Horizons - Spring 2018

The DelVal community steps up to help restore cropland in hurricane-battered Puerto Rico

THE AMAZING AGGIES Page 22

From the Editor’s Keyboard As I write this, bluegrass music is jangling on the quad, ponies are strolling the straw-covered circle in front of Allman, and there are tents selling crafts and food on virtually every walkway in the center of campus.

A-Day 2018 is underway, giving me my first glimpse of one of DelVal’s most storied traditions. Since I came on board last September, colleague after new colleague has enthused to me about these three days of fun, games, activities and eating. The real immersion will be tomorrow – Saturday – when I bring my daughter along to check things out. I sense milkshakes in our future.

One of the things I love about my job is that DelVal is bursting with stories to tell. A-Day is one of them. You can read about a couple of our other, better-known recent stories – the effort to assist farmers and gardeners recovering from Hurricane Maria’s ruthless destruction, and the Division III phenomenon that is DelVal football – in this issue. If I’ve learned anything in my nearly eight months of meetings and chats over coffee, though, it’s that the untold stories are as interesting as their more renowned counterparts.

And we have a bunch of them. There’s a lot going on here. Some of these stories extend the University’s agricultural legacy; many are related to more recent ventures. We are committed to telling as many of them as we can, in these pages as well as on DelVal’s website, in its Admission publications, through our social media channels, and elsewhere.

Of course, students and faculty members are not alone in having important stories to tell.

Graduates of Delaware Valley University – all 16,000-plus of them – have taken their degrees and gone on to stellar careers, fulfilling service and meaningful adventures of their own. We’re as keen to hear – and tell – those stories as we are those of our on-campus friends.

So drop us a line with your story. Let us know what you want to read here – and what you don’t. You can reach me at thomas.durso@delval.edu, and I would love to hear from you.

Whether or not milkshakes are involved.

EDITOR Thomas W. Durso

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Annmarie Ely Michelle Glitzer ’20 Matt Levy

DESIGN Sarah Boyle Tricia Kessler

PHOTOGRAPHY Matt Levy Michelle Glitzer ’20 Rick Kintzel John Kish Jonathan Lance ’19

SEND CLASS NOTES TO Delaware Valley University Office of Marketing and Communications 700 East Butler Avenue Doylestown, PA 18901 Ph: 215.489.6367 horizons@delval.edu

POSTMASTER ADDRESS CHANGES TO Delaware Valley University Office of Institutional Advancement 700 East Butler Avenue Doylestown, PA 18901 instadv@delval.edu

Thomas W. Durso Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications Editor, Horizons

Horizons is published two times a year for Delaware Valley University alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty and staff by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Copyright ©2018 Delaware Valley University.

Periodicals postage paid at Southeastern, PA and at additional mailing offices.

HORIZONS MAGAZINE MISSION STATEMENT The primary purpose of Horizons is to present accurate, balanced stories that will interest our readers, elevate perceptions and awareness of the institution, and create a greater sense of community.

The magazine shares news and accomplishments to keep alumni connected to the institution, extending the University’s reach to wherever people live.

Horizons shares and highlights news related to the University and its alumni, students, faculty and staff. The intent of sharing these stories is to make people more aware of the great work that is happening because of the University, which will indirectly cultivate alumni engagement, campus visits, financial gifts and favorable coverage of DelVal. As one channel for the institution’s marketing and communications, the magazine breaks down silos and allows

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for the various departments on campus to learn more about each other.

The publication reflects DelVal’s core values: respect all people; value the world of ideas and differences; pursue excellence; live each day with integrity; teach, learn and serve with passion and commitment; and act as one learning community with one purpose.

The final decision on whether a story will be included is always based on two factors: • Is it an interesting topic that will engage our readers?

• Does the story help to elevate perceptions of the institution or, foster a greater sense of community among our audience?

We want to hear from you!

Letters are subject to editing for space, style, clarity and civility. To submit letters to the editor, email horizons@delval.edu, or mail a letter to:

Editor Horizons Office of Marketing and Communications Delaware Valley University 700 East Butler Avenue Doylestown, PA 18901

Contents

Page 16

16 When Hurricane Maria wiped out thousands of acres of cropland in Puerto Rico, the Delaware Valley University community sprung into action

A Tribute to Dr. Joshua Feldstein Page 5

From the Editor’s Keyboard..............................2 President’s Letter.............................................4 Tribute to Dr. Feldstein.....................................5 On Campus......................................................6

THE AMAZING AGGIES

Page 22

Over the last decade and a half, DelVal’s football team has developed into a national power, and 2017 was one of its best seasons ever

Athletics.........................................................25 Class Notes....................................................28 Alumni Profiles...............................................31 Sam Kieffer ’12 Dr. Caitlin McQueen ’12 Madison Moore ’15

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ANNUAL R E PO RT A Year of Transition Page 12

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President’s Letter

Dear alumni, parents, friends and colleagues, When we launched our strategic planning process last fall, we realized that our first task was to answer a simple yet profound question.

Where does Delaware Valley University want to go?

That is, what is our vision for this storied institution? We had to know that before we could figure out how to get there. As the great American author John Naisbitt once said, “Strategic planning is worthless – unless there is first a strategic vision.”

Thanks to input from more than 200 members of the University community – faculty, students, staff, alumni, trustees and administrators – we came to understand that our future success is grounded in our legacy, in a founding principle that extends back nearly a century and a quarter.

“Science with practice” is how our founder, Dr. Joseph Krauskopf, put it.

Learning by doing.

DelVal does experiential education better than most schools. Our innovative Experience360 program builds it into the curriculum, ensuring that every graduate of the University leaves campus with experience in his or her back pocket. U.S. News & World Report recently recognized our success in this area when it named us to its list of “10 Schools Where Students Usually Get Internships.”

But we can do it better. We will do it better. Our vision is to be the leader in experiential education, empowering all learners to transform the world.

We articulate this vision to orient us toward our future. Just as Dr. Krauskopf set out to improve the social and economic lives of those who came to DelVal, so, too, will we enable learners to develop the skills and perspectives that the workplace demands, that a global society needs, and that leadership requires. By infusing an experiential component in all we do as an institution, we will give every moment the chance to foster learning, growth and success in the members of our University community.

Ultimately, through the advancement of experiential education, we will create value that sets a Delaware Valley University education apart from all others.

How we realize this vision is what the strategic plan will do for us, and that is the work that awaits us in the weeks and months to come.

I could not be more excited to continue on this journey, as we dream, design and do!

Dr. Maria Gallo

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Dr. Joshua Feldstein, 1921-2018 Beloved Former President Was One of the Most Important Figures in DelVal’s History Dr. Joshua Feldstein ’42-’52, a Delaware Valley University graduate who went on to become its president and one of the most seminal and beloved figures in its history, passed away on June 19 at the age of 97.

Dr. Feldstein’s remarkable association with DelVal lasted nearly 80 years. It included stints as a faculty member, a department chair, an associate dean, a dean, a trustee and an emeritus trustee in addition to his time as a student and his tenure as president.

“To generations of DelVal students, faculty, staff and alumni, Joshua Feldstein was Delaware Valley University,” said current President Dr. Maria Gallo. “The entire University community is deeply saddened by his passing.”

Known as a person who valued honesty and loyalty, and possessed of a sincere desire to help people, Dr. Feldstein made small classes and personal attention hallmarks of the DelVal educational experience. Even as an administrator, he made time to teach classes. He was a valued counselor to students and kept up with alumni long after they left campus.

“Our students are our life’s blood,” he once said, “and our alumni are our claim to fame.”

As president, Dr. Feldstein advocated for access and inclusion.

He helped admit the first women to DelVal in the 1960s and increased the number of women on the faculty.

“To teach is to mold minds and to influence people forever,” he said.

“If you don’t extend an opportunity to people, or exclude them from an opportunity, they will never be able to accomplish what they could.”

