwilliger is well versed in the range of community resources thanks to her more than 10 years as a case manager in Berks County and a student support specialist for a large rural school district in western Pennsylvania. “I believe student needs go beyond academics, so to be able to support them with their individual needs and connect them to additional community supports is important so they have the resources to make the best decisions for themselves,” Terwilliger said.

Moving forward, there are plans to increase student access to books and course materials, provide additional scholarships for low-income and at-risk students, conduct ongoing research to stay closely informed about the needs of Alvernia students and community neighbors, and continue to expand the reach of Clare’s Cupboard.

“The beauty of SOLAR is that everyone is part of it; it’s a universitywide initiative,” Mace said. “We’re always talking about it. We’re training ourselves to listen and hear those students’ needs and then to immediately put in process some sort of outreach. Sometimes that’s leading them to an office or helping them apply for SNAP benefits. Sometimes it’s connecting them with legal counsel or offering some money through the Hope Fund. The commitment is to meet every student where they are and walk alongside them in their pathway to success.”

86% of students reported that they felt that the person assisting them did the best they could.*

* Taken from the survey “Assessing Our Culture of Care,” fall 2024.

Career Closet features free professional attire for students. Clare’s Cupboard provides nonperishable food items, toiletries, housewares and school supplies.

‘A voice for those who might not have one’

by Sarah Matarella

Melissa

Acareer in social work was a journey of discovery and personal connection for Melissa Terwilliger, Alvernia’s new director of social services. Her undergraduate years began with uncertainty, as she spent two years undeclared. But a mix of electives and reflection helped her find her calling. She was drawn to social work’s commitment to improving individual well-being and advocating for systemic change.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping others and addressing social issues,” said Terwilliger. “Social work’s emphasis on social justice and supporting vulnerable populations resonated deeply with me. It’s about being a voice for those who might not have one.”

Terwilliger’s family profoundly shaped her perspective. Her grandfather, an engineer, sparked her interest in systems and problem-solving, while her mother’s career in special and alternative education gave Terwilliger an early look at the barriers that families often face. Watching her mother conduct home visits to support students inspired her to explore the interconnectedness of education, family life and social support systems.

“My mom’s work showed me the importance of addressing not just academic challenges but the broader social factors impacting a child’s ability to succeed,” she said.

She now applies those perspectives and experiences in the field to her work at Alvernia. Her caseload includes students who are housing and food insecure, and parents with no one else to help them get through college.

“She’s not just a social worker, she’s a connector on campus and with community resources,” said Mary-Alice Ozechoski, M.A., senior vice president of enrollment management and student affairs. “That’s especially invaluable when we think about graduate and adult students. She can walk people through the process of getting SNAP and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits as well as bridging gaps in access to other resources. Getting these services in college can stabilize students and their families and ultimately assist them in removing any barriers preventing them from graduating.”

Terwilliger, Alvernia’s new director of social services, demonstrates how to use the Visions Federal Credit Union Financial Wellness Center in the Bernardine Hall Commuter Lounge.

High Five

By Nikki M. Murry

Alvernia’s CollegeTowne Initiative has already offered myriad benefits to the university and the community, and as it celebrates its fifth anniversary, there are no signs of slowing down.

The fifth anniversary of marriage is symbolized by wood, signifying strength and durability. Those at the heart of Alvernia University’s CollegeTowne Initiative would likely echo that sentiment as the concept brought to Reading by former President John R. Loyack celebrates five years.

There were three objectives at the outset, explained Rodney S. Ridley, Sr., Alvernia’s vice president of research, economic development and strategic initiatives. They included asking the senior leadership team:

• “Can we change how the university operates and grows?”

• “Can you affect the community around you and spur economic development?”

• “Can we get noticed as an innovative force in higher education?”

The answer to all three? A resounding “Yes!”

The initial goal was to secure $45 million in investments from philanthropic and government sources to purchase and renovate existing vacant properties in downtown Reading and Pottsville to enhance the student experience, explained Thomas Minick ’98 MBA ’10, vice president for advancement and government affairs.

“The majority of my time the past five years has been spent on fundraising for CollegeTowne through the Partners in Progress Campaign, a $70 million campaign

focused enhancing the student experience,” he said.

President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., is fully invested in CollegeTowne as an avenue for enhancing the student experience.

“My role is as an ambassador for the students,” Fitzgerald said. “I want them to have the greatest experience here at Alvernia that they possibly can. With CollegeTowne, we’re able to offer top-notch facilities without having to build or interrupt the environment up on the hill. It’s a way for us to expand our academic offerings and space in a unique way. We work with underutilized space, thereby making an impact at a lower cost. And student money is never used.”

The student experience

Alvernia’s first engineering majors will graduate in May. The program was born from the CollegeTowne initiative, which led to the purchase of a building in downtown Reading now known as the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, a living and learning facility that houses the program and much more.

“It took a risk to come here with it being a brand-new program, but it’s paying off,” said mechanical engineering major Faith Bentz ’25, who landed a job with Brentwood Industries following graduation after interning with the company, which manufactures parts for industrial grade

The CollegeTowne initiative led to the purchase and renovation of the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne.

“It took a risk to come here with it being a brand-new program, but it’s paying off. We have this brand-new lab equipment, and with it being a small program, you know what your strengths and weaknesses are. It is catered toward you, which is so helpful. You’re not in a classroom with 200 students, you’re in a classroom of eight, nine, 10.”

—Faith Bentz ’25, mechanical engineering major

batteries. “We have this brand-new lab equipment, and with it being a small program, you know what your strengths and weaknesses are. It is catered toward you, which is so helpful. You’re not in a classroom with 200 students, you’re in a classroom of eight, nine, 10.”

Several other majors – including cybersecurity, data science and data analytics , Doctor of Occupational Therapy – were added since CollegeTowne came to Reading, and the John and Karen Arnold School of Nursing programs have taken off in Reading and in an offshoot CollegeTowne location in Pottsville, Schuylkill County.

“It’s like a mini version of Reading CollegeTowne,” said

Mensch, director and student success coordinator of the site, which opened in January 2023.

Once an abandoned Giant grocery store, the facility now boasts a state-of-the-art biology lab and other features. Nearly a dozen undergraduate and multiple graduate programs are offered, as well as certification programs to strengthen workforce skills.

The location is also a popular event space for community groups. Mensch says that while there were just three community events a month on campus when the location opened, there are now three each week.

Nursing is not only thriving in Pottsville. In 2024,

Cynthia

Alvernia’s first engineering majors will graduate in May.

Alvernia’s CollegeTowne campus in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, is “like a mini version of Reading CollegeTowne,” according to Cynthia Mensch, director and student success coordinator of the site.

Alvernia’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for its pre-licensure nursing students.

Alvernia also extended its successful partnership with the Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill through 2028. The collaboration enables nursing students to benefit from Alvernia’s academic resources while completing clinical training at one of the region’s leading health care facilities.

It all comes back to CollegeTowne’s heartbeat: partnerships.

This is particularly evident in the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. The O’Pake Fellows Program allows undergraduate and graduate students to work directly with entrepreneurs, small-business owners, faculty researchers and local industry leaders for mutually beneficial experiential learning opportunities. O’Pake Fellows have served over 300 clients and completed over 250 projects since the birth of CollegeTowne.

What’s next?

Despite all that the initiative achieved in its first five years, CollegeTowne’s second phase “will perhaps be the most impactful thing we do for the community,” according to Minick.

The university’s new American House at Reading

CollegeTowne facility, located across the street from the Post Center at 354 Penn St., will see Alvernia and the Berks Community Health Center (BCHC) partner to expand health care access for nearly 3,000 Reading residents, developing a state-of-the-art community-based health center. It will house a café run by John Paul II Center for Special Learning students. And Alvernia students will work alongside both organizations.

Partners in Progress, the public phase of Alvernia’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign, continues to restock the university’s arsenal. Launched in late 2023, the campaign has raised nearly $69 million of its ambitious $70 million goal.

Last year, City of Reading leaders learned they will get some additional help to change the face of downtown Reading. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration approved Reading’s application to participate in the state’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) program. CRIZ helps cities that have faced economic challenges revitalize their downtown areas by renovating vacant or rundown spaces with the goal of attracting new businesses and creating jobs.

“It’s brain gain versus brain drain,” Ridley said.

Alvernia’s nursing programs benefit from the new interprofessional Healthcare Simulation Center at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne.

The university’s new American House at Reading CollegeTowne facility.

Room for growth

By Susan Shelly

Three campus spaces undergo an overhaul, creating accessible, comfortable areas that allow students to gather and socialize.

Several spaces on Alvernia’s Hill Campus recently received significant alterations, creating comfortable, accessible places where students can gather and engage with one another.

Largely initiated by the Student Government Association (SGA), those overhauls include the addition of a game room in the Student Center, the renovation of the Bernardine Hall lobby and a revamping of the Campus Commons living room.

“SGA thought it was important to update spaces across campus to reflect the ever-changing needs of the students,” said Sara Baker MSOT ’25, SGA president during the 2023-24 school year. “In our SGA meetings, the campus renovations were consistently on our agenda. The individuals involved in SGA played an essential role in providing student input to influence how these spaces were transformed.”

Student Center Game Room

The SGA in 2023 approved funding from its budget to

convert a little-used conference room in the Student Center into a game room where on-campus and commuter students could gather to play pool, ping-pong, electronic darts, bubble hockey and other games.

“Everyone at Alvernia wants students to have places to hang out and enjoy each other’s company,” said Abby Swatchick, executive director of student engagement and leadership and SGA advisor. “That’s an important part of the college experience.”

Students had long expressed interest in such a space, and SGA members considered the project a priority.

“We thought the game room would be a great fit as something new and exciting,” Baker said.

Bernardine Hall lobby

A popular space for commuter students, the Bernardine Hall lobby had been dark and not as inviting for students as it could have been, Swatchick explained.

“Commuter students use that space between classes to study or just hang out with friends, and SGA members

Significant updates were made to the Franco Library at Alvernia University over the summer of 2024.

thought it needed some brightening up to make it more appealing,” she said.

The lobby now offers private workspaces, couches, barheight counters, and other features designed for comfort and accessibility.

Campus Commons living room

An attractive and functional gathering space was created in the Campus Commons, a busy facility that houses a two-story fitness center, an always-open computer lab and a living room on the ground floor.

Nothing had been done to update the living room since the building was constructed in 2012, and it needed a facelift.

