The Alumni Herald Fall-Winter 2020

East Stroudsburg University of pennsylvania

alumni herald

Fall/Winter 2020

Fostering a positive & welcoming campus.

Campu sSnap

MISSING YOU.

The Warrior patiently waits for all our students, alumni and friends to return to campus. Primarily remote learning will continue in the spring semester.

Photo by Susie Forrester

Warriors,

I bring greetings from East Stroudsburg University and hope that this message finds you all safe and healthy, especially as we have finished a year that has been turbulent in so many ways. As you’ll witness in the pages of

this issue of the Alumni Herald, despite the disruption taking place around us, we’ve been extremely busy making preparations for more students to physically return to ESU this spring. In 2020, we missed interacting with our students on a daily basis and have settled for virtual interaction with many of you (pages 20-21). Among my wishes for 2021 is a time when we can welcome you back to campus safely to allow you to see, firsthand, the important work being done by our students, faculty and staff. We have weathered a challenging academic year, largely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students have experienced a year like no other and our faculty have made significant strides in providing them with a solid academic experience whether it was remote or face-to-face. It has proven to me and others that our Warriors are a resilient bunch.

The cover of this edition speaks volumes about one of the most critical initiatives we face as a University; we have strategically implemented various programs and initiatives purposed to grow our awareness and knowledge around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

You’ll read about some of the important work being done by our Diversity and Inclusion Committee and why it’s so important for us all to go forward with a commitment and a responsibility to embrace, support and honor all of the unique identities, backgrounds and experiences of our peers, neighbors, friends and families as well as those we do not yet know. Inclusive Excellence challenges our entire campus — faculty, staff, students, administrators and alumni — to change our perceptions and practices in order to build strength and support for those who have felt overlooked for far too long.

I want to personally welcome and congratulate the Alumni Association’s new board president, Dave Super ‘80 (page 4), the latest members of ESU’s Council of Trustees and Foundation Board (pages 12-13), our 2020 distinguished professors (page 10) and recent additions to University leadership (page 12). You’ll also read about a significant milestone in scholarship support and an update on some important fundraising campaigns that you may wish to consider.

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Above all, I ask you, our ESU alumni, to remain courageous in all you do. Your commitment and pride in East Stroudsburg University helps us to remain dedicated to our work, providing our students with all they need to be successful while continuing to ensure that your degree grows its worth.

Sincerely, Kenneth Long, Interim ESU President

inside

Cover Story

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Proud of its diverse community, ESU is taking the next steps to ensure inclusive excellence is found in every aspect of academic and campus life. Building upon the university’s Diversity and Inclusive Excellence initiatives is a 26-member steering committee leading the way, identifying where barriers exist and how they can be overcome. The end result is the development of a campus environment that welcomes and educates all, regardless of race, background, identity or culture.

Stay connected with your alma mater

@WarriorAlumni ESUAA flickr.com/photos/esualumni INTERIM ESU PRESIDENT Kenneth Long Design and Production Office of University Advancement Office of University Relations Ideal Design Solutions Photography Susie Forrester Leon John, Jr., Ph.D. Morgan Koerber ’18 Amanda Nyborg Phil Stein Bob Weidner

Contributors Nancy Boyer Kim de Bourbon Brenda E. Friday, Ph.D. Leon John, Jr., Ph.D. Greg Knowlden M’04 Morgan Koerber ‘18 Stacey Marshall Doug Page Margaret Peterson Elizabeth Richardson Shelley A. Speirs ’92 David Super ’80 Caryn Wilkie

Features

4 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CORNER

Fresh faces plus greetings from new Board President Dave Super ’80.

16 FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOM CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY

Virtual kick-off event brings together nearly 100 Warriors.

10 Campus News

19 SAYING GOODBYE TO THE CONSTANTINES

13 ESU Foundation

Maddy ’79 M’92 and Chuck ’80 M’95 Constantine retire from Stony Acres.

24 WARRIOR SPIRIT

DOESN’T WAVER

Athletics alters course but athletes still shine.

Departments 20 Alumni News 24 Warrior Spirit 29 Class Notes 34 In Memoriam

East Stroudsburg University Alumni

Alumni Herald The Alumni Herald is the official publication for East Stroudsburg University Warriors of all ages. We work to keep ESU alumni connected with their alma mater and each other. The print magazine is published twice each year (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer). Between issues, visit www.alumniheraldonline.com to catch up on daily news coming from ESU. Alumni may update their mailing information by notifying the alumni office.

Please address all correspondence to: ESU Office of Alumni Engagement Henry A. Ahnert, Jr. Alumni Center 200 Prospect Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is committed to equal opportunity for its students, employees and applicants. The university is committed to providing equal educational and employment rights to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran’s status. Each member of the university community has a right to study and work in an environment free from any form of racial, ethnic, and sexual discrimination including sexual harassment, sexual violence and sexual assault.

(Further information, including contact information, can be found on the university’s website at esu.edu/titleix.)

In accordance with federal and state laws, the university will not tolerate discrimination. This policy is placed in this document in accordance with state and federal laws including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991 as well as all applicable federal and state executive orders.

570-422-3333 Fax: 570-422-3301 esualumni@esu.edu esualumni.org 3

alumni board

fellow ESU Alumni,

It is my honor and privilege to introduce myself as the recently elected president of the East Stroudsburg University Alumni Association Board of Directors. I am joined by fellow officers: vice president Christine Rohr Thompson ’73 and secretary Caitlin Ord ’07 M’08. We appreciate the board’s confidence and belief that we can continue the outstanding legacy of leadership provided by outgoing president Frank Johnson ’74 and secretary Ashley Swartz ’09 M.Ed. ’10.

Frank and Ashley did an outstanding job over the past four years.

Under their leadership, the board became a more cohesive and effective group, in large part because of the great work of our committees. We developed a strategic plan and outlined goals and objectives, then worked hard to accomplish them. Last year, your board held 40 events, inclusive of alumni events (in-person and virtual), affinity based and chapter based, and volunteer engagement opportunities. There were 595 alumni and friends at all events and an additional 2,000 alumni attended the virtual Homecoming tailgate. We now have 10 chapters from Pennsylvania to Florida, and are looking to add at least one additional chapter in the RaleighDurham, N.C., region.

Alumni board members also contributed to monthly alumni newsletter articles as well as every issue of the Alumni Herald. We oversaw the alumni awards program and the annual awards banquet.

Our board members have spoken and participated at numerous oncampus events, including graduation, Accepted Students Day, and Remembrance Day. I want to thank the following members of the board for volunteering to serve as co-chairs of our committees. They are Thomas Petro ’72 and Lori Miller Weinstein ’77, administration, Glenn Gottshalk ’72 and Corey Wimmer ’03, alumni awards, Chasity Brown ’04 M’07 and Griggs Levy ’87, communications, Johanna Mazlo ’91 and Ashley Swartz ’09 M’10, nominations, and Avram “Seth” Friedman ’81 and Dawn Ketterman Benner ’70, outreach.

It would be an understatement for me to say that we are living in challenging times when in truth, challenges abound. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive turmoil in all of our lives. For those members of our ESU family who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19, please accept our sincere condolences.

At ESU this fall, campus life was certainly different. Mr. Kenneth Long, formerly the vice president of administration and finance, has taken over as interim president while a search committee works to select a new president. Ken’s financial acumen has been critical to ensuring ESU’s fiscal well-being and we are fortunate he is guiding ESU during this time. For your awareness, an alumni association board member is a voting member of the search committee.

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Alumni Association Corner Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we are not planning to conduct any in-person alumni chapter events in the immediate future. However, we are still looking for creative ways to bring alumni together. The reality is nobody knows what “normal” will look like, and very likely a full return to what we have known as normal could be longer off than we are thinking and hoping. There is one thing that we do know, we are Warrior proud, and there are things we can do to show our pride, provide a high level of support, and help current students.

Please stay connected to ESU through your current channels, and look to support students as they approach graduation. In this difficult job market, students could benefit from the help and support of mentors.

Consider calling those professors that you have kept in touch with to see how you can help, or check out the ESU Warrior Alumni Mentoring page on LinkedIn. You can provide information on job openings at your workplace, or offer to mentor students searching for career options.

I graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was hoping to work in federal law enforcement. As it turned out, I received a job offer from the U.S. Army that pushed me into a different direction. I am recently retired, but spent most of my career working as a civilian acquisition project manager at Army posts in New Jersey as well as in Northern Virginia. I managed the development, production and fielding to soldiers (and sometimes Marines), of various weapon systems, conventional ammunition, precision guided munitions, fire control systems, and the full suite of soldier equipment, including protective equipment, parachute systems, and every possible type of uniform and cold weather wear. I became involved with the ESU Alumni Association because I live in the Poconos and understand how critical ESU is to this area. The university provides a high-quality education to thousands of students every year, many of whom go on to work in the immediate area after graduation. The university is also an essential partner to our community, working with, and bringing together local employers, new business start-ups, government officials, and other educational institutions. These partnerships are a great benefit to ESU students and the surrounding area. I am committed to ensuring that we have an alumni base that continues to provide strong support to ESU, so that it can continue to educate future generations of Warriors.

This is your alumni association and I urge you to reach out with your ideas and suggestions on how we can stay better connected, improve and also what we can do for you. I have been on the board for seven years and I am constantly amazed at the accomplishments of our alumni. You all make me proud to be an ESU alumnus and I look forward to serving as your board president for the next two years. WARRIOR STRONG. From ESSTC to ESSC to ESU: Where Warriors Belong!

Dave Super ’80 President ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors

ESU Alumni Association Board Member Spotlight

glenn clark ’74

As we get older and look back on who our influencers are, we realize that college was a huge transition period in most of our lives. We spent four years in a different town, met people with different backgrounds, became adults because there was no parental supervision, and experienced so many different things that helped to shape our futures.

For Glenn Clark ’74, ESU holds a disproportionate time in his life compared to many other four-year periods. He says the time between the ages of 18-21 felt longer than 38-41, which he attributes to his college years. He attributes his ‘rock solid faith’ to his ESU student experience that helped prepare him for adulthood. He learned how to finish a project in a timely fashion, to compete in fierce rivalries as only an ESU Warrior can, and to appreciate success that is earned while learning from failures without placing blame on others.

His ESU experience also taught him how to be accountable. Clark was a first generation college student in his family, much like many of his classmates. He says it took a lot of help (faith, prayers, parents, high school teachers, part time jobs and friends) and perseverance to finish his degree in four years. Clark’s favorite ESU memories included his membership in fraternity Sigma PI, the student senate and playing varsity soccer.

Today, he is thankful for being married for 47 years and, at the age of 67, being able to compete in an over-50 soccer league.

As a business owner, Clark values the importance of seeing a project through to the end. He believes that focusing on tasks and utilizing available resources can ensure success for a small business owner versus a bigger corporate entity. This is one of the valuable takeaways his ESU experience gave him.

To pick a favorite ESU memory is a challenge, he admits, but reflects back to his fraternity pledge class.

“My fraternity pledge class was the Skater’s Club. We were a small, yet effective seal team and each of our pledges had a unique personality that forced us to challenge one another. I remember and appreciate each of these pledges vividly 50 years later.”

Clark’s advice to all recent and future Warrior alumni is to stay in touch with each other and always pay it forward, especially to the people who have helped get you where you are today.

When he reconnected with his fraternity brothers 10 years ago, Clark realized he wanted to be more active by volunteering time to his alma mater. As a result, he is serving a three-year term on the ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors and serves as the alumni liaison to the ESU Foundation Board of Directors. He also returns to campus to speak with students of the College of Business Management.

He feels the alumni board is made up of many talented and successful members from all areas of study and they continue to build networking opportunities for alumni and students. Even though many rely on social media to network with one another, the ESU Alumni Board hopes that they can build a bigger network by encouraging students to seek out fellow alumni to help mentor and nurture them, he said.

“As future alumni, we want to ensure success stories among all of our Warrior family,” said Clark.

ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors

2020-2021 Executive Members: David A. Super ’80 President Christine Rohr Thompson ’73 Vice President Caitlin Ord ’07 M ’08 Secretary general Members Danica Boyd ’97 Chasity Brown ’04 M ’07 Jack P. Childs ’67 Glenn Clark ’74 Joseph Delchop ’10 Keith Fisher ’91 Joseph B. Fite, III ’76 Avram “Seth” Friedman ’81 Glenn Gottshalk ’72 Ernest R. Gromlich ’60 Dawn Ketterman-Benner ’70 Kathleen Kirkwood ’95 Frank E. Johnson ’74 Deborah A. Kulick ’80 R. Griggs Levy ’87 Johanna Mazlo ’91 Carol Miller ’81 Elizabeth Luchansky O’Brien ’01 Thomas Petro ’72 Paul Scheuch ’71 M ’77 Ronald D. Steckel ’71 Ashley L. Puderbach Swartz ’09 M ’10 Lori Miller Weinstein ’77 Corey Wimmer ’03 Emeriti Eugenia S. Eden ’72 M ’76 Bryan L. Hill ’71 Phyllis M. Kirschner ’63 Virginia M. Sten ’71 Frank Michael Pullo ’73 Faye D. Soderberg ’58 John E. Woodling ’68 M ’76 Sandra “Pinky” O’Neill-Seiler ’57

Diversity.

Inclusion.

Excellence.

ESU embarks on a plan that fosters a positive & welcoming campus

Solis’ fresh perspective on the ESU community is complemented by Dr. Cornelia Sewell-Allen, assistant vice president for inclusive excellence, who came to ESU in 2006. She started in the admissions office, became the director of multicultural affairs in 2012, and then dean of student life in 2016 before taking on her newly created position last year. In her role, she oversees the Center for Multicultural Affairs and Inclusive Education and the Gender and Sexuality Center on campus.

The World Fair held during Global Week in 2017 promoted conversations of diversity, social justice, equality and service.

Photo by Susie Forrester

Founded in fall 2018, the Gender and Sexuality Center is housed in the lower level of the University Center. The center’s mission is to encourage ESU community members to discuss and reflect upon the myriad ways that these two interrelated identities influence our lives. Photo by Bob Weidner

Excellence — it’s everyone’s goal.

And making sure it is a goal every student can reach is the underlying mission of ESU’s Diversity and Inclusive Excellence initiatives.

The philosophy is this: Excellence is not possible for anyone unless the campus community is comprised of people of all races, genders and ethnicities — it’s diverse — and unless it actively welcomes and supports everyone — it’s inclusive.

Dr. Santiago Solis came to East Stroudsburg last fall to become the university’s first vice president of campus life and inclusive excellence, encompassing an office once known as student affairs.