Dr. Feldstein with his late wife, Miriam.

“ To teach is to mold minds and to influence people forever. If you don’t extend an opportunity to people, or exclude them from an opportunity, they will never be able to accomplish what they could.”

A memorial service for Dr. Feldstein will be held on DelVal’s campus in late summer or early fall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Feldstein Family Scholarship at Delaware Valley University or to a charity of the donor’s choosing.

A fuller remembrance will appear in the next issue of Horizons.

For a more complete chronicle of Dr. Feldstein’s life, to view photos and a video, and to leave condolences and remembrances, please visit delval.edu/feldstein.

Dr. Joshua Feldstein was selected by the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence as a Drum Major Honoree for the category of education.

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THE EQUINE INDUSTRY’S

$670 Million ECONOMIC IMPACT

Residents and tourists driving around Southeastern Pennsylvania are frequently impressed with the beauty of the area’s pastures and horses, but many do not realize the full contribution of the equine industry on the region’s economy.

A Tiny House

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Visitors to Delaware Valley University’s campus had the rare opportunity to see a tiny house being constructed during the fall semester. Mesa Lifestyle, an eco-lifestyle brand, built and funded the project with the support of community sponsors. The goal of the project was to give the community a chance to learn about sustainable living practices.

The 270-square foot, solar-powered tiny house was built across from The Market.

It was designed to inspire a more Earth-conscious community by demonstrating the process of building an off-grid house using renewable energy, conserving resources, reducing waste and choosing locally-sourced, sustainable materials. The house was designed to catch and reuse rainwater.

Its interior includes a kitchen, living area, bathroom, walk-in closet and a storage staircase leading to a lofted bedroom.

The completed house is traveling to farms, schools and businesses to promote sustainable living.

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“ The equine industry pumps $386 million in direct spending into the Southeastern Pennsylvania economy.”

According to a Delaware Valley University study released last fall, the industry spends $546 million on goods, services, wages and salaries in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The impact of this spending generates $670 million to regional GDP, supports more than 6,550, jobs and generates $58 million in tax revenue. The sector also provides almost $160 million in annual payroll and plays a vital role in maintaining open spaces and agricultural production.

John Urbanchuk, chair of agribusiness at DelVal, directed the study. Dr. Sarah Young, chair of the DelVal animal science department; Cory Kieschnick, chair of the equine science and management department; and Christine Seel, co-chair of the business and information management department, worked with Urbanchuk on the study, which was commissioned by the Chester-Delaware County Farm Bureau.

Fast Facts about the Equine Industry’s Economic Impact in the Region: • The equine industry pumps $386 million in direct spending on goods and services into the Southeastern Pennsylvania economy.

• The industry provides an annual payroll of almost $160 million • The equine sector supports 6,550 jobs in all sectors of the regional economy • Taxpayers benefit from $58 million in tax revenue generated by equine activities.

Watson Executive-In-Residence Lecture

Focuses on Nonprofit Leadership Ifeoma Aduba has always had a heart for giving, and she was able to turn that passion for helping others into a fulltime career. Delaware Valley University welcomed Aduba, a nonprofit leader, to the Watson Executive-in-Residence program last fall. In her lecture, “Success in One Sector Benefits the Whole,” she discussed defining personal success and choosing a fulfilling career.

The Watson Executive-in-Residence program brings business leaders to campus to share their personal career stories and advice with students. The program awards scholarships in honor of the visiting speakers. The fall 2017 recipient was Gina Misnik ’18. To date, the program has provided $125,000 in academic merit scholarships to deserving students.

Aduba opened her discussion by sharing her personal career path with students.

When asked why she chose a career in nonprofit leadership, she explained that nonprofits are “rich in possibility.”

Working for nonprofits gave Aduba the opportunity to partner with corporations to break down walls between the sectors.

Aduba began her career in Los Angeles at Liberty Hill, where she helped

“Nonprofits are ‘rich in possibility.’”

Gina Misnik, Ifeoma Aduba

the firm grow from a $2 million to a $6.5 million company. Returning to Doylestown to raise her family, she became executive director of A Woman’s Place, a Bucks County nonprofit focused on ending domestic violence. Aduba is currently the nonprofit compliance specialist at Harbor Compliance, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Aduba has taken risks in her career that many people would say were not the wisest financial decisions, from taking pay cuts to walking away from high titles.

“I have defined success in my own ways,” Aduba told students during her lecture.

She also provided the audience with some important advice.

“Read, read, and then, read some more,” said Aduba. “And read outside of your field.”

She explained that the key to solving a problem is looking outside and finding inspiration in what other fields are doing. She also encouraged students to be authentic in their conversations, and remember that “it’s always about people,” a principle that she feels is important to live by in business interactions.

-—Michelle Glitzer ’20

“ Read, read, and then, read some more.

And read outside of your field.”

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | HORIZONS 7

NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS THE UNIVERSITY’S OTHER NEW TRUSTEES ARE:

A DELVAL STUDENT JOINS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

who is also president of DelVal’s Student Government Board. “I think it’s great that

including the chance to study abroad in Australia and New Zealand.

“Getting out there and learning in a different environment changed my mindset,” said Reynolds. “I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if it wasn’t for the people at DelVal.”

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cas head of asset

partner of the

managers and al-

Doylestown and

ternative investors

Lahaska Book-

for BNP Paribas

shops, indepen-

Securities Services.

dent bookstores in

He also serves as a director of BNP Paribas

Bucks County. He

Bank & Trust Cayman Limited. Dougherty

spent the major-

earned his B.S. in business from DelVal and

Pennsylvania.

member of the board,” said Reynolds,

tunities DelVal has provided her with,

the managing

from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“I’m excited to be the first student

She said she is grateful for the oppor-

and the Ameri-

the Wharton School of the University of

semester.

ship role to give back to her institution.

Allen H. Childs,

an MBA in finance and management from

Board of Trustees during the fall 2017

Reynolds chose to serve in the leader-

managing director

industry. Childs earned his B.S. in marketing

members who joined the University’s

making decisions.”

Dougherty ’00, a

ity of his career in the corporate automotive

Julia Reynolds ’18 was one of five new

they’re considering student opinions when

Andrew G.

Dr. Linda A.

Gregory F. Krug

Detwiler ’80, the

’77, the president

owner of Detwiler

and CEO of

Veterinary Con-

Lampire Biologi-

sulting, an animal

cal Laboratories,

health consulting

Inc., a life sci-

company. She

ences company

has been a public

he founded in

practice veterinar-

1977. Lampire

ian for more than 30 years, including a

has earned primary vendor status with

distinguished career with the United States

biopharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical

Department of Agriculture. Dr. Detwiler

device manufacturers worldwide. Krug has

has a B.S. in dairy science from DelVal and

a bachelor’s degree in animal science from

a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from

DelVal.

Ohio State University.

FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE MEETS WITH STUDENTS Before receiving Delaware Valley University’s inaugural Krauskopf Medal last fall, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with DelVal students on campus.

Vilsack, who is now the president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, participated in a meet and greet in the University’s library. He talked with students about international issues in agriculture, the decline in the number of American farmers, the future of agriculture, and what it was like to learn he would be a member of former President Barack Obama’s Cabinet.

“I did not expect to be able to meet someone of his status on campus,” said Lauren McCarty ’19, a biology major. “It’s incredible how many opportunities we have at such a small school.”

Vilsack received the Krauskopf Medal, which is named for DelVal’s founder, that evening. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding nominated Vilsack for the award. To be chosen for the Krauskopf Medal, individuals or organizations must make outstanding contributions in at least one of the following areas: agriculture and food systems, human and civil rights, social justice, child labor, conservation and sustainability, poverty, educational and employment equity, and quality of life issues.