Renovations were designed to accommodate many different activities, including football viewing parties, food events, video game tournaments and student meetings. Families of student athletes gather in the space for a meal after athletic events, Swatchick said, and international students use it for meetings and social events.

The new Student Center Game Room features pool and ping-pong tables, electronic darts, bubble hockey and more.

The revamped Bernardine Hall lobby is brighter, offering features designed for comfort and accessibility.

The space now features tables that can be configured to meet various needs, a counter with chairs, multiple chargers for laptops and cellphones, a huge television, an indooroutdoor fireplace, outdoor seating areas and other amenities.

“I’ve heard positive feedback from students about each of these renovated areas,” Baker said. “Particularly with the game room, so many students have been able to enjoy themselves while staying on campus.”

While students directly benefit from the revamped spaces, university staff and leadership were supportive of the changes and regard the improvements as an asset.

“Student space is not only important to students, it’s important to everyone at Alvernia,” Swatchick said. “This campus is home to our students, and we want it to be as accessible and comfortable as possible.”

can be configured to meet various needs, a counter with chairs, multiple chargers for laptops and cellphones, a huge television, an indoor-outdoor fireplace, outdoor seating areas and other amenities.

The Campus Commons living room now features tables that

The Occupational Therapy, Physician Associate and Nursing programs now reside in revamped spaces in the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne.

Upgraded spaces help to foster interaction and build connections

By Kristin Eck and Dylan Correll

Alvernia Executive Director of Residence Life

Logan Houptley, M.S., discusses the recent campus upgrades.

How have the residence hall updates helped enhance the student experience?

LH: The residence halls of Clare, Anthony, Francis, Holleran and Judge have undergone cosmetic updates. Each lounge was refreshed, including new paint, carpeting and furniture. These updates highlight modern, movable furniture with slide feet and sectional seating that caters to inclusivity and flexibility. How did student focus groups contribute to the design of the residence hall lounges?

LH: The design process was driven by input from focus groups that consisted of between six to eight students and included resident assistants (RAs) and student leaders across various academic years. Their vision was clear: They wanted the lounges to feel like living rooms rather than study areas. This desire led to spaces distinct from the university library’s more formal study environment. These collaborative discussions ensured the lounges prioritized comfort, functionality and inclusivity. The furniture was designed to be cleanable and housekeeping

friendly, ensuring all students feel welcome and at home.

What honored tradition allows the first-year communities to contribute to a legacy?

LH: The university has brought new life to a cherished tradition in the first-year communities of Anthony, Francis, Veronica and Clare. These residence halls proudly feature murals painted by students. Some murals are over 20 years old and were refreshed by the students as a sendoff. This blend of preserving tradition while encouraging creativity ensures that each mural leaves a lasting impression, one that future students can appreciate and contribute to.

How do the upgraded spaces in the residence halls foster a strong sense of community among students?

LH: The upgraded spaces aim to bring students out of their rooms and into community lounges, fostering interaction and building connections. Since the updates, the lounges have been full of activity, hosting residence hall programs, meet-and-greets and informal gatherings. The design aligns with Alvernia’s mission to create spaces where students can relax, collaborate, and feel at home.

Educating the educators

By Lini S. Kadaba

Total Experience Learning® partners with Alvernia to bring the award-winning classroom management methodology to more teachers.

While she was a Conrad Weiser High School science teacher several years ago, Adelle Schade, Ph.D., increasingly saw students disengage from the day’s lessons.

“I knew something needed to change in education,” said the recently appointed vice president of innovation and educational ventures at Alvernia University.

Schade founded Total Experience Learning® (TExpL), which provides educators the framework to uncover the genius in every child. She partnered with Alvernia to bring the award-winning classroom management methodology to more educators. The program of four graduate-level courses, based at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, gives teachers the skills to offer hands-on educational opportunities that engage students and develop critical thinking, creativity and real-world skills across abilities, age groups and subjects.

Instead of sitting silently in rows while a teacher lectures, students work in small groups to solve problems they select.

The partnership with Alvernia allows for significant growth opportunities, according to Schade.

“The decision to bring TExpL to Alvernia reflects our shared values and commitment to innovation, experiential learning and the will to impact our communities with an unwavering focus on educational quality,” she said.

“Alvernia’s strong market positioning in experiential learning, in particular its commitment to enhancing innovativeness and transformative education, is well in line with TExpL’s vision of empowering learners of all ages. Together, we are building a future where innovation drives meaningful change for individuals, schools and communities.”

‘Shaping the future of education’

This semester, the program expanded beyond Berks, launching its first open cohort for educators hailing from nearby counties. It also continues to offer school-based cohorts and special-topic study abroad courses for educators as well as after-school and summer programs on campus for fifth-to-12th-grade students interested in research opportunities, with Alvernia undergraduates as mentors.

“At Alvernia, we believe learning should be experiential,” said President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “We have created a community of curious minds who strive for academic excellence. Total Experience Learning shares this passion.”

The program also provides another way to break down barriers to access, Fitzgerald said.

“We are focused on delivering high-quality programs, supporting educators at every stage of their journey and

helping both students and teachers achieve real, measurable success,” she said. “This partnership is all about shaping the future of education.”

TExpL began in 2015 as the Science Research Institute, a science club rooted in business project management concepts that founder Schade was studying. The initiative quickly gained momentum, with students excelling in competitions and attracting $2 million in equipment donations. As its impact grew, so did its reach — over the last four years, the program expanded beyond after-school to offer a graduate-level certification for educators.

“Our certificate in educational innovation and entrepreneurship provides training to educators who are looking to amplify the curiosity and ingenuity of their students through this educational framework,” Schade said.

Recognizing its broader potential, the methodology rebranded as Total Experience Learning in 2022. Since then, classrooms using the TExpL approach have seen remarkable success. Students have secured 12 patents for their innovations, and schools implementing the program report higher test scores, decreased tardiness, and fewer behavior issues, according to Schade. That same year, the United Nations’ materials science division recognized TExpL as the Most Innovative Educational Model,

cementing its reputation as a transformative approach to learning. To date, hundreds of educators in local districts have completed the certification.

Those innovations are having a ripple effect in those schools.

TExpL alum and librarian Rachel Sebastian transformed the library in Brecknock Elementary School, part of the Gov. Mifflin School District, into the fictionalized Sweet Read City. Arranged in baskets by kid-friendly topic (favorite toys, dinosaurs, fun facts), books in the Denver, Pa., school are organized along “streets,” and shelves sport cardboard facades of actual Berks businesses researched by students. Collaborative space abounds.

Recently, Sebastian introduced students to nonfiction resources on trees and plants by investigating with a digital microscope the differences in evergreen and deciduous tree branches.

“That’s how I hook them,” she said. “Then they have a real reason to use those resources because they naturally want to find out more.”

By Jon Fassnacht

Soldiering On

Jeff Gibboni plans to launch a private practice to counsel members of the military and law enforcement.

Jeﬀ Gibboni MACC ’26 overcame personal pitfalls to create his comeback at Alvernia, a place the veteran says shares many values with the military.

When seeking a place to continue his education, former Army Capt. Jeff Gibboni MACC ’26 discovered that Alvernia’s principles felt familiar.

“The Franciscan values line up perfectly with veteran values,” Gibboni said. “But this place itself is a value.”

Before Gibboni could create his educational comeback at Alvernia, he needed to create a personal one. Post-military, Gibboni battled substance abuse disorder and PTSD and suffered through a divorce. He found fulfilling work with the United States Marshals Service in Philadelphia as chief deputy of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. But he wanted to help those battling the same demons he overcame.

First, he had to overcome his doubts.

“I didn’t believe I could actually do it,” said Gibboni, 49. “Financially, there were a lot of questions; timewise, I had a lot of questions. I was at a decision point in my life. Would I fold up, or would I try to grow through some challenges?”

“ When I came to Alvernia and discovered the Franciscan values, it aligned so well with my worldview and my experience, and to see them on signposts throughout the campus and embodied by the people I deal with was very reaffirming.”

—Jeﬀ Gibboni MACC ’26

He chose the latter, aiming to launch a private practice to counsel men currently or formerly in the military and law enforcement.

The southern New Jersey resident has an office in Reading, where he frequently noticed billboards touting Alvernia’s award-winning Create Your Comeback campaign, which spotlights the university’s Graduate & Adult Education programs.

Alvernia’s location was appealing, as was the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) schedule, which features evening classes he could attend twice a week following his workday.

“When I came to Alvernia and discovered the Franciscan values, it aligned so well with my worldview and my experience, and to see them on signposts throughout the campus and embodied by the people I deal with was very reaffirming,” he said. “Once I got here, it was good experience after good experience after good experience.”

‘There’s something special going on here’

Gibboni served in the U.S. Army from 1997 through 2001, earning a Ranger tab — a qualification tab the Army

awards to soldiers who complete Ranger School — along the way. He attended Hardin-Simmons University, a liberal arts institution in Abilene, Texas, on a ROTC scholarship. The Army then paid for him to earn a Master of Science in Education.

He didn’t expect his past to intersect with his present as much as it has, but he’s thrilled about it.

“I came here with a practical outlook,” he said. “This school checked a lot of boxes for me. But there’s just something extra here, and it makes me want to put the word out and say ‘Hey, vets, there’s something special going on here.’”

In 2024-25, Alvernia was recognized as a Military Friendly® School for the 12th consecutive year, also earning a national endorsement in military support from Colleges of Distinction.

The university’s Veterans Center recently moved to an upgraded space in Bernardine Hall, offering vets a comfortable place to study and socialize.

Gibboni takes advantage of the site every day he commutes to campus, finishing homework before heading to class.

He also makes it a point to visit the POW/MIA Chair of Honor, which acknowledges veterans who are prisoners of war or missing in action, in the Francis Hall lobby. He calls the display a powerful motivator.

“As I come onto campus Tuesday and Thursday evenings, tired and often feeling sorry for myself, I look at that empty chair reserved for a brother or sister in arms who can’t go to class,” said Gibboni, who spoke at the university’s 2024 Veterans Day ceremony.

His high expectations for the MACC program were exceeded. Gearing up for his final year, he has begun seeking a site to fulfill his practicum requirements. A recent interview with a private practice went better than expected, with Gibboni saying he felt overprepared.

While giving kudos to the MACC staff, he spotlighted Nicole Hall, Ph.D., the program’s director. He appreciates that she runs her own business in addition to her teaching duties.