“The transition of student affairs to campus life and inclusive excellence was a big move for our administration. It means we are not excellent unless we are inclusive, unless we are diverse.”

ESU has set three main goals that need to be achieved: increase the diversity of the faculty and staff, improve support systems for students of color, and improve retention and graduation rates, which means keeping students on the path to getting their degrees. And it doesn’t stop there — the Alumni Association is picking up the efforts after graduation with a career mentoring plan. (See related story on page 7.)

Helping the university community meet those goals is the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, which Sewell-Allen leads with co-chair Dr. William Bajor, director of graduate and extended studies. Their goal is to have a representative from every department serving on the committee — faculty, administrators and staff — as well as students. They meet almost every month, providing recommendations on procedures and policies, reviewing information that impacts the campus experience, and advocating for diversifying every university practice. (Cont. on page 8)

Solis has settled right into the job, despite the frustrations of not being able to interact personally with students since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. A Mexican American who grew up in East Los Angeles, he came to ESU from Towson University in Maryland, where he led several diversity, civic engagement and student success programs.

“I wanted diversity to be under my umbrella. I was also looking for a diverse student body,” he says. ESU boasts the most diverse enrollment in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

“It’s exciting work, because we are an access school,” Solis says. “My whole purpose of being in higher education is to make sure we are providing that opportunity to immigrants, to lower socioeconomic communities, to students and families of color.”

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Dr. Santiago Solis

Dr. Cornelia Sewell-Allen

Dr. William Bajor

Coming soon: Mentorship program will connect alumni and students of every background

Asked how the association implants the alumni concept with students before they leave campus, the answer is decidedly “old school.”

Seniors are given cards when they pick up their caps and gowns for graduation, and asked to provide a post-graduation email address and other information about themselves so the Alumni Association can keep in touch. Collecting graduate data from university records isn’t easy, Super says, because of privacy law concerns.

Also working to make connections is Director of Alumni Engagement Leon John Jr. He serves on ESU’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, bringing the alumni perspective to the group charged with helping the university meet its campus equity goals.

His office is working to establish affinity groups — ways for graduates with common interests to stay connected to ESU — and to “make sure our events are truly inclusive to all alumni,” he says.

The ESU Alumni Association is putting a comprehensive mentoring program in place.

Assisting in the effort are, from left, Leon John, Jr., director of alumni engagement, David Super ’80, president of the association’s board of directors, and Glenn Clark ’74, alumni board member and liaison to the ESU Foundation Board of Directors.

Photo by Susie Forrester

The ESU Alumni Association wants to connect the vast network of nearly 50,000 ESU graduates with students looking to get a head start on their careers with professional advice and job referrals.

A robust mentorship program is the best way alumni can serve the university’s increasingly diverse student body, says David Super ’80, president of the association’s board of directors.

“We’ve been working on an initiative to get the university to buy into a web-based platform that gets students linked up with interested alumni mentors and help them with career choices, possibly getting them internships,” Super says. “It’s something we’ve been heavily focused on.”

The association is working with Mary Frances Postupack M’93, vice president of economic development and entrepreneurship, and with the Office of Career Development to make it happen.

Funding has been a problem, however. ESU was on track to enter into a contract, Super says, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and money got tight. The university has applied for a grant, and Super hopes that by January it can enter into a three-year agreement with one of the companies that offers a good networking service.

Glenn Clark ’74, an alumni board member and liaison to the ESU Foundation board, notes that the association has tried setting something up through LinkedIn, but the 17-year-old professional network is not something young people are interested in using.

Getting ESU alumni and students together with a targeted online system would let these diverse groups connect.

“If someone came to me with a resume and said they went to ESU, I’m all over it,” says Clark, who owns an insurance agency. “But how do we get these folks who are searching to take advantage of the wide variety of alumni who are out there — we’ve got a real big effort going on to try to get data on our graduates to add to our alumni subscriber base, so that we’ll be effective for them.”

“Diversity has grown significantly on campus, and in the ranks of alumni as well,” he notes. The university continues to experience growth in the number of Black and Latino students and subsequently in the ranks of alumni, mirroring the demographic changes in the Pocono region.

John’s office also helps the mentoring effort by bringing in alumni to speak to classes related to their fields of expertise, building on the networking idea. “We just want to take it to the next level,” John says.

But when it comes to diversity and inclusion concerns, the Alumni Association board recognizes the need to hear from students.

“Most of what I have seen so far are our musings and our imagination on how to address the issue,” Clark says. “I would love to get input from active students and young alumni on how we can serve them better. Those feedback mechanisms are very important.”

As far as the board itself goes, Super has been working to make it more inclusive. “When I joined, it was like an old guy’s retirement club,” he says, with only six women on the 26-member board. Now there are 12.

The alumni board also represents graduating classes from 1960 through 2010, and is looking to bring more young alumni on the board. One challenge is that after graduation, most are focused on starting their careers and starting families. People who are near retirement or retired simply have more time, Super notes.

One advantage of new technology is that live meetings now can be held online and board members can get together for discussions no matter where they live, and no longer have to be local residents.

Such changes, along with increased diversity, also means “we are being forced to rethink how we communicate with our student partners and young alumni,” Clark says.

In a message to alumni, Super noted that during their orientation, incoming freshmen are taught the “Way of the Warrior,” which sets out seven ways ESU students should try to make a difference.

“The ones that resonate with me during this time are that ESU Warriors are champions of social justice, are committed to selfgrowth, and are dedicated to empowering others,” Super wrote.

“These are powerful words that when taken to heart can bring about positive change for the better in our society.” esualumni.org 7

the diversity of the faculty and staff.

Priorities : Increase Improve support systems for students of color.

In Motion Improve retention and graduation rates.

(Cont. from page 6) Subcommittees focus on access and equity, diversifying the curriculum, and the campus climate.

Although momentum slowed somewhat when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the committee offers a series of one-hour online workshops on a number of pertinent topics, such as “Culturally Relevant Teaching,” “What Does it Mean to be Antiracist?” and “Dear White People: We Need to Do Better.”

It also encourages faculty and staff to earn a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate by attending workshops, researching resources, and presenting a portfolio that reflects what they’ve learned and how they plan to apply it as a member of the ESU community.

At the very top of these efforts is Kenneth Long, serving as interim president after the retirement of Marcia Welsh, Ph.D., who brings a personal perspective to the job.

“Being the first black president at ESU, even in an interim status, truly highlights the diversity at all levels of the university,” he notes. “To me, diversity is not just about race and ethnicity, but gender, sexual orientation, mindset and so on.”

“Inclusive excellence challenges our entire campus — faculty, staff, students, and administrators — to change our perceptions and practices in order to build strength and support for those who have felt overlooked for far too long,” Long says.

Long has been at ESU for seven years as vice president of administration and finance. He worked at Kutztown and Cheyney previously, and has noticed the continuous change in the campus climate mirroring the changes both regionally and nationally; ESU leads the state system as having the most diverse student population.

“While COVID-19 has thrown a little roadblock in some of the diversity initiatives I was hoping to tackle, I continue to look for opportunities to show why ESU is a great place to live, learn, work and play for everyone who shares our common values of being a Warrior.”

Jevon Mitchell, a junior education and Spanish major from Philadelphia, knows the goals. He is active in the Black Student Union and in the Student Government Association, which he serves as chair of diversity and inclusion.

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Orientation leaders in June 2019 welcome students to ESU from all backgrounds. Photos by Susie Forrester

“I definitely think there are prominent inclusive barriers at ESU, such as lack of minority faculty and administration,” Mitchell says. “I think creating diversity initiatives are super important at ESU, now more than ever.”

“There’s a clear line of division in this country, especially with everything going on related to Black Lives Matter and police brutality. With the help of my fellow ESU students, I hope to create initiatives that change ESU for the better. I hope to create a more welcoming and safe space for black, brown and other minority students to come.”

There are many facets to ESU’s efforts. “We are focusing on transforming the campus, improving our campus culture,” Solis says. “We’re making sure we create that welcoming and inclusive campus environment. It really focuses on that.”

Sewell-Allen points to two gender-specific organizations designed to help students make the transition to college: the Women of Color Initiative and the Men of Color Alliance. “Students are coming from a variety of backgrounds, with a variety of challenges and needs,” she says. “We know they can succeed if we provide the resources.”

Solis and his team are also working with the residence life program to establish living-learning communities. This means setting common living areas — such as one floor of a campus residence hall — for students with the same academic, social or cultural interests.

The goal is to connect every student to a living-learning community and to set them up with a support network as soon as they arrive on campus.

Students who are the first generation in their families to attend college — “First Gen” — also receive special attention.

“Sometimes we don’t retain them from fall to spring because they feel homesick and lonely,” Solis says. “So the goal is to connect them, make them feel part of a community, as soon as we can, as soon as they arrive on campus.”

Students coming from an urban environment, especially, can find rural Northeast Pennsylvania an unfamiliar place.

“It’s very different,” Solis says. “And they tell us that all the time. For those of us who enjoy the Poconos, who enjoy walking in the woods, looking up at trees… yeah, that’s not for all of our students.”

Emili Goris Perez, a senior majoring in social work and Spanish, is from Hazleton, and understands how difficult the adjustment to campus life can be. She transferred to ESU as a junior in fall 2018.

“During my first semester it was a little challenging since I didn’t know anyone, and I was a transfer,” she says. “Most of the people already knew each other or were there since freshman year, and it was difficult to make friends.”

The Latin Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival in Asian Culture are two ESU events that have connected students of similar cultures. File photos

This work for many of us is very near and dear to our hearts. That’s why we’re working so closely with students, particularly students who feel very marginalized and oppressed, still even now in 2020, to make sure that we’re building those communities.

– Dr. Santiago Solis In her second semester she met students in the Spanish Club, and found roommates. Now as a senior she is president of a new campus chapter of MANA, a national Latina organization, and vice president of ESU’s chapter of Mu Sigma Upsilon, one of the first intentionally multicultural sororities.

“I feel like the whole point of me transferring to ESU was to feel comfortable while going to school, being closer to home and connecting with people like me in general.”

Mitchell and Goris Perez agree that building a more diverse faculty will help.

“I think that a way for students to be successful in their classes is to be able to connect to their professors,” Mitchell says. “I think that students would love to have professors who reflect them, in terms of color, creed, sexuality and shared life experiences.”

“We do need more faculty and staff who are more diverse, and not just in the sense of a skin color — I’m saying about culture,” Goris Perez says, adding it would also help if faculty were seen on campus more, interacting with students.

Sewell-Allen works with the team in Academic Affairs to make sure language in job postings is inclusive, and addresses issues of unconscious bias. She notes that the state system hired a new chancellor for diversity equity and inclusion this summer “to elevate the necessity of this work.”

“Over the last year we’ve been looking at how to develop a more diverse faculty,” she says, and that includes attending faculty recruitment events, looking at Black and Latino doctoral candidates, and seeking scholars looking for professional opportunities on a college campus.

“There’s an ongoing conversation about how we recruit and retain diverse faculty, and establishing a mentoring program for incoming faculty of color,” she says. “All of these are smaller things that sometimes we don’t notice, but when we put a spotlight on them, they can make a great difference.”

To ensure ESU hits its goals, the university has set up an Inclusive Excellence Scorecard, available for everyone to see online (esu.edu/diversity).

It tracks progress in four categories: Access and equity, campus climate, learning and development, and diversifying the curriculum.

Solis also is working with Academic Affairs to develop new courses and programs that focus on marginalized communities and the history of oppression and discriminatory practices, so students can learn from the past.

“Some of them think that activism has never existed before,” he says.

There have also been conversations with campus police. “Community policing, that’s what we want here. So we’re having a conversation of what that would look like here at ESU.”

Efforts are also being made to make sure everyone is open-minded regarding gender and LGBT issues, and that everyone is welcoming to different identities. Solis referred to the kind of casual “locker room talk” that can be sexist or homophobic. “How do we educate them when a lot of times it’s not so welcoming? We have to think differently.”

But changing a campus culture is not easy.

“For those of us professionals who are engaged in diversity work, it’s very hard work, with lots of challenges,” Solis says, and often with limited resources. “We’ve made a lot of progress, but at times it doesn’t feel that way.”

“This work for many of us is very near and dear to our hearts. That’s why we’re working so closely with students, particularly students who feel very marginalized and oppressed, still even now in 2020, to make sure that we’re building those communities.

“We have to figure out how to work in solidarity, and it’s all about building strong communities so we can hold each other up.”

Sewell-Allen agrees.

“For me, it’s the understanding that the work isn’t to benefit me — it’s to benefit somebody after me. And that’s the message that I often share with our students. You may not see or reap any of the benefits for the things that you fight for … but your voice still matters because there’s going to be a student who will be here next year, or the year after that, who will benefit from the work that you did.”

“Access in education is something all students should have a right to, and that’s why I do the work that I do. It’s necessary, now more than ever. It never ends.”

– By Kim de Bourbon

ESU’s Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee Chairpersons Dr. William Bajor Director of Graduate and Extended Studies Dr. Cornelia Sewell-Allen Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Members Agnes Brannan, Enrollment Management Dr. Jason Engerman, Digital Media Technologies Lyesha Fleming, Center for Multicultural Affairs and Inclusive Excellence Stephanie French, M.F.A., Theatre Dr. Shannon Frystak, History and Geography Aida Garcia-Cole, Graduate and Extended Studies Stacey Grant, Facilities Management Elizabeth Hall, Human Resources Dr. T. Storm Heter, Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Religion

Selena Hines, University Relations Stacy Hoyt, College of Education Dr. Leon John, Jr., Alumni Engagement Dr. Gene Kelly, Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence Dr. Laura Kieselbach, English Kathy Perrine, Psychology Dr. Timothy Radloff, Sociology, Social Work, & Criminal Justice Millie Roman-Buday, Enrollment Management Kim Roselli, OASIS Dr. Dorian Royal, Nursing Jessica Santiago, Academic Enrichment and Learning Sandy Shaika, Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence Debbie Smith, Career & Workforce Development Jahaira Stoute, Human Resources Katrin Wolfe, Athletics

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ESU offers certificate programs in variety of programs and professional fields

CAMPUS NEWS

Peter Pruim, Ph.D.

Elaine Shuey, Ph.D.

