EXPERIENCE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
I am excited to introduce you to Juniata College, a quiet and powerful place where you can explore your interests and expand your horizons. In the pages that follow, you will discover the ways our students prepare for success in an interconnected world through their involvement with mentored undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, and community-engaged learning. The opportunities to partner with faculty outside the classroom provides added value to the student experience at Juniata. I believe the power and impact of those opportunities will resonate with you as you contemplate taking the next step in your college journey.
Lauren Bowen, Ph.D. Provost and Professor of Politics
bowenl@juniata.edu @provostbowen
As the College’s senior academic officer, I want to emphasize the stories shared here are only a sampling of the possible ways to enhance your academic experience. Juniata possesses a long and enviable record of partnering with students to shape experiences to have a meaningful impact on themselves and their worlds. The Juniata Curriculum has been designed with these kinds of experiences in mind as every course now contributes to preparing you for a lifetime of change and growth. Rather than a list of required general courses, a combination of first-year experiences, local and global engagement experiences, among other and all of which invite collaboration with faculty will serve to fuel your sense of curiosity and make you more discerning as you navigate a world filled with various ways of knowing and being. My hope is that our students’ stories will kindle your own ideas of what is possible as you prepare to experience your own next chapter. I welcome the chance to interact with you in person or via email or Twitter. Sincerely,
Lauren Bowen
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
COMMUNITY & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HEALTH & THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
HISTORY & CULTURE
YOUR STORY BEGINS
At Juniata College, you’ll partner with professors who are experts in their field. Those professors will connect you with community organizations that can help you put your learning into action. From spring break service trips and local Habitat for Humanity builds to course work, opportunities to engage with community partners are plentiful at Juniata. You can pursue community-engaged learning in a variety of disciplines and in a multitude of ways that are not limited to your area of study.
ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY
As the Saturday morning sun rises over the Juniata River, members of the Little Juniata
River Association trudge up and down in waders. These volunteers work hard to protect the river for which our College is named. They are not alone in devoting time to monitoring water quality, observing fish migration, and educating the public about the importance of maintaining the health of a river that meanders through our town, creating beautiful waterfronts and plentiful opportunities for kayaking and fishing. Thanks to the partnerships biology and environmental science professors from Juniata have formed with the Association, students serve the organization, the Huntingdon area, and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed through their research on the river. Students research the movement of the river’s rare, naturally-occurring brown trout population. To do so, students capture fish and insert small transmitters into their bodies to determine where trout go as temperatures increase. After fish are returned to the river, students monitor their migration from one area of the river to another, drawing conclusions about where they spawn. “Students examine so many aspects affecting the stream, from species to organizations’ impacts,” says Uma Ramakrishnan, associate professor of environmental sciences. “They also network with many experts from the Association to state and federal agencies.”
Raystown Field Station
After working on the research project for a summer, students often have the opportunity to present to non-governmental organizations like Trout Unlimited. Several have taken their service, research, and presentation experience and rolled them into careers with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and USDA. Others carry their community-engaged learning into graduate study.
14
students
12 kayaks 5 classes • 3 lodges
1 lake
MORGAN HORELL Travel Enthusiast and Political Change Maker POE: Multi-Media Arts Production
Photographer for marketing, w Tour Guide • Student Photographer • Study Abroad Internship in London • Juniata Associate for the Digital Media Studio and the Juniata Social Media Team
When companies share content with the world, each one uses a unique approach. But why?
This is a question that Morgan Horell, who studied multimedia arts production and marketing, explored for her senior thesis project. As a videographer, she wanted to understand why companies make the stylistic choices they do so she can someday replicate an organization’s style when she is producing video content.
The project took her entire senior year to complete. Her first step was identifying four companies that produce online content. She chose: ATTN:, Buzzfeed, Cut.com, and Soul Pancake. Then, she selected one video from each of the companies. Each video tackled a similar topic: mothers. Even though each video dealt with the same basic topic, each company approached the subject in a unique way. Morgan analyzed the way each company constructed its videos. She examined the components of film language used by the videographer such as camera movement, lighting, organization, emotional reaction, invention, and the writing style of the script. And, in the second half of her yearlong project, she produced four videos of her own designed to fit each company’s style.