“Since entering, Jeff has consistently demonstrated a high level of engagement and intellectual curiosity in the

MACC program,” Hall said. “His dedication to mastering the complexities of counseling theories, concepts and techniques sets him apart, making him exceptionally well suited for a career in the counseling field. He is deeply valued in the program by his peers and professors. There is no doubt that he will make a meaningful impact on his future clients and the field as a whole.”

Gibboni’s comeback was also aided by Alvernia’s Preferred Partnership, through which the university partners with regional companies and organizations, offering a 20% tuition discount to employees.

“Being at Alvernia and being an older student, I have a much better appreciation for a college experience,” he said. “It’s almost like getting a chance to do it right the second time.”

Jeff Gibboni served in the U.S. Army from 1997 through 2001, earning a Ranger tab, awarded to soldiers who complete Ranger School.

Making an

By Nikki M. Murry

RRay Strickland ’04, a former professional basketball player, launched a foundation to help at-risk youth gain the tools they need to be successful.

Assist

ay Strickland ’04 became familiar with Alvernia’s campus before entering a classroom or declaring a major. His introduction came at summertime basketball camp with Alvernia Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Jack McCloskey, then coach of the men’s basketball team.

“He was why I chose Alvernia,” the communication major said.

But it wasn’t why he stayed.

“I met lifelong friends and made countless memories there,” the former professional basketball player said. “I’m still in contact with many of the people I went to school with. My teammates became brothers.”

Today, Strickland maintains ties to Alvernia – his cousin plays for the men’s basketball team – and mentors studentathletes.

That’s just one of the many hats he wears.

Though he tried out for the Philadelphia 76ers and other NBA teams, he ultimately signed a contract with the Portuguese Basketball League and traveled to Spain, France and Germany.

His basketball playing days came full circle after he signed with the Reading Railers of the Premiere Basketball League. But after he sustained a career-ending injury, his day job and mindset shifted.

Now serving as executive director for Seashore Leadership Academy in Gallaway, N.J., Strickland leads an engaging and rigorous program focused on at-risk middle and high school youth needing a structured school environment to enhance their behavioral, social and academic promise. He landed the position after serving as a behavioral coach with Camelot Education at the Therapeutic Day School of Philadelphia. Attending graduate school at night, he earned his master’s degree in counseling in 2010.

“I learned my value was greater than putting a basketball

in a hoop,” Strickland recalled. “Instead, I could help my community and become a resource. I could help give students the opportunity at a second chance and gain the tools they needed to be successful.”

In 2017, he doubled down on that commitment, starting the Ray Strickland Foundation. A product of Chester, Pa., a city located just south of Philadelphia and plagued with crime, poverty and limited resources, Strickland was determined to show the youth there how to pave the way to pursue their dreams of attending college or trade school. The Foundation helps to fund scholarships and educates youth and their families on how to best prepare for education after high school, holding symposiums on topics like SAT scores and FAFSA applications.

Strickland believes today’s youth have it even harder than he did growing up.

“We didn’t have the influence of social media,” he said. “Now they see people getting successful faster versus learning that if you work hard over time, you can earn that success.”

Ideally, Strickland said he would love to help pave the way for today’s at-risk youth to enjoy an experience similar to the one he had at Alvernia.

“It allowed me to see there is a world outside the world from which I came,” he said. “I got to see people from all walks of life sharing experiences together and becoming family. I got to see the world in a more diverse way.”

The Ray Strickland Foundation helps to fund scholarships and educates youth and their families about preparing for education after high school.

Versatile verse with

Alvernia’s director of grants wins a national award for her sophomore poetry collection.

By Jon Fassnacht

Despite vulnerability and danger, me and my new head walked among the pines.

The way through already etched and paid for.

The day was a golden drop ready to be pulled down at all costs.

— Laurel Radzieski, Excerpt from “Leaf Manifesto”

Director of grants at Alvernia by day, Laurel Radzieski grants herself some poetic license when she’s off the clock.

Already a published author – “Red Mother,” her first collection of poems, was issued by NYQ Books in 2018 – she’s preparing to release of a second collection, “Leaf Manifesto.” And that release comes with some significant wind at her back.

On Jan. 26, Middle Creek Publishing & Audio announced Radzieski won its Halcyon Award for Poetry for “Leaf Manifesto.” As a result, Middle Creek will publish the poetry collection.

“The publisher’s been around for 10 years, and it’s exciting to be with a press that is growing and looking to increase their impact,” Radzieski said. “They have a focus on eco-poetics and nature/human relationships, which ties into my work.”

Though “Leaf Manifesto” has yet to be published, the Halcyon Award is not the only honor it has received. In January 2024, Radzieski was named a finalist for the 2024 Sowell Emerging Writers Prize for the collection, which focuses on environmentalism and a woman’s place in today’s society.

When she didn’t come out on top in that contest, she spent the rest of the year revising the manuscript and sending it out to potential publishers, which is how she came in contact with Middle Creek.

“Their blog had a lot of very interesting tips,” she said. “Based on their guidance, I restructured the manuscript, and I was much happier with it.”

“Leaf Manifesto” is not laid out like a typical poetry book. As an experimental, hybrid project, the manuscript plays with form and narrative structure. The revised version leans into this intent further and reads as a long-form poem.

She is now two for two in terms of prizes. In 2020, her debut release received the Whirling Prize from Etchings Press, a student-run publisher at the University of Indianapolis.

Radzieski received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Goddard College in 2014 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Arts & Humanities from Keystone College. So how did she become involved in the polar opposite world of grant writing?

Director of Grants Laurel Radzieski says composing poetry helps her write grants.

“Ah, well, because poetry, shockingly, doesn’t always pay the bills,” she said.

Working at a nonprofit while earning her master’s degree, Radzieski was told by her supervisor that if she learned how to write grants, she’d never have to worry about making a living with her writing. That helped free her from financial stress. And the two professions balance out each other nicely, she said.

“The poetry adds to my grant writing,” Radzieski said. “A lot of grant writing is very technical, and sometimes people lose the storytelling. So I like writing grants because I can infuse that into it. But I also think that being a grant writer helps me be concise when writing poems.”

Because she already went through the experience of releasing a book, cultivating an audience of fans – mostly undergraduate students – in the process, Radzieski expects the publication of “Leaf Manifesto” to be an exciting new phase of her writing career. But she doesn’t take success for granted. She’s still shocked when someone reviews “Red Mother” on Goodreads or Amazon.

“Poetry often doesn’t have legs like that,” she said. “So I’m excited with this book because now I have a readership. This is one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. I can’t wait to share it.”

Fund offers glimmers of HOPE to students

THE HOPE FUND has supported those in need since the COVID pandemic.

By Jon Fassnacht

With winter semester approaching, Aldriany PayanoPadilla ’25 was distraught.

“I didn’t have the resources to pay for my winter classes, and it felt like my academic journey might come to a halt,” the digital media marketing major said.

But she found hope in the Hope Fund, which assists Alvernia students and families in financial need and allows the university to address student hardships.

“Thanks to the support of the Hope Fund, I was able to enroll in my classes and stay on track toward completing my degree,” Payano-Padilla said. “This experience reminded me of the generosity and community spirit that makes Alvernia so special.”

Developed as a financial support program during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hope Fund supports students by:

• Providing funds for books, testing costs, accommodations and more.

• Providing groceries and meals through Clare’s Cupboard pantries and grab n’ gos at Alvernia’s locations.

• Providing students and families emergency aid in times of crisis.

“Our students are our lifeblood; without them, there is no Alvernia,” said Thomas Minick ’98 MBA ’10, vice president of academic and government affairs. “And we believe that we should not only support them academically but also personally to help produce well-rounded graduates. Hardships should not stand in the way of a student receiving an education.”

Student success is an important pillar of Partners in Progress, the public phase of Alvernia’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign. And the Hope Fund is crucial funding priority of the campaign.

Jennifer Weasner ’23 MBA ’24 had a truncated experience at Alvernia after transferring during her junior year. But she made the most of it, serving as a Fellow of Marketing at the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, where she designed a dozen logos for clients, including the one gracing the jars of O’Pake Honey, harvested from the beehives on the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne rooftop.

“Without the scholarship opportunities I was given, I don’t think I would have been able to attend Alvernia,” the digital media marketing major said. “As a firstgeneration college student, college was a new territory for my whole family. By working with Montgomery County Community College and Alvernia, I was able to seamlessly transfer and gain more knowledge about the financial aid opportunities that are available. If you told me at 18 that I would be graduating with my MBA, I would

Fund offers glimmers of hope

not have believed you, but it was because of the Alvernia community that this degree has become my reality.”

Weasner has already used the skills she developed at Alvernia to give back to the institution, creating a crewneck sweatshirt inspired by landmarks and symbols across campus to support the Hope Fund.

More examples of Hope in action:

• Karley Merkey ’28 was involved in a car crash in June. Initially estimated to take two weeks, the car repairs stretched to over four months. Due to the significant rental-car fees, Merkey struggled to make ends meet at the beginning of the fall semester. She discussed her predicament with a financial advisor, who utilized the fund to pay Merkey’s deductible after her car was returned.

• “The Hope Fund has given me the comfort to feel safe and secure from the issues I’ve faced in my personal life due to being transgender,” said Arizaidith HernandezHernandez ’28, a mechanical engineering major. “I’ll feel forever thankful for the help aided to me. Things are now more stable, and I’m happier than ever.”

If you are a student in need, or a faculty, staff or community member looking to help a student, email SOLAR@alvernia.edu with your request for Hope Fund support, or to volunteer to make a gift. You can also visit alvernia.edu/SOLAR.

“There’s no shame in seeking support when you need it. The faculty and staff at Alvernia genuinely care about your success and are there to help guide you through difficult times. Programs like the Hope Fund exist to lift you up when you need it most. Don’t stay quiet; your future is worth it.”

— Aldriany Payano-Padilla ’25

ON CAMPUS

BOARD EXTENDS PRESIDENT’S CONTRACT THROUGH 2029

The Alvernia University Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., through 2029, ensuring her continued leadership as the university advances its mission and strategic goals as a comprehensive regional university.

Fitzgerald, who began her tenure as Alvernia’s eighth president in July 2023, has played a pivotal role in the university’s ongoing success. Under her leadership, Alvernia has expanded its experiential learning opportunities, strengthened community engagement through its CollegeTowne initiative and enhanced student success programs. Her leadership has also helped the university navigate challenges in the higher education landscape with a commitment to academic excellence and financial sustainability.

NURSING GRADS ACHIEVE 100% NCLEX PASS RATE

Alvernia’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for its pre-licensure nursing students in 2024.

Administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the NCLEX is the standard licensure examination required to enter the nursing profession. Alvernia’s 2024 cohort not only passed the exam on its first attempt but also did so with an exceptional level of preparedness.

In addition, the John and Karen Arnold School of Nursing’s programs were honored by the Colleges of Distinction for the fifth consecutive year, while the BSN program was recognized by the U.S. News and World Report as a top-600 program in the country.

Alvernia, Community Evangelical Church partner for second annual Night to Shine

Alvernia University and Community Evangelical Church (CEC) partnered to host the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine at the PLEX in February. Over 400 Alvernia students, staff, faculty, alumni and community volunteers came together to provide an unforgettable prom night experience for people age 14 and older with special needs.

“Night to Shine is my favorite night of the year, as it’s filled with joy from the smiles of our honored guests and every volunteer,” said Andrea Swift, Ed.D., Alvernia’s director of accessibility services. “One honored guest shared how special it felt to be in a room full of volunteers who saw him for who he truly is — his personality, not his diagnosis. That right there is the essence of Night to Shine: creating an inclusive, love-filled space for everyone, where each guest and volunteer is seen and valued.”

Over 300 honored guests attended, along with 200 parents and caregivers. Every guest received hair and makeup services, shoe shining, limousine rides, and corsages and boutonnieres on arrival, courtesy of the volunteers and event sponsors. The guests entered on the red carpet and were served a catered dinner before heading to the dance floor, where additional “buddy” volunteers met them.

“I have autism and ADHD ... it was really nice for people with all disabilities to get together one night, dress up really nice, have a great time and get treated like everyone else for a change, like it should be,” said Aaron Gulla, an honored guest.

Guests also had access to a sensory room managed by Alvernia occupational therapy students as an experiential learning opportunity as well as an activity room managed by Education Corps volunteers in the Holleran Corps throughout the event. President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., crowned the kings and queens of the prom before one last dance at the end of the night.

“My favorite part was being in a dance floor with everyone and just seeing everyone have a good time,” said Nicayris Ulerio-Fernandez, a volunteer and Alvernia Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling student. “No matter who you were, no matter what disability you had, everyone was just one at that point.”

Next year’s event is slated for Feb. 13.

President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., crowned the kings and queens of the prom at the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine.

Over 300 guests attended the event along with 200 parents and caregivers.

New Apprenticeship to Degree Program extends Alvernia’s education innovation

Alvernia’s Apprenticeship to Degree Program is designed to meet the evolving needs of students and industry partners.

Alvernia last year launched the Apprenticeship to Degree Program, an innovative initiative that establishes a dynamic partnership between the university and local industries, small businesses and government entities for long-term experiential learning opportunities and workforce development. Partnerships were quickly established with the County of Berks and B. Braun Medical Inc., a global leader in medical technology based in Bethlehem, Pa.

“The AU Apprenticeship to Degree Program is not just an internship program, it’s a brain gain for students and the local community and helps students and their families subsidize the cost of higher education through valuable experiential learning opportunities,” said Alvernia Senior Vice President and Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D. Apprenticeship to Degree is designed to meet the evolving needs of students and industry partners. Through paid externships and internships, students embark on a journey of professional growth and development. Employers introduce students to their organizational culture with the prospect of making long-term hires. Students enrolled in the program come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and many are firstgeneration college students. They gain valuable employment opportunities and enjoy the benefits of subsidized on-campus housing, credits toward graduation and a comprehensive orientation to the diverse career options throughout the region.

Under the partnership with B. Braun, students work in various roles related to their field of study. This hands-on experience is not only valuable for the students but also provides B. Braun with a pipeline of well-prepared, future-ready employees.

The collaboration with the County of Berks allows students to engage in year-round work, gaining insight into industry operations and organizational culture. Internship positions include a detective and forensics intern, controller’s intern, information technology intern, human resources intern and library systems intern.

“Opportunities like this strengthen the county’s ability to attract highly qualified staff while reinforcing the well-formed bonds between Berks County and Alvernia University,” said Christian Leinbach, Berks County Board of Commissioners chairman. “We are hopeful that other higher eds may follow the Alvernia example.”

Students have access to on-campus housing during the summer, along with career mentorship from Alvernia faculty and industry leaders, further deepening the student experience.

$3 MILLION GRANT FROM STATE WILL HELP FUND PROJECTS

Alvernia in November received a $3 million grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) for the second phase of the renovation of Pottsville CollegeTowne and to begin the renovation of the American House at Reading CollegeTowne. To date, Alvernia has secured $18.5 million in redevelopment grant resources for the CollegeTowne initiatives in Reading and Pottsville. Since the 2019 launch of the CollegeTowne initiative, Alvernia has completed two phases of Reading CollegeTowne, investing $43 million into the City of Reading by purchasing and renovating the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne. Phase III will include the renovation of the American House at Reading CollegeTowne.

The grant will allow the university to finalize the renovation of the Pottsville CollegeTowne location, a former Giant Grocery store in downtown Pottsville that opened in January 2023. This will include new retail space and partnership with the Schuylkill YMCA.

SCHUYLKILL YMCA, ALVERNIA PARTNER FOR POTTSVILLE EXPANSION

Alvernia and the Schuylkill YMCA will further the impact of Pottsville CollegeTowne by developing additional resources to serve the local community and support economic revitalization efforts. The project will transform over 8,000 square feet of unused space at 500 Progress Ave. into a gymnastics facility and retail food establishment.

The expansion will enable the YMCA to double its gymnastics program capacity from 75 to 150 youth participants and address a long-standing demand for increased access to youth programming. The $2.2 million project secured $1 million in funding through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and over $900,000 in philanthropic commitments.

ON CAMPUS

ENDOWMENT BOOSTS FACULTY RESEARCH, TEACHING EXCELLENCE

Alvernia in October launched the Flynn Family Endowment to support faculty research, teaching and professional growth. The endowment, created by President Emeritus Thomas Flynn, Ph.D., and Helen Flynn, will provide annual financial support for Alvernia faculty development through the Flynn Faculty Excellence Grants and the Flynn Teaching and Learning Fund.

The Flynn Faculty Excellence Grants enable Alvernia faculty to pursue scholarly research, creative projects or external grants. The Flynn Teaching and Learning Fund supports annual workshops focused on enhancing teaching methods and educational innovation.

The endowment also benefits Partners in Progress, the public phase of Alvernia’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign, which aims to redefine higher education. Four pillars buttress the campaign — Access and Opportunity, Student Success, Community Engagement and Academic Engagement — the last of which is represented by the Flynn Family Endowment.

OFFICE HONORED FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN

Alvernia’s Office of Graduate and Adult Education earned the 2024 Empowering Women Award from Lehigh Valley Business and Central Penn Business Journal. Applications were judged based on hiring and promoting women, leadership positions held by women, advocacy for the cause of women and efforts to cultivate the next generation of women professionals.

Alvernia University Women’s Council highlights the institution’s commitment to building the future generation of women leaders. In addition, the Office of Graduate and Adult Education partners with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Women2Women program to offer tuition discounts to members.

Gretchen Sorin signed students’ copies of “Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights” following her speech at Alvernia’s Flynn PLEX.

Historian Gretchen Sorin discusses ‘Driving While Black’ book at lecture

Gretchen Sorin, author of “Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights,” in the fall demonstrated how the automobile encouraged a new way of resisting oppression as Alvernia’s Holleran Lecture SEARCH keynote speaker at the university’s Flynn PLEX. The Holleran Lecture, sponsored by Alvernia’s First Year Program and the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement, is part of Alvernia’s First Year SEARCH Seminar: Enduring Questions.

“This lecture serves as an important touchstone in our broader efforts to foster civil discourse on campus,” said Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Sorin’s book, which is the basis of a PBS documentary by Sorin and Ric Burns, guided the talk. Sorin encapsulated her extensive research by discussing the importance of free movement and mobility in a democratic society, particularly for African Americans. Her talk highlighted how travel has historically been restricted for African Americans through various means such as enslavement, segregation and discriminatory laws.

She also discussed how these barriers were not only legal but also deeply embedded in the fabric of American society. In addition, she presented the automobile as a liberating force and a symbol of personal agency, allowing African Americans to bypass public transportation systems that were designed to enforce segregation. Sorin discussed how African Americans used their disposable income to purchase cars and travel. The ability to travel freely was not just about physical movement but also about claiming dignity and self-determination.

“I think one reason historians have failed in some ways is because it’s all about reading the chapter and answering the questions at the end, and it’s not about people, it’s not about stories,” said Sorin. “What I wanted to do was to be a historian that really started with people and talk about those stories. I want to tell the stories through the voices of the people who lived within that specific time ... you can really engage people in a way because history is fascinating; it’s who we are.”

All Alvernia’s first-year students read Sorin’s book as part of the SEARCH course lecture. Following the lecture, students had the opportunity to ask Sorin questions based on her book and her experiences and get their copies signed.

O’Pake Institute expands alliance with John Paul II Center for Special Learning

BILINGUAL FINANCIAL SERIES LAUNCHES

Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute in January launched a bilingual financial empowerment series designed to promote financial literacy among Berks County businesses and entrepreneurs. This program received funding support from the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program (NAP) and business contributors M&T Bank and Mid Penn Bank.

O’Pake Fellows and staff are joined by subject matter experts from local financial institutions. Sessions are available on select Thursdays and Saturdays through Sept. 20.

Two different paths, entrepreneurial finance and personal finance, are offered through in-person, virtual and self-paced formats.

Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship has partnered with the John Paul II Center for Special Learning to create enhanced workforce development opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and expand experiential learning opportunities for Alvernia students. The expanded partnership includes plans for the establishment of a John Paul II Center client-run retail operation at the university’s new American House at Reading CollegeTowne facility.

“At Alvernia, our CollegeTowne initiatives are all about driving meaningful innovation, creating inclusive opportunities and strengthening the local workforce through thoughtful, collaborative partnerships,” said Alvernia University President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “By deepening our long-standing partnership with the John Paul II Center, we’re ensuring individuals with special needs have access to hands-on training and resources that empower them to thrive and play a key role in our region’s economic revitalization. At the same time, this collaboration offers Alvernia students exceptional opportunities for experiential learning, making a real-world impact while honing their skills and passions.”

The strategic alliance creates pathways for individuals with disabilities to explore entrepreneurial ventures and develop crucial workforce skills through hands-on real-world learning experiences. Participants from both organizations will have access to workshops, mentorship programs and experiential learning opportunities.