Tom Vilsack

Vilsack speaks with students in Krauskopf Library

(l-r) Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture and former DelVal dean Russell Redding, DelVal President Maria Gallo, Vilsack, trustee Chip Krauskopf, Joan Paaske and board chair Majid Alsayegh S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | HORIZONS 9

Documentary Filmmakers on Campus to Discuss Civil Rights Pioneer DelVal students learned about the life of voting rights advocate and civil rights pioneer Octavius V. Catto when key members of the team that helped bring new attention to his life visited campus for an educational event.

The documentary film “Octavius V. Catto: A Legacy for the

21st Century” was screened, and a panel discussed the making of the film and a statue of Catto that was unveiled on the south side of Philadelphia’s City Hall last fall. The memorial was the first statue dedicated to an African-American to be placed in a public space in the city.

Catto was assassinated in 1871 on South Street while organizing African-American voter turnout soon after the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. His funeral procession was one of the largest Philadelphia had seen, second only to Abraham Lincoln’s.

The event was sponsored by the Liberal Arts Multicultural Forum and the History, Policy and Society program.

In “The Perennial Matchmaker,” Nancy J. Ondra ’89 helps readers jump-start their gardens with her one-plant-at-a-time approach to creating beautiful perennial combinations. Each of the 80 plant profiles gives dozens of ideas and suggestions for pairings, including region-specific options, Ondra’s top-choice perfect match, and an at-a-glance summary of the best color partners. Printed by Rodale Books. Available in print or as an e-book on Amazon.com and through other booksellers.

can find at your local garden center. There’s something here for every setting and every style, including a meadow in a box, a pond in a pot, a simple salad garden, and a combination that will attract hummingbirds. Printed by Storey Publishing. Available in print or as an e-book on Amazon. com and through other booksellers.

“Container Theme Gardens,” also by Ondra, offers 42 plans for container arrangements, each using just five specific plants that you

Dr. Chester Roistacher ’47 published “All Meyer Lemons are my Children,” the story of the research leading Roistacher to give a fever to a Meyer lemon budstick to rid itself of a virus. The technology for this thermo-therapy came from a Chinese scientist, Professor Lin Kung-Hsiang, whom Roistacher honored during a lecture given in Wuhan China in 1982. In giving him due credit for his pioneering research on thermo-therapy, Roistacher helped liberate him and his family from the difficult suppressions during the days of China’s Cultural Revolution. Printed by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Available in print from Amazon.com and BN.com.

Are you a DelVal faculty member or alumnus who recently published a book? Let us know!

To submit a book to be considered for the next Bookshelf, email your name, class year and a brief description of your book to horizons@delval.edu.

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CAREER OUTCOMES RATE INCREASES Delaware Valley University’s Class of 2016,

Students are also crediting the

the first graduating class to go through the

program with helping them

University’s Experience360 Program for

clarify their career goals and

all four of their years on campus, reported

succeed in executing them.

a career outcomes rate of 90.7 percent,

In student surveys, 93

the school’s highest ever. The rate reflects

percent of students

the percentage of Class of ’16 grads who

reported that their

moved on to employment, service work,

critical thinking and

military service or further education within

problem-solving skills

a year of graduating.

increased as a result of

A recent Gallup-Lumina Foundation study found that “while 96 percent of chief

the program.

“These experiences all

academic officers of colleges and universi-

gave me a grasp of what

ties believe that their institutions are very

the real-world entails,” said

or somewhat effective at preparing students

Francis Arnold ’16, a DelVal

for the workforce, only 11 percent of busi-

business alumnus who was hired by

ness leaders strongly agree.”

Vanguard.

The Experience360 Program is working to change that. DelVal partnered with employers to replace its former requirement of 500 work experience hours with a more robust experiential learning program.

Crafted with input from those employers, E360 is more than just a “work hours” graduation requirement. It’s a full-spectrum approach that helps students gain practical skills and develop as young professionals.

“Not all industries are the same,” said Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski, vice president for academic affairs and executive director of DelVal’s Center for Student Professional Development. “So at DelVal we tailor our experiential learning requirements to meet the needs of the specific industries students are entering. DelVal is one of the few universities in the country with an experiential learning program that is customized by major.”

Employers are finding DelVal graduates to be prepared, professional and productive. In a recent E360 employer survey, 93 percent of employers rated students from the Class of 2016’s work ethic as outstanding or very good.

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Maria Rodale and President Gallo

D E L AWA R E

VA L L E Y

UN I VERS I TY

2016–2017

A N N U A L

R E P O R T

A Year of Transition Every academic year brings its own highlights, but it’s hard to top the induction of a new president.

Dr. Maria Gallo’s arrival at Delaware Valley University as 2016-2017 got underway heralded a

(Above and above right) University and New Britain officials open the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center 12 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

new era for the institution. DelVal’s first female president, Gallo immediately set about meeting with faculty members, students, staff and alumni to learn more about the University and begin setting its new direction. Her inauguration was held in April.

During this transition under new leadership, University operations continued apace, and achievements were plentiful.

A state department of agriculture team tours a DelVal greenhouse (l-r) David Folkenflik, interim business and humanities dean Dr. Tanya Casas, Brian Stelter

Academic Affairs • Maria Rodale, CEO and Chair of Rodale, Inc., delivered the 2017 Commencement address.

• The Delaware Valley University Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and kick-off event at its new location in New Britain Borough.

• A new, state-of-the art calf barn was built, improving hygiene and reducing health issues associated with raising calves, resulting in cost savings related to health and labor.

• A new interdisciplinary minor in Food Systems was developed and launched.

• A team from the state Department of Agriculture, including Secretary Russell Redding, a former DelVal dean, visited the University and toured its hydroponic greenhouses.

• Brian Stelter of CNN and David Folkenflik of NPR spoke at DelVal as part of “Fact or Fiction: Responsible Journalism and Becoming News Literate,” a special academic forum to celebrate the inauguration of Dr. Maria Gallo.

• Dr. Jason Downs, assistant professor of biology, was the lead author of a paper describing the discovery of Bothriolepis rex, a new, giant in the group Antiarchi, which are extinct fish with external, bony armored plates covering their head, shoulders and front fins.

• Dr. Craig Stutman, assistant professor of history and policy studies, helped the Toni Morrison Society place a new bench at the Library of Congress in memory of the first African-American Assistant Librarian of Congress.

• Dr. David D. Timony, chair of the education department, was a keynote speaker at “Unity in Diversity: Hip-Hop Ed, Art and Technology,” held in Fremont, California.

• Dr. Allison Buskirk-Cohen, chair of the counseling psychology department, served as the editor of “Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Lifespan Development, 6th edition,” a textbook encouraging budding psychologists to discuss and analyze different viewpoints on 19 controversial topics that relate to lifespan development.

• Dr. Audrey Ervin, associate professor of counseling psychology, co-published research on suicide risk among gay, lesbian and bisexual youth in the Journal of Homosexuality.

• Delaware Valley University had more students pass the Certified Public Accountant examination than 92 percent of the schools in Pennsylvania that reported results to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. DelVal was ranked sixth in the state out of 79 Pennsylvania schools that reported results.

• Allen Childs, managing partner of the Doylestown Bookshop, served as the Watson Executive-in-Residence speaker.

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Enrollment Management

President Gallo at the fitness center equipment dedication

• At 2,376 total undergraduate and graduate students, enrollment for fall 2016 was the highest in the University’s history.

• The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust awarded Delaware Valley University a $63,500 grant for student scholarships.

• A group of 50 Chinese students from the Beijing Polytechnic College visited campus as part of a potential new partnership.

• The University signed transfer agreements with Cecil College, in Maryland, and Cumberland County College, in New Jersey.

• Montgomery County Community College and DelVal signed an expanded transfer agreement.

Members of the delegation from Beijing Polytechnic College

Student Affairs • A new student expressive rights policy was developed with input from many campus stakeholders and ratified by the Board of Trustees. The new policy articulates DelVal’s core values and the freedoms and responsibilities students have regarding speech, protest and other forms of expression.