FACULTY HONORS

Distinguished Professor Awards presented to Pruim, Shuey Peter Pruim, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and religious studies, and Elaine Shuey, Ph.D., professor of communication sciences and disorders, were presented the highest honor an ESU faculty member can receive – the Distinguished Professor Award. Recognizing their outstanding contributions to the academic life of the university and its reputation, they were presented the awards on Sept. 8, 2020, during an all-university meeting. Pruim joined the ESU faculty in 1997 and is professor of philosophy and religious studies. According to the recognition committee, Pruim is an accomplished scholar, an engaging teacher, and a welcome presence everywhere in the ESU community. Every interaction, whether with individuals or groups on campus, creates educational opportunities for Dr. Pruim. His wit and sense of humor only make these encounters more memorable for all who touch his orbit.

“He is one of the most respected teachers on campus, both according to his colleagues and his students. He approaches his classes with the same enthusiasm, whether they are honors classes or First Year Experience classes. He makes every effort to reach EVERY student. He is an expert in so many fields, but he has that intuitive ability to understand the value of getting to know every student. The range of subjects Dr. Pruim has taught is, perhaps, without equal,” according to the committee.

Since her appointment in 1984, Elaine Shuey made ESU’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders one of the top programs at our university and beyond, said the selection committee. Since 2006 she has served as department chair and was part of the team that developed the highly successful master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology. Since 1992, she coordinated the Gerontology Concentration and was instrumental in helping to design the Monroe Hall facilities of the ESU’s Speech and Hearing Center.

Shuey’s scholarly activity includes, most recently, two book chapters.

Hearing Aids and Pizza, A Hands on Approach to Teaching About Aging (2018) and Speech-Language Pathology, Today’s Health Professions, Working together to Provide Quality Care (2016). She is active in her state, regional, and national associations and often serves in leadership roles.

Shuey was awarded the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 2015 Galley of Hope Honoree for breast cancer survivors and was recognized at ESU’s Student Athlete Celebration in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

10 the alumni herald

As the job market continues to change, especially as businesses and industry cope with the COVID pandemic, ESU offers 13 certificate programs designed to increase or update a professional’s knowledge in a variety of fields.

“A certificate is a great way to start or continue your education and bolster your resume,” says Joanne Z. Bruno, J.D. provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Each certificate program at ESU is personally developed by faculty with expertise in a wide range of topics.

Whether someone is hoping to upskill in their current career, start a new career, or simply further their education, a certificate can be the best way to achieve their goal.”

For recent ESU graduates Sergio Bortolon ’20 and Joseph Grelecki ’18, a certificate was a way to expand their knowledge. Bortolon majored in business management with a concentration in marketing. During his studies he wanted to chase another interest, but didn’t want to change his major. “I’ve always had a passion for art and technology,” Bortolon said. “ESU’s 3D printing & product design certificate was the perfect blend of those two things. I knew pursuing this certificate along with my bachelor’s degree would expand my career possibilities.”

The certificate program did, indeed, open doors for Bortolon. During an internship with TickCheck, a university-affiliated lab based in East Stroudsburg, dedicated to providing fast, high-quality tick testing, he designed a tick removal spoon that was manufactured to aid in tick removal. He and the TickCheck team are hoping that the tool will be on the market soon. The internship not only grew Bortolon’s 3D printing and product design portfolio, but also enabled him to take part in the company’s market research, which was beneficial to the work he was doing in his business classes. “In addition to tackling new skills associated with design, the internship allowed me to understand the growing 3D printing industry as a business.”

Sergio Bortolon ’20 recently completed ESU’s 3D printing & product design certificate.

Courtesy photo from Sergio Bortolon ’20

Grelecki graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. He knew he wanted a career in the clinical setting so he explored the option of minoring in psychology. However, he found the crisis intervention certificate was a much better fit for him. “This certificate program offered exactly what I needed and wanted,” Grelecki said. “The professors were amazing and the real life examples that were taught as part of the coursework for the certificate prepared me for my internship with Sailsbury Behavior Health.” In fact, Sailsbury Behavior Health was so impressed with his knowledge during his internship he was hired full time upon graduating. “A certificate program is a great opportunity for someone who doesn’t want to, or can’t, commit to a double major, a minor, or even a degree program. The classes you take to complete the program will give you a huge leg up in your career,” Grelecki said.

“Whether you’re a current student and want to pursue multiple interests, or you’re simply looking to expand your knowledge without the commitment of a degree, a certificate program at ESU could be a great fit,” Provost Bruno said.

ESU Certificate Programs printing and product design Business writing Crisis intervention Data visualization Drug abuse prevention Environmental health Geographic information systems (GIS) Global health Health emergency preparedness Health project management Medical marijuana and public health Nutrition Sport performance coaching For more information about ESU certificate programs, visit esu.edu/certificates.

Update from Harrisburg

State System enters new phase of proposed integrations

Chancellor Dan Greenstein during his visit to ESU in October 2019.

Photo by Susie Forrester

With an eye toward expanding opportunity and service to the Commonwealth, the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education affirmed the system’s efforts to continue planning for the integration of six of its universities.

The board unanimously affirmed the process and next step on October 14, 2020, after Chancellor Dan Greenstein presented findings from an initial financial review of the proposed integrations. The system is exploring two possible combinations – California-Clarion-Edinboro and Bloomsburg-Lock Haven-Mansfield – and each integration would operate as a single accredited entity with a single leadership, faculty, enrollment management strategy, and budget while honoring local identity.

“The data and the analysis are showing clearly that the path forward on integrations will mean greater student opportunity in regions critical to Pennsylvania’s economy,” Greenstein said. “As we strive to hold our place as the affordable public higher education option, we must continue to think and act boldly so that any Pennsylvanian, regardless of zip code, can continue their education at a State System university.”

The next step in the integrations process is development of an implementation plan, which could be presented to the board as early as April 2021. The process, laid out in Act 50 of 2020, includes a 60-day public comment period and periodic updates to members of the General Assembly.

The earliest an integrated university could begin accepting students would be August 2022.

The board also approved a resolution that authorized the Chancellor to seek $487 million in state appropriations for 2021-22 (a 2 percent increase over the current year). The system will also seek $25 million for system redesign efforts as part of a multi-year request approved by the board last year.

Regarding the potential integrations, Greenstein’s presentation included preliminary projections of enrollment growth of between 4 and 5 percent for the two combinations due to their combined size. Thanks to potential enrollment growth as well as cost efficiencies tied to leveraging their combined size, the analysis of integrations showed potentially improved operating margins and primary reserve ratios within the next three to five years.

Greenstein also reiterated a goal of the two integrations is to serve new student groups who need affordable access to postsecondary education while also providing traditional, residential, inclass educational experiences. For California-Clarion-Edinboro, that means a robust, affordable, career-relevant online program based here in Pennsylvania, and for Bloomsburg-Lock HavenMansfield, creation of quick-burst, non-degree, certificate or stackable credential programs to bolster northern Pennsylvania’s job market.

“The communities where these universities have for more than a century provided pathways to a better life for students, they’re depending on us to be nimble, adaptable, and continue providing career-relevant, post-secondary higher education opportunities,” Greenstein said.

“That’s why we’re challenging the status quo and taking this opportunity to shape public higher education for the 21st century.”

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education oversees 14 four-year public universities educating more than 93,000 students. The State System offers more than 2,300 degrees and certificates in more than 530 academic areas. The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities of Pennsylvania. esualumni.org 11

CAMPUS NEWS Three new members appointed to ESU Council of Trustees Tameko Patterson of East Stroudsburg, Frank Epifano of Daleville, Pa., and Thomas J. Grayuski ’84 of East Stroudsburg were appointed as new members of ESU Council of Trustees in September 2020. Each will serve a six-year term.

Patterson is a project management institute and IBM certified project manager with more than 20 years of experience managing large, complex, multi-million dollar projects across several industries including technology, banking, finance, securities, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, she is currently president of the Stroudsburg School Board and a member of Monroe Career and Technical Institute’s Joint Operating Committee.

Epifano recently retired as vice president of North America and Global Finance for Commercial Operations for Sanofi Pasteur, an international leader in pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines. In addition to his previous traditional North American finance responsibilities, he served as chair of the U.S. Management Committee providing oversight and coordination among the Sanofi Pasteur U.S. functional areas as well as the Canadian Management Committee and the Global Finance Committee.

Grayuski currently serves as senior vice president and human resources manager at ESSA Bank & Trust.

He joined ESSA Bank & Trust in 1996. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from ESU, a master’s in human resources administration from the University of Scranton, and is a 1999 graduate of the Leadership Pocono program.

ESU’s COT consists of 11 members, appointed by the governor, including one undergraduate student. Primarily, the trustees are responsible for making recommendations to the Chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) regarding appointments and retention of the university president, university operations which include (but are not limited to) the approval of the university budget, institution of new academic programs, contracts, fees, and tuition.

Lucas named VP of Enrollment Management Karen Lucas was appointed as ESU’s vice president of enrollment management in July 2020. With more than 27 years of work experience in higher education, Lucas came to ESU from the University of North Florida (UNF) where she most recently served as assistant vice president of enrollment services.

She also served as program director at the Kentucky Community & Technical College System, the dean of enrollment management at the University of New England, the director of undergraduate admissions at Oklahoma State University, and the senior associate director of undergraduate admission, community college relations and transfer student services and student enrollment communication center at both Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University during her career.

Lucas earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University and a master’s in history from Florida Atlantic University.

12 the alumni herald

Fleming takes lead role in Multicultural Affairs and Inclusive Education Lyesha Fleming ’09 was named director of the Center for Multicultural Affairs and Inclusive Education in June 2020. Fleming has been a part of the ESU community for more than a decade since obtaining her undergraduate degree in 2009 and joining the Student Affairs division in 2016. In her role as resident director and program coordinator for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Fleming developed and implemented key programs focused on educating campus constituents on cultural awareness.

She received her master’s degree in both Public Administration and Social Work from Marywood University.

New programs for professional development Spanish As Spanish continues to grow as an important professional language, ESU will offer a post baccalaureate certificate in professional Spanish. The 12-credit certificate program began in the fall 2020 semester.

The Certificate in Professional Spanish offers professionals with bilingual Spanish-English skills the opportunity to deepen their competency in spoken and written Spanish communication in two major sectors, healthcare and business. The coursework also provides further cultural competency via studies of diverse, Spanish-speaking societies and their cultural production. This certificate can be presented to employers as evidence of strong skills in workforce Spanish.

For more information about ESU’s post baccalaureate certificate in professional Spanish, visit esu.edu/spanishcert, or contact languages@esu.edu.

Actuarial science An actuarial science minor is now available through ESU’s mathematics department. Actuaries use mathematics to study uncertain future events.

The program consists of six courses and is an opportunity for interested students to earn a credential that shows potential employers they have the background to be successful as an actuary.

For more information about the new actuarial science minor, visit esu.edu/actuarialscience or contact Olivia Carducci, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and department chair at 570-422-3444 or email ocarducci@esu.edu.

Welsh recognized by Lehigh Valley Business Former ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., continued to receive accolades for her community involvement in the region, receiving an ICON honor, recognizing the Greater Lehigh Valley’s business leaders over the age of 60 for notable success and demonstration of strong leadership, both within and outside their chosen field, according to the Lehigh Valley Business website.

Welsh was among 17 ICON honorees for 2020 recognized by Lehigh Valley Business in a virtual awards celebration held Nov. 5, 2020.

According to Cathy Hirko, associate publisher and editorial director of Lehigh Valley Business, Central Penn Parent and Central Penn Business Journal, “Winners were selected for long-standing commitment to the Greater Lehigh Valley’s business community and significant professional accomplishments through innovation and leadership.”

esu foundation

East Stroudsburg University Foundation

2020-2021 Board of Directors

five new members to Board of Directors

Robert Willever ’75, Chairman President, Willever Wealth Management MaryEllen Dickey ’80 Vice Chairman Senior Vice President of Advancement Diakon Senior Living Services Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries Chris Yeager ’74 M’81 Secretary Retired Principal and School Superintendent

2020

Eric Wyatt ’85

Leslie L. Wilson ’74

new members

Glenn W. Clark ’74

Rory Yanchek ’84

Robert A. Shebelsky, Treasurer Chairman, Deputy Real Estate Holdings LLC Glenn W. Clark ’74, ESU Alumni Association Liaison President, Rockwood Programs, Inc. Alfredo Garcia ’03 Managing Director – Investments Wells Fargo Advisors

John J. Pekarovsky III ‘07

Robert Willever ’75, East Stroudsburg University Foundation board chair, announced the appointments of five new members to its Board of Directors. Glenn W. Clark ’74, Leslie L. Wilson ’74, Rory Yanchek ’84, and Eric Wyatt ’85 were appointed during the board’s last quarterly meeting held on May 14, 2020. John J. Pekarovsky III, ’07, Council of Trustees liaison, was appointed in March 2020.

Clark, of West Chester, Pa., is president of Rockwood Programs, Inc. He serves on the board as the ESU Alumni Association liaison. Wilson, of Palmetto, Fla., is senior vice president for Workplace Initiatives Disability:IN. Yanchek, of Great Falls, Va., is the vice president and general manager of 3M Government Markets and Wyatt, of Philadelphia, Pa., is the chief operating officer of Boston Market Corporation. Their terms began on July 1, 2020.

Pekarovsky, of Larksville, Pa., is vice president, commercial banking officer, at Community Bank in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. His term began in May 2020.

“I wish to express our gratitude to these five new members for agreeing to serve in these important roles. I am confident that they will make immediate contributions to the ESU community by furthering the goals of the ESU Foundation. Their expertise in non-profit management, operational leadership, finance and fundraising makes them tremendous assets and additions to the Board of Directors and the ESU Foundation,” said Willever.

The 2020-2021 ESU Foundation Board of Directors includes 18 members who serve in support of the organization and its mission. Learn more about the Foundation board and its mission at www.esufoundation.org.

Raymond Hamlin ’86, Esq. Attorney, Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley Wendy Jankoski ’82 President and CIO Wealth Architects, LLC Emily Jimenez ESU Student Liaison Class of 2022

Douglas Leonzi ’94 Vice President – Investment Counselor BB&T Investment Services, Inc. Robert Moses Retired Director of Residence Life & Housing, East Stroudsburg University John J. Pekarovsky III, ’07 Council of Trustees Liaison Vice President, Community Bank NA Stephen Somers Owner and President Vigon International, Inc. Elizabeth Leigh Smith, Ph.D. Faculty Liaison Professor of English, East Stroudsburg University Adam S. Stauffer ’00 M’02 Assistant Vice President Development & College Relations, Lafayette College Leslie L. Wilson, ’74 Senior Vice President Workplace Initiatives Disability:IN Eric Wyatt ’85 Chief Operating Officer Boston Market Corporation Rory Yanchek ’84 Vice President and General Manager, 3M Government Markets

Members Emeriti William B. Cramer, Esq. Legal Counsel and Emerita Attorney, Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C. Past chair, served 1987-2001 and 2014-2019 Rosemary Driebe Olofsson Executive Vice President Pocono Pro Foods Past chair, served 1987-1999

esualumni.org 13

esu foundation

The 1893 Society

*Deceased

The 1893 Society recognizes alumni and friends who have included the ESU Foundation in their estate plans or established an endowed scholarship fund. All planned gifts to the ESU Foundation qualify for recognition in the 1893 Society.