She chose the theme of “change” for each of her videos. Making her own content mimic established companies’ styles will show future employers that she can adapt to each organization’s needs. “A lot of production companies require you to make a video in their style, or have a visual portfolio,” she says. When she interned at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa., right after graduation, representatives from the organization asked, “How comfortable are you fitting into our company’s style?” Morgan replied, excitedly, “That’s exactly what I did my thesis on!”
When Joey DiGangi arrived at Juniata he embarked on a course of exploration which would take him on a journey he never expected. “I selected Juniata because I felt that they were the school most dedicated to helping students find their passions,” Joey says.
with media relations and social media management. He is responsible for setting up Kdan’s American presence alongside one of his Juniata professors, Wei-Chung Wang—who also serves as Kdan’s vice president of global marketing.
Like many first-year students, he was curious about the world, keenly interested in many things, and eager to explore what options were available to him academically. Rather than being labeled “undecided” as would be the case at most colleges, Joey entered college through our Exploratory program and designed a Program of Emphasis (POE) as he began to identify his academic interests. The POE is a vigorous, challenging, yet fluid plan of educational action that enables students to evolve their thinking and align their interests with emerging (or traditional) career opportunities. Exploration leads to discovering what drives you. “I came into college with high expectations for really interesting classes. I found faculty who took a very personal approach to helping me succeed,” Joey says. “What I couldn’t believe however, was how they helped me find my passion.” While at Juniata, Joey founded his own company, AssureTech, a startup founded to make lives better for those with severe food allergies. “I never expected so many opportunities outside of the classroom to be a part of my educational experience,” he says. “From professional jobs on campus to starting my own business, I never stopped learning once I was done with classes for the day or week. I was constantly developing as a professional and discovering what drove me.” In addition to maintaining AssureTech, Joey now works as a global marketing specialist for Kdan Mobile, a leading software company based in Taiwan, where he assists
JOEY DIGANGI Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Problem Solver POE: Marketing Management with a Secondary Emphasis in Communication
Photographer for marketing, w Social Media Manager and Content Strategist • Juniata Associate for Media Relations • Juniata Communication and Media Club president • Copy Editor for the Juniatian
LANGUAGE IN MOTION Everyone fears the unknown. However, when we face new challenges, we find unlimited opportunities for personal growth. At Juniata, 40% of students explore what’s unknown to them by studying abroad. After returning internationally, many of these students share their experiences and enthusiasm with K-12 students in schools throughout the region.
Founded by Juniata, Language in Motion (LiM) is a nationwide consortium of 15 colleges that promotes language and culture through student presentations. “LiM started because we wanted to find a way to provide teaching opportunities for students at Juniata who have experience with other languages and cultures,” says Deborah Roney, assistant professor of English and director of the program. “We also saw a need in the K–12 schools in our communities to know more about the wider world.” Recent graduate Shannon Brumbaugh, who studied biology as well as Spanish and Hispanic cultures, had a chance to share her experience living in Guatemala and Mexico with high school students from her hometown. “I think it was really impactful both for me and the students at my high school to share that even though we’re from a small town, studying abroad is a very attainable goal,” she says. Juniata students who study abroad are not the only ones who can share new cultures with students at the College and local high schools. Juniata hosts students from all over the world, and the LiM program gives these individuals a chance to share their culture with K–12 students as well. Taha Barkaoui, a student from Tunisia who studied business, enjoyed his experience learning from students while representing his country.
