Patches: Spring 2024

Patches

The Face Harcum Nursing of

THE FACE OF HARCUM NURSING

Meet the extraordinary individuals shaping the future of nursing at Harcum College, celebrating a 20-year anniversary in 2023–24.

EMPOWERING DREAMS: INSIDE THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE

The Financial Aid team serves as a vital resource, ensuring Harcum students have the support they need to succeed.

BEAR PRIDE: DR. TIANNA GORDON

Harcum's Director of Student Accounts is an agent of change and an inspiration.

SCENES FROM FALL SPORTS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): Student athletes from our basketball (both Men's and Women's Varsity and Men's JV) and Track & Field teams participated in Bryn Mawr Day. Women's Soccer Team finished their season 5-2-1. A season highlight was scoring 9 goals against Essex County College. Following the NJCAA East District Quarter Final match, McKenzie Mason, Alejandro Sanchez, and Diego Romero were named to the 2023 All-Region 19 team. Freshman Twyla Fitzgerald (#5) lines up a serve. She led the Volleyball Team with 180 digs and 88 kills. The Cross Country Team has solid showings in all five meets with Michael Jean Pierre consistently finished in the top 20. Harcum College Men’s Soccer finished with a 9-2-1 record.

This Issue

PATC HES STAFF

Executive Editor

Krystal Popiel

Writer Gale Martin

Contributors

Amy Shumoski

Brooke Walker

Art Direction & Design

Lilian Crooks

Photography

Chris Trower

Jackie Pursell A’17

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

David M. Jacobson, CPA, Chair

Theodore A. Rosen, Vice Chair

Karl A. Thallner, Jr., Esq., Secretary

Denis Boyle, Treasurer

Jon Jay DeTemple, Ph.D., Harcum

President (ex officio)

Barbara Bosha

Samuel P. Cimino, DDS

Amy Copeland

Kevin Dow, MBA

Daniel Hirschfeld, MBA, MFin

Anthony Jones, MBA

Alex Klein, DBA

Sharon Manker, M.Ed.

The Face of Harcum

Dennis Marlo

J. Michael McNamara

Carmen Rive, CPA

PATCHES MAGAZINE is published biannually by the Office of Communications & Marketing at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA. Please send address changes and class notes to the Office of Alumni Relations located at 750 Montgomery Avenue in Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; by email: alumni@harcum.edu; or by calling 610-526-6060.

MISSION STATEMENT

Harcum College provides its students with an opportunity for outstanding academic, career, and life preparation. We teach, mentor, and prepare students for success in their chosen profession in an experiential environment utilizing a wide variety of modalities and technology. Harcum’s emphasis on its core values of excellence, civility, empowerment, integrity, service, and respect for diversity assures that every member of our community is valued, supported, included, and equal.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. The comments and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of Harcum College. The editorial board reserves the right to edit and select content for Patches that adheres to Harcum College’s commitment to maintaining the high standard of integrity that has always been characteristic of the college.

© 2024 HARCUM COLLEGE

From the President

We hope this issue of the magazine illustrates the unwavering power of possibilities that combines dedication, determination, and gratitude with accomplishment and opportunity.

AS HARCUM CONTINUES its commitment to its mission to offer a high-quality education resulting in remunerative career and solid academic opportunities, it realizes significant milestones such as the twentieth anniversary of the Nursing Program, featured in this issue of Patches. Nursing continues its growth trajectory by cultivating and strengthening its funding partners and creating a new evening track to train more nurses and better serve the healthcare needs of our region.

Since the introduction of varsity sports at Harcum College in 2004, each season has offered a shining platform for our student-athletes and many fond memories for our community and for me personally. Hundreds of athletes have come and gone over the years. Many of our varsity athletes move on from Harcum to compete for top teams in the NCAA at the D-I level and even professionally. More importantly they earn their degrees almost without fail.

Yet, each year, returning for the Annual Alumni Basketball Game, I am proud to witness dozens of former players who remember their time at Harcum fondly. Thirteen former players suited up for this year's game held on October 7.

Harcum proudly added new athletic teams for 2023–24, including JV Women’s Basketball and Men’s Volleyball. However, none of our varsity teams accomplished more this year than the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team coached by

Riley Maye, who went to the “Big Dance” in Joplin, Missouri, from March 18–23, finishing 8th in the tournament, their fourth national appearance since the program’s inception.

Harcum also is fortunate to have a dedicated Financial Aid Department since student aid is critical to enrollment and retention. Their efforts are well-documented in this issue, too.

Lastly, we take this opportunity to reflect on the contributions of two extraordinary women who each helped shape Harcum during their tenures, whom we lost this year: long-serving and dedicated trustee Louise A. Strauss and a beloved English professor Elaine Bell.

Harcum is the College of Possibilities, and we hope this issue of the magazine illustrates the unwavering power of possibilities that combines dedication, determination, and gratitude with accomplishment and opportunity.

Until next time,

JON JAY DETEMPLE, PH.D., MBA

Community

PICTURED: OTA team members Sue Ramirez, Heather Herner, Tessa Angelo, and Program Director Christa Eck welcomed 11 clinicians to campus on Saturday, October 7, to earn continuing education credits.

OTA Program Expands to Lehigh Valley

Harcum College has expanded its Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program to offer clinical coursework in Allentown, PA, starting August 2024. The hybrid program’s blend of online and applied courses, tailored for Lehigh Valley's working adults, non-traditional students, and others interested in a career as an OTA, will take place at the Redeemer Lutheran Church at 802 N. 19th St. in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

FASHION EXPERT GEORGE BRESCIA COMES TO HARCUM

A special report on global runway fashion was presented by the Fashion Group International (FGI) on November 14, in the Kevin D. Marlo Little Theatre. Dr. Julian Crooks, Fashion Programs Director and FGI member, spoke with television personality and style expert George Brescia

about what fashion trends audiences will be seeing in Paris, London, and New York this Spring and Summer including minimalism, painterly floral prints, and leather. This summer, yellow is expected to be the big color. Brescia shared some advice with fashion students in attendance: be authentic, to be true to yourself, work hard at what you love, and show up. Fashion major Anna Karola Mier said that she considers Brescia a role model, and she’d like to have the level of confidence he has and be able to achieve the things he did. Autumn Woodward learned that individual expression combined with industry knowledge are essential for achieving success in the fashion industry.