Anonymous Jennifer M. Ahrens ‘94 Neil N. ‘96 & Gladys Baksh James ‘05 & Kathryn Barchiesi Florence L. (Peachy) Barkman Karen ‘95 & Kerry R. Beetel Eli & Christine Berman James L. Borger ‘59 Donald R. & Dolores B. Bortz Jack G. Bowers Richard N. ‘60 & Jean M. ‘89 Brewer Susan C. Brink ‘72 M’87 Robert P. Brunet Jone J. Bush Lynn P. Bush Jeanne C. Chambers ‘73 Jack P. ‘67 & Anne V. Childs Glenn W. ‘74 & Dawne Clark Darell T. & Cindy Covington William B. & Barbara Cramer Patricia M. & David W. Crotty Roger L. DeLarco ‘80 Gertrude Q. ‘70 & Bruce A. Denlinger Gypsy Denzine Jean M. DeSchriver ‘74 Roseann Dillman Stephanie L. Doherty ‘85 Stephen M. Domovich ‘49 Eugenia S. Eden ‘72 M’76 Ann R. Edinger ‘73 Judy Edwards Karen M. ‘79 & Joseph El-Chaar William C. Eves ‘71 Robert H. ‘55 & Louise L. ‘56 Fabel Sue C. Falvello ‘60 J. David & Hinda Farmer Bernice W. Franchino ‘43 James P. ‘52 & Barbara A. Frawley Gere B. Fulton ‘60 Daisy M. & Robert Gallagher John R. Gantz ‘63 Deborah L. Gebhardt ‘69 James E. & Betty B.* Gilbert Julie & Michael Glavin D.R. Gray ‘63* Donald L. ‘56 & Marge E. ‘59 Griffith David A. ‘76 M’84 & Moira A. ‘77 Hair

Harriet D. ‘56 & George D. ‘58* Hall Harrison G. & Dolores M. Hartman Noretta Herman ‘59 Frank V. Hermann ‘53 Angela J. Herrlinger ‘92 M’98 Joseph C. ‘63 & Joanne ‘64 Heverin Sandra Hoeffner Jorene Jameson ‘69 & James Wylie Wendy A. Jankoski ‘82 & Paul Lapinski Nancy M. Johnson Russell F. M’80 & Christine Jones Stephen & Gail Kalman Robert A. ‘58 & Anne E. Kearn Bob A. ‘71 & Sandy Kelley Martha S. Kellow Linda D. Koch ‘69 M’71 Wendy H. Koch Constance R. Krick ‘60 M’65 Jeffrey J. Land ‘79 Douglas C. & Sharon G. Lane Harry F. & Jeannie M. Lee Judith A. ‘76 M’86 & James H. Leiding Helen F. ‘50 & Wellington* Lester Marcus S. ‘95 & Yvonne T. ‘94 Lingenfelter Kenneth E. Maclary Hussain G. Malik Michael D. ‘97 & Jennifer Mancuso Susan F. & Donald R. Mancuso Randy S. ‘78 & Valerie A. ‘79 Maugle Ann E. ‘82 & Kenton R. McGinnis William G. “Bing” McNulty ‘62 Ronald J. Meyers Irene Mitchel Maury J. Molin ‘76 Frank M. Montano ‘69 Robert M. Moses William W. Moyer ‘61 Clarence J. & Elizabeth Murphy Michael B. Murphy ‘93 M’96 & Marni F. Freeman-Murphy ‘93 Deborah Newlin Smith ‘75 R. Sam ‘82 & Linda L. ‘83 Niedbala Sandra O’Neil-Seiler ‘57 Patricia A. Ori ‘61 Jerry & Hedy Orodenker Robert S. ‘70 & Cyndi Ott

Trudy M. Piatt Frank ‘73 M’76 & Nancy Pullo Sara M. Rand ‘61* Deborah A. Raykovitz ‘75 Joseph Reilly Ritchey J. ‘65 M’72 & Roberta A. ‘66 Ricci James C. & Susan D. Roberts III Michael J. Romano, Jr. ‘74 M’83* Phyllis F. Rubin Kevin P. ‘83 & Candace A. ‘81 Ruddy Ernest E.* & Sandra L. Rydell Larry M. ‘58 M’64 & Barbara Rymon Robert M. ‘65 & Elizabeth Ann Sabol Arthur R. ‘62 & Fannie A. ‘62 Schisler Darleen Schott ‘63 Glenn E. Schultz Niandong Shi & Youjun Yang W. George ‘74 & Cynthia M. ‘74 Shultz Scott Simonds ‘90 & Patricia Fonzi Barry E. ‘62 & Norma Slemmer Patricia S. & John W. Smeaton Grace Smith Stephen M. & Sharon D. Somers Joan Sommer* Richard A. Staneski Ray J. Starner ‘69 Margaret L. Stish ‘64 M’67 Robert G. Sutton & Linda DeRenzis-Sutton Charles T. ‘84 M’86 & Teresa M. Taylor II Martha M. ‘65 & Ronald M. Tirpak Doreen M. Tobin Donald L. Tshudy William D.* & Ellen Walker Kathryn A. Waltz ‘70 Faith H. Waters & Edward C. Kimes Diana E. Weaver ‘57 Jeffrey & Audrey Weber Amy ‘85 & Robert J. Welch Mary B. Whalen ‘78 Robert H. ‘75 & Julieann Willever Carol A. Wolf ‘68 Rory J. ‘84 & Diane E. Yanchek Richard A. ‘60 & Sandra L. ‘60 Zimmer

2019-2020 Gifts and pledges surpass $6.6 million

The East Stroudsburg University Foundation achieved a record in philanthropic support during fiscal year 20192020, securing $6,634,649 in total gifts and pledges, thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff.

The impact of that support can be found across campus - in the virtual classroom or lecture hall, within athletic and academic programs, and in every student’s overall university experience. The most notable increases fell within the student scholarship program. The Foundation provided $1,017,436 in scholarship support to students in 2019-2020, a 7.9 percent increase from the previous year and a 167.3 percent increase from a decade ago.

Donor gifts also resulted in considerable momentum on the following campaigns: • The Soccer Stadium project • The Locker Legacy Campaign for field hockey, lacrosse and men’s basketball • Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Scholarship Campaign • Esports Laboratory Campaign The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 forced ESU to move to all-remote learning, creating financial hardships for many students. Donors answered the call to help our Warriors, providing $66,717 in gifts and equipment to the Student Emergency Response Fund.

“As the Foundation looks back at our accomplishments of 2019-2020, we know we could not have done it without the incredible generosity of our alumni, friends, faculty and staff,” said Rich Santoro, executive director of the ESU Foundation. “In times of uncertainty and confusion, when health and well-being become the doctrine of our daily lives, our donors continue to make an effort to give back and for that we thank you.”

$6,634,649 $1,017,436 IN TOTAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES

IN SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT TO STUDENTS

673

$66, 717

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO STUDENTS

IN EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS TO STUDENTS DUE TO COVID-19

To learn more about becoming a member of the President’s Circle, The 1893 Society, or to create an endowed or annual scholarship, visit the ESU Foundation at www.esufoundation.org or call 570-422-3333.

President’s Circle Members Millennium Circle ($50,000+) ESSA Bank & Trust Charitable Foundation Patricia S. Neidorf* Michael J. Romano, Jr. ‘74 M’83* John R. Gantz ‘63 PA Department of Community & Economic Development PA Department of Health Stephen M. & Sharon D. Somers Sanofi Charles T. ‘84 M’86 & Teresa M. Taylor II Martha M. 65’ & Ronald M. Tirpak Julia Circle ($10,000 - $49,999) Anonymous Glenn W. ‘74 & Dawne Clark Dockside Properties, LLC Ertle Subaru Deborah L. Gebhardt ‘69 Bryan E. & Colette L. Hughes Hughes Foundation, Inc. Steven A. & Patricia C. Janicek Russell F. M’80 & Christine Jones Linda D. Koch ‘69 M’71 Wendy H. Koch Lehigh Valley Health Network Mattioli Foundation R. Sam ‘82 & Linda ‘83 Niedbala Niedbala Family Foundation Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union Ritchey J. ‘65 M’72 & Roberta A. ‘66 Ricci Arthur R. ‘62 & Fannie A. ‘62 Schisler Darleen Schott ‘63 Susan Z. ‘85 & Robert A. Shebelsky Patricia J. Snyder* St. Luke’s University Health Network Joseph A. Swiderek ‘87 Doreen M. Tobin Jeffrey & Audrey Weber Marcia G. Welsh & Louis Terracio Rory J. ‘84 & Diane E. Yanchek

*Deceased

Individuals, businesses and organizations who have given $1,500 and above in fiscal year 2019-2020.

Founders Circle ($5,000 - $9,999) Adams Outdoor Advertising Jennifer M. Ahrens ‘94 Warren K. ‘64 & Elizabeth Brodt Mitchell L. Cordova ‘92 William B. & Barbara Cramer Patrick J. Diskin ‘77 Dennis C. & Judith G. Douds Enterprise Holdings Foundation Alfredo ‘03 & Jennifer Garcia James E. & Betty B.* Gilbert Randall R. Hartinger Gary A. ‘77 & Debra G. ‘81 Kessel J. Douglas ‘67 M’69 & Marilyn McNamee Mary Ellen McNish ‘68 Pocono Mountains United Way Joan Roos Egner ‘52 Anuradha & Ranjan Sachdev Alice E. Shelly ‘04 M’05 Adam S. ‘00 M’02 & Erin Stauffer Robert T. Sweeney ‘62 The William T. Morris Foundation Todd & Shari Nelson Family Foundation Inc. Jeffrey I. Wilson ‘86 M’92 Randy Yanoshak President’s Circle ($1,500 - $4,999) A7 Mountains Media A. Borzio Contracting All Sports Enterprises, Inc. Allstate Mary Sue ‘60 M’69 & Louis A. Balducci Florence L. (Peachy) Barkman Thomas A. ‘62 & Rebecca A. ‘72 Barrow Charles E. Bierlein ‘70 Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery Donald R. & Dolores B. Bortz Angelo F. ‘95 & Jennifer Borzio David R. Bousquet Brian K. ‘84 & Karen D. ‘85 Boyd Braveheart Enterprises, LLC

Elliot H. & Victoria E. Brown Cedric D. ‘87 & In Suk Bullock Philip L. ‘85 & Cindy Calamia James A. ‘76 & Tracy Cantafio Jeanne C. Chambers ‘73 David A. ‘70 & Bonnie E. ‘72 Childs Horace S. ‘63 M’65 & Sonya K. ‘63 Cole Patricia M. & David W. Crotty Chet W. Dalgewicz ‘67 M’74 Douglas L. Dalrymple David T. & Joanne S. Davis DEPG Mosier Associates, LP Patricia A. Desmond M’70 Tiffany A. ‘05 M’09 & Randy T. ‘00 Detrick Jeffrey D. ‘79 & Susan E. Detzi MaryEllen ‘80 & Kevin J. Dickey Kathy B. ‘70 & Lawrence Dildine Daniel N. ‘95 & Nicole DiZio Anthony L. ‘76 & Ellen S. Drago E.T. Browne Drug Co., Inc. ESSA Bank & Trust ESU APSCUF ESU APSCURF Joseph T. Ferry ‘03 FirstEnergy Foundation Dan H. Gale, Jr. ‘05 Patricia C. Graham Gary R. & Cami Gray Nancy J. Greenawalt Ernest R. Gromlich ‘60 George D. ‘58* & Harriet D. ‘56 Hall Raymond L. ‘86 & Zoraya Hamlin Phillip A. ‘85 & Cathy Headland Patricia G. ‘62 & William C. Hibschman Samantha L. Hosford ‘16 Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley Wendy Jankoski ‘82 & Paul Lapinski Johnson & Johnson Matching Gifts JR Flooring LLC Eileen P. ‘79 & James G. Kaiser Dawn Ketterman-Benner ‘70 Gerald D. ‘59 & Gloria J. Keyser Kathie W. Kirkpatrick Maria E. Kitchens-Kintz

KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc. Michael J. Kramer ‘97 Henry C. Kunkel ‘73 Patricia Leberman ‘70 Lehigh Valley Expo, Inc. Leonard M. ‘94 & Jennifer R. ‘95 Lehman Judith A. ‘76 M’86 & James H. Leiding Leona Marketing Group Douglas S. ‘94 & Melissa A. Leonzi R. Griggs ‘87 & Judeth A. Levy Francine S. ‘65 & Robert H. Lewis William J. ‘63 & Sandra F. ‘64 Lewis Jacob T. Llewellyn ‘72 Martz Group Mary-Carol Mason ‘62 Jessica A. Maxwell ‘16 Patricia McCarrick William R. McFadden ‘81 Ann E. ‘82 & Kenton R. McGinnis Marguerita A. McLaughlin-Schlink ‘94 Charles A. ‘69 & Patricia ‘68 McMunn Sandra K. Miller M’88 Maury J. Molin ‘76 Matthew Molisso ‘21 Robert M. Moses Keith & Molly Mulcahy Deborah Newlin Smith ‘75 Northrop Grumman Foundation Matching Gifts Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel LLP Bryan M. O’Neill ‘04 Jerry & Hedy Orodenker John & Joan Owens Christopher R. ‘83 & Angela Paradysz Charles R. & Annette C. Pennoni Pennoni Associates Inc. Thomas A. Petro ‘72 & Ann Hayes-Petro Pfizer Annual Giving Campaign Philly Pretzel Factory Physical Therapy Associates of NE PA Inc.