“When you present, you get to be an ambassador for your country and culture,” says Taha. “It’s a nice fulfillment when you get the chance to work with kids in high school and see their perspectives on life. It’s really refreshing.” Juniata students are often surprised at what stands out to their audience. “I went to Hollidaysburg High School and presented to students learning Russian,” recalls Margaret Lykens, who studied Russian at the College. “We talked about food and different restaurants in Russia. I will never forget the expression of shock and happiness when they found out that KFC exists in Russia. It was incredible how astounded they were!” No matter what details stick, Language in Motion encourages students to learn about and explore the world.
“You get to be an ambassador for your country and culture.” —Taha Barkaoui of Tunisia
“I’m helping to bridge the gap between the hospital, the community, and Juniata College students.” —Madison Hearn of Alexandria, Pa.
From the Bailey Oratorical, a 100-year-old speech competition that packs the house, to presenting at national conferences, plenty of opportunities exist for students studying communication at Juniata to flex their muscles. And, new opportunities are always emerging. One of the more recent opportunities for students studying health communication is a course that calls on Juniata students to engage with members of the Huntingdon community to help them become better patients when they see a physician. Huntingdon is the home of Penn Highlands Huntingdon, a 62-bed nonprofit community hospital. Recently, professors in the Juniata communication department met with Hospital leadership about “Force For Health,” a program focused creating a series of resources for engaging people to be a force for health for themselves and others. They knew their students could make a difference by helping with the project.
Recent Juniata graduate Madison Hearn served as the first Force for Health fellow in partnership with the Hospital “I’m helping to bridge the gap between the hospital, the community, and Juniata College students,” says Madison. “I’ve been helping to engage students, helping to coordinate the online basic health academy, and helping to coordinate the health directory and projects in the schools.” Madison credits the real-world experience she’s gained through the partnership between the College and the Hospital with changing her perspective on her future career path. “I now want to pursue my MD and a master’s degree in public health,” she says. “This job has given me a perspective on health outside of a clinic setting. It’s been really rewarding to be able to give back to my community.” In addition to putting their learning into action to help community members and organizations, students can look forward to studying what experts in the field do to succeed in similar projects. “We are empowering individuals to make an investment in their own health and give them the resources to make themselves more health literate,” says Madison.
Bailey Oratorical
95% of seniors participate in hands-on learning
EXPLORE EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT ANTARCTICA
During your sophomore or junior year, take an adventurous leap and study abroad. Some options are short-term, meaning you can go abroad with fellow students and a professor from the College for a month to six weeks. Others are a semester or yearlong. You can even conduct undergraduate research or take on an internship while you are studying away from our campus. Juniata’s international education opportunities are so numerous, we received the Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization of our campus from NAFSA: the National Association of International Educators.
At Juniata, you can get lost and find yourself.
Professor Emil Nagengast strolls into the classroom on the first day of his International Politics course, excited to begin the semester. Unfortunately, the first thing he spots is a student scrolling through her phone. Enraged, he throws her books across the room. Everyone freezes.
“Now,” Nagengast begins calmly, “Was I justified in doing that?” Students dive into a debate about defining justice and power — especially the student whose books were thrown. It was, after all, a setup. From this moment, Amber Boring is hooked.
Ireland
AMBER BORING Travel enthusiast and political change maker POE: Politics
Photographer for marketing, w at New Pig Student Photographer • Intern • Winner, Photography Silver CUPPIE from College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals
Morocco
Amber spends hours in the professor’s office, where she is encouraged, as a firstyear student, to travel to the Washington Center in D.C.
There, she spends time learning from George W. Bush’s press secretary, Howard Dean, and Pat Buchanan. She tours the Capitol, learning from experts at the Supreme Court, the National Archives, and Arlington Cemetery. Surrounded by new friends, Amber has free reign of the city and her first taste of freedom. She returns home, determined to make this her first of many trips studying away. Next up: The Gambia. “My parents were concerned, saying ‘You already went to Washington,’” Amber remembers. “But everyone needs to do something that gets them out of their comfort zone.”