• Alpha Lambda Delta, the academic honor society for firstyear students, launched the annual Last Lecture Series with a presentation by Professor Michael Tabachnik on Genesis and the Big Bang Theory.

• The counseling center launched a clinical intern program, which provides training and supervision to advanced graduate students who see students in the center.

• The University received a competitive grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in support of the “It’s on Us” campaign to support bystander intervention to stop sexual assault and other forms of violence.

• A-Day was selected as Zone 4 Fair of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.

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• In Athletics, the fitness center was outfitted with new equipment, new bleachers were installed in the gym, a new mascot made its debut, a new Hall of Fame display was created, and the Hunter Seat and Dressage Teams of the Equestrian program were incorporated into the intercollegiate athletics program.

• The inaugural President’s Cup, presented annually to the athletic team that demonstrates high levels of community engagement, campus involvement and citizenship, academic performance, athletic achievement and campus leadership, was awarded to the men’s lacrosse team at Homecoming.

• A new intramural and recreation program was launched, with leagues for basketball, flag football, softball, volleyball and dodgeball.

• The implementation of an electronic health records system was a shared initiative among health services, athletic training and counseling services to improve security of records, efficiency of operations, and greater ease of use for students.

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Development and Alumni Affairs • The comprehensive Realizing the Vision campaign concluded having raised more than $59.1M in gifts and pledges. This campaign was the most successful in institutional history, and represented the first true comprehensive campaign at DelVal. • Overall cash for the fiscal year was $4,007,981, making it the most successful fundraising year in the school’s history other than 2010-2011, when the transformational, $30 million-plus Warwick Foundation gift was received.

• A new $1.5 million gift – added to two previous gifts – from Trustee Kate Littlefield was designated to fund the University’s first endowed professorship, in hydroponics and aquaponics.

• The DelVal Fund surpassed its budgeted goal of $425,000 by raising $450,570, the fifth time in six years that the annual fund had surpassed $450,000.

• The annual Day of Giving which raised almost $95,000 through 175 gifts.

• A group of Delaware Valley University alumni traveled to Newtown, Connecticut, to help build an animal sanctuary in memory of Catherine Hubbard, a victim of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shootings.

DelVal and Montgomery County Community College officials sign an expanded transfer agreement

Finance and Administration • The office of policy, process and analysis was created to guide the development and communication of policies and procedures.

• Students and employees were migrated to Microsoft Office 365, giving them a common platform, increased storage, and enhanced collaboration tools.

• DVUTube, a digital signage platform, was installed throughout campus, offering an additional means to communicate news and events.

• DelVal engaged Haverford Trust as its new investment manager. Investment fees were reduced by 50%, and returns significantly improved in less than a year.

• The University implemented new deferred payment plans for graduate and CPS students.

• The bookstore implemented a gift-card program with an eye toward increasing sales and improving branding efforts and reporting capabilities.

• Operation of the University’s water supply system was transitioned to the Doylestown Township Municipal Authority.

• The University worked with an engineering firm on the creation of GIS maps as part of a land use task force.

• Sightlines, a facilities assessment company, performed a full assessment of the University’s deferred maintenance needs, proving a strategic blueprint for tackling the backlog of maintenance needs in a building portfolio model.

• A monthly new-hire orientation program greatly improved the welcoming of new employees.

President Gallo with an official from Cecil College

(l-r) President Gallo, Michael Tabachnik and then-Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | H O R I Z O N S 15

When Hurricane Maria wiped out thousands of acres of cropland in Puerto Rico, the Delaware Valley University community sprung into action.

SEEDING

H PE

By Jen A. Miller

16 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

SEEDING HOPE

O

n the last day of a

on what little was being produced and shipped in and start to make up for island-grown produce already lost. long week of volun“We can’t work on roads or power or water or all those teer work, Dr. Sarah Dohle other really important things,” Dr. Dohle said. “But we recognize that producing your own food on an island is an important didn’t think they were going thing.” to make it. Starting on the Dr. Dohle came to Delaware Valley University in January 2017, drawn by the “opportunity to work at a school that had Monday after Thanksgiving, 1,500 acres of active farm that was primarily for teaching.”

Dr. Dohle, assistant profesShe had earned her Ph.D. in plant biology at the University of sor of plant science, had been California Davis, where she met Dr. Viviana Medina, now an marshalling volunteers to the agronomist. Dr. Medina lives in Puerto Rico, but was in Costa Rica when Maria hit. Dr. Dohle called to check up on her, which Dr. Sarah Dohle Student Center’s Moumgis got them to talking about what they could they do to help.

They went to what they knew: seeds. Puerto Rico imports Auditorium, trying to get as much help as she could 85 percent of its food, according to the U.S. Department of to sort thousands of pounds of seeds and prepare Agriculture. In the aftermath of the storm, shipments of supplies and food were slow to get to the island, which compounded the them to be sent to Puerto Rico. effects of those lost 8,000 acres.

Dr. Dohle and Dr. Medina figured that getting seeds to But the response to her call for seed donations had been Puerto Rico, whether they were for commercial farms, small huge - much larger than they anticipated, and the sorting process farms or individuals who wanted to grow food in their backwas taking “way too long for the number of volunteers we had,” yards, could help, and maybe spawn a new generation of Dr. Dohle said. Now it was Friday morning, and she figured if backyard gardeners. they stuck to the rate they’d worked for the last four days, The U.S. Postal Service wasn’t delivering to Puerto they would have only eight pallets of seeds ready for Rico when they hatched their idea, so Dr. Dohle the Hispanic Federation, a non-profit working asked colleagues at DelVal if they would lend her on Puerto Rico relief efforts after Hurricane “WE CAN’T WORK a spot to put the seeds they collected.

Maria struck, to pick up and fly down.

ON ROADS OR POWER OR “We thought we would get two boxes of But at 8 a.m., the men’s basketball seeds donated from friends,” she said. Hopteam showed up, followed by 30 eleventh WATER OR ALL THOSE OTHER ing for more, they set up a Facebook page to graders from a nearby high school – many REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT spread the word, a GoFundMe page to help who had relatives in Puerto Rico. More WE RECOGNIZE THAT PRODUCING pay for shipping, and social media accounts students from key clubs and the National YOUR OWN FOOD ON AN Honor Society came. DelVal faculty members sent students down to the auditorium ISLAND IS AN IMPORTANT during lab hours, or offered extra credit if they THING.” helped out. “We had everyone from parents who brought their little kids to college students to senior citizens,” Dohle said. Her mom pitched in, too.

By 9 p.m., a germ of an idea that started with two graduate school classmates had bloomed into 16 pallets with 5,000 pounds of seeds being boxed up and ready to go to Puerto Rico, which had lost an estimated 8,000 vegetable acres to Maria. The goal was to jumpstart the island’s agriculture community, as well as get down to a more local level: A lot of those seeds would be distributed to individuals who would plant their own gardens and get food from their backyards instead of having to rely only (Facing page, lower right) Volunteers sort seed donations

Dr. Viviana Medina with a local farmer in Puerto Rico S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | H O R I Z O N S 17

SEEDING HOPE schools, and by midDecember were already planted and on their way to yielding produce.

Dr. Dohle said the trial run showed her two things: First, that shipping is expensive, and second, that a lot of people wanted to help.

Not only did seeds come from as far away as Iowa and San Francisco, but she and Dr. Medina also got small donations to help with those shipping costs from all over the country – even $20 from a post office employee who learned about the program when Dr. Dohle tried to ship those first 150 pounds of seeds. (“Tried” because USPS costs were prohibitive – but that same employee called UPS and FedEx to find her a better rate.)

Marian Rubin is an agriculture policy graduate student at DelVal who worked with Dr. Dohle on the project. Rubin, who also earned her undergraduate degree at the University, helped set up a system to sort and estimate how many seeds were donated.

“I started doing that with the small donations,” she said, which helped when they were ready to start doing the same with the large, bulk donations from seed companies.