“Our partnership with Alvernia University and the O’Pake Institute is a natural extension of our mission to empower individuals with disabilities to live their fullest lives,” said John Paull II Center Principal Kaylee Simcik. “Together, we can build programs that not only educate but also inspire our students and their families to achieve their dreams.”

O’Pake staff will provide technical assistance, including business model canvas creation, financial services, creative services and tech transfer services, to program participants through the O’Pake Institute’s student-powered SPARK Business Incubator, a key resource for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region. The John Paul II Center will create unique education and age-appropriate programming focused on transition and life skills. Together, they will develop new programs and initiatives, fostering skills development, entrepreneurship and meaningful community engagement for individuals with special needs and Alvernia students.

The first joint initiatives launched earlier this year.

BIOMEDICAL GROUP, O’PAKE HOST INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

The Berks Biomedical Innovation Collaborative (BIC) in January hosted the inaugural Bioscience in Berks: Innovation Symposium at the Doubletree at Hilton Reading in partnership with Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute.

Nearly two dozen local and regional thought leaders, innovators and industry professionals shared insights and advancements in bioscience, health care, and technology.

PARTNERSHIP EMPOWERS LATINE ENTREPRENEURS

The O’Pake Institute and Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation (Tec Centro Berks) in October announced a strategic partnership aimed at fostering economic empowerment through entrepreneurship for the Latine community in Berks County. This collaboration provides entrepreneurial education and resources to graduates of Tec Centro Berks, helping them overcome economic barriers and thrive in the local economy.

Alvernia University and John Paul II Center for Special Learning officials celebrate the signing of an expanded strategic alliance.

ON CAMPUS

MEDIA AND POLITICS CLASS CURATES VOTER EDUCATION EXHIBIT

The Miller Gallery at Alvernia became a hub of civic engagement during the fall thanks to the Media and Politics class led by Professor of Communication and Digital Media Jodi Radosh, Ph.D., and Professor of Political Science and Honors Program Director Victoria Williams, Ph.D. A voter education exhibition curated by students sought to educate the campus community about the importance of voting and media literacy during the election season.

The interactive exhibition highlighted various facets of political media and the importance of informed voting, aiming to equip students with the tools to navigate today’s complex media landscape.

The display featured posters created by each student highlighting the presidential candidates’ takes on pressing issues. It also displayed marketing materials and posters from each candidate, custom Alvernia “vote” pins and a selfie station with different props that encouraged voting.

Alvernia, Visions Federal Credit Union team for financial literacy education

Alvernia and Visions Federal Credit Union expanded their ongoing partnership with the October unveiling of the Financial Wellness Center in the university’s Bernardine Hall Commuter Lounge. The center marks an important step in the university’s efforts to enhance financial literacy as part of its ongoing SOLAR initiative to foster a campus culture of care to provide students with access to the resources they need to succeed academically, personally and professionally.

“At Alvernia, we strive to create an environment where every student has the tools they need to thrive, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “This partnership with Visions, and the Financial Wellness Center, perfectly align with our culture of care, empowering our students with critical financial knowledge that will benefit them throughout their lives.”

ALVERNIA RECOGNIZED FOR STUDENT VOTING

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) recognized Alvernia as a 2024 Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting, a distinction that highlighted nonpartisan efforts to increase student voter registration and turnout in the 2024 elections.

To receive this distinction, colleges and universities must disclose campus voting data and submit a nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan.

Establishment of the Financial Wellness Center was made possible through a generous gift by Visions, further strengthening its multiyear partnership with Alvernia. Visions is also helping to establish an endowment that will provide students with ongoing financial education workshops and programming led by the Office of Career Development in collaboration with Visions and has become a matching gift partner for the university’s Council of Independent College’s Vocation Across the Academy Grant. This additional initiative will kick off interdepartmental and universitywide efforts to enhance vocational exploration through storytelling.

“The new installation supports our focus on the community’s financial well-being, and it’s just a fraction of our impact here,” said Tyrone Muse, Visions’ president/CEO. “We’re proud to have such a robust partnership that strengthens the students’ education at Alvernia and their lives post-grad.”

Visions and Alvernia previously announced a partnership in 2021 that allowed students to gain access to microlending training to support local entrepreneurs through a multiyear sponsorship award to the university’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Visions also supports the university’s Hope Fund, Reading Collegiate Scholars Program and Athletics Department.

“Increasing our students’ financial literacy is essential to their personal and professional development,” said Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D., Alvernia’s senior vice president and provost.

“This partnership, and the installation of the Financial Wellness kiosk, exemplify our commitment to providing comprehensive support for our students, helping them grow as financially literate, confident individuals.”

Alvernia and Visions Federal Credit Union mark the opening of the Financial Wellness Center in the university’s Bernardine Hall Commuter Lounge.

Pennsylvania’s chief diversity officer inspires at Cultural Coalition event

From left, Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Alvernia’s vice president of research, economic development and strategic initiatives; PA Chief Diversity Officer Norman Bristol Colon; and Dr. Moro Osumanu, a board member of Reading nonprofit Bring the Change.

Pennsylvania Chief Diversity Officer Norman Bristol Colon in October presented the keynote speech “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together” at the Berks County Cultural Coalition’s second annual Latinos Unidos Hispanic Heritage Month event at Alvernia’s Francis Hall Theatre.

“The Latinos Unidos event is not just a celebration of our vibrant culture, but a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience within our community,” said Lizette Epps, MBA, CUDE, CNP, AWA, executive director of community and economic development for Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship and chair of the Cultural Coalition. “It’s an opportunity to come together, share our stories through the arts and uplift one another.”

During his keynote, Colon shared his personal journey of overcoming poverty and adversity, highlighting the power of resilience. Drawing from these experiences, he emphasized the role of empathy in shaping his public service and urged pride in one’s Latine heritage. He celebrated the community’s identity, history and contributions, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month, and underscored the transformative power of education for individuals and the broader Latine community. Colon concluded by recognizing the community as a driving force in America’s demographic and economic future.

“In Reading, Pennsylvania, 80 percent of the city’s population AND 84 percent of the student population are Latinos. In Pennsylvania, we have 1.2 million Latinos today. You see, we are fueling America’s future. We are America’s economic strength, and we are indeed America’s future,” said Colon. “When I came to Pennsylvania, my pockets were empty. Completely empty. Not even a penny. But they were full of hopes, dreams, and aspirations. ... Dreaming is free, and it is an enormous opportunity for us to shape the future of Pennsylvania and to shape the future of this nation.”

Attendees also enjoyed a Miller Art Gallery exhibit by local artist Juan Carlos Ruiz, a traditional dinner catered by A Taste of Comfort, spoken word performances by Berks County Poet Laureate Adrian Perez-Roman and Berks County Poet Laureate Finalist Aries Franklin Ortiz, and a Latin dance performance by Wanda Holdren Dance Company. The O’Pake Institute joined community leaders to form the Cultural Coalition, focusing on downtown Reading’s economic renaissance. This volunteer-based, Berks County-focused group helps to identify and address the city’s social and economic challenges. The coalition is composed of three task forces: arts and culture, community and neighborhood revitalization, and education and workforce development.

PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO EDUCATION STUDENTS

Alvernia partnered with the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) to offer the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.)

Early Childhood® Pennsylvania Scholarships for students enrolled in its Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with PK-4 Certification program. The partnership features a special tuition agreement, allowing childcare professionals across Pennsylvania to pursue higher education while continuing to work full time.

Qualified T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Pennsylvania Scholarship recipients will benefit from a reduced tuition rate of $322 per credit hour, aligned with Pennsylvania’s current state rate. The scholarship covers up to six credits per semester, allowing recipients to progress steadily toward their degree without financial barriers.

ALVERNIA AGAIN NAMED HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS

The Pennsylvania Department of Education in November awarded a $20,000 grant to Alvernia as part of the 2024-25 PA Hunger-Free Campus program.

The grant is part of the statewide PA Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, which launched in 2022. The initiative supports a coalition of colleges and universities working to alleviate student hunger, provide resources for food security and build connections among hunger advocates. Alvernia’s culture of care aligns with this mission, addressing not just food insecurity but also the overall well-being of students.

The university’s work in this area is supported by initiatives like Clare’s Cupboard, a campus resource that provides free food and essential items to students in need, as well as broader efforts to address basic needs insecurities. The $20,000 grant will further enhance these programs during the grant period from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ACTION

Servant leaders teach, support students in Dominican Republic

Alvernia University students, faculty and staff spent a week in the Dominican Republic teaching, serving and learning. The students assisted the Bernardine Sisters with school operations and experienced life in Los Tres Brazos Barrio, located in Santo Domingo.

“Reflecting on my experience, one thought always entered my mind: I wondered how these children found such joy in having so little,” said Kristin Eck, staff chaperone, who serves as Alvernia’s marketing specialist. “However, most don’t know about the everyday conveniences and wealth

we are fortunate to have living in the United States. The weeklong journey in Santo Domingo stirred up many emotions. It made me realize that happiness isn’t measured by material possessions but by the depth of connection and the ability to appreciate the simplest moments with people who share love and gratitude.”

Each student was tasked with raising $400 and creating a lesson plan for children from kindergarten through sixth grade. The lesson plans aimed to teach the kids about English and other cultural activities enjoyed in the U.S. through games, activities, and arts and crafts. The Alvernia students also brought toothbrushes and toothpaste to teach about oral hygiene. Javier Romero, a nursing student at Alvernia University, even taught the kids about CPR.

“One thing that I have taken away from ... this Dominican Republic alternative break is the importance of serving,” Romero said. “Service tends to have a very generalized definition amongst everybody, but I think it’s one thing knowing what it means bookwise (serving), and another thing doing it. ... Overall this has been such a humbling experience.”

In addition to creating lesson plans, the students served the community in various ways. These included conducting a focus group with teens and visiting five families struggling with illness.

Students facilitate collection, donation of 70 bags of clothing

Twenty-one service-learning students and volunteers facilitated the collection and donation of 70 bags of clothing to the Hope Rescue Mission.

The event was a reimagination of the university’s moveout event, allowing students to clear out their belongings ahead of winter break while serving the community.

The Holleran Center partnered with Assistant Professor of Nursing Heather Keperling, Ed.D., RN, and her servicelearning and SEARCH classes for the project. Leading up to the clothing drive, students served at Hope Rescue Mission in various capacities. Students led the clothing drive campaign with the planning, advertising and placement of collection bins around campus. They also helped collect and sort donations before the pickup day.