PTA SUPPORTS FOOD PANTRY

The Physical Therapist Assistant led by PTA Club Class Representatives Zoe Hahn and Thanh Nguyen (seniors), and Molly Hawkins (junior) sponsored

a food drive last October to support the Ardmore Food Pantry. The volume of donations nearly filled the entire shed at the drop-off location.

BELOW (L-R): PTA volunteers Nick Ganzel, Jada McDowell, Nick Tarone, Gabby Ferreira, Angelica Piel, Molly Hawkins, and Seth Fernandez.

Celebrating an Extraordinary Life

A longstanding trustee with an unshakable devotion to Harcum College unexpectedly passed away on February 27. Louise A. Strauss touched the lives of so many in the Harcum community, giving the College her best in everything. She was 63 years old.

Following in her father Hilary's footsteps, she became a trustee in 2009, holding numerous leadership positions on the board. “Louise was an integral member of our board and contributed in so many ways,” Board President Dave Jacobson said. “I’m grateful for the lasting impact she and the Strauss family had on Harcum.”

More than her tenure of service, it was her dedication to Harcum that inspired so many. She attended every event she could...from basketball and soccer games, to the Annual Fashion Show, to the Interior Design Show. She also served on two Middle States Accreditation teams and was highly involved in Harcum's Centennial planning and implementation.

A graduate of the Agnes Irwin School, she obtained a B.A. in American Civilization and Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and later, an M.Ed. from Arcadia University. She taught at the Miquon School in Conshohocken for more than 20 years.

Besides being an officer on the Board of Trustees, she served as the longtime chair of the Development and Alumni Relations Committee. She also volunteered at the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, the Katz Center for

Advanced Judaic Studies, and the Kislak Center at the Van Pelt Library of the University of Pennsylvania.

Louise Strauss led by example, donating significantly to the College. Two endowed scholarships in memory of her parents, the Hilary Strauss Scholarship and the Ione A. Strauss Scholarship, were established. She also contributed significantly to the current Art & Design Center campaign. The Strauss Family Rotunda was named in honor of the many family contributions.

“Louise was truly benevolent and selfless,” said Dr. Alex Klein, past board president. “She came from a family of trailblazers who never forgot where they came from and always gave back to the communities that gave to them."

She will be remembered as being wise, kind, and generous to an uncommon degree, and as someone who led a life devoted to service. Generations within the Harcum Community are now and surely will be the beneficiaries of her extraordinary life and generosity.

LEFT: Louise Strauss and mother Ione Strauss at a 2015 Centennial reception

Campus Events

Dental Program Directors Dossie Cavallucci '80, '93 and Jean Byrnes-Ziegler met with Dental prospects and families.

Increased Attendance at Open House

Fall 2023 Open House resulted in a great turnout, with attendance exceeding pre-COVID numbers. A total of 107 students attended (and 152 guests) met with faculty and staff, saw their classrooms and dorm spaces, and met student leaders and College administrators. Fall Open House is typically considered the most important event for seniors still making college decisions for fall.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FOUNDERS' DAY GIVING Founders' Day 2023 kicked off on September 28, a tradition deeply rooted in the spirit of giving and community. This year, members of the Harcum community rose to the challenge, contributing gifts on or before October 1 to be part of the Founders' Day contribution. The community responded with overwhelming generosity. More than 100 donors—including alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends, and trustees—raised $190,395 in gifts and pledges.

PTA CLINICIAN APPRECIATION DAY

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program hosted its ninth annual Clinical Instructor Appreciation Day, October 28. A total of 95 people attended, with 55 of the attendees being graduates of Harcum’s program. The Communications & Marketing team collected video testimonials from seven graduates to be used for future marketing efforts.

NEARLY TWO DOZEN 12˝ x 12˝ squares created on the theme “This Moment in Time” were displayed during the Alumni Brunch at Homecoming. Artists comprising students, alumni, employees, and trustees were asked to design a square in the same spirit as the historic murals but reflecting present-day events and trends.

Learning Pet Care from the Best

Animal Center Management Club students participated in a job shadow opportunity at Miss Drew's Doggy Day Care in Spring City, PA, on November 17. The trip was made possible through the TRIO grant program. The business, which has grown to include boarding, is owned by ACM graduate Drew Smyth McKay ’17. Students engaged in hands-on learning in various animal care and welfare aspects by shadowing experienced professionals to gain insights into daily operations.

VETERINARY NURSING

PROFESSIONALS ON CAMPUS

The Veterinary Nursing program welcomed numerous employers representing Harcum’s Veterinary Partners to campus on Wednesday, October 25. They engaged with current students, providing valuable insights and guidance on launching their careers. They also reviewed their resumes and conducted snapshot employment interviews to help prepare students for their practica.

BASKETBALL PLAYERS SERVE FOR MLK DAY

In a longstanding tradition, the Men’s Basketball Program gave back to others in service in observance of MLK Day 2024. Harcum athletes, paired with OMGC church parishioners, wrote letters to local inmates, packed lunches for the homeless, and make blankets for children. After lunch, the team conducted a basketball clinic for the local children in the OMGC gymnasium.