They had to sort the seeds because they couldn’t just take donations and send them to Puerto Rico as is. The donated seeds came in packages – just as if ordered them from a catalogue or purchased from a hardware store. Volunteers sorted them into types of seeds, and took out things like seeds for flowers and pumpkins, which wouldn’t be appropriate to plant in Puerto Rico.

“I called it the seed relief jamboree,” Rubin said.

Once sorted, the seeds were repacked with the right mix for Puerto Rico - in the right-sized packets - for different-sized groups, from individuals looking to try their hand at farming up to commercial operations.

Dr. Dohle said that their volunteers learned, too – Student Victoria Long, who assisted with the project “VOLUNTEERS not just how to sort seeds, but also about vegetables LEARNED, TOO – NOT they may never have heard of before, such as endive Christmas so they could be ready and chicory. to go into the ground in January, JUST HOW TO SORT SEEDS, BUT During the week after Thanksgiving, when the island’s best planting season.

ALSO ABOUT VEGETABLES THEY the big sort happened, Rubin directed volunteers The volunteer group tried MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD OF and gave them instructions on what to do. She also the sorting and packaging process worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculfirst with a small batch, sendBEFORE, SUCH AS ENDIVE ture and the USDA to secure a Phytosanitary certificaing 150 pounds on November 1.

AND CHICORY.” tion for the shipment – which ensured that the packages Those seeds went to 130 families and about the project, and a friend hung fliers in local hardware and garden stores. The University publicized the effort, too, successfully pitching local newspapers to write about the project and ask the public to help out.

Word got to William Lyle, DelVal’s director of purchasing, who had worked on a similar project that sent seeds to Haiti in 2016 after Hurricane Matthew struck.

Dr. Medina (center, holding paper bag) Lyle put the initiative on the radar of seed companies, leading to bulk donations from SeedWay, Hart Seed Co. and Burpee. Dr. Dohle and Dr. Medina also used their graduate school network to reach out to the University of Puerto Rico, USDA operations on the island, and the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture to get the right seeds in the hands of the right organizations.

Timing was critical, too.

Their counterparts in Puerto Rico wanted the seeds on the island in time for them to be distributed by

18 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

SEEDING HOPE

Beyond Puerto Rico The seed relief project for Puerto Rico is just the start for Dr. Sarah Dohle and Dr. Viviana Medina, the two women who spearheaded the effort.

Dr. Dohle, an assistant professor of plant science at Delaware Valley University, is part of a budding nonprofit that seeks to use agriculture to expand access to food. The initiative, Seeding Relief, will not be directly affiliated with the University, but DelVal faculty will serve on its board.

“Delaware Valley University has a trusted reputation in agriculture and a network of alumni, students and community members who are attuned to the value of seeds and agriculture as part of the solution for improving food sovereignty,” said Dr. Dohle.

Dr. Dohle and Dr. Medina will continue to work with Dr. Leonela Carriedo, a seed researcher, and supporters from the University, including DelVal President Dr. Maria Gallo, to plan the next steps for their seed relief efforts.

Forming the Seeding Relief nonprofit has been an ongoing and collaborative process between Dr. Dohle and DelVal’s business and public policy programs. She hopes that the organization will be able to continue to involve students to teach them about complex global food systems through hands-on experience.

“Having students become aware of the food systems is really how I’m trying to be impactful,” said Dr. Dohle. “Maybe some of the students will go on to help one small food system.”

Dr. Dohle and Dr. Medina

Nonprofit status will enable Seeding Relief to apply for grant funding so that more countries can receive donations. The organization has already been contacted to provide small seed donations to additional locations, and sent 20 pounds of seeds to Haiti in the luggage of a woman who does work with a community garden there.

—Michelle Glitzer ’20

For more information, visit

delval.edu / seedingrelief

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SEEDING HOPE

“IT’S NOT PERFECT, AND IT’S NOT GOING TO MAKE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN PUERTO RICO, BUT I THINK WE’RE HAPPY WITH IT.”

Long and Dr. Dohle

didn’t include any dirt or seeds for invasive species. For someone who hopes to work in social policy, working with Dr. Dohle has been an incredible opportunity.

“It’s a food sovereignty issue, and I’d like more than anything to pursue this project more and maybe work with the University of Puerto Rico,” Rubin said.

————— Dr. Dohle doesn’t expect this to be the end of the story, either. She and Dr. Medina are following their seeds to see what happens next.

“It’s not perfect, and it’s not going to make food sovereignty in Puerto Rico, but I think we’re happy with it,” Dr. Dohle said.

“We’re interested in following it and see what communities really have success with it, and sharing success stories and what doesn’t work and guide them toward things that work well.”

That first 150-pound shipment was distributed through a group that also helps farmers turn their produce into higher value items such as pies and jams. The second, larger batch that those volunteers sorted on DelVal’s campus went toward small farmers and people who are interested in trying something like Victory Gardens, which were planted during World War I and World War II to reduce pressure on public food supplies. If things work the way the project organizers hope, those seeds donated to and organized through DelVal will lift some of the burden off an agriculture industry struggling to get back on its feet, when the island is still a long way off from fully recovering from the devastating storm.

“Seeds are powerful,” Dr. Dohle said. “An ounce of lettuce seeds is about 23,000 seeds, and that can replant an entire acre.

That’s a lot of salad from one small package of seeds.”

Jen A. Miller’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Runner’s World, The Guardian and Washingtonian, among oth-

Volunteers, including the family of turf management professor Dr. Doug Linde (left), sort seeds 20 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

ers. She is also the author of Running: A Love Story and The Jersey Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May.

SEEDING HOPE

For more information, visit

delval.edu / seedingrelief

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THE AMAZING AGGIES

By Bill Doherty

Over the last decade and a half, DelVal’s football team has developed into a national power. And the 2017 squad was one of the best yet.

Clinging to a 7-0 lead in the second quarter of a first-round Division III playoff game against Western New England, DelVal’s Vinnie Nelson caught a punt, made the first would-be tackler miss, found a convoy of blockers and sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown.

In an eye blink on that November afternoon, the Aggies had doubled their lead on their way to a 35-0 win, sending fans dancing in the stands to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2,” a James Work Memorial Stadium staple played after each DelVal score. One Aggie backer—sitting at the

50-yard line and sporting a “For the Room” Del-Val football t-shirt—proceeded to highfive everyone in his area code while screaming: “That’s what we do!”

Indeed, what DelVal’s football program has done, for the past 15 years, is win. Former head coach G.A. Mangus started the football renaissance in Doylestown. Mangus went 2-8 in his first season, and then turned the team into an NCAA Division III championship contender. Over the next three seasons, the Aggies notched a 33-4 record, won three conference championships, and advanced to

Team celebrates after beating Widener for the annual Keystone Cup (goes to the winner of annual rivalry) 22 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Head coach Duke Greco

the national quarterfinals twice.

When Mangus ascended the college football coaching food chain to the University of South Carolina, he handed the baton to his defensive coordinator, Jim Clements, and the winning continued, with the Aggies going 66-24 from 2006 though 2013.

With Clements and Mangus now working together at Kutztown University, current DelVal head man Duke Greco has maintained the cycle of success, in part by recruiting well in the fertile territory from Central Jersey down through Delaware. A standout quarterback for the Aggies in 2000 and 2001, Greco was hired by Mangus at his alma mater, worked for Clements, and then was elevated to head coach after Clements left for Kutztown.

“Without G.A. and Jimmy, the program isn’t where it’s at now,” says the always humble Greco.

“We’re just doing our best to keep it going.”

THE AMAZING AGGIES

All-American safety Shawn Miller

MAC Offensive Player of the Year Devauntay Ellis

Greco is doing more than just keeping it going. In four seasons as DelVal’s head coach, his teams are 39-7—an .848 winning percentage that is the best in school history. His 2017 squad

was one of the country’s finest teams, spending much of the season ranked in the top 10 nationally and reaching the NCAA Division III quarterfinals, which the Aggies lost in a heartbreaker

FAMILY VALUES Their majors are different. They’re from different backgrounds and different parts of the country. But when they’re on the field, they think of themselves as a family. That word — “family”— started showing up on DelVal football gear four years ago, for good reason.