Business students compete at sales challenge

Alvernia University business students tested their professional sales skills against 40 other students at Susquehanna University’s Quick Pitch Sales Challenge. Caden DeSiato, Gino Giacolona and Isaac Kassis worked for three months preparing for the competition.

One competition involved sharing a 90-second elevator pitch to seven different companies.

The competition, free to all college students, consisted of two rounds. All students competed in round one, with the opportunity to pitch to four companies. Giacolona placed in the top 10 and immediately moved to round two. Round two featured pitches to the final pitch sponsor, Dell Computers.

Students attend world’s largest convention of HR professionals

The Alvernia Student Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) attended the SHRM National Conference in Chicago, the world’s largest convention of HR professionals, alongside 28,000 students.

“We explored new products, met with professionals, listened to speakers from various diverse specialties and enjoyed discovering the city,” said MBA candidate and SHRM Student Chapter President Nicholas King.

Periscope

Alvernia’s faculty making a difference

Faculty SPOTLIGHT

Becker in November published a research article on a minuscule yet mighty marine organism.

“Novel isolates expand the physiological diversity of Prochlorococcus and illuminate its macroevolution” appeared in the scientific journal mBio.

Leading a team of 15 authors on the paper, Becker said it was a long time coming. Its roots go back to the mid-’80s, when senior author Penny Chisholm was credited with discovering the marine organism Prochlorococcus. Called “Pro” for short, this microbe is the most abundant photoautotroph – an organism that uses light energy to produce organic compounds – on Earth.

“It was so small it hadn’t been detected before,” Becker said. “As far as we know, it’s the simplest cell that’s capable of doing photosynthesis. It takes in carbon dioxide and uses sunlight energy to create oxygen and sugars in the process. So they form the bottom of a lot of marine food webs and food chains.”

Before Becker arrived at Alvernia in the summer of 2020, he was a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chisholm is the principal investigator in the marine microbiology lab where he worked. The research that spurred the paper occurred at MIT, and Becker has continued to collaborate with the team there in the ensuing years.

Jamie Becker, Ph.D

Assistant Professor of Biology

“I was going out on field expeditions to the open ocean,” he said. “We knew from sampling seawater that there are types of Prochlorococcus that we don’t have growing in any lab. When you can grow an organism in a laboratory, it opens the door to many different studies. You can sequence its entire genome, so you know exactly what genes it has. The cool thing about this paper is we were successful in isolating new strains of Prochlorococcus that no one had ever grown in the laboratory before. Then, we did a bunch of studies on them.”

Becker has always enjoyed culturing, or growing bacteria in the lab, despite the process being laborious. “It takes perseverance,” he said, comparing it to the methodical activity of gardening.

Also laborious and methodical was the writing process, which took about two years. Peer review then tacked on additional months.

“There are pros and cons to having so many co-authors,” he said. “You’ve got a lot of brains in the building and a lot of perspectives, but it extends the writing process because everybody’s making contributions. The published piece is version 48 or something like that.”

Becker, who has co-authored over 20 papers in his career, including another recent piece detailing cross-feeding among ocean microbes, hopes the Prochlorococcus article reinforces the importance of continuing to research and isolate new organisms, which could spur grant funding.

Though he hasn’t been on an ocean trip since moving to Alvernia, he has visited the Amazon rainforest in Peru multiple times to capture and sequence environmental DNA, which is DNA sampled from the environment rather than directly from a living organism. He and collaborator Brian Griffiths, Ph.D., of Georgetown University will return next summer, and a $20,000 research grant they recently received from Georgetown will allow Becker to bring along at least one Alvernia student for hands-on experiential learning and worldview expansion.

“I always tell my students that traveling is the No. 1 tangible way we can try to fight against a lot of the confusion, negativity and fear the world is experiencing right now,” he said. “Just learning that the way that I grew up doing things, the food that I grew up eating, the traditions that my family has is one way to do things, but it’s not the only way to do things. And one’s not right and one’s not wrong, they’re just different. And there’s a lot of beauty and magic in that diversity. Bringing students along for those experiences is probably my favorite aspect of my job.”

Periscope

Alvernia’s faculty making a difference

Kayla Landers, MA

Writing Program Director and Instructor of Communication

Landers served as a proposal reviewer for the Program Administration & Evaluation strand at the 2025 TESOL International Convention & Expo; she recently finished a year of chairing the International Teaching Assistants interest section. Landers was also a proposal reviewer for the 2025 Conference on College Composition & Communication (CCCC). Her proposal, The Value of Digital Multimodal Composition in First-Year Composition Courses, has been accepted and will be presented at the 2025 CCCC Annual Convention in Baltimore in April, where she will be a 2025 CCCC Annual Convention documentarian. Landers also volunteers on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) USA Higher Education Advisory Council and helped review applications for the IELTS USA Andrea Scott International Graduate Scholarship.

Jodi Radosh, Ph.D.

Co- Director of the Office for Teaching and Learning and Professor of Communication and Digital Mediaa

Radosh last year launched the podcast “Jackie and Jodi Dessert First” on Spotify with radio personality Jackie Hoffman, whom she has known since the 1990s. Covering topics such as empty-nest syndrome, local media and listening to our bodies, the show is recorded in Alvernia’s podcasting studios at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne and the Media Suite in Bernardine Hall. Students from Radosh’s Media and Politics class and student leaders from the College of Business, Communication, and Leadership have contributed to episodes.

In addition:

• She presented “COM 240: Public Relations - Promoting a Pop Star Taylor Swift’s PR Model” at the Pennsylvania Communication Association Conference at Penn State University’s Schuylkill Campus in September.

• She presented “Taylor Swift: Promoting a Popstar” at the Highlands Retirement Community in Wyomissing, Pa., in October.

• She presented “Media, Democracy, and Media Literacy” with Professor of Political Science and Honors Program Director Victoria Williams, Ph.D., to the Jewish Federation in Wyomissing, Pa., in October.

• She was interviewed by WGAL-TV for the story “An Excuse Note from the Vice President” in October.

• She and Williams were interviewed by WFMZ-TV for the story “Political Text Message Overload: How Campaigns Get Your Cell Phone Number” in October.

Jane D. Brooker, Ph.D., MBA

Assistant Professor of Business

Brooker published “An investigation of emotional intelligence competencies for early-career insurance professionals across mutual insurance companies” in the peerreviewed Journal of Business and Economics, 1(6), p. 309-319.

Alicia Sprow, Ph.D.

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Program Coordinator, Leadership Department Chair and Director of the Office of Institutional Sustainability

Heather Keperling, Ed.D., RN

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Keperling published “Growing grit: Perseverance and passion in nursing education” in the February 2025 issue of the peerreviewed journal Nursing, 55(2), 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1097/ NSG.0000000000000140

Sprow published the article “Higher Education Institutions’ Role in Developing Future Leaders for Sustainability: Incorporating the Inner Development Goals” in the International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic, Social, and Cultural Context. She presented the workshop Leadership for Sustainability: Innovative Tools to Measure the Inner Development Goals at the 21st International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic, & Social Sustainability in January. She also was awarded a grant as part of her work in the Office of Institutional Sustainability from the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity, through which she is co-developing the Student Sustainability Ambassador Program with Alvernia student leaders Genny Weikel and Nick Hornbuckle.

Periscope

Alvernia’s faculty making a difference

Kris Lowrey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Communication

Lowrey presented her research on women’s agency and activism in 19th-century newspapers in Reading at the 84th Annual Pennsylvania Communication Association (PCA) Convention in September, and she will serve as PCA’s chair for the Media, Society, and Technology Interest Council for the upcoming year. In November, she presented her paper titled “Women’s Historical Scrapbooks in NineteenthCentury Reading, Pennsylvania” at the Annual Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (MAPACA) Conference. In addition, she was appointed to the board of the Oley Valley Heritage Association.

Jayme Ober, OTD, OTR/L, MSCS, CNMI

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Director and Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

Ober published “Leveraging Occupational Therapy in Acute Care to Address Health Management for Adults with Multiple Sclerosis” in the peerreviewed Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy.

Caroline Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. Professor of Communication & Digital Media

Fitzpatrick presented “Creating Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Underserved Populations” at the Teaching Professor Conference by Magna Publications in October.

Elizabeth Matteo, Ph.D. Dean, College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences

Patricia Reger, Ph.D., PT Dean, College of Health Sciences

Matteo and Reger presented “Navigating Strategic Alliances: A Dean’s Guide to University-Community Partnerships” at the American Conference of Academic Deans’ annual conference in Phoenix, Ariz., in February. The interactive session explored the strategic management of partnerships, focusing on the crucial role of deans in balancing responsibilities and fostering strategic alliances. Participants learned how to assess stakeholder alignment, build trust, set expectations, and understand factors impacting the financial and organizational success of partnerships.

Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D. Professor of Biology and Leadership Studies, Strategic Advisor for the Office of Institutional Sustainability

Stober published a paper titled “A Franciscan Perspective on the Formation of Nature-Centered Leaders in Higher Education” in the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU) Journal. Vol. 16, 2024. The paper is based on a presentation at an AFCU Symposium, sponsored by Siena College and Holy Name Province.

Stephanie Pillai, DMSc, MPAS, MS, PA-C Physician Associate Program Director of Outreach & Experiential Learning, and Assistant Professor of Medicine

Pillai earned her Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree from the University of Pittsburgh in December. Pillai’s capstone project was titled “Consistent & Adequate Faculty Advising Can Reduce the Risk of Physician Assistant/Associate Student Burnout & Positively Affect Student’s Academic & Professional Success.” Pillai joined physician associate education in 2020, developing an interest in effective early remediation and student support.

Attention, Alumni:

• Married?

• New job?

• Addition to the family?

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

1980s

James Michalak ’85 has been appointed to the newly created leadership role of chief operating officer at Herbein + Company, Inc.

(1.) Linda (Scheib) Lysakowski, ACFRE ’88 received MTS-FT (master’s in theological studies - Franciscan Theology) from the Franciscan School of Theology, University of San Diego, in May 2023.

1990s

(2.) Janene Holter ’93 Ph.D. ’18 accepted the position of chief of Carbon County Adult Probation & Parole in April 2024. She retired from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General after 25 years of service in March 2024.

Class NotesAlumni

2000s

(3.) Jill Patti ’00 married Neil Olley on Sept. 26, 2024.

Angela Brown ’01 MBA ’06 was appointed assistant director of academic affairs at Penn State Schuylkill campus.