“Everyone needs to do something that gets them outside of their comfort zone.” —Amber Boring of Altoona, Pa. London, England
The Gambia Marburg, Germany
Granada, Spain
Granada, Spain
In west Africa, she did just that, touring non-governmental agencies and learning about a political system in which individual citizens have less freedom of speech than she did in that first class at Juniata, when she and her classmates challenged Nagengast for throwing the books. Amber spent her sophomore year at Juniata preparing to study abroad in Spain and it was worth the effort. The next fall, she took in the complexity of the Land of the Setting Sun.
Barcelona, Spain
Nearly
50 %
of students study abroad Lisbon, Portugal
“To be able to learn about history and live among it… it’s liberating,” Amber says. After returning to Huntingdon, Pa., Amber put her study abroad experiences to work, interning at New Pig, a local company with an international reach that works to create clean, safe, and sustainable workplaces. There, Amber sifted through requests from customers around the world. “Being able to learn from others’ cultures, which is something I learned by studying abroad, was so valuable,” Amber says. After graduating, Amber secured a position in the international marketing division of New Pig Corporation.
JUNIATA STUDENTS TAKE D.C. In January, a few weeks before most college students were back in classes for the spring semester, 11 Juniata students were immersed in Washington, D.C., politics and culture. Thanks to our long-standing collaboration with The Washington Center, these students were preparing to attend the Inauguration of the President of the United States. The two-week experience began with students learning from experts like Georgetown University professor Mike Dyson, then-director of national security studies Lawrence Korb, and Washington Post reporter Ed O’Keefe. Students also observed the Senate while they were in session, and took in several shows including The Capitol Steps at The Ronald Reagan Building and Image China: Confucius at the Kennedy Center. “Every morning we would have lectures from award-winning journalists, think tank representatives, and professional lobbyists,” says Isabella Bennett from Baltimore, Md. “As a politics student, hearing analysis of current events from people living and breathing those events was an incredible experience, and hearing how the election and upcoming transfer of power would affect their positions was fascinating.”
Students from
37 states + 39 countries = the Juniata College student body.
“The impact of this program, of being present for such an important part of our democratic process, is something that will stay with me forever.” —Isabella Bennett of Baltimore, Md.
After lunch, students like Isabella would visit think tank headquarters, representatives’ offices, embassies, and museums. “This trip was jam-packed with the highest standards of cultural and educational learning one could get from being in D.C.,” Isabella adds. “I have lived in the heart of a city my entire life, so I’m accustomed to public transportation, walking around cities, and being immersed in the city life but this trip still changed my perspective.” Of all her experiences on the trip, Isabella most valued her visits to the Mexican Embassy and the Holocaust Museum because they were “unique opportunities to explore and learn about history of American relations with other countries.” In the end, thanks to free tickets donated by Senators and Representatives, the entire group had the chance to watch the peaceful transfer of power. “Although the Inauguration is sheer ceremony, there is something beautiful about seeing all the Senators, Representatives, past presidents, and candidates walk out onto the Capitol steps,” Isabella concludes. “The impact of this program, of being present for such an important part of our democratic process, is something that will stay with me forever.”
EXTENDING JUNIATA’S PROMISE TO PARTNER BEYOND CAMPUS Founding their own non-governmental organization (NGO) seemed daunting, but with the partnerships they had formed at Juniata— that was exactly what Juniata students Evelyn McCammon, Julia Newman, and Sarah Borgardt did! The idea began with an off-campus presentation featuring an effort to support coffee growers in the Dominican Republic. The talk resonated with Evelyn, whose Program of Emphasis (POE) is International Studies and French with a secondary emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies. Days after the talk, Evelyn continued to consider the benefits experienced by growers when their product was brought to the wider customer base in the United States. “The money made from doing this goes back to the Dominican Republic to work with local communities on sustainable development projects,” says Evelyn. “I went to my adviser, Professor Emil Nagengast, and told him I wanted to do something like this, but I didn’t know how or where to begin.” Nagengast suggested that Evelyn consider implementing her endeavor in The Gambia, where he has visited frequently with his students over the past 15 years and where he has formed relationships with many people and communities.