Advancement News

Circle of Excellence

AUGUSTINE OKOSUN ’07, Outstanding Young Alumnus

KAREN NAYLOR ’92 , Outstanding Alumna

DENIS BOYLE , Circle of Excellence Distinguished Awardee

Dental Hygiene alumni: CARINA NEPI ’23 , AIYANA

BELL ’23 , ASHLEY KLINE ’23

HARCUM IS FORTUNATE to have the support of our dedicated alumni, trustees, and friends who believe in our mission. Support for scholarships and the Art & Design Capital Campaign, which is still ongoing, demonstrates your belief in Harcum. Go Bears!

Since July 1, 2023, Harcum has received several notable gifts, including a $500,000 anonymous cash gift to the Art & Design Capital Campaign. This transformational and generous gift led to multiple $50,000 gifts and pledges, as well as gifts from students, alumni, faculty, and staff ranging from $10 to $10,000.

Scholarship support will always be Harcum’s priority. Recently, one of our trustees established The Thallner Family Scholarship with a $50,000 gift to benefit first generation college students. This year, Harcum’s 35 endowed and term scholarship funds awarded $421,000 to 117 students. The scholarship award amount ranges from $2,000–$17,000, depending on the size of the fund.

I look forward to working with you to make a difference in the lives of our students. Please contact me to make your personal impact at bwalker@ harcum.edu or 610-526-6005.

Warm regards,

Brooke Walker Vice President of Institutional Advancement

ABOVE: Virginia Hawkins ’70 shares her tuition bill from the 70s with Mary Ann Suarez ’73.

Homecoming: A Bright Future

& Vibrant Past

Homecoming 2023 was a success, with many alumni returning to campus to celebrate Harcum's past and the bright future ahead. Attendees enjoyed a tour of the wonderful murals created by past students in the Kevin D. Marlo Little Theatre and Klein Hall.

RIGHT: Michele Ippolito ’86 designed the Class of 1986 mural. Fellow classmate Kelly Karney ’86 (dec’d) painted the mural.

Philip Giarraputo, DDS, and Susan Doebling ’92

ABOVE: Chairman of the Board David Jacobson, center, with fellow trustees.

Shannon Montgomery ’24 delivers her Dental Research Poster Presentation.

Grants & Scholarships

Power of Possibilities Offers

Touching Tribute

To some it might seem impossible to stand at a podium and share precious memories of a beloved sister who was lost too soon. But that is precisely what Erin and Kristen Gold did, with courage, poise, and love.

The Gold Sisters memorialized Devin M. Gold ’21 in a special address to open the Power of Possibilities Scholarship breakfast on February 23. Devin M. Gold was a Physical Therapist Assistant major who perished in 2020, less than a year before graduation. In her memory, the Gold Family established an endowed scholarship to help other PTA majors use their profession to make their mark on the world and improve others’ lives, just as their late sister would have wanted.

“Devin lived and breathed so passionately for her school and future career as a PTA,” Erin Gold told the audience. In her remarks, Kristen Gold recognized the Devin M. Gold scholarship recipients in attendance, saying, “This is why this legacy means so much to our family. It's a way to help those who also embody the same aspirations and goals as Devin… and all that she would have done when she graduated.”

THALLNER FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS

Karl Thallner, Harcum trustee, and his wife Marian endowed The Thallner Family Scholarship. They wish to support first generation college students with merit and need. "Education has been instrumental in our lives and careers. We’d like to help Harcum students discover how education can make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others," said Karl Thallner. At Harcum, endowed scholarships may be established with a gift of $50,000 or more.

BNY MELLON-ETHEL SERGEANT CLARK SMITH MEMORIAL FUND BENEFITS STUDENTS

Three dental hygiene students, Lisa DiOrio ’25, Allison Hendrick ’24, and Gabrielle Menei ’24 were the first students to benefit from the generous $15,000 scholarship from the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Memorial Fund. The fund is managed by BNY Mellon.

IBX FOUNDATION AWARDS $50,000 GRANT

As part of IBX Foundation’s Collegiate Recovery Program initiative, Harcum College received a $50,000 grant to hire a dedicated part-time counselor to provide support to recovery students. Kathy Anthony, Director of Counseling, will supervise the program within Student Life. Dr. Ed Kovacs, Dean of Student Life said, “Supporting those in recovery underscores our mission to be the College of Possibilities.”

Kathy Anthony; Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, IBX Foundation; Dr. Ed Kovacs

In Their Own Words

LEIGHA HUDGINS ’ 25, DENTAL HYGIENE

Centennial Scholarship & The Helen D. Groome Beatty Trust Recipient

In 2017, I earned a B.A. in Biology from Kutztown University with hopes to attend dental school. After graduation, however, I was involved in a near fatal car accident and studying dental hygiene seemed like the best option. Every storm eventually runs out of rain, and the sun does shine again.

What I love about Harcum are the small class sizes, the phenomenal instructors, and caring staff. Whether you are traditional, non-traditional, or an athlete, make your time here at Harcum count. Dream big, create a plan, and work on it every day until you are living it!

Donors make a tremendous impact! I am a mom of four—three girls and a boy—and work two jobs to help offset school and living expenses. Donors like you are the reasons students like me can work a few less hours a week to spend more time studying and less time worrying.

Upon graduation, I plan to work in the field as well as participate in community-based programs to advocate for my community and provide a voice for the importance of oral health and dental education.

JADE GRIER ’ 24, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCIENCE

Ione A. Strauss Scholarship Recipient Malcolm X said, "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” No matter who you are or where you come from, you can still educate yourself and be successful. I am a full-time BHS student, nursing assistant, mother, and wife. This scholarship has helped tremendously, especially with the financial aspect. It has allowed me to not have to pick up extra shifts at work to focus more on my studies and spend time with family.

My associate’s degree from Harcum will be the first of many towards becoming a psychologist.