(4.) Megan Carbonell ’04 received the Citadel Heart of Learning Award, which honors teachers who inspire students with a unique sense of heart and dedication. It specifically spotlights teachers who go above and beyond to foster connections with students, make a significant impact on their communities and ensure the desire to learn is never compromised.

(5.) Shana (Gabler) Blayney ’05 MBA ’19 was interviewed on the podcast “Mamas in Spirit,” where she discussed her Catholic faith and the impact of Sunday Mass and family meals.

Joseph Kmetz ’05 was inducted into the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame for his performance on his high school baseball, soccer, cross-country and basketball teams.

(6.) Lori Floyd ‘05 MBA ’08 published her first children’s picture book, “The Adventures of the Explorers’ Club in New York City.”

(7.) Maryemma Gregory Muñoz ’05 had a baby boy, Matthew Gregory Muñoz, on May 22, 2024.

(8.) Ryan Yanchocik ’08 became engaged to Molly Hodnik.

(9.) Stacey (Scherer) Cole M.Ed. ’09 was appointed chief development officer of the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.

2010s

Claire Mooney MBA ’10 was appointed chief nursing officer for the Central Region of Jefferson Health.

Ashley Miller M.Ed. ’11 was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for her high school softball career.

Susan (McCord) Farr ’12 has been elected a member of the Helping Harvest Board.

1. Linda (Scheib) Lysakowski, ACFRE ’88

Janene Holter ’93

’18 (front right)

Jill Patti ’00

Megan Carbonell ’04

. Shana (Gabler) Blayney ’05 MBA ’19

Lori Floyd ’05 MBA ’08

Maryemma Gregory Muñoz ’05

Ryan Yanchocik ’08 9. Stacey (Scherer) Cole M.Ed. ’09

Class NotesAlumni

(10.) Daniel Kropf ’12 married Megan Wendland on July 7, 2024.

(11.) Brian Nerney ’12 and wife Amanda welcomed Brooks Patrick Nerney into the world in December 2024.

(12.) Miranda (Peto) Dawson ’13 and husband Derek welcomed baby girl Reese Mia into the world in October.

Leah Della Croce ’13 married Steven Suvacar on Sept. 6 in Drums, Pa.

Keshia (Cunningham) Gonzalez ’13 has been promoted to associate executive director of the Bethesda Center for the Homeless in Winston-Salem, N.C.

(13.) Brenda (Skimski) Kasprzewski MBA ’13 was named the first executive director of Lewes Rehoboth Association of Congregations.

Junior Bernard ’14 wrote a book titled “A True Story: Persist, Persist, Persist.”

(14.) Nicholas Baziuk ’15 MBA ’16 joined the Duane Morris Tax Accounting Group (TAG) as a senior accountant.

(15.) Alex Roche ’15 is the new director of advocacy for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.

Jessica LaMont ’16 graduated with her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology.

(16.) Mikaileigh Baker ’17 MA ’24 was inducted into Alvernia’s Delta Epsilon Sigma national scholastic honor society in November and earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership in December.

Antonina Calcavecchio ’17 has joined MVHS Medical Group as a primary care physician.

(17.) Jenna Harper MS ’17 married Brandon Lewis on Nov. 9.

Alexis (Vaughn) Barnett ’18 and her husband welcomed Emery Jade Barnett into the world on April 24, 2024.

(18.) Jennifer (Apgar) Hack ’18 will begin her second year as a forensic interviewer with the Children’s Alliance Center under the district attorney’s office. She is specifically trained to speak with children as well as adults with disabilities who have potentially been victimized and or witnessed a crime or serious act of violence.

(19.) Annie (Walker) Jones, MS ’18 and Corbin Jones ’16 welcome their third child, Amelia Mae, into the world in December.

2020s

(20.) Dr. Katherine (Santor) Bremer DPT ’20 accepted a position with Cure 4 The Kids Foundation as a physical therapist.

(21.) April Halligan-Rostek Ph.D. ’20 started a new position as director of human resources at Reading School District.

(22.) Maria Figurelli ’21 MA ’24 married Jonathon Demeter ‘21 on Sept. 14.

Katherine Giannaras MS ’22 married Duncan Stevens ‘21 on Oct. 11.

(23.) Nicole Bogenschutz ’23 started the master’s program at Wilkes University for Educational Development & Strategies with an instructional coach endorsement.

10. Daniel Kropf ’12 11. Brian Nerney ’12 12. Miranda (Peto) Dawson ‘13

Brenda (Skimski) Kasprzewski MBA ’13

. Nicholas Baziuk ’15 MBA ’16

. Alex Roche ’15

Mikaileigh Baker ’17 MA ’24

Jenna Harper MS ’17

Jennifer (Apgar) Hack ’18 19. Annie (Walker) Jones, MS ’18 and Corbin Jones ’16

Dr. Katherine (Santor) Bremer DPT ’20

April Halligan-Rostek Ph.D. ’20 22. Maria Figurelli ’21 MA ’24 and Jonathon Demeter ’21 23. Nicole Bogenschutz ’23

Class Notes

In Memoriam

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

1960s

Sr. Maria Zielinski OSF ’62

Sr. Ann Marie Coll OSF ’67

1970s

Jane Laing ’70

Niels Sarac ’74

James Doyle ‘75

George Dierolf Jr. ’77

Hon. Linda (Mowson) Ludgate ’77

1980s

Carol (Greenip) Davis ’80

Mark Toth V ’82

Holly Pechter-Walters ’86

Peggy (Hicinbothem) Bainbridge ’89

Randy Miles ’89

1990s

Sheila Bodnar ’94

Alton Mann Jr. ’94

Sheri Lehn ’98

Dorothy Koinski ’99

Barbara Piccioni ’99

2000s

Deborah Long ’00

Jeffrey Downing ’02

Kathleen (Stankiewicz) Zagar ’02

Patricia Harden ’04

Thomas Lewis MBA ’07

2010s

Melanie (Mooney) Kinder ’12

Kathleen Hause ’14

Spring-Summer 2025 Alumni Events

For more information, contact Director of External Engagement Daniel Hartzman at 610-568-1530 or daniel.hartzman@alvernia.edu.

APRIL

April 4: Occupational Therapy Alumni Social, 5 to 7 p.m., AOTA Inspire 2025 Conference, Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch St., Philadelphia). Registration is required.

April 5: Men’s Soccer Alumni Game & Social, 4 p.m., social to follow. Registration is required.

April 6: Third Annual Alumni Easter Egg Hunt, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is required.

April 24: Psychology and Addictions & Mental Health Alumni Dinner, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Registration is required.

April 27: Field Hockey Alumni Game & Social, 11 a.m., social to follow. Registration is required.

MAY

May 3: MargaritaVern 2025, 6 to 9 p.m., Alvernia PLEX. Registration is required.

JUNE

June 20: Alumni Night at Reading Fightin Phils, 5 p.m., FirstEnergy Stadium, 1950 Centre Ave., Reading. Registration is required.

AUGUST

Aug. 9: Alumni Night at Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 5 p.m., Coca-Cola Park, 1050 IronPigs Way, Allentown. Registration is required.

MargaritaVern: May 3, 2025

Join us as we continue this popular Alvernia tradition and welcome the Class of 2025 to the Alumni Association. Catch up with friends, fellow alumni, and Alvernia faculty and staff. Great food and beverages will be served, and Alvernia alumnus Nick Talarico ’03 will once again spin your favorite party music and take requests for your favorite beachthemed music!

Tell your friends and come as a group!

Ways to get involved

If you’re an Alvernia grad looking for ways to keep the university in your life while helping to improve the alumni experience for others, here are some suggestions:

• Serve on the Alumni Council: The advisory, governing body of Alvernia University’s Alumni Association, the Alumni Council is composed of about two dozen elected graduates of varying class years, occupations and experiences who serve as representative voices for the alumni body. The council provides overarching guidance and direction to the Alumni Association as well as advice when called on by the university in matters relating to alumni.

• Join one of the Alumni Council committees: You could also join one of the council’s committees: Enrollment & Marketing, Engagement & Philanthropy, Young Alumni or Career Services.

• Volunteer for an upcoming event: MargaritaVern (Saturday, May 3) or Commencement (Saturday, May 10).

If any of this interests you, reach out to Alumni@Alvernia.edu or call the office at 610-568-1530.

Alumni of distinction recognized at President’s Dinner

Each year, Alvernia’s Alumni Association recognizes alumni of distinction through several awards handed out at the university’s annual President’s Dinner. Additional

Alvernia Distinguished Alumni Award recipient: Joanne Haag ’69

This award recognizes alumni who have exemplified a dedication to their chosen profession.

Joanne Haag exemplifies the power of adaptability and seizing unexpected opportunities. A 1969 graduate of Alvernia, Haag began her career as an elementary school teacher in Washington, D.C., where she creatively wove her passion for stamp collecting into her classroom lessons. However, a move to Cincinnati and a chance encounter at a local stamp club luncheon dramatically altered her career trajectory.

Haag was unexpectedly offered a position at H.P. Thompson, an engineering firm — an unfamiliar field. Undeterred, she embraced the challenge, learning the industry’s complexities with determination and quickly rising through the ranks. Her tenacity and business savvy led her to become a part owner in the firm, breaking barriers in a male-dominated sector. Over 42 years, Haag played a pivotal role in expanding H.P. Thompson’s product line.

Her entrepreneurial spirit didn’t end there. Haag’s passion for stamp collecting evolved into a successful side business.

Haag remains actively involved in her professional community through her National Association of Professional Women and Clermont Chamber of Commerce memberships. Haag credits Alvernia’s core values and supportive community for instilling in her the resilience, confidence and boldness that have been the cornerstones of her success in business and life.

information about Alvernia’s alumni awards, including nomination forms and a complete list of recipients, is available at www.alvernia.edu/alumni-awards.

Ellen Frei Gruber Award recipient: Dr. Patricia W. Savage ’71

This award recognizes Alvernia alumni who reflect the values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality in how they conduct their lives.

Patricia W. Savage is a distinguished leader with a decades-spanning career in health care and social services. Under her leadership as president and CEO of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries (ALSM), the organization supported over 3,000 individuals annually with the help of more than 300 staff members and operated with an annual budget of $28 million.

Savage’s prior experience includes serving as director of the Senior Companion Program for Telespond Senior Services in Scranton and director of Hospice Saint John before becoming vice president of program operations at Lutheran Welfare Service of Northeastern PA in Hazleton. Savage holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Alvernia, a master’s in social work from Marywood University, a master’s in human resources administration from the University of Scranton and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Union Institute & University. She is actively involved in numerous professional associations, including the Academy of Certified Social Workers, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Her leadership extends into significant roles in numerous organizations. In 2013, she was honored with the Paul Haas Lifetime Achievement Award from LeadingAge Pennsylvania, where she served on the board, for her dedication to advancing aging services.