Pocono Lions Club Renee A. ‘89 & John M. Pope Mary Frances Postupack M’93 Bernard J. ‘81 & Kathy Povanda Deborah E. Prince Prudential Retirement Peter E. Pruim & Margaret J. Ball Frank M. ‘73 M’76 & Nancy Pullo Lois E. ‘78 & Richard J. Rawson Glenn F. ‘69 M’79 & Sue Ann Reibman Michael D. ‘00 & Kerri M. Rhine Walter P. ‘77 & Nancy G. Rogers III SAGE Sustainable Electronics SAJE Enterprises, LLC David M. ‘81 & Janet G. Sanko Richard D. & Katherine Santoro Paul & Judy Schuchman Robert C. ‘62 & Nancy J. Serfass Scott Shebelsky Lauretta A. ‘81 & Gregory E. ‘80 M’93 Shoemaker Neal H. & Joyce L. Simpson Robert G. Sutton & Linda DeRenzis-Sutton Joseph M. Tchorz ‘89 John R. ‘69 M’73 & Pamela J. ‘70 Thatcher Theta Chi Fraternity Thryv William G. Tobin Tobin Properties LLC Robert J. ‘65 & Patty J. Tonkin Gregory M. Tymon M’95 M’01 Robert W. Veneziale Vivature, Inc. Craig S. Vondercrone ‘99 Brent I. Voynar ‘95 Richard D. ‘67 & Danna ‘68 Vroman Ellen & William D.* Walker Kathryn A. Waltz ‘70 Diana E. Weaver ‘57 Nancy L. Weaver ‘74 M’78 Robert H. ‘75 & Julieann Willever Carl A. ‘70 & Lynda M. ‘74 Wolfe Wenjie Yan Cem Zeytinoglu

thank you We appreciate your support. Visit www.esufoundation.org to learn more about the ESU Foundation’s accomplishments in 2019-2020.

esu foundation

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS 2020-2021 Academic Excellence in Communication Annual Scholarship Jennifer M. Ahrens ‘94 Endowed Scholarship Steve Baumbach ‘91 Men’s Wrestling Annual Scholarship

Virtual event kicks off $750K fundraising campaign

Hillary Benner Annual Scholarship Randy and Tiffany Detrick Annual Scholarship Phil “Tip” Calamia Memorial Annual Scholarship Mitch Cordova ‘92 Men’s Wrestling Annual Scholarship Mitch Cordova ‘92 Women’s Wrestling Annual Scholarship Patrick Diskin ‘77 Annual Scholarship Drago Family Football Annual Scholarship ESU Student Government Association Student Leadership Annual Scholarship Charlie “Hustle” Frank Football Annual Scholarship Dr. Russell F. Jones ‘80 Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship Bruno S. Klaus Women’s Acrobatics & Tumbling Annual Scholarship Mr. and Mrs. R. Griggs Levy & Family Annual Scholarship Pat McCarrick Field Hockey Annual Scholarship Alyssa Oxenford Memorial Endowed Scholarship Stacy L. Perryman ‘97 Women’s Basketball Annual Scholarship Stacy L. Perryman ‘97 Women’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship Tom Petro Family Football Annual Scholarship Bernie & Kathy Povanda Football Annual Scholarship Presidents’ Leadership Endowed Scholarship Ritchey J. Ricci ‘65 M’72 Biological Science Educator’s Endowed Scholarship Walter ‘77 and Nancy Rogers Annual Scholarship David ‘85 and Roberta Rotelle Annual Scholarship Anthony Ruiz ‘16 Men’s Cross Country Annual Scholarship Darleen Schaare Schott ‘63 Endowed Scholarship Semerod Family Annual Scholarship Alice Hartinger Shelly ‘04 Annual Scholarship Dr. Gregory Shoemaker ‘80 Women’s Wrestling Annual Scholarship

You WIN in the LOCKER ROOM First, a $750,000 fundraising campaign to build a new football locker room in Koehler Fieldhouse has been launched by the ESU Foundation and Department of Athletics. The campaign kicked off Oct. 8, 2020, during a virtual event hosted by the ESU Foundation, welcoming nearly 100 alumni and friends of the program to learn about the project.

The new space will be built in the current visiting team locker room footprint, a space larger than the current locker room, and will feature 26-inch-wide, open, state-of-the-art, cherry-wood lockers. The inefficient drying room will be replaced with a pad drying system on top of each locker. The closed, row system of lockers will be replaced by an open concept to enhance studentathlete interaction, coach communication, and team engagement.

A 17-member fundraising committee is tasked with outreach to alumni and friends of the program with notable co-chairs Pat Flaherty ’78 and Mike Terwilliger ’78 leading the way. The campaign includes 110 locker sponsorships and significant naming opportunities for leadership gifts of support.

The current locker room has been home to the football program since Koehler Fieldhouse opened in 1968. The space has seen minor upgrades, including a renovation of the lockers in 1991, and carpet that has been donated on four separate occasions. The lockers that have been used since 1991 are 18 inches wide, many broken beyond repair, and are worn and rusted.

The virtual kick-off event included video presentations from Flaherty, Terwilliger, ESU Warriors head football coach Jimmy Terwilliger ‘07, and former head coach Dennis Douds. All videos, and complete campaign information, can be seen at www.youwininthelockerroomfirst.com.

To make your gift of support, visit www.youwininthelockerroomfirst.com or call the ESU Foundation at 570-422-3333 for personal assistance.

You WIN in the LOCKER ROOM First Campaign Committee

Jeff Shrive Football Annual Scholarship

Co-Chairs

St. Luke’s Registered Nurse Annual Scholarship

Pat Flaherty ’78

Ryan and Ethan Swiderek Football Annual Scholarship Charles T. ‘84 M’86 and Teresa M. Taylor Endowed Scholarship

Executive Committee

Martha M. ‘65 and Ronald M. Tirpak Endowed Scholarship Dr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Audrey Weber Endowed Scholarship Dean Mildred Wheatley Endowed Scholarship 16 the alumni herald

Mike Terwilliger ’78

Sterling Brown ’64 Bob Ott ’70 Carl Wolfe ’70 Jeff Detzi ’79

Joe Detzi ’79 John Detzi ’79 Dan Gale ’05 Mark Clements ’85

Larry Helwig ’90 Ed Myers ’93 Doug Leonzi ’94 Bill Lewis ’63

Mike Mancuso ’97 Jeff Shrive ’08 Jimmy Terwilliger ’07

Warriors Football Head Coach Jimmy Terwilliger ’07 during the virtual campaign kick-off.

Campaign committee co-chairs Pat Flaherty ’78 and Mike Terwilliger ’78 make a presentation during the virtual campaign kick-off.

Artist’s rendering of the new football locker room featuring larger, cherry wood lockers.

esualumni.org 17

ENDOWING OUR

FUTURE It’s easier than you might think.

The purpose of our endowment is to financially sustain the mission and work of the ESU Foundation. You can make a significant contribution to endow our future…and it’s easier than you might think.

Here are a number of charitable gift and estate planning strategies that can benefit you and build our endowment:

CHARITABLE BEQUESTS BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS CHARITABLE LIFE ESTATE CHARITABLE LIFE INCOME PLANS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS To learn more about how you can make a significant gift to endow our future and become a member of The 1893 Society, please contact us. We would be happy to talk with you and provide a free illustration of the benefits.

570-422-3333 | sspeirs@esufoundation.org | esufoundationlegacy.org

alumni news

Chuck & Maddy Constantine

retire from Stony Acres Couple provides more than three decades of service to ESU’s recreation sanctuary Madeline Constantine ’79 M’92 and her husband Chuck ’80 M’95 retired in October after more than three decades of running Stony Acres, the 119acre wildlife sanctuary and recreation site owned by the students of ESU. “It’s just been a huge honor to have been here for as long as we have,” says Maddy, who started in 1982 as caretaker and retired as program director. Chuck took over as caretaker in 1989. They feel fortunate that they were able to live and raise their son Kevin and daughter Kaitlin Hysong ’16 in such a beautiful place. They plan to continue to live on the grounds in Marshalls Creek at least through this spring to provide security and property maintenance.

After the news got out, the couple heard from many former students about how experiences at Stony Acres changed their lives, like Robert Reale ’01, who arrived at ESU with little idea of what he wanted to do after college. It was the three-day Quest orientation program at Stony Acres and its Challenge Course that planted a seed that would grow into Reale’s lifelong love and career.

“For the first time in my life I believe I saw people with passion, passion for making a difference, for teaching, for sharing, for leadership and for doing something you love in life,” Reale said. He would go on to become a Challenge Course instructor at Stony Acres and assist Chuck with climbing classes at ESU. He opened a climbing gym and sold it 17 years later, enabling him to travel the world, leading climbing expeditions at premier peaks including Denali, Rainier and Kilimanjaro. He says that success was rooted in “my experience at Stony Acres and the instructors and people I met.”

The Constantines have fond memories of the myriad activities and events they ran for generations of ESU students – everything from mud runs and Club Olympics to night hikes, the polar bear plunge and winter triathlons with ice skating, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. It has been especially gratifying watching students from all walks of life learn about the outdoors and wildlife.

“It’s the interaction of nature and adventure that can happen out here,” Maddy says. “You can have a bear walk up in the front yard.” After all, they live on Adventure Drive!

The Constantines said they and all those who love Stony Acres owe a huge debt to the late Helen Brown ’37, the health and physical education professor who spearheaded the purchase of the land in 1962 when it was an abandoned farm. Brown worked with the university’s Women’s Recreation Association to buy the property using meeting dues and money earned from the canteen and laundry services in the dorms.

Madeline Constantine ’79 M’92 and her husband Chuck ’80 M’95 retired in October 2020 after running Stony Acres more than 30 years.

Photo by Bob Weidner

Today, its operations are funded by laundry concessions, as well as a $10 student fee assessed by the Student Activity Association, which owns the property.

Joe Akob, SAA executive director, says the Constantines have done an “incredible” job at Stony Acres.

“They are advocates of the outdoors and passionate about what Stony Acres offers and they work tirelessly,” Akob says.

The construction of the Challenge Course in 1982 and the Lodge in 1984 attracted more students and led to more rentals from outside groups for retreats and camps. The Challenge Course has provided unique program opportunities for thousands of ESU students, staff and faculty as well as community groups. It was Maddy’s idea to start Quest as an optional orientation program for incoming ESU students, which for some created lifelong bonds.

“We have Questies -- as we call them -- who have gotten married, we have Questies who are friends for life,” says Chuck. “It was great for students bonding over the years.”

ESU senior Lucy Rain Gussman, one of hundreds of Challenge Course facilitators the Constantines trained over the years, says her experience with Quest and becoming a facilitator has made her feel more a part of the university community and caused her to become more engaged in other organizations and activities on campus.

The Constantines made many impacts on ESU and its students – Chuck taught New Games and Adventure Activities, Backpacking and Mountaineering for many years as an adjunct professor, and has been advisor to the Outing Club for more than 20 years. Maddy was ESU’s club sports coordinator for 17 years, and has been advisor to the Women’s Rugby and Ice Hockey teams for more than two decades.

Together, they are the recipients of the 2011 Monroe County Conservation District Service Award, the 2015 PSAHPERD Outdoor Recreation Professional of the Year award, and were co-directors of the Challenge Course for more than 30 years.

The legacy of the Constantines’ stewardship of Stony Acres will reverberate for years to come. As alumnus Ken Hatt ’12 told them: “Stony Acres has been such an incomprehensible force for good in the world for so many years for so many people under your leadership. The amount of lives touched is truly staggering to think about.” – By Margie Peterson

Chuck and Maddy in 2004 with the Stony Acres tractor. Courtesy photo

One of the original signs at Stony Acres.

Courtesy photo

Chuck and Maddy in 1990.

Courtesy photo

Club Team Olympics was one of the many groups through the years that used Stony Acres and its amenities such as the climbing wall.

Photo by Amanda Nyborg

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alumni news

Going, Going, Gone…Virtual!

Events reimagined during pandemic crisis and some are here to stay

Holding a virtual watch party during Homecoming Weekend 2020 are back row, from left, Frank Johnson ’74, Sarah Johnson, Brooke Huffman, Lisa Kolcun, front row from left, Sue Labar, Brian Kolcun ’84 and Woody Sherwood Labar.

– A message from Leon John, Jr., Ph.D. Director of the Office of Alumni Engagement During the spring 2020 semester, the ESU Office of Alumni Engagement was presented with new challenges that affected all in-person alumni engagement activities. When ESU made the decision for students to complete the semester remotely, all alumni events were rescheduled and reimagined. In-person alumni happy hours were restructured and the introduction of new programs such as bi-monthly alumni trivia nights and a virtual 5K during the Fourth of July weekend were planned.

Social media platforms were integral for alumni to remain engaged with ESU and remain up-to-date on the status of campus updates. There were also several campaigns that included Where Alumni Live, Alumni Sweethearts, Pets with Warrior Spirit, and ESU Legacy Family postings. In addition to daily posts, alumni were invited to participate in these competitions and stay connected with their alma mater. As a result, all social media platforms have seen a more than 20 percent increase in followers.

Homecoming 2020 was also presented with a few challenges, but the Office of Alumni Engagement, in conjunction with the Class of 1970 50th Reunion Committee, were able to offer virtual events, including a Virtual Wine Tasting for the Class of 1970, a Virtual Campus Tour led by former head football coach Denny Douds, and a welcome message from the committee. There was also an opportunity for alumni to bring the party to their homes with virtual watch parties of various championship athletic competitions, and a Homecoming in a Box that was mailed to each person who participated.

Congratulations to Richard Ruck Ph.D. ’17 for the fastest walk and Ashley Parker ’14 for registering the fastest run during the ESU Virtual Alumni Homecoming 5K.

Class of 1970 Virtual Wine Tasting Zoom.

Looking forward, plans for virtual events continue to be made. An ESU alumni book club has been started led by ESU communication studies faculty member Dr. Andrea McClanahan. The first book, “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens, was chosen and supported by alumni.

Alumni volunteers Scott Higgins ’06 and Ashley Johnson ’08 continue to host bi-monthly trivia nights and Debbie Adcock Brady ’90 has hosted a ZOOM discussion on anxiety. Alumni regional chapters have also gone virtual with their events. The Lehigh Valley and Bucks/Montgomery chapters hosted virtual wine tastings and a mixology event for all alumni.

By hosting virtual events, we are able to reach out to alumni who would not be able to come to events regularly. Our reach is endless. I think virtual events and activities are here to stay even when in-person events return.

If you have an idea for a virtual event, or to get more information, please contact Leon John, Jr., Ph.D., director of alumni engagement, at (570) 422-3194 or ljohn2@esu.edu.

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Former head football coach Denny Douds during filming of a virtual campus tour produced for Homecoming Weekend 2020.

Warriors Homecoming 2020 Bringing the virtual party to alumni October 16-17

Unique and reflective of our times, Warriors celebrated Homecoming Weekend 2020 virtually with the ESU Office of Alumni Engagement connecting with alumni and friends in dynamic (and safe!) ways. Campus tours, wine tastings, virtual 5Ks, game viewings and special spirit boxes – HOCO in a Box – kept alumni in a celebratory mood.