Meanwhile at the Bakau Craft market in The Gambia, Abdoulie Jallow, an expert wood carver contemplates ways to use his craft to create educational opportunities in his community. Nearby, Samba Kasse proudly carries on an ancient weaving tradition passed down to him by his parents. On the opposite side of the Gambia River, Mbomy San has used her sewing talents to design bags since 1971 to support the children in her family. All three were exploring ways to find more customers. With her adviser’s encouragement, Evelyn partnered with Julia, who is studying professional writing/publishing with a secondary emphasis in environmental studies, and Sarah, whose POE is International Politics with a double secondary emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies and Economics, and The Gambian Art Coalition (GAC) was born. Evelyn, Julia, and Sarah were awarded a NextStep Fellowship through the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (JCEL), which aided in the development of a business model, provided funds to conduct customer interviews, and the purchase of software to conduct the retail aspect of GAC. The three women then spent five weeks of their summer break in The Gambia meeting with artists and learning more about the country. “The base of GAC is connecting the creator and the customer. Our website features artist stories and experiences so the customer knows where the item is coming from, who made it, and how it was made,” says Julia. “The proceeds from each item sold will be put toward a sustainable development project in The Gambia. These projects are chosen by the artists to better their communities.”
Through her connections at Juniata, she gained an internship at the University of Minnesota, where she was able to blend these two fields together and find her passion for neuroscience. “I think the mystery surrounding the brain and the potential for discoveries is what draws me to neuroscience. This one organ controls senses, emotions, memory, cognition, basically everything, yet we know comparatively very little about it,” she says. Academic programs are not the only thing that helped Olivia find her passion and help her on her journey. Ursula Williams, assistant professor of chemistry at Juniata, has helped her transition to college life as a first-generation student as well as help Olivia look for research opportunities. With her internship, Olivia was also able to find support for her and her studies.
OLIVIA DRAKE Researcher and First-generation College Student POE: Neuroscience
Photographer for marketing, w Undergraduate Research Assistant • Chemistry Tutor • Alumni Relations Student Assistant • Development Student Assistant
“As a first-generation college student, I didn’t even think going to school was possible, so I’m proud that I got to experience a real research lab.” —Olivia Drake of Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Olivia Drake found her passion for neuroscience during the summer when she was part of a research lab studying primate brain function. As a first-generation college student, Olivia wasn’t sure what to expect of college or biology and psychology, the fields that she was interested in studying. “I didn’t want what I do to be all cognitive or all psychology, but I also didn’t want it to be all biology, all cells and mechanisms,” says Olivia. “In biology, we learned about some brain things like neurons and action potentials, and it was by far the most interesting thing in biology for me. In intro psychology, there was a section that focused on brain areas and mechanisms.”
“One woman, Evelyn Juliussen, her career is this program, which she has overseen for over 20 years. She cares about every single person in the program. She reminded me a lot of the people we find here at Juniata. She is so selfless, caring, helpful; I honestly am struggling to think of the words to describe her,” says Olivia. “We didn’t see her every day, but when we did, she was absolutely amazing.” Olivia considers going to college and participating in a summer research program to be her two biggest accomplishments so far in life. “Not everyone can say that they were part of a research lab, and I’m very grateful that I can,” she says. “As a firstgeneration college student, I didn’t even think going to school was possible, so I’m proud that I got to experience a real research lab.”
Juniata has long been preparing students to pursue healthcare with concern for the patient and service at the forefront of their minds. Faculty recognize the need for students to safeguard their compassion so they will continue to emanate it through their professional training and their careers. Soumya Polavarapu from Bridgewater, N.J., a first-generation college student, wants to be a catalyst for change in the healthcare industry. She graduated with a biochemistry degree with an emphasis in art history and is anticipating making an impact on public health. Polavarapu acquired a profound interest in public health through her studies at Juniata. She credits her time at Juniata for opening her eyes. “My experience at Juniata made me more passionate about medical humanities and the problems in healthcare. Is it lack of care or lack of access to care?” she says. “Why is it so hard for people to access care? I came to Juniata just to do research and to go to medical school and then the professors exposed us to other things. I found my true passion for medical humanities.” Her newfound passion and strong academic work led to her receiving the Andrew Mutch Scholarship from the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia. The award enabled her to spend her senior year at the University of Glasgow in Scotland where she studied healthcare systems of different parts of the world.