Four Under Forty Achievement Award recipients

This award recognizes the accomplishments/achievements of our young alumni as they move forward and develop in their careers

Angela York MA ’11

Angela York has been the executive director of THRIVE Peninsula since 2016. Under her visionary leadership, THRIVE expanded its programs by 500%, significantly increasing its capacity to provide emergency financial assistance, financial coaching and food pantry services. In 2023, York oversaw the acquisition and renovation of a new facility, more than double the size of its previous location, marking a transformative milestone for the organization. The new building houses The Market at THRIVE, the region’s first free grocery store, created in partnership with Food Lion.

She holds a master’s in community leadership from Alvernia and a bachelor’s in public relations from York College. At Alvernia, she served as a graduate assistant in the Student Activities office, further shaping her leadership skills.

Mary Strausser MSOT ’08

Mary Strausser and two business partners started two franchises of Gym-Jam Therapeutics, Inc., a learning center serving children with autism and other special needs. The facilities’ services include applied behavioral

analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy and social skills groups. Its Schuylkill County centers are in Pottsville, the home of Alvernia’s Pottsville CollegeTowne, and Frackville.

Strausser’s firstborn son suffered from medical difficulties and experienced developmental challenges. Locating services for him was difficult. When she eventually succeeded, she was delighted with the benefits her son experienced from the therapies he received. When the opportunity to open a facility to help other children arose, Strausser jumped at the chance.

Gym-Jam partners with Pottsville CollegeTowne psychology students, who assist at the centers. Strausser hopes to eventually expand Gym-Jam into Berks County.

Maj. Leon Geiger ’13, M.A. ’23

Maj. Leon Geiger is an active-duty Army officer serving as a professor of military science and a lieutenant colonel at West Virginia University. He served in a similar role at Alvernia, where he earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership in 2023. He also earned a bachelor’s in psychology as an ROTC Scholarship recipient.

In addition to his leadership degree, Maj. Geiger holds a master’s degree in business and organizational security management from Webster University, which he completed while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. His overseas

deployments include Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and assignments in Kuwait, Jordan and Afghanistan.

Emily Cleffi-Tristani ’12

Emily Cleffi-Tristani graduated from Alvernia with a major in communication and minors in English and marketing. She was one of the first Alvernia students to pursue an internship in London, where she worked with NBC Universal as a public relations and marketing intern for E! TV.

After graduating, Cleffi-Tristani worked on marketing strategy for mass media conglomerate Discovery, Inc. In 2016, she dove into public affairs, managing media relations for the president at the Brookings Institution. She also led the Women’s Impact Network, a mentorship program dedicated to the advancement of women in public policy.

Most recently, Cleffi-Tristani amplified responsible innovation efforts in the tech sector while working as Google’s executive and external communications manager for global affairs.

From left to right: Mary Strausser MSOT ‘08, Angela York MA ‘11, Glynis Fitzgerald Ph.D., Emily Cleffi-Tristani ‘12, Maj. Leo Geiger ‘13, M.A. ‘23

Homecoming & Family Weekend a ray of sunshine

Due to rain’s reign, Alvernia’s 2023’s Homecoming & Family Weekend was a soggy affair. But 2024’s iteration of the annual event could not have been more picture-perfect. And the Alvernia family showed up in force.

Popular events returned, including virtual bingo, athletic alumni games, a Golden Wolves football game and hours of tailgating leading up to it, sunset tours of Francis Hall, and the weekendclosing Puppy Yoga and Playtime.

And a few events debuted, including a Silent Disco in the Student Center and making s’mores over a campfire in the Quad.

‘I can’t believe the campus’

Roughly a dozen members of the classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce.

“Even though it’s 55 years, we still stay in touch, you know?” said Joanne Haag ’69. “We’re not just here today. We talk

on the phone a lot. So I think that makes a difference as to the camaraderie when it’s not just that one event you’re working toward. It’s a family, and you care about each other.”

Haag, who resides in Cincinnati, said she makes the trip to celebrate important anniversaries like this year’s 55th, though

the 2024 return featured a notable bonus: She received Alvernia’s Distinguished Alumni Award for her achievements with engineering firm H.P. Thompson at the university’s annual President’s Dinner. (See more on page 44.)

“We were going to be here anyway because it’s Homecoming and it’s our 55th,” said Mary Ann D’Alonzo ’69. “And Joanne was icing on the cake.”

The alumnae continue to marvel at the expansion occurring at their oncequaint alma mater. Kathy DePoister ’67 had fewer than 20 total students in her graduating class, only four of them lay students. The Class of 1969 totaled 45, with 33 of them lay students, according to Haag, who researched the class for her Distinguished Award speech.

The group members’ weekend schedule was packed, featuring buildings and experiences that didn’t exist a decade ago, let alone when they were students. They toured the Flynn PLEX and John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, took in Francis Hall by candlelight, attended a Mass of thanksgiving and tree blessing with the Bernardine Sisters and watched the football game from the President’s Box.

“That’s why I come back,” DePoister said. “I can’t believe the campus.”

Sunset tours of Francis Hall are a popular weekend attraction.

A family affair

It’s like family.

That’s a common response current and former students give when asked to describe the Alvernia experience.

In most cases, the meaning is metaphorical. But the family affair can be literal as well. Couples will meet on campus, get married and then watch one or more of their children attend their alma mater.

Those generational links were on display during the festive football tailgating in a packed parking lot behind the Bornemann Building.

“This place is amazing, right? Special territory,” said Jeffrey Smith ‘86, partaking in the festivities with a group that included wife Donna ’86. “You walk

on this campus, you feel something. You can see it from the kids that come here, and it’s birds of a feather, man. It’s great people following great people.”

That was the case with the Smith family, when son Jeffrey Smith Jr. ’11 followed his father’s footsteps onto campus and onto the baseball team.

The elder Smith frequently returns to campus, a place overflowing with memories for the recipient of Alvernia’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996 and current member of the President’s Advisory Council.

As Alvernia continues to renovate and expand, it might seem like returning to campus would be off-putting for alumni of the Alvernia College days. But that’s not the case.

“It still feels like home,” Smith said. “For sure. It’s like they just put an addition on the house.”

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2025 will take place Oct. 10 through 12.

Family Weekend 2025 Oct. 10, 11 and 12

Members of the classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 returned to campus.

Alumni tailgate with an old sign from Alvernia College.

Homecoming & Family Weekend 2024

Print or Digital… You Decide

• Next session begins May 19

We’ve added more digital content, like photo galleries and videos, to the Alvernia Magazine. In Fall 2024 we started reducing printed copies by 70%, an effort that is in line with our commitment to environmental and fiscal sustainability of the university. You can still enjoy the magazine in print or digitally—whichever you prefer, but we are asking you to declare your preference.

Request Your Alvernia Magazine

To continue receiving a printed copy or selecting the new digital issue with a postcard reminder, let us know by:

• Emailing Alumni@alvernia.edu or calling 610-796-8259.

• Completing the quick survey at Alvernia.edu/Magazine

NOTE TO PARENTS

If this issue of Alvernia Magazine is addressed to a daughter or son who has established a separate residence, please notify us of that new address by sending an email to: alumni@alvernia.edu

WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE?

If you no longer wish to receive the print edition of the magazine, use the QR code to the left or notify us by sending an email to: alumni@alvernia.edu

Largest admitted students’ event in

Alvernia University

Alvernia University Celebrating the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters’ impact

@alverniau

@alverniau From PAs to FBI agents, the Golden Wolves’ futures are bright.

Alvernia Magazine: Winter 2025

Alvernia

MAGAZINE

Shining a light

PROFILES

ON CAMPUS

Officers of the Board

Let Us Shine Together

Surrounded with support

A spotlight on student needs

Igniting student success

Plugging into the campus community

Usage of SOLARassociated resources

A beacon of hope

High Five

The student experience

What’s next?

Room for growth

Student Center Game Room

Bernardine Hall lobby

Campus Commons living room

Upgraded spaces help to foster interaction and build connections

More updates in downtown Reading

Educating the educators

‘Shaping the future of education’

Soldiering On

Making an

Assist

Versatile verse with

Fund offers glimmers of HOPE to students

ON CAMPUS

BOARD EXTENDS PRESIDENT’S CONTRACT THROUGH 2029

NURSING GRADS ACHIEVE 100% NCLEX PASS RATE

Alvernia, Community Evangelical Church partner for second annual Night to Shine

New Apprenticeship to Degree Program extends Alvernia’s education innovation

$3 MILLION GRANT FROM STATE WILL HELP FUND PROJECTS

SCHUYLKILL YMCA, ALVERNIA PARTNER FOR POTTSVILLE EXPANSION

ON CAMPUS

ENDOWMENT BOOSTS FACULTY RESEARCH, TEACHING EXCELLENCE

OFFICE HONORED FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN

Historian Gretchen Sorin discusses ‘Driving While Black’ book at lecture

O’Pake Institute expands alliance with John Paul II Center for Special Learning

BILINGUAL FINANCIAL SERIES LAUNCHES

BIOMEDICAL GROUP, O’PAKE HOST INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

PARTNERSHIP EMPOWERS LATINE ENTREPRENEURS

ON CAMPUS

MEDIA AND POLITICS CLASS CURATES VOTER EDUCATION EXHIBIT

Alvernia, Visions Federal Credit Union team for financial literacy education

ALVERNIA RECOGNIZED FOR STUDENT VOTING

Pennsylvania’s chief diversity officer inspires at Cultural Coalition event

PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO EDUCATION STUDENTS

ALVERNIA AGAIN NAMED HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ACTION

Servant leaders teach, support students in Dominican Republic

Students facilitate collection, donation of 70 bags of clothing

Business students compete at sales challenge

Students attend world’s largest convention of HR professionals

Periscope

Faculty SPOTLIGHT

Jamie Becker, Ph.D

Periscope

Periscope

Attention, Alumni:

1980s

1990s

Class NotesAlumni

2000s

2010s

Class NotesAlumni

2020s

Class Notes

In Memoriam

Spring-Summer 2025 Alumni Events

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

AUGUST

Ways to get involved

Alumni of distinction recognized at President’s Dinner

Ellen Frei Gruber Award recipient: Dr. Patricia W. Savage ’71