In May 2021, I lost my mother, which was a traumatic experience I didn’t know how to cope with. Other peers of mine also lost their parents, motivating me to start a non-profit support group “Getting Better Growing Together.” We gather and discuss emotions, how we’ve been coping, and offer advice. I’ve incorporated the techniques learned in my classes and find them helpful to members. My associate’s degree from Harcum will be the first of many towards becoming a psychologist. I am happy I chose Harcum. The faculty and director have been supportive, understanding, and helpful, and I am grateful.

Donors like you are the reasons students like me can work a few less hours a week to spend more time studying and less time worrying.

Jade Grier and Leigha Hudgins

The

FACE

of Harcum Nursing

Two decades ago, during a nursing shortage that strained healthcare institutions, Harcum College embarked on a journey transforming the landscape of nursing education on the Main Line. In the spring of 2003, during National Nurses Week, a poignant gesture marked the genesis of the Nursing Program at Harcum College: students distributed 500 roses to Bryn Mawr Hospital's dedicated nursing staff.

This display of kindness was part of a well-conceived promotional campaign to launch the associate’s degree in Nursing at Harcum College. By Fall semester 2003, Harcum had successfully recruited its first class of 40 students.

Program History

The 10th president of Harcum College, Dr. Charles H. Trout, recognized a regional need for registered nurses. With visionary leadership, he spearheaded the establishment of a Nursing Program, securing approval from both the College Board of Trustees and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

One year later, Harcum College introduced the innovative STARS program in 2004—an accelerated 11-month second-degree nursing curriculum. This venture not only addressed critical workforce shortages but also exemplified Harcum's commitment to innovation in nursing education.

Top right: Fran Schuda, Interim Nursing Program

Director 2015; Nursing Program Director (2016–2021)

By 2007, Harcum had received initial accreditation from National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, a crucial step toward the program’s future viability.

By the program's fifth anniversary in 2008, the simulation laboratory established at start-up was expanded with a donation from Marcia Huntsman '78, together with funding from a state initiative in response to a documented nursing shortage.

In the fifteen years that followed, the College moved Nursing and the Lab Sciences programs to the vacant OMGC (Our Mother of Good Counsel) Church classroom building on Pennswood Road, which it began leasing in 2011, obtained new sources of funding from multiple foundations, and dramatically increased support for nursing scholarships.

Driving Harcum’s Success

Central to the success of Harcum's Nursing Program were dedicated educators and administrators shepherding its growth over the years. Faculty members like Liz Cratin, whose tenure spans over a decade, exemplify the program's deep commitment to excellence in nursing education.

However, Harcum was facing additional critical challenges: meeting the demand for increasing numbers of students who want nursing degrees and ensuring NCLEX® pass rates remained competitive.

Fran Schuda, a former program director, played a pivotal role in elevating the program's pass rate while navigating the tumultuous landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thriving During the Pandemic

In 2020, Schuda introduced virtual clinical simulations and group Zoom meetings as daily class activities to finish the semester. Led by her commitment to prepare qualified nurses for a variety of healthcare settings in dire need, Harcum nursing students also demonstrated flexibility, tenacity, and a new focus on the many uses of technology to achieve their course objectives.

A 2020 Nursing Program graduate Ebonynessa Prince, who presently works as a travel nurse in New Jersey, said her studies at Harcum during the pandemic made her aware that things won't always go as planned. “Pandemic nursing is all I know,” Prince said. “Harcum taught me to be flexible and helped me to adapt easily as a float pool nurse. It’s still helping me go with the flow as a travel nurse.”

Because of her dedication during unprecedented times, Schuda received the prestigious the Christian R. Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2020, and the graduating class that persevered through the pandemic earned a 100% pass rate. Before she retired in 2021, Schuda led the development and accreditation process for a new Evening Nursing program.

Vice President of Enrollment Rachel Bowen was overjoyed that the groundwork had been laid for an evening program. “It had been one of the most requested programs by our prospective students,” she explained, “This format is not found at most schools, so it really sets us apart.”

Schuda also notched an impressive hire before retiring. She brought on a talented nurse educator with substantial clinical and teaching credentials, Dr. Tanya Johnson-Coleman. Following a 20-year nursing career and years of higher education teaching experience, Tanya Johnson-Coleman obtained her Doctorate in Nursing from LaSalle in 2018, beginning her association with Harcum as a clinical adjunct in 2020, and succeeded Schuda as program director in 2021.

The Face of Nursing 2024

During the Power of Possibilities Scholarship Brunch in February, Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake of the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation said that Pennsylvania is one of the top five states with nursing gaps in the country. Because of that, Nursing has been the focus of the IBX Foundation, leading to increasing scholarship support for Harcum nurses since 2017.

While a Harcum degree only confers the associate’s in nursing, graduates are prepared and expected to sit for the NCLEX®. Because of the stellar pass rate, Dr. Coleman is confident that Harcum nurses have abundant professional opportunities.

Harcum students are assigned to a variety of facilities and work at four clinical sites during their rotations. “Our program helps them face what nursing feels like and looks like,” Dr. Coleman said. “Students with an associate’s degree in nursing can go anywhere today,” she added.

Ernest Prince, Class of 2015, needed the one-on-one tutoring and coaching Harcum offered. He came to the

"Our

United States from Saint Martin in 2007, as a high school dropout. Inspired by a cousin who became a Nurse Anesthetist, and because he lived near the Community College of Philadelphia, he obtained a GED. Transferring to Harcum was a great experience for Prince, with Harcum accepting many of his CCP credits. After Harcum he went on to obtain a B.S.N. from Ohio University and currently works at Temple University in the ICU Department.

He fell in love with Harcum. Harcum was family oriented, so family-focused. He’d wanted to continue to work part-time while studying. His daughter Ebonyessa followed in his footsteps, enrolling a few years later.

Above: Erin Gibson came to Harcum with a B.S. in Biology and is graduating in 2024, with plans to go into pediatric nursing

Above: Student nurses Nadia Tascione, Aaliyah Wynn, and Theresa Saunders

Dr. Tanya Johnson-Coleman, Nursing Program Director (2021–)

program is thriving."