More than 100 Homecoming in a Box packages were mailed to alumni across the country to celebrate Homecoming 2020.

Class of 1970 Virtual Reunion

Virtual Campus Tour

The Class of 1970 Reunion Committee produced and presented a welcome message for the Virtual Class of 1970 Alumni Check-In held on Oct. 16, 2020. In mid-August, members of the Class of 1970 Reunion Committee Henry Kearns ’70, William Horvath ’70, Ron Steckel ’70 and Gary Trigiani ’70 visited campus to record the changes the university had undergone since they graduated.

Other members of the committee are Walt Lessun ’70, Dawn Ketterman-Benner ’70, Kathleen Boyd ’70, David Childs ’70 and Sharon Murphy Smith ’70. The committee decided even though they could not gather in-person, they would connect with classmates in preparation for a celebration, hopefully in 2021.

Who other to give a full campus tour than former head football coach Denny Douds! More than 150 alumni and friends watched the Virtual Campus Tour that led guests to new buildings and old haunts while sharing fond memories. Douds spoke in length about each of the buildings on the tour, including stories of the Julia statue that sits in College Circle.

Class of 1970 Virtual Wine Tasting The Class of 1970 attended a Virtual Wine Tasting hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement with wine and sommelier supplied by the Sorrenti Family Estate Winery located in Saylorsburg, Pa. Thirty members from the class, staff from the ESU Foundation, and ESU Interim President Kenneth Long attended the twohour event. Guests sampled six wine varietals while reminiscing and reconnecting. The wine was shipped in themed ESU Homecoming boxes along with other goodies for the tasting.

Homecoming Virtual 5K On Oct. 17, 2020, twenty-five alumni participated in the ESU Alumni Virtual Homecoming 5K. Richard Ruck, Ph.D. ’17 and Ashley Parker ’14 had the fastest times for walking and running, respectively. Each participant received a running bib and an ESU Office of Alumni Engagement gaiter. The proceeds from the race benefited the ESU Foundation Warrior Fund.

Game Time: Revisiting Fond Championships Several championship games for volleyball, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and football were streamed on the alumni website for Warriors of all generations to view, some holding virtual watch parties.

Alumni who also wanted to bring the party to their homes were invited to make a gift to the ESU Foundation Warrior Fund and then received a Homecoming in a Box containing party favors to promote Warrior spirit. esualumni.org 21

alumni news

1

Three new members joined the ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors in August 2020. Danica Boyd ’97, Joseph Delchop ’10, and Elizabeth Luchansky O’Brien ’01 will serve their first of three possible terms.

Danica Boyd ’97 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and is the principal of DB Hart Hospitality Consulting offering a range of hospitality operations, product, staff development, and support services advisement to the industry.

Boyd, the former vice president of brand operations for Wyndham Garden, was featured in an issue of Lodging Magazine, and was recognized as one of the top 18 leading ladies in hospitality. She resides in East Stroudsburg, Pa. Joseph Delchop ’10 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. Delchop also completed his master’s degree in sports administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

He was previously an account executive at the New York Red Bull soccer club and a manager of premier partnerships with the New York Jets football team. He is currently working as an adjunct instructor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He resides in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. Elizabeth Luchansky O’Brien ’01 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure services management. O’Brien also completed her master’s degree at Marywood University. She is a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and was a part of the Hawthorn Residence Council during her time as a student at ESU. She was previously a director of recreation therapy at a long-term healthcare facility and an investigative analyst for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. She is currently a constituent services advisor to State Representative Kyle J. Mullins representing the 112th District of Pennsylvania. She resides in Throop, Pa.

2 4

In addition to the new Alumni Association Board of Director members, a new executive leadership team was elected. David Super ’80 was elected as president, Christine Rohr-Thompson ’73 was elected vicepresident and Caitlin Ord ’07 M’08 was elected as secretary. The duration for each leadership term is two years.

5 7

“We are happy to welcome these new members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors to our group. We are excited to see what ideas and skills they can bring to our board and to our alumni association,” said Super.

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3

6

warriors

connecting ALUMNI EVENT ROUND UP Virtual Events

social media

April 24, 2020

Alumni Engagement 2020

ESU 70’s Socialites Virtual Happy Hour Over 20 alumni and friends joined the happy hour from the 70’s Socialites Affinity Group. The event was organized and hosted by Chris Rohr Thompson ’73 and Glenn Gottshalk ’72.

Where Warriors Live A social campaign held throughout the months of July and August.

Alumni were asked to send photos to be featured on social media platforms detailing where they live and why they love it. Beverly Brown Hersey ’72 of Malibu, Calif., was selected as the winner.

April 30, 2020

4. Beverly Brown Hershey ’72, surfing the waves of Malibu, Calif.

ESU virtual GOLD Happy Hour Fifteen young alumni gathered over Zoom. The event was hosted by Tina Hennessy ’15 in conjunction with the GOLD alumni focus group.

The GOLD affinity group includes graduates of the last decade.

ESU Legacy Family Photos In lieu of the Annual ESU Legacy Family Brunch, legacy families were asked to submit photos of their families across social media platforms.

Among the photos submitted was Jimmy Terwilliger ’07 and Ashley Terwilliger ’06.

July 4, 2020

5. Legacy family Jimmy ’07 and Ashley ’06 Terwilliger with their daughter, Raylee Jean.

ESU Alumni and Friends Fourth of July Virtual 5K Ashley Parker ’14 was the winner of the first ESU Alumni and Friends Fourth of July 5K held on July 4, 2020. More than 50 alumni and friends participated. Parker finished with the fastest time, clocking in at 26:40.

This will continue to be a yearly event.

ESU Alumni Spirit Week Activities were held the week of June 27 to July, 4, 2020. Alumni and friends were invited to submit and post memories and showcase their Warrior spirit throughout the week. More than 800 alumni and friends participated through submissions and reactions to the postings.

1. Ashley Parker ’14, winner of the ESU Alumni and Friends Fourth of July Virtual 5K.

6. Janel Marciniak Powers ’88 showing her ESU spirit.

Summer 2020

Live event

ESU ZOOM Trivia Nights Scott Higgins ’06 and Ashley Johnson ’08 hosted bi-monthly ESU ZOOM Trivia Nights in June, July and September. They plan to keep hosting these trivia nights with more than 35 alumni and friends participating to date.

2. Trivia Night and Happy Hour Event promotional artwork.

3. Zoom screencap from Trivia Night.

August 14, 2020 annual summer “Fun-Raiser” The 2020 Northeast PA ESU Alumni Annual Summer Fun-Raiser was held on August 14, 2020, bringing together 40 Warriors and friends to the Mount Laurel Golf Club in White Haven, Pa. Organized by Frank Johnson ’74 and Paul Scheuch ’71 M’77, proceeds from the event benefit an annual scholarship for ESU students. The number of golfers was limited this year due to guidelines set by the golf club.

7. Alumni connect on the course at annual summer “Fun-Raiser”

esualumni.org 23

warrior spirit

ESU SPORTS updates Tricia Melfy named Women’s Volleyball head coach

Tricia Melfy, who brings 25 years of coaching experience and more than 400 career victories, was named as the head coach of the women’s volleyball program on April 6. She takes over at the helm of a program that captured its first PSAC Championship since 1987 and made an appearance in the NCAA DII Tournament for just the second time in fall 2019.

“I am honored to lead the Warrior volleyball program to continued success in the competitive PSAC,” Melfy said. “I am very passionate about Division II athletics and how this level contributes to a great college experience for our student-athletes. I am excited to move back closer to my hometown, meet the team and hit the ground running.”

Honorable mentions include Troy Hernandez (08-10), Nemanja Nikolic (11-13), Andrew McGinley (13-16), Jordon Ellison (18), and Erik Cardoso (18-19).

Meierhofer earns spotlight Terri Meierhofer ’98 was one of 35 former student-athletes mentioned as the greatest athletes in Livingston High School (N.J.) history.

Meierhofer, a 2010 inductee to the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame, was a four-time first team All-PSAC selection and helped the Warriors capture a pair of PSAC women’s soccer championships in 1994 and 1997. She was named the PSAC Freshman of the Year following her first season in 1994 and closed with PSAC Player of the Year honors in 1997. Meierhofer holds the program record for career goals (74) and points (178). She also holds the single-season record after scoring 26 goals and tallying 58 points during the 1997 campaign.

Maciejewski recognized

by USA Field Hockey Rebecca (Henderson) Maciejewski ‘02 was recognized in July by USA Field Hockey as the recipient of the 2020 Grow the Game Award, presented by Longstreth.

ESU made its second straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament as the Warriors finished the season 29-7.

Maciejewski is the co-club director of Pursuit Field Hockey and coaches at Honesdale High School in Honesdale, Pa. She has continued to remain dedicated, creative, and motivated to assure that her athletes can pursue and achieve their dreams.

Men’s soccer ranked No. 1 in team GPA; All-Decade Team announced

A four-year member of the field hockey program, Maciejewski was part of the 2001 squad that advanced to the NCAA DII national championship game and was later enshrined in the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

ESU was recognized by the PSAC for its academic excellence in July, as the conference announced the top cumulative team grade-point averages for each of its sponsored sports.

Men’s Basketball standouts continue professional careers

The ESU men’s soccer team posted a 3.416 cumulative team GPA during the 2019-20 academic year, which was tops among the 13 schools in the PSAC that participate in men’s soccer.

A quartet of former Warriors men’s basketball standouts were recently featured on esuwarriors.com as they continue their professional careers.

15 players were named to the All-Decade Team for the 2010s, as well as five honorable mention selections.

Members of the All-Decade Team include Danny Drago (06-10), Michael Kane (06-10), Shastri Spencer (2010), Suane McLeish (09-12), Nick Fischer (11-12), Khriswayne Wallace (10-13), Casey Choffy (12-15), Keelby Espinola (14-17), Christian Bukowski (14-17), Will Boerema (15-18), Brandon Levano (16-18), Eddy Enowbi (17-18), Jo Panuccio (17-18), Nico Gericke (17-18), and Marcus Torgersson (16-19).

Tricia Melfy

Terri Meierhofer

24 the alumni herald

Rebecca Maciejewski on right.

Duane Johnson ’13 signed with BBC Arantia Larotchette of the Total League in Luxembourg as he embarks on his eighth professional season.

He averaged 30 points and 14.8 rebounds in five games in Luxembourg last season. A three-time All-PSAC East selection, he helped the Warriors to the 2012 PSAC championship and three NCAA Tournament appearances, finishing with 1,347 career points and 608 rebounds while ranking in the program’s top 10 in steals and blocks. He helped his team, Sideline Cancer, reach the finals of the 2020 The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a nationally-televised event on ESPN, last summer.

Duane Johnson

Steve Harris

Steve Harris ’18 signed with T71 Dudelange in Luxembourg, after averaging 17.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in the Swiss SBL League the previous season. The PSAC Tournament and NCAA DII Atlantic Regional MVP on the Warriors’ first-ever regional championship team in 2018, Harris was first team All-PSAC East and second team NABC All-Region.

He scored 1,080 career points, hitting the 1,000-point mark in the PSAC championship game.

Jakwan Jones ’19, who teamed with Harris to help the Warriors to their historic 2018 season, signed with Sampaense Basket in Portugal for his second pro campaign. Twice named All-PSAC East and the 2019 PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, Jones ranks second at ESU in career assists (487) and third in steals (210).

Rasheed Moore ’17 signed with Fraport Skyliners of the Basketball Bundesliga, Germany’s top professional league. He enters his fourth professional season in Germany, helping his previous team to promotions in two of his first three years.

ESU’s first four-time All-PSAC East selection, Moore ranks fourth at ESU in career points (1,776) and rebounds (775) and was NABC All-Region as a senior, averaging 18.6 points per game. He was the PSAC East Freshman of the Year on the 2014 team that went 30-2, won the PSAC championship, was Atlantic Region runner-up and ranked No. 2 in DII entering the postseason. The Warriors went 88-30 in his four seasons.

Assistant Coach James Daniels selected for Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship ESU assistant football coach James Daniels was selected for the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Denver Broncos in summer 2020.

The Minority Coaching Fellowship program offers the opportunity for talented minority coaches to work closely with NFL coaches and staff during training camp. The program was established in 1987 and is named after late Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Walsh, who conceived the idea.

Daniels worked with the Denver Broncos coaching staff during their training camp from late July into August under head coach Vic Fangio ’80.

“What an outstanding opportunity for James and ESU,” said head coach Jimmy Terwilliger ’07. “We are thrilled for Coach Daniels both personally and professionally. James was an invaluable piece of our defensive turnaround in 2019, and his impact is seen on and off the field with our players. As we say in our program, Blood Runs Thick - it’s really exciting to see Vic Fangio, an ESU alum, connect with his alma Mater for such a prestigious opportunity. We definitely have some more Broncos fans in the Poconos!”

Jakwan Jones

Rasheed Moore

Daniels, who joined ESU as defensive backs coach in 2019, spent the previous year coaching the nickels and linebackers at the University of Dayton. He also spent time coaching the defensive backs as a graduate assistant at the University at Buffalo in 2018 and was the defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Marietta College in 2017 as part of his extensive collegiate coaching experience.

Justin Germani named interim head coach for ESU Cross Country and Men’s Track & Field Justin Germani was recently named the interim head coach of East Stroudsburg University’s men’s cross country, women’s cross country and men’s track & field programs, as announced by ESU Director of Athletics Dr. Gary Gray. The appointment comes following longtime head coach Joe Koch’s retirement announcement in September.

“It is an absolute honor to step in as ESU’s head men’s and women’s cross country and men’s track and field coach to continue to serve our Warrior student-athletes,” said Germani. “I will do everything in my power to carry on the successful and competitive tradition that Dick DeSchriver, Joe Koch, and Chris Merli created over the past 50 years. I would like to thank Dr. Gray for the opportunity, as well as Joe Koch and Quanette Ford for their support and mentorship throughout my years serving as an assistant coach.”

Germani has been with ESU as an assistant coach since 2016 and has helped lead the men’s track & field team to top-three finishes at the PSAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in each season since his arrival. The Warriors placed runner-up at the 2019 and 2020 Indoor Championships, which matched the program’s best-ever finish at the meet. Germani also helped guide the women’s team to a third-place finish at the 2018 Indoor Championships, marking the team’s best placing since 2014.

During his time at ESU, Germani has coached 13 All-PSAC honorees, including two PSAC Individual Champions. He has also coached the ESU record holder in the women’s long jump both indoor and outdoor (Aspen Gaita), as well as the school record holder in the men’s heptathlon (Austin Horner).

Germani, a 2011 Kutztown University graduate, was a two-time NCAA Division II national qualifier in the pole vault, and earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Germani earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Kutztown in 2011 and went on to earn a master’s in sport management from California (Pa.) in 2013.

James Daniels

Justin Germani, Darnell Randall, and Austin Horner

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warrior spirit Muhamadou Kaba ’15

Kaba earns recognition as one of top Division II men’s basketball assistant coaches

ESU men’s basketball assistant coach Muhamadou Kaba ’15 was named one of the top Division II men’s basketball assistant coaches in the country by the Minority Coaches Association (MCA) in October 2020.

Kaba was also named to the “50 Impactful Division II Assistants” list by Silver Waves Media earlier this year, and earned recognition from the NABC back in 2018 as part of the organization’s nationally-renowned “30-Under-30” list, which recognizes up and coming young coaches in men’s basketball.

Kaba concluded his fourth season on the Warrior coaching coaching staff under head coach Jeff Wilson ‘86 M’92 in 2019-20. ESU has registered 86 victories overall during Kaba’s tenure, including three-straight 20plus win campaigns. He’s helped guide the Warriors to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as a PSAC Championship and the first 26 the alumni herald

NCAA Atlantic Region Championship in program history in 2017-18. The Warriors went 27-6 overall and made the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance during the historic campaign.

As a student-athlete as ESU, Kaba was a four-year letterwinner from 2011-15 and a member of two PSAC championship teams. He also played on three straight NCAA Tournament teams, and the 2013-14 squad went 30-2 and was Atlantic Region runner-up.

After graduating in the spring of 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Kaba was an eighth grade math teacher at East Orange STEM Academy during the 2015-16 academic year. He then joined the Warrior men’s basketball staff as a graduate assistant in 2016-17 and was quickly promoted to assistant coach.

Koch retires after 37-year career with ESU’s cross country and track & field programs

After 37 years as part of the ESU Athletics family, legendary cross country and track & field coach Joe Koch M’88 retired Sept. 25, 2020.

Koch served as head coach of the women’s cross country (1987-2020), women’s track & field (1987-2006), men’s cross country (1989-2020), and men’s track & field (1989-2020) programs at ESU. He rounded out his career as the longest-tenured coach in each program’s history.

“I’m forever grateful to Coach DeSchriver for giving me the opportunity to join the staff back in 1984 and have thoroughly enjoyed my 37 years here at East Stroudsburg. Working with our student-athletes, coaches and staff has provided me with some of my greatest memories. I’m excited to enter the next chapter of my life, but I will always be a proud supporter of ESU Athletics and our cross country and track & field programs.”

Koch’s dedication to ESU resulted in immense success for his cross country and track & field teams during his tenure. Since 2007, Koch has helped lead the men’s track & field team to top-three team finishes at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships a total of 22 times (12 indoor, 10 outdoor).

In cross country, Koch has led his teams to three qualifications for the NCAA Championships, with the ESU men registering berths in 1989 and 2012, and the women earning a berth in 1999. The men’s squad has earned a top-three finish at the NCAA Regionals five times under Koch, while the women’s team has accomplished the feat on a pair of occasions. In PSAC Championship competition, the men’s and women’s teams have notched top-three placings at the meet five times each.

Koch was named the PSAC and USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year following the 2009 outdoor season. He was also chosen as the NCAA Women’s Regional Coach of the Year and ECAC Co-Women’s Coach of the Year in 2001, and was the ECAC Men’s Coach of the Year in 1990 when his squad won the ECAC indoor championships.

In cross country, Koch has received the ECAC Women’s Coach of the Year in 1995 and PSAC Coach of the Year in 1994.

Over the past three decades, ESU’s track & field athletes have made 135 event appearances at the NCAA Championships and produced 70 AllAmerica Awards. During the period, the Warriors have seen 33 different athletes earn All-America distinction in individual events, including 22 who have earned the honor multiple times. Koch’s long career at ESU has been capped off with a high level of recent success, as ESU has collected 14 All-America honors over the last seven seasons.

Head Coach Joe Koch leaves ESU after a noteworthy 37-year career.

Koch, a native of Hackensack, N.J., ran cross country and track & field all four years at the University of Delaware, and was captain of the Blue Hens’ cross country team as a senior in 1979.

After graduating from Delaware in 1980, Koch spent time as a high school coach before joining the ESU staff as a graduate assistant under longtime coach Dick DeSchriver. After two years as a graduate assistant, he was promoted to head coach of the women’s cross country and women’s track & field programs in 1987, before being appointed as head coach of the men’s cross country and men’s track & field programs just two years later in 1989.

Koch has been supported throughout his career by his wife of 32 years, Deb, his son, Matt, and daughter, Kristen.

View the Joe Koch photo gallery highlighting his career at esuwarriors.com/galleries/general/joe-koch-through-the-years/4381 esualumni.org 27

warrior spirit

Gregory coached the Warriors to a 49-11-5 record in seven seasons.

In 1960 he established the Diamond State Athletic Camp held at the Sanford School and led the organization for 11 years. Considered to be the first of its kind overnight athletic camp, the DSAC offered week-long programs in football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling and attracted leading coaches and players from the college and professional ranks.

Former Head Coach Jack Gregory, second from left, during a visit to ESU in 2014.

Former ESU football coach Jack Gregory ’52 was selected for induction into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. Gregory was the first administrator and organizer of Delaware’s Blue-Gold All-Star High School Football Game, helping start the annual event that raises awareness of Delaware citizens with intellectual disabilities. He supervised many facets of the event each year and also coached in the game.

Golf Outing report

Comradery and Warrior spirit wasn’t stifled this year as several of ESU’s athletic programs held their annual golf outings across the region.

Several were rescheduled due to pandemic restrictions but by early October four programs held their fundraising events.

The Jeff Dailey Memorial Golf Tournament The Annual Jeff Dailey Memorial Golf Tournament supporting Men’s Basketball was held at Great Bear Golf Club in East Stroudsburg, Pa., on July 31, 2020. Over 90 golfers joined the effort to support the program.

28 the alumni herald

After coaching P.S. du Pont’s football team from 1954-1958, Gregory moved on to his alma mater, East Stroudsburg University, where he guided the Warriors to a record of 49-11-2 from 1959-65, culminating with two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship teams in 1964 and 1965. He was inducted into the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983, and the 1964 and 1965 teams were inducted in October of 2012.

Gregory left his alma mater for an assistant coaching position at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1966. He was head football coach at Villanova (196769) and Rhode Island (1970-75) before serving in collegiate athletics administration as assistant athletic director at Yale (1978-82) and as athletic director at Bowling Green (1982-94). He also served as a scout for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL. Coach Gregory passed away in 2014.

Men’s and Women’s Wrestling The Second Annual Athletic Golf Outing in support of Men’s and Women’s Wrestling welcomed over 95 golfers to Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., on August 10, 2020. Wrestling head coach Anibal Nieves welcomed guests from across the county to the event that honored Clyde “Red” Witman and Robert Dalling, former wrestling coaches at ESU.

Softball The Athletic Golf Outing in support of Softball broke its record in attendance on August 29, 2020, welcoming 136 golfers to the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course to support the program.

Baseball Nearly 150 participants took to Great Bear Golf Club’s course in East Stroudsburg, Pa., in support of ESU’s Baseball program. Coaches also took the opportunity to recognize the 2020 Bat Club honorees – Alan Frick ’72, Ryan Lubreski ’17, Matthew J. Festa ’16, and Tyler B. Eckman ’17.

Do you have pictures to share from any of the ESU athletic program golf outings? Send them to esualumni@esu.edu. We need them to help promote next year’s events!

’69

’92

Michael Grasso ’74 Announcing his retirement from Bethlehem Catholic High School after 45 years, Grasso spent 34 of those years as head baseball coach. He was also a football assistant coach and head soccer coach during his time at Bethlehem Catholic High School. He also taught at Notre Dame and St. Anne’s elementary schools for the Allentown Diocese. He resides in Bethlehem, Pa. Colonel William Leneweaver (Ret.) ’81 He manages the Washington State 911 system for the Washington State Emergency Management Division. In March, Leneweaver was named operation’s chief in the State Emergency Operations Center where he discussed issues with Vice President Michael Pence. He is also the senior mentor to the Emergency Support Function Communications team. He resides in Tacoma, Wash.

Maryanne Arena ’92 She was the recipient of a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence at Genesee Community College, where she is the director of fine and performing arts. An award-winning educator, director, entertainer, public speaker, and police officer, Arena was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Club and received three Medals of Valor.

She resides in LeRoy, N.Y.

1990s

30 the alumni herald

’81

Dr. Bernard Leo Remakus M ’72 He is the 2020 recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award of the Marquis Publications Board.

Remakus was honored for career longevity and unwavering excellence in medicine, writing and education. He completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at Abington Memorial Hospital, which led to his certification as a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine in Abington, Pa. He resides in Hallstead, Pa.

1980s

Ronald Arndt ’69 M ’75 Retiring after working 41 years in the Federal bio-warfare defense and emerging infectious disease programs, Arndt spent 30 years working with the U.S. Army’s program at laboratories in Swiftwater, Pa., and Lenoir, N.C., and for the last 11 years on contracts for the NIH and CDC in Manassas, Va. In semi-retirement, he has maintained a private consulting company that recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an early diagnostic method for breast cancer, working with associate professor Carolina Salvador-Morales at George Mason University.

The late Henry Fremont, ESU professor emeritus in the biology department, developed his interest in infectious diseases. He spends his free time training horses at his farm in Catlett, Va. Fred Richter ’71 He completed his 30th year of coaching women’s basketball at DeSales University. The Bulldogs have won consecutive MAC Freedom Conference championships and made back-to-back NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish with a 25-3 record. In 2005, Richter retired from teaching social studies at Quakertown Senior High School. He resides in Coopersburg, Pa.

’72

’74

1970s

’71

1960s

’67

Tom Shoeninger ’67 Inducted into the Lehigh Valley Sports Hall of Fame, he made his mark as a high school tennis coach, spending 30 years at Pen Argyl Area High School and 21 years at Moravian Academy. Schoeninger was named coach of the year 18 times by the Colonial League. His boys’ teams at Moravian Academy won state championships in 2002 and 2015 and produced three state doubles champions. His career match records at Moravian Academy were 403-41 (boys) and 252-44 (girls) with a sweep of Colonial League and District 11 titles 17 times. His career coaching resume includes basketball, track and cross country. He resides in Bethlehem, Pa.

’05

’08 ’08

Jennifer Simpson Carr ’05 She has been recognized by LAWDRAGON among the 2020 LAWDRAGON Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy and Consulting. Carr is the director of business development at Furia Rubel Marketing and Public Relations based in Bucks County, Pa. She is a member of the Legal Marketing Association, and in 2019 she was named a top 50 Twitter account that attorneys should follow. She resides in Bernardsville, N.J. Brock Hartranft ’08 The director of concessions for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Hartranft has been with the IronPigs since 2008 interning in the Food & Beverage department. He is a graduate of Northampton High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in business management. He resides in Walnutport, Pa. Jason Kiesel ’08 The senior director of stadium operations for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Kiesel has been with the IronPigs full-time since September 2008 after interning during the club’s inaugural season. He is a graduate of Southern Lehigh High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management. He resides in Pennsburg, Pa.

2000s

’01

Cara Feehan Miller ’01 Appointed as the special education coordinator for the Radnor Township School District in Wayne, Pa. This fall marks her 19th year teaching special education. Miller is a former member of the ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors and is currently a chapter leader for the DelCo/ ChesCo alumni chapter. She currently resides with her family in West Chester, Pa.

’11 ’11 ’11 ’14 ’15

Cait Fallon ’11 A producer of ABC’s PrimeTime at ABC News.

Fallon has been part of the ABC family since 2012 when she first joined as a Good Morning America Weekend production assistant. Since then she has been a control room producer, and helped to launch ABC News’ 24/7 streaming channel. She has received three Emmy awards for Outstanding Morning Show and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in News.

She resides in Hoboken, N.J.

2010s

’99

Jennifer Ramos ’99 Appointed to the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority’s board of directors in 2019, Ramos was recognized as a “Woman of Influence” from Lehigh Valley Business.

She is currently the deputy superintendent of the Allentown School District. She resides in Hellertown, Pa.

Alexander Figueroa ’11 Now a Pennsylvania State Trooper in charge of recruiting in southeast Pennsylvania. Figueroa recently visited campus as a representative at the annual Career Fair hosted by the ESU Office of Career Development. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in criminal justice. He resides in Northampton, Pa. Garrett Gillin ’11 Announced that the company he founded, 215/Marketing, specializing in digital marketing and consulting, was ranked 1,582 in Inc. 500 as one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies.

Gillin is also an adjunct professor of marketing at Brandeis University and the co-founder of Noleuderm, a skincare product designed to treat vitiligo. He resides in Landenberg, Pa. Tyler Day ’14 He was named government procurement specialist assigned to support the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Day was previously a community outreach specialist to Representative Jack Rader, Jr. He is expected to receive his master’s degree in management and leadership in public administration this year from ESU. He resides in Milford, Pa. Tina Hennessey ’15 Currently employed by Saint Joseph’s University as the director of Alumni Networking in Philadelphia, Pa. Hennessey received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and English. She currently resides in Gilbertsville, Pa.

esualumni.org 31

’15

’15 ’16 ’16

Geoffrey Roche M’15 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology executive director of healthcare initiatives and partnerships, has been selected to serve as cochair of the Business Involvement Action Team for HEAL PA, a Commonwealth taskforce under the leadership of the Governor’s Office of Advocacy and Reform charged with making Pennsylvania a trauma-informed, healing-centered state. Roche has been appointed to serve on numerous local, state, and national committees and taskforces, including the Health Equity Task Force of the National Infrastructure for Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 within Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities (NIMIC) initiative. He resides in Annville, Pa.

’18 ’18

Dominique Washington ’15 M ’17 Employed by Albright College as a student specialist. Washington also has published four books of poetry; his recent book, The Black Book: The Diary of A Broken Black Man was published over the summer. He resides in Philadelphia, Pa. Asia Wright ’16 She began her career at ESU as the assistant director of fitness and wellbeing after receiving her bachelor of science degree in exercise science. Wright recently accepted a position as a group fitness coordinator at the University of South Florida.

Wright is a native of Bethlehem, Pa. Desiree Brown ’16 Works as a kindergarten teacher for the Pocono Mountain School District. Brown is also the junior varsity cheerleading coach. Brown takes an active role in the ESU GOLD Focus Group that engages recent alumni from the last 10 years. She resides in Tobyhanna, Pa.

32 the alumni herald

’18

Jessica Garcia ’18 The operations and marketing manager for the Major League Lacrosse team, the New York Lizards. Garcia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. She recently joined the Living Sports Alumni Board Committee as the marketing co-chair. Garcia resides in Baldwin, N.Y. Steve Harris ’18 He has signed a professional basketball contract with T71 Dudelange of Luxembourg’s Total League. Harris most recently played for Vevey Riviera of the Swiss SBL League, and was a member of the Den Helder Suns of the Dutch League earning a Eurobasket.com All-Dutch Honorable Mention selection. He earned First Team All-PSAC East and NABC Second Team AllAtlantic Region honors in 2017-18, as he helped lead the ESU Warriors to a PSAC Championship and the first Atlantic Regional Championship in program history. He was named both the PSAC Tournament MVP and Atlantic Regional MVP during ESU’s historic run. He is a native of Hamilton, N.J. Catilin Hoover ’18 Named the new assistant field hockey coach for Mansfield University. Hoover was previously at Washington & Jefferson College where she served as an intern assistant field hockey coach since 2018. She was a member of the ESU field hockey program from 2015-17, which included the school’s first PSAC and NCAA Division II championships in 2015. The Warriors played in the NCAA Tournament all three seasons. She resides in East Washington, Pa.

w e dd i n g s

births Kerrin Zuercher DiSante ’06 and her husband welcomed their daughter, Dalia DiSante, in September 2019. The family resides in Nazareth, Pa.

Ashley Smith ’14 & Max Frankel ’14 were married on December 30, 2019, at a roaring 20s themed wedding.

The couple resides in Lewisburg, Pa., with their five-month-old daughter.

Lindsay Yetter Fujita ’07 and her husband Kevin Fujita welcomed their son, Evan Matthew Fujita, on July 14, 2020. The family resides in Topton, Pa.

Hannah Gombos ’17 & Casey Albino ’17 were married on June 26, 2020, in Centerville, Va., after their destination wedding in Mexico was canceled due to the pandemic. The couple resides in Fairfax, Va.

Heather Hallowich Monahan ’10 and her husband Ben Monahan ’10 welcomed their daughter, Marley Grace, in October 2019. The family resides in Jermyn, Pa.

Katherine Zimmerman ’18 was married to Greyson Strouse on June 7, 2020, at the St. Ignatius of Loyola Country Church in Ijamsville, Md. The couple resides in Gaithersburg, Md.

Kristopher DeWitt ’14 and his wife Samantha Smith announced the birth of their son, Reese Michael, on September 4, 2020. The family resides in Bangor, Pa.

Robert Charles ’59 & Marita Zoolkoski Charles ’59 celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August 2020 with a small 50s themed celebration at their home in Lancaster, Pa. They both taught at Penn Manor School District in Lancaster, Pa. Robert is a retired physical education teacher of more than 30 years, simultaneously coaching soccer and gymnastics.

Following his role at Penn Manor, Robert became the head men’s soccer coach at Millersville University and was inducted into the Penn Manor and Lancaster/Lebanon County Hall of Fame. Marita juggled being a substitute teacher at Penn Manor, a mother of two and lending her time to volunteer at the school. They reside in Lancaster, Pa.

Caitlin McCaffrey ’11& Boestelle Alexander Constantino ’11 were married in March 2018. They welcomed a baby boy, Lucas Joseph Constantino, on July 3, 2020. The family lives in Belleville, N.J. Colleen Hurley Baltz ’12 M’14 and her husband Zachary Baltz ’06 M’14 announce the births of their sons, Sean Patrick Baltz, born on March 24, 2020, and Eamon James Baltz born, on October 12, 2018. The family resides in Belford, N.J.

send us your class notes fax 570-422-3301

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online esualumni.org/classnotes

NOTE: We publish alumni accomplishments and news of marriages and births, but not engagements or pregnancies.

Please note the editorial staff makes every effort to publish the information submitted as it was received.

esualumni.org 33

remembrance Flaherty, 52, of East Stroudsburg, was an officer with ESU’s Police Department since 2012 and served as a member of the East Bangor Police Department since 2010. He was a graduate of East Stroudsburg Cpl. Michael Flaherty High School and Lincoln Tech, August 7, 2020 Allentown, Pa. Flaherty began his career in law enforcement as an officer at the Monroe County Correctional Facility in Stroudsburg. During his career he also worked as a member of the Nazareth and Roseto Police Departments and the Monroe County DUI Processing Center in Snydersville.

He was the husband of Stephanie (Muller) Flaherty with whom he celebrated 12 years of marriage, and the proud father of sons Ryan, Liam and Conor. Born in Montclair, N.J., Flaherty was the son of the late Pauline and Francis Flaherty, and the brother of sisters Wendy Sheyka of Bloomfield N.J., and Doreen Flaherty of Orange City, Fla.; and one brother, James Flaherty of Melbourne, Fla. Dr. Glenn Hayes, 78, was a professor of movement studies and exercise science for 22 years, retiring in 1998.

Hayes joined the faculty in 1976 after 10 years public school teaching in California. While at ESU he also Dr. Glenn Hayes served as an assistant football August 31, 2020 coach from 1976-1978 and as head baseball coach for 16 years after serving as assistant coach for a year.

In 1985, he was voted the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference baseball coach of the year after winning the Northern Division of the conference. That victory was followed up by a runner-up finish in the PSAC State Tournament which qualified the team to participate in the NCAA Division II Regionals for the first time in program history. Hayes served as the vice president for men’s athletics for the Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for two terms from 1988-1990 and as president of the Pennsylvania State Baseball Coaches Association in 1985 and 1992.

Glenn was preceded in death by his first wife, Sue Hayes, in 1986. He is survived by his second wife of 29 years, Marilyn Hayes; his children, Jenny Luna and Allen Hayes; his step-children, Michael MacIntire and Alicia MacIntire-Cain; and his grandchildren.

Memorial Gifts may be made through the ESU Foundation at esufoundation.org/givenow.

For personal assistance, please call 570-422-3333.

34 the alumni herald

Academic secretary Eileen Mihalik, 77, joined the ESU family in 1999 as a member of the Speech Pathology and Audiology (now Communications Sciences and Disorders) Department, retiring in 2011. She was also a 1964 graduate of ESU, earning a bachelor’s in social studies.

Eileen was born in Bethayres, Pa. She was the daughter of William and Irene (Thomalson) McCormick. She was also the widow of Michael Mihalik. Eileen is survived by her son William C. Mihalik, and her cousin Lola Thomalson, along with many other cousins.

Eileen Mahalik June 6, 2020

Dr. Mikula, professor of education, joined the ESU family in 1967 as a faculty member in the department of Professional and Secondary Education and spent 31 years as a member of the faculty until his retirement in 1998. Dr. Mikula earned his bachelor’s degree from what is now West Chester University, his master’s degree from New York University and his doctorate from Fordham University. In addition to teaching courses for the Professional and Secondary Education Department, he supervised student teachers. He also served on a number of University committees and was the faculty advisor to the student Pennsylvania State Education Association at ESU for more than 10 years.

Dr. Mikula was preceded in death by his mother Amelia Bashniayn Mikula, his father Jack Mikula, his brother Harold Mikula of Nanticoke and his sisters Carole Sharpless of Hazelton and Dolores Blizzard of Prescott, Ariz. Dr. Mikula is survived by his wife Kathleen of East Stroudsburg, his daughter Eileen Flaherty of East Stroudsburg, his son David Mikula of Pennsylvania Furnace and his wife Nancy, and his grandchildren.

Dr. John Mikula June 9, 2020

John T. Lambert ’54, 88, of East Stroudsburg and Sarasota, Fla., was a member of the ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors for more than 40 years and was the first alumnus to become President of the John T. Lambert ’54 ESU Foundation Board in 1995. Born August 12, 2020 in East Stroudsburg, he was the son of the late John E. and Carrie M. (Frank) Lambert. He was a 1950 graduate of East Stroudsburg High School and a 1954 graduate of East Stroudsburg State Teachers College. He received his master’s degree from Lehigh University in 1960.

Lambert served for 38-years in the East Stroudsburg Area School District in many capacities, including teacher, teaching principal, principal, director of elementary, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction K12, acting superintendent and superintendent. He also served as an adjunct professor at ESU for graduate studies.

He was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn L. (Kostenbader) Lambert and his daughter Susan A. Lambert. Lambert is survived by his son, J. Douglas Lambert of Sarasota, Fla.; his grandson Luke J. Lambert of Sarasota, Fla; and his companion Sara Beth Dilworth, Sarasota, Fla.

M. Paul Beaty, Jr., 81, of Smithfield Township, was a librarian at ESU for 29 years (from1968 to 1997) and served as the library faculty chairperson for 10 years and acting director during the 1992-93 academic year. Prior to his employment at ESU, Beaty served in the armed forces from 1956 through 1959. After his honorable naval service, Beaty received a bachelor’s from Indiana State College, now IUP. He also taught high school in M. Paul Beaty, Jr. Huntington, Pa., and junior high in Albuquerque, N.M. September 15, 2020 Born in Philipsburg, Pa., Beaty was the son of the late Mahlon Paul Beaty, Sr. and Nellie Burns Beaty and was married for 56 years to Linda Gay Herbst Beaty. In addition to his wife, Paul is survived by daughter Heather Joelle, and son Sean Paul.

David Batten Kresge, 89, was an associate professor of sociology at East Stroudsburg State College starting in 1967 and retiring in 1996. Prior to ESU, Kresge served as chair of the department of history at the Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, N.J. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State, his master’s degree from University of Pennsylvania, and completed additional graduate coursework at New York University

David Batten Kresge September 20, 2020 He was married to the late Patricia Emily Hoot Kresge for 61 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dixon Miles Kresge and Sara Batten Kresge, his step-mother, Gladys Wilson Kresge, and a brother Dixon Kresge. David was the father of Valerie Haven Kresge, of Bear, Del., and Pamela Miles (Martin) Misciagna of Parkesburg, Pa., and the late Wendy Dixon (Kresge) Wick.

Jack V. Swineford, Jr., of East Stroudsburg, was the former Jack V. Swineford, Jr. director of computing services and a member of the ESU November 24, 2020 campus community for more than 35 years, from 1971 to 2006.

Swineford is survived by his wife, Betty, two children, Beth Swineford ’01 M’06 of Cape Cod, Mass., and John Swineford ’03 of East Stroudsburg, a sister, Patricia Swineford, of East Stroudsburg, and two grandchildren.

Robert Thomas Sweeney ’62, 80, of Stroudsburg, Pa., was a former volleyball coach and a 1996 inductee into ESU’s Athletics Hall of Fame. He was recruited in 1967 to teach in the physical education department at East Stroudsburg State College where he remained until retirement in 2007.

Sweeney competed in basketball and tennis as an Robert T. Sweeney ’62 undergraduate for the Warriors, and coached ESU’s men’s November 28, 2020 and women’s volleyball teams to more than 700 wins over 17 seasons. He was inducted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005, and to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995.

He is survived by a brother, John “Jack” Sweeney (Jean) of Clarks Summit, Pa.; his children, Brendan Sweeney West (Todd) of Shippensburg, Pa., and Robert Bradley “Brad” Sweeney (Jane) of Stroudsburg, and five grandchildren.

Jayden Cierra Whitt, 22, was a senior at ESU from Upper Black Eddy in Tinicum Township, Pa. She was preparing to complete her senior year as a psychology major. Her interests included art, spending time outdoors, attending live concert events, teaching herself how to play the ukulele and piano and volunteering to feed those less fortunate.

Whitt is survived by her mother, Jaimie Rachelle Cape-Asay Jayden Cierra Whitt and her husband Wesley Asay of Upper Black Eddy, her father November 21, 2020 Joshua Lee Whitt and his wife Emily of Bethalto, Ill., her three sisters, Savana Lee Asay, Dreamer Lee Whitt, and Journey Nichole Whitt, her maternal grandparents Melvin and Donna Cape, and her paternal grandparents Sue and Jack Palmer.

memoriam alumni

Stacy S. Olewiler ’85

Arlene Ashton ’54

James J. Passaro ’55

Clayton B. Baker ’99

Paul A. Peters ’57

Edward G. Begolly ’86

Susan E. Phillips ’68

Alberta J. Berry ’67

Forrest Reitz ’53

Joan E. Bertolino ’77

Edward D. Richards ’54

Charles D. Brayford ’58

Linda Rae Richie ’87

Robert D. Brown ’54 Vichi J. Card ’74 M’79

Margaret F. Rothermel-Kantner ’55

John V. Collins ’54

Jerilyn L. Schweitzer ’71

Joseph J. Costello ’59

Richard J. Shaak ’78

Doris A. Deen ’48

Agnes M. Sheehan ’50

D. Carson Deffinbaugh ’56

Wilmont V. Smith ’57

Mary L. Duggan ’72

Andrew M. Spadanuta ’13

Robert S. Fisher ’52

Phillip J. Spaziani ’57

John M. Frailey ’60

Jeffrey J. Stasa ’84

Greg V. Garzio ‘94

Samantha Thomas ’09

Kathryn A. Gonzalez ’89

William D. Thomas ’75

Homer D. Hadley ’58

Jerome M. Thomson ’70

George D. Hall ’58

Barrett D. Transue ’52

Judy B. Hummer ’64

Salvatore A. Verrastro ’53

Karen D. Jeffress M’82 Joseph F. Kameen ’72 Valerie L. Keiper ’01 Jeffrey A. Keller M’72 Marguerite L. Kline ’50 Harold K. Knies ’59 Kayla R. Krotzer ’18 Marjorie J. LaBella ’73 Robert M. Lakey ’83

Jeffrey R. Wert ’09 Walter C. Wiser ’55 Faculty & Staff Ronald W. Berger Michael J. Davis Dr. Jesse C. Moore Hla Shwe

Frank J. Lombardo ’77

FRIENDS

Joseph A. Minneci ’84

Eleanor DeRaymond

Colleen F. Moon ’12

Daniel P. Lyons

Kenneth W. Murdock ’72

Rose C. Mattioli

Patrick J. Murphy ’50

Marvin Papillon

Harold E. Musselman ’47

Janice Parlette

Circa

FLASHBACK Members of the Nature Club gather for a photo in College Circle.

The Stroud, 1941

Circa

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