“I intended to understand global healthcare problems and how history impacted current policies,” says Polavarapu. Polavarapu was also involved in a Day on the Hill” where students go to Washington, D.C., to voice their healthcare opinions. She is now enrolled in medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and wants to pursue a master’s degree in public health. She aspires to continue to understand the plight of others and be a change maker in healthcare.
“I hope to do Doctors without Borders and I want to work in public health and healthcare policy,” Polavarapu says. “I hope to work in hospital healthcare administration and the government to reform healthcare. All should have access; I want to help remove the barriers.” Polavarapu agreed that Juniata was the agent to help open her eyes to the world and people around her who need support. “Juniata pointed me in the right direction,” she says. “Juniata watered me and I bloomed into this person who will help others.”
SOUMYA POLAVARAPU Catalyst for Change and TedX Speaker POE: Biochemistry
Photographer for marketing, w Guide • Course Assistant • Campus Tour Peer Tutor • Undergraduate Researcher • Student Athlete
BUILD A RÉSUMÉ Kyle Bargo spent the summer of 2017 interning on the 22nd floor of the U.S. Steel Tower, Pittsburgh’s tallest skyscraper. Working at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was a perfect fit for Kyle, who studied information technology (IT), with a secondary emphasis in business. But, this internship with a view was a major change in scenery for Kyle, who hails from Reedsville, Pa., a town of 600 people.
“I decided that I wanted to get out of my comfort zone this summer and give the ‘big city’ a shot,” said Kyle. With the population of Reedsville being less than 1% than that of Pittsburgh, there were a lot of differences between the two areas, “The biggest challenge for me was adapting to the culture. Reedsville is a very relaxed and simple town. In Pittsburgh, you’re living life in the fast lane.” Throughout the summer, he worked on various IT projects for UPMC, toured medical centers, met executives and other interns at the company, and still had time to take in the city by going to Pittsburgh Pirates games. In addition to gaining adeptness in an urban setting, Kyle also gained IT experience in a new industry. “UPMC’s ISDR program allows us to rotate through four six-month rotations within their Information Services department, giving me the opportunity to build upon that foundation and figure out what I wanted to do,” he says. “Over the course of my two rotations I have completed thus far, I have had two completely different experiences. My first rotation was as a software developer and project manager. My second experience was as a security analyst handling and automating notable events to mitigate risk within our enterprise.” Kyle says to students from smalltowns, “Take the risk and get out of your comfort zone! Everyone is reluctant at first to try something new, but you’ll never know unless you try! I never thought that I would have ended up in a city, but here we are. And I love it! If you’re unsure, taking a summer internship away from home is one of the easiest ways to do it. After three months, if you don’t like it, you can go back and say that you gave it a chance.” Happy with his transition from a small-town to a city, to this day, Kyle continues working at UPMC.
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As you’ve discovered, Juniata students design their own educations by partnering with faculty to pursue undergraduate research, internships, community-engaged learning, and study abroad. Juniata students have also partnered with staff to design this publication. That’s right. Juniata employs students as graphic designers, writers, editors, and photographers to ensure they gain meaningful work experience, and to guarantee you are hearing about the student experience from those who know it best.
STUDENT TEAM: Isabella Bennett, writer Kayla Borden, writer and editor Amber Boring, photographer Jeffrey Brabec, writer Veronica Cosmopolis, photographer Rachel DesFosses, writer and editor Joey DiGangi III, writer and editor Morgan Horell, photographer Klarissa Juliano, photographer Madison Thompson, graphic designer Sierra Waite, writer Nathan Woods, writer