Dr. Tanya Johnson-Coleman

“My nursing education and career have helped me to become closer to my father and the other nurses in my family,” Ebonynessa Prince said. “We bond over shared trauma and help each other cope.”

For her part, Dr. Coleman is committed to lots of hands-on teaching and enrichment. “We prepare our students to think like nurses,” she said. All nursing classes are currently taught in person, except for the mental health courses. She’s also proud of the diverse background of Harcum Nursing students, with a great number from the Philadelphia region.

Challenges and Future Goals

As of March 2022, 25 percent of nursing facilities reported staffing shortages while labor statistics estimated six percent growth in nursing employment through 2032, faster than average for all occupations.

Training more nurses demands having more nurse educators. Currently, Dr. Coleman’s biggest challenge is finding faculty. Harcum’s program is in constant competition with other nursing schools in the area, and with the nursing profession itself, where experienced nurses can be incented to remain in bedside care.

Another of Dr. Coleman’s goals is ensuring that everyone who is accepted into the program completes the program, citing great success with current retention efforts, noting that more than 30 students graduated in 2023.

“Our program is thriving,” Dr. Coleman said. “We are very competitive with lots of inquiries, especially in the evening program, with siblings and co-workers all seeking us out. Pennsylvania nurses have a tremendous advantage with some of the best nursing programs and hospitals in the country: Penn, Temple, and Jefferson.”

Erin Gibson, who will graduate May of 2024, came to Harcum Nursing with a B.S. in Biology from Bryn Athyn. She said coming to Harcum was a great choice.

“I am always visiting during office hours,” Gibson said, a recipient of the Helen Thelen Nursing Scholarship. “The professors always make themselves available for any questions I have.”

Like Ernest Prince, Gibson found Harcum to be a reasonably priced college and valued its small class sizes. “From the time of the admission process and taking a tour, I could tell Harcum was the right fit for me,” she concluded.

She has incoming students evaluated by Dr. Richard Cooper, Director of Disabilities Services, because that early intervention has helped with attrition. She’s also committed to Harcum nurses taking their NCLEX® 30 to 60 days after graduating.

An Anniversary to Celebrate

Nothing sums up the value of the Harcum Nursing program and all those professors and administrators who contributed to its success more than the testimonials of graduates committed to working in the field.

“I’m going to further my education and get my B.S.N. shortly after graduating,” Erin Gibson said. “I plan to work at a local hospital and eventually a pediatric unit.”

“I have been working as an RN since I graduated from Harcum,” said Ebonynessa Prince, “Harcum is a wonderful place. The professors are willing to work with you— they encourage you so much.”

Besides becoming a healthcare professional, Ernest Prince believes his nursing education changed his whole life trajectory. “I can now do things I want to do and be what I wanted to be,” he said. “I couldn’t be a nurse without Harcum.”

Today’s Harcum-trained nurses are like those longstemmed roses handed out 20 years ago. They embody the transformative power of nursing education while inspiring another generation of nurses.

Ebonynessa Prince ’20 followed in her father Ernest’s footsteps, a 2015 Harcum Nursing grad

Empowering Dreams: Inside the Financial Aid Office

No matter which expert or survey is consulted, the number one impediment to not starting or finishing college is cost. There are other reasons why a college education remains out of reach—work conflicts, college readiness, and even the emotional duress of the college journey, none of which are insignificant. However, it’s the financial burden of college that prevents thousands from enrolling or reenrolling, despite a deep-seated desire to do so.

2 Preparing students for success

Guided by a mission statement, the Financial Aid Department at Harcum College provides access and support to every individual who wants and needs financial assistance in a timely manner to ensure that students can start or continue their educational journeys as they see fit.

If a student wants to start at Harcum in Fall 2024, and needs financial assistance, the financial aid office will move mountains to meet with students and families in-person or via Zoom, and are readily available at open houses and new student orientations.

2 Who receives financial aid?

Since varsity athletics began in 2003, hundreds of Harcum athletes have received scholarship support to obtain a college

education. Many other students, already holding undergraduate degrees, began their Harcum studies entering professional programs such as Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) needing more financial support for a second degree. Thousands more have enrolled at Harcum holding some college credits but wanted a restart, driven to major in one of the College’s 22 accredited programs.

“More than 90 percent of Harcum students receive some form of financial aid,” said Paula Lehrberger, Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid. “This includes loans and grants from federal and state agencies, institutional grants, and scholarships.” For the 2022-2023 academic year, Harcum College awarded over $7 million in grant funding or institutional aid.

Harcum

offered 25 named student scholarships, awarding $350,000 to students during the 2022–23 academic year.

2

Small but mighty

The staff of the Financial Aid Department comprises the assistant vice president, an associate director, one counselor, and an administrative assistant. Each team member brings a unique skill set to the department, contributing to a greater whole.

Lehrberger began heading up the department nearly two years ago. Since her arrival, she’s been documenting processes, procedures, and funding decisions made. She’s also focused on staff training. Financial aid changes every year, every month, seemingly every minute, so she is committed to ensuring the staff stays current with the profession.

Associate Director Wendy Kern was a colleague of Lehrberger’s at another area college. Kern started out as a Title I paraprofessional but wanted a career change about 15 years ago. She has interest and a unique aptitude in regulations and rules. She is also holds the Certified Financial Aid Administrator credential.

“Compliance is a huge part of what we do. Our department is audited every year with the goal to have no findings,” Lehrberger said, adding, “and we’ve only had one finding in the last two years.”

Claudy Romnus, who just rounded his two-year anniversary at Harcum, is a Financial Aid Counselor who brings a range of experience from different areas of higher education to the job. He excels at the counseling aspect of the job, and works hard to help students not overborrow.

Administrative Assistant Barbara Coppola is the department’s long-timer, having been at Harcum for almost 12 years. Besides sending out offers and organizing filings, she is the department’s frontline, greeting everyone who visits the office.

“One of the other things we’re doing is trying to ensure that students understand financial aid is part of the whole college experience,” Lehrberger said. “Working with our colleagues in the Student Support Center we offer an entire FAFSA® completion week.”

By joining forces with the Support Center Staff and Student Accounts, they can reinforce the services in Harcum’s support network from tutoring and coaching to learning disabilities testing and intervention.

2 Industry challenges

One of the challenges financial aid professionals face is communicating the net price of college education. Private colleges also have a “sticker” price, but students with demonstrated financial need qualify for more aid. For many of them, that sticker price isn’t applicable. A private college education can offer more value than some public colleges and universities.

Also, this year, the Better FAFSA® initiative which was instituted to simplify the FAFSA® application does make the FAFSA® easier to complete because it is more logical. But the Federal government didn’t release the new form in as timely a manner as was expected, delaying its release until

The Harcum Financial Aid team (l-r) Assistant Vice President Paula Lehrberger, Counselor Claudy Romnus, Associate Director Wendy Kern, and Administrative Assistant Barbara Coppola.

The Financial Aid Mission

The Harcum College Financial Aid Office supports the College’s mission of preparing students for success in their chosen profession. Through the administration of institutional, state, and federal financial aid programs, the Financial Aid Office endeavors to make a Harcum College degree affordable to every student. The Financial Aid Office is committed to serving students in a consistent, timely, and professional manner.

December 31, 2023. However, Lehrberger hopes students and families are undaunted because the form is shorter and more simple to complete.

Keeping up with changing regulations at the state and federal levels can be a considerable challenge. Over the years, Lehrberger also cultivated a personal network of financial aid officers and sometimes picks their brains, in addition to being on a few Listservs from across the country. She also participates in The Philadelphia Financial Aid group which gets together to share information and strategies every few months.

“

There’s a lot of reporting to do in the financial aid industry as well. She must complete annual student loan notifications and compile reports routinely for the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the U.S. Department of Education, IPEDs, the Association of Independent Colleges and University of Pennsylvania (AICUP), and the Enrollment Committee of the Board of Trustees several times a year.

Another fun thing about financial aid is the problem-solving involved. It definitely keeps the mind active. Paula Lehrberger

with transferable skills because many don’t have direct financial aid experience. She looks for someone who is good with numbers and spreadsheets, has excellent customer service skills, and genuinely likes to be helpful to others.

Keeping a financial department adequately staffed can prove challenging, too. Though Financial Aid became her career, Lehrberger never had a formal plan to advance to a financial aid administrator. Because she was good with numbers, in college she filled a financial aid vacancy as a graduate assistant. That assistantship enabled her to realize how much she enjoyed helping people. That was in 1990. Thirty-four years later, she’s still helping students realize their educational goals.

Prospective student aid counselors can’t major in financial aid like business students major in accounting or Harcum students major in veterinary nursing. Lehrberger says that it can be a challenging process finding entry-level employees

All of the staff development, all the updates they seek, and the employees they train are for a singular purpose: to give Harcum students the personalized attention they need and the time they need to understand what can be a complex and daunting process.

Though she started her graduate studies preparing to be a high school counselor, Lehrberger likes the teaching aspect of financial aid and teaching new hires all about it.

“Another fun thing about financial aid is the problem-solving involved,” she concluded. “It definitely keeps the mind active.”

Faculty & Staff News

Faculty/Staff Team Leads Self-Study

The reaccreditation process with Harcum's accrediting body, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), has begun. Heading up the inclusive collaboration are three veteran employees: Dr. Donna Broderick, Lab Sciences; Tim Ely, Strategic Planning and Institutional Research; and Dave Weaver, Academic Assessment.

The crux of the work involves reporting how the College is meeting the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation and providing documentation of that work, which will continue through submission of the Self-Study in November of 2024 and culminate in a site visit scheduled for spring of 2025.

DARIO BELLOT , Chief Financial Officer, attended a special reception hosted by Governor Josh Shapiro at his residence on September 19, 2023, for members of the Governor’s Advisory Commissions on Latino Affairs in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Bellot also published a thought leadership article called “2024 Economic Outlook: Are We Above Water?” on February 9, 2024, in Delco Today, an American Community Journals online publication.

GRAHAM HALL , Admissions, started as new counselor in December 2023. He has a B.S. in health sciences from the University of Delaware and an M.Ed. from Wilmington University.

ED ZAWORA , Graphic Design Program Director, received an M.S. in Arts Administration/Museum Leadership from Drexel University, completing a 20-week practicum working with Drexel University's Collections and Exhibitions department, specifically managing the programs for the Electrified: 50 Years of the Electric Factory exhibition.

HEIDI TECHNER , Interior Design Program Director, had a painting accepted into the Wayne Art Center’s Juried Members Art Show. The 36˝x 36˝ painting is titled “Taking Flight”.

Athletics Roundup

Women Finish 8th Nationally

The Harcum Bears earned their second consecutive appearance at the 2024 NJCAA National Women’s D-II Basketball Championships from March 18–23, amassing a winning record of 26–5. Their selection to compete in the “Big Dance” was a fait accompli after winning the NJCAA DII East District B Championship on March 9, defeating Sullivan County Community College, 44–42. The 2024 selection marked the fourth national tournament appearance since the program’s inception in 2004.

Following a late game rally, the Bears ultimately fell to the Morton College Panthers, 87–72, on March 19. In the contest with Morton, Sophomore Ciarra Bailey was the Bears’ high scorer with 19 points, and sophomore Mikaela Parris chipped in 17 points. The Bears finished their national appearance on March 21, defeating Lake Land 65–58, and finishing 8th overall.

On the season, the Bears topped 100-point games nine times. Individually, Ciarra Bailey finished top five nationally in ball control with 63 blocks. Mikaela Parris was the team’s leading scorer with 331 points. Sophomore T'Nyah Riggins was also recognized for ball control, finishing in the top five nationally with 115 assists. For the 13th week of the season, Head Coach Riley Maye was named Coach of the Week by HoopDirt for propelling the women to #6 nationally.

MEN’S BASKETBALL FINISHES WITH WINNING RECORD

The Men’s Varsity Basketball Team finished the season with a winning record of 25–5, dominating on home court with a record of 14–1. The Bears excelled in rebounding throughout the season, finishing third nationally with an average of 46.7 rebounds per game. On the defensive glass, they ranked fourth with 31.6 defensive rebounds per game.

Nick Jones led the team in scoring and steals, averaging 16.0 points per game and 1.8 steals per game. Ebe Ogoh led the team in rebounding and blocks with an average of 6.8 rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks per game. Kendall Allen led the team in assists, averaging 4.4 per game.

The Bears fell to Harford Community College 75-67 in the NJCAA D1 East District Tournament to complete their season.

JV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FINISHES STRONG

The 2023–24 season marked the first for a Women’s JV Basketball team, which finished with a winning 13-3 record, notching significant victories against both NJCAA and NCAA schools. The team was crowned NIRSAA New Jersey Tourney Champions on January 13. Shaylynn Waiters led the team in scoring with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Dominique Geiger finished as the top defensive performer, averaging 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals per game.

MEN’S JV BASKETBALL SEASON NOTCHES HIGH POINTS

Despite finishing with a 5–9 record, the JV Men’s Basketball season was marked by several high points. A standout moment was the team's season-high 109 points, with a 25-point victory over Clark Summit University JV team. Horacio Brown set a program-high scoring record with 42 points January 22, adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the contest.

SUntold tories

Alumnae Interviews with First Lady Margi Tucker DeTemple

The resident pair of twins Gwyn Verbit Sirota and Gay Verbit Block, both Class of 1957, were Hatcher Hall denizens well remembered. The women dressed alike, shared the same major, and held on-campus jobs as library aides, and were competitive students who studied hard.

Both did a year’s training at Germantown Hospital, still dressing alike well into their 20s, never realizing they didn’t have to, each advancing their educations into their 40s, after starting their own families.

GAY VERBIT BLOCK ’57

Major: Medical Laboratory Technician

Gay and Gwyn lived on the upper floor of Hatcher though Block was the one selected as House President. They were raised in Baltimore in a Christian and Jewish home. After graduating from Forest Park, they went off to college, finding Bryn Mawr an “adorable” town. Block enjoyed working the telephone switchboard in Melville Hall, located in the Admissions area on the first floor. A straight “A” student, she aced courses such as typing and shorthand, earning only one “B” in Golf. Physical Education class was held twice a week. Once they traveled to the top of a hill to drive golf balls in the snow by instructor Irene Tsiouris in gym uniforms with their bare legs sticking out.

Students took their meals in Melville Hall. She remembers dining there as “a fancy affair”: Tablecloths, good table manners, and “dressing for dinner” on Sundays. Back then Harcum students dated Haverford, Penn, and Villanova men. Mixers and dances were common. The Procession of Gowns for Christmas Dinner reflected a “College spirit that was special,” she said.

Her best friend Rosita Sucrovich also lived in Hatcher Hall. Though Sucrovich eventually married and moved to Florida, Block stayed in touch with her over the years.

President Philip Klein, a good friend of the Verbit Family, gave them each a scholarship to attend.

After Harcum, she married and moved to California and had four children. She earned a nursing license and worked with laboratory mice, rats, and guinea pigs, conducting pregnancy and tuberculosis tests on them. After she and her husband divorced, she worked four jobs in three laboratories and did dressmaking and alterations to support her family.

Sadly, cancer claimed the life of her daughter Jessica at only 5 ½ years old. She worked in oncology chemotherapy in the 1980s, and continued working through age 60.

GWYN VERBIT SIROTA ’57

Major: Medical Laboratory Technician

Gwyn Verbit Sirota’s studies at Harcum College in the 1950s played a critical role throughout her life. Though it took six years, she eventually got a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Towson State University at age 43, working in the Medical Laboratory Technology field until retiring at age 59. She shared her sister’s affection for the laboratory research animals. “I put all the test frogs in my garden,” she said.

She recalled skipping down Montgomery Avenue singing, “If I had a wishing ring, I’d only wish for just one thing. I wish you loved me like I love you,” a 1950s chart topper by Joni James.

While at Harcum, Sirota also played golf, went swimming at the YMCA in Norristown, took buses to fraternity parties at Haverford, Penn, and Villanova (all of which were not coed schools), and played ping-pong in the basement of Melville Hall. She remembers science classes in Latham Hall taught by Edna Tetlow. The art studio was also in Latham Hall.

She remembers Hatcher Hall’s interior as “all wood with a big foyer,” and the House Mother Mrs. Vansant was strict. Students could only meet gentlemen in the living room.

She typed menus for events, including Christmas dinner. The College also hosted an Orphan's party in today’s Student Records Office.

She donated a letter she received from J. Frank Jones, “a wonderful teacher,” thanking her for being a library aide.

Alumni News

HEATHER RODALE ’72 founded an organization called Healing for the Arts (HTTA), which hosted the Hope & Healing Juried Art Show for high school and college students in Spring 2024. HTTA helps those who are healing to find strength, hope, and inspiration through the arts.

KAREN RUDEL ’88 took Dr. and Mrs. DeTemple on a private tour of Paris during their trip to Paris in Fall 2023. Rudel owns and operates “Site Seekers Paris!”

JENNY TAGGART KENDER ’92 , RDH, NCTMB, from Media Dental Associates, met with first year dental hygiene students to provide insight in the professional world of dental hygiene on February 20. Kender was a part of the first graduating class of Harcum College Dental Hygiene program.

TRACY JOHNSON-ROCKMORE

’04 published Flip the Script to inspire and motivate individuals with learning differences. The publication is currently available on Amazon.com.

NATASHA PETTIS ’ 21, Animal Center Management program graduate and an Animal Protection Officer at ACCT Philly, was featured on 6ABC Action News. She shared insights after construction workers heroically rescued a stray dog from the I-95 ramp. The dog was taken to ACCT Philly and on the road to recovery, under Pettis’ care.

RYAN KINGSFORD ’ 21 , a star athlete on the Men's Soccer Team during

AMARIS BAKER ’23, a standout on the 2022–23 Women’s Basketball team and Harcum Award winner, led the Drexel Dragons into the National Championship tournament and was named MVP of the qualifying game, edging Delaware 57-55.

his time at Harcum, returned to help coach the soccer team before continuing his education. He is currently enrolled in the graduate program at Loyola Marymount University. Recently, he scored the winning goal in the NCAA D1 Tournament Sweet Sixteen against James Madison University to send LMU to the Elite 8 round against West Virginia University.

In Memoriam

DOROTHY DOLORES (SALAZAR)

VALENZUELA BYRON

Class of 1945

DIANE (RECIPUTI) DAVIS

Class of 1958

JUDITH GERBER

Class of 1968

Elaine Bell: Remembering a Beloved Professor

Elaine Bell, a generous-hearted English and Literature professor, who was remembered as an outstanding and understanding person, to whom the 2005 yearbook was dedicated, passed away on February 16, 2023, at age 79. Her life was celebrated on May 20, 2023, in the backyard of her Malvern home.

Elaine Bell earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Immaculata College and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Bryn Mawr College. She spent her life's work as an English professor, having taught at Harcum for 44 years, earning the Philip Klein Faculty Award in 1990. She also served as the co-director of the Liberal Studies program.

In their obituary the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Elaine Bell was called the "rose of the neighborhood,” who loved horses, the beach, mystery books, opera, the Phillies, the 76ers, the Eagles, and her "puppies."

“Ms. Bell goes above and beyond teaching,” the 2005 yearbook editor had said. “She is a friend to all and the kind of person who is always cheerful and in good spirits.”

NADINE (BROWNSTEIN) DYEN

Class of 1970

RENEE (LARSON) POORMAN

Class of 1973

JANICE (BACHENSKY) CHILCUTT

Class of 1977

RHONDA (HUTCHISON) LAGAMBA

Class of 1994

Bear Pride

Bear Pride

Aim to Inspire

by Gale Martin

“MY OUTLOOK ON THINGS is do your part, try your best, and if you can help make a change, do it. Don’t pass on that opportunity.”

That’s Dr. Tianna Gordon’s mantra. Furthermore, for those who work with her, those are more than words to live by. That is how she lives, day in and day out, every day.

Dr. Gordon began working at Harcum five years ago in the Student Accounts office. Within three years, she earned a promotion to Director of Student Accounts, and by age 33, Tianna Gordon earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, majoring in Leadership, Policy, and Management from Walden University. In two and a half years, with no breaks between semesters. Have we mentioned that she is a married mother of three boys?

psychological part is difficult. It is hard to send people to collections. I work with them, coaching them on how to get out of it and how taking small steps toward being financially responsible can help avoid these sorts of downfalls."

Her superpower, she explained, is juggling. “I am super determined, so once my mind was set, there was no turning back,” she said, shrugging off her success. “I have always loved school. It was always so easy. Now my oldest is a straight-A honor student who is in competition with me for the best grades.”

For Dr. Gordon, getting her education was a personal mission that began at age 13. She was living in poverty in Brooklyn, New York, to parents with addiction issues. Her aunt brought her to Pennsylvania for a summer. Her aunt had a middle-class lifestyle that included a house with a fenced-in yard and a pool. Dr. Gordon never knew people lived that way. During that summer, living apart from her nuclear family, she made the realization: “I was never going to be a product of my environment.”

For her dissertation, she interviewed first-generation black college students in a qualitative study who were at risk academically and had already borrowed. She feels her situation growing up helps her understand what people are going through. “It adds another level of compassion,” she said.

This desire to help others facing financial obstacles led her to participate in and lead multiple committees in addition to her Student Accounts duties. She is passionate about encouraging and helping students develop their purpose. Incorporating students’ voices with deliberate intentions and commitment is vital, and personally, this will help them succeed.

“I was never going to be a product of my environment.”

Besides completing her doctorate, she also started her non-profit in 2021. “I provide Student Success Coaching to offer time management, financial resources (personal and collegiate), practical skills, and other services and information to navigate life.”

She went on to become the only high school graduate in her family, then she obtained a bachelor’s in social psychology, which helped her land a job as a loan counselor for PHEAA. Then she became a default prevention specialist and obtained her master’s in higher education. Now her job responsibilities include sending students to collections who have defaulted on their accounts. “The

Her target audience for coaching is middle school and high school students, which is roughly the age when she decided she wanted to carve out a different life for herself. She wants to help young people make informed decisions that not only have lifelong consequences but can be generational.

“I want people to have a sense of hope and feel inspired after talking with me. I got my Ph.D. so I could walk through the doors to change things for people like me,” she concluded.

TIANNA GORDON with Mayra Banuelos, Student Accounts

BY MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 Proceeds benefit Harcum Scholarships Llanerch Country Club www.LlanerchCC.org

annual scholarship fundraiser is just around the corner. Make a difference while having fun! Play golf, tennis, or pickleball.

today! www.harcum.edu/GR For questions or to volunteer, call Institutional Advancement at 610-526-6060 or email advancement@harcum.edu