“We’re here together every day, and probably spend more time together than we do with our own families,” said head coach Duke Greco. “It’s something we embrace. Like family, you need to trust each other when you’re on the field.”

The word “family” is still used on football gear and in social media. For the 2017 season, Aggie players and coaches decided to add another word, “sacrifice,” to their helmets.

“As a staff and as a team, we felt it was important to represent outwardly the values we carry with us into practice,” said Greco. “We have great team camaraderie. All of our guys work extremely hard and sacrifice to be at the University and play every Saturday.”

The values are so resonant that “family” has begun showing up among other Aggie teams as well.

“We get together and figure out what we’re trying to represent,” said Greco. “The one thing that always comes back up is togetherness. You can say that with the word ‘family’ or the word ‘sacrifice.’”

—Annmarie Ely

when the College at Brockport knocked through a field goal as time expired.

The loss—DelVal’s only for the year—does not obscure the heights reached by the 2017 squad. The offense averaged a whopping 38.6 points per game, and the defense, anchored by eight senior starters, was ferocious, allowing just 10.5 points per contest.

“Coach Greco is a players’ coach,” says senior safety Shawn Miller, a two-time All-American (2016, 2017). “He’s a humble, hard-working guy, and that rubs off on the entire team. You want to work hard both for him and for the guy next to you in the huddle.”

Greco will have some serious restocking of the shelves to do this offseason, as the graduation losses from this year’s 12-1 squad are significant. He must replace those eight starters on defense—including all four starting linebackers and the ball-hawking safety Miller (219 career tackles, 16 interceptions). And while the offense will return seven starters, tailback Devauntey Ellis (2,685 career yards and 29 touchdowns) will be sorely missed.

Like record-setting DelVal wideout Rasheed Bailey before them, Miller and Ellis are on the radar of NFL scouts.

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THE AMAZING AGGIES “We’ve had scouts from almost every NFL team come here to look at Shawn and Devauntay,” says Greco. “Shawn was a returning Division III All-American, so they came in to see him first, and then became intrigued with Devauntay, too.

“They both have the NFL size and playmaking ability that scouts are looking for. I just hope that they get a fair shake from pro teams. If they do, these guys are talented enough to make their dreams come true.”

Even with Miller and Ellis off—they hope— to the pro ranks, expect the winning to continue and Gary Glitter to remain in heavy rotation at Work Stadium next fall. That’s because Greco has one of the best quarterbacks in Division III football to work with in senior-to-be Dashawn Darden.

The 5-foot-10 Darden causes headaches for opposing defensive coordinators with both his arm and his feet. In 2017, Darden passed for 2,408 yards and 27 touchdowns and ran for 704 yards and nine scores. With one full season still to play, Darden already sits at fifth on DelVal’s all-time passing list with 4,954 yards and fourth

24 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Team celebrates after the Widener win to celebrate a perfect regular season and a MAC championship

all-time in touchdown passes at 56.

“I knew that Dashawn would be a good quarterback, but he’s way better than I could have imagined,” says Greco. “He’s just a winner. And he’ll do whatever he has to do for our team to be successful, whether that’s throwing for 350 yards in a game or running for 100 yards.

“That’s been the secret to our success.

We’ve been able to attract talented players, like

Dashawn, who care about football and education. And with smart, tough, coachable kids, you can accomplish anything.”

A smart, tough coach helps, too.

Bill Doherty is a freelance writer from Swarthmore, Pa. His work has appeared in ESPN The Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens and the Sporting News, and on ESPN.com and USAToday.com.

ATHLETICS Thomas Finishes Third, Earns Fifth All-America Honor AT NCAA DIVISION III INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP Senior Ta’riq Thomas earned the fifth All-America of his standout career as he placed third in the long jump at the NCAA Division III Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship held in Birmingham, Alabama in March.

It was Thomas’ first All-America accolade in the long jump as his previous four, top-eight national finishes occurred in the triple jump, including a runner-up showing at last year’s indoor tournament. Thomas had also qualified in the triple jump at the 2018 championship and finished After an opening leap of 7.14 meters, Thomas moved into first place in round two thanks to a jump of 7.19 meters. He did not top that in round three, but he still held the top spot and easily advanced to the long jump finals. Thomas still topped the field following round four before being surpassed by two competitors over the final two rounds and he settled for the bronze medal.

The NCAAs capped a strong indoor season for Thomas. He won both the

Ta’riq Thomas earned his first All-American honor long jump and triple jump crown at the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship and was named the conference’s Field Athlete of the Year. He

was then selected as the Mideast Region Field Athlete of the Year, en route to the NCAAs.

Velez, Wertman Garner Honors at NCAA Wrestling Championships Senior Brenden Velez capped his wrestling career by finishing in eighth place and earning All-America accolades in the 133-pound weight class at the 2018 NCAA Division III Championships in Cleveland, Ohio in March.

The 82nd All-American in the storied history of the Aggies wrestling program, Velez bounced back after a first-round loss with three thrilling victories in the consolation bracket. The first two wins came against the No. 2 and No. 6 wrestlers in the Brenden Velez, DelVal’s 82 All-American S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | H O R I Z O N S 25

ATHLETICS bracket while the third triumph was a 7-2 decision with six of the points coming in the final 11 seconds. That guaranteed Velez a spot on the national podium and a 23rd straight year of DelVal having at last one All-American. He dropped his two matches on the second day of competition for the eighth-place finish.

Velez wrapped up his four-year career with 72 wins (27 this season), three trips to the NCAA Championships and one AllAmerica accolade. He was named a Scholar All-American for the third straight year Teammates Kordell Rush (125) and Tim Ambacher (141) also competed at the NCAA Championships. As a team, the Aggies fin-

ished tied for 37th place with 6.5 points.

Head coach Jim Wertman received a major honor at the conclusion of the NCAA Championships as he was named the Division III Rookie Coach of the Year. He was the lone first-year head coach to have an All-American at the tournament.

Kleinle, Mecaj Inducted into DelVal Athletic Hall of Fame Jamie Kleinle ‘05 (football) and Ana Mecaj ‘07 (women’s soccer) were selected to the Delaware Valley University Athletic Hall of Fame and were officially inducted at halftime of the September 23 football game.

Kleinle was a key part of the amazing turnaround of the Aggie football program.

In his first two years with the team (2001 and 2002), he was a defensive lineman and the squad went a combined 5-15. Kleinle switched to the offensive line (left tackle) in ‘03 and he earned all-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) second-team honors as DelVal went 9-2 and went to the postseason where it captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southeast championship.

Then came the 2004 campaign. Serving as a team captain, he helped the Aggies go undefeated in the regular season (10-0) and win the MAC championship. With the conference crown came a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs, the first such berth for the school in a team-qualifying sport.

The Aggies won their first two postseason games at home before falling in the quarterfinals and finishing with a 12-1 record.

The accolades came pouring in for Kleinle following the ‘04 campaign. He was selected as an all-MAC first-team lineman and then earned a spot on the first team on the Football Gazette All-Region Team.

Kleinle was then named an All-American 26 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

by the Football Gazette and was selected to play in the Aztec Bowl, a game pitting Division III all-stars against a team from Mexico.

A three-time all-MAC Freedom first-team honoree and the 2005 MAC Freedom Player of the Year, Mecaj was one of the top offensive players in Aggie history. She finished her ca- President Gallo with Jamie Kleinle (above) and Ana Mecaj (below) reer second on the all-time list in goals (43), assists (20) and points (106), numbers that still have her in the top four (third in goals, third in points, fourth in assists) to this day.

Mecaj helped DelVal win 31 games from 2002 to 2005. Part of that run were a pair of 10-win seasons in ‘02 and ‘05. The 2005 campaign saw Mecaj rack up 10 goals and six assists for 26 points. She helped the honor former outstanding student-athletes Aggies reach the MAC Freewho graduated from The National Farm dom playoffs and became just the second School, National Agricultural College, player in program history to be named the Delaware Valley College and Delaware conference’s Player of the Year.

Valley University. This year’s class raises the The Delaware Valley University Athletnumber of members to 124. ic Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to

ATHLETICS Greco Named Maxwell Football Club Tri-State Coach of the Year Head coach Duke Greco was named by the Maxwell Football Club as its 20th annual Tri-State Coach of the Year and was honored at a star-studded banquet in Atlantic City, New Jersey in March.

Greco was the fifth Aggie to be honored by the Maxwell Club, all since 2004. Former head coaches G.A. Mangus and Jim Clements received the Coach of the Year Award in 2004 and 2011 respectively. Record-setting quarterback Adam Knoblauch was the TriState Player of the Year in 2005 while current Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rasheed Bailey received the same award in 2014.

The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year, Greco led DelVal to a dominant 2017 season. The Aggies notched a perfect regular season for just the fourth time in school history, including a 9-0 championship run in the MAC where they outscored their conference foes by a 378-71 margin and trailed for just seven minutes. Making their first appearance in the NCAAs since 2014, Greco and DelVal downed Western New England College (35-0) and Husson University (37-15) in the first two rounds before falling 31-28 on a last-second field goal to The College at Brockport in the quarterfinals.

The 12-1 final record and quarterfinal spot tied the ‘04 and ‘05 squads for the best finishes in program history. The Aggies were ranked as high as fifth during the season (matching the 2005 team for the highest ranking in program history) and ended the year sixth and seventh in the two major Division III polls.

A graduate of DelVal, Greco has won 39 of 46 games in his four-year head coaching career at his alma mater. He has led the team to the postseason in each of his four years with NCAA berths in 2014 and 2017 and Centennial-MAC Bowl Series appearances in 2015 and 2016.

Greco was honored by the Maxwell Football Club, the oldest football club in

America, alongside head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Carson Wentz of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, former Florida State University legendary coach Bobby Bowden and Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield of the University of Oklahoma.

DelVal athletics hall of famer Ted Cottrell ‘69 with Duke Greco

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Class NOTES 1960s

1970s

Gary B. Fuess ’61 and Alma Fuess traveled to Ridgway, Colorado, in October to spend 10 days with Ken Lipton ’61 and Carol Lipton. They also visited the National Parks at Hovenweep, Grand Canyon and Capitol Reef, and drove through Monument Valley before returning to the ranch. The picture was taken during an afternoon visit to Telluride, Colorado.

Ken Lipton ’61, a trustee emeritus, was named to the Colorado State Conservation Board.

Russ Albright ’67 retired from the Bank of Bird in Hand, located in Lancaster County, where he was an agricultural loan specialist. This culminates a career in agricultural financing that spanned 42 years. Albright worked for Farm Credit and National Penn Bank in addition to the Bank of Bird in Hand. He looks forward to spending his retirement riding his horses and enjoying his Harley-Davidson.

Robert E. Felton CDR, MSC, USN (Ret.) ’68 was immediately drafted by the U.S. Army for the war in Vietnam after graduating from DelVal. At his father’s recommendation, he enlisted in the Navy and became a hospital corpsman.

After 23 years in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps, Felton retired at the rank of commander in 1991. Felton helped his wife, Patricia Marie, form Certified Learning Centers in 1981. The company’s primary focus is working with children who have learning disabilities.

28 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Thomas Williams ’71 and his wife, Janice, welcomed a visit from fellow classmate Charlie Mauck ’71 and his wife, Sue, to their home in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, in August. They enjoyed many DelVal stories of their times on campus and travels with the Livestock Judging team.

Alan Lehman ’73 retired after spending 40 years with Herff Jones. Lehman and his wife, Trish, just celebrated their 40th anniversary. The couple plans to relocate to the Charleston, South Carolina, area.

Alan Chambers ’73 fondly remembers his time at DelVal as one of the best times of his life. He is currently semi-retired but continues to work with his lawn and landscape business. Chambers plays in a country band in South Jersey as a hobby. He attended Homecoming to talk with fellow alumni and reminisce about his time at DelVal. John Patten ’74, a turf management alumnus, has been in the turf and ornamental industry for almost 43 years. The New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) recently selected Patten for its Distinguished Service Award because of his involvement in educating people about the proper use of pesticides and participation in professional organizations. He is president of New Jersey Agribusiness Association and the New Jersey Green Industry Council, and is a member of the National Stakeholders Group of the Pesticide Safety Education program.

Jon Cassel ’76 returned to the United States from Africa, where he had served as

a representative of the Christian Broadcasting Network. Over Thanksgiving week, Cassel was joined by longtime friend U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania for a six-day visit in Senegal. Thompson, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, had contacted Cassel to learn more about his team’s work on solar irrigation and other outreach projects in the arid West African country.

Jon Cassel ‘76 with (l-r) colleague Joe Diouf and U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson

1980s Michele Bankert Grove ’88 has returned to a full-time career after working part-time agricultural-related jobs while raising her sons, Mitchell and Marshall. She joined the York County Conservation District as an agricultural resource conservation specialist.

1990s Jeff Frommeyer ’92, a firefighter in New York, was promoted to lieutenant in June 2017. He is assigned to Lower Manhattan.

Kathleen Salisbury ’98, a DelVal ornamental horticulture and environmental design alumna, was named director of Temple University’s

Class NOTES Ambler Arboretum. After graduating from DelVal, she earned a master’s in public horticulture administration from the University of Delaware, where she was also a Longwood Gardens graduate fellow. She is currently enrolled in the doctor of education program at Penn State, and is focusing on adult education and lifelong learning. Salisbury has always had a passion for horticulture, which has led her through a 25-year career of educating others about the green industry and working in public horticulture.

Bradley Halter ’98 was transferred to assume supervision of the Special Programs Unit of the Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole Department.

As part of his new responsibilities, he oversees the Pretrial and County Intermediate Punishment Programs. He also attended the joint Middle Atlantic States Correctional Association (MASCA) and Pennsylvania Association of Probation, Parole and Corrections training conference, where Halter presented awards and a workshop. Halter was elected to the MASCA board and made the treasurer of the organization.

2000s

Weddings & Engagements Douglas Mason ’78 recently returned from two weeks in Ireland and the United Kingdom with his fiancée, Sonja Ghaner. They met in State College, Pennsylvania, in 2015 and are getting married on June 6, 2018.

Mike Dalton ’00 married Jennifer Gutshall, a graduate of Millersville University, on May 6.

Kimberly Bergen ’11 married Casey Nelsen in August 2017. They now reside in northern Virginia. She is a small animal veterinarian, and he works for the local police department.

Libby Errickson ’12 graduated with a master of science in environmental science from the University of Illinois at Springfield in May 2017.

Devin Cunningham ’13 was awarded the National Communicator Award for her educational piece on beef reproduction through the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.

Shanae Ninehouser ’13 and Mark McDevitt ’13 were married June 10 at Graeme Park in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

James Hegeman ’16 proposed to Amber McCabe ’15 on June 2 while they were on vacation in Branson, Missouri. The couple currently resides in Columbia, Missouri, attending the University of Missouri. He is a second-year veterinarian student, and she is working on a master’s degree in higher education. The couple is thrilled to start wedding planning, and will always have DelVal to thank for bringing them together.

Kyle Wenger ’17 and Mikenna Collich were married May 20 at Open Gate Farm in Perkasie, Pennsylvania.

Emily Anne Granger ’13 and Nicholas Ponomarev ’12 became engaged in July. Ponomarev proposed to Granger in Maine after the couple spent seven years Continued on page 30

Michael Malvoso ’12 married Caitlin McGoldrick on October 21.

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Class NOTES Continued from page 29

together. They love DelVal, where they met as students in 2009; they started dating the following year and have been together ever since. Frequently, the couple comes back to DelVal for events to reminisce about their time on campus, and will be returning to campus for engagement photos this year.

In Memoriam Marvin I. Adleman ’55 passed away on June 21 at the age of 84. He spoke highly of Delaware Valley University and was grateful for the guidance and direction he received from faculty members as a student. After graduating from DelVal, he attended the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Adleman worked at Sasaki Associates in Boston and eventually went on to start his own landscape architecture business in Philadelphia. In 1992, he was named a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Adleman spent 36 years as a professor of landscape architecture at Cornell University, where he designed numerous well-known outdoor spaces, including the original Ithaca Commons in 1974, one of the first pedestrian malls of its kind in downtown Ithaca. He also designed the arboretum at the Cornell Botanic Gardens, the Laboratory of Ornithology Bird Garden, the garden at Cayuga Medical Center, and the Cass Park children’s spray pool in Ithaca. He built the landscape architecture program at Cornell and headed the department for most of his tenure, until his retirement in 2008. In 2004 Adleman was awarded the prestigious Jot D. Carpen30 H O R I Z O N S | S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Amanda Trauger-O’Neal ’07 and her husband, Bret O’Neal, welcomed their baby boy on September 28 at 8:28 p.m. Their son, Logan McClintic, was born in San Jose, California.

ter Teaching Medal. He was the loving husband of Susan (Plaut) Adleman for more than 51 years. He is survived by his three children, Elana Feinsmith (and her husband, Jason), David Adleman and Rachel Jordan (and her husband, Neil), and his grandchildren, Ari, Leora, Emmet and Jacob.

Elwood (Larry) Rossell ’61 passed away June 17 in Woodstown, New Jersey. He was a retiree of Campbell Soup Company and Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Rossell is survived by his wife, Anne Harney Rossell, and his daughter, Vicki Rossell.

Harvey Goodwin ’71 passed away July 23 at the age of 70. Goodwin and his sister, Sandy, owned Ace Fasteners, Inc., of Camden, New Jersey, where he worked until his retirement. During retirement, Goodwin took up racing with his friends and founded the East Coast Racing Series as well as the Rabbit Racing company.

Goodwin was a proud member of the Rabbit Racing Team, Tri-states, Penn-Jersey, Group 1/64, HOPES UFHORA, and the Mid Atlantic HOPRA Racing Association. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his

Leah Braas ’97, husband Angelo Ambrosecchia, and their son, Nicholas, welcomed Jianna Tao into their family through adoption in March 2016. Their daughter was born in Leizhou, China, and turned 8 years old in May. Jeanie Cirotti Kellock ’83 had the joy of meeting her three newest grandchildren. Francesco Antonio was born December 21, 2016; Jaxson Stephen was born March 16, 2017; and Joseph Anthony born April 23, 2017.

siblings, Sandy and Stuart; his children, William and Jennifer; and his grandchildren, Sara, Emily, Noah, Caroline, Olivia and Julia.

Ralph (Randy) Van Riper ’78, a lifelong farmer in New Jersey and New York, passed away on March 14 at the age of 60. He was a Delaware Valley University horticulture alumnus and was passionate about his work as a grower. A friend of recalls a story of his team saving ginko trees on DelVal’s campus. Van Riper never met a plant he didn’t like and also had a love of birds. After working in the family business, Van Riper Farms Woodcliff Lake, as a child and young adult, he created Van Riper’s Farm with his parents in Suffern, New York. Van Riper eventually branched out from the family business to grow and wholesale plants. He is survived by his parents, Ralph and Judy Van Riper; his four sisters, Barbara Ebersole, Kathy Metzger, Jill Brown and Judy Bradley; and his three children, Kate, Chris and Colleen. His delightful charm will be truly missed.

Class NOTES

MBA Alumnus Named to ‘Forty Under 40’ List A 2012 graduate of DelVal’s MBA program was named to Central Penn Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” list, which recognizes the region’s most accomplished young business leaders.

Sam Kieffer is currently the chief administrative officer at the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB), where he previously managed government affairs and communications. His selection as a “Forty Under 40” is a reflection of his commitment to business growth, professional

The Gift of Sight Dr. Caitlin McQueen ’12 knows what it is like to change a person’s life for the better.

As part of a team of doctors and students who provided more than 3,500 eye exams in Tanzania, she spent 10 days in the city of Dar Es Salaam, serving patients who did not have access to vision care.

“When I gave one woman a pair of glasses, she excitedly put them on and began grabbing my hands and embracing me,” said Dr. McQueen. “She repeatedly thanked me for allowing her to see for the first time.

Dr. McQueen found her path in optometry after coming to DelVal and graduating from its pre-professional biology program.

She chose to transfer to DelVal from a larger university as a sophomore because the small classes and community appealed to her.

“I knew that DelVal would provide the best hands-on experience,” said Dr. McQueen.

“The scope of classes amazed me. In my first year at DelVal, I was able to perform surgery and manage post-operative care of rats.”

excellence and community service.

After graduating from Dickinson College, Kieffer spent time in the workforce and in the Army National Guard before enrolling in DelVal’s MBA program. The program’s online option was perfect for Kieffer, who was seeking both flexibility and rigor while continuing to travel for work. His background is in leadership and farm policy, so DelVal was a natural choice for him.

“I had my sights on leading a diverse ag-

Following her graduation from DelVal, she enrolled at Salus University, where she earned her doctor of optometry degree. She was selected to go to Tanzania through a program at Salus, and she calls the experience “incredibly humbling.”

“Many had never owned a pair of glasses and weren’t able to read, write, or complete tasks like sewing because of their vision,” said Dr. McQueen.

Dr. McQueen is now working with her father, who is also an optometrist, at a practice in Massachusetts. She said her DelVal education helped put her on the path to achieving her goals.

“My DelVal education was the perfect stepping stone to optometry school,” said Dr. McQueen.

A Bite of the Big Apple When Madison Moore ’15 chose her major at Delaware Valley University, she already had a vision for her life after graduation.

“I’m from a small town, and I have always dreamed of being a writer in New York City,” said the media and communication alumna from Telford, Pennsylvania.

In August 2017, Moore’s dream became a reality when she joined Highwire PR’s New York office, where she works as a content strategist for software, cybersecurity and other disruptive technology clients.

The key to finding such an

ricultural organization comprised of multiple business units,” said Kieffer, who focused his course of study on global executive leadership. “The DelVal MBA program provided both the academic theory and practical application of the material.”

Kieffer, who also holds a master’s in public administration from Widener University, is a proponent of lifelong learning. He sees it as a key component of his own career path.

“Never stop learning and never stop seeking to challenge yourself,” Kieffer said.

“Stale bread in the grocery store is passed over by shoppers; don’t allow yourself to become stale.”

—Michelle Glitzer

ideal job so early in her career? Moore said it had a lot to do with patience and perseverance—and following the advice of her DelVal mentors.

Moore decided to turn to one of her former DelVal professors, Dr. Jim O’Connor, for advice. He counseled her to reach out to public relations professionals in New York and ask how they got their start.

“I made a list of things I liked from the reporting world and things I wanted to get out of the PR world and mapped out what my ideal position would look like,” said Moore.

“And then I took the first step and started freelancing for a PR agency.”

Moore’s proactive steps led her to a contact at Highwire, and to her new job.

She credits her former professor and her DelVal education with preparing her for success.

“DelVal requires students to get realworld experience,” said Moore. “So I wrote for Philly.com and The Intelligencer while I was there. I also freelanced for online publications all four years of college, and I helped small businesses with their social media goals.”

Moore said DelVal helps equip media and communication graduates for a variety of positions.

“It feels great,” said Moore. “Everything seems to be falling into place.”

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | H O R I Z O N S